Author's note: I'm sooo sorry I haven't posted in eons but my computer's
been gone! Ok so I've added an important bit to this chapter so you can
review this one and go on to the next! Again I'm sorry!
*****
Elizabeth' s dream was weird. She was in a large meadow and the wind was sweeping through the grass around her. It was calm and peaceful, like being at home but at the same time, there was an uneasy feeling in the pit of Elizabeth's stomach that refused to go away. She ignored it as best she could and began to walk through the strange meadow, toward a destination she could feel more than see. She found it odd, when she walked in one direction she felt warm, and content, like someone was hugging or holding her, but when she turned the other way her heart wrenched and she felt as though she was walking through a refrigerator. It freaked her out so she tried her best to keep the warm fuzzy feeling in front of her and was pleased that it continued to grow with every step she took. As she followed the warm feeling she could feel her confidence grow, almost as if, with this presence she could accomplish anything. She quickened her pace, the end of the meadow and her goal swiftly coming into view.
Suddenly she came to a stop and the uneasy feeling dwindling before, tripled in size. She looked around trying to identify the source, scared but annoyed at the same time because it kept her from her goal. She looked down at her feet and spied a tiny flower; it looked familiar; almost like it was someone she knew. It was small and petite in the grass, and it looked so beautiful that Elizabeth decided there would be no harm taking a closer look. She reached down to pick the flower up, the feeling of familiarity replacing the warm fuzzy feeling momentarily.
She froze as she touched it. Thick tentacles came from the plant, each wrapping around her and starting to squeeze. Elizabeth started to panic, the warm fuzzy feeling slipping from her grasp, the horizon, which was approaching so quickly before, retreating into the distance, the figure that stood there retreating with it.
Elizabeth struggled as hard as she could, but the tentacles were squeezing with a strength she couldn't defend against. She tried to call out but failed to draw in a breath. She struggled and thrashed but her movements were restricted because of the crushing weight. Summoning all the strength she had she desperately called out to the figure in the distance.
"Don't! Don't let the flowers get me!" Elizabeth awoke suddenly and tried to sit up but the sedation of Bradford's drug was still taking effect.
Her movements, which she thought had been restricted because of the plant, were slow and sluggish because of the drugs and her mind was reacting the same way. The funny thing was, that warm and fuzzy feeling returned stronger than ever as she saw Will sitting over her, moving her gently back to the bed. She smiled at him and sighed contently as she drifted back into a now dreamless, and flower free sleep.
*****
Will looked at Elizabeth as she settled back down to sleep and heard the door slam behind him. He looked up to see an otherwise empty apartment, but then remembered that Bradford had been talking to him and figured that he was just saying his goodbye.
Will looked at Elizabeth again and sighed inwardly, he had been so foolish to think that she could care for him, when he belonged nowhere in her world. He had been foolish to dream that such an interesting and imaginative person could find him anything but boring. He would respect her wishes and stay by her side, but he would withdraw his interest in her, until further notice at least.
But for now, Will was restless, the fight had done something to relieve his pent up energy, but he still had a lot of tension and so decided to practise his fencing while Elizabeth slept. As quietly as he could, he pushed the minimal furniture within the apartment aside and withdrew his sword. Clearing his mind (while difficult because he was constantly distracted by Elizabeth's every move) he focused only on the sword and his target. His target used to be a Pirate; in light of recent events, he felt it inappropriate. Will thought momentarily and then decided on his enemy.
The sun was fierce and high in the sapphire sky of the Caribbean. The sand was searing under Will's bare feet, and the sweat collecting on his brow threatened to drip into his eyes but he wiped it away before it could. Before him his enemy stood, tall and firm as years of genetic predispositioning had taught him, with a smug smile of victory pasted on his face. That arrogant smile, which taunted Will's position and lineage, forged a hatred and rage that Will had seldom felt before, and the sword in his hand itched to be put into action.
But hatred and rage were not welcomed in the fencer's mind, those emotion's clouded the precise judgement needed to study an opponent objectively. And if Will didn't know his opponent, he would never be able to out think that smug smile long enough to secure a fair and vengeful victory. So Will retrained his mind and focused only on the environment around him, the gentle breeze and the soft lapping of waves against the sand.
Suddenly the peaceful tranquillity of the beach was disturbed as Will's enemy lunged forward. But Will, trained, noticed the disturbance immediately and easily countered the enemy's blow.
"Well done, Mr. Turner, I half expected to take you down with the first blow," the smug smile said.
"You'll find, Commodore, that what you expect is seldom what you will receive," Came Will's retort as he lunged at the Commodore playfully, testing his footing in the soft sand.
"Not so, Mr. Turner, I fully expected to win fair Elizabeth's hand, and so I have." The rage, which doubled after hearing the smug comment, caused Will to judge the Commodore's next attack falsely and as a result, led to a slash, long and shallow in his left arm. He would have to defend that side more diligently.
"Tut, Tut Mr. Turner, jealousy does not become a swordsman handsomely. If you truly cared for Miss Swann you would be happy for our love, and move aside like a gentleman, I know I would." The Commodore moved to strike again and a high- pitched giggling could be heard in the background.
"Miss Swann does not love you of that I am sure." Will's confidence allowed him to regain composure and defend, even score a cut across, the Commodore's sword hand.
The Commodore, too much the gentleman to curse, turned instead toward blatant insult. "Miss Swann, is woman enough to chose a good accord when she sees one, and I sir, am a good accord, unlike the orphaned son of a pirate."
Will was furious, he scrambled across the loose sand, determined to drive the sword through the Commodore's heart (though Will doubted it was even there) but the Commodore moved aside easily and moved to take his own action. He brought the sword down swiftly, aiming for Will's neck, but Will, despite his rage, was able to pull himself together long enough to see the attack and dive into the safety of the sand. He rolled to the side and jumped up again to take action, hearing the Commodore's high-pitched giggling in the background suddenly cease. With horror Will watched, as the face changed from the Commodore's to Bradford's his rage increasing even more.
"Do not mock my pain!" Will said, as he stood firm and confident in the sand. "I will prove myself to you, and to Elizabeth."
Suddenly a female voice issued from the Bradford's mouth, and Will was taken out of his training reverie by a sad and serious comment.
"Don't you know Will Turner," Elizabeth Cartwright said as she rose from the bed and moved back to the computer. "You've proved yourself to her a thousand times over."
*****
Elizabeth woke up with a skull-splitting headache, but was relieved to feel that the blinding pain in her arm had been replaced with a slow, dull throbbing. Her largest concern was Will and Bradford in her living room, quite possibly killing each other. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around to witness whatever testosterone driven brawl lay before her and was surprised to see Will standing by himself in the centre of the apartment (which looked notably more spacious than before) with his sword out and brandished. Elizabeth's first thought was that Will had become frustrated with Bradford and pulled out his sword to solve the problem, in a permanent sense, and she almost leapt to her feet, before realizing that there was minimal signs of a struggle and that Will was murmuring to himself quietly.
"You'll find, Commodore, that what you expect is seldom what you will receive," he murmured as he slashed at an imaginary three point target in the air.
Elizabeth suddenly realised that Will was training, and in the process having and imaginary conversation with himself. She tried not to snicker, but Will Turner, prancing around her living with his eyes closed, having a conversation with the Commodore, was kind of amusing. Somehow Elizabeth figured she had upset Will, because his face became screwed up with rage and his voice became sharp in tone.
"Miss Swann does not love you of that I am sure." And Elizabeth realised what Will was actually doing, working out the inadequacy he felt over losing His Elizabeth. She stopped laughing and looked down at her frumpy clothes, feeling overly inadequate and incomparable to a beauty like Elizabeth Swann.
"Do not mock my pain!" Will called into the air, Elizabeth's hopes of ever realizing any dreams with Will Turner crashed and burned.
"I will prove myself to you, and to Elizabeth." Elizabeth was tired of his foolish self-pity, he was the most amazing person she had ever met, and he was kind and gentle and passionate. He had proved his worth to her and to the other Elizabeth continuously but was too stubborn and prideful to see it. Well Elizabeth really wasn't a fan of pride or stubbornness and so decided to correct Will then and there.
"Don't you know Will Turner," she said with nothing less than disdain and annoyance in her voice, as she stood up and moved back to her computer, fully prepared to do whatever it took to send him back to his 'precious' Elizabeth. "You've proved yourself to her a thousand times over."
*****
Elizabeth was unable to see the utter look of shock on Will's face as she turned and got to work, but it was nothing short of hurt and conformation to Will that Elizabeth really wanted nothing to do with him.
"Elizabeth!" he said trying to regain whatever shred of dignity he might have left. "Umm, I did not realize you were awake.. How long have you been awake?"
Elizabeth was too upset with his rejection right now to be anything less than civilly annoyed. "Long enough to realise that you have serious self- esteem issues," she mumbled under her breath.
"Pardon?" came Will's gentle response.
But Elizabeth would have none of it, she was now completely focused on the computer and nothing Will said would draw her from it. "I only saw you prancing around my living room with a sword drawn, mumbling to yourself about the Commodore," she mumbled quickly as she struck down on the keyboard wishing it were Elizabeth Swann's head.
To think she had been stupid enough to think that he was trying to kiss her before! He probably was just going to tell her she had something in her teeth, she was so stupid! She focused her mind back on the computer.
"Why on earth are you acting this way Elizabeth? Is it something I've done?" Elizabeth wasn't going to listen to him, wasn't going to care, she thought he was boring, she probably never wanted to speak to him again, Will hung his head in shame as he realised that no woman would probably take a second look at him if they realised how boring he was.
And was promptly scared out of his wits as he felt Elizabeth grab him by the shirt collar and yank him out of his seat.
"YOU SLOW-WITTED NUMBSKULL!" she said with tears threatening to spill over her now bleary eyelids and smudged make-up. "DON'T YOU GET IT? YOU ARE SINGILLY THE GREATEST, KINDEST AND COOLEST PIRATE/BLACKSMITH EVER TO GRACE THE SILVER SCREEN AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO THINK THAT IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!?" Will was now entirely confused and shocked, but liking Elizabeth's close proximity none the less.
"Elizabeth I don't realize what you're saying?" Will said as she paused to take a breath.
"WHAT I'M SAYING YOU THICK-HEADED DUNCE IS THAT YOU ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF MINE, OR ANYONE ELSE'S PROBLEM'S. YOUR ELIZABETH, WHOM YOU SPEND SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME FAWNING OVER, IS INCREDIBLY IN LOVE WITH YOU!" Elizabeth, who had been trying so hard to remain calm, cool and collected was now losing it entirely.
"What?" was all that Will could manage to spit out.
"ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY THE WORD AND SHE WILL COME RUNNING BACK TO YOU LIKE THE CURSED PIRATES OF THE BLACK PEARL WERE ON HER TAIL!" Elizabeth would have been storming around the room, had she not still been holding onto Will's shirt collar with an iron tight grip. Will was reeling with all that she said, but could not believe it. Elizabeth would never abandon her duty to the Commodore, but This Elizabeth, Will decided, had no such ties. He moved to speak but she cut him off before he could.
"BUT NOOOOOOOO YOU ARE TOO STUPID AND ARROGANT AND CONCEITED AND SLOW AND THICK AND INCREDIBLY." suddenly any further insult she could hurl at him was tossed aside as Will decided he'd had enough of her ramblings, threw the old gentleman's code aside and pressed his lips firmly against hers.
It seemed that for a moment time stopped entirely as the two stood there, both shocked at Will's spontaneity and the fact that both lips were still entwined in one another. Will loved it, it was sweet and soft, everything he knew that a kiss would be, he breathed in deeply and attempted to deepen it, wanting it to last forever, never wanting to let go and wishing always to keep this funny, spunky, 21st century computer analyst, by his side and in his heart.
Elizabeth apparently had different ideas, the moment Will tried to deepen the kiss she froze and stood rigid in her place. Will was shocked, what had gone wrong? Was something the matter with her?
"Elizabeth?" he said gently as he pulled away.
And was greeted with a smart smack across the face and a red-faced, puffy- eyed, Elizabeth Cartwright staring at him with a fire in her eyes that Will neither could, nor wished to comprehend.
"That wasn't meant for me," she whispered softly.
"What?" came Will's bewildered reply. "What are you talking about?" He moved to close the gap between them once more, thinking that the union of their lips was enough to solve any problem.
And swiftly received another swift smack in the face.
"That..*sniff* .th..That k-k-kiss-s-s wasn't mea-n-n-t for m-m-me," she cried as she broke away from him like a scalding pot of boiling tar, and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
"Elizabeth?" called Will into the now empty and utterly confusing apartment.
*****
Bradford sat uncomfortably in the chair opposite the desk of the General. He was seething inwardly. When he left the apartment he had been ok with leaving Elizabeth in the hands of the capable Pirate/blacksmith, but now, after he had time to forget the look of love on Will's face, the tenderness as he stroked Elizabeth's hand, Bradford's resolution to do what was best for Elizabeth was replaced with a seething jealousy and hatred for the dashing and charming Will Turner. As he sat on the chair, pretending to listen to the General, he thought of various ways of disposing of Will while making it look like an accident.
Bradford was suddenly brought out of his murderous fantasies by the booming voice of the General.
"Have you been listening to me at all Lieutenant!?" General Grippa boomed.
Bradford sat bolt upright in his chair and tried to look attentive. "Not at all sir!" he said honestly.
"And what prêt ell was so pressing on your mind, Lieutenant?" Grippa continued to boom.
"It's just Miss Cartwright sir." Bradford said, as he contemplated giving the whole game away. His loyalty to Elizabeth, and the knowledge of a traitor was all that stopped him. "I'm worried about her safety."
The General softened somewhat at the mention of her name. "By George you're not the only one. But you said she was safe. yes?" Grippa said.
Bradford was almost scarred he'd given away her secret but saved himself. "Yes sir! It's just that while the computer is still out there we have no idea who is controlling it or how much they know about Augustine's capture. She's still in danger."
"I suppose you're right Bradford, while that computer is out there she's at risk. I know you care for the girl and are always out for her best interests, you want to make sure nothing happens to her and I applaud you for it. Do you want me to set up an extra detail for her protection?"
Braford winced, that wouldn't help, how could he explain the presence of possible CIA traitors watching Elizabeth's every move to her while trying to keep her horrible Pirate/blacksmith backstabber hidden. It was all too complicated, but he decided he'd side with Elizabeth, despite the ugly creepy Pirate.
"Umm no sir, we don't want to attract any unnecessary attention to her, I can handle the job myself." Bradford said rather quickly.
"Are you sure?" General Grippa asked.
"Yes sir, less is more in this case," Bradford replied quickly.
"In that case, I want full reports on her every two hours, now keep to the shadows, like you said, we don't want any unnecessary attention." The general's voice was becoming steadily more brisk.
"Yes sir." Bradford was glad he had escaped the added pressure of extra detail.
"Oh and one more thing, Bradford." The general said as Bradford prepared to leave.
"Yes sir?" Bradford said.
"Miss Mackin has a new satellite phone she would like you to test out, go down to R&D for outfitting." The General waved his hand as a sign of dismissal.
"Yes sir." Bradford said as he picked up his things and left.
*****
Elizabeth' s dream was weird. She was in a large meadow and the wind was sweeping through the grass around her. It was calm and peaceful, like being at home but at the same time, there was an uneasy feeling in the pit of Elizabeth's stomach that refused to go away. She ignored it as best she could and began to walk through the strange meadow, toward a destination she could feel more than see. She found it odd, when she walked in one direction she felt warm, and content, like someone was hugging or holding her, but when she turned the other way her heart wrenched and she felt as though she was walking through a refrigerator. It freaked her out so she tried her best to keep the warm fuzzy feeling in front of her and was pleased that it continued to grow with every step she took. As she followed the warm feeling she could feel her confidence grow, almost as if, with this presence she could accomplish anything. She quickened her pace, the end of the meadow and her goal swiftly coming into view.
Suddenly she came to a stop and the uneasy feeling dwindling before, tripled in size. She looked around trying to identify the source, scared but annoyed at the same time because it kept her from her goal. She looked down at her feet and spied a tiny flower; it looked familiar; almost like it was someone she knew. It was small and petite in the grass, and it looked so beautiful that Elizabeth decided there would be no harm taking a closer look. She reached down to pick the flower up, the feeling of familiarity replacing the warm fuzzy feeling momentarily.
She froze as she touched it. Thick tentacles came from the plant, each wrapping around her and starting to squeeze. Elizabeth started to panic, the warm fuzzy feeling slipping from her grasp, the horizon, which was approaching so quickly before, retreating into the distance, the figure that stood there retreating with it.
Elizabeth struggled as hard as she could, but the tentacles were squeezing with a strength she couldn't defend against. She tried to call out but failed to draw in a breath. She struggled and thrashed but her movements were restricted because of the crushing weight. Summoning all the strength she had she desperately called out to the figure in the distance.
"Don't! Don't let the flowers get me!" Elizabeth awoke suddenly and tried to sit up but the sedation of Bradford's drug was still taking effect.
Her movements, which she thought had been restricted because of the plant, were slow and sluggish because of the drugs and her mind was reacting the same way. The funny thing was, that warm and fuzzy feeling returned stronger than ever as she saw Will sitting over her, moving her gently back to the bed. She smiled at him and sighed contently as she drifted back into a now dreamless, and flower free sleep.
*****
Will looked at Elizabeth as she settled back down to sleep and heard the door slam behind him. He looked up to see an otherwise empty apartment, but then remembered that Bradford had been talking to him and figured that he was just saying his goodbye.
Will looked at Elizabeth again and sighed inwardly, he had been so foolish to think that she could care for him, when he belonged nowhere in her world. He had been foolish to dream that such an interesting and imaginative person could find him anything but boring. He would respect her wishes and stay by her side, but he would withdraw his interest in her, until further notice at least.
But for now, Will was restless, the fight had done something to relieve his pent up energy, but he still had a lot of tension and so decided to practise his fencing while Elizabeth slept. As quietly as he could, he pushed the minimal furniture within the apartment aside and withdrew his sword. Clearing his mind (while difficult because he was constantly distracted by Elizabeth's every move) he focused only on the sword and his target. His target used to be a Pirate; in light of recent events, he felt it inappropriate. Will thought momentarily and then decided on his enemy.
The sun was fierce and high in the sapphire sky of the Caribbean. The sand was searing under Will's bare feet, and the sweat collecting on his brow threatened to drip into his eyes but he wiped it away before it could. Before him his enemy stood, tall and firm as years of genetic predispositioning had taught him, with a smug smile of victory pasted on his face. That arrogant smile, which taunted Will's position and lineage, forged a hatred and rage that Will had seldom felt before, and the sword in his hand itched to be put into action.
But hatred and rage were not welcomed in the fencer's mind, those emotion's clouded the precise judgement needed to study an opponent objectively. And if Will didn't know his opponent, he would never be able to out think that smug smile long enough to secure a fair and vengeful victory. So Will retrained his mind and focused only on the environment around him, the gentle breeze and the soft lapping of waves against the sand.
Suddenly the peaceful tranquillity of the beach was disturbed as Will's enemy lunged forward. But Will, trained, noticed the disturbance immediately and easily countered the enemy's blow.
"Well done, Mr. Turner, I half expected to take you down with the first blow," the smug smile said.
"You'll find, Commodore, that what you expect is seldom what you will receive," Came Will's retort as he lunged at the Commodore playfully, testing his footing in the soft sand.
"Not so, Mr. Turner, I fully expected to win fair Elizabeth's hand, and so I have." The rage, which doubled after hearing the smug comment, caused Will to judge the Commodore's next attack falsely and as a result, led to a slash, long and shallow in his left arm. He would have to defend that side more diligently.
"Tut, Tut Mr. Turner, jealousy does not become a swordsman handsomely. If you truly cared for Miss Swann you would be happy for our love, and move aside like a gentleman, I know I would." The Commodore moved to strike again and a high- pitched giggling could be heard in the background.
"Miss Swann does not love you of that I am sure." Will's confidence allowed him to regain composure and defend, even score a cut across, the Commodore's sword hand.
The Commodore, too much the gentleman to curse, turned instead toward blatant insult. "Miss Swann, is woman enough to chose a good accord when she sees one, and I sir, am a good accord, unlike the orphaned son of a pirate."
Will was furious, he scrambled across the loose sand, determined to drive the sword through the Commodore's heart (though Will doubted it was even there) but the Commodore moved aside easily and moved to take his own action. He brought the sword down swiftly, aiming for Will's neck, but Will, despite his rage, was able to pull himself together long enough to see the attack and dive into the safety of the sand. He rolled to the side and jumped up again to take action, hearing the Commodore's high-pitched giggling in the background suddenly cease. With horror Will watched, as the face changed from the Commodore's to Bradford's his rage increasing even more.
"Do not mock my pain!" Will said, as he stood firm and confident in the sand. "I will prove myself to you, and to Elizabeth."
Suddenly a female voice issued from the Bradford's mouth, and Will was taken out of his training reverie by a sad and serious comment.
"Don't you know Will Turner," Elizabeth Cartwright said as she rose from the bed and moved back to the computer. "You've proved yourself to her a thousand times over."
*****
Elizabeth woke up with a skull-splitting headache, but was relieved to feel that the blinding pain in her arm had been replaced with a slow, dull throbbing. Her largest concern was Will and Bradford in her living room, quite possibly killing each other. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around to witness whatever testosterone driven brawl lay before her and was surprised to see Will standing by himself in the centre of the apartment (which looked notably more spacious than before) with his sword out and brandished. Elizabeth's first thought was that Will had become frustrated with Bradford and pulled out his sword to solve the problem, in a permanent sense, and she almost leapt to her feet, before realizing that there was minimal signs of a struggle and that Will was murmuring to himself quietly.
"You'll find, Commodore, that what you expect is seldom what you will receive," he murmured as he slashed at an imaginary three point target in the air.
Elizabeth suddenly realised that Will was training, and in the process having and imaginary conversation with himself. She tried not to snicker, but Will Turner, prancing around her living with his eyes closed, having a conversation with the Commodore, was kind of amusing. Somehow Elizabeth figured she had upset Will, because his face became screwed up with rage and his voice became sharp in tone.
"Miss Swann does not love you of that I am sure." And Elizabeth realised what Will was actually doing, working out the inadequacy he felt over losing His Elizabeth. She stopped laughing and looked down at her frumpy clothes, feeling overly inadequate and incomparable to a beauty like Elizabeth Swann.
"Do not mock my pain!" Will called into the air, Elizabeth's hopes of ever realizing any dreams with Will Turner crashed and burned.
"I will prove myself to you, and to Elizabeth." Elizabeth was tired of his foolish self-pity, he was the most amazing person she had ever met, and he was kind and gentle and passionate. He had proved his worth to her and to the other Elizabeth continuously but was too stubborn and prideful to see it. Well Elizabeth really wasn't a fan of pride or stubbornness and so decided to correct Will then and there.
"Don't you know Will Turner," she said with nothing less than disdain and annoyance in her voice, as she stood up and moved back to her computer, fully prepared to do whatever it took to send him back to his 'precious' Elizabeth. "You've proved yourself to her a thousand times over."
*****
Elizabeth was unable to see the utter look of shock on Will's face as she turned and got to work, but it was nothing short of hurt and conformation to Will that Elizabeth really wanted nothing to do with him.
"Elizabeth!" he said trying to regain whatever shred of dignity he might have left. "Umm, I did not realize you were awake.. How long have you been awake?"
Elizabeth was too upset with his rejection right now to be anything less than civilly annoyed. "Long enough to realise that you have serious self- esteem issues," she mumbled under her breath.
"Pardon?" came Will's gentle response.
But Elizabeth would have none of it, she was now completely focused on the computer and nothing Will said would draw her from it. "I only saw you prancing around my living room with a sword drawn, mumbling to yourself about the Commodore," she mumbled quickly as she struck down on the keyboard wishing it were Elizabeth Swann's head.
To think she had been stupid enough to think that he was trying to kiss her before! He probably was just going to tell her she had something in her teeth, she was so stupid! She focused her mind back on the computer.
"Why on earth are you acting this way Elizabeth? Is it something I've done?" Elizabeth wasn't going to listen to him, wasn't going to care, she thought he was boring, she probably never wanted to speak to him again, Will hung his head in shame as he realised that no woman would probably take a second look at him if they realised how boring he was.
And was promptly scared out of his wits as he felt Elizabeth grab him by the shirt collar and yank him out of his seat.
"YOU SLOW-WITTED NUMBSKULL!" she said with tears threatening to spill over her now bleary eyelids and smudged make-up. "DON'T YOU GET IT? YOU ARE SINGILLY THE GREATEST, KINDEST AND COOLEST PIRATE/BLACKSMITH EVER TO GRACE THE SILVER SCREEN AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO THINK THAT IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!?" Will was now entirely confused and shocked, but liking Elizabeth's close proximity none the less.
"Elizabeth I don't realize what you're saying?" Will said as she paused to take a breath.
"WHAT I'M SAYING YOU THICK-HEADED DUNCE IS THAT YOU ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF MINE, OR ANYONE ELSE'S PROBLEM'S. YOUR ELIZABETH, WHOM YOU SPEND SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME FAWNING OVER, IS INCREDIBLY IN LOVE WITH YOU!" Elizabeth, who had been trying so hard to remain calm, cool and collected was now losing it entirely.
"What?" was all that Will could manage to spit out.
"ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY THE WORD AND SHE WILL COME RUNNING BACK TO YOU LIKE THE CURSED PIRATES OF THE BLACK PEARL WERE ON HER TAIL!" Elizabeth would have been storming around the room, had she not still been holding onto Will's shirt collar with an iron tight grip. Will was reeling with all that she said, but could not believe it. Elizabeth would never abandon her duty to the Commodore, but This Elizabeth, Will decided, had no such ties. He moved to speak but she cut him off before he could.
"BUT NOOOOOOOO YOU ARE TOO STUPID AND ARROGANT AND CONCEITED AND SLOW AND THICK AND INCREDIBLY." suddenly any further insult she could hurl at him was tossed aside as Will decided he'd had enough of her ramblings, threw the old gentleman's code aside and pressed his lips firmly against hers.
It seemed that for a moment time stopped entirely as the two stood there, both shocked at Will's spontaneity and the fact that both lips were still entwined in one another. Will loved it, it was sweet and soft, everything he knew that a kiss would be, he breathed in deeply and attempted to deepen it, wanting it to last forever, never wanting to let go and wishing always to keep this funny, spunky, 21st century computer analyst, by his side and in his heart.
Elizabeth apparently had different ideas, the moment Will tried to deepen the kiss she froze and stood rigid in her place. Will was shocked, what had gone wrong? Was something the matter with her?
"Elizabeth?" he said gently as he pulled away.
And was greeted with a smart smack across the face and a red-faced, puffy- eyed, Elizabeth Cartwright staring at him with a fire in her eyes that Will neither could, nor wished to comprehend.
"That wasn't meant for me," she whispered softly.
"What?" came Will's bewildered reply. "What are you talking about?" He moved to close the gap between them once more, thinking that the union of their lips was enough to solve any problem.
And swiftly received another swift smack in the face.
"That..*sniff* .th..That k-k-kiss-s-s wasn't mea-n-n-t for m-m-me," she cried as she broke away from him like a scalding pot of boiling tar, and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
"Elizabeth?" called Will into the now empty and utterly confusing apartment.
*****
Bradford sat uncomfortably in the chair opposite the desk of the General. He was seething inwardly. When he left the apartment he had been ok with leaving Elizabeth in the hands of the capable Pirate/blacksmith, but now, after he had time to forget the look of love on Will's face, the tenderness as he stroked Elizabeth's hand, Bradford's resolution to do what was best for Elizabeth was replaced with a seething jealousy and hatred for the dashing and charming Will Turner. As he sat on the chair, pretending to listen to the General, he thought of various ways of disposing of Will while making it look like an accident.
Bradford was suddenly brought out of his murderous fantasies by the booming voice of the General.
"Have you been listening to me at all Lieutenant!?" General Grippa boomed.
Bradford sat bolt upright in his chair and tried to look attentive. "Not at all sir!" he said honestly.
"And what prêt ell was so pressing on your mind, Lieutenant?" Grippa continued to boom.
"It's just Miss Cartwright sir." Bradford said, as he contemplated giving the whole game away. His loyalty to Elizabeth, and the knowledge of a traitor was all that stopped him. "I'm worried about her safety."
The General softened somewhat at the mention of her name. "By George you're not the only one. But you said she was safe. yes?" Grippa said.
Bradford was almost scarred he'd given away her secret but saved himself. "Yes sir! It's just that while the computer is still out there we have no idea who is controlling it or how much they know about Augustine's capture. She's still in danger."
"I suppose you're right Bradford, while that computer is out there she's at risk. I know you care for the girl and are always out for her best interests, you want to make sure nothing happens to her and I applaud you for it. Do you want me to set up an extra detail for her protection?"
Braford winced, that wouldn't help, how could he explain the presence of possible CIA traitors watching Elizabeth's every move to her while trying to keep her horrible Pirate/blacksmith backstabber hidden. It was all too complicated, but he decided he'd side with Elizabeth, despite the ugly creepy Pirate.
"Umm no sir, we don't want to attract any unnecessary attention to her, I can handle the job myself." Bradford said rather quickly.
"Are you sure?" General Grippa asked.
"Yes sir, less is more in this case," Bradford replied quickly.
"In that case, I want full reports on her every two hours, now keep to the shadows, like you said, we don't want any unnecessary attention." The general's voice was becoming steadily more brisk.
"Yes sir." Bradford was glad he had escaped the added pressure of extra detail.
"Oh and one more thing, Bradford." The general said as Bradford prepared to leave.
"Yes sir?" Bradford said.
"Miss Mackin has a new satellite phone she would like you to test out, go down to R&D for outfitting." The General waved his hand as a sign of dismissal.
"Yes sir." Bradford said as he picked up his things and left.