Usual disclaimers... drat!

Last chapter for today as you were all so tardy with your reviews.... Well, okay, a few of you weren't but the rest of you are at the back of the class and in detention!

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Chapter 50 - Waiting

Bessie found herself forced into the brig, albeit a little more gently than Henry. At least the marines had some care for her pregnancy even if their captain did not.

"Who is he?" she asked quietly when they were alone. "The captain?"

"Gillette!" Henry spat. "A noxious little boot-licking toady of the Commodore's..."

Bessie looked at him worriedly. "How did he know my ring?" she whispered. "And what will happen to us?"

"Some years ago Jack was due to hang at Port Royal when Barbossa attacked the town - you know the story he tells of the cursed gold?" She nodded. "Well, Gillette was the young lieutenant that he forced from the Dauntless, making him believe that he wanted that ship - when he really was after the Interceptor..."

"And what will happen to us?" she pressed.

"They will probably keep you until they catch the captain," Henry admitted. "Then they might let you go... you have committed no crimes."

"And you?" Bessie asked.

Henry shrugged. "They hang pirates Bessie..."

"But that's not fair... you were just protecting me..." she protested. "They can't!"

"They can and probably will," he shrugged. "The Black Pearl isn't due to visit for a month or more - I can't see them keeping me alive that long..."

Bessie looked at him in horror, bursting into tears. "It's not fair!" she wailed.

Henry put his arms about her, hugging her. He did not think that the captain would mind, considering the circumstances. "The captain will figure something out, don't you worry," he assured her. "After all, he's Captain Jack Sparrow..." Bessie smiled at his mimicry - his waving hands reminding her of Jack. "Just stand firm as he would say - don't give them any satisfaction Bessie... alright?"

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Henry's cheerful nature was soon sorely tested when he realised that Bessie was going to be forced to remain in the brig with him for the duration of the repairs. Captain Gillette had even refused to allow Bessie the use of his private head, forcing the two of them to share a small chamber pot. In the stifling heat below decks she was clearly suffering and the noise from the repairs was unending. The only light they were permitted was a small stinking tallow candle at meal times, the luxury of light removed as soon as they had finished. The days dragged, the nights dragged longer. Unsure of the hour, they napped whenever they could or told each other tales to relieve the boredom.

It was over a week later that they eventually sailed, the noise of the anchor being raised startling them awake. In a way it was a relief for a breeze drifted through the ship, lessening some of the heat. However, it meant that they were barely a day from Port Royal... and the gallows.

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"You can't do that!" Henry protested angrily, testing his own manacles as Robert Gillette ordered the same done to Bessie. "She is seven months with child!" He could see that a number of the marines were uncomfortable with the order, but they obeyed nevertheless. Bessie sagged with the weight of them, her dirty face looking in disbelief at the captain.

"You are prisoners and will be treated as such," he commanded pompously, ordering them marched off the ship and up through the town to the fort. For a moment Bessie hoped that she would see Elizabeth or Will in the crowds, but then decided otherwise, not wanting them to see her shame. At rifle point they were forced along, their progress remarked on by the townsfolk. A number of the people recognised her, shaking their heads sagely as if they had expected this. She was relieved to see the fort, its stout gates preventing the townsfolk from seeing her tears.

"Stand firm Bessie," Henry whispered, but she was utterly spent and dejected, not even voicing a word of protest as she was lead down to the cells. The door clanged shut.

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"You did what?" James Norrington looked at his captain in disbelief, incredulous at the risk that he had taken to arrest the two. They had been correct that he had no right to abduct them, the English had no authority on Hispaniola, and he had been extremely fortunate that nobody in authority there appeared to have noticed.

"She wears his ring... Sparrow's ring..." Robert Gillette defended.

"So..." Theodore Groves had been standing with the Commodore when Robert had announced his prisoners.

Robert sighed, wondering why he had to explain the obvious. "On her wedding finger..." he said. "You want Sparrow - do you really think he will leave his wife and unborn child?"

"And the man with Miss Smith, or whatever she is now?" James Norrington puzzled. "The one that claimed she was his wife..."

"A pirate named Henry, Commodore. I am hoping that Victoria or one of the other women that spent time onboard the Black Pearl will be able to identify him for me... and then he will hang!" Robert smiled at the image.

"Bring her to my office," the Commodore commanded. "I would see this woman! The man can wait."

Robert Gillette nodded to one of the nearby marines who scurried to do the Commodore's bidding.

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Henry looked cautiously around the cell that they had been placed in, eyeing the other occupants. A motley crew of possible pirates and probable drunks stared back at him. He kicked the nearest man off the narrow bench, making room for Bessie to sit down.

"Oi!" the drunken man protested.

"You want to make an issue of it?" Henry threatened. "Or will you be a gentleman and let the lady sit?"

He blinked blearily up at the pirate who towered over him. "Alright, alright... the lass can sit! I was just moving anyway!" He staggered over to the far side of the cell, glaring at Henry but wise enough not to want to fight.

Bessie held her tongue, telling herself to stand firm, imagining Jack's voice. She could get through this, she had to.

"Are you alright Bessie?" Henry asked, crouching down next to her. He could see she was clearly exhausted and he angrily realised that the manacles were rubbing her wrists, chafing the skin until it bled. He looked up, hearing booted feet approach.

"That's her," the marine nodded to the guards. "Bring her!" Bessie staggered to her feet as Henry placed himself before her. "Don't be a hero," the marine sneered, aiming his pistol. Bessie jumped to hear it cock.

"It'll be alright Henry..." She placed her hand on his arm as she stepped before him, smiling weakly although her eyes were worried.

Henry watched as she was led away, only scant notice taken of her pregnant state. "Move it!" the marine cursed. "It doesn't do to keep the Commodore waiting!" He breathed easier, realising that she was probably going to be questioned and that she would be back soon. Sitting where she had been, he shut his eyes and waited.

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