Author's Notes: Here it is. My longest chapter yet. Forgive me if it is seems rushed. Usually, an investigation of this caliber doesn't take such a short time, but for my fic it does. If there are any holes or discrepancies, I'm going to ignore them for now as I've nearly whacked my brain out trying to make sense in this chapter and still have the plot go the way I want it too. Again, forgive me if it seems rushed.

To GenkaiFan: I agree with you that too many good fics here on ff.n are ever finished. I can name several off the top of my head. I hope that this one doesn't become one of them.

To the-dreamer4: Again, thank you for pointing out my flaw in the last chapter. I've gone back and changed it and have since been brushing up on my Harry Potter. I found an awesome timeline that shows the differences between the movies and the books. I believe I'll be sticking to the books more than the movies in the future. I'm glad you like my Jack scene. It just came to me as I was writing the darn thing. It was so much fun! XD

To Funness: XP I'm glad you liked it so much. Hope I don't disappoint this time. I like pairing Jack with kids. It's my theory that adults see the pirate when they look at him, but only kids can see the, who was the reviewer who said it, you?, only kids can see the Pan inside him. As for the song, I originally had A Pirate's Life For Me, but then I thought that it was too energetic for the scene. 15 Men, I thought, was also too dark. Thanks for the awesome review and I hope you like the chapter.

To all who have asked where Will's heart is: This chapter is for all of you.

Warning: Mentions of child abuse

Taken In

James watched his captain repeatedly crossed the deck of the Flying Dutchman. He could swear that he was going to leave a hole in the wood. James pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought of how the crew was faring with their captain in this state of mind. At least half of them thought him endearing to worry so much for the boy Harry, while the others thought it annoying, though understood their captain's worry having heard of the boy's condition. He didn't know what it was that drew the two captains to that boy other than Calypso, but the lad seemed to already have the two infamous, deadly, ghostly pirates completely wrapped around his little finger and didn't even know it. James couldn't tell what made the boy so special even when he had seen him later on after the meeting with the social worker. According to Will, the lad was from England, as they later found during the interview, age three going on four soon, orphaned, and, James' mind would stutter to a halt, abused. Alright, so maybe he could understand a little as to why the usually fierce pirates seemed to soften around him. Of course, they had acted like this when Will Junior had been born. Sparrow had been the worst of the lot, playing with the babe. Anamaria had sworn loudly a few decades later that they should have hurried up with the invention of the camera. Elizabeth, however, had hired a brave soul to hide and draw the pirate and baby in secret. Will kept them in a drawer in his cabin against Sparrow's protests, insisting of burning them at the stake as he had a reputation to uphold. Elizabeth, bless her, had wanted to know just what reputation.

Holding back a smirk, James continued to watch as Will paced the deck, the Locker's misty air billowing around his feet. Now that he thought of it, he was acting just as when Elizabeth had gone into labor. Of course, he had gone and joined his captain, stressed himself though it showed in his work; ropes tied in the wrong order, mass areas not washed on deck, and when he had gone to mend a sail, he had instead sewn someone's pants to it. The gent had gotten quite the surprise when they had gone to hoist it.

Nodding his head as though coming to a conclusion, James strode purposefully towards his captain, his feet he allowed to stomp on the deck so as to give Will time enough to know he was coming. Of course, Will paid it no mind, lost in his own thoughts. As James came up to Will, he waited until his back was turned before reaching out, grabbing hold of his collar and giving a mighty heave and shove. Stunned, Will was tossed overboard. Turning, James ordered the now still crew to get back to work. 'I'm going to get tossed into the brig for this,' he thought with a smile.

Indeed, half an hour later, James smiled as steel bars were slammed shut behind him. Will had stayed down there for a good twenty minutes, probably in shock, before storming back up to the deck demanding what the bloody hell he was thinking. James turned to face the man before him who dripped copious amounts of water onto the floor. "It was for your own good, you know."

"My own good," Will asked incredulously.

"That's right."

"And how was it for my own good exactly?"

James smiled again. "You've been stressing over that boy ever since you left the hospital. I understand that you're worried, we're all worried, but you've got half the crew up in arms with your worry," he explained as he started to weave his tale. Will looked murderous.

"Do you know what will happen to him if he gets sent back to those people he lived with," Will asked furiously, stepping close to the cage bars that James had stuck his hands through.

James' face slackened, darkening ever so slightly, his accent coming out heavy in his anger though his voice remained steady. "Yes I know what will happen to the boy if he is ever returned, but what concern is it of yours? You've only just met him, and you are in no position to worry about him. You've got half the crew upset with your worry, and you've been cutting it close enough these past few days time that some of them are beginning to think they are growing barnacles. I'll tell you now, Will, I'd rather crossover than face the same fate of Jones' men." Frustrated, Will removed his bandana, now dressed in his normal clothes, and scratched at his head as he sat on a nearby barrel. James again studied the troubled pirate, angry at himself for playing devil's advocate though knowing he must. Lowly, he asked, "What is the boy to you?"

Huffing, Will answered, "Does it matter?"

"It matters a great deal. You are captain. What matters to you, matters to the crew. Again, what is the boy to you?"

Will's eyes became glassy as he thought. Seeing the boy's scars had brought memories he thought he had forgotten of his own. The lashing he had received from his father while he was still under Davy Jones' command did not come to mind, those were inconsequential, but rather the ones he suffered at the hands of his blacksmith master. The drunk of a man had a rather heavy hand when intoxicated, and Will took comfort in the thought he was surely dead by now. He thought of how he had lost everything that day as a boy when the ship he was on had been attacked, the only piece of his father lost, those he considered family onboard dead, himself escaping on a piece of driftwood only to be saved by Governor Swann, then to be put in the hands of the drunken blacksmith. Over the years he endured, slowly mastering his craft and practicing with wooden swords in the beginning to protect himself from his master. Many a times he had knocked the fool out who would wake up hours later, not remembering a thing. Will almost considered it a blessing that he had run into Jack when he did.

Harry had lost his family only to be dumped with another that worked and abused him, just as his master had, only to have them abandon him in a strange place to his death. Will had felt at the time, he remembered, that he had been abandoned by those he thought family and by the generous governor. His only anchor had been Elizabeth. Harry had no one to anchor him. Harry had no one and nothing, just as he had at one point. Startled, he realized why he cared so much.

James had watched as Will had gone into his daze, his eyes bearing a milky quality to them as he thought. Patiently he waited, only to smirk in triumph as the fuzz left Will's eyes to be replaced with surprise. "Well? What is the boy to you," he asked again after forcing his smirk back. Wouldn't due to have him know he was torturing him on purpose.

Still dazed, Will turned his head to face his first mate. "I see me." James smiled as Will started holding his head in his hands. He hollered for someone to take the captain to his quarters for a rest and to let him out of the brig in an hour. James settled down to catch what sleep he could. He had a feeling that things were about to change around the ship, Calypso's doing or not, and he would need all the energy he could get. Besides, playing confidant to that man was exhausting.

Will lay on his bed, his eyes closed and body relaxed as he allowed the rock of the ship to ease him. He went over what had happened down in the brig, surprise still filling him at his revelation. He went over what Miss Writing had said after the interview. She was going to submit what she knew to children's social service who would follow and find the family in question. From there, they would see what happened. Will smirked as he thought of just how he could still help Harry, even if he were sent back to the family. They would be in for one ghastly of a surprise. Faintly, Will idly thought as he fell into slumber, he could feel his heart beat within his body's chest. His mind corrected him that it still beat within his wooden one, locked down with iron, the key around his neck, and hidden under the cursed treasure of Cortez on Isle de Muerta, hidden from the world with magic cast by Tia.

On the Pearl, Jack was going through a similar revelation though without someone's help. He knew his feelings well enough, and he knew why he was willing to help this boy, the goddess's intervention aside. It was the boy's eyes. Those dull green eyes. For an instant, as he laughed that day, they had sparkled the purest green Jack had ever seen. They showed brighter than the finest of emeralds, and Jack had seen many a green rock in his life. There was treasure in his eyes, that one. It was a treasure that should never be tarnished and thrown away as some petty change. Jack knew with some polish, he could get those eyes to sparkle again despite where the boy may end up. Smirking at the thought, he continued to oversee the last minute maintenance of the Pearl, dressed in his normal clothes. He would change back into his modern formals again in the morning when the agent said she'd have feedback for them. At his side was Harry's pack and chest that he had retrieved from the shack when he had gone to show the agent where he had found the lad. They had been forced to take a row boat and make up some story of receiving help from some nearby fishermen. Harry couldn't dispute for he had slept through the whole thing. Drinking from a bottle of rum, Jack settled down as he watched his crew settle for the night.

In a fifth story hospital bed, Harry lay looking at the clear night sky. He didn't want to go back to the Durselys no matter how much he may have missed Dudley despite his flaws. He didn't know where he wanted to go, but it wasn't back to Privet Drive. He couldn't quite understand what was being whispered outside his door, but it sounded as though they were going to look for the Durselys. He pulled up the covers past his chin, mindful of the IV in his arm, at the thought. The wind blew through the trees, the sound reaching Harry's ears. Worry still in his head, he was lulled into sleep by the wind. His mind added a strange, low melody as though it had heard the song before. His mind seemed to be wiped of problems as he fell deeper into slumber. Outside the window, the skeleton of a monkey watched the boy sleep as the moon shined down on him, a banana in its hands.

Jack hurried the next morning to the hospital, Harry's pack over a shoulder and his chest under an arm. He was dressed in his modern formals which to his horror seemed to attract more of those teeny bopper girls that seemed to follow him. He sighed in relief when the doors to the hospital came into sight, causing his first and second mates, both dressed in modern formals though Anamaria had refused to wear a dress, accompanying him to snicker. Ignoring them, he entered the lobby to find Will and Norrington waiting. Together, they entered an elevator to the fifth floor and headed to Harry's room. Normally, so many people were not allowed to visit a patient at a time, but the hospital head, hearing of the crews of the Black Pearl and Flying Dutchman, had allowed it. Entering, they found Harry sitting up, his bandages having been changed, munching on a banana he had found on his bedside. Dr. Casy had thought a nurse had left it for him. Anamaria instantly went to Harry's side, giving him a kiss on his cheek.

They had just settled down when Dr. Casy appeared at the door with an update on Harry's status. "His fever has gone, it is now back to normal, and his blood came back negative for anything he might have caught from the bug bites. As for the bites themselves, they are already scabbing over and should be fine by next week so long as he doesn't scratch," he said directing himself towards Harry who was reaching for a leg. Sheepishly, Harry retracted his hand. "Further more, Harry's water levels are coming back to normal and with a good diet, his health should gradually be that of what a boy his age should be. As soon as the bites heal over, I believe he's ready to leave, wherever that may be," Dr. Casy finished as he closed Harry's charts.

"That's good to know," came a voice from the door. Turning, they saw Miss Writing in the doorway. "I'm glad to know that Harry's recovery is coming along nicely." She held up a folder with the title Children's Social Services on the front. The results were in.

Anamaria turned to Harry saying, "How abou' we go fer a walk, yes? Stretch out our legs some." Harry turned pleadingly towards Dr. Casy, excited to get out of bed. Smiling, Dr. Casy transferred his IV to a rolling holder from a closet. In his cotton hospital gown and pants, Harry held onto Anamaria's hand as they walked down the hall, the female pirate rolling the holder with them.

When the squeaking of the wheels left their ears, James leaned forward to listen. "Well, how bad is it?" The rest of the men turned an attentive ear towards Sara.

Grimacing, she answered, "It's bad. The local airport was able to track down three Dursleys, Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley, all fitting Harry's description. They had come on vacation and had stayed at a hotel for a total of three days before heading back to England. They could find no record of a Harry James Potter crossing the border though they did find a Michal Jaspen in their records matching the one found in Harry's pack. Scotland Yard went to question the Dursleys, but they claimed they had never heard of a Harry Potter before. They checked the cupboard under the stairs, but all they found were cleaning supplies. There was no sign of there being another child. They did talk to an Arabella Figg who said that Harry did live there, but according to other neighbors, they had never seen the boy and that Mrs. Figg is the neighborhood crazy cat lady. When asked about them not seeing Harry tending to Petunia's garden, they said they thought him a neighborhood boy working for some money. Mrs. Figg did try and get them to tell her where Harry is now, but rules were they were not allowed to say. The guy at the store where Vernon Dursley bought three passports says he can't remember who Vernon was or who he came in with. Their records show that the passport for Michal Jaspen was paid for in cash. Checking the Dursleys' background, they found that Petunia's older sister, Lily, had married a James Potter a few years back. There was no record of them having a child. As a matter of fact, other than the marriage papers, there was no record at all on James Potter. It was like the man had just appeared. No birth certificate, no school records, not even a mention of a job. The guys in the lab cross referenced Harry's DNA with that of Lily's on record and they found a match. Harry is definitely Lily Potter's son and Harry was at one point in the Dursley's custody, though there were no records of him being there. All paper trails show that Harry has never stepped foot into the Dursley household, but all evidence points otherwise. The Dursleys will be charged for child abuse, abandonment, and lying to an officer of the law. Harry has no other family other than Vernon's sister, Marjorie Dursley, who has shown no interest in taking Harry in. As it is, when Harry is released from here, he'll go straight into foster care before being shipped back to England to an orphanage. He'll receive his inheritance from his mother, according to the Dursley's lawyer, Mr. Beckett, when Harry reaches the age of seventeen. As of now, all that Harry can claim is the island and hut through a loophole in Lily Potter's will." Sara took a breath, drinking a little water from a bottle in her purse.

The men had not liked the report at all. They were glad that the Dursleys would be getting what they deserved, but the part of sending Harry to an orphanage was just wrong. Mr. Biggs had started cursing softly under his breath as there was a lady in the room, James had stalked to the window, leaning on it as he looked out, Dr. Casy was fiddling with his charts, Jack was leaning in his seat thinking, his fingers forming a steeple, while Will leaned on the wall, his arms crossed, and those who know him would say he had a devious smile upon his face. "Foster care you say?"

Surprised, Sara answered, "Yes."

"Are children in foster care still up for adoption?" His fellow pirates looked at him in surprise. Jack's mouth started widening into a smirk, a bit of gold glittered in the sun from the window.

Comprehension started forming on Sara's face, "Why yes, they are. At any time."

"And what would one need to do to adopt a child in foster care?"

"Anyone interested in adoption must show proof of being able to care for the child: a steady income, a stable home, and a clean, safe environment for the child among other things." Will's face fell. He had none of those. His job offered no pay in money, though what he had stashed away from some of his looting with Jack would be more than enough to take care of the lad, but all he had for a home was his ship which wasn't exactly the cleanest or safest place for a child.

Sensing Will's block, Jack ventured, "Tha island is now in 'Arry's name, yes?" At a nod, he continued. "Then could tha' be used to house the lad?"

Sara looked thoughtful. "Yes, I think that would work. As long as he had someone watching over him, I see no problem."

Smiling, Jack said, "Jus' show me w'ere ta sign then, love."

Glad that Harry had such people, though practically strangers, willing to take the boy in, Sara still had to keep Harry's best interest in the forefront. "And just what might your occupation be, Mr. Sparrow?"

"Um. I'm a sailor."

"A sailor? You don't look marines. Fisherman then?" The surrounding crew had flinched. There was nothing more insulting than calling a pirate a fisherman.

"Well, I suppose ya could say tha', love. Though more along th' line of a fisherm'n of…fortune really. An entrepreneur if ya will."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "You are self employed then?"

"Yes," Jack exclaimed as he clapped his hands. "I am self employed."

"Excellent, all I need to see are your self employment papers, a summary of your bank account, and I'll start on the papers tonight." Jack's smile went slack as did the others. After a moment, Sara started laughing. The men stared at her. "Honestly, Captain Sparrow. Did you think a Tortuga born citizen would not know of the stories of the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman?" The men tensed having been caught, though Jack grinned at the feeling of being duped by a young land walker. "I shall start on the papers tonight, though you will need to transfer money into a back account. You can use Harry's name if you like. The total process takes three days, but by then, Harry will be in your care, Captain."

Jack smirked at the devious woman. "'Ow long 'ave you known?" James was pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Honestly? When we went to the island, I saw you retrieve the rowboat from a ship with black sails. There is only one ship in the Caribbean with black sails that docks in Tortuga," she said with a smirk as she gathered her things and headed for the door.

"Joint custody," Jack called out to her. Turning to face him, he continued, "I wan' joint custody o'er Harry with my mate William Turner."

Will had been both surprised and ecstatic when Jack had said he'd adopt the boy. He was even more so when Jack declared joint custody, naming him as the other. His knees week, he slid to the floor. Mr. Gibbs laughed at the sight.

Curious, Mrs. Writing said, "I'll need a reason to put in the papers."

"Well, as long as we are talk'n abou' honesty, I'll be honest with my dishonesty and will honestly tell ya that I can not honestly say I can watch tha lad at all times unless I take 'im with me."

Sara nodded, "Alright, I can work with that. Do you consent, Captain Turner?"

Startled, Will rose on shaky legs, Gibbs still chuckling at him, and answered, "Aye."

"Then we have an accord, gentlemen. See you in a few days." With that, Sara turned on her heels, leaving the stunned pirates and doctor to go to her office. She had her work cut out for her this time.

Down the hall from the room, the pirates could hear a familiar song coming from Harry and Anamaria as they returned to the room. Jack and Will shared a smirk as they went to go greet them. "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We kindle and char, inflame and ignite, drink up, me 'earties, yo ho! We burn up the city, we're really a fright, drink up, me 'earties, yo ho! We're rascals, scoundrels, villains, and knaves, drink up, me 'earties, yo ho! We're devils and black sheep, really bad eggs,
drink up, me 'earties, yo ho!"