Mild warning: There are mentions of a slightly sensitive topic in this chapter!

Chapter 6

They reached Tortuga in twelve days. On one hand, it was because of the ship and, on the other hand, because they had come across a sloop from a French merchant and, of course, Elizabeth had decided to get hold of its goods.

The moment they berthed the ship, Elizabeth began ordering her crew to repair the damages, sell what they had stolen, and find people for the ship.

"We'll be here three days, less if possible." she announced, then turned to point at six of them "You'll stay here for today, the rest… I want you back first thing tomorrow morning."

"Not counting me and our former commodore, ye mean…" Jack said as he got down, shaking off the dirt that his hat had obtained during those days.

"Yeah, that…" Elizabeth sighed "I hope that everything will go well for you, Jack. I'll prefer you with a ship if I need your help. Oh, speaking of that… How can I contact you?"

"Just write to C.T. Johnston to The Faithful Bride… Miriam saves my mail." Jack shrugged.

"Miriam?" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.

"A Spanish little girl, her mother works there…" Jack rolled his eyes a bit "It's a long story, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth shook her head, but decided to drop the subject. Just as Jack was about to leave, she grabbed him.

"I'm warning you, Jack… If anything happens to James… You won't have to worry about a kraken or my husband to end you because I'll do it myself. Is that clear?"

"Inescapably." he replied with a bitter smile.

Luckily for both, James appeared just then, interrupting the conversation. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of them, seeing that they were uncomfortable, but decided not to say anything… he took a deep breath.

"Shouldn't we leave?" James asked to Jack.

"Right, we're leaving. We'll see each other, Lizzie. Ta!"

He took James by the arm and led him through the streets of Tortuga, going into several turns, making the other wonder if he knew where they were going. James would have asked, but he was tired since the fight had been over; his ears were still ringing due to the cannons and, despite cleaning up, he was still dirty and hoped they were going to a cleaner place, or as clean as a place in Tortuga could be. Obviously, they were going in a complete opposite direction, towards a pigsty. James sighed.

"Why, in the name of God, are we going towards a pigsty instead of…? I don't know, a more decent place, for example, Sparrow?"

"I need Gibbs and he tends to go there when he's drunk… Which I think that it's almost all the time." he answered, taking a bucket and filling it with water "Just grab this, savvy?"

Meanwhile, Jack was planning as fast as he could. There were many things to do and very little time for all of it. He needed to find a ship, a crew, return Norrington to some kind of good position, find the Black Pearl and find the Fountain of Youth… Oh, and help Elizabeth as well. Well, the latter was only if and when she asked for help, but with his luck, who knew.

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He entered the pigsty and, like many other times, he found Gibbs lying on the hay, with a pig behind him. James grimaced at seeing the scene. Before Jack did something, he threw the water of the bucket and Gibbs sputtered, almost chocking.

"Damn ye, ye fool!" His eyes then focused suddenly and he turned pale considerably "Comod-Admiral Norrington!" He shook his head "And Jack! Ye know it's bad luck to wake a sleepin' man!"

"That must be a new one I haven't heard before." James replied simply "At least we're going to stay here all day, I suggest that we move."

With Jack's help, who had shrugged, Gibbs got up from the floor.

"Come on, ye could use a drink." he told Gibbs.

"... Aye, that would be lovely."

The three of them left the place and directed themselves throughout the streets towards The Faithful Bride, which was Jack's favorite. It was early, so when they entered, most of the tables were empty and the place was in silence, not counting two groups at the back.

Jack went to ask some drinks while the other two went to seat on an empty table. Before Gibbs had the opportunity to ask James something, Jack appeared.

"Well, mister Gibbs, have ye been able to find a crew?" Jack asked once he sat.

Gibbs looked from one side to the other "My apologies, captain, but… Don't we need a ship first?"

"Just answer the question, damn it." he interrupted.

"... Right. I've spoken to some and managed to meet a few that would be willin', but we must act fast… Business has been difficult around here with the…" He glanced at James "Ye know…"

"You can say it, mister Gibbs." James sighed "I know you're talking about the Navy."

Gibbs shrugged at that, not helping at all.

"Well, that's alright. I might need these two days, but I could commandeer it…" Jack scratched his beard, thinking.

Gibbs' eyes popped out, astonished, and he almost grabbed strongly Jack's arm "Ye don't mean… Are ye goin' to steal a ship from this port, Jack? That's madness! It won't work!"

"I know that it's goin' to work… Besides, it's not the first time that I take somethin' from here." Jack argued.

"And which one are ye goin' to steal, huh?" Gibbs huffed; in his voice there was an unsatisfied tone.

"We, we are goin' to commandeer one." he corrected and at that, James couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, to which Jack pinched him a bit "Don't ye worry, former commodore… We're goin' to take a pirate ship, so there won't be really a crime there against yer pompous friends."

"Oh, that is so comforting, Sparrow." James said, sarcastically.

"Choosers can't be beggars." he said, shrugging "Or the other way around, no matter. In any case, we are getting the Ranger."

This time, Gibbs spitted his drink without meaning to and started coughing. James patted him on the back and turned to look at Jack.

"The Ranger? Are we speaking about Charles Vane's ship?" he said.

"Oh, so ye know of him. Yes, Norrington. That Vane." he smiled "I've seen that his ships are here, so it's a good chance."

Gibbs was already shaking his head, refusing to be a part of that, but neither Jack nor James were paying any attention to him.

"Ships?" James frowned at that.

"He got a new one a week ago or so, apparently. She's a bit bigger and goes by the name of Katherine." Jack smiled at that "Now, a pretty bigger ship is quite good and all that, but in these waters the smaller are better."

"Do ye have to steal from him, Jack?" Gibbs asked this time, desperate "He's not a man that we would want to have as an enemy."

"Well, let's see…" Jack said, thoughtful "He has two ships, so he won't run out of business, he's around here and celebratin', so we won't have to fight against all the crew and… He doesn't respect the pirate code at all. Does that work for ye?"

Gibbs grimaced, but sighed, as if there was no way to help it, and drank his entire mug in one sitting. He shook his head, muttered that Jack was crazy and got up from his chair, saying that he would go around looking for the people he had met who had been interested in sailing. Jack said goodbye to him, still holding his mug, and leaned back in his chair.

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As James had found out that day, they wouldn't steal (because that was the word, no matter how many times Jack said otherwise) any ship until they recognized the situation, which consisted in asking a little about Vane's crew, how many days they had been there and when they would leave, what 'loot' they had obtained… And so on.

For the most part, James kept away and left the questions for Jack. It wasn't that he couldn't do the same, but it was obvious that Jack knew where to ask, to whom and many responded, even if it required a price. It was already the afternoon when they returned to The Faithful Bride. James had asked why, but Jack had only answered that he had to see someone before they met with Gibbs in the evening to meet the supposed crew.

When they entered the place, the tavern looked almost full in that moment and there was already some established chaos, though at least there weren't any fights.

Jack ignored all that and headed for the stairs that led to the part where there were some rooms. He passed a few doors, as if he was counting by memory, and knocked on one. James was more than surprised when a girl, maybe of ten or so, opened the door. He was about to turn to Jack and ask for an explanation, but the girl was quicker.

"Jack!" She jumped into his arms; her caramel brown hair nearly flying with her, causing the other to grunt a little.

"You weigh more each day, lass." He complained, to which the girl just laughed. "Is yer mother around?"

"She and Gaby went out a few minutes ago." she replied when she was put onto the ground.

"Oh, goody! Less problems for me." Jack smiled and entered in the room in an instant, gesturing James to make the same, who did so reluctantly. The girl went to the bed, sitting, and Jack kneeled in front of her, taking a doll from his coat out of nowhere. The girl gasped "This, Miriam, is for ye."

"You remembered!" She was about to cry, but seemed to take a deep breath and hugged the doll against her chest "Thank you."

"Ye're very welcome, lass." He allowed himself to smile a bit "Now, I have some questions for ye." Miriam nodded frantically "I'm sure ye have seen Vane around here. How long has he been around?"

"... Around two days, I think. But I've avoided him, like you told me." she answered, obviously proud.

Jack nodded at that "Aye, good lass. What about the booty they have obtained? Do ye know anythin'?"

She shook her head a bit "Just that it came from a Spanish ship, I think. One of the crew said that the battle had been very bloody, but it must have been good things because they were happy."

"Wonderful, thank ye, Miriam." Jack patted her head and she smiled "Oh, did I get any letters?" This one shook her head "Well, stay alert… I might receive one from a friend of mine."

"Alright, I'll keep it save until you come back for it." she nodded at that.

"Good girl." He praised her and got up, going to the door, James following "Well, we should go. Oh, and Miriam…" This one looked up "Next time you open the door, what do you always have to do?"

This one blushed, looking embarrassed and she answered in a low voice "Just open a bit and always be ready to close it again."

"Excellent. Now be good."

She nodded and closed the door behind them.

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Even though he was dying of curiosity, James decided to wait until they were outside the tavern before finally turning to Jack.

"So… The girl, Miriam…" He attempted to start.

"No, she's not mine, Norrington; seriously…" Jack interrupted before the other could finish and sighed a bit, deciding between telling him or not, but he chose to be honest "I saved the girl from a rape about three years ago ... I had the Pearl again, so it must have been after all that ordeal with that traitor Barbossa." He shrugged "Her mother was thankful, but she isn't very fond of me… To tell the truth, she isn't very fond of a lot of people… I think she just lets me talk to her because it makes the lass happy."

"Honestly, she looks like a lovely girl." James nodded at that and before asking, he cleared his throat "Was she okay? When… When you saved her from…?"

"From being raped?" Jack finished "She was scared and crying, but unharmed and she had a happy ending, considering that this is Tortuga and not a safe place, less even for children."

"Hasn't the mother thought in leaving? Someone could take them to a better place." James frowned.

"Aye… But, who to trust in a place like this?" Jack asked "Nah, Laura wouldn't even trust her suspicious merchant clients with the life of her daughter."

James hummed, but he couldn't decide what to think of Jack Sparrow. The man went from a scoundrel to a good man in a matter of hours and he asked himself if it had something to do with his 'profession' or if it was something completely different.

He imagined it was time to meet the crew as they were heading for the docks, but Jack turned at the last minute and headed for a tavern named King's Arm. The place, like many in Tortuga, looked dirty. There were quite a lot of people around, although James couldn't decide if they were all pirates or not. Most of them were at the tables, playing card or dice games; only a few were being used for drinking in groups. It was in one of them that they found Gibbs, with a group of men who would have given anyone the chills. Gibbs motioned them to come closer and Jack did so cheerfully while James tried to hide in the shadows, though he approached more cautiously.

"Captain!" Gibbs said, glad, and almost everyone turned their heads to where he was looking "I was startin' to think that ye had gotten lost!"

"Me? Please…" Jack said with an offended expression and pointed to the men around with a nod "Is that everyone?"

"... We could say that it is. Some men wanted to meet ye and a few other were a bit worried about… the matter with the ship." Gibbs shrugged.

Jack huffed at that, moved one of the chairs with a foot and sat, putting the feet on the table, pointing to himself "Well, now ye know me." He smirked at the men in front of him "And there isn't a lot that ye have to worry about the ship, except to be there tomorrow after midnight. Savvy?"

"That's it?" One of them said, frowning "What about the crew?"

Jack shrugged and sent them a smirk, winking "I have my ways, mate. I'll have it almost solved all by my onesies."

"Almost? Ye better pay double than wha' he said." One of them pointed out, with a knife at hand "We're still talking about stealin' Vane."

Jack groaned "Fine. Just be there tomorrow when the moon comes out."

As if Jack was tired and upset of everything, he got up from the chair, gave to Gibbs a parchment with some ink and a quill (when he had gotten them it was something that James wanted to know), and directed himself towards the exit before anyone had the chance to speak with him.

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&&& A.N.: Hello and welcome to a new chapter! I put the mild warning just in case, since there's a slight mention of a very heavy topic, but I barely touch it, so... Hope no one was too uncomfortable.

In any case, in the next chapter you will finally see one of the villains of this story; you probably figured out who he is and, before you ask, no, I haven't based him on Black Sails because I haven't even seen the series ^^" When I was creating and investigating I found out about his existence, so... XD I didn't know about the TV show or that they had used that character hahaha

I don't know if I'll watch it though; it's quite similar to Game of Thrones in some parts and cases and I have to admit that I never liked GoT (sorry ^^" I love you all, I promise xD) In any case, the pirate would have to be very dead around these years, historically speaking, but meh, who cares? I'm the writer! hahah

In any case, two things to keep in mind:

First, this phrase: "Choosers can't be beggars." Yeah, it's "Beggars can't be choosers" XD Jack probably knows that but he loves teasing both Gibbs and James ^^"

Second: I still don't vibe with Miriam a lot as a character (even when I have already some chapters of the story written already and she still feels flat), but I kind of need her for the sequel to this story, so... Any advice? ^^"

Please, as always comments, stars, add and etcetera. See you next time! &&&