…… Insert disclaimers here……

Well, I'm finally able to post it up – yayhay! Thanks for your patience (pardon the pun). You all have two chapters today to make up for it…

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Chapter Nine: 'It'll be yer final restin' place too.'

'I really think we should get moving again, Mr. Valentine,' Tobias Hoskins urged, looking about the cave nervously.

'Will you pipe down,' Absolon Valentine snarled. 'I am fed up with your bloody carping. We'll be all right here for a while longer.'

'What if the others don't come? Or what if the worst should happen? What if they spill our whereabouts to another?'

'I have paid them well enough over the years to ensure their loyalty. They won't be saying anything to anyone… unless you know better?'

Toby Hoskins shuffled nervously on his feet and ran his hand through his thinning black hair. 'I… erm.'

'Toby…' Valentine warned. 'Will our position here be compromised?'

'I'm not sure, Sir,' he admitted, finally. 'You remember Patience Riley? She overheard us talking about the hideout whilst she was cleaning. I confronted her and she begged me not to hurt her. So she brought her silence with her body.'

'You stupid bloody fool!' Valentine shouted, striking his right-hand man hard across the face. 'Does anyone know about you and her?'

'I don't think so,' Hoskins replied meekly, rubbing his jaw.

'I don't think so,' he mimicked. 'For Christ's sake. Did you use your bloody head to think or just your cock?' He sighed deeply, massaging his temples. 'When the others arrive, we'll send them back out to fetch her and make sure she hasn't spilled the beans. You had better hope that she hasn't…'

'Yes Mr. Valentine.'

…

'Shay! What's goin' on?' enquired Dan Woods, leaning over the starboard rail as his friend climbed aboard.

'A spot o'trouble. Is th'captain up an' about?'

'Aye, I saw Jenny earlier goin' to th'galley to fetch some food fer him.'

'Good.' Shay made his way down the hatch and hurried to the cabin, leaving a trail of water behind him. He knocked on the door and smiled at Jenny as she opened it and looked him up and down, arching an eyebrow at the pool of water at his feet.

'I need ter see Jack.'

'Come in,' Jack called from within and Jenny stood aside resignedly, knowing better than to try and make Jack get the rest he needed.

'Well? Have yer found him?' He struggled to sit up on the bunk, wincing as he jarred his shoulder.

'No, but I think I may have found someone who knows something.'

'Go on.' Jack sat and listened intently as Shay recounted the events of the previous night and that morning, ending with them both being chased and splitting up.

'What?! You left her to defend herself, you bloody coward?!' Jenny admonished, glaring crossly at the young Irishman.

'I was being chased meself,' he pouted, looking at her beneath his lashes. 'An' she made it perfectly clear she didn't want m'help!'

'You're a man! Not only that, you are a man who is armed and more than capable of looking after himself. I cannot believe you did that, Shay Connelly,' she scolded.

'So ya think she knows the whereabouts of Valentine?' Jack put in, ignoring Jenny's anger. He knew how determined a Tortugan woman could be when she set her mind to something and he knew Shay would have had little choice in the matter.

'Aye, I think she does.'

'Go an' find her, take some o'the others with ya.'

'If it's not too late,' Jenny retorted scornfully.

'Bring her back here, kickin' an' screamin' if necessary. But I want ter see this Patience of yours, savvy?'

'Aye Cap'n, savvy.' The Irishman all but ran from the cabin, eager to get away from Jenny's sharp tongue before she could inflict any more damage to his pride.

…

The group, consisting of Shay, Daniel, Olabisi and Jonas scoured the streets around where Shay had last seen Patience for a couple of hours at least, but had yet to find any sign of her.

'What now?' Bisi asked, glistening with sweat from the hot afternoon sun.

'How about we go back to th'Tortuga Arms and ask one o'the girls if they know where she lives?' Dan suggested and the others nodded.

'Nah. I get th'feelin' mention her name there today an' we might not come out in one piece,' Shay sighed then jumped as a woman screamed somewhere to the left of them. He shot like a rabbit from a hole in the direction of the noise and the others followed him going as fast as they could, until they all came upon three men surrounding the small, frightened woman who was brandishing a shovel and waving it about in front of her.

'Leave her be!' Shay ordered, hurling himself at the nearest man, drawing his short sword as he did so. His mates joined in the mêlée and Patience found a good use for the shovel, whacking one of her attackers over the head with it whilst he was trying to fight off Olabisi who smiled his thanks at her and dispatched the assailant with his dagger.

The crew of The Black Pearl soon overpowered the remaining two men and Patience leaned against the wall, panting and trying to keep from crying.

'Come on cailìn. Let's be goin' to th'ship.' Shay approached her, his hand outstretched. He was sent reeling as her fist connected with his jaw.

'You bastard!' she spat. 'All my troubles have started since you turned up. Now just leave me alone…' she started towards him, lifting the shovel up again with a menacing gleam in her eyes.

'Whoa! Patience, darlin'. We've just saved yer from a beating, or worse,' he pleaded, backing away and trying to ignore the laughter coming from his friends. 'Who were they anyhow?'

'None of your bleedin' business. Why must you poke your nose in where it is not wanted?'

'Because yer in danger an' I want ter try an help ye. Is that so bad? Were those men Valentine's?'

'You only want me for what you think I may know.'

'No luv, I promise that ain't true. Look, if Valentine is desperate enough ter send men after ye, he ain't goin' ter stop there now, is he? He'll send more an' more an' then maybe Hoskins himself.' Shay knew he had hit the target when the girl paled slightly and the shovel wavered in her hands.

'Ye'll be safe on board The Black Pearl. Jack Sparrow will make sure of that.'

'And if my information is worthless to him?'

'I don't think that will be th'case, cailin. What have ye got to lose?' He took a chance on inching forward a little, putting on his most charming smile. 'When we find out where Valentine an' Hoskins are, we'll kill them an' you'll be safe, eh?'

'From what I hear, Sparrow cocked it up an' nearly got himself killed instead. So why should I believe that you'll succeed next time?'

'Because we won't cock it up next time.' Shay darted forward, grabbed the shovel and threw it to one side. He then picked the woman up and slung her over his shoulder, wincing as her feet and fists connected with various parts of his body.

'Put me down you worthless piece of scum!' she shrieked. 'Help! I'm being kidnapped!'

'Fer gawds sake woman. I'm tryin' ter help ye.'

'I don't want ya bleedin' help.'

'Well tough, you've got it.' He jogged down the street, holding onto her as tightly as he could while she assaulted him, impervious to the looks he was getting from people until he finally reached the wharf and the waiting boat. Bisi untied it and climbed in, holding it steady while Shay carefully put Patience down. He saw stars as she punched him once more and he shook his head, tentatively feeling his jaw to make sure it wasn't broken.

'I am not going on that bloody ship,' she spat, pushing her way past Daniel and Jonas who were not about to risk life and limb by stopping her.

Shay ran after her. 'Yer comin' on board to see Jack and yer comin'fer yer own safety. I won't tell ye again.' He picked her up in his arms and held her over the water, steely determination written on his face. 'I'll jump in if ye don't agree.'

'You wouldn't dare…' she gasped, paling.

'No? Ye willin' ter risk it, cailin? I've already had one soaking today, another one ain't goin' ter make much difference.'

'You… you…' Patience spluttered, glaring crossly at him. She sagged in his arms and sighed. 'Please,' she said quietly. 'I cannot swim.'

'Ye'll go in th'boat an' not make a fuss? We'll rig th'bosuns chair up for ye.' A slow grin spread across the Irishman's face. He had her now.

'All right,' she finally conceded. 'But I'm not staying on board. My friend will wonder where I am.'

'Is that whose house ye were at?' He carried her to the boat and gave her over to Olabisi who set her down carefully.

'Y-yes,' she replied uncertainly, clinging onto the sides of the boat. 'She took me in after my house was burned.'

'I can go over later an' let her know that yer safe,' Shay offered, sitting opposite her and using the opportunity to regard her closely, grinning as she blushed under his scrutiny. She was pretty when she was not trying to hit him or screaming like a fishwife.

'She'll be… working later.'

'Ah, I see,' he laughed. 'If ye tell me her name, I'll make sure one of th'lads finds her an' tells her. How about that?'

'We'll see.' Patience turned and watched as the black hull of the ship loomed large, anything to get away from the piercing blue eyes of the man she was determined would not get the better of her. Her stomach churned as they drew alongside and ropes were hurled to the deck.

'Will someone send down th'chair please?'

'Aye Shay, hang on.'

Patience gulped as the bosuns chair came down to the boat and the men helped her into it. 'I-I won't fall out will I?' she asked hesitantly.

'Of course ye won't cailìn. An' if ye should, I'll catch ye, promise.'

'What th'hell is this cailin business?'

'It's a term of endearment,' he smiled as the chair began to rise and she closed her eyes.

She clung on until her knuckles were white as the chair rose up and she looked fearfully as she was swung around to face the deck, staring in astonishment as Joshamee Gibbs beamed at her.

'Mr. Gibbs?'

'Patience Riley? Good grief, I never realised it was you.'

'I didn't know you were aboard this ship.'

'Aye pet, I've been her quartermaster ever since Jack got her back,' he smiled. 'I haven't seen you since you were this high.' He held his hand about hip level, shaking his head incredulously. 'How's your mother?'

'She died about eight years ago. Fever took her.'

'Ah pet, I'm sorry to hear that. Lovely woman your mother was.'

'I bet you say that about all th'whores you've visited,' she retorted, but with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. She remembered her mother always had a soft spot for the portly man.

'Let's take ye down to th'captain.' Shay took her arm, shrugging ruefully as she snatched it away.

'I can manage fine on my own, thank you,' she sniped but still clung on to the railings as she negotiated the steep steps down to the lower deck.

'Cap'n,' Shay called as he rapped on the door to the cabin. 'I've brought her.'

Patience followed the Irishman in and looked the infamous Jack Sparrow up and down, only ever having seen brief glimpses of him before. She gulped as he looked more menacing than she imagined he would, dressed in black breeches and a large shirt that may once have been white. A pistol butt stuck up from a faded striped sash, which was wound around his waist as was a thick belt from which hung a sword. Patience looked with fascination at the two braids dangling from his chin then she looked into his black lined eyes and gulped once more as she saw hostile anger in them. A red patterned bandana held his unruly hair back off his face and a battered hat was shoved firmly down on top of that. She had heard that he had been shot, either by Valentine or Hoskins, but as far as she could tell there was no sign of any injury.

'Well?' he demanded. 'Tell me what ya know.'

'And what's in it for me?' Anger gave her courage and she stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated.

'I'll pay ya well if I deem the information you have ter be good enough.'

'An' what good will money do me if you make a bollocks of it again? If Valentine or Hoskins live, I will die. I want a hell of a sight more than money, Sparrow.'

'Such as? An' that's Captain Sparrow to you, missy.' Jack indicated for her to sit at the table and it was then that she noticed how he seemed to be holding his right arm stiffly and wondered if the rumours had been true after all.

'Such as assurances that this time you will kill them.'

'Them? I take it ya want Hoskins dead more than Valentine?'

'I want both of them dead,' she spat.

'What's Hoskin's got on ya ter make ya be his whore?' He sighed at her hesitation. 'Look luv, the next men Valentine sends after ya won't be askin' nicely if you'll go with them. Ya made enough fuss in comin' on board that they probably heard ya in Port Royal, so Valentine is goin' ter think that ya've told me whether ya do or not. So what have ya got to lose, eh?'

'My life,' she snapped.'

'He'll kill ya fer just being on this ship.'

'An' just who do I have ter thank for that?' she turned and glared at Shay who shifted under her gaze, but still managed a grin in return.

'Patience, yer caught between th'devil an' th'deep blue sea. Damned if ya tell, damned if ya don't. At least if ya tell us where they are, we can deal with 'em, savvy?'

'Like you dealt with them before?' she remarked, looking pointedly at his right arm and smiling inwardly as he shifted slightly in his chair. 'The last person who found out what I know was fed to the sharks… alive.'

'We can take ya to a safe place if ya want, away from Tortuga. We'll be leavin' soon anyway.'

'I don't want ter leave Tortuga. It's my home.'

'It'll be yer final restin' place too,' Jack sniped back, losing patience with the girl. 'Fine, ya want ter risk it in town, off ya go. But Shay won't be around ter come t'yer rescue next time an' Valentine is not goin' ter believe that ya didn't tell me. Goodbye Patience Riley.' He stood and turned way from her, feigning indifference.

She stood angrily and took a couple of steps towards the door then glanced at Shay who had an unreadable look in his eyes. 'You promise you will kill them both,' she whispered fearfully.

'That's what we came here for,' Jack replied, still with his back to her.

'Why? What did Valentine do to you?'

'That's none of yer business. Ya goin' ter tell us where to find them?'

Patience sighed and stared at the deck, torn as to what to do for the best. She realised that what the pirate captain said made sense but she could not afford for Valentine and Hoskins to escape again.

'There is a track behind the church on the edge of town that takes you west. If you follow it, it leads you to the foot of the mountains where you'll find a cave at the end of the track. That is his hideout. I think it takes a good hour or more to walk there and you can't get to it from the sea.'

'How d'ya know this?' Jack turned and sat back down, scrutinising her.

'I was employed as a maid by Valentine some time ago. I was cleaning the hall outside his study one day and they were discussing it, the door was ajar. Valentine had only just discovered it, which is why they were talking about the location.'

'An' Hoskins?'

'He looked out of the door and saw me. Later that day he found me and threatened that if I didn't sleep with him, he'd tell Valentine that I was deliberately eavesdropping,' she whispered, wringing her hands at the memory.

'Right. Shay, go an' organise some men. Gibbs'll know where th'church is.'

'Aye Cap'n.' Shay looked at Patience sympathetically, wishing there was something he could say to make her feel better but realised that getting rid of her two adversaries would be the only way to make her feel better. 'We'll get them cailin,' he promised, smiling at her, his heart skipping when she gave a small, hesitant smile back.

'I hope so,' she replied as he opened the door. 'I really hope so.' She looked once more at the pirate captain. 'I would like to go ashore now.'

'Not a chance luv, yer stayin' on board until th'men get back an' Valentine an' Hoskins have been killed, savvy?'

Patience rolled her eyes at him. 'I don't have any choice do I?'

'No luv, ya don't.' Jack looked up and smiled as Jenny walked into the cabin.

'I think I will go and watch for their return on deck then, if that's all right with you?' Patience asked, somewhat sarcastically.

'Do what ya want. But if ya sneak off, it'll be your funeral…'

Jack shook his head as the young woman marched from his cabin then looked at Jenny, watching with amusement.

'She's headstrong isn't she?' she laughed, winding the sling back around Jack's shoulder and kissing the top of his head by way of apology as he hissed.

'Aye, I thought you were bad enough when you first came aboard. Mind you, at least she hasn't hit me… yet.' He frowned at looked at Jenny quizzically. 'Were you eavesdropping?' he pulled her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck.

'Me?' she asked innocently, laughing as he nipped her earlobe. 'Do you think they'll find Valentine?'

'They had bloody better,' Jack warned, not knowing what he would do if his adversary escaped once more.

'If they don't? How long do you intend keeping this feud going, Jack?'

'Until Valentine is dead, no matter how long that takes.'

'To whatever end? You could have been killed. Our child might never have known you. I know I have this compass and that I would live in luxury for the rest of my life, but that is not what I want, Jack.'

He sighed and buried his face in her lose hair, inhaling the faint coconut smell of the soap she used to wash it. 'I know luv. But I can't stop now. My mistake has made Valentine ten times more dangerous than he was before. He has to be killed now, savvy?'

'I suppose,' she sighed. 'When we go to the Fragrance Isles, will you stay with me a while? You need a chance to recover. Or, as Mr. Gibbs said, you may never recover properly, otherwise.'

'Aye luv, I might.' He grinned wolfishly. 'Just think, you an' me all alone…'

'And me with a belly the size of a whale,' she laughed, kissing him passionately.

…