Usual disclaimers... you know the score!
Still sulking over the Oscars... so here are four chapters to cheer us all up.
***
Chapter 65.55.37.24 - The Favour
Barely five hours later, as dusk fell, Jeremiah Hallam rode into camp with a face like thunder. His son Isaac had told him the bare bones of what had happened and he was furious that somebody would dare go against his protection of these people. He was pleased to see that the Black Pearl crew kept careful watch and he that even he was challenged twice on his way towards the shore... but it would appear that the assailant had found things much easier during the confusion of the work during the day.
Jack had courteously left a small ships boat waiting for them and Isaac rowed his father out to the ship, the escort waiting on the shore. "Hallam!" he called up when challenged. "And my father for the Captain and Kitty!"
He climbed up before his father and escorted him to the main cabin, knocking politely on the door frame even though the doors were open. "Captain, my father to see you..."
"Come in Jeremiah, you too Isaac," Catherine smiled, nodding to Jeremiah. "We were just about to eat... will you and your father join us?" She knew that Isaac would not have stopped to eat on his ride and guessed that Jeremiah would expect to be fed. His anger faded slightly as he saw the meal spread before him, surprised to realise how hungry he was and at the quality of the food on offer. The table was set for four but Jack was nowhere to be seen. "Perhaps you could ask Jean Claude to see that some refreshments are sent ashore for the men that came with you as well?" she smiled as she hobbled around the table.
"Sure Kitty," Isaac smiled as he looked hungrily at the food on the table, heading towards the galley. Dinner with the Captain - things were looking up.
Jeremiah nodded, sitting in one of the vacant chairs as Jack emerged from their side cabin and helped Catherine to sit, sliding the chair for her. "Nice to see your security has improved," he said quietly, "even if it is a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted..."
"He came in with yer men," Jack shrugged, knowing that Jeremiah would be looking to apportion blame. He paused as Isaac returned and sat eagerly at the table. "But he failed, which is what ultimately matters..."
"That was only because he could not decide whether he wanted to kill me or snatch Charlotte," Catherine admitted ruefully as she passed one of the plates of food to Jeremiah.
"You will hand him over to me of course," Jeremiah demanded.
"There are a more than a few here with a claim on him..." Jack began.
"I will have him!" Jeremiah demanded. "He defied me!"
"But the Pearl has more of a claim on him..." Catherine countered.
"You will give him to me nonetheless..." Jeremiah smiled. ""He must be seen to be punished by the town or any promises of protection I make will be deemed worthless..."
Catherine looked at Jack who quietly nodded. "What will you do to him?" she asked, realising that they had no option but to hand Davit Lucon over. If the town saw Jeremiah's edicts flouted then he would lose what control he had over the town and his promise of protection for Will, Elizabeth, Theodore and the children would indeed be worthless...
"Oh, we'll just play with him a bit... I want some information out of him before he dies." Jeremiah said coldly.
"I want to be there," Catherine pressed.
Jack realised exactly how Jeremiah intended gaining his information. It would not be pretty. "Nah luv, not this time..." he began, placing his hand on hers.
"I have to Jack. He is responsible for the deaths of Joshamee, Niall and the Johns..." she protested.
"No," Jack replied, quietly but firmly. "If need be, I'll go - but I'll not have yer exposed t' that..." He squeezed her hand.
"But..." she argued.
"No! Or do I have t' pull rank?" Jack turned from her, rising from the table and walking over to the cabinet where he kept his rum. "Drink Jeremiah?" he asked politely, as if the conversation with Catherine had not taken place. He offered a fresh bottle - one of his better ones.
Jeremiah took the bottle. "Thank you," he smiled as he pondered the argument he had just witnessed. It seemed that despite the sometimes snide rumours, Jack still was Captain of his ship. "You keep a good table Sparrow," he complimented, deftly turning the conversation away from Davit Lucon.
"That's one of th' benefits of havin' Kitty an' Jean Claude aboard..." Jack looked at his wife sideways, thinking that there were other more pleasurable benefits too. She noticed his gaze, quietly biting her lip, still wanting to go. Jack shook his head, knowing what she was thinking - he would not be persuaded on this one.
"I've never been of the opinion that having a woman on board is a good idea," Jeremiah declared. "I always felt it caused dissent..."
"Guess we're not yer normal ship then," Jack smiled, having little intention of telling him that the affection that the crew had for Catherine held them even more tightly together as a group. "We've never found it a problem."
"Even though you sit here waiting for your wife to heal... would you do that for a man?" he asked.
"Probably not," Jack shrugged, "but the others need us here too, so it works out well for us. An' if th' men are that desperate they can always walk to Tortuga..."
"Well, I would keep your men out of town for quite a while," Jeremiah warned. "The frigates arrived early and the fools are already panicking." He looked at Jack shrewdly. "They blame the Black Pearl..."
"They'll blame us fer th' next storm too given half a chance... let 'em panic!" Jack snorted dismissively. "All they need t' do is t' band t'gether an' they'll be able t' take 'em out!"
"If they don't decide to do that to you instead..." Jeremiah let his comment linger. "I think you should leave the Caribbean for a while..."
Jack whirled to face Jeremiah, his braids flying. "But th' Caribbean is m' home!" he protested, shocked that Jeremiah was warning him to leave.
"It's getting too dangerous, even for a ship like the Black Pearl," Jeremiah warned. Although this does tie in nicely with the favour that you owe me... I'm calling it in now."
Jack looked at him cautiously. "An' what would that be?" he ventured.
"I need a ship to take something to the Far East for me - a man actually. He will be carrying something of great value and I need to ensure that it arrives," Jeremiah explained.
"An' precisely where will we be arrivin'?" Jack asked.
"Penang," he said quietly, smiling at Jack's startled expression. "I am sure they have forgotten you since the last time..."
Jack subconsciously rubbed his wrist where the P had been branded all those years ago. "Wish I could say I'd done th' same."
"Take this man to Penang safely and I will consider your debt to me paid in full," Jeremiah said.
Jack frowned. "I will have t' put it to th' crew," he said finally. "An' we're goin' nowhere until Kitty is free of her crutches..."
"It will take me a few weeks to sort things," Jeremiah admitted, "by which time you should be ready to leave." He stood, patting his mouth with the napkin. "As should I now. Thank you for a lovely meal Mistress Sparrow."
"You will not stay?" Catherine politely asked, knowing how rough the track still was.
"No. Clara will be expecting me home before midnight. I would not want her to worry," he explained. "And I'll take Lucon with me now."
"Of course," Jack murmured. "I'll get him brought up an' see t' some men row you ashore... did yer want t' see Ana b'fore yer leave?"
"She will probably be asleep at this hour with Edan," he sighed. "Maybe next time..."
Jack nodded, turning to Isaac. "Isaac, perhaps yer could help Kitty with th' dishes?"
"Aye Captain." Isaac smiled to himself at the politely phrased order.
"I'll send word when I have more details on Penang," Jeremiah said quietly to Jack as they left the cabin, climbing down into the waiting boat.
"Kree! Fearnan! Row Jeremiah back ashore!" Jack ordered, standing at the rail and watching as the Old Man and his reluctant companion reached the shore. He'd hold a crew meeting in the morning, but for now all he wanted was his wife and his bunk, preferably in that order. He walked quietly back to his cabin, pleased to see that the table was already cleared and that Catherine was sitting waiting for him.
"Isaac said he'd see to the plates," she smiled. "Fancy unlacing me?"
Jack grinned, clicking the lock behind him. "I thought yer'd never ask!"
***
Still sulking over the Oscars... so here are four chapters to cheer us all up.
***
Chapter 65.55.37.24 - The Favour
Barely five hours later, as dusk fell, Jeremiah Hallam rode into camp with a face like thunder. His son Isaac had told him the bare bones of what had happened and he was furious that somebody would dare go against his protection of these people. He was pleased to see that the Black Pearl crew kept careful watch and he that even he was challenged twice on his way towards the shore... but it would appear that the assailant had found things much easier during the confusion of the work during the day.
Jack had courteously left a small ships boat waiting for them and Isaac rowed his father out to the ship, the escort waiting on the shore. "Hallam!" he called up when challenged. "And my father for the Captain and Kitty!"
He climbed up before his father and escorted him to the main cabin, knocking politely on the door frame even though the doors were open. "Captain, my father to see you..."
"Come in Jeremiah, you too Isaac," Catherine smiled, nodding to Jeremiah. "We were just about to eat... will you and your father join us?" She knew that Isaac would not have stopped to eat on his ride and guessed that Jeremiah would expect to be fed. His anger faded slightly as he saw the meal spread before him, surprised to realise how hungry he was and at the quality of the food on offer. The table was set for four but Jack was nowhere to be seen. "Perhaps you could ask Jean Claude to see that some refreshments are sent ashore for the men that came with you as well?" she smiled as she hobbled around the table.
"Sure Kitty," Isaac smiled as he looked hungrily at the food on the table, heading towards the galley. Dinner with the Captain - things were looking up.
Jeremiah nodded, sitting in one of the vacant chairs as Jack emerged from their side cabin and helped Catherine to sit, sliding the chair for her. "Nice to see your security has improved," he said quietly, "even if it is a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted..."
"He came in with yer men," Jack shrugged, knowing that Jeremiah would be looking to apportion blame. He paused as Isaac returned and sat eagerly at the table. "But he failed, which is what ultimately matters..."
"That was only because he could not decide whether he wanted to kill me or snatch Charlotte," Catherine admitted ruefully as she passed one of the plates of food to Jeremiah.
"You will hand him over to me of course," Jeremiah demanded.
"There are a more than a few here with a claim on him..." Jack began.
"I will have him!" Jeremiah demanded. "He defied me!"
"But the Pearl has more of a claim on him..." Catherine countered.
"You will give him to me nonetheless..." Jeremiah smiled. ""He must be seen to be punished by the town or any promises of protection I make will be deemed worthless..."
Catherine looked at Jack who quietly nodded. "What will you do to him?" she asked, realising that they had no option but to hand Davit Lucon over. If the town saw Jeremiah's edicts flouted then he would lose what control he had over the town and his promise of protection for Will, Elizabeth, Theodore and the children would indeed be worthless...
"Oh, we'll just play with him a bit... I want some information out of him before he dies." Jeremiah said coldly.
"I want to be there," Catherine pressed.
Jack realised exactly how Jeremiah intended gaining his information. It would not be pretty. "Nah luv, not this time..." he began, placing his hand on hers.
"I have to Jack. He is responsible for the deaths of Joshamee, Niall and the Johns..." she protested.
"No," Jack replied, quietly but firmly. "If need be, I'll go - but I'll not have yer exposed t' that..." He squeezed her hand.
"But..." she argued.
"No! Or do I have t' pull rank?" Jack turned from her, rising from the table and walking over to the cabinet where he kept his rum. "Drink Jeremiah?" he asked politely, as if the conversation with Catherine had not taken place. He offered a fresh bottle - one of his better ones.
Jeremiah took the bottle. "Thank you," he smiled as he pondered the argument he had just witnessed. It seemed that despite the sometimes snide rumours, Jack still was Captain of his ship. "You keep a good table Sparrow," he complimented, deftly turning the conversation away from Davit Lucon.
"That's one of th' benefits of havin' Kitty an' Jean Claude aboard..." Jack looked at his wife sideways, thinking that there were other more pleasurable benefits too. She noticed his gaze, quietly biting her lip, still wanting to go. Jack shook his head, knowing what she was thinking - he would not be persuaded on this one.
"I've never been of the opinion that having a woman on board is a good idea," Jeremiah declared. "I always felt it caused dissent..."
"Guess we're not yer normal ship then," Jack smiled, having little intention of telling him that the affection that the crew had for Catherine held them even more tightly together as a group. "We've never found it a problem."
"Even though you sit here waiting for your wife to heal... would you do that for a man?" he asked.
"Probably not," Jack shrugged, "but the others need us here too, so it works out well for us. An' if th' men are that desperate they can always walk to Tortuga..."
"Well, I would keep your men out of town for quite a while," Jeremiah warned. "The frigates arrived early and the fools are already panicking." He looked at Jack shrewdly. "They blame the Black Pearl..."
"They'll blame us fer th' next storm too given half a chance... let 'em panic!" Jack snorted dismissively. "All they need t' do is t' band t'gether an' they'll be able t' take 'em out!"
"If they don't decide to do that to you instead..." Jeremiah let his comment linger. "I think you should leave the Caribbean for a while..."
Jack whirled to face Jeremiah, his braids flying. "But th' Caribbean is m' home!" he protested, shocked that Jeremiah was warning him to leave.
"It's getting too dangerous, even for a ship like the Black Pearl," Jeremiah warned. Although this does tie in nicely with the favour that you owe me... I'm calling it in now."
Jack looked at him cautiously. "An' what would that be?" he ventured.
"I need a ship to take something to the Far East for me - a man actually. He will be carrying something of great value and I need to ensure that it arrives," Jeremiah explained.
"An' precisely where will we be arrivin'?" Jack asked.
"Penang," he said quietly, smiling at Jack's startled expression. "I am sure they have forgotten you since the last time..."
Jack subconsciously rubbed his wrist where the P had been branded all those years ago. "Wish I could say I'd done th' same."
"Take this man to Penang safely and I will consider your debt to me paid in full," Jeremiah said.
Jack frowned. "I will have t' put it to th' crew," he said finally. "An' we're goin' nowhere until Kitty is free of her crutches..."
"It will take me a few weeks to sort things," Jeremiah admitted, "by which time you should be ready to leave." He stood, patting his mouth with the napkin. "As should I now. Thank you for a lovely meal Mistress Sparrow."
"You will not stay?" Catherine politely asked, knowing how rough the track still was.
"No. Clara will be expecting me home before midnight. I would not want her to worry," he explained. "And I'll take Lucon with me now."
"Of course," Jack murmured. "I'll get him brought up an' see t' some men row you ashore... did yer want t' see Ana b'fore yer leave?"
"She will probably be asleep at this hour with Edan," he sighed. "Maybe next time..."
Jack nodded, turning to Isaac. "Isaac, perhaps yer could help Kitty with th' dishes?"
"Aye Captain." Isaac smiled to himself at the politely phrased order.
"I'll send word when I have more details on Penang," Jeremiah said quietly to Jack as they left the cabin, climbing down into the waiting boat.
"Kree! Fearnan! Row Jeremiah back ashore!" Jack ordered, standing at the rail and watching as the Old Man and his reluctant companion reached the shore. He'd hold a crew meeting in the morning, but for now all he wanted was his wife and his bunk, preferably in that order. He walked quietly back to his cabin, pleased to see that the table was already cleared and that Catherine was sitting waiting for him.
"Isaac said he'd see to the plates," she smiled. "Fancy unlacing me?"
Jack grinned, clicking the lock behind him. "I thought yer'd never ask!"
***