A/N: Another chapter, fresh off of... uh... the clothesline in my mind, I guess. Dedicated to the artists I listened to whilst writing this chapter. Namely: The Goo Goo Dolls, Weezer, Matchbox Twenty, The Knack, and Elvis Costello/The Attractions.
Will Turner didn't trust the proclaimed Jack Sparrow. It wasn't that he didn't think he was telling the truth about his identity, but more that he was sure that Mr. Sparrow knew where Mrs. Torrence's Mr. Sparrow was, and where he and Elizabeth Swann might be. Of course, Will wasn't educated in the theories of police thinking, as he was a mere secretary, but he did know that when a man was ready and willing to let you search his flat, something was wrong.
Even if there was nothing that the supposed Mr. Sparrow was hiding, it seemed strange to let people he didn't know poke around. Will himself wouldn't do it, even if the only thing he didn't want them finding was the fact that he had My Little Ponies collected in his room... but those had been a present from his Gran, and they were nothing to be ashamed of, anyway. Ponies grew up to be horses, and horses were very masculine...
As Will thought these things, stirring sugar into his morning cup of tea, he decided he might just have to visit the first Mr. Sparrow again...
Without Norrington.
It had been a very long day for the "newlyweds". Jack had introduced Lizzie to the warm air, burning sun, and gorgeous beach that morning, exclaiming cheerfully: "Welcome to the Caribbean, darling!"
It had been a day filled with swimming, shopping, general tourist activities, and acting. Of course, Jack was very grateful to return to their room that evening, settling himself on the balcony with a cigarette.. a few moments away from his companion. Although he didn't like to contemplate things much, Jack found the evening a good time for thinking. Mostly thinking about nothing at all, but that still qualified as thinking, seeing as how one needed to think to stay alive, and breathing, and all that other business.
So he stood. And thought. And thought and thought, until he had convinced himself that there was no more real thinking to be done, and he just stood. It was silent except for the puffs of smoke that came out of his mouth every few seconds.
It's a very odd thing, being a pirate. he said to himself. It's one of those I'll-Tell-You-But-Then-I'll-Have-To-Kill-You businesses... Can't very well have everyone knowing that whilst you live in dreary flat, you vacation in Majorca at least twice a year. He sighed, taking a very long drag on his cigarette and blowing the smoke out in little rings.
...But this cloak-and-dagger game is terribly amusing.
After a few more minutes, he sighed again, thinking he might go raid the minibar in search of his favorite rum. However, he was met at the balcony door by Lizzie, who was looking as though she were in the middle of a horrible nightmare.
"There's one bed, Jack." she said. "There's one bloody bed. At least at your place there was a sofa, but... Please, please tell me you don't expect us to share that!"
He stared at her, still smoking, and stroked his chin in imitation of deep thought. He wanted to see how far he could push her before she snapped... "Well, Liz dearest, I don't really think there's any other way to do this..."
Her eyes widened in horror. "...What?"
"One of us will have to sleep in the bath."
"What do you mean, one of us will... oh." She smiled weakly. "Oh... Well, alright then... er... I'll go make you a bed up, shall I?" Lizzie turned and began walking back into the room, but Jack grabbed her shoulder and turned her around.
"What makes you think you're getting the bed?" he asked.
"Well... I -- I just..."
"It'll be much easier for you to sneak away in the middle of the night if you're in the bed," he stated, smirking. "So I'd be getting to making your own bed, if I were you."
She stared up at him with narrowed eyes, as though unsure of what to say. Finally she ground out, "I hate you."
He chuckled, and blew smoke into her face. "Get used to it."
Elizabeth glared up at the ceiling of the bathroom, using all of her remaining energy to hate Jack. Why did you even come with him? she asked herself angrily. You could have kicked him in the groin and... jumped out the window or something. You could have at least tried to resist with something better than an argument...
But maybe I was supposed to come... she contradicted herself, the beginnings of mental warfare. Maybe this was my ticket out of the stuffy upper-class life, and into Adventure. It certainly is a pleasant change from going to Daddy's political meetings every day and hobnobbing with the unbearably dull children of unbearably dull associates. Maybe Jack is saving my sanity.
And maybe there's nothing left of it to save, the first voice in her head replied. Now at least try to get some sleep.
And she did.
As Lizzie was laying in the bath tub, bickering with herself, Jack had hooked his laptop and was presently checking his e-mail. There were, of course, many notes of gratitude from various people all over the world, thanking him for making sure his films had such good quality, and that they were free of strange foreign subtitles... that kind of thing. But after sifting through all the thank-yous, he opened something that was much more interesting:
Sir, it began.
I am writing on behalf of Daniel Dakota, who has discovered that you are making his songs available on your website for filesharing. Mr. Dakota doesn't want any trouble, and is ready to negotiate a settlement with you if you find that agreeable. Reply to this e-mail with a date, time and place you would like to meet. You can be assured that both Mr. Dakota and I shall be there.
Vern Williams
President of Toxic Records
"Well isn't that lovely," Jack said, smiling. "I've just made at least thirty-thousand dollars."
A/N 2: Sorry this chapter is so flippin' short... I just needed to get this part out of the way. But the rest shall be longer. I promise.
WolviesLover: Thanks! And yes, there will definitely be some Jack/Liz. After all, the girl is partially sane. (hee hee)
rythmteck: Glad to know you're laughing! But if your spleen is going to split and keep you from writing, maybe I should calm it down a bit... *grins* Or not.
KawaiiRyu: You're very right. She is glad to get away, as hopefully demonstrated in this chapter. Anywhoo, thanks for reviewing! And thanks for your lovely compliments!
Elf and Tonic: Thanks! And Will is a weirdo. But that's what makes him fun to write! *giggles*
JSWitch: Thanks Mimi! I love PotC too, as you can probably tell... Peace out!
Pirate: Haha! Glad you liked MadlyInLove!Jack and Lizzie. And yeah, I'm making fun of Will. But he's just so easy to mock... And I tried to review your Edward Scissorhands fic, but I'm not sure if it let me. This thing came up that said PROXY ERROR... so... And no, my friends don't like Jack. Because they're all STUPID when it comes to guys.
eva: Thanks! And yeah, the Elizabeth/Kidnapped contemplation will come up soon, but right now she's got other things to think about.
hpdancer92: Thanks! And I'm glad speediness makes you happy, because I'm trying really hard to be speedy! Of course, I can't compete with rythmteck, who tends to do one chapter of waaaaaay over 2,000 words a day...
PirateWannabe: Thanks! And I am delighted that people enjoy that gel-pen so much! Maybe I'll start a spinoff story about the gel-pen... I tend to do weird things like that. But anyway...