And again a very big hug to my beta Jackfan2 (you all should check out her newest fic called 'Of Duty and Honor': it's jealous making good!)
AN: I also wanted to say that I put online a story called 'A Grand Total of Three Days'. This is a side story to all my PotC related fiction, since it will be about the past of the Jack in my part of the PotC universe. You don't have to read it, but for the curious among you: you might find some hints about Toomey in it as well ;)
Chapter 13 - Secrets
Jack stood at the helm of the Dauntless appearing not at all comfortable with that lovely little fact. It just seemed wrong. Here he was, on the deck of the very same ship that once transported him to Port Royal to hang. This time, however, he was here for a completely different reason: to save his friends.
Hands clenched around the railing, Jack stared out at the distant horizon. Instinct told him that they were sailing in the right direction, and that same inner sense always brought him to where his Pearl was. That was probably the strangest thing about his relationship to that ship; he could actually feel her presence. And at this moment, her absence.
"Hello, Captain, sir."
Jack turned around to see two rather nervous marines standing before him: Mullroy and Murtogg. For the first time that day he actually truly grinned. These two had been his guards on his last journey on the Dauntless and he couldn't have asked for better. They were surprisingly witty and a very good audience for his stories.
"Aye, Mullroy, Murtogg," he nodded to them.
"Don't mind us talking with you, Captain, sir?" Murtogg asked.
"Don't break yer tongue, mate. Just Jack for ye. And te answer yer question: No I don't mind."
"Good, Cap'n… er… I mean, Jack, I wondered about something…" Mullroy said.
"Speak yer mind, mate."
"Well… You told us once that they made you their chief after you killed that giant squid, but… how could you stay underwater for so long?" Murtogg elbowed him annoyed, but Jack only laughed.
---
Commodore James Norrington could, from his position on the main deck, just see Jack talking with two of his men. The pirate captain actually worried him. He seemed not to be himself; especially as he spent most of his time at the helm, being completely silent with no sign of his usual annoying and rather noisy self.
Seeing the pirate on his ship brought to mind the time, not so long ago, just before they'd found the Isle of de Muerta. Clearly he recalled the moment when he had told Jack to stay silent during their travel to save Will Turner.
You will then spend the rest of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase "silent as the grave."
Of course, the pirate captain had not listened to him then, but for whatever reason, this time he'd seemed to have taken this advise to heart. And while he'd never admit it to anyone, James realized for the first time that he much preferred the loud and daft pirate to this introspective one.
It didn't seem right to leave the pirate alone with his thoughts for too long. James, therefore, ordered Mullroy and Murtogg to keep him company whenever they could. Of course, he was aware of the odd friendship that had grown between the men, when Jack first spent time in the brig of the Dauntless. That was probably the oddest thing about the pirate; somehow he always managed to befriend the most unlikely people.
In the evenings, James took care that the pirate stayed busy. At his strong request, Jack showed up at his cabin and the two would engage in a game of chess and drink. As the Commodore suspected, the pirate proved to be a quick learner, possessing a keen intellect and brilliant tactician's skill that even the most brilliant of England's naval commanders didn't enjoy. Even though he was a beginner, and Norrington the more novice player, Jack managed to win a fair amount of games.
During their games, James tried to get the pirate to talk about what bothered him. While Jack never lacked for words, the Commodore's discovered that the pirate was remarkably gifted at talking abundantly, yet never actually 'saying' anything. As much as that annoyed him, James couldn't help but enjoy their lively and engaging conversations. And, much to the military man's supreme relief, Jack never once brought the issue regarding the commander's actual first name.
Yes, he would miss their banter when the pirate left.
---
Will hated this, these uncomfortable silences. But what he hated more was the man who was the source of the stillness. Toomey.
In the middle of the room Toomey stood, staring through the bars at Anamaria. Looking every bit uncomfortable, she did her very best to ignore his penetrating gaze.
Taking his cue from the other member's of the Black Pearl in the adjacent cells, Will too tried his best to ignore Toomey. However, the man stood there for what seemed like an hour and Will caught his eyes flying to this hated person once in a while, before he stared back into space again. The evil presence of Toomey permeated every inch of his body.
"You know," Toomey suddenly said. Will looked and noticed he spoke looking at Anamaria. Strange, that voice didn't seem to fit with the image he had of dark and scary pirate captain, "I never understood why he protected you."
Still unwilling to meet his eyes, Anamaria stared with great interested at her hands.
"But the story seems to repeat himself, doesn't it?" he turned his attention to Elizabeth, who still wore her pirate clothes. "Seems he has taken another young girl under his protection. Aren't you jealous, Maria? Jealous to be replaced by a girl who is so much younger and fairer than you?"
This time Ana did look up, but she still didn't reply. Elizabeth shuffled uncomfortably, not sure what to say about this either. What on earth did Toomey mean?
"And you, son of Bootstrap? Jack seems to enjoy dwelling in the past, doesn't he? A young girl at his side, and Bootstrap Bill to get him out of trouble, just like old times." Toomey shook his head in amusement. "I still remember how Jack always said that Bill was the one who did stupid things, but the truth is… Jack was a much bigger idiot!"
"That's not true," Joshamee Gibbs stood and clenched the bars of his cell. "Jack can never be a bigger idiot than you are!" he spat.
Toomey raised his eyebrows. "And who are you? You are the new grand protector of the Sparrow? The Sparrow who thought he could everything? The Sparrow who killed one of his own crewmembers?"
Gibbs eyes shot daggers at the man in front of him.
"I never understood why so many people followed this man… wanted to die for this man even! But you will find out the truth about your infamous friend soon enough."
"You will not catch him again."
This time Toomey really smiled. "Oh yes I will. Knowing Jack, he will do something incredibly stupid to save you people. And then I will have him in my power again." Then he turned and left them alone with their thoughts and worries.
"Ana?" it was Elizabeth who spoke first. "Are you alright?"
Ana had paled slightly during Toomey's little speech. "Aye… I am," she softly said. "I'm just a bit… worried 'bout Jack."
Gibbs had seated himself next to the female pirate and carefully pulled her closer, offering a bit of comfort. "Don't ye worry. Ol' Jack has had worse problems than this. He'll manage!"
Will absently played with Elizabeth's hair, as she sat on his lap, leaning against his chest. "Is it true what Toomey said?"
"What, kid?"
"About killing his own crew?"
It was Ana who replied. "Jack never liked te kill, lad. I know it's hard te believe since 'e's a pirate and all tha' but… really. It's true. 'E killed one member of 'is crew and that was t' protect me." She swallowed hard. "That was about 13 years ago…"
"To protect you?" Will found it hard to believe that Anamaria, who always seemed perfectly able to defend herself, needed help from Jack.
"Aye, lad. Te protect me honour." Ana turned her attention back to her hands, not able to say anything more.
No heroes amongst thieves, eh?
What had happened? Will's imagination was working overtime, but he really couldn't think of anything. And his doubts were back in full force, as well. Maybe Jack wasn't at all what he thought. Already once, he had left them and now this new information about him killing one of his own crewmembers? Of course he hadn't been so naïve to think that the pirate captain had never killed before… heck, he'd even witnessed one of these killings! He himself had killed some pirates, something he never thought he would be capable off. But a crewmember? Wasn't this whole pirate thing based on trust?
"Will?" Elizabeth whispered softly. "What's on your mind?"
Will sadly shook his head. "I don't know what to think anymore, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth sat up straight and looked her blacksmith in the eyes. "Now you listen to me, William Turner. If you start to doubt your own friends you have to remember something important. He was the one who saved us back with Barbossa." Will opened his mouth to speak, but one look from Elizabeth told him better. "I know he did what was most profit to him, but do you really believe that, Will? Do you really, truly believe he would have left us in the hands of Barbossa after he had taken the Pearl again?"
Will thought this over and slowly a small smile formed on his lips. He remembered Jacks rare visits to their little house and the stories he always told. He also remembered how Jack, surprisingly shy, had asked for his friendship and trust.
"Thank you, Liz," Will softly whispered in her ear before pulling her closer. "Thank you."
---
Jackfan2 - LOL! You curious person! At least you are able to read it a bit earlier than most here :P
Scarlett Burns - Thank you! Too bad I can't offer you a little Jack action figure.
Rissa of the Saiya-Jin - Poor Norrington! I'm actually growing rather fond of this man
Elven-Star-of-Gold - Well, here are Will & Elizabeth again. More of them in the next chapter as well
Insane4seto - Awwww! What a cute lil chicken ;) I really should put more animals into my story
Pigwidgeon - Keep a sharp eye for Norrington… He will become an important character in the sequel of this (yes… a sequel ;)). And I was also a bit disappointed that Pig wasn't present in PoA
Meowface - the horror of updating ;) I'm in fact way too busy to write in the first place, but I just have to… My muse (and Jack) won't leave me alone
Morph - Thank you! I've discovered that I have great pleasure in writing Jack versus James conversations etc.
Lykosdracos - What to say about Toomey… I normally have a rather odd affection for bad guys in all forms (I really like Barbossa!), but Toomey… In some ways I own him I guess, but I would gratefully trade him for somebody else
Hana - Again something more for you to read… I'm happy that you are still following this!