Sorry to be so long in coming with this chapter, would you believe its been written since the start of December? Between moving house, Les Mis auditions (and now rehearsals), Alice in Wonderland Rehearsals and also Sub.Way.Tithe Rehearsals, I've been stretched thin for time.

No Andraste in this chapter, though she does get mentioned by word of mouth. She'll be back in all her snippy glory by chapter 14. Here we see our two favorite naval officers trying to reconcile themselves. Thank you for all the support and encouragement thus far. I shall try not to let you down. :)


Chapter 13: A Second Chance

"And she honestly claims she's innocent!" Gillette threw his head back and let out a laugh. He had dropped by James's house that evening to deliver some reports and had been invited to stay. They had discussed many amusing things over the course of an hour, but now there was nothing more hilarious to the Lieutenant then boring ladies and traitors who 'were framed.'

"She does, she totally believes her claim. Says she has forty other witnesses, but where are they, Richard?"

"They," he spluttered, wiping tears from his eyes, "they've gone and left her! To get Amazons!" Richard had never laughed so hard in his life.

Norrington joined in on the outburst; after all, the entire situation was so absurd that it just could not fail to be humorous.

Gillette's pounding of the table shook the crystal glasses so violently they spilt droplets of their contents, a fine brandy. Norrington didn't care though and joined in the raucous display, knocking an empty decanter over. The two men were thoroughly enjoying themselves on this warm evening. The doors of the parlor were open and a cool breeze billowed the curtains into ghost like forms. It was a perfect night.

"Oh my, James," said Gillette quieting down, "that is just too funny."

"Oh I know. At first I was angry but now this is just too much resist. You always know how to lighten things like that up."

"If I didn't, you'd be as sour as those mangoes sitting outside to ripen," Gillette gave a small grin over his glass of brandy. Duty be damned, Gillette knew that Lieutenants Pearce and Groves could manage the fort for one evening. They needed the practice.

"Yes, I suppose you're right. I'm turning into a sour, old man, Richard!" James gave a small chuckle.

"Hardly."

"Though I think I've changed. For the better, that is, or maybe it's for the worse? I don't know. Is a little extra caution wrong?" Norrington placed his chin in his palm and gazed thoughtfully at his friend. "I don't want to make any more mistakes of morality."

"She's a pirate, base and coarse. Do you need to look into it any further?"

James frowned, "She doesn't speak like a pirate. She doesn't act like one either."

It was Richard's turn to look thoughtful. "There's something you're not telling me."

"They way you read my moods is uncanny, Lieutenant."

"I learned to understand the moods of my superiors, when to avoid conflicts and when it might be best to push forth. So tell me, because I'll learn it from you anyway."

"Well," James gave a sigh; "there are – other - reasons."

"Other reasons?" Gillette tilted his head and bared his teeth, "is she carrying your child? A long lost relative perhaps? Are you falling in love? Does she have the knowledge of a secret location to a rebel base of pirates? Please. We all know our callings."

"It's not that easy, Richard. I have an," James searched for the word, "let's just say that I hate being in someone's debt."

"As do I, sir! But you're also obligated to follow the laws of your, no our, King."

"To punish the guilty? Yes, yes. I'm aware of that."

Gillette paused and then suddenly it came to him, "you think she's innocent!"

Norrington gave Gillette a harsh stare; "I never said that! As I said, I just want to be sure this time."

"What is there to be sure about? There is no evidence in her favor. Clearly she must be lying, and if she's not then someone will come calling for her! Really, you shouldn't let this get to you." The Lieutenant added as an after thought, "I can already see new wrinkles forming on you."

"I do not have wrinkles."

"Those creases are definitely not from laughing."

"Please, Richard. You're starting to sound an awful lot like my mother. Especially recently."

"I think that Jack Sparrow may have made a deep impression on you. Something to be wary about."

"More appropriately Miss Swann."

Richard gave a sneer, "what has that harlot done now?"

"GILLETTE!"

"I'm sorry," he said, but then muttered too low for James to hear, "but she is."

"Please don't speak of her like that. I still regard her quite highly."

"You know where I stand, sir. No more comments from me. Though what she didn't see - "

"Am I unable to love? That's what pushed her away, I think, my exterior."

"Your commanding, reassuring presence?"

"Richard, I - "

"Lost be the battle when you change for a woman!"

"I'm 31 and a low class Admiral. I'm expected to marry."

"Only you expect that. No one would think any less of you if you didn't. Break free from that tradition," Gillette gave a reassuring smile, "not everyone is going to be married by 28."

"So you would forgo society and renounce a woman's amorous attempts to remain single for me."

Inwardly, Gillette sighed at the double meaning. "Yes, I would indeed."

"Then you're a foolish man, my friend. To have loved and lost is bitter, but to never have loved at all? For me that would be unbearable."

"I didn't say that I wouldn't love, I just wouldn't get married. Circumstances would probably prevent the marriage anyway." Yes, Gillette knew the punishments for such open actions.

"And I thought you were implying that I should be the Jack Sparrow of the Royal Navy!" James laughed, "oh you do cheer me up."

"Do you notice how everything returns to him?"

"To Sparrow?" Norrington thought a moment, "Actually, you're right! It does. I find it rather amusing."

The next few moments were spent in silence. The words came to Gillette just as his commander opened his mouth to speak again. "Just remember that your men love you. The Admiralty trusts you." Gillette reached forth his hand and placed it on his friend's forearm, "James, please don't falter now. Not after so much has been gained."

"Oh, I won't falter, don't you worry about that. I just get lonely." James looked around the room to the portraits, the mirror, the cabinets, everything that made his place so inviting. "I come home to an empty house everyday. I don't want that anymore. I want someone around to support me."

"That's not true. You have many friends who support you!"

Norrington took a sip of his brandy, "very few. None outside our profession." He traced the rim of his glass when he was finished, a small note ringing from the swirling of his long fingers.

Gillette gave him a grudging look; "you could always call on me. It's not as if I'm wrapped up in Port Royale's affairs."

"And I do! But," James paused, "you have a life your own. You can't spend your days soothing my troubles and holding my hand when I get upset. I'm a grown man and you'll have to move on."

Richard was rather taken aback by this, "James?"

The Commodore shook his head and closed his eyes. "Sooner or later you'll make a captaincy and then what?"

"I'll have my own ship."

"Yes, in another part of the ocean, where they'll need you the most. You'll go off to new waters, meet new people. Maybe even a girl will strike your fancy and you'll have many plump children running about your estate in England. Your life does not permanently insure your stay in the Caribbean."

"You don't know that for a fact."

"Richard, if I thought that your time here was hindering your career I'd send you elsewhere." Norrington said very quietly, so much so that Gillette strained to hear, "actually, I'm tempted to do it."

Gillette's heart stopped, "you wouldn't."

"I would."

"You need a replacement. I'm it."

"Don't justify yourself to me. I know your strengths and weaknesses."

"Sir, please." Gillette looked crestfallen, "don't send me away."

The Commodore's successfully stifled smile pushed its way into his face. "Had you going there, didn't I?"

"WHAT!"

"Oh yes. You perform admirably well at your duties. I wouldn't trust anyone else to Royale's safe keeping while I'm away. Your position is not in jeopardy, relax."

Richard scowled and drained the last of his glass. "Please do not do that again. Making jokes about my position's stability is upsetting."

"I'm sorry, Richard. Truly I am."

"You better be."

"Resorting to threats now, are we? What sort of punishment should I – no don't give me that look."

"I want to assume your body's been possessed by an evil demon and that's why you seem to enjoy needling me so much."

"What I just want to get across is that you, and I for that matter, won't be around forever."

"Which if you don't mind me saying so," Gillette interrupted before he could go any further, "we should make the most of our time together now."

"Really, Gillette? You never struck me as the pragmatic sort."

Richard shrugged his shoulders and took of his hat and wig. "I'm not. But live in the moment, James! For this one evening, just pretend that there is no duty, that tomorrow you won't have to get up and don that silly wig. Tonight," he grabbed the bottle of brandy and refilled both glasses; "it's just you and me plus this fine bottle of brandy."

"And in the morning?"

"And in the morning you can hate me for all I've made you do."

James smiled softly, "I could never hate you."

"Very well then," Gillette returned the smile and took up his brandy, "shall we drink?"

Norrington lifted his glass in response. "We shall."