Summary: Jack's little known past catches up with him in the form of a brother. Ch. 11- In which Jack and company leave England with the aid of an old friend.

Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all the characters therein do not belong to me. Believe me, if I owned Johnny Depp in eyeliner . . . . Gah. That man is hot.

A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to all, hope it was good for everyone. I know I ate so much I felt like I couldn't move! Got together with some family friends, though, and it was fun.

Ripley- How'd you know I was from California? :) but yeah, those fires were nasty, though I'm in central California so we didn't get any of that. Writing as a career? Hmm. I'll have to see. I'm flattered that you think I could do that.

Captain Red Black- No!!! Don't hand me over to Norrington! I'll die of unrequited boredom. Jack, on the other hand . . . yummy. If you happen to run into him, send him my way.

Panther- don't worry I'll finish it. I think there's only going to be one more chapter after this, two at the most. Soccer is over now, though, so maybe I'll have some more time. . . yeah right. Free time? What's that? :)

Claire- thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like it!

Looking grimly down at the dead man, Jack drew his sword out and wiped it off on Pierre's shirt. The redcoats had been driven off by the superior numbers of the sailors and Jack made his way to the gangplank. A hand descended on his shoulder and he spun reflexively, blade raised.

The man who had touched him raised his hands. "Whoa, Sparrow, you wouldn't kill you're old mate, would ya?"

Jack peered closely at him and his eyes widened in recognition and surprise. "Johnny, you old rogue, it's really you! What're you doin' here?"

"Helpin' t' rescue you, mate," Johnny said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Couldn't let those buggers hang you."

"Where'd you get the ship?" Jack asked, looking around as they boarded the schooner.
"Looks like you've turned respectable."

Johnny smiled proudly. "Got enough money to settle down with me wife and open a merchant business."

Jack nodded approvingly. "Looks like you've done well, Johnny."

"Heard you've been doin' well yourself," Johnny said knowingly. "Captain of the Black Pearl, the fastest ship in the Caribbean. Takin' in more plunder than any other pirate."

"Please, don't inflate his ego anymore," a voice said from behind them. "He's had enough people talk about his exploits."

The two men turned to find Will standing there, Robert at his side.

Jack scowled at them. "There you are, you two good for nothing rascals. 'Run for the docks, Jack' you say without tellin' me where on the docks. You expected me to find you 'midst all these boats?"

Will shrugged sheepishly. "There wasn't time to give you specific directions."

Jack sniffed. "Well that's the last time I let you help me escape."

In the meantime, the sailors had quickly weighed anchor and hoisted the sails and the schooner was rapidly moving away from the docks.

"We're jus' goin' to take this ship a little ways 'round Ireland and then we'll transfer you to a proper ship to take you back to the Caribbean," Johnny explained to Jack. "One of my ships is scheduled to leave for there today."

Robert looked away unhappily. The prospect of losing his brother again so soon after he had found him left Robert feeling dispirited. He knew Jack couldn't stay in England, though, since the authorities would be looking for him. Still, Robert couldn't help but make one last plea.

"Jack, you can stay," Robert urged. "Just hide until this whole thing blows over. You know that York's accusations against me will prove to be unfounded, and people will have forgotten about you. You can stay with me at my estate."

Jack looked at him pityingly. "Robin, that wouldn't work an' you know it. People might forget about the accusations against you, but never me. I'm a scandal. The Lancaster pirate is going to be the gossip in the highest circles. Besides, I'd never fit in here. You might have convinced yourself that I could become an English gentleman, but you know in your heart I'd never do that."

Robert sighed in resignation. "I know, but I had to try. I just found you Jack. I wish we did not have to part so soon."

"Well it's not like it has to be permanent," Jack said offhandedly. "If you ever happen to visit the Caribbean again, why we just might run into each other."

Robert gave a half-smile. "You may be correct, brother mine. I just might have to take a few vacations there."

"You can stay with Elizabeth and me," Will offered. "We're to be married soon, and then we'll have our own house."

Robert nodded his head. "Thank you for the kind offer."

"An' I'd be happy to transport you," Johnny added. "I'll help any friend of Jack's."

Jack cleared his throat. "That reminds me, Johnny. How'd you know meet up with these two?"

Johnny ran a hand through his golden-brown hair. "Well, y'see, I actually first met your brother when he stopped by to make an order. I noticed his name was Lancaster and told him I'd served with a Lancaster on board a ship."

"Johnny was the one who alerted me to your existence," Robert cut in. "Without him I might have never known that you survived the shipwreck."

Johnny nodded. "So yesterday, your brother comes and tells me you're goin' to be hung in the mornin'. Couldn't let an old mate of mine hang, so I agreed to help get you out of England."

Jack clasped the former pirate's arm. "And I'm much obliged to ye, Johnny."

"Well there's one way you could repay me," Johnny said blandly.

Jack smirked. "Ha, you might've turned respectable, Johnny, but you're still a pirate at heart."

Johnny grinned. "No, just takin' advantage of the resources at hand, Sparrow. So here's what I'm askin'. You don't raid any of my merchant ships, and you give a friendly warnin' to other pirates to stay away."

Jack waved his hand. "Done. I thought maybe you were goin' to ask for somethin' more substantial than that."

Johnny raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you're feelin' generous . . ."

"I'm sure the terms you've given will more than repay the service you've done me," Jack said hurriedly.

Johnny laughed. "Don't worry, I won't ask for any of your swag, mate. Wouldn't want to take your hard-earned plunder."

Will snorted at that and Jack turned to eye him narrowly. "I wouldn't be so scornful if I were you, Mr. Turner. I give you a year, two at the most, before you start gettin' restless an' end up back on me ship."

"Turner?" Johnny interrupted incredulously, his eyes wide. "Bootstrap Bill's son?"

"The one and only," Jack said with a flourish of his hand. "Don't tell me you two haven't been introduced yet?"

"We were in a bit of a rush," Will pointed out. "Not too much time for introductions."

Jack rubbed his hands together. "We'll have to remedy that, then. Johnny, may I present Mr. William Turner II. Will, this is my mate from the Diarmid, Johnny Avery."

Johnny shook his head in amazement. "Who would've thought it? Bootstrap's son. He used to talk about you sometimes when we were on the Diarmid."

Interested to meet another person who had known his father, Will asked, "So you were friends with my father?"

"Aye," Johnny said. "He looked after Jack an' me since we were the two youngest on the ship. Jack an' me looked out for each other, too, and that's how we became mates."

Letting Will and Johnny continue their conversation about Bootstrap, Jack drifted over to where Robert was standing, gazing at the English coastline, parts of which were obscured by fog.

Following his gaze, Jack said softly, "You know it never would've worked for me there, Robin. We live in two different worlds."

Robert sighed. "I know, but I can't help but wonder how different it would have been if you hadn't been swept off the ship and picked up by pirates. We could both be living happily in England right now, jointly managing Father's business now that he's gotten older."

Jack shook his head. "You're livin' in a dream, Robin. Even if I had survived, my temperament wasn't suited to your type of life. I would've rebelled and gone off sooner or later."

Robert looked sideways at his brother, taking in again the beaded hair, the kohl-accented eyes, the tattoos, the constant, fluid gesturing. Jack had a demented grace about him that Robert knew would be completely out of place in strait-laced English society.

"Well," Robert said with sudden resolution, "if you cannot come to my world, then I'll go to yours."

Jack gave a half-smile. "I'll turn you into a pirate yet."

Robert laughed. "You seem determined to turn all your non-criminal acquaintances into pirates."

Jack shook his head. "Only you and Will. One can never have enough Lancaster and Turner blood. Wish I could have a whole crew of them."

"I had better start producing children then," Robert said mock seriously, "so you can get a start on your crew."

"That'd be good of you, mate," Jack said absent-mindedly.

He seemed to suddenly remember something of import and started digging around in the pockets of his coat which Will had returned to him.

"I'm sure I put it in here," he muttered.

"Ah-ha!" he said triumphantly, his hand emerging with the sought for prize.

Robert stared in disbelief. "Where did you get that?!"

Jack looked smug. "Just a little somethin' I lifted from our good friend York. I think of it as compensation for my treatment by him."

"That's one of York's most prized family jewels!" Robert sputtered.

"Oh is that what it is?" Jack said unconcernedly. "I didn't know. Makes it even better then."

He held up the flawless emerald necklace to let some of the cloud-muted sunlight shine through it and peered closely at the faintly glimmering jewel, its gold chain wrapped around his slender fingers. He nodded his head in satisfaction.

"Very nice. Now, should I keep it or sell it?"

"You should not have stolen that," Robert said sternly, making a feeble attempt to be the voice of honesty, though he really couldn't care less.

Jack smiled winningly. "It's not stolen, just on permanent loan."

The corner of Robert's mouth twitched, but all he said was, "You have a justification for everything, don't you?"

Before Jack could reply, Johnny's voice carried to them from across the deck.

"Ho, Sparrow, where'd you steal that bauble? It better not be from anyone I know."

Jack turned and grinned at his friend. "No worries, Johnny. The man who formerly owned this wouldn't think you fit to clean his boots."

"I hope you took more from 'im then," Johnny said, striding over to Jack to get a better look at the jewel, Will trailing behind him.

Jack sighed. "Alas, there wasn't any time, 'else I would've robbed the bastard blind."

Jack let the necklace slide from his fingers into Johnny's open hand and looked expectantly at Will, who remained silent.

The pirate raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Master Turner? I was expecting some platitudes 'bout how wrong it was of me to steal something like this off someone."

Will looked up from his examination of the emerald. "I assume you stole it from York?"

Jack nodded. "Aye."

Will's eyes blazed. "Good, although it doesn't compensate for everything he put us through."

Jack mimed stunned surprise. "Why Will, I'm shocked. What would dear Elizabeth think?"

"She'd agree," Will said firmly.

Jack's smoky eyes regarded him thoughtfully. "Y'know, I do believe you're right. The wench would almost make a better pirate than you I think."

"Watch yourself," Will warned, scowling. "Elizabeth is a lady."

Jack snorted. "An accident of birth. She'd be better off as a pirate."

Jack could see Will's fingers flexing as he deliberately stopped himself from reaching for his blade.

"That's a lad," the pirate said approvingly, and then couldn't resist adding, "Looks like you've finally learned you can't beat me."

Johnny snickered. "I seem to recall you gettin' beat a few times back on the Diarmid."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "Would you like to try me now, Johnny?"

Johnny raised his hands. "Not me, mate. You were always better than me."

Robert was eyeing his brother speculatively and spoke up. "Would you like to try your hand against me, Jack? I have never had the chance to fight you before."

Jack gave a sweeping bow. "I'd be honored to cross swords with you, milord."

"And I want my turn at you after Robert," Will said, eyeing the pirate with hostility. "No one speaks of Elizabeth that way."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Preserve me from the love-besotted young. Are you plannin' on challengin' everyone who you think's slighting her?"

"No, just dissolute pirates whom I think are slighting her," Will said with a half-smile.

Jack looked askance at him. "Well, at least your sense of humor seems to have improved slightly."

"Come on, little brother," Robert prodded, "stop trying to delay. Less talk, more fighting."

Jack arched an eyebrow. "As you wish, your lordship. What do I get when I beat you?"

Robert grinned. "Pride goeth before the fall, Jack."

"I don't believe in the Bible," Jack replied, drawing his sword from his scabbard.

"Heathen," Robert said playfully, shaking his head.

Jack balanced his sword by the hilt on one finger and grinned at Robert. "I don't like their

gods either. Too many curses."

Robert unsheathed his own sword and pointed it at Jack. "Let's see how good you really are."