A/N: Thank you all for your reviews. I really appreciate them. You will find responses to them at the end of the chapter. Special thanks to ErinRua who checked through this chapter and corrected errors as my usual beta was unavailable. THANKS!!

Return of the Sparrow

Chapter 4

Will awoke early the next morning. Earlier than usual, at any rate. He went quickly to the jailhouse and waited anxiously for Norrington. He tried to convince the guards to let him see Jack immediately, but they refused to let him in. After about ten minutes, the idea that Norrington was not coming at all occurred to him. Perhaps he had only said he would to shut him up in front of the Governor so as to not make a scene.

Will leaned up against the wall as the dawn came and the village awoke. A few minutes later Norrington rode up and dismounted from his horse, handing the reins to one of the guards.

"Good morning, Mr. Turner. I apologize for my tardiness."

Will nodded and smiled slightly.

Norrington nodded to one of the guards and the opened the door. Will followed the Commodore inside, blinking in the dingy light.

"Just a few minutes, Turner. I have a meeting to attend to."

Will nodded again and looked into the first cell.

Jack sat on the floor of his cell, gazing off into space, looking entirely unperturbed at state of his current circumstances, as usual.

Will cleared his throat loudly.

Jack looked over suddenly and stood up so quickly he nearly toppled over.

"Will!" he exclaimed, grasping the bars of his cell. "What are you doing here, mate?"

"I was about to ask the same thing," Will said. "They say you destroyed one of the British ships and killed all the passengers."

Jack shook his head. "I didn't," he said indignantly. "We were sailing along and just came upon it. "Really Will, what would a pirate want with a passenger ship? There's nothing aboard worth stealing and no pirate would destroy a ship like that if they could help it. They would keep it for themselves. There would be no real profit otherwise."

Will nodded. "I know, I tried telling that to Norrington but he wouldn't listen.

Jack leaned his forehead against the bars of the cell and sighed deeply.

"Let me talk to him."

Will glanced back at Norrington who was checking his pocket watch impatiently and walked over to him.

"He wishes to speak to you," Will whispered.

Norrington huffed and rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for this," he hissed, glaring at Jack.

"Just hear him out. It won't take long," Will pleaded.

Norrington stalked to the cell, looking as imposing as possible.

"What is it you wish to say, Sparrow?" he asked.

Jack took a deep breath. "You know what I've said. There was no reason for us to attack the ship. Give me some time and I'll find out who did it. And if I don't, you may carry through with the sentence."

Norrington glanced at his watch again. "Exactly how to you plan to find your assumed culprits?" he asked scathingly.

Jack opened his mouth and closed it. "I don't know. But if they can be found, I will find them," he said nodding confidently.

Norrington looked at from his watch, to Jack, to Will and to his watch again.

"Two days."

"A week," Jack insisted.

"Four."

"Five."

"Done." Norrington stared hard at Jack. "I want to believe you. I really do. But I, and everyone else want justice as well. You have five days in which to find the ones who really destroyed the Challenger if it was not you. If you have not returned in that time, I will have your crew hanged, and every British ship that can be spared will not stop until they find you. Do we understand each other, Mr. Sparrow?"

Jack put his fingers together and nodded. "Perfectly. Five days. Right."

Norrington pocketed his watch. "Guards, release this man, and put a double watch on his crew. With that, he turned on his heel and ran up the stairs.

"Thank you, Commodore," Jack called after him. "You will not regret this."

A guard reluctantly unlocked the door and let Jack out, spitting at his feet when he passed.

"Good aim," Jack commented to the guard, grabbing Will's arm and trotting up the steps with the blacksmith in tow.

He came back a moment later. "My effects, please."

The guard grumbled and took Jack's sword, compass, hat and pistol out of a cupboard and handed them to him with a scowl.

Jack took them in his arms and bowed slightly in his traditional gesture of thanks and ran back up the stairs where Will was waiting.

"So, what do you plan on doing?" Will asked while Jack began placing his belongings in their proper places. "And why do you still carry that pistol?" He added as an afterthought.

"Firstly, I plan on finding who really did destroy the Challenger. Honestly, boy, I thought you at least had enough brains to know that much. And secondly, I carry the pistol still because I actually have more than one shot for it this time around."

"Yes, Jack, I know what you're going to do, but how are you going to do it?"

"Well, you're coming with me, aren't you mate? And Elizabeth too?" He asked, hopefully, effectively sidestepping having to answer the question.

"Jack, I can't--" his voice trailed off as Jack turned to him and glared.

"But my shop…I've got orders to fill. And Elizabeth can't just up and leave out of the blue. And why does she have to come in the first place?"

"Well, because," Jack began, obviously wracking his mind for a legitimate answer. "Because, she could prove useful…I'm sure…somehow. And she'll want to come. You know how she is." He gave a glittery smile of encouragement.

Will crossed his arms and looked doubtful.

"Will, look at it from my perspective. If I don't find these people in five days, my crew's going to hang. Five days, that's all I ask from you. I hate to ask you for help, Will, but I can't do it alone."

Will sighed. "Oh fine. But Elizabeth can't come."

"Why not?"

"Because, I don't want her to get hurt."

"She'll be mad if you go without her."

Will pursed his lips. "Her father would kill me if I let her come," Will insisted.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Come on, take some chances. But we have to hurry. We've already wasted five minutes discussing the issue. Let's go get her and we'll find the perpetrators together."

"Oh, fine," Will said with his brow furrowed as they hurried off to the house.

~~~

"Well, of course I want to come," Elizabeth said, looking delighted.

"Wonderful!" Jack exclaimed.

"But Elizabeth, what would your father say?" he asked desperately following her about the house as she gathered some things.

"Oh pish-posh. Who cares?"

"I do! He'll hang me instead if he finds out."

"I'll send a note with a servant that we've decided to visit…friends."

"Friends?" He asked as she retreated into the bedroom.

"Yes, friends. We've gone to visit some friends," she called back through the closed door.

"Friends are good," Jack interjected, rummaging through the cupboards presumably in search of food better than what is served at the jail.

Elizabeth came out of the bedroom dressed in a pair of Will's breeches and shirts.

"Come on, you two. Five days isn't long."

Will glared at Jack, who was shoving a piece of fresh bread in his mouth, before following Elizabeth through the door. Jack took the rest of the loaf, stuffing it in one of his pockets and slamming his hat on his head, went after the other two.

~*Kayden~Eidyak*~

Author's responses to reviews

J. Liha-That's OK. You're forgiven for not reviewing the last chapter. Thanks so much!

SilverButterfly-But see, there is one small difference between Vous Savez and myself: She would not only throw poor Jack in a cell even though he's innocent, but she would also have him killed even if he was innocent. At least I make sure he comes through alive in the end. Thanks!

Camlost- Oh, I do feel honored. I really do. I'm so glad you like it. And yes, they are so great.

Eledhwen- Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. (I love yours)

Vous Savez- *Am mad at you* You go and leave without a trace and that leaves no one to beta. *pouts* So, I have to find someone else to do it instead. Please come back soon!!

CherryChica- Wow. 8 whole lines. I'm so impressed. Thanks, girl.

Jackfan2-Um, I'm afraid there will be no Jack/Anamaria love sparks in this fic. Sorry to disappoint you. But I'm glad you like this just the same and I'm also glad they decided not to destroy the Pearl. That would have been very sad. Thanks so much for reviewing.