Pirates of the Caribbean - Blood is thicker than Rum

By Princess-Pirate

Email: lz_iceprincess@yahoo.co.uk


Summary: What if Jack and his friends got betrayed by someone they thought they knew. An old friend returns to help and they must rely on a woman and superstitious crewmate to save them. But the question is - Will they be in time to keep someone from death?


Disclaimer: All the characters, ships and places in the Caribbean belong to Walt Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, I don't own any of them. Some of the new characters are my own creations and therefore I have some ownership over them.

A/N: This is my first fic, so cut me some slack. But reviews and ideas on coming chapters are most welcome.

The fic starts somewhere in the middle of the journey. But the characters have flashbacks about what happened to give it an interesting twist.

Chapter 6 - Free as a Sparrow

"So he's dead?" asked William as he looked across the table to Katherine.

She nodded and rubbed her hand, which was still bleeding slightly. He moved his hand over the table and looked at her wrist.

"He clipped ya bad, didn't 'e?" he smiled at her. She nodded and smiled at Bootstrap, remembering the night he and Jack saved her from their father. He had held her as Jack saw to his 'business'.

They looked up as Elizabeth came walking into the room. She looked tired and worn out but smiled non-the less.

"He's comfortable and resting," she said as she sat down as well "His fever's broken and I managed to bandage his back as well. He may have a little pain when he wakes up but he should be fine."

William nodded and looked back at Katherine.

"I still haven't thanked you for everything you did for us. You saved our lives."

Katherine just smiled and looked up as the door opened again.

"Ana wants ta see ya lass," said Gibbs as he peered into the cabin, nodding at William and Elizabeth in greeting. Katherine nodded and excused herself.

"Organize some food and drink for them" she told him before she opened the door and entered Jack's cabin.

Anamaria looked up at her and she saw that Jack was watching her as well.

His shirt was taken off and lying on one of the chairs. Anamaria had him safely in bed under the covers. It pained her to see Jack so weak and vulnerable. She didn't know him like this.

"How are you feeling?" she asked as she looked at them. Anamaria nodded and then looked down at Jack.

"I'll see you later," she said as she kissed him and got up. She nodded to Katherine as she walked pass the other woman and exited the cabin.

"Come 'ere luv" said Jack as he patted on the bed next to him. Katherine nodded and sat down next to her brother, taking his hand in hers.

"I still need ta thank ye luv fer savin me behind" he said as he lifted her hand to examine the bandage around it.

"I needed to repay a debt dear brother" smiled Katherine "You saved me hide, I save yers. We're even."

Jack nodded and sighed. Katherine gently lifted the sheet and looked at the blood stained bandage around his waist.

"What happened?" she asked as her fingers traced over it.

"Took a bullet for the whelp" smiled Jack as he winced from a slight sting in his back. Katherine looked at his and then the truth showed in her eyes.

"He whipped you as well, didn't he?" she asked. Elizabeth and William had told her about Will's whipping but said nothing about Jack. As she saw how uncomfortable he was on his back she knew only whipping wounds could cause that.

Jack slowly nodded and Katherine helped him to lie on his side. She took a wet cloth and wiped the sweat from his bare chest and forehead. Jack just sighed and settled into the pillow under his head.

Katherine looked down at Jack as she saw his eyelids getting heavy.

"You get some rest," she said as she kissed him on the cheek "I have everything under control and Ana is here to help as well."

Jack nodded and allowed sleep to take him once again. His nightmares were a thing of the past as he slept soundly for the first time since the nightmare had began.

~~~~~~

"I thought we might have to endure some ill conceived rescue attempt" snarled Commodore Norrington as he held his sword at Will throat "But not from the likes of you."

The Governor reached his side and stared at Will in shock.

"On our return to Port Royale I granted you clemency. And this is how you repay me." He shot a dark look at Jack. "By throwing in your lot with him. He's a pirate."

By now Elizabeth had reached them as well and looked at Will and Jack.

"And a good man" she heard Will say and saw him throw down the sword he had been holding.

"If all I have achieved here today is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, then so be it. At least my conscious will be clear."

"You forget your place Turner," said Norrington as he looked at the blacksmith.

"It's right here" Will replied coolly "Between you and Jack."

Elizabeth looked at Will and made up her mind.

"As is mine," she said as she stepped from Norrington's side to stand next to Will. He stared at her in disbelief but took her hands in his.

Norrington looked at her sadly. "So this is where your heart truly lies?" he asked.

"It is" said Elizabeth as she and Will stared lovingly into each others eyes.

~~~~~~

"And it's where it still lies love" said Elizabeth as she held Will's hand. She pushed his wet hair from his face and smiled.

"I never regret the day I decided that I would rather die at your side than live a thousand years at Norrington's side. I loved you too much to let you go again."

~~~~~~

"So, this is the path you have chosen?" asked her father as he looked at her and Will "After all, he is a blacksmith."

"No" said Elizabeth as she smiled at Will and pulled his hat from his head "He's a pirate."

And with that Will pulled her into their first long awaited kiss. They stood there until the Black Pearl had sailed out of the bay. Jack smiled as he saw the couple and took off to his freedom.

~~~~~~

"You still are my pirate" she whispered as she brought his hand to her lips.

"Am I dear" she heard a faint voice and look down into a pair of mischievous amber eyes.

"Will" she cried and threw her arms around his neck "You're alive."

"And feeling like hell" he said as he leaned up and kissed her.

Elizabeth kissed him back, feeling as happy as the day of their first kiss.

"I love you Will Turner," she said as she allowed him to pull her down on the bed.

"And I you Elizabeth Turner" he said as he kissed her again.

A noise at the door caused the couple to break apart and Will looked up.

Elizabeth jumped from the bed and pulled her skirts right, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.

William smiled as he saw the couple's embarrassment at being caught during their intimate moment.

"Sorry to have disturbed ye lass" he said as he nodded to Elizabeth. She smiled and looked at Will, whose cheeks were also flushed.

"Father" Will hissed playfully as he looked at Elizabeth. "Looks like there's nowhere where a man can spend some time with his wife" he smiled as his father walked over to the bed.

"Good to see yer up lad" he said as he gave Will's hand a squeeze "I'm glad te see that ye've decided te return to the land of da livin."

Will nodded. "I had all of you to look after me."

"Aye, lad" William said.

"Can you help me sit up" Will said as he looked at them "My back is sort of killing me."

William and Elizabeth both nodded and moved to his side. They took him under his shoulders and gently eased him up. Moments later he was propped up against the pillow and looking much better.

"You must be starving," said Elizabeth as she got up "I'll go and find you something to eat."

Will nodded and looked at her as she left the cabin.

"Hell, I love her" he said as he looked at his father "I can't imagine life without her."

"She's a remarkable woman son," his father said as he looked at his only child.

~~~~~~

"She gone" the doctor said as he came down the stairs "The little one didn't make it."

William felt his eyes tear as he looked at the doctor. He took William by the shoulder and just shook his head.

"Go to her son," said his mother as she looked at the pained expression in her son's eyes.

William nodded and walked up the stairs and into their room.

Jacquelyn Turner was lying in bed, her hair matted against her forehead. She held a bundle in her arms and William could see that she was crying.

"She died," she said as she looked at him.

"Easy luv" he said as he sat down next to her. Then he saw the bundle in her arms.

How?" he asked and she looked at him.

"Our boy lived," she said as tears ran down her cheeks "Our little boy survived but his sister died. The doctor said she was without air for too long."

William hugged his wife to him. He couldn't believe it. They were going to have had twins - a boy and a girl. But now they had lost his little girl.

"What should we call him?" he asked her.

"William Jonathan Turner" she said as she handed the boy over to William "And the girl's name was to be Eleanor Marie Turner."

"Then so be it" said William as he held his son and wife close "We'll bury her and have a proper gravestone put up. Eleanor Marie Turner will always remain in our hearts, forever."

~~~~~~

"You miss her don't you father" said Will and William saw the tears in his son's eyes as well.

"Aye son" he said, "I miss both of them."

"I do too. We didn't get to know Eleanor Marie Turner but she would have made us a very happy family."

William nodded and hugged his son to him.

Together father and son regained the bond they had lost and mourned the ones lost to them.

A/N - Hell, I can't believe it. A chapter a day. Sorry about the sad chapter but I was kind of in a sad mood today. Please R&R !!!!