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 9 – Tortuga, Hope Among Chaos

Captain Jack Sparrow smiled as he looked over the bough of the ship towards the shimmering lights that they were now slowly nearing.

He turned as he felt hands around his waist. "Ye should be sleepin luv" he smiled as he leaned down and kissed the lips of the woman he loved.

"I'm fine Jack," she said as he turned in her arms and placed a hand on her stomach.

"I'm worried about ye Ana," he said as he rubbed her stomach, although she wasn't showing signs of a child yet "About ye and the baby."

"I know" she smiled as she held him close "But ye should be more worried about young Will" she said as she saw the lights of Tortuga. Perhaps they would be able to find Will some help in this nest of chaos.

She smiled. It was true what they said about the Black Pearl. It was only a Sparrow that could get the best out of her. Katherine had gotten tem here in less than two days and that was without very heavy winds.

"Go and see to that lad" Anamaria said as she turned and walked back to the cabin that they now shared. She wanted to stay out of the way and keep Jack's nerves calm. He was worried about Will and didn't need any more worries, to be looking after her and the other woman.

"I'm going to take Gibbs with me" he said "Keep the others here and please. Keep William from doing anything rash. I'll be back within an hour."

"Are you going to see if Isabelle is still here?" she asked quietly and Jack nodded.

"Aye, Ana. Me cousin may be the only one here able to help Will. I need ta find her and I'm planning on taking her with us if she agrees."

Ana nodded and gave Jack a hug. "Be careful," she said.

He nodded and then called for Gibbs. They walked up to the deck and climbed over the railing.

"I'm back me love" whispered Jack as he looked at Tortuga. He didn't have the fondest of memories but he needed to find Will some help. He knew that Will protested about this place but he wasn't conscious to protest.

~~~~~~

Jack and Will wandered through the streets of Tortuga. The place was engulfed in chaos. Drunk pirates and wenches sat on the side of the road, on crates and on balconies. Guns were shot and the air was littered with the noise of singing and merriment.

"More importantly, it is indeed a sad life that has never breathed deep this sweet, proliferous bouquet that is Tortuga, savvy? What do you think?" Jack asked Will as he grabbed a cane from a drunken man and swung it while he staggered down the alley.

"It'll linger" Will replied as he followed the pirate.

Jack staggered and looked at him " I'll tell you mate, if every town in the world were like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted." He smiled as he noticed a few familiar faces. A woman with flaming red hair came walking towards them.

Jack smiled and walked to her. "Scarlett!" he said as he opened his arms to hug her. Instead, she slaps him so hard that his head snaps to the side. "Not sure I deserved that." He said as another girl approached them "Giselle!"

"Who was she?!" the blonde woman asked him, hand on her hip.

"What?" She also slaps him. "I may have deserved that," he said as he lead Will into another alley to go and look for Gibbs.

~~~~~~

"Why do ye need er?" asked Gibbs as they rowed ashore.

"Will's condition is getting worse an he as a very high fever. I don't want te risk takin im ashore while in his condition. For all we know there are still enemies alive. I want Belle to come with me to da Pearl and help im. I'm going to offer her, her adventure."

"Aye" said Gibbs as he looked at Jack. He knew how much he cared for Will and that he had made the pact with William.

They soon reached the shore and took off into the region of the mountain. Jack just prayed that Isabelle would still be there.

He almost hugged Gibbs when he saw her in her herb garden outside her house.

"Hey Belle" he said as he walked up behind her. She turned around and looked at him.

"Oh dear" said Gibbs, fearing that Jack was about to be slapped again.

He was wrong however. With a cry of joy Isabelle dropped her basket and fell around Jack's neck.

"It's so good to see you," she said as she looked at him.

"Hey Belle" he said as he gave her a kiss.

"Come in" she said as she picked up her basket and led them into her house. "SO how's your bonnie lass doing?" she asked, "What's her name again?"

"Anamaria, Bell" smiled Jack as he took the basket from her "She's doing very well. We also 'ave a little one on the way."

"That's good," Isabelle said as she turned and gave Jack another hug.

"What wrong love?" she asked when she noticed that the normal sparkle was missing from his eyes.

Jack smiled. Isabelle still carried that mysterious smile that he had grown to love. His cousin was the only family besides Katherine he had left, and she meant the world to him. He hated to be away so long and to leave her in Tortuga.

"I need yer help Belle," said Jack as he sat down.

"I'm all ears Jack" she replied as she sat down. "William's son has been injured. Somehow, Jonathan tricked us and some Captain Oxford managed to kidnap us. They were after Elizabeth's safety and Oxford had him whipped when he didn't get the information he wanted. We escaped with the help of Katherine but now he's fallen ill again. I think Oxford may have poisoned him. I need you to help him. Will you?"

"Of course" said Isabelle as she got up "I would do anything for old William. I owe him my life."

"Thank you love," said Jack as he gave her a hug.

Soon Isabelle left with Jack and Gibbs for the Black Pearl.

******

"Your glad you found me in time" said Isabelle as she closed the cabin door behind her "He wouldn't have made it through the night if he hadn't gotten the right medicine."

"He will make it then?" asked Jack as he looked at Anamaria. She and Elizabeth were standing against the wall and Elizabeth looked very stressed and tired.

"Yes," said Isabelle "You have to keep those wounds clean and get him to drink an herbal mixture. It will keep his fever at bay and help him regain his strength."

"With you I assume you won't be going with us?" said Jack as he walked to her.

"No Jack" Isabelle shook her head "My place is here in Tortuga where I can help everyone. The boy will survive as long as you keep giving him the mixtures. I will show you everything before I leave."

Jack nodded and gave Isabelle a hug. Anamaria smiled and then she left. Elizabeth walked with Jack and Isabelle onto the deck and thanked her again for helping Will.

"It was my pleasure lass," said Isabelle "William saved our lives a hundred times. The least I can do to repay him is to help his son."

Jack nodded and then agreed to accompany Isabelle back to her house. Katherine also came to greet Isabelle and then returned to the helm to go and get everything ready to get underway as soon as Jack returns.

******

"I'm sorry about your mother Jack," said Isabelle as she hugged Jack to her. They were back at her house and he had told her the whole story about how Katherine joined him and what happened after he left.

She instantly rubbed her arm and Jack noticed it was where her scar was. His hate began to rise but Isabelle put an arm around his shoulder.

"Put him behind you Jack. Go on with your life and never look back again. You have a great future ahead of you and a wonderful woman to share it with. And then there's the little Sparrow that's going to enrich your life in a few months' time."

Jack nodded and then looked over the ocean as the sun began to rise.

"I'd better be getting back to da Pearl," he said as he gave her a hug.

"Look after yourself Jack" Isabelle said as she released him and went inside as he walked down the path towards the dock and his Pearl.

"You'd be so proud of him Aunt Alexia" she said as she looked at him, noticing his staggering was missing and that he looked once more like the proud gentleman she knew as her cousin.