Disclaimer: Not mine. Damn. Except Pearl. She's mine, and if anyone tries to kidnap her they will die a horrible death!
Author's Note: Holy avalanche of reviews, Batman! This is awesome. I love you guys. Although I don't know whether most of these were in response to my pleas or the offer of Jack in the closet. (Muffled voice from behind screams, "I told you, my name isn't Jack! I'm Johnny Depp! Let me out! I'm married for heaven's sakes!") See how silly he is, trying to escape the closet by claiming he isn't him? Tricky old Jack.
One minor problem though. Don't freak out, I'm working through it. I just realized as I worked through the story in my head that I was turning Norrington into, pardon me for saying this, a total pussy. Sorry, but that's the best way I can describe it. And I realized that, number one I don't think that would be true to the character, number two I didn't like it much, and number three Pearl wouldn't either. So I'm working on it. Apologies all around if you don't like it and I promise not to revoke your Jack privileges if you tell me so.
Added bonus: since I got so many reviews you all get fifteen minutes of closet time, and if you review again I'll give you fifteen. Just be sure to save some for me. wink, wink
"Ship ho," Gibbs called down from his perch in the crow's nest.
Will's neck snapped around, as did Pearl's. She stood and walked with poise and balance most monkeys would envy to the edge of the sail the two of them had been tightening, pushing her hat back off of her forehead to stare at the horizon. Below them Elizabeth moved to the rail to shade her eyes and look in the same direction.
"What sort of ship?" Jack called from below. He'd been helping tie off the lines as Will and Pearl tightened them, leaving Anamaria in charge of the helm. He may have been the Captain but he enjoyed proving to the crew that he didn't balk at hard labor.
"Can't tell," Gibbs answered.
"Five gold says it's Norrington," Anamaria remarked.
"Belay that," Jack ordered. "We need no more bad luck following us about."
"I don't know who else it could be," Pearl called down. "We are sort of in the middle of nowhere."
"Someone must have told him where we were headed," Gibbs said.
"We don't know that it's him," Will pointed out.
"Well said. No use panicking until we have good reason," Jack pointed out.
"Who's panicking?" Pearl asked.
"Luv, you wouldn't have sense enough to panic if you were facing down a pack of rabid wolves," Jack remarked. With an indifferent grin she rubbed at the black eye she had earned the previous night. "How long to the Cove?" he asked as he approached the helm.
"Three hours at least. The wind ain't with us," Anamaria sighed.
"There ain't nothing but open sea for miles around us," Pearl called as she slid down to the deck.
"There isn't anything but open sea for miles," Elizabeth corrected. "I know you can speak properly. I've heard you."
"Sorry. Tortuga creeping into me," Pearl said with a wave of her hand. "Ideas Father dear?"
"This is the fastest ship in the sea," Elizabeth pointed out.
"Aye, but they're coming in from the east. They've caught a good tail wind," Anamaria explained.
Sighing Jack took the wheel and spun it hard. "Let's see if we can't catch a bit o' that."
"It'll send us off course," Pearl warned him.
"We can turn back. If we get to the Cove late then we get there late. We've no pressing matter waiting on us."
"It's little use," Anamaria remarked. "They have momentum with them."
"Trust in the ship," Jack ordered. "Gibbs?"
"No doubt she's headed straight for us. And I'd wager that's an English flag."
"Who would have spilled to a Commodore?" Pearl demanded.
"Could be just about anyone if he didn't tell them he was a Commodore," Anamaria pointed out.
"I can't see him taking off his shiny blue coat just to talk to rabble," Pearl said.
"Could be he had to crew ask around," Jack answered. "Take her, Anamaria," he ordered, scaling the crow's nest to gaze out at the approaching ship. With a sigh he shook his head. "That's the Interceptor, and no doubt about it."
"Well, that settles that," Pearl said as Jack climbed back down. Will and Pearl followed him back to the helm. "Go rouse the rest of the crew," he ordered the woman. "All of them."
Pearl stepped up close to him. "We can take them," she told him in an almost whisper.
"Aye, we can. But I've no doubt there'll be casualties. He'll have us well out crewed."
Pearl shook her head. "But that's the thing. Three quarters of them will be regular crew. Half of them will be standing in awe of the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow and the other half certain the ship is still cursed. Jack, we've nothing to fear."
"Don't get cocky, girl," Jack ordered. "I know Norrington. Far as he's concerned I've just crossed a line I aught not cross, kidnaping nobles. He'll have his crew straightened out right enough."
"So surrender and wait for me to get you out. I'll go dress up and play the terrified damsel until I get the chance to free you," Pearl answered.
"I will NEVER surrender this ship!" Jack snapped at her. "Especially to that man."
"Right. Should have seen that coming," Pearl murmured. "Okay. What say we all hide and wait for them to board. That way hopefully no one will get shot. Give me a few men to cut me a path to Norrington and let me see if I can't work out a miracle."
"What do you plan to do?" Elizabeth asked.
Pearl shrugged, twirling a bit and suddenly looking extremely innocent. "I'm Bethany Maltrey. I simply plan to exploit that to its fullest possibilities."
"That would work better if you didn't have a black eye," Will pointed out.
"That's all right. I have other feminine whiles to make up for that."
Norrington eyed the ship uneasily as they pulled up beside it. "It's abandoned?" Gillette asked beside him.
"No," Norrington answered, looking at the empty deck. He took in the full sails, the immaculate deck, and the helm held to their corse using a piece of rope tied to the rail. The fact that they were moving made boarding that much harder. "Sparrow would never abandon this ship. They're there. Lying in wait. Damn that pirate and his tricks."
"We could just sink it," Gillette pointed out with a glance toward the cannons.
"And damn Elizabeth and her cousin to death? No, we have no choice but to wait them out or go ahead and board."
"So which shall it be?"
With a heavy sigh Norrington turned to regard the crew behind him, thinking of the poor terrified noble woman trapped somewhere in the ship. Probably having to fight of advances from her Captain. He doubted Jack Sparrow would ever force himself on a woman but he most certainly wasn't above attempting to charm them. "Prepare to board."
"Now?" Will whispered. From his hiding spot with Pearl and Cotton he could see Norrington and Gillette pass by with his men.
"Not yet," Pearl whispered back.
"But he's right there," Will argued. He hated hiding, cowering, when they should have been fighting.
"Not yet. I want him to see me fight a little first."
"How will that help convince him that you're Bethany Maltrey?" Will asked, glancing at her apparel. She'd refused to change into a skirt and still wore her pirate garb.
"I am Bethany Maltrey. All he has to do is look at me. You must learn to be patient, William. Wait for the opportune moment."
Will snorted in disgust. Pearl held up her hand as Norrington paused to look around the ship. "All right. NOW!"
With the final word she burst forward to engage the first man, a soldier in full British uniform, with her sword. She ducked as he shot off his pistol and returned to clashing swords with him, forcing him back toward the Commodore.
The rest of the Pearl's crew burst forth as they had discussed. Will and Cotton got to work moving toward Norrington, cutting a path for Pearl. She dispatched her opponent with a slice across the arm that distracted him long enough to let her turn away toward Norrington. Her orders had been to keep from hurting the crew as much as was possible. Since the Pearl's crew knew it would be a short fight none of them objected.
Finally Pearl drew even with the Commodore. She gave him a mocking bow before taking her first swipe at him. "Lovely to see you again, Edward," she greeted with a grin over their crossed swords.
"I don't know who gave you my name, but I would thank you to call me Commodore, or Norrington at the very least," he replied, trading blows with her.
She chuckled as she forced him backward and he stumbled over a twist of rope, barely managing to keep her at bay. "So proper all of a sudden. And only three days ago you were so kind to ask me to call you by your given name."
He paused, eyes widening. "Bethany?"
"Actually it's Pearl," she answered, bowing yet again. "Or Miss Sparrow, if you will."
"Jack Sparrow is your?"
"Father," she answered, nearly getting through his defense in his shock. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm a pirate through and through. And now that you know me for the scallywag that I am I can do something I wanted to do the night of the wedding."
Putting some strength behind her swing she forced his sword down and away from them although he retained his grip. Quick as a flash she darted in to close the space between them, stopping his upswing , and pressing her lips to his. Norrington gurgled in surprise. Just as quickly she pulled away, grabbing his sword from his suddenly slack fingers, and stepping back to level both neatly at his throat, cutting off any chance of retreat.
Norrington quickly turned bright red. "You cheated."
"What can I say? I'm a pirate, remember?" she said with a dignified nod of her head. Turning she raised her voice to call, "Oi! Attention all! Anyone as wants the good Commandore's head to remain situated on his shoulders had best seriously consider dropping their swords and surrendering to the crew o' my ship." Silence reigned as the two crews froze, most in mid-stroke. "I'm not kidding!" Pearl added when no one moved, tightening the hold of the swords and drawing a drop of blood from his neck.
"Drop your weapons!" Gillette ordered, dropping his own.
Jack came over behind Pearl as his crew gathered up the invaders. "Brilliant move, luv," he remarked, scratching at his goatee.
"What can I say? I take after my father. Brig?"
"I think it would be best," he agreed. "Keep a close eye on him."
"No troubles. We'll lead. Right this way, Edward. I mean, Commodore. Lads! If you would all be so good as to follow me?" Pearl called over her shoulder.
Jack and Pearl led the way down to the brig, Jack opening both cells. "Commodore if you would," Pearl said, motioning toward the one on the right. He obediently entered as Pearl turned back to regard the group gathered behind her. "Let's put the shiny red coats in with the good Commodore," she suggested. "And everyone NOT wearing a corset can go in the other cell."
The standard crew, all dressed much like those on board the Pearl, laughed as they obediently marched into the indicated cell. "Gilder, Mitchell, stay down here and watch 'em," Jack ordered.
"Let's drop anchor, go drop anchor on the Interceptor, and see what we can find. Then we'll have to discuss the fine lads' fates."
Pearl watched him go, shaking her head. "Don't worry. He's not going to kill you. Worst he'll do is maroon you and send someone after you. I'll see to that." She meandered over to the cell Norrington was in, leaning on the bars to lay her chin in her hands and grin up at him. "Don't suppose you'd like to tell me how many you've left on the Interceptor and where they are?"
"I'd die first," Norrington replied.
"Yeah, I figured you'd say something like that. But keep in mind that we do have a full crew and they're a few scouts. If there's anyone dying it won't be us." She paused to look up at him. He remained silent, glaring down at her. "Fine. Be that way. I'll be back, darling. Try not to pine," she added, blowing him a kiss before disappearing up the short flight of stairs.
"Wait!" he called suddenly. "Bethany!"
"It's Pearl," she told him reappearing. "Miss me so soon?"
"Hardly. Elizabeth, is she safe?"
"Now that's touching. You were content enough to run me through but you're having a tizzy worrying over Lizzie. She's fine. Locked up in Jack's rooms during the attack. I don't doubt but that she's up on the deck this moment. I personally wouldn't feel safe with Will out of irons if we had his love under siege. Is that all?"
"Yes," he answered.
She returned several hours later with her father to find Gilder and Mitchell swaggering around pompously with Norrington and Gillette's powdered wigs balanced on their head. "What exactly are you doing?" she demanded.
Gilder swaggered over to take the wig from his head and plop it on hers. "Oh, Lass, it makes you look just like a man o' the times."
"Sod off," she ordered, grabbing the wig off her head and coughing in disgust at the powder surrounding them. "Mitchell, give me that."
"You two are both relieved," Jack said, nodding toward the stairs.
As the men left Pearl looked over the wigs with disgust. "I don't know how you can stand these things. I don't know why any woman would find it attractive." Hanging them on a peg by the door she approached the cell. "I guess I've just been raised by a fine proper Irish lass. Give me a lad dark of eye and hair." Reaching through the bars she batted at the powder still clinging to Norrington's dark hair. "You really look much better like this."
With a quick motion he caught her arm, turning it in a way that should have been mildly painful. Pearl didn't even flinch. "Suppose I break your arm?" he suggested.
"You won't."
"Sure of that, are you?"
"Very. For one thing, it wouldn't get you free, only anger my father, which isn't a good idea." She nodded toward Jack, who was leaning against the wall just out of their reach, watching them with mild interest. "For another thing, I'm a woman and you've been taught not to harm them. When she jumps out at you with a sword it's a bit different, granted, but I'm unarmed and causing you no trouble at the moment."
He shoved her arm away with a look of disgust. "You're no woman. You're hardly a girl."
"I'm considerably older than you in the ways of the world," she answered.
He snorted, then turned his attention to Jack. "My remaining crew?"
Pearl sat down in a chair, propping her booted legs up on one of the metal crossbars. "In your brig, on the Interceptor. We may bring them over later if we're so inclined." Jack grabbed the remaining chair and settled down staring at the men in the cell. "Wanna hear the plan?"
"If you're inclined to tell me," Norrington answered.
Jack grinned. "Won't ask for nothing in the world, will ya? I know the sort."
"You ARE the sort," Pearl corrected.
"You're one to talk," he countered.
"Hey, you spend a few months working the streets of Tortuga. Then we can talk about asking for things from people."
"Wait. You're a prostitute?" Gillette gasped.
Pearl's eyes were flinty as she glared at him, exact copies of Jack's. Under the combined stares Gillette took an involuntary step back. "I don't think I like your tone," Jack remarked.
"Leave it alone, Jack. I don't care," Pearl objected.
"Maybe I do." Jack stood, taking long steps over to the brig. "How many prostitutes do you know?"
"None," Gillette said indignantly.
"How lucky you are to be shielded from that sort of thing. Do you know what it takes, to turn a woman to selling herself on the streets? Do you know what grueling hunger it takes to send them out there? Do you know what it does TO them, giving pieces of themselves away like that?"
"Jack, I said leave it," Pearl interrupted. "It's cruel, leaving them without knowing their fate. And for the record, no I'm not a prostitute. I've very narrowly avoided my mother and sister's profession. I've found piracy much more to my taste."
Growling under his breath Jack returned to his seat by his daughter. "We've decided that first thing tomorrow we'll herd you all over into your own brig, leave you there long enough for you to get away, and let the person from my crew I leave on board let you out.
"That isn't much of a plan, Captain Sparrow," Norrington remarked. "Your crewman will hang. Even if I wanted to let them live I have a duty to see them prosecuted."
"That's why we aren't giving you that choice," Jack answered. "You won't hang the person I'm leaving you with."
"Jack, I gave you more credit than this. Who's life are you willing to throw away?"
"Mine," Pearl answered with a grin.
"You?"
"Me," she repeated. "Think about it, Commodore. There isn't a high court on earth as will sentence a woman to hanging. And even if you did somehow convince them after the public sees me they would never stand for it."
"What makes you think that?" Norrington asked.
Suddenly her eyes seemed huge, full of water as if she were on the verge of tears. "You wouldn't. Surely you wouldn't." She stood, moving toward the cage they stood in. She grabbed the bars, pressing her face close as if she herself were imprisoned. Reaching through she took the Commodore's hand, squeezing it, looking up at him with large, brown, watery eyes, the green of her healing black eye making her look all the more miserable. "I didn't do anything. I didn't! I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kidnaped by bloody pirates and you would hang me for that?!" Tears suddenly leaked from her large chocolate eyes, making tracks down her slightly freckled and weathered cheeks. "I'm a good girl. Honest I am. I didn't mean no harm to no one. Honest I didn't. You wouldn't see me dead, would you?" She tugged at his hand, bringing him close to the bars as she looked up into his eyes.
"Bloody hell," Norrington muttered, dropping her hand and tearing himself away from the girl. "No. I dare say I wouldn't."
"She's bloody brilliant," one of the crew remarked.
"You don't know the half of it," Norrington told him.
"Thank you," Pearl said, straightening suddenly and grinning happily. "Plus there is still Bethany Maltrey. The Governor himself would testify to that."
Norrington stared up at her as she smiled pleasantly at him. "And the goods on my ship?"
Jack grinned again. "He's smarter than he looks," he told his daughter.
"I know. It's the coat, I think. Although I must say getting that powdered flea trap off of his head helps."
"I would rather agree with that. We've left you with what you need to get to Port Royal. You may consider the rest payment for our trouble."
"Bloody pirate. That's robbery!" Gillette raged.
"Yes, yes, I would agree with that," Jack remarked. "But was what you were plannin' to do to us really so kind? Kill those that got in your way and hang the rest, aye? Considering that I'd say I'm letting you off rather lightly." Turning on his heal he regarded his daughter. "You takin' the first watch?"
"That's the plan. Gibbs'll let me off in a few hours.
"Get some sleep tonight for a change," he ordered.
"Yes SIR," she answered sarcastically with a salute. Rolling his eyes Jack left.
Author's Note: Another day, another chapter. I hope this uploads all right. I just went out to and I don't know what the program is doing to my other stories. If this doesn't work rest assured that I will do everything in my power to correct it.
Next chapter: Norrington and Pearl get to talk. Fun, fun, fun. For Pearl, anyway. I'd say Norrington is getting screwed. Until then, love you reviewers!