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

Chapter 21 – Have I Threatened You Before?

Later that morning, Jack escorted Catherine down to the merchants' district of Port Royal. If Zeke had visited Catherine, someone would have gone to Will and Elizabeth as well. It seemed so long ago, that day when he asked Will how far he would go to save Elizabeth from Barbossa's clutches. Jack had never expected he would find a woman for whom he would answer the same, and ruefully chided himself for not realising it until she had nearly died. He opened the door into the blacksmith's workshop.

"Careful luv, there's a drop..." He gently lifted her down, turning as his eyes adjusted to the dim light.

"Can I help you?" a soft, but masculine, voice called from the darkness. Will Turner slowly walked into the light, wiping dirty hands on a thick leather apron. He looked quizzically at Jack, his eyes puzzled. His visitor looked familiar, yet he did not make the connection.

"Yer seem somewhat confused, mate..." Jack slurred, "have I threatened you before?" A smile twitched, gold teeth catching the light.

Will's eyes widened and he took a sudden step backwards in disbelief. "Jack! Gibbs told us you were dead..." He looked at the small woman by Jack's side, frowning as he tried to place her. Captain Groves' sister? Here? And holding hands with Jack! In shock, Will's mind barely registered that he had suddenly sat down on a barrel.

Catherine smiled at the blacksmith's reaction, looking sideways up at Jack. "Like most of Jack's stories, his death has been greatly exaggerated!" Her lips twitched with amusement.

Will realised he had been holding his breath, and exhaled in a whoosh. "Elizabeth is up at the house. Wait a minute while I make the forge safe and lock up..." He barred the door, banked the fire and let them out the back of the workshop. He paused, realising Jack probably did not know the way to their house for, despite being in Port Royal on a number of occasions, he had not visited them since the wedding. "This way..." He lead them through a maze of small alleys to a more prosperous part of town where houses were modestly respectable, although not as smart as that of Captain Groves and his sister. He opened the door, ushering them through.

"Elizabeth – we have guests..." Will announced.

Elizabeth emerged from the kitchen. Although having been used to servants before her marriage, now she was solely responsible for the running of the house. The front of her dress was quite covered with flour and she was very obviously pregnant.

Jack grinned, his gold teeth flashing. "My, my Will – you have been busy!"

Elizabeth went white and Will rushed to her side, fearing she would faint. "Jack?" she gasped. "But I thought… Gibbs said..." Forgetting decorum, she dashed forwards and hugged him tightly.

"I could get used to this," Jack chuckled, glancing across at Catherine and remembering her own exuberant greeting. She met his eyes, blushing – clearly her thoughts had been the same.

88888

Will scurried about the house finding chairs for all of them and they sat in the small parlour whilst Jack recounted his adventures of how he had been wounded and knocked overboard before being rescued by Theodore, and spending several subsequent months pretending to be Thomas Wells, a spy. Elizabeth stared at Catherine when he told them of his arrival in Port Royal and of her firing a pistol at Lieutenant Gillette.

"And you missed? Such a pity! Noxious little creep!" Elizabeth laughed, remembering the lieutenant from her own encounters at official functions. She was pleased that her pregnancy allowed her to avoid many naval social events, for they never invited Will, although she was still obliged to play the hostess for her father's occasional soirees.

"I meant to miss... but he jumped quite nicely," Catherine smiled. "And I don't think Theo would have forgiven me if I had actually shot him."

88888

At that moment, Lieutenant Robert Gillette was complaining loudly to the Commodore, who had summoned Theodore as well to his office to explain the actions of his sister. Knocking quietly, he entered half-way through the lieutenant's tirade.

"Did she say how she knew Jack Sparrow was dead?" the Commodore asked carefully.

"No Commodore, but she referred to him as the 'late' Captain Sparrow. She has probably been consorting with her pirate friends again!" Lieutenant Gillette sneered.

Theodore sighed to himself. It seemed Robert Gillette did not take rejection very well.

James Norrington considered the revelation. Was Jack Sparrow truly dead? Was his earlier intuition all those weeks ago, when he first met Mister Wells on board HMS Resolute, wrong? He glanced at Captain Groves as he waited, considering this new information before turning back to the lieutenant. "So, then she pulled a pistol and fired it at you... why?"

"If I may Commodore," Theodore interjected. "Lieutenant Gillette has been bothering my sister whilst I have been away... insistent and continuing to court her when she had refused – several times, she assures me. How can she be blamed for what happened?" He paused. "And if she'd meant to hit him, he'd be dead. Catherine is a very good shot with a pistol, Commodore - I taught her myself."

Robert Gillette paled.

"I see," James Norrington mused. "Well I suggest that you leave the lady alone in future Mister Gillette. You might not be so fortunate or the lady so charitable next time. Dismissed Lieutenant!"

The Commodore turned and looked at his captain. "Your sister is gaining quite a reputation here at the fort, Captain Groves. Perhaps she needs a new husband to calm those wild spirits..."

"Catherine is her own woman, Commodore..." Theodore had already heard about the reputation his sister had gained particularly among the lower ranks who loved her for threatening Lieutenant Gillette.

"True, but nevertheless, the Governor is hosting a soiree next week to celebrate the success against von der Kirchhoff. Perhaps she could attend? It is possible she will find someone more to her liking than Lieutenant Gillette." Theodore bit his tongue, thinking that she had already found someone very much to her liking. "And you must bring Mister Wells also. The Governor wants to personally thank him for his involvement in the matter of the Black Pearl and the Muratania." Commodore Norrington's steady gaze and his emphasis on 'bring' and 'Wells' made it quite clear that his words were meant as no invitation, but were in fact an order.

Theodore's mind raced, but his face remained calm. "If I may be excused then, Commodore, I will inform Catherine and Mister Wells of your… requests… immediately. I am sure you understand, Sir, it can take a woman more than a week just to plan her outfit..."

"Of course, Captain Groves... dismissed." The Commodore smiled, humming to himself as Theodore dashed out of his office. If his intuition was wrong then Jack Sparrow was already dead, but if his nagging doubt was true then the night of the party should be quite a revelation. Yes, quite a revelation, indeed.

88888