Chapter 4
Once again Will and Jack sat across from each other in Jack's cabin. There was an uncomfortable silence.
Say something, Jack. Will thought.
I guess I have to be the one to say something first.
"Look, Will, I'm sorry. I know you deserve to know about your father it just hard for me. Gibbs was right, he was my only friend. He was my best friend. I thought I got over his death along time ago. This is the first time I've ever talked to someone about it.
"Gibbs said you told him things."
"I told him some things when I was drunk. I don't think that counts much." Jack stated. "Ask what you want and I will answer to the best of my ability."
"What did he look like?"
"Like you. Same features and build. Like me. Same hair and clothes… little more clean and neat, I guess you can say."
"Did he have any friends other than you?"
"The captain I told you about. Maybe some others for a short amount of time, but I guess there was mostly me. We were like brothers. If one of us were in danger the other would risk everything to help. Not very pirate, huh?"
"No its not. So why did you do it?"
"William taught me everything I knew. He taught me what his captain taught him. He also taught me to be a good man. Never doubt he was a good man or good pirate. He was the best of the best."
Will sat for a moment taking things in. The more Jack told him the more Jack got a faraway look in his eyes. He was remembering things and Will didn't like that Jack remembered things and he didn't.
"It's not fair. He was like a brother to you, but nothing to me. Why do you get to know him and I don't. I bet your father, your parents, were pirates. You probably come from a long line of them. You probably had a great life, probably even inherited this ship." Again Will was yelling and Jack was just sitting there watching him pace.
When he was done he was by the bed and sat down with his head in his hands. Jack didn't know what to do. He wasn't one to comfort others, at least not very often. He was about to get up when Will stood again.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it lad."
"Was I right?" he asked looking at the ground
"About what?"
"About your family." He said finally looking up.
"Not even close." Jack replied. "My mother died when I was three and my father…my father wasn't all that great. I ran away from home."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing."
There was another uncomfortable silence. Will feeling bad for what he said and Jack not sure if he should have said what he said.
I said too much. I shouldn't have told him about me. Why did I tell him that?
Jack wasn't sure how to talk about himself. Behind his eccentric persona he really didn't know what to do most of the time.
Will noticed Jack lost in thought and thought it best to leave so he got up and headed to the door. Before he reached it he heard something from Jack.
"What?"
"I was six when I ran away." He said barely audible.
"Because of your father." He stated. "Why?"
Jack didn't answer that but said something else. "I met your father when I was seven, I think. He took me on the ship he was sailing with and got the captain to let me be cabin boy." The whole time Jack talked he just stared at the wall.
"Was it the same captain that took my father in?"
"Yes."
"What happened to him?"
"He retired. I haven't heard from him since then."
Will just sat there. His mind was going over everything to fast. He then asked, "Why do you regret my father joining you."
"Because he had a family to raise and I knew that I wouldn't be able to take him back home when ever he wanted."
"How old are you?"
"Will…"
"Please?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because…because I know you but I don't know anything about you. I'm betting you know more about me than you let on."
"You are right about that. Your father told me all about you.'
There was a pause.
"Well"
"Nearly 27"
"What? That would mean you got the Pearl when you were 17."
"16. 10 years was last year when our little adventure happened."
"Wow. You were so young. How long were you captain?"
"I know. Only a few months, but in those few months, 7 I believe, we became the most famous ship in the Caribbean…the world."
"How did my father fit in with this?"
"I wanted him to be my first mate but he turned it down."
"Why?"
"He had a family to take care of. Being first mate took a lot of time."
"Why didn't he bring my mother and I along with him?"
"Your parents didn't want you to be a pirate at such a young age. They wanted you to have a life and choose what you wanted yourself."
"Oh."
"A lot to think about, huh?"
"Yes, it is. I think I'll go rent a night at an inn now. Thank you Jack."
Before Will got to the door Jack spoke.
"Will theres room on the Pearl for you. Why don't you stay here?"
"I'd rather be alone."
"Ther…"
"I'll be fine Jack. Thank you."
With that Will was off. Jack didn't try to stop him. He knew you just needed to be alone sometimes.