Again, thanks for the reviews. It's as much fun for me to read them as it is for me to write this!
I have to apologize for the length of time it took for me to write this chapter. I don't know for sure what happened, but my muse seems to have gone insane. I found this story going in the oddest directions, and there was no way I could force it back to the direction I intended for it to go! Anyway, I hope my muse is more cooperative in the future, and I hope you like this chapter! Please let me know if you do! Reviews greatly appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Disney does. No disrespect is intended. I am making no money from this and write it only for my own amusement.
A Pirate's Life and Death part 10 by Ecri
Captain Jack Sparrow moved quickly through the town, making arrangements for supplies. His men, led by Mr. Cotton and his parrot, took delivery and made purchases as Jack dictated. He'd just given them leave to visit the local tavern intending to join them there himself for a quick drink before returning to the Pearl and Will, but there was one stop he had to make first.
As he walked, his thoughts turned towards Will Turner. Jack was still astonished the lad had somehow appeared in his life not once, but twice now. Seeing Elizabeth sold as a slave had shocked him, and there'd been no course for him but to save her. Thinking he'd be returning her safe to Will's frantic arms, he'd felt his heart drop at the news that Commodore Killian had been responsible for Elizabeth's situation and held Will prisoner.
He'd known right away what the insane Commodore had planned, and he'd known he'd have to stop it.
Elizabeth's worry over Will's current health was certainly warranted, but she refused to believe that Jack knew what he was talking about. To be fair, Jack assumed that the worry over Will's safety overrode any thoughts Elizabeth might have had of Captain Jack Sparrow's veracity.
Shaking away the thoughts when he realized they distracted him from his surroundings, he gazed intently at several houses he had passed trying to bring to mind the exact location of the one he sought.
He smiled in satisfaction when he found it and knocked on the door. It took several more knocks before he finally received an answer.
"All right! 'Ang on! I'm comin'!" A loud, gravelly voice called from behind the door.
Jack assumed a stance of relaxed anticipation, a smirk fixed upon his face as the door was torn open so violently it could have been snapped from its hinges.
A small man, so slight he seemed fragile, stood there, his eyes squinting in irritation until recognition widened them as Jack watched.
"Jack Sparrow! As I live and breathe!" The man seemed unsure if he should step forward and embrace the pirate or step back and allow him entry. In the end, he settled for an odd combination of the two, taking half a step forward and taking firm hold of Jack's arm and dragging him inside.
Jack laughed. "That's Captain Jack Sparrow, and well you know it! 'Ow are ye, mate?"
The man laughed a cackling sort of sound, and nodded his head so vigorously the few wisps of gray hair that still clung to it waved in the air. "I know it! I do indeed know it!" He laughed again, and without asking his friend if he were in need of refreshment, he moved to a small cabinet and drew out a half-empty bottle of rum and two cracked mugs.
Pouring two liberal doses, the man placed one before his now-seated visitor and one before himself as he took his own seat.
Finally the man, still grinning in surprise and glee at the unexpected arrival, turned his attention to the purpose of the visit. "Wot brings ye 'ere, Jack m'boy!"
"Not so much a boy, now, mate. It's been quite some time since I've looked you up, and I wasn't sure"
"If I'd met my maker?" The old man cackled, bringing a smile to Jack's face.
Jack leaned across the table, then looked to either side of the room as if making sure no one would overhear though they were the only two in the room. "Between you and me, Joe me old sod, I wasn't sure."
Joe laughed and raised his glass. "To the Sea, sweetest mistress a man can 'ave!"
Jack raised his as well. "And most demanding!"
They both drank, and Joe quickly refilled their glasses, raising his own again immediately after. "To the Sweet Smell of Salt in the air!"
Jack nodded, raising his glass again. "To the tang of sea salt on the lips!"
Again they drank, and again Joe filled the glasses. "To the sight of sunrise and sunset upon her clear blue water!"
Jack raised his glass a little more slowly, his body moving back slightly and then forward once more as his free hand traced a figure eight in the air. "Tosavoring your rum so we don't run out!"
Joe's cackle reached a higher pitch, and Jack shushed him, the rum already giving him a pleasant warmth in his stomach.
Jack opened his mouth as though to speak as Joe poured more rum, but then clamped it shut again, frowning. "Whatwas I goin' ta say?"
Joe ignored the remark and raised a glass again.
Jack saw the gesture, and, without waiting to hear the words Joe was about to utter, cried out. "To drinkin' to forgeteven when you didn't mean to!"
It took Jack a little while to remember what he'd been about to say, and, when he did, he almost decided it would be best to forget it again. Finally, while Joe told some tale or reminiscence of their days sailing together long ago, Jack considered his options. He had come here almost without allowing himself to think about it. He didn't want to give himself a chance to back down. He worried that he wouldn't want to face this, but the past seemed to have found a way to come back to him.
It had started with the first time he'd met Will Turner. Even there in the smithy as they fought he had known there was something familiar about the boy. Later, he believed his instinct to escape had stopped him from putting a name to the face. The lad was the spitting image of his old man, though truth be told, Bootstrap Bill was a bit taller, a bit wider, and much lessintense. It was partially Will's intensity that had made him appear just unfamiliar enough to keep Jack's tired and escape driven mind from making the connection between father and son.
He'd thought he'd faced the past quite well when he'd left Port Royal, only to run smack into it when he rescued Elizabeth—again—and found himself going after Killian to save Will. Nowhe sighed as he realized there was still some small part of his last meeting with Killian he'd been trying to avoid.
He looked at Joe, cleared his throat, and spoke in a soft voice. "I'm 'ere for it, Joe. It's time."
Joe sobered almost immediately, his laughter fading as his face fell. "I couldn't give it to ye if I wanted to. Bill's been gone a long time!"
"Oh, aye, gone. Gone but not goneif you know what I mean."
Joe puzzled over the expression, the rum obviously messing with his memory. "No, can't say I do? He's gone?"
"Aye, he's gone now, but 'e wasn't gone then."
"But'e's been gone for years"
Jack narrowed his eyes, the rum interfering with his brain. "Ayehe's been gone for ten yearsbut 'e's only recently left usif you know what I mean."
Joe shook his head. "I can't quite follow ye, cap'n."
Jack sighed and threw back the last of his rum. "I'm not askin' ye ta follow" He was quiet for a moment, then he waved a hand in front of his face and screwed his eyes shut as though they hurt. Opening them again, he spoke slowly and deliberately. "Bill's been missing a long time. He's only recently dead."
"Dead?" Joe scowled. "When did Bill die?"
"Well, 'e was sunk to the bottom of the sea with a cannon tied to his bootstraps, but the curse kept 'im alive until last year." Jack swayed slightly in his seat and stood as though the seat was too confining.
Joe shook his head. "That ain't true! Y'ain't lisnin, Jack. I can't give it to ye because Bill took it. Bill came by 'ere and took it 'isself!"
Jack spun around and faced Joe with such speed and suddenness that Joe sat back in his chair and gave a startled yelp. "He can't 'aveBill's dead."
"No! Bill said 'e was lookin' for ye. He said you'd been marooned on some island somewhere and 'e was goin' ta find ye!"
"When? When did 'e say this? When was 'e 'ere?" Jack's random movements and waving hands were stilled by his vehemence and his need to know.
"It musta been three years ago now." Joe smiled and reached across the table to pour more rum. "Ol' Bill said 'e'd never fegive 'isself if 'e didn't find ye. Oh, ye lads was close. It always amazed me, but ye seemed even closer after Nick" His smile faded and he looked away, changing the subject. "So, Bill went off ta find ye, Cap'n. Ye probably missed each other."
"Yeah." Jack sat heavily in the chair again. His equilibrium was gone. "Are ye sure, Joe?" His eyes looked sad and troubled. "Are ye sure it was Bill?"
Joe scowled. "I'm not a fool! It was Bill! He looked just the same."
Jack didn't answer. He sat staring first at nothing at all then he smiled a slow smile. "You gave it to 'im then?"
"Sure, and why not? It's 'is as much as it's yours!"
"And Nick's." Jack grimaced at the sound of a name he hadn't said in years.
******
Aboard the Black Pearl
Elizabeth fell to the deck and rolled across it, leaping to her feet behind Killian. Looking around for a weapon, she saw nothing of great use. A mop lay discarded by a crewman now bleeding to death where Killian had left him. Wishing all the while for a sword, she picked up the mop.
Killian turned to face her, and, seeing her wielding a mop began to laugh.
Angered, but not willing to be distracted, Elizabeth swung the mop swatting him in the head with the wet end. She was stronger than she looked, and while he was bent double by the force of the blow, she slid her hands along the mop handle, and, grasping just above the wet strands, swung the opposite end to hit a well-chosen area between the undead man's legs.
Alive or undead, a blow like that brought any man to his knees. Elizabeth whacked him again in the head for good measure and called to anyone still aboard who might help.
Gibbs and Anamaria, armed with blades and pistols, appeared at her side, though they had to fight members of Killian's crew just for the privilege of standing there.
Gibbs struck a man soundly with his sword and a spurt of blood from an open artery sprayed him full in the face.
Anamaria ran a man through, but another stood there a moment later.
Elizabeth, too busy to be surprised by the blood, moved around Killian hoping to get to Jack's cabin where Will rested. She knew Jack kept several swords and pistols inside and needed to arm herself with more than a wet mop.
Swinging around the man, who now fought two other crewmen, Elizabeth slipped into the cabin. Rushing to the wall, she drew a sword from its scabbard and a pistol from its holster. Then, loath to leave her love completely unprotected, she crossed to his side.
"Will?" She called to him hoping he would be coherent. "Will my love? Can you wake up?"
Will stirred and opened his eyes, which Elizabeth was quick to note seemed much brighter and clearer than they had the last time she had seen them. "Will?" She handed him the gun. "I want you to take this. We're being boarded."
"Boarded?" Will struggled to sit up, but Elizabeth placed a hand upon his chest stilling him. "If anyone comes through the door shoot them!"
"Elizabeth! No! I"
"Stay where you are, Will Turner!" She kissed his forehead, but did not allow herself to linger. She raced to the door. "I love you!" She put her heart in those words, but before he could reply, she had slipped out the door and shut it tight.
Will, only half awake looked down at the pistol in his hand. "I must help her" He swung his feet to the floor easily, but standing was an entirely different matter.
*******
Trilby stared in horror at the havoc Killian and his newest crew were causing aboard the Pearl. He hadn't wanted to follow the man, but he had little choice. When Killian had found him, Trilby had been horrified, but somehow unable to walk away. He knew it was fear. He was always one to allow fear to dictate his actions. Fear of starvation led him to find—and sometimes steal—food. Fear of dying of pneumonia kept him searching for shelter in the harsh weather, and fear that Killian had killed too many men to stop at one more of his crew had led him to put ashore when the Commodore had proved how he intended to treat Will Turner.
Now, fear of death once more kept him cowering from the Commodore's sight. He would fight the Pearl's crew. He was a pirate after all, but he would do it as far from Killian's reach as possible.
Keeping one eye on Killian and one on his own fighting wasn't easy, to be sure, but he'd developed a talent for it in the time they'd spent waiting for the Pearl to put in to port. Killian had needed menfor some dark purpose was all Trilby knew, but since the men seemed to have disappeared, Trilby assumed blood had been spilt.
Aboard the Pearl, Trilby's hope soared. He assumed his time with Killian would soon be over. If Killian got his revenge on Jack Sparrow and Will Turner, there'd be little need for the likes of him! He could just about convince himself that he could slip away unnoticed once Killian was deeply involved in his own plans.
Killian's eyes drifted towards Trilby then. No, the panicked man thought. Not mehe's looking for someone. Trilby scanned the crowd. Could it be Turner he sought? The lad wasn't on deck. Just then Trilby saw Killian notice the door to the Captain's Cabin open and Elizabeth slipped out onto the deck.
The Commodore slipped his sword in its sheath and drew his gun. The evil grin that spread across the man's face froze Trilby to the spot.
****
Anamaria brought her sword down in a bold stroke and felled the man who would have taken Gibb's head. Seeing belatedly what she had done, he nodded his thanks, returning the favor moments later when he shoved her roughly aside at the last moment before she would have been seriously wounded.
Anamaria leapt to the right as she saw Elizabeth loosing some of the rigging and dropping a sail upon the heads of three pirates. The men fell to the deck, and Anamaria briefly wondered how upset Captain Jack Sparrow would be at the ill-treatment of his sails.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, narrowly escaped another sword blow, but her sidestep brought her within reach of Killian himself. The Commodore reached out a hand and brought her to him, his gun at her temple.
Elizabeth struggled against Killian, but he fought with the strength of desperation as well as that of the undead.
Anamaria dispatched another pirate before turning her attention to the only other woman aboard the ship. "Let her alone, Killian!"
Killian laughed though there was little other than malice in the sound. "I'll do no such thing!"
He cocked his gun then, laughing all the while.
It was the sound of the gun firing that froze Anamaria's heart.
*****
In Town
Jack sipped his rum. He didn't intend to be long, but one more drink wouldn't delay him too much. As he savored he flavor and familiar burn of the alcohol, his eyes came to rest on his friend. "Did Bill say anything about Nick?"
Joe shook his head. "Nah. 'E wasn't 'ere long enough. 'E only stayed long enough to take it and run. 'E said there weren't time for a proper visit and that 'e 'ad to be off to find ye, Jack. He was desperate for it." The old man's brow furrowed as he recalled the long-ago conversation he'd had with Bootstrap.
Joe suddenly rose from his seat. "All this reminds me" He stopped talking as he rummaged through an old chest pulling out bottles of rum, a few old bits and baubles from his plundering days, and, finally, a small nondescript box. He walked back to Jack. "This 'ere was Bootstraps. 'E wanted to pass it to 'is son, but I figure ye can do that better'n me."
Jack took the box almost reverently. He knew what this would mean to Bootstrap. More importantly, he knew what it would mean to Will. He looked up at Joe who still stood in front of him. "What's in it?"
Joe laughed and gave a shrug. "Can't say what you don't know. Never opened it. Weren't my business." He laughed. "But if ye hadn't turned up when ye did, I mighta doneAfter 11 years or so, I figure I could sell a thingto pay the rental on me keeping it safe for so long!" He laughed again.
Jack smiled, wondering if Joe would have sold it, but glad that there was something of Bill's he could give to Will.
Joe settled into his chair again. "He was worried for ye, Jack. You and his boy. He was all in a state about ye. Where ye were and what 'ad 'appened, though 'e never told me a word about it."
Jack barely moved. "Tell me." He had to know. He needed to hear from someone who'd seen Bill alive.
**
Joe shrugged as if it made no difference to him and launched into his story. "'E came 'ere to get it. 'E said it was a stupid plan anyway, and it shouldn't be left for the last one of ye alive. 'E said 'e'd share it with ye or no one would 'ave it." Joe cackled again. "Bill insisted the three of ye shoulda shared it ta begin with! Said it mighta changed yer luck if ye 'ad!"
Joe considered the words Bill had uttered and shrugged. "Couldn'ta hurt, considerin'," His thoughts took him back to Bill's last visit as he told Jack everything he could remember.
Bill took what he'd come for barely giving it a perfunctory glance as he slipped it into his pack. "I wish I had the time to stay and visit, Joe, but I'm goin' ta find Jack."
"Is 'e missin'?"
"Aye. That 'e is, and I mean ta find 'im."
Joe stared thoughtfully at the taller man, noting the strange look in his eyes. "If ye don't mind me sayin' you look unsettledlike ye've 'ad a scare or something."
"A scare?"
To Joe's surprise, Bill began to chuckle. "You could say that, Joe. Jack'e didn't deserve it, and I've got ta set it right."
Joe leaned forward. "What are ye on about? Ye couldn't 'ave done anything to Jack! Why, you two are closer than brothers!" Joe gaped at the other man as a look of guilt and fear appeared on his face.
The haunted look told Joe that Bootstrap Bill wasn't seeing his surroundings at allnot the small house Joe called home, nor the bottle of rum half-ignored upon the table. No, Bill's eyes were focused on something far awaysomething disturbing. He frowned as Bill's eyes glaze over and he becomes lost in thought. Clearing his throat, he called to Bill. "If I know ye, lad, ye're takin' blame that ain't yers ta take! You wouldn'ta hurt Jack for all the world!"
He began to laugh but the sound died in his throat as Bill turned to stare at him. "It's not always what ye do that can 'urt a man. Sometimes it's what ye don't do." Whether it was the rum or the time of night, Joe never knew, but Bill uncharacteristically kept talking. "There's only two left in this world that matter ta me, Joe. My boy and Captain Jack Sparrow. Not much chance of me ever helping my boy, but JackI can try to set that right."
He sat next to Joe and leaned close to the man guaranteeing that he'd have Joe's complete attention. "I'm off to find 'im. To bring 'im back." He shook his head, wishing he had more than a vague idea where Jack had been marooned. That and moneyhe needed to find a way to reach that island, and, having little in the way of cash, he couldn't buy a ship. He'd have to book passage or try to get work on some transport heading that way. His voice shook with emotion as he locked eyes on Joe's. "If I don't come back, if ye hear I'm dead, or if Jack comes without me" He reached into his pack and rummaged for a moment before pulling out a small box. "Get this to my boy. Give it to Jack if he lives and I don't. If we both die, find a way to get it to William Turner in London. Ye got that? Willaim Turner in London. It's all I can ever give 'im. 'E should 'ave it."
Joe nodded mutely.
"And that's all I can tell ye about it! Do ye know 'ow to find 'is boy?"
Jack laughed. "Bootstrap's lad is aboard the Pearl even now recovering after a run in with Killian."
Joe stared at Sparrow as if the pirate had lost his mind. "Killian! Ye can't be serious!"
"Oh, aye, I'm serious enough." Jack slipped the small box into his pocket. "Will Turner, Blacksmith by trade." He rose and tuned towards the door. "And I've lingered long enough. 'E's not well, yet, and 'is lass is lookin' for reason to find a doctor."
Joe chortled. "A doctor! She won't be findin' one 'round 'ere! Not the reputable sort anyways!"
As Jack reached the door, he turned back towards his friend. "Alive? Bootstrap's alive?"
"Well, 'e was three years ago!"
"Ye've given me a lot to think about, mate. Good luck to ye." Jack tossed something through the air to the older man and slipped out the door before Joe could say a word.
Joe caught the tosses object in mid-air, his reflexes not affected by age or rum. With a smile, he raised the gold coin to his mouth and bit it, nodding. "Real enough!"
He took his seat at the table and poured another shot of rum.
**
Aboard the Pearl
Elizabeth felt her body jerk forward with the impact of the bullet, and wondered at the lack of pain. It was only when she hit the deck with Killian's arm loosening around her that she realized she hadn't been shot at all.
Killian's body struck the deck, and for a moment, Elizabeth thought perhaps he was dead, but even as she tore herself away from him, his eyes opened and he struggled to his feet. As he rose, one hand brushed a spot on his chest where the clothes had been torn by the force of the gunshot, but there wasn't nearly as much blood as there should have been.
Killian whirled to face the direction from which he'd been shot to Will Turner, gun still smoking in his hands, leaning heavily against the doorjamb. His eyes burned with rage as he stared at the man who'd dared threaten Elizabeth.
Elizabeth's attention followed Killian's. "Will!" She called to him, surprised and frightened by his sudden appearance. He shouldn't be out of bed! How could he stand? She moved to reach his side, but a firm hand on her arm held her back. Whirling, she found herself facing Anamaria.
"Shh!" The female pirate hushed the Governor's daughter. "We need to help him." She nodded her head towards Will, who obviously stood only through the sheer force of his determination. "And we'll never get by the commodore unnoticed."
"But"
Anamaria shook her head. "Shh!"
Elizabeth nodded and followed Anamaria.
*******
Will drew what strength he could from the knowledge that Elizabeth had not been hurt, and indeed appeared to have been forgotten by the Commodore. He glared at the pirate with rage in his eyes. Tossing the gun aside, he held up his other hand revealing a sword, which he held before him as though prepared to fight.
Killian laughed. "You can barely stand, boy! Surely, you don't think you can best me with a blade!"
Will drew himself slowly away from the doorjamb and took a slow step towards Killian. He didn't bother answering the man but instead saved his breath for the battle he anticipated.
Killian laughed again, but drew his own sword, brandishing it to distract the boy. Then he raised his gun, and was about to shoot when a blur of motion from his left flew into his gun hand knocking the pistol to the deck.
The Commodore roared in rage as Trilby scurried out of his reach.
Will took another shaky step towards the Commodore when his attention remained on the hapless Trilby. He knew this would be a short fight, but he intended to keep the desperate man occupied at least until Jack returned. No matter what happened to him, Jack would find a way to protect Elizabeth. He was sure of it.
When Killian took a step towards Trilby, Will finally found enough breath for both standing and talking. "Would you walk away from my challenge then, Commodore, to race after an unarmed man who cannot harm you? Does the blade of a sick man scare you that much?"
Killian took the bait more from a desire to finish what he had started. He swung his sword at Will Turner.
Will managed to block the blow, but the force of it, combined with the dizziness that already plagued him made him stumble back a step.
Killian swung again pressing his advantage, but Will anticipated it. The block was not as graceful as it would have been in other circumstances, but a block was a block. The younger man advanced and pressed an attack of his own, only to find his arm shaking with the force of Killian's blows. He would not be able to keep up this pace for long.
Will's arm trembled now just to hold the blade in position. Blocking took all of his concentration, and, as Killian stepped forward again and again, Will realized he was running out of places to which he might retreat.
Gathering what strength he had left, Will backed towards the starboard rail, Killian anticipating his every move. Bringing his sword up to block another of Killian's swings, Will stared in shock at his empty hand as his blade was thrown from his grip by Killian's blow. He forced himself to look up at Killian as the Pirate laughed at him.
"Now, boy, I will take what I need."
Will watched as the Commodore reached inside his coat and drew out a familiar looking glowing box.
**
Elizabeth and Anamaria watched the duel. Elizabeth's anxiety rose with every clang and clatter of the swords. "We have to do something!"
"I know!" Anamaria drew her own cutlass, picked up a discarded mop and passed it to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth scowled. "Can't I have a sword?"
Anamaria shook her head. "I don't have a spare one." She gestured for Elizabeth to follow her as they crept up behind Killian.
They had nearly reached the Commodore, when Elizabeth gasped. She saw Will lose his sword, and then saw the Commodore's box. "Will!" She cried as she desperately swung her mop.
**
In Town
Captain Jack Sparrow was lost in thought as he headed back to the Pearl. The closer he drew to the pier, the less he was able to stay lost in his thoughts. He grabbed a lad of no more than fifteen years as the boy ran away from the waterfront. "What's going on, mate?"
The boy squirmed to free himself, and only answered the question when he realized he couldn't. ""There be pirates boarding another pirate ship. Seen some men jump overboard. Seen a couple o'women on decks. Don't that beat all? Everyone knows it's bad luck to have a woman on board! Two is just crazy!"
"Women?" A familiar dread filled Jack's heart. " 'Ow many did you say?"
The boy shrugged. "Least two."
"What ship? What ship was it?" Even as Jack asked, he began to run, releasing the boy after the first few steps.
"The Pearl. The Black Pearl. She just arrived today'Ere, where're you goin'?"
Jack raced down the street dragging along any of his own men that he found on the way. He wasn't sure who dared board the Pearl, but he wouldn't let them get away with it.
To Be Continued
Steff7: Gee, I hope this partially answers your question!
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Lord Lanceahlot: Thanks! I never saw Jack as uncaring and rum obsessed so it really gets to me when other authors treat him like that. For fun maybe, and humor stories, but he's a complex and amazing character.
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Alexa: Yeah, It's time for will to become aware of his surroundings againI just needed him out of it to explore some of Jack's character.
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