Started my job over the weekend! Exciting, hah! Not really. I'm grass
cutter for the small town of Hawarden Saskatchewan and, surprisingly
for a small town, there is a lot of grass. Oh well with my useless
complaining. On to the story. This is one of my favorite chapters...so
proud.
Ch.13 Britain
"Let us out you piece of rotting scum!" Dick yelled gruffly through the bars of his cell as the guards sat at a table in the corner talking quickly in Spanish, occasionally glancing at them. "I swear you'll pay fer lockin' us in here!"
"They're not listening uncle." Herald whispered from his corner. Dick turned swiftly and shoved Cockran roughly aside to stare at Herald.
"Shut up! It was you who got us into this! If ye hadn't been so stupid!" Herald's face went beat red, everyone could tell even though it was buried in his arms, which were propped up on his knees. Dick stalked back to the bars and rattled them angrily. "Let us out!"
"Jack will think of something." Johnny said suddenly from his position at the window. "He always does."
"Jack...Jack will think of something." Dick said in a tone that matched Johnny's. He turned around and eyed the younger man shrewdly. "Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack...it's always Jack." Dick walked forward and poked Johnny hard in the chest. "Why don't ye just marry him if ye think he's so good? He's a daft fool, I'll give ye that, probably dead or sailin' away by now. To smart ta mess with these here idiots." He jerked his thumb at the guards who were watching the scene with interest. No one pointed out the wrong parts of their captain's previous statement by saying Jack was daft but smart...in a way it was true.
Dana sat still beside Ronny, watching Dick pace back and fourth, screaming at the Spanish guards and banging on the bars of their cell. She had total trust in Jack...In the past two years he'd become a well known name as Captain (even though he wasn't one) Jack Sparrow, infamous pirate who'd escaped from seven members of the East India company and done a lot of other remarkable things. She thought of the day he'd gotten back to the Seeker with a small 'P' branded on his arm.
"How'd you get away?" She'd asked when they had gotten him to the crew quarters below deck and Dana'd been left to look after him and clean some of his cuts.
"With my charming personality and quick wits." He'd replied. When she'd lifted his sleeve he'd pulled away and said, "I'm lucky this thing didn't end up on my forehead but I convinced them against it."
Dana smiled at the memory and looked around the cell. Most of them were pirates, wanted for something and the Spanish Navy had finally caught up with most of them except Reg, Pete, Rills and Jack and now she awaited their rescue. It had been three hours.
Another guard stepped off the staircase and walked over to the table. It was two dark to see him properly but even at this distance Dana could tell he was probably very good looking. Ronny was watching him to with a strange look on his face.
"What?" Dana asked. Ronny shook his head and continued to stare as the guards conversed in low voices. Finally the new arrival laughed and pointed to their cell. By now, everyone was watching the scene outside with baited breath, wondering what was coming to them and listening hard, even Dick had stopped to watch.
John suddenly took in a sharp breath. "He's come to torture us for information." He said shakily. Everyone looked at him. "I know enough Spanish to know that."
"Are you sure?" Ronny whispered, his face suddenly chalk white. John continued to listen and finally nodded.
"Well, bring him on." Growled Lester, flexing his muscles and cracking his knuckles as two of the guards made their way over, still talking. As they came into the light, Dana almost smiled at the familiar face that greeted her.
Jack stood before them, fumbling with the keys as the real guard stood behind him. Dana stood and walked closer, catching his brown eyes and holding them for a minute before he remembered what he was supposed to be doing and continued.
In English with a fake heavy Spanish accent, he said, "I need you to cooperate or we will be forced to kill you. Understand?" They all nodded, playing along as the door swung open and Jack held up his gun with the bayonet attached. "One of you needs to come for questioning." Reaching forward, he grabbed Dana's arm and pulled her roughly from the cell. The other guard closed the door behind her and Jack marched her off, up the stairs and into another room. At the door he said something in Spanish and then closed it, shutting them both in with privacy.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked, closing the door and turning to Dana. She nodded shakily and came over to him, looking him over. He seemed perfectly fine except his bandana was missing and his long brown hair was tied back. The uniform actually made him look sexier then usual.
"Fine now." She said. Jack smiled and pulled a key from his boot, slipping it down the front of her shirt. "What's this?"
"A key, for the cell. The guards change shifts every four hours, you have two hours to go until they change shifts again then you'll be able to get free. It's five minutes between each." Dana was surprised he knew all this but listened intently all the same. "Now, you're supposed to be being tortured. Start screaming."
Twenty or so minutes later, Dana and Jack were emerging from the room and making their way down the stairs to the cells. In Spanish, Jack yelled at one of the men and shoved Dana in the cell roughly as she cowered and fell to the floor, unmoving until Jack had moved away. When she looked up, Johnny was looking at her concerned. Slowly, so the guards wouldn't see, Dana raised her hand and the key.
Another man appeared on the staircase. Dana began to explain in whispers to the others what was going on with the guards, ignoring the sounds from the other end of the room. As she got to the part about the shift change there was a sudden scuffling noise and they all turned to see Jack slammed against the bars of the cell down the corridor from theirs.
"Well, well, well Mr. Sparrow, thought you could get through our defenses so easily huh?" The man was older with a gruff voice as though he had a cold. "Take him to the cell." Two men tried to grab him but Jack resisted, turning the scene into an all out small war.
"Bloody hell." Lester growled as they watched Jack duck a swipe at him but over balance, falling into a guard behind him. There was another small scuffle and Jack was bodily thrown into a cell, the men closing the door as quick as possible before the pirate could escape. The man with the gruff voice came forward.
"Nice try." He said, standing well out of Jack's grasp. "What did you think you were going to do? Get them out single-handed and then try to escape our defenses. Come on Mr. Sparrow, I've heard so much about you, wouldn't want to distort my image." Jack smiled and leaned against the bars. They could see blood dripping from the underside of his arm and running down the bars.
"I was actually planning to kill you all single-handed, then escape." Jack said simply. "Really the plan was quite brilliant, if not all thought out...well, it was slightly thought out but not all that brilliant. Or maybe it was to well planned...or not planned enough."
"Shut up!" The other growled, rubbing his temples, "You're giving me a head ache." Jack grinned.
"You're giving me one two. Funny lil' world, ain't it? How say you to letting us go...then maybe we won't bombard this fort with our little cannons later, eh? Either way, mate, you get me out of your hair."
"The only way your getting 'out of my hair' is the gallows, Sparrow. That's where you belong." Dana quickly placed the key in her mouth, under her tongue as the man made his way over to their cell, Jack having finally shut up. "Which one of these did Sparrow talk to?" He asked over his shoulder. The men pointed to Dana. "Well, aren't you a pretty little thing, huh? What's your name?"
"Donna." Dana said. The man laughed slightly and rested on the bars.
"What did he tell you? Hold on and wait? Are there reinforcements coming...or was he all-alone? I'm guessing the last one...am I wrong?" He laughed again when Dana didn't answer and left the holding area, calling to the guards something in Spanish before disappearing.
The two hours until guard shift crept by. Jack irritated the guards by singing loudly, complaining that the walls were too dingy, the floors not comfortable enough and saying he needed a drink. Dana was surprised they didn't shoot him, seeing as he was annoying them to.
"I swear, if he don't shut up..." Lester growled under his breath as Jack started on the second chorus of some made up song. "I'll shoot myself and...bloody hell!" Dana smiled and leaned back, Lester...got to love him.
"You have to get revenge, remember. No point in killing yourself before that." She muttered quietly. Lester smiled weakly and his eyes twinkled.
"Suicide seems like an option right now." He answered. Dana laughed. Johnny was watching Jack.
"He's no lounge singer, that's for sure." Dana knew Jack was doing it on purpose, sounding dreadful to piss off the guards. She had to admit though, even under the awfully pitchy parts, she could hear a slight tickle of a deep sweet voice under there.
The guard's change was not fast enough for her liking. When they finally did switch, it gave her a window of five minutes, one of which was spent with her arm through the cell's spaced bars, using the key to pop the lock.
"Hurry!" Jack hissed as the others scrambled out of the cell behind her and she ran to Jack's. She opened his cell and he grabbed her arm, pulling her after the crew, Dick having been the first to scoot off up the stairs, screw his crew.
"Are you okay?" Dana asked as they ran, jumping over fallen guards the crew had already taken out before. "Your arm..."
There were many footsteps ahead, they couldn't even see the crew. Jack pulled her into a side room and shut the door softly as the sound of running feet went by the room. Guards, they'd know by now about the escape, she could hear a bell ringing somewhere desperately.
"Don't worry bout me arm, luv." Jack muttered, peering through the crack in the door. "I think we should be more worried about our skins, eh?" Dana nodded. "Good. They'll be after the crew. If they're smart, they'll scatter till it's safe."
"And if they don't?" Dana asked anxiously. Jack gave her a grim look.
"Then we won't repeat their mistakes, eh?" The coast was clear, Jack pulled her from the room and they made their way through the hall and out of the fort, slipping into the dark bushes that lined the edge.
The crouched in the shadows for a minute or so then began to move along them at a crawl, occasionally stopping to watch a passing guard walk by, gun raised and ready. When they were through the took off for a near by church and Dana distinctly heard jack say, "Well, worked once." As they ran.
The church was small and hot, the sun filtering in through the high windows. Pictures of Jesus on the cross and the holy mother watched them as they ran down the isle between the pews, heading for the back door. There was a guard, he stepped out of a room ahead of them. Jack grabbed Dana's arm and pulled her roughly to the ground between the pews.
Jack had Dana low to the ground, watching the guard's feet moving towards them. When he was at the next pew, Jack and Dana rolled underneath and he passed by, without looking. When the door had closed, they immerged; Dana's heart doing an erratic drum roll against her chest, so strong she thought the guard would hear it and come back. He didn't, though.
"That was to close." Dana muttered. Jack stood and made his way down the isle again, gun out and ready. Dana knew he'd never use that gun and it was just a way to threaten people but she said nothing. The faces of Mary and Jesus high above made her suddenly regret being in here. She felt uncomfortable with their holy presence watching her and mentioned it to Jack who shrugged.
"They're paintings, they don't care." He said. Dana shook her head. Did this man have no conscience? There was a woman praying in the front pew. They were just passing her, heading for the back door when the front one opened behind them and they spun around to see a guard halfway in the door, speaking in Spanish to another. It seemed they were deciding weather to go in or not.
Jack was in a semi-spring mode, his gun clenched in his fist, watching the door, the woman's praying ringing in their ears. She hadn't seemed to notice them or the guards.
"Hello, can I help you?" Came a voice from behind them. It was one of the fathers of the church dressed in his crisp new clothing, his gray hair thin and wispy. Suddenly, Jack moved as the guards at the door, hearing the father's words, came in. They cried out as they saw Jack but could do nothing because he held the praying woman from the pew between him and then, her screaming, his gun to her head.
"Dana, behind me." He snapped. Dana did as she was told, falling in behind him as they backed away from the guards and to the back door. "Stop! I will shoot her, make no mistake of that!" Jack yelled. The men didn't seem to understand so he spoke in Spanish as well. Slowly they stopped and lowered their weapons. "Shh." He said to the woman, speaking in a whisper to her. Finally, she calmed enough to the point where she wasn't in complete hysteria and Dana and Jack made their way through the door.
They were met by a few dark streets and dingy allies. They ran along these, pulling the woman with them, making their way to the harbor. Kidnap, in the house of the lord! Dana knew it was lucky she wasn't the most religious person or else she'd be on her knees, praying to god for forgiveness at this very moment.
They were going to the opposite direction of the docks, out the wrong way to the harbor. Dana pointed it out but Jack shook his head, muttering that it didn't matter. The woman fell a few times but jack simply dragged her to her feet, checking over his shoulder for any passing guards. After half and hour or so of running, they slowed and walked another ten minutes, down a sloping, twisting dirt path to a hidden cove and a beautiful yellow beach. The cove was so high with a magnificent view and the most startlingly clear water she had ever seen.
Out, in the middle of this small cove was the Seeker, bobbing slightly in the waves that washed the yellow sand into the water. The people below were waiting, guns raised. Jack let the woman's arm go suddenly and she looked at him terrified, rubbing her wrist. "Go!" He shouted at her in English. The woman jumped and took off, back the way they had come, tripping and stumbling in her haste, leaving Dana and Jack to make they're way down the waiting boats.
"You could have seriously hurt her." Dana said as they walked. "She was so scared, did you see it in her eyes? What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking we had to get out of that situation and I acted accordingly. I did what was necessary so don't blame me." Jack said, he was on the defensive, she could feel it. "Now, if you don't mind, luv, we have a ship to catch."
Rills was waiting below with Reg. Rills looked relieved to see them, Reg on the other hand looked disappointed. "We were afraid you weren't coming. Dick wanted to go the moment he arrived but half the crew was still missing. With you, here, we make all. Climb in." Jack offered Dana his hand but she didn't take it, climbing into the boat on her own. Jack really didn't seem to care. As they made their way to the Seeker, Jack toying with his bleeding arm, Dana realized that this story would be one he wouldn't need to make any more elaborate. It was good enough on it's own.
"Britain." Jack sighed,
leaning on the rail with the rest of the crew. It was a cool day and
the ocean spray washed his face as they drew closer and closer to
port...a port he knew well. Dana was at his side, her hand on the rail
beside his, so close the sides of their palms were touching. It had
taken a while but she'd forgiven him.
"How long?" She asked quietly. Jack tried to think but couldn't remember...how long had it been? "Revenge has taken me so far...I can't remember my home any more." Jack nodded; knowing what it was like.
The harbor was quiet as they entered one or two ships sitting calmly on the sun bathed water. He knew this harbor...it was his home. His eyes traveled over the town on the shore, searching the landmarks and finally seeing the tree on the hill. Lilly, maybe he'd find her there.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Jack whispered. Dana inched closer and nodded excitedly, her beautiful eyes sweeping over his face. "I was born here." She suddenly looked out over the town and he could see her taking it all in with far more interest then there had been before.
"Can you see your house?" She asked with a smile. Jack grinned and pointed. Dana tried to follow his directions but failed. With a light laugh she said, "Where?"
"There. The big one, on the side...half up the hill." Dana's eyes grew wide as they caught sight of the beautiful mansion. A silent 'oh' crossed her lips. "Do you want to see it?"
They crept along the bushes beside the path towards the large manor that Jack had called his home. The rest of the crew were searching out a man with possible information on Fritz and weren't interested in where Jack and Dana had wandered off to.
The grounds brought back memories as the snuck through the garden hedges behind the house and came out in a secluded rose bush lined court. Dana gasped and walked around, her hands running along the stone benches as she watched the water catching the light in the fountain. Jack came slowly up behind her, all to familiar with the sights.
"Lovely ain't it?" He asked. Dana grinned and turned to face him.
"Is this a ploy to sleep with me Jack? Show me something beautiful and then..." She stopped and sat on the bench. "It's working." Jack sat beside her and thought of when he had first brought Lily to this spot. He wanted to kiss Dana suddenly but, as this revelation hit, his thoughts were interrupted by a rustling on the path. Before they could hide or even attempt to hide, a large black woman had wandered in carrying a basket and humming to herself.
She stopped with a gasp and a small jump when she saw them. Though she had lost a lost of weight and her face was more lined then ever with a full head of gray hair, Jack recognized her at once as Mary. He stood and stepped closer but he could tell she didn't know him. The basket slipped from her hand and hit the ground, spilling the flowers inside all over the ground.
"Here, let me help you with those." Dana said, rushing forward and helping the woman pick them up. She smiled gratefully and watched Jack apprehensively. "Help here." Dana hissed. Jack came forward and helped, his eyes still on Mary.
When all the flowers had been picked up, Mary stood and wiped her brow, her eyes on Jack's wrist where the 'P' was clearly visible as he scratched at an itch above it. "You may want to be careful 'round here." She said and Jack smiled to here her voice again. "The mistress of the house don't like pirates."
"Rosa?" Jack asked with out thinking. Mary lifted her eyebrows.
"How'd you know?" She asked suspiciously.
"Heard it. It's a story...long, long story...don't make much sense if truth be known, don't even make much sense to me." Confused, Jack smiled. He didn't know why he resisted telling Mary who he was, obviously she didn't recognize him but, deep down he knew it was fear. He was afraid to let his sister find out what he'd been doing for so long...how he'd lied...how he'd left...
Mary's eyes softened and lowered to his left arm. "You may want to get that looked at." She said. Jack looked down and was surprised to see his arm was bleeding again. "Come." She led them through the garden and down a worn path to the side of the house and the small kitchen door. Beckoning them in, Mary snapped at the women working inside and sat Jack at a stool in the corner.
"I don't know why," She said as she pulled Jack's sleeve up over his wound on the bottom part of his arm. "But you remind me of someone, can't think who at the moment." Jack's tanned face flushed but she didn't seem to notice. The cut was infected. Mary cleaned it best she could and then wrapped it in strips of cloth before pulling down his sleeve and patting him on the shoulder. "Good as new." She said, turning to the cupboard and pulling down a tea glass. "I have to serve tea to Mrs. Whitaker now so, if you'll excuse me."
"Whitaker?" Jack asked. Mary looked at him and nodded. "Rosa Whiataker?" Damn, she had married Ralph then. "Is Mr. Johnson still alive?"
"Mr. Johnson is dead, both of them are." Jack was confused for a moment and then remembered the letter Josh had written so long ago to help them all move on. "Mr. John Johnson was killed on the sea, his father, Richard, was killed two years ago at the fort. Now, if you will excuse me." And with that she left. Jack stood and went to the door, peering out into the entrance hall.
Through a door at the end he could see the tearoom and there, at the small table, was Rosa. Jack's knees nearly gave way as he stared at his sister. She was the same, only older and...and...
"She's beautiful." Dana whispered. Jack nodded. "Your sister?"
"Yes." Jack said more loudly then he'd intended. Suddenly, Rosa looked up and her eyes met Jack's. They stared at each other for a moment before Jack saw his sister's lips clearly form the words, 'Who's that?'
"Come on, let's go, she's seen us." Quickly, Jack grabbed Dana's arm and they ran from the house out to the path and down to the town and the docks.
Rosa sat serenely in
the tearoom, staring out the tall windows to the grounds outside, her
mind on many things. It had been years since she'd been truly happy and
now, with her husband a captain, she felt as though everything was
supposed to be right. It wasn't.
She'd married Ralph not to long after Jack had died. Rachel had died in childbirth a few years later and Rosa and Ralph had moved in to look after her father. Now he was gone to...everything had fallen apart. At least she had Lily.
Mary entered the tearoom and placed the tray on the table in front of her with a soft thunk. "Good afternoon Ma'am, would you like you're tea now?" Rosa smiled slightly and nodded, watching the woman fill the cup. Her eyes wandered away, her mind slipping again before she realized there was someone in the kitchen doorway, staring at her. She stared back.
He was handsome and she vaguely wondered if that was his wife beside him with her arm on his shoulder. It was his chocolate eyes though that captured her...he looked like Jack. "Who's that?" She asked Mary. The older woman's face changed to a scared expression and she turned just as the man and woman in the kitchen turned and hurried away.
Rosa abandoned her tea and rushed through the entrance hall to the door. Pulling it open she ran down the steps and down the path to the street. Looking left and right, however, she saw no one.
Lily sat at the tree
where her and Jack had practiced all those years ago, her mind blank,
and her hand absentminded playing with the half heart around her neck.
She'd been keeping tabs on Jack Sparrow, her love's killer, for years,
hearing his great adventures and mishaps. No one knew where he was
today but she could feel there was something amiss, something weird
going on. It was if he was close.
She gazed over the water to the ship that had just come in. It was leaving again...closing her eyes, she leaned back and decided to let the soft wind carry her back to sleep. There would be a lot more to hear yet.
DragonHunter200: With the concept of all the people after Fritz on the
same boat, I came up with by accident. I was lying in bed, unable to
sleep and I suddenly realized that Jack couldn't be the only one. I
wanted my readers to really hate Fritz so why not have a whole bunch of
ppl to help Jack. It would also add story for later...when 'that' time
came. Sorry bout your modem, mine crashed a while ago to, just before
my big move three years ago so...my computer is set up in my dad's room
and he goes to bed at ten every night so I can't work late. His room's
the biggest, my mom's second and, telling to honest to god truth, I
don't actually have one. My bed and dressers are on the porch so,
that's where I sleep. Sux having three ppl in a two bedroom house, hey?
My mouth does feel better to, thanx. They cut the wire in two minutes
tops. That's what they should have done in the first place! Jealous of
my life? Thanx but, it's not all it's cracked up to be, really. I love
having horses but only one's mine. My mom has three miniatures that
live in the back yard, and one large riding appaloosa. I own a
saddlebred/arab cross-named Frenchie. I've shown her a little bit and
all. I got her because my other horse died. I love her but, it's just
not the same, you know? I can't remember much of Mexico, I was pretty
young when I went...last time I was eight when I went and I've been
approximately fourteen states but, I can't remember them either. Never
been to Las Vegas or Arizona but, maybe someday. I'm going to Michigan
anyway, just because you told me not to. My big dream, though, is to go
to Australia! That would be fun! Canada you should visit sometime, it's
not as bad as most people think. British Columbia is really beautiful.
I've been in the mountains there but never to Victoria or Vancouver. My
mom's been, though and she says it's nice. Calgary...HOME OF THE
FLAMES...is really worth a visit, but travel over the ridge at night,
so you can see the lights! They look so cool. And course, no Canadian
travel guide would ever be complete without a visit to Saskatoon
Saskatchewan...SASKATCHEWAN rules...even if it is the hardest to spell
but easiest to draw. Never go to Quebec or Ontario...those ppl are
weird...no offence to any Quebers or Ontarionites who might be reading
this...I love you, really. Well, I've ranted long enough. G2G, always
great to read your reviews, thanx.
Alteng: Kill Fritz, Kill Fritz...ehem, anyway. That idea with a ship dedicated to getting the pearl was great...maybe...hmm...Thanks, I liked the name but needed something...revengish to go along with the fritz's blood thirsty crew. Don't feel sorry for Dick, he has his name for a reason...I'm stuck on the word dick right now. I called my teacher, Mr. Heath, a dick today and he laughed at me. He's a great teacher, he knows he can't do anything with our class, we're to stupid. He pushes kids around, not hard, just in a fun way, and when I told a boy in my class to kiss my ass he laughed. The boy retaliated and he got beakers (Have to clean the dissection pans and other gross stuff in the science lab). Green-eyed John...awesome. An eye for an eye...Fritz would deserve to become a eunuch, really. He's such an ass. The movie part is actually already written...I couldn't wait. It has stuff from the original movie plus small bits of my own creation and the outtakes which are oh so fabulous. I saw this ad for potc on movie central, the movie will be coming onto that channel this month, and there was hidden dialogue from johnny that wasn't in any part of the movie! I have to add it now...just figure out where it belongs.
Ch.13 Britain
"Let us out you piece of rotting scum!" Dick yelled gruffly through the bars of his cell as the guards sat at a table in the corner talking quickly in Spanish, occasionally glancing at them. "I swear you'll pay fer lockin' us in here!"
"They're not listening uncle." Herald whispered from his corner. Dick turned swiftly and shoved Cockran roughly aside to stare at Herald.
"Shut up! It was you who got us into this! If ye hadn't been so stupid!" Herald's face went beat red, everyone could tell even though it was buried in his arms, which were propped up on his knees. Dick stalked back to the bars and rattled them angrily. "Let us out!"
"Jack will think of something." Johnny said suddenly from his position at the window. "He always does."
"Jack...Jack will think of something." Dick said in a tone that matched Johnny's. He turned around and eyed the younger man shrewdly. "Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack...it's always Jack." Dick walked forward and poked Johnny hard in the chest. "Why don't ye just marry him if ye think he's so good? He's a daft fool, I'll give ye that, probably dead or sailin' away by now. To smart ta mess with these here idiots." He jerked his thumb at the guards who were watching the scene with interest. No one pointed out the wrong parts of their captain's previous statement by saying Jack was daft but smart...in a way it was true.
Dana sat still beside Ronny, watching Dick pace back and fourth, screaming at the Spanish guards and banging on the bars of their cell. She had total trust in Jack...In the past two years he'd become a well known name as Captain (even though he wasn't one) Jack Sparrow, infamous pirate who'd escaped from seven members of the East India company and done a lot of other remarkable things. She thought of the day he'd gotten back to the Seeker with a small 'P' branded on his arm.
"How'd you get away?" She'd asked when they had gotten him to the crew quarters below deck and Dana'd been left to look after him and clean some of his cuts.
"With my charming personality and quick wits." He'd replied. When she'd lifted his sleeve he'd pulled away and said, "I'm lucky this thing didn't end up on my forehead but I convinced them against it."
Dana smiled at the memory and looked around the cell. Most of them were pirates, wanted for something and the Spanish Navy had finally caught up with most of them except Reg, Pete, Rills and Jack and now she awaited their rescue. It had been three hours.
Another guard stepped off the staircase and walked over to the table. It was two dark to see him properly but even at this distance Dana could tell he was probably very good looking. Ronny was watching him to with a strange look on his face.
"What?" Dana asked. Ronny shook his head and continued to stare as the guards conversed in low voices. Finally the new arrival laughed and pointed to their cell. By now, everyone was watching the scene outside with baited breath, wondering what was coming to them and listening hard, even Dick had stopped to watch.
John suddenly took in a sharp breath. "He's come to torture us for information." He said shakily. Everyone looked at him. "I know enough Spanish to know that."
"Are you sure?" Ronny whispered, his face suddenly chalk white. John continued to listen and finally nodded.
"Well, bring him on." Growled Lester, flexing his muscles and cracking his knuckles as two of the guards made their way over, still talking. As they came into the light, Dana almost smiled at the familiar face that greeted her.
Jack stood before them, fumbling with the keys as the real guard stood behind him. Dana stood and walked closer, catching his brown eyes and holding them for a minute before he remembered what he was supposed to be doing and continued.
In English with a fake heavy Spanish accent, he said, "I need you to cooperate or we will be forced to kill you. Understand?" They all nodded, playing along as the door swung open and Jack held up his gun with the bayonet attached. "One of you needs to come for questioning." Reaching forward, he grabbed Dana's arm and pulled her roughly from the cell. The other guard closed the door behind her and Jack marched her off, up the stairs and into another room. At the door he said something in Spanish and then closed it, shutting them both in with privacy.
"Are you okay?" Jack asked, closing the door and turning to Dana. She nodded shakily and came over to him, looking him over. He seemed perfectly fine except his bandana was missing and his long brown hair was tied back. The uniform actually made him look sexier then usual.
"Fine now." She said. Jack smiled and pulled a key from his boot, slipping it down the front of her shirt. "What's this?"
"A key, for the cell. The guards change shifts every four hours, you have two hours to go until they change shifts again then you'll be able to get free. It's five minutes between each." Dana was surprised he knew all this but listened intently all the same. "Now, you're supposed to be being tortured. Start screaming."
Twenty or so minutes later, Dana and Jack were emerging from the room and making their way down the stairs to the cells. In Spanish, Jack yelled at one of the men and shoved Dana in the cell roughly as she cowered and fell to the floor, unmoving until Jack had moved away. When she looked up, Johnny was looking at her concerned. Slowly, so the guards wouldn't see, Dana raised her hand and the key.
Another man appeared on the staircase. Dana began to explain in whispers to the others what was going on with the guards, ignoring the sounds from the other end of the room. As she got to the part about the shift change there was a sudden scuffling noise and they all turned to see Jack slammed against the bars of the cell down the corridor from theirs.
"Well, well, well Mr. Sparrow, thought you could get through our defenses so easily huh?" The man was older with a gruff voice as though he had a cold. "Take him to the cell." Two men tried to grab him but Jack resisted, turning the scene into an all out small war.
"Bloody hell." Lester growled as they watched Jack duck a swipe at him but over balance, falling into a guard behind him. There was another small scuffle and Jack was bodily thrown into a cell, the men closing the door as quick as possible before the pirate could escape. The man with the gruff voice came forward.
"Nice try." He said, standing well out of Jack's grasp. "What did you think you were going to do? Get them out single-handed and then try to escape our defenses. Come on Mr. Sparrow, I've heard so much about you, wouldn't want to distort my image." Jack smiled and leaned against the bars. They could see blood dripping from the underside of his arm and running down the bars.
"I was actually planning to kill you all single-handed, then escape." Jack said simply. "Really the plan was quite brilliant, if not all thought out...well, it was slightly thought out but not all that brilliant. Or maybe it was to well planned...or not planned enough."
"Shut up!" The other growled, rubbing his temples, "You're giving me a head ache." Jack grinned.
"You're giving me one two. Funny lil' world, ain't it? How say you to letting us go...then maybe we won't bombard this fort with our little cannons later, eh? Either way, mate, you get me out of your hair."
"The only way your getting 'out of my hair' is the gallows, Sparrow. That's where you belong." Dana quickly placed the key in her mouth, under her tongue as the man made his way over to their cell, Jack having finally shut up. "Which one of these did Sparrow talk to?" He asked over his shoulder. The men pointed to Dana. "Well, aren't you a pretty little thing, huh? What's your name?"
"Donna." Dana said. The man laughed slightly and rested on the bars.
"What did he tell you? Hold on and wait? Are there reinforcements coming...or was he all-alone? I'm guessing the last one...am I wrong?" He laughed again when Dana didn't answer and left the holding area, calling to the guards something in Spanish before disappearing.
The two hours until guard shift crept by. Jack irritated the guards by singing loudly, complaining that the walls were too dingy, the floors not comfortable enough and saying he needed a drink. Dana was surprised they didn't shoot him, seeing as he was annoying them to.
"I swear, if he don't shut up..." Lester growled under his breath as Jack started on the second chorus of some made up song. "I'll shoot myself and...bloody hell!" Dana smiled and leaned back, Lester...got to love him.
"You have to get revenge, remember. No point in killing yourself before that." She muttered quietly. Lester smiled weakly and his eyes twinkled.
"Suicide seems like an option right now." He answered. Dana laughed. Johnny was watching Jack.
"He's no lounge singer, that's for sure." Dana knew Jack was doing it on purpose, sounding dreadful to piss off the guards. She had to admit though, even under the awfully pitchy parts, she could hear a slight tickle of a deep sweet voice under there.
The guard's change was not fast enough for her liking. When they finally did switch, it gave her a window of five minutes, one of which was spent with her arm through the cell's spaced bars, using the key to pop the lock.
"Hurry!" Jack hissed as the others scrambled out of the cell behind her and she ran to Jack's. She opened his cell and he grabbed her arm, pulling her after the crew, Dick having been the first to scoot off up the stairs, screw his crew.
"Are you okay?" Dana asked as they ran, jumping over fallen guards the crew had already taken out before. "Your arm..."
There were many footsteps ahead, they couldn't even see the crew. Jack pulled her into a side room and shut the door softly as the sound of running feet went by the room. Guards, they'd know by now about the escape, she could hear a bell ringing somewhere desperately.
"Don't worry bout me arm, luv." Jack muttered, peering through the crack in the door. "I think we should be more worried about our skins, eh?" Dana nodded. "Good. They'll be after the crew. If they're smart, they'll scatter till it's safe."
"And if they don't?" Dana asked anxiously. Jack gave her a grim look.
"Then we won't repeat their mistakes, eh?" The coast was clear, Jack pulled her from the room and they made their way through the hall and out of the fort, slipping into the dark bushes that lined the edge.
The crouched in the shadows for a minute or so then began to move along them at a crawl, occasionally stopping to watch a passing guard walk by, gun raised and ready. When they were through the took off for a near by church and Dana distinctly heard jack say, "Well, worked once." As they ran.
The church was small and hot, the sun filtering in through the high windows. Pictures of Jesus on the cross and the holy mother watched them as they ran down the isle between the pews, heading for the back door. There was a guard, he stepped out of a room ahead of them. Jack grabbed Dana's arm and pulled her roughly to the ground between the pews.
Jack had Dana low to the ground, watching the guard's feet moving towards them. When he was at the next pew, Jack and Dana rolled underneath and he passed by, without looking. When the door had closed, they immerged; Dana's heart doing an erratic drum roll against her chest, so strong she thought the guard would hear it and come back. He didn't, though.
"That was to close." Dana muttered. Jack stood and made his way down the isle again, gun out and ready. Dana knew he'd never use that gun and it was just a way to threaten people but she said nothing. The faces of Mary and Jesus high above made her suddenly regret being in here. She felt uncomfortable with their holy presence watching her and mentioned it to Jack who shrugged.
"They're paintings, they don't care." He said. Dana shook her head. Did this man have no conscience? There was a woman praying in the front pew. They were just passing her, heading for the back door when the front one opened behind them and they spun around to see a guard halfway in the door, speaking in Spanish to another. It seemed they were deciding weather to go in or not.
Jack was in a semi-spring mode, his gun clenched in his fist, watching the door, the woman's praying ringing in their ears. She hadn't seemed to notice them or the guards.
"Hello, can I help you?" Came a voice from behind them. It was one of the fathers of the church dressed in his crisp new clothing, his gray hair thin and wispy. Suddenly, Jack moved as the guards at the door, hearing the father's words, came in. They cried out as they saw Jack but could do nothing because he held the praying woman from the pew between him and then, her screaming, his gun to her head.
"Dana, behind me." He snapped. Dana did as she was told, falling in behind him as they backed away from the guards and to the back door. "Stop! I will shoot her, make no mistake of that!" Jack yelled. The men didn't seem to understand so he spoke in Spanish as well. Slowly they stopped and lowered their weapons. "Shh." He said to the woman, speaking in a whisper to her. Finally, she calmed enough to the point where she wasn't in complete hysteria and Dana and Jack made their way through the door.
They were met by a few dark streets and dingy allies. They ran along these, pulling the woman with them, making their way to the harbor. Kidnap, in the house of the lord! Dana knew it was lucky she wasn't the most religious person or else she'd be on her knees, praying to god for forgiveness at this very moment.
They were going to the opposite direction of the docks, out the wrong way to the harbor. Dana pointed it out but Jack shook his head, muttering that it didn't matter. The woman fell a few times but jack simply dragged her to her feet, checking over his shoulder for any passing guards. After half and hour or so of running, they slowed and walked another ten minutes, down a sloping, twisting dirt path to a hidden cove and a beautiful yellow beach. The cove was so high with a magnificent view and the most startlingly clear water she had ever seen.
Out, in the middle of this small cove was the Seeker, bobbing slightly in the waves that washed the yellow sand into the water. The people below were waiting, guns raised. Jack let the woman's arm go suddenly and she looked at him terrified, rubbing her wrist. "Go!" He shouted at her in English. The woman jumped and took off, back the way they had come, tripping and stumbling in her haste, leaving Dana and Jack to make they're way down the waiting boats.
"You could have seriously hurt her." Dana said as they walked. "She was so scared, did you see it in her eyes? What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking we had to get out of that situation and I acted accordingly. I did what was necessary so don't blame me." Jack said, he was on the defensive, she could feel it. "Now, if you don't mind, luv, we have a ship to catch."
Rills was waiting below with Reg. Rills looked relieved to see them, Reg on the other hand looked disappointed. "We were afraid you weren't coming. Dick wanted to go the moment he arrived but half the crew was still missing. With you, here, we make all. Climb in." Jack offered Dana his hand but she didn't take it, climbing into the boat on her own. Jack really didn't seem to care. As they made their way to the Seeker, Jack toying with his bleeding arm, Dana realized that this story would be one he wouldn't need to make any more elaborate. It was good enough on it's own.
"How long?" She asked quietly. Jack tried to think but couldn't remember...how long had it been? "Revenge has taken me so far...I can't remember my home any more." Jack nodded; knowing what it was like.
The harbor was quiet as they entered one or two ships sitting calmly on the sun bathed water. He knew this harbor...it was his home. His eyes traveled over the town on the shore, searching the landmarks and finally seeing the tree on the hill. Lilly, maybe he'd find her there.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Jack whispered. Dana inched closer and nodded excitedly, her beautiful eyes sweeping over his face. "I was born here." She suddenly looked out over the town and he could see her taking it all in with far more interest then there had been before.
"Can you see your house?" She asked with a smile. Jack grinned and pointed. Dana tried to follow his directions but failed. With a light laugh she said, "Where?"
"There. The big one, on the side...half up the hill." Dana's eyes grew wide as they caught sight of the beautiful mansion. A silent 'oh' crossed her lips. "Do you want to see it?"
They crept along the bushes beside the path towards the large manor that Jack had called his home. The rest of the crew were searching out a man with possible information on Fritz and weren't interested in where Jack and Dana had wandered off to.
The grounds brought back memories as the snuck through the garden hedges behind the house and came out in a secluded rose bush lined court. Dana gasped and walked around, her hands running along the stone benches as she watched the water catching the light in the fountain. Jack came slowly up behind her, all to familiar with the sights.
"Lovely ain't it?" He asked. Dana grinned and turned to face him.
"Is this a ploy to sleep with me Jack? Show me something beautiful and then..." She stopped and sat on the bench. "It's working." Jack sat beside her and thought of when he had first brought Lily to this spot. He wanted to kiss Dana suddenly but, as this revelation hit, his thoughts were interrupted by a rustling on the path. Before they could hide or even attempt to hide, a large black woman had wandered in carrying a basket and humming to herself.
She stopped with a gasp and a small jump when she saw them. Though she had lost a lost of weight and her face was more lined then ever with a full head of gray hair, Jack recognized her at once as Mary. He stood and stepped closer but he could tell she didn't know him. The basket slipped from her hand and hit the ground, spilling the flowers inside all over the ground.
"Here, let me help you with those." Dana said, rushing forward and helping the woman pick them up. She smiled gratefully and watched Jack apprehensively. "Help here." Dana hissed. Jack came forward and helped, his eyes still on Mary.
When all the flowers had been picked up, Mary stood and wiped her brow, her eyes on Jack's wrist where the 'P' was clearly visible as he scratched at an itch above it. "You may want to be careful 'round here." She said and Jack smiled to here her voice again. "The mistress of the house don't like pirates."
"Rosa?" Jack asked with out thinking. Mary lifted her eyebrows.
"How'd you know?" She asked suspiciously.
"Heard it. It's a story...long, long story...don't make much sense if truth be known, don't even make much sense to me." Confused, Jack smiled. He didn't know why he resisted telling Mary who he was, obviously she didn't recognize him but, deep down he knew it was fear. He was afraid to let his sister find out what he'd been doing for so long...how he'd lied...how he'd left...
Mary's eyes softened and lowered to his left arm. "You may want to get that looked at." She said. Jack looked down and was surprised to see his arm was bleeding again. "Come." She led them through the garden and down a worn path to the side of the house and the small kitchen door. Beckoning them in, Mary snapped at the women working inside and sat Jack at a stool in the corner.
"I don't know why," She said as she pulled Jack's sleeve up over his wound on the bottom part of his arm. "But you remind me of someone, can't think who at the moment." Jack's tanned face flushed but she didn't seem to notice. The cut was infected. Mary cleaned it best she could and then wrapped it in strips of cloth before pulling down his sleeve and patting him on the shoulder. "Good as new." She said, turning to the cupboard and pulling down a tea glass. "I have to serve tea to Mrs. Whitaker now so, if you'll excuse me."
"Whitaker?" Jack asked. Mary looked at him and nodded. "Rosa Whiataker?" Damn, she had married Ralph then. "Is Mr. Johnson still alive?"
"Mr. Johnson is dead, both of them are." Jack was confused for a moment and then remembered the letter Josh had written so long ago to help them all move on. "Mr. John Johnson was killed on the sea, his father, Richard, was killed two years ago at the fort. Now, if you will excuse me." And with that she left. Jack stood and went to the door, peering out into the entrance hall.
Through a door at the end he could see the tearoom and there, at the small table, was Rosa. Jack's knees nearly gave way as he stared at his sister. She was the same, only older and...and...
"She's beautiful." Dana whispered. Jack nodded. "Your sister?"
"Yes." Jack said more loudly then he'd intended. Suddenly, Rosa looked up and her eyes met Jack's. They stared at each other for a moment before Jack saw his sister's lips clearly form the words, 'Who's that?'
"Come on, let's go, she's seen us." Quickly, Jack grabbed Dana's arm and they ran from the house out to the path and down to the town and the docks.
She'd married Ralph not to long after Jack had died. Rachel had died in childbirth a few years later and Rosa and Ralph had moved in to look after her father. Now he was gone to...everything had fallen apart. At least she had Lily.
Mary entered the tearoom and placed the tray on the table in front of her with a soft thunk. "Good afternoon Ma'am, would you like you're tea now?" Rosa smiled slightly and nodded, watching the woman fill the cup. Her eyes wandered away, her mind slipping again before she realized there was someone in the kitchen doorway, staring at her. She stared back.
He was handsome and she vaguely wondered if that was his wife beside him with her arm on his shoulder. It was his chocolate eyes though that captured her...he looked like Jack. "Who's that?" She asked Mary. The older woman's face changed to a scared expression and she turned just as the man and woman in the kitchen turned and hurried away.
Rosa abandoned her tea and rushed through the entrance hall to the door. Pulling it open she ran down the steps and down the path to the street. Looking left and right, however, she saw no one.
She gazed over the water to the ship that had just come in. It was leaving again...closing her eyes, she leaned back and decided to let the soft wind carry her back to sleep. There would be a lot more to hear yet.
Alteng: Kill Fritz, Kill Fritz...ehem, anyway. That idea with a ship dedicated to getting the pearl was great...maybe...hmm...Thanks, I liked the name but needed something...revengish to go along with the fritz's blood thirsty crew. Don't feel sorry for Dick, he has his name for a reason...I'm stuck on the word dick right now. I called my teacher, Mr. Heath, a dick today and he laughed at me. He's a great teacher, he knows he can't do anything with our class, we're to stupid. He pushes kids around, not hard, just in a fun way, and when I told a boy in my class to kiss my ass he laughed. The boy retaliated and he got beakers (Have to clean the dissection pans and other gross stuff in the science lab). Green-eyed John...awesome. An eye for an eye...Fritz would deserve to become a eunuch, really. He's such an ass. The movie part is actually already written...I couldn't wait. It has stuff from the original movie plus small bits of my own creation and the outtakes which are oh so fabulous. I saw this ad for potc on movie central, the movie will be coming onto that channel this month, and there was hidden dialogue from johnny that wasn't in any part of the movie! I have to add it now...just figure out where it belongs.