A/N: Hi! My internet is up and running in my new uni flat so here we go, chapter ten! I started lectures this week and it's going to be a heavy workload from here on in but hopefully I'll be able to keep on top of it and manage to get chapters out too!

Chapter Ten: Flames on the Waves

Sylvia's arm still hurt from the tight grip Gibbs had used to propel her across town. As Gibbs told her what had happened, rather breathlessly owing to the speed they were travelling, she sobered up faster than she had ever done in her life. She saw nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing until she was standing outside the room Gibbs had taken Jack to. There was blood on the door, fresh blood.

"Are you sure he wants to see me?" she asked, wrenching her eyes from the gruesome stain.

"He hasn' said anythin' but yer name," said Gibbs, "Won' even tell me who did this t' him. Yer what he wants, lass." With that assurance fresh inside her, Sylvia pushed open the door.

Jack was lying on his back, his eyes closed, skin pale beneath the purple bruises and the drying blood. His shirt was torn and spattered with more blood. Whoever had attacked him had gone all out.

"Oh Jack…" At the sound of her voice, his eyelids flickered. When they opened it was with considerable effort.

"See the lengths I'll go to t' get you back," he said with a weak smile.

"I never left you, you silly man," said Sylvia, "Why can't you see that?" She sank to her knees beside the low bed and kissed his hand marvelling at how it alone seemed to have escaped harm. She kissed it again, feeling love so powerfully that it almost suffocated her.

"Why would someone do this to you?" she asked resisting the temptation to add 'what did you do?' Jack simply groaned in answer. What did it matter why? When she moved to get up, he reached for her, panicked.

"I need to clean you up," she said taking his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze, "I'll be right back with some water. Think you can stay out of trouble 'til I get back?" Jack closed his eyes, the flash of smile dissolving into pain.

♠♥♣

Her hands on him were like cool rain after a burning sun. It hurt as she dabbed his many cuts but it was a good hurt, the kind that leads to healing. Norrington had meant to kill him, he had no doubts about that, he'd come at him like a man possessed, hell fire and fury behind every strike. Gibbs's fortunate, if delayed, interruption had spared him, Jack was sure, but there was nothing to stop the disgraced Commodore from coming back.

"Jack, luv, please keep still," admonished Sylvia, her voice as delicate as her touch. What if Norrington burst in while she was here? Somehow Jack doubted Norrington's sense of honour would ever sink low enough to allow him to lay a hand on a woman but he wasn't about lay Sylvia's safety on the basis of his assumption…heaven knows, he'd been wrong before. Ignoring the intense pain that seared through his abdomen and chest as he moved, Jack sat up. Sylvia attempted to push him back down but was reluctant to put too much pressure on his chest lest she hurt him.

"I need me pistol," he said, sounding just as strained as he felt.

"Your pistol?" Sylvia repeated back to him, parrot fashion, "Why?"

"Because I want t' clean me teeth, why'd ye think?"

"I think you're a bloody fool if you think I'm going to give you a pistol and let you walk out that door in this state. Gibbs is right outside, no one's coming in here and you're not leaving until I say so, understood?" A little stunned and at a loss for what else to do, Jack allowed his body to fall back to the bed. Sylvia, pleased to see him listening to reason for a chance, ran a finger through his hair, fiddling with one of his many beads. He'd missed that, having her close, having her with him.

"Sylvia…"

"Don't," she said tightly, "There'll be a time for words." Jack looked at her, he really looked at her for the first time since she had stepped of the Flying Dutchman. Underneath the layers of sadness and weariness that had settled over her since then, she was still the same Sylvia he had rescued one fateful stormy night. How could he have believed that she would change? The only thing that had changed was his ability to listen to her. When the time did come, he would make sure he listened to every word.

♠♥♣

James Norrington stared at the hands in front of him. They could not be his, not when they were all covered in blood, the knuckles bruised from hitting another man over and over again. He flexed the fingers. Yes, they hurt, they were his. The truth was like a droplet on the surface of his jacket, then suddenly it was absorbed. He had beaten another man senseless. What had become of the man who had held honour and law above all things? Had his sense of decency been stripped along with his title? He had acted no better than a pirate himself. He had not exacted justice, he had given in to his most primitive urges. Whoever said revenge was sweet had some explaining to do. Former Commodore James Norrington had never felt more disgraced in all his life.

♠♥♣

"Mummy, come and look!"

Elizabeth closed her eyes, her head pounding. Laura was screaming, the unfamiliar sensation of being on the water upsetting her something awful. While she cried herself hoarse, her brother bounced around the deck pointing out everything he could see from clouds to waves to the buildings of Port Royal which were shrinking into the distance. Elizabeth knew she should have been glad that Tom was so excited, at least he had stopped asking about his father. The reality of the adventure had set in now, but only Tom was enjoying himself.

"Please Laura," Elizabeth begged, "Quiet down now, please." But Laura went on crying, deaf to pleading or bribery. Tom began calling her more urgently as Port Royal became but a dot on the horizon. Elizabeth could not bring herself to watch it disappear entirely but she pretended to for Tom's sake.

"Ok, Tom, that's enough. I need you to come with me, Laura needs a nap."

"But mother, I want to stay out here!"

"No arguments, Tom." Elizabeth could feel her headache worsening as Laura's continued balling tore through layer after layer of her patience and restraint.

"But…"

"I said no arguments!" She had not meant to shout. Tom hung his head.

"Sorry, mother," he said to his feet, "I'll come along now." Elizabeth took hold of his hand and gave it a little squeeze to let him know she was sorry too. Laura hiccupped, choking on her tears, then mercifully fell silent, blinking around at the world through watery eyes.

"Come on," said Elizabeth, "Let's find our cabin."

Laura was curled up on one of the beds, her brother beside her. Will had often commented on how devoted he was to his little sister, and how wrong they had been to suspect that there might be jealousy when she came along. Tom had never shown his sister anything but love, Elizabeth hoped that would always be the case. Watching them sleep contentedly together reminded her sharply of how alone she was. No one would be sleeping beside her tonight. She sat down on her own bed and leaned back, feeling the rocking motion of the ocean beneath her. She thought of Will. Where was he now? Had he found the house empty, his family gone? It was cruel beyond belief, Elizabeth knew, but it was no different to him walking away. How were they to know he would come back safe? How were they to know he would come back at all? Elizabeth sighed. Of course he would have come back. Will was not Jack, he would not abandon his family so lightly. He had left for what he perceived to be a good reason, but he had broken a promise to do it. Elizabeth didn't know what hurt more, the fact he had broken his promise or that he had made it in the first place knowing he would. Disappearing to England was certainly going to teach him a lesson. They had always said they would go one day, go back to the places they were both brought up, visit the relatives and friends they had left behind. She had never thought she would be going alone. Not for long, she told herself, Will will follow. Elizabeth was certain of that. He would follow them and he would be sorrier than he had ever been in his life. They would stay a few months in England, doing all that they had once planned to do, then they would return to Port Royal a happy family. Her father had foolishly put forward the scenario of Will, upon learning what had happened, giving up the search after a few days and returning to the sea as a pirate. Elizabeth had laughed. Will could fight and steal and deceive and lie but only when he had to. Will Turner was a husband and a father, a blacksmith and a proud member of society. If he was a pirate, it was only when he had no choice. He would follow them, she had no doubt about it.

♠♥♣

If there had been a boat leaving by the light of the moon, Governor Swann had no doubt that his son in law would have commissioned it to sail to England that very second. Perhaps that would have been better than the wait they both had to endure until morning, Will was unable to snatch a moment's rest knowing that he had driven his own family from their home. The poor boy had cried himself sick shortly after discovering the truth, his wretched sobs too much for Swann who took himself off for a moonlit walk. When he had returned, Will had been waiting for him and the interrogation began. Where are they going? When did they leave? What did they take with them? How long did Elizabeth say she was planning to be gone for? Did she leave me a message? Does she want me to follow?

"She left no message," said Governor Swann remembering all too clearly Elizabeth's instructions, "I'm not even sure I was supposed to tell you where they were going." Poor Will. He opened and closed his mouth, words escaping him. Oh Elizabeth, Governor Swann thought, if you could see him now.

"I will take the first ship bound for England," Will said as soon as he found his voice again, "I will search every town until I find them. I should never have…"

"Never mind regrets," said Governor Swann, "Just find them, and when you do, be wise and make sure you never let them go again."

♠♥♣

Elizabeth was definitely beginning to regret not bringing one of the household maids with her, the girl that was supposed to be attending to them on the ship seemed to think it was perfectly acceptable to dictate her own working hours. Rising early was certainly not something Verity subscribed to, which left Elizabeth to dress a squirming Laura while an over excited Tom begged to be allowed to explore on his own.

"Tom, if you ask again you shan't be leaving this cabin for the rest of the day." That bought her five minutes peace during which Laura dribbled down the front of her dress. She did not know why she would not allow Tom a little bit of freedom, what possible harm could come on this ship? Most of the passengers were merchants or men hoping for work in England, much to Tom's disappointment. He had been hoping for a ship full of pirates, no doubt. Perhaps he had even expected to see his father and Jack, it was impossible to tell what went on in the mind of a child.

"Oh Laura, will you please keep still?" Her stubborn little daughter always refused to have her hair brushed. 'Like mother, like daughter,' Will had said playfully but Will wasn't going to help get the job done this time, no use thinking of him. Laura slipped from her hands like a bar of soap and crawled across the floor just as there was a soft knock on the door.

"It's only me, Mrs Turner."

"Verity, where in the devil's name have you been?"

"Sorry, ma'am, I were…" Elizabeth hoisted Laura up off the floor and pressed her into Verity's arms.

"I've changed my mind," she said, "I don't want to know. Please finish dressing her while I take Tom up on deck, I fear he might burst if he doesn't get out in the fresh air soon."

Tom was holding her hand, his way of saying thank you. Elizabeth could still remember when his hand had only been big enough to wrap around one of her fingers, and now there was a proper boy's hand inside her own. One day he would let go of her hand and walk alone but not today, today he was still her little boy and she was his mother, and there was nothing in the world that could put a black mark on their love.

"I wish daddy was with us." A poison dart hit her straight in the heart, perfect aim.

"So do I, my dear." Elizabeth's longing lingered on but Tom was quick to find a new subject.

"There's a bird there, look!" A single seagull soared over the top of them, its wings barely moving as rode the air currents. Tom watched it until it disappeared as if he had never seen a gull before. Elizabeth wished she could capture some of his excitement, it would be nice to forget about adult worries for a while.

"There's another one," she said pointing.

"Oh yeah!" said Tom delighted that she was joining in, "Do you think we might see one of those great big monsters that Uncle Jack told us about?"

"You never know," said Elizabeth who could not recall Jack saying anything about monsters, he had probably waited until she was out of the room so he would not be told off, "We'll have to keep our eyes open." Tom looked up, his young face glowing with happiness.

"Thank you for taking us on this adventure," he said. Elizabeth had to look away so that he would not see the new shine in her eyes.

"I love you, Tom," she said as she faced the grey-blue churning ocean.

"I love you too, mummy."

♠♥♣

Captain Shaw surveyed the man before him. He recognised him as Mr Turner, the blacksmith who got himself married into the prestigious Swann family via the Governor's daughter, Elizabeth. He had never had dealings with him but word travelled in a place like Port Royal. The Turner/Swann marriage had kept the gossips busy for months, but that was many years ago now. Mr Turner was well established in society. His skills as well as his union were renowned, if you wanted a top quality weapon you went to Turner Blacksmiths and you left satisfied. He was a man who had everything, and yet here he was asking for passage to England.

"What's in England that's got you so keen to be out on the water?" Captain Shaw asked curiously. He was as sure as a man can be that honest Turner would not have got himself on the wrong side of the law but he had been wrong before and he had no desire to harbour fugitives on his ship.

"My family," was the reply. That was a different matter entirely. There was no more need for questioning. "They left yesterday on the Scarlet Tempest."

"A fine ship," said Captain Shaw appreciatively, "They'll have made good time."

"Then we must make good time too," said Mr Turner forcefully. Captain Shaw grinned, something he did not often do. He stroked his grizzled beard and nodded. Time to see if the stories of Turner being a fine sailor were right too.

♠♥♣

"Ya! Tera! Cye!"

"I think she's trying to say my name," said Tom optimistically. He was lying on his stomach, making his sister laugh with silly faces. As he stuck his tongue out, she doubled up, her gurgling giggles making Verity laugh along with her.

"That sister of yours sure is a smiler, she'll be wowing all the men with that precious grin when she's a grown lass." Tom wrinkled up his nose. He didn't really understand what Verity meant by 'wowing all the men' but he didn't like the sound of it. Besides, Laura only smiled like this when he played with her and he would not have it any other way.

"Where's your mother got to, I wonder?" Verity mused, clearly bored, "Think I'll go and look for her. You'll be alright on your own, won't you?" Tom nodded, he had everything under control. His mother had only been gone a few minutes, claiming that she needed some air to clear her head, and Tom knew she would not be gone long, he got the feeling she was not very keen on leaving them alone with Verity. Laura was dribbling on her front, her little mouth stretched in a smile as she looked up at her much adored brother.

"Tera!" she said, "Tera!"

"No," said Tom laughing, "Tom."

"Tera!" Tom did not even notice when Verity slipped from the room, not to look for Elizabeth as she had said but rather to see if she could steal a few minutes with that rosy cheeked deck hand with the bright smile and the quick hands. She did not intend to be away long enough for her to be missed by her employer, but neither Verity nor anyone else could have known what was to happen next.

♠♥♣

Elizabeth breathed deeply, the wind whipping her hair into her face. She had never experienced sea sickness before and she was not convinced that was what was wrong with her now. She rather thought it was an overwhelming sense of regret. Regret so stifling that even now in the fresh, sea air she felt like there was a hand clamped over her mouth. What was she doing out here? What was she trying to prove? Oh Will. She had thought herself so strong and so independent but in reality she needed Will, for all his rash bravery. Was it not that bravery that had first captured her heart? He would not have left her and the children had they been in any danger, but with his family safe at home in Port Royal he had been willing to sail to the rescue of a friend. That was the Will she had fallen in love with. That was the Will she had married and loved still. If Elizabeth could have commanded the ship to turn back, she would have gladly done so. She consoled herself instead with the thought of another ship following their own, her own brave Will on board. She took one last deep breath before turning round to head back to her children and Verity but there was something strange in the air, something that was not the fresh, salty smell that she had meant to have been enjoying for the last few minutes. Warning bells were already starting to ring in Elizabeth's head before a real bell sounded close by on deck. She span round trying to see what was happening. Connections snapped together so fast in her head that she could not separate them. The smell of burning wood, the sight of smoke and the terrible realisation that the ship she and her children were on was on fire!

Panic. Rippling, crushing waves of panic. Fear was written in the faces all around her as Elizabeth pushed her way through the people to reach the stairs. Nobody seemed to know what was going on. There was a lot of shouting and some screams. Elizabeth did not stop to think of anything but her two children below decks. She had to get to them. She had to reach them. No doubt they had heard the commotion by now, Elizabeth just hoped that Verity was waiting for her to get to them before following everyone up on deck. People kept knocking into her in their hurry to get past and more than once Elizabeth had to fight to keep to her feet. She pushed herself onwards. There was the door, her children beyond it.

"Tom! Laura!" Their names burst from deep within her sounding harsher than they had ever done before. Before she could reach it, the door opened and there stood Tom, his eyes huge in his round face. In his arms, her eyes squeezed tight shut, was Laura, her limbs stiff with fear. Elizabeth collapsed to her knees, enveloping them both in her arms.

"Where's Verity?" she asked without looking round.

"She's gone," Tom whispered, "What's going on? Why is everyone running?" Elizabeth took Laura from his arms. She whispered a few soothing words in her daughter's tiny ear and Laura relaxed enough to curl up against her mother. In other circumstances, Elizabeth would have cradled her and sung to her until she fell into a safe, warm sleep but there was no time. She stood up, taking Tom firmly by one hand.

"Where are we going?" Tom asked, his voice rising higher and higher in his panic, "What's happening?"

"It's alright," said Elizabeth trying her best to be soothing, "There's been an accident and we need to get off the boat."

"An accident?" Tom was breathless, Elizabeth was pulling him along too fast but she dare not stop. The smell of smoke was getting harder to ignore and every time she turned a corner she was sure she was going to see bright, leaping flames. Nothing prepared her for the sight that met her eyes when they made it up on deck. Tom's questions stopped as his jaw dropped open, his eyes reflecting the mast towering above them, its sails ablaze. His grip on Elizabeth's hand suddenly tightened and then he was pulling at her, trying to get her to move but Elizabeth could not get her legs to cooperate. She was standing on a ship with her children and it was on fire. This couldn't be happening. This was a dream. In a moment Will would lean over and wake her up, and hold her while she sobbed.

"Mummy, we have to go!" Tom shouted and Elizabeth knew that this was no nightmare, this was real and she had to act. She turned sharply, surprising Tom and almost throwing him off balance. There were people shouting directions, trying to shepherd people into the long boats. Elizabeth began to walk quickly, almost run, towards the nearest boat. If anything happened to Laura or Tom, Will would never forgive her.

"Miss, step this way, quickly now."

To get down to the boat, which was already floating on the dark water, Elizabeth had to let go of Tom's hand. She made him go first, the fear that he would be pushed aside if she wasn't there chilling her heart. Laura had started to cry, her screams joining countless others, rising to join the wind that was spreading the flames ever onwards. None of them would ever find out the cause of the fire, a simple oil burner left unattended, knocked over by the swell. There was no time to question how or why, there was only the chance to escape, to survive. It was only when all three of them were seated in the crowded longboat, the men rowing them away from the ship, that Elizabeth grasped what had happened. They were adrift in the middle of the ocean. A clap of thunder overhead made everyone look up. Tom shivered and tried to bury himself deeper into his mother's side. Elizabeth did her best to comfort him and the now silent Laura but she could not keep the rain off their heads or conjure up another ship to take them home. She could only hold them, close her eyes and pray that they would be alright.

♠♥♣

Captain Shaw had been watching Mr Turner on and off since they had left Port Royal. The lad had pitched in with any job that needed doing, proving himself as more than capable at every task. His preoccupation only became obvious when the jobs were done, in every spare minute Will was looking out across the ocean, shielding his eyes with one hand and leaning right out to give himself a better view. He had borrowed a spyglass off one of the crew during the day and was looking through it now, scanning every inch of the water as if hoping to conjure something up from the depths. Even now, with a dark storm rolling in, Will was still trying to spot the Scarlet Tempest on the horizon.

"Better to rest," said Captain Shaw stepping forwards, "You'll see nothing when it starts to rain." The first few spots started as he spoke and Shaw knew that in a few short minutes they would be witnessing a deluge. Reluctantly Will lowered the spyglass, folded it carefully and slipped it into his pocket but still he did not turn and head inside.

"They can't be too far ahead," Captain Shaw assured him. Will nodded, forcing himself to believe. He gave the Captain a very small smile before heading off without a word. Captain Shaw watched him until he was out of sight then headed towards his cabin. He had no intention of being soaked to the skin if he could help it. The boy needed to stop worrying, it was putting everyone on edge.

A/N: And things go from very bad to even worse! Thank you for your comments on the last chapter, what do you think of this one?