A/N: This story is probably the hardest one for me to write because it's before they were pirates (like the title says) and so Jack and Bill not as… jaded, or heartless, they have yet to see the horrors of life so they are still very young and naïve to the way of the world. Updates will be slow coming, as I cannot think beyond the chapter I am writing. This story truly has a life of its own; I don't know what will happen until I write it. So this is as much of a mystery and an adventure for me as I hope it is for you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did, do you honestly think I'd have the time to write this? I think not. I'd be too busy...um... working... yeah that's it working...
Jack: No ye wouldn't luv. Ye'd be fawning over me an' ye know it!
Me: SHHHH! They don't know I have you! (Shoves Jack back into my closet) You saw and heard NOTHING. Savvy?
Well, enough of my rambling, on with the story!
As the days turned to weeks and the weeks turned to months Jack and Bill learned everything there was to know about sailing a ship, each having their talents and weaknesses therein. Jack continued his odd way of walking and to the surprise of all the sailors it seemed to help the lad stay upright. Bill on the other hand, although he had gained his sea legs, still lost his footing every once in a while thus earning his nickname, Bootstrap even more so. Nobody ever called him Bill, save for his father and Captain Sparrow. Even Jack had taken to calling him Bootstrap, if only to irritate Bill.
By the time they reached the Florida Keys, both Bill and Jack were no longer the scrawny weak boys they started the voyage as. They both acquired almost as much strength as some of the older (meaning 20's) sailors. As they were sailing farther into the Eastern Caribbean the weather began to look foul. One morning, at dawn, as Bill and Jack were working top deck they heard some of the sailors grumbling something about the sunrise being bad luck.
"Oy! Connor, what's everybody complainin' bout? Even Captain don't seem too happy this mornin!" Jack asked.
"Haven't ye ever heard, 'Red Sky at Night, a Sailor's Delight; Red Sky in Morning, a Sailor's Warnin'?"
"No. Can't say that I have. What's it mean?" Jack wondered.
"Means if the sunset creates a nice pretty red in the sky, means good weather is to come but if the sunrise creates a nasty red in the sky, means foul weather lies ahead." Connor answered grimly. "Now that we're in the Caribbean, foul weather means hurricanes, boy. Believe me, it's not a pleasant experience tryin' to sail through that kinda weather if'n ye get caught in one, lad."
"I would imagine not." Bill agreed.
"Hopefully you lads have learned enough to be of use if'n we do hit a storm."
"We have. I think it'll be exciting to work in the middle of a storm, if we do run into one, as it were." Jack exclaimed.
"Nay lad, it's the worst experience any sailor will ever experience on the sea boy." Connor said seriously.
"Well, it would be the most excitement we've will have seen since this trip began. It's been rather dull other than learning how to sail that is."
"Trust me lad, a boring voyage be a far better thing than one laden with storms… speakin' of which…" Connor trailed off, allowing his gaze to travel heavenward. Several leagues away were large, ominous black storm clouds ready to unleash all kinds of havoc Mother Nature could throw down upon them. "That storm'll be upon us in an hour or two says I. I'd go an' get yer jackets an' a hat if'n I were you boys." Connor suggested. Looking up at the storm clouds heading their way, Jack and Bill did just that.
Two Hours Later
Just as Connor predicted the storm was upon them, the waves taking on a life of their own, tossing the Bloody Delight around haphazardly as if it were a child's toy. Captain Sparrow and William Turner were both steering the ship, attempting to keep her on course. The Quartermaster and the Bo'sun were in charge of running around shouting orders and keeping the Captain and First Mate aware of what was happening with the ship and crew. The Bo'sun ran up to the helm.
"SIR, THE SAILS! THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HOLD MUCH LONGER SIR! WE SHOULD TAKE IN SAIL!" The Bo'sun shouted over the wind to the Captain. Captain Sparrow looked ahead of him as lightning struck, illuminating the sky long enough for him to see that most of the sails were on the verge of breaking loose from their lines.
"AYE! STRIKE THE SAILS, AND DO IT SMARTLY!" Captain Sparrow shouted back.
"AYE SIR!" The Bo'sun shouted above the wind as he ran off to order the strongest, nimble climbers to take in the sails, among these sailors were both Jack and Bill.
All those assigned to the task took to the rigging, climbing up quickly and striking the sails before they had a chance to break loose. With all the sailors working together they made light work of striking the sails. Once the task was done everybody began to climb down as quickly as they could. Jack was by far the quickest to reach the deck. Just as Jack's feet came back in contact with the deck, he looked up upon hearing somebody scream. Bill had lost his grip on the rigging due to the strong winds. Jack could see his friend flying through the air into the ocean below. Jack shrugged out of his jacket, and tossing his hat off his head. Jack tied a rope around his waist that he knew was attached to a pulley that used for hauling things in and out of the hold below.
"MAN OVERBOARD!" Jack shouted as soon as he knew the rope was secure, then stood up on the railing, swan diving into the sea below heading for his friend. Luckily Connor and Rob heard Jack's call and saw him dive into the water. Both men ran over and grabbed the rope ready to haul Jack back up to the ship.
Jack could feel a tug on the rope so he knew that somebody had a hold of the other end. Jack began his search for Bill, quickly spotting his bobbing head a few feet away. Jack swam out towards Bill, reaching him just as Bill lost consciousness and began to slip under the waves. Jack pulled Bill up and held on to him under his arms. Jack gave a good jerk on the rope to signal that he had Bill and was ready to be hauled back on board. Connor and Robert felt the tug on the rope and began to heave on the rope, hauling Jack and Bill out of the water, back over the deck. Once the boys were hovering over the deck, Connor and Robert let them down quickly and as gently as possible, in the middle of a storm. Jack and Bill came crashing to the deck in a heap. Jack untied himself then he and Connor hauled Bill into the Captain's Cabin. Bill was still unconscious. Connor looked at Bill and noticed that he wasn't breathing.
"He's not breathin!" Connor exclaimed.
Jack had seen once before when one of his mother's friends had fainted, how to breathe for a person when they could not breath on their own. Jack pushed Connor out of the way. Jack made a face, not really wanting to do what he had to do. Jack pinched Bill's nose and opened his mouth. Jack then began to breathe for his friend, stopping every few breaths to push on his chest in hopes to get any water out of his lungs. After a few minutes of this, Bill began to cough up water and regained consciousness.
Bill groaned, "What happened?"
"You almost died mate! You were thrown from the riggin' and tossed overboard. I jumped in and saved you from drownin." Jack told him.
"Well then, I owe you my life. Thank you."
"It was nothin' mate! I knew that if I didn't save ye, yer mum would've killed us all for lettin' the sea take you!" Jack joked.
"Yeah… Lets agree not to tell my mum about this! She'll never let me go to sea again!" Bill laughed.
Well, there's the second chapter. I hope you all liked it. I know people are reading it, (the first chapter has had 53 hits so far.) All you lurkers need to review and tell me what you think! Reviews really, truly, honestly inspire me to write more often and to continue on. So don't be afraid to review people!
As Always… Take What Ye Can… Give Nothin' Back!
Mrs. Capt. Jack Sparrows