Well, this wasn't too long to leave you hanging, was it? As ever, thanks to
all reviewers. Even though many of you were just yelling about the cliff
hanger.
Jack: I've been in the water for five days now!
Cast of thousands: If you're alive you're going to need a hell of a lot of moisturiser.
Me: Or rum.
Jack: Oh yes, why do I still not have any rum to replace what you stole?
Me: Commandeered! Uh, I mean, there's a perfectly reasonable . . . oh look! Story!
******************************************************************
Will stood for a moment, simply staring at the empty place where Jack and Masters had been. Then he ran, faster than he ever had, and peered desperately into the water. No hope was offered to him by the swirling green water below. The wind had dropped dramatically but still the sea was heaving. It felt unreal, it simply wasn't possible. Any moment now he would see Jack surface. Any moment now. He was aware of Elizabeth and Norrington on either side of him. He didn't look at them, didn't meet their eyes. He continued staring into the dark water that had claimed his friend.
"Will." Her voice was gentle, as was the tentative hand on his shoulder. Still he didn't look away. "Will, he's gone."
No. Not ever. But his eyes were filled with water and it wasn't from the rain that still thudded onto the deck.
"Will," there was real worry in that voice, real sorrow, but he had nothing with which to reassure her.
"There!" Norrington sounded excited. That was enough to get Will's attention. He turned, the Commodore was pointing into the sea. There was a dark shape floating a little way off. Will didn't hesitate. He grabbed a rope and tied it tightly around himself then plunged overboard, ignoring Elizabeth and Norrington's protests, trusting that they would keep him balanced.
The cold water came as a shock, as did the fierceness of the waves. It hurt when they hit him and they made it nearly impossible to swim in the right direction. But all his attention was on the dark shape in front of him; now clearly a person. He knew he had no real reason to suppose it would be Jack; it could just as easily be Masters, or any of the pirates who had fallen over board. Yet he 'knew' it was Jack, because he wanted it to be so desperately. It was getting harder to stay afloat; the waves were crushing him. He had to keep his head up. He choked as he breathed at the wrong moment and inhaled a mouthful of salt water. It tasted rank.
Suddenly he reached the man in the water. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the familiar flash of red material. He wrapped his arms tightly about Jack's chest and did his best to keep his friend's head out of the water as he pulled on the rope twice, hoping that Elizabeth and Norrington would figure out the signal. He didn't know if he would be able to swim back to the ship pulling Jack with him. There was profound relief when he felt the rope tighten around him and he started to move back through the water towards the ship. The movement was slow. Jerky. He tried to help by swimming along a little, but he was more concerned with trying to protect Jack from the waves. He couldn't check to see if the other was alright, but there was no movement.
It was a strange feeling when they were hauled out of the water into the air. To be honest, it was frightening, dangling above the sea. He swallowed, looking down was a bad idea. They were dragged up in fits and starts, banging against the hull of the ship all the while. That hurt. He tried hard to make sure that it was he, and not Jack, who received the bruises. He bit down hard into his lip. More than the pain, he feared that he would drop the man he carried. Jack wasn't heavy, but still his arms were aching.
Finally, they drew level with the railings. Will felt a strong arm grab hold of him. Norrington hauled both him and Jack aboard and all three crashed down on to the deck. As soon as Will picked himself up he was very nearly knocked to the ground again by Elizabeth flinging her arms around him.
"Never scare me like that again!" she whispered. He hugged her back, then, remembering why he had scared her so, stepped back and turned round.
Jack hadn't moved. His eyes were shut and, beneath the bruises, his skin was pale. Will quickly knelt beside him. He saw with horror that Jack wasn't breathing. For a second his mind was blank, then he remembered what the sailors on the crossing from England had told him years ago. He pushed down on Jack's chest. Nothing. He tried again, slightly harder.
"Come on Jack, this isn't a good time to be dead," he muttered, desperately. Mindlessly.
Suddenly the pirate coughed and turned his head. Will held on to his shoulders as he got rid of all the sea water from his body. Done, he lay back, eyes closed again. Will would have been worried if it hadn't been for the sight of a faint smile on his friends face.
"No time is a good time to be dead, Will Turner. My thanks." Will sat back, relieved. He would have moved to help as Jack struggled to sit up, but a dark-eyed warning glare stopped him. He was a little surprised, but mostly amused, when Elizabeth not only rushed to help, but hugged Jack tightly. The pirate made ineffectual, and insincere, attempts to get her off.
"Elizabeth!" Norrington's voice was indignant. Something, that in Will's opinion he had no right to be. Elizabeth immediately sprang away from Jack. She looked guilty. Jack was grinning. That didn't help. All the same, Will turned round and glared at Norrington. Perhaps it was seeing that which made Elizabeth say;
"Who I choose to hug is of no concern of yours James. It is a matter that should only be of any interest to myself and Will."
Jack looked slightly confused. "You were hugging me . . ."
"Yes, but that still isn't any of your business," she told him sweetly. Jack shook his head slightly, then moved to stand up. This time Will completely ignored the look Jack gave him and not only helped him up, but stood supporting him as it became obvious he could not stand unaided.
"We have to get ashore. Gibbs an' Anamaria and the rest. . . Other people too. Have to save them." Will could feel Jack shivering as the pirate leaned heavily on him. He glanced doubtfully at the rain and at the sea.
"They will have to wait Captain Sparrow." Norrington announced firmly. "The sea isn't settled enough yet to risk rowing ashore. Most likely they are sheltering from the rain as we speak."
"We should do the same." Elizabeth said.
Jack nodded, a little reluctantly. "My cabin, then gentlemen, milady?" He gestured grandiosely with the arm that wasn't thrown over Will's shoulders, then stepped away from the support and walked forwards a few steps. For a moment he thought he was going to fall flat on his face, but thankfully he managed to jeep his balance all the way to the door, which he flung open, then stepped aside to let the others through, bowing as he did so. Will and Elizabeth both smiled. Norrington scowled but Jack thought his eyes were smiling. Interesting that.
He walked in to the spacious cabin that he had thought of as his for fifteen years now. Not that it looked like his at the moment. Far too neat for his taste. That could soon be solved though.
"Elizabeth! You're bleeding!" Will's voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see Will holding Elizabeth's arm, staring in horror at what looked like a sword cut on it. Didn't look terribly serious, but the lad was obviously worried. Jack started raking through some drawers and finally produced some strips of linen and a half bottle of rum which he tossed to the whelp. Then he leaned back against the wall and, amused, watched him sit her down on the bed - his bed - and fuss over her. Young love. Who'd want it? He was aware of Norrington standing next to him. They exchanged a glance. Nice to see the Commodore was capable of smiling.
Jack closed his eyes, tilted his head back and concentrated on the movements of the Pearl. As long as he was thinking about that, or being amused at Will and Elizabeth he wouldn't have to think about Masters. Wouldn't have to think about those moments in the water, about knowing that he was going to die. And most of all, he wouldn't have to think about what he had done. Cold-blooded murder. Not quite a first for him, but still . . . Masters had deserved to die, no doubt about that. But was there any difference between them? He had held the man down underwater until he stopped struggling. That was it, that was the fact. Nothing could change that. Nothing. His chest still burned. Funny, the ship seemed to be moving more than usual. Spinning.
He slid down the wall and was only dimly aware of Norrington grabbing him, holding him up and dragging him over to the bed.
"Bloody stubborn idiot of a pirate." He heard the voice but couldn't summon the strength to come up with a witty reply. The next thing he was fully aware of was the bottle being forced between his lips and the rum trickling down his throat. He swallowed. That was good. Reviving. He opened his eyes and saw three worried faces.
"'M alright," he muttered, hopefully reassuringly.
"Of course you are. You've been shot, beaten, hit over the head and drowned. Why on earth would we think that you would be anything other than alright?" Commodores of the royal navy shouldn't be that sarcastic, Jack decided. Mind you, they also shouldn't be so concerned with the well-being of legendary pirates. It was upsetting the natural order of things.
"I'm fine," he insisted in a louder voice.
"Are you sure?" Elizabeth was sat on the bed next to him.
"'Course I am. How are you?" Her arm was very neatly bandaged.
"It was nothing," she said dismissively and continued to peer at his face. He wondered what she was looking for and, as a kind of experiment, pulled a face at her. She jumped up, surprised. Norrington actually laughed.
"The sea is calm," Will announced. "We could go ashore now." It was obvious from his tone that he was worried about the people on the island. No-one objected and they launched a boat after finding rifles, pistols and swords. Will and Norrington rowed. Elizabeth kept look out, staring at the beach for any sign of trouble. Jack worried.
All of his thoughts were with his crew, his friends. Suppose they hadn't been able to find shelter from the storm, or the pirates had turned on them. Anamaria had trouble keeping her mouth shut and Gibbs would jump in to help her - or anyone else - without thinking. If they were dead, what would he do? He had never been more relieved than when he had seen them with Will on the beach. He couldn't realise just how much he cared for them and then lose them because of his own stupidity. He just couldn't. If they were dead, he would deal with them that killed them. He just wasn't sure what would come next.
They landed on the beach. It was deserted.
"They'll be sheltering beneath the hill." Norrington said. It was still raining.
The four of them walked, or in Jack's case staggered, upwards, holding tight to the weapons. They were prepared for anything, they thought. But the sight of Gibbs and Anamaria sitting on top of a pile of unconscious pirates drinking rum still came as a complete shock.
*********************************************************************
Jack: See? They have rum.
Me: That's fictional rum.
Jack: I don't care what brand it is.
Me: Stop sulking.
Jack: Did you just say I was sulking? I would think carefully before you answer luv.
Me: *thinks carefully, then grins, steals Jack's hat and runs off into the night*
Jack *blinks* Give me back me hat! *runs off after*
Cast of thousands: Um, apparently we are now the sole voice of reason. Please review this chapter. Also, look no cliff hanger.
Jack: I've been in the water for five days now!
Cast of thousands: If you're alive you're going to need a hell of a lot of moisturiser.
Me: Or rum.
Jack: Oh yes, why do I still not have any rum to replace what you stole?
Me: Commandeered! Uh, I mean, there's a perfectly reasonable . . . oh look! Story!
******************************************************************
Will stood for a moment, simply staring at the empty place where Jack and Masters had been. Then he ran, faster than he ever had, and peered desperately into the water. No hope was offered to him by the swirling green water below. The wind had dropped dramatically but still the sea was heaving. It felt unreal, it simply wasn't possible. Any moment now he would see Jack surface. Any moment now. He was aware of Elizabeth and Norrington on either side of him. He didn't look at them, didn't meet their eyes. He continued staring into the dark water that had claimed his friend.
"Will." Her voice was gentle, as was the tentative hand on his shoulder. Still he didn't look away. "Will, he's gone."
No. Not ever. But his eyes were filled with water and it wasn't from the rain that still thudded onto the deck.
"Will," there was real worry in that voice, real sorrow, but he had nothing with which to reassure her.
"There!" Norrington sounded excited. That was enough to get Will's attention. He turned, the Commodore was pointing into the sea. There was a dark shape floating a little way off. Will didn't hesitate. He grabbed a rope and tied it tightly around himself then plunged overboard, ignoring Elizabeth and Norrington's protests, trusting that they would keep him balanced.
The cold water came as a shock, as did the fierceness of the waves. It hurt when they hit him and they made it nearly impossible to swim in the right direction. But all his attention was on the dark shape in front of him; now clearly a person. He knew he had no real reason to suppose it would be Jack; it could just as easily be Masters, or any of the pirates who had fallen over board. Yet he 'knew' it was Jack, because he wanted it to be so desperately. It was getting harder to stay afloat; the waves were crushing him. He had to keep his head up. He choked as he breathed at the wrong moment and inhaled a mouthful of salt water. It tasted rank.
Suddenly he reached the man in the water. His heart skipped a beat as he saw the familiar flash of red material. He wrapped his arms tightly about Jack's chest and did his best to keep his friend's head out of the water as he pulled on the rope twice, hoping that Elizabeth and Norrington would figure out the signal. He didn't know if he would be able to swim back to the ship pulling Jack with him. There was profound relief when he felt the rope tighten around him and he started to move back through the water towards the ship. The movement was slow. Jerky. He tried to help by swimming along a little, but he was more concerned with trying to protect Jack from the waves. He couldn't check to see if the other was alright, but there was no movement.
It was a strange feeling when they were hauled out of the water into the air. To be honest, it was frightening, dangling above the sea. He swallowed, looking down was a bad idea. They were dragged up in fits and starts, banging against the hull of the ship all the while. That hurt. He tried hard to make sure that it was he, and not Jack, who received the bruises. He bit down hard into his lip. More than the pain, he feared that he would drop the man he carried. Jack wasn't heavy, but still his arms were aching.
Finally, they drew level with the railings. Will felt a strong arm grab hold of him. Norrington hauled both him and Jack aboard and all three crashed down on to the deck. As soon as Will picked himself up he was very nearly knocked to the ground again by Elizabeth flinging her arms around him.
"Never scare me like that again!" she whispered. He hugged her back, then, remembering why he had scared her so, stepped back and turned round.
Jack hadn't moved. His eyes were shut and, beneath the bruises, his skin was pale. Will quickly knelt beside him. He saw with horror that Jack wasn't breathing. For a second his mind was blank, then he remembered what the sailors on the crossing from England had told him years ago. He pushed down on Jack's chest. Nothing. He tried again, slightly harder.
"Come on Jack, this isn't a good time to be dead," he muttered, desperately. Mindlessly.
Suddenly the pirate coughed and turned his head. Will held on to his shoulders as he got rid of all the sea water from his body. Done, he lay back, eyes closed again. Will would have been worried if it hadn't been for the sight of a faint smile on his friends face.
"No time is a good time to be dead, Will Turner. My thanks." Will sat back, relieved. He would have moved to help as Jack struggled to sit up, but a dark-eyed warning glare stopped him. He was a little surprised, but mostly amused, when Elizabeth not only rushed to help, but hugged Jack tightly. The pirate made ineffectual, and insincere, attempts to get her off.
"Elizabeth!" Norrington's voice was indignant. Something, that in Will's opinion he had no right to be. Elizabeth immediately sprang away from Jack. She looked guilty. Jack was grinning. That didn't help. All the same, Will turned round and glared at Norrington. Perhaps it was seeing that which made Elizabeth say;
"Who I choose to hug is of no concern of yours James. It is a matter that should only be of any interest to myself and Will."
Jack looked slightly confused. "You were hugging me . . ."
"Yes, but that still isn't any of your business," she told him sweetly. Jack shook his head slightly, then moved to stand up. This time Will completely ignored the look Jack gave him and not only helped him up, but stood supporting him as it became obvious he could not stand unaided.
"We have to get ashore. Gibbs an' Anamaria and the rest. . . Other people too. Have to save them." Will could feel Jack shivering as the pirate leaned heavily on him. He glanced doubtfully at the rain and at the sea.
"They will have to wait Captain Sparrow." Norrington announced firmly. "The sea isn't settled enough yet to risk rowing ashore. Most likely they are sheltering from the rain as we speak."
"We should do the same." Elizabeth said.
Jack nodded, a little reluctantly. "My cabin, then gentlemen, milady?" He gestured grandiosely with the arm that wasn't thrown over Will's shoulders, then stepped away from the support and walked forwards a few steps. For a moment he thought he was going to fall flat on his face, but thankfully he managed to jeep his balance all the way to the door, which he flung open, then stepped aside to let the others through, bowing as he did so. Will and Elizabeth both smiled. Norrington scowled but Jack thought his eyes were smiling. Interesting that.
He walked in to the spacious cabin that he had thought of as his for fifteen years now. Not that it looked like his at the moment. Far too neat for his taste. That could soon be solved though.
"Elizabeth! You're bleeding!" Will's voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to see Will holding Elizabeth's arm, staring in horror at what looked like a sword cut on it. Didn't look terribly serious, but the lad was obviously worried. Jack started raking through some drawers and finally produced some strips of linen and a half bottle of rum which he tossed to the whelp. Then he leaned back against the wall and, amused, watched him sit her down on the bed - his bed - and fuss over her. Young love. Who'd want it? He was aware of Norrington standing next to him. They exchanged a glance. Nice to see the Commodore was capable of smiling.
Jack closed his eyes, tilted his head back and concentrated on the movements of the Pearl. As long as he was thinking about that, or being amused at Will and Elizabeth he wouldn't have to think about Masters. Wouldn't have to think about those moments in the water, about knowing that he was going to die. And most of all, he wouldn't have to think about what he had done. Cold-blooded murder. Not quite a first for him, but still . . . Masters had deserved to die, no doubt about that. But was there any difference between them? He had held the man down underwater until he stopped struggling. That was it, that was the fact. Nothing could change that. Nothing. His chest still burned. Funny, the ship seemed to be moving more than usual. Spinning.
He slid down the wall and was only dimly aware of Norrington grabbing him, holding him up and dragging him over to the bed.
"Bloody stubborn idiot of a pirate." He heard the voice but couldn't summon the strength to come up with a witty reply. The next thing he was fully aware of was the bottle being forced between his lips and the rum trickling down his throat. He swallowed. That was good. Reviving. He opened his eyes and saw three worried faces.
"'M alright," he muttered, hopefully reassuringly.
"Of course you are. You've been shot, beaten, hit over the head and drowned. Why on earth would we think that you would be anything other than alright?" Commodores of the royal navy shouldn't be that sarcastic, Jack decided. Mind you, they also shouldn't be so concerned with the well-being of legendary pirates. It was upsetting the natural order of things.
"I'm fine," he insisted in a louder voice.
"Are you sure?" Elizabeth was sat on the bed next to him.
"'Course I am. How are you?" Her arm was very neatly bandaged.
"It was nothing," she said dismissively and continued to peer at his face. He wondered what she was looking for and, as a kind of experiment, pulled a face at her. She jumped up, surprised. Norrington actually laughed.
"The sea is calm," Will announced. "We could go ashore now." It was obvious from his tone that he was worried about the people on the island. No-one objected and they launched a boat after finding rifles, pistols and swords. Will and Norrington rowed. Elizabeth kept look out, staring at the beach for any sign of trouble. Jack worried.
All of his thoughts were with his crew, his friends. Suppose they hadn't been able to find shelter from the storm, or the pirates had turned on them. Anamaria had trouble keeping her mouth shut and Gibbs would jump in to help her - or anyone else - without thinking. If they were dead, what would he do? He had never been more relieved than when he had seen them with Will on the beach. He couldn't realise just how much he cared for them and then lose them because of his own stupidity. He just couldn't. If they were dead, he would deal with them that killed them. He just wasn't sure what would come next.
They landed on the beach. It was deserted.
"They'll be sheltering beneath the hill." Norrington said. It was still raining.
The four of them walked, or in Jack's case staggered, upwards, holding tight to the weapons. They were prepared for anything, they thought. But the sight of Gibbs and Anamaria sitting on top of a pile of unconscious pirates drinking rum still came as a complete shock.
*********************************************************************
Jack: See? They have rum.
Me: That's fictional rum.
Jack: I don't care what brand it is.
Me: Stop sulking.
Jack: Did you just say I was sulking? I would think carefully before you answer luv.
Me: *thinks carefully, then grins, steals Jack's hat and runs off into the night*
Jack *blinks* Give me back me hat! *runs off after*
Cast of thousands: Um, apparently we are now the sole voice of reason. Please review this chapter. Also, look no cliff hanger.
