Things Fall Apart
11 of bonds and scars
Disclaimer: Previous chapter.
Author's Note: Back with an update, finally! I hope everyone had an awesome holiday and happy New Year and all that jazz. I'm not doing review replies to exact people this time cos there were so many and I'm lazy, but many thanks to each and every one of you, of course. :D Don't worry, for those who wanted to know, I have not lost sight of the plot and you can expect to see some more historical friends within the next two chapters. I am just trying to keep a healthy balance between historical events and our characters. You wont feel like you are lost in a history lesson as long as familiar people are still there, doing whatever it is they are doing. You know? Oh yes, and no matter what, I must assure all my readers that I am not going to slashify Jack and Will. I just love their friendship and the bond of all three, but I don't see either of them being gay. No offense to those who might. Hopefully the next update will be as quick as usual, since Jack always comes creeping into my mind at 3am,yelling ideas . . . not that I usually mind, bless `im.
Jack: Course you don't, luv. And `onestly, `ow could you live without me? Or anyone for tha` matter, eh?
Me: ….
Jack: Aye, I thought so.
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It was not difficult to remember the way back to the Pearl's hiding place, thankfully, because any loss in time could have resulted in being caught. Which none of our heroes wanted. Once all three were safe on deck once again it was only a matter of time before the ship was ready to go out to sea again. These things do take time and work, you know. Everyone kept a sharp look out for Norrington and his men, but there was no sign of them. That didn't mean that anyone could breathe easy, though.
Will noted that the ship had changed somewhat since he had been on it. Keeping in mind, of course, that he had not seen the Black Pearl since Barbossa was Captain. He also found himself eyeing Elizabeth's stomach suspiciously, searching himself for calm. He had, after all, given her his blessing. Though at her announcement in the courthouse, he had begun to kick himself harder than usual over that little move.
Jack had not said two words to Turner, mainly because he couldn't think of two words. Thank you, of course, but now was neither the time, nor the place, so that would come later. Later meaning, when it probably wouldn't earn him some sort of violence. After giving everyone their orders, he gave the helm up to Gibbs and took Elizabeth gently by the arm, escorting her to their quarters. It was because of her 'weakened condition' that he made a show of pushing his crew out of the way, shouting.
"Pregnant lady comin' thru, gents! Step aside! Woman with a baby!"
This earned stares from the crew, more declarations about double bad luck from Gibbs, and Will just kept his back turned, watching the settlement disappear over the horizon. Throughout all of his shouting Elizabeth had tried to gain Jack's attention, but it was to no avail. Finally, when they were tucked away inside the Captain's quarters again, and Jack was attempting to send her to bed, she managed to catch his eye for more than a moment.
"Jack." She said, and he stopped fussing long enough to respond.
"Yes, luv?" He sat next to her, on the ready to do anything she asked.
"I'm not pregnant," She laughed, "it was a diversion."
For a moment there was a flicker of disappointment on Jack's face. But that didn't make any sense, did it? Who in their right mind could imagine Jack Sparrow as a father? Teaching ones children to hold their rum, and pickpocket, was not an example of good parenting.
"You're not pregnant." He parroted, and then finally, when it processed, sat up. "Oh."
"Yes." She said, ducking into his line of vision, curious, "You're not cross with me, are you?"
"No, no." He responded, shaking his head. "S'just that, what with the frequent—" Nodding suggestively in the direction of the bed they were sitting on, "and all, how could you not be?"
She shrugged, "By keeping the tracking of my—you know—down to a science." He had not gotten what she was saying, and Elizabeth, still not being a blunt sort of person, went at it a different way. "There are times when I have denied you, remember?"
"Yes but—" Something clicked and suddenly Jack got it, "—keeping up with your-- OH! I see.." With a chuckle he threw his hands up, "An` here I was thinkin' I'd just lost my charm." Straight faced again, he stood, "Well, it's no matter, you could still use your rest, pet."
As he turned to leave Elizabeth asked almost the same question as before.
"Forgive me for asking again, Jack, but you seem almost disappointed."
He stopped and turned, usual smirk in tact.
"No, who ever heard of a whelp aboard a pirate ship, anyway?" He shrugged, "Well, `sides the one we already got, that is." A shot at Mr. Turner, of course.
The full realization of what happened hit Will like a reminder of all that was wrong in his life. The sickening feeling was made worse still by the knowledge that he could have put up more of a fight than he did. Whatever else happened, whatever reminisce of loyalty and friendship still remained, was all but erased by the fact that Elizabeth was claiming pregnancy. Part of Turner had entertained the hope that maybe the announcement would scare a pirate away. But, to the contrary, Jack seemed to be almost doting. Will had been leaning over the rail of the Black Pearl while he thought, gazing out at the ocean, and then suddenly he heard a small noise behind him. Turning his attentions in the direction of said noise he noticed Jack, who was bordering on nervous fidgeting. After a moment of silence, in which the Will debated ignoring the pirate all together, Jack spoke.
"So, ah," He hesitated, as if trying to decide the correct way to approach the situation, "there this lad I used to know, an` `e saved my life a couple of times when I didn't deserve it.." More hesitation, but only for a moment, "An` if `ed promise not to hit me I'd rather like to thank `im."
Of course Jack wasn't overly sappy or sensitive, but for nearly two years there had been two kids who brought out the softer side in him, against his will at times, for better or worse. He would have been content to accept that fact that Will had saved him and leave it at that, a silent agreement to forgive and forget, but no, things never could be that easy. He did owe Turner his life, and therefore, he would at least give thanks where it was due. Will inwardly rolled his eyes, nodded, and spoke to Jack in the tone of a stranger, and not an old friend.
"You're welcome." After a beat, once Jack seemed satisfied, he added, "You're right."
Jack looked confused, brows furrowed, he questioned, "About what?"
"You didn't deserve it." He would not resort to violence, of course, but there was still a tangible tension that none involved could break.
Defeated, Jack lowered his head and started to stalk off in the opposite direction. For some strange reason, and much to his annoyance, Will felt the slightest twinge of guilt.
"Congratulations." He said, before Jack was out of hearing range.
Turning on his heel in a way that could only be described as Jack Sparrow, the pirate just stared.
"You being a father and all." Will finished, "Always figured it would be me... but life has taken some unexpected turns, hasn't it?"
There was bitterness in Will's voice that he was desperately trying to mask, there was hurt there also, and Jack heard them both. Smiling he stopped his retreat and returned to his previous position.
"She's not pregnant." He said reassuringly, and cut Will short before he could open his mouth to argue, "Was a diversion."
"Oh." Turner said, and wordlessly turned, leaning over the rail again, trying to drown out Jack's presence.
He wasn't sure how he felt about that. Perhaps it should have been relief, but there was still so much that should have gone differently, in his mind. There was still so much wrong that he had allowed to happen. Jack too propped his elbows up on the rail, mimicking Will, and stared off into the horizon that he loved. There was an awkward moment of silence; nether man knew what to say to the other. But, leave it to Jack to be the ice breaker.
"Why'd you do it?"
Will knew what he was asking. Jack was asking why he'd risked his life to save the man who'd betrayed him, and in the process made himself a wanted man. It was a legitimate question, and even Turner didn't really know the answer. It would have been easy to say it was for Elizabeth's sake, but that wasn't the whole truth. The truth was that for some reason there was still loyalty in his heart to this pirate, this friend, and he couldn't shake it. He tried to hate the both of them, but it was impossible because of what they had been through together. Each of them had taken turns at saving each others lives and it seemed a shame to simply forget that. Sometimes when Will's thoughts would drift to Jack and Elizabeth he would smile, and forget for a moment what had happened. It was almost like loosing a limb and forgetting that it's gone, but that only makes it worse once you remember again.
"You didn't deserve to die." Will shrugged, trying to brush off the subject. But Jack persisted.
"Well there's one thing we agree on, but..." He stopped, his tone serious, "lad, you're gonna be just as wanted as me now."
"Then I suppose it's a good thing that I am here and not there." Turner still did not meet Jack's eyes, or even look up at all.
There was really nothing that Jack could say that would express what he wanted to and still keep with his usual pirate cool. He couldn't come out and ask for forgiveness and he couldn't let Will know that his friendship meant much to him at all, he was always a firm believer in actions speaking louder than words, because mushy words make a pirate look weak. But, the actions, he had down, the actions, he could do. His vision moved from the ocean to own hands, only for a moment, he examined them in a moment of silence. Turning over one palm he noticed an ugly looking scar. The one he had made himself.
"I think I know why." Jack said.
"Do you?" Will answered, sounding bored and uninterested, with just a hint of 'leave me alone' in there as well.
"Aye," Sparrow started, "do you ever find it odd that in breaking the curse all of us were cut here?" He thrust his open hand into Will's line of sight. The boy didn't make any sign that he understood, "I mean, couldn't it `ave been an arm or finger... somethin' like that?"
"Yes.. but what does that have to do with anything?" Will asked.
Jack shrugged; raising his hands as if he didn't have a clue about what he was saying either.
"Don't know, really." He said, and Will sighed, "S'just that maybe there's a reason we all `ave identical scars, divine bloody intervention or some such thing. Maybe it's a bond. Or at least a reminder of why we..." Jack stopped and tried to regroup, what exactly was he trying to say? "of why we all care about one another, alright?"
He'd never said it before and he would most certainly never say it again, but desperate times, all of that. Will still said nothing, so Jack did. It was said in the same annoyed and cornered tone that he had used with Elizabeth on the island two years prior, upon admitting that he hadn't made a grand legendary rescue.
"Just seems like we're a team, is all, and if you and `Lizabeth had of wanted to swim after me and join me crew on the day of my hangin' I'd not `ave turned either of you away."
Truth be told, Will had never thought much about the fact that all three of them had identical marks. But leave it to Jack, in all of his unconventional wisdom, to point out such a thing. Turner wanted to say 'yes, but that was before you stole the love of my life', or something, but he knew it wouldn't have been true. He knew he still cared about Elizabeth and Jack, and there was no getting around that. In some small way Sparrow was doing his best to apologize, to reconcile, to make things right again, and though there was much that couldn't be put aside, Will had to commend him on that.
Finally the blacksmith responded, "I'd fight by and for either of you." He nodded, "But things are not okay here, Jack." He paused and restated, "They just aren't."
Instead of getting discouraged Jack nodded, seemingly understanding. "Well maybe if I get you drunk enough you'll forget, eh? An` if not, in a few days, when we arrive in Tortuga, you can stay there and never see me again."
Will looked like something between confused, shocked and indignant. "Tortuga?"
But Jack just nodded and grinned. "Tortuga."