Summary: Jack's little known past catches up with him in the form of a brother. Ch. 12- In which everyone says goodbye and Jack and Will head back to the Caribbean
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: Well this is it, the end! Sorry it ends kind of abruptly, but I saw Return of the King and now I just want to write Lord of the Rings. My Celebrimbor muse went and kicked Jack right out of my head. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who reviewed. I love you all and hope you have a great holiday season. And if any of you lurkers want to drop a line letting me know you read it, feel free!
The fights between Jack, Robert, and Will kept them amused for the rest of the trip to meet up with the merchant galley, with Jack beating Robert three out of four times. Jack and Will, though, were evenly matched, and each won an equal number of times, so that when they docked with the merchant ship they were still arguing as to who had the superior sword skills.
Once everything was in order, Jack prepared to board the merchant ship, pausing to take in his three companions.
"I had better be seein' all of you again," Jack ordered sternly.
"You will," Robert assured him, giving Jack a quick hug despite the pirate's protest. "I will give Mother and Father your goodbyes."
"Thanks, mate." Jack hesitated. "Tell them it's nothin' personal, would ye? I have my own life and it's not in England."
Robert nodded and stepped back so Johnny could clasp Jack's arm.
"I might see you some time again, you old rogue," Johnny promised with a grin. "Have to go an' visit the famed Black Pearl."
Jack nodded proudly. "Aye, she's a fine ship. Nothin' like her in the world."
Will was watching the pirate give his farewells, and when Jack turned to him he shook his head. "I'm going back with you, Jack."
Jack looked puzzled. "But you're not due to leave for another week. What about learnin' all the fancy new weapons techniques?"
"I learned enough," Will said hurriedly. "Besides, I've had enough of England to last me a while."
Jack grinned happily. He was glad to have someone to keep him company on the trip home and few were better than Will whom he could tease and bait to his heart's content. He might go a little easy on the lad this time, though, but only because Will had helped him escape.
"Goodbye, then, Will," Robert said, gripping his arm. "I am glad I met you, and I will come visit you and your wife."
"I'd like that," Will said, smiling and returning the gesture.
"Back to the Caribbean it is then," Jack said, slinging a companionable arm around the blacksmith's shoulders. "I'll have some good tales to tell the crew on the Pearl."
"Much exaggerated, I'm sure," Will said, looking affectionately at the pirate. "Are you going to tell them you escaped from England by roping sea turtles?"
"Nay, I've already used that one," Jack said thoughtfully.
He brightened as an idea came to him. "It'll be whales this time, with ropes made from seaweed."
"That's very credible," Will said with a straight face as they jumped from the schooner's deck to that of the merchant ship. "I'm sure everyone will believe you."
Jack winked. "They won't know whether to believe it or not, mate, and that's the point."
Will shook his head. "You are a very odd man, Jack Sparrow."
Jack nodded, unperturbed, and the two of them watched as the merchant ship was disengaged from the schooner and began to move away.
"I'll be seein' you, Jack," Johnny called over to the pirate. "Try to avoid the noose 'till then."
"Like the plague," Jack promised.
"Try to keep him out of trouble, young William," Johnny added, "if that's even possible."
Jack hmphed indignantly. "As if I'm not capable of takin' care of meself. I'm goin' to be the one gettin' him out of trouble."
Johnny grinned. "After you dragged him into it I'm sure."
He added something to that, but by then the two ships were too far away from each other, so Jack just waved vigorously at his brother and Johnny until he couldn't see them anymore.
Will exhaled and sat down in a cross-legged position on one of the coils of rope. "Well, that was certainly an adventure. I can't believe you managed to make it out of that one alive."
"And, yes, I know you're Captain Jack Sparrow," he said hastily, seeing Jack about to open his mouth.
Jack grinned. "I picked up a nice bonus from it, too." He patted the lump in his pocket.
"I'm sure York is furious that he lost it," Will said, having a pleasant time picturing the outrage of the duke.
"No doubt," Jack said gleefully. "I should send him a letter askin' if he wants to buy it back."
"That might be a little too provocative," Will said cautioningly. "After all, you don't want him hunting you down with all the considerable resources he has at his command."
Jack waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not worried about that, mate."
Will looked annoyed. "Be serious, Jack. This is not a game. He could pose a definite threat if he decides to actively pursue you."
Jack spun around, flinging his arms wide. "But it is a game, life's a game. You just have to know how to play it."
Will raised an eyebrow skeptically. "And I suppose you know how?"
Jack winked conspiratorially and leaned closer to the blacksmith. "Of course, lad. It's all in how you watch and listen. Everything tells you somethin'. It's taken me time and some scrapes and bruises, but I've learned."
Will had to admit that Jack could be very canny and perceptive at times. When he's not drunk, the blacksmith thought with a touch of exasperation. He sent a glare over at the pirate who had somehow managed to procure a bottle of rum and was happily pouring it down his throat. Jack must have felt the eyes on him, for he turned with a smile and offered the bottle to Will who made a face and declined. Jack shrugged.
"Your loss, mate. Means more for me."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, letting themselves be lulled by the motions of the ship and the creak and groan of the rigging. Jack looked over at Will who had his eyes closed and his face tilted towards the sun. A mischeivious idea came into his head and he grinned wickedly.
"Say, Will," he remarked casually, "how has your bonny lass been?"
Will opened his eyes suspiciously. "She is well."
Stroking his moustache, Jack said, "Aye, I'm sure you're eager to fall into your angel's embrace, with her lips as sweet as honey."
Will looked downright mistrustful now. "What are you talking about, Jack?"
Jack grinned. "Oh, just reminiscing on her skin as soft as down, the blush of rose in her cheeks, how the sweet music of her voice puts the very choirs of heaven to shame."
Jack could see Will's mind racing furiously and the sudden blossoming of red in his cheeks let the pirate know the lad had finally caught on.
"Y-you!" Will was nearly incoherent with rage. "You read my letters!"
By this time Jack couldn't control himself and he was guffawing loudly, smacking the deck with the palm of his hand.
"Your face, Will," he gasped. "Heh, it's a picture."
Jack looked up to see Will advancing on him like a very feral predator and he suddenly decided it would be best to take himself elsewhere. Jumping to his feet, he took off to the opposite end of the ship while an enraged Will gave chase.
"You had best hope I don't catch you, Jack Sparrow!" Will threatened. "Then we'll see who's the eunuch!"
Jack merely laughed and shot up the rigging, daring the blacksmith to follow him. It was good to be a pirate.
Finis.