Chapter Eighteen-Freedom
*I'm sorry that this story has gotten so long and that it's taken me forever to get this chapter up,
but I have spent the last two weeks trying to move in and get settled in college, so you'll
understand. I know that there are a couple of chapters that are kind of boring compared to the
rest and that this just goes on forever, but I appreciate the great reviews and just the fact that
everybody is taking the time to read the product of my boredom. Thanks you guys, and I hope
you enjoy the conclusion to my epic. Could there be a sequel in the future sometime? I don't
know, you guys tell me! Ciao everyone.
The governor's butler opened the door of the mansion the next day to see Will and
Elizabeth. Moments later the two were sitting in the parlor with Catherine and Governor Swann,
who both looked extremely stressed and pained. Governor Swann looked like an old man as he
sat there with one hand to his forehead. Catherine carried herself with the proud, defiant air she
had adopted since the wedding, the dark circles under her eyes the only trace of her anguish.
Unbeknownst to the governor or his eldest daughter, today was the day that Catherine would
make her run to love and to freedom. Elizabeth was speaking carefully, trying to avoid raising
the suspicions of the guard who was standing by the door.
"Cate, how are you faring?" she asked politely.
"How do you think I'm faring?" Catherine replied, annoyed at the idiocy of the question.
"I know this is extremely difficult for you." Elizabeth leaned forward slightly and tried to
communicate with her eyes. "Hopefully you will soon find yourself in a much better state."
Catherine narrowed her eyes slightly. After a moment she sat back, understanding.
"Yes, I do hope so." Elizabeth nodded.
"You don't look as if you've had much sleep lately, Catherine," Will said calmly.
"Perhaps it would be wise for you to take some extra time to try and rest in the afternoons. You
don't want to fall ill, do you?"
"That is a good idea. I haven't been able to rest very much these last few days. Thank
you for your concern, Will." Governor Swann looked confused at this incredibly formal and
unanimated conversation. He looked from one daughter to the other, trying to understand what
was going on. Both women just gave their father knowing looks that told him not to ask any
questions. Right at that moment, the butler announced that Mrs. Molly Thatcher had arrived at
the mansion.
"Show her in, please," Catherine said politely. Molly walked into a silent room full of
tension a few seconds later.
"Good day, Governor Swann. Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Catherine," the woman said as she
curtseyed to each of them in turn. "I came to show your new maid her way around the
marketplace and I just wanted to say hello." Governor Swann nodded.
"Of course, Mrs. Thatcher, we are always glad to see you. Your mother and yourself
were invaluable to this household for many years." Molly curtseyed to the governor again and
left the room slowly, giving Elizabeth a meaningful look as she made her way to the kitchen
where the maids were working at the moment.
"Catherine, you look just awful, darling," said Elizabeth, rising from the sofa. "You
really should go rest for a while." Catherine nodded and got up herself.
"I think I shall. Will you come upstairs with me for a moment, Tess?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The girls stood in the bedroom of their childhood after having climbed the stairs carefully
so as to avoid any suspicion. After closing the door gently, Catherine took Elizabeth's hand and
pulled her to the window.
"Is Jack safe?" she asked in a hushed voice. "Is there a plan?" Elizabeth squeezed her
sister's hand comfortingly.
"Yes, he's safe. He is hiding in Molly's cellar." Catherine breathed a great sigh of relief
and sank onto a nearby chair, one hand holding Elizabeth's and the other grasping Jack's ring.
"He is safe for now. We have a plan and you must act on it immediately if there is to be any
chance of success." Catherine closed her eyes for a moment before staring determinedly into her
sister's grave face.
"Tell me what to do."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth appeared in the kitchen after leaving Catherine in her room. She looked around
for Molly and then went straight to where she was standing with one of the house maids.
"Mary, could you take a tray up to my sister, please? She is in dire need of rest and could
use some refreshment to help her sleep." The tall maid curtseyed, put a small tray of bread,
cheese and milk together, and made her way toward the stairs. She looked to Molly briefly
before she went.
"Mary, I'll wait for you in the entrance hall. We can go to the market after you've taken
Miss Catherine her tray." The girl nodded and went on her way. Elizabeth and Molly exchanged
a tense and meaningful look before Elizabeth left the kitchen. Minutes later she and Will were
walking down the streets of Port Royal on their way home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Governor Swann knocked softly on the door of his daughter's bedroom shortly after
Elizabeth and Will had left.
"Catherine? Are you asleep?" He waited a moment and, not receiving an answer, opened
the door and went inside. He shook his head in surprise to see the maid sitting in a chair wearing
his daughter's clothes. The girl got up quickly and tried to apologize as she wrung her hands,
nervous and uncomfortable. The governor took her shoulders. "Where is Catherine? Has she
gone?" The girl nodded. Governor Swann closed his eyes and sat down, overcome with relief.
"Thank God. She's free."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This way, Catherine." Mrs. Thatcher led a disguised Catherine quickly down a side
street toward her small home. Catherine began to laugh as she walked faster and faster toward
her husband. It was amazing how easily she had gotten out of the house. After she and the maid
had put on each other's clothes, Catherine just kept her head down and her cap pulled low over
her face and walked out of the front door right under the nose of her guard. Molly had been
much more nervous about the escape than Catherine had, now that she thought about it.
Catherine was so deep in thought reliving her flight from the governor's mansion that she almost
didn't notice Molly's hand on her arm directing her toward a small house. Molly led the woman
into her home and pointed toward a door on the back wall. Catherine grinned like a child as she
bounded down the stairs into the cellar.
Jack had been pacing back and forth across the dank cellar all morning. He was shaken
out of his stupor by Catherine's ringing laughter as she ran down the stairs. The pirate stopped
dead in his tracks and held out his arms as his wife ran into them. They both laughed and giggled
like they were five years old as Jack picked Catherine up and spun her around and around. When
they were both too dizzy to stand up straight Jack stopped and kissed Catherine passionately.
"Oh my," she said as she drew away to take a breath, "if nothing else all of our
misfortunes certainly do make for happy reunions!" Jack threw his head back and laughed, his
gold teeth shining.
"Aye, love, that they do!"
"Captain Sparrow?" A small voice came from the stairs. Catherine and Jack turned
around to see Peter standing timidly beside his mother. Jack threw his arm into the air with a
flourish.
"Peter, me boy!" Catherine smiled and went to kneel in front of the small lad.
"So this is our dashing young hero!" she said, smiling as the boy blushed.
"My name is Peter Thatcher, miss....uh, miss..."
"Catherine Sparrow. Glad to meet you, Peter." Catherine took the boy's chin in her hand
and kissed him on the cheek, causing him to turn an even deeper shade of red. "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Commodore Norrington?" The commodore halted on his way to the governor's
mansion to see what his soldier was looking at. The guard pointed down a side street. "Aren't
they the Turners?" Norrington turned his head to see Will and Elizabeth being led through the
back alleys of Port Royal by young Peter Thatcher. After looking quizzically after them for a
moment, the commodore's eyes widened.
"To the mansion, and hurry!"
Minutes later Governor Swann was storming through the entrance hall as Norrington and
his men entered the house.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"I am sorry for the disturbance, Governor. I must speak with your daughter. Where is
she?" Governor Swann raised his head at Norrington's calm request.
"She is in her room resting. She has had an extremely stressful week, as you are well
aware," he said with disdain. The commodore climbed the stairs quickly and knocked on
Catherine's door. After several moments of no response, two of the guards pushed the door open
to find it empty. Norrington glanced coldly but with some panic around the room for a moment
before storming out without so much as a look at the governor.
"She's gone to Sparrow. Find them!" The soldiers ran off.
"Commodore Norrington," the governor said calmly. Norrington turned to face him
slowly, his hands clenched by his side.
"Yes, Governor?"
"I would like you to know that I am extremely disappointed in your recent behavior. It
seems to me that you no longer serve others, but only yourself. This fanatical hunt for Jack
Sparrow has gone too far. You must, of course, do what you see fit, but after today you will be
demoted back to Captain until you are able to again convince me of your merit." Norrington's
mouth dropped open for a moment. "If it were not for the years of true and loyal service to the
Crown and to Jamaica I would have discharged you all together. That will be all, Captain."
Norrington nodded stiffly and left the mansion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will and Elizabeth burst into the small cellar and gathered both Catherine and Jack into
one massive group hug as Peter and his mother stood by watching. They had hardly gotten out
their 'hello's when a pounding was heard coming from upstairs. Jack shook his head and sighed,
frustrated.
"That would be bloody Norrington." Everyone else looked quite distressed as Catherine
took her husband's hand calmly.
"I guess we would be leaving now," she said as she looked at her husband who nodded
silently. "Goodbye Elizabeth, Will." Elizabeth's eyes welled up with tears as she embraced her
sister. "Don't fret, Tess. We'll be back." With that the couple quickly said their thanks and
goodbyes, rushed up the cellar stairs and ran silently out the back door of Molly's small home
into the alley.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Molly opened the door minutes later to see a group of soldiers running towards her. They
had been planning on breaking down the door, but instead they found themselves on a pile in the
tiny kitchen with poor Molly flattened on the bottom.
"Get up, get up!" Norrington shouted at the pile of men on the floor in front of him.
"Oh," he said as he noticed Molly. "I'm so sorry madam. Here, let me help you up." Molly
pushed her cap back on her head as she took Norrington's hand."
"Thank you." Just at that moment Will and Elizabeth ran upstairs and into the center of
the chaos. Norrington turned quickly to face them.
"Excuse me Mrs. Turner, but I need to know where your sister is," Norrington said with
more than a hint of agitation in his voice. Elizabeth crossed her arms stubbornly and glared at
him.
"So you can follow her to Jack? Well, in that case I'm afraid you're too late!"
Norrington turned on his heel and stormed out the door, calling over his shoulder for his men to
follow him. The guards hurried to their feet and ran after their captain as Elizabeth, Will, and
Molly followed close behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Jack! Catherine!" The couple ran down the docks to see Gibbs and Mr. Cotton waiting
nervously. "Bout time, we've been sitting 'ere for four days!" Jack clapped Gibbs on the back
as they all jumped into the waiting rowboat.
"Excellent, mates! Now shove off an' let's get away from this bloody town!" Gibbs
laughed.
"Now aren't ye glad we didn't stick to the code?" Jack grinned cocked his head to one
side and smiled sarcastically.
"Just shut up and row."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There!" The small rowboat had barely made it into the water when Norrington and his
men came running onto the docks with Molly and the Turners on their heels.
"Blast!" Jack shouted as he pulled out his pistol. "You need to find yourself a girl,
mate!" Catherine shook her head in fury.
"Damn you, Norrington!! Why can't you just leave us alone!?!" Her cry was drowned
out by the command to open fire upon the rowboat. Jack pushed her down and began shooting.
Elizabeth hurled herself onto Norrington's back, hitting him and clawing at his face as Will tried
to pull her off while simultaneously attempting to wrestle Norrington's gun away. It was
complete pandemonium: the soldiers were confused as they shot at the rowboat; the pirates fired
back with angry frustration; Catherine was shrieking at 'bloody Norrington' as her sister tried to
kill him; the aforementioned captain fired the occasional shot as he fought off the hysterical
woman attached to his back. He finally managed to loosen Elizabeth's grasp and she and Will
fell to the docks. Norrington took advantage of his brief moment of freedom and fired.
Catherine screamed. The shot had found its mark in Jack's shoulder. The pirate looked
at the bullet hole a moment before cursing and standing up all the way and trying more than ever
to kill Norrington. Catherine tried to press her skirt over the wound as Jack fired away like a
lunatic and Gibbs darted up beside her, furious at the ex-commodore's daring to actually shoot
Jack. The madness continued until once again one of Norrington's few shots managed to find its
way home. The fire stopped. Elizabeth and Will stared in shocked silence as Gibbs slumped
down in the small boat.
"Gibbs!" Jack fell down to his friend's side. The old pirate coughed hoarsely and held
his chest. "Come off it, man!"
"Sorry, Jack," the pirate said as the color drained out of his face. "Don't think I'll be
workin' for ye anymore." Catherine knelt down and took Gibbs' hand gently. "Look after 'im,
Catherine, don' let 'im do anythin' too crazy." Catherine nodded solemnly as a tear fell down
her cheek. Jack knit his eyebrows together and tightened his lips as he watched his old friend's
life fade away. "So long, Cap'n." And then Gibbs was gone.
"Bastard." Jack darted up and spun to fire at Norrington as Catherine grabbed his hand.
"No, Jack! Enough! Jack, look at me!" The pirate turned his head and looked into his
wife's pleading eyes. "Enough." He nodded and sat down in the boat.
"Mr. Cotton," Captain Sparrow said half-heartedly, "on to the Pearl." The old mute
nodded and began rowing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Damn it, Norrington!" Will shouted as he helped Elizabeth to her feet. "Are you quite
satisfied?" Norrington was staring dumbfounded at the scene that had just occurred and the
death he had just caused. He looked down at his feet as if searching for something.
"I..." Elizabeth placed her hand reluctantly upon his shoulder.
"It's done, Norrington. For God's sake, let them be." With that the Turners waved a
final goodbye to the passengers of the tiny rowboat and turned to go home to their baby.
"Oh, by the way," Will said looking back over his shoulder. "You really do need to find
yourself a girl." The captain shook his head and turned back to his soldiers.
"All right, men," he said. "Back to the fort." He watched one by one as his men walked
slowly off of the docks and was about to leave himself when he realized that Molly was still
standing there. "Oh, Mrs...."
"Thatcher." Norrington nodded politely.
"I suppose your husband will be wondering where you are." Molly shook her head.
"Actually, I'm a widow." Norrington started awkwardly.
"I am sorry. Please allow me to accompany you home." She curtseyed and took his arm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Captain, are you all right?" Anna Maria asked when she saw Jack's shoulder as she was
helping to pull up the row boat. Jack nodded silently. The crew gasped as he and Mr. Cotton
lifted Gibbs' body onto the deck.
"Anna Maria?" Jack said quietly. The woman nodded and waved for a few hands to help
her with the body. Catherine led Jack gently into his cabin with one hand pressed against his
bleeding shoulder and the other arm around his waist.
Once inside Jack sat silently on the bed wincing as Catherine dressed his wound. When
she was done, she lifted her hand to his face.
"Jack?" A few tears fell down his cheeks. Catherine held out her arms as Jack bent
down to her. She stroked her husband's knotted brown hair as she cradled his head in her arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening Jack and Catherine stood alone on the deck after the rest of the crew
had gone to bed. They had just finished Gibbs' burial at sea and all was quiet except for the
sound of the waves crashing against the ship.
"Jack?" The pirate turned to his wife.
"Aye, love?"
"Are you all right? I know that Gibbs' death has really affected you..." Catherine was cut
short by a wave of Jack's hand.
"Don't, love," he said as he shook his head and sighed. "There's no point. There's just
been so much goin' and that bloody Norrington shootin' Gibbs just knocked me over the edge.
I'm all right, I've just got te recover a little, that's all." Catherine stood with one elbow resting
on the railing of the Black Pearl watching her husband as the sea breeze danced in her hair. As
Jack spoke some of the care and sorrow that had lined his face over the last year began to fade
away and he slowly turned back into his old, jolly, somewhat mad self. After a moment he
looked away from the sea and grinned up at her.
"We made it, Catherine, we're free."
"That we are, Jack," she answered with a smile. "And I'm not Catherine anymore,
remember? I'm Cate Sparrow." The pirate took of his hat and bowed theatrically.
"Of course, milady, how could I forget?" Cate crossed her arms pretending to be upset.
"Don't you milady me," she said with a playful grin. "A lady wouldn't do what I'm about
to do with an infamous pirate." Jack's smile got even wider. "Now, Captain Sparrow, I believe
we have some business to attend to," she said as she sashayed towards the captain's cabin. Jack
chuckled and turned up the ends of his moustache.
"That we do, love, that we do!" Jack followed his wife into their cabin with a shining
gold grin on his face, a swagger in his walk, and singing to himself as he went. "Yo ho, yo ho, a
pirate's life for me!"
=====================================================================
============================THE END==================================
*I'm sorry that this story has gotten so long and that it's taken me forever to get this chapter up,
but I have spent the last two weeks trying to move in and get settled in college, so you'll
understand. I know that there are a couple of chapters that are kind of boring compared to the
rest and that this just goes on forever, but I appreciate the great reviews and just the fact that
everybody is taking the time to read the product of my boredom. Thanks you guys, and I hope
you enjoy the conclusion to my epic. Could there be a sequel in the future sometime? I don't
know, you guys tell me! Ciao everyone.
The governor's butler opened the door of the mansion the next day to see Will and
Elizabeth. Moments later the two were sitting in the parlor with Catherine and Governor Swann,
who both looked extremely stressed and pained. Governor Swann looked like an old man as he
sat there with one hand to his forehead. Catherine carried herself with the proud, defiant air she
had adopted since the wedding, the dark circles under her eyes the only trace of her anguish.
Unbeknownst to the governor or his eldest daughter, today was the day that Catherine would
make her run to love and to freedom. Elizabeth was speaking carefully, trying to avoid raising
the suspicions of the guard who was standing by the door.
"Cate, how are you faring?" she asked politely.
"How do you think I'm faring?" Catherine replied, annoyed at the idiocy of the question.
"I know this is extremely difficult for you." Elizabeth leaned forward slightly and tried to
communicate with her eyes. "Hopefully you will soon find yourself in a much better state."
Catherine narrowed her eyes slightly. After a moment she sat back, understanding.
"Yes, I do hope so." Elizabeth nodded.
"You don't look as if you've had much sleep lately, Catherine," Will said calmly.
"Perhaps it would be wise for you to take some extra time to try and rest in the afternoons. You
don't want to fall ill, do you?"
"That is a good idea. I haven't been able to rest very much these last few days. Thank
you for your concern, Will." Governor Swann looked confused at this incredibly formal and
unanimated conversation. He looked from one daughter to the other, trying to understand what
was going on. Both women just gave their father knowing looks that told him not to ask any
questions. Right at that moment, the butler announced that Mrs. Molly Thatcher had arrived at
the mansion.
"Show her in, please," Catherine said politely. Molly walked into a silent room full of
tension a few seconds later.
"Good day, Governor Swann. Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Catherine," the woman said as she
curtseyed to each of them in turn. "I came to show your new maid her way around the
marketplace and I just wanted to say hello." Governor Swann nodded.
"Of course, Mrs. Thatcher, we are always glad to see you. Your mother and yourself
were invaluable to this household for many years." Molly curtseyed to the governor again and
left the room slowly, giving Elizabeth a meaningful look as she made her way to the kitchen
where the maids were working at the moment.
"Catherine, you look just awful, darling," said Elizabeth, rising from the sofa. "You
really should go rest for a while." Catherine nodded and got up herself.
"I think I shall. Will you come upstairs with me for a moment, Tess?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The girls stood in the bedroom of their childhood after having climbed the stairs carefully
so as to avoid any suspicion. After closing the door gently, Catherine took Elizabeth's hand and
pulled her to the window.
"Is Jack safe?" she asked in a hushed voice. "Is there a plan?" Elizabeth squeezed her
sister's hand comfortingly.
"Yes, he's safe. He is hiding in Molly's cellar." Catherine breathed a great sigh of relief
and sank onto a nearby chair, one hand holding Elizabeth's and the other grasping Jack's ring.
"He is safe for now. We have a plan and you must act on it immediately if there is to be any
chance of success." Catherine closed her eyes for a moment before staring determinedly into her
sister's grave face.
"Tell me what to do."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Elizabeth appeared in the kitchen after leaving Catherine in her room. She looked around
for Molly and then went straight to where she was standing with one of the house maids.
"Mary, could you take a tray up to my sister, please? She is in dire need of rest and could
use some refreshment to help her sleep." The tall maid curtseyed, put a small tray of bread,
cheese and milk together, and made her way toward the stairs. She looked to Molly briefly
before she went.
"Mary, I'll wait for you in the entrance hall. We can go to the market after you've taken
Miss Catherine her tray." The girl nodded and went on her way. Elizabeth and Molly exchanged
a tense and meaningful look before Elizabeth left the kitchen. Minutes later she and Will were
walking down the streets of Port Royal on their way home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Governor Swann knocked softly on the door of his daughter's bedroom shortly after
Elizabeth and Will had left.
"Catherine? Are you asleep?" He waited a moment and, not receiving an answer, opened
the door and went inside. He shook his head in surprise to see the maid sitting in a chair wearing
his daughter's clothes. The girl got up quickly and tried to apologize as she wrung her hands,
nervous and uncomfortable. The governor took her shoulders. "Where is Catherine? Has she
gone?" The girl nodded. Governor Swann closed his eyes and sat down, overcome with relief.
"Thank God. She's free."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This way, Catherine." Mrs. Thatcher led a disguised Catherine quickly down a side
street toward her small home. Catherine began to laugh as she walked faster and faster toward
her husband. It was amazing how easily she had gotten out of the house. After she and the maid
had put on each other's clothes, Catherine just kept her head down and her cap pulled low over
her face and walked out of the front door right under the nose of her guard. Molly had been
much more nervous about the escape than Catherine had, now that she thought about it.
Catherine was so deep in thought reliving her flight from the governor's mansion that she almost
didn't notice Molly's hand on her arm directing her toward a small house. Molly led the woman
into her home and pointed toward a door on the back wall. Catherine grinned like a child as she
bounded down the stairs into the cellar.
Jack had been pacing back and forth across the dank cellar all morning. He was shaken
out of his stupor by Catherine's ringing laughter as she ran down the stairs. The pirate stopped
dead in his tracks and held out his arms as his wife ran into them. They both laughed and giggled
like they were five years old as Jack picked Catherine up and spun her around and around. When
they were both too dizzy to stand up straight Jack stopped and kissed Catherine passionately.
"Oh my," she said as she drew away to take a breath, "if nothing else all of our
misfortunes certainly do make for happy reunions!" Jack threw his head back and laughed, his
gold teeth shining.
"Aye, love, that they do!"
"Captain Sparrow?" A small voice came from the stairs. Catherine and Jack turned
around to see Peter standing timidly beside his mother. Jack threw his arm into the air with a
flourish.
"Peter, me boy!" Catherine smiled and went to kneel in front of the small lad.
"So this is our dashing young hero!" she said, smiling as the boy blushed.
"My name is Peter Thatcher, miss....uh, miss..."
"Catherine Sparrow. Glad to meet you, Peter." Catherine took the boy's chin in her hand
and kissed him on the cheek, causing him to turn an even deeper shade of red. "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Commodore Norrington?" The commodore halted on his way to the governor's
mansion to see what his soldier was looking at. The guard pointed down a side street. "Aren't
they the Turners?" Norrington turned his head to see Will and Elizabeth being led through the
back alleys of Port Royal by young Peter Thatcher. After looking quizzically after them for a
moment, the commodore's eyes widened.
"To the mansion, and hurry!"
Minutes later Governor Swann was storming through the entrance hall as Norrington and
his men entered the house.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"I am sorry for the disturbance, Governor. I must speak with your daughter. Where is
she?" Governor Swann raised his head at Norrington's calm request.
"She is in her room resting. She has had an extremely stressful week, as you are well
aware," he said with disdain. The commodore climbed the stairs quickly and knocked on
Catherine's door. After several moments of no response, two of the guards pushed the door open
to find it empty. Norrington glanced coldly but with some panic around the room for a moment
before storming out without so much as a look at the governor.
"She's gone to Sparrow. Find them!" The soldiers ran off.
"Commodore Norrington," the governor said calmly. Norrington turned to face him
slowly, his hands clenched by his side.
"Yes, Governor?"
"I would like you to know that I am extremely disappointed in your recent behavior. It
seems to me that you no longer serve others, but only yourself. This fanatical hunt for Jack
Sparrow has gone too far. You must, of course, do what you see fit, but after today you will be
demoted back to Captain until you are able to again convince me of your merit." Norrington's
mouth dropped open for a moment. "If it were not for the years of true and loyal service to the
Crown and to Jamaica I would have discharged you all together. That will be all, Captain."
Norrington nodded stiffly and left the mansion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Will and Elizabeth burst into the small cellar and gathered both Catherine and Jack into
one massive group hug as Peter and his mother stood by watching. They had hardly gotten out
their 'hello's when a pounding was heard coming from upstairs. Jack shook his head and sighed,
frustrated.
"That would be bloody Norrington." Everyone else looked quite distressed as Catherine
took her husband's hand calmly.
"I guess we would be leaving now," she said as she looked at her husband who nodded
silently. "Goodbye Elizabeth, Will." Elizabeth's eyes welled up with tears as she embraced her
sister. "Don't fret, Tess. We'll be back." With that the couple quickly said their thanks and
goodbyes, rushed up the cellar stairs and ran silently out the back door of Molly's small home
into the alley.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Molly opened the door minutes later to see a group of soldiers running towards her. They
had been planning on breaking down the door, but instead they found themselves on a pile in the
tiny kitchen with poor Molly flattened on the bottom.
"Get up, get up!" Norrington shouted at the pile of men on the floor in front of him.
"Oh," he said as he noticed Molly. "I'm so sorry madam. Here, let me help you up." Molly
pushed her cap back on her head as she took Norrington's hand."
"Thank you." Just at that moment Will and Elizabeth ran upstairs and into the center of
the chaos. Norrington turned quickly to face them.
"Excuse me Mrs. Turner, but I need to know where your sister is," Norrington said with
more than a hint of agitation in his voice. Elizabeth crossed her arms stubbornly and glared at
him.
"So you can follow her to Jack? Well, in that case I'm afraid you're too late!"
Norrington turned on his heel and stormed out the door, calling over his shoulder for his men to
follow him. The guards hurried to their feet and ran after their captain as Elizabeth, Will, and
Molly followed close behind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Jack! Catherine!" The couple ran down the docks to see Gibbs and Mr. Cotton waiting
nervously. "Bout time, we've been sitting 'ere for four days!" Jack clapped Gibbs on the back
as they all jumped into the waiting rowboat.
"Excellent, mates! Now shove off an' let's get away from this bloody town!" Gibbs
laughed.
"Now aren't ye glad we didn't stick to the code?" Jack grinned cocked his head to one
side and smiled sarcastically.
"Just shut up and row."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There!" The small rowboat had barely made it into the water when Norrington and his
men came running onto the docks with Molly and the Turners on their heels.
"Blast!" Jack shouted as he pulled out his pistol. "You need to find yourself a girl,
mate!" Catherine shook her head in fury.
"Damn you, Norrington!! Why can't you just leave us alone!?!" Her cry was drowned
out by the command to open fire upon the rowboat. Jack pushed her down and began shooting.
Elizabeth hurled herself onto Norrington's back, hitting him and clawing at his face as Will tried
to pull her off while simultaneously attempting to wrestle Norrington's gun away. It was
complete pandemonium: the soldiers were confused as they shot at the rowboat; the pirates fired
back with angry frustration; Catherine was shrieking at 'bloody Norrington' as her sister tried to
kill him; the aforementioned captain fired the occasional shot as he fought off the hysterical
woman attached to his back. He finally managed to loosen Elizabeth's grasp and she and Will
fell to the docks. Norrington took advantage of his brief moment of freedom and fired.
Catherine screamed. The shot had found its mark in Jack's shoulder. The pirate looked
at the bullet hole a moment before cursing and standing up all the way and trying more than ever
to kill Norrington. Catherine tried to press her skirt over the wound as Jack fired away like a
lunatic and Gibbs darted up beside her, furious at the ex-commodore's daring to actually shoot
Jack. The madness continued until once again one of Norrington's few shots managed to find its
way home. The fire stopped. Elizabeth and Will stared in shocked silence as Gibbs slumped
down in the small boat.
"Gibbs!" Jack fell down to his friend's side. The old pirate coughed hoarsely and held
his chest. "Come off it, man!"
"Sorry, Jack," the pirate said as the color drained out of his face. "Don't think I'll be
workin' for ye anymore." Catherine knelt down and took Gibbs' hand gently. "Look after 'im,
Catherine, don' let 'im do anythin' too crazy." Catherine nodded solemnly as a tear fell down
her cheek. Jack knit his eyebrows together and tightened his lips as he watched his old friend's
life fade away. "So long, Cap'n." And then Gibbs was gone.
"Bastard." Jack darted up and spun to fire at Norrington as Catherine grabbed his hand.
"No, Jack! Enough! Jack, look at me!" The pirate turned his head and looked into his
wife's pleading eyes. "Enough." He nodded and sat down in the boat.
"Mr. Cotton," Captain Sparrow said half-heartedly, "on to the Pearl." The old mute
nodded and began rowing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Damn it, Norrington!" Will shouted as he helped Elizabeth to her feet. "Are you quite
satisfied?" Norrington was staring dumbfounded at the scene that had just occurred and the
death he had just caused. He looked down at his feet as if searching for something.
"I..." Elizabeth placed her hand reluctantly upon his shoulder.
"It's done, Norrington. For God's sake, let them be." With that the Turners waved a
final goodbye to the passengers of the tiny rowboat and turned to go home to their baby.
"Oh, by the way," Will said looking back over his shoulder. "You really do need to find
yourself a girl." The captain shook his head and turned back to his soldiers.
"All right, men," he said. "Back to the fort." He watched one by one as his men walked
slowly off of the docks and was about to leave himself when he realized that Molly was still
standing there. "Oh, Mrs...."
"Thatcher." Norrington nodded politely.
"I suppose your husband will be wondering where you are." Molly shook her head.
"Actually, I'm a widow." Norrington started awkwardly.
"I am sorry. Please allow me to accompany you home." She curtseyed and took his arm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Captain, are you all right?" Anna Maria asked when she saw Jack's shoulder as she was
helping to pull up the row boat. Jack nodded silently. The crew gasped as he and Mr. Cotton
lifted Gibbs' body onto the deck.
"Anna Maria?" Jack said quietly. The woman nodded and waved for a few hands to help
her with the body. Catherine led Jack gently into his cabin with one hand pressed against his
bleeding shoulder and the other arm around his waist.
Once inside Jack sat silently on the bed wincing as Catherine dressed his wound. When
she was done, she lifted her hand to his face.
"Jack?" A few tears fell down his cheeks. Catherine held out her arms as Jack bent
down to her. She stroked her husband's knotted brown hair as she cradled his head in her arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that evening Jack and Catherine stood alone on the deck after the rest of the crew
had gone to bed. They had just finished Gibbs' burial at sea and all was quiet except for the
sound of the waves crashing against the ship.
"Jack?" The pirate turned to his wife.
"Aye, love?"
"Are you all right? I know that Gibbs' death has really affected you..." Catherine was cut
short by a wave of Jack's hand.
"Don't, love," he said as he shook his head and sighed. "There's no point. There's just
been so much goin' and that bloody Norrington shootin' Gibbs just knocked me over the edge.
I'm all right, I've just got te recover a little, that's all." Catherine stood with one elbow resting
on the railing of the Black Pearl watching her husband as the sea breeze danced in her hair. As
Jack spoke some of the care and sorrow that had lined his face over the last year began to fade
away and he slowly turned back into his old, jolly, somewhat mad self. After a moment he
looked away from the sea and grinned up at her.
"We made it, Catherine, we're free."
"That we are, Jack," she answered with a smile. "And I'm not Catherine anymore,
remember? I'm Cate Sparrow." The pirate took of his hat and bowed theatrically.
"Of course, milady, how could I forget?" Cate crossed her arms pretending to be upset.
"Don't you milady me," she said with a playful grin. "A lady wouldn't do what I'm about
to do with an infamous pirate." Jack's smile got even wider. "Now, Captain Sparrow, I believe
we have some business to attend to," she said as she sashayed towards the captain's cabin. Jack
chuckled and turned up the ends of his moustache.
"That we do, love, that we do!" Jack followed his wife into their cabin with a shining
gold grin on his face, a swagger in his walk, and singing to himself as he went. "Yo ho, yo ho, a
pirate's life for me!"
=====================================================================
============================THE END==================================