Two Turners
By Gwenneth
Chapter Two: Meetings
Disclaimer: Don't own'em...just Gwen Turner...I am not making any money...blah blah blah. For a slightly more detailed disclaimer see chapter one.
Rating: PG or PG-13, not sure really..it isn't too violent or gory.
A/N: Despite lack of reviews...I am banking that there are some lurkers out there who might have read the beginning and I am going to go ahead and post this. I have more written but I'll just stick this up for now.
Tortuga...
Gwen grumbled under her breath as she tugged the dress collar up for the hundredth time. A snort sounded to her right and she glared daggers at the sailor who was trying hard to bury his laughter in his sleeve.
"Think this is funny, do you Critter. Just you wait, the minute a fight breaks out, this skirt comes off and I whip out a sword. I hate dressing like a girl, just because I am one don't mean I have to act like it."
Davies put an end to the ensuing argument with a gruff command. "Tie up the boat, Critter and pay the man."
Taking Gwen's hand, he made a show of helping her up onto the dock. Once she was ashore, she swatted his hand away and strode off toward the bustling center of Tortuga. Davies trailed behind, watching her with interest.
She sure has grown up to be quiet an alluring lady, he thought to himself. If only she wasn't so damn set on being manly. You'd swear that girl had testosterone.
As if feeling the Captain's eyes on her back, Gwen turned abruptly and frowned. "If we're to play this part, Sir, you best take my arm." She offered her left arm to the man and huffed when he took it and began to lead her into the nearest bar.
"Just act natural," Davies said, seeing Gwen fidget next to him as he took a seat at a small table near the bar counter.
"Natural, if I were to do THAT, Sir, I would stride right up to that bar and order a straight up whiskey, then stride right back here and thump down to drink it. I would not be sitting pretty dressed like this!"
The Captain made no move to comment, knowing anything he said would just anger his first mate more. "You're a good pirate, Gwen. But sometimes you are real hard to get along with."
He got no answer to that question and set about to search the bar for any crew that looked worthy to serve on the Corinth. To his great surprise, and slight dismay, a familiar face entered the bar, followed by another man he knew.
"Well, if it isn't Jack Sparrow."
Gwen's head snapped up, whipping toward the doorway. It couldn't be! He was supposed to be dead, marooned by Barbossa years ago! She chose to lead him on a bit and not reveal her own identity.
Apparently, Sparrow had heard his name and he turned toward the corner Davies sat in. A smile broke out on his face. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Mr. Nate Davies. I ain't seen you around these parts in a right long time, mate."
Sitting himself down beside Gwen, he looked her over and smiled. "You luck out and get the newest girl in the joint?" he asked, eying Gwen's bodice.
Davies thrust his hand out and grabbed Gwen's shoulder. "Not quite, Jack. She doesn't work this joint."
"Ah, another joint then?" Sparrow was obviously taken by the girl.
"No, she works on my ship." Davies smirked when Sparrow's head snapped up.
Frowning, the captain took a swig of Davies' drink. "You brought a girl onboard willingly then? Whatever for? Surely you can wait until you come ashore to have your fun?"
Gwen had had enough and her hand fell to her side where her cutlass was hidden in the folds of her dress. Jack Sparrow or not, no one talked about her that way. But again, Davies hand stilled her attempts. "No, Jack, you don't understand. Gwen is my first mate."
For a moment, it looked like Jack was going to laugh. But instead he leaned forward. "You're serious, aren't you?"
When Gwen glared daggers at the pirate, Jack suddenly did laugh. "Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. You are the first female first mate I've ever met, well, all right, second...no, actually I think third," he trailed off thinking of someone in the past. The he regained his train of thought. "Gwen...?"
"Turner. And I must say you do resemble a monkey, Captain Sparrow."
At hearing her last name, Jack surged back in his seat and eyed her closely. "Turner...no relation to Bootstrap right?" He asked the question but already seemed to know the answer.
Davies frowned. "Yes, this be his daughter."
Jack grabbed a pint of ale and chugged it. "But you died! You died on my ship years ago, from that cutlass wound!"
Gwen frowned. "No, I didn't. That was Barbossa's doing. He had it in his mind to mutiny on you for ages and he was really interested in me. Figured he could keep me aboard as his...well...fun. So he told everyone I had died, even my father."
Sparrow's eyes narrowed. "So you were aboard then when they marooned me on that island...and when they strapped your father to the cannon."
Gwen nodded, a shadow crossing her features. "Yes, Sir."
Jack's face took on a sudden look of thrill. "Oh, this is going to be an interesting night."
To the surprise of his three companions, Jack wasn't looking at any of them. His gaze was locked on the doorway to the tavern, locked to the two who had just entered.
"Found something interesting to gawk at, Captain Sparrow?" Gwen chided, taking a long swig of her own ale, very much unladylike.
Jack looked back toward her and leaned forward. "Yes, something you'd find quite interesting as well, Miss Turner."
Gwen turned toward the entrance as well, not seeing what Jack could possibly be referring to. She saw a young woman and man enter the tavern, very much out of place in the drab bar. But other then that, there was nothing of interest. Then, she saw the recognition in the two's eyes.
Hurrying over, the woman stood in front of Jack. "JACK! I have been wondering if you were alive and well! Fancy meeting you here."
The young man approached a little slower, uneasy in the midst of the pirates it seemed. His eyes fixed on Jack with a little loathing, but for the most part acceptance. When his eyes focused on Gwen, he did a double- take.
"I don't believe we've been introduced," he said, gesturing toward Davies and Gwen.
Jack smiled now. "Ah yes, this is going to be an interesting night indeed." Turning to his companions he spoke. "This is Captain Nate Davies of the Corinth...and his first mate...Gwen Turner."
Will's eyes widened. "Turner?"
Gwen looked at the man closer, seeing a startling resemblance to her dead father. "Yes, what's it to you, mate?" she asked, very much a pirate's accent to her words.
Elizabeth looked between the two in awe. "Jack, you can't mean...they aren't...are they?"
Will also looked to Jack, as did Gwen. "Yes, Captain Sparrow...what do you know that we do not?" Gwen asked, her eyes flitting to Davies before focusing intently on Jack.
Leaning back in his chair, apparently enjoying the attention and the fact he held knowledge they did not, Jack smiled. "Yes, Turner...two of them...didn't know she was still alive. See Gwen's father was nicknamed Bootstrap, Will."
Will couldn't believe his eyes or his ears. A sister? Surely his father would have told him about her, written to him or something. "Why did he never tell me about her?" he muttered, not really expecting an answer. He got one anyway.
"That's because he was right ashamed of it. I weren't born to no respectable lady, I was born to a miscreant in some bar town in the orient. Yeah, he loved me well enough, but he weren't about to go boasting about it."
She spoke with barely restrained contempt, but also an air of misery. Davies rested a hand on her shoulder. Will, unable to restrain his curiosity anymore, blurted out. "I have a sister? I never knew...I, I don't believe it!"
Gwen looked back to him now, almost as if seeing him for the first time. "Well, I guess we are related then. Funny, isn't it? Meeting in a place like this."
Davies was about to continue when a man, drunk beyond reason, grabbed Elizabeth and tried to drag her away. The young woman was so surprised that all she could do was shriek in alarm.
To the surprise of them all, the first to react was Gwen, whipping a cutlass from seemingly nowhere and holding it a hair's width from the man's face. "I'd be lettin' her go if I were you, mate."
The man did as he was told, scowling at the girl. Knowing that her cover and that of her Captain was blown, Gwen turned to Davies. "Sir, we oughta be goin'. There'll be no foolin' anyone now."
Davies stood and nodded. "Good idea. The men should have procured the necessary odd and ends by now. Nice to meet you Mr. Turner, and you as well, young lady. Good day, Jack."
Gwen hesitated for a second in front of Will. "Yeh...uhm...nice to meet you."
The two hurried from the bar and Jack jabbed Will in the ribs. "Mate, that's your sister. You always wanted to know bout your father, she obviously grew up with him...don't miss this opportune moment!"
Elizabeth took hold of Will and dragged him out, followed by Jack. "Wait!" Will called, unsure of what he was going to say to the girl.
Gwen and Davies turned at his voice. "What? We can't linger any longer, we have to get out of here before Norrington's cronies catch on," Davies said with barely restrained anger.
Will, glancing at Elizabeth, hoped his words would not get him in trouble with his wife. "We want to come with you. Could you use a few more hands?"
He felt Elizabeth stiffen beside him, but thankfully she didn't protest. Davies' eyes narrowed. "You sure about that? Sailing with a pirate's crew out of Tortuga might put you at odds with the good Commodore."
Will laughed. "It wouldn't be the first time I've done it, Captain." His gaze fell on Gwen. To his surprise, she didn't seem too happy with the idea. But she didn't voice an opinion, just tugged upward on her dress collar.
Elizabeth waited with baited breath for the answer. "Welcome aboard the Corinth then." That said, he turned and hurried off toward the boat docks, Gwen right behind him.
Will took once last look at Jack and smiled grimly at the thumbs up he received from the pirate. What am I getting myself into? He wondered to himself as he and Elizabeth hurried to keep up with the two pirates.
OK THEN. THERE IT IS, A BIT MORE OF THE STORY. THE NEXT FEW POSTS WILL DEAL WITH CATCHING UP...THE STORY BEHIND GWEN AS SHE TELLS IT TO WILL. THEN ON TO THE PRESENT WITH THE ISLAND AND TREASURE AND JACK AGAIN. PLEASE REVIEWS!
-Gwenneth