A/N: School. Is. Evil. I haven't had time to get on and type for weeks! Here's the next chapter all! I swear the next one won't be such a long wait!
"So, where are we going now, lad?" Jack asked, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and standing up, ignoring the slight heightening of the constant ache he now felt. He grabbed his hat, couldn't forget that, with his right hand and placed it on its proper place atop his head. His bandana had never become separated from his hair.
His belt, or simply something that was part of his "effects" as Jack himself called it all, was secure, with both sword and pistol securely fastened. His compass, though, was situated in a place quite different than that of where Will had last seen it. Stopping in mid-motion of whatever it was he happened to be doing at the time, Captain Sparrow took the hat back off of his head and placed it on the bed, upside-down. Then, before Will's bemused eyes and with a furrowed brow and deep concentrating expression of his own, he reached inside it and rummaged around. After a minute of untying and unbuttoning and doing who knows what else to this and that, he pulled out something that was as important to him almost as much as the Pearl: his compass. Flipping it open, he took a deep analysis of it, and flipped it shut again, placing it in another location around his other effects, leaving that compartment in his hat empty. Then, unceremoniously, he took the hat back up and flipped it to where it had just been sitting on top his head. "Knew that'd come in handy!" he exclaimed triumphantly.
Will was staring at Jack as if he was half-mad, half completely incomprehensible, which induced a wide, golden-toothed grin from Jack. "Put it in a little while ago… just in case, if you know what I mean." Just how Jack had managed to keep his hat through all his various trials and adventures, Will had absolutely no idea, It was a bloody miracle, and only a small part of the pirate's well-known legend. Really, it should have been included in many of the stories. "So, is dear Elizabeth going to be joining us, then?"
"Not just yet, Jack," Will informed, dressed in a somewhat mix of what Jack had seen him in on that day at the gallows, and what he'd worn on their little adventure for Will's little treasure obsession: Elizabeth Swann, and Jack's own: the Black Pearl. It was a bit strange, really, how Will refused to fully switch over to the styles of his new position, after marrying a noblewoman and all. If one didn't know better, it would seem as if Will was clinging to his old clothing, almost like a pirate and his, say, sword, or ship, or treasure or hat, or ship, or coat…
"How do we get out o' here, then?" Jack asked, adding another question to his last train of thought. He really was quite ready to get out of there, though. All these well-to-do surroundings in which he wasn't there to steal all of that which made them "well-to-do" made him uncomfortable, brought back too many painful memories, although he'd never show it or admit to it. Give him Tortuga and with a nice drink of rum, the Black Pearl, his beloved ship, docked right there, awaiting its Captain. With a suppressed sigh, Jack began to move towards the door, his cocky swagger still intact. A pirate's life for him was right.
"We're going to leave out the front door while Elizabeth keeps most of the staff busy. Then, we go to my shop. Soldiers have already searched there, and they shouldn't again any time soon. They haven't been here yet, though, and Elizabeth's father will be back soon. Is this sufficient for you, Jack?"
"So I was spotted then," Jack mused.
"You're not as stealthy as you thought."
"But they never caught me, now did they, mate?"
Will simply gave Jack a look before opening the door and peeking out into the hall, then motioning for the pirate to follow. "You know William," Jack said quietly as the two went down the hall, "You'd make a bloody good pirate. What do you say to a trial stay on my crew, take after your Dad."
"You'd only wish, Jack," Will retorted, and led the way. Once they were through the hall, didn't really take that long, honestly, they made their way down the stairs, to the landing, and finally the front door. Feeling home free, Will opened the door only to come face to face with their dear friend the Commodore with his fist raised, about to knock. Jack wasted no time in diving to the side and into the very room in which Elizabeth had once hidden cursed pirates, and got into that very same closet. Luckily, he'd been just far enough from the door at a certain angle to not be seen. If only Jill had not stabbed his bloody shoulder. Then he might not have had to hide out in a closet.
Through the two sets of doors that now separated him from the front, the concealed figure could hear muffled voices. Briefly, he wondered on what things would have been like if Elizabeth had married the Commodore. The very thought made him grimace. Those two would make a terrible match… that gentleman would make the worst possible pirate.
After sitting there for a good 15 minutes, and with absolutely nothing to occupy himself with, he was left to lean back against a wall and sit silently for that entire time, waiting for the door to the room to be opened. Finally, it was, followed by the door of his very own closet. "Get lost, mate?" Jack remarked at first sight of William's face, still reclined back.
"Not quite. Making it so that the Commodore won't see you on out exit," Will replied, extending a hand. Jack took it and got to his feet.
"And how is out dear friend the Commodore?" Jack asked, a hand slung on his pistol.
"In good health, but looking for you, Jack, I might add. Elizabeth is keeping him occupied in the dining room, so I suggest we get out of here before he decides to take a tour." Was that animosity Jack detected in his tone?
"I'd have to say that girl is right smooth, mate. You sure she doesn't have pirate in her blood on top o' yours? That daughter of yours could be bloody good when she's grown."
"My daughter is not becoming an outlaw when she grows up, Jack."
"Ah, but one can never tell," Jack pointed out, with a somewhat… evil twinkle in his eye and of course accompanying hand motion.
Once again, the pair of them hurried to the front doors, and this time, Jack safely hid behind the door, Will opened it and was luckily not greeted by anyone this time around. After he gave the all clear, they left the mansion and gradually made their way to the blacksmith's shop, William closing and locking both doors safely behind them. "The blacksmith is officially closed for business," he announced to no one in particular really. Certainly not to Jack Sparrow who had picked up a blade and was examining it closely. After a minute or so of this, he looked up. His expression was seriously.
"I can't stay here much longer, William. Will you two help me, or not?"
"You came to the right place, pirate," Will said in response, only a little emphasis placed upon the last word. "Elizabeth and I will help."
Jack grinned and nodded, both in understanding and in thanks. "Knew I could count on ye, lad," he said resolutely, closing the matter, and placed the sword back down, walking, no, swaggering, across the place before turning back to the blacksmith. "Happen to have any food here, eh? I'm famished."
Will seemed to think for a moment, and then proceeded to move to a cupboard Jack had not noticed before, opening it and pulling out an apple, which he promptly tossed to his friend with the injured shoulder. He easily caught it with his right and took a big bite. "It's all I have. Don't usually eat in here, go to the tavern down the road when I get hungry in the main."
"It's fine," Jack assured around a mouthful of apple, and made an assuring gesture with his right hand to go along with his words, although that motion did appear just a wee bit off because of the apple still held in it. If he had been able to without causing himself needless pain and discomfort, he would have used his left hand instead, but under the current circumstances, he deemed it best not to.
Within the hour, Jack had some bread, meat, and medium-sized bottle of rum. He could look very pathetic when the wanted to, and Will was a good person.