Title: Fires of Purgatory Part Three: Lead Us Not Into Temptation (4/10) WIP
Author: QteCuttlfish
Author email: mizbara@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Type: Angst/Slash/Rape
Summary: Will has withdrawn from Elizabeth, and Jack drowns himself in rum. Will Elizabeth be able to heal the two men she loves before it's too late?
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: (confused) But why have the numbers on top changed?
QteCuttlfish: (wincing) Because this fic has grown into ten chapters, instead of four, like I thought they were going to be. Besides, you should have known that. You're the muse, after all. (glares)
Iawen: (wilts)
QteCuttlfish: (sighs) Okay, as I said, this fic is now ten chapters long. Chapter 5 will be coming as soon as I finish chapter 6, savvy? This way, I ensure I will finish the fic. (sweatdrops) Anyway, thank you to everyone who's reviewed! Writers live off them, you know! Cookies and hugs!
Fires of Purgatory
Chapter Four
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
Elizabeth looked down at the sleeping countenance of her beloved husband. Even in sleep, the man was allowed no peace, as his face winced from the nightmares. Oh Will, she sighed, gently brushing a hand across his cheek. It seemed to soothe him, for which she was grateful. If only she knew what had happened to him. But he wouldn't or couldn't tell her, and the doctor refused to tell her. Jack had avoided being alone with her until Will healed, and then the Black Pearl had sailed for Tortuga. Elizabeth had watched her sail away with a heavy heart, feeling that something was deeply wrong, though no one would tell her anything.
The Commodore had tried to soothe away her fears by telling her things would be all right. But Elizabeth Turner was no fool. She knew something terrible had happened. And it weighed heavily on her mind, which the doctor tried very hard to lecture her about. Her worries weren't good for the baby. She heard that at least ten times a day.
She smiled slightly as one of her hands rested on the bulge of her stomach. She'd had to fight hard to get on the ship that rescued Will and Jack, because everyone worried about her condition. But the man Elizabeth had loved since the day he opened his eyes was in danger. She refused to be left behind. Later, when they'd come across the Pearl searching for Jack, her heart had frozen in even more terror. It was the only time on the voyage she'd fainted. She would never admit it aloud, for she loved Will so much, but her wayward heart had missed the mad pirate captain who'd saved her and Will's lives over a year earlier more than she'd thought. Somehow, the young woman loved two men, and both had been in danger. Her relief had nearly overwhelmed her when they were found. But then she saw the pain lurking behind both men's eyes, and her heart had ached. She longed to soothe it away, to help them, but both men had shut her out.
Elizabeth sighed again. What could she do? At least I have you, she caressed her womb. Whether the child was a boy or a girl, she'd already decided to name the child after Will and Jack. Two tears slipped down her cheeks. Will, please let me in, she silently begged, please.
Just then an odd noise from the first floor caught her attention. With a puzzled face, she crept down the stairs. Another odd noise came from the kitchen, where one of the doors leading to the outside was. Holding her candlestick in front of her, Elizabeth steeled her courage and walked into the kitchen.
As she opened the door, she was yanked in, and her candlestick taken. Her startled scream was stifled by a hand on her mouth.
"Quiet, Miss Elizabeth," a familiar voice whispered.
The hand was removed.
"Mr. Gibbs?" she said as other candles were lit, revealing Anamaria, Cotton, and other crewmembers of the Black Pearl. "What are you doing here?" Then she noticed the prone form of Captain Jack Sparrow sprawled on the kitchen table. She hurried over to his side. "What's wrong with him? Is he hurt?" She began checking his body for injuries.
A gentle hand on her arm stopped her. Elizabeth turned worried eyes on Anamaria.
"Aye lass, he is, but not anywhere we can see," the female pirate softly told the scared young woman.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked, afraid she already knew. She'd seen the look in Jack's eyes whenever he'd looked at Will or her, when he thought no one else noticed.
"'Tis 'is 'eart, lass," Mr. Gibbs said sadly, glancing down. "'E's given up on all will to live."
Elizabeth swallowed hard, her heart like lead. She carefully pushed Jack's wild hair out of his face. Her eyes filled with tears she would shed later, when she didn't need to be strong in front of others.
"How do you know?" she quietly whispered, needing the details.
The men (plus Anamaria, of course) sighed.
"We sailed into Tortuga and didn't leave. At first we thought Jack wanted a short rest before sailing the sea again. But we soon began to realize Jack had no intention of e'er returnin'," here Mr. Gibbs swallowed.
"Go on," she carefully prodded. But he couldn't.
Anamaria put her hands on the younger woman's shoulders.
"Lady," she said, calling her by the name she'd used long ago in an attempt to escape from Captain Barbossa. "Jack's bin tryin' to drink himself to death e'er since we reached Tortuga."
Horror swallowed Elizabeth as she heard those words. Not him too! Not Jack and Will both! Please God, no! A litany screamed through her brain.
"Why?" she breathed.
"We don know lass," Mr. Gibbs said. "Jack's always bin one for keepin' secrets. We know 'twas to do with that damned crew of Barbossa's. But he has yet to tell anyone for certain."
"But why bring him here?" she asked, confused.
Mr. Gibbs and Anamaria shared a look.
"May we talk in private, lady?" Anamaria said. Elizabeth nodded, and the two walked into the foyer.
"Now tell me," her voice began showing the strain the pregnant woman was under.
"Ye had best sit down," Anamaria gestured to a bench along the wall. Elizabeth obeyed, hoping the pirate would finally answer her questions.
"The night we chose to sail from Tortuga, Jack be so far gone in rum, he babbled. About what, we couldna quite gather. The tavern owner finally kicked us out, so Gibbs an' I helped Jack to his feet. As we did, we 'eard 'im mutter two names and the word 'love'," Anamaria paused. Elizabeth stared up at her, hope and dread of her next words squeezing her heart in a vice. Anamaria continued. "Those names were yours and young Turner's."
Elizabeth's heart began pounding so hard in her chest, she was almost surprised it didn't pound onto the floor. Jack loves us? He loves us both? A searing hope exploded in her soul, a feeling so wonderful it was almost painful.
"He loves us both?" she whispered in wonder.
"Aye lady, he does," Anamaria smiled. "Which is why you two are the only ones who can bring him back to himself. The Black Pearl needs her captain. She just isn't the same without Captain Jack Sparrow at the helm."
"I cannot promise you that I will be able to heal him, but I will try, with everything in me, I will try," Elizabeth vowed. A part of her, the part of her that thinks faster than she can react, hoped that perhaps Jack's presence would help Will. God, I know 'tis wrong to love two men, but I do. Please give me the strength to bring them both back to me. A sincere prayer slid through her mind.
A sudden knock at the front door froze both women. Anamaria hid herself in the shadows as best she could, while Elizabeth wobbled to the front door as fast as she could.
Commodore Norrington looked discomfited at seeing her.
"Miss Elizabeth, I am sorry to intrude at this hour, but I noticed something strange, and thought that…" his voice trailed off as he saw one of the pirates from Jack Sparrow's ship lurking in the dark. He realized Elizabeth was trying to prevent his view. Quickly, his mind analyzed what he knew of the facts. Governor Swann's words from the day he'd allowed Captain Jack Sparrow to escape came to mind.
Perhaps on the rare occasion pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy, piracy itself can be the right course?
"Mrs. Turner," he said, straightening up. "What I do not see, and know nothing about, I cannot prosecute. Do you understand?"
For a moment, fear held her in its grip, until he finished speaking. She smiled. Dear Norrington. You really are a fine man.
"I do," she nodded.
"Then we have an understanding. Farewell, Mrs. Turner," the Commodore turned around and walked away from the house.
Elizabeth closed the door and locked it. "You and the crew must leave here at once. If anyone else sees your ship in the harbor, you will all be hanged!"
Quickly, the pirates helped Elizabeth put Jack in one of the spare bedrooms, before taking their leave.
"Take good care of him, lass," Mr. Gibbs said.
Elizabeth nodded. "I will. Now go." And she was left alone with Captain Jack Sparrow. The pirates had removed his coat, sword, and boots before placing him on the bed. Elizabeth smiled wistfully. He looked much the way he had when they'd been marooned together. If she hadn't been so worried about Will, she may have enjoyed being alone with the infuriating scoundrel. From the moment he'd grabbed her to escape from Norrington's men that first day in Port Royale, she'd felt herself drawn to the pirate. She'd squelched those feelings because no one could condone being in love with two men at the same time. But still…And the day Will had told her he loved her before rescuing Jack from the hangman's noose…Her pride in both men had grown. She'd helped them as best she could, pretending to faint as a distraction for both her father and Commodore Norrington. Then, when Will had told Norrington his place was between him and Jack, she'd known what she needed to do. She'd joined him, and it had felt so right, the three of them working together as one. Of course, Jack noticed Cotton's parrot and escaped, puzzling everyone with his parting words.
Elizabeth chuckled softly, lost in her memories, when an arm grabbed her.
"Mmm-hmm…must be dreamin'…Elizabeth's here…bonny Elizabeth," Jack mumbled softly. Elizabeth noted that his eyes were open but very red, bloodshot. He did not seem coherent as he continued mumbling.
"Shh, Jack, 'tis all right. I'm here," she whispered, her hand stroking his face.
Suddenly his face twisted in an expression Elizabeth knew well; she saw it on Will's face every night: pure agony. Jack, Captain Jack Sparrow, a man who rarely seemed serious about anything, started sobbing like his heart was broken. He somehow managed to sit up and clutch Elizabeth like she was a lifeline.
"Oh God, what have I done? What have I done? I'm no better than Barbossa, no better. I betrayed Will—" here Elizabeth gasped softly, then her eyes grew wide as Jack proceeded to spill the whole story.
In a single instant, Elizabeth Swann Turner learned the meaning of the word hate. But not towards Jack. She knew the man, loved him, trusted him. Elizabeth listened with an open heart and realized that the man had protected Will as best he could. No, Elizabeth now hated Bo'sun and every other escaped member of Barbossa's evil crew. How dare they?
Elizabeth was a very smart woman, much like Jack and Will. "Aye, daft like Jack." She knew how to put two and two together. Whoever thought up this vile plot should burn in hell! She thought, enraged, as she soothed Jack to sleep.
Both the men she loved were broken now, exactly as the crew meant them to be. Somehow, they'd figured out how to completely destroy Jack and gain revenge on Will at the same time. It was a cruel plan, meticulous and wicked, for they had succeeded.
But not for long, Elizabeth vowed silently. My men may be broken, but I swear I will put them back together, come hell or high water!
Finally Jack eased back onto the bed. He closed his eyes, much more at peace.
"I'm so sorry, Will, Elizabeth. I love ye both. Let me go and be at peace," he whispered before falling asleep.
No Jack, Elizabeth silently said. I will not let you go. You need us, as we need you.
Elizabeth's wise women's intuition had long since told her that Will too harbored secret feelings for the pirate captain. She did not know what sort of damage could have happened to those feelings after what had happened, but she would find out. The time to be timid was over. Now the three of them had to find a way through the darkness together.
Please God, heal them. Help me to heal them. Allow us some happiness. Elizabeth prayed, before boldly kissing Jack's cheek. She checked in on Will, kissing him gently on the lips. Be at peace my love, my husband. Time for me to save you.
TBC