Chapter Five: Will and Elizabeth
A/N: Grr... never likes me... It's taken me the entire evening to upload a story ::sob::
Jack Sparrow woke slowly, groaning as he did so. He looked around to see that he was in his cabin with Ana sleeping next to him, her head against his chest and an arm wrapped around him. He shifted slightly, feeling Ana make a soft noise and nestle closer to him.
"Luv?"
Ana moaned slightly before opening her eyes and looking at him. "Oh Jack... You're awake. How're ya feelin'?"
"Better, luv. Where're the treasure snipes?"
"Norrington took them out when we got you settled in. They're sleeping up on deck... Hopefully."
Jack smiled and kissed the top of her head. "An' 'ow long 'ave I been out, luv?"
"Only a few hours, don't worry. We'll be to Tortuga soon. Will ye be up to it?"
Her captain grinned at her question. "Luv, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Of course I'm up to it."
Ana Maria rolled her eyes and sighed. "You're a daft fool, Jack Sparrow, but I love ye for it."
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Bill pushed the door open to his uncle's cabin and poked his small head in. "Uncle Jack? Mr. Gibbs said you wanted me in 'ere."
Jack looked over his shoulder from where he was slipping his boots on. "C'mon in, lad. 'ave a seat."
The young boy inched in and sat on the bed next to the pirate captain. He looked up with wide eyes and Jack ruffled his hair in a tension-relieving gesture. Bill laughed. "We're going to help, right, Uncle Jack?"
Jack sighed as he shifted himself around to look at the boy, hiding a grimace as his side protested with the all-too-new wound. "Lad, I 'ave a favor to ask. I'd rather ye do this for me as a favor an' not an order, savvy?"
"Aye, Captain!" the boy said with a large grin.
"I want ye to stay 'ere and keep yer sister 'ere as well."
Bill's happy smile fell to a saddened frown. "But..."
"Lad, please do this."
The boy looked up to see the pleading look on the pirate's face and finally nodded. "Okay... But you'll get Momma and Papa, right? They'll be safe?"
"Aye, lad, they'll be safe."
Bill nodded, apparently still not satisfied. Jack sighed at this and reached up, untying the thick knot that held his bandana in place and tugged it off. He handed it to the boy who looked at it questioningly. "Jus' 'old onto it for me, eh?"
"But you never take it off."
"Exactly."
Bill got up on his knees so he could see Jack's face better, his one little finger reaching for the scar that barely poked out from his behind the pirate's black hair. "Where'd you get tha', Uncle Jack?"
Jack had to close his eyes against the flashback of his stepfather's temper and the chair leg that he had found crashing into his skull one late afternoon. He shook his head, trying to clear it. "Doesn' matter, lad. Not anymore."
Bill nodded and watched as the pirate captain stood, ruffled his hair once more, and started out of his cabin. They'd just docked at Tortuga. It was time for the end to begin.
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Jack, Ana Maria, and James Norrington were to be the small party that would head into Tortuga's streets. Norrington was, of course, dressed in old ratty clothes that Jack had dug up for him so that he might not attract attention. He had also shed that horrible wig and his dark hair was tied back in a slightly sloppy manner. It was a start...
"Are you sure you're up to this, Jack? We can go ourselves if not."
"Luv, you've asked that a good five times in the past five minutes," Jack answered with a small smiled, pulling her close.
Ana blushed and Norrington chuckled under his breath as they entered a bar, looking around. Jack spotted the man that he wanted and made his way over to the table. "'allo, Tyler."
Dalton Tyler looked up from his mug of ale and stared at Jack for a moment. "Jack Sparrow, I expected Christopher to have killed you."
"'e's locked in the brig now, an' ye 'ave some explainin' to do. Like where are the Turners?"
Tyler lifted an eye. "Ah? Still stuck on that, are you? What if it were to cost ye yer life, Jack?"
"I'd tell ye tha' I've a pistol aimed under this table and wonder just 'ow much you've got to threaten me with then."
"And if I told you that I had a man at yer back with a pistol aimed?"
Jack suddenly felt the pressure of a barrel against the back of his neck and he frowned deeply. "Ready for this, were you, Tyler?"
"Christopher never was reliable."
"Is tha' all ye've got?"
"It's all I need, Sparrow. You shoot me an' me sailor there'll shoot you."
"Not likely," Ana said from behind the man with the pistol aimed at Jack. "This man here shoots Jack and he'll find the new meaning of what it is to die slowly and painfully."
Tyler frowned. "I didn' expect you would put yer lass in danger."
"Ana's 'er own lass, Tyler. She does wha' she pleases."
Dalton Tyler nodded. "'ve got 'em in me rooms a couple streets over," he said. "Feisty ones they are. Bootstrap's lad looks just like 'im."
"Aye, I'd noticed."
"Must stir up old memories, Jack."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "None of yer concern, thanks." He stood when the man behind him moved back and felt an overwhelming since of dread pass over him as the man's pistol came up to aim again. The one in his hand went off before the other, sending Tyler's man to the floor in a heap. The tavern went silent and the pirate captain looked to see Tyler had lit off into the night and everyone was staring. "Turn yer eyes to yer own business," he growled.
"You 'ad business with 'em, Jack?"
Jack saw the owner walking towards them and gave a tired smile to him. McRyan – he'd never heard the man's first name – had owned this tavern as long as Jack could remember, and at least since Jack had been fourteen. He remembered steeling a piece of bread from him then...
"He's taken couple 'o me friends. You know 'ow I am, McRyan."
The elder man chuckled. "Aye, lad, stuck to 'em ye are. Wouldn't 'appen to be a pretty young lady and a lad tha' strikes me like ol' Bootstrap, would it?"
"Tha'd be 'em," the pirate answered. "You know where they are?"
"Back room," McRyan answered. "Unharmed, I do believe. Good luck to ye, lad."
Jack grinned. "Thanks very much, McRyan. I owe ye."
The aging tavern owner watched the pirate start off and shook his head. "'m still far in yer debt, lad. Too far."
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"Jack!" Elizabeth gasped as she saw the door open to reveal the pirate captain. "Oh Jack! You don't know how happy I am to see you! Are the children all right? What of my father? Do you know? Hello, Ana. James. It's so good to see you all."
Will cracked an eye open at the sound of his wife's voice and smiled weakly. "Hey, Jack. What took you?"
The pirate grinned as he knelt down to untie his friends. "Yer ol' man's fine, Liz. An' yer kids are on me ship. Safe as they can be now."
Elizabeth went wide eyed and looked at Will. "Do you think they were bluffing?"
"I hope so."
"What? Bluffing what?" Jack asked in confusion as he untied the last knot.
"They said that they were going to steal the children off the Pearl when she docked," Will answered as he stood. "We have to get back now."
Jack nodded. "Aye. We're not far if we run."
And run they did, but only to be met by a very upset Mr. Gibbs who was holding a ripped red bandana in his hand.
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Kunfuchick: We'll see if he's okay... I wouldn't kill him. I mean, c'mon, I've hung him and still couldn't kill the great Captain Jack Sparrow! Hehe...
Flute Damioh: We ALL love him. :) He's a very very lovely pirate. Don't worry, he's fine, more or less. For the moment... Until I start writing again...
Fire-Babiie: Why does everyone threaten poor Saiko-chan? ::sniffs:: Oh well... Lol!
JackFan2: Ah yes, I spend much time around who I've lovingly refer to as "chibis". Hehe... My li'll ones at church every week that I get to see tomorrow! Yay! They're great for inspiration! Hehe, Jack stay off the knee? Heavens no. He's Jack Sparrow, he doesn't know the meaning of "lie down and rest" lol He'd go after Tyler even if he had one foot in the grave and the other on banana peel (oh wow, I'm quoting my art teacher now... lol) Oh! I was going to tell you, I can talk on MSN again! My dad had a sudden change of heart. He's been doing that a lot lately... Not that I'm complaining. So hope to see you online later! :)
Thanks very much to all readers!