Chapter 3

Jack Sparrow, captain of the Black Pearl, sat on the beach of Tortuga. He had a bottle of rum in one hand but was not drinking it. It was sitting at his side, barely empty.

"Now did I really deserve that one, or was that one I didn't deserve?" he whispered as he rubbed a sore cheek. He couldn't quite remember if he had deserved the slap he had gotten from Delilah that evening, and now his mind was torn in two.

On any other beach he would be cautious and think twice before sitting out in the open, but this was Tortuga. None of the Commodore worried about him here.

He sighed and took one big gulp of the rum then set it back down.

He looked out on the sea, it's harsh waves splashing about making the white foam dance along the top and splash playfully against his bare feet. His eyes stopped on a bulk in the water. It was clinging to a pole and was floating limply in the water.

Jack stood up and looked at it, his eyes shining in the pale moonlight.

He gasped an ran out into the crashing water, he grabbed up the ripped and torn figure in his arms. It was a boy. He made sure the legs weren't dragging and brought him up on shore.

The child shivered uncontrollably, he was soaked to the bone. Jack decide he could do nothing for him here, he carefully grabbed up his bottle of rum and carried the boy up past the dock and onto the Black Pearl.

~

Cold. That the first thing that registered wit the now nearly conscious boy. He shivered and moaned softly.

He felt a blanket pulled up to his shoulders and another blanket added to the more than generous pile on his prone body.

Behind his head were at least three pillows, they were very comfortable and they helped him so he was not quite laying down.

"Come on boy!" a concerned voice echoed into his frozen brain. "Don't you leave me now."

Jack tried to answer back, but found that his voice was so raspy that he could not tell what he himself said. He was surprised when instead of breathing he felt water resurface in his mouth and he let go and leaned weakly forward. The water left his mouth and landed on the warm blankets. He coughed and sputtered profusely.

"That's it lad." he felt a strong hand pounding his back as the water left his lungs and wetted the blankets, rugs, and floor.

When he was done, a strong arm helped him back down and covered him with the blankets.

Jack opened his bleary eyes and looked up at the face above him.

The man wore a red head band that rapped round his forehead. His hair was black and matted into individual strands, and in the individual strands were different colored beads. He had a mustached and beard that was separated into two braids. His eyes were the color of almonds and he had an earring in each ear. He looked much like the pirates that Will had told Jack stories about when he was younger. But his eyes were kinder, and he had a smile on his face…..not menacing but kind.

"A pirate?" he whispered looking up at his savior.

The pirate chuckled and sat down next to the bed. "Aye." he smiled. "I am a pirate….but not just any pirate." the man's smile broadened, and he put a hand on his chest. "I am Captain Jack Sparrow."

The young Turner smiled a little and then spoke again. "You know where my father is?" he asked hoping for a useful answer.

Sparrow stared at him for a minute, he squinted his eyes and scratched his head. "Well, who be your father lad?" Jack asked still thinking that the boy looked mighty familiar. He rubbed his beard while looking at the half frozen boy.

"W-Will Turner."

The response made the boy jump, Jack clapped a hand on his knee and made some sort of odd sound. "I knew it!" he howled out and stood up pointing at Jack. "I knew you looked familiar."

"What do you mean?" The boy asked still somewhat foggy on how this pirate knew him.

"Oh, Will talk's about you all the time……..I have to tell him to shut up." the pirate sat back down. "How's you mother?"

"Wait! My father talked about ME?"

"Ya, that come of a bit of a surprise does it?" Sparrow pursed his lips into a fine line.

"Well yes. I mean he did leave us to go be some pirate. No offense, but you are all law breakers."

"Aw now, be nice. I didn't save ya just to be persecuted by the son of a pirate." Sparrow's words hit Jack hard in the gut. He had never thought about being called that before. Truth was he had never been called that before, only Jack Turner. Not Jack Turner son of a pirate.

"No ones ever called me that before."

"Oh, well if you want to be called more I can think of some?" The Captain offered standing to his feet and walked to a small table. "Mini Pirate, Pirate miniature, Pirate Jack, little Will. Want more?" A smile began to creep on his bearded face.

"No!"

"Sorry. I was only trying to help entertain you, seeing as how you'll be laid up for a day or two."

"What I-"

The pirate laughed and turned on the boy with a glint of joy in his dark brown eyes.

"I, my ill friend, am your guardian until we can find your father…or mother. But for now, you will do as I say!" it was not a question.

Jack was going to say more but decided it better to keep his mouth shut. He sighed and snuggled back into the blankets, deciding now that he was awful tired.

"Fine." he whispered angrily.

"Good, now. I will be leaving now so you can get some rest."

He waited for an answer, but on hearing none her turned to see Jack was already asleep. He quietly walked over to the bed and covered the boy a little more before bending down and whispering to the boy.

"Goodnight lad." with a startling thought he noticed for the first time that the boy really did look a lot like Will. Though Sparrow could easily see his mother's side in his as well.

Turning back he blew out the candle and walked out the door and into the cold outdoors, all the while pondering on how to find the boy's father.