DISCLAIMER: Disney owns everything except the fictional characters Hans and Cassandra.
TEASER: They have finally reached the Caimans... and Will is out of the brig. What's next?
WARNING: PG17 for violence
Genre: Drama/Angst/Humour

What Vexes All Men CHAPTER X

The ancor made a loud splash as it hit the clear, crystal blue surface of the water surrounding the Caiman island...And the Pearl came to a slow hold. Will was just leaning over the railing, feeling sick... his encounter with Cassandra on deck had brought back everything he wanted to forget. His stomach turned again, but there was nothing left in his stomach.
"Silent, men... we swim ashore!", Jack said in a low tone of voice somewhere in the background. A choir of 'aye's' could be heard and Will recognized the thud of ropes being thrown over the railing. He better join them, he wanted to get off this boat where the memories hung like a rotten stench in the air. Carefully he walked across the deck - and immediately Jack's kohl-rimmed eyes pierced him again... and out from the captain's quarters came Cassandra dressed in normal trousers and a white shirt instead of her big gown, which she wouldn't be able to swim in anyway. Will gritted his teeth... he wished that she would drown... no, that was an evil thought... Will shook his head and grabbed a rope, making his way down the Pearl's
side. So did almost all of the crew plus Jack and Cassandra. They silently started swimming towards the mouth of the harbour... and as the group rounded the edge of the cliffs they could clearly see the Dauntless achored by the biggest bridge. A few redcoats were guarding the ship... at least ten more men including the Commodore had to be somewhere ashore. The only question was where. The group made it to the beach in the smallest end of the harbour where tens of fishing boats where achored. Quietly everyone, Will first, crawled up on the sandy beach and snuck behind the first and best building. Jack quickly gathered the men:
"Scatter and find the commodore... then find me. I'll be at the Golden Rooster", Jack said and waved his men off. They all scattered like rats except him and Cassandra. Jack looked at her and grabbed her hand:
"Ye know, luv, those clothes look rather se... good on ye", he said and looked her up and down. Cassandra let out a little laugh and grabbed his hand:
"Why, thank you, Captain", she smiled and Jack seemed to melt under her stare. This was so easy. Jack smiled at her and stuck his head around the corner - no one was there.
"Let's go", Jack said and lead her out on the dusty street – they quickly reached the tavern "The Golden Rooster", where Jack and Cassandra slipped in through the swinging doors without a sound.

Will was walking down the streets with his hands in his pockets... just looking at the ground. Maybe he should just stay here? No, he had to get back to Port Royal... Elizabeth was waiting for him... for their wedding. But how could he wed her... a man with no dignity left? No pride? Will shook his head to clear his thoughts. Suddenly he bumped into someone, a broad shoulder hit him right on the chin - taking a step backwards, Will immediately apologized and looked up at...
"Hans!", Will burst out and took two more steps backwards. The tall man looked down at him:
"Well, if it isn't my little friend", Hans said and smiled as Will's eyes sparkled with rage - they both drew their swords. Cutlass versus cutlass. It was a fair scenario this time. Before Hans knew of it the blades were meeting in mid-air, sparks flying.
"Ooooh, so much rage in such a little man", Hans mocked as he tried to force Will up against the nearest dusty wall, trapping him. Hans weighed a lot more than Will, which was to the big man's advantage. But 

Will was one bundle of bottled up rage and frustration -thousands of thoughts were racing through his mind... Cassandra... Jack... Hans... Elizabeth... everything seemed to explode in an outburst of pure rage. Hans let out a groan as the tip of Will's sword split open his skin on his right lower arm. And suddenly a hand hit Will in the chest, sending him flying backwards... he landed right on a stand filled with exotic fruits, which either smashed or fell to the ground. The man behind the stand hollered loudly at the two men. But a sword whistling past the man's head made him shut up and run instead. Will quickly got back up, his cotton shirt now covered in yellow, orange and red stains from the smashed fruits. The swords met again, this time above their heads - and Will twisted his body to the side, suddenly standing next to Hans - and without a single thread of hesitation, Will plunged his sword into Hans' left thigh. A roar of pain filled the air - and Will pulled out the sword, releasing a small jet of blood from the big man's thigh. Hans immediately retreated, holding up his sword as Will was hammering his cutlass repeatedly against it. For the first time Will recognized a sparkle of fear in Hans' grey eyes - and to his own surprise it pleased him. Suddenly Hans turned around on his heels and ran around a corner - Will followed - but he was already gone. Will stared in all directions, but there was no sign of his wounded opponent. Only a few blood spatters on the wall gave a hint as to in which direction Hans had fled. And Will followed.

"Cheers, luv!", Jack smiled as he clinked his rum bottle against Cassandra's tiny shot glass. His chocolate brown eyes studied her closely as she sat there on the chair, her shirt just open enough to reveal a cleavage. Mesmerized Jack grabbed her hand and caressed it:
"What do ye want me to do with the commodore, puppet?", he asked and watched as Cassandra smiled a skew, yet sad smile:
"I want you to kill him, captain. He is a threat to all of your kind", she simply said and Jack nodded in agreement as he gulped down two mouthfuls of rum. His head had already started to spin a little - but Jack Sparrow, no matter how much rum in his blood - could always cut down a miserable commodore. All he had to do was wait... even though he hated waiting. Suddenly Mr Gibbs came running in through the double bar doors and hurried to Jack's table, which he supported himself on - gasping for air:
"Captain...!", Gibbs burst out, his lungs heaving painfully for air. Jack looked him up and down:
"Yes, mr Gibbs?? Seen a ghost?", he asked sarcastically with a skew smile on his lips. Gibbs just shook his head, grabbed the rum bottle from Jack's hand and gulped down a mouthful. Before Jack could even
protest the rum bottle was back in his hand. Blinking his eyes a few times he looked at Gibbs:
"Well?", he asked curiously and added:
"Wait with the heart attack till after yer report, thank ye", Jack said and clapped Gibbs on the back. Gibbs nodded:
"The commodore... is at the Mayor's building...", Gibbs said and Jack immediately shot up from his chair, knocking it over. His eyes were now burning with rage:
"How do ye know? Ye saw him?", Jack asked and Gibbs shook his head:
"No... didn't see 'im... but a bunch of redcoats are guarding the building", Gibbs said and coughed as he sat himself down on the floor. Jack nodded and corrected his hat, looking at Cassandra whose heart was pounding with excitement.
"That's hint enough for me.. let's go! Ye too, Gibbs!", he commanded as he helped Gibbs to his feet and simultaneously grabbed Cassandra's hand. Together they ran out the bar doors and onto the dusty street.
The mayor's building was only half a mile away.

SO WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPTER?? PLEASE R&R! Thank you.