Author's Note: Yes, yes, you're all very brilliant. It seems as though Trevor likes Brenda or visa versa! But that's only because I wanted it to be that way. I could've had them hate each other…but I'm a hopeless romantic.
Hmmm the plot thickens in this chapter…but not for very long. So yea…and something you all are hoping will happen…is told that it's going to happen. Oh! And Rick…Brenda talks about him. Just to give you a heads up on that.
-------
"What do you mean, he's been here?"
"James, I told you, Captain Briscoe just left. He asked me about Jack. I didn't know what to say! It was so sudden…"
Norrington sighed. When he got to the battlement, Captain Regan Briscoe wasn't there. He figured he would've gone to the Turners. Norrington wasn't sure where he got his source, but whoever it was, knew who Jack was and knew the Turners.
"What did you say?"
"Well, he asked if I knew who Jack Sparrow was and I told him that Will and I had a run in with him a long time ago. Then he asked me if I knew he was here. I didn't answer."
James sighed, "That's fine Elizabeth, Is Will at work?"
Elizabeth nodded, "Where do you think the Captain will go next?"
James paused, looking around, "Where's Jack?"
"He left with Gwyneth about an hour ago. To go talk to Brenda, I'm pretty sure."
This is wonderful. "Thank you Elizabeth, I think he knows where Jack is and I'm sure he's there now. Round up your youngest and meet us at the battlement if you could…Will would be a great help also." He started walking to the door, the man servant giving him his coat and hat.
"What if you don't get there in time?"
"That is why I want you at the battlement."
****
Where exactly do you find fish food? Brenda thought to herself as she wavered in front of Gwyneth's room. The door was open, she could see the curtains flowing freely due to the fresh, Caribbean wind coming through the open windows. It seemed most inviting.
She had been instructed to feed Gwyneth's two fish. Steve and Jill. What kind of person names a fish Steve? I've never even heard of that name. It's most likely from the Americas or from some crazy book she's read. It should be Jack and Jill…wait…Steve and Jill…Jack and Jill…good grief.
She finally decided to go in, her curiosity taking over completely. When she stepped into the room she heard a high, whiny noise. She looked around and saw Suzie lying lazily on the bed. "Evil dog."
The dogs' ears went up and so did her head. Brenda rolled her eyes and continued on her search. The dog quickly jumped down and started dancing at her feet. "What do you want?!" The dog whined and she finally picked Suzie up. The little beagle seemed to smile as she licked Brenda's face. "Yea, yea…" Brenda made her stop and went on with her search as she barely pet the dog in her arms.
The rooms' walls weren't all that covered, but had things here and there. A large mirror, another full-length mirror on the other side of the room, a few portraits of her brother's family, Gwyneth with her family and one of her parents, and then something caught Brenda's eye. Something out of the ordinary, something you usually wouldn't find in a woman's room.
She walked up to the wall to get a closer look. "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me…" Brenda mumbled to herself, reading the small sampler on the wall. "That's interestin'…Why would Gwen have that thing up on her wall?"
She sighed and stared at the sampler for a while, trying to think. ...we know him. Will's words came to Brenda's head. Dad and her seem to be…romantically involved…but were they all those years ago? Before she could come up with a good answer she heard the door slam. "Brenda?" she heard Gwyneth call.
She started to walk out into the hall, "Gwen, I couldn't find the bloody fish food…" she stopped in her tracks when she saw who Gwyneth was with. She nearly dropped Suzette over the banister. "What is he doing here?"
"He? I'm your bloody father!"
"That's what you say, I'm not too sure anymore…"
Jack mouth dropped and Gwyneth rolled her eyes, "Brenda, please come down." She nodded and put the puppy down who ran down the stairs as Brenda made her way down slowly. She came up to the side of Gwyneth and crossed her arms.
"What do you want?"
"To talk to you…"
"Well I don't want to talk to you."
"Brenda, please! I made an honest mistake!"
"HONEST?" She yelled throughout the house, "You call lying to me for most of my life an 'honest mistake'? Dad, please!"
"Brenda, get over it, it's not like you've never lied before."
"At least I'm honest about my dishonesty dad!"
Jack paused, what did she just say? He thought to himself. He brushed the thought out of his mind, trying to keep his cool and trying to get his daughter to forgive him. "Bean…" he said, reaching for her arm.
She pulled it away quickly, "Don't touch me."
"Brenda. Please start acting your age." He said sternly.
"I could say the same thing to you."
Jack paused, hoping she wouldn't bring his age up. "What do you want me to say?"
"I want to you leave! I'm not ready to talk to you dad, you should know that!"
Jack looked at Gwyneth and then at Brenda, "Fine." But before Gwyneth could say anything there was a sharp knock on the door. Jacque quickly opened it. Gwyneth gasped at Captain Briscoe and two officers stood at his side.
"Who's that clown?" Brenda asked, not recognizing the man who put her in jail in the first place.
"Jack Sparrow I presume? Or is it Captain Jack Sparrow?" He said, coming in. Jack stood still, thinking over this situation. This would be a good time to have the captain image…and a weapon.
"Captain," Gwyneth said, moving forward, trying to make the Captain focus on her, instead of Jack, "What did we do to deserve this…unexpected surprise?"
"Rumors are going around, Ms. Johnson…Captain Jack Sparrow is here, in Port Royal. I have my orders…"
"Are you trying to tell me that the Commodore ordered you to do this?" Briscoe didn't answer. "Then why are you here?"
"To take care of a dangerous pirate."
She walked up closer to him, her arms folded in front of her, she whispered, "Take a look, does he look dangerous?"
His eyes darted to Jack, who was at the moment, looking around, his hands behind his back and his tongue moving around in his mouth, looking as if he was trying to polish them with his tongue. Regan looked back at Gwyneth, "Whether he looks dangerous or not, isn't he issue. He's a pirate."
"Does he look like a pirate?!" She asked, thinking she was going to loose this.
"Ms. Johnson, that's not the issue. He is a pirate, is he not?"
"You're going to arrest him, aren't you?" she asked quietly.
He didn't respond to that but said, "You're lucky I'm dismissing the rumors I heard about you, ma'am."
She bit her lip and stepped aside. You'll be getting yourself into a load of trouble, mister. She thought to herself. He walked forward, motioning for his men to stay behind. "Jack Sparrow?"
Jack looked at him, "Aye…What can I do for you, sir?"
"Come with me."
"Under what charges?!" Brenda spoke up, not really wanting her dad in jail, even though she didn't want him there.
"Piracy, Miss Sparrow, and you'd be wise to not interfere."
Gwyneth had to stop Brenda from 'interfering' as they put irons around Jack's wrist. Why does this always happen when I come here? He asked himself sarcastically.
You need a drink
I don't drink.
He gave one last look over his shoulder to Gwyneth and his daughter before he disappeared through the door.
****
"But he hasn't done anything wrong!" Will said loudly, knowing he shouldn't raise his voice, but couldn't help but yell. Will insisted that Elizabeth leave Daphne at her friends house, and come with him and they met Gwyneth there, who looked quite flustered that Brenda wasn't with her. They were talking to Captain Briscoe, while the Commodore stood in the back corner, watching.
"Mr. Turner, please contain yourself. I realize that you have a…connection with the pirate, but that's not really that important to his case."
"It's not whether I have a 'connection' with him or not! He's not a pirate anymore! Why arrest him if he hasn't done any crimes here on Port Royal?"
"Yes, but the cessation of hostilities he has inflicted on so many other ports and towns is too much to count! He deserves what he gets."
"He doesn't deserve the noose, Captain." Elizabeth said.
Everyone paused; Gwyneth's eyes darted to the Commodore, who she thought needed to say something. Finally he did, "I must agree Captain."
He looked at his commanding officer, "He is Captain Jack Sparrow, is he not?"
The Commodore nodded slowly, "Yes, yes he is."
"And you yourself have tried twice to hang him, but never succeeded, am I correct?"
"You are."
"And now he is in our town and we have a chance to hang him and you're stopping that?"
"Yes."
"On what grounds?" The captain asked, totally confused. He was neither fool nor young man. He knew the laws of the crown and was intending on following them.
Before the Commodore could explain his reasons Gwyneth stood up, "Captain, may I please see the prisoner?"
The Captain, caught off guard, stared at her, "What?"
"May I see Mr. Sparrow?"
Briscoe looked at the Commodore who nodded slightly and then nodded himself to Gwyneth. He motioned for one of his men to escort her but she put her hand up, "I can walk down the stairs be myself, thank you."
****
When Jack heard heel against stone, he knew it could only be one person. Gwyneth turned the corner and her face seemed to droop when she saw Jack in the cell. He however, held back a smile. She looked beautiful. She had a green dress on that seemed to match the color of her eyes perfectly. She looked at the guard meekly and said, "Give us a moment?"
"We have our orders, Miss."
"Please?"
They paused, looked at each other and then nodded and left. She sighed and watched them leave before looking at Jack again. "You sure you want to be down here with a 'dangerous' pirate?"
She smirked, "More than anything."
He smiled and stood up, putting his hands on the bars and Gwyneth put hers on top of his, "I'm sorry…"
"For what? You haven't done anything."
He nodded, "I know, but there's rumors going around about you…about you and I."
She shrugged, "Only due to Hannah Powell's rather large mouth and most likely jealous heart. Things could've been worse. At least Rick got out free…"
Jack swallowed, he's the one who should be in here with me. He made me come here anyhow. "I suppose so…"
"But it's not like you're not going to get out free…Will, Elizabeth and James are up there arguing for you."
"Ol' Commie? Who would've thought…"
She paused, "I'm sorry I dragged you over to my house…"
"Why? I got to see how mad she really is…"
"Do you still think you did the right thing?"
Jack sighed, wishing she wouldn't have asked that. Right thing…the right thing…have I ever done anything particularly right? "I guess not. I should've told her when she was old enough to understand. But I just didn't want her getting mad at Beverly."
"Do getting mad at you is better?"
"No. I live with the girl…Beverly doesn't. She has a family of her own, which I knew she would have…" he sighed, "I just didn't know it was going to turn out like this. It kinda backfired on me."
"I suppose it did. But she loves you Jack…you do know that, right?"
He nodded, "Yea…we've been through too much for her not to love me…"
"But she tells me you're thinking of living with Rick…leaving the Pearl for land…"
"Gwen, if you haven't noticed, I've changed."
"Oh, I've noticed, and I've been dying to ask you about it…but I didn't want to invade your privacy."
He nodded in understanding. He thought about when he talked to Will the night before, I adjusted my sails. There's so much more than that…so much more that Gwyneth deserves to hear. That Brenda deserves to hear…And Will and Liz. I don't want to talk about it though. That's why I left! He sighed, looking at Gwyneth who was looking at their entwined fingers. I'll tell her and Brenda…then Gwen can tell Will and Liz… He wasn't sure he even wanted to do this. This 'change' he had gone through went much farther than skin deep. He wasn't even sure if it was that big of a deal, but it had affected him greatly.
He remembered when Gwyneth told him she missed the old Captain Jack. In a way he did too. He missed the ocean, the Pearl, the feeling of the ocean under him. He also wanted it back again.
"Tell you what, once I get out of here, you and I will go to the beach and…well…talk."
She looked at him, "Whatever you want…I'll listen."
He nodded as she leaned her head in, her forehead and lacy hat bumping into the cell bars. He leaned down and kissed her forehead glad that she was here with him.
****
The next day was most likely the hottest day Port Royal had seen in two months. The temperature was usually fairly comfortable and the weather, beautiful. But today, there wasn't cloud in the sky that provide a reasonable temperature, there also wasn't any wind, which made the whole day practically unbearable.
Jonathan and Trevor had gotten the day off, while Mark, Caitlin and Rebecca went to school. Gwyneth had gone up to her room, saying that her room upstairs got some wind and in the privacy of her own room she could wear less clothing. Edward had gone off to work, but Faith had taken up Gwyneth's idea in her own room.
"You're glasses are foggin' up again, Johnny." Brenda said. She, Jonathan and Trevor had taken a permanent spot on the kitchen floor, thinking the tile would be cooler than the carpet.
"He's out." Trevor said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"He passed out?" Brenda said, closing her eyes again.
Trevor shook his head, "No, he's asleep. The heat makes him sleepy."
Brenda nodded, she wouldn't doubt it. She was sure she was about to nod off as well. "I wonder if horses sweat the same way dogs do…"
Trevor shrugged. Then an idea hit him, "Get up."
"What? Why?"
"We're going to go ride Pearl."
"I don't wanna."
Trevor rolled his eyes, slowly getting up, "If we ride Pearl, and we go fast, we will make wind."
"I'm sure that's how it goes…but I get what yer sayin'. Now help me up." She said holding up a hand. Trevor pulled her up quickly and walked out the door, Brenda trailing behind.
The two didn't have any shoes on, had their pants rolled up and Brenda had taken off her vest, limiting her layers. She put on one of her lightest shirts and was thankful she didn't have to wear a corset that she would just sweat underneath.
When they reached the stable they decided to be nice to Pearl and not put a saddle on her, hoping this ride would also cool her off. Trevor mounted her quickly and offered his hand to Brenda. She refused it and got up just as easily. "I didn't think you could do that, considering your size…" Trevor commented as she tried to move herself away from Trevor's back.
"Do you have to be so close?"
"Me? I'm making room for you…It's not my fault you slide down from the back of Pearl."
Brenda grimaced and tried to make herself comfortable against him. I've never been this close to a guy before… she thought.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded, "Ride away."
Pearl took off so quickly that Brenda immediately grabbed on to Trevor to stay on the large animal. "You okay?" he yelled over his shoulder.
"Just peachy!" she yelled back. Pearl slowed down and finally stopped. "What?"
"I hate to tell you this, but you might need to hold on to me better than that…"
She looked at her hands; they were clutching the back of his shirt. "Why? This works for me."
"Yes, but you're also choking me."
She smiled meekly to herself and said, "Well then what do you suggest?"
"I don't care, I just don't want to choke to death and I don't want you falling off the horse."
She frowned, she didn't like to be touched, but if she put her arms around him, that would be technically touching him. She gingerly wrapped her small hands around his middle, "Is this gunna kill you?"
No, but I'm sure it's killing you… "No, that's fine. Ready?"
"Hi-ho silver."
****
I am so hot! Gwyneth thought to herself as she lay sprawled out on her bed. She had a corset and a light slip on and was still sweating. I can't wait 'til it gets dark and I can go outside. She looked around for her puppy and saw Suzette on the window seat, also stretched out, asleep.
She sighed deeply and hoped it would cool down soon. I don't really like wearing this stupid corset… she said mindlessly rubbing her abdomen with her index finger. She paused. Her finger was going over a line on her abdomen that she had completely forgotten about. She looked down at the scar and a whirlwind of memories zoomed through her mind.
Just stay with me luv…just stay with me…
She painfully remembered how Antonio stabbed her with his dagger out of pure hatred. She remembered collapsing onto the deck of the Black Pearl and remembered Jack's voice and his arms around her. She closed her eyes, not particularly wanting to remember any of that. That had been so long ago when it had happened. So many life changing things happened on that…adventure…
She sighed, remembering how she had been threatened by the man in the galley…how he abused her and how Jack came to her rescue. She frowned suddenly, and started untying her corset, knowing once she had it off, it'd be difficult to put it back on. I have a shirt somewhere around here… She finally got it off and turned around so that her back faced her mirror that was in front of her bed. She turned her head so she could see the mirror. There were about four scars, faded but there, on her back.
From falling on those stupid stairs. But it was either my back or Brenda. And I couldn't risk losing her…
She sighed and got up from the bed and went to her closet to get a shirt. Brenda… she recounted the other day's events, her chasing Brenda, getting her to calm down…them connecting in some odd way. She went back to her bed and lay down again.
…thanks for rescuing me…
She rolled over. How many times did I expect Jack to come to my rescue during those fourteen years we were apart? I was never in any real danger, but how I wanted him here with me…even after he sent that letter to me…I wanted him here. And now that he is here…oh I dunno.
What are you saying?
Nothing.
You know, he was awfully touchy feely yesterday when you went and saw him about Brenda…
That's just Jack. He must've been happy to see me. We hadn't seen each other in a long time.
Even when you hadn't seen each other for fourteen years, he didn't act like that.
Yes, but he was being a gentlemen…which is his chosen profession now.
Didn't he say he was going to talk to you when he got out?
Gwyneth sat up, that's right! Maybe he'll tell me what's going on with him! Oh I do hope so… She sighed contently and nestled back down, intending on getting some sleep to dream of Jack.
****
Night had fallen and the temperature decreased greatly. Trevor and Brenda had been riding for so long and had been cooled off greatly. "I'm sore devil boy…" Brenda complained when the sky was starting to color with light pinks and yellows of dusk. He nodded and they both got off Pearl, starting to walk back to the house.
"Pretty sunset…" Trevor commented.
Brenda nodded, "The prettiest are over the virgin islands. The sky gets the perfect shades of purple, pink and yellow. They all seem to mix together perfectly, all the while, mixing in with the blue of the water…it takes your breath away…"
"I've never hear you talk like that…" he said, looking down at her.
"You haven't heard or seen a lot of stuff, devil boy."
He smirked, "So you think your dad will get out?"
She sighed, not really wanting to talk about Jack, but knew that subject would come up sooner or later. "I guess. I kinda want to talk to him now. Find out all about my mother."
He nodded, wanting so badly to know who the mother was, but knowing that Brenda needed her privacy. "I wonder why Rick wasn't mentioned.
"He should've been." Brenda said, not missing a beat.
Trevor paused, "I've noticed you don't like him very much."
She snorted, "You could say that…"
"Why not?"
She sighed and looked up at him, "Do you really want to hear the story?"
"Of course."
"It's not that long…" she sighed and took in a deep breath, "Well Dad was good friends with Rick before I was even born. We visited him often, and I always went with him…when I was about six…Rick had some sort of…woman. Well she was a woman, but they were…together, I suppose. She was living with him. She had said something in the conversation; I can't remember what, but something Rick didn't like. He took her outside while dad went to find some rum and I went to the window to see what was going to happen…"
She sighed, "My curiosity always takes over…anyway- out the window I saw him hit her, over and over. He left her out there for the rest of the night, and I could only imagine what he did after we left. The image stuck in my mind. I had nightmares about it, and dad couldn't understand where I got it from 'cause I never told him. He just figured it was some town we had stopped in… so he never allowed me on Tortuga, sayin' it would most likely scar me for life." She paused, "That's it. I've never seen a man beat a woman…mistreat her verbally, sure…but beat? No. Dad kept the bars I went to limited. And I didn't even start drinking until I was sixteen."
Trevor was quiet for a minute, trying to get that all through his head, "That wouldn't have to do with you don't like to be touched…would it?"
She shrugged, "May be part of it."
So you build up walls around yourself so you'll be safe. Being touched is only one of the walls…is it going down? "Have you ever told anyone else about this?"
She looked up, the answer already written all over her face, "No…no I haven't."
---------
Author Thanks
Dawnie-7: I think I want to shoot you. You went to Hawaii and didn't get me anything?! I think I'm insulted! Jk…did you get a tan? Or Burned? I'm glad you came back and read those chapters…*smiles* thanks mate. Yes, they flirt weird, but it's a pirate chick and a noble seventeen year old guy, what can I say?
Vicki Turner: Well if you loved the Trevor/Brenda thing, I'm sure you liked it in this chapter.
Emma436: People liked your character! And I'm hoping you did too…Love fest? Keg? No. Jack doesn't drink…remember? And I don't think Faith and Edward would take a liking to their son getting drunk with Jack…And Brenda and Trevor are DEFINITELY not getting drunk together. Little red warning signs come up in my head when I think about that…hmm Rick…Yea, did the explanation I gave to why Brenda hates him…fit? I think that would haunt me and stick with me for my whole life, but a pirate? I'm not sure.
Piper8188: Yes, I do realize that the convo between Will and Jack wasn't that informational…but the next chapter everyone will know EVERYTHING. So I'm in the process of writing that…it's a little difficult though. Rick…past this chapter, I think that's all the info I'm going to give out…because there's nothing really to him. He's a pirate with a rotten heart to get money…I wasn't really planning on him being a complex character, you know?
Albe-Chan: Yes, the truth is on its way. I'm glad you like the Trevor/Brenda thing. I do too.
ThePinkPanter: Yes, I liked Mort Rainy too…except for the fact he's a homicidal maniac…But he's cute with the roughed up hair! Yesh!
Bitty-Buffy
JackSparrowSavvy
