Chap 2

Captain Jack Sparrow groaned and clutched at his head. "Never again," he growled, "am I going to end up with a hangover like this." Suddenly he froze, he felt the top of his head frantically, but all he could feel was hair. "Ooooh. Not good. Where is my hat?" He stood up slowly, and swaggered unsteadily around the room but his hat was nowhere to be seen. After a final glance around the hazy room, he groaned again and staggered outside the pub into the boisterous streets of Tortuga. "Why is it never quiet when you need it to be?" He scanned the harbour carefully for the boat he had 'borrowed' to get here. "Right. Where is my boat?" Making his way to the edge of the pier he searched for a suitable vessel to take him back to his ship, which was anchored around the cliff, away from anyone who might be interested in it. His eyes lit up when he saw a nice little yacht. "I suppose your owner won't mind if I commandeer you to the Pearl."

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"How do you know Jack?"

"What type of help?"

Carmina Lily Rodriguez waved their questions aside airily, "That's irrelevant. My father is in trouble with the Spanish government. They're accusing him of losing one of our best ships to pirates, when they attacked our navy last summer. My father is the commodore of the Spanish fleet. He told him, if ever he got into trouble, to go seek Jack Sparrow or William Turner." She looked at Will sceptically, "You're too young. You should be at least 40." Her eyes narrowed, "but when I asked for directions they said that Mr Turner was most likely to be found here with Miss Swann." She glared at them, "You're not lying are you?"

"I promise Carmi-uh..."

"Call me Carmen, Carmina sounds like some dainty pink flower," she looked disgusted at the mere idea.

Elizabeth glanced at Will and her lips twitched, she flicked her fan open, trying to cover her laughter. Will's eyes danced in amusement before growing solemn. "I promise upon my life Carmen, that I am William Turner, my father was also named William Turner and a good friend of Jack Sparrow, as am I."

Carmen's eyes glanced towards Elizabeth, who was now looking suitably dignified for a young woman of her status, seeing the girl's suspicious look she added hastily, "I too, am a friend of Jack's and seeing as I'm going to marry Will in a fortnight, I suppose I'm a good friend of his too." She grinned at Will who looked surprised that his sweet fiancée could be so cheeky. Suddenly the grin disappeared, "Oh how rude of me, please, join us for tea and you can tell us all about you and your, well, quest, I suppose."

"I would be honoured milady."

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Jack Sparrow tied the yacht firmly to a rock which was conveniently near the Black Pearl. Then, swimming the remaining distance, he climbed nimbly aboard the Black Pearl, tossing on the deck five purses of gold he'd managed to find in people's pockets, much to the delight of his crew. Nodding amiably to Anamaria he took control of the ship, as the crew hauled up the anchor, and sailed towards the horizon. Finally the abnormal silence of his crew drew his attention. "Well?" he demanded.

Silence followed, no one seemed quite sure how to ask him the awkward question. Finally Anamaria spoke, "Where's your hat?"

"That's where's your hat Captain to you luv."

She rolled her eyes. "Where's your hat Captain?"

Jack looked a little abashed for a second before answering, "Ah, some brazen hussy probably took it as a souvenir." He winked at Anamaria impishly. "I'll get meself a bigger one at our next stop. Now get to work you scurvy rats."

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Carmen sat stiffly at the elegant table, sipping the disgusting stuff they called tea. She had almost spat it out when she took her first sip but remembered her manners in the nick of time. Thankfully, the cakes were delicious and she worked way through them quickly, stopping only to answer Will and Elizabeth's questions. When she had eaten a sufficient amount she sat back and studied the pair. They were obviously infatuated with each other. Not even proper etiquette could refrain them from holding hands under the table and smiling at each other. A few other small details caught her eye. Elizabeth was very well dressed, her clothes were elegant and the material was as good as money could buy. Whereas Will was dressed in simple clothes, a hardwearing shirt and pants (breeches?), with a well worn vest. 'Odd how people were attracted to each other,' she thought, 'I wonder how old they are?'

Meanwhile Will and Elizabeth were also studying this curious person who had introduced herself as Carmina Lily Rodriguez; well, that was when they weren't busy looking at each other. 'She's slim, but she looks strong enough. Quite amusing too. Those clothes are practical enough, wonder where she got the hat from?' Will smiled as he remembered the hat, it was one of those with a feather in it, not unlike the one he had worn to Jack's 'hanging'. It was wonder she hadn't attracted any attention. 'She's alright, you couldn't call her ugly anyway. Her clothes are well cut though, despite the fact that they look like they've been through enough.' Suddenly Elizabeth felt Will give a little start of surprise. She shot him a questioning glance before offering Carmen more tea which she refused firmly. Will gave a polite cough and stood up, "Carmen, could you please excuse Elizabeth and I for a moment?"

"Of course" Carmen inwardly heaved a sigh of relief, perhaps she could now get rid of tea without hurting their feelings.

Will took Elizabeth's hand and firmly led from the room. When they were out of earshot Elizabeth snatched her hand out of Will's. "What is going on Will?" she demanded.

"Didn't you see it?" Elizabeth just glared at him. "She had weapons!"

"No! She's only 16."

"That doesn't mean she can't have weapons. There were two daggers in her belt and a pistol. No doubt she can use them as well. We don't know if we can trust her. All we know is that her father's in jail somewhere in Spain and that she ran away from her mother's house which is somewhere in China! What if she hurts you?" Will's eyes filled with pain at the thought.

Elizabeth was touched by his concern but she felt in her bones that Carmen was trust worthy, "We can't turn her out. She seems honest Will and she hasn't harmed us yet."

Will thought for a minute, "Very well, she can stay, for now."

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what do u guys think? Please R+R. I value your opinions very highly. Thanx.