Jack just stared at the girl whom he knew as his daughter. He was speechless, partly to shock, mainly to guilt and shame. He had left the only happiness he ever truly had to go into piracy. He left a beautiful woman whom he loved so much and a gorgeous daughter he held so dear. How he spiraled into piracy, he was not sure. Money problems had started it, and that is about it. Not a very good explanation, in Jack's mind.
Callista's glare hardened and the thoughts flowed from her mouth. "Why did you leave us? Why did you leave me? Now because of you mother is dead! And I was left at an orphanage! Moreover, I have been sailing all over the world looking for you, needing to be with the only family I had left. I would have thought that you would have at least tried to find mother and me. Even the slightest attempt would have seemed reasonable! But right now, I just-"Tears had formed in her eyes now as she continued, "just want to know why you don't, didn't, love us anymore."
She and Jack just stood there for a moment, looking at each other. Jack looked toward the ground then gazed back into his daughter's eyes. "I'm sorry, love. I do love you and I loved your mother so much. It's just been…complicated. I'm sorry Calli." And with that, Jack embraced the girl in a hug. She hugged him back.
"I forgive you, father."
The name made Jack feel even more guilty yet filled with pride knowing he had such a strong daughter. But then again, she was only that strong because he had left her. "Do you want me to take you back to England?" he asked, hoping not to leave the life he was so accustomed to now.
"No. I want to stay with you." Calli said defiantly. She was and would not be delighted being back in England. Always wet and cold, not like the Caribbean. Besides, there would have been no point to looking for her only family then leaving him.
Jack hesitated then nodded. "Aye. Of course, love. You've proved your mature enough to be granted that. But I must warn ye; the life of a pirate is dangerous but you shouldn't worry about that, love." Jack promised himself that he would do no matter what to keep his daughter safe, even if it involved risking his own life.
They stood there for a moment, and then Jack said, "It's late. You had better be off to bed. I will need you up early tomorrow morning. We've got some things to take care of." Jack led her to an adjoining cabin next to his. "This will be your cabin, away from the crew. I doubt you'd like to sleep with them."
Calli nodded then stopped. "But you don't have a crew."
"That's exactly what we're taking care of tomorrow. Goodnight, love."
"Goodnight, father." Calli staggered into the room sleepily and fell on the bed. She went to sleep immediately with the day she had had. Her dreams were filled of family memories now to be replaced by the new ones.
Callista woke as the sun did and tiptoed outside on deck. Jack was instructing the young man how to open the sail. When he saw her, he gestured her to come over.
"'Morning, love. Will this is my daughter, Callista, Calli this is William Turner. He is here to save his girl. Let him give you the details; I need to steer this ship." He left Calli and Will in an awkward state.
"So…you're Jack's daughter. He never struck me as the fatherly type, no offense. How old are you?" Will said, curious.
"I just turned 13. What happened?" Calli asked just as curious.
"I'll have to start from the beginning, from the time Elizabeth and I first met…" Will went on for several minutes then came to the end, "Then the night the pirates attacked Port Royal, they took her. Kidnapped her. I'm here to save her since this pirate is the only one who knows where she, and the ship, might be."
Callista stood there, awestruck by his situation. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Turner. May I call you Will?"
"Yes and please do. You'll make me sound old, like my father." He said, chuckling.
"So where are we going to get a crew? Did Father say?" Calli asked confused by her father's plan.
"Tortuga, a pirate's port, from what I've heard." Will said now thinking about it. "Speaking of Tortuga, there it is over there." He said pointing in the direction of a closely cramped jumble of islands.
Jack walked toward them, looked at the port, then back at Calli. "I think you'll not be going, love. Not a place for such a young lady, now is it? So, I want you to stay on board the ship, alrigh'?"
Calli nodded and stared off into the distance, then told Jack, "What you are doing for Will is great, Father. He should be greatful you're helping him out."
Jack nodded and replied simply, "Indeed.", not telling her all the details. What she said about him made him feel...well...inocent again, unlike the pirate he came to be.
When the Jack and Will had left into the roughish town, she decided to explore a bit. She went around below deck and found nothing of interest, but sat down and had a bite to eat. She was rather bored after that, nothing, or no one, but the roaring sea to keep her company. Her thoughts then went back to the papers on Jack's desk.
She carefully pulled open on of the drawers, curiosity getting to the better of her, and saw a bunch of maps, and a sketch of what looked to be an ancient coin. Calli leaned down and picked it up. The parchment between her fingers was only ever parchment, but the drawing was so lifelike, she was sure she saw it shimmer in the light. She stuffed back into the drawer and spent the next hour wondering about. I never did ask Father where exactly we were going. Could the coin have something to do with it? And how will I be able to help Will? The darkness came too soon, when Jack and Will finally arrived back with the crew. It was a strange bunch, Calli had to admit, but looked sea worthy enough.
"'Ello, Calli. Meet our new crew, only the best, or at least Gibbs says so." Jack said with a smirk. "And crew, meet me daughter, Callista." Calli smiled and looked at the men, and woman.
They got to work straight away, Will helping, and Jack steering, checking his compass every few minutes, which, as Calli had noticed, didn't point North. Callista sat on her bed in her cabin and sang the one song she had ever known from her early childhood. Later, she had drifted off to sleep holding the locket that read, "Sparrow".
Jack came in and tucked her in, getting used to being a father, looking at the locket in her hand. He took it, placed it on her little desk in the corner, and sat on the edge of her bed. "Why did I let you get mixed up in this mess? Jack, you must be more mad than you thought." he whispered before leaving to his own cabin.
