Anamaria passed Kate on her way to the cabin. She made her way over to Jack. "I put fresh beddins' on yur bed. Though you certainly don't deserve it after the way you kept us waiting today!" Anamaria told him.

"But I returned, didn't I? And with more eye-appealing grub than we've had in a long time." Jack reminded her, grinning.

"You just got lucky. If wasn't for that Miss Swann and nice Mr. Turner providin' for us, it's behind I'd be a-leavin' you, and this time I would not come back for ye."

Jack gave her the look. "Dear, sweet Anamaria." He grinned.

"Don't start, Jack." She warned him.

"Always feisty, always the boss, always on fire, always beautiful..."

"You can stop right there!" Anamaria set her jaw. Jack was her friend, and they both knew how the other operated. Anamaria could get angry-oh, so very angry!-, but Jack knew he could cool her off by flattering her with the right words. And she knew that in order to get what she wanted out of him, she could either slap him silly or threaten him with a frying pan.

"Always hard-headed. Always stubborn." Jack finished. "Much obliged, luv. The sheets were filthy, and I'm not partial to bed bugs."

"You'd be sick and dead from unsanitary livin' conditions by now if it wasn't for me! And don't you forget it either, Jack."

Jack bit his lip. "You have a very persuasive way of assuring that that never happens." He teased timidly. "Go on, Anamaria. You could use some sleep. You've done outdid yourself today, especially with our new recruits."

"I didn't think you ever noticed what a task it is, looking after you and your precious ship."

"A mere oversight. I notice more than meets the eye."

"No doubts there." Anamaria shook her head. "Thank you, Jack. I be all in and 'll have to rise before the sun wakes up, to scrape together enough breakfast for us all. You can be chivalrous, even charming. When you want to be."

"I do that quite a lot, yet people are always surprised!" Jack exclaimed. Anamaria actually smiled gratefully at him. She bumped into Gibbs on her way to her bed. "Do ye happen to have an extra nip on you, Mr. Gibbs?" Jack asked when he sensed his presence.

"Jack, you still haven't told me exactly what it is we're after this time." Gibbs said.

"I'll take that as a no." Jack sighed. "Not to worry. I'll fetch it myself."

"Jack, the British seas is overflowing with navy officers. Why do you want to just float right into their line of fire?"

"Not here." Jack told him. Gibbs followed him down into the bowels of the ship, to the rum cellar. It was quiet and dark down there, and they could speak alone. "Ah, there you are." Jack sighed in satisfaction when he found the drink he wanted.

"So?" Gibbs grunted impatiently.

"Have a seat, Gibbs." Jack said and he took a stool while Gibbs sat on a stack of burlap sacks. Jack offered him some rum which he gladly received.

"To England then, is it?"

"Nigh." Jack took a swig of whiskey. "Our true destination is far more desolate and uncivilized. Bermuda."

"Bermuda?" Gibbs gaped. "What for?"

"Have business in England, which leads to business in Bermuda, which then leads to business back in England."

"Jack, are ye goin' to tell me the true nature of our voyage or not? Not everyday we sail to England! Don't tell me, let me guess: we're out to steal some famous diamond! Or better yet, the Crown Jewels!"

"Not all jewels are encrusted in royal crowns, mate." Jack said quietly. "Mr. Gibbs, we're going to find Captain Summers."

"Summers...Summers? Hold up a second. Captain David Summers?!"

"The same." Jack nodded.

"Jack, it's impossible. He's as good as dead."

"Is he now?" Jack asked skeptically.

"You a-knowin' somethin' that I don't a-knowin'?" Gibbs narrowed his eyes.

"I cannot bring myself to admit or deny that the good captain is most likely up there chatting with his Maker. But something's come up. And I think it's high time I went and looked for the most unfortunate mate. When I was escaped the clink in London, I set out to find the Pearl. And nigh gave up good old Summers for dead or better off dead. Savvy?"

"Aye. Ye figurin' he might a been thrown in with the rest of the poor devils on the slave lot."

"True enough. But I never did find out yes or no to that question. And now I am being pressed to do so."

"Yur conscience gettin' to ya, Jack?" Gibbs prodded quietly. "That's a new one."

Jack twitched his mustache. "Maybe a trifle." He mumbled. "Someone has requested Summers' presence, and it be up to me to deliver him."

"Who?" Gibbs asked in bewilderment. "Which pirate cap'n did you do in this time?"

"Nay, but it is under extraordinary yet slightly domestic circumstances that we even consider sailing to Bermuda to find a possible long since passed soul that is most likely looking down on us with vexation at our most inconsiderate timing."

"Jack, you're not making sense, again."

Jack leaned in closer. "We have his little girl." Jack whispered stealthily. At first, Gibbs only looked more confused.

"Jack, Miss Elizabeth already has a f...the new lass! That Kate girl, eh?" Gibbs leaned in more closely. Jack nodded. "Well, isn't that something? A band of humble pirates sail around the world to seek out the long lost daddy who shall indeed reward them after he be rescued."

"I seriously doubt it. More than likely he'll want to slit me throat for letting his child on the Pearl."

"Do the others know?"

"They do not. Nor shall you mention it to them. It could end up very bad, for all of us. Especially Captain Summers' daughter. No one must know who she is. You'll not use her surname, savvy?"

"Aye, Jack. I get it. Twas an ugly tangle they got caught up in, to be sure. The Summers' name is not a friendly topic on the British soil, particularly London. But does she know who she is, what it would mean?"

"She knows the gist of what happened. But not everything." Jack held up his index finger. "I may have left out a detail or two. But for the good of us all."

"What about Turner and Miss Swann? What's to keep them from slippin' the truth to the wrong characters?"

"Persuasion, mate. I've no doubt the girl with share her long lost past with her two childhood chums. Will can be stupid, But he will not risk the life of a friend. That we know for certain."

"Aye. But if David Summers be dead, then we just be wastin' a whole trip. Jack, what's possessed you to venture out on this one?"

"A favor, long overdue." Jack said simply, taking a sip of rum.

"Well then, good luck be to us." Gibbs tapped Jack's bottle with his flask and they both drank.

"And to Captain Summers." Jack remarked thoughtfully.

A 'favor, long overdue'. Hmm. What is that favor? Does Summers owe it to Jack, or does Jack owe him one? With Jack orchestrating this venture, who knows?

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