Hey guys! I am so sorry for the extremely long wait. My muses seemed to disappear and I got caught up in the beginning of the school year. I will try to update every few weeks, but cannot promise anything. Please try to be patient because school is a hassle and all. Thank you for all your past reviews though and enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: In case you've forgotten, I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. You all thought I did, didn't you? Well, I don't. I'm not sure who owns Pirates of the Caribbean; possibly Jerry Bruckheimer's company or the director….


Chapter 7: Leaving Port Royal

Jack quickly brought Will and Danielle out of the prison, leading them to the docks. Danielle could see that Will didn't completely trust Jack, but was willing to cooperate with him if they would be brought to Elizabeth. With the chaos from the previous day and everyone in Port Royal still thinking Jack was in the prison, they were hardly noticed.

"Alrigh'," Jack said, coming to a stop underneath a bridge beside the harbor, and turning to Will and Danielle. "In order to leave 'ere, we are in need o' a ship. I 'ave taken the liberty o' choosing the ship we shall sail on." He turned and looked at one of the Royal Navy ships: the H. M. S. Dauntless, out at sea. Will looked at the ship in astonishment, thinking Jack insane.

"We're going to steal a ship," he said disbelievingly. "That ship," he added, making sure he had understood Jack correctly.

"Commandeer. We're goin' to commandeer that ship," Jack corrected, now pointing to the fastest ship of the Caribbean: the H. M. S. Interceptor, which sat at the docks. "Nautical term," he explained quietly before turning back to Will and looking him in the eye. "One question about yer business, boy, or there's no use goin'. This girl—'ow far are ye willin' to go to save her?"

"I'd die for her," Will responded without hesitation, his voice firm and powerful.

"Oh, good. No worries then." Jack grinned at Danielle who stood beside Will. Will looked at Jack in questioning, then turned to look at his side. He started at seeing Danielle, having forgotten she was with them before swiftly saying,

"You won't be coming with." Danielle looked at him in shock, but Will's face remained stern. Jack, meanwhile, had turned his back on the pair to look at the ships and think up a plan.

"But, Will…" Danielle stammered, having still not recovered from the surprise at how strict he was being.

"No," he replied, his eyes unwavering and fierce. "We're going after pirates," he tried to explain, his face full of concern, "and I don't want you to be hurt. With your disability, you could easily be killed. They're violent, barbaric men," he said more quietly, so Jack wouldn't hear.

"Will," Danielle said in disbelief, "I could just as likely be hurt or killed here as out there." She pointed out to the sea. "Let's say you two are gone and I go out one night for a walk to the harbor, some drunk grabs me in an alley, rapes me, then kills me." She stressed on the last few words as Will flinched.

"In addition to that," she continued, "I have more knowledge of sailing. I just sailed over here, having to work during the voyage. You don't know how to sail. You haven't been on a ship in years…and we've barely spent time together." She lowered her head, sighing, before quietly adding, "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you…." Will's expression became peaceful and tender.

"Nor I you…," he replied softly. He swept some of Danielle's hair behind her ear, before smiling slightly. She looked up and smiled caringly back. Will sighed once, hardly believing what he was about to say.

"You can come along," Will said hesitantly, "but I'll be watching out for you. I don't want you to get hurt." Danielle nodded her head in understanding. She, too, would be watching for Will. He needed someone he knew he could trust with him, not just a pirate.

Jack turned back to the two, a plan newly formed in his mind. He grinned at them before speaking.

"Alrigh'", he said, "I've come up with a plan." He pointed out to some small boats lying upturned on the shore. "Ye see those small boats there." Both Will and Danielle nodded, wondering what he was getting at. "We're goin' to scurry on over to them, slip underneath one, and wade out under the water to the H. M. S. Dauntless. Climb aboard," he grinned at his own cleverness and cunning, "an' take over the ship. That ol' pompous fool-of-a-Commodore Norrington will realize tha' the ship 'as been taken, sail on over to meet us, then we'll swing aboard the Interceptor. How's tha' sound, aye?"

"Alright..." Danielle said with a drawn out pause, "but there's one problem."

"An' what's tha'?" Jack asked, smiling, doubting there could be any flaw in his brilliant plan.

"She can't swim," Will said simply. Danielle shrugged and smiled embarrassedly. Jack's face sunk to a frown.

"Well," he said, "someone should 'ave told tha' to me before I thought up a plan," he said in agitation. He turned back to stare at the dock grumbling, but an idea quickly struck him.

"Wai' a minute." He slowly turned back to Danielle, smiling triumphantly. "Ye migh' just be o' help after all... Alrigh', 'ere's the new plan, Turner and I will do as I said before, but ye," he said pointing at Danielle, "will go aboard the H. M. S. Interceptor and distract the Commodore an' all those British Navy blokes as we get aboard the Dauntless and take it over, so the Commodore won't come over and destroy our plan. Aye," he said to himself thoughtfully, "tha' should work…." Will and Danielle glanced at each other in doubt. There was no other plan to be thought of and Jack's plan had to be put into action now if it were to work. Will glanced up to the Interceptor in hesitation.

"Will you be alright?" he asked Danielle sincerely. She looked Will in surprise.

"Of course. I'll be fine," she said with ease. "All I have to do is go onto the Interceptor and distract some guards. Now, you two go and get onto the Dauntless, somehow taking over the ship. We all best get moving if we want this to work." Jack turned and grinned at Danielle in appreciation.

"Thank ye, love," he said. "Glad to know someone appreciates me ideas." He looked pointedly at Will, then smiled lightly. "Ready to go, mate? Come on," he instructed, as he scurried over to one of the boats and slipped underneath it. Will remained beside Danielle in worry for her safety, but was urged forward by Jack. "Come on!" the pirate said stressfully in a whisper as he beckoned Will forward. Will sighed once in aggravation and jogged out to meet the pirate and join him under the boat. Jack waved to Danielle with a toothy grin before lowering the boat on top of them and setting out.


Danielle now walked across the docks, preparing to go aboard the Interceptor. Jack and Will had to be halfway across the bay by now and she would have to distract the men for a number of minutes. The ship was large and crafted of beautifully intricate wood. It might be the fastest ship in the Caribbean, but it was also the most beautiful in her mind. How grand did it look from up on the deck, Danielle wondered. She looked up the gangplank upon approaching the ship, and noticing the lack of hand-rails, called up.

"Excuse me," she said, hoping one of the men would hear her. Sure enough, one of the workers poked his head over the rail. An older man that wore a hat and some filthy working clothing; his body glistened with sweat, from loading crates onto the ship, but he tried to appear pleasant to Danielle.

"Aye, lass," he responded. "What can I do for ya?" He rested his arms across the rail of the ship in waiting.

"I was wondering if someone could assist me up the ship. I must speak to the Commodore of a matter," she said in her most polite voice. The man nodded then turned his head to an unseen being on the ship. He mumbled something inaudible before turning back to Danielle.

"The Commodore says ya can come up," he told her as he walked over to the gangplank and down it. He offered her a hand and smiled lustfully at her, but did attempt anything at the warning glare he received in return. He helped her onto the dock and pointed out the Commodore. "There be the Commodore," he said, turning back to continue his work. Danielle nodded and approached the Commodore slowly, wondering what she could say that could possibly distract the Commodore and his men for a time.

"Uh…excuse me," she said quietly, still attempting to think of various means of distraction. The Commodore turned and looked at her sternly, but attempted to smile. Another man, Groves, turned as well to glance at Danielle.

"Ah, Miss…I am sorry, what was it?" the Commodore began in an uninterested tone.

"Cooper," Danielle replied. "Danielle Cooper."

"Yes, Miss Cooper," the Commodore repeated. "You are the friend of the blacksmith, Turner, am I right?"

"Yes," Danielle replied, racking her brains of what to say.

"One of the men tells me you wished to speak to me," the Commodore stated simply, glancing about at the men at work. The ship was packed with crates and workers carrying the various boxes down to the storerooms, preparing the ship for its next journey. Most likely food, ammunition, hammocks, and other similar goods could be found down below. Norrington looked to Danielle, waiting for a reply.

"Yes…" Danielle replied hesitantly. What could she speak to the Commodore of? What would distract him for a few minutes? Will and Jack had to be at the Dauntless by now and it was up to her to come up with a distraction…. Jack! That was it…Jack! "I wanted to ask you of the pirate from yesterday. Sparrow, was it?" she questioned in false curiosity. The Commodore smiled smugly; the recognition of the capture most likely went to him, when it was Will who battled him.

"Yes," he replied boastfully. "Jack Sparrow. What is it you wished to know of him?"

"I was wondering of where he came from," Danielle said. "I've heard stories of a pirate like him. Was he the one that was said to have sacked Nassau Port without firing a single shot?"

"He is," Norrington replied distastefully. "I cannot imagine how Sparrow would have done so. He was quite an easy capture and now he lies in the cells of our very own prison," he said, a certain amount of happiness could be heard in his voice, as he glanced in the direction of the now empty prison.

"And you caught him..." Danielle said in false awe. "That is quite a feat!" The Commodore now had his full attention on her, as did Groves. Glancing over Norrington's shoulder to the Dauntless, Danielle saw one of the small rowboats being lowered into the water, containing fifteen to twenty figures in red and white Navy uniforms. She grinned, knowing Will and Jack actually had taken the Dauntless. She simply had to keep the Commodore busy for a few minutes more. Her attention came back to the Commodore as he droned on about the capture of Jack. She nodded at him in interest, then quickly asked,

"What is it you shall do to him?" She glanced once more over the Commodore's shoulder, now seeing the row boat in the water and moving to the Interceptor. One of the men waved frantically to the Interceptor, yelling out, but the Commodore did not realize as he was replying to Danielle's question.

"Mr. Sparrow shall…" Norrington began, before being interrupted by Groves.

"Commodore!" Groves said in alarm, noticing the rowboat in the water. Norrington whirled around and pulled out his spy glass, glancing at the men in the boat. Danielle grinned visibly as the Commodore's back was turned. So far, everything had gone to plan. Norrington noticed Gillette within the rowboat, waving and yelling frantically.

"Sir, they've taken the Dauntless! They've taken the ship," he yelled out. "Sparrow and Turner! They've taken the Dauntless!" Norrington turned his spy glass to the Dauntless, which sat a short distance away. Spotting Jack and Will preparing the ship, he grumbled.

"Rash, Turner, too rash." He closed his spy glass, but continued to gaze out at them. "That is without doubt the worst pirate I have ever seen," he concluded before turning and noticing Danielle. He smiled grimly. "I am sorry, Miss Cooper, but we must sail out and capture Sparrow and Turner. It seems young Mr. Turner has unfortunately taken on a life of piracy," he said dully. "If you will please disembark," he requested with a gesture to the gangplank. Danielle glanced over to the Dauntless, then turned from Norrington and walked slowly to the gangplank as he began shouting orders. "Quickly! Sparrow and Turner have taken the Dauntless! We must recapture it!" The various Navy guards aboard the ship ran about, getting it ready. The men who had been loading crates walked down the gangplank swiftly.

Danielle turned hastily from the gangplank then walked across the ship and down below deck, as the ship starting to rock violently. She leaned on the walls, attempting to regain her balance and glanced down the dark hall. No one came running up, because everyone was on deck at the moment. Slowly, she slid her back down the wall and sat crouched down by the stairway. She prayed that Jack's plan would work. If Will got captured, she wouldn't know what to do. The harsh tones of Norrington's voice lingered down to where Danielle sat. She looked up to the Caribbean sky from the stairwell, occasionally seeing the shadow of one of the men pass. Minutes drifted on and the noise of the rocking waves was the only sound to come to Danielle's ears. Norrington's voice yelled out as the ship came to a steady halt.

"Lower the gangplanks! Get across!" The sound of his voice slowly quieted as he moved away. "Search every cabin, every hold, down to the bilges," she faintly heard him command. Danielle listened intently to noises around her. Silence was all that met her ears, save for the distant noise of the soldiers in their search. No one seemed to be aboard the Interceptor…. The silence was suddenly broken at the thump of boots upon the deck above her.

Will glanced back at the Dauntless before removing his hatchet, and cutting the ropes down the rail that joined the two ships together. Jack ran up to the wheel and took a hold of it as Will cut the last cord. Luckily a breeze blew through just at that very moment, moving the ship forward and away from the harbor. Norrington yelled out.

"Sailors, back to the Interceptor! Now!" The men turned to look at the Interceptor, which was sailing steadily away. One of them ran forward and grabbed hold of a rope, attempting to swing across, but landed with a splash into the waters below. Jack grinned from the wheel and turned to the Commodore with a flourish.

"Thank you, Commodore, for getting us ready to make way," he called. "We'd have had a hard time of it by ourselves." Norrington turned angrily away from the departing ship.

"Set top sails and clear up this mess," he ordered Groves, walking to the wheel of the Dauntless.

"With the wind at quarter astern, we won't catch them," Groves stated.

"We don't need to catch them just get them in range of the long nines," Norrington explained quickly.

"Hands, come about. Run out the guns," Groves yelled out to the men. "We open fire on our own ship, sir?" he inquired quietly to the Commodore.

"I'd rather see her at the bottom of the ocean than in the hands of a pirate," Norrington grumbled in response. He glanced out at the Dauntless, awaiting the capture.

"Commodore," a man at the wheel called out, "he's disabled the rudder chain, sir!" Norrington looked at the deck in anguish.

"That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen," Groves commented in awe.

"So it would seem," Norrington stated, glaring darkly at the Dauntless as it sailed away.

Will looked about the deck of the Interceptor in search of Danielle as Jack took the helm. He jogged across the deck in worry. He couldn't find her. Where could she be?

The ship began sailing again; Danielle continued to crouch by the stairway below deck. She waited quietly, listening for any sound of life on deck. The thud of footsteps running to the stairs filled her ears and she looked up in fear as a shadow fell across her, but her fears subsided as she looked into the eyes of Will. He rushed down the steps to the floor beside Danielle.

"There you are," he breathed in relief, offering his hands to help Danielle up. She smiled up at him, and took his proffered hands with both her own. He hoisted her from the deck, grunting once. The full weight of her body relied on his hands as he helped her. She attempted to push up on her legs to get her balance again. He held her for a moment to assist her; to get accustomed to the gentle rocking of the ship would take a moment, let alone to get her own balance. She leaned back against the wall to help her against the ship's swaying and smiled at Will.

"You did it!" she cried in joy. "I thought you would get caught." Will smiled back at her as he attempted to catch his breath.

"No, we're fine. Jack's up there steering," he said with a nod up to the deck. "I'm glad to see you're alright," he said sincerely, pulling her into his embrace. When he hadn't found her on the deck, he thought something had perhaps gone wrong. He pulled back then looked down the hall. "Why are you down here?" he asked, a questioning expression upon his face.

"When Norrington noticed you two on the Dauntless, he asked me to get off the ship, so I came down here instead," she explained with a shrug. Will nodded curtly before offering a hand to help her up the steps. She took it gratefully and staggered up the steps, the blast of the Caribbean sun immediately blinding her eyes. She blinked a few times to get accustomed to the light. Will continued to hold her hand to assist her balance.

"It's alright, Will," she said. "I need to get used to the flow of a ship again." Will nodded and obliged, letting her hand go, but standing near, in case she fell. She stood for a moment, her hands out to her sides, the movement of the ship gently swaying her. She had her balance in that position, so she took a step, watching her feet carefully. She took a few more steps and found that she was walking decently. She just had to be a bit more careful and try to keep near the rigging or rails, in case she needed to grab something suddenly.

Will smiled happily at her. She was safe thus far. He was still uneasy about her accompanying them to save Elizabeth, but he was also worried for her and felt somewhat more reassured when she was under his own watchful eye. No one at Port Royal would really assist her and some of the men there were just lustful drunks. They would try to take advantage of her. Will would try his hardest to have Danielle remain on the ship, where she would be safe from the pirates. A battle would be dangerous for her and it would be difficult for him to keep an eye on her and watch for his own safety as well.

He watched as Danielle attempted to walk upon the deck, the ship rocking within the water. He was ready to catch her, but she seemed to be doing fine. She turned and smiled at him, glad that she had accomplished her minor task. She glanced around the ship, getting a good look at it. The Interceptor was just as beautiful as she imagined. To Will, she looked so happy on the sea. Her eyes glowed with a light of innocence and gladness he hadn't seen for many years. He watched her as she smiled in content, looking up at the brilliant blue sky. She appeared to be so at ease and happy there. Perhaps this was where she belonged…. His thoughts were interrupted by Jack.

"'Ey, Turner," he called from the wheel. "Check wha's down below deck. Have Danielle 'elp ye out." Will turned and glanced at the pirate, then turned back to Danielle. She looked up at Jack as well, then walked slowly back to the stairway. Will stood there awaiting her then offered her an arm with a warm smile. She smiled back kindly before climbing down to examine what had been packed.


Will sharpened his sword, looking to Jack, who walked about examining the sails and such. Danielle leaned against the rail of the ship and glanced out at the waters, but turned as Will caught her attention.

"When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself," he told the pirate, glaring at him suspiciously. "After she died, I came out here, looking for my father."

"Is tha' so?" Jack responded, uninterested, hardly paying attention as he walked up to the helm. Will set down his sword and followed. Danielle slowly moved over to them and watched in curiosity.

"My father, Will Turner…" Will said simply. "At the jail, it was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help. Since that's what I wanted, I didn't press the matter." He continued to follow Jack, acting as if Jack had something to confess to. "I'm not a simpleton, Jack. You knew my father," he finished accusingly. Jack turned and sighed softly, before looking Will in the eyes.

"I knew 'im," he admitted. "Pro'bly one the few who knew 'im as William Turner. Everyone else jus' called 'im Bootstrap or Bootstrap Bill." Jack turned swiftly and dashed up the stairs to the wheel.

"Bootstrap?" Will repeated in utmost confusion before following Jack once more. Danielle quirked her eyebrow, then jogged slowly up to stand beside Will. Jack took hold of the wheel.

"Good man. Good pirate," he remarked before turning and looking to Will. "I swear ye look jus' like 'im." Will looked at him in offense and abruptly became defensive.

"It's not true," he said harshly. "He was a merchant sailor. A good, respectable man who obeyed the law." Danielle looked at Jack curiously. What did he mean that Will's father was a pirate?

"He was a bloody pirate, a scallywag," Jack stressed, holding the wheel of the ship.

"My father was not a pirate," Will said, seething. He drew his sword much to the surprise of Danielle. She approached Will.

"Will," she said softly. "There's no reason to draw your sword. Jack could be mistaken." Jack turned and smiled at her, but Will paid her no heed.

"Thank ye, lass," he said turning back to the sea ahead of him. "but, I was no' mistaken, so, put it away, son. It's no' worth ye gettin' beat again." Will glared at Jack, his blade still held firmly in his hand.

"You didn't beat me," he growled. "You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd killed you." Jack glanced at Will, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

"Then that's no' much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it?" he said smartly before giving the wheel a jerk, swinging one of the sails over so it knocked into Will and sent him over the rail of the ship. His sword clattered to the deck. Will clutched at the sail and jerked himself upward to gain a better grip. Danielle walked over to Jack worriedly.

"Jack, bring him back over. He'll fall," she pleaded, sending nervous glances to Will. Jack turned to her and raised a finger.

"No' before I've 'ad a word with young Mr. Turner," he muttered as he reached down and swiped up Will's fallen sword. "Now," he began, "as long as ye're jus' hangin' there, pay attention. The only rules tha' really matter are these: wha' a man can do an' wha' a man can't do," he explained, pointing the sword at Will. "For instance, ye can accept tha' yer father was a pirate an' a good man or ye can't. Bu' pirate is in yer blood, boy, so ye'll have to square with tha' someday. Now, me, for example, I can let ye drown," he said lazily before slamming the point of the sword onto the deck, "but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by me onesy," he turned to Danielle and raised a hand, "pardon...twosy, savvy?" he added.

"So…" He gave the wheel another jerk, bringing the sail forward and back onto the deck. Will landed on his back with a loud thud as Danielle walked quickly over to him and kneeled beside him in worry. Jack pointed the sword at Will's chest, Will looking back to Jack in confusion and uncertainty. "Can ye sail under the command o' a pirate?" Jack flipped the sword in his hand and offered the hilt to Will. "Or can ye not?" Will took the sword hesitantly and looked up to Jack.

"Tortuga?" he asked quietly. Jack smirked in response.

"Tortuga."


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I hope you guys liked this chapter. It's been a while, I know. Please review! I'll try to write more often. Thankyou! Please forgive me if I don't have much to write response-wise. Hope to hear from you guys!