"Not All Treasure is Silver and Gold"

Chapter 24

Dani paced her kitchen back and forth. She was anxious. Jack had left over three weeks ago, so he should be back now. That ship is too fast not to be. But Dani was really worried that Jack had been caught. Who knows what had become of Jack, Will and the crew? And to top everything, she felt trapped in her own house. There was a guard posted at each door. She couldn't leave the house without clearing it with them first. And that took twice as long as it should because they felt the only person who could give permission was Lord Norrington. (Eventually, James got so upset with the constant interruptions that he told them to let Danielle use her own judgment.)

Elizabeth was worse than Dani. Much worse. Bordering on losing her mind. And today, Dani got to be witness to it firsthand. Elizabeth was throwing teacups and saucers at the floor and wall.

"What the hell are you doing?" Dani asked, leaning on the doorframe.

"Packing," Elizabeth snarled. "Anyone could see that."

"For what?" asked Dani, ignoring the attitude she was getting.

"They reminded me of Will," she said.

"So why are you putting them in pieces on the floor?" Dani asked.

"I don't want to be reminded of him. He's not here," Elizabeth said angrily.

"I know that, love. Believe me, I know," Dani said, stepping towards Elizabeth to hug her. But she could get close enough; Elizabeth threw another cup, barely missing Dani's head.

"Now you see here, girl. My husband is gone, too. But that is no reason to destroy expensive china."

"This is your husband's fault! All his fault. Him and his stupid need to be rich and infamous."

"Your husband could have said no. But he chose to go, savvy? Jack did not make him go," Dani shouted.

Then a tiny voice broke their arguing.

"Mommy?" Marie, who was barely two, said quietly.

Both women looked at each other and tears formed in both their eyes. This was a ridiculous argument.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Elizabeth said, kneeling down by her daughter.

"Why are you and Aunt Danielle arguing about?"

"Nothing, Marie. We're not fighting anymore."

"Elizabeth, we need to be a united front right now. Truce?"

"Truce."

And they shook on it.

"Marie, run upstairs and look after your brother and Rosemary."

The little girl ran upstairs leaving Dani and Elizabeth to clean up the mess of broken china.

That night Dani was walking with Rosemary. They were going to go home and sleep. But Dani didn't get far. Lights were shining through the windows. Someone was there. But there was no sign of The Adventurer in the dock. It wasn't Jack.

She turned straight around and headed back to Elizabeth home.

She pounded on the door as hard as she could. She was scared. Who was in her house?

THE ADVENTURER

Jack surprised himself. He wished he were home. Before he was married with a child, the water was his home, but he felt something was missing. But he shook himself mentally and continued to sail towards Singapore and away from his home on land.

Will was the angriest that he had ever been at Jack. It was to be a short trip to Tortuga, not a trip around the world. He needed to get home to take care of his wife and children. Apparently Jack didn't have those same feelings of protection and care for other people but Will was an altogether different person. He didn't want his children to grow up without a father like he himself had. It wasn't fair. Will had made the conscious decision to be there for his family then let himself be swayed by Jack once again. "Damn him!" Will shouted to no one.

Will had taken to sitting alone in his cabin. He had grown used to having Elizabeth with him in the room son long ago and felt so lonely now. Singapore had better come soon.

Jack paced his deck. He was lonesome, too, but her refused to let it show. He was Captain Jack Sparrow for crying out loud. He couldn't be affected by love. And of course, he was. He was completely overcome with wanting his wife. Jack needed to focus on locating Singapore Steve and his lousy crew.

Singapore Steve was the absolute worst pirate that sailed these seven seas. Not to mention the shortest. And he fancied himself a better pirate than Jack; if that were even possible. He had three different colors of hair, all perfect stripes.

The day he tried to mutiny, Jack just laughed. He picked up the short man and tossed him back onto the dock.

So Jack couldn't actually believe someone could confuse him with this idiot. He also couldn't believe this guy could have actually gotten he jewel. But he was the only person Jack would ever consider. Singapore Steve was as un-clever and un-original as Dani's eyes were blue.

So Jack set his mind once again and went around his ship shouting orders.

PORT ROYAL

No one answered the door at Elizabeth's house. Elizabeth must have gone to bed. "Damn!" Dani swore under her breath.

She stopped being scared when she realized she had to defend her home. But what about Rosemary?

Elizabeth's door was locked, so Dani ran to the fort. She was let in by a guard and handed him the child.

"Give Rosemary to Lord Norrington; tell him that I will be back for her later. I have some business to attend to," she said, kissed Rosemary on the forehead and grabbed a sword on the way out. She was ready.

Dani slinked up to the house. She could hear men laughing and smashing things. Her things. Jack's things. Her anger grew.

She went in through the back door and surprised three men in her kitchen and they were dead. Dani was angry. But she learned quickly that there were more men in the house. She fought off half of the dozen men who had come running, but was in complete shock when another walked down the stairs, holding a model of a ship from Rosemary's room.

"Very precious, I must say. Where is the lovely child?" the man asked.

"In a safe place. Away from you lot."

"Ah. But you didn't know it was me, did you?" he said, looking her up and down.

"No. I can't say that I did. What are you doing here?" Dani asked.

"Coming after something Jack has always wanted. I can take it for my own, now that he's gone."

"Gone?"

"He's out looking for me."

"Steve, you have got to be joking. Why would he be out looking for you?" Dani laughed at the absurd idea. She was there when Jack tossed him off.

"Because I have the Heart of India. And the Indian government thinks he did it. It's all going according to plan"

"And that plan would be?" Dani asked, hoping he was still stupid enough to answer her question.

"Jack'll be locked up forever and I will be the greatest pirate ever. And I'll have the beautiful pirate, which I stole, to prove it."

"Is she blind or are you paying her?" Dani said, laughing.

"No, wench. It's you."

"Over my dead body," Dani gritted her teeth.

"It's not so much that I actually want you as my wife, you aren't nearly the cultured woman I deserve, I would just like the opportunity to make Jack even more angry."

"You're a sad, strange little man," Dani laughed again. "And Jack's too clever for you. You'll never succeed."

"We'll see. Grab her boys!" he said to his crew.

The remaining crewmembers bound her hands and gagged her mouth. She was being kidnapped. She was beating herself up mentally for doing this. She should never have gone in alone. But it was too late now. Where were they taking her?