Chapter 41

Madeline put her trunk in one of the smaller cabins. She didn't want to intrude on Jack's space. Even though she would have preferred to stay in his quarters. But Jack was the captain of this ship. Even though she knew where they were heading, and even though she was used to being in charge. She had to follow Jack's command. On ship and in private. It was her fault their son was missing. She was checking the rigging when she saw him approach with Will.

Jack took her hand, "Are ye ready love," he asked.

Madeline looked down at Jack's hand in hers. She smiled weakly at him. She was scared. Scared that they wouldn't find their son and scared that Jack would hate her forever if they didn't. "Aye Jack." she said in a whisper. "I took one of the cabin's below deck if that's alright."

Jack frowned, "I think ye should bunk with me... me crew isn't unruly as a general rule but being the only woman on board may make them that way," he told her. His tone was serious. "Gibbs have Maddy's things put in me cabin," Jack called.

Gibbs nodded and went below to carry out the order.

"Now, Will I guess this is goodbye for now, hopefully the next time we meet I'll have me son back where he belongs," Jack said.

Madeline lowered her head and didn't protest Jack's order. She stood slightly behind him as he said goodbye to Will.

"Aye Jack. Be safe and take care of Maddy." Will said pulling his friend in for a hug. "You'll find him. Together." he said in a low voice.

Madeline moved to give Will a hug. "Take care of my cousin for me Will. And thank you." Will nodded and walked off the ship. He watched as the crew scurried into action and made way.

"Jack what would ye like me to do?" Madeline asked quietly.

"Buck up and quit acting like yer me slave that I require to walk three steps behind me all the time. Go to me cabin, charter me out a course ye think this bastard may have taken our son then bring it to me, in the meantime, we head east," Jack told her sternly.

Madeline's temper rose. "Aye Captain." she snapped and turned on her heel to do as he asked.

"Jack yer gonna find yerself burned," Gibbs muttered as he watched Maddy go below.

"Right now all I care about is finding me son, I can't let his mother get me off track," Jack told him. He took out his spyglass and scanned the horizon.

Madeline poured over the maps in Jack's cabin. She was oblivious to all that was going on around her. She heard Jack's voice on deck shouting orders. She didn't hear one of the crew carry in her trunk. She studied the maps and charted out the course she believed Jacquette had gone. She wrote down the coordinates and headed back on deck. "Captain." she said coming up behind Jack as he stood by the wheel.

"Aye Maddy," Jack said lowering his spyglass.

"Here are the coordinates to China." she said handing him the paper and turned to leave.

"Maddy," Jack snapped.

Madeline stopped and turned back to him. "Aye Captain?"

"Is there a problem," he asked.

Madeline eyed him. "What makes ye think there is a problem?" she asked.

"Well something has ye pissed," he said. He noticed most of the crew was looking at them. "Take the wheel Gibbs," he said. He then grabbed Maddy's arm and stormed below to his cabin, "Now talk to me before I get pissed," he told her.

Madeline flung her arm out of Jack's grasp. "I"m sorry Jack. I'm so frustrated. I'm so angry at Jacquette for taking my son." she looked at Jack. "Our son." she corrected herself. "Makes me so angry that I ever knew him." she growled as she stormed around his cabin. She clenched her fists and looked out the window. "I"m sorry for losing our son Jack."

"Beating yerself or me isn't going to help him love, now let's just work together and find him, can ye do that for me," Jack asked.

Madeline didn't turn but nodded. "Aye Captain." she said quietly. "Is there anything ye'd like me to do now?"

"Maddy, ye could tell me ye love me," Jack said timidly. "That is if ye still do... something tell me ye've had time to think about what happened," he said grimly.

Madeline turned to him. "That is something you should never doubt Jack. My heart will always be yours. I love you Jack Sparrow."

"That's good to know... now, what makes ye think Jacquette has taken JJ to China," he asked curiously.

Madeline eyed him. "Because it was all he ever talked about. He's been there before and I know that he wanted to go back there. He's familiar with the land and the people. That's why we need to hurry Jack." She said thinking about JJ. "He knows too many people that would help him and hide our son."

Jack rubbed his chin, "Who are some of these people, perhaps I know them and we could at least stand some chance of finding him even if they make it to China," he asked.

Madeline looked at him. She bit her lip. Did Jack know some of the same people that Louis knew? "Do you know Jared Black?" she asked tentatively.

Jack thought a moment, "Know Five Draw Black, guy loves poker... will play anytime day or night... they call him that cause that's what kind of poker he likes, five card draw," he smirked. "Doubt it's the same guy," he sighed.

Madeline eyed him. "That would be him. Knows how to cheat every damn time." she snarled. "But he's a good friend and has no love for Jacquette. Louis tried to kill him and he'd be willing to help. At least I hope so."

"Last I heard he was in Singapore, not China love and I asked if ye knew the names of anyone who would help Jacquette," Jack said shaking his head, she wasn't focused. She would get someone killed if she didn't get focused. He frowned.

Madeline looked at him. "Don't look at me like that Jack. I know what you're thinking." she said in a monotone voice. "I'm just trying to think of anyone that would help us as well." She walked over to the porthole window. "I know who would help him. Frank Adams. I believe he's English. He and Louis have been friends for a long time. The last I heard he was in South America. If Louis is headed towards China, I'm sure he'd stop and see if Frank would want to go along."

"I hope so... I mean, if it's true then we may have some leverage," Jack said. Frank Adams was English all right... he was also a privateer which meant Jacquette would be a fool to trust him as Adams would just assume double cross him as look at him. If Adams did double cross Jacquette then he might just slow ole Jacguette's progress down. "What do ye know of Adams," Jack asked.

Madeline half laughed. "He's a scoundrel. Loves the ladies." She turned to face Jack. "And will take a challenge on whomever is willing to pay the price."

"Would that include ye me love," Jack asked.

"Not on yer life Jack Sparrow." she growled. "Not saying he didn't try to kiss me, he found my sword at his throat."

"Too bad, I was thinking maybe if we got to him ye might dissuade him from helping Jacquette," Jack quipped. "Anyone else," he asked. "Does he know a man by the name of Pang Lou Chan," he asked. Jack laughed, "No I doubt it, since that is a friend of mine, we'll swing over to Singapore and pick him up, he'll help us," Jack grinned.

Madeline growled under her breath at Jack wanting to use her feminine ways to get to Frank. But then she began to think. Maybe Jack had a point. "Maybe you're right Jack."

"Oh course I'm right, when am I not," Jack asked flippantly.

Madeline rolled her eyes. "Perhaps I could dissuade Frank from helping Louis."

Jack waved his hand, "Forget it, it's a moot point seeing as we would have to get to Frank before Jacquette for that to work," he grumbled.

Madeline plunked herself in a chair. "Aye Jack. He will reach him before we will." she toyed with a knife on the desk. "How long do you think it will take us to reach Cape Horn Jack?"

Jack shrugged, "I all ready have Gibbs sailing us for Singapore," he said. He'd all ready figured on getting Pang's help and decided the best course of action was to line up his allies first.

Madeline glanced out the window and saw that night had fallen. "Would you like me to take watch tonight Captain?" she asked quietly as she continued to twirl the knife around.

Jack took the knife from her, "Nay love, get ready for bed, ye need the rest," he said. He looked at her for a moment, "We're going to get him back," he said sternly. "Or do ye not trust me," he asked with a devilish grin. He knew he was aggravating her but he wouldn't do it if he didn't care.

Madeline wanted to roll her eyes at him. But she didn't. "I know we'll get him back Jack. I want you to know your son." she said quietly as she stood and walked over to her bag and pulled out a nightgown.

Jack cleared his throat, "Well, of course I'll get to know him, eh I'll just step back up on deck to make sure everything is ship shape then I'll come back and join ye, would ye like me to bring ye anything from the galley," he asked.

Madeline turned, holding her gown to her chest. "Only if you're bringing something back for yourself Jack." she said quietly.

Jack grinned wickedly as a thought came to him, "Aye, well, see ye in a bit," he said and dashed from the room. Why the bloody hell was he acting like a dandy schoolboy? Because he kept thinking of when he'd hurt her and he continued to feel guilty about it. He sighed heavily and went on deck. Gibbs was at the wheel, Cotton would take over a little later and the midget was in the crow's nest until Gibbs took over after Cotton took over the wheel. Jack then went down to the galley and fetched a couple of oranges. He then went back to the cabin. He knocked on the door before entering the room, "Maddy are ye decent love," he said as he stepped into the room.

Madeline took off her clothes and pulled on her nightgown. It had long sleeves and a low neckline. She paced the cabin and jumped when she heard the knock on the door. "Aye Captain." she said as Jack entered

Jack looked at her for only a brief moment, "I brought us a couple of oranges," he said picking up the knife she'd been fiddling with earlier.

Madeline walked back to the chair she'd been occupying earlier. She sat down and crossed her legs, pulling her gown over her legs. She smiled at him as she watched him begin to peel the oranges. "They look delicious Captain."

"Jack," he said. He finished peeling the first one and gave it to her, "For ye milady," he smiled.

"Thank you Jack." she said taking the orange from him. She pulled it apart, smiled as she watched the juice seem to pour out of it. She popped a slice in her mouth. She closed her eyes and savored the taste of it. "Jack, these are so sweet."

Jack watched her savor the orange and had to quickly look away, "Aye, they are," he said breathlessly. Damn it, she was making him want her. "Maddy I don't want ye to be too shocked by Pang when ye meet him so I should prepare ye," Jack said quickly changing the subject.

Madeline opened her eyes to look at him. She continued to savor the orange. "I've seen a lot Jack. It would take a lot to shock me."