By the next morning, after the little bit of food and water, Norrington could already feel his strength returning. He was sore, but healing, and though his head still hurt his thoughts were much clearer now. He sat up in bed and drank from the glass of water that sat on the table, and tried to make sense of the past day and a half.

It was obvious that he had been rescued, likely by members of his crew who were probably still nearby, which would explain Doctor Talbot's presence. It wouldn't explain how Elizabeth and Turner had gotten involved, though Norrington reflected that Elizabeth did have a way of getting herself mixed up in all sorts of dangerous situations. He puzzled most over Ruby. He now knew why he had recognized her, and he also felt it safe to assume that he was in Tortuga. He had met Ruby nearly a year ago, during an incident involving Jack Sparrow and a map, and he had never expected to see Ruby or her father Darius again.

Elizabeth came into the room with a tray of tea and crackers. Her smile was genuine when she saw the Commodore sitting up. "You're looking better this morning."

Norrington smiled slightly in return. "I'm feeling better."

"I'm so glad you're going to be all right," Elizabeth said emphatically. She set the tray in front of him. "I brought breakfast."

Norrington ate in silence, and was glad for Elizabeth's company. She sat quietly in a chair next to the bed, waiting as patiently as she could until the crackers were gone. She took the tray away while he finished the tea, and when she returned to the room, Will Turner was with her.

Will held a mallet and chisel, and stood awkwardly in the doorway for a moment while he and Norrington studied each other. Norrington broke the silence with a slight nod. "Mr. Turner," he said, verbally acknowledging the blacksmith's presence.

Will returned the nod. "Commodore," he said. "I thought I'd see if I could get that shackle off."

"Of course." Norrington set the teacup on the little table and offered Will his wrist.

Will set to work on the shackle, and Norrington turned his attention to Elizabeth, partially for answers, and partially to ignore the bruises that were being inflicted on his wrist.

"I have surmised that we are in Tortuga," Norrington said, and then simply waited.

"Yes," Elizabeth replied, frowning slightly. "We are. How did you know?"

He ignored the question. "What are you doing here?"

"We heard you were in trouble," she said, throwing a nervous glance towards Will. "We came to help you."

"And how could you possibly have heard that?"

Elizabeth hesitated, again looking to Will for help. Will didn't return Elizabeth's glance. He gave the chisel a final pull, and the shackle fell away from the Commodore's wrist. Norrington winced when he saw the bruises and raw skin that were left behind. Elizabeth noticed as well, and offered to get Talbot to bandage it, but Norrington told her it could wait. She was trying to stall. He preferred to have his explanation as soon as possible.

Elizabeth sighed. "Jack Sparrow told us," she said, avoiding the Commodore's eyes. "He showed up in Port Royal saying you were in trouble and there was no one else to rescue you."

"Sparrow?" Norrington repeated.

"Really it's Ruby you have to thank. She's the one who sent him."

Norrington frowned.

"We got here two days ago, and Jack brought us here to Ruby's house," Elizabeth continued, cutting off any questions before Norrington could ask them. "Ruby told us where you were being held, but we thought it best to wait for dark to go after you. In the afternoon we heard people talking, saying that a Navy ship had entered port, so I went to the docks and met your crew there and led Lieutenant Gillette and Lieutenant Groves back to the house, but by then Jack and Will had already gone after you. They came back around midnight, and..." She hesitated. "James, you looked awful. I thought you were dead. Lieutenant Gillette ran back to the ship for Doctor Talbot and Will went with Lieutenant Groves to search for whoever it was who had captured you."

"I assume the search was unsuccessful?" Norrington directed the question towards Will.

"Apparently everyone in this town was too drunk to notice an officer being held hostage," Will said.

"There was a ship," Elizabeth offered. "Leaving, just as Gillette went for the doctor. Your ship went after it. Doctor Talbot, of course, stayed with you, and Gillette came back to help search the town."

Norrington nodded, and leaned back against the wall, gazing at nothing in particular as he let Elizabeth's account sink in.

"Lieutenant Groves should be back soon, and he'll probably want to talk to you about all this," Will said.

"James," Elizabeth spoke up. "Last night you said something about my father."

Norrington sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Yes," he replied. He hesitated, then said, "I have reason to be concerned for your father's safety."

Elizabeth's eyes widened in alarm. "My father's in danger?" she cried. "Where is he?"

"The men who kidnapped me seemed to believe he is being held somewhere near here. They were convinced I knew something of his location and attempted to coerce me into divulging it."

"James, you didn't - "

"Of course not," Norrington interrupted, sounding more irritable than he intended. "I know nothing of the Governor's whereabouts, save that he left for England. And I assure you, they gained no information from me."

Elizabeth looked away. "I'm sorry. I know." There was a pause, then, "What else did they say?"

"They may have attacked his ship. They weren't specific and I admit I wasn't quite at my best. I'm sorry. I wish I knew more."

Elizabeth chewed on her lip and looked over at Will. She was silently accepting the Commodore's answer, knowing it was absurd to press him for more and that she couldn't blame him for the lack of specifics, but still feeling desperately helpless.

"We will find him," Will assured her.

Lieutenant Groves entered the room, suddenly, and stopped. "James!" he blurted. "You're alive!"

Norrington frowned slightly. "Lieutenant?"

Groves leaned against the door frame and rubbed his eyes. "Forgive me," he said. "I haven't slept."

Elizabeth stood to leave. "We'll let you two talk," she said, then she and Will left together.

When they had gone, Norrington turned his attention to Groves. The Lieutenant looked haggard. There were dark circles under his eyes, his uniform was dirty and just a little disheveled, and his shoulders sagged with exhaustion.

Groves pushed himself off the wall and came into the room. He managed a tired smile for the Commodore.

"You look almost as bad as I feel," Norrington commented.

Groves dropped into the chair next to the bed. "I heard you talking with Miss Swann," he said. He unbuttoned his vest and collar. "These criminals, the ones who captured you, who were they?"

Norrington shook his head. "I don't know. But I would recognize them if I saw them again."

Groves nodded and was silent for a moment. "The Governor. What is our next move?"

"First, what of the Dauntless?"

"Right, of course." Groves sighed. He took off his hat and set it in his lap. "The Dauntless. As soon as we realized you'd been taken, we sailed to the nearest port to look for you. We just went along from port to port until we landed here, and were quite surprised to meet Miss Swann. A ship was seen leaving port just as you were being rescued. It seemed suspicious, the timing, so Gillette and I sent Lieutenant Peck to pursue her. She'll return when she has news, I assume." Groves shrugged. "I'm sorry. There wasn't a lot of time for details."

"Then we can do nothing but wait for the Dauntless to return," Norrington said.

"Not unless you can find another ship and crew," Groves added. "And even then, it'd take a very unlikely stroke of luck to find the Governor without more information."