Usual disclaimers

With thanks to lexie, Chelsey, Orlando's Hot Chick, Mrs. Depp, beatlechicksteph, punkdpirate, Kat, A Depp Girl, EgyptMau, Miss Sophia and of course, Hils.

Kat, some might say that we're already clinincally insane! ;)

I realised that I forgot to thank those who have followed my stories from the beginning on affnet and also apologise to them for the terrible format – for some reason I cannot upload the chapters properly any more :(

Chapter Four: 'I look out for myself and Ana an' that is all.'

Jack surveyed his crew gathered on the deck and lower rigging of The Black Pearl, trying to guess who would volunteer. The high feelings towards Luke had generally died down a little of late and he was hoping that he wouldn't have to press someone into going. His eyes rested on one crewman and he knew who would be escorting the former naval surgeon, knowing that this man had something of a soft spot for Patience.

'As ya know, Luke has ter leave th'Caribbean fer a while, tomorrow in fact. There's a ship headin' fer Nassau at first light. Now I know he could go on his own, but I owe him a debt of gratitude fer everythin' he's done fer Jen an' I want a volunteer ter go with him over ter Ireland to warn Shay.'

'I'll go,' Billy Wheeler piped up, wondering why his captain was grinning like a madman.

'Aye, Mr. Wheeler, I thought ya might. Go an' get yer things together. You'll have ter board tonight.'

'Aye aye, Cap'n,' the young man agreed and hurried below.

'Mr. Gibbs, let us sort out a purse fer them to take.'

'Aye, Jack,' the older man concurred, following him to the captain's cabin.

'I'm also havin' someone stay with Jenny while Luke's gone – she's pregnant again,' Jack grinned as he fished a key from an inside pocket of his coat and unlocked one of the many chests in the cabin.

'She is! Congratulations,' the quartermaster beamed, clapping his captain on the back. 'You don't know how happy that makes me.'

'Thanks. Jen suggested that I rota th'men, save them spendin' too much time ashore – what d'ya think?'

'Sounds like a good idea to me,' Gibbs agreed, bending over the table as Jack hoisted a sack of coins onto it. 'You don't want to them carrying too much money.'

'No, but I want them ter have enough ter get by.' Jack pulled the opening of the sack apart and various English coins spilled out and the two men set about counting a proportion of it out.

'Hey, cheer up. He'll be home before ya know and with th'minx in tow,' Jack chided, trying to cheer a tearful Jenny up.

'I know. It's just that it all seems to be goodbyes at the moment,' she sniffed. 'First Patience and Shay, then Ned, now Luke and Billy.'

'And apart from Cotton, who we can visit whenever ya want, th'other's will be back soon, I promise.'

'What about you Jack? Will you come back every time?'

Jack sighed, he knew this had been coming. 'Ya know I will. I survived Norrie when he was Commodore an' if I can do that, then this new fella doesn't have a chance, savvy?'

'All right. Promise me you will take care,' she sniffed again as the ship's boat drew up alongside the wharf they were waiting on.

'I swear on th'Pearl I will return in one piece.' Jack kissed her tenderly on the forehead. 'I luv ya, Jenny Wren. Look after yerself and our babe.'

'I will – especially with Davy fussing over me like a mother hen,' she smiled. Jenny watched as Jack climbed down to the boat and waved, biting her lip to stop the sobs that were choking her from escaping.

'Bloody hell this gets harder,' Jack thought to himself as they pulled away, Dan Woods and Ben Watson pulling on the oars with ease. 'I almost can't wait ter give it up an' stay with her. How th'hell do men like Gibbs an' Cotton carry on for so long? Probably because they have no-one ter care for them an' no-one ter care for,' he mused.

All too soon they reached the ship and Jack climbed the rope with his customary ease and speed and headed below to his cabin, indicating for his quartermaster to follow, after issuing the order to head for Tortuga.

'Any more news?' he enquired once the door was shut.

'No, it seems to have gone quiet. That might be because the other pirates are being more careful now.'

'Yes, more than likely,' Jack agreed. 'So there's no need ter do anythin' at th'moment?'

'Such as?'

'Maybe get together with some of th'others an' start hittin' back.'

'Is that wise?' Joshamee Gibbs asked, concern written on his face.

'Probably not,' Jack grinned. 'But if he's gone quiet then there's no need ter do anythin' just yet, eh?'

'No, thank the Lord. Let's hope we never have to.'

'Aye, let's hope,' Jack replied, sending up a little prayer.

Pete pushed open the doors of The Faithful Bride and stopped dead, looking in bewilderment at the packed but deathly quiet tavern.

'Oi! What's up?' cried a voice from behind him as various crewmates crashed into his broad back.

'It's like a bleedin' graveyard in here!' Pete exclaimed, striding across the sawdust-strewn floor. 'What th'hell's up with all of ya?' he demanded.

'Josh Roberts got hit yesterday,' another pirate informed him, taking the wind from Pete's and the rest of the Pearl men's sails, for Joshua Roberts had been a popular man, well liked by many.

'Shit!' Daniel Woods cursed. 'Is me Da all right?'

'All hands lost or taken ter Port Royal ter be hanged, sorry lad,' the man apologised, forgetting that William Woods had served on The Albatross with Roberts.

'Here Dan, get this down you,' Joshamee Gibbs pressed a large mug of rum in the younger man's hand. 'Sorry.'

'Bloody 'ell. I'll have ter tell me Mam. Perhaps you or th'captain could write a letter fer me?' he asked his quartermaster.

'Of course lad, drink that up,' he smiled sympathetically, catching the same worried look in Pete's eyes as he knew were in his own. 'I think I'll be heading back to the ship.' He knew that Jack would want to know about this turn of events.

'Cap'n?'

'What?' Jack looked as Joshamee Gibbs entered his cabin, wondering why he had returned so soon.

'Josh Roberts has been hit, all hands lost or to be hanged, Dan's father included.'

Jack sighed deeply, running his hand across his bandana. 'When?' he asked, leaning back in his chair.

'Yesterday apparently. It's starting to affect the other pirates, The Bride is like a wake.'

'What d'ya want me ter do, Gibbs? Sail ter Port Royal an' rescue them an' perhaps kill th'new Commodore while I'm at it? None of them looked out for me when I needed it. None of them lifted a finger ter help me get th'Pearl back an' when I attacked Valentine – why should I do anythin' ter help them, eh? I look out for myself and Ana an' that is all.'

'All right Jack, I just thought you should know.'

'Aye, thank you Mr. Gibbs. Now go back to th'town an' have some fun.'

'You not joining us?'

'No, not in the mood.' Jack waved his hand at his second in command, dismissing him, then took a long swig of his rum. 'I should go an' join them,' he mused before shaking his head. His mood was already maudlin enough without having a roomful of drunken, mourning pirates to make him feel worse. 'I'm bringin' Jenny on board until she's too big,' he decided, telling himself that it would be safer for her when he knew that it was not. 'Damn, I wish she were here now.'

Late February

'Ah, Mrs. Hillier, I'm sorry to bother you…' Leonard Jones doffed his hat to her, wondering as to the spark of suspicion in her eyes. 'I wondered if I might have a word with you?'

'About what?' Jenny asked, feeling uneasy at having the town's magistrate standing on her doorstep.

'If I may come in?'

'Of course,' she smiled thinly, standing back to allow him entrace. She lead the way to the drawing room, a cooling breeze wafting in through the open French doors. 'Can I get you anything?'

'No, no. I'm perfectly all right, thank you,' he assured her. 'I understand your brother has gone overseas. Are you all right being on your own?'

Jenny's eyebrows shot up and she fought hard to supress a smile. 'Yes, Luke has had to visit… a close friend in England whose husband died suddenly. Rest assured, I am not on my own, however. My husband has arranged it so that a member of crew is staying with me at all times.'

'Ah… I see. Well, that is a weight off my mind. You can never be too sure these days, especially with the increase in troops at Charlestown.'

'They've increased the troops?' she echoed, trying to keep the panic from her voice. 'Why is that?'

'Apparently, Commodore Beauchamp has decided that Nevis is a strategic place within the Caribbean and that it has been overlooked for far too long and has sent another ship to be based there. Personally, I wish he'd leave us well alone. We don't have any problems with pirates around here.'

'Indeed. Perhaps once he realises this, he'll send them elsewhere.' Jenny managed to smile, even though it felt as if it would crack her face.

'Here's hoping, Mrs. Hillier. Well, I won't take up any more of your time.'

'Thank you for your concern, Mr. Jones.'

'It's a pleasure, M'am.' He doffed his hat once more as he went out of the door, and Jenny closed it quickly, resting her forehead against the frame. 'Another ship…more troops,' she thought. 'How will Jack visit? He needs to be warned.' 'Davy!' she called, grateful that the pirate had been in the kitchen at the time of the magistrate's visit.

'What's up, Jen?' he asked as he came into view, eating a large chunk of bread.

'We're going to San Juan…'