Night had fallen by the time Jack and Will made port in Tortuga. Strolling leisurely down the gangplank, Jack extended her arms and breathed deeply.
"Ah! The lovely stench of Tortuga! What do you think, boy? Isn't it something?"
Will sniffed hesitantly and gagged. "It'll linger," he said with great disgust.
Jack grinned and led the way through the narrow streets. Drunks, whores, and miscreants of every kind wandered about, reveling in the general lack of law. Reaching a somewhat respectable tavern called "The Faithful Bride", Jack lead Will around the back
to the stables.
There, sleeping soundly among the mud and pigs, was a filthy man clutching a flask.
Jack silently scooped a bucket of water from a nearby trough and gave it to Will. Standing a safe distance from the sleeping man, Jack tossed her bucket.
The man awoke instantly, brandishing a small shiv. "Curse ya fer breathin' ya slack-jawed idiot!" he sputtered, wiping at the muck.
Jack stared indifferently down while he regained his bearings. Eventually, he looked up. His eyes lit up with recognition as he saw Jack.
"Mothers love, Jack! You know better than to wake a man when he's sleepin'! It's bad luck."
Jack grinned. "Well, fortunately for you, I know how to counter it. The woman who did the waking buys the man who was sleeping a drink, whistle he listens to a proposition by the woman who did the waking."
The man's eyes narrowed as he deciphered what Jack meant.
"Aye," he said. "That'll about do it."
Jack gestured to Will, and he quickly swung his bucket of water, dousing the man once again.
"BLAST I'M ALREADY AWAKE!" he shouted, enraged.
Will shrugged. "That was for the stench."
Jack looked at Will. Maybe the boy was alright, she decided.
Tankards in hand, Jack and Gibbs seated themselves in a back corner of the tavern. Will stood a ways away, "keeping watch" as Jack had instructed him to.
"So Jackie," Gibbs said. "How've ya been?"
"I've done well for myself," she said elusively.
Gibbs stared her down. "So you've been doin' ok?"
"Yes, Gibbs."
Gibbs took a sip from his mug, before carefully setting it down on the table, thinking about what he was going to say next. He had seen Jack a sparse handful of times over the last ten years. After the mutiny, he didn't see her for almost three years.
When she finally appeared, she had been in a state that was unlike any before. She was broken; body, spirit, and soul. She told him everything, everything that had happened to her after the mutiny, on that island- and then she disappeared.
That had been seven years ago.
He looked into her eyes and saw a hard glint. She was angry and bitter; guarded and withdrawn.
"Jack, ya know if you need ta talk about what happened after the island-"
"I said I'm fine Gibbs," Jack cut him off sharply.
"I know but-"
"Leave it be, man. I do not want to talk about it!" she snarled.
Gibbs couldn't help it. He had a soft spot for her and knew she was hurt. Jack sat back and stared moodily at her drink before looking up.
"I'm sorry, Gibbs. I didn't mean it."
"I know," he said gently.
"It's just- I just...I don't know."
"It's ok lass. Whenever you're ready, I'll be there."
Jack looked away, uncomfortable, but nodded.
"So," Gibbs said, changing the subject. "What's this proposition ya got for me?"
Jack leaned forward and said seriously, "I'm going after The Pearl."
Gibbs choked on his drink.
Coughing, he cleared his throat. "Jack that's a fool's errand! You've heard the tales they tell!"
"Aye, and that's why I know where it's going to be. I know what he's up to. All I need is a crew."
Gibbs shook his head. "It can't be done, Jack."
She grinned wickedly. "Yes, it can, especially if said fool has something that he needs."
Jack gestured to Will, who was leaning against a pole trying to escape the clutches of a drunk whore. "That's the son of Bootstrap Bill Turner. His only son."
Gibbs's eyebrows rose. "Oh, is he now?" He smiled. "I think I feel a change in the wind. There's bound to be some sailors on this rock crazy as you. I'll find ya a crew, Jackie."
Jack smiled back, satisfied. She raised her tankard, and Gibbs clanked it with his own.
"Take what ya can-"
"-give nothin' back!"
"Feast yer eyes, Cap'n! All seafaring men, good and respectable before the mast, and worth his salt- and crazy to boot!"
Jack prowled down the line, examining each man carefully. It wouldn't do to have anyone chickening out. That was her job.
Stopping at the last one, Jack felt the pit in her stomach tighten. She hesitantly pushed back the large sun hat to reveal a face she had hoped she wouldn't see for quite some time.
"Ah! Ana Maria, darling! How are yo-"
Jack was cut off with a sharp slap across the face. She winced but pulled herself together.
"Nice to see you too, love."
"You. Stole. My. BOAT!"
Jack winced. Ah, she thought. Yes.
"Borrowed." She voiced. "Borrowed without permission." The woman raised her hand again to slap her, and Jack retreated a step to safety.
"Where is my boat?!"
"Safe...and no longer in my possession."
Ana Maria let out a screech and Jack swore she saw her life flash before her eyes.
"You'll get it back! I'll get it back."
"You'll get a better one." Will interjected.
Jack spread her arms placatingly. "Exactly! A better one."
"That one." Will responded, pointing to The Interceptor.
Yes! Jack thought. What a smart-
"Wait, what?!" She screeched.
But Ana Maria had heard enough. "Aye!" She proclaimed, and the deal was done.
Less than a day later found the new crew out at sea, caught in a ferocious storm. Jack stood proudly at the helm, battling the pull of the wind and waves to keep the ship on track. Adrenaline and salt water pumped in her veins, and each spray of the sea
only increased her pleasure.
"Cap'n!" Gibbs called. "She'll never make it! We need to drop canvas!"
"She can hold a little longer!" Jack shouted over the pounding of rain and wind. She smiled. Soon, it would all be over. She would kill the man who had stolen her life, her ship, and her heart. The end was drawing nigh.
Gibbs squinted up into the rain. "And what's got you in such a fine mood, Ma'am?"
Jack grinned wickedly. "We're catching up."
Hours later, in the dead of night, the storm calmed. The sea leveled to a gentle swell with a strong breeze urging The Interceptor onward. The crew retreated below deck to rest, and Jack remained at the helm. The night was clear and cool, and Jack
shivered in her wet clothes.
"I brought you a jacket, Cap'n." Jack started at Gibbs' voice.
"Thanks, Gibbs." She said gratefully, allowing her first mate to take the helm for a moment. Turning, she gazed up at the sky. She had spent countless nights with him, sailing by the stars. He taught her all the constellations, boasting that one day he
would kiss her under every star in the sky...
Jack blushed and mentally shook herself. Those days have passed, she thought.
"Jack, you should get some rest."
She turned and faced Gibbs, not meeting his eyes. "I'm fine."
"Fine or not, you still need sleep! A crew cannot have a Cap'n faintin' on deck!" Gibbs's eyes softened. "You need to sleep, Jack."
"I can't," she admitted softly, looking away. "I haven't slept well in a long time. Not even rum can lull me, mate."
Gibbs understood. He himself had seen more than his fair share of gruesome sights, and a man can only take so much. The faces of ghosts long dead still haunted his dreams. Turning to drink helps for a short while, but they are always there, waiting. Jack
too had her fair share of ghosts.
"They're there, every night. Every night I see them...I feel them touching me. Their blood stains my hands, Gibbs, just as mine stains theirs."
Gibbs stayed silent, cautious of spooking her.
"I killed them all before I escaped…sometimes I wonder if that's the only thing keeping me sane."
"Ya can't blame yourself, Jack."
She wrapped her arms around herself. Her shoulders hunched protectively inward. "It just feels as if I started it all. If I hadn't found that map to that damned gold…"
"Ya didn't know what it would do! How were you to know it twists the mind and warps the heart? How were you to know what it would do to Barbossa?"
"Do not speak that name!"
"Ye can't avoid the past forever Jack. Eventually, ye'll have to face it. He was dear to ya, plain an' simple. The gold took that away. Tis' not yer fault."
"He was never dear to me! What we had was nothing. He meant nothing." She snarled.
Gibbs regarded her for a moment. He wasn't scared of her and her temper; never had been. He'd known Jack for a long time now and knew her moods. She was frightened and hurting. Securing the wheel, he walked over and grasped her shoulders. Her flinch did
not go unnoticed, but he ignored it and looked her dead in the eye.
"Ye meant a great deal to him Jack, and ye know that. Ye knew it then, and ya know it now. That's why the gold, it affected him so greatly and why he turned on ye. It took his greatest thing: his passion, and turned it against him."
A single tear tracked down Jack's face, and he pulled her into a hug as she broke down and sobbed.
"There there." He said, gently rubbing her back. Gibbs knew Jack was going to kill Barbossa. The curse had a tight hold on Barbossa's mind and heart, but he knew Jack didn't blame him for what had happened to her. She thought that killing him was going
to take her heartache away, make it all stop...he only hoped that when the time came, Hector would have freed himself from the curse, for Jack's sake and his own.
Jack watched as Ana Maria carefully guided the ship through the dangerous waters around Isla de Muerta. As much as she and the younger woman clashed, she trusted the girl with her life. She was one of the few who knew everything; about Hector, the mutiny,
and after. That was probably one of the reasons Ana had signed onto Jack's ship. They had been friends for a long time, and Ana was going to be there for Jack.
Even if Jack had stolen her boat.
The crew was dead silent, watching over the side of the ship as sharks swam through the bones of sunken ships. A heavy fog hovered threateningly overhead, and Cotton's parrot squawked ominously. Jack felt a chill deep in her bones, and a heavy weight
in her chest. He's here, she thought. I can feel it.
Will watched Jack stand stoically at the helm. He turned to Gibbs. "Why is Jack so keen on The Pearl?" He asked.
Gibbs too glanced up, checking where Jack was. He leaned in close to Will. "See, back when Jack was Captain of The Pearl-"
"She was what?!"
"Shhh! Keep your voice down boy." Glancing up at Jack, he saw she was still preoccupied with the ship. He continued in a low tone. "As I said, Jack was the Captain of The Pearl. No one knows quite how she came by it- and wait till you see it, boy.
It's the most magnificent ship you'll ever see. She loves it somethin' fierce. Anyway, she happened across a map, a map that lead to a great deal of treasure." Gibbs paused and raised his eyebrows seriously. "The Cursed Gold of Cortés."
"Cursed? How?"
"See, the gold was paid to Cotés by the Aztecs to stem the slaughter he wreaked upon them...blood money. Because of Cotés's greed, the heathen Aztec Gods placed upon the gold a terrible curse, damning any mortal who took it. No one had ever found it before
Jack...no one knew exactly what it did. But this gold...even hearing about it awakens the curse. The gold calls to ye, warping the heart and mind...it takes ye before ye even take it. But, Jack and her crew didn't know that, the poor fools."
Will sat back, thinking, and gestured for Gibbs to continue.
"So, Jack gathered her crew and promised them all an equal share. That's just how she is. She wouldn't have done it any other way. So, they're forty days out, and her First Mate approaches her and says that since everything's an equal share, that includes
the location of the treasure. See, Jack is an honest woman, and that's what got her in trouble. She gave up the bearings, and that night there was a mutiny. Jack gave herself up for the sake of her crew. She wasn't going to make them choose, and didn't
want the ones loyal to her to be hurt. They marooned her on an island and left her to die."
Gibbs glanced up at Will. "Your father was her best friend. She was worried for his safety."
Will shifted uncomfortably. "How did she escape?"
Gibbs hesitated, looking up at Jack again. She was watching them, and he knew she was listening. He needed to tread carefully. "See, Jack waded out into the ocean and stood there for three days. All sorts of sea creatures gathered around her, and Jack
grabbed some sea turtles and rope, and made herself a raft."
"Sea turtles?"
"Aye, sea turtles."
"And...where'd she get the rope?"
Gibbs opened his mouth to respond, and stopped. He had no idea how to answer that. Luckily at that moment, Jack interrupted.
"Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong again, eh boy? You'd do well to mind your own business."
Will looked up. The same hard eyes that greeted him in his shop were once again present. Her hand rested on her pistol. Will remembered her mentioning it….
Jack turned away to go, but Will called her back. "Wait!"
Jack stopped, but didn't turn around. Her hair swayed gently in the breeze, and he could see her shoulders tighten.
"That pistol. It's for your First Mate, isn't it?"
She didn't say anything and simply strode away.
Will turned back to Gibbs. "Who was her First Mate? It obviously wasn't you."
Gibbs fidgeted nervously, before leaning in and whispering, "Hector Barbossa."
Jack and Will soon found themselves rowing into the mouth of a cave. The floor beneath the water glittered with gold and jewels, and Jack caught Will staring over the side of the boat more than once.
"You know," Jack said, "For having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga…and you're completely obsessed with treasure."
Will frowned as the climbed out of the boat. "That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure."
As they wound through the tunnels, Jack and Will reached a high outcrop where they could overlook the main cavern. Piles of silver, gold, silks, and jewels were heaped around the cave. In the center of it all sat a huge stone chest, pushed open to reveal
the cursed coins. Next to the chest stood Elizabeth...and Barbossa. Jack's breath caught in her throat.
He hadn't changed much, contrary to herself. He still had the same tall, commanding stature and radiated power. It had been so easy to strike up...relations with him. They had been a natural fit, and had responded to each other's needs, strengths, and
weaknesses with an ease that had felt natural and right.
"Jack we have to go now!" Will whispered urgently.
Barbossa was clearly agitated, and as she watched, he back-handed Elizabeth, knocking her down. Her blood boiled as she turned to Will.
"William, listen very carefully." At the use of his full name, Will looked at her.
"You need to get to Elizabeth, and get out of here. I'll distract Hecto- I mean, Barbossa. He and I have a score to settle...some debts are due and need to be paid."
Will looked at her hesitantly, and gave her his sword. "Be careful Jack…and thank you."
Jack nodded gravely. "When you get to shore, signal the ship. They'll get you and the girl to safety. And tell Gibbs...tell him to keep to The Code."
Will frowned. "The Code?"
Jack hesitated. "Any man who falls behind...stays behind." Will looked horrified, but Jack gave him an easy grin. "Don't worry, mate. I'm not dead yet, and I sure as hell ain't goin' down without a fight. Hector won't kill me."
Will raised his eyebrows and grinned a little. "Hector?"
Jack blushed. "Like I said...we have a score to settle. Now go, you insolent whelp!"
Will shook his head, smiling, and gave her one last look before disappearing into the tunnels.
Jack watched from her vantage point until she saw him creeping along the back wall toward Elizabeth. Together, the young couple snuck off toward the boat.
Jack gripped her two swords tighter, and made her way to the cavern.
"You!"
It was Pintel.
Jack turned. "Me!"
"You're supposed ta be dead!"
Jack looked down at herself and frowned. "Am I not? That's odd."
She heard the cocking of a pistol, and looked up, right into the barrel of a gun. She turned but only found more weapons pointed at her. Well, this just wouldn't do. Jack knew she couldn't win. They were immortal and far outnumbered her. She was
an excellent fighter, but not that excellent. Jack heard heavy footsteps behind her, and stiffened.
Barbossa stopped. For the first time in ten years, he could think clearly. The sinister voice that was a constant presence in his head had retreated somewhat, and he felt himself gain control. His mind cleared, his vision sharpened, and he felt.Around
him, the crew shifted uneasily. They could feel it too, but didn't understand why the curse had loosed its hold on them, if even for the moment.
And there she was. Jacklyn Sparrow. It had been ten years since they had last seen one another, and she had changed. Her eyes were hard and steely. Her hair was longer, and she had a new, faint scar running through her right eyebrow and down the side
of her face. She stood tall and proud, bearing two swords and a hodgepodge of pistols strapped into her belt. His heart leapt as he took in her face and slim figure. The crew murmured restlessly, and reality snapped back into place. "How the blazes
did you get off that island?" he demanded.
Hector knew Jack had always been a good actor. She had always guarded her thoughts and feelings, even when they had been together. He had been one of the few who truly knew her, so when she leaned casually on her sword and gave him a lazy grin, he knew
that anger was simmering within.
"When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one thing." She paused, and the pirates leaned forward in anticipation. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, love!"
Hector scowled and turned, the voice creeping back to cloud his thoughts, whispering of blood and slaughter. "Kill her."
Jack was unconcerned. She had all the cards. Time to use 'em.
"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?"
Hector stopped mid-step. "You know whose blood we need?"
"I know whose blood you need."
Jack sat stoically as they approached The Pearl. It had been ten years since she had last set foot on her ship. As they began climbing up the side, Barbossa leaned down and offered her a hand but she ignored it. Landing lightly on her feet, Jack
gazed around and frowned. She knew every scratch, nick, and gouge. She knew every story behind each scar. The ship was a part of her, and she a part of it.
"Barbossa, what the bloody hell have you done to my ship? It's gone to pot!"
Hector glanced over at Jack, ignoring the slight pang of hurt at the use of his last name. "You're ship? I think not," he said, striding toward the cabin.
The crew immediately got to work to set sail after The Interceptor. Barbossa and Jack went below deck to discuss the terms of their agreement. Jack seated herself at the table. Barbossa closed the door behind them and walked around to the other side.
He sat, and they stared at each other. Neither wanted to break the silence. Jack stewed in her anger, growing increasingly frustrated and agitated.
Barbossa, however, was reveling in her very presence. She was here, and for the first time in ten years, his mind was clear. He could taste the wind, smell the salt of the sea, and feel.
He couldn't remember much from before the curse had grabbed ahold of him, couldn't remember Jack. She was just a warm, happy blur of memories just beyond his reach. Hector couldn't focus; all he could think about was what her warm skin would feel like
beneath his hands, what her hair would smell like splayed across his pillow, what her lips would taste like under his…
Jack stood and moved past him, looking out the large window at the aft of the ship. "I will trade you the name you need for one thing, and one thing only."
"And what be that?"
"The Pearl."
Hector laughed. "So ye expect to leave me on some beach with nothing but a name and yer word it's the one I need, and watch ye sail away in my ship?"
Jack didn't turn. "No. I expect to leave you standing on some beach with absolutely no name at all, watching me sail away on my ship, and then I'll shout the name back to you."
"That still leaves the problem of me on some beach with naught but a name and yer word it's the one I need."
Jack whirled angrily and faced him, eyes blazing. "Of the two of us, I'm the only one who hasn't committed mutiny. Therefore, my word is the one we'll be trusting."
She turned once again to watch the frothing wake of the ship. "Although, I suppose I should be thanking you because, in fact, if you hadn't betrayed me and left me to die, I would have an equal share in that curse, same as you."
Barbossa stood and joined her at the window. Jack gave him a sidelong glance. "Funny ole' world, innit?"
Barbossa scowled. "Ye have no idea what me crew and I have been through, Jack. Ye have no idea what it's like...I feel nothin'. Not the wind, nor salt nor sea...nor the warmth of another," he said, reaching a hand out to gently brush her face. Jack cringed
away, turning her back to him. "You're not the only one who's walked through the flames of hell and returned scarred, Captain."
The door slammed open. "Captain! You're needed at the helm!"
Hector hesitated, wondering what she meant. He waited for a moment before leaving.
Jack didn't turn as he left the room.
Hey guys, I know it's been a while but funny story, FanFiction won't let me upload new documents to turn into chapters? I don't know if it's just my laptop or what, but I finally figured out that I can used Google Docs to access my chapters from my
phone, and then copy paste them into the mobile app to make new chapters. So I'm back in business! As always, reviews/comments/feedback is always appreciated!