Once again a very big thank you to my beta JackFan2

Chapter 15 - Return of the Sparrow

Jack felt rather nervous about what he was about to do, but at the same time a strange sort of excitement.

This was just, yet again, why he preferred a pirate's life over that one of an 'honourable' man. Of course the freedom played a large role in his choice, but also this: the adventure. Jack had great respect for all those men and women who sat at home and did what they had to do: did their duty and their work. He was quite positive that he would go insane if he were forced to do that for the rest of his life.

No, pirate was in his blood.

Leaving Norrington and his crew on the Dauntless, he now stood in a longboat that he'd rowed on his own to the port side of the Black Pearl. Before he'd left the Commodore, he instructed him to stay away until he could provide the sign to intervene.

Reluctantly James had agreed. Jack himself didn't know when it happened, but he had grown rather fond of the Commodore. The man was more intelligent then he had expected and had a rather entertaining sarcasm and bland wit that he found terribly unexpectedly amusing.

The greatest surprise came during their journey when Norrington insisted the ships doctor be allowed to tend the pirate's wounds. At first, pride made the Jack resist, but after some minor arguing, where in James threatened to make Jack spend the entire journey in the brig, that he relented. Now, properly medicated and bandaged, Jack's arm and leg were more comfortable, although still pained him somewhat

However, Jack's thoughts were no longer with the Commodore and his men; he had far more important things in mind as he stared up at his ship.

His Pearl.

The closer he got, the faster he rowed as the thought of walking her dark wooded deck thrilled him to his soul. The excitement was tempered by caution as he realized he'd most likely be spotted by one of Toomey's men at any moment. The bastard wouldn't be so arrogant as to forget to set out a watch. Right?

But no shout of alarm ever came and he smiled as Lady Luck seemed this time to be at his side and he floated in undetected. Now, Jack stood in the little boat and nearly trance like reached out and touched his Pearl again. In a lover's caress, he bore his palm down on her, feeling the cool wet wood under his hands. Pressing his forehead against her hull he breathed in her sent and couldn't recall feeling this happy in weeks. Immediately he felt at home and safe.

This was no ordinary ship. This was his heart, his soul and the reason he was Captain Jack Sparrow and not just another face in the crowd. This ship was his life. And now, he was about to walk that fine line between reason and madness to save his friends. Friends? Well, the friends they had once been, perhaps, for they probably hated him now for betraying them.

Gathering strength from the touch of his Pearl Jack sighed deeply before climbing up. The journey to the top proved rather difficult and slow as his leg and left arm started protesting the exertion, but Jack didn't mind. The slowed movement meant he had more time to think about his plan again. James Norrington had been so kind to give him a new pistol and sword, since Will (and probably Toomey now) still had his, but it didn't seem right. This pistol was not his loyal companion for 10 years. But he didn't have much choice.

Jack carefully peeked over the railing and then climbed, as quickly as possible, on the railing itself, one hand in the rigging and the other hand holding the pistol.

"Gentlemen," he said.

Immediately things start to happen. Two of Toomey's men nearest where the pirate stood, discover him and started yelling, as they reached for their weapons they scream for their captain. Soon it seemed as if the entire Royal Navy is about the attack the Pearl, at least… when you consider the large amount of panic Jack's appearance seemed to cause.

"Gentlemen…" Jack says again, while waving his left arm in the air in a dramatic poseur.

Then the crowd of Toomey's crew gathered in front of Jack seemed to split in two parts as Captain Walter Toomey in long confident strides, approached.

"Jack Sparrow! Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, ye daft fool. Ye should've stayed away! But, alas… ye always were too arrogant fer yer own good."

Jack flashed his grin and bowed slowly to the object of his hate in front of him. "Toomey, mate. I always knew ye were a bad looser. Seems not much has changed over the years."

Toomey spat on the deck. "Ye've gone to far this time, Sparrow. Now yer mine again and I swear… ye are going to wish that ye had stayed away from me."

"I'm already wishing tha' now, mate. But I didn't come 'ere te talk with ye bout that. I've come te make ye an accord."

"Ye're going t' make an accord? With me?" Toomey laughed shaking his head, "I don't think so." Then, turning to his gathered crewmen he yelled, "Get 'im!"

Blood-lust shone in their eyes as each man took a step forward, clearly anticipating getting their hands on the other pirate captain. Jack's only reaction was to grin then slowly he moved the pistol up. At first it had been pointed at the men in front of him, now it was placed carefully under his very own chin.

"Ye don't want te be doing tha', mate," he said almost cheerfully. With a wave of his hands Toomey stops the other crewmen from attacking their prey.

"What yer playing at Sparrow?"

"Tsk, tsk, Toomey," Jack said in a disapproving tone. "Seems yer ears still don' work like they should, mate. Like I said… I want te make ye an accord."

"Well, Sparrow," Toomey spat crossing his arms over his chest, "why would I want to be makin' an accord with ye when ye're within my reach already?"

"Don't claim what ye don't own, mate. I'm in nobodies reach at the moment. I'm only in the reach of the Devil 'imself, but so are ye, mate, so are ye. If ye just want te listen to me person fer a moment, then we can make a trade."

"Trade?"

"Aye. Me for me friends."

For a moment only the sound of the sea can be heard. Then Toomey found his voice once again.

"Lemme get this straight, ye want te trade you fer yer friends?" Again, Walter laughed, "Ye don't understand, Sparrow. I already own you!"

"Ye think so? If ye take one more step in me direction, I shall pull this trigger and send m'self to Davey Jones Locker."

"Yer a daft fool, Sparrow! How can you save your friends when ye're dead?"

"I can't," Jack replied with a shrug. "But I know what ye want, mate. Ye don't want them, ye want me. Ye want revenge against me fer something I done in the past, something tha' was entirely yer own fault. If ye want tha', be my guest, but I'll not let ye harm me friends to get it. So, it's all quite simple, really, if ye don't agree, I shoot meself and ye'll not have yer revenge. Savvy?"

Toomey shook his head in disbelief. "I don't believe ye, Sparrow."

"Ye should, mate. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow above all!"

Toomey nodded and smiled a feral toothy grin. "Aye, I've 'eard that one before. So you want me to set your friends free?"

"Aye. Give 'em one of yer longboats, the other is lying in the waters already," Jack nodded downward. "And ye are without a doubt 'ere fer a reason, Toomey. Seems ye did a bit o' diggin' after me past, am I right? So, ye can let them row to tha' bloody island."

"Ye know, Sparrow, I thought it'd be a nice idea t' maroon that son of Bootstrap on your little island. O' course I heard the stories 'bout yer grand escape. Sea creatures! Damn ye, Sparrow. What did ye do? Kill an honest sailor t' get away from tha' island?"

Jack felt hot anger suddenly flowing through his veins, but by reminding himself that losing his temper wouldn't help his friends or his crew, he managed to stay calm. "Just a bit of good ol' luck, mate… as always."

Toomey nodded, deep in thought now. "So ye want me to maroon all yer friends on tha' island? Tha's in short what yer asking from me, right?"

"Ye can put it like tha' mate."

"So ye just want to condemn them to death… nice friend ye are, Sparrow!"

Once again Jack struggled to suppress his rage. "'Lizbeth knows 'ow to get off," he muttered.

"'Lizbeth? Aye, I saw her. Tha's that new girl ye took under yer wing, right? Had enough of good ol' Maria?"

Jack chose not to reply. "Do we have an accord, Toomey? Ye're going to maroon m' friends on that spit o' land and I'm going to become yer prisoner instead?"

Toomey thought about this a little longer before an arrogant smile appeared on his face. "If ye want to send yer friends to their death, be my guest, mate. We have an accord."

"Aye, mate. Now get them out of their cells. I shall just stay here, with my friend Mr. Pistol, until they are far on their way."

Toomey nodded slowly. "Marcus, Hermes, get 'em out!" Two men of the crew went downstairs to free the prisoners, who all hadn't a clue what had happened upstairs.

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Lykosdracos - LOL! You had a funny panic stricken review! As if I would actually kill Jack! Oh wait… I could always do that of course… :P

Otherhawk - Thank you, luv! Any change that you will update soon as well?

Ferntree - LOL! I believe that was my worst cliff hanger yet ;)

Rissa of the Saiya-Jin - I guess that remark about Bootstrap called Jack an eunuch is going to hunt me forever… shall have to work that in the story somewhere

Morph - Listening to the PotC soundtrack never hurts, luv… great inspiration to write with as well

Pigwidgeon - I'm still all proud that I'm the first PotC story you've read. James is at least mentioned in this chapter, but he will get a larger part in the story later. Don't worry about that, just be patient!

OprahNoodlemantra - Well… this chapter came rather quickly… at least for me ;)

ElvenRanger13 - I'm on my way, luv!

PirateBlacksmith - YAY! Fellow C-Ber! huggles Thank you very much!

Insane2eto - You can turn enemies into Chickens? Maybe you should give it a try on Toomey then ;) And the funny thing is you gave me a b-day cake almost exactly half a year before my actual b-day LOL

JackFan2 - Well… ff.net decided to stop being annoying and I can see the reviews again. Thank god. Thanks for your undying support!

Captain Black Athena - Hopefully this satisfies your curiosity a bit ;)

Elven-Star-of-Gold - Grounded! How awful! huggles