This chapter is a bit on the silly side, and has FLASH references.

Kate's POV

Over the next few days, we ran into questionable weather. It began with little fog at first, then it thickened and after that, we had heavy rains for three days straight! We had little in the way of decent food, and we were now short on necessary supplies! We tried not to worry, but as the endless miles and miles of blue ocean water dragged on, it would seem that we possibly might starve to death, if we didn't go mad and jump overboard first! Thank God, another ship-a pirate ship, one of Jack's mates he was actually on thinly cordial terms with!-showed up when it did, and we were able to resupply! Jack tried to barter master Thomas off to the pirates, but Anamaria, Elizabeth, and I all gave him the death glare. For some reason, Jack seemed anxious to get rid of Thomas!

Speaking of Thomas, true to his word, he did whatever he was commanded and he was very diligent in his duties. He could often be found telling jokes or funny stories with the other crew members working alongside him, and he seemed most eager to please his captain. Jack, on the other hand, was another story. Even if Jack was impressed with Thomas's fine work, he did very little in showing it! Poor Thomas. He was very skilled with his hands though. He actually did a remarkable job repairing the cuts and bruises of the Pearl, left over from the heavy rains. Only then did we see Jack actually appeared quite pleased and thank the young man for his efforts.

I found a growing interest in Thomas. He was kind, funny, thoughtful, diligent, and very hard-working. He was about my age, but despite his manly height, he appeared as if he were only twelve though he insisted he was 19! I would be lying if I denied the fact that I found him attractive. He had dark brown hair that had been chopped short by his former crew after he'd been caught feeding slaves. He had thick eyebrows, and dark eyes as blue as the ocean we sailed on. But it was his smile that got to me the most! When Thomas smiled, he looked like a little angel, so boyish and eager, genuine and innocent. Jack said he was soft, and didn't have a clue about life, the hardships and all, but I disagreed because Thomas had suffered at the hands of those slave traders, when he didn't have to.

Elizabeth teased me about liking Thomas, but it was only friendly jest. She honestly thought it was a good thing. She only said that she hoped he would be the man I saw him as. Will seemed to have taken him under his wing, almost like an older brother-which I appreciated!-and that didn't hurt either!

The funny thing was, Jack seemed bent on keeping me as busy as any other crew member! It was as if he kept trying to find tasks for me to complete, as if I didn't have enough on my mind thinking about my father! No, I had not forgotten about Father! It pressed on my mind constantly, though interacting with Thomas helped shift away the worry I felt. What I couldn't understand was that ever since we'd ambushed the Cartwheel, Jack acted as if he wanted me to labor about like an ordinary crew member instead of a guest. I guess it was his indirect way of seeing that I repaid him for saving my life! Wouldn't surprise me.

Jack had his hands full. They were still several days from reaching Bermuda, and constantly on the lookout for unpleasant weather. Will and Elizabeth constantly hounded him about their course, and he was peppered with questions from Thomas, the new recruit. "I see now why his former superiors called him the flea." Jack snipped to himself, or anyone else in earshot.

Kate looking to Jack for guidance and so many details that she didn't know about piracy or being out at sea had given him a feeling of superiority, especially over Will. Jack liked the young girl looking up to him, as if he knew everything! It did wonders for his already self-assured ego. That was...until Thomas, the scamp' had shown up.

Now Kate hardly seemed to notice Jack, except when she had questions about her father or the case, questions Jack had answered over 20 times. Now if the girl wasn't spending time writing in her diary pining after her father, or doing a lick of work, she was constantly speaking about or hanging around with that Thomas boy, Tommy Stickywicket he'd been dubbed by the crew thanks to Jack. Jack felt the boy was stealing his thunder. He was the talk of the ship now-the crew was excited having a new face around-, not Captain Jack Sparrow and how he'd taken on the old Cartwheel herself! Thomas was pleasant to him, but Jack always returned his politeness with a scowl. And Jack saw to it-or tried to, rather-that Thomas and Kate were too busy to spend time together. Before the scamp had arrived, to Kate he had been the Captain Jack Sparrow. Now, thanks to the skinny youth, to Kate he was just a captain.

"Everyone likes his stories better than mine." Jack pouted to Anamaria. "What's up with that? And Katie, she doesn't even talk to me now 'cept to talk about her dear old dad, or ask where the stick is. I wouldn't be surprised if she's completely put her poor old man out of her mind, thanks to Skinny. I've a good mind to turn this ship around this minute and forget this whole bloody thing!"

"She's not yur daughter, Jack." Anamaria whispered.

"I know that." Jack growled tersely. "Doesn't make any difference. Why do they spend all day looking at each other silly? Wasting precious daylight."

"I do believe Captain Jack Sparrow is jealous!" Anamaria teased. Ever since he'd allowed young Thomas to join the crew, Jack had been acting ever the protective papa wolf any time he saw Thomas around with Kate! And without her permission.

"Me? Jealous?" He sputtered. "What a most demented thought! I am not jealous. Just that...they could be doin' more productive things, like...like scrubbing the decks, or checking the food supplies..."

"I see. We be on your precious boat and they decided to fall in love without the great Captain Jack Sparrow's permission, is that it?" Anamaria prodded hard, and painful. Jack grimaced. She'd guessed it. But he'd never admit it.

"No. Of course not." Jack lied. "It's just truly a revolting, discomforting, greatly irritating pain in the neck to have to watch two children get all starry-eyed over one another. Will and Elizabeth are bad enough!" He cringed dramatically. "Now I've got two of them! Two pairs of young lovebirds gliding about my ship. My ship! I tell you the truth, luv, I am vexed! Acutely, painfully, exhaustively, hauntingly, greatly, deeply vexed!" He looked pitifully at Anamaria for some sympathy. She smirked at seeing his distress and handed him a bottle of rum.

"Here. Drown your sorrows in here and make sure we've not fallen off the charts!" She ordered, giving him a playful but firm shove before getting back to the helm.

"Much obliged, mate." Jack grinned widely. Ahh, rum. That would soothe him indeed! But he'd barely gotten a swallow when Kate walked up to him. He pulled out his compass to pretend he didn't see her.

"Jack?" Kate smiled big. Jack didn't answer but kept his eyes glued to his compass and his mouth filled with rum. "Ahem! Excuse me, Jack?" Kate spoke louder.

"I could've sworn this compass is trying to talk to me." Jack remarked, still ignoring her.

"Jack?" Kate shook his arm. He finally faced her.

"Oh, it's just you." He sighed gruffly. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Oh, sorry." Kate said innocently. "I just wanted to thank you."

Jack frowned in confusion and glanced at her, bewildered. "You're welcome?" He grunted.

"Will and Elizabeth told me that we're having a little rendezvous on deck tonight, that you're throwing for the crew. I think it's a nice idea."

"What?" Jack huffed. "I did not throw anything."

"Ohh!" Kate gaped, as she realized that Jack was throwing a party, but he didn't know it yet! He'd been tricked into it and she'd just spilled the beans by accident. "Well, everyone is talking about it. They're very grateful, and Thomas dese..."

"Ohh! So now it is that you're gallivantin' around on my ship with Skinny, eh?" Jack glowered.

"His name is Thomas, Captain Sparrow." Kate scolded.

"Sticky vagabond waltzing his way around my beloved vessel as if he owned the old girl. Puh! The idea of anyone else in charge of the Pearl. No parties on board." Jack harrumphed and crossed his arms. "Captain's orders."

"Why not?" Kate asked.

"What do mean, 'what do I mean'? When you know perfectly well what I mean, and what you mean?"

"Huh?" Kate frowned.

"There'll be no free for all party tonight. Those are the rules!" Jack declared.

"Anamaria didn't say that."

"I just declared it."

"You're being stubborn."

"Not stubborn, young missy. Just practical."

"And...besides, that's a ridiculous rule. I don't work for you, Jack."

"I'm the captain." Jack pursed his lips. "My ship, my rules."

"I take my orders from Miss Swann. And she's granted me her consent and blessing to have a n evening with Master Thomas." Kate said triumphantly.

"Not on my ship!" Jack protested. Then he noticed that several pairs of eyes were glaring at him. The crew said nothing but just gave him the death glare. Jack squirmed, and grinned sheepishly, and shrugged. "It was, uh...just an idea!" He smiled defensively, then scurried out of sight.

"You've got to be joking." Will shook his head.

"T'ain't like the cap'n to not have parties aboard!" Ragetti pointed out timidly.

"He was bluffing, ye squint!" Pintel scolded him.

"Was he?" Thomas asked skeptically.

"Of course." Elizabeth spoke up. "Jack's just been out of sorts ever since we found the Cartwheel. He'll come around back to his old self, don't worry."

"Aye." Anamaria agreed. "Now ye all git." She shooed everyone away. "Someone's got Jack's feathers ruffled."

"Mmm-hmm. And I believe I have a strong idea of who that is." Elizabeth smirked.

"Who?" Kate asked, completely oblivious.

Jack found Thomas polishing off one of the cannons. Jack had to admit, the whelp had done an excellent job! The cannon was actually showing off its smooth black surface, minus all the scratches and irremovable stains. Thomas looked up at him and smiled. "Oh, hello, Captain." He smiled. "I was just, uh...polishing it off."

Jack ran his finger across the cannon and scowled when he looked at it. "No good." He grumbled.

"Hmm?" Thomas frowned.

"No good. Do it over again!" Jack ordered. Thomas was flabbergasted.

"Uh, begging your pardon, sir..." Thomas stood up, stretching out his sore back and cramped arms, "but it's...look at it. It's good and clean, sir!" Thomas told him proudly.

"No good." Jack huffed with his arms crossed. "Do it over."

"Sir?"

"That's an order!" Jack demanded, enjoying watching the kid freeze with bewilderment. What irked Jack was he'd never seen the cannon looking so good in 7 years. The boy had done a better job than he could've himself! "You are not to leave this fine, upstanding pistol until it shines, so that I can see me own face in it! Savvy?" Jack growled.

"Yes, sir." Thomas groaned and knelt back down to do his task. He no longer looked so happy.

"Good." Jack said smugly, standing there with his hands on his hips. He deliberately drank some fresh rum in front of the boy, who was sweating profusely. Jack didn't even offer him a drink!

"What I would give for a drink." Thomas panted.

"There you go, love." Anamaria said sweetly, offering him a drink of water.

"Oh, thanks!" Thomas's face lit up. Jack watched from a distance and snarled. "Gosh, that is so good. Thank you, ma'am." Thomas nodded to Anamaria. Kate sidled up to them. "I don't think he likes me." Thomas sighed.

"He's been acting strange ever since he brought you aboard." Kate said.

"Strange? Strange for him? He's already the strangest pirate I've ever met!"

"Yes, strange for him. Let's just say he's been acting stranger than normal."

"You're a good workman, kid." Anamaria assured him. "Even old Jack can see that. I think he thinks you're making him look bad to his crew."

"What?" Thomas gaped.

"Are you serious?" Elizabeth asked when she showed up. Now Jack was more than irked. The three girls on board were flocking around the young scamp!

"The scamp has an appointment with the noose. I'd hate for him to miss it." Jack hissed under his breath.

"Well, best get back to work." Anamaria said.

"Aye, so we can relax for tonight." Elizabeth agreed, then she pulled the dark-skinned woman away so Kate and Thomas could be alone.

"It's still on for tonight?" Thomas asked.

"That's what they say. And even Jack can't change Anamaria's mind once she's made it up." Kate said. She started to walk away then blushed when she shyly whispered, "I'll save a dance for you!"

"I'd like that." Thomas grinned widely, and Kate felt butterflies tickling her stomach when he looked that way. That beaming, boyish face. She couldn't not smile back.

That night, the crew was having a ripping time on the main deck playing music, dancing, singing, eating to their heart's content, and singing. All except Jack. He'd shut himself away in his cabin, sulking with only a bottle of rum for company. It was his ship, and they'd coerced him into throwing them a party, eating his food, and drinking his rum! Elizabeth knocked on the door but got no answer. She tried again, and Jack let out a very exaggerated snore. Then Elizabeth burst in. "I know you're not sleeping, Jack." She said with her hands on her hips.

"It's a very bad idea to barge into the captain's cabin without permission!" Jack warned her.

"Come on, Jack. Why don't you come out and join everyone?"

"This foolish to do wasn't my idea." Jack grumbled.

"But it's not the same without you." Elizabeth persisted. "You're the life of the party. And besides, everyone wants to thank you."

"Do they now? Isn't that nice?" Jack scoffed.

"They may even raise a toast to you." Elizabeth whispered. Jack slightly perked up.

"That's true." He cocked his head.

"I'll dance with you." Elizabeth said flirtatiously. Jack turned to face her. He liked the sound of that. Waltzing around with Elizabeth, in front of Will, punishing the whelp for teaching that new scamp how to do anything! "If you don't come out and stop feeling sorry for yourself, once the crew has had their share of rum, I'm tossing the rest overboard." Elizabeth said firmly, walking out. Jack sprang to his feet.

"No!" He begged. "Lizzie, you wouldn't do that, would you, luv?" He asked with puppy dog eyes.

"If you don't get off your seat and start acting like an adult instead of a pouty little boy, you're darn right I will!" Elizabeth retorted.

"Oui! I'm coming, I'm coming!" Jack waved to her anxiously. He knew she wasn't bluffing. If there were two things that could move Jack to take action when nothing else could, it was losing his ship, or his rum! Will standing right outside the door as Jack emerged. He'd heard everything.

"There he is!" Gibbs shouted gleefully, gripping a bottle neck of rum. "To the captain! Who generously bestowed on us this night of easy times!"

"Aye, to the cap'n!" Pintel hollered in a drunken voice. The pirates raised their bottles, though Will rolled his eyes.

Jack smirked. "Aye, me hearties. Tis a fine night for such a get-together."

The festivities continued for a good two hours. Elizabeth kept her word to dance with Jack, which made everyone laugh. Elizabeth became a little drunk from the rum, but was still able to keep a level head. Will felt awkward when she tugged on his hand and grinned, "Wiiill? Come dance with me! Ppplleassseee?"

"Elizabeth, I think you should sit down." Will told her.

"Oh, come now, Mr. Turner. Dance with me." Elizabeth giggled. Pintel and a few other drunk pirates pointed their guns at Will.

"Oui! The lady asked for a dance!" Pintel slurred.

"If the girl wants ta dance, ye dance!" Another hollered. Will gulped and let Elizabeth twirl him around, as she laughed.

"The whelp's laced up so tight, he's gonna trip himself dizzy." Jack shook his head, drinking more rum.

Kate enjoyed dancing with Thomas. It was the most remarkable experience, feeling his arms around her and looking into those blue eyes of his. Jack sauntered over to them when they were done. "Not bad, mate." Jack shrugged. "Care for a nip?" He offered some rum.

"No, thank you. I'm good." Kate shook her head, giggling.

"Come now, luv. You can't join a pirates' party without a little drink!" Jack exclaimed.

"What, and wake up with a nasty headache like you?" Kate retorted. "I think not."

"I'll try some, Captain." Thomas accepted.

"You?" Jack frowned. "You're under age, mate. Wait till you grow up in about 5 years then ask me." Anamaria socked him in the arm. "Just a sip." Jack groaned. Thomas drank the rum, and found himself feeling very woozy! He'd only had a quarter of the bottle. Jack drank along with him and the two started speaking incoherently.

"Thanks, Jack." Kate crossed her arms. She hoped that Thomas wasn't going to make a habit of this.

"Oh, they'll pay for it in the morning!" Anamaria smiled.

Jack was the center of attention, up till the point when he challenged Will to a sword duel which Will won of course because Jack was quite drunk. Everyone was jeering at young Thomas, calling him Stickywicket so much that he began yelling out, "I'm the stick!"

"Do you blokes always have this much fun when Jack Sparrow comes to town?" Kate asked Will sarcastically as she sat on top of the mast ring next to Will and Elizabeth.

"Not exactly my idea of fun." Will admitted.

"Will, it's not all that bad." Elizabeth grinned. Will chuckled at her. He'd never seen Elizabeth drink before, and while it startled him, he was honestly amused.

"I suppose not." Will smiled back, though he had no intention of letting himself become zonked from the liquor as most of the men were. Elizabeth was fairly sober, but still slightly ditsy.

Jack and the men, save Thomas, were shooting their guns at unused bottles of rum. Of course, several of them missed. Jack had a decent shot going, but then the monkey snatched the bottle and Jack fired, missing the little creature and shattering the bottle to pieces. "Awww," Jack groaned.

"What a way to kill a drink." Marty said solemnly.

"Now, now, fellas. Let's not go to pieces on 'im." Thomas said dizzily. The men laughed at his fitting pun. Jack, Pintel, Gibbs, Thomas, and a few others were slouching on the ground and boxes and coiled ropes. Thomas was not accustomed to drinking like this, no one had ever given him the opportunity plus he'd always thought it better to keep one's head clear. He was drunk as all get out with these carefree pirates who could barely see straight. With the liquor buzzing through his system, Thomas started weeping as he hunched on the ground.

"Oui? What's ailin' ya, matey?" Pintel asked. Thomas looked up at him with the saddest face ever.

"Why the face?" Gibbs prodded. Jack looked at the boy with drunken concern.

"I don't know." Thomas whimpered. "I just...I just love biscuits sooo much!" He wept with big tears.

"Shame. Ain't it?" Pintel eased back.

"Shame indeed." Ragetti agreed, about to doze off.

"Come now. Buck up, mate!" Jack said with gusto, wrapping his arm around the young man. "What you need is more rum!" He poured his own bottle over the boy's, spilling it. Thomas whipped his head up and looked around for Will. Thomas's vision was hazy, but he spotted his friend.

"Will?" Thomas called.

"Aye, Thomas?" Will asked curiously.

"Why didn't King Saul share his throne with David?" Thomas asked in a quivering, weepy voice. "There was plenty of kingdom for both of them!" He cried. "They didn't have to fight!"

"This is becoming a little ridiculous." Kate told her brotherly friend.

"I can't argue with that." Will totally agreed.

Jack raised his empty bottle to the sky and began to sing. The crew tried to join but they either passed out or jumbled up the lyrics. Jack called out the song Elizabeth had taught him about pirates. Thomas cut him off on the next verse and started singing as well,

"Nooo! No, no, no, me hearty, that's not the way it goes." Jack held a shaky index finger in Thomas's face.

"That's the way I learned it." Thomas said back, starting to tilt from a sitting position to a lounging position.

"Ye learned wrong, mate!" Jack boasted, though his eyes were constantly blinking.

"My friends at the orphanage and I made it up, when we were stuck with chores." Thomas explained.

"No, mate. This is the way to sing." Jack corrected him.

Thomas interrupted him again.

"Belay that!" Jack flailed his arms out.

Thomas leaned back against the wall.

"Cute little tune, Skinny. But not very imaginative." Jack told him.

Thomas ignored him and continued his own song.

"We can shoot monkeys!" Jack announced grandly.

"Heeeyyy! You are positively the most brilliant captain on the Seven Seas." Thomas cheered in a swirling voice.

"I am the most brilliant captain." Jack boasted, clumsily drawing out his pistol.

Thomas sang on.

"Gentlemen!" Jack shakily stood on his feet and aimed his gun at the bottles of rum sitting on the railing. "You shall always remember this...as the day...or night rather...whichever you prefer...that you almost shot...Captain Jack Sparrow!" He clicked his gun but it was empty. He stared down into the barrel. "Bloody thing's empty." Then he staggered along the deck. "All right! Which one of ye slimy curs ate me bullet?" He called to no one in particular.

Kate rushed to Thomas. "Thomas? Hey, it's me." She shook his shoulders.

"Oh, hi!" Thomas beamed, even in his drunken state. "Did I ever tell you that you're so nice?"

"Once maybe." Kate nodded. "Come, we must get you to bed."

"Ohhh, bed. I just love beds, don't you?"

Will took Thomas down to his bunk. All the other men were sleeping, save Jack. Will, Elizabeth, Kate, and Anamaria were the only sober ones on board who were awake. "I think we may have overdid it." Elizabeth confessed.

"I am not cleaning up this mess they left behind!" Anamaria shook her head. They can just clear it up themselves."

"Do you think Jack will be all right?" Kate asked. They heard a loud tumble down the stairs into the ship's hull.

"I think you just got your answer." Will snickered.

"Ohh." Anamaria rolled her eyes. "I'll make sure he didn't break his bloody neck!"

The next morning was clear and bright. Anamaria let Jack sleep in, but there was no mercy or rest for the crew. "On your feet, ye lazy sea slugs!" Anamaria hollered at the crew. The men groaned and staggered painfully, with heads buzzing painfully from their fun the night before.

"Must you command so bloody loud, lass?" Gibbs winced.

"If wasn't for me, no work would get done around here!" Anamaria thundered.

"Where's Thomas, I wonder?" Kate remarked.

Poor Thomas not only had a horrible hangover, but he was doomed to spend the duration of the morning throwing up. Anamaria only allowed him to rest. "If my suspicions are correct, rum does not agree with the boy. He's not accustomed to so much liquor."

"How do you know?" Kate asked.

"I've hung around a number of drunken fools, missy. I know when one is not destined to make drinking his legendary hobby."

"Unlike Jack." Elizabeth threw in.

"Ohhh!" Thomas groaned in pain as he collapsed onto the deck from the stairs. "I...don't...ever...need to drink again!" He groaned, holding his sour stomach.

"Good for you." Elizabeth approved.

"Ohh, this is the worst I've ever been seasick." Thomas moaned.

It was well passed noon when Anamaria decided that Jack had slept long enough. It was high time he fulfilled his duties as captain, such as guiding the ship. She barged into his cabin, throwing the doors open. Jack bolted out of bed and rolled onto the floor. He dizzily looked up at Anamaria. "Stop rocking the boat." Jack begged, grasping the floor to keep himself from swaying.

"Stop complaining. You best get to the wheel, Jack. We need to know where we're going." Anamaria told him.

"You're quite right. Just as soon as you stop rocking the boat."

"Get off your sorry behind and take the helm, captain! You're burning daylight!"

Next chapter is the one I've been waiting for!