Can I please have him? Gah!

With thanks to Chelsey, Rowenablue, MarzBar, Ducky, Miss Sohpia, RosePearl, Captain Ammie, A Depp Girl and of course Hils.

Where are the rest of you:(

Chapter twenty-three: 'Nobody likes spies and infiltrators…'

San Juan

Jack paced along the row of men, standing on the quayside of San Juan harbour, nodding to one or two with whom he was acquainted. He was pleased with the amount of volunteers wanting to crew for him, but reckoned that at least half of those standing before him would not be picked. Only the best would ever do for him and his ship.

'Ships,' he reminded himself with a chuckle, drawing nervous glances from a couple of men. Jack broke away from the line and took Shay, who had been following him, to one side and the two men conferred with heads bowed for a number of minutes until they were agreed on whom to choose. Jack watched as Shay undertook the duty to inform the selected men and commiserate with those who had lost out and grinned, knowing that his gut feeling about picking the young Irishman for acting captain was indeed the correct one, and that his beloved Pearl would be in safe hands.

'On to Port Royal?' Joshamee Gibbs asked as he approached.

'No, Tortuga first,' Jack informed him. 'From what Thomas Price has said, it's startin' ter pick up there again now, an' I want th'pirates to know there's a spy in th'camp.'

'You're going to tell them about Rebecca?' the older man gasped.

'Aye,' Jack nodded gravely. 'If she's prepared to sell th'brotherhood out ter Beauchamp, who knows who she'll sell out next time, an' to whom.'

'Fair enough,' Gibbs agreed. 'I hadn't thought of it like that,' he admitted. 'I still can't believe that a young slip of a girl could do something like that.'

'Now yer know why I can count those I truly trust on one hand. But now, we still need at least twenty more men, so move yer ample arse an' find me some, eh?'

'Aye, Cap'n,' Joshamee grinned, taking the insult as lightly as it was intended. 'But we might be able to get some more in Tortuga?'

'We might,' Jack agreed. 'But I'd rather get th'majority here, just in case. Ya never know who's in Tortuga these days.'

Three days later

'Bloody hell!' John Williams exclaimed as he looked out on the mostly re-built pirate town. 'They've been busy…'

'Haven't they just,' Jack grinned in wonderment. 'I'd never have believed it. Haul in sail,' he ordered the crew. 'An' drop anchor.'

'Do we have shore leave?' Billy Wheeler asked hopefully. He had missed the charms of Scarlett and looked forward to seeing her again.

'Aye, but just for tonight. We leave th'day after tomorrow, savvy?'

'Aye, aye, Cap'n,' the young crewman grinned, winking at his mates.

'But first, Mr. Wheeler, you an' Ben can row me an' Pete ter shore. I have some business to attend.'

'Rebecca?' John asked.

'Rebecca,' Jack confirmed. 'Let's just hope she doesn't recognise th'Voyager.'

'I doubt many women have got Jenny's eye fer ships,' John chuckled.

'No,' Jack smiled. 'I taught her well.'

'Aye,' not just in recognisin' ships…' came an anonymous voice from the rigging.

'Any more of that and you'll be hanging from that rigging,' Jack growled, glaring angrily up at the wires.

'Lower the boat,' Joshamee ordered, hoping to distract from the situation.

'Aye, Mr. Gibbs,' nearby crewmen chorused, hurrying to lower the ships boat ready to take their captain and quartermaster ashore.

'Gibbs, you have command. This won't take long.'

'Aye, Captain. Good luck.'

'Jack!' Rebecca Tyler beamed, hastening from behind the bar to greet him as he and Pete Symmonds strode across the floor. 'Long time no see.'

'I've been busy,' Jack shrugged non-committally. 'Have you got a moment?'

'Fer you? Any time,' she smiled seductively. 'But don't yer think a moment will be too short?'

'Not for what I have in mind,' Jack informed her, following as she lead the way to a back room.

'Ooh, that sounds serious. Problems?'

'You could say that,' he replied grimly as he shut the door behind himself, leaving Pete outside to stand guard. 'Nobody likes spies and infiltrators…'

'Indeed not,' she gasped. 'Are there spies about still? I thought that had been dealt with when Bleddri was taken.'

'Yes, but another took his place, didn't you, Rebecca?'

'Me? Me? You are joking?'

'Don't take me for a fool,' Jack snapped. 'I know damned well that you are a spy for Farrier.'

'I'd sure as hell like to see your proof,' she snarled.

'I can easily fetch Thomas Price in here and get him to confirm what he told me, about how his wife is being held in Port Royal and how he has to report any news to you.'

Rebecca blanched slightly as she regarded Jack. 'What do you want from me?' she asked eventually.

'I'd like ter know why you did it, for a start?'

'Do ya know how little money yer earn from whorin' or bar work? Barely enough ter keep body an' soul together.'

'Th'other girls manage it,' Jack growled. 'They don't betray people to their worst enemies.'

'That's up ter them,' the young woman shrugged. 'So, what do yer want with me?'

'I should turn you over to th'pirates,' he warned. 'Let them do to you what those in Tortola did to Farrier…'

'What?' she gasped, fear showing in her eyes for the first time.

'But I'm not a callous man,' he went on. 'So you can either come with me and I sell you into servitude, or you can face the mob. But if you do come with me an' I ever see your face in a pirate town again, I will kill you.'

'You don't leave me with a lot of choice, do ya?' Rebecca snapped, glaring hatefully at him.

'You're expecting sympathy?' Jack asked sarcastically. 'I wouldn't be holding your breath then…'

'Can I get some things together?'

'No. You're coming now. Pete!' he called. 'We're leaving,' he informed the newly promoted quartermaster of the Black Pearl as he opened the door and entered the room.

'Aye, Cap'n. Come on, ya slapper,' the burly man growled, giving Rebecca a shove towards the door. 'Yer just want ter hope that word hasn't already spread,' he warned. 'I might not be able ter fend them all off…'

Rebecca Tyler stomped along the corridor and across the floor of the Faithful Bride, avoiding the stares from onlookers.

'Ere, Sparrer. What's goin' on?' Francine asked from the lap of a punter. 'An' how's Patience?'

'You'll hear what's goin' on soon enough,' Jack informed her. 'But fer th'foreseeable future, you're runnin' th'show, savvy?'

'Me?' she squeaked with surprise as she leapt off the pirate's lap. 'Runnin' th'Bride? Bleedin' hell!'

An' Patience is fine,' Jack added as he headed out the door. 'I'll tell her ya said 'Hello'.'

'Ta!' Francine yelled back gleefully. 'Ta very much, Sparrer – I always did like ya!'

'At least someone's happy,' Pete chuckled dryly, gripping his prisoner's arm a little tighter as she stumbled.

'So where exactly are yer takin' me?' Rebecca asked sourly, trying to shake her arm free but giving up as the pirate's grip began to hurt.

'I have a friend who has a friend who deals with bonded women. I'm sure between them, they'll find a place fer ya soon enough.'

'Bastard,' she muttered under her breath.

'At least I don't betray people,' came Jack's riposte.

'An' you've never done what yer had ter do at whatever cost?' the young woman snarled, rounding on Jack. 'You've never used people ter get what yer want?'

'I've never passed on information that has sent my fellow pirates to their deaths.'

'I'm not a pirate,' she reminded him petulantly.

'Neither is Beth Price,' Jack all but shouted, drawing curious glances from people in the street.

'I reckon we should just tell everyone what's she's done an' let them deal with her,' Pete suggested, wanting nothing better than to be first in line.

'I'm sorely tempted,' Jack sighed. 'But I gave her a choice an' I'm a man of my word…'

'Pity,' Pete grumbled, pushing the woman once more. 'Get a move on before th'Captain changes his mind.'

'So how did yer find out? Price, I suppose?' she sniped.

'No. Price came to us after Farrier was killed. You can spend yer days as a skivvy tryin' to figure it out, eh?' Jack chuckled.

'Got the fuckin' whore then?' Billy called as the group came into view from where he and Ben were waiting by the ship's boat.

'I thought you were turnin' her over, Cap'n?' Ben queried.

'No, I'm far too kind hearted fer that!' Jack sighed threatrically. 'She can work her fingers to th'bone instead.'

'On board?' Billy exclaimed.

'Nah, young Mr. Wheeler. In servitude.'

'Ah. Get in then, ya bleedin' tart,' he barked, as the group finally reached the quayside.

'Give us a hand, would ya?' Rebecca sulked. 'Can't get in on me own.'

'Don't want ter sully my hands,' Billy sniped, sneering distastefully at her.

'Fer gawds sake!' Pete climbed down to the boat first and helped the young woman in, then held it steady whilst the others in the party boarded.

'Will I be safe?' she asked, suddenly realising the extent of the hostility towards her.

'My men won't touch ya,' Jack told her 'They know th'penalty fer that on my ship.'

'An' what's that then?'

'Death.'

'Oh…'

'So, you'll be safe enough.'

The boat fell silent as Billy and Ben rowed to the Black Pearl, anchored a short distance from the harbour side, Voyager just to her stern. Ben Watson threw up the mooring line and Jack climbed aboard, leaving the others to help Rebecca climb the Jacob's ladder.

'You didn't go through with it then?' Joshamee Gibbs asked quietly, looking relieved.

'No,' Jack shook his head ruefully. 'I couldn't…'

'Good,' the older man smiled, his smile fading as the prisoner finally made it to the deck. 'Take her below,' he ordered, not wanting any sort of reaction from the crew.

'I don't have ter remind you all of th'rules,' Jack barked to the crew. 'Whatever she's done, harm a hair on her head an' ya'll have me to answer to, savvy?'

'Aye, Cap'n,' the crew chorused, watching balefully as Pete marched Rebecca towards the hatch that lead to the brig.

'Captain Sparrow! It's good to see you again!' A small, swarthy man bounded towards Jack, as the pirate approached him sitting at a table outside a tavern. 'It's been too long since you were in Port-Au-Prince.'

'Aye,' Jack nodded with a grin. 'Far too long. You're lookin' well, Jacques.'

'I'm getting fat!' the Frenchman exclaimed in a heavy accent. 'Too much good living. Now, what brings you here after so long? Business?'

'You know me too well,' Jack smiled. 'I have a girl that I want Jean-Claude to sell for me.'

'Pardon? That's not your usual trade, Jack.'

'She's a spy who was sellin' information on to th'English Navy. I want her as far away from th'Caribbean as possible, savvy?'

'Ah, I see… well, I'm sure Jean-Claude will know of some place to send her,' Jacques Rosseau assured the pirate captain. 'Why don't you come for dinner tonight and bring the girl. My cellar is empty at present, so I can keep her there until Jean-Claude returns. Besides, Amilé would love to see you again.'

'I look forward to seeing Amilé again, not ter mention enjoy (enjoying) her cooking,' Jack chuckled. 'Would it be all right if I bring someone along with me?'

'That will be fine,' Jacques nodded. 'I had better go and give my beautiful wife fair warning of your arrival.'

'Good idea. I'll bring my beautiful wife to meet you, one day.'

'I heard you were married. Who'd have thought, eh?'

'Who indeed,' Jack smiled. 'Later, my friend,' he waved as he headed back towards the docks.

Rebecca Tyler implored Jack with her eyes as he unlocked the door to the brig. 'Please don't do this. I swear to ya, I'll never do anythin' like it again.'

'Far too late for that,' Jack replied grimly. 'Too many men and women died because of what you did – I'm not takin' any chances.'

'I hate you,' she spat, glaring at Drew McCarrick as he hauled her to her feet, manacles dangling from his free hand. 'I hope yer rot in hell, an' yer family, too.'

'See ya there,' Jack shrugged, moving to pin her arms whilst Drew fixed the shackles to her wrists. 'Take her above,' he ordered the Scotsman who pulled her out of the cell.

'I ain't goin' anywhere, yer bastards!' Rebecca shrieked, struggling to get away from the pirate. 'Ya can't do this ter me!'

'Yes I can,' Jack informed her. 'Now, do you really want me ter fetch more men down to assist you? Men who would like nothing more than ter teach you a lesson?'

'No,' she sighed, the fight going from her body and she carefully climbed the steps, resigned to her fate, Drew following closely behind. She blanched and shrank back as a man with a vicious scar down his cheek pushed his face into hers as she walked along the corridor.

'Yer getting' off scot free,' he snarled. 'Yer should hang from th'yardarm.'

'That's enough, Bob,' Jack ordered the carpenter's mate. 'Go back to yer duties.'

'Yes, Sir,' Bob Cooper answered sulkily, hanging back and hissing as the trio made their way towards the hatch leading to the main deck.

'Cooper!' Jack growled. 'I'll flog ya for insubordination if yer not careful,' he warned.

Rebecca climbed the steps and blinked in the bright evening light, then gulped with fear as she looked about the deck of the Black Pearl and what seemed to be every man on board looking at her hatefully. She stumbled as Drew pushed her towards the side of the ship where the boat was moored, flinching as some men started murmuring, calling her various names and telling her what they thought should be done to her.

Pete Symmonds looked at his captain, ready to silence the men if Jack so ordered, but Jack shook his head, reasoning to himself that a bit of name calling was not the worst thing that could have happened to her, not by a long stretch.

'You have command, Pete. Th'men can have leave, but make sure there's a good watch on board, savvy?'

'Aye. Enjoy dinner,' Pete grinned.

'With Amilé's cooking, how can I not?'

'Blimey! You've had a wash!' Jack exclaimed as he eyed Shay who was waiting for them on the quayside, having sailed to Dominica on Voyager.

'So have ye!' Shay teased, poking his tongue out at his friend as he caught the mooring line and wound around a bollard, securing the ship's boat to the wharf. 'I've paid th'moorin' charges fer both boats,' he informed Jack, glacing coolly at the young woman.

'Ta,' the older man smiled. 'Pity Jen an' Patience aren't with us.'

'Aye, I was thinkin' that myself,' Shay sighed. He waited until they were out of earshot of Rebecca before leaning over to his friend. 'I think Patience is with child again…'

'Again! Bleedin' hell, Connelly. Give th'poor girl chance ter recover from th'last one.'

'Ah, come on, Jack. Ye mean ter tell me that ye an' Jenny haven't already…?'

'Well,' Jack grinned. 'That's different.'

'I thought it might be, somehow,' Shay laughed as the two men walked slowly through the town towards Jacques Rosseau's large house on the outskirts. 'You've no regrets about what yer doin' with her?' He jerked his head back towards Rebecca and Drew.

'No. You saw th'aftermath of Farrier. No matter how much I despise th'woman an' what she's done, I couldn't let them do that to her.'

'I agree. I was hopin' ye'd change yer mind.'

'So why didn't ya say so?' Jack frowned, regarding his friend.

'Because yer still captain,' the Irishman shrugged. 'Besides, I'm a softer touch than ye…'

'Like hell ya are, Connelly!' Jack snorted. 'I've seen ya in battle, remember.'

'Battle's different,' Shay reasoned. 'But I'm glad ye didn't go through with it.'

'She'll probably wish she was dead in six months time. It ain't a bed of roses, being in servitude.'

'I know. My sister, Richael is a maid, an' I was a servant myself, remember. I know how hard it is.'

'More so when yer bonded over here. There's a different mindset, somehow. Life seems ter mean less to them.'

'Aye,' Shay agreed. 'I'd noticed.'

'Here we are,' Jack said eventually as they came to the gate of a large house on the outskirts of town. 'Drew, take her round th'back. Then have yer leave.'

'Aye, Cap'n.'

'Goodbye, Rebecca. An' for what it's worth, good luck.'

'Fuck off, Sparrow,' she spat as she pushed past him. 'Rot in hell…'

Jack watched until the young woman disappeared from view around the back of the house, then with a sigh, walked besides Shay along the path to the front door.