Hey, everyone! Okay, so the deal with this chapter is it follows the movie closely, but I think the scenes needed to happen for everything else to work. And some of the lines and stuff you haven't seen before or whatever are off of the Script Scanner and I thought they were neat and needed to be incorporated.

cornishxxxpixie: Hey! Thanks so much for reviewing again – you're so amazing! I'm so glad you like the story and I hope you continue to read it!

Frank: Thank you for the review; and you don't have much to worry about. If I let opinions influence me too much, I wouldn't be nearly as strange as I am now (lol). I hope you continue reading and reviewing, and continue to enjoy my story.

Okay, before I start rambling, you might wanna go ahead and read on!

Chapter four: Surprises from a Pirate

The ocean slapped lazily against the hull of the Interceptor as the midmorning sun beat down upon the three. Will had taken to sharpening his sword, whereas Jack and Alex were doing the basic chores around the ship, such as tightening ropes and checking the sails. Alex had hoped she would get to man the helm, but Jack was guarding that position, and she did not feel like arguing.

Will was speaking, so Alex decided to pay him at least a little attention. '. . . after my mother passed, I came out here . . . looking for my father.'

'Well you didn't exactly come too easily, did you?' Alex grinned. Will smiled at her and shook his head.

'No, I guess I didn't. Our ship was attacked by –'

'- By pirates, I know, I saw them,' Alex stated, shooting Jack a look. He met her look with attitude, and she rolled her eyes. There was just no getting along with a pirate.

'Is that so?' Jack spoke up to Will's previous comment.

'It was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help,' Will continued. 'I'm not a simpleton, Jack. You knew my father.'

Jack was quiet for a long time, obviously contemplating his answer. 'I knew 'im. One o' the few who knew 'im as William Turner – e'eryone just call him 'Bootstrap,' or 'Bootstrap' Bill,' Jack stated calmly.

"Bootstrap?" Will and Alex asked in unison.

'Good man – good pirate,' Jack stated.

'That's not true,' Will snarled.

'Will, let him explain. Why would he lie about something like that?' Alex hissed. Jack glanced at Alex and then back to Will.

'I swear, you look just like him,' was all Jack said, and Alex glared at his turned back. She had given him a chance to explain himself – the least he could do was actually do that.

'He was a merchant sailor – a respectable man who obeyed the law!' Will spat.

'Will!'

'He was a bloody pirate, a scallywag,' Jack drawled.

'My father was not a pirate!' Will growled for the final time, drawing his sword so harshly the tip almost cut Alex. She let out a soft yelp and jumped back just in time.

'Put it away, son. It is not worth yeh gettin' beat again,' Jack stated lazily, leaning on the wheel.

'You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd kill you,' Will said. Alex furrowed her brows, wondering when Jack and Will had fought before. Damn rum, she pouted.

'Then that's not much incentive for me t' fight fair, then is it?' Jack asked, spinning the wheel hard, causing the sail boom to whip around and knock Will off the boat. Will's sword fell to the deck with a metallic clatter. Alex muffled her worried gasp and bit her lip as Will hung over the ocean, hand over hand, unable to find a footing to push himself up. Jack picked up Will's sword and held it loosely.

"S long as yeh're just hangin' there, pay attention. On a pirate ship, every man has an equal vote. Every man has an equal say in the rules 'e has t' live by. Should, do, don't, shall, shall not – those're mere suggestions. The only rules that really matter're these:' he began to count them off on his fingers, taking full advantage of the fact that he had both Alex and Will's complete attention, 'What a man can do 'n what a man can't do. Fer instance: yeh can accept that yer father was a pirate 'n a good man ... or yeh can't. But pirate's in yer blood, boy, so yeh're gonna 'ave t' square with that some day. Now, me, I can let you drown...' at this, Will looked extremely alarmed and Alex shot Jack a 'don't you dare' look, 'but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all on me onesies, savvy?'

'Hey!' Alex cried, and Jack spun around to look at her, eyes wide in alarm.

'Wha'!'

'You can throw the whelp overboard and you still wouldn't be on your damn onesies because I'm still here!' she stated harshly, stamping her foot and pointing towards the deck as she said 'here.'

'No, don't throw the whelp overboard!' Will stated hastily. Jack spun the wheel back on course, and Will landed with a thud on the deck.

'So – can yeh sail under the command o' a pirate – or can yeh not?' Jack continued, flipping Will's sword so he held the blade and the hilt was ready for Will to take.

Will took the sword and stood, brushing himself off. Alex glared pointedly at both of the men and sat on the railing with a heavy sigh.

'This isn't how I remember sailing,' she stated dully.

'It gets better when yeh 'ave a crew,' Jack said, glancing at her. 'With a crew comes action. There's always somethin' t' do if there's action.'

Will muttered something that sounded a bit like 'pirates' to Alex. With a frustrated growl, Alex pushed herself off the rail and stood in front of both Will and Jack. If Jack could set down rules, then so could she.

'Alright, if you two expect to be getting anywhere you'd best listen to me,' she stated. She was about to continue when Jack spoke up.

'What gives yeh the authority tha' makes yeh worth listenin' t', missy?'

Alex met his gave and glared at him harshly, but did not reply. 'Will, if you want to even get close to saving Elizabeth, you're gonna have to put up with Sparrow – don't you dare,' Alex growled as Jack opened his mouth to correct her, 'and Jack, whatever it is you're after, you're gonna have to put up with Will because you can't bloody well kill him, can you?'

No one spoke another word, and Alex flashed them a triumphant smile. Now they were getting somewhere.

"N what 'bout yerself?' Jack asked after awhile. 'Are yeh gonna tell us 'ow t' treat yeh?'

'I'm not telling you how to treat one another – exactly,' she stated slowly. 'Just no more arguing, agreed?'

'But wha' 'bout –?'

'None,' Alex stated firmly. Both Will and Jack muttered something, and Alex took it, figuring it was a start. She sighed again and looped her arm through the rigging, staring skyward. Will followed her gaze, and began to stammer.

'Alex, you're not . . . . Don't you think you should – Alex?'

Alex had ignored him and had begun to climb the ropes to the crow's nest. Will spun on Jack, still a bit awestruck that Alex would dare such a task.

'Should we stop her?' Will asked.

'She'll be fine,' Jack stated, looking down on Will. 'Yeh know, it seems t' me that yeh've been 'er friend fer awhile, 'n I find it disappointin' that yeh don't know her well enough t' realize she's hidin' somethin' from yeh.'

'What do you mean?'

'I don't know what it is – I jus' met 'er,' Jack stated, holding up his hands momentarily in surrender, 'but yeh should ask 'er. No secrets on this ship, mate.'

'Then I'm sure you're going to keep us entertained with all of your confessions,' Will snapped back. 'If she is hiding something, she'll tell me when she's ready.'

'Alrigh' mate, yer call.'

Alex stepped into the crow's nest and took a deep breath, smiling as her senses slowly recognized the salty smell. It reminded her of her father, long ago when they used to sail the seas together . . . .

She ran a hand through her hair and then crossed her arms over her chest. She couldn't believe she had actually come along on this expedition. Will had her respect, but she wasn't sure how far he would actually make it. And Jack . . . . Jack was Jack, and that was probably all he was going to be. He'd make no sacrifices for them but expect them to make sacrifices for him. But most of all, she was terrified. The small, mangy pirates that usually showed up in Port Royal were nothing big – but the pirates they were pursuing weren't small, nor would they give her mercy.

She hoped that maybe Will would offer her a little protection – he was good with the sword. And, maybe Jack would protect her . . . . But she doubted it. She offered him nothing, no benefits would come out of saving her, and therefore he wouldn't even give her a second thought.

She sighed and climbed back down the rigging, eager to explore below deck. Jack watched her climb down the ladder and out of sight, a blank expression on his face.

Now this chapter really did take a long time, and nothing really happened. . . . I had trouble writing it, really. I've been really busy . . . white water rafting, a chorus competition, big exams, among other things. (P.S - sorry it's so short.)

The next chapter will be more interesting. Just imagine . . . Alcoholic Alex in Tortuga, along with Jack – words will fly.

LiM