A/N: Much thanks to ErinRua (as usual) for being the one (indirectly this time) to get me to update. Also thanks to EstelWolfe who kindly betaed this for me. Without her this chapter would be severely lacking in commas.
Return of the Sparrow
Chapter Six
Jack steered the small fishing boat up to the dock. The trio disembarked, two of them more than grateful to be off the cramped vessel. The journey had gone fairly well. The weather had been quite nice and the sea smooth enough.
Will did nothing but complain the entire first day that what they were doing was folly and there had to be better alternatives. When pressed to supply better options, and able to come up with none, his grumbling desisted.
Elizabeth, who had never been to Tortuga, was absolutely astounded (or appalled - it was difficult to tell) at the sights she saw.
Jack mistook her wide-eyed expression with one of awe and wonder and proceeded to point out his favorite establishments, telling her the most vulgar stories he knew of each. Will tried several times to change the subject, but to no avail. Jack was just too thrilled to be back in Tortuga with fresh eyes that needed introducing to pay Will any heed.
Will for one thought Jack's behavior, while not unlike Jack, was quite odd for a person destined for the gallows in three day's time. They had only one day to search for information and here he was gallivanting around showing his wife the sights. Will didn't think it was at all proper and decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Say, Jack?"
"Yes, dear William?" Jack replied, glancing over his shoulder.
"Why don't we split up, do what we need to do and meet…" Will cast his eye about for the cleanest looking pub that would be able to supply them with a room for the night. "…There tonight at dinner," he said finally, pointing to one nearby that at least had a fairly new sign.
"Sounds fine to me," Jack agreed. "Come, Lizzie, I know of this one spot that sells the most scrumptious brandy. You'll like it."
Will lunged for Elizabeth's arm which had somehow found its way into Jack's, or more likely had been lured there by the Pirate's easily disguised charm.
"Uh, no. I'm afraid not, Jack," Will said, tugging insistently on Elizabeth's hand. "Not that I don't trust you or anything," he added quickly, pulling her closer to him.
Jack quirked an eyebrow and grinned roguishly. "But ya don't trust me."
Will smiled weakly and drew Elizabeth away, Jack still smiling after them.
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth," he said when she muffled a few sobbing noises with her hand.
When she didn't stop and began to tremble so hard she could hardly walk, Will stopped to comfort her, knowing that being in this god-forsaken place must be horrible for her.
He turned to her and all at once, she couldn't contain herself any longer and burst out laughing.
"Elizabeth, are you all right?" Will asked, alarmed.
"Yes, I'm…" she covered her mouth again, trying unsuccessfully to stifle her giggles. "…fine!" she gasped.
"You're mad. The both of you," Will muttered. "Should have let Jack 'show you around.'"
This sent Elizabeth into another fit of laughter and Will crossed his arms and glowered at her.
"Oh, Will, stop. Jack is too much of a gentleman to stoop so low at that," she chided, waving a hand dismissively. "Now, come. We only have a few hours to look around before we've got to head back to Port Royal and we're standing here discussing Jack's love affairs."
She strode off into the crowd, leaving Will with the most dumbfounded look on his face.
~*~
Jack knew the best place to find information was, of course, a pub. And there's no point in going into a pub without buying at least one drink. As it was, he drank while sort of listening to the general buzz of conversation around him, meanwhile entertaining a barmaid that had walked within reach of his arm and had, for the time being, taken up residence on his knee.
This was how Will and Elizabeth found him – only slightly more drunk. After he didn't show up at the appointed pub, they had no other choice than to look for him.
Will displayed an anger such as Jack had never seen, and would likely not even remember the next morning, given the amount of drink he had.
At any rate, the barmaid ended up on the floor and would have a sore hind end for several days to come, the pub owner was short several glasses that were shattered upon the floor due to the upturned table, and Jack had a good handful of beaded hair removed from Will's rough handling.
Jack was deposited in a chair at the pub across the street and Will stood over him, glowering, Elizabeth slightly further back sharing the expression.
"Wha'?" he asked, gazing at the other two, trying to bring them into some amount of focus.
"Jack Sparrow! We are wasting our time helping you so you don't hang and all you can do is get drunk?"
Jack grimaced at Will's harsh tone, but only shrugged.
Will heaved a sigh and collapsed in a chair, Elizabeth sitting next to him and holding his hand.
Dinner was brought, but they only picked at it. An entire day of searching and nothing to show for it. It wasn't completely surprising, Will reasoned. What were the chances of the people who had destroyed the ship being in Tortuga, anyway? Slim, he knew. But they had tried. That's all they could do. Will glanced over at Jack who was now staring at his plate with a look of something like despair. Will buried his face in his hands, trying not to think about what all this meant.
"…and then they said they were gonna set off to Port Royal to see his hanging and get their revenge."
Will's head shot up and looked around wildly for the source of the voice. A young man in a salt-stained cloak sat at a table on the other side of the room, discussing something with two others.
"But Avery, there's no such thing as a magic compass. Yer makin' it all up," one accused.
That got Jack's attention. His head came up as well and he swiveled around in his chair.
"No, I swear it's true," Avery insisted.
The other two men laughed heartily, rising from their chairs and clapping the younger man on the shoulder. They paid the barman and noisily left the pub.
Avery sighed and began digging through his pockets in search of money.
Now or never, Will thought.
He rose from his chair, and strode over to Avery's table, Jack and Elizabeth close behind.
Avery looked up and blinked in surprise at the three people before him. One man with blazing brown eyes that looked as though he was not having the best day of his life, another with straggly black locks that hung down his shoulders like spider legs, and a well to do woman who appeared very much out of place.
"May I help you?" Avery asked nervously.
"Yes," Will said sitting down across from the man. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with those other two. We need information regarding the compass and those who are going to Port Royal for revenge."
"I don't know anything," Avery said nonchalantly, counting up his coins.
Jack rummaged around in his sash and tossed a small purse on the table that seemed quite full.
"Spill it, lad, else wise we'll take it from yer mouth word by word and make a kabob out of ya with me sword."
He wiggled his sword in its scabbard, growling menacingly, and Will was, for the first time that day, grateful Jack was with them.
Avery opened the purse and emptied the coins into his hand. He grinned before hastily shoving them back in.
"All right. I'll tell you everything I know."
~*Kayden~Eidyak*~