Title: Fires of Purgatory Part Two: We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us (2b/4) WIP
Author: QteCuttlfish
Author email: mizbara@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Type: Angst/Slash/Rape
Summary: Jack and Will are rescued by Norrington and Elizabeth. But will they ever heal? And why does Will feel guilt for what happened?
Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean, its characters, and plots belongs to Disney. I do not own any part of them, even though I wish I did…*starts dreaming of owning Jack and Will*
WARNING: Mentions of m/m RAPE! PLEASE do not read if you no like!
Pairing: Jack/Will, mentioned Will/Elizabeth, Jack/Elizabeth, will be Jack/Will/Elizabeth
Authors Notes:
Iawen: (looking puzzled) But I thought Part 2 was finished!
QteCuttlfish: (shakes head) Nope. I wasn't happy with the end of the last part, so I added a bit more, especially since the readers still didn't know how the pirates escaped, nor how Will and Jack were rescued. *sweatdrop*
Iawen: (nods sheepishly) Oh yeah. I forgot about that.
QteCuttlfish: (glares) Some muse you are. Anyway, the second chapter to Part 2. And thank you to everyone who has reviewed! (gives cookies and hugs to everyone)
Fires of Purgatory
We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
Part 2b
Over the next few days, Will slowly regained his strength. His injuries healed well, with his head injuries being the only ones still worrisome. But his emotional state was another matter. Often he would catch Elizabeth looking at him so tenderly, and he would close his eyes in pain.
Stop it! He wanted to yell. I'm not worth it!
Of course he didn't. That would only hurt her more, since she didn't understand his behavior in the least. No one, not the doctor, Jack, nor himself had explained to the very concerned young woman what had happened to her husband. Part of it was her condition. Will wondered how Elizabeth had even been allowed to come on the rescue mission in the first place. Finally, when the doctor pronounced him well enough, Jack, Elizabeth, and Norrington had crowded into his room to explain why. They had reached Port Royale by that point, and for some reason, Jack still accompanied them. Elizabeth had told Will that Norrington had granted the man a temporary pardon, as he refused to leave until Will was well again. Will felt his shame deepen as a part of him was happy to hear that. He'd lowered his eyes, not wanting Elizabeth to know of his betrayal. She loved him, and he didn't want her heart broken.
Will's thoughts were interrupted as he realized the three people in the room were waiting for his attention. Elizabeth sat on the bed beside him, her hands gently caressing her stomach. The doctor said in about four months, they'd have their own little Turner. A faint ghost of a smile crossed Will's face as he thought of his and Elizabeth's child, the best thing that would ever come of him. Jack leaned in the corner of the room, almost lurking in the shadows, with his arms folded across his chest. His dark eyes were more guarded than ever as he watched the scene before him. Norrington stood at the foot of the bed, nervous and edgy, his heart on his face, as usual.
In the six months since Will and Elizabeth's wedding, Norrington had come to like the young blacksmith. He understood that Will really was the better man for Elizabeth, with her sense of adventure. Norrington would have tried to curb those tendencies that made up a large part of Elizabeth's charm, while Will accepted them and loved her all the more. Since then, he'd become rather good friends with the couple, especially Elizabeth as his feelings began changing to a deep caring more suited to a friend than a lover.
Norrington cleared his throat.
"I am glad to see you are healing from the injuries inflicted upon your person by those pirates," he said.
Will nodded, not knowing what to say, as he thought he saw Jack flinch out of the corner of his eye.
"What I don't understand, Commodore, is how those bloody pirates escaped in the first place. Why weren't they hanged, like ye tried to hang me?" Jack sharply asked from his dark corner.
Norrington glared at him.
"It seems pirates have a strange fear of hanging. On the day they were to be executed, fifteen of them escaped, killing many fine men, including Lt. Gillette. They commandeered a merchant vessel and set off. We tried to catch them in the Dauntless, but unfortunately, though she is the power in these waters, she sadly lacks in speed. We lost them when they split in Tortuga. We now know half of them lay in wait for you and the Black Pearl," here Norrington nodded at Jack. "While the other half sailed back to Port Royale to capture Mr. Turner."
"It's too bad about yer friend. He was a good man, if a little stupid," Jack said, his voice lacking any emotion.
Oddly Norrington did not take offense to that. But then, even he knew Gillette's tendency to be foolish about situations he did not quite understand.
"How did you rescue us?" Will asked in a quiet voice.
"I went to the shop when you didn't return home that evening, and noticed signs of a struggle. I went to the Commodore, and he searched your shop more thoroughly. After Barbossa's crew escaped, I was terrified that something like this would happen. The Dauntless set out at dawn the next morning. The Black Pearl caught up with us, and Mr. Gibbs explained that Jack had disappeared from Tortuga. On a hunch, we sailed to the Isla de la Muerta, since Jack had given the bearings to some of the sailors on the Dauntless once before. We found the ship they'd commandeered," Elizabeth said.
"We had to fight to get you free, of course, but seven of them somehow managed to escape deeper in those caves. I would ask for caution on your parts until they are captured or killed," Norrington sternly said, speaking to all three of them.
"But why were you on the Dauntless, Elizabeth?" Will asked, wondering why Norrington would let a woman in her condition go on some wild goose chase after pirates.
"Because, Mr. Turner, your wife refused to be left behind," Norrington said with a disapproving look towards Elizabeth.
Will nodded. He understood. He knew his lovely and often impetuous wife well. Sometimes he wondered if he were the only one passing pirate blood on their unborn child.
"Is that all?" Will asked.
Norrington nodded. "I hope you'll be well soon, Mr. Turner."
"Thank you," Will inclined his head.
Norrington walked out of the room. "Good day."
Jack uncoiled himself from his corner. Will tensed, still torn, as he saw the blank look in Jack's eyes. He wanted to see life in them, the strange half-drunk manner usually present. Not this calm, collected stranger. But Will knew by those very thoughts he was jeopardizing his marriage. Besides, he was frightened of physically touching Jack, unable to forget the pains from the half-healed injuries.
"The doctor says ye'll be up and around soon, young Turner," Jack said. "The crew's been tellin' me 'tis time to leave for awhile now, and I think the opportune moment has arrived."
"Good luck, Jack," Will could barely get the words out, as he stared at the quilt.
"Farewell," Jack said.
"Jack wait!" Elizabeth called. She stood up and looked at Will. "I'll be right back." She hurried out of the room.
Will turned on his side, and soft tears ran down his cheeks. His heart felt hollow inside, as he wondered where the three of them would be headed from here.
TBC