Disclaimer: I don't own Jack or Will but the dog is mine.

Consoling Mr. Turner

The Pearl sliced through the turquoise waters as we were making our departure from Toratuga. I ordered the men to give me full sails and put the ruder to the shoreline. The crew was rowdy and ready for some action. It was time to go stir up some trouble. Mr. Turner seemed pleased when I agreed to let him sail with me. I did give him a hard time and toyed with him at first. Then I noted he was not of his proper mind. I could only presuppose his mental and physical torment had to deal with Miss. Swann or potentially, Commodore Norrington. Last I saw Mr. Turner, he was with Miss Swan on the parapet in Port Royal. He and this beautiful woman, stood between Norrington and meself.

As of now, I could only make two assumptions. Me first thought, Commodore Norrington set orders to hang Mr. Turner for piracy and he took flight. For that I could not blame him. Having a hemp noose around the neck is not a sentiment I would bequest on me worst enemy. It would have staggered me if the Commodore had granted Mr. Turner clemency twice. Norrington did allow it once, but that was before William drew his sword to save me and attempted to throw the guards. I know how the Commodore feels about pirates. Hang them all, he would say.

Me second reflection, Miss Elizabeth Swann broke the poor whelp's heart. This was hard to think through. I knew he loved her and he told her so. I also felt Elizabeth's heart truly lie with young William. Perhaps, she could not square with the fact that he was a pirate. Perchance, Governor Swann would not let his only daughter marry a humble blacksmith, or said pirate. Ah, did she say, "I do" to Commodore Norrington?

I would have to query Mr. Turner after awhile. He was in no mood for my larking about and he was bound and determined to get a response from me. He was not going to take no, for an answer. I knew Will's father, Bootstraps Bill. He was a good man and a good pirate. Will Turner, is the splitting image of him and I was sure he would make a fine pirate. He had been on me ship before and I knew how quickly he took to the sea. I was not sure how quickly he would take to being a pirate.

With me doubts I strode across the deck to where Will was sitting with Mr. Gibbs and AnaMaria.

"Mr. Turner," I said. "You will tell me in your own time all that's happened to you since we parted at Port Royal. How did you come to find me in Toratuga and why do you wish to sail with the crew and me? Not all men seek rest and peace son. Some are born with the spirit of the stern in their blood, restless harbingers of violence and bloodshed, knowing no other path. There are quite a few who come to the sea hoping to amass enough swag to ease the burdens of their lives. When you are ready to ease your weight, I do have an ear for you."

By nature I am not a meddling sort, I keep my dealings to meself and expect me crew to follow kind. Especially those affairs of the heart. To alleviate the tension I brought between Will and meself and to divert the gazes of Gibbs and AnaMaria, I asked Will to follow me.

"Mr. Turner, there is someone I would like you to meet. Your first job under my command will be to bath me dog. Yes, I have a dog. She was a gift." I glared at AnaMaria. "She is a beautiful animal but she is filthy."

I contemplated this would be an enthralling job for Mr. Turner. Possibly this would take his mind off the demons that were plaguing him. Also the dog was indeed scruffy, dirty and shabby. As AnaMaria had pointed out, the mutt did require much attention and I could convey Mr. Turner did also.

Will sprang to his feet and followed me to my quarters. He looked at me as if I had thoroughly lost my mind and asked, "So Jack you have gone to the dogs?"

"In a matter of speaking yes, lad. But now you can square with her." I knew where I would find the bloody hound, even though I had given her strict orders to stay of me bed. We entered and sure enough she was sprawled on me bunk. She lifted her large shaggy head and slowly moved her tail to acknowledge our presence. She sat up and gave me a look as if to say, "Yes Captain, I am here and what are you going to do about it?" She stood up and shook herself. As the fur was flying around the room she leaped off the berth onto the floor to greet us. She walked right up to Will and put her nose in his crotch. Will stood next to me feeling slightly uneasy. She was a large animal and she was very arrogant.

"Mr. Turner", I said. Please make the acquaintance of me new bunkmate." I cringed as I spoke due to the rudeness of me dog. "She is supposed to live on the floor but as you can see she is female and she rules the roost. Don't mind her disrespect, this is how she greets one. The crew is not pleased with this but as I told them, if she don't bite ya it means ya a good man and you are worth your salt. I have not chosen a proper name for her yet but she responds to LUV. She rightly is a smart dog."

I tossed Will a large bucket, and a swag of soap. A sizeable tub stood in the corner of the room. "Well, Mr. Turner, welcome to hell." I could not help smiling at him and showing my golden grin. "Mr. Gibbs will show you where to find warm water." This was going to be fun but for who?

"Fill the tub up and take pleasure Mr. Turner. You too Luv." And I gave her a wink. "I am sure you both will get familiar with one another. When you are done, you may both join me on the deck." With that I turned and left the room. I had a sinful smile on me face and a low titter in me voice. Yes, now I knew who was going to have the fun. Time to go get some rum.

Will stood in the room in a state of bewilderment. "So Luv, is it?" Will extended his hand out and gently pushed the dog away. "Missy you will have to learn some manners. You are filthy and you do stink. You're not going to give me a lot of trouble about taking a bath are you?"

The dog just looked at him and yawned.

Will left the room with the bucket in order to find water. By the time the tub was more then half full the dog had jumped back onto Jack's bed. Will kept a wary eye on her as he made several trips in and out of the room. When the tub was full he told her to come.

She looked at him and ever so elegantly she stood up, stretched out and urinated all over Jack's berth. She was defining her property, or was she defying her master's wishes? She then stepped off the bed, approached the tub and peed again. Watching the dog relieve itself all over Jack's quarters dismayed Will but then again he was also amused. It wasn't his bed, or his room. He started to laugh out loud. Will had forgotten how good that felt. "I can't believe Jack said you were a smart dog."

"OK, Luv you better be in the mood for this bath." Will mumbling to himself, removed his shirt and placed it on Jack's desk. He wanted to keep himself as dry as possible. While he had his back turned he heard a faint splash. To his astonishment, when he turned around the dog was standing in the tub. The retriever submitted to its bath without protest. After bathing the dog, Will ordered her out of the tub and spent an hour brushing her. He pulled out burrs, weeds and unsnarled the tangles. After she was groomed she was a handsome animal. She looked splendid, but now Will was damp and stank of dog. He succumbed to a bath also and he enjoyed every minute of it. When Will and Luv, came on the deck Will was smiling and tenderly talking to and petting Luv. William looked like a new man. He looked like the Mr. Turner I remembered.

"Aye Mr. Turner, I see you and me dog have been getting along. It is a pleasure to see you smiling again." I could have sworn the dog was grinning too.

My idea had worked. Mr. Turner had forgotten his demons for a while. He seemed more relaxed and was ready to talk. I knew Luv, would be good for him. She is a very smart dog.

Just as William and I were about to go talk about the past, Gibbs's voice boomed across the ship.

"Ship ho!"

I pulled my spyglass. "It looks like a merchant vessel to me. Let's have ourselves a nice raid." I shouted. The crew sprang into action. We moved closer to the vessel and the crew of The Pearl prepared for battle.

A/N As you can see I am having fun with Will and the dog. Please read and send reviews.