Usual disclaimers

Summery-ice & KK, you will find out if you guessed right in this chapter.

Lady Skywalker, one of my dreads is getting into a rut and people finding the story boring, so I'm very relieved that you don't think it is.

Sakhara, you too will find out if you were right.  I actually thought of this episode ages ago, and had these last two chapters written out before I actually got to this point in the story.

Valentines-hater, sorry to make you wait :/

Hilary, your cheque is in the post – sorry, your piccie is in the mail!

Thanks to Linnie XX

************** Chapter 53

'Long time no see, eh Jack?'  The man shifted around so as to get a better look, but dared not loosen his grip on Maddy.

Jack's hands moved back to his weapons, his expression turning from shock to fear, and finally to anger.  'Yer supposed to be dead.'  He took a step forwards, though he froze in mid-stride when Maddy's assailant pressed the knife harder into her throat.

'Ah, ah, stay where you are Jack.  As you can see, I'm very much alive, seems we both lead a charmed life, eh?'  Maddy winced as the man chuckled in her ear, his lips brushing against it.  'Y'always did have good taste in women Jack, my compliments.'

'Let her go, this is between you an' me, I promise no harm'll come to ya.'  Jack moved forward slightly.

'Ha!  There's no promise you can make that I can trust, Jack Sparrow.  Take one more step forward, an' my hand might accidentally slip, savvy?'

Jack shook his head slowly, 'Ya never used ter be like this mate, ya never used ter threaten women.'

'When you've been through what I have, it turns ya.'  Maddy suddenly found herself being swung round, away from Jack and ended up facing the muzzle of a pistol that had been aimed at her assailant.  'Call your men off Sparrow, you don't want to harm yer pretty wife now, do you?'  Eb lowered his pistol, wide eyed with shock at what might have happened.

'What's made ya like this?'  Jack spread his hands out, away from his weapons.  'Yer not the man I knew.'

'You really expect me to be the same?  Do you know how much I've suffered?  And why did all this happen?  Because you didn't listen to me when I tried to warn ya, that's why.  Captain Jack Sparrow is never wrong, is he?  Well ya bleedin' well were then mate, an' I was the one who suffered for it.'  The grip on Maddy's arm tightened and she winced in pain.

'Yes, yes, yer right.  I should've listened to ya.  I was wrong.  Look, please let me wife go, an' you an' me'll go an' talk privately, savvy?'  Jack was starting to feel very nervous the more unstable Maddy's captor became.

'No Jack, we'll talk out here, so you can't spin some tale to yer crew, about how wonderful Jack bloody Sparrow is.  Do you know how many miles and how many months I walked until I reached land?  And when I did reach land, I had to hide myself away from people, in case they found out what I was like.  For years I lived like a hermit, desperate for company, desperate to feel normal again, and you?  You just carried on living your charmed little life.'  Maddy felt his grip loosen as he got more agitated and took the chance to try and escape, but he was too quick and grabbed her back, spinning her to face him.  'Ah, ah, no ya don't dear.'

'Who the hell are you?'  Maddy kept her voice even, but the fear clearly showed in her eyes.

'I don't suppose Jack has even told you about me.  My name's Bill Turner.' 

Maddy gasped in shock, then realised why he had looked so familiar.  'Will's father?'

Bill looked from Maddy to Jack, and back again.  'Will?  How the hell do you know my son?'

'His Ma died when he were a nipper, mate.  He came out here lookin' for ya, but found me instead.'  Jack tried not to look at Tom and Eb who were closing in on Bill and Maddy.

'He came out here?  But, that would mean Barbossa…..'

'Aye, Barbossa came lookin' for the medallion mate, an' the bastard found it too.  Lucky for Will, I happened to be around at the time, an' when the curse was lifted I killed Barbossa, just like I vowed I would, remember?'

'Aye, I remember you screaming and yelling that you would get off that island and hunt him down, even if it took your dying breath.  How did you get off that island Jack?'  Bill turned Maddy around once more, to face her husband.

Jack hesitated, wondering whether to tell the truth or not.  He took a deep breath, 'Rum runners mate, I bartered passage off when they came for their cache.'

Bill shook his head incredulously, 'You always were a jammy bastard.  How long were ya there for?'

Another, longer hesitation before Jack answered, 'Three days….'

'Three days?  Three bleedin' days when I suffered for nigh on ten years?  Three days?'  The knife point jabbed into Maddy's throat and a thin line of blood trickled down her neck.

'No!  Bill, please, yer argument's wi'me, not me wife, let her go an' we'll talk, please.'

Bill gave a short, harsh laugh.  'Well, well, well.  Never thought I'd see Jack Sparrow begging.  We'll go back to your cabin, only she comes with us, I know you too well to fall fer that one.'  Bill started to walk backwards towards the stairs, pulling Maddy with him, the knife still pressed against her throat.

'Bill, please let me go, and I'll guarantee your safety.  What chance do you think you'll have if you hurt or kill me?'  Maddy stumbled and winced as the knife cut into her skin again.  'Don't you want to see your son, your grandchildren?'

'Grandchildren?  Will is married?'  Bill hesitated momentarily, which was all the time Jack needed to fly through the air and knock both Bill and Maddy off their feet.  Maddy cried out as she fell on her bad arm and Eb grabbed hold of her and hauled her to her feet while Jack rained punches down on Bill as the stricken man tried to escape the blows.  Jack's fingers gripped Bill's throat and he started to squeeze, watching as his face grew redder and his eyes started to bulge.

'No Jack, don't.' Maddy cried, breaking free from Eb's grasp and tried to haul Jack off Bill.

'What?!  Madalene, he's just held a knife to yer throat, he don't deserve yer sympathy.'  Jack glowered down at Bill, who was going limp beneath him.

'Maybe not, but hear what he has to say first, then do what you like.'  Maddy pulled at Jack until he slowly released his death grip.

'All right William, looks like you've got a temporary reprieve.'  Jack got up and stood besides Maddy, wrapping a protective arm around her.  'Get up, ya know t'way to the cabin.'  Jack aimed a kick at Bill, who was getting slowly to his feet, rubbing at his neck.

'All right, all right,' Bill croaked, then led the way down the stairs, tensing in case Jack did anything else.

'Well?'  Jack shut the cabin door firmly behind him, and moved in front of Bill, aiming his pistol at his former friend.  'How t'hell did ya know who Madalene was?'

'I was wondering that myself.'  Maddy moved between Bill and Jack, putting a restraining hand on her husband's chest.

'Well, I'm waitin.'  Jack's face was dark with anger, which he could barely contain.

Bill watched as Jack sat himself down at the table, propping his feet on it, mirroring his own actions earlier.  'It was a cloudy night so I chanced going to some dive for a drink.  Well, more like fer company, as I couldn't even taste t'drink, but I got into a fight, took a knife in me side.  It bloody well hurt like hell and I was just standing there, watching the blood pour down me, an' I realised the curse must have been lifted.  After I healed, I went in search of work, ending up on Geoffrey Bowne's ship, rich work it was too.'  Bill looked beyond Jack, seeing the past in his mind's eye.  'One day, the old man gets wind o'betrayal, so decides ter move his booty, only he got the betrayer's identity wrong an' we were attacked by a Dutch schooner.  God, were we ambushed.'  Bill shook his head at the memory, recalling lost friends.  'I escaped by playing dead, and they left the old man, thinking he were dead too, he damn near was as well.'

'Why didn't they fire t'ship?'  Jack leaned his elbows on the table, fingertips pressed together, interested in the story, despite himself.

'Dunno, maybe they wanted other ships ter see what they had done?  I managed to get Bowne into a boat and rowed fer an island we'd passed the day before, where a local healer managed to sew up the old man's leg an' dress it, but the other leg was too badly mangled an' had ter come off.  Thought he were gonna die then, but he's the toughest bastard I've ever known.  We sent word to Bowne's missus, with a ship that were goin' to Tortuga, an' her and Rebecca arrived a couple o'months later.'

'Why did you stay with him?'  Bill turned and looked at Maddy, sitting quietly on a window seat.  He'd forgotten that she'd even been there.

'Dunno dear.  Loyalty played a part, Bowne knew all about what had happened to me, but he still trusted me.  I decided to go with them, wanting a new life away from t'Caribbean.  I'd been doin' some work for Bowne, an' workin' on a merchant vessel that goes up and down t'coast of the Americas.  I was on me way to look in on the old man, when I heard voices, and recognised yours Jack.'  Bill turned back and looked at his old captain, who was scrutinising him.  'I waited outside, til you all left, then followed yer missus around town.'

'Why did ya see fit ter threaten her Bill?  Ya could've just walked up and introduced yerself.'

'Fer years I've been angry wi'you Jack.  Angry that you didn't listen to me.  Angry that I was suffering and you, quite obviously, weren't.  I heard all the stories about ya, whichever port I happened ter be in, they'd be going on about the great an' fearless Jack Sparrow.  I had a mind ter go after ya, but Bowne persuaded me not to, said ya wasn't worth fucking my life up again.  Oh, I do apologise Madalene, I didn't mean to swear.'  Bill smiled contritely at Maddy.

'That's all right Bill, I can see where his son gets his manners from.'  Maddy smiled at Bill, starting to feel sorry for the man.

'When I knew you were here Jack, I saw red.  All those plans of revenge I'd had suddenly came to life, and what better way to get at you than through your woman.  But when we came face to face, all's I could think of was all the good times we'd had together over the years.'

Jack sighed heavily and looked at Maddy, still sitting on the window seat, then back to Bill.  'I didn't know yer were alive, if I had, I'd have come lookin' for ya.  Yer should've known that Bill.  Why didn't ya think o'goin' to England and finding Will and t'medallion?'

'I didn't want to put Will or his mother in any danger, but you don't know how I've rued the day I sent that bloody thing to him.  Still, it's in the past now, can't change anything.  I am truly sorry for threatening your wife. It was a spur of the moment decision, an' I was beyond reason at that moment.'  Bill stood and walked over to Maddy, holding out his hand.  'No hard feelings, dear?'

Maddy hesitated before taking Bill's hand, 'No hard feelings, Bill.'  She looked at Jack watching the scene, still sitting at the table.  'Jack?'

Jack sat there for long moments, regarding Bill, scrutinizing him carefully, before he stood, ignoring Bill's outstretched hand.  'Ya ever threatened me wife again Bill….'

'You know I won't Jack.  I'm truly sorry.'

Jack snorted and turned away, listening to Bill's heavy footsteps crossing the cabin, followed by Maddy's lighter steps.  'Madalene, where'd ya think yer goin?'

'I'm seeing Bill safely off the ship.'  Maddy followed Bill out of the cabin and went to climb the stairs to the deck before Jack's bark stopped her.

'No yer bleedin' won't.  He knows t'way off.'

Maddy stood in the door of the cabin, glaring at Jack.  'I'm merely ensuring his safety.  Surely you don't have a problem with that?'

'He didn't think much of your safety when he'd got a knife held at yer throat.  Yer not seeing him off, that's an order.'

'Jack!'  Maddy looked from her husband in the cabin, up to Bill, who was standing at the top of the stairs surrounded by the crew, then turned away from Jack and stomped up the stairs, threading her arm through Bill's when she reached him.  'Anybody lays a finger on him, they'll have me to answer to, savvy?'  Maddy glared around at the faces of the crewmen, daring any of them to disobey her. 

'Thank you Madalene, dear.  I don't deserve this.'  Bill smiled hesitantly, before climbing over the side of The Pearl.  'Will you be seeing Bowne again?'

'Yes, we will be saying goodbye to him and Rebecca tomorrow.'

'I may see you then, if not, goodbye Madalene.  Once again, my apologies.'  Bill climbed down the side of the ship and into the boat, giving a small wave as he started to row himself back to shore.

**********

Authors notes:

I had thought of it being Barbossa, but Jack would have killed him outright and there would have been no follow up.  Also, I reckon Barbossa would probably have killed Maddy, just to spite Jack, and that was a definite no-no!

Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter up, I was away at Hils' for a couple of days, I wasn't keeping you all hanging on really! :D