Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Pearl is mine. No one may have her. Unless they ask really nicely. And let me write all of the speaking parts. And run all her actions by me before she does them. See, I'm not totally disagreeable. I don't really care what you do with the rest of them since they aren't mine.
Author's note: Luv you all. If you didn't see it I did a special final posting on Pearl. Please visit it some time. Thanks!
Will couldn't help but look in wonder at his laughing guest. Commodore Norrington, or Edward as he insisted Will and Elizabeth call him now, was hardly recognizable as the tight-laced, stuffy military man he had been before sailing back to Port Royal next to Pearl Sparrow. He laughed easily now, and wore a smile near-constantly. He got along better with Elizabeth's father than he ever had before, and visited the happy couple often as his duties would allow.
Not that the laxness crossed over to his duties. When he was in full-blown Commodore mode he was completely in control. For that reason the officers in the military approved highly of the change in his personality although they never understood the reason.
"How is Maggie?" Elizabeth asked as she leaned forward to refill Norrington's tea cup.
In the three months since Pearl had disappeared and the Turners had returned Norrington's eye had strayed toward the young, beautiful, and sociable Margaret Neats. Everyone said it was good match. Maggie may have been young, but that was the only thing anyone could hold against either of them. Her brother was a good friend of Norrington's. She was always smiling, always happy, always upbeat with never a cross word to say about anyone, and no one ever said anything bad of her. She was impossibly quick-witted with a considerable amount of education to her name. She sweetened Edward's disposition when he grew morose and fussed over him as surely as he did her. Everyone said it was a perfect match.
And to top it off, she was absolutely beautiful. The very picture of Pearl, if a person thought about it. Long red hair and a sprinkling of freckles, these unhidden behind a tan but standing out in a china-doll complection. She had the same lankiness as Pearl, but without the muscles to fill her out. Her eyes, at least, were the very opposite of Pearl's. Sparkling blue, they always seemed to be laughing.
To the Turners' surprise Norrington sighed heavily. "Is something the matter?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, no. It just seems that Maggie is becoming anxious. She wishes to set a date."
Will and Elizabeth shared a smile, both remembering how anxious they had been to marry.
"That's hardly surprising," Elizabeth said.
"No, I don't suppose. The timing is just poor. Pirate season, you know. I'm constantly being called off a moment's notice. That's no way to try to plan a wedding. Better she should wait until winter comes on."
"She'll come around," Elizabeth assured him. "She's to come visit me tomorrow. Perhaps I shall speak to her about it."
"I would appreciate it, Eliza-"
He paused as shouting from the foyer caught their attention, permeated by a loud crash of thunder, far too loud to be heard through anything but an open front door. Both men stood to approach the door to the foyer when it burst open to admit a hulking, dark, cloak-clad, dripping wet figure. Both men's hands went to the swords as Elizabeth reached for one of her many hidden daggers she'd learned to keep close at hand, as the maid followed prattling, "Apologias, Sir, he refused to wait."
"Oh, sod off," the figure ordered, tossing his head to throw back the cape to reveal Jack Sparrow.
"Jack!" Elizabeth gasped.
The trademark grin was nowhere to be seen, nor was the sparkle in his eye as he regarded them. "Sorry to interrupt, but I need your help."
"Jack, you know better than this," Norrington said. "Now I have to arrest you, by rights, and-"
"You can arrest me all you want when I know my daughter ain't dying," he answered. Shrugging he managed to open the cloak around him to reveal the shivering girl in his arms.
"Pearl!" Elizabeth cried, rushing forward to examine her as the men crowded behind.
She brushed the hair away from the girl's face. Under the heavy tan Pearl was pale, shivering in her father's arms as he eyelids twitched as if she were caught in some nightmare she couldn't summon the power to escape. Elizabeth wiped the sweat from her green-tinged skin as she carefully examined the girl. "She's burning up!"
"Noticed that," Jack answered. "Is there somewhere I could put her?"
"Yes, of course. Bitsy, go open the first guest room and ask Missy to bring some water." The girl nodded and ran to comply. "Bring her this way, Jack," Elizabeth ordered, leading him back into the foyer and up the marble staircase as the two remaining men followed. "How long has she had the fever?"
"She collapsed on deck two days ago," Jack answered. "How long she was fighting the fever before that is anyone's guess. She never tells us. Doesn't want to show weakness, you know."
"How long has she been unconscious?" Elizabeth asked.
"A day. She wouldn't wake this morning. That's what made me make for here. I was aiming for Tortuga but you were a good day closer, and you can afford medical attention she'd never get at in Tortuga."
"That's right," Elizabeth said. "Will, why don't you go for the surgeon?"
"I'll go," Norrington interrupted, striding quickly out of the room Elizabeth had just led them into.
The maid scurried into the room to place a bowl of water on the washstand, then scrambled forward to turn down the bed and allow Jack to set his daughter carefully into place. She moaned a bit, shifting but not waking.
Elizabeth pulled the covers up and waived the maid, who had been eyeing Jack with something close to terror, toward the basin. She fetched it and Elizabeth placed a damp cloth on Pearl's forehead. The entire time Jack hovered nervously, eyes glued on his daughter.
It only took minutes for the surgeon to come, although it felt longer. He arrived, sweeping the room with his eyes, sparing a curious look for Jack before moving to Pearl's side.
Jack crossed his arms and glared down at the man as he tsked as he looked Pearl over. "Pirate?" he asked, glancing up at Jack. Jack didn't answer, merely glared down at the man kneeling beside his daughter. The surgeon's eyes shifted to Norrington. "Commodore?"
"Her name is Bethany Maltrey. She is Elizabeth's cousin."
"Hogwash," the surgeon interrupted. "Girls don't get fevers like this sitting quietly in their rooms. This is a sea fever if ever I saw one. You'd best start telling me the truth if you want me to treat her. I'll not hold it against any of you." He looked pointedly at the Commodore. "But I need information if I'm to treat her." His eyes returned to Jack. "How long has she been on your ship?"
"Ten years, on and off," he answered with a shrug. "Been about three months since we spent more'n a night on dry land."
The surgeon nodded. "She's your lover then?"
Jack bristled. "No. That is my daughter."
His eyebrows rose. "Interesting." He returned to his examination. Turning down the covers he opened her shirt and placed his ear above her right breast. Growling Jack moved forward but
Will pinned him with a firm hand. "He has to listen to her heart and lungs."
Jack settled back to leaning against the wall, sharp eyes fixed on the man.
Norrington's eyes caught the glint of light as it hit the gold necklace laying against Pearl's breast, red and orange jewels glittering in the meager light. His necklace, still clasped firmly around her neck. It made his heart race.
Finally the surgeon sat up with a nod, replacing the covers. "How long has she been like this?"
"A day," Jack growled out. "Two since she could walk."
He nodded. "All right then. It doesn't sound good. Her heart's too fast and I believe there's fluid in her lungs. But then she's only just settling in so I don't want to rush into an extreme course of action. Do what you're doing now. Keep her lightly covered, keep her forehead cool, and try to keep her somewhat sweat free. We'll see if her condition improves by morning. Have you been bleeding her?"
"No," Jack said. "She doesn't believe in it. Her gypsy friend says it's the stupidest thing she's ever heard of, and Pearl says that she hasn't ever felt better for spilling blood."
"Well, she wasn't sick then, and I seriously doubt that her gypsy friend knows as well as educated men. The diseased blood is remaining in her system, making things worse."
Jack sighed heavily. "Just do what you have to," he finally agreed. "Make her better."
Jack silently and sullenly watched the man call for a bowl and pick up a knife. It was so uncommon to see Jack quiet and withdrawn that it made Will nervous. Finally, as the surgeon readied Pearl's arm, Jack turned and stalked out of the room. Will followed quickly and quietly, trailing Jack back down into the foyer.
"Call me a coward if you like, Will," Jack remarked as he settled into a chair. "I just can't watch some man hack into my daughter."
"I can't blame you for that," Will said. "It isn't cowardly. It's noble."
Jack laughed, a harsh bark of laughter. "Do me a favor, Will. I don't care if I'M dying, never call me noble."
Will shook his head. "If the name fits. Look, Jack, you can't worry over it. I mean, this is Pearl Sparrow. She's survived growing up on the streets of Tortuga and sailing on ships."
"She's survived a serious whipping," Edward put in, appearing out of the shadows. "And the fever that came with it, I'd wager."
"It says something, you know about that," Jack remarked. "She doesn't tell many people about it. You know, you'd make a fair theif, or at least a spy," he put in as the Commodore sat.
"You sound like her," Edward said with a motion toward the ceiling. "She swore I'd make a fair pirate if I weren't, how did she put it, 'a victim of good breeding.'"
Jack laughed at that. "Aye, I'd agree with that."
"You couldn't stand it either?" Will asked.
He shook his head. "Tried. I don't believe Elizabeth's ever going to let any of us live this down."
Jack shook his head. "Let her squawk."
"Are you going to be all right, Jack?" Will asked. "I've never seen you so quiet. You're starting to worry me."
He shook his head. "I'm an orphan. Have been since I was nigh onto five. I ever tell you that?" Will shook his head. "My family'sbeen history, long ago.Which is ideal for a pirate, really. It's just," he shrugged helplessly.
"Pearl is your only family," Will filled in.
"Aye. And she's been there for me so long, whether I wanted her around or no, it's hard to imagine trying to get along without her. Even when she was in Tortuga she was always anxiously waitin' for me to turn up so we could sail off. But that ain't the whole of it." He sighed, running a hand back through his tangled locks. "We live dangerous lives. Really, it's a miracle we're both still breathin'. I always figured I'd go first. Shot taking a ship or hung," he said, motioning toward Norrington. "Pictured my girl at the helm hunting down whoever did it and takin' her revenge. Same as I'd do if someone killed her. Or kidnaped her to ransom, although I'd feel sorry for that person. But this. I can't haul up anchor and chase some fever across the high seas. I can't run to me dear lass' rescue. I don't know how to fight this!"
"You've done the best you can," Norrington surprised them both by breaking in. "You've brought her to where she can get the best care. Now we just have to leave it up to her. Besides, she's far too stubborn to be beaten by some fever. We just have to have faith."
"I'm not a religious person," Jack answered, glancing upward as if waiting to be crushed by an angry deity. "And I'm not inclined to become one, what with the fates that be trying to take the only thing I've ever been given free of charge."
Norrington shook his head. "I'm afraid you're a lost cause, Jack."
"Funny, I was about to say the same about you," Jack shot back, a shadow of his old humor creeping in, although the absence of his usually unconquerable grin ruined it.
"It's late," Norrington remarked, standing. "I'll come by tomorrow to see how things are going. In the mean time do me a favor, Jack, and try to stay out of sight."
The man nodded as Will led Norrington to the door. "She'll pull through," Will said. "It may be a hard fight but, you know."
"Pearl wouldn't have it any other way," Norrington said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Will."
As Will returned to the parlor a maid hurried by carrying a covered bowl. "I think they're done, Jack. Shall we go back up?"
Jack seemed distant as he followed Will upstairs. The surgeon passed them with a promise to visit the next morning. Elizabeth was carefully tucking Pearl's arm back beneath the covers as they entered. She stood to hug her husband. "Jack, I've asked the maids to prepare a room if you would like-"
"No," he interrupted. "I'm going to stay up with her. You two should go to bed."
Elizabeth started to argue but Will drew her carefully out of the room. "He has to work through this," he sighed to his wife. "Look, there isn't anything pressing at the forge tomorrow. I'll stay here with you two. And he's right, we should get some sleep. We have to be there for both of them, after all."
Sighing heavily Elizabeth nodded and allowed her husband to lead her to their bedroom.
Author's note: Sorry, it's short. I know. But getting started can be hard, especially with school and work on my tale. One more thing. I noticed something in the movie which makes me very angry. I have no idea how many earrings Captain Sparrow has. The wig always covers his ears. Isn't that weird? It was for the story, you sick scallywags. Now review or you get no elf.