Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 12 – The Attack

Jack Sparrow watched as the smaller ship slowed and turned to meet them. Was the idiot going to make a stand? Did they not know this was the Black Pearl? "Load the cannons, Gibbs, the idiot wants to make a fight of it!" Joshamee Gibbs smiled as he shouted orders to the rest of the crew, the deck bustling with activity as the men readied the guns, eager for the fight.

The Gallian fired first, a wild shot across their bow, missing the figurehead by a mere two feet. Jack spluttered indignantly, enraged that the other ship had dared to fire on his precious ship. "Return fire!" he shouted. The cannons of the Black Pearl fired, a crescendo of noise and smoke. Seven of the ten cannonballs slammed into the Gallian, causing her to roll and list alarmingly. In several places the cannonballs had gone straight through the hull, water pouring into the ship through the gaping holes.

"Prepare to board!" Jack ordered.

The Gallian's crew had been stunned at the savagery of the Black Pearl's reply and offered little resistance as the pirates boarded the sinking ship, most fighting half-heartedly, dropping their swords and surrendering at the first opportunity.

Joshamee Gibbs could hear a child screaming. "What the… hey, this door is locked!" A well aimed shoulder of Zeke cured the problem. "Jesus! Jack!" he cried.

Jack ran towards them looking at their shocked, ashen faces with dread. The sight that met his eyes chilled him to the bone. It was Catherine! James was screaming, trapped beneath her when she had tried to shield him, but the cannonball had sped straight through their cabin, lethal splinters of wood flying everywhere. A large piece had hit her in the back, nearly skewering her with it's force. She was unconscious, blood pouring from the wound.

"Jimmy!" Joshamee Gibbs helped Jack lift Catherine, relieved to find the boy was unharmed although covered in her blood. "Jimmy! Come with me, the ship is sinking!" he urged as James trustingly held his offered hand and followed him out into the light.

"Cotton!" Jack bellowed as he carried her from the cabin. Catherine's head hung alarmingly, her body limp in his arms. "Cotton!" The mute man hurried to stand before him. "Get her aboard the Pearl – now!"

Only when Ned Cotton had safely taken Catherine in his arms did Jack turn to the captain of the ship, her blood soaked through his shirt, sticky on his skin. "You bastard!" he shouted, hitting the man hard, breaking his nose and splitting his lip. "Why did yer fight with a woman on board? With her on board?" He did not wait for a reply before kicking the downed man hard between the legs. "Yer worthless bastard!" He would have continued kicking until the man died, but Joshamee restrained him.

"Jack, enough! Kitty is safe..." Joshamee was shocked at Jack's response.

Jack paused, feeling a small hand tugging on his shirt. "Captain Roseridge locked us in, Jack. We didn't know it was you." James looked up hopefully at the pirate, frightened to see him so angry.

"Roseridge, eh?" Jack sneered. "Well, perhaps some good can come out of this. How much will yer father pay fer yer return? Quite a bit, I'd assume. Gibbs – take 'im t' th' brig!"

One of the crew spoke quietly to Joshamee who was standing beside him. "No cargo, Captain, but plenty of fancy goods..." the quartermaster said.

Jack grabbed Damian Roseridge and hauled him to his feet, shoving him towards Joshamee. "Take 'em, food an' all!" Jack ordered. "An' bring Kitty's belongings!"

"What about the crew?" Damian Roseridge found the courage at last to speak. "My ship is sinking..."

"Well, it's a good job you've some small boats then, isn't it matey!" Jack sneered.

Damian Roseridge flinched as the pirate forced him to jump across to the black-sailed pirate ship, more dirty hands shoved him below decks, down several flights of stairs, where he found himself thrown into the brig. The key turned and the pirate walked away, leaving him to ponder how the pirates seemed to know his two passengers and why the captain was so upset that the woman had been hurt.

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Jack headed fearfully to his cabin, following the trail of blood - Catherine's blood. He forced himself to enter, dreading what he would find. Ned Cotton was working on the wound, frantically trying to stem the bleeding. It would need to be cauterised, else she would bleed to death. Zeke rushed into the cabin with the ship's cauterising iron that he had been heating in the galley. He handed the glowing red iron to Ned, standing aside as Jack held Catherine. Jack winced as the hot iron was applied to the wound, the stench of burnt flesh filling the air. He would never get used to the smell, but it was easier to bear when the patient was a man and not a small woman - a small woman that he now admitted to himself that he cared for. Ned handed the iron back to Zeke and gestured to Jack to help hold the wound together as he threaded the needle to stitch it shut.

"Will she live…" Jack asked worriedly, his hands gory with her blood. He was grateful when Zeke tactfully left.

Ned shrugged. Catherine had lost a lot of blood for the wound was deep, but there was always hope. The splinter had not hit any organs as far as he could tell and he had managed, finally, to remove all of the wood. He tore the fine lavender scented sheets from the Gallian into strips, binding a dressing to her back and with Jack's help he carried her over to the captain's bunk. Laying her on her front to avoid pressure on the wound whilst it scabbed, he handed Jack some rum before he started to clean away the bloodied rags on the oak table. Live or die, Catherine's fate was out of his hands.

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