Disclaimer:  I own . . .a wall.  And a ceiling.  With lovely pictures pasted all over them.  But I cannot claim the creation of any of the characters filling those pictures.

AN:  Sorry it took so long to update.  I hope this chapter isn't too disappointing.  Jaraen (my muse) gave me fits about it.  It might still be open to revision.  I've given up on attempting to answer individual reviews, but a hearty thanks to all who do review.  I take each into account.  I'll try to answer any questions that are contained in reviews, though.  Answers to questions will start next chapter, based on all reviews since . . .a long time ago.  I'd start here, but I'm so tired at the moment I can't even see straight.  Well, hope you enjoy.

To Love and Protect

Part 24

"I can't just go back to Johnson."

"Why not?"  Jack raised his head and met the younger captain's gaze, peering over Ana-Maria's shoulder.  "They wanted you to be commodore before.  Go back.  His friends," Jack nodded towards Rollin, sitting stiff-backed in the chair next to his commander, "in port will back you, you can blast the hell out of anything that gets in your way on the water, and then you can take over and everyone will be satisfied."

"The Intrepid isn't large enough to sack a port."  Brian sighed as Rollin glanced up sharply.  "I will not fire the first shot on any British ship or British port.  If we are fired upon, only then will I return fire.  Only then."

"You'll be risking your life, your crew and your ship trying to play honorable like that, lad."

"I already forfeited my life and my ship when I helped get you and the boy out of that bloody gaol.  And the reason we are not going back to Johnson is so that I do not lose the lives of any of my crewmen or see my ship destroyed."

"So what are you going to do, then?"

"We need to find a way to draw Hallson out to us.  A legitimate way, one that won't give him the right to fire upon us until we've had negotiations."

A slow grin spread across Jack's face.  "You're bargaining he won't wait to negotiate.  He'll have the first shot fired, then you'll be free to act in self-defense."

"Aye.  Then I'll be free to act in self-defense, and my ship and my crew will be safe."

Will finally spoke up from his seat at the table.  "And you?"  Brian simply looked away.  "Brian, and you?"

"I'll lose the Intrepid at least, be reduced in rank.  If I can prove Hallson was breaking British law, and I return bearing a large enough gift, I should be able to keep myself from facing the firing squad."

"That's not right."  Will shook his head slowly, his gaze troubled as he watched the young captain.

"I knew what I was doing when I offered to help you, Will.  My godson was more of a priority than my career."

"Than your life?"

"Three for one isn't a bad trade, I'd say.  What happens to me isn't important, though.  What will be will be.  Right now we need to figure out what we're going to do with the rest of you."

Jack shrugged, a slight grin still on his face.  "I'm coming back with you to Johnson, lad.  I'm going to kill myself a traitor, and if you'd like I'll kill yours, as well."

"Hallson's mine, Jack."  Brian looked askance at the blacksmith.  He had never heard such cold hatred from Will, a cold hatred that nearly approached bloodlust.  "He hurt my children.  He tried to hurt Elizabeth.  He's mine."

Jack nodded slowly, a new tension in his posture, and Will hurriedly stifled the anger and hatred that was racing through his mind, hoping to keep the pirate from seeing exactly how deep it ran.  "All right.  He's yours, Will."

"If we're done deciding who gets to kill who, do you think we could return to the conversation at hand?"

"You said you wanted to come bearing a gift."  Jack paused, gesturing with one hand, the other wrapped around Ana-Maria's stomach, pulling her close to him.  "What kind of gift did you have in mind?"

"A ship, at the least."

"A ship.  Any better specifications than that, mate?"

"A ship like we're supposed to be hunting now."

Ana-Maria straightened abruptly.  "A pirate ship.  You want us to give you the location of a pirate ship."

"No, son, we're not turning in any of the brethren to you."

"Why?  Pirate honor?  Weren't you just saying it's going to get me killed, my honor?  Yours is going to get us all killed.  Just choose someone, someone whose methods you disagree with, and give me a likely area for the ship to be in.  You don't have to do anything else."

"Just turn someone over to you and cower like a whipped dog?"

"That's not what I said, and it's not what I meant."

"Who're you at war with now?  Why don't you go after one of them?"

"If that's what we must do, then we shall.  However, the chances of success against a prepared and armed opponent as opposed to an unprepared pirate ship are much slimmer."

"Not very honorable there, are you, mate?"

"He's not your mate, and his plan is a good one, pirate."  Rollin stood abruptly, turning to glare at Jack, who merely grinned, gold teeth flashing.

"I'm trying to help you, Jack, and I'm trying to keep myself alive.  Is that really so bad?"

"You're turning out just like him, y'know?  You need something to bolster your career, go kill some pirates and either sink or steal their ship."


"Can you tell me most pirates haven't stolen their ship themselves?  And I am not like Hallson, Captain Sparrow.  I don't slaughter men who can't defend themselves.  Anyone who surrenders I will see receives a fair trial."

"Before they dance the hempen jig.  And me?  What're you goin' t' do with Ana-Maria and I?  We won't fit into your plan very well."

"Jack, he saved your life.  You know who he is and you know what he's done with his life.  He's an honest man.  You told me yourself you don't agree with some of the things other pirate captains do.  Give him the name and location of one of them.  Get a real killer off the seas."  Will attempted to mediate what seemed to be growing into a heated dispute very quickly.

"And in return you'll return to Johnson and draw the cowards out of their nest."

"Yes."

"And you'll let me kill Michael."

"I wouldn't dream of standing in your way."

"Jack, no.  We can't do this.  Remember the Code."  Ana-Maria pulled away from the pirate captain, and Will caught a glimmer of uncertainty creep its way across the link.

"The one we've been ignoring for the past decade?  That code, love?"

Ana-Maria looked down, a scowl on her face.

"Ana-Maria, I'm not going to turn over one of the brethren.  Don't worry."

This time it was Brian who scowled.  "Fine then, Captain Sparrow, we can—"

"Jason Compson is the captain of a lovely little ship name of the Jade.  Might o' heard of him.  Tended to haunt the waters 'round Port Paix, recently shifted his huntin' grounds to . . .here."  Jack reached over and traced a circle on the map spread across the table.  "Right on the way home, too.  Shouldn't take too long t' find him, not with my help.  Decent commander, but nothin' t' write home about.  Too bloodthirsty for my likin', though some of his crew're decent men."  Jack cut his eyes back up to Ana-Maria.  "And he's not one of the brethren, love.  Privateer."

"What about his ship?"

"Twenty-eight guns, but his crew, last I heard, wasn't large enough t' man 'em all at one time.  Catch 'em right and you should be able t' take the ship without too much damage t' either yours or his."

"Catch him right?"

"Aye.  Take a bit of forethought and maneuvering once we find him, but shouldn't be too hard."

"Speed?"

"Fast ship.  Not as fast as the Pearl was, but a fast ship.  You'll have to have the advantage with the winds."

"Once boarded, what kind of resistance should we expect?"

"Same as with anyone else, son.  Jason 'imself, he'll fight for his ship 'til he can't stand anymore.  Rest of the men . . .pirates by a different name.  Take Compson out, make 'em a good offer, and they should settle down right quick."

"A good offer?"

"Just tell 'em they won't hang."

"He can't promise that.  That's for British law to decide."  Rollin backed down again as his captain turned on him, a scowl upon his face.

"Tell 'em they won't hang, Brian.  Leave the how to me."  Jack grinned, gold teeth flashing, and Will found himself grinning, too.

The next week was going to be very interesting.

                                    *                                   *                                   *

"Will, how can you ask me to do this?"  The wind pulled teasingly at Elizabeth's hair despite the fact that she had tied it back.  A blush of righteous anger added to the red of sunburn on her face as she stared at Will, ignoring all other activity on deck.

Everyone else seemed content to ignore them, too, so long as they didn't do anything exceptionally interesting like come to blows.

"Elizabeth, we're going to be in at least two battles.  Jack thinks he and Brian can manage the first one without too much damage to ships or men, but Hallson and Rollin aren't going to go down easily."

"I can fight.  You know I can.  You've seen me."

"I know.  Someone has to stay with the children, though.  Brian says he knows a port nearby where you and Jack and Ana can stay.  We'll come back for you when we're able."

"And if you're not able?"

Will looked away.

"Will, if you're not able?"

"You'll get by."

"I'm not trying to be a coward, Will, but this isn't our fight.  Not at all.  I understand you want to stay, especially with everything that's happened with you and Jack, but I can't—"

"You can and you will.  I'll not see my children caught amidst a firefight, and I'll not abandon my friends.  I can't.  What do you think it would be like for me, sitting somewhere safe while Jack fought for his life, able to sense what was happening but do nothing?  I'd go mad, Eliabeth."

"I know you can't do that.  I wouldn't want you to.  Can't you see, that's what it's going to be for me, knowing you're out here fighting, not able to do anything.  I don't want to see Jack and Ana in another fight, either.  Isn't there anyone we could leave them with, someone you know, or Brian knows, or even Jack or Ana-Maria?"

"You want to abandon them with strangers?"  Will regretted the harshness of his tone as Elizabeth looked down, her eyes glinting brightly with the beginnings of unshed tears, whether of frustration or grief he wasn't entirely certain.

"No.  That's not what I want.  If you want me to stay with them, I'll stay.  Just make damn sure you come back for me, William Turner."

"I'll come back, Elizabeth.  I swear, I'll come back.  Not all the demons of hell could keep me from coming back for my family, and considering I've come within inches of seeing hell, that's saying quite a bit."

Elizabeth smiled slightly, and Will tilted her chin up, bringing his lips against hers in a long, slow kiss that ended in a simple embrace.

"I should go tell the children."  Elizabeth broke their mutual silence with a small whisper, pulling free of his protective arms and walking away, never meeting his gaze.

Will wasn't surprised when Jack appeared at his side, the grin gone from his face again, sympathy edging cautiously over the link as though he feared it would be rejected.

"That's one promise you're goin' to have to keep, son."

Will's only answer was a nod as his wife disappeared among the sailors.

It was one promise he intended on keeping with all his heart.

                                    *                                   *                                   *

"I don't want to leave, momma!  I want to help poppa and Uncle Jack and Godpapa Brian and everyone!"  Ana's fists were clenched at her side as she stared at her mother, her dark eyes flashing with a fire that Elizabeth found all too familiar.

"We fought before.  We did good.  Uncle Jack and the Captain both said so."  Jack's hands were crossed over his chest, the same defiant light in his eyes that shone from his twin's.

"I know you want to help, but you can't.  This is something that they have to do themselves.  Momma doesn't get to stay, either."

"Why not?  You've fought by Poppa's side all the other times."  Jack nodded in agreement with Ana's question.

Elizabeth sighed in frustration.  She wanted to stay by Will's side again, more than anything, but she had to put her family first.  "Poppa and Uncle Jack and Godpapa Brian need to be able to concentrate.  They'll be able to concentrate better if they don't think they have to worry about you."

"Why would they have to worry about us?  We can fight.  We killed that soldier before.  We could do it again, if we had to."

Something seemed to freeze in Elizabeth's heart as her son calmly spoke those words, his sister nodding hesitantly a moment afterwards.

"Momma, please."  Ana's eyes were wide now and pleading, though Jack's still blazed with defiance.

"I've seen firefights before, Mother.  I've helped on the gun deck.  Ask Godpapa Brian.  There's others aboard, too.  We help bring the cartridges for the guns."

"I think I will ask Brian about that, Jack."  Elizabeth stood abruptly, the two children following her as she made her way out on deck and over to where Brian and another officer she didn't know were discussing something.  She waited politely until he turned to acknowledge her presence.  "Captain Lanebridges, a word, please?"

"Of course, m'lady."  Brian's expression didn't change, and Elizabeth wondered briefly if she was doing a much better job at hiding her feelings than she thought she was.

"In private, Captain, if you wouldn't mind."

Brian nodded his assent, gesturing towards the great cabin she and the children had just left.  Elizabeth waited until he was inside before instantly closing the door, much to the chagrin of the twins, who had continued to surreptitiously follow.

"Brian, I thought you said Jack would be safe on the Intrepid."

"He was.  He is."

"He says you had him hauling cartridges to the gunners.  I'd hardly call that safe."

"It's relatively safe.  You know we're a naval vessel, Elizabeth.  I tried to get him to simply stay out of sight during the first engagement we had.  He . . .disliked that intensely, to put it politely.  He's a good powder-monkey, though, and the older boys look out for him."

"So why exactly do you have to drop us at port then, Captain?"

"I didn't think you would wish for him and Ana to be involved in what is going to occur."

"He and Ana wish to stay."  Elizabeth refrained from adding that she wished to stay, as well.

"If you wish for them to stay, they may.  I hope you have taken proper stock of the dangers inherent in what we are planning."

"I realize the risks inherent.  I'm wondering if you realize all the risks inherent, though."

"Risks inherent with what?"

"With having Jack and Will fighting so soon after . . .everything."

"Why?  They seemed fine.  Even Jack seemed fine, much better than he was yesterday."

"He is."  Brian simply stared at her questioningly, urging her to continue.  "It's complicated.  The link is back again, though, even stronger than before, if that's possible.  What do you think is going to happen if one of them ends up dead and the other doesn't?  If Will . . .dies . . ."  Elizabeth's tongue seemed to thicken as she forced the word out.  "Jack will have Ana.  What if it's Jack who isn't fast enough, though?  Do you think you could handle Will when he's felt every moment of his brother's death, if the people who caused it are right there in front of him?"

Brian tilted his head slightly.  "Do you think you could?"

"I don't know.  I think I'd have a better chance than you would, though."

The young captain considered for a moment before nodding slowly.  "If you truly wish to stay, I shall of course allow it."

"I need to stay, Brian."  Elizabeth stepped forward and took his hands in her own.  "Our family needs to stay together now."

"I understand.  I expect you to tell Will.  I shall inform Jack and Ana and assign them duties to keep them out of mischief.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I've a course change to make, and I should like to do it before my men begin thinking something improper is occurring."

Elizabeth smiled and blushed slightly.  She hadn't thought of what her dragging Brian off alone into his cabin might look like to anyone else.

"Thank you, Brian.  We owe you, more than we can ever repay."

The young captain smiled and shook his head.  "You're the only family of any kind I have out here, Elizabeth.  Family cares for family."

He shrugged as he opened the door and stepped out on deck, smiling at the two children who had just jumped away from the door, wide grins on their faces.

"You don't owe me a thing."