Usual disclaimers. blah!

A big welcome back for Starlight... no going awol - you hear me?

Thanks to everyone for the reviews... you are all the best!

***

Jack woke several times in the night, startled awake by various bangs and crashes both inside the house and out. It sounded like a number of the windows had blown in despite the shutters being nailed shut. He held Catherine close against him, relieved that she still slept. Jack smiled to himself, remembering his first experience of a hurricane - lashed to a palm tree in the hope he would not be blown away. Compared to that, cellars were much more civilised!

Around dawn the wind eventually eased. Most of the cellar occupants were asleep, but Theodore looked at him in the dim light. "Is it over?"

"Yep," he whispered, trying not to wake Catherine, but she stirred. He smiled as he felt her kiss his chest. "Mornin' luv!"

She paused a moment, listening to the silence. "Is that it?"

"Yep! I guess we'd better go survey th' damage!" He stood up stretching, helping Catherine to rise.

Quietly the three of them rose, creeping up the stairs so that the others did not wake. Theodore pushed the door open, gasping in dismay at the sight that met his eyes. The windows in several rooms, although nailed and shuttered, had blown in. The double doors swung wildly on broken hinges and furniture had been blown over. Some of it had smashed and other debris littered the floor too.

"Heavens!" Theodore gasped.

Jack shrugged. "It could be worse..."

"How?" Theodore said, dismay at the damage clear in his voice.

"At least th' house is still standin'..." Jack stood at the doorway. "Which is more than can be said fer many..."

"What!" Theodore and Catherine gasped in unison, dashing to stare at the devastation before them. Many of the less well constructed buildings had collapsed, mainly in the poorer areas of town. Jack glanced towards where Will's home was, unsure if it was still standing although he hoped it was. At least the house had been clear of the docks - the water had retreated, but signs of the flooding were obvious.

"You were right about the sea!" Theodore sighed. "I'd better wake the Governor - he'll be needed." He turned, heading back down to the cellar.

Catherine looked at the devastation in the house. "Well, at least we saved the harp," she smiled, "even if we couldn't move Mary's furniture..."

"That's no great loss luv," Jack joked, remembering her previous comments about a Tortuga whore house.

She smiled, nudging him as Theodore returned with Thomas Spense. They could hear the others beginning to move in the cellars - Mary's complaints reaching them long before she did, her voice rising in pitch as she emerged and looked around at the sight that greeted her. "My house!" she wailed.

"Well at least the damage is repairable Mary," her father spoke quietly from the doorway where he looked out on Port Royal. "I must go to the fort - I will need to see Commodore Norrington. We will need troops stationed throughout the town." He turned to his son-in-law. "Theodore, could you escort Rosamund home, she will be needed at the Mansion - join me at the Fort when you are done!"

"Yes Sir," Theodore acknowledged.

The Governor turned to Theodore and Jack. "It seems the two of you saved a lot of people with your actions last night - thank you." He turned, walking carefully down the steps to avoid the broken branches and roof tiles that littered the street.

Jack looked out across the bay, his eye catching on a battered hulk in the harbour. "Hey Theo! Yer ship's still floatin'!"

Theodore looked in shock at the HMS Gauntlet. Her masts and sails were wrecked but she was at least still afloat. He grinned in amazement at Jack. "Just..."

Jack turned to speak with Catherine, but she was gone. He frowned. "Kitty?" She was nowhere in sight, but then he saw her helping her father up the stairs from the basement. His knee was much better this morning but he was exhausted by the time he reached the top. Theodore dashed into his study to get a chair, relieved to see that at least its windows were intact. By the time he had got his father seated, the rest of the people in the cellar had emerged. Weatherby Swann found another seat and sat next to Edmund, talking quietly.

Will and Elizabeth stood dazed in shock at the doorway, Elizabeth cradling Billy in her arms. "Our house..." she whispered, tears streaming down her face. Will put his arms around both of them, trying to comfort her. Jack had not known the outline of the roofs well enough to judge exactly what house was theirs - but Elizabeth did... and it wasn't there.

"You must stay here Elizabeth!" Theodore insisted. "We still have one spare room and I am sure some mattresses can be found for your father..."

"Thank you Theo," she gasped. "We've lost everything..."

"We should go an' see if anythin' can be salvaged," Jack warned, "before th' looters get there!"

"Surely not!" Elizabeth protested.

Jack shrugged. "Who knows who was in port last night... an' why d' yer think th' Governor was so eager to get troops into the town." He turned to her. "Don't worry... we'll save what we can." He turned to Catherine. "Kitty - get yer ship gear on, sword too. We don't know what we'll find."

She nodded, dashing back down the cellar, emerging a few minutes later in a shirt and trousers, strapping her sword on as she ran. Rosamund Spense looked surprised at her appearance, but held her tongue. Catherine stopped, standing next to Jack and Will as she plaited her hair. "Ready Captain," she smiled.

Will turned to his wife. "Stay here Elizabeth, look after Billy and your father... we will do what we can." Shocked, she could only nod as he followed Jack and Catherine out into the street.

"Mistress Spense, let me escort you home." Theodore offered his mother-in- law his arm. "Collins, ensure the door is barred and that the women in the house are safe... I will return as soon as I can..."

***

Catherine slipped her hand into Jack's as they walked cautiously towards where Will and Elizabeth's house had once stood. Anxiously they turned the last corner, surprised to see at least part of the house was standing. The roof had blown off and most of the side wall had collapsed, but if they were careful they might be able to rescue quite a bit.

"Stay here Kitty," Jack warned as he and Will forced the door inwards, stepping back sharply as a shower of rubble barely missed their heads. Will started to go upstairs, but the steps gave way beneath his feet, causing him to fall back against Jack. "Steady mate!" he warned. "It's too risky up there - won't take yer weight!"

"My money is up there Jack! Our savings!" Will tried again as yet another step gave way. "If nothing else I must save that!"

Jack felt Catherine's hand on his arm before she spoke. "I am the lightest... let me try?" She smiled at Will. "Where do you keep it?"

"In the dresser... our bedroom..." Wills eyes sparked with hope.

"Kitty..." Jack began.

"At least let me try Jack... lift me over those steps..."

Shaking his head ruefully, he lifted her high so that she could reach the first of the undamaged steps. "Keep against th' wall, th' steps will be stronger there..." he warned, gently releasing her, ready to snatch her back if the step crumbled... but it held. Cautiously she edged forwards, a step at a time, until she stood at the top of the stairs. "Which way?" she whispered, fearful of more collapse.

"To the left," he replied as loudly as he dared, watching her disappear from view. The sound of drawers opening echoed from above, dust falling on them through cracks in the ceiling as she carefully walked across the floor.

"Psst!" A bag of money landed at Will's feet. "What else do you want? The wall is down and I can throw things out..."

Will picked up the money. "Whatever you can," he pleaded. "Clothes first?"

They waited outside, but the first things to float down were two sheets from the bed. Jack understood immediately, catching the clothes as they fell and placing them into the bedding. More clothes fell, and then a stout but small box. Will gasped and held it tightly. Elizabeth had little very jewellery, but what she had was precious to her.

"That's enough fer now Kitty!" Jack called up. "Stay there an' we'll be back shortly... don't move in case it collapses!"

"Aye Jack!" she peeked around the corner.

He threw he pistol up to her, relieved when she caught it safely. "Fer looters, not Mary!" he warned.

"Aye Captain!" she winked.

They carried the two large bundles up to Theodore's house. Elizabeth was delighted when Will handed over the money and her jewellery box. "Store it for now in the cellar," he suggested. "We can sort something out when Theodore comes back."

***

By the time that Theodore eventually returned from the fort, all of the contents of the Turner household that were saveable were safely in the cellar of his house. Elizabeth and Catherine were helping clear the rest of the rooms whilst Billy played with his rescued toys watched by his grandfather and Edmund Groves. Mary had retired to her bedroom, relaxing on the bed - hers having been the first room cleared of shattered glass and debris - the whole day simply too much for her. The shutters had been firmly nailed shut again throughout the house for only Theodore's study had survived relatively unscathed, it's windows still intact.

As Theodore turned to shut the door as best he could, he heard Jack and Will coming round the corner of the house. They were both wet, covered in mud and laughing quietly - they had clearly been down near the docks. "Something amusing?" he asked.

"Just a soggy donkey with a bad attitude," Will smiled. "We've put him in your garden." He shrugged. "But at least the smithy is undamaged and will dry out eventually!" He noticed Theodore's sombre face. "How bad was it?"

"Those that refused to leave their homes, and those killed by the storm, had reached twenty-five by the time I left. They are still finding some people. Forty-two homes destroyed, including yours but most of the others are repairable." He sighed heavily. "It could have been a lot worse..."

Will realised how high the death toll would have been if the docks had not been evacuated, and how that figure would have increased by four if Jack had not warned them. "Looks like I owe you again, Jack," smiling gratefully.

Jack shrugged. "I wasn't countin' mate!" he smiled. "But I think we need to clean up..."

Theodore frowned, suddenly realising what Will had said. "You put the donkey in my garden?" he gasped.

"It was ruined anyway mate," Jack shrugged. "I doubt one old donkey could do much more damage..."

Theodore shook his head ruefully, wondering what his wife would say when she found out.

***