A/N: Thank you for your reviews. I wanted to correct a mistake. Will has brown hair not, blond. Thank you all who reviewed and corrected me. I beg for your forgiveness. For your great deed, I give you the fourteenth chapter. And a long chapter it be! YEA!!! Have fun! ^-~
Chapter 14: Prison Talk and Another Kind of Savior
Kat rushed though the busy streets of the Port Royal market. The sun had set long before now, but many people were excited about the execution that was going to be held the next afternoon. She tried to keep her mouth shut and rage from building as she rushed by women who threw out awful stories of pirates an even worse . . . some of them were of Jack.
She pushed her way through the line of people and almost knocked a woman over. The woman turned and grabbed Kat the arm, "Kat! Oh my goodness, thank goodness I found you!"
"Elizabeth?" Kat looked at her. She held little Emily in the arm opposite of the one that had her arm and saw a little boy that had to be little Jessie glued to Elizabeth's right side, "What are you doing here? Where is Will?"
"Come with me," Elizabeth guided both Kat and her two children into the alleyway next to an old shop.
"What is going on?" Kat asked as Elizabeth told her to hold Jessie and to keep him quiet.
"Your father has sent an all out bulletin looking for you. I had to come and find you," Kat told her to keep going b nodding her head, "They took Will."
"What?"
"Jack probably told you that Will helped him escape from being hung the last time he was in Port Royal. They locked Will up until the execution is over with to make sure he doesn't interfere again. I don't know what to do. The house is very foreboding without him there. I do not feel safe."
Kat put her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, "Go to my cousin's until Will is set free. Here," Kat took a piece of paper from the folds of her dress and put it in Elizabeth's hand, "Go to the address listed and I'll see you as soon as I can," she sat little Jessie by his mother.
"Where are you going?"
"The jail house. I must speak with Jack," Kat stared at her in the eyes, determination glowing brightly, "I know there will be guards, but I'll take my chances. Find Harriet and tell her who you are and why I sent you there. You'll be fine. So will Will."
"And what about you and Jack?"
"I'm going to see to that now," Kat mumbled looking into the street, making sure it was clear of any soldiers and made a straight line to the jail house.
Men ran through the street, more than likely they were looking for her. She made herself scarce and when she couldn't even do that she mixed in with the crowd. Hopefully no one will notice the unescorted woman walking down the roadside. She didn't want to make herself known until she actually reached the jail house. Then she would let her powerful name known.
She rounded the last corner and put her head high to show her confidence, 'Look proud; indifferent to everything. Be like father,' she squinted at the thought, 'Just this once be like him, then never again.'
The soldier at the bars knew it was her as she approached, "Evenin' Miss Benikins. I believe that your father is looking for you."
"Yes, well you can imagine after the incident with pirates he wants to keep a good eye on me. He knows where I am going," Katerina said trying to sound as the snobby, powerful woman her father wanted her to be, "I would like to see the prisoner."
"Which one, Miss?"
"What do you mean which one? The pirate of course!" she yelled at the stout man, scolding herself for referring to Jack that way.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I'm under strict orders," the guard tried to keep his imposing figure, but found it quite difficult with a raving mad female standing in front of him, "I cannot let you. I have my-"
"Excuse me!" Kat stepped forward staring him in the face, "I have my orders from my father! So unless you want to turn in your military office by the end of the night, you will open that door for the fine noblewoman."
The soldier was backed up against the wall and nodded quickly, not wanting to upset her further, "There you are, Miss," he opened the door and she smiled.
"Thank you," she lifted the skirt of her dress and stepped inside, "and guard . . . I expect that you do not listen to my conversation with the scoundrel. And I do not wish to be disturbed. Understand?"
"Yes ma'am," he nodded his head and closed the heavy doors behind her.
Kat glided down the stairs, careful not to catch her dress on any rough or sharp edges. She listened carefully for any movement within the cells below, and hoped that jack was the only one on his block. She didn't want anyone to hear what she had to say. Just Jack.
She turned the corner to see Jack sprawled out on the floor of the cell, face up, possibly looking unconscious. Kat ran up to the bars and looked in with worry on her face, "Jack? Captain Jack Sparrow?"
"Aye?" he popped his head up upon hearing his name and stopped dead in his movements as he saw the beautiful woman before him. She wore a dark red dress with a low neck line and a flowing skirt that rippled as the woman walked. Her ebony hair was in curls upon her head and framing her lovely face which held her magic brown eyes. Jack immediately knew it could only be on person, "Katerina, wha' are ye doing 'ere?"
"I had to come and see you," she sat down right outside the cell and stared in at Jack as he made his way off the floor and to her side, "My father is preparing to shoot you tomorrow afternoon."
"I though' as much," Jack sighed, "Although I though' it was customary 'round 'ere to kill us pirates at dawn."
"They're turning it into an attraction. The execution of the infamous Jack Sparrow as they call it. Can you imagine it, Captain?" Kat was at the verge of tears, sometimes the tears would catch in her throat.
"Why are ye actually doin' here, Kat?"
Kat stood in the darkness of the barracks looking through the bars at Jack and spoke softly as if she didn't want anyone else to hear her, "I don't want to see you die tomorrow, Captain."
"There is nothin' ye could do 'bout it, luv."
"Yes there was. There was something I could have done about it," she pointed at her own chest and began to pace, "I could have been more careful. I could have never stepped foot in the Tortuga Harbor. If I could have been more careful and took hold of my temper . . . I could have . . . could have done something to prevent all this. You would be safe on the Black Pearl and I would be sitting here. Waiting for a marriage."
"A marriage that you are not ready for," Jack said gaining her attention again.
"Possibly . . . but at least neither of us would be in the situation that we are both in now. You are awaiting execution and it is my fault. If you hadn't saved me from those pirates in Tortuga that night- if had never mentioned that my father was wealthy you wouldn't have taken me onto the Black Pearl . . . then I would never had . . ." she paused and her voice was choked up in her throat. She wasn't ready to say it. She couldn't. But if she didn't say it now, when would she ever have another chance to say it?
"You would 'ave never wha', luv?"
'Fell in love with you,' she thought to herself as she raised her eyes to meet his.
She quickly looked away and focused on the keyhole for the cell door, "Never mind. You just have to believe it is my fault."
'Tha's not true, luv. Ye know it ain't. I would 'ave come back 'ere, with ye or not. True, the rum needs fixin' and the ladies aren't too friendly-"
"Captain," Kat said in a scolding tone.
"Well, ye get the idea," he took one of her hands, "It didn't 'ave to be Port Royal. I could 'ave been caugh' at any Port. It ain't yer fault, luv."
"But you weren't caught at any Port. It was this one. My father has had it out for every pirate since I have gone missing. Fed by his immense greed for the captain's fleet, he doesn't care who has to die to get it," Kat tried to focus, but everything was a mess and she didn't know how to think straight, "I'm so sorry, Captain."
"Jack."
"What?" Kat looked at him.
"Me name's Jack," he smiled at her, softening her face. She sat back down next to him as he looked at her in the eyes and then looked at the ground, "Will ye be there tomorrow? At the execution?"
"I cannot," Kat said both her head and voice shaking.
"I need someone there fer me," he kept a strong hold of her hand.
"Please… don't make me watch you die," Kat whispered, "I cannot take it."
"I wan' to look out on tha' crowd and find a face of a true companion, and loyal crew member. I need someone like ye out there, Kat," he cupped her face in his hand, "I need someone out there tha' I luv."
Kat's eyes widened and she backed away from him slightly, "What are you saying, Jack?"
"I need ye, Kat," he looked at her from behind the bars, "Plain as tha'."
Kat stood stunned and silent at him, he couldn't have just said that he . . . love her. He needed her. Kat sat back down next to him once again and stared into the dark pools of his eyes. Her brow furrowed and her bottom lip started to shake as she looked at him. She knew then . . . she would never love anyone as much as she loved him at that moment.
Suddenly a little smile broke on her face and she started to laugh lightly, even with the tears running down her face, "I need you too, Captain Jack Sparrow. You know, I never gave you my kiss."
Without another word she leaned against the bars, barely able to reach his lips on the other side. She kept her hands at each side of his face, making sure she kept contact with his skin. Jack cupped her right cheek with one hand and held one of her hands next to his cheek. The kiss started out soft and smooth, and then turned to a passionate filled desire. Kat stopped after a few seconds and back her head away, opening her eyes slowly.
"Not bad," Jack commented shaking himself out of his dream like state and opened his eyes.
"Really? Well, it would have been better if there were not bars between us," Kat said blushing and smoothing out her dress.
"Tha' I don' doubt, luv," he chuckled and caressed her face, "I jus' wish we had tha' chance."
Kat closed her eyes and felt Jack's hand try to wipe away the tears that were still falling down her cheeks, "I need to get you out of here."
She opened her eyes to meet his, "How do you plan to do tha', luv?"
"Harriet will help me," she touched the side of his face and played with some of the trinkets in his hair as she stared at him lovingly, "I will find a way to set you free, Jack. I will not let you down."
"Ye never do," he smiled.
"I'll be by tomorrow . . ." she gave him another light kiss through the bars and turned for the stairs. He kept his eyes on her, leaning on the cell's bars.
"Luv ye, Kat," he smiled at her as she disappeared up at the stairs.
***
Kat made sure that the guard 'understood' that she never there and walked fast pace down the road. She was fearful of the coming day, yet she was overfilled with joy. Jack loved her . . . they shared a kiss in the moonlight. They were separated by the bars, but it was a beautiful kiss none the less. She danced her way to her cousin's too totally entranced in her own thoughts to mind the people around her. After half an hour she reached Harriet's home and knocked on the door.
"Kat!" Harriet smiled and grabbed her around the waist, "Are you doing fine? Your father-"
"Is looking for me, I know. Do not worry, if he really wanted me home, he would have already dragged me back home. Did Elizabeth and her children get here safely?" she walked into the entrance hall.
"She did. She is in one of the spare bedrooms, asleep with her children. I am so sorry for her," Harriet and Kat went into the other room.
As they walked Kat saw Olivia running as fast as her little three-year-old legs could go, "There's that girl!"
Olivia jumped into Kat's arms, burying her head into the soft, red fabric of her dress, "Olivia miss Kitty! And Kitty miss Olivia berday," Olivia pouted and looked at Kat in her eyes.
Kat laughed at her and looked into the little girl's eyes, "Well, shame on me! Just look at how much you've grown. I'll soon have to buy stilts to look you in the eyes!"
"Kitty funny!" Olivia laughed and looked at her mother, "Kat staying?"
"I don't know," Harriet crossed her arms and looked at Kat, "Are you?"
Kat looked at the ground and whispered, "That's what I am here to discuss."
"We have the time. Robert is out for the rest of the night," Harriet ushered Kat and Olivia into the next room where they talked a night ago, "Well, Kat?"
"I need help to free Jack," Kat said bouncing Olivia on her knees.
"You want to what?"
"Free Jack," Kat said simply, "The problem being the get away. I know how to get Jack away from the shooter, but the actual get away is rather tricky."
"Tell me what you have so far," Harriet sighed and listened to Kat's plan. She nodded once Kat was finished, "I know the perfect route. But what about the get away ship?"
"The Black Pearl should be there by tomorrow," Kat sighed.
"You so sure. Just by that I would be expecting my whole plan to go up in smoke," Harriet rocked her semi-conscious daughter in her arms, hoping that she would fall asleep sometime soon.
"Why is that?"
"It is a pirate ship. They will not come back."
"Yes they will. They have before," Kat gave a heavy sigh, "Do you have another extra room for me? I do not want to go back to my father's estate."
"Why don't you fetch your carriage? You could sleep on the way back."
"I don't have one."
"You walked here?" Kat picked up her skirt to show her mud covered boots as proof, "Of course you can stay. I'll get Lina to help you."
"Why not Dena?" Kat said coldly looking up at Harriet who stood up with Olivia in her arms.
"Why would Dena be here?" Harriet said confused, "She is at your father's estate."
Kat looked away confused, "But they said- that you- and she was- what is happening? The other maids told me that father sold Dena to you days ago," Kat was near hysterics.
"No, I haven't seen her since a month after your disappearance."
"They lied to me," Kat said angered.
"Let us focus on one problem at a time," Harriet patted her on the back.
"Then promise me something. When I leave, you find Dena for me and tell her that I'm finally happy."
"I promise," Harriet nodded and took Olivia up to bed, "Lina will be down shortly."
Kat laid out on the long sofa and felt herself slip into sleep, "I love you, Jack."
***
The next morning Harriet looked into the spare bedroom to find Kat sleeping peacefully. She closed the door softly and retrieved Olivia from her room. She dressed in her casual wear and went down the road with Olivia in tow. The guards were taking a break and she had no problem finding a way into the cell black.
Even during the day the jail house still had dim lighting and Harriet had to be careful where she took a step or to look out for young Olivia. She turned the corner to find a pirate sitting against the wall with his tri-corner hat over his eyes. He was humming a song and whispering the lyrics every few seconds. Harriet cautiously stepped closer to make sure it was the same man. As soon as he heard them he tipped his hat up to see her.
"Well, I wasn' expectin' ye," Jack said clearing his throat, "Where's Kat?"
"Sleeping," Harriet sat next to the bars, "Poor dear walked here all the way from the estate."
"Wha' do ye wan'? I though' ye didn't care fer pirates."
"I decided to try," Harriet bowed her head, "We have a plan. Kat is going to get you out of your pickle and out of the shooters range. Then you two will flee down an alleyway that will lead you to the bay where hopefully your crew will be waiting."
"The Pearl will be there," he got up and walked toward the bars.
"You so sure?"
"I saw the sign. She will be there."
"If you are so sure," Harriet rolled her eyes and Olivia peeked out over her lap.
Jack looked down to see the little girl, "Who this be then?" he asked smiling.
Olivia stepped forward and looked at him, pointing at her chest, "Olivia! You a real pirate?"
"Of course I am! I am Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl!" Jack said proudly.
Olivia looked at him, tilting her head from side to side, "You a eunuch?"
"Olivia!" Harriet yelled.
Jack laughed, "Ye sure 'ave been 'round Kat 'aven't ye?" he reached out and rubbed the child's head, "How old ye be?"
"I be thwee!" Olivia said proudly, lifting her head high.
"Three! Tha' makes ye old enough to be a part of me crew!" Jack saw the young girl jump and down, "But mind ye, ye can't come on me ship until ye are old enough. And 'ave yer mum's ok."
"But that will take forevwer!" she whined.
"Time will pass like nothin'."
Olivia began to laugh again as Jack began to tell her some of his exploits and the trouble he would get into. Harriet stood by watching the joy that Jack was bringing to her daughter.
'Maybe not all pirates are as bad as they seem,' she though and gave a small smile and turned serious again, "Captain Sparrow."
"Aye?" Jack raised his head looking away from Olivia.
"I'm sorry for what I've said," Harriet placed her hands on Olivia's shoulders, "But I fear for Kat's safety. You understand, don't you?"
"Aye," Jack said softly.
"I didn't think it was safe for here on the sea. But you know better! You know what would be best for her, because you know both sides of the story and you know her. Please, think of the best for her"
"I always do," Jack said. Harriet nodded and started to walk toward the stairs.
"Mommy? Can I say somthin' to Uncle Jack?" Olivia pulled on her mother's dress. Harriet nodded, a little surprised by what Olivia called him. She smiled and ran over to Jack's cell bars. She waved for him to lean closer and started to whisper to him, "When I old enuff, are you comin' back?"
"Aye, I give ye my pirate's word, luv," he smiled at her.
"Tank you!" she tried her best to hug him through the bars and ran back over to Harriet, "See you then Uncle Jack!"
"Bye, luv," Jack waved to the little girl and nodded to Harriet, "M' Lady."
Harriet smiled and left with Olivia having a good grip on her hand. Olivia stuck her tongue out at the guards as they passed them, mentally scolding them in her head, knowing that if she said it out loud she would get into trouble.
Jack looked at the lace on the ground, more and likely came off of Olivia's dress.
'Now I know why she luvs tha' little girl so much," Jack muttered. Harriet's words filled his head.
'Please think what is best for her.'
"I try . . . but am I really doin' wha's right fer her?"
***
Harriet and Elizabeth stayed behind for the execution as they saw Kat off. She dressed in one of Harriet's dresses and out her hair up like the day before. Unknown to many others she wore a pair of riding boots, nice pants and a silk shirt under her gown. Because of the dress's tight fit, no one would see the difference.
She stood close to the shooting 'stage' and watched as they dragged Jack out of the jail house. Kat held her breath as she saw her father and Captain Belstrude followed him. Both men held their heads high and proud smirks as they knew they were in charge of this man's death. They stood to the side as a man began to mutter off the charges.
Jack scanned the crowd and finally found her eyes in the crowd. He focused on her and gave her a sad look. She heard the soldier click back his trigger preparing to fire.
'No,' Kat jumped on the wooden platform and jumped in front of Jack, facing him and took the shot. She squinted and clenched her teeth as she felt the bullet hit and tried desperately to cut Jack's ropes.
"Kat!" he whispered, grabbing her once the binds were off his hands.
"Run . . ." she whispered back. Jack looked up as the other guards and the captain came running at him. He turned to the side and saw the small alleyway that Harriet had explained before. He grabbed Kat into his arms and began to run for the opening.
The soldiers began to fire upon him, until they were halted by Captain Belstrude, "Stop! You may hit Katerina again!"
"Stop? We must stop him at all costs, Captain," Mr. Benikins yelled, "At all costs!"
"You are mad!" the captain ran after Jack and the injured Jack with his pistol on his belt and sword at his side.
He saw Jack toward the end of the alley and yelled at him to halt. Jack stopped and turned around. The captain was in the middle of the alley and close to catching up with him. Jack looked around, hoping beyond everything that Kat was going to be all right. He picked up a bottle of rum from the street and threw it at a pile of crates suspended at the side of the alley. The crates began to topple and fell before the captain, blocking his way to the two. Jack smirked and began to run toward the bay again.
Jack made it to the bay and saw the Pearl not more than two minutes from shore. He sat Kat down on the ground and looked at her, "Kat, can ye hear me?"
Kat groaned and opened one eye with a smile on her face, "Of course I can hear you."
"Yer not hurt!" Jack said astonished.
"Of course not! I was to be a distraction, not planning to kill myself," Kat stood up and started to take off the dress to reveal the riding attire beneath. Along with a very heavy tin that blocked the shot.
"Very cleaver," Jack smiled, looking at her and then his smile fell as he looked away.
"What's the matter?"
"I wants wha's best fer ye," Jack said staring at the approaching Black Pearl.
"I know you do, just like I want the best for you," Kat came up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head on his back.
"No, ye don' understand!" Jack got out of her grip and looked down at her, "I wan ye to be safe!"
"And I am," Kat said, getting a little frightened of what is to happen next, "I am always safe around you, Jack."
"No, tha's the problem. Ye are never safe around me!" he flew his hands in the air and walked further away from her.
"What are you saying, Jack?"
"I wan' ye to stay 'ere," he said closing his eyes after he finished.
"What?!" Kat ran in front of him to make him look into her eyes, "You cannot be serious about this!"
"I am," he said quietly.
"But what about my duties?" Kat tilted his head so that he looked into her eyes, "What about us? I cannot just forget about it."
"Ye'll 'ave to," he began to walk toward the Pearl. Kat followed closely, "I told ye to stay," Jack yelled at her.
"I am following my captain!" Kat shouted back.
Jack perked his head up, that was the card he had to play if he was going to keep her safe, "I order ye to stay 'ere!"
"What?" Kat stopped in her tracks and looked at him with pain written on her face.
"I order ye as yer captain to stay 'ere until ye can forget 'bout wha 'as happened between us."
"Then I will never leave," Kat said in a begging tone.
"Then ye 'ave a lot of work to do 'ere," Jack began to walk back to the ship and didn't look back.
Kat knelt in the sand and watched his retreating figure. Tears began to drench her face as she shook her head in disbelief. This couldn't be happening. Wasn't it just last night that he said that he needed her? Wasn't it just a few minute ago that he was begging for her to be all right? What was different now?
Her legs folded beneath her and she sat in the sand, unable to control her emotions. She saw him board his ship and the other crew members look over the railing to see her, confused on why she wasn't coming with them. She could hear him bark orders at the crew to set sail, and they did with some hesitation. As they made their way out to sea, Kat could see Jack at the helm and Anamaria in the ropes looking out at her.
Before too long the rest of the army made its way through the wooden crates that Jack had made to collapse and found her still sitting on the beach with silent tears staining her cheeks. Captain Belstrude took her in his arms and asked her if she was ok and where the bullet hit. She never answered, but they soon found out what had happened when they found the thick cooking pan.
As far as she was concerned, she was now dead to the rest of the world. Harriet arrived not but two minutes after the army did, hugging Katerina, and finally getting a response out of her. Kat gripped her cousin as if she was the only thing keeping her alive and cried full heartedly into her dress. Harriet picked her cousin off of the sand and started to walk with her back to her home.
"Where are you going with her?" Arthur Benikins asked.
"She's going home with me, uncle. She has had enough heart break . . . she needs rest," Harriet scoffed at him.
"She needs mental help if she planned to leave with that pirate!" he began to laugh.
"You need the help, uncle," Harriet muttered dragging Kat to a nearby bench, "What happened?"
"He left," Kat sobbed, "He ordered me to stay behind."
"Why? Did he give you a reason?"
"He said he didn't want me to be in danger. He wanted me to be safe," Kat let out a loud sob and continued, "He wanted what was best for me . . ."
"Oh no," Harriet said, grabbing her cousin protectively, giving Kat her whole shoulder to cry upon, "It's going to be all right, Kat."
"I couldn't disobey him, Harriet. But I . . . I wish that that bullet had killed me," she choked back more tears, "It would be less pain than this."
"Shhhh, let's get back to the house and to bed. You'll feel better in the morning."
A/N: Don't worry more to come! I'm sorry it was such a sad chapter, but like I said, more to come!!!!!! REVIEW PLEASE!!!! ^.~