Cursed disclaimers!

With thanks to Pendragginink, Roxula's Bride, Ginny, Galleria, Mina Sparrow, RandonGal, darigan-sparrow, cruiser, Rose Pearl, and those who have reviewed on affnet (it's down again…!), and Hilary and Linnie for editing.

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Chapter five: 'Do you really have to go after him?'

'Land ho!'

'Good,' thought Jack, eager to get his hands on half of the arsenal in the hold of Le Brestois. The journey back to Tortola had passed without incident and he had been surprised at how well the French barque had kept up with them.

'Sail ho!'

'Eh?' Jack looked up at the watchman, high on the main mast.

'Abaft the port bow,' he called down.

Jack grabbed his spyglass and swung around to face towards the stern of The Pearl, frowning as he saw the sails on the horizon. He turned to Le Brestois, nodding to himself as he saw Job Bailey looking at the strange ship with his own glass.

The ship seemed to be gaining on them due, Jack reasoned, to good winds and strong currents. He continued to watch them, part of him starting to wish that Tortola was not still a good couple of hours sail away.

'Jack!' a voice called from the barque. Jack turned to see Bailey straddling the bowsprit, waving his arm frantically.

'What is it, Job?' he called back, walking to the poop deck and leaning over the rail.

'One of me men reckon it's th'Wanderer.'

'What?!' Jack spun on his heel and raced to the opposite side of the stern and looked once more at the ship, still drawing closer. He held the glass to his eye once more and focused on the ship, going cold as he realised that it was indeed one of Absolon Valentine's two ships. 'What th'hell are they doin' here?'

'Jack?' Joshamee Gibbs stood beside his captain, a worried frown creasing his brow. 'Is it?'

'Aye Gibbs, it's th'bloody Wanderer.'

'Mary, mother of God,' he cursed. 'What are the chances of that happening?'

'Incalculable, Mr. Gibbs. Incalculable.' He watched as the ship started to slowly change course and closed his eyes in despair. 'They're goin' straight back ter Valentine.'

'They won't know that Bailey has another ship. And we're practically in Tortola so mebbe they'll think that we're both just heading for port, eh?'

'This is Valentine, Gibbs. He will read more into it, only this time he'll be correct.'

'Jack!' Bailey called from his vantage point. 'We can't let them warn Valentine.'

'I'll drop Jenny an' Scurvy off then we'll give chase.'

'There won't be time. Not if we want to catch them,' Bailey reasoned.

'Damn!' Jack cursed, running his hand across the red bandana tied around his head. 'Damn, damn an' thrice damn!'

'Do we go after them Cap'n?' Gibbs enquired. 'If you really want Valentine that badly, there may not be another opportune moment.'

'I know that, thank you,' Jack snapped, sighing deeply. 'We go after 'em,' he called to Bailey who waved in acknowledgement, then climbed down and barked orders to his crew.

'You sure?'

'Aye Gibbs,' he sighed again. 'We go after 'em.'

'Aye, aye Captain. Shall we release the prisoners now?'

'Yes, there won't be another chance,' he grimaced, wishing there was more time.

The quartermaster ordered the prisoners to be brought up and the crew of The Black Pearl stood and watched as they climbed down to the lowered boats. The French captain looked at his pirate counterpart and made towards him until he was checked by Shay and Davy.

'Merci,' he smiled gratefully before turning and climbing down to the final boat.

'A pleasure mate,' Jack replied dryly then bellowed orders to give chase to The Wanderer in the distance and the ship lurched wildly as she changed course and all necessary sails were unfurled.

…

'Wha…?' Jenny woke suddenly and clung to the side of the bunk then sat up and looked out of the stern windows, wondering why they had changed direction. 'Maybe they've seen a better ship,' she mused, climbing off and padding across the cabin, jumping as Jack barged through the door looking angry.

'What's happened?'

'We've been spotted by one o'Valentine's ships an' have ter give chase.'

'Oh.' She tried to keep the eleation from her voice, unsuccessfully if Jack's face was anything to go by.

'Ya don't realise how dangerous this is goin' ter get, Jen. Ya've never seen a ship battle before, let alone been in th'middle of one. If ya had then you'd know why I am so worried, savvy?'

'Do you really have to go after him?' It was not the first time she had asked the question and she did not expect the answer to be different this time around.

'Ya know I do luv. He had somethin' ter do with you being kidnapped. Why else was th'Nomad headin' fer Fortaleza, eh? Then they attacked us without provocation. I'd have caught up with ya if they hadn't, an' ya'd never have been taken ter England. Valentine needs ter be taught a lesson.'

'But why do you have to be the one to do it?'

'Because no one else has th'balls. An' nearly everyone else is beholden ter Valentine in some way. They don't dare cross him.'

'Will we catch the ship?' Jenny took his hand and led him to the stern windows, wrapping her arms around him as he nestled up to her once they sat down.

'Probably not,' he admitted. 'But we don't really need to. We can follow 'em all th'way into Tortuga harbour if necessary, an' pound them there. In fact it would be better if Valentine was watching,' he chuckled, his anger subsiding.

'And what about The Nomad?'

'Hopefully she'll be in th'harbour. If not… I don't know. We sit an' wait maybe?'

'While Valentine just lets you?'

'Nah luv, Valentine will be dead by then.' He turned as he felt Jenny shudder behind him and stroked her face. 'If he went after ya once there's nothin' ter stop him doin' it again. So I'm stoppin' him fer once an' fer all. I've got twice th'reason now, eh?' he smiled, leaning forward to kiss her lips gently. 'I'm goin' back on deck. Will you be all right?'

'I'll be fine, now stop worrying and go and be a captain,' she jokingly chided, shooing him away with her hands.

Jenny watched as Jack exited the cabin and sank back against the window, her stomach now churning with fear.

…

For four days the ships trailed The Wanderer. Even when they lost sight of her during a storm, they just kept heading for Tortuga and caught sight of her once the weather cleared, a lot closer than she had previously been and now it was a desprate race to see who reached the entrance to the infamous harbour first, before dusk fell upon them. The Black Pearl was short of food, having had only enough provisions on board to see them for the few days they had planned on searching for a ship for Bailey. Supplies had been sent over from Le Brestois but it had been nowhere near enough. They had plenty of water, barrels had been lashed on deck during the storm and were filled with rainwater, not pleasant but better than nothing.

'Gibbs,' Jack called to his quartermaster who was by the mizzenmast. 'I reckon we're catchin' them.'

'Aye, reckon we are. Shall we attack before we go in?'

'Aye, we do Mr. Gibbs an' hope th'Nomad is in th'harbour when we get there.'

'Sail ho! Cap'n, there's a ship comin' out o'Tortuga.' Danny Woods called from his lofty perch.

'Can ya see who?'

'Hang on… it looks like… it's The Lone Star – Anamaria!'

Jack grinned broadly. 'Good. Mr. Gibbs, time ter hoist the colours I think, an' th'red.'

'Aye Cap'n. Erm, you won't be bringing Anamaria on board will you?' he asked uncertainly. One woman on board at a time was more than enough for him.

'Not if I can help it,' Jack muttered.

'Captain Sparrow, she's headin' for us,' Danny informed him.

'Wait until The Lone Star is away from The Wanderer then open fire. That way Madame will know we're up fer a fight, savvy?' He knew that Anamaria would understand his intentions straight away. They had know each other for long enough. 'I wonder if she'll join us,' he mused out loud.

'Who's that then?' came Shay's brogue from behind him.

'An old friend… sometimes friend,' Jack corrected, pulling a face at the memory of the many fights he had had with the dusky skinned woman, and mostly lost if he was honest with himself.

'Tough?'

'As they come, mate. As they come.'

'Up fer taming?' Shay grinned, winking broadly at his captain.

'Only if ya don't mind losin' certain parts of your anatomy,' Jack laughed.

'Ah, I'll let her be then,' he smiled sheepishly.

Jack turned his attention back to the matter in hand, frowning as he saw that the pursued ship seemed to have pulled away from them slightly. 'Haul out th'sweeps. Let's hit them soon an' hit them hard,' he barked, pausing in his stride as he spotted Jenny come up on deck.

'Below now,' he ordered, folding his arms. He did not want any more distractions.

'I just came to tell you to be safe,' she whispered, her eyes moist with tears.

'I'll be safe,' he promised. 'Wrap yerself in blankets. Ya should be safe from splinters an' glass if nothin' else. Now go below.'

'I'm going.' Jenny reached up and kissed Jack tenderly, looking deep into his eyes as if for the last time. 'I love you.' She turned and hurried across the deck and down the steps before she broke down in front of him and the crew. She gathered up the pile of blankets that had been sent to the cabin for her and huddled down in the side cabin, pressed against the stern and wrapped them around her. Then she started to pray.

'Make ready, Mr. Penhaligan,' Jack called to his master gunner. 'We're almost in range.'

'Aye Captain.' The gunner ran his eyes over the carronades mounted along the deck, satisfied everything was in order.

'As you wish,' David.' Jack smiled to himself. Now it began.

'Fire,' the gunner yelled and The Black Pearl exploded in a cacophany of noise. Round after round of grape and chain shot hurled towards The Wanderer as she lined up for approach to the harbour of the pirate town and a cheer went up as her mizzenmast snapped and leaned against the rigging of the main mast, slowing the ship considerably.

'Bring in th'sweeps. I want all men to th'guns.'

Below deck became a hive of activity as the crew stowed the long oars and manned the cannons on the gun deck, chattering excitedly as they strained to catch sight of their prey through the gun ports and only when The Wanderer was in sight did the talk stop as they focused totally on the job in hand.

David Penhaligan had joined them below and watched the other ship carefully, waiting until she was in range. He straightened up which his men knew meant he was about to give his orders.

'Fire!'

The Black Pearl rocked as the starboard battery loosed their arsenal and sulphurous smoke billowed about the deck. The men worked automatically in the smoky gloom and fired another round when their superior ordered.

The sound of more gunfire caught Jack's attention and he looked around, smiling at the sight of the long guns of Le Brestois joining in the fight. The Lone Star had come about and was heading back for Tortuga, just as Jack suspected she would. 'Never like ter miss a scrap, eh Ana?' he thought to himself, chuckling. He clung to the port rail as shots from The Wanderer hit home, rocking his precious Pearl and causing damage. 'Please let that be all,' he prayed.

'Cap'n,' Shay called from his post on one of the carronades. 'It looks like she's listin.'

Jack looked closely at Valentine's ship, a smirk spreading across his face as he realised the sharp eyes of the Irishman were indeed correct. 'Keep at it men. Let's get her crippled before she makes it in.'

Le Brestois came up on the port side of The Wander and the two ships pounded her, giving everything they had got to reduce her to tinder before they would have to either get in front of the ship in order to make it through the narrow entrance to Tortuga, or to back off and give her chance to maybe warn The Nomad if she was at anchor.

…

Jenny sat whimpering beneath the blankets and covered her ears as another round of cannon fire reverberated through the entire ship. Not that it did any good for the sound seemed to penetrate her soul. She realised The Pearl had not taken much damage and took heart that it meant Jack was probably all right.

'Please let it be over soon,' she prayed, now wishing that Jack had been able to drop her off in Tortola.

She jumped as a huge boom sounded, it seemed from just outside where she was huddled then the whole world was filled with noise. Cracks, thuds and pops and the faint sound of men screaming. Jenny shuddered and covered her ears once more in a futile attempt to block it off.

…

'Bloody hell! Take cover.' Jack dived into the main cabin which served as Mr. Gibbs' quarters, along with many of the men on deck, as fire rained down on them from the blast as the powder magazine on The Wanderer took a hit and exploded, sending deadly burning timber hurtling through the air towards The Black Pearl and Le Brestois. Olabisi had stayed at the helm and was steering away from the stricken ship but still onwards towards the harbour entrance. They would reach it first, he was determined of that.

'Out,' Jack urged. 'Billy, take some men an' get water an' sand. Beat th'flames out with yer bare hands if necessary. Make sure th'sails are safe,' he ordered the rest, taking off his hat and using it to beat out burning and smouldering timber. 'Bisi! Are yer bloody insane, man?' he cried, spotting the helmsman still at his post.

'Aye Captain, suh. I must be,' he grinned, stamping out a small piece of flaming debris with his bare foot.

The crew on deck cowered as a series of explosions tore through The Wanderer, then watched as she started to sink rapidly, deadening the fire that was now raging through her.

'Gibbs! Go an' check on Jenny,' Jack shouted across to his quartermaster. 'I want no survivors,' he ordered the rest of the crew, taking his pistol from the sash and leaning over the side, shooting at men frantically trying to escape being dragged down with their ship.

'Jack!' came a cry from the stern. 'What's going on?'

He left the task to his crew and ran to the port stern where The Lone Star was positioned. 'Ana! Good ter see ya luv. I've got a fight with Valentine.'

'What?! You're crazy man, d'ya hear? Crazy.'

'Aye, so ya keep tellin' me. This ain't your fight so I don't expect ya ter help, unless ya want to.'

'You seriously think I'd miss out on the chance of giving that slimy toad what for? Not a chance Sparrow. I'm comin' in wi'ya. Who's th'other ship?'

'Job Bailey.'

'Right. The Nomad is at anchor, I take it you're goin' to give her the same treatment?'

'Damn bloody right I am, Anamaria Lovell.'

'Don't you use my name!' she screeched across the gap between the two ships. 'Don't you dare use my bleedin' name, Sparrow!'

'Oops, sorry luv,' Jack laughed then turned his attention back to Tortuga harbour, grinning wickedly as he saw as he saw The Nomad anchored with her port side facing them. He retrieved his spyglass and looked at the ship, noting that her crew were scurrying about on deck and that the gun ports were already opened.

Olabisi steered The Pearl to starboard so Le Brestois had room to move in and she took advantage of it, firing her long range guns at The Nomad and scoring a number of hits. David Penhaligan took command of the carronades at the bow of The Pearl once more and told the men to hold fire until they were closer. Le Brestois let off another volley, causing mayhem on board Absolon Valentine's ship as a gaping holes appeared along the side and men and cannons fell into the water. The master gunner decreed that they were indeed close enough and yelled for his men to fire. Grape and chain shot went hurtling towards The Nomad, cutting a swathe along the deck in the darkening gloom as night started to close in.

'I want every one o'the scabrous dogs dead, savvy?' Jack barked, taking his pistol once more and peering into the water, but there was no one close enough to shoot – yet.

The Nomad came under fire from all three ships whilst the inhabitants of Tortuga stood on the dock side looking on in astonishment and more than a little fear. All thought of whoring and drinking long since gone as they watched the spectacle.

'Valetine's finished!' came a cry from the crowd and soon they were all chanting it, stamping their feet and pounding their fists on whatever they could to make a noise.

'Bisi. Take us in as close as yer can. Pete, John, yer with me.' Jack hesitated for a brief moment, wondering whether to go and see Jenny before deciding against it.

'Where to Cap'n?' enquired John Williams, wiping his brow from the sweat that poured off him.

'Valentine's.'

The three men made ready a boat and when Jack thought they were close enough, he ordered the anchor to be dropped and they lowered it, amidst the cacophany of the one-sided battle. Few noticed them slip away and row towards the shore. Fewer still gave them a glance once they reached a small slipway and quickly made their way through the mostly deserted town and up the hill towards Valentine's mansion.

…

Author's notes:

Ain't got a clue what Anamaria's surname was, but thought Lovell rolled off the tongue nicely! :D