*~*~*Disclaimer*~*~*Still nothing but the newbies.

*~*~*Chapter Five

"All right, you boys know what to do! You have till noon tomorrow, or we're shipping out without ye!" Jack yelled over docking preparations.

Jack threw his arm over Sandra's shoulder and dragged her off the ship, "Now we'll be off to see about your ring. You have not put it on, correct."

"Not since I was found eight years ago."

"Good. Now off to The Drunken Noble and one William Turner!"

*~*~*~*

Sandra was guided through alleyways and back streets by a pirate captain who seemed not fully in control of his limbs. Nonetheless it seemed he knew where he was headed so she accepted his guidance. Eventually he came to a stop outside a dingy pub with a squeaky sign barely reading 'The Drunken Noble.'

Jack gave a smile and salute to the sign and sauntered in. He sat in a booth and yelled, "Two rum's o'er 'ere!"

Sandra settled into her side of the uncomfortable booth and started questioning Jack., "So why are we here? You mentioned someone, Willi—"

"Here you go, two rums for—" the waitress in a low cut dress served them then took a look at the Captain. "Would you like to take a seat in the back room sir?"

The pirate grinned, "Of course, lady, I'd love to."

Jack got up and followed the woman to a back room for private meetings. The waitress held the door open for Jack and Sandra, then followed them in, closing and locking the door.

Sandra stood in shock as the waitress tore off her wig and continued in a far deeper voice, "Jack! What are you doing here! You left me three years ago!"

"Aye, that I did," he said with a grin to Sandra, "But! I can back as promised, so all is well."

The new person shook their head and looked up at Sandra. "And who might this be? I never thought I'd live to see the day you settled down. Oh, bloody hell, why am I still in this thing." The barmaid exclaimed and went about taking off her dress. There was men's gear on underneath. After they were finished it was now quite apparent that this was a human of the male persuasion.

After he was finished Jack answered the given question as though nothing had happened. "We're anything but settled," Jack said. "I picked her up on a whim, and found she had some interestin' secrets."

The bar maid raised a brow and Jack continued, "Ah, where did I leave my manners!" Sandra snorted and Jack glared. "Ah-hem, anyway. Lass, this is the dear William I was telling you about. And dear William this is Sandra O'Reilly."

"O'Reilly is it? That's interesting."

"Isn't it though. Well, I just wanted you to have a look at something, make sure it's genuine." Jack motioned to Sandra and she drew her ring from her dress.

Will's eyes grew wide and he looked to Jack, "Is this…"

"I think so lad."

Sandra stood impatiently as the man ran calloused fingers the ring. "You think what." She asked looking towards Jack

"If I'm right, which I always am, then you'll find out." He said as his ego boosted a few sizes, to Will he continued, "She says she has the ring as well."

She sighed and pulled the William attached to her necklace over to a chair and sat down. Will snapped out of it and faced Jack, "Yes, it's the real thing."

"Well then, seeing as you're right, you'll tell me what it is."

"I may as well." Jack said and sat as well. He chugged his rum and began. "Take a look at it, you know that is a black pearl. That is normally given to those of the fairer sex on the Black Pearl's crew. You as good as belong on that ship."

Sandra's eyes widened, "The Black Pearl? The legendary pirate vessel, looting for over a decade, never caught or defeated? That Black Pearl?"

"Aye, that one. And the medallion, you said you had. It looked exactly like my sketch?"

"Yes, exactly. What is it."

"Something that Barbossa will be wishing to talk to you about. Not that I intend to let him get the chance. Wait the medallion, where is it if not with you?"

She reviewed her memory, "Back at Port Royal if I'm not mistaken. I didn't check my bags and I guess 'liz didn't think I'd be wanting it because I never wore it. I loaned it to her a while ago."

Jack's eyes went wide, "Would she have been wearing it on her trip from the cliff?"

"She never took it off. So, yes."

"Well then, we'll be havin' a problem now wouldn't we. We'll have ta go and get that little piece before our little Lizzy goes and gets herself in trouble. We leave as soon as the crew reassembles," Jack looks Will over and gives a sigh, "Would you like to come boy?"

"Out of this bloody place where I've been grounded for three years? Of course I will. I've been working on my swordsman ship."

"Aye, the last time I saw you your foot work was pretty sad. This little girl may be able to give you a run on your money."

Will's eyebrows raised.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Will and Sandra circled each other blades out on the main deck of the ship. The crew was slowly filtering back onto the ship.

"Ready!" Jack asked, waiting for each parties nod, "begin!"

The two held blades out in front of them crossing them and bowing. Will immediately brought his sword to the ready, Sandra raised the blade to her forehead, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them with a serious look in her eye.

Will took offensive, striking at the girl who nimbly turned his blade aside, blocking when she had to. The pace continued for a while until Sandra took initiative and launched attack. She was faster than Will, but he was stronger. The battle ranged over the deck. They both were starting to tier, then mistakes started being made. Seeing an opening Sandra took it, slicing Will's arm and leaving a quickly reddening cut on his bicep.

"I concede victory." Will said formally, he sheathed his sword and took a look at the arm. "Not bad. You were holding yourself back though."

Sandra grinned sheepishly, "I didn't want to really hurt you." Taking a look at his arm she said, "that's actually deeper than I intended, I'll go get tings to fix you up." She said and walked to her and Ana's room.

Will looked around at the crew, which had gathered to watch. He laughed and walked over to Jack. "I can see why you took her aboard."

Jack looked at Will then returned his gaze to the ocean. "Actually, her sword work isn't why I took her in. She was bored where she was, and she has other benefits," he said winking.

"Oh, so you've already gotten her inta your bed then?"

"Get your mind outta the gutter boy, she brought gifts, swords like you haven't seen," he pulled out the on strapped to his belt, "Beautiful work, though she doesn't seem to shy about giving them away." He said, mood turning sour.

Sandra had come up behind them while they were talking, "Well I'm glad to see you're enjoying your sword. Better than that chunk of iron you used to be carrying," returning to the task at hand she pulled Will to the deck by his good arm and had him take a seat.

Sandra sat down beside him and rolled up the sleeve. She blotted the slowing flow of blood with a clean rag. "You fight very well, this'll hurt," she said as she cleaned the wound with another rag after pouring alcohol on it.

Will took a sharp inhalation but kept quiet. When she was done she started talking again, "Why were you dressed as a woman? Just rather curious is all." She started wrapping a length of bandage around his arm.

"Jack left me in Tortuga, as a man in Tortuga there is really only money to be spent, not many occupations. So I dressed as a female to increase job opportunities. I took a job at that bar and have been working there ever since."

"All done," she said, pulling him up, "Why did Jack leave ya?"

"Jack didn't tell ya the story? He used to be the Captain of the Black Pearl, I was his first mate. He left me in Tortuga because I fell for one of the crew." Will got up and walked to the stair below deck.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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