Chapter 2: Beltane

In the shadows of the mind, a nightmare is real when you don't know it's a dream.

"Well, well… and 'ow are we 'dis evening Monsieur Sparrow? Sleep well?"

It took several long blinks before Jack could respond. His wrists were rubbed raw and bleeding, his arms fatigued and numb. His legs struggled to support his weight, but time and physical torment had robbed him of much of his strength.

"Sleep?" Jack's voice rasped. "Is'at what I was doing? You've a funny definition of tha' word mate."

"Ah well, I 'ave 'ad a nice dinner and de lamb, cooked to perfection, so tender and rare with just de right amount of blood pooling on de plate— Oh.. pardon moi, I forgot, you 'aven't eaten 'ave you?"

Jack's legs straightened under him to shift some of the pressure off his straining shoulders. He sneered at the callous remarks. How long had it been since he'd eaten… or had anything to drink… or slept? He fought to remain passive in spite of the comment.

"You know," Beltane continued, "you could 'ave as much as you want to eat, to drink, and I shall even let you a nice soft bed to rest in with a willing female to tend your wounds. All I want in return Sparrow, is de location of the Pearl, and de shipments you stole."

Sighing in an attempt to convey boredom, Jack replied, "How long have we been at this, eh Beltane? This little game of question, torture, beat, and poke the pirate with hot fiery pieces of steel?"

As he donned thick black gloves to protect his hands, Beltane replied. "What, dis? You 'ave been 'ere nearly 18 hours, I believe. Why?"

Picking up a longer metal rod that sat on the edge of a glowing red fire, Beltane used it to stir the contents of a shallow metal dish. The dish sat on a fire, and smoke rose from the sides. The contents were thin slivers of steel, approximately 1 inch in length with very sharp points, heated to a glowing red. Jack swallowed as he watched the fiery demons swirl.

"Ah… and what information have ye gotten out of me in all that time? Noth'n. Abso-bloody-lutley, noth'n. Let's see, you've tried drownin', starvin', beatin' and now more of those 'little red devils'. Really mate, I thought you were such a smart bloke, when actually you're quite stupid if--."

Beltane viciously plunged one of the small red-hot pieces of steel into the flesh just above Jack's ribcage and glared murderously at him as he reached for another.

"I grow weary of 'dis game Sparrow." Another entered his flesh, causing Jack's muscles to spasm in pain.

"I want de Pearl, I want de shipments, or I'll separate every inch of your flesh from your body." Jack's head dropped back as he reeled from the pain of more hot pieces of steel entering his tissue.

The Frenchman stepped closer to drive yet another hot steel pin into the pirates' already bleeding, agonizing flesh. At that moment, Jack decided that it was time to give back a small measure of the pain he'd received.

With a speed that caught the Frenchman totally by surprise, Jack reared his head back, then brought it down swiftly. The end result was his forehead connecting solidly with Beltane's face in a resounding smack!

Stumbling back Beltane clutched his bleeding nose as blood streamed between his fingers. Stinging from the pain, his murderous gaze shifted immediately to his two henchmen on either side of the now sneering pirate.

"Fais payer le crétin pour ce qu'il m'a fait... Tout de suite!" Beltane shouted. ("Make the bastard pay for what he's done to me…NOW!")

Sneering at Beltane, Jack's own head swam dizzily at the connecting blow, and he tensed as his hazy mind translated Beltane's command. He closed his eyes as fists pummeled his sides relentlessly.

Pain quickly engulfed him as he retreated in his mind to escape the brutality. Bound as he was, it was his only means of escape. Unable to fight back, he'd gone there before… hidden there… that place where nothing tormented…. nothing hurt…. nothing…

In that place he severed all connection with reality…. Creating instead a new void where he filled it with a mental serenity that his body could not find, but his mind could create… separate from his physical pain… a place to sit and wait out the storm…

~~

Freedom, The Pearl… waves lap at her sides as she gently rocked him, soothed him. He is one with her; a single entity drifting in the warm Caribbean Sea, the salty spray caresses his face. His eye fixed on the horizon the sky explodes with the color of the slowly setting sun. Hues of red melting into orange, sifting finally to pink, and greeting him as he drifts. He closes his eyes.

Opening his eyes again, the sky was now an inky ocean of twinkling stars with a heavy full moon lighting the water below. The sailor's guide, unchanging, unflappable, unending; the constellations twinkle to greet and guide him on his journey. Telling him where his next adventure lies, giving him hope and lending him strength, easing his worries in their consistency.

The sound of the sails flapping gently in the night air make him feel like he's flying, soaring drifting far above the world. He sits there waiting, hiding, wondering…

~~

Drifting slowly back to reality, Jack realized the blows were finally ended. Breathing brought new feelings of pain and he now had broken ribs to add to the rest of his problems. He shortened his breathing to shallow gasps, attempting to avoid the pain that deep breaths brought.

Something else was different too, Jack noted. Cautiously he attempted to move his head forward, almost instantly his breathing was constricted as he began choking. Lifting his head up, the noose slackened to ease the tightness. A rope had obviously been secured around his neck and anchored to a point somewhere behind him to confine his movement.

Apparently, Beltane didn't what Jack had done and the pirate found that incredibly funny. Laughing was painful, but worth the effort as he forced the sound louder making sure the Frenchman heard. Coughs ensued as he continued to gasp and laugh.

Head tilted back, Beltane sat in a chair holding a cloth over his nose. His henchmen scrambled in and out of the room to aid their boss in stemming the flow of blood from his wounded face.

When the laughing reached beyond the ringing in his head, Beltane shot an incredulous look at the pirate. Even the thugs that had beaten him stopped their activity to stare.

"Tu ne me feras pas plier, salaud. Ton métier a tué un de mes amis, et ton cargo est le prix que je demandais pour sa vie. Yer trade killed a friend of mine; your shipments are payment for his life. That was enough at the time, but now… now, I swear that I will hunt you down and kill you. If I die here, I will haunt ye from the grave. D'une façon ou d'une autre, tu es un homme mort, Beltane." The vehemence in Jack's voice sent a cold chill down Beltane's spine.

Still clutching his bleeding nose, he stood and walked slowly toward his captive in awe at what he just heard. "You. . . you speak French?" Beltane asked barely above a whisper.

"Oui." Jack read the surprise in his face and grinned as he continued. "Et de mon point de vue, tu es un enfant de putain mort et enterré." ("And from where I stand, you are one dead, bloody, son of a bitch.")

Emotions ranging from shock, to fear, then amazement and finally settling on rage- all played out plainly on the Frenchman's face. Noting this only made Jack grin all the more.

Shaking with rage, Beltane, for the first time in his life, found no words to counter what was said. Never before had someone out maneuvered him, out thought him, out guessed him, beaten him at his own game. His pride was wounded and he'd be dammed if he'd allow that go unanswered.

Taking a deep breath, the Frenchman struggled for control of his temper. If he wasn't careful, he'd kill the pirate before he got the information he sought. Walking away quickly from his captive's bloody, beaten form, Beltane poured a cup of water. Breathe, he though… must relax.

"Do you know what 'appens when de little metal needles dig into your flesh?"

"Is 'at a trick question?" Jack coughed, breathing as shallow as possible.

"No Sparrow… de pain is only the beginning. 'De 'ot metal needles are now, even as we speak, cauterizing inside your flesh becoming one with your muscle tissue and skin. I 'ave kept count. Want to know 'ow many I've dug into your flesh?"

Staring at Beltane through wavy vision Jack blinked slowly then dragged his eyes back open. He was fast losing his battle to stay conscious.

"No but I'll wager you're t'tell me right?"

The sneer on Beltane's face was pure evil as he announced, while holding in his gloved hand another red glowing metal pin, "Three 'undred, fifty….. SIX!?" -and plunged the one in his hand in at the last.

Jack sucked in a deep breath, the excruciating pain to his ribs competing with the pain of the newly inserted needle.

"By this time tomorrow all 'dat metal in your body will poison your blood, making you very, very ill. Fever and finally infection." Shrugging as if he cared not, "Unless you die from starvation. Who's to say which will be first to claim you eh?"

With that Jack's vision blurred and his head lolled to the side. It was the only direction he could go with the choking rope around his neck, the slipknot forcing his head upright.

"Oh, no, no, no, no,…Wake up Sparrow," Beltane grabbed a hand full of Jack's hair and viciously shook him. "You are not allowed yet to pass out me. TALK TO ME! WHERE IS 'DE PEARL?! WHERE!?"

Dragging his eyes back open, Jack looked at Beltane's face, now mere inches from his own. But just far enough away that Jack couldn't attack him again. Tasting the metallic fluid of blood rising in the back of his mouth and he decided to lash out again, using what ever he had…

"Go to hell." The pirate replied, followed by the exodus of blood spat in Beltane's face.

Releasing Sparrow's head Beltane reeled back once more.

"You're a fool Sparrow." He said as he brought out a kerchief to wipe at the blood on his face. "A shame too, for one so young as you shall meet his end."

Beltane gloved his hands once again and reached for the longer steel rod that he'd used earlier to stir the small metal needles. He lifted it and the glowing tip cast a red and orange hue to his face. Peering over the rod, he sneered at the pirate.

"But I must admit," He said as he walked toward his captive. "You've impressed me. 'Dere 'ave been few men to last as long as you and not break. Your fortitude amazes me, even in your foolishness."

Jack tensed as he could feel the heat of the rod not an inch from his flesh. He could feel his own skin smoking from the heat as Beltane hovered the red-hot steel over the surface of his torso, seemingly contemplating where to place it.

"I shall just 'ave to find de Pearl on my own... and find her I shall."

So this was it… Beltane had finally reached the end of his patience, Jack thought. Oh well, it's better this way. Jack had been able to exact a small measure of revenge on Guedry's behalf and that would have to suffice.

Better to get him angry enough to get this over with. End it. NOW.

Laughing interrupted by hoarse coughing shook Jack's body as he replied, "You'd best hurry it up mate, b'cause your 'clients' I'm sure are none to happy to be out their goods eh? You'll never, ever find the Pearl and I will die satisfied that you will die right behind me. Once your 'clientele' gets a hold of you, then I shall see you in hell."

The Frenchman's face reddened in anger as he swiftly lowered the red-hot metal to Jack's shoulder, the smell of singed hair and burning flesh mingling with the intense pain.

Jack had just begun to retreat into his trance that separated him from the pain when a distant but familiar whistling sound caught his ear. He snapped his head quickly to the right to listen.

Seeing the pirates' sudden change in demeanor, Beltane froze. The French trader turned his head to the side in an attempt to hear what it was that had demanded his captives' attention.

Cannon fire. The whistling became louder as the balls drew closer.

Both the men turned back facing one another. In unison, their eyes locked. They both heard the sucking silence that always occurred just moments before life shattered.

Pain forgotten, Jack grinned. "Glad you didn't move me further inland mate."

Beltane's eyes widened in surprise and fear.

Chaos ensued as the impacts, first distant, now closed in shaking the ground beneath them. The approaching balls became louder and the nearest created an impact so devastating that the room around them began to disintegrate. The ground shook violently as debris fell from the ceiling and walls.

The occupants of the room crumbled to the floor under the weight of the world that collapsed on top of them, as the room they occupied turned to rubble and Jack's nightmare ended.

****

Sitting up suddenly, Jack felt confused and dazed as he looked around the room. He buried his head in his hands as the sudden movement caused his head to swim.  His breathing came harsh and ragged, and his body trembled with chills even as he was bathed in sweat.

The dream felt so real. REAL? It was real, it was more than a dream, it was a memory, and one that he hadn't dealt with in over a decade.

Even knowing the nightmare was buried deep in the past, in his unfocused and bewildered state he found himself frantically searching for the enemy that haunted him.

I need a drink, he thought, and moved aside the blanket covering him, he planted both feet on the floor of the cabin and stood hastily. The abrupt action brought on a wave of dizziness and he reached back to make sure the bed was still there as he lowered himself to sit on the edge of it.

His head began pounding furiously, lancing sharply behind his eyes. The room too began to spin, and in response, he slammed his eyes tightly shut.

This didn't help as the room still spun in the darkness of his mind. Worse than that, Beltane's face invaded the shadowy blackness and sensations pricked his skin as he could feel the hot needles piercing his flesh.

His eyes sprung open wide to erase the image, but the pain in his head intensified and the throbbing in his head increased. His hands clenched at his temples as he squeezed his eyes closed again and he tilted forward from his seat on the bed to find himself kneeling on the floor groaning in frustration.

The memories flooded, the pain increased and his body winced at the needles piercing his skin. Suddenly, something touched his shoulder and his mind saw Beltane's face. The Frenchman sneered as he grabbed Jack's shoulder to shake him awake, saying, "No, Sparrow, you will NOT fall asleep on me.."

The memory was different this time; his hands weren't shackled, they were mobile. This time he could fight back and he would. He lashed out quickly striking at the image invading his mind.

Hearing something fall in the room, outside his mind's reach, Jack opened his eyes and focused carefully on the very real image before him.

Ana. She sat on the floor only a few feet away, her lip bleeding, her hair dishevelled. The look in her eyes was wild, frightened, and confused.

Remembering the very real feeling of flesh connecting with his hand, Jack put two and two together and realized with a shock what had happened.

"Oh God, Ana." He made to move toward her but her eyes widened and she shuffled quickly away from him, her eyes now narrowed filled with wariness, wary of him.

It was clear she would not let him close and he couldn't blame her. Self-loathing and self-disgust clouded his throat and he swallowed hard, accepting her refusal.

Nodding, he rose unsteadily and stumbled around the cabin, searching for something to dull the pain of the memory, the ache of knowing what he'd just done to Ana and the constant throbbing in his head.

Finding his bottle of rum, he moved past Ana toward the table.  He couldn't bring himself to look at her now. Not yet. Maybe later, maybe he'd say….something.

The cabin door opened at that moment and Gibbs stepped in, a tray of food in hands. The tense silence of the room caused the smile on his face to fade away. Now he looked quickly from Jack to Ana trying to discern what had taken place. His gaze settled on Ana who was just now standing, her body quivering and blood on her lip. She looked hurt, but more than physically.

Next, Gibbs cast an appraising eye towards Jack.  He was trembling and his face was flush. Ana had mentioned that she'd put him to bed with a fever, and while the fever was still evident, this was something more. Something dangerous. Something dark lurking in his eyes.

Turning to look Gibbs in the eye, Jack spoke one word. "Beltane." His voice rasped out. The word was spoken with such contempt that it sounded more like a curse than a name.

His eyes widened in surprise, but Gibbs nodded in understanding. Setting the tray down he walked over to Ana.

"Ye a'right lass?" He asked. She was trembling almost as badly as Jack.

Nodding, she looked at Jack then back to Gibbs, "What the hell was that? Who or what is Beltane?"

"Someone we knew a long time back. Jus' gimme a few minutes alone with'im, a'right?"

Looking at Gibbs now she saw the seriousness in his eyes. Whatever it was, she wasn't a part of it, and she wasn't needed.  Feeling the sting of dismissal, she swallowed, turned on her heel, and left; slamming the cabin door behind her.

Knowing a hurt female when he saw one, Gibbs sighed as he walked over to the table where Jack now sat.  He grabbed a blanket from the bed and laid it around his captain's shoulders, then took a seat at the table across from him.

Taking the bottle of rum, Gibbs poured two glasses, slid one over towards Jack, and waited.

"Twenty years, Josh." He mumbled, his head now cradled in his hands, elbows propped on the table. "I haven't thought about that bastard Beltane in twenty years. Why now?"

"She doesn't know about 'im I gather."

"What? No. I never wanted m'past touch'n 'er. But now….I …. I hit'r. I thought… I mean I could see him… I thought…" Sighing, Jack lowered his aching head to his hands.

"You don't have to explain to me lad, that's how we met remember? I was the one that found you buried in that collapsed room. I'm also the one who was assigned to watch ya after the surgeon finished patch'n ya up. I'll never be forgett'n all the hours I spent at yer side while ye was sick." Gibbs chuckled and shook his head as he continued. "Try'n t'hold ye down when those nightmares gripped ye in your fever. Fer me troubles, in that three weeks, ya credited me with one black-eye, a bloody nose and two lips split open."

A small smile creased Jack's face as he listened, staring down into his untouched glass of rum. His smile faded as he thought out loud, "But Ana? Gibbs, I…"

"Now you just hush up there a minute and listen t'me. Lad, your past is gonna touch all o'us on the Pearl. No get'n 'round that. And Ana, she's jus' as likely to get hurt by it as any of us. But that girl's got more back bone than most o'the men on this ship; an' smart too. The best way to protect her is to tell her. Tell her about the past so she'll be ready for the things that come her way. Give 'er a chance to understand."

"Tell'r 'bout Beltane?"

Gibbs nodded. "Aye. That… or send 'er away. Your choice."

Examining his options, Jack shook his head. "I don't think I could do that. I couldn't send her away."

Getting up, Gibbs smiled and answered, "Good, 'cause I don't think she'd leave anyway."

The door closed behind him as he left and Jack was alone once again in the cabin. Looking at the tray of food, Jack sighed and took a drink of his glass of rum. The alcohol burned a path down his sore throat and he winced. He felt like hell. His head still pounded, his nose was difficult to breath through, and his throat felt like it was on fire.

He laid his head down on the table, nested in his arms, his fingertips drew the blanket closer around his shoulders.

Feeling a presence in the room brought his eyes slowly open. Not sure how long he'd been asleep his snapped his head up quickly and his confused gaze met Ana's. She stood at the door, that wary look back in her eyes.

He stared at her a moment and noticed she never actually met his eyes. She walked stiffly into the room carrying another one of her hot tea and rum drinks and set it before him.

"Ye know who I am?" she asked stepping back from the table.

"Ana—."

"Good, drink that and get back in bed." And she turned to leave.

Standing up quickly he made it to the door just behind her but reaching an arm over her shoulder he held the door closed. "Damn it Ana, I want to talk to you. Do NOT leave this cabin!"

She turned and he dropped his arm. She gave him her best cold stare. "Aye sir. Is that an order sir?"

"Does it need t'be?"

She didn't answer.

Reaching up he placed a hand on her cheek and his thumb gently caressed her lower lip where it was swollen and split. "Ana I—."

He never finished as her hand shot out quickly and connected with his face resulting in a resonating slap. The move was such a surprise that he spun completely around and stumbled back.

Staggering to remain upright, his hand rubbed at his now aching cheek. "Ok... I know I deserved that." he swayed. "Now that that's out of the way, do you mind if we sit down before I fall down?"

Concern now replacing the wariness, Ana reached out and caught his arms. Her hands on his flesh felt the heat that emanated from the fever. Her anger forgotten she moved him back until he was sitting on the bed.

Suddenly filled with regret, Ana began. "Jack, I'm sorr--."

"Don't luv," Jack silenced her by gently placing a hand over her mouth. "I deserved that and more." His breathing stuttered inward until he released a string of sneezes. He quickly buried his face in the edges of the blanket draped over his shoulders, as the sneezing subsided.

Reaching a hand to feel his forehead, Ana smiled softly at his watering eyes. He was going to have one hell of a night.

"Ye addlebrained pirate, lay down b'fore ya keel over."

Shaking his head, Jack winced at the movement but said, "Not 'less ya lay down with me. Ye promised ya know?"

"Aye, I did and that's why I'm here. I just wasn't certain if…" Her voice trailed of as her gaze traveled to the many scars on his torso. She reached out tentatively but halted midway and began to withdraw. Jack didn't let her, however, as he grasped her hand and brought it to him to touch the smaller scars dotting his chest. Many were covered by new scars, but most were still clearly discernable.

"Did I ever tell you how I got these little scars?" Swallowing hard, Ana shook her head in response. "Well, it's a bit of a long story if yo--." more sneezes interrupted. "… if you're innerest'd."

Wincing at the hoarse sound of his voice, she nodded. "You can tell me while you lie down."

With a sigh of relief and relaxed bliss, Jack lay back on the pillows. Once he was settled, Ana scooted under the covers and sidled up to him. Jack looked at her and attempted to clear his throat, grimacing at the pain.

Sitting higher up against the pillows, Ana reached over and brought his head to her shoulder and cradled him protectively.

"It could wait until tomorrow Jack."

"No, no it can't. I'm thinkin' this'll be good fer the both of us, Luv." Jack took a deep breath and started. "About twenty years ago, in Madagascar, I had the misfortune of meeting up with one Etienne Beltane, a French opium trader. I'd only been Captain of the Pearl for a year. I think I was about 22 years old at the time…."

Jack talked and Ana listened long into the night as together they worked through the painful memory. Ana fought hard to restrain the tears that threatened at hearing about the pain Jack had endured, but her strength proved true. When it was over, they both got some much-needed rest, lying in one another's arms, protecting one another from the demons of the past.

*** Happy ending #2 ***

Beta Note:  Due to a technical difficulty, the wrong version of this chapter was posted the first time.  Everything is now as it should be! 

Author's Notes: Ok. That was a pretty dark chapter huh. Chapter 3, the last chapter I think, will go back to the lighter side of Jack and Ana's relationship. I promise. Most of the French words I translated, some, the sentences were so short and the fact that squeezing in the translated words got really confusing.. e-mail me if you want to know exactly what the non-translated words were. I'll be happy to impart them on you.

Special thanks to Amberlin for allowing me to loosely translate a torture scene in one of her fic's, to my story. Her permission was given with great enthusiasm and alacrity. I only hope this story did her's justice, but I doubt it. Thank you so much for you kind e-mails filled with encouragement to use my imagination.

HUGE thanks to my wonderful beta reader, Rat and her incredible French-speaking husband, Luc. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that both of you will be visiting us for Christmas. I have an entire evening planned to watch Pirates of the Caribbean about 3 times, then on to Benny & Joon, From Hell and Sleepy Hollow. Ah yes.. a great night of Johnny Depp movies…

AUTHOR PLUG!!!! My latest author plug is for Starzangel, her current on-going fic is Condemned and it is really amazing! Read her other PotC works: A Night in Tortuga and Marooned. All are truly OUT OF THIS WORLD!! There just aren't enough words.

LASTLY: Rat and I are winding down our multi-chapter fic's and are endeavoring to do some collaborative works. If you are interested, we have posted our first story to a neutral location on ff.net. We merged our muses names Ichabod and Moo to create the pen name Ichamoo. The first story is a ficlett, short but really sweet about Jack and Ana, titled Pirates and Spies. You might need it as a sort of 'happy pill' after this dark story. Rat and I hope you will go check it out and enjoy.

REVIEWER'S: I can't think you enough for reading and taking the time to post a review. You really make writing worth the effort and struggle. With the coming holidays here in the states, we are all going to be much busier. But I shall make a consorted effort to keep up with my favorites stories and review them all! Have an awesome Thanksgiving!

When will Chapter 3 come? Again, it floats around in my brain ready to take make birth in my computer. But I must get back to Best Intentions Gone Wrong. I'm sick of Jack being sick and he has some serious butt kicking to do. But I will do chapter 3, I promise. Unless you don't want me to. After this chapter, I can hardly blame you. ;-) But, at least this ended happy right? *looks around room nervously* Right?