Usual disclaimers

With thanks to lexie, Kat, KillerK, Ginny, BoricuaSparrow, Mrs Depp, RandonGal, beatlechicksteph, Josie, Orlando's Hot Chick, RetroChika, A Depp Girl, Opi, Mrs Sparrow, Tru Spirit, Sparrow'sLover, Vampire Princess Nissa, and last but not least, Hilary.

BoricuaSparrow, welcome and thank you so much for reviewing – there is no need to be scared of reviewing – I won't jump on you! :D

Thank you all for not flaming me… too much! If it made for sad reading, imagine how I got on acutally typing it!

…

Chapter Twenty: 'Your men haven't left yet, Lieutenant…'

'Captain Gillette! Sir!' The red faced marine ran to his captain, panting with the effort. 'Some of the men were in the tavern, enjoying a drink, and… well I don't know if it means anything, but some of the locals were talking about an altercation yesterday, just before the storm passed by the island.'

'Yes… so?' Charles Gillette looked bored by the man's waffling and glared at him. 'Is there a point to all this?'

'Well apparently a young woman came bursting in to the tavern, seeking a John Hillier. The man said he hoped there wasn't any problems with Mistress Jenny Hillier. Jenny is a very unusual name, Sir. Don't you agree?'

'Hillier? That name means nothing to me.'

'If it was Sparrow, Sir, he would be unlikely to go by his name, would he? Apparently, the woman was heavily pregnant.'

'You think Sparrow is here?' Captain Gillette shook his head slowly. 'Why would he be here?'

'Well she wouldn't be able to stay on board, being pregnant and all,' the marine reasoned.

'No… no, she wouldn't, would she? Get all the men together. I want this town searched thoroughly.'

…

'Jenny!' Patience pulled the bedroom window shutters to, panic in her voice. 'Th'bleedin' Navy are comin'…'

Jenny sank back against the pillows on her bed and closed her eyes. She had prayed they would just repair the ship and go, but apparently, it was not to be. She jumped inspite of herself as someone pounded on the door.

'Shall I answer it?' Patience asked, her eyes wide with fear.

'You might as well… save them battering it down.'

The young Tortugan woman ran down the stairs, shouting at them to stop hammering the door. 'What d'yer want?' she snarled at the marine nearest to her.

'We would like to search your premises,' he informed her calmly.

'On what grounds? Ya can't just go where ya want, willy nilly.'

'This island comes under English jurisdiction; therefore, we can go where we want. Stand aside…' He pushed Patience out of the way and the house flooded with marines.

'Are those blood stains… what happened?' another marine asked.

'My mistress lost a baby. It was too late ter get her up th'stairs so I had ter deliver it here.'

'You delivered it? Why not the midwife?'

'Th'babe was early, the midwife wouldn't have come.'

'Where is the master of the house?'

'At sea. Gawd, I hope he was safe durin' th'storm,' she worried, laying it on thickly. 'Oi! Where ya goin'? Ya can't go up there! Me mistress is asleep.'

'I doubt very much that she's asleep,' the first marine retorted as he started to climb the stairs, four of his men following him. 'And we want to check that you are not harbouring fugitives.'

'Fugitives!' Patience snorted, hurrying up the stairs. 'Why would two women be harbourin' fugitives?'

'Sir!'

Jenny looked wearily at the marine hovering in the doorway. 'How dare you,' she spat, but with little venom in her voice. She did not have the strength for venom.

'It is her, isn't it, Sir?' the marine said to his Lieutenant.

She sighed as she recognised one of the men who served on HMS Sutherland when she had been taken to England by her father, then swallowed as she realised that Gillette was probably still the captain.

'Jenny Crompton, I believe.' Lieutentant Tremaine smiled. His captain was going to be very pleased with this. 'I have to ask you to accompany me.'

'She's in no fit state ter go anwhere,' Patience yelled, drawing herself up to her full five foot nothing height and facing the lieutentant. 'She's very weak an' too ill ter leave her bed.'

'This woman is a murderess,' he snarled, taking pleasure when Jenny went even paler than she already was. 'She murdered her husband back in England. There was a general notice put out for her whereabouts and her father informed the captain in a letter, just in case she decided to head back here. A bad apple never falls far from the tree,' he smiled. 'Where is Sparrow?'

'Go to hell,' Jenny snarled.

'You are not making this easy for yourself… where is he?'

'On The Black Pearl,' she lied, praying Patience had not said anything.

'No sign of him in this house, nor the smaller one at the back, Sir,' a voice from the corridor said.

'Ya went in me house?!' Patience shrieked. 'Ya bastards! How dare ya!'

'Very well, men get her out of the bed,' Lieutenant Tremaine ordered, smiling creepily.

'Don't ya dare touch her!' Patience pushed past the lieutenant and stood in front of the bed.

'It's all right,' Jenny replied, standing gingerly and clutching the bed post as her legs wobbled. 'Tell your men to leave so I can dress.'

'Jenny! Ya can't go with them.'

'I don't have a choice, Patience. I have to.'

'Then I'm comin' with ya,' she declared, glancing at the naval man and daring him to contradict her.

'Your men haven't left yet, Lieutenant…' Jenny remarked sarcastically.

'Out!' he ordered, but did not move himself. 'I will turn my back,' he offered.

'Damn right you will,' Jenny retorted, sitting heavily on the bed as her strength gave out on her. 'Patience will you fetch some clothes for me please?'

'I don't like this,' she bemoaned. 'Damn naval nobs.'

'Neither do I but not all naval men are bad, the same as not all pirates are bad...' She winced as pain shot through her body as Patience carefully helped her dress and clutched onto her friend as she stood and walked from her bedroom and down the stairs, followed by Lieutenant Tremaine.

'All these men, just to arrest me,' she sniped sarcastically. 'My, my. I must have you worried…'

'We believed that Sparrow was here.'

'Well, well. Look who we have here.'

Jenny's heart sank as she recognised the voice of Charles Gillette. 'Our path's cross again, Gillette,' she smiled sweetly, her eyes cold. 'How did you know I was here?'

'Village gossip… it can be very useful at times,' he smiled. 'Take her to the ship,' he ordered his marines. 'Not you,' he sneered, as Patience went to go with her friend. 'You can tell Sparrow that we have her and that she will be hanged for her crime.'

'I ain't bleedin' leavin' her,' Patience shouted, trying to push past a group of men as Jenny was pulled from her grasp. 'Let her go, ya bastards.' She balled her fist and slammed it into Captain Gillette's groin then brought her knee up and smashed it into his face as he doubled over.

A marine towered over her, the butt of his rifle crashing down into her face and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

'No… you bastards!' Jenny fought to get away from her captors, but they were too many and too strong and she was too weak and in pain. 'You didn't have to do that,' she spat, as Captain Gillette tentatively stood upright.

'She assulted me,' he gasped, clutching himself. 'I could see her hanged for that. Take her,' he ordered, nodding at Jenny. He needed time alone to recover his composure.

…

'Dear God in heaven,' Luke Martin swore as he looked at the figure being half carried, half dragged into his sick bay. 'Jenny!' He hurried over and took her in his arms, carrying her to a bed. 'What on earth happened to you?'

'Not with them there,' she hissed, rolling over to her side and clutching her stomach.

The surgeon of The Sutherland frowned as he saw a large blood stain on her dress. 'Leave us,' he ordered, glaring at the men when they were slow to comply. 'Get out!'

'Oh Luke,' she wailed, giving in to her tears. 'I-I was… I lost my baby,' she sobbed.

'Sparrow's baby?' he asked gently, sighing as she nodded. 'He came for you in England, yes? Why did you marry that other man?'

'I was used,' she whispered. A business agreement between him and my father. I was drugged and forced into the marriage.'

'You killed him?'

'Yes.'

'How did you lose the baby?'

'A man Jack had gone against found me and his men beat me… They kept kicking and punching…'

'Shh. It's all right. I'm sorry I asked,' he soothed, stroking her arm. 'May I examine you?'

'All right,' she croaked, turning back over and closing her eyes as the ship's surgeon gently examined her.

'I will give you something to help build you up again, you've obviously lost a lot of blood. Otherwise there's little I can do, I'm sorry,' he apologised.

'I know. Why did it have to be this bloody ship?'

'At least you know you have a friend on board.'

'That's true.' Jenny managed a smile. 'Thank you.'

'Get some rest. I will look in on you later.' Luke Martin left the sick bay, anger welling inside him. 'Surely it doesn't matter whether she consorts with pirates or not,' he thought, furiously. 'She is still a woman and a human being.' He sat at his desk and tried to concentrate on his notes, but the anger would not die down.

…

Patience blinked, momentarily wondering why she hurt. She put her hand to her head, groaning, staring in confusion at the blood through her one good eye – the other was swollen closed. Dazed, she clambered to her knees, worriedly recalling events prior to her unconsciousness.

'Jenny!' she shouted, instantly regretting the noise. Staggering, she lurched to her feet, reaching for the door frame to support herself, but there was nobody about. No sign of the Navy, Jenny or even Jack. She wobbled from the house, falling down the steps of the verandah, landing in a heap on the sand.

'Patience?' Tom ran from the woods where he had been hiding and helped her to her feet. 'What happened?' He looked in shock at her eye and the dried blood on her face and the top of her dress, where it had seeped down.

'Bugger,' she cursed, spitting sand from her mouth. She looked at Tom, still swaying. 'Where's Jack?'

'Still in th'hills as far as I know. Where's Jenny? I heard shoutin' but didn't dare come out.'

'Get Jack!' she urged, sitting down heavily on the steps of the verandah that he guided her to. 'Th'soddin' Navy have taken her!'

'What?!' he exploded. 'Will you be all right?'

'Just bloody go!' she cursed, once more regretting the loudness of her own voice. 'Go,' she whispered, holding her head in her hands and wishing it would stop hurting.

Tom ran as fast as he could towards the hill where Jack was last seen, calling as loudly as he dared and praying that he could find him. He whirled round at a sound and found himself face to face with his former captain.

'They've taken her! Th'bleedin' Navy have taken Jenny…' he gasped.

Jack blinked for a second or two, not comprehending what he had heard. 'Patience?' he asked, his mind already planning.

'No, she's still here, although they bashed her about.' He turned and ran after the younger man, finding it hard to keep up with him as he flew down the hillside, skidding to a halt outside his house.

Patience was lying on her back, looking at the verandah roof after realising it felt more pleasant being horizontal.

'Patience! What happened? Who took Jenny?' The words came out in a rush.

She turned her head slightly and looked at him, regretting the movement. 'Th'soddin' Navy,' she replied, keeping her voice as quiet as she could. 'Jenny called him... damn...' she put her hand to her head, trying to recall the name. 'I think she said Gallotte or something like that.'

'Gillette!' both men echoed. 'I'll kill th'bastard,' Jack promised, suddenly feeling worse, if that was at all possible. He knew that Captain Gillette disliked Jenny from what she had told him of the journey to England on board HMS Sutherland.

Patience looked at Jack worriedly. 'They knew about that man from England - the one she killed...'

Jack paled 'They'll hang her,' he whispered, shuddering. 'Come on, we've got no time ter lose.'

'Help me up,' Patience pleaded. 'I owe him a few bruises meself, although I've already given him some.'

Jack gently helped her to her feet. 'We have ter get ter Tortuga. It means goin' on a small boat, will ya be all right or would ya rather stay here?'

'I'll come,' she replied quietly.

'Right, get what ya want from th'house, nothin' too big. An' bring a pot ter pee in.' He ran into his own house as Patience went on her errand, fetching Jenny's jewellery box from the chest of drawers in their bedroom and a shawl she had made for the baby. He stopped, staring at the small woollen blanket and held it to his face, then shook himself, flying back down the stairs to the kitchen and grabbing what food he could find and stuffing it into a sack. Tom was busy rolling out a barrel of ale to take with them, not caring to waste time in going back to his room above the tavern and fetching his meagre effects. He knew his captain would see him right.

They carried the stores between them to the ships boat, which was beached, and loaded it once the boat was in the water. Jack and Tom pulled on the oars, making for a small dory, anchored on the edge of the main bay.

Patience looked worriedly at the dory as she accepted Jack's helping hand into the small boat. 'Where should I sit?' she asked, wobbling as she tried to find her sea legs and clutching the pillowcase containing her comb and mirror, plus her blue silk dress.

'Over there,' he indicated, away from the tiller. 'Near th'mast an' keep low.'

Trembling, she made her way to where he had said, sitting quietly whilst the two men prepared the dory for their journey.

…

'Captain Gillette, I really must protest at her treatment,' Luke Martin spluttered indignantly. 'She has been badly beaten and lost her child, as well as a lot of blood. She is not up to being paraded through the streets of Pot Royal, up to the fort.'

'Your objection is noted,' Charles Gillette sneered, watching as Jenny was shoved along the wharf by a marine, her hands manacled behind her back.

'There is no need for this,' Luke implored, his voice rising several octaves. 'She would not be able to escape that many men anyway, so why chain her? Why force her to walk that distance when she is barely capable of standing unaided?'

'Mister Martin! Don't you dare question my authority nor my judgement,' Captain Gillette snapped, marching along the wharf to get away from his surgeon.

Luke Martin stood there for long moments, debating what to do before running along the wharf, past his captain, and to the group of marines in which Jenny was at the centre.

'Are you all right?' he asked, grimacing at her pale, drawn features.

She merely nodded, not having the energy to talk, prefering to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other but she lost her footing and went careering into a marine in front of her, only being saved from falling to the ground by Luke Martin's quick reflexes.

'Captain Gillette, I beg you, release her from the manacles at least,' Luke pleaded. 'Or she might not live long enough for you to get your hanging.' He spat the last word out, his disgust plain to see.

'It is not far now, she'll be all right.'

Jenny gasped for breath as pain shot through her body. She didn't believe that she would make it to the fort but a small, bloody minded part of her was determined not to give Charles Gillette the satisfaction of seeing her collapse in front of him. So she gritted her teeth and carried on, blotting everything from her mind, even Luke's words of encouragement.

To her relief, the gates to the fort appeared quicker than she expected and she almost looked forward to being locked up, at least there would be a cot in the cell.

'What do we have here?' Commodore Boothe marched to Captain Gillette, looking at the pale, bedraggled woman. 'Who is she?'

'She is Sparrow's woman and she is wanted in England for the murder of her husband,' Gillette announced triumphantly.

'Sparrow? You mean Jack Sparrow?'

'Yes, Sir.'

'I see… you had better to see that she is safely behind bars then, Captain. Well done.'

'Thank you, Sir,' he gushed, nodding to his men to start marching again, taking their prisoner with them.

Jenny's eyes watered as the stench of urine hit her nostrils as she carefully walked down the steps leading to the cells. To her relief, there was no-one else incarcerated and she was shoved unceremoniously into the nearest one, then the manacles finally removed from her wrists.

'I will stay with you a while,' Luke smiled, going to join her inside.

'I'm afraid not, Mr. Martin. I feel you have become altogether too close to this woman and I am not entirely convinced you are to be trusted with her. You may visit, but only with an escort.'

Lukje Martin spun to face his captain, just stopping himself before he struck him. 'Sir! I really must protest,' he spluttered. 'I know that she has done wrong and do not have any problem with her being gaoled. What I object to is her treatment…'

'You have a problem with the way I have treated her, is that it?' Gillette enquired, coldly. 'Tell me, do you have a problem with my command, Mr. Martin?'

'N-no, Sir…' he hissed, clenching and unclenching his fists. 'She is ill, that is all I am saying.'

'Well, she'll get plenty of rest in here,' Gillette laughed, sneering at Jenny then turning on his heel and walking from the cells.

Jenny lay down on the cot, not caring about the argument between the two men. She felt light headed and dizzy, so closed her eyes, opening them again immediately as the cell spun violently.

'Could I have some water please?' she asked of no-one in particular.

'No!'

'Yes…'

Luke and the cell guard answered at once and the guard shuffled away under the surgeon's intense stare, returning a few minutes later with a beaker of water, which he put down on the floor of the cell.

'Thank you, she croaked, smiling at Luke.

'I must go now,' he apologised. 'I will come and see you later, I promise.'

'All right,' she smiled weakly, giving up the battle with her heavy eyelids.

…

Patience opened a weary eye and shivered with cold, despite having Jack's coat wrapped around her.

'We're here,' he informed her from the tiller of the small vessel. He prayed that they hadn't passed The Pearl at night during the three day journey, and almost gasped with relief as he saw her black stern through the entrance of Tortuga harbour. 'An' so is th'Pearl.'

The small boat drew odd looks from the crew of various pirate ships as they entered the natural harbour, but no-one challenged them and they were soon up against the hull of The Black Pearl.

'Who goes there?' cried an attentive watchman and Jack mentally told himself to give the man an extra tot of rum that night.

'Th'Captain,' he called. They looked up as various faces appeared over the ship's side.

'Bleedin' hell! What ye doin''here?' Shay exclaimed, shocked at the battered and bloodied appearance of his fiancée. He issued an order to get the bosun's chair rigged up.

'Jack?' Joshamee Gibbs looked puzzled as his captain climbed to the deck, leaving Tom to help Patience into the chair. 'What has happened?'

'Get th'crew together now. Th'Navy have Jenny an' we have ter get to Port Royal.'

'Why have they taken Jenny?' Gibbs asked as the crew scrambled overboard to go ashore and find their mates.

'They know about Crompton,' Jack replied heavily. 'Gillette found her.'

'Well they won't hang her, she's pregnant,' Gibbs said, hoping to reassure Jack, but catching an exchanged look between him and Patience.

'No she's not,' he said quietly. 'Valentine found us first an' they beat her. She lost the babe...' He marched across the deck and down to his cabin before anyone can see his tears.

Patience put her hand on Joshamee's arm, stopping him from following Jack. 'Leave 'im be,' she cautioned.

'What happened with Valentine? Who else was with him?' the quartermaster asked, a worried frown creasing his brow.

'Hoskins,' she replied, shuddering. 'An' someone called Page I think.'

'Did Hoskins see ye, cailin?' Shay asked, shaken to the core at how pale and drawn she looked. He grimaced at her bruises and wondered if Hoskins had beaten her – or worse.

'I killed him,'she whispered, shaking.

'Ah God,' he murmured, holding her tightly. 'Yer free of him now,'

'What was Page doing there?' Gibbs asked.

'He was Valentine's son,' came Jack's voice as he re-emerged from below, composed once more. 'Shay, take her down ter my cabin, she needs a bloody good rest.'

'Son?! Mother's love, Jack,' he exclaimed. 'Son…?'

'I can't take yer cabin Jack,' Patience protested.

'Yes ya bloody can, an' that's an order, savvy? Shay make sure she stays there until she's asleep, then ya can come on duty.'

'Aye Cap'n.' Shay smiled his thanks and started to usher her towards the hatch, knowing she was about to protest some more.

Patience opened her mouth then closed it again, knowing when she was beaten. 'Yes Captain,' she sighed.

'Good girl,' Jack smiled. 'Patience... thanks fer everythin' ya've done.' She smiled briefly and nodded before disappearing below with Shay.

'I take it Valentine is dead,' Gibbs said after the couple had gone.

'Aye, I killed him. Far too late, but I killed him.'

'And Page told him where to find you. Damn! But he attacked the ships. He was on Le Brestois when we attacked.'

'I reckon he kept quiet so as not ter blow his cover. Can ya imagine what Bailey would have done if he had found out that Page was his son?'

'I doubt Job is still alive,' Gibbs sighed.

'No, fed to th'sharks, apparently…' Jack looked out at the town and the ruined shell of Valentine's mansion, cursing the hestation that had allowed his nemesis to escape.

'Jack, it looks as though they're managed to round up most of the men already.' He nodded at the small flotilla of boats, heading back to the ship. 'We're fully stocked, we were going to sail back to you in the morn, so as soon as everyone is on board, we can go. I'm sure they won't hang her, not until she has recovered at least.'

'They'd better not have,' he warned. 'We sail as soon as this lot are on board, th'rest we can pick up when we return.'

'Very well,' the quartermaster complied, barking orders even before the returning men had chance to board the ship.