Before everyone gets utterly confused: there will be a flashback in this chapter =)

Thanx to jackfan2 for the beta read

Chapter 9 - Insanity

This time they did set out a watch. Elizabeth had managed to convince her future husband that 'yes she could stay awake' and 'of course she would wake him up if trouble came'. So now she was awake. The glow from the small fire cast a dim light through the cave.  Luckily, this fire had taken them less time to make than the one at the previous cave. The low burning flame allowed  Elizabeth only enough light to see the sleeping forms of Will and Jack. Nothing beyond that in their shelter was visible.

Jack's condition worried her. A lot.

The basis of her concern was not about his physical condition, although that was bad enough.  No, physically what he must have gone through…. Well, she was glad that she could not begin to imagine what had happened to him during his captivity. But she had her suspicions. Suspicions that came from the vastamounts of pirate stories she had heard over the years and had always loved. There was a strange sort of romance about the whole piracy thing. At least, that's what she had thought for the largest part of her still young life. Now she wasn't so sure anymore.

As a pirate, Jack had endured much physical hardship during his career of piracy. That was evidenced in the many scars riddling his body. No, what concerned her mainly was the nagging worry at what was going on in his head. Jack Sparrow, with his waving gestures and a bottle of rum seemingly always in his hands, had always balanced on the fine line between sanity and insanity. But at this moment, Elizabeth feared that somehow this small line had become even smaller, and that Jack had finally dropped off the wrong side.

Was Jack getting insane?

He had already tried to kill her, although neither she nor Will bore any malice toward him. If it had been her, if she had endured what he'd gone through, she wasn't entirely sure how she would have reacted in that confused state. But what would happen if Jack were to really snap? That was a worrying thought. There was not a doubt in her mind that the pirate captain could be a lot more dangerous than one would suspect of the swashbuckling, rum loving man.


What would happen if Jack did not recognize them anymore?

Fear could cause a man to react suddenly and dangerously. That alone was cause enough for concern, However a scared pirate? Well, he was undoubtedly capable of far more danger. Elizabeth did not doubt that Will would be able to defend her, and, thanks to the many hours of sword practice in the burning Caribbean sun, she herself was quite capable of handling a cutlass, as well.

But if it went that far, if theyactually had to fight Jack,  only one of  two outcomes would result; Will and Elizabeth would die, or Jack would. Neither of those outcomes sounded very appealing.

A shudder and a soft whimper from Jack brought Elizabeth out of her quiet thoughts, making her alert again. Visible from where she sat the pirate captain was shivering all over, although it was probably not from cold. With a small shake of her head Elizabeth wondered what the captain dreamt about at night. What kind of nightmares was he living all over again?

Standing, she walked to the entrance of the cave. Judging by the by the placement of the moon in the clear Caribbean night sky, she is slightly surprised that many hours had gone by since she had taken her watch. It was already time to wake up Will! Stifling a yawn, she realizes  forrealizes for the first time how tired she was. It was therefore not very surprising that she fell asleep only minutes after she had woken up Will.

~*~

Will felt the energy go through his body when he walked around in the cave. Of course, he was aware that this was probably not the best way to stay on guard, but he couldn't really help himself. He had a seriously bad feeling.

Squinting into the darkness of the cave, his eyes sought the sleeping form of his beautiful Elizabeth. In his humble opinion, there was no sweeter creature alive than this young woman and he was still all amazed that the governor's daughter could fall in love with only a humble blacksmith. Not that he was complaining.

Then his eyes found Jack and the small smile that had formed on his face slowly disappeared. There was something wrong. This was not the Jack Sparrow he had come to know and love as a friend. This was not the same person who had commanderedcommandeered The Interceptor from under the nose of the Royal Navy themselves.

Mind flashing, his thoughts flew back to that first visit after the Isle of De Muerta, and his marvelous escape from his hanging in Port Royal.

~*~

At the time of his first return visit, Will had already been living in a small house at the far end of the garden from the Governor's mansion. Elizabeth visited the small, but cosy, house from the early morning, until the last light of the sun. Then she went back to her own room in her father's house because they were not yet married. There was a soft knock on the door and Elizabeth opened the door. From the other side, a surprisingly shy looking Captain Jack Sparrow smiled at her, before executingaexecuting a deep bow and kissing the young lady's hand.

"M'Lady."

"Jack!" In unlady-like behavior, Elizabeth enthusiastically threw her arms around the pirate captain.

Under the sudden, unexpected outburst, the pirate stumbled back nearly taking them both to the floor. But Captain Jack Sparrow was far from complaining with a beautiful young girl hugging him tightly and kissing him on his cheeks. He even forgot to mutter 'Captain', because truth to be told, he hadn't been entirely sure if he was welcome in the first place.

Soon after Elizabeth released him, Will pulled him in a tight hug, obviously also very happy to see his friend again. Jack had rewarded him with a grin, before picking up a large sack standing seemingly forgotten at his feet.

"Well… if ya don't mind lad, I would prefer to continue our little chat inside. I don' want yer bloody friend Norrington t' see me here."

"Of course, Jack! Come inside! Want something to eat? Or drink?" Will continued after the pirate captain stepped inside.

"Where have you been?" Elizabeth asked at almost the same time. "Is it true that you captured three ships without a shot? Did you really kill those men at Port Antoin?"

"Easy, luv. Let me sit down first, if ye don't mind. Ye life in a far off place here, lad, poor ol' me has to walk an awful lot before I read this place." With a satisfied sigh Jack let himself fall down in a large couch, in such a manner that no other person ever would do, especially not during the first visit after a long time.

But Will and Elizabeth didn't even notice. Happily, they sat down on either side of the pirate captain, who immediately started to invade their personal space in his own unique way.  With animated hand movements, and lively phrases he told of his travels over the year, while weary from his journey, the pirate captain was happy to entertain the young couple with his adventures. Only one time, during this long conversation, where Jack was doing most of the talking, and Will and Elizabeth most of the laughing, did the dark pirate pause.

"Don' have any rum here, do ya lad?" he asked hopefully.

"Jack! You of all people should know that we don't have that here," Elizabeth answered. Will didn't even get the chance to reply. "I'll get you something else."

"Something alcoholic, I hope?"

Elizabeth gave him a sharp look, but she stood up and made her way to the small kitchen. As soon as the young woman left the room, Will leant conspiratorially toward his friend.

"I have rum." He whispered. "It's hidden away in my bedroom. Saved it especially for you, cause I hoped… well, I hoped you would show up again here."

Jack grins. "Truly a son of ol' Bootstrap, aye?"

With a flourish of skirts, Elizabeth returned with a glass of red wine. Once the drink was distributed and all were settled, Jack continued telling his stories. In wonderment, the couple stared as the tales soon contained the occasional dwarf, fairy, mermaid and other fantastical creature. Laughing in joy of their friends tale, the two enjoyed themselves immensely. None of the tales were so enjoyed as the one in which Jack mimiced a crying Commodore from Port Antoin, a man whom Elizabeth knew well.

Without fondness, Elizabeth recalled this Commodore, Jackson, had been one of the most arrogant and boring human beings she'd ever had the displeasure to set her eyes on.

Time flew by quickly, so much so that Elizabeth suddenly noticed that it's getting suspiciously dark outside. After commenting to this effect, she stood up and remarked that she had to leave.

"Wha' luv?" Jack questioned.

"I have to go! Father will send a servant if he finds out I'm not in my room yet!"

A look of understanding appeared on Jack's face. "Aye. Still sure you are no eunuch, lad?"


Will opened his mouth ready to give a snappy reply, but the mirth sparkling in the pirates' eye told him comment was not necessary.

"Only one more minute of yer time, M'lady."

The forgotten sack suddenly made a re-appearance and, with a shy smile, Jack fished around inside and removed a large bundle of cloth in the most wonderful color Elizabeth had ever seen. It seemed to change from pink into purple depending on the light. This exquisite material was the likes of which she'd never seen nor touched before.

"Tha's for you, luv. I found it back in tha' cave, while me and me crew were trying to find our way out to escape. I smuggled it out of there, cause I thought it would make ye a beautiful dress."

With a tear of happiness, Elizabeth rewarded the pirate and friend with an even bigger hug than he received when he first arrived. Ah, how Lady Luck Luck was smiled smiling at him, yet again!

"I really have to go now, Jack. Thank you so much! It's absolutely gorgeous!" After more goodbyes, and a goodnight kiss for Will, she left the small to return to the mansion.

At an easy silence settled in the room. After a few moments, Will stood up to fetch the rum and Jack started to search in that large sack again.

"Alright lad. I've got something for ye, as well."


" You don't have to do that, Jack" He handed over the bottle of rum to the pirate captain who happily took it.

"Yes, I do, lad. Here." Jack handed over a small piece of parchment. "There belongs something more to it, as well."

The parchment contained a drawing, made with black ink. The drawing showed a young man, probably at the end of his twenties. He had long, slightly curly hair and a small beard, wearing a typical pirate-like outfit. Will had no trouble recognizing this man at all.

"Is that…?"

"Yes, lad. Tha's good ol' Bootstrap. Fine man, good pirate… even better friend." Jack took his time to empty half of the bottle while casting several glances to his young friend. Will's eyes were glued to the paper in his hand, absorbing every detail of the drawn man's face.

"I wanted to give it to ye before, but the Pearl was off before I could see ye again, mate."

"You… you kept it on the Pearl?"

"Yes. Along with other stuff belonging to the treasure of Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Treasure?"

Jack grins. "Of course, mate! Every self respecting pirate captain has got 'is own treasure."

"But… but didn't Barbossa spend it?"

For one quick moment Jack's face darkened at the mention of Barbossa's name. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Will almost thought he'd imagined it. "Remember what I told ye before? Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate. My treasure exists out of little somethings that mean something to me. Memories… some good, others not."

The mix of wine and rum put the pirate in a more philosophical mood sooner than normal.

"Without memories… a man is nothing."

They were both silent again, while Jack continued emptying the bottle of rum and Will continued to stare at the drawn picture.

"Jack?"

"Yes, lad."

"Why was my dad called Bootstrap?" It seems like the right moment to ask, and it probably was. Although Jack cherished his memories he didn't like to actually talk about the past. But this mix of wine and rum was making him drop his guard just a tiny little bit, enough to answer this one important question.

"Aye, Bootstrap. He was already called tha' before I even met him. William was called Bootstrap because… well… I shall star' at the beginning. Bootstrap received his name before he even became a pirate himself." With a gesture of his hand Jack stopedstopped Will from interrupting.

"It happened on a day he was sailing on a large ship, tha' set out for India. Tha' ship was attacked by pirates, at the moment tha' yer dad was fast asleep after a long days work."

Jack shook his head. "The fools should 'ave known better than the wake up ol' William in 'is sleep! At that time he didn't have time to get properly dressed, but 'e certainly was a good man, lad.

"So, carrying his boots with him he toddled up to the main deck, as if 'e was planning to put the damn things on right in the middle of battle! Of course, some pirates tried to attack him, but he managed to use his ol' boots as a weapon by kicking the several pirates with it. He even smashed some of them overboard during tha' fight! Now on 'is boots, William always wore bootstraps. 'e told me they brought them luck!

Well, during tha' fight they did indeed. When William was about to end up at the receiving end of a cutlass, he smashed out with 'is boots and promptly slashed the pirates eye out! Of course this earned 'im a deep respect among his fellow crewmembers, who had not fought so bravely as your ol' dad. Tha' how he got the name."

"Is that really true, Jack?" Will is not entirely convinced.

"Well, lad. Don' ye trust good ol' Capt'n Jack Sparrow? I swear tha's how William told it to me."

Will pondered about this answer a moment, but than his eyes returned to the drawn picture. And indeed, the man on the drawing was wearing boots with bootstraps.

"How did you meet him?"

Jack gave him a searching look. The mix of wine and rum had obviously done the job, but now it was time to leave again.

"I'm sorry, lad. I don't like talking 'bout me past much. Besides, I really 'ave to make a re-appearance on me ship. I don' want one of those blasted pirate hunters getting their filthy hands on her!"

Jack stood up unsteadily. "I said tha' there belonged something else with tha' pic." With a grin he handed over another piece of parchment.

"Yer dad was a good man, lad. Always remember tha'!" And with that he swirls the sack over his shoulder and softly singing he left.

Will was way to occupied to pay attention to the exiting pirate captain. In his hands he held a letter written by his dad, for his mother.

~*~

Will shook his head. After that first visit, Jack paid them only a couple more visits, always bringing gifts. So amazing were these gifts, Will and Elizabeth never even believed that it had existed.

But of all the gifts, non were as cherished as the drawn picture and the letter. And Jack had been right, the material he brought along with him as a gift for Elizabeth at the first return visit, made a beautiful dress. In fact, there were many ladies who were green of envy when they saw the young Miss Swann walking past wearing that dress.

Jack had also been right on another thing. Without memories, a man was nothing. And Will certainly was happy to cherish these kinds of memories on moments like this. Moments where he had the odd feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Suddenly it seems suspiciously silent. Will still heard the sea and the breathing of Elizabeth and Jack, but that seemed to be all.

Weren't there supposed to be animals awake? Even if it was in the middle of the night? Weren't half of the habitants of this god forsaken spit of land searching for them? Then why was it so silent?

Will held his breath. Did he just hear something? Something that sounded an awful lot like feet shuffling on the stony ground? Alert, he listened even more intensely. He simply had no intention to start panicking for nothing.

Then his heart seemed to skip a beat, he heard very clearly somebody whispering some orders.

Way calmer than he thought he would be, he silently walked back to the back of the cave and in one quick move, he put the fire out. As quietly as possible, hehe woke up Elizabeth, almost at the same way as he did when Barbossa had slapped her in the treasure cave on the Isla de Muerta. Not needing any words, Elizabeth immediately understood what's going on.

The decision if they should wake Jack or not is completely taken out of their hands when suddenly there's a huge rumble outside and seven pirates storm inside.

Will drew Jack's cutlass and thanks God that Jack had been smart enough to have a good quality one who could make a stand during a battle. With one swift move the first pirate was disarmed. That leaves six men to go.


Elizabeth felt utterly useless. Will stood in front of her, to protect her from the pirates, but she realized that this was going to be a tough battle. Although Will is probably the best swordsman of the lot, thanks to a practicing three hours a day. However, being outnumbered was more than even the best of swordsman could handle. Quickly she peeks at Jack finally woke up, obviously by the noise.


Even in the darkness she saw the large eyes of the pirate who seemed completely confused with what's going on. She cannot even tell if Jack recognizes any of them or not.

Will fought bravely, but he is also started to realize that this was a battle he cannot win. Especially not when five more men entered the small cave. Gracefully, he stabbed one of the pirates foolish enough to get close to Elizabeth. Next, in an act of desperation, he killed another one. Where was Jack?

Elizabeth wanted to scream in anger. Why was this sort of bad luck following them? Then she made a decision. Quickly she moved past Will towards the dead pirate lying on the ground. Quickly, she took his cutlass and began to help her fiancefiancé'. If Jack was unable to do anything, she was going to do it. The two exchanged a quick look, then made their stand, back to back, doing there very best to defend them selves and their freedom.

Then Elizabeth noticed something. Or better, somebody. Jack. For one very happy moment she thought that Jack had been woken up out of fear and would soon come to help her. At the last, however, her last bit of hope crashed to pieces. Gracefully, moving with the silence of a cat Jack managed to make his way out of the cave, using the cover of darkness. It's a real miracle how the pirate captain managed to move so silently with the large collection of trinkets in his hair. None of the other pirates seemed to notice his disappearance.

Then everything went wrong. Within minutes Elizabeth found herself, without cutlass, and her back against the hard stony surface of the cave. Looking around in a panic, she saw she was  surroundedwas surrounded by a small collection of dirty, and some wounded, pirates. When Will discovered the situation of his future wife, he dropeddropped Jack's cutlass to the floor.

Then a new man entered the cave. His clothing more of a gentlemensgentlemen's than that of a pirate. The man walked toward them, limping slightly as he moved.  As he drew closer, the young couple noticed that most of his face was shadowed by a thick growth of beard.

"So. You two wanted to save the invincible Jack Sparrow, isn't it?" he smiled almost politely at them.

"Who are you?" asks Will angry, while taking Elizabeth in his arms.

"You can call me Captain Toomey, son of Bootstrap. Take them away, lads." And with that Will and Elizabeth are taken prisoner.

~*~

In the very early morning a skinny, pale looking man climbed silently through the window of the harbormaster's house. Years of living on the streets and burgling houses honed his skill to move quietly.. Quickly he found what he had been looking for: the harbormaster's book with all the names of the ships and their owners.

Under the light of a small candle, found in the master's study room, the man searched through the pages and then found what he had been looking for.

Name: William and Alan Smith

Ship: Freedom

Dock: 3

Minutes later the book of the master lay safely were it belonged. The man disappeared on the small boat from Will and Elizabeth, sailing in the direction of Tortuga.

___________

Well… I'm not going to thank you all personally, but Chem, Lykosdracos, Orlando's Girl, Jem, morph, jackfan2, Ferntree, Pigwidgeon, Elven-Star-of-Gold, Rat, anaticulapreacantrix, scarlett7, Shaz1, Hanna, ChibiYugiYasha, Little Iris, Homeless Nobody, Lavender Wonder, No 1 & jogreenleaf1 for your kind reviews. They really brighten my day :)

Only a couple of things to add: Yes, I've seen Secret Window and I loved it. I'm also a big Stephen King fan and this is actually one of the first movies made out of a book by him that I like o_O

And to answer Hanna's question: I think Jack is capable of doing some amazing stuff even though he has a broken hand. I guess it's his stubbornness and his will to life and get his hands on his Pearl that keeps him moving, although most people would have given in long ago