Chapter 9: Tortuga Troubles and Captain Teague
Jack started to ask where Jason had gotten too before spying the youngster looking eagerly around the crew at the town awaiting them.
Smiling, he turned to address the crew.
"Listen up mates, I've got some matters to attend to and-"
"Be they Miss Scarlet or Miss Giselle?" Gibbs interrupted.
Snickers arose from the crowd of pirates and Jack rolled his eyes. The darkening sky overhead cast a pinkish glow about the streets of Tortuga.
"Quiet man." Jack responded to Gibbs who smirked. Jason rolled his eyes but didn't comment. He knew all too well what "matters" his father was talking about and didn't wish to know about. "You lot keep an eye on me son, eh? Had some trouble the last time we was here."
The boy looked over his shoulder at the sound his father's voice, a scowl appearing on his face. "I said I was sorry about that!" Jack ruffled the boy's hair, giving a teasing smile. It only made the boy scowl more and mutter under his breath darkly. Gibbs grinned and patted Jason on the back.
"He'll be fine, Cap'n."
Marty grinned and elbowed Jason until he laughed. "Aye, he'll be with us. Won't let him out of our sight."
Ana smirked. "We'll keep the little troublemaker out of fights."
Jack nodded, silently thanking Gibbs in his ability to pick out a decent crew. He knew this lot of pirates would keep an eye on the boy. Especially Gibbs and Anamaria.
Anamaria craned her neck to see the fight about to happen across the tavern.
"I can't see a thing." She scowled and stood up. Jason poked Marty, who was way too short to get a good look and was pouting at the table.
"You can go see if you want. I don't think Dad would care as long as you guys didn't leave the tavern."
That made the crew scramble away and Jason snorted as he went back to his drink. Jack wouldn't let him have any straight rum, stating that as his father it would be unwise to do so. Jason pointed out that he had on the island, but Jack waved it off, saying that they weren't marooned anymore. He was still drinking rum, but it was watered down rum mixed with nutmeg, a bit of milk, and sugar. Still rum, but not as strong. It was warming him inside and making him very sleepy.
Blinking, he looked over to see Mr. Cotton still sitting there with him and smiled.
"You didn't have to stay with me." He said to him. "But thanks." The older man smiled back. He made a couple of gestures and Jason watched his hands move. Cotton had picked up a few hand movements to signify talking.
"No, I didn't want to watch them."
Before Cotton could sign something else there came a commotion outside the tavern and the fighting stopped. Silence filled the once lively room and Jason shifted in his seat uneasily. He didn't think it ever got quiet here unless it was the wee hours of the morning.
The sound of chains dragging and crying filled the air and Jason got up from his seat, pushing his way through the crowd of pirates that were gathered around the entrance to the tavern. He ended up being nearby some of the crew as he got to the front, Cotton following behind him, and finally saw what had the crowd of drunks so quiet.
Women and children of all ages were being led down the street in long lines, each one chained to the other by an ankle. Jason swallowed thickly. They were slaves. Men walked around them snapping whips or using their hands to put others in their place and the boy shrank away from the sight.
"Go get Jack, they shouldn't be here on this side." Anamaria said quietly and Gibbs disappeared. Whispering pirates all around them seemed to be wondering the same thing. Why were the slavers on this side of Tortuga? Jason hadn't even known there was a side they didn't go too. Quite suddenly the groups were shoved together and the crowd of spectators began moving further back or dispersing, each person restless and uneasy.
"What's happening, Ana?" Jason questioned quietly, trying to keep the fear from his voice. The she-pirate didn't answer only shook her head. The boy watched as the men began separating the women from the children and he felt a sick feeling in his gut. One of better dressed men near the slavers turned around and Jason froze under the man's piercing blue eyes. A wide grin slowly spread across his face, almost as if he recognized him. The man's head tilted as he looked at the people around him and then back at him, eyes lit up in a delightful surprise that sent a chill of foreboding down the boy's spine.
"Dad?" Jason squeaked out and couldn't hide the fear this time as he backed up further. There was something very wrong going on. A strong hand landed on his shoulder and he jumped, looking up to see Jack with his eyes narrowed towards the slavers. He was slightly disheveled, his clothing hastily put on, and Jason didn't really want to think about the reason why. Especially with the dark red lip stains on his neck.
"Someone take me lad back to the ship." Jack said sharply, his voice taking on the tone it had Jason's first night in Tortuga. "Now." He kept a hard grip on his son, steering him away from the scene about to unfold and towards the other pirates. The man had disappeared, and Jason looked around nervously, wondering where he had gone too.
"Come on, lad." Gibbs said lowly.
"What's happening? What are they doing?" The boy asked and then got his answer as pleading cries filled the air. Women calling for their children and children calling for their mothers. Jason fell silent and huddled closer to older pirate with a frightened shudder. Gibbs tucked an arm around him reassuringly.
"I got ya, lad."
The man's evil smile haunting him with a dark promise. The boy had a feeling he hadn't seen the last of him.
"What the hell were they doing around there?" Ana snapped as they neared the docks, the sounds of screaming had long died down and now the liveliness that was Tortuga began once more. Like nothing had happened. "I'd like to kill every one of them."
Gibbs nodded with a frown of his own. "Aye, something was definitely off 'bout it. They never come through like that." He noticed the paleness on Jason's face and cleared his throat, giving the others a meaningful look. "Well, they won't bother us. We ain't got nothing they want." He, Ana, and Cotton had decided to come back with Jason to the Pearl.
"Aye, they wouldn't dare step one foot on ya da's ship." Ana added and Gibbs felt the boy relax slightly and patted him.
"S'all right now, lad."
"I'm sorry you guys had to come back with me." Jason said and rubbed his arm with embarrassment. "You should be back in the tavern and not stuck here."
Gibbs stopped and knelt down in front of the boy who was glaring at the wood below him. "You ain't got nothin' to be sorry about, lad."
"Gibbs is right, Jason." Ana said softly and stroked the boy's hair. "Ain't yer fault."
"Yeah, okay." The boy muttered and Ana looked at Gibbs helplessly.
"Say, lad." The boy looked up at him and Gibbs grinned at Jason encouragingly. "You want to come with us tomorrow to get some things for ship?"
The boy brightened a bit. "Aye!" He said, feeling much better as his feet landed on the deck of the Pearl. He stifled a yawn and Ana smirked at him. Gibbs winked at him.
"Best get some sleep then, lad, so you'll be ready to spend all day in town."
"He literally means all day." Ana stated and Gibbs frowned at her. She shrugged. "Takes you just as long to make a list."
Jason arched an eyebrow. "Well, with a ship like this that's been under an uppity old goat for years, it needs a lot of time for a good list." Gibbs barked out a surprised laugh and ruffed the boy's hair affectionately.
"Awk, wind in the sails!" Cotton's parrot squawked and they snickered.
"Guess we got that." Jason told Ana who rolled her eyes with a playful smirk.
"Off to bed, little pirate."
"How's the lad?" Jack asked as he stepped up on deck. Gibbs shook his head.
"Was acting a bit oddly on the way back. Kept worryin'."
Jack stroked a hand over his chin. "About what?"
"He said he was sorry for us having to come back to the ship." Gibbs murmured and Jack rolled his eyes. "I tried to tell the lad that it wasn't anything to be sorry about but he-"
"Acted aloof about it?"
The older pirate nodded. "Aye."
Jack shook his head. "Boy, doesn't know how to let someone take care of him." Gibbs looked grim.
"Well, like you said, Cap'n. It'll take time. Teague will spoil 'im soon enough." Jack snorted. Yes, his father certainly would. "Offered the lad to come with us for a supply run tomorrow."
"What'd he say?"
"He was eager to go."
Jack nodded. "He asleep?"
Gibbs shook his head. "He's in your cabin now, but I doubt he's sleepin'. Probably still spooked from what he saw. 'Spect that was what brought him up from his hammock in a rush."
Jack grimaced. "Aye, that wasn't somethin' the boy shoulda seen." He looked toward the cabin and then at Gibbs. "He say anything about it?"
"No, but...somethin' he saw scared him awful, Jack. Was pale as a ghost."
The pirate nodded. "Suppose I'll have a talk with him." He went into the cabin to see the boy sitting at his desk. Jason was peering at a map on the top of it, his eyes scanning over it, but he could see that the boy wasn't really taking it in.
"Whatcha doin' awake, lad?" He asked, shutting the door behind him.
"Can't sleep I guess." The boy murmured, not raising his head, and Jack smiled grimly.
"Thinking about what happened earlier were, ya?" The boy nodded and Jack sighed. "Lad-"
"Sorry." Jason blurted as soon as Jack sat down across from him. "I just kept tossing and turning in my hammock."
"It's all right, son. After what you saw-"
"One of them kept looking at me." Jason uttered aloud and Jack arched an eyebrow. "One of the men with the slavers. He wasn't dressed like the others and he kept staring at me. Like he knew me." The pirate captain stiffened, and Jason frowned at his knees. "I'm still not sure, maybe I was imaging it… But it was the way he was looking at me. I've never seen him before but he looked at me like he knew me." Jack frowned lightly. "Guess that's dumb."
Jack got out of his chair and went to kneel in front of the boy who was frowning at the top of his boots. "Look at me, son." Jason did and Jack could read the fear loud and clear in the boy's brown eyes. "If he gave you a bad sense, that's not anythin' imagined. It's not dumb to be cautious. No one is gonna lay a hand on you, lad. Not while I'm here."
The boy looked unsure and Jack smiled bitterly. He hadn't had anyone proclaim to take care of him before and the pirate knew that the boy was uneasy about letting someone do so.
"Trust me, lad. I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep ya safe. No one is going to harm ya. Not while yer da's here, hm?" Jason finally smiled and Jack ruffled his hair. "Now how about gettin' some shut eye now, eh? Long day of sailing, pilfering loot for ship repairs, and rowing leaky boats."
Jason yawned and nodded with a laugh. Jack chuckled and pointed at the bed in the far corner. He had already replaced a few things within the cabin to rid himself of anything to do with Barbossa and since the curse pirate could never sleep, the bed lay untouched.
"You can sleep there, boy. Clean and dust free."
"What about you?" Jason asked tiredly, rubbing at his eyes. "I don't want to take your bed." Jack smirked. The boy was practically falling asleep through his protests.
"Never mind it. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep meself." He stood up and pulled the boy up from the chair, steering him towards the bed. Jason sat down slowly on the mattress and grinned, bouncing slightly.
"It's really fluffy." The boy told Jack and missed the dark look that passed over the man's face. How could anyone run a boy off from his home and cause him to sleep elsewhere. The boy had obviously never slept on a decent bed in a long while. And quite frankly neither had he but on occasion in some tavern. Jason yawned and reclined back on the pillows, fighting to keep his eyes open.
Jack chuckled. "Close your eyes, lad." He grabbed the boy's feet and pulled his boots off. "Hm, mayhaps we should get you some new clothes, eh?" He said, eyeing the holed filled boots.
"Gotta fix…Pearl first…" Jason yawned, rolling onto his stomach. Jack tucked a blanket over the boy and patted his head with a smile. "Dad?"
"Sleep, boy, I'll still be here when ya wake up."
"Promise?" He said in a voice so small that Jack almost didn't hear him.
The pirate smiled faintly.
"Aye, lad. You have me word."
The last thing Jason saw, before he finally drifted off to sleep was Jack sitting at the desk, charting their next course. The scratching of a quill and the creak of the ship finally put him to sleep.
Jason felt like he was sleeping on a cloud of fluffiness and never wanted to move. He groaned into the pillow and then heard light snoring coming from nearby. The boy cracked an eye open and spotted Jack sleeping next to him, his mouth wide open. The pirate captain was sleeping on the edge of the bed, half sitting up like he had sat there by accident. The boy sat up, pushing Jack's arm off the top of his head, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes with a yawn. He got out of bed, careful not to disturb Jack and slipped his boots back on before heading out on deck.
"Morning, Mr. Gibbs." Jason said, waving at the man and coming over to stand next to him in the morning sunlight.
"Up a bit early, aren't we?"
Jason shrugged. "Slept better than I have in a long time. So, when can we make a supply run?" Gibbs chuckled. The boy did look well rested and not as uneasy as he had last night.
"Eager, eh?"
"Well, sure! I've never fixed a ship before. It'll be fun."
"And a lot of hard work." Gibbs pointed out and Jason gave him a determined look that for once wasn't quite like Jack's. The man assumed that look was from whoever his mother is.
"I can do it."
Gibbs smiled. "All right, lad. I believe ya. Best be roundin' up the rest who want to go."
Jack snorted as he spotted his son fighting with a goat. The boy was trying to tug the animal by a rope around its neck and lead it onto the deck.
"C'mon, you stubborn goat!" Jason growled, digging his feet into the wood of the gangplank. "Maybe I ought to name you, Barbossa."
Grinning at the boy's words, Jack stepped down from the top deck and came to stand nearby.
"Having trouble, lad?"
"Just a bit. Gibbs wanted me to take the goat back. Well, actually I volunteered too...should have stayed with Marty." Jason muttered, glaring at the goat.
Chuckling, Jack reached into a barrel that one of the crew had stacked there and took out a carrot.
"Try this, son." He waved the carrot at the animal who perked up at the sight of the enticing carrot and stepped after Jack. The pirate handed the carrot to Jason once the goat made it onto the deck of the ship and Jason smiled.
"Hm...Guess it was hungry."
"Goats eat about anything, lad." Jack smirked and watched him disappear below deck with the goat no longer giving him trouble.
Not long after that, Gibbs and some of the crew came up the gangplank carrying more supplies.
"Good man. All repair necessities too?"
The first mate nodded. "Aye, Cap'n. Boy got the goat?"
Jack smirked. "Aye."
Jason raced up from below deck, grinning proudly. "Got her penned up."
The two pirates smiled.
"Nice job, lad." Gibbs told him.
Jack nodded. "Now come with me. I have something to show ya." He followed his father towards the captain's quarters.
"What is it for?" The boy asked, stepping into the smaller cabin that was right next to Jack's. It was a bit of a mess and filled with odds and ends.
"Storage for odds and ends." Jack said and then added slyly: "Big enough for the captain's son to have his own room." Jason turned to him in surprise and the pirate smirked at him. "How about it, boy?"
"Really?"
"Aye." The boy smiled and then looked in the room again. "Have to clean it out first." He sounded happy to do and the pirate felt a bit saddened to know that the boy hadn't had anything that truly belonged to him before.
"You can do that after we head back into town." Jack pulled the boy away and shooed him towards the door. "You'll have to come with me to get clothes. But I doubt they have anything for such a scrawny boy." He teased and Jason scowled when his father jabbed him in the ribs. "Remind me to tell the cook to give you extra, eh?"
Jason shoved the prodding fingers away. "Funny." He rolled his eyes and then smirked. "Think they have clothes that fit you?"
"Oi, what are you tryin' to say, boy?"
Jason only grinned. "Nothing, dad." He said innocently and Jack snorted.
Gibbs, having heard some of the conversation, was smirking at the pair as they bickered playfully down the gangplank.
As Jason tried on a much nicer pair of boots, was positive that this time…things did work out for him.
Later in the afternoon, Jack separated the crew into two groups to work at repairs while they were still docked. Gibbs, Cotton, Marty, Ana, Jason, Kursar, and Duncan were in one group working below deck. Each group would switch every hour or so, taking turns out in the heat of the sun on deck.
Jason sputtered as Marty's mop slapped water at him. "Hey, cut that out!" He exclaimed and Marty grinned.
"Oops." They splashed water at each other, and Jason backed into someone as they kept tossing water.
Ana rolled her eyes and swatted at Jason with her rag. "Knock it off, you two." In answer they splashed her and she laughed before joining in. The crew on deck heard the noise and came to investigate the water fight. This went on until everyone was pretty much soaked.
"It's hot. I'll ask the captain if we can take a break and go swimming!" Kursar suggested after catching his breath. The rest of the crew murmured in excitement and agreement and Kursur hurried up the stairs to ask their captain. They just knew Jack would say yes. Ana and Gibbs both knew that Jack wouldn't say no to a quick dip in the sea.
Jason's smile slid from his face as his companions began shouting with excitement when Kursar returned and gave them the okay. He fidgeted nervously as they practically fled the lower decks without a second glance.
As much as he wanted to join them, he couldn't help but feel self-conscious about the bruises on his back. The one on his face was finally looking faded, but he knew that the ones one his back would linger a longer yet.
Gibbs was the last to leave and he paused when saw that Jason hadn't moved from his spot. "You still down here, lad? I figured you'd be the first one in the water by now." Jason looked up from his boots. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing, just don't feel like it."
"Tell me, lad."
"Well...
Jack came down the steps as the last of the crew ran past him, noticing the lack of a small boy. He stepped off the stairs to see the boy finishing up Marty's moping, getting the last of the dirty water rung out of the mop.
"Everyone else seems to be taking a break. Doesn't seem fair to have you down here alone."
Jason shrugged. "They worked hard."
"So did you, lad."
"Not much." The boy was scowling at the floor.
"You've done more than a lad your age ought to be doin'." Jack countered and clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Come on, lad, sit down a minute." He steered the boy over to some crates and made the boy sit on a stack of them before sitting a barrel across from him. "What's bothering ya?"
"Nothing."
Jack raised an eyebrow then grimaced. "Those belt marks, eh?"
Jason nodded. "Didn't want the crew to see them."
The pirate tilted his head. "Think they don't have similar scars, boy?" Jack rolled up his sleeve, once again showing Jason his pirate brand and tattoos. "Nothing to be ashamed of, son. Some of us wear our reminders of the past."
Jason nodded. "Okay. What about diving under water?"
Jack smiled. "I promised to teach ya how to swim and I meant it. Come on, lad. Don't feel badly. You'll learn and then I'll have a hard time getting ya back out of the sea."
"You think so?" The boy asked and Jack gave him a gold toothed smile.
"O'course, boy. You're a Sparrow." Jason smiled back and Jack ruffled his hair. "What say you?"
"I say...I'll beat you out there!" The boy sprung forward and laughed as he raced up the steps.
"Oi! You little cheater!" His father called back, having sat for a moment in a stunned silence. He pounded up the steps after his son and Jason laughed louder, calling to Gibbs and Anamaria for help. No help was given and Jack eventually caught him.
Hours later, the sun was finally heading out of sight and the stars began twinkling overhead. Most of the crew were below deck by now, cleaning up some more before they called it quits. They had all worked hard and faster than usual, wanting to set sail as soon as possible and now they were ready to do so.
After a while, Jack went looking for his son who had yet to come up from below deck. He found the boy trying to keep awake against the far wall, his cheek resting on the wood. In his hand was a brush where he had been using it to fix up the last of the holes in the walls of the ship. Jack chuckled and Gibbs turned around to smirk.
"Lad's worn himself out."
"Aye." Jack nodded and bent to take the brush. As soon as his fingers touched it, Jason jerked awake.
"No! I do it….almost done." He slurred sleepily and dabbed the brush at the wall and Jack shook his head with a snort of amusement and pried the brush away. This time it came away and the boy yawned.
"Nope. You've done enough for today." He pulled the boy up and lifted him off the ground. Jason swayed a bit and Jack chuckled, steering him towards the stairs. The crew grinned at them, calling out goodnights to the boy who waved back tiredly.
Jack walked him into the cabin and towards the side cabin that the boy had cleared out for his things earlier in the day. "Time for bed, son."
"S'fluffy?" Jason said, pulling his shirt off, and Jack snorted. He remembered the boy's first reaction to getting his own bed.
"That's for me?" Jason asked, poking at the dark blue duvet.
"Aye." Jack almost rolled his eyes until he saw the look on the boy's face. Jason was looking at it with a mixture of emotions. "What is it?"
Jason frowned a bit. "Nothing I guess…It's just…Never had something like that before…Not for a long time at least." Jack smiled grimly. "You sure this is for me?"
"You're gonna have to get used to me tryin' to spoil ya, lad." Jack smirked. "You're grandpa will be worse."
"What about Gibbs?" The boy asked suddenly causing the captain to arch an eyebrow.
"What about him?"
"He doesn't have one."
"He sleeps in a hammock like everyone else, lad."
"But he's got his own quarters. Wouldn't seem fair for the captain to have a bed and not the first mate too."
Jack blinked a moment before barking out a laugh. The boy was certainly clever. "All right, lad. I see your point."
And that was how Jason became Mr. Gibbs' new favorite person in a few short hours.
Jack shook his head at the memory of the overly happy first mate and tapped the boy on the head. "Aye, lad. Now in ya get."
Jason flopped onto the bed with a sigh, sinking slightly into the cushiony blanket and felt his father tug at his new, non-hole-filled boots. "Can do it…" He said, lifting his head.
"Sleep, boy, and argue with me when ya stop talking like a drunk." Jack chuckled.
"M'not." Jason yawned and managed to get under the sheets.
"Are too." Jack grinned and twitched the blanket over his son. The boy muttered something under his breath and soon dead to the world. Jack ruffled the boy's head and headed for the door.
A few days later, the sun was shining, wind was high, and the sky was a bright blue. All in all, it was nice day to be out at sea, but the Captain of the Black Pearl was not paying much attention to the weather. Jack Sparrow sat in his cabin worry etched into his face. His son was somewhere about the ship, but that wasn't what was worrying him. It had been over thirteen years since he had laid eyes on his father and longer of Shipwreck Cove and Jack wasn't too eager about either one. But he had promised to take his son to see his grandpa. And he wasn't about to go back on his word, it would disappoint the lad. They had definitely needed to sail from Tortuga for a while after the unfortunate run in with the slavers which still gave the boy a nightmare every night and then.
Jack frowned at his desktop. Teague wasn't one to forgive quickly and Jack knew that better than any having lived with the man until the age of eighteen. However, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he was bringing the boy. The quick-witted youngster would certainly be a distraction from Jack and perhaps the discussion with his father wouldn't be so tedious. Unfortunately, Jack knew better than that. Edward Teague was smarter than most people truly knew and that made him dangerous to enemies and friends alike. He could pick up just about anything relating to a person just by looking at him. Jack could remember many times when his father had deduced what he had been up to with Jack saying hardly anything or nothing at all.
"Cap'n?"
Jack looked up when Gibbs peered in the doorway pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Hm?" He saw the look on his face and sat up straighter. "Is something wrong Master Gibbs?" Gibbs closed the door.
"We're about there, Cap'n. Was wondering if you'd be taking the helm."
"Aye, Gibbs."
The First Mate shifted. "Jack...have you told the boy anything about Teague?" Jack frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Jack, the boy is a nervous wreck."
"Is he?" Jack winced. "I haven't told him much."
"Thinks he won't like him."
Jack snorted. "Oh, I guarantee he'll like the boy." Eyes rolling so hard it hurt, he smirked at Gibbs. "It's been over thirteen years since I set foot in the Cove and seen me da'. I don't know what to say or what he'd say to me."
"Jack, what have you to be worried about? Teague will be happy to see you."
Jack sent him a look and Gibbs shrugged.
"Maybe it won't be so...?" He trailed off with a grimace. Jack stood up.
"I suppose I should find the boy then, aye?"
Going below deck, Jack found the ten-year-old fighting with the goat that he had brought onto the ship. Grinning, the pirate leaned against the wall to watch.
"Come on, give back." Jason said, tugging on the cloth that the ornery goat had in its mouth. "I was using that." The goat chewed on the rag more and the boy scowled. "Let go." He tugged harder and suddenly the cloth ripped and Jason fell back onto his bottom. "You stupid goat!" Laughter came from behind him and he turned around to see Jack leaning against the doorway to the stairs with a big grin of amusement on his face.
"Havin' trouble, lad?" Jack snickered and the boy scowled at him.
"It's this stupid goat!"
The pirate captain only smirked. "Come, lad. Don't spend your day fighting with the animals." He helped Jason to his feet, still chuckling. Jason shuffled a bit and Jack cleared his throat. "Something bothering you, son?"
Jason sighed before leaning against a nearby crate. "What if he doesn't like me?" Jack was taken aback. He hadn't been expecting that from the boy.
"Of course, he will."
"How do you know for sure?"
Jack rolled his eyes. "Look, son, your grandpa will definitely like ya. A hell of a lot more than me I can honestly say."
"Why?" Jason asked curiously.
"I, eh, haven't seen him in years. Probably not so happy with me."
"Really?"
"Aye, but you don't have to worry about that. He'll like you, boy. And spoil ya."
"Why would he be mad? Half the time you were out looking for the Pearl."
"True. Maybe he won't be so bad." Jack lied, but still saw the worry in the boy's eyes and smiled a little. "It'll be all right, son. I promise."
"Captain!"
Jack sighed and got up, taking his tri-corner hat off. He slapped the hat onto Jason's head covering the boy's face with it. "Come on and you can see where your old man grew up." Jason laughed and pushed the hat back up so he could see Jack smirking at him.
"Wow." That was all Jason could say as he peered at the island ahead of them. The island was the biggest one that Jason had seen in his entire life, well it was pretty much the only one he had seen other than Port Royal, Isla de Muerta, the rumrunner's island, and Tortuga. Gibbs and Jack had told him the entire island was one giant crater on the inside, where Shipwreck Cove and the town of Shipwreck lay.
Jack was at the helm and every so often would look at him to gauge the boy's reaction. He saw the awe on the lad's face and smirked a bit. It was a bit awe-inspiring. Not that he'd ever tell his father that.
"Wonderful isn't it?" Gibbs murmured coming up beside the boy who nodded.
"How do you get in?"
"That is the trick." Jack commented and they turned to look at him. "See that over there?" Jason looked back around at the island to see a dark spot on the side of the island and nodded. "That is Devil's Throat, the entrance to Shipwreck Island." As they neared it, Jason looked back at Jack in alarm.
"Aren't you afraid of crashing?" They boy asked and indicated the rocks that were jutting out from the crevice of the cave like entrance.
"I've sailed through it many times." Jack grinned reassuringly at Jason and then his brow furrowed. "Of course I won't say it's not difficult." Jason looked back at the zigzag way they would have to go through to avoid all the rocks and then back at Jack. "Not to worry though." The pirate continued. "Like I've said, done it before." From the looks of it many of people had crashed their ships around the passage and Jason just hoped they weren't next.
"Just don't hit the rocks." Ana muttered and Jason grinned at her. "So, are you nervous?" She asked and the boy sighed, frowning at the island ahead.
"Yeah…"
"Don't be. Teague's not so scary."
"You've met him?" Jason asked in shock, turning from his spot, and she laughed.
"Oh, yes. In Tortuga of all places. Teague doesn't leave Shipwreck much anymore, but he used go to Tortuga often enough." Jason slowly smiled, feeling a bit better and Ana patted him. "Don't worry, you're not too much like your father, so I think he'll like you." She pushed away from the rail with a smirk towards Jack, who glowered in response.
"Thank you, Anamaria." He said sarcastically and Anamaria beamed. "Very enlightening."
"You're welcome. Just telling the boy the facts." She went towards the rest of the crew as her captain frowned at her.
"Facts." He muttered and then he caught the boy looking and winked. Jason grinned back and soon they were closer to the large rocky cave. Jason wasn't sure he wanted to watch, but he did anyhow, his curiosity winning over his initial fear.
Jack steered them safely through, true to his word and the crew relaxed. The only ones that hadn't shown any doubt were Ana and Gibbs. Jason blew out a breath as they sailed through the darkness of the cave and then… They were there.
"Jason, c'mere!" The boy ran over to see what Marty was pointing at and gaped. The entire fortress was made by hundreds of wrecked ships, its namesake. It was strongly built and looked a bit intimidating to the young boy.
"I'd hate to the be one who tried to sneak in there." He commented and Jack chuckled right behind him, startling the boy. Jason whirled around to face him, spotting Cotton at the helm.
"Oh, there's been a many who have tried it, but none have succeeded. Properly stocked, the whole place could last for months." Jack replied and Jason looked back at the wooden structure. "So, what do you think, lad?"
"I've never seen anything like it." Jason said, amazed. "It's fantastic!"
"Where to, Captain?" Gibbs called from the helm.
Jack sighed, frowning slightly. "Next to his ship, Gibbs. Be for the best."
"Next to whose?" Jason asked curiously and Jack shifted slightly. He looked at the ship they were headed for.
"The Troubadour, your grandpa's ship."
"Oh." Jason murmured and looked the ship over. "It…looks nice." He commented, unsure of how Jack wanted him to react. In truth, he was relieved because the ship didn't look intimidating from where they were and that had to count for something…right? Jason swallowed. He knew better than to think that. Appearances could be deceiving. A week and a half ago, he thought Jack was a murdering pirate about to cut his hand off.
"Aye, I've spent many a time aboard that ship."
Jason looked up at the quiet tone Jack had, and saw he had a faraway look in his eyes. The boy didn't ask what he was thinking of. After a second Jack looked down at him and smiled.
"Sorry, lad. Got lost in me thoughts."
"It's okay. I do that too." The boy said and Jack grinned wider. The dock loomed closer and Jason poked at his father. "Dad?"
"Hm?"
"Are you all right with this?" He had to ask, he didn't want to have pushed him into something.
"Aye, boy. I promised didn't I?" Jack put a smile on his face and ruffled the boy's hair. "Don't you worry none. There's nothing to be scared of."
Jason scowled. "I'm not scared." Jack chuckled.
"No, of course you're not." He teased and Jason glared at him. Gibbs announced that they were about to anchor in and both Jack and Jason stiffened.
The journey into the town of Shipwreck was something that wasn't what Jason had been expecting. In fact the boy actually thought it would be like Tortuga, but the town was much tamer than the wild port. Although, people still ran about and so did the women, it seemed to be more…
Organized, Jason thought. Definitely not Tortuga.
"Not what you were expecting was it, lad?" Jack had seen the look on the boy's face as he took everything in.
Jason nodded. "Well, no not at all…." He trailed off, peering at the shops and houses they passed. Jack chuckled and slung an arm around the boy, mainly to keep him from disappearing among the other children that ran about. Some of the older ones pointed at Jack and waved and a few of the smaller ones, scampered out of their way as they past, sending curious looks at Jason.
The boy noticed that the children here seemed better off than they had at Port Royal or Tortuga even. Jason voiced this and Jack smirked.
"That would be your grandpa's doing."
"He runs this place well, doesn't he?"
Jack nodded. "Aye, that he does." They grew closer to the end of the town and Jack felt the boy, press closer to him. "Still nervous?"
"Just a little." Jason replied and Jack put a hand on the boy's head, reassuringly. They noticed Gibbs and a few others speaking lowly, gesturing at all the different buildings and when Gibbs caught Jason looking he winked.
"Oi!" Jason jumped at the sudden voice and sent a frown up at his father who was waving at an older sailor who was leaning against the doorway to the fortressed building. "Thomas!" The sailor finally spotted them and he almost fell off where he was leaning against the wall.
"Jack? Jackie Sparrow is that really you?" The man came fully into view then and Jason dodged behind Jack. The man was tall, bald and large muscled. He had a few tattoos up and down his arms, though Jason couldn't tell much about them. His thick black eyebrows were arched in confusion over his deep blue eyes as he glanced Jack up and down.
Jack smirked, oblivious to his son's disappearance. "Aye, I know it's been awhile, but surely you haven't forgotten this face, mate."
The man chuckled at Jack's response and finally prompted him to stop staring like he was seeing a ghost. "I can't believe it. They told me the Black Pearl was anchored but I didn't believe it. Ye finally show yer face after all these years?"
"I know. Meant to come, but I didn't."
Thomas nodded before his gaze found Jason peeking out from behind his father. His eyebrow's rose again. "Good lord…Ye've got a young one of yer own, Jackie?" The bald man peered at him with sudden interest and Jason tried not to dodge behind Jack again. The pirate proudly slung an arm around the boy and pulled him out for a better view.
"That I do. This is me son. Jason."
"He looks just like you did as a boy…It's uncanny." Thomas smiled at the boy. "How old are you, lad?"
"Ten." Jason told him.
"Ten?!" Thomas repeated and looked at Jack. "Do you not feed the boy, Jack? He's small." Gibbs and a few others snickered at that and Jason scowled.
"I may be somewhat short, but I can swordfight better than most can." He said boldly. He didn't mind boasting to this man about his sword skills since his father seemed so relaxed around him.
That clammed them up and Jack grinned smugly down at the boy. Thomas' eyebrows rose at the crew's cut off laughter. There was a look of pure determination on the lad's face and judging by the way Jack's crew had responded, the child's statement must have been true.
"That a fact? I'd like to see that in action some time."
Jason grinned at him smugly. "Just be prepared to lose, mate."
Jack laughed and patted the boy's shoulder. "The lad's right, Tommy. Best be ready to lose money." Thomas nodded and Jack looked down at Jason. "Thomas here helped raise me."
"That I did, but ye father was a hard one to teach. Hard-headed. Never listened to anyone at all." The man smirked and Jack rolled his eyes when Jason elbowed him with a snicker.
"Where is he?" Jack asked and Thomas smirked.
"Where do you think he is? Job's never done is it?" He motioned for them to follow and Jack turned to Gibbs.
"We'll be in the Mermaid." Gibbs told him and he and the crew turned back towards the taverns. Jack reached out and snagged the back of Jason's vest before the boy could follow the crew.
"Oh, no you don't, lad." He said and toted the boy back around. Jason sighed, but followed after Thomas. Jack was now behind him, blocking his exit.
They followed the man inside the fortressed part of the city and now they were closer, Jason thought it resembled a giant maze.
"I used to get lost in here from time to time." Jack grinned, seeing what had the boy's interest. "It's great place to hide from bothersome people."
"Bothersome, eh?" Thomas sounded and Jack grinned at him. Thomas' blue eyes shimmered with amusement. "I don't recollect you thinking I was so bothersome when I save you from getting a whipping for being out late time and time again." Jack rolled his eyes and then winked at his son.
"Still, it was a good place to hide."
"But Teague still found you, most of the time."
They went through a set of doors and inside the darkened building. Passing an open doorway, Jason poked his father.
"What's in there?" He whispered and Tommy smiled at the boy's curiosity. He couldn't wait to see the look on Teague's face at seeing a miniature Jack. The boy's impish smile was identical to the Keeper's own which also amused him greatly.
"That is Pirate Hall, where all the Pirate Lords meet."
"Really?" The room was huge and a great table was in the middle, but that was all Jason could see.
"Aye, sometimes we referred it to the Great Chamber." Thomas spoke up. "Your grandpa used to be Pirate Lord of Madagascar, ya know."
"Used too?"
"Retired. He's now Keeper of the Code."
Jack felt Jason looking at him. "Is that part of what you were talking about to Will?"
"Aye, that is one of a great many that is in the Pirata Codex. That is what holds all pirate laws."
"Neat." Jason grinned and earned chuckles from the adults.
"Yer own father is Pirate Lord of the Caribbean."
The boy stared at Jack in awe. "Really?!"
Tommy grinned at him. "Oh, aye. You're a lucky little fella to have so much passed on to ya."
Jason blinked at the words, thinking hard. It was a bit overwhelming to take in. After a whole week and a half of meeting Jack, he had gained a father, a grandpa, and a obviously large and impressive legacy of great pirates.
"Oh."
Jack smirked at the boy's expression. He looked ready to explode from all the information thrown at him.
"All right, boy?"
"Yeah...Just a lot to learn."
The pirate smiled and ruffled his hair.
A loud screech came from up the hall and Jason ducked behind his father. Not out of fear, but out of wariness, he would tell anyone who asked.
"Out! Out!" A gravelly deep feminine voice called out and Jack stiffed. "Out with you all! I bloody can't take it anymore!" Something smashed and a door was slammed shut. A few seconds later another sailor ran down the hall past us, looking scared out of his wits and drenched with something.
Jason heard his father groan. "Please tell me that old bat is not still alive." Thomas only smirked at Jack's expression.
"Thomas, are you out there?! Thomas, get in 'ere!"
Thomas rolled his eyes. "Coming!" The bald man ran down the hall and stopped outside a door. He knocked before opening it. "What do you want me to do now, Esme?"
"Stop yellin' I can 'ear you!"
Jason snickered a bit, despite the fact that he wasn't sure if the voice speaking was friend or foe, and glanced up at Jack who looked sick.
"And shut that damn door!"
"Now hold on, I got someone for you to see." Thomas motioned for them to come down the hall and Jack begrudgingly moved down the hall, a hand keeping Jason from darting away.
"Who is it?"
"Someone you hadn't seen in a while."
"Stop tellin' em damn riddles! E'vryone I hadn't seen in a while is dead, you fool!" There was a pause and then: "Well, where are they?"
"Out here, Esme."
"Well, get in 'ere and let meh see ya, whoever you are! Don't keep an ol' lady waitin'!"
Jack sent Thomas a glare and the man chuckled. "You know you gotta see the old lady first. I'll try not to be long, bringing Teague. Don't want her to kill ya." Jason's eyes widened as the pirate disappeared. The boy tried to sneak away again, but Jack grabbed a hold of him and pushed him first into the room.
Inside was a room with lavish looking furniture and all in all didn't look too bad, but that wasn't what had Jason's attention. Sitting in a large red very well cushioned armchair was a very old woman.
The woman had beady black eyes and they peered at them with a stare that made Jason want to turn and run on the spot. She resembled a very old turtle with lots of wrinkles, her grey curly hair halfway hidden by a red bandana, and she glared at Jack with unmistakable contempt. In her hand was a wooden cane and Jack eyed her warily when her hand twitched upon it.
"What the hell are you doin' back?" She croaked finally and Jason hide behind Jack. "And who's the runt? That a little Jack?" She barked out, pointing at him with her cane.
"Aye, it is." Jack pushed the boy forward somewhat more eager than before. He was desperate not to get hit. "See Grandmama, I brought you me son." He stated trying to look convincing, but the old woman just narrowed her eyes.
"Looks, short and underfed." Jason scowled. The woman snorted at the look. "Well at least he has the family looks."
"Aye." Jack said, relaxing. "Looks just like me, don't he?"
Smack.
"Ow!" Jack clutched his head from where Grandmama slapped him upside the head with her cane. Jason stared in shock. She had done it so fast that he almost hadn't seen her move. He couldn't believe that she had moved so fast despite looking like a raisin.
"Ye think that makes fer, over thirteen years of nothin' from ya! Let's just hope he don't act like ya!"
"Now, I can explain that. You see-" But the old lady just screwed her mouth up and then sucked in a deep breath, bellowing over Jack's fumble excuse.
"Edward!" She screamed, causing them both to jump. "Edward get in 'ere and beat the livin' tar out of ye young'un before I do!" She howled and Jason heard footsteps down the hallway.
"Stop your yelling, old woman!" A new voice commanded from up the hall. "Who'd you stir her up with now, Tommy?"
"Get this-this hooligan and his little whippersnapper out!" The old woman demanded and Jason hid behind Jack when a pair of heavy boots entered the room.
"Are you bothering me mother, boy?" The raspy voice spoke and Jack turned slightly. "Jackie…"
"Hello, da'."
Jason peeked out from under Jack's arm curiously to see a tall man with a crimson frock coat that had faded white floral patterns on the front and he, like Jack, had things in his long dreadlocked black hair. He wore a bicorne hat with pheasant feathers in it over a green bandana. Teague's brown eyes that matched Jack's and Jason's narrowed at his son. Captain Edward Teague was a well-respected man Jason could see and the air of authority practically radiated off him. Teague's gaze never wavered from glaring at him. So, he hadn't see Jason yet.
"Edward tell 'em to get the hell out!" Grandmama shouted from behind them and Jason jumped, bumping into Jack and adverting the Keeper's gaze from Jack to the boy. Surprise flickered across the man's face and then his gaze softened a bit, eyes twinkling kindly and making Jason feel instantly at ease.
"Like I was tellin' ya, Eddie. Yer son's decided to come home and he brought ya somethin'." Tommy smirked from the doorway.
"Edward!" The old woman shrieked again and Jason grabbed at Jack's back, giving the woman behind them a wide-eyed look. "You tell 'em!"
Teague rolled his eyes. "Come into me office, Jackie."
"Have ya had a proper look at the boy?!" She called to him as they started for the door. "He's too short and skinny!"
Jason scowled again, making Thomas laugh.
"We'll cure him of that, Esme." He said to her. "I'll take care of her, Eddie."
Teague nodded at him with a smile and led the way up the hall. Jack looked worried with each step he took and Jason touched his arm, making his father smile.
"She's still, er, a live wire I see." Jack commented trying to start a conversation, but got a grunt in response.
"How old are ye?" Teague asked suddenly, looking over his shoulder at the boy and ignoring his son for the moment.
"Ten, sir." He said politely, figuring it was best to answer respectfully, and looked at his father.
"Hm." Teague replied, his gaze finding Jack's. The pirate scowled, knowing all too well what that look meant.
"Don't look at me! I do feed him! Can't blame me for his size either."
Jason frowned. "Stop talking about my height!" He snapped. "It's not that bad…is it?"
"No, sorry, lad." Jack told him and Teague hid a smile.
He led them down a long hallway and stopped just before a large double-door room. He unlocked the doors and pushed them wide, revealing a large study with extravagant furniture. Large well-stocked bookshelves, large comfy seats and a large oak desk with dozens of odd objects were scattered about the desk. A large window on the back wall, showed most of the town below.
"Wow!" Jason said aloud before he could stop himself and Teague chuckled before eyeing Jack.
"Sit, boy." Teague demanded and Jack knew that despite having Jason with him there was no evading the conversation.
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