How about I let Jack Sparrow own me, instead of the other way around? D'you think Disney would go for it?
With thanks to ducky, Rose Pearl, johnny'shumilatedgrape (hereby known as JHG!), Miss Sophia, A Depp Girl, Pendragginink, Mrs. Depp, The Great and Powerful Oz, Rose Pearl, Orli's Hot Chick and No Peach Fuzz.
I hope you are on the road to recovery, No Peach Fuzz, and I'm glad my story was able to help you in some small way hug
Special mention must go to JHG, who read and reviewed all 61 chapters of Another Time, Another Place over the course of last week-end! You've got stamina girl!
For those who have read Hils stories as well, there's a little teaser within this chapter – see if you can spot it!
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Chapter Twelve: 'So you're prepared ter risk both my brother's lives, just to save face?'
Elias Beauchamp pushed away the papers he had been reading and ran his hand through his greying hair, sighing heavily. The euphoria of razing Tortuga to the ground evaporated once he had received all the reports from the naval bases that had been hit by the pirates. A total of five ships lost, four forts or bases damaged beyond repair and upward of one hundred and thirty men dead. The pirates had certainly got the upper hand and that riled the Commodore further. He stood, walking to the door deep in thought.
'Sir,' Second Lieutenant Murtogg saluted as his commanding officer opened the door.
'Eh? Ah, Murtogg,' Beauchamp smiled absently. 'Would you go and find Captain Farrier for me, please? Also Captain Groves…'
'Right away, Sir,' Murtogg complied, marching smartly down the corridor on his errand.
…
'You wanted to see us, Sir?' George Farrier queried as he and Captain Groves approached the Commodore who was by then walking the perimeter of the yard, hands clasped behind his back, still lost in thought.
'Hmm? Ah, gentlemen. Good of you to join me.' He motioned for them to follow him as he climbed the steps to the battlements where there were only men on watch duty. 'We have to do something about this brotherhood sooner rather than later.'
'Have you anything in mind, Sir?' Theodore Groves asked. His brother-in-law, Gregory Reyes, was amongst those killed and he was more eager than ever to wipe out all pirates, even Jack Sparrow for whom he had a sneaking admiration.
'Not as yet,' the Commodore admitted with a heavy sigh. 'George, we need more information from your spy.'
'Well, I actually have some good news, Sir. There is to be a meeting next week in Tortuga. Perhaps we can wait until all the ships are in the harbour and attack them.'
'That would be too risky, surely?' Captain Groves protested.
'I'm afraid I have to agree,' Beauchamp nodded. 'They will probably have double the look-outs they normally would have. Perhaps attacking Tortuga now was not such a good idea of mine…'
'We destroyed three pirate ships, killed countless men, bonded many women – I would say it was a success, Sir,' Farrier protested.
'Yes, it was a success, but it has also put the pirates on their guard more than ever. We only have one place in which to attack them, they have many places in which to attack us.'
'At least they wouldn't dare attack Port Royal,' Farrier replied confidently.
'I wouldn't be too certain of that,' Theodore Groves announced, remembering all too well the last time the town was attacked, when Barbossa was captain of the Black Pearl. 'I'm not saying that they will attack soon - Sparrow is far too intelligent to just rush in. But I'd stake my life on the fact that they are planning an assult sometime.'
'Why?' the Commodore asked, his interest piqued.
'It stands to reason, Sir. They have hit smaller forts, taken ships and men out. I would have thought the next obvious target would be here – the main base of the King's Navy.'
'You're right,' George Farrier conceded. 'They're gaining experience and confidence…'
'And the attack on Tortuga will only pour oil on the fire,' Beauchamp interrupted. 'Damn!'
'Hindsight has always been a useless tool,' Farrier shrugged. 'What's done is done, Sir.'
'Aye, you're right as usual. I will order a double watch at all times and send for more reinforcements – though God knows when they will arrive. Groves, I want the Courage patrolling the waters outside Port Royal, the Sutherland will take over for the night watch.'
'Very well, Sir,' Groves nodded, turning on his heel and hurrying along the battlements, wondering how he was going to round up all of his men quickly as they were supposed to be on shore leave.
'I will send a pigeon to my spy with a message to get as much information as possible from the meeting next week.'
'Pigeons…' the Commodore chuckled. 'Our fate lies in the hands, or rather wings of pigeons.'
'Damn good way of sending and receiving messages quickly,' Farrier reasoned.
'That it is, my dear George. Go on, I shan't keep you any longer.'
'Very well, Sir. I shall see you at dinner tonight.'
'Yes,' Beauchamp smiled. 'I have a special bottle of port that I think I shall break open. Heaven knows, we could do with cheering up.'
…
'Here we are!' Jack grinned as he lead the ragtag group up the path to the kitchen.
'Are ye sure ye can fit us all in?' Finan asked, looking at the townhouse.
'Aye, it's bigger than it looks from th'outside.' Jack opened the door and stood aside to let his guests in. 'Jen!' he called. 'We're here.'
'Oh,' Jenny smiled nervously as she entered the kitchen, looking around the crowd of people, Patience following behind her.
'Jenny! Yer big!' Shay grinned, handing Erin to Sive and bounding over and enveloping her in a bear hug. 'I've missed ye,' he grinned, kissing her on the cheek.
'I've missed you,' Jenny laughed as she broke away from his embrace.
'Here, this is Erin,' Patience smiled as she took her daughter from Sive and handed her to Jenny.
'Oh, but she is beautiful,' she cooed, stroking the baby's soft cheek.
'I have a few more introductions,' Shay smiled. 'This is me big brother, Finan an' his wife, Sive with their two nippers, Muiris an' Evin. An' me little brother, Lanty. Francine ye already know.'
'Of course,' Jenny smiled. 'It's a pleasure to meet you all.'
'Likewise,' Fin smiled. 'Thank ye fer lettin' us stay with ye.'
'You can't very well stay on board,' she chuckled. 'Where are Luke and Billy?' Jenny asked her husband.
'Still on th'Pearl,' he informed her. 'Luke said he'd be along soon.'
'Good. I can't wait to see him again. Come on, let's all go to the sitting room - although, I don't think I have enough chairs for everyone…'
'Ah, don't mind us men,' Shay assured her. 'We'll sit on th'floor if necessary.'
'Can I get you anything to eat or drink?' Jenny offered, sitting when everyone shook their heads.
'Right,' Jack sighed. 'Now I've got everyone together, I might as well tell ya now. Jen, Patience probably told ya about Tortuga, yes?' He turned to the others at her affirming nod. 'There's supposed ter be a meetin' of th'brotherhood next week, I'll go along an' see who turns up, an' after that we're upping sticks an' movin' to Tortola.'
There was a gasp amongst his guests but Jenny simply nodded. She had been expecting and indeed wanting this. Life was simply getting too nervewracking of late living in Newcastle, even with the naval base and one ship destroyed.
'Why?' Patience demanded. 'I've been lookin' forward ter livin' here.'
'You saw Tortuga!' Jack exclaimed. 'You saw what th'Navy did – it's only goin' ter get worse.'
'Do ye have ter fight?' Shay put in. 'Can't we move away from th'Caribbean?'
'I've already suggested that,' Jenny sighed.
'I will not let that bastard win!' Jack spat. 'Especially after Ana… I'd never hold my head up again if I turned tail an' ran, especially after I was th'one who pushed fer th'brotherhood in th'first place.'
'An' Shay? What about him being captain?' Patience asked, an angry frown creasing her brow.
'This'll all be good trainin' for him,' Jack replied, shrugging his shoulders.
Finan spoke for the first time. 'So you're prepared ter risk both my brother's lives, just to save face?'
'Not to save face,' Jack glowered. 'To save our lives and livelihoods. To give our children a future.'
'What future if ya all get killed, eh?' Patience demanded, standing and facing Jack. 'What future would we have then?' She had come too close to losing him when the Navy razed Tortuga and had been unable to forget the cold fear ever since.
'Fine, I'll release Shay an' Lanty from th'ship if they so wish. I'll even give Shay his share even though he wouldn't be entitled to it fer desertin' me.'
'I'm not resigning!' Shay exploded, glaring at his wife. 'I'm prepared ter fight alongside ye.'
'Gawd help us,' Patience sighed, rocking Erin in her arms as the baby started grizzling. 'I'll be in th'kitchen if ya need me.'
'I'll come with ye,' Shay said, regretting his tone and wanting to make his peace with her, realising how worried she looked.
'Lanty?' Jack enquired. 'Are ya stayin' or not?'
'Stayin' if ye still want me to?' the young Irishman replied.
'Aye lad, I do,' Jack smiled, casting a glance at Finan who sat back down with a resigned sigh.
'Bloody stubborn, th'pair of ye!' he sighed. 'What about me an' Sive? Will there be work fer me in… Tortola, was it?'
'Aye, Tortola. You're a horseman, eh? Can ya do anythin' else?'
'Aye, I'm a fisherman too.'
'There ya go then!' Jack beamed. 'There's plenty of fishermen in Tortola – good place ter fish too.'
'You'll be fine,' Jenny assured them as Fin and Sive exchanged worried glances. 'Patience and I will be living close by no doubt and you'll see Shay and Lanty on a regular basis.'
'Well, we're here now,' reasoned Sive. 'We might as well make the best of what we've got.'
'Aye,' Finan sighed. 'I suppose we had. I just never expected to end up in the middle of a war.'
'Neither did I, mate,' Jack replied ruefully. 'Neither did I.'
…
'Why are ye so worried?' Shay asked once he and Patience were in the kitchen. 'It was always a dangerous life.'
'It's multiplied tenfold now!' she snapped as she put Erin to her breast, pausing to smile at her daughter. 'I'm sorry,' she sighed. 'I was just so lookin' forward ter settlin' down. I seem to have been travellin' from pillar ter post since I had ter leave Tortuga.'
'I'm sure we'll settle in Tortola. It's a nice place,' he said whilst thinking 'For a pirate town,' to himself.
'So is Newcastle,' Patience sighed sadly, having enjoyed living there with Jenny before she and Shay had left for Ireland. "What's ter stop the Navy razing Tortola too?" she cried.
'Hey, come on, cailin,' Shay smiled, squatting down in front of her. 'We'll be all right, you'll see.'
'Aye,' Patience forced a smile. 'I guess we will.'
…
'I've got some business in town, d'ya mind if I leave ya a while?' Jack asked his wife hopefully.
'Of course not,' Jenny smiled, taking his hand as he held it out and allowing him to pull her to her feet. 'Excuse me,' she smiled at their guests as Jack lead her from the room.
'What's wrong?' she asked, once he had shut the door behind them.
'Are we friends now?' he asked, winding his arms around her neck.
'Yes,' she sighed, leaning her forehead against his. 'It's just... I never saw Eddie when he died. He left for work before I woke and I never saw him alive again.'
'Ah, bloody hell. Sorry luv, I never knew.'
'You swear you won't leave without saying goodbye again?'
'I swear on th'Pearl.'
'Thank you,' she smiled, kissing him. 'I love you.'
'Love you too, Jenny Wren, an' don't you forget it, savvy?'
'Savvy.'
'Will ya be all right with that lot here?'
'I'll have to get used to it sometime,' she shrugged. 'Although, it's going to be a squeeze – Luke might have to stay at the inn for a while.'
'All right, luv. See ya later, eh?'
'You will,' Jenny smiled, kissing him once more before returning to her guests, Shay and Patience re-joining them a moment later.
Come an' sit yerself down, woman,' Shay chided, leading her to the settee and sitting her down. 'Ye can be th'lady of leisure.'
'I don't bloody think so, Shay! Patience and Sive have their own hands full – we'll all muck in together.'
'Damn right we will,' Patience agreed while Sive nodded her head. 'What's it been like, livin' in Newcastle?'
'Quiet,' Jenny sighed. 'Although, I think that is about to change,' she chuckled.
'Nothin' like th'invasion of th'Irish ter livin' things up,' Patience laughed. 'Ya seem ter take movin' pretty well.'
'I want to move, I don't feel safe here any more,' Jenny admitted. 'Things have been hairy to say the least just lately.'
'So long as I get me house, I don't really care,' Patience declared, her talk with Shay leaving her resigned to yet another move.
'How would you afford to buy it though?' Sive asked quietly.
'His nibs is payin' fer it!' Patience grinned. 'Although he should be buyin' us a mansion…'
'Captain Sparrow? That's very generous of him,' Fin replied, a puzzled frown on his face.
'He owes me one,' Patience informed him without going into detail. 'We'll try not ter get under yer feet too much,' she shrugged apologetically at her friend. 'Yer peace an' quiet is well an' truly over!'
'I wish you would stop fussing,' Jenny sighed, rolling her eyes. 'There's nowhere else for you to go and Lord knows, I have enough room here.'
'There'd have been plenty of room fer brothers an' sisters,' Patience teased, winking at her friend.
'So Jack keeps saying… he does insist on practise,' she chuckled, realising too late that Sive might not be as coarse as she and Patience when it came to the intimate side of marriage. 'Sorry Sive, do forgive my mouth,' she apologised, scowling at Patience who was shaking with laughter.
'T-that's all right,' the young Irishwoman blushed, casting a glance at her husband for reassurance.
'Right,' Jenny sighed, getting back up off the settee. 'I shall need to go to town for more food – I have nowhere near enough for all of us. Shay, Finan and Lanty, you have just vounteered to come with me,' she grinned. 'But first, I'll show you and Sive to your rooms,' she told Patience. 'I'm sure you could do with a lie down.'
'We'll come an' help with th'shoppin' as well,' Patience said, never liking to miss an opportunity to browse through the shops.
'But you'd have to bring the children, and Sive looks tired.'
'True,' she agreed, following her friend into the hall, indicating for Sive to come as well.
'You're not wrong about it being big!' Sive exclaimed as they all climbed the stairs, Shay and Fin carrying the children.
'Told you,' Jenny chuckled. 'This is mine and Jack's room,' she informed her as they passed the door to the main bedroom. 'And here are the two guest rooms, I'll let you and Sive fight it out between you who wants what.'
'We'll have th'front one that overlooks th'sea – is that all right?' She asked her sister-in-law. 'Yer can look at th'garden.'
'That's fine by me,' Sive beamed, overawed by the rooms. 'Ain't it lovely?' she said to Fin.
'Aye, that it is,' he smiled. 'Thank ye.'
'Right, time for chores,' Jenny winked. 'I hope you're feeling strong, I have a feeling you'll be lugging a couple of sacks of spuds home.'
'Oh gawd,' Shay groaned humourously. 'Bloomin' slave driver…'
'You ain't seen nothing yet!' Jenny teased as she lead the way back down the stairs. 'I might decide on a side of beef as well…' she chuckled as the men groaned collectively.
…
For those with short memory spans, Eddie was Jenny's first husband – the farm worker.
Gregory Reyes, was also Theo Groves' brother-in-law in the Tales of Kitty Groves, by Hils. We thought it'd be fun to put it in!
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