Much respect and many many hugz to my lovely beta jackfan2

Chapter 2 - Courage for our friends

Everybody stopped fighting.

Both crews turned to watch in amazement, the bloodied, stumbling form of Captain Jack Sparrow, enemy and friend. This was a side of him that not many people survived to see. Jack was mad, raging mad.

Almost always the pirate captain understood why an enemy acted as it did. Almost always he could respect the decisions made on both sides in battle and defeat.

But not this time.

Jack Sparrow was down right furious and white hot hatred drove him, lent him strength to move. The reasons for his anger were many, the first being slavery.  The very act of taking away a man or woman's freedom warred against everything Jack stood for.  The pirate captain could think of nothing worse, not even mutiny! The second point that propelled him onward was fear for his close friends and crew. This odd assortment of people to whom the captain felt a deep responsibility for, were the closest thing to a family the pirate had ever had known. The anger became a red haze of rage when he thought of what would happen to them if he didn't survive this. While he knew and could accept his own demise at the hands of The Windbreaker pirates, he could not accept the fate of Gibbs and Anamaria.  It was a well known fact that the other pirates always killed the Captain and First Mate. Since the job was shared between Anamaria and Gibbs, both of their lives would be forfeited  No, he could not accept this. They were two of his closed friends, two of the few people that he actually trusted. And the rest of his crew would be sold as slaves. Mr. Cotton, Elizabeth… and worst of all Will Turner, son of the man to whom Jack once vowed that he would become the most legendary pirate captain ever and not one out of many. He would never allow his friends to be sold like beasts, to be imprisoned forever.

No longer certain how he managed to stay on his feet, all Jack knew was that he would make damn sure that he would stay upright for as long as possible. The gunshot wound high on his right side throbbed unrelentingly and his useless left arm glowed with pain.  Having sustained numerous injuries in battle, Jack was a master at mentally separating himself from the knifing pain. Effortlessly, he could remove his mind from all obstacles and focus on his opponent, as if he were not hurt at all.

They stared in awe of the bloody spectacle that was Captain Jack Sparrow. Even his enemy had to wonder at his fortitude as out of some kind of macabre respect the pirates on deck of the Pearl move out of his way. Swords are lowered and faces turned, curious at what was to happen next.

Anamaria pulled her sword out of a body and made a move to help her friend, hardly believing that he was still on his feet in the first place. Not long ago she had feared he was dead. Before that, however, she had always believed that Jack could not die, at least not yet. Too many times he had been badly wounded and every time he had continued living with a golden grin. He never seemed to be damaged, not physically nor mentally. The only things that proved that Captain Jack Sparrow was not untouchable were the many scars that covered his body. Not long ago Ana had believed her captain was dead. And it had shocked her. For the first time in many years she had cried. Then, her tears were replaced by a new emotion: anger. No way in hell she was going to allow Jack's beloved Pearl to fall into the hands of a bunch of blood thirsty cutthroats. These blackhearts who'd killed one of the few men who had given her a chance when she had needed it most. Now a new emotion had replaced the anger: disbelief. Jack had come back to life. The immortal, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Ana felt somebody's hand on her shoulder and, luckily for Gibbs, she saw him out of the corner of her eye just before she spun and raised her sword to his chest. One look in his eyes told her not to do anything. This was Jack's moment. And for probably the first time in her life she heeded his warning.

Jack stopped in front of the captain of the Windbreaker, Giulio Romano, the only man who didn't step out of the way.

Jack took a deep breath before speaking,"I want te make a deal with ya."

Even the pirate captain was surprised at how loud and normal his voice sounded, especially considering his current condition. A small line of blood illustrated the path he had just walked and Jack's left arm is dangled useless at his side.. Traces of blood drip over the left side of his face and his shirt was no longer white but it too was covered in blood.

"A deal?" Giulio says amused. Taking in Jack's condition, he obviously felt a heightened sense of victory and his Italian accent thickened as he spoke.

"Yes, Romano. I knew there wa' a reason they made ya cap'n."

Giulio's face darkened at the insult. "What d' you want, Sparrow."

"I want to fight ye."

Giulio laughed, but he did so alone.  A collective gasp and murmur's of disbelief and awe could be heard from both crews. Long forgotten now was their fight for life or dead as there attention fixed aptly on the two captains. This was not something one didn't witness very often, a chance  to see a legendary battle played out before their own eyes. Anamaria took one step forward, but again Gibbs stopped her.  In unison Elizabeth laid a hand on Will as he too went to aid his friend.

"Che!? You want to fight me?  Look at you Sparrow. You're 'alf dead already!"

Stubbornly Jack shook his head. "Dead men tell no tales, Romano. I want t' make ye this deal. You fight me. If ye win, the Pearl is yours, but you'll 'ave t' let me crew go. If I win, yer crew leaves my ship."

"What makes you think I want this ship?"

Jack shrugged and an unbelievably large grin creased his battered face. "Think about it, mate. The Black Pearl.I She's the fastest ship in the Caribbean."

Giulio considered it. Of course it's true: the Pearl is the fastest ship with a very good reputation as a pirate ship as well. And it would really do his image well if he would beat the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. He only needed to take care that it was not added in the stories that Sparrow was already half dead when the duel had started. Giulio's little eyes glittered as he considered the possibilities. This was indeed the golden chance to become the most fearful pirate ever!

"Why should I fight you? Who says I will not win anyway? If I win without this deal, and I will, I still have a crew to sell."

"Ye'r not going to sell me crew!" Jack's eyes grew dangerously dark. "They woul' rather die then become slaves!"


Some of Jack's crewmembers shuffled uncomfortably and Jack knew why. They were not entirely convinced that forfeiting their lives was the better alternative than becoming slaves   On the other hand: dead sounded a lot more peaceful than slavery.

"These are the terms Giulio: we fight fer the lives of me crew and the prize of the Pearl. If ye win, you take the ship but not the crew.  Them you will take to the nearest Port and leave unharmed. If I win, yer crew is going to leave me ship, savvy?"

Giulio thought longer about it. Noting Jack's condition he decided this could be an easy fight. If this fool of a captain wanted to play it like that he could get it. And besides, who said he would actually keep his word after the pirate captain was dead? With a grin he grasped the other's left and Jack flinched under that touch.

Giulio's grin grew even wider. "We have an accord. No quarter given?"

Jack only nodded in reply.

All the pirates on board the Pearl formed a wide circle around the two captains. Cotton's parrot was perched high atop the yard arm of the Pearl, uncharacteristically quiet, something that didn't happen very often. The only sound to be heard was the sea lapping gently against the sides of the two ships, even the Pearl herself seemed to be holding her breath for what was about to happen. Anamaria grasped Gibbs arm and was not able to let him go. Gibbs himself seemed to have turned a couple of shades paler and he focused all his energy on his captain not even noticing Ana's hand on his arm. Out of fear and trepidation Will and Elizabeth clung desperately to one another and other crewmen of the Pearl cast worried glances, quietly seeking assurance. Their captain was about to fight for life or dead to save them all!

Giulio stood tall, his confident grin never once faltering. Confident he was that this would probably be the easiest fight he'd ever endure!  The cocky grin grew to a wide smile as he brought his sword up, ready to attack.

Upon first glance, one would never surmise that Jack was about to engage in a fight at the risk of his own life. He looked up at Cotton's parrot and a gold-toothed grin creased his face before turning to Giulio. Surrounded by his friends and on his ship Jack knew then that he had strength enough to seize the day. Quickly and gracefully as ever Jack suddenly attacked.

Giulio was able to move out of the way, but Jack's cutlass missed him by mere inches. To say that Giulio was surprised by the strength behind this attack would be a serious under statement. Unfortunately for Jack, he was able to pull himself together very quickly; letting years of survival speak for itself. If Jack wanted it this way, he could get it!

Anamaria felt a tremble of fear as she watched them continued to fight, circling each other like dogs and attacking now and then, while the other was able to dodge away the attacks all the time, sometimes a little easier than others. During the course of their fight, neither captain had yet sustained wounds at the other's hand, that is, if you didn't count the gunshot that Jack had received from Giulio's gun. At first the only sounds that were clearly discernable were those of the sea and the clashing blades, but slowly a new sound become more noticeable: Jack's breathing. It seemed that with every minute that went by Jack's breathing became more harsh more laborious. Not that that was surprising. The bullet that had hit him earlier, must have entered his body very near, and maybe even in, his lung. Add to that the deep gash on his upper left arm, he was losing blood with each beat of his heart and the fact that his heart was beating faster with exertion. . . Ana wasn't sure he'd last much long.

Barely in time, Jack ducked and Giulio's blade sliced through thin air, where only seconds ago Jack's neck had been. A loud gasping sound escaped from the lips of the young cabin boy of the Pearl, Edmund, who had only sailed with the Pearl for a couple of weeks now. In that short amount of time, however, the boy had already held a large adoration for the man he called captain.

Of course Giulio was aware of the growing discomfort of his opponent and the grin made reappearance on his face. Obviously Jack had gambled and he had just lost. The Pearl was his!

Jack saw the satisfied grin as well and his hatred towards the other pirate captain grew even more. Who was this man to decide who was going to win or not?  A surge of strength gathered from his rekindled hatred, gave him back some of his failing strength and Jack made his move. With a high sweeping motion, he brought his cutlass up as if to slice Giulio's neck.  In response Giulio moved his own sword up to block and Jack, knowing his ruse had worked, quickly moved the sword down to his opponents now defenseless chest. Giulio gasped loudly when the sword sank deep into his sternum, splitting the bone and flesh of his chest.  Suddenly Jack was no longer the only one who had difficulty breathing.

As he removed his cutlass, Jack staggered back a few steps to stop and look at the now kneeling form of Giulio. Swaying precariously on his feet, Jack still stood watching the blood pool from his opponent's chest. Giulio's eyes were wide open in surprise when he looked at his rival. With a quick move Jack disarmed him and Giulio's sword flew into the air to disappear seconds later in the depths of the sea.

"I win." Jack said.

Those simple words broke over Giulio as disbelief collided with an explosion of anger. This was not supposed to happen! He was supposed to win this battle and be forever feared! His face filled with hot anger he suddenly reached down and pulled a hidden gun from the top of his high boots. Without a moment of hesitation he fired and Jack, his mind and movements sluggish from loss of blood was not fast enough to move completely out of the way. The bullet entered his left thigh and he stumbled but, somehow managed to stay on his feet.

Giulio shook his head in disbelief. "This can't be happening! You're supposed to be dead!"

Jack took three shaky steps forward and halted in front of his enemy. Placing the point of his cutlass under Giulio's chin he forced the other to stand up.

"I'm no' dead, mate… Ye are." And with that he thrust his cutlass forward into Giulio's throat, who then sank ungracefully to the deck. Dead.

No pirate dared to cheer.  Watching Jack stagger back, with less balance than before Anamaria moved quickly to her friend, just in time to catch him before his buckling knees give away.

"Ana?" Jack whispered in barely audible tones.

"Hush, Jack. Ye've won."

"Know… ye command me Pearl… Ye have to… le' these fine gentlemen return to their own ship…"

"I said t' hush, Jack. Ye don't have t' talk. I know what needs doin'."

"Ye have te take everyt'ing of any valuable of the Windbreak'er but leave them enough to reach the nearest port…Savvy?"

"Savvy, Cap'n. Now be silent."

"Ana?" So soft was his voice that Anamaria had to bring her ear near his mouth to hear what he was saying.

"M' sword… ge' it b'fore ye throw Giulio overboard…"

Will and Cotton reached Anamaria just before Captain Jack Sparrow finally decided it was time to loose his battle for consciousness and together they carried the pirate captain of the Black Pearl to his own cabin where his wounds could be tended and hopes for his survival could be kindled.

End notes:

- Giulio Romano is an Italian architect (and student of Rafael) who lived from 1499 until 1546. I used only his name and his nationality. I just needed a name for my Windbreaker captain and the professor was just talking about him when I was writing this down

- Che means 'what' in Italian (I'm not Italian myself, but I'm a beginner when it comes to learning this language)

- Reasoning why Jack isn't in an attack position when the fight starts: Johnny Depp said during the cast commentaries on the DVD that he saw Jack a bit as Muhammed Ali and of course I wanted to follow this view of Jack!

- The title of this chapter comes from Return of the King (the movie) and it's the wonderful Eowyn who says this to Merry when the battle on the Pelennor Fields is about to start

A shout out to my reviewers: thank you all so very much! Everyone begged/threatened me to continue and so I did. Hope you like this little update as well J