Usual disclaimers. but I get my DVD tomorrow so I don't care!
Starlight8: Hopefully the Norrington conversation makes more sense now! ;)
***
Late December
For the twentieth time in as many days, Catherine found her feet brought her to the docks. She found a quiet spot to sit, watching the bustle of the busy port. Although the townsfolk had welcomed her, especially Mistress Hansord, she was restless and unable to settle. Jack had been right - she did not belong on dry land anymore. She missed the Black Pearl, her cabin, her galley. and most of all she missed her husband. Sighing she turned and headed home, nodding to Murtogg and Mullroy who were patrolling on duty at the docks.
"Mistress Kitty!" Mullroy called after her, puffing as he ran to catch her up. He pointed behind her, out into the harbour. "The Black Pearl!"
Eyes wide she gasped - the Black Pearl was early and flying a red flag. Her stomach lurched, sensing something was wrong, terribly wrong. "I've got to get out there Mullroy!" Her voice shook. "Now!"
Lifting her skirts she ran down to the jetty, Murtogg and Mullroy close behind her, climbing down to a small unattended boat. Taking the oars she pushed off, leaving the two marines behind on the jetty. "Mistress Kitty - that isn't your boat!"
"I'm only borrowing it!" she shouted as she rowed. "I'll bring it back in a minute!"
"But."
The Black Pearl anchored just outside of the harbour, the small boat bumping against the hull less than two minutes later. Strong hands helped her climb. "What's the." She glanced around at the faces of the crew - instantly realising that Jack was not there. Ashen faced she leaned against the rail for support. "Tell me Joshamee. tell me now!"
"He's not dead Kitty - or at least we don't think he is. Lact has him!"
"Lact. but how." She was unsure if Lact having him was better or worse than the alternative.
Gibbs hung his head. "We don't know Kitty - he was ashore at the Bride an' never came back! It was only later that we learned about Lact."
"Is he ransoming him. or what?"
"We don't know - we couldn't find the Swallow!"
Catherine's eyes blazed angrily. "What do you mean you couldn't find the Swallow. This is the Black Pearl Gibbs - the Swallow couldn't exactly out run you!"
Oran Booth cleared his throat. "We are sorry Kitty, but they had at least a day's start on us and we don't know which direction they went."
"Are you telling me you didn't notice Jack was missing for two bloody days!"
Joshamee tried to calm the situation. "The crew were in port Kitty - spending their gold. Most were blind drunk, Jack included."
Catherine nodded, biting her lip. "Okay Joshamee, so what do we do?"
Wringing his hands, Joshamee nodded to Oran. "We held a crew meeting Kitty," he said quietly. "Crew want to offer you the captaincy until we get Jack back."
Catherine knew the honour they were offering, and knew she would have to act fast and act decisively. Still biting her lip she nodded. "Okay. Oran, I want you to row me back to shore. I need to ask a few questions and get my things. Joshamee, I want a ships boat waiting for me at the jetty when we return. If we need any supplies, get them quickly!"
Gathering her skirts she climbed down to the small borrowed boat. Oran followed her and took up the oars. "Where are we going Kitty?"
"At the moment, I am not sure, but I am going to see the Commodore. If anything is known about Lact, he will know." Beaching the boat she strode quickly towards the fort, Oran having to run to keep up with her.
***
"Commodore, Mistress Sparrow and one of the Black Pearl's crew are here to see you."
James Norrington frowned, wondering about his unusual visitor. "Show her in," he instructed, surprised when a tall dark haired man followed her, shadowing her protectively although he had given his sword at the door. "Mistress Sparrow, what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"I need some information on a pirate - Jean Claude Lact. the Swallow - what do you know about him?"
"The Frenchman?"
Catherine nodded.
James Norrington had the sinking feeling that yet again he was about to be hoodwinked by a Sparrow. "Not a lot - he tends to strike up near the Bahamas and Bermuda. why?"
Catherine knew she could not tell the Commodore the real reason. "Does he have family - a home port. anything, even gossip - please!"
The Commodore frowned, confused by Catherine's attitude. "A moment." He rose, turning to a small cabinet from where he withdrew a small bundle of papers. Flicking through them he withdrew a single sheet. "Hmm, Lact." He sat down at his desk, reading the sheet. "Why?"
"Give me the information and the Black Pearl will take him out for you!" Catherine offered.
"Why? James Norrington pressed.
"Just call it pirate war - and as the Black Pearl is officially a privateer then surely you would help us." Catherine smiled sweetly, praying that the Commodore would not press her further. "One less pirate ship." she tempted.
Sighing, he handed the sheet to Catherine who read it quickly. He still thought she was keeping something for him, but if it rid him of the Swallow then he was willing to play along. "Is that why the Black Pearl is flying a red?" he asked.
Catherine frowned. "Mmmnn, something like that," she muttered, intent on the sheet of paper. "New Orleans, Oran!" She continued reading further. "Is there any more detail on family? It just says Mississippi and that is a rather long river!" Reluctantly she handed the sheet back to the Commodore who replaced it within the bundle.
"All I know is what is there," he apologised.
Eyeing the papers, she bit her lip. "Am I in that bundle Commodore?" she asked, smiling innocently.
"Not yet, but your husband has several sheets," he warned. He glanced out of the window. "Will the Black Pearl be in harbour long?"
"We'll be gone with the tide Commodore!" She turned to leave, pausing by the door. "Thank you." Her protector followed her.
It was not until he spoke with Theodore Groves later in the day that he discovered the real reason she had been after the information. He ruefully acknowledged to himself how easily she had side-tracked him from the truth, feeding him a story he would believe. Perhaps she should soon earn her own sheet after all.
***
On leaving the fort Catherine dashed home. Oran waited by her bedroom doorway as she changed, throwing some clothes and belongings into her small trunk. "Can you take this Oran?"
He entered cautiously - a woman's bedroom was never a safe place in his opinion. His eyes fell on a small, half-empty bottle of rum by the bedside.
Catherine followed his gaze. "We'll get him back Oran - if we have to sink every French ship in the Caribbean!"
Oran grinned at the idea, knowing she would do it if she thought it would get Jack back.
"Cat? Are you home?" Theodore's voice echoed up from the hallway.
"Upstairs Theo!" She checked through various drawers, ensuring that she had left nothing behind.
"Cat?" Theodore stood in the doorway, noticing immediately the trunk that Oran held. "Cat? Are you leaving? Before Christmas?"
She turned to face him, biting her lip. "I have to Theo, sorry. I've left presents on the kitchen table."
"Is this something to do with your trip to the Commodore - something to do with Lact?"
She nodded, eyes downcast. "He has Jack."
"What?"
"He has Jack and we don't know where the Swallow is. I'm taking the Pearl up towards New Orleans to have a look."
"You're taking the Pearl?" Theodore raised one eyebrow in shock.
"Guess Papa raised more than one Captain," she smiled.
"Crew voted unanimously Theo," Oran interrupted. "But we are goin' t' have t' go Kitty. tide will be turning soon!"
She nodded, kissing her brother on the cheek. "Sorry about missing Christmas Theo. Say goodbye to Papa for me - he went to town and isn't back yet!"
Theodore stood overlooking the hall as his sister dashed after Oran, buckling on her sword belt as she ran. He laughed, shaking his head as he realised that his little sister, all 5ft of her, now commanded the most deadly pirate ship in the Caribbean. What would their father say!
Starlight8: Hopefully the Norrington conversation makes more sense now! ;)
***
Late December
For the twentieth time in as many days, Catherine found her feet brought her to the docks. She found a quiet spot to sit, watching the bustle of the busy port. Although the townsfolk had welcomed her, especially Mistress Hansord, she was restless and unable to settle. Jack had been right - she did not belong on dry land anymore. She missed the Black Pearl, her cabin, her galley. and most of all she missed her husband. Sighing she turned and headed home, nodding to Murtogg and Mullroy who were patrolling on duty at the docks.
"Mistress Kitty!" Mullroy called after her, puffing as he ran to catch her up. He pointed behind her, out into the harbour. "The Black Pearl!"
Eyes wide she gasped - the Black Pearl was early and flying a red flag. Her stomach lurched, sensing something was wrong, terribly wrong. "I've got to get out there Mullroy!" Her voice shook. "Now!"
Lifting her skirts she ran down to the jetty, Murtogg and Mullroy close behind her, climbing down to a small unattended boat. Taking the oars she pushed off, leaving the two marines behind on the jetty. "Mistress Kitty - that isn't your boat!"
"I'm only borrowing it!" she shouted as she rowed. "I'll bring it back in a minute!"
"But."
The Black Pearl anchored just outside of the harbour, the small boat bumping against the hull less than two minutes later. Strong hands helped her climb. "What's the." She glanced around at the faces of the crew - instantly realising that Jack was not there. Ashen faced she leaned against the rail for support. "Tell me Joshamee. tell me now!"
"He's not dead Kitty - or at least we don't think he is. Lact has him!"
"Lact. but how." She was unsure if Lact having him was better or worse than the alternative.
Gibbs hung his head. "We don't know Kitty - he was ashore at the Bride an' never came back! It was only later that we learned about Lact."
"Is he ransoming him. or what?"
"We don't know - we couldn't find the Swallow!"
Catherine's eyes blazed angrily. "What do you mean you couldn't find the Swallow. This is the Black Pearl Gibbs - the Swallow couldn't exactly out run you!"
Oran Booth cleared his throat. "We are sorry Kitty, but they had at least a day's start on us and we don't know which direction they went."
"Are you telling me you didn't notice Jack was missing for two bloody days!"
Joshamee tried to calm the situation. "The crew were in port Kitty - spending their gold. Most were blind drunk, Jack included."
Catherine nodded, biting her lip. "Okay Joshamee, so what do we do?"
Wringing his hands, Joshamee nodded to Oran. "We held a crew meeting Kitty," he said quietly. "Crew want to offer you the captaincy until we get Jack back."
Catherine knew the honour they were offering, and knew she would have to act fast and act decisively. Still biting her lip she nodded. "Okay. Oran, I want you to row me back to shore. I need to ask a few questions and get my things. Joshamee, I want a ships boat waiting for me at the jetty when we return. If we need any supplies, get them quickly!"
Gathering her skirts she climbed down to the small borrowed boat. Oran followed her and took up the oars. "Where are we going Kitty?"
"At the moment, I am not sure, but I am going to see the Commodore. If anything is known about Lact, he will know." Beaching the boat she strode quickly towards the fort, Oran having to run to keep up with her.
***
"Commodore, Mistress Sparrow and one of the Black Pearl's crew are here to see you."
James Norrington frowned, wondering about his unusual visitor. "Show her in," he instructed, surprised when a tall dark haired man followed her, shadowing her protectively although he had given his sword at the door. "Mistress Sparrow, what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"I need some information on a pirate - Jean Claude Lact. the Swallow - what do you know about him?"
"The Frenchman?"
Catherine nodded.
James Norrington had the sinking feeling that yet again he was about to be hoodwinked by a Sparrow. "Not a lot - he tends to strike up near the Bahamas and Bermuda. why?"
Catherine knew she could not tell the Commodore the real reason. "Does he have family - a home port. anything, even gossip - please!"
The Commodore frowned, confused by Catherine's attitude. "A moment." He rose, turning to a small cabinet from where he withdrew a small bundle of papers. Flicking through them he withdrew a single sheet. "Hmm, Lact." He sat down at his desk, reading the sheet. "Why?"
"Give me the information and the Black Pearl will take him out for you!" Catherine offered.
"Why? James Norrington pressed.
"Just call it pirate war - and as the Black Pearl is officially a privateer then surely you would help us." Catherine smiled sweetly, praying that the Commodore would not press her further. "One less pirate ship." she tempted.
Sighing, he handed the sheet to Catherine who read it quickly. He still thought she was keeping something for him, but if it rid him of the Swallow then he was willing to play along. "Is that why the Black Pearl is flying a red?" he asked.
Catherine frowned. "Mmmnn, something like that," she muttered, intent on the sheet of paper. "New Orleans, Oran!" She continued reading further. "Is there any more detail on family? It just says Mississippi and that is a rather long river!" Reluctantly she handed the sheet back to the Commodore who replaced it within the bundle.
"All I know is what is there," he apologised.
Eyeing the papers, she bit her lip. "Am I in that bundle Commodore?" she asked, smiling innocently.
"Not yet, but your husband has several sheets," he warned. He glanced out of the window. "Will the Black Pearl be in harbour long?"
"We'll be gone with the tide Commodore!" She turned to leave, pausing by the door. "Thank you." Her protector followed her.
It was not until he spoke with Theodore Groves later in the day that he discovered the real reason she had been after the information. He ruefully acknowledged to himself how easily she had side-tracked him from the truth, feeding him a story he would believe. Perhaps she should soon earn her own sheet after all.
***
On leaving the fort Catherine dashed home. Oran waited by her bedroom doorway as she changed, throwing some clothes and belongings into her small trunk. "Can you take this Oran?"
He entered cautiously - a woman's bedroom was never a safe place in his opinion. His eyes fell on a small, half-empty bottle of rum by the bedside.
Catherine followed his gaze. "We'll get him back Oran - if we have to sink every French ship in the Caribbean!"
Oran grinned at the idea, knowing she would do it if she thought it would get Jack back.
"Cat? Are you home?" Theodore's voice echoed up from the hallway.
"Upstairs Theo!" She checked through various drawers, ensuring that she had left nothing behind.
"Cat?" Theodore stood in the doorway, noticing immediately the trunk that Oran held. "Cat? Are you leaving? Before Christmas?"
She turned to face him, biting her lip. "I have to Theo, sorry. I've left presents on the kitchen table."
"Is this something to do with your trip to the Commodore - something to do with Lact?"
She nodded, eyes downcast. "He has Jack."
"What?"
"He has Jack and we don't know where the Swallow is. I'm taking the Pearl up towards New Orleans to have a look."
"You're taking the Pearl?" Theodore raised one eyebrow in shock.
"Guess Papa raised more than one Captain," she smiled.
"Crew voted unanimously Theo," Oran interrupted. "But we are goin' t' have t' go Kitty. tide will be turning soon!"
She nodded, kissing her brother on the cheek. "Sorry about missing Christmas Theo. Say goodbye to Papa for me - he went to town and isn't back yet!"
Theodore stood overlooking the hall as his sister dashed after Oran, buckling on her sword belt as she ran. He laughed, shaking his head as he realised that his little sister, all 5ft of her, now commanded the most deadly pirate ship in the Caribbean. What would their father say!