Sparrow Obsession
Summary: Takes place two years after Sparrow's Bargain, when a new enemy endangers the pirates of the seven seas for a completely unexpected reason. Follow the drama, misunderstandings, adventures and complications that make up the everyday life of the Pirate King and his friends and crew. Sparrington and others.
''So,'' James Norrington woke to the sound of a familiar voice saying from somewhere above him, but his head hurt too much for him to determine who it was that was speaking. Actually, he could barely crack his eyes open without his head spinning and nausea making his gut squirm. ''You mucked up pretty badly, mate. You're actually very much lucky to be alive. Although how long that might last is up for a worthy betting pool wager.''
''Ugh, what's that horrendous stench?'' He asked of the voice, mercifully not as loud as some people tend to be when dealing with a hungover man. He felt like retching enough as it were. He really didn't need any additional pounding to his head to make the nausea even worse and force everything that he still had in his stomach out.
''Don't you remember it? The pigsty. I'm told you've been here before. Right here. No wonder the piggies are so friendly with you.'' As if to make the stranger's point, a pig's snout nudged at Norringotn's face and he finally forced himself to move, if only to push the smelly animal away. Although if what his companion said was the truth, then he probably smelled just as bad as future Mr Beacon. ''She really likes you, that one. Better be careful to make an honest woman out of her.'' Make that Miss Beacon, James thought with difficult sarcasm as his eyes finally opened and focused on the man standing over his head. He blinked at the pirate, disoriented. ''Ah, good. You're awake. I was starting to worry someone hit that hard head of ours too hard. You're not as blessed as Jack is with his luck and extremely hard head, even if you seem to be nearly as thickheaded. An awful shame it would be, had your brains been scrambled before you get your chance to beg at Jack's feet on your knees for what you pulled last night.''
It took all of twenty seconds for what one Bill Turner said to register in the ex Admiral's brain, for him to recall the events of said last night and the implications of how much he had fucked up to hit him. And hit him hard it did, for he just barely rolled over and vomited what little was left of the drink and food from some hours ago without getting it all over his already soiled clothing. He felt sick with guilt and shame and sorrow as he realized he had done one of the few things he had always been merciless towards others when they committed the same act and recalling Jack's face when he finally got his bearings back together had him vomiting the acid from his stomach, scaring away Miss Beacon.
Mercifully as was the quiet voice, there were cool hands holding back his hair - he had let it grow once again since he had permanently joined the Black Pearl's crew, much to Jack's delight - and touching his burning forehead to help him clam down a little while he retched. He heard the older man sigh as he massaged the back of James' throat, stopping to dry-heaving that ensued once his stomach was completely empty.
''Good. The amount of drink and opium you had consumed last night would have killed a horse, let alone you.'' The older Turner continued to massage his shoulder blades and neck as he spoke, calming the once Navy officer's breathing and frantically beating heart as he spoke. ''I thought they taught you never to kiss a whore. They paint their lips with opium so that if they don't manage to seduce a customer, they drug him. They know better than to lick their lips, but men don't. Most wenches here know not to use such methods on a Pirate Lord's crew member, especially one who hails from the ship of the Pirate King, but that lass was new. Doesn't know the rules yet. Poor lass. Didn't survive the night.''
''What?'' The startled James asked when he finally regained some of his composure. Dead whores were nothing new in Port Royal, but they were much better treated in Tortuga than anywhere else. He was surprised to hear of her death. She was young and trying to earn herself a living, even though he did hold a grudge against her for choosing him at the worst possible time of his life to mooch money off of.
''Aye, dead. Tried to rob a half dead man during the brawl. He thought it was another pirate and stabbed her in the gut. Poor girl died a slow, painful death. Couldn't save her, they said. The local doctor tried, but it was already too late for her by the time they got her to him.'' Bill was now holding out a pouch of fresh water in front of the good ex Commodore's face. ''Drink. It will at least get ride of the bile from your mouth. And it might sober you up a little.''
''My thanks.'' The raised gentleman said as he took deep gulps of blessedly cold water. Yes, this morning everything was blessed and merciful. Now if only Lady Luck would be, too, and he could just get to Jack before he was out of his reach ...
''The Black Pearl sailed away with the morning tide, four hours ago.'' Bill said, as though hearing Norringotn's thoughts and said man rolled his eyes.
'So much for Lady Luck's mercy. Although she does favor Jack.' He shook his head at his own silly thoughts and focused back on what Turner was saying.
''They're heading for Shipwreck Cove. We have five days to get there by ourselves and we'll have to get a ship by the end of today so we can sail away with the evening tide if we want to meet that deadline.''
''Right. We should get going, then.'' James climbed to his unsteady feet and made to leave the barn, only for a hand to appear right in front of his face, stopping him in his tracks.
''Not so fast, mate.'' William Turner Senior said in a deadly serious voice. ''First, you need a bath. But before we do wash you off and get you some new, clean clothing, you have some explaining to do. Like what the hell has crawled up your ass and died these past two days and when will you be getting it out?''
''Can we not get me clean so we can have this conversation in a more ... civilized establishment?'' His answer was a cocked and primed gun pointed to his head, a half an inch right in front of his nose. ''I guess not.''
''What you did was right cruel, Norringotn. Yes, you were drunk and under influence of opium - I could smell it even under the stench of vomit, rum and pigsty on you - but that does not excuse your actions. You hurt Jack right enough for him to look like a shadow of his old self. Elizabeth said he was like that when they fetched him from the Locker.'' He pulled back the safety on the gun and glared at the younger sailor. ''I used to look at Jack like a younger brother or even a son. Not interfering with the mutiny was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life, right there next to leaving Will and his mother. I hate seeing him so listless, no matter how good he hides it. You caused that. SO you're going to tell me just what the hell is wrong with you and why you have been taking all these shots at Jack the past couple of days before I even let you think about going anywhere near him again. It might just even end up saving your life, if word gets back to Captain Teague.''
''You know he's the Keeper's son?'' Norringotn had not thought so many people knew. He had thought only he, Gibbs and a few of Jack's first crewmen knew who his father was.
''Aye, I know. Always did. Just like he knew me as William Turner, I knew him as Jack Teague 'Sparrow'. Now answer me.'' So James did. He told him first a bit about his relationship with the now late Nevil Black, about how they were as close as brothers and how much it had hurt to see the man fall. About how rage and guilt and shame at broken oaths had started the arguments but then how sorrow had kept them going until he just wanted to get a reaction out of Jack before all the emotions culminated yesterday morning and he said the things he did, none of which he had even thought since he got to know Jack Sparrow. Bootstrap, bless him, listened patiently until James finished the story by telling him how he had just been about to get up and drag Jack away from the woman sitting in his lap - who turned out to be Calypso in disguise - when the wench in his own lap had drawn him into that kiss.
At least the fuzziness of his mind finally made sense. He had never really drank quite that much, yes, but he was also sure that he wouldn't have acted so despicably had he been in his right mind. He had no tolerance for opium and his current state and what he had done last night were more than testimony to that. Sometime during his tale, Miss Beacon as he called her now, had come up to rub herself against his calves like a house cat would and he was too tired to shoo her away, much to her delight.
When his tale was finally over, Bootstrap nodded, understanding the situation a bit better now. But there was still something bothering him. ''You said you kept hearing your friend's last words in your head over and over again. I'm guessing those words are the ones that actually made you lash out at Jack so much. Mind telling me what those words were that you felt you should drive our Captain closer to insanity than even the Locker had managed?''
James looked away, a pained look coming over his face as he recalled those words again. They had been haunting his every waking and sleeping moment since he had heard them. Bill was indeed right when he said those very same words made him seek out Jack to lash out at him, as the one responsible for the death and partially the words, too. ''I'm disappointed to see you alive if this is who you've become, James Norrington. Yet my heart is bursting with joy to see you well. And for that joy, I hate you more than I can describe in words. Those are the last words the man whom I've thought of as an older brother for the better part of my life had said to me. I blamed Jack for being such a good swordsman, for fighting so well, for not sparing that one life, that one ship, like he'd done so many times before. I blamed him for being so precise that the death was a quick one and I didn't get to explain. I blamed him for not having more time. That was all I needed, just a bit more time to set things straight, to tell him about Beckett and his crimes and how good a man Jack was. That I was happier than I've ever been before. But he died.''
''And so instead of praising our wonderful Captain, you've turned to insulting and cursing his very existence until you told him you'd rather have never met him or have had him die instead of this Nevil.'' The older man finished with a tired sigh, finally putting away his pistol and running a hand down his face. ''What a right mess.''
''I've never made a greater mistake in my life.'' Norrington confirmed, feeling useless and small and more defeated than he'd been the last time he had ended up in this very pigsty. He wanted nothing more than to find Jack and beg for forgiveness or just curl up in here and die, left to be forgotten by the world. Only Jack would never forget him, for better or worse. Jack, despite him pretending otherwise, never forgets people. Ever. That's how he knew whom to hide from and with whom he could drink. Had to know who was going to try and kill him, after all. Or slap him.
''Well, come on then.'' He looked up in confusion at Bill as he made to exit the barn. Bill made a rude gesture at his arched eyebrow. ''We need to clean you up and destink you if you want to go about this seeking redemption thing right.''
''I don't think destink is a word.'' He followed anyway, eager to get rid of the smell and at the chance he was being given. For whatever reason, Bill had remained behind to stick close to him and help him out and James was infinitely grateful for him. He was eager to go back to Jack and try to make things right.
''Don't care. After we get you new clothes and a wash, we'll need to hunt down your sword and anything else they might have taken before throwing you in there last night.'' Bill continued his litany with all the practice that came from trying to out-talk Jack Sparrow. ''Then we need to ask around for what ship will be willing to take us with them to Shipwreck Cove. Have to find a good captain or else we're skewered. And yes, I do mean skewered. Then we need to make sure you won't be shot on the spot-''
''Wait, why are we going to Shipwreck Cove?'' Norrignotn cut in the babble and Turner turned to look at him as though he suspected the opium might have killed James' brain. James just scowled at him and gestured for him to answer.
''Because the Pearl is heading there as we speak.''
''Yes, you said as much, but why?''
Bill blinked. ''James, do you still have your piece of eight?'' The green eyed man patted himself all over and soon came up empty handed. Bill sighed. ''Oh boy.''
