Disney did it. I just watch the movie far too often to be a normal human being. Pardon all the dialogue. It's all Jack's fault.

An Answer of Doubt - part two

Norrington stared down at the trespassing fingers, but did nothing to discourage them.

"Yes, there are a lot of things I would prefer over money, Captain, however, it is not in your power to grant me any of those things."

Jack stood, stepped with his left foot over the log, and sat down again straddling it, knees lightly hugging Norrington. He took Norrington's hand, happy to find the palm very sweaty, and rested it high on his own thigh. His left hand roamed across the small of Norrington's back. His right hand cupped Norrington's jaw, as his thumb stroked his beard and bottom lip. Jack leaned in very close, so Norrington could feel his breath.

"Certain about that, are you, James?" Jack whispered into Norrington's ear.

"If you are suggesting-"

"Only suggesting that there are many sorts of things a man can value. So many things I can provide you, James, in return for a bit of information that I value."

James took the hand from his face, and clasped it, very gently in his own hands.

"Is nothing pure for you, Jack? Nothing sacred?"

"Don't act so shocked, James. You know as well as I, that the whole world was built on such transactions."

Norrington let his hand go, but continued to stare at him, his eyes cold, his face expressionless.

"Just what would you consider too high a price, Jack?"

"What are pure and sacred, to me- the Pearl, my life, my freedom, the lives and freedoms of my crew and others I care for, all things that Commodore Norrington might have wanted to take from me, but nothing you'd be interested in, Mr. Grey."

"You would, however, sell your body to me for the information. Am I correct?"

"Want to do this here, or get a room?"

James pulled away, stood, and stalked off, down the beach, toward the docks, but mainly, just away from Jack.

Jack hurried after him.

"James-"

"Leave me alone."

"James-"

"Mr. Grey."

Jack intercepted Norrington, caught his hand and held it in both of his, over his heart.

"James, I know. I know why you did not want to join the crew of the Pearl."

"Good for you."

"James, I thought I knew. Since you wouldn't tell me, I was testing the hypothesis."

"How very scientific."

"I know you have feelings for me James. I have feelings for you. Always have, love."

James pulled his hand away.

"Just how do you plan to use this information for your own full benefit?"

"Like this, for starters," said Jack.

Jack grabbed and dip kissed Norrington, ignoring the man's flailing, what ever words Norrington was trying to form with his otherwise occupied tongue, and the bit of insistent slapping Jack's shoulder received (nothing even close, mind, to what the local whores dished out.) Eventually, Norrington put his arms around him, and just kissed and let himself be kissed, in that nowhere land between heaven and earth, where, without footing or balance, there was only the kiss and who he was kissing.

When Jack's arms and back finally began to tire, Jack considered letting Norrington down, instead of up. Down had it's upside. He could climb on top of James, for one thing. Letting him up was probably the gentlemanly thing to do, of course. What a gentleman would do, shouldn't have to figure into the equation, by Jack's reckoning. In the end, he was not sure why he let Norrington up. He righted Norrington, knowing full well he'd regret the decision. Norrington's hand went to his lips. He never took his eyes off Jack.

"What was that supposed to mean, exactly?"

"What, the kiss? It was a kiss, James. It meant, that I wanted to kiss you."

"For what purpose?"

"Do you think everything I do has an ulterior motive, some sinister design, a hidden agenda?"

"Most everything."

"Let me ask you something, James. When you were court-martialed, did you suspect me? Did you think even for a moment that I had anything to do with it?"

"No."

"And now, do you imagine that I played any part?"

"No, Jack, I know that you would take no part in anything of the sort."

"You see, love, you do trust me, if only a little."

"Why did you lie to me, Jack? Why did you leave me the last time?"

"It wasn't a lie, James. I generally do prefer women, my right hand, my left one, too, modified fruits, and cleverly shaped vegetables, and other sensual objects, over having it off with commodores of the Royal Navy. I don't know how to make a commodore happy, James, apart from putting my neck in a noose. The only two futures I could see for us, were me getting killed, or me getting you killed. I wanted you to find somebody else, love. I wanted you to love someone who had a chance to make you happy."

James looked down at the sand.

"For a time, I had thought I had found someone."

"The bait?"

"Yes."

"Do want to talk about him, James?"

"It is not worth talking about. I certainly do not want to talk about him with you."

"Do you think I would judge you? Do you think I wouldn't understand? I'm no stranger to hurt, James. Had all of my own share, and then some. It will help ease the pain to speak of it."

"Not now, Jack."

"Waiting doesn't help, love. Just gives the wounds a chance to fester. Best to clean them up right away, and patch the damage best you can. I can help you find those responsible, James. At least one person deserves to die for this."

"What is the point of revenge, Jack?"

"What's the point of justice, James? So the black-hearted bastard who set this in motion can't do the same again to somebody else, or something worse, next time."

James laughed humorlessly.

"What, possibly, could be worse?"

Jack pulled James close, hugging him, stroking his hair.

"I don't know, love, truly. Then again, sitting marooned on that island, I couldn't have imagined the monster that Barbossa would become."

James nuzzled against Jack's neck, and sighed very softly.

Jack thought about Elizabeth's promise, Norrington's public heartbreak, how he had left the man standing in the pouring rain begging him to stay, this latest and worst betrayal that was meant, in fact, to kill him. He certainly couldn't blame Norrington for guarding what ever was left of his heart.

Jack pulled away slightly, and held Norrington's face in his hands.

"James, I'm sorry about the last time. Sometimes I do mad things, believing that what I'm doing is right."

"Do not apologize for your madness, Jack. It is your best quality. If it weren't for madness, all of your actions, and most of what you say, would be completely inexcusable."

...to be continued...