Disclaimer: Legally pointless, politically courteous, and insanely intriguingly fun to write if any humor remains in the mind . . .
To Love and Protect
Part 25
"Lad?"
"Just leave me be, Jack." Will turned his head away from the pirate, leaning further over the railing, staring intently off into the dark.
"I would, if not for the fact that you're startin' t' make my head hurt here."
Will didn't shift his position or his tone of voice, though his muscles tightened perceptively. "I'm sorry."
As the silence stretched Will dared to hope that the pirate might actually have decided to leave him in peace.
"That certainly helped."
The heavy sarcasm underlining the words caused Will to spin around at last, dark eyes glinting. "I've a right to be angry. I dealt with everything you threw at me before. You can handle this."
"I tried to give you a way out. Several times. You didn't take them and neither will I. She's tryin' t' do what's right by all of you."
"She's placed our children and herself in harms way. That's not right by anybody."
"Isn't it? Son, she's been by your side every other time. She saved your ruddy damned life at the Isla de Muerta. I couldn't have, not with Barbossa. She's a strong woman, Elizabeth is, and you knew that when you asked for her hand. Now you're just dealing with the consequences."
"The children shouldn't be here."
"Jack's been on this ship before, in engagements with her before. Brian said he acted as a powder monkey. Ana can, too. Will, they want to stay with you. You've got a bloody family that wants to stay by your side and you're throwing a fit about it."
"I am not throwing a fit." Will kept his voice level and cool.
"No. Of course not."
"I'm not!"
"They'll be safe, Will. You know Brian would die before letting anything happen to them. So would I."
"You can't be everywhere at once." And neither can I. "What if the ship sinks? What if we lose?"
"Then we lose, or the ship sinks. You'll get through it with your family, with them by your side. That's not something to be taken lightly." Jack rubbed a hand forcefully over his forehead. "It's too late to do anything about it now, all right? Please, just calm down."
"Brian should have asked me before he changed course."
"Don't trust Elizabeth to make decisions for herself now? She wouldn't go. You'd end up dragging her kicking and screaming off the ship, and trust me, she would kick and scream. I've seen her do it."
"She wouldn't."
"She would."
"Not in front of the children."
"Oh, yes, forgot about the two ten-year-olds also kicking and screaming. You know what, that sounds like fun, actually. Let's go try it. Who do you think would get free and run back to the ship faster? I'm placing my money on one of the twins . . .whichever decides to degenerate to biting first. Unless, of course, Elizabeth beats them to the idea."
"Jack . . ." Will smiled in spite of himself at the image of his wife biting one of the redcoats. "I want them to be safe."
"Life's dangerous, Will. You can't always protect them. Let them grow up. Your son . . .he b'longs t' the sea already, lad. You can see it in him. Your lass . . .she's got her mother's spirit. Try to protect 'em too much, you'll smother them, and they'll skitter away. Then you'll hear nary a word from them 'til either you or they stand on death's door."
"Do you want them here?"
"Not really. I can understand them wantin' t' stay, though, and I can respect their wishes."
"They're children, Jack. They're just children."
"I've been fendin' for m'self since I was younger than them, Will. They grew up hard and fast. Keepin' my visits a secret when they were little, the Brotherhood, now their first kill . . .They're a lot more than just children, son."
"Shows what a wonderful father I am, aye? First kill at ten." Will's fingers unclenched and he sighed, his head hanging down. God above, he was so tired of everything . . .
"Don't even start thinkin' like that, mate. You've always done what's right by them. You can't control the world."
Will smiled slightly. "It would be much simpler if I could."
"Not really. Feeling better?"
"Not really."
"Go talk to 'Lizabeth, William, before you frighten the night watch even more. They thought you were the sane one among us."
"I am." The smile grew for a moment and then faded. "Sorry about your head. Doesn't hurt too bad, does it?"
"No. Get on with ye. That lass of yours is goin' t' be just about pacing a hole through the decking by now."
Will laughed softly. "All right. Good night, Jack."
"G'night, son."
Will couldn't help but notice a grimace of pain on Jack's face as the pirate turned back to the ocean, taking Will's spot at the rail. A flicker of guilt traced through his mind as he went to find his wife, carefully blocking off the link, leaving Jack to his own thoughts.
* * *
It didn't take Ana-Maria long to find Jack once she decided to look for him. He was leaning against the railing . . .or, more accurately, nearly doubled over the railing, his hands alternating between rubbing at his temples and at his eyes. The female pirate sighed softly as she watched him for a moment before walking up behind him.
"Jack." Ana-Maria gave him fair warning before leaning her head lightly against his shoulder.
"Love. Thought you'd be sleeping. Long day today. Longer one ahead." Jack straightened slightly, though his hands continued their restless massaging of his head, causing the beaded braids to clank together as he repeatedly shoved them back.
"Here, Jack." Ana-Maria reached around his head and tied his hair back with the red bandana she pulled from her pocket. "It's the one Brian insisted you not wear the first time we were here. I cleaned it while you were sleeping. Didn't think to give it back, with all that's been happening." She paused and smiled as he muttered something that might have been a thank you. "As for sleeping . . .I'll sleep when you sleep, cap'n, which I'm thinking won't be for a bit yet. Will?"
"What about him?"
"This is his work, aye?"
"He's worried about Elizabeth and his demon son and his daughter. Can't say as I blame him."
"I know. It was her choice, though. I understand why she wants to stay. She's always had his back before. She wants to again. If you ever tried to ditch me before going into a fight . . .I'd slap you and do the exact same thing." Ana-Maria smoothed the trinkets back again, rubbing lightly at his temple before giving a gentle tug on his arm. "Come here, love."
Jack blinked unsteadily at her. "Come where? Not sure I really want to move. Feels good here, the wind and the sea and the sky . . ."
Ana-Maria smiled and shrugged, understanding what he was trying to say. "Then don't move. Just keep facing your mistress, Jack." The pirate captain sighed and did as he was told, his right hand continuing to rub at his temple and around his eyes.
Ana-Maria softly placed deft hands on his neck, feeling the tightly bunched muscles. Gently, slowly, she applied pressure, her hands quickly finding a rhythm as she coaxed the tension out of the pirate's body. A few soft moans from her captain was all the convincing she needed that it was helping.
Time seemed to slow as Ana-Maria studied the man under her hands, his lean body, far too often scarred, his dark hair, his sword and pistol still strapped to his side, the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her hands . . .
"Jack?"
"Mmm-hmmm."
"Jack, you can't fall asleep on the railing."
"I most certainly could, love."
"Captain Lanebridges would find it highly entertaining when you couldn't stand up tomorrow."
"I can stand up."
"You're not really awake, are you, Jack Sparrow?" Ana-Maria tugged on his shoulder again, and the pirate reluctantly stumbled forward.
"Who needs to be awake?"
"No one. Come to bed and lie down, love."
"Only if you're coming."
"Of course I'm coming." The darkness didn't cause any problems for the two pirates as they picked their way to their bed, or for Ana-Maria as she swiftly unbuttoned Jack's shirt and set it aside before gently shoving him towards the bed. "Lie down, Jack."
She didn't have to ask twice.
"Jack, do want me to finish your massage?"
"No, love. I just want you to rest with me." Jack never opened his eyes as he made his request, reaching over to grab Ana-Maria's wrist.
The female pirate smiled and climbed easily up onto the bed, settling Jack's arm around her and waiting for his breathing to become steady and rhythmic again before surrendering to dreams herself.
* * *
"Adam?"
Adam smiled in relief as the blacksmith whispered his name and met his gaze with blessedly lucid dark eyes.
"Hello, Robert. Welcome back to the land of the living."
Robert shifted slightly, hissing slightly through his teeth as sore muscles and partially-healed wounds resisted any attempt at movement. "Can I get an extension on my leave?"
Crallon smiled thinly. "I think your leave was more than long enough. You scared me half to death. I thought I was going to end up guarding a corpse."
"Well, that's better than me. I remember being fairly certain I was going to become a corpse. What happened?"
"You were delirious most of the night. You had a fever, but I think it was more drug than injury-induced. I bandaged you up as best I could and stayed here with you."
"Thank you."
"It was the least I could do, considering my commander put you in here. You've committed no crime. He's no right to-"
"He's set himself above right and wrong, Adam. He'll get his, though. The Captain will come back, and he'll have Turner and . . ." Robert trailed off at the pained look in the redcoat's eye. "They haven't . . .they can't have caught them . . ."
"Michael drew Turner's blood. We saw it on his sword. He fights with a poisoned blade, Robert. He swears Will's dead by now."
"Oh, no . . .oh . . .god, I should have seen . . ." Robert's face paled alarmingly as he struggled to stand.
"Oh, no you don't. We lost one of our crazy blacksmiths; we're not losing another. Sit and stay seated. There was nothing you could have done for Will. You did all you could. You should have gone with the Captain."
"I needed to stay here, in case they needed to contact someone they trusted."
"I know. It doesn't matter, anyway. He's not going to touch you again." Adam grinned again, a hint of vindictiveness edging his voice. "If he's smart, he'll simply take the Defender and Jenkin and his bloody mercenary and take off."
"What do you . . .?"
The sound of running footsteps and shouts of alarm echoed faintly, eerily into the silence of the brig.
"What's that?"
"That would be a present and card for the Commodore."
"Present and card?" Robert eyed the marine warily even as a heavier slur began to influence his words, his system still recovering from all the drugs Michael had used on him.
"Well, more of a . . .friendly warning than a card. If he'll just step down, everything is going to be all right."
"Uh-huh." The blacksmith continued to fight a losing battle against exhaustion. "Wake me if one of two things happens. One, Hell turns into Greenland. Two, Hallson willingly relinquishes his career. I expect I'll see you somewhere very cold." Robert sighed as his eyes closed of their own volition, sleep's healing embrace claiming him once more.
"At least you'll be able to see." Adam gently checked the blacksmith's body temperature, content that it was relatively low.
It had been one hell of a night, attempting to keep the injured and drugged man from hurting himself even more as he struggled against unknown opponents. Once the drugs had started wearing off things the situation had improved significantly, but it was definitely a night that Adam Crallon would remember for a long, long time.
Hallson wouldn't have any doubts about what the people thought of him once he read that note.
If he was smart, he would leave before the threats could become active.
Adam almost hoped that any intelligence Hallson might have had was driven aside.
* * *
"How dare they! How dare they! The utter gall . . .the . . .the . . ." Hallson stopped his furious pacing and wheeled on Michael. "What do you think of all of this?"
Michael stared for a moment at the parchment that was being shoved under his nose, fighting twin urges to smile and draw his sword.
"I'd say they're unhappy."
"Unhappy? Unhappy?! What the hell have they got to be unhappy about? Even if they are unhappy, they've no right to leave . . .to leave . . ."
"Death threats?"
The commodore's face was turning a rather interesting shade of purple as he paced about. "Death threats! The bloody fools have the gall to leave me death threats! An ultimatum to their commanding officer, tacked to my door with one of Turner's bloody daggers, and not a single person saw a thing, no, not a bloody one!"
"Are their terms really that unreasonable? Let the blacksmith go and let their Captain come home. They'll settle down."
"I shouldn't have to settle them down! I shouldn't bloody well have to! I'm the commander here! Not them! Not him!" Hallson's fingers slowly contracted around the note, curling it into a ball. "They'll learn that quickly enough. They can't order me about."
The commodore tossed the letter down onto his desk beside the dagger before turning and storming from his office.
Michael allowed himself the satisfaction of a smile as he moved over to the desk and picked up the note before casually tossing it aside and focusing on the dagger.
It was a beautiful weapon, perfectly balanced with a black-leather handle, the blade well-polished and well-honed.
The smile broadened as the mercenary pocketed the weapon.
He would see it put to good use, even if that good use was not what its late maker would have liked.
* * *
The sun was well past midday, the winds apparently eager to see the Intrepid home, pushing her ever deeper into the area that Jack had marked as the Jade's territory.
"Cap'n! Sail ho!"
Brian wasn't surprised to find that Jack Sparrow seemed to instantly materialize at his side as the cry rang out over the deck, Rollin and Jordan, his two lieutenants, hanging back as though suddenly uncertain where their places were.
A quick check through his spyglass discerned the crisp white sails of the other vessel, and Brian called a quick course change, keeping the wind to the back of the Intrepid, already maneuvering for position in what he hoped would be a swift and bloodless battle.
Brian handed the spyglass to the pirate by his side. "Look like the ship, Sparrow?"
Jack studied the other ship for a moment. "Aye, captain, that'll be the one."
"You're certain?"
"I'm certain."
"Are you staying above decks?"
Jack shut the spyglass with a snap before handing it back to the younger captain, a gold-toothed grin appearing on his face. "Aye. I'm goin' t' board her with you, mate."
Brian nodded. "Is that all you'll be doing?"
"I'll do anythin' that's necessary."
"Indeed, I believe you will."
The young captain smiled slightly before surreptitiously stepping back, a move that placed him amidst his officers.
"Gentlmen . . .prepare for battle."
