Aftermath
By: L'Morgan
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
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Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The battle has been waged... The lost captain has been recovered, so what else could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 24: Predators and Prey
Commodore Norrington sat at his desk and blinked in deep surprise at the pirate that stood before him, looking a bit dust laden even and quite out of breath at first.
"And you blew the ship up?" he asked and the pirate rolled his eyes.
"No, I asked them over for tea! What the bloody hell do you think I've been telling you Commodore? I wasn't about to just quietly go with them. That has to have been the worst bounty hunter in history! 'Come with us Captain Jacque Sparrow'." he imitated at the last, including even the French accent, and Norrington quickly bit on his tongue to keep from smiling even as he looked over and saw Doctor Cook hurrying in.
"Jack! Thank god! What is this about you sunk a ship off the coast here? Are you all right? Was anybody hurt?" he reacted with in a rush and the pirate's eyes widened and he blinked at him owlishly for a moment.
"A man in their crow's nest was about to shoot him - and I knocked him down. He hit his head on the deck and was out for several minutes." Replied the dark skinned woman who stood by the wall and the doctor frowned deeply as he crossed to him. The pirate arched an eyebrow at him as he swung to face him, one hand up with a pointing finger.
"Ah, ah, ah - don't you dare. I want you to turn right around and march right back out that door and go see to whatever other patients you have under your care." He growled and the man sighed at him deeply as he slowed his approach, but didn't stop. The doctor took his upper arm with one hand, the other on the man's back and he quickly frowned for a brief second.
"Here - sit down, you scallywag." He scolded very mildly and the others were a bit surprised when Jack claimed the seat he was escorted around the desk to, nor did he protest the doctor's hand on his chest briefly. The doctor stayed nearby as Norrington looked up at him with a mild frown.
"You just don't take no for an answer, do ye man?" Jack asked of him dryly and the doctor smiled as if amused while Mr. Gibbs came up behind the pirate on his other side.
"Jack - considerin' that we really do suspect that Reynolds is someplace on this island, lookin' fer you - would you for once do me a favor and not insist on findin' him yerself? Lets' not make it easy fer the man. We don't know for sure that he's alone even. He could have a group with him of some kind. I'd sure bring a group if I thought I was going to be trying to take you anywhere against yer' will, not to mention that of yer crew. But the first place he's going to be watchin' for you is around the wharves and at the Pearl." He said and the pirate nodded.
"The tavern isn't that far." He offered and the others all scowled at him quickly and he gave them an annoyed look.
"What do you want me to do? Just sit here and wait for him to decide to show himself? He doesn't impress me as a professional at his chosen trade if you want my opinion. If he's any kind of a bounty hunter he's not likely to come marchin' in here demanding Norrington hand me over. The whole idea of a bounty is you bring in your target without involving the local law enforcement? " he said as Gibbs came up right beside him and rested a heavy hand on the pirates' shoulder.
"That's right Jack - and let's face it. He could walk up to you in a tavern or on the wharf or anyplace else he finds you, and shoot you dead on sight and not ever have to worry for a second about being charged with a damn thing. The Commodore here wouldn't touch him.. - couldn't touch him. But we don't need to make that easy for the man." He said and the one gave him a rather dark look.
"So you expect me to hide until he's gone?" he asked scornfully and Gibbs smiled.
"Well if I thought ye'd do it..." he started and the pirate's black scowl cut him off. "No - not hide. Just be a bit difficult for him to find by accident. Give me time to send out a few of the boys and see if anyone new has been in town asking about ye'. Let me see if we can find out what he's up to. We know the man doesn't have King William's blessing in takin' ye anyplace, much less to the French - so he must have some sort of plan worked up. Give me a day - two at the most. He's bound to surface by then, seeing as how he's lost his ship." He said and the pirate seemed to consider the proposal.
"How do you know King William didn't give his blessing to him taking Jack? I mean, no offense Captain, but you are a convicted criminal, am I not right?" the doctor asked and Gibbs smiled.
"Oh there's convicted criminals.. And then there's convicted criminals doctor. No, William would never lend his blessing to something like this, not while he's at war anyway. That man practically thinks Jack walks on water." He said and the pirate gave him a rather malicious smile with one upraised finger.
"If he thinks I be walkin' on water - its because I'm tiptoeing over the hulls of all those pretty French ships I've put on the bottom since he started his lovely little war, and he damn well knows it. He can't afford for me to quit. Why the bloody hell would he be sending a pirate custom built cannon from the royal armory? He got the design for those things from my brother and we both know it. He knows what I do with 'em!" he said and Gibbs chuckled as he nodded.
"But you're not a privateer?" Norrington asked and the pirate shook his head firmly.
"You just happen to not care for the French either?" Norrington asked and the pirate considered him for a very long moment, then glanced around the room at the others and leaned forward somewhat towards the military man.
"Let's just say that there was something I wanted - not for myself, but for another member of my family who had been wronged. Now you know me Commodore - if an opportune moment arises.. Well, I am not so unreasonable that I won't discuss terms of accord. The situation was rectified, I got my nice little cannons, and I just do what I've always been up to doing out here, only now sometimes I have a bit clearer of an idea of who might be coming where and when shall we say? Its' a business agreement." He said and Norrington stared at him.
"May I ask exactly what would happen if I were to take you into custody now, and hang you? How exactly does William know that isn't what will happen to you someday out here if you're not a recognized privateer. Without a marque Jack, nothing you've said can be proven at all. I have only your word to take on it. Surely you realize that all of this, coming from a pirate, is a bit ludicrous?" the military man asked and the pirate absently felt in his pocket and pulled out the gold coin that he wove absently through the fingers of one hand.
"It is possible to be a pirate, and yet still have some semblance of self respect Commodore. As you know, I'm not exactly known for my bloodlust and burning towns to the very ground. And I do seem to have picked up this horrible habit of doin' things no self respecting pirate would do - jumping into water to save young women who fall off fort walls - takin' young lads out to retrieve said young women from evil pirates - although I will admit to a certain self interest in that venture myself. Although I had no intention of letting Barbossa keep the son of my friend Bootstrap Bill, to just do whatever he pleased with - not in the end. There's no way this side of hell I would have let Barbossa have that lad." He said and Gibbs nodded.
"No, he did have a plan to get the lad back. The lad just didn't have the patience to wait and didn't trust him enough so he ever got to that part." He said and Jack shrugged and looked back at the military man.
"Pullin' people up off cliffs, fishin people out of the water after one bloody hell of an earthquake - makin' sure they have supplies and nobody else comes to burn what's left to the ground... Those are not exactly the kind of things you find in a book under 'normal pirate-type activities'." He said and Norrington half smiled.
"No, they are not. And I will admit I am a bit confused myself as to exactly what kind of pirate are you. You do not fit the mold of 'absolute pirate' - anymore than you fit the mold of 'upstanding townsman'. You are a puzzle Sparrow, I'll give you that. Don't suppose you'd care to explain?" he asked and the pirate smiled at him rather mischievously.
"Can't just take me at my word son?" he asked in a surprisingly gentle tone and Norrington hesitated, caught a bit off guard.
"Personally - although I can't even justify it - yes I do believe you Jack. God only knows why I do, but I do. I do worry though about what would happen if somehow some order came down for me to turn you over to somebody else. Or if months from now, I manage to catch you doing enough wrong so that it looks as if I should be hanging you again. I literally pray you don't put me to that test ever. It gives me nightmares at times." He said almost as if thinking out loud, and then blushed mildly at his last words.
There was a long silence in the room. Then Mr. Gibbs clapped the pirate on the shoulder and bent down.
"Jack, not to be interrupting ye, but lets worry about Mr. Reynolds for the moment? We don't know where he is. But we do know he'd like to see that the dear French never have to worry about you again and I rather take offense at that idea myself." He said and the pirate nodded with a mild smile.
"I still think it would be a lot faster to just have me walk around for a bit. You know he'll waste no time coming once he sees me. We could get this over much quicker my way." He offered and the others all frowned at him.
"Walking around on the wharf, to be a target? Bait? Prey? No way this side of hell are you playing the part of bait for anyone, you irascible pirate! You're coming with me." The doctor said and the man raised an eyebrow at him with a rather challenging look as he cocked his head at him, one eyebrow raised skeptically.
The doctor considered him for a moment as the pirate folded his arms across his chest with a decidedly stubborn air. "I'm a lot more likely to be the predator than the prey doctor - and you'd do wise to NEVER forget that. Now don't you have other people to attend to?" the pirate captain growled darkly.
The doctor surprised them all by suddenly leaning over from nearly behind the pirate and pulling his arms apart and quickly pinning him to the arms of the chair. He bent forward and over so he could see the man's face, albeit nearly upside down.
"Look here - now you listen to me Jack Sparrow and you listen well. I'm sorry about what I said the other day when I finally caught up with you after your little adventures at the tavern. I was upset that you'd up and disappeared on me. I didn't mean to imply or suggest that I resented any time I'd spent getting you back on your feet. It wasn't supposed to sound like that at all. As for other patients, well I lied. 2 thirds of the people who lived in this town on the first day of June will never again need to worry about needing my services, or that of anyone else for that matter. My assistant had been more than capable of handling the few things that have come up among the living." He said and paused and the pirate met his gaze steadily but said nothing.
"Look Jack, I'm sorry. It's been - well - a little rough here. Most of the people I was seeing as patients are no longer around. The elderly and anyone with any kind of medical condition were among the first to go due to the disease that came after the earthquake. No, that's not your problem, but you see, it really isn't often that a doctor has a supposedly dead patient, suddenly walk back in like you did. I know it's been nothing more than a frustrating time for you with this cough that just won't seem to let go. Unfortunately in my profession, I've seem men older than you, your age, much younger than you - all die from the exact same thing.. And I'd really rather nor attend your funeral a second time?" he asked and the pirate bit on his lower lip and the doctor relaxed his hold on the man's arms.
"I'm much better now." Jack said lowly with a rather sulky tone and the doctor nodded with a smile.
"Yes, that you are. But I know how easy it is for you to get tired, or find yourself suddenly out of breath when you didn't expect it, and I know you have a while of that to get through still. Not long really, but when you do overdo it, it catches up with you fast - like when I first came in here. Can you honestly tell me I'm wrong about that?" he asked and the pirate sighed and looked away with a thoughtful expression and the doctor smiled at him kindly.
"Jack, you're very good at concealing how you feel. I can imagine how you had to develop that talent, but no amount of outer calmness can keep your pulse from pounding like it still is. Even sitting down you're still trembling a bit. Now will you tell me if you're just upset over Reynolds getting away from you - was it sinking the ship? I imagine that's not really what you expected to be doing this morning and I know that's not something you do lightly or without it being rather traumatic. If it were so easy for you, you'd do it a lot more.. Or was it just getting up the hill to this fort? Or do I have to guess which it is?" He asked gently and leaned forward as the pirate mumbled something very softly.
The doctor looked around and spied the carafe of brandy on the settee by the wall. At his look, Norrington went and came back with a glass that he offered to the doctor, who in turn passed it to the pirate who quickly took a large gulp and then looked up at him.
"All right gentlemen.. Jack I would appreciate it if you would stay with the doctor for today. It will be much easier if we all know that you are someplace safe and that no one has found you and made this even more complicated. Let Mr. Gibbs see if anyone new has been around the docks, and I shall have my men see if anyone has been in town asking about you recently. I should have an idea of what they find as early as tonight. I'll come see you at the residence with my findings. Can we agree on that for today at least?" Norrington asked and the doctor and Gibbs both nodded and looked at the pirate who sighed, but finally nodded as well.
~ * * ~
Towards sundown that evening, Commodore Norrington was reviewing the troops in the courtyard at the fort when he heard a carriage arrive outside. Midshipman Evans' voice wavered slightly as he gave the order to present arms for the changing of the day watch to the night guards. Norrington smiled a little indulgently. Evans was young, but he would get better with practice. He heard voices coming from where the carriage passengers would be, and then saw a man being led off towards the corridor to his office. His eyes widened as he recognized Reynolds from the back. Good Lord! Sparrow had been right! The man was on the island!
He gave the order for Gillette to take over. That would keep one set of over eager ears busy at least. He left the courtyard and hurried towards his office, only to see Governor Swan holding the door for the man to enter his anteroom. The Governor looked back and saw him and said something and then hurried back to him, making a 'shhh' gesture.
"What does he want?" Norrington whispered and the Governor looked rather upset.
"He's come for Sparrow. He says he has an order to arrest Jack Sparrow and take him back to England in irons for questioning - and then to be hung for piracy." he said and Norrington looked alarmed.
"Have you seen the order? Where is Jack?" he asked and the Governor sighed.
"He says Sparrow sank his ship this morning and it was destroyed with the ship. He insists he has the authority to commandeer one from us and use it to take him back. I managed to see him coming up the walkway to my residence and then of course it is my concern that has brought us here. I'll stall him here for as long as I can. Take one of my carriage horses to get to the residence - the Bay. Jack was asleep there last I heard. Get Sparrow out of Port Royal anyway you can and do it fast. I was able to slip my stable man a note as we were leaving. He is waiting outside the Carriage house for all of you with horses. My carriage is too conspicuous." He said and the Commodore nodded and turned to go.
"James!" the Governor added and the man stepped back.
"On my desk - left hand side, second drawer down. There's an official pardon for Sparrow. 3 copies. Already signed and sealed. Date all three as of last week and give one to him - just in case. Please?" he asked and Norrington blinked.
"A full pardon?" he asked in amazement, and the Governor nodded with a small smile.
"Yes - well. Just to be sure to make the date a week ago. Since he's been ill and we know he hasn't done anything they would have a right to arrest him for now. Then still get him out of town. If he is caught anyway, at least the pardon will make it so they can't leave with him at dawn. If this man insists Sparrow destroyed his ship, I will insist on proof that it was an English ship. There will be an issue to delay him taking him. But I'd rather not see him in their custody at all if it can be helped." He said and Norrington nodded and left in a hurry.
It was not long at all before James Norrington arrived at the Governor's residence. He didn't wait to knock and instead strode into the house unannounced.
"See here sir!" he was greeted with as the Doctor and Will both rose quickly with alarmed looks, Elizabeth right behind them.
"Where's Jack?" Norrington asked rather breathlessly.
"Asleep! Why?" the doctor reacted with quickly and Norrington shook his head as he began stripping off his uniform coat.
"Get him up - we have to get him out of here. There's no time to argue Doctor, unless you want to see him in irons and in Reynolds' custody within hours." He said and they all looked alarmed.
"Wait - James, that not as easily said as its' done. I've given him something to help him sleep. Take a moment - take a deep breath and tell us what's going on." The Doctor demanded as the military man stripped off his powdered wig as well and ran a hand through his light brown hair.
"The man Reynolds, was here looking for Lord Jackson Stuart. He had had flyers made to advertise the fact. Jack intercepted them on a British merchant. Reynolds came here looking for Jack, to get him to help him find this missing Lord. At the time, we told him that Jack was dead - we all believed he was then. Well, Reynolds is back and claims he was given a writ for Jack's arrest and to take him back to England for questioning, and then he's to be hung for piracy. Reynolds is at my office right now. Governor Swan is stalling him as long as he can, but we need to get Jack out of here just as fast as we can. This man is deadly serious and he's saying the only reason he can't prove he has the order is that Jack sunk his ship. Considering that Sparrow was long ago convicted for piracy, legally, we should hand Jack over to him quite happily, order in hand or not. And I find that is not exactly what I feel inclined to agree with." He said and Elizabeth's hand went to her throat as her eyes widened.
"William - Governor Swans' desk, left side, second drawer. He said there are 3 copies of a complete pardon for Jack. Go get them and a quill. I'm supposed to date them as of last week and take a copy with us, just in case they catch him anyway. If they catch him and he doesn't have that, Reynolds could take him and even order me to use the 'Freedom' to take them both back to England. If he has a pardon, at least that makes an issue to discuss before he's taken anywhere by anyone." He said and the blacksmith frowned at him.
"Go get the pardons - Doctor, please fetch Sparrow." He said and they both disappeared quickly.
He frowned deeply as in a few minutes the doctor came down the stairs practically dragging the pirate who didn't even have his eyes opened as he staggered severely.
"Ut oh - what happened?" Norrington asked and the one sighed.
"I gave him just a little touch of laudanum about 3 hours ago. You have no idea how hard it is get this man to rest, and this has already had him upset. His mind runs at 10 thousand leagues a minute and he's constantly up. It won't wear off for an hour or more at least." He said and the pirate lifted his head with a murmur and mild frown.
"Here are the papers. Are we taking him to the docks?" Will asked as he came back and Norrington shook his head.
"Too dangerous with Reynolds. Governor Swan is going to try to distract him, but frankly I don't think Reynolds is going to go for it. He'll be using my own soldiers to try to catch Jack. They'll be watching the docks like hawks." He said as he dated all three copies and Will took two away and handed Elizabeth the third to blow on.
"He can use YOUR men?" Elizabeth gasped and he nodded.
"Not many of my soldiers are going to disobey a man who stands there and arrogantly insists he is on the King's business and wants to take a known criminal back to England for questioning. True, my soldiers have seen Jack do all he as here as well - but to defy the King for Sparrows' sake? Especially when he says he wants him only for questioning. No, they will help Reynolds catch him first and ask questions later. " he told them as they heard horses being brought to the front
"Oh no, there's no way he can ride!" the doctor objected and the military man frowned as they followed him outside to where the horses were being held. Norrington climbed up on the largest.
"Give him to me Doctor. I've done this before." He said with a hand out and the one hesitated.
"Doctor! Please do not make me have to draw my gun! I am getting this man out of here if it's the last thing I do! Evans is having a small boat meet us at the western cove. He's telling the Pearl to meet us on the north end of the island at dawn. Now either you come and help, or I will leave you behind, but Sparrow is coming with me one way or another. Reynolds is NOT getting his hands on him and you are decreasing my chances with every second you stand there and argue with me. Which is it going to be?" Norrington asked coldly with one hand on his pistol and the Doctor's eyes widened.
"All right! All right! There's no need to get nasty about it! Here, careful, he's not really awake. You'll need to hold onto him - how are you going to do that?" he asked and Norrington made no answer as he dragged the man up before him in the saddle.
Quickly he undid Jack's belt and slid it off, then shed his own, connected the two and used it to circle his own waist and then the man before him.
"Come on Jack - we have a man to avoid - and a ship to meet -." He said simply and frowned as the doctor jumped quickly up on the horse beside him.
"Doctor." he started and the man shook his head.
"Forget it Commodore. He's my patient and he's been drugged. You are not leaving here without me." He growled and Norrington didn't argue.
"Elizabeth - please - make sure there is no hint Jack was ever in this house. Start with stripping the bed, the basins, dishes, return the pardons to your father's desk. I don't know if they'll come back here, but if Reynolds suspects the Governor is protecting him, he may be here within minutes to search the house for him. You don't want any signs found that Jack has been here." he said and she nodded.
William jumped up on the last horse and the military man scowled as he realized the young man has donned his sword and had a pistol in his belt as well.
"No." he stated firmly and the blacksmith scowled.
"Yes. You'd never get out of here without Mr. Gibbs or Ana if they were here. They're gonna kill us as it is already that we didn't bring Jack straight to them. Quit arguing and lets' get him out of here." He said and the Commodore nodded shortly and wheeled his horse around.
~ * * ~
They circled the property and came to a road, running hard and fast. They paused at a fork and the horses pranced, sensing the tension. Will frowned as he saw that the pirate was slumped severely back against the military man, looking barely aware and definitely not awake as one hand rubbed at his eyes as if that alone took great effort. Norrington noticed and smiled mildly.
"Don't worry Young Mr. Turner, he's fine - aren't you Jack?" He asked, and the pirate mumbled with a small nod. Norrington and the Doctor both started at a faint cry of alarm that came from a distance. They all looked back to see three men in uniform and on horseback as well, a ways off, but definitely close enough to see them.
"Well that was certainly fast. Now what?" the doctor asked and Norrington scowled.
"Down towards the streets at the foot of the hill. And hope to heaven that the good citizens of Port Royal are grateful enough to not want to see Jack caught. Turner - take the short cut, alert as many as you can. I won't try to take him down that steep incline. Hopefully they should be chasing us instead of you. We'll be intending to veer off through the first three blocks and try to lose them in the buildings and ruins. We may pick up foot soldiers in town, but hopefully not ones that are especially gun-ho to actually capture him. Go William - now" he ordered, and the one took off down the darker steeper path.
~ * * ~
Will rode into the dark street and pulled up beside the second house. "We're being invaded!" he cried as loud as he could and in a moment doors on both side flew open.
"Soldiers -they're here to take Jack Sparrow and hang him! Norrington's bringing him on horseback - Jack needs your help! Anything! Norrington is trying to get him to someplace safe. After he goes by, fill the streets, make it so they can't catch Jack - please?" he begged.
"Aye son - go to the next block - second house on the right, tell the man there the same thing. He owes that pirate his life as much as I do. Ask him who to send you to next. Don't you worry lad, they won't be gettin' the Captain. Not if we have anything to do with it!" the burly man on his right said and Will rode on even as more lights came on in the houses behind him as the man he left started bellowing loudly.
~ * * ~
They didn't have long to wait until they heard thundering hooves. Will waited, ready to join in when he saw Norrington and the doctor coming as fast as they could. He took off with them, not waiting to see if they were still being followed. The townsmen waited until the three horses had passed, and then rolled a hay cart out into the narrow lane.
In only a few minutes there came a second set of racing horses being ridden hard and fast by soldiers. One horse went over the hay cart as if unphased, the second leapt over the end and the third shied away. Several of the men waved their hands and hats with fiercesome yells and ran at the rider and shying horse. The horse reared, snorting in fear, landed and took off back the other way.
Meanwhile, several blocks away now, Norrington saw the next figure ahead, waving for them to go to the right. He did so, followed by William and the Doctor, to find himself facing a dead end. He pulled back hard on his mount and they all stopped and looked back to see townspeople quickly running out with a makeshift wall such as they had used for their first shelters. It made it look like there was nothing there but a building. The man rushed up to them with a worried look.
"They've commandeered your own soldiers Commodore. There's a whole lot of them waiting for you that way. Come quickly." He told them. Norrington undid the belt and pulled Jack down; keeping him from hitting the ground as the doctor quickly grabbed his other arm.
The man led them into a house and through the back rooms and out into a very dark alley. They were just hurrying down it when there was a cry behind them and they looked back to see two soldiers running at them, swords already drawn.
"Go! Get him out of here!" Will yelled and Norrington hesitated.
"Go Commodore! I promise I'll try not to kill anyone!" the young man growled and the military man nodded and took off with the doctor and their nearly limp companion.
William Turner pulled his sword and readied himself to be the lone defender that stood between them and his friend Jack Sparrow. He engaged the first heavily, exchanging clash for clash. He leapt over a blow aimed at his legs from the second man and ducked the blow to his head by the first.
He ran and leapt up onto a barrel, them over them and attacked from behind, stabbing one deeply in the thigh. The man went down with a cry.. A cry that drew the attention of more soldiers. Will looked at the one before him and glanced back at the three advancing behind him and he swallowed dryly.
"Yer not alone lad," came a deep voice as a side door opened and three men with swords stepped out. He saw 2 more townsmen with clubs coming out behind the three soldiers, thus blocking their way of retreat.
TBC..
A/N: Okay, so I lied - this chapter got so long it turned into two all by itself.! So here is part A. And there is still two more to come then! It was either that or have a single 22 page long chapter here! Hope nobody is too upset with me. I do have a question, are these characters in this believable enough or interesting enough to generate interest in a second story that would begin after Thanksgiving weekend and probably last about as long? Only with less frequent upsdates, or shorter ones anyway if they stay at twice a week? Be honest in what you think please! If you have any suggestions for how to improve them, please include that!! Anything in particular you would want a different story to 'develop more'? Or have less of? Now's your chance - let me know? PRETTY PLEASE???
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
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Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The battle has been waged... The lost captain has been recovered, so what else could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 24: Predators and Prey
Commodore Norrington sat at his desk and blinked in deep surprise at the pirate that stood before him, looking a bit dust laden even and quite out of breath at first.
"And you blew the ship up?" he asked and the pirate rolled his eyes.
"No, I asked them over for tea! What the bloody hell do you think I've been telling you Commodore? I wasn't about to just quietly go with them. That has to have been the worst bounty hunter in history! 'Come with us Captain Jacque Sparrow'." he imitated at the last, including even the French accent, and Norrington quickly bit on his tongue to keep from smiling even as he looked over and saw Doctor Cook hurrying in.
"Jack! Thank god! What is this about you sunk a ship off the coast here? Are you all right? Was anybody hurt?" he reacted with in a rush and the pirate's eyes widened and he blinked at him owlishly for a moment.
"A man in their crow's nest was about to shoot him - and I knocked him down. He hit his head on the deck and was out for several minutes." Replied the dark skinned woman who stood by the wall and the doctor frowned deeply as he crossed to him. The pirate arched an eyebrow at him as he swung to face him, one hand up with a pointing finger.
"Ah, ah, ah - don't you dare. I want you to turn right around and march right back out that door and go see to whatever other patients you have under your care." He growled and the man sighed at him deeply as he slowed his approach, but didn't stop. The doctor took his upper arm with one hand, the other on the man's back and he quickly frowned for a brief second.
"Here - sit down, you scallywag." He scolded very mildly and the others were a bit surprised when Jack claimed the seat he was escorted around the desk to, nor did he protest the doctor's hand on his chest briefly. The doctor stayed nearby as Norrington looked up at him with a mild frown.
"You just don't take no for an answer, do ye man?" Jack asked of him dryly and the doctor smiled as if amused while Mr. Gibbs came up behind the pirate on his other side.
"Jack - considerin' that we really do suspect that Reynolds is someplace on this island, lookin' fer you - would you for once do me a favor and not insist on findin' him yerself? Lets' not make it easy fer the man. We don't know for sure that he's alone even. He could have a group with him of some kind. I'd sure bring a group if I thought I was going to be trying to take you anywhere against yer' will, not to mention that of yer crew. But the first place he's going to be watchin' for you is around the wharves and at the Pearl." He said and the pirate nodded.
"The tavern isn't that far." He offered and the others all scowled at him quickly and he gave them an annoyed look.
"What do you want me to do? Just sit here and wait for him to decide to show himself? He doesn't impress me as a professional at his chosen trade if you want my opinion. If he's any kind of a bounty hunter he's not likely to come marchin' in here demanding Norrington hand me over. The whole idea of a bounty is you bring in your target without involving the local law enforcement? " he said as Gibbs came up right beside him and rested a heavy hand on the pirates' shoulder.
"That's right Jack - and let's face it. He could walk up to you in a tavern or on the wharf or anyplace else he finds you, and shoot you dead on sight and not ever have to worry for a second about being charged with a damn thing. The Commodore here wouldn't touch him.. - couldn't touch him. But we don't need to make that easy for the man." He said and the one gave him a rather dark look.
"So you expect me to hide until he's gone?" he asked scornfully and Gibbs smiled.
"Well if I thought ye'd do it..." he started and the pirate's black scowl cut him off. "No - not hide. Just be a bit difficult for him to find by accident. Give me time to send out a few of the boys and see if anyone new has been in town asking about ye'. Let me see if we can find out what he's up to. We know the man doesn't have King William's blessing in takin' ye anyplace, much less to the French - so he must have some sort of plan worked up. Give me a day - two at the most. He's bound to surface by then, seeing as how he's lost his ship." He said and the pirate seemed to consider the proposal.
"How do you know King William didn't give his blessing to him taking Jack? I mean, no offense Captain, but you are a convicted criminal, am I not right?" the doctor asked and Gibbs smiled.
"Oh there's convicted criminals.. And then there's convicted criminals doctor. No, William would never lend his blessing to something like this, not while he's at war anyway. That man practically thinks Jack walks on water." He said and the pirate gave him a rather malicious smile with one upraised finger.
"If he thinks I be walkin' on water - its because I'm tiptoeing over the hulls of all those pretty French ships I've put on the bottom since he started his lovely little war, and he damn well knows it. He can't afford for me to quit. Why the bloody hell would he be sending a pirate custom built cannon from the royal armory? He got the design for those things from my brother and we both know it. He knows what I do with 'em!" he said and Gibbs chuckled as he nodded.
"But you're not a privateer?" Norrington asked and the pirate shook his head firmly.
"You just happen to not care for the French either?" Norrington asked and the pirate considered him for a very long moment, then glanced around the room at the others and leaned forward somewhat towards the military man.
"Let's just say that there was something I wanted - not for myself, but for another member of my family who had been wronged. Now you know me Commodore - if an opportune moment arises.. Well, I am not so unreasonable that I won't discuss terms of accord. The situation was rectified, I got my nice little cannons, and I just do what I've always been up to doing out here, only now sometimes I have a bit clearer of an idea of who might be coming where and when shall we say? Its' a business agreement." He said and Norrington stared at him.
"May I ask exactly what would happen if I were to take you into custody now, and hang you? How exactly does William know that isn't what will happen to you someday out here if you're not a recognized privateer. Without a marque Jack, nothing you've said can be proven at all. I have only your word to take on it. Surely you realize that all of this, coming from a pirate, is a bit ludicrous?" the military man asked and the pirate absently felt in his pocket and pulled out the gold coin that he wove absently through the fingers of one hand.
"It is possible to be a pirate, and yet still have some semblance of self respect Commodore. As you know, I'm not exactly known for my bloodlust and burning towns to the very ground. And I do seem to have picked up this horrible habit of doin' things no self respecting pirate would do - jumping into water to save young women who fall off fort walls - takin' young lads out to retrieve said young women from evil pirates - although I will admit to a certain self interest in that venture myself. Although I had no intention of letting Barbossa keep the son of my friend Bootstrap Bill, to just do whatever he pleased with - not in the end. There's no way this side of hell I would have let Barbossa have that lad." He said and Gibbs nodded.
"No, he did have a plan to get the lad back. The lad just didn't have the patience to wait and didn't trust him enough so he ever got to that part." He said and Jack shrugged and looked back at the military man.
"Pullin' people up off cliffs, fishin people out of the water after one bloody hell of an earthquake - makin' sure they have supplies and nobody else comes to burn what's left to the ground... Those are not exactly the kind of things you find in a book under 'normal pirate-type activities'." He said and Norrington half smiled.
"No, they are not. And I will admit I am a bit confused myself as to exactly what kind of pirate are you. You do not fit the mold of 'absolute pirate' - anymore than you fit the mold of 'upstanding townsman'. You are a puzzle Sparrow, I'll give you that. Don't suppose you'd care to explain?" he asked and the pirate smiled at him rather mischievously.
"Can't just take me at my word son?" he asked in a surprisingly gentle tone and Norrington hesitated, caught a bit off guard.
"Personally - although I can't even justify it - yes I do believe you Jack. God only knows why I do, but I do. I do worry though about what would happen if somehow some order came down for me to turn you over to somebody else. Or if months from now, I manage to catch you doing enough wrong so that it looks as if I should be hanging you again. I literally pray you don't put me to that test ever. It gives me nightmares at times." He said almost as if thinking out loud, and then blushed mildly at his last words.
There was a long silence in the room. Then Mr. Gibbs clapped the pirate on the shoulder and bent down.
"Jack, not to be interrupting ye, but lets worry about Mr. Reynolds for the moment? We don't know where he is. But we do know he'd like to see that the dear French never have to worry about you again and I rather take offense at that idea myself." He said and the pirate nodded with a mild smile.
"I still think it would be a lot faster to just have me walk around for a bit. You know he'll waste no time coming once he sees me. We could get this over much quicker my way." He offered and the others all frowned at him.
"Walking around on the wharf, to be a target? Bait? Prey? No way this side of hell are you playing the part of bait for anyone, you irascible pirate! You're coming with me." The doctor said and the man raised an eyebrow at him with a rather challenging look as he cocked his head at him, one eyebrow raised skeptically.
The doctor considered him for a moment as the pirate folded his arms across his chest with a decidedly stubborn air. "I'm a lot more likely to be the predator than the prey doctor - and you'd do wise to NEVER forget that. Now don't you have other people to attend to?" the pirate captain growled darkly.
The doctor surprised them all by suddenly leaning over from nearly behind the pirate and pulling his arms apart and quickly pinning him to the arms of the chair. He bent forward and over so he could see the man's face, albeit nearly upside down.
"Look here - now you listen to me Jack Sparrow and you listen well. I'm sorry about what I said the other day when I finally caught up with you after your little adventures at the tavern. I was upset that you'd up and disappeared on me. I didn't mean to imply or suggest that I resented any time I'd spent getting you back on your feet. It wasn't supposed to sound like that at all. As for other patients, well I lied. 2 thirds of the people who lived in this town on the first day of June will never again need to worry about needing my services, or that of anyone else for that matter. My assistant had been more than capable of handling the few things that have come up among the living." He said and paused and the pirate met his gaze steadily but said nothing.
"Look Jack, I'm sorry. It's been - well - a little rough here. Most of the people I was seeing as patients are no longer around. The elderly and anyone with any kind of medical condition were among the first to go due to the disease that came after the earthquake. No, that's not your problem, but you see, it really isn't often that a doctor has a supposedly dead patient, suddenly walk back in like you did. I know it's been nothing more than a frustrating time for you with this cough that just won't seem to let go. Unfortunately in my profession, I've seem men older than you, your age, much younger than you - all die from the exact same thing.. And I'd really rather nor attend your funeral a second time?" he asked and the pirate bit on his lower lip and the doctor relaxed his hold on the man's arms.
"I'm much better now." Jack said lowly with a rather sulky tone and the doctor nodded with a smile.
"Yes, that you are. But I know how easy it is for you to get tired, or find yourself suddenly out of breath when you didn't expect it, and I know you have a while of that to get through still. Not long really, but when you do overdo it, it catches up with you fast - like when I first came in here. Can you honestly tell me I'm wrong about that?" he asked and the pirate sighed and looked away with a thoughtful expression and the doctor smiled at him kindly.
"Jack, you're very good at concealing how you feel. I can imagine how you had to develop that talent, but no amount of outer calmness can keep your pulse from pounding like it still is. Even sitting down you're still trembling a bit. Now will you tell me if you're just upset over Reynolds getting away from you - was it sinking the ship? I imagine that's not really what you expected to be doing this morning and I know that's not something you do lightly or without it being rather traumatic. If it were so easy for you, you'd do it a lot more.. Or was it just getting up the hill to this fort? Or do I have to guess which it is?" He asked gently and leaned forward as the pirate mumbled something very softly.
The doctor looked around and spied the carafe of brandy on the settee by the wall. At his look, Norrington went and came back with a glass that he offered to the doctor, who in turn passed it to the pirate who quickly took a large gulp and then looked up at him.
"All right gentlemen.. Jack I would appreciate it if you would stay with the doctor for today. It will be much easier if we all know that you are someplace safe and that no one has found you and made this even more complicated. Let Mr. Gibbs see if anyone new has been around the docks, and I shall have my men see if anyone has been in town asking about you recently. I should have an idea of what they find as early as tonight. I'll come see you at the residence with my findings. Can we agree on that for today at least?" Norrington asked and the doctor and Gibbs both nodded and looked at the pirate who sighed, but finally nodded as well.
~ * * ~
Towards sundown that evening, Commodore Norrington was reviewing the troops in the courtyard at the fort when he heard a carriage arrive outside. Midshipman Evans' voice wavered slightly as he gave the order to present arms for the changing of the day watch to the night guards. Norrington smiled a little indulgently. Evans was young, but he would get better with practice. He heard voices coming from where the carriage passengers would be, and then saw a man being led off towards the corridor to his office. His eyes widened as he recognized Reynolds from the back. Good Lord! Sparrow had been right! The man was on the island!
He gave the order for Gillette to take over. That would keep one set of over eager ears busy at least. He left the courtyard and hurried towards his office, only to see Governor Swan holding the door for the man to enter his anteroom. The Governor looked back and saw him and said something and then hurried back to him, making a 'shhh' gesture.
"What does he want?" Norrington whispered and the Governor looked rather upset.
"He's come for Sparrow. He says he has an order to arrest Jack Sparrow and take him back to England in irons for questioning - and then to be hung for piracy." he said and Norrington looked alarmed.
"Have you seen the order? Where is Jack?" he asked and the Governor sighed.
"He says Sparrow sank his ship this morning and it was destroyed with the ship. He insists he has the authority to commandeer one from us and use it to take him back. I managed to see him coming up the walkway to my residence and then of course it is my concern that has brought us here. I'll stall him here for as long as I can. Take one of my carriage horses to get to the residence - the Bay. Jack was asleep there last I heard. Get Sparrow out of Port Royal anyway you can and do it fast. I was able to slip my stable man a note as we were leaving. He is waiting outside the Carriage house for all of you with horses. My carriage is too conspicuous." He said and the Commodore nodded and turned to go.
"James!" the Governor added and the man stepped back.
"On my desk - left hand side, second drawer down. There's an official pardon for Sparrow. 3 copies. Already signed and sealed. Date all three as of last week and give one to him - just in case. Please?" he asked and Norrington blinked.
"A full pardon?" he asked in amazement, and the Governor nodded with a small smile.
"Yes - well. Just to be sure to make the date a week ago. Since he's been ill and we know he hasn't done anything they would have a right to arrest him for now. Then still get him out of town. If he is caught anyway, at least the pardon will make it so they can't leave with him at dawn. If this man insists Sparrow destroyed his ship, I will insist on proof that it was an English ship. There will be an issue to delay him taking him. But I'd rather not see him in their custody at all if it can be helped." He said and Norrington nodded and left in a hurry.
It was not long at all before James Norrington arrived at the Governor's residence. He didn't wait to knock and instead strode into the house unannounced.
"See here sir!" he was greeted with as the Doctor and Will both rose quickly with alarmed looks, Elizabeth right behind them.
"Where's Jack?" Norrington asked rather breathlessly.
"Asleep! Why?" the doctor reacted with quickly and Norrington shook his head as he began stripping off his uniform coat.
"Get him up - we have to get him out of here. There's no time to argue Doctor, unless you want to see him in irons and in Reynolds' custody within hours." He said and they all looked alarmed.
"Wait - James, that not as easily said as its' done. I've given him something to help him sleep. Take a moment - take a deep breath and tell us what's going on." The Doctor demanded as the military man stripped off his powdered wig as well and ran a hand through his light brown hair.
"The man Reynolds, was here looking for Lord Jackson Stuart. He had had flyers made to advertise the fact. Jack intercepted them on a British merchant. Reynolds came here looking for Jack, to get him to help him find this missing Lord. At the time, we told him that Jack was dead - we all believed he was then. Well, Reynolds is back and claims he was given a writ for Jack's arrest and to take him back to England for questioning, and then he's to be hung for piracy. Reynolds is at my office right now. Governor Swan is stalling him as long as he can, but we need to get Jack out of here just as fast as we can. This man is deadly serious and he's saying the only reason he can't prove he has the order is that Jack sunk his ship. Considering that Sparrow was long ago convicted for piracy, legally, we should hand Jack over to him quite happily, order in hand or not. And I find that is not exactly what I feel inclined to agree with." He said and Elizabeth's hand went to her throat as her eyes widened.
"William - Governor Swans' desk, left side, second drawer. He said there are 3 copies of a complete pardon for Jack. Go get them and a quill. I'm supposed to date them as of last week and take a copy with us, just in case they catch him anyway. If they catch him and he doesn't have that, Reynolds could take him and even order me to use the 'Freedom' to take them both back to England. If he has a pardon, at least that makes an issue to discuss before he's taken anywhere by anyone." He said and the blacksmith frowned at him.
"Go get the pardons - Doctor, please fetch Sparrow." He said and they both disappeared quickly.
He frowned deeply as in a few minutes the doctor came down the stairs practically dragging the pirate who didn't even have his eyes opened as he staggered severely.
"Ut oh - what happened?" Norrington asked and the one sighed.
"I gave him just a little touch of laudanum about 3 hours ago. You have no idea how hard it is get this man to rest, and this has already had him upset. His mind runs at 10 thousand leagues a minute and he's constantly up. It won't wear off for an hour or more at least." He said and the pirate lifted his head with a murmur and mild frown.
"Here are the papers. Are we taking him to the docks?" Will asked as he came back and Norrington shook his head.
"Too dangerous with Reynolds. Governor Swan is going to try to distract him, but frankly I don't think Reynolds is going to go for it. He'll be using my own soldiers to try to catch Jack. They'll be watching the docks like hawks." He said as he dated all three copies and Will took two away and handed Elizabeth the third to blow on.
"He can use YOUR men?" Elizabeth gasped and he nodded.
"Not many of my soldiers are going to disobey a man who stands there and arrogantly insists he is on the King's business and wants to take a known criminal back to England for questioning. True, my soldiers have seen Jack do all he as here as well - but to defy the King for Sparrows' sake? Especially when he says he wants him only for questioning. No, they will help Reynolds catch him first and ask questions later. " he told them as they heard horses being brought to the front
"Oh no, there's no way he can ride!" the doctor objected and the military man frowned as they followed him outside to where the horses were being held. Norrington climbed up on the largest.
"Give him to me Doctor. I've done this before." He said with a hand out and the one hesitated.
"Doctor! Please do not make me have to draw my gun! I am getting this man out of here if it's the last thing I do! Evans is having a small boat meet us at the western cove. He's telling the Pearl to meet us on the north end of the island at dawn. Now either you come and help, or I will leave you behind, but Sparrow is coming with me one way or another. Reynolds is NOT getting his hands on him and you are decreasing my chances with every second you stand there and argue with me. Which is it going to be?" Norrington asked coldly with one hand on his pistol and the Doctor's eyes widened.
"All right! All right! There's no need to get nasty about it! Here, careful, he's not really awake. You'll need to hold onto him - how are you going to do that?" he asked and Norrington made no answer as he dragged the man up before him in the saddle.
Quickly he undid Jack's belt and slid it off, then shed his own, connected the two and used it to circle his own waist and then the man before him.
"Come on Jack - we have a man to avoid - and a ship to meet -." He said simply and frowned as the doctor jumped quickly up on the horse beside him.
"Doctor." he started and the man shook his head.
"Forget it Commodore. He's my patient and he's been drugged. You are not leaving here without me." He growled and Norrington didn't argue.
"Elizabeth - please - make sure there is no hint Jack was ever in this house. Start with stripping the bed, the basins, dishes, return the pardons to your father's desk. I don't know if they'll come back here, but if Reynolds suspects the Governor is protecting him, he may be here within minutes to search the house for him. You don't want any signs found that Jack has been here." he said and she nodded.
William jumped up on the last horse and the military man scowled as he realized the young man has donned his sword and had a pistol in his belt as well.
"No." he stated firmly and the blacksmith scowled.
"Yes. You'd never get out of here without Mr. Gibbs or Ana if they were here. They're gonna kill us as it is already that we didn't bring Jack straight to them. Quit arguing and lets' get him out of here." He said and the Commodore nodded shortly and wheeled his horse around.
~ * * ~
They circled the property and came to a road, running hard and fast. They paused at a fork and the horses pranced, sensing the tension. Will frowned as he saw that the pirate was slumped severely back against the military man, looking barely aware and definitely not awake as one hand rubbed at his eyes as if that alone took great effort. Norrington noticed and smiled mildly.
"Don't worry Young Mr. Turner, he's fine - aren't you Jack?" He asked, and the pirate mumbled with a small nod. Norrington and the Doctor both started at a faint cry of alarm that came from a distance. They all looked back to see three men in uniform and on horseback as well, a ways off, but definitely close enough to see them.
"Well that was certainly fast. Now what?" the doctor asked and Norrington scowled.
"Down towards the streets at the foot of the hill. And hope to heaven that the good citizens of Port Royal are grateful enough to not want to see Jack caught. Turner - take the short cut, alert as many as you can. I won't try to take him down that steep incline. Hopefully they should be chasing us instead of you. We'll be intending to veer off through the first three blocks and try to lose them in the buildings and ruins. We may pick up foot soldiers in town, but hopefully not ones that are especially gun-ho to actually capture him. Go William - now" he ordered, and the one took off down the darker steeper path.
~ * * ~
Will rode into the dark street and pulled up beside the second house. "We're being invaded!" he cried as loud as he could and in a moment doors on both side flew open.
"Soldiers -they're here to take Jack Sparrow and hang him! Norrington's bringing him on horseback - Jack needs your help! Anything! Norrington is trying to get him to someplace safe. After he goes by, fill the streets, make it so they can't catch Jack - please?" he begged.
"Aye son - go to the next block - second house on the right, tell the man there the same thing. He owes that pirate his life as much as I do. Ask him who to send you to next. Don't you worry lad, they won't be gettin' the Captain. Not if we have anything to do with it!" the burly man on his right said and Will rode on even as more lights came on in the houses behind him as the man he left started bellowing loudly.
~ * * ~
They didn't have long to wait until they heard thundering hooves. Will waited, ready to join in when he saw Norrington and the doctor coming as fast as they could. He took off with them, not waiting to see if they were still being followed. The townsmen waited until the three horses had passed, and then rolled a hay cart out into the narrow lane.
In only a few minutes there came a second set of racing horses being ridden hard and fast by soldiers. One horse went over the hay cart as if unphased, the second leapt over the end and the third shied away. Several of the men waved their hands and hats with fiercesome yells and ran at the rider and shying horse. The horse reared, snorting in fear, landed and took off back the other way.
Meanwhile, several blocks away now, Norrington saw the next figure ahead, waving for them to go to the right. He did so, followed by William and the Doctor, to find himself facing a dead end. He pulled back hard on his mount and they all stopped and looked back to see townspeople quickly running out with a makeshift wall such as they had used for their first shelters. It made it look like there was nothing there but a building. The man rushed up to them with a worried look.
"They've commandeered your own soldiers Commodore. There's a whole lot of them waiting for you that way. Come quickly." He told them. Norrington undid the belt and pulled Jack down; keeping him from hitting the ground as the doctor quickly grabbed his other arm.
The man led them into a house and through the back rooms and out into a very dark alley. They were just hurrying down it when there was a cry behind them and they looked back to see two soldiers running at them, swords already drawn.
"Go! Get him out of here!" Will yelled and Norrington hesitated.
"Go Commodore! I promise I'll try not to kill anyone!" the young man growled and the military man nodded and took off with the doctor and their nearly limp companion.
William Turner pulled his sword and readied himself to be the lone defender that stood between them and his friend Jack Sparrow. He engaged the first heavily, exchanging clash for clash. He leapt over a blow aimed at his legs from the second man and ducked the blow to his head by the first.
He ran and leapt up onto a barrel, them over them and attacked from behind, stabbing one deeply in the thigh. The man went down with a cry.. A cry that drew the attention of more soldiers. Will looked at the one before him and glanced back at the three advancing behind him and he swallowed dryly.
"Yer not alone lad," came a deep voice as a side door opened and three men with swords stepped out. He saw 2 more townsmen with clubs coming out behind the three soldiers, thus blocking their way of retreat.
TBC..
A/N: Okay, so I lied - this chapter got so long it turned into two all by itself.! So here is part A. And there is still two more to come then! It was either that or have a single 22 page long chapter here! Hope nobody is too upset with me. I do have a question, are these characters in this believable enough or interesting enough to generate interest in a second story that would begin after Thanksgiving weekend and probably last about as long? Only with less frequent upsdates, or shorter ones anyway if they stay at twice a week? Be honest in what you think please! If you have any suggestions for how to improve them, please include that!! Anything in particular you would want a different story to 'develop more'? Or have less of? Now's your chance - let me know? PRETTY PLEASE???