AN (3/20) - I don't really have much to say, which is slightly amazing. Anyway, kudos to everyone who's read this and left reviews.
Chapter 18-Bootstrap
Jack reticently sighed as he watched the sun reflect off the ever-moving ocean. The beautiful sunlight made the Caribbean glow a delightful, almost translucent, shade of blue green. A small seagull flew overhead and Jack realized the Black Pearl was probably nearing Saint Christopher's island again. Deep in the recesses of Jack's mind, he fervently hoped Bootstrap would be here now.
It had been nearly two years since Jack had experienced the hospitality of Tortuga. In fact, the interesting young pirate would turn the venerable age of twenty a month from today. A rather odd coincidence that had amused Jack temporarily and had given something to occupy his lonely mind for a brief moment. Daniel had fallen ill over something, and had not been much of a companion to Jack. Jack would not ever admit this to anyone, but he rather missed the eccentric redhead's bothersome questions and imitations. Jack had tried to be around Calico Jack more often, but Barbossa's reaction to those attempts and Calico Jack's constant questions about his mother drove him away half of the time. Anne Bonney and Mary Reade tried to be sociable, but Jack was not interested in any of their conversations. Snide Shaine was extremely hostile, seemingly getting his instructions from the ruthless Barbossa. The rest of the crew were wary about Jack, fearing his highly noticeable swagger and pirate brand would give them away at any port and therefore just avoided him.
Jack's eyes shone with anticipation as the island came into view. He could not imagine that Bootstrap was not waiting in a noisy, boisterous tavern somewhere. Jack's mood was suddenly superb again as he swaggered to tell his captain what he had seen.
Jack quickly sauntered up to the bridge of the Pearl, temporarily imagining himself standing at the helm and just stood there, not saying anything. Calico Jack coughed expectantly. "Somethin' t' say, boy?"
Jack grinned, his eyes more alive then they'd been for quite a while. "Aye, cap'n, I jus' caught sight o' Saint Kitt's."
Calico Jack pensively smiled. "Tha's good, then. I miss th' hospitality o' the place." He glanced at Jack, trying to read his emotions. "There be a chance tha' Bootstrap won't be there. 'E might 'ave renounced his pirate ways, Jack."
Jack momentarily frowned; mad at himself for being so obvious. "Aye, sir tha's probably true. Bu', there's always 'ope." He yawned, trying to appear nonchalant about missing his best friend.
Calico Jack softly chuckled and fell silent, watching the speck of darkness in the distance slowly grow as the gentle leeward breeze pushed the graceful ship into port.
The crew hastily moored the Pearl, abandoning their protector for the last quarter of a year much as an animal leaves the care of its mother. They descended upon the town like insects and quickly dispersed into the various taverns and brothels.
Jack whistled some nameless tune as his eyes took in the sights of Tortuga once more. Various women of ill repute accompanied by drunken sailors and pirates were staggering down the street, holding their heads high and scoping out other potential customers. Skinny little waifs pick-pocketed those unfortunate souls who could not notice grubby little hands reaching into their effects. Jack grinned, enjoying the diverse forms of entertainment. He looked up, noting that he was now in front of the same tavern they had stayed at before.
He chuckled and entered the Faithful Bride, his dark brown eyes quickly scanning for the smiling Bootstrap. He soon caught sight of his chum, sitting at a table all by himself, drinking most likely ale. Jack sauntered over and silently sat down as Bootstrap's head went back to take a cursory drink. Bootstrap almost choked as his head returned to its normal position and he noticed the smiling Jack in front of him.
Jack chuckled, his eyes full of excitement. "'Ello, William. An' 'ow was yer honeymoon?"
Bootstrap coughed and managed to get the burning liquid completely down his throat. "Good, boy." He smiled apologetically. "Sorry it took me so long t' get back, Jack." He made as if he would continue, but Jack put his hand up.
"No apology's necessary, mate. I'm jus' glad tha' ye came back." He smiled, his gold-filled tooth glinting in the filtered sunlight.
Bootstrap smiled appreciatively. He sighed and glanced Jack over, his eyes resting on Jack's face. He chuckled, asking in an incredulous voice, "Ye wear kohl now?"
Jack nodded eagerly. "Aye, a strumpet in India introduced me to it, mate."
Bootstrap nodded and said, "Seems t' fit ye, for some reason."
Jack nodded, not knowing what else to say. The air between them was charged with tension, for neither really knew how to break their long silence. "Well, William, 'ow is Lauren?" Jack asked after a few moments of silence lapsed. Jack didn't really want to know, for he was jealous of the girl's hold on his friend.
Bootstrap smiled, remembering the beautiful face he'd left behind three months previously in England. "She's with child, actually." He then grew rather thoughtful. "I really should go back in abou' a week."
Jack's eyes widened in alarm and disbelief, having a very hard time grasping that his friend had probably only been here for a little while. He hastily smiled to mask his reaction. "Tha's good, William." He frowned. "Well, no' the leavin' part, bu' the bit abou' Lauren is good."
Bootstrap chuckled. "Well, Jack, I was wonderin' if ye'd like t' accompany me back t' England. I'd like t' be there when me son is born." Bootstrap assumed the stance that most men took while anticipating the birth of a child: it would be a boy. Although most men would appreciate a daughter, most desired a son to carry on the family name. Sons could also take care of ailing parents, later in life, much better than a daughter could. Once a girl married, she essentially became part of her husband's family.
"Well, William, I'd love t' go, bu' I can't. Cap'n plans t' plunder some more soon, an' since I was robbed, I've used up all o' me stored money." Jack thought for a second. "Besides, Lauren would recognize me as the cleric, which I don' wan' t' be recognized as." Jack knew that he was lying about the money issue. In fact, he had plenty still from his cut of the smuggling money from India. He just did not want to see that woman again. He felt like she had robbed him far worse then those ruffians in London.
Bootstrap frowned, his light brown eyes crestfallen. "I understan', boy." He then abruptly laughed. "Y' 'ave no idea 'ow much trouble ye caused, boy. E'r'one wanted t' see yer blood. Missus Lancaster was afraid tha' Courtney was expectin'. Ye should've seen 'ow mad she was a' me. Seems t' think it was me fault tha' ye did tha'. Jus' because I was the one tha' suggested ye."
Jack laughed full-heartedly. "Really? Ye should've seen the look she was givin' me when she found us. No' somethin' I expected, t' say the least."
Bootstrap smiled and nodded, coughing uncomfortably and bringing up a subject that had been skirted over. "I'm leavin' next week, Jack. Lauren wants me 'ome when the baby comes, so I booked passage aboard another ship. I wan' you t' tell the cap'n."
Jack frowned, not wanting to consider how long Bootstrap would be gone this time. "Missin' me birthday, eh?" he asked, skirting over his friend's request. Jack did not see why Bootstrap did not just tell Calico Jack himself. It was not like the older man did not frequent drinking establishments like this one all the time. Bootstrap had a very high chance if running into Calico Jack.
Bootstrap nodded apologetically. "Sorry, Jack. I 'as hopin' tha' ye woulda showed up earlier." Bootstrap was afraid that Calico Jack would refuse to accept the reason he'd be leaving. He sighed, suddenly processing what Jack had said before. "Ye wen' t' India? 'Ow was it?"
Jack's ever-interesting brown eyes clouded over for a moment. "Well, twas pretty good until the strumpet I was occupied wi' stabbed me in the back." He frowned and then smiled quickly. "Lovely country, India is. I plan t' sail there when I become a cap'n." He inwardly chuckled as he remembered his daring escape. Several members of the crew had seen that escapade and had blown it out of proportion on the way back to the Caribbean.
Bootstrap chuckled, deciding that Jack would explain it to him eventually. He finished off the last of his drink, scanning the tavern for any more familiar faces. He really had nothing to discuss with Jack, for he had a strong feeling of loss when he contemplated what sorts of adventure Jack had. His own time had been spent going to parties after his "marriage", and getting a job down at the docks when a furious Lauren found out he had been robbed of his money. Truth be told, Bootstrap had invented a story about getting a job on a ship to tell Lauren because he was sick of being on land. It was after he had bought the ticket, however, that Lauren told him she was expecting. He sighed as these thoughts assaulted his mind, not noticing Calico Jack enter the tavern.
Jack was watching Bootstrap pensively; able to sense that something was eating at his mind. He sighed as well, instantly noticing Calico Jack's entrance. He motioned the older man over, noting that Bootstrap was staring at nothing. Calico Jack nodded and quickly made his way over to their table, sitting down next to Jack.
Calico Jack smiled, the scar on his cheek more noticeable than when Bootstrap had left. "'Ello, Bootstrap." Calico Jack chuckled as Bootstrap jumped, surprised to see the grinning captain looking at him.
Bootstrap put his now empty drink down, suddenly noticing how similar Calico Jack and Jack looked. He chuckled as his mind briefly entertained a thought, but quickly shot that down. "'Ello, cap'n. I 'as jus' talkin' t' Jack abou' India." He grinned nervously, still naively afraid that Calico Jack would not accept his excuse.
Calico Jack smiled. "Aye, it was a profitable journey, for the mos' part." He frowned slightly, glancing at Jack's arm. Jack had finally caved in about a week after disappearing from those agents and showed Calico Jack his infection. Calico Jack successfully treated the arm, appalled that the young man had been caught. No one else aboard the Pearl would have ever known about the injury, but Barbossa had walked in the duo while Calico Jack was draining the wound.
Jack glanced at Calico Jack, warning him with his eyes not to mention it to Bootstrap. Calico Jack nodded and smiled, grabbing a drink from a serving woman.
Bootstrap watched this silent interchange, a puzzled look on his face. He shrugged and looked towards his captain apologetically. "Sorry tha' it took me so long t' make it 'ere. Unfortunately, I'm headin' back t' England next week." Bootstrap felt as if he had said those horrid words in the same sentence too often as he anxiously watched Calico Jack's reaction.
Calico Jack frowned and sighed. "Plannin' on renouncing yer pirate ways?" Calico Jack was afraid of anyone who was tied down with a family on land. It was how he had lost his favorite first mate and many a crewmember.
Bootstrap vigorously shook his head. "No, cap'n. Jus' want t' see me child." He was overcome with intense relief as he realized Calico Jack was not mad.
Calico Jack nodded thoughtfully, something nibbling at the back of his mind like an annoying bug. He pushed this aside and developed a false look of joy. "I can only imagine 'ow tha' would feel, 'aving a child." He sighed and took a drink of his alcoholic beverage.
Jack struggled to repress a twitch that wanted to envelope him. He nodded thoughtfully as well, immensely pleased that Bootstrap had indirectly mentioned he would be coming back to the life of piracy. The three of them continued their conversation, gradually getting used to each other's company once more. The conversation became much less strained.
Jack frowned as he watched The Sorbet slowly disappear over the horizon. Bootstrap was gone again. He was overcome with a deep sense of dismay. It was impossible to keep himself from sighing dejectedly. The chance of him seeing Bootstrap again soon was very slim. A tap on his shoulder made him abruptly jump.
"You scare too easy, Jack." Daniel's red hair glimmered in the rising level of light. He cracked a large smile as Jack's eyes filled with pleasure.
Jack smiled, his eyes gaining a look of avid curiosity. "Feelin' be'er?"
Daniel nodded and scratched his chin. "Aye, loads be'er. Wha' were ye lookin' at, Jack?"
Jack inwardly groaned, a bit miffed that Daniel's curiosity was back. "William jus' left for England again."
Daniel furrowed his brows together. "Who's William?" he asked, feeling very confused.
Jack smiled and chuckled. "Bootstrap Bill. William is 'is real name. I don' know why I call 'im tha', considerin' the fact no one else does."
Daniel smiled wanly. "Well, ye jus' are unique, Jack." He sighed and looked at the moored Black Pearl, suddenly unusually taciturn.
Jack grinned and looked at the Black Pearl as well. "She sure is a beauty, isn' she?"
Daniel merely nodded his agreement. The rising sun was framing the Pearl perfectly. Words seemed to ruin the sanctity of this dark ship. The pair stood there in unusual silence for several hours until Barbossa showed up, corralling them aboard this most precious ship.
Everyone gets cookies! There...now I do not have to say that too much.
Ms. Baldwin- Yes...millions more to go. I solved another, though. Thanks for your faithful reviews-they make my day!
starwarsfreakford13- Thank you, oh so much for the constant encouragement! I'm grateful that you always leave a review.
Vee017- Yay! A new reviewer! Thank you for leaving your gracious sentiments and such! I am very appreciative. Hope you like these two new chapters.
Courtney- Thanks, poppet! I'm sorry it took me so long to update...I've been a bit of a nervous wreck, though.
I wonder who it could be...-Still trying to work out who you are. -snicker- Thanks, poppet...
Roxanne- Yay! Another new reviewer! I'm glad you like it so much!
meggumscat- Yesh! Only in India! I miss crazy Will...have another cookie, to keep it even as usual.
WaNdA-Same thing I thought...I've seen it twice as well. And I read the novella. Good stuff, it is. And thank you most kindly for the compliment!
Indil-Ah ha! I knew that someone would catch that! You get the golden trophy. Anyways, it was rather alarming..but the end of the movie is so much better then the book. Mort dies in the book...that wouldn't have made me sad if I hadn't seen the movie first.
Bluekrystall- Well, you got Bootstrap back-briefly. No worries...he'll be back again soon.
Talmah- If I told you, then I'd have to kill you, unfortunately. Actually, I haven't decided myself. We'll see, eh? By the way, thanks for leaving a review!
borne-shadow-childe- Thanks for leaving a review! Sorry about the long delay...