Usual disclaimers... blah!
Okay, now that Linnie has managed to review (do keep up dear) I can post the next three chapters... I believe you were wanting to see the Commodore again? ;)
***
Later that night Jack rowed Catherine back to the Black Pearl, refusing to make love to her amongst the bushes when he could have the comfort of his bunk. "Must be getting' old," he laughed to himself as he fastened the boat securely to the side of the ship before following his wife's weaving path into their cabin. He locked the doors behind them on his second attempt before slowly undressing. "Yer gonna tell me yer plan then?" he asked, padding naked across the cabin towards her and helping her undress. She was drunk - not as drunk as he knew he was, but definitely unsteady on her feet. He grinned to himself, for Catherine rarely got drunk and when she did their lovemaking was even wilder than normal... unless she had too much and then she would simply fall asleep. He frowned, holding her at arms length and studying her closely. Definitely the former, he grinned, pulling her trousers off as she leaned against him.
"He likes to take a ride..." she slurred.
"So do I," Jack grinned suggestively.
"No... no... on a horse!" She wobbled, trying to focus on him. "He was teaching Jimmy to ride... little or no escort..."
He helped her up onto the bunk, not trusting her to climb up on her own. "So we find where he rides an' take him... nice an' easy..." he grinned. "I like nice an' easy..."
***
When she finally awoke Catherine knew she'd been drinking. Jack had left the bunk over an hour earlier and the Black Pearl was already sailing westwards towards the Windward Passage. With luck they would be back within a week, if the abduction went to plan. She smiled, noticing that Jack had placed her clothes within easy reach of the bunk and struggled into them before walking gingerly out onto deck to find him.
"Morning luv!" Jack boomed, his hand on the wheel. She winced. "Morning luv," he repeated, whispering. "How are you feelin'?"
She clambered up the stairs, leaning against him. "Like I'm still half- drunk..." She looked at Jack suspiciously. "Where did you get that second bottle of wine?"
Jack grinned. "From my special supply,"
"So that is why I can only remember half of last night..." she mused.
"Probably," he joked. "But I can remember it all..." He wrapped his free arm about her. "Mmmmmmnnnnnn, and a very nice it all was too..."
"Jack!" Catherine looked about her, glad that there were no crew nearby.
"Can I negotiate a repeat tonight?" he leered.
Catherine smiled quietly, slipping from his grasp as Oran walked up to take the wheel. "Maybe," she teased. "If you behave!"
"That'll be the day," Oran winked as he walked past her, causing her to laugh and then wince as she remembered her head. "Heavy night last night Kitty?" he grinned innocently.
"Shut up or I'll have you swabbing the decks!" she warned, unsurprised that her threat had little effect on his grin.
"I'll take the helm if you like Captain," Oran offered. "I don't think Kitty is safe to be alone in the galley..."
Catherine looked at both of them in despair as they laughed at her, walking with as much dignity as she could manage down the stairs towards the galley. She was not sure if her stomach could take Cotton's cooking, but she could easily cook something simple for herself.
***
Jack stood patiently, concealed by the bushes as the Commodore and James Schott rode past, a flash of chestnut and dapple grey hide as they cantered along the track. He silently slipped from his hiding place, weaving through the long grass until he stood beside the dusty trail. "Good afternoon Commodore!" he called after them, ensuring that his voice would be heard.
James Norrington wheeled his horse around in shock, causing his nephew to bump into his mount in surprise. "Sparrow!" he cursed, reaching for his pistol.
"You wouldn't want to be doin' that," Jack slurred, his own pistol aimed and cocked.
"You have some nerve!" James Norrington hissed, blinking as Catherine emerged to stand beside Jack. "Both of you have!" The two riders nudged their mounts towards them, reining to a halt a few yards away from Jack and Catherine.
"Drop your pistol Jimmy," she warned, noticing the boy's wavering hand. "We don't want anyone to be hurt..."
"Like those people you slaughtered at..." he started to say, but was cut short by Jack.
"That wasn't us Jimmy, not that anyone would believe us..." he slurred. "Now if yer'd be so kind as t' dismount - both of yer..."
James Norrington dismounted, his hands well clear of his pistol to avoid any misunderstandings. "Do as they say James," he instructed, holding the bridle of the second horse as the twelve year old dismounted. He was surprised to hear Catherine cock her pistol.
"Don't do it Jimmy... even though I love you as if you were family, I'd still shoot..." she warned.
"Proper pirate aren't you Mistress Cat," he sneered, keeping his hand next to his pistol. His uncle had been teaching him to shoot and he fancied himself a good shot..
"There was a day not too long ago when it was all you wanted to be," she replied sadly. "Now drop the pistol..."
"No..." he began to say, but strong arms wrapped themselves around him.
"Kitty said to drop the pistol," a heavily accented voice said. "I suggest you do as she says boy!" The pistol was forced from his grasp, falling to the ground with a thud.
"Thank you Jean Claude," Catherine smiled, relieved that she had not had to shoot - although she knew she would have if there had been no choice.
"Jean Claude..." James Schott looked at Catherine in disbelief. "This is the man that snatched Peter and me... how can..."
"He works fer us now," Jack explained as more crew emerged from the surrounding bushes, quickly binding their captives hands.
"What is this all about Sparrow?" the Commodore demanded angrily. He had been surprised at the reports of the atrocity but many people had witnessed it and a black ship with black sails could only mean one ship... couldn't it?
"James," Catherine sighed sadly, only approaching once his hands were safely bound "We knew that nobody would believe that it was not us at Port au Prince - so the only way to prove our innocence to you is for you to be a guest aboard the Black Pearl until the other ship strikes again..." She placed her hand regretfully on his arm as sacks were placed over their heads. "I'll explain more later... I'm sorry..."
James Norrington did not reply, but the younger James snorted in disbelief from beneath the sack.
"So sceptical Jimmy," Jack said sadly. "But we'll prove yer wrong - mark my words!"
***
The Commodore and his nephew found themselves led carefully through the undergrowth for over an hour until they felt sand beneath their feet. "Before yer comment Jimmy, this isn't our normal bay - savvy?" Jack warned, realising that now they would be unable to use the bay that he preferred to anchor in again for the boy would probably tell. Strong arms forced them into a ships boat and they were helped up onto the ship.
"You won't get away with this," James Norrington warned, relieved that the nightmare journey had ended. Although those leading him had done their utmost to ensure his footing, it was not an experience he was keen to repeat.
"We already have mate," Jack grinned. "Take 'em to th' brig!"
***
For seven days Jack kept their guests locked up in the brig, refusing to allow the crew to have any contact with them - even Catherine after young James had managed to reduce her to tears by threatening to see her hang. He did not know why the boy had suddenly developed such a dislike of pirates, but he intended to find out. Once they were clear of the bay he had ordered their hands freed and the sacks removed, assured that they could see nothing from below decks. He sailed the longer way, to the south of Hispaniola and through the Mona Passage before heading back to the bay. With that length of time they bay could be anywhere on any island or even the mainland of South America - for he knew that he could not allow the Commodore to discover their destination.
Once the anchor had been lowered he went to the brig, staring thoughtfully at the occupants. "If yer give me yer word that yer will not try t' escape nor hurt any of m' crew or th' people here then yer can have yer freedom," he offered.
James Norrington considered his words. "And if I refuse?" he asked.
"Then yer stay locked up," Jack shrugged. "No difference t' me, but th' view is prettier from on deck..." He looked at them both, his tone threatening. "I'll not have yer upsetting Kitty though," he warned, "or you'll be back here so fast yer feet won't touch th' stairs!"
The Commodore nodded his head slowly. "You have my word," he vowed. "And I am sure that James will give his word too..."
"I will not!" James Schott argued.
"You will!" the Commodore ordered. "And you will keep a civil tongue in your head!"
James looked at him sulkily. "Yes Uncle," he finally conceded.
"Say th' words then Jimmy - else yer stay," Jack threatened.
"You have my word," he said grudgingly.
Jack beamed. "Then welcome to th' Black Pearl Commodore, Jimmy." He unlocked the door, leading them up onto the deck. "Feel free t' walk around. I have a few things t' do first... but I'll join yer later," he explained, leaving them on their own.
***
Okay, now that Linnie has managed to review (do keep up dear) I can post the next three chapters... I believe you were wanting to see the Commodore again? ;)
***
Later that night Jack rowed Catherine back to the Black Pearl, refusing to make love to her amongst the bushes when he could have the comfort of his bunk. "Must be getting' old," he laughed to himself as he fastened the boat securely to the side of the ship before following his wife's weaving path into their cabin. He locked the doors behind them on his second attempt before slowly undressing. "Yer gonna tell me yer plan then?" he asked, padding naked across the cabin towards her and helping her undress. She was drunk - not as drunk as he knew he was, but definitely unsteady on her feet. He grinned to himself, for Catherine rarely got drunk and when she did their lovemaking was even wilder than normal... unless she had too much and then she would simply fall asleep. He frowned, holding her at arms length and studying her closely. Definitely the former, he grinned, pulling her trousers off as she leaned against him.
"He likes to take a ride..." she slurred.
"So do I," Jack grinned suggestively.
"No... no... on a horse!" She wobbled, trying to focus on him. "He was teaching Jimmy to ride... little or no escort..."
He helped her up onto the bunk, not trusting her to climb up on her own. "So we find where he rides an' take him... nice an' easy..." he grinned. "I like nice an' easy..."
***
When she finally awoke Catherine knew she'd been drinking. Jack had left the bunk over an hour earlier and the Black Pearl was already sailing westwards towards the Windward Passage. With luck they would be back within a week, if the abduction went to plan. She smiled, noticing that Jack had placed her clothes within easy reach of the bunk and struggled into them before walking gingerly out onto deck to find him.
"Morning luv!" Jack boomed, his hand on the wheel. She winced. "Morning luv," he repeated, whispering. "How are you feelin'?"
She clambered up the stairs, leaning against him. "Like I'm still half- drunk..." She looked at Jack suspiciously. "Where did you get that second bottle of wine?"
Jack grinned. "From my special supply,"
"So that is why I can only remember half of last night..." she mused.
"Probably," he joked. "But I can remember it all..." He wrapped his free arm about her. "Mmmmmmnnnnnn, and a very nice it all was too..."
"Jack!" Catherine looked about her, glad that there were no crew nearby.
"Can I negotiate a repeat tonight?" he leered.
Catherine smiled quietly, slipping from his grasp as Oran walked up to take the wheel. "Maybe," she teased. "If you behave!"
"That'll be the day," Oran winked as he walked past her, causing her to laugh and then wince as she remembered her head. "Heavy night last night Kitty?" he grinned innocently.
"Shut up or I'll have you swabbing the decks!" she warned, unsurprised that her threat had little effect on his grin.
"I'll take the helm if you like Captain," Oran offered. "I don't think Kitty is safe to be alone in the galley..."
Catherine looked at both of them in despair as they laughed at her, walking with as much dignity as she could manage down the stairs towards the galley. She was not sure if her stomach could take Cotton's cooking, but she could easily cook something simple for herself.
***
Jack stood patiently, concealed by the bushes as the Commodore and James Schott rode past, a flash of chestnut and dapple grey hide as they cantered along the track. He silently slipped from his hiding place, weaving through the long grass until he stood beside the dusty trail. "Good afternoon Commodore!" he called after them, ensuring that his voice would be heard.
James Norrington wheeled his horse around in shock, causing his nephew to bump into his mount in surprise. "Sparrow!" he cursed, reaching for his pistol.
"You wouldn't want to be doin' that," Jack slurred, his own pistol aimed and cocked.
"You have some nerve!" James Norrington hissed, blinking as Catherine emerged to stand beside Jack. "Both of you have!" The two riders nudged their mounts towards them, reining to a halt a few yards away from Jack and Catherine.
"Drop your pistol Jimmy," she warned, noticing the boy's wavering hand. "We don't want anyone to be hurt..."
"Like those people you slaughtered at..." he started to say, but was cut short by Jack.
"That wasn't us Jimmy, not that anyone would believe us..." he slurred. "Now if yer'd be so kind as t' dismount - both of yer..."
James Norrington dismounted, his hands well clear of his pistol to avoid any misunderstandings. "Do as they say James," he instructed, holding the bridle of the second horse as the twelve year old dismounted. He was surprised to hear Catherine cock her pistol.
"Don't do it Jimmy... even though I love you as if you were family, I'd still shoot..." she warned.
"Proper pirate aren't you Mistress Cat," he sneered, keeping his hand next to his pistol. His uncle had been teaching him to shoot and he fancied himself a good shot..
"There was a day not too long ago when it was all you wanted to be," she replied sadly. "Now drop the pistol..."
"No..." he began to say, but strong arms wrapped themselves around him.
"Kitty said to drop the pistol," a heavily accented voice said. "I suggest you do as she says boy!" The pistol was forced from his grasp, falling to the ground with a thud.
"Thank you Jean Claude," Catherine smiled, relieved that she had not had to shoot - although she knew she would have if there had been no choice.
"Jean Claude..." James Schott looked at Catherine in disbelief. "This is the man that snatched Peter and me... how can..."
"He works fer us now," Jack explained as more crew emerged from the surrounding bushes, quickly binding their captives hands.
"What is this all about Sparrow?" the Commodore demanded angrily. He had been surprised at the reports of the atrocity but many people had witnessed it and a black ship with black sails could only mean one ship... couldn't it?
"James," Catherine sighed sadly, only approaching once his hands were safely bound "We knew that nobody would believe that it was not us at Port au Prince - so the only way to prove our innocence to you is for you to be a guest aboard the Black Pearl until the other ship strikes again..." She placed her hand regretfully on his arm as sacks were placed over their heads. "I'll explain more later... I'm sorry..."
James Norrington did not reply, but the younger James snorted in disbelief from beneath the sack.
"So sceptical Jimmy," Jack said sadly. "But we'll prove yer wrong - mark my words!"
***
The Commodore and his nephew found themselves led carefully through the undergrowth for over an hour until they felt sand beneath their feet. "Before yer comment Jimmy, this isn't our normal bay - savvy?" Jack warned, realising that now they would be unable to use the bay that he preferred to anchor in again for the boy would probably tell. Strong arms forced them into a ships boat and they were helped up onto the ship.
"You won't get away with this," James Norrington warned, relieved that the nightmare journey had ended. Although those leading him had done their utmost to ensure his footing, it was not an experience he was keen to repeat.
"We already have mate," Jack grinned. "Take 'em to th' brig!"
***
For seven days Jack kept their guests locked up in the brig, refusing to allow the crew to have any contact with them - even Catherine after young James had managed to reduce her to tears by threatening to see her hang. He did not know why the boy had suddenly developed such a dislike of pirates, but he intended to find out. Once they were clear of the bay he had ordered their hands freed and the sacks removed, assured that they could see nothing from below decks. He sailed the longer way, to the south of Hispaniola and through the Mona Passage before heading back to the bay. With that length of time they bay could be anywhere on any island or even the mainland of South America - for he knew that he could not allow the Commodore to discover their destination.
Once the anchor had been lowered he went to the brig, staring thoughtfully at the occupants. "If yer give me yer word that yer will not try t' escape nor hurt any of m' crew or th' people here then yer can have yer freedom," he offered.
James Norrington considered his words. "And if I refuse?" he asked.
"Then yer stay locked up," Jack shrugged. "No difference t' me, but th' view is prettier from on deck..." He looked at them both, his tone threatening. "I'll not have yer upsetting Kitty though," he warned, "or you'll be back here so fast yer feet won't touch th' stairs!"
The Commodore nodded his head slowly. "You have my word," he vowed. "And I am sure that James will give his word too..."
"I will not!" James Schott argued.
"You will!" the Commodore ordered. "And you will keep a civil tongue in your head!"
James looked at him sulkily. "Yes Uncle," he finally conceded.
"Say th' words then Jimmy - else yer stay," Jack threatened.
"You have my word," he said grudgingly.
Jack beamed. "Then welcome to th' Black Pearl Commodore, Jimmy." He unlocked the door, leading them up onto the deck. "Feel free t' walk around. I have a few things t' do first... but I'll join yer later," he explained, leaving them on their own.
***