Chapter Seven: Sail Away
"You're planning something."
Jack Sparrow opened one eye slowly and looked at the Commodore standing over him. "I 'aven't left this room," he answered truthfully.
"Perhaps, but you're still planning something."
Jack shrugged as he pulled himself up. "Ye 'ave no proof of anythin', Commodore. An' 'm startin' to wonder who's side yer on."
"Yours, Captain, and that is the only reason I'm telling you what I am about to tell you. The Judge believes you should keep the Black Pearl in the dock now. You do realize that if Miss Ana Maria disappears and the Pearl leaves shortly after, they will follow you."
"The Pearl won't move from 'er spot, then," Jack said as he eyed the commodore. "Savvy?"
Norrington sighed. "Then what are you planning, Jack?"
"Nothing tha' ye need to know, Norrington. You'll know it when it happens."
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She was gone. Douglass Pratt was about to have a mild heart attack. "That bloody pirate bastard of yours stole her from us!" he growled to his younger sister.
"She couldn't have gotten far," Emily answered him. "The guards were only out a small time."
"He shouldn't have been able to take her," Douglass mumbled. "Not in the condition he was in. The Bruckworths and the Turners are helping him, somehow. I have a strong feeling it was that Will Turner that took her."
"Then go to their house to search for her."
"It's not that simple, Emily," her brother seethed. "Will Turner is not only a citizen of the crown – unlike that bloody pirate of yours – but also married to the governor's daughter. As much as I loath that worthless man, he has the power to persuade the judge one way or another if he gets angry enough."
"We'll watch the Black Pearl then. She'll be what they escape on."
Douglass was still fuming. "Stay put, Emily. I'll be back shortly."
"Don't kill him, Brother!"
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"Ana, we need to get you out of here now," Will said in a low voice as they ran through the back alleys of Port Royal. Their escape had been fairly easy and he was sure he had Commodore James Norrington to thank for that. He helped when he could.
"I will not leave without Jack," she said firmly.
"He can't go anywhere," Will answered as they ducked into the alley behind his own home and into the cellar. "He's hurt."
Ana Maria turned two dark eyes on the blacksmith. "How badly?"
"Bad enough to keep him in bed a while." Will pushed a door open that led to the main house. He always knew that that would come in handy. "We have come up with a plan," he said proudly.
"And tha' would be wha'?"
"You, Will, Elizabeth, the children, and Marie will take the Turners' small boat over to a safe harbor that Marie knows of."
Ana turned to see Richard standing in the room with them. "And you will stay here with Jack?"
"Yes, and we'll follow you in his Pearl once all of the loose ends are tied up here."
"You expect me to leave you with Jack?" Ana Maria growled. "You're mad."
"It's the only chance we have," Richard said calmly. "We're passing it off as Marie not being able to handle the pressure here, so Will's taking her away for a bit. He would need to take Elizabeth with him in order to help him with the ship – though I really don't know how she might help – and the children because no one but Jack and I will be left here."
"Elizabeth's gotten quite good at sailing," Ana mused quietly. "Where will we go?"
"Neither Jack or I will know," Richard explained slowly. "That way, if worst comes to worst, we wont' be able to give up the location, even if they try to make us."
"Mr. Gibbs is also accompanying us," Will piped up. "On Jack's orders."
Ana nodded slowly. "Can I see him?"
---------------------
Jack was sleeping when she entered. He looked pale to her, lying against the white sheets with his hair unbraided and eyes clean of kohl. She walked as quietly as she could over and sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes opened slowly and a grin spread across his face. "'allo, luv," he greeted quietly. "Ready to go?"
"I don't really have much of a choice," she responded. "Are you okay, Jack?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah, luv, 'm fine. 'ey're jus' bein' them by keepin' me in bed, ye know 'ow everyone in this 'ouse is. Me mum is still convinced 'm in need of constant care."
Ana felt tears spring to her eyes, a rarity for her, as she smoothed back the captain's dark hair. "Jack... Will I see you again?"
Jack chuckled as he grasped her hand. "'course, luv. Why'd ye ever question tha'?"
"Because I know what they're capable of, if this judge is on their side."
"But they'll not be killin' Captain Jack Sparrow, I can assure ye." He pulled her close and kissed her lips. "An' 'ey won't lay another finger on ye as long as 'm alive."
She nodded as she lay against him, embracing him. He winced a bit under her grasp. "Look wha' 'appens when we're apart a few days, Ana Maria, we get clingy."
She laughed and popped him lightly on the cheek, though certainly not hard enough to hurt. "I'll see you in a few days when this blows over."
"Aye," Jack answered as he pulled her down and kissed her again. "I love ye, Ana."
Will appeared at the door. "Ana? We need to get moving now."
She turned to the young blacksmith and then back to her captain, kissing him lightly. "I love you too, Jack."
--------------------
There was a loud pounding at the door some time later. Richard looked over his book, remembering that no servants resided in the Turners' home, and stood slowly to open it. "'ello, Douglass."
"Where is she, Richard?"
"Who?"
"Ana Maria."
Richard looked at him in a tired kind of surprise. "I really don't know, Douglass, have you tried looking in the cell you last put her in?"
"You've been picking up on your stepson's obnoxious wit," Douglass growled. "Where is she? She and that bloody pirate you're protecting for heaven knows why!"
"Jack is resting after what you did to him," Richard said stiffly. "Don't think that I haven't taken that to the governor."
"And he cared little, I can assure you. We'll win this trial now, especially since I've let the judge know of your relations."
"And why would I help my stepson?" Richard asked as he stared Douglass strait in the eye. "I hate him, remember? I killed his father, remember? Yes, I know rumors spread through society what Marie's father and I did to Jonathan Sparrow, and I'm sure most of them are true, to some extent. Why would I care what happens to Jack Sparrow's little strumpet?"
"Then why are you protecting him?"
"I've done nothing of the sort. Will Turner took him in his own care." Richard told himself silently that one white lie was nothing compared to what could happen if he did not tell it. Why start having a conscious now?
"And where is Will Turner now?"
"He took Marie off for a small break from all of this. As much as I hate Jack Sparrow, he is Marie's son and she does hold some affection for him. She had just about made herself sick over all of this. Will took her off somewhere or another."
"I'll see you hanged for this, Richard," Douglass growled after a few moments of silence and finding nothing better to fill it with. That said, he turned on his heel and stormed off in the direction of the courthouse.
"So?"
Richard turned to see Jack leaning heavily on the wall to keep himself upright. "We'll be called to the court house soon, but I've made some arrangements." He reached out a hand to steady the younger man. "I've got high connections."
"Good. We're gonna need 'em."
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It was a good three hours later when a redcoat came to the door and escorted Richard and Jack to the courthouse. The pirate captain was leaning heavily on his stepfather – much to his annoyance – when they entered.
Judge Thatch looked at them and eyed Jack warily. "She's your problem now, gentlemen," he said simply as he stood from his place. "Richard, you've had quite a handful of things as of late."
"I have indeed."
"Give your best regards to your wife. Good day."
Douglass Pratt stood in his place with his eyes wide. "No..."
"Not wha' ye expected, Pratt?" Jack asked with a grin.
"No! He's done something! This has to be illegal!"
Jack chuckled at this. "Pratt, yer jus' a sour looser, eh?"
Douglass Pratt continued fuming as he pulled a pistol from his jacket pocket. "You don't deserve to live, pirate."
"Douglass!" Emily squealed.
Jack turned to see the man's weapon aimed and reached for his own pistol, remembering too late that he'd left it at the Turners' house. Everyone in the room froze as the gunshot went off.
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LaVieSansAmour: I've always typed pretty fast, it's just that I have all these ideas trying to get out of my head (I'll blame them for my headaches the past week...) and they just pour out through my fingers. Ah! You're computer's mad? Kungfuchick's computer got mad at her a while back and wouldn't talk to her.... My laptop got mad last year and keeled over on me. Hopefully yours doesn't hold quite so much of a grudge. ::grins:: anyway, off I go to wander around my house dazed until it gets late enough I can sleep.... I'm sooooo tired.....
"You're planning something."
Jack Sparrow opened one eye slowly and looked at the Commodore standing over him. "I 'aven't left this room," he answered truthfully.
"Perhaps, but you're still planning something."
Jack shrugged as he pulled himself up. "Ye 'ave no proof of anythin', Commodore. An' 'm startin' to wonder who's side yer on."
"Yours, Captain, and that is the only reason I'm telling you what I am about to tell you. The Judge believes you should keep the Black Pearl in the dock now. You do realize that if Miss Ana Maria disappears and the Pearl leaves shortly after, they will follow you."
"The Pearl won't move from 'er spot, then," Jack said as he eyed the commodore. "Savvy?"
Norrington sighed. "Then what are you planning, Jack?"
"Nothing tha' ye need to know, Norrington. You'll know it when it happens."
------------------------
She was gone. Douglass Pratt was about to have a mild heart attack. "That bloody pirate bastard of yours stole her from us!" he growled to his younger sister.
"She couldn't have gotten far," Emily answered him. "The guards were only out a small time."
"He shouldn't have been able to take her," Douglass mumbled. "Not in the condition he was in. The Bruckworths and the Turners are helping him, somehow. I have a strong feeling it was that Will Turner that took her."
"Then go to their house to search for her."
"It's not that simple, Emily," her brother seethed. "Will Turner is not only a citizen of the crown – unlike that bloody pirate of yours – but also married to the governor's daughter. As much as I loath that worthless man, he has the power to persuade the judge one way or another if he gets angry enough."
"We'll watch the Black Pearl then. She'll be what they escape on."
Douglass was still fuming. "Stay put, Emily. I'll be back shortly."
"Don't kill him, Brother!"
------------------
"Ana, we need to get you out of here now," Will said in a low voice as they ran through the back alleys of Port Royal. Their escape had been fairly easy and he was sure he had Commodore James Norrington to thank for that. He helped when he could.
"I will not leave without Jack," she said firmly.
"He can't go anywhere," Will answered as they ducked into the alley behind his own home and into the cellar. "He's hurt."
Ana Maria turned two dark eyes on the blacksmith. "How badly?"
"Bad enough to keep him in bed a while." Will pushed a door open that led to the main house. He always knew that that would come in handy. "We have come up with a plan," he said proudly.
"And tha' would be wha'?"
"You, Will, Elizabeth, the children, and Marie will take the Turners' small boat over to a safe harbor that Marie knows of."
Ana turned to see Richard standing in the room with them. "And you will stay here with Jack?"
"Yes, and we'll follow you in his Pearl once all of the loose ends are tied up here."
"You expect me to leave you with Jack?" Ana Maria growled. "You're mad."
"It's the only chance we have," Richard said calmly. "We're passing it off as Marie not being able to handle the pressure here, so Will's taking her away for a bit. He would need to take Elizabeth with him in order to help him with the ship – though I really don't know how she might help – and the children because no one but Jack and I will be left here."
"Elizabeth's gotten quite good at sailing," Ana mused quietly. "Where will we go?"
"Neither Jack or I will know," Richard explained slowly. "That way, if worst comes to worst, we wont' be able to give up the location, even if they try to make us."
"Mr. Gibbs is also accompanying us," Will piped up. "On Jack's orders."
Ana nodded slowly. "Can I see him?"
---------------------
Jack was sleeping when she entered. He looked pale to her, lying against the white sheets with his hair unbraided and eyes clean of kohl. She walked as quietly as she could over and sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes opened slowly and a grin spread across his face. "'allo, luv," he greeted quietly. "Ready to go?"
"I don't really have much of a choice," she responded. "Are you okay, Jack?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah, luv, 'm fine. 'ey're jus' bein' them by keepin' me in bed, ye know 'ow everyone in this 'ouse is. Me mum is still convinced 'm in need of constant care."
Ana felt tears spring to her eyes, a rarity for her, as she smoothed back the captain's dark hair. "Jack... Will I see you again?"
Jack chuckled as he grasped her hand. "'course, luv. Why'd ye ever question tha'?"
"Because I know what they're capable of, if this judge is on their side."
"But they'll not be killin' Captain Jack Sparrow, I can assure ye." He pulled her close and kissed her lips. "An' 'ey won't lay another finger on ye as long as 'm alive."
She nodded as she lay against him, embracing him. He winced a bit under her grasp. "Look wha' 'appens when we're apart a few days, Ana Maria, we get clingy."
She laughed and popped him lightly on the cheek, though certainly not hard enough to hurt. "I'll see you in a few days when this blows over."
"Aye," Jack answered as he pulled her down and kissed her again. "I love ye, Ana."
Will appeared at the door. "Ana? We need to get moving now."
She turned to the young blacksmith and then back to her captain, kissing him lightly. "I love you too, Jack."
--------------------
There was a loud pounding at the door some time later. Richard looked over his book, remembering that no servants resided in the Turners' home, and stood slowly to open it. "'ello, Douglass."
"Where is she, Richard?"
"Who?"
"Ana Maria."
Richard looked at him in a tired kind of surprise. "I really don't know, Douglass, have you tried looking in the cell you last put her in?"
"You've been picking up on your stepson's obnoxious wit," Douglass growled. "Where is she? She and that bloody pirate you're protecting for heaven knows why!"
"Jack is resting after what you did to him," Richard said stiffly. "Don't think that I haven't taken that to the governor."
"And he cared little, I can assure you. We'll win this trial now, especially since I've let the judge know of your relations."
"And why would I help my stepson?" Richard asked as he stared Douglass strait in the eye. "I hate him, remember? I killed his father, remember? Yes, I know rumors spread through society what Marie's father and I did to Jonathan Sparrow, and I'm sure most of them are true, to some extent. Why would I care what happens to Jack Sparrow's little strumpet?"
"Then why are you protecting him?"
"I've done nothing of the sort. Will Turner took him in his own care." Richard told himself silently that one white lie was nothing compared to what could happen if he did not tell it. Why start having a conscious now?
"And where is Will Turner now?"
"He took Marie off for a small break from all of this. As much as I hate Jack Sparrow, he is Marie's son and she does hold some affection for him. She had just about made herself sick over all of this. Will took her off somewhere or another."
"I'll see you hanged for this, Richard," Douglass growled after a few moments of silence and finding nothing better to fill it with. That said, he turned on his heel and stormed off in the direction of the courthouse.
"So?"
Richard turned to see Jack leaning heavily on the wall to keep himself upright. "We'll be called to the court house soon, but I've made some arrangements." He reached out a hand to steady the younger man. "I've got high connections."
"Good. We're gonna need 'em."
--------------------------------------
It was a good three hours later when a redcoat came to the door and escorted Richard and Jack to the courthouse. The pirate captain was leaning heavily on his stepfather – much to his annoyance – when they entered.
Judge Thatch looked at them and eyed Jack warily. "She's your problem now, gentlemen," he said simply as he stood from his place. "Richard, you've had quite a handful of things as of late."
"I have indeed."
"Give your best regards to your wife. Good day."
Douglass Pratt stood in his place with his eyes wide. "No..."
"Not wha' ye expected, Pratt?" Jack asked with a grin.
"No! He's done something! This has to be illegal!"
Jack chuckled at this. "Pratt, yer jus' a sour looser, eh?"
Douglass Pratt continued fuming as he pulled a pistol from his jacket pocket. "You don't deserve to live, pirate."
"Douglass!" Emily squealed.
Jack turned to see the man's weapon aimed and reached for his own pistol, remembering too late that he'd left it at the Turners' house. Everyone in the room froze as the gunshot went off.
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LaVieSansAmour: I've always typed pretty fast, it's just that I have all these ideas trying to get out of my head (I'll blame them for my headaches the past week...) and they just pour out through my fingers. Ah! You're computer's mad? Kungfuchick's computer got mad at her a while back and wouldn't talk to her.... My laptop got mad last year and keeled over on me. Hopefully yours doesn't hold quite so much of a grudge. ::grins:: anyway, off I go to wander around my house dazed until it gets late enough I can sleep.... I'm sooooo tired.....