A/N: Thanks a bunch for the reviews so far! :D Means a lot to me when I check my email and see such nice comments from you guys… Anyway, replies to ye guys are following the chapter…just cuz I don't wanna waste your time. :P Also, 'Stay and Drown' is a song by Finger Eleven…if you want the lyrics, listen to the song.
Disclaimer: Stop depressing me. I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean; it belongs to Disney. I do NOT own Johnny Depp, though I wish I did…he belongs to himself. The only things I own related to this fic are the plot, my character Tristan Jones, Port York, and any other OC which pops up in here, which I shall inform you of immediately in future disclaimers…oh ya, and I own the postman. No touchy. The only things I own otherwise are my POTC DVD, my dog, computer, my imagination, and a few bucks in my pocket. So no sueing, savvy?
Summary: Sequel to Tell No Lies. On The Black Pearl, things seem pretty peaceful…but peace never lasts, at least in the life of Captain Jack Sparrow. Will he be able to survive when his enemy is…himself?
Remember Me
Chapter 2
Stay and Drown
"But…this isn't right," Will Turner argued slowly, somewhat taken aback, "We have to find Jack. He's still out there…I know it,"
Three months had passed since the day of the storm and Jack's fall overboard. Nobody had seen the pirate captain since then, not even a trace.
Search parties went out in hopes of finding their fallen captain, using The Black Pearl herself and other 'commandeered' ships to lead the searches. But still no sight of him. Still, Will insisted on continuing the search, hope of finding his friend still glimmering inside him.
But that hope had long since faded from the rest of the crew.
"Will, listen to yerself," Gibbs reasoned, "We've been searchin' for months. If Jack was…was…" He trailed off for a moment, "…he would've shown by now,"
"Ye have Elizabeth and yer kid to worry 'bout," Ana-Maria interjected, "She's what, six months pregnant? Ye have to worry 'bout the future, not the bloody…past,"
Will could tell by Ana anf Gibbs' tone that Jack's disappearance had taken it's toll on them, but they still tried to be brave. But even knowing this Will felt he still had to shake his head. "But I can't. Not yet…Jack's still alive."
Gibbs frowned and let out a frustrated sigh. "Lad, please, ye have to let it go--"
"How can you abandon your captain like that?" Will argued, feeling a twinge of rage build up in him, "After all you've been through? I thought the pirate's code didn't mean anything to you!"
"We're not abandoning him if he's dead," Ana snapped, her voice choking as if on the verge of tears, "Don't make us feel guilty. We tried, the whole crew did, an' we just can't find 'im…"
Will grinded his teeth together in frustration. The blacksmith couldn't believe what he was hearing, or didn't want to. Jack had to be alive…he couldn't deal with the guilt if he wasn't.
"Well, I'm not giving up," the young man said firmly, "I'll find him, with or without your help, you'll see!"
Will was about to turn around and storm off the deck of The Black Pearl when Gibbs briskly grabbed onto his arm. "Listen to me, Will," the old man stated, "Go ahead and search for Jack, we ain't stoppin' ye…but don't expect to find 'im,"
The young man pulled his arm roughly away from the old sailor. He dashed off deck and ran into Jack's old cabin blindly, slamming the door behind him.
The blacksmith leaned against the door, on the verge of hyperventilating; he had to calm down, think clearly, not be angry with Gibbs and Ana, they cared about Jack, too…
Care. They care about Jack, Will thought firmly, Jack's still alive, he has to be, he can't be dead, he can't…
Will looked around the cabin with panicking eyes, taking in every detail. He had left everything just as it was the day Jack fell overboard, not even daring to move a pillow, as to keep it in place for when Jack returned. He even left the cards that were sprawled across Jack's wooden table, the very cards that he and Jack had fought over whether the pirate had cheated or not. His stomach knotted every time he thought of it, feeling great guilt wash over him. Barely any hope was left in the blacksmith at this point, and wondered if preserving Jack's cabin for his return was in vain.
The blacksmith slid to the ground in defeat, his head falling to his knees. He covered his eyes with his sweaty hands and started to choke on dry sobs. Jack…please don't be dead…I will find you…I promise…just don't be dead…please…
---
Two months passed by. Will had since found a more permanent place for Elizabeth to live on shore while he went and searched for Jack at sea in, which was strangely located in Port York.
In that time, Elizabeth had been looking outside her window every morning and night, awaiting her husband's return. In the back of her mind, she wanted to go out and help the blacksmith search for Jack, since she actually felt guilty for Jack's disappearance as well, even though she didn't voice her guilt often around Will, as to not make him feel worse. But her husband had insisted that she stayed behind in their new home. Knowing that everyday her stomach grew with the child inside, she didn't dare risk both of their health and obeyed.
Elizabeth was spending her day worrying once again. But at present, she was reading, feeling very lonely, and hoping that her husband would return with Jack in tow, so she wouldn't be worried and lonely anymore…
That was when she heard a knock at the door. Feeling her heart hop into her throat, Elizabeth leapt up, disregarding her book, and dashed for the door, ready to hug her husband, who was surely there to greet her--
--But met disappointment when she pulled the door open, only to see the face of a postman.
Her face sagged and her heart fell back into her ribcage and all the way to her stomach in sadness. "Yes?" the young woman said wearily.
"Beggin' yer pardon, miss," the postman with messy black hair greeted politely, "But I've got a letter fer a Mr. Turner…"
"I'm Mrs. Turner, so I'll take it," she answered halfheartedly, snatching the letter from his hand and slamming the door grumpily.
"Yer welcome!" she heard the disgruntled postman call back, but she wasn't paying attention; she ripped open the letter and read it over, a look of shock overcoming her face.
Dear William,
I'm sorry to be contacting you on such short notice, but I heard of Jack's fall overboard; My apologies to you and your wife. I feel it is my responsibility to help, for reasons you should know, and I intend to help you find him. I hope when you get this letter to find it in your heart to trust me, for I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused you in the past. It is in my best hopes to find him, and I think your wife would deserve some more attention if the rumours of you going out on your own to find Jack were true.
Captain Tristan Jones
Meanwhile, miles and miles away, on a completely different island, two men didn't want Jack to be found…and they would make sure that he wasn't…
---
Five months earlier…
He was very wet. Cold, wet, and numb. Everything was black. He felt the sensation of cool salty water graze his face and left side, making him feel even damper.
The sound of seagulls cawing in the distance urged him to slowly slide his eyes open into slits. The bright, burning light of the sun hurt his eyes, only adding to his now realized splitting headache. He grimaced at the pain, closing his optics tightly once more, and with a groan rolled from his back to his side.
Then he attempted to open his weary eyes again, this time fully. In front of him was endless hot sand, palm trees decorating it and making it seem more eternal.
He moaned and squinted his eyes shut, his headache throbbing. Where the hell am I? He thought groggily.
He slowly sat up, his balance questionable. He shook his head to clear it, not daring to shed his eyes open again. OK, think back. What's the last thing I remember?
The man took in deep breaths, trying to concentrate on recalling something before waking here…anything…only to draw a blank. No matter how hard and how long he thought, he couldn't remember anything before waking up on the beach.
Panic began to rise in the lost man's chest. Do I at least know my name? He thought desperately, closing his eyes tighter in concentration.
My name is…it's…my name…is…my…name… He breathed out in defeat and frustration. I don't even know my name. Lovely. Who the hell am I?!
He shook his head, trying to remain calm. OK. So I don't know where I am, how I got here, or even who I am. But when will I remember…if I remember? And what do I do in the meantime?
The lost man sat up completely straight, opened his eyes again and looked around. He was definitely on a deserted island, only the ocean and some palm trees to keep him company. Well, that's interesting, he thought sarcastically.
He shivered, feeling strangely uneasy about the situation, more so than he should have. Well, if I have any survival skills in the back of my head, I better put them to work…
To Be Continued…
A/N: Wow. This was definitely one of the shortest chapters for a story I have ever written. ; But now to the replies:
Pendragginink: Oh my god, lmao to your review. XD Your comments made my week…but to clear some things up for you, when I said the wet was weighing Jack down…he said it, and he's not always right...But what I meant was, it's his hair. And Will's kind of in an odd position, half hanging off and trying to drag 'im on board… nod, nod . Also, when Jack said he didn't want to be remembered that way, he had kind of 'reconsidered' because he had thought of what he had done with his life, and realized he wanted to do more. Plus he would have rather have 'died' in a raid or fight or something, not just ungracefully falling overboard. ; Sorry if I didn't make it clear for you.
Jackfan2: I'm very glad you enjoyed it...apologizes for the long wait! ; scurries away before Cap'n can hurt her for hurting Jacky-poo
Lunatic: Also glad you liked it…and now that my exams are over, chapters should be out a whole lot sooner. bows
Also many thanks to Savvy-Rum-Drinker, Kuramasgirl556, Michelle, TrappedAndAnnoyed, and October Skye for reviewing! See y'all next chapter! :D