Title: Isla de Vida
Author Name: Dimenticato-poco-angelo
Author E-mail: General
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Pirates of the Caribbean
Summary: Catharine only wanted to know where her compass would take her. She didn't bet on Captain Jack Sparrow being the one to take her there and she didn't bet on her old master showing up and she didn't bet on finding a father or a family. Catharine betted on everything except that.
DISCLAIMER: I own Catharine, Travis, the Goodwin's and anything else you do not recognize. All else belongs to Jerry Bruckheimer and whoever else owns whatever they own.
A/N: No worries, remember not everything is as it seems.
Chapter Two: To Be Alive Again
To be alive again
You're not among the walkin' wounded anymore
There's a time to fall
There's a time to rise above it all
To be alive again
Wakin' up from where you been
To be alive again
Journey 'To Be Alive Again'
Catharine stumbled along in the dark as the rain beat down upon her. She was not only drenched from rain but from a cold sweat as well. She feared she was running a fever and she feared even more the reason why. First she needed to find a dry place to spend the night and in the morning she would tend to the infected wounds on her back. Up head down a cobblestone street she found a small alcove near a blacksmith shop. Perhaps in the morning they could be of assistance, but for now all Catharine wanted was a few hours sleep.
Will hurried home from the Governor's mansion in the rain. Elizabeth had wanted to discuss a few details for a wedding that would not be taking place for another year. He had sat patiently listening to her ramble on and on about one thing or another, but when the rain had started he had insisted he must get back home. Besides it was very late and it was not entirely proper for him to still be there with her into the wee hours of the night. He didn't know why he spotted Catharine in the quick flash of lightening, but he did. Being the bleeding heart that he was he scooped her small form into his arms and carried her into the warmth of the shop. Walking over to the spare cot he kept for Jack, should he give him a surprise visit, he gently laid her down. He noticed the fresh blood that coated his arm and he tenderly rolled her onto her stomach. Astonished by the welts that covered her back Will took action. Wetting a rag in cool water he carefully began to clean her wounds. Who could have done this, he asked himself, and she could not be older than seventeen. She was a small girl, no threat to anyone. Will knew he would need some kind of salve to put on the wounds to help with the infection and he knew that when she awoke she would be scared to find herself alone with him and only the front of her shirt left to cover herself. He decided to chance leaving her alone to fetch Elizabeth to help him.
Jack Sparrow had everything planned perfectly or so he had thought. Rumor had it that Norrington was in America on business with the Governor. Tonight was the perfect night to drop by and say hello to Will and Elizabeth, the soon to be Newlyweds. Stealthily he made his way through the streets of Port Royal toward the blacksmith's shop. Quietly he entered so as not to startle a sleeping Will. To his surprise, however, he only startled a young girl who sat on his cot. She clung to a flimsy shirt that covered her chest. When she had noticed him her eyes widened in fear.
"Hello luv." He said quietly trying his best to not scare her anymore than he already had. Catharine jumped to her feet and armed herself with the nearest sword, one hand still clutching the shirt to her chest, "Are you sure you want to do that luv?" he asked reaching for his own sword. Catharine said nothing as she scanned the room for an exit. Finding no way out she attacked. Jack used simple moves to defend himself and refused to fight with a young girl, especially if she was a guest of Will's. A few moments later Will himself entered the shop with Elizabeth in tow.
"Jack," Elizabeth immediately scolded, "what are you doing?"
"She started it." He told them defending himself from a rather low thrust of Catharine's sword, "Careful there luv, I'm still young." Catharine again searched for a way out, this time she spotted a window by the door that opened out onto the street. Slowly she began backing up keeping the sword in front of her should Jack decide to attack.
"What's your name dear?" Elizabeth asked. Catharine shook her head, refusing to answer, "It's okay," Elizabeth placated, "you don't have to answer. That's alright." Catharine continued backing up toward the window until her back hit the wall. Thinking quickly she threw her sword in Jack's direction before diving out of the window. Jack easily dodged to flying sword and stared wide-eyed at the window.
"Now why didn't I think of that?" he mused more to himself than to anyone else.
"She's been whipped Jack and her wounds are infected. We need to find her." Jack rolled his eyes as he sheathed his sword.
"What do you mean we?" Jack asked.
"Well you're the one that scared her off." Will countered. Jack sighed, but followed Will out into the rain. As the two darted through the rain Will searched the darkness for any sign of the girl.
"Jack by the docks." Will yelled over the howl of the wind. Jack watched as the form of the young girl slumped to the ground from the sheer exhaustion of the sword fight and running, Will ran to her side with Jack not far behind. As Will went to pick her up she began to stir. "Its okay," Will promised, "my name is Will Turner. I'm a blacksmith. I just want to help you." She nodded her head in agreement. Will helped her to stand as she continued to clutch the flimsy cloth, which had once been a shirt, to her chest. Slowly the trio made their way back to the shop where Elizabeth was waiting with a blanket and change of clothes. "This is Elizabeth," Will told Catharine, "She's going to put some salve on your wounds and help get you into some dry clothes. We'll talk about what happened to you later." Again Catharine nodded, not saying anything. Elizabeth led Catharine into the back room.
"I know Jack frightened you earlier, but trust me you have nothing to worry about when it comes to him. He's more bark than bite," she began to explain as Catharine finally let the shirt fall to the floor and Elizabeth began to apply the salve she had brought from the manor, "Sure he has his moments of clarity and smarts, but mostly he's too drunk or hungover to be much of a bother." Catharine winced slightly.
"Who. Who is he? I mean to say. Well, he dresses very strangely. I've never seen anyone like him before in Virginia."
"Virginia? Is that where you're from?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, for the most part. At least that's where my mother left me before she died. But you didn't answer my question." Catharine replied as Elizabeth handed her the clean shirt. As she struggled to get it on Elizabeth helped and explained.
"He's a pirate. Captain Jack Sparrow. Have you heard of him?"
"You mean the Captain Jack Sparrow. The one who rescued Elizabeth Swann from a band of cursed pirates and killed the evil Captain Barbossa." Catharine asked in awe.
"Yes and I have another surprise for you. I'm Elizabeth Swann." Catharine's grin broadened as the two sat down on Will's bed.
"Was it exciting? Being out there on the ocean, sailing with Captain Sparrow? I mean it must have been terrifying being kidnapped, but everything else." Catharine sputtered out wanting to know everything about Elizabeth's adventure of a lifetime. The two began gossiping about the harrowing tale of the cursed pirates and the romantic love affair between Will and Elizabeth. A knock on the door brought their talk to halt.
"Come in." Elizabeth called out. Will entered the room while Jack remained standing in the doorway not sure if the girl would be frightened by him or not.
"I heard giggling," Will confessed, "I figured it was safe to come in."
"We were just becoming better acquainted." Elizabeth told them as she stood up. Catharine stood with her keeping her head bowed.
"Thank you for all of your help Mr. Turner. If I can be of any service to you I hope that will be payment enough." Elizabeth was stunned by Catharine's sudden change in demeanor.
"That won't be necessary," he insisted, "What's your name?"
"Catharine." She answered meekly.
"Do you know who did this to you or were you attacked?" Elizabeth asked her gently.
"It is not my place to say."
"Catharine please, we're only trying to help." Catharine darted her eyes to look at Elizabeth before continuing to stare at the floor.
"Are you ordering me to tell you?" Catharine asked a bit of hopefulness in her voice. Will looked to Elizabeth on what to do and she nodded her head.
"Yes," he answered a bit unsure of himself, "I am ordering you to tell me."
"My old master in Virginia. It was punishment for slacking on my duties. Nothing more than I deserved I am sure of that." She answered, head still bowed. Elizabeth seemed to understand what was happening a lot better than Will and she took the lead in talking to Catharine.
"You are not or slave Catharine. You can look at us when you speak. I promise there is nothing to fear." Jack's head popped up at the mention of the word slave.
"Slave, did you say?" Jack asked, "Is that what you were?"
"For the most part. Until, well until a few days ago when I hid on the Carolina." She explained, "I'm supposed to wait here for another to arrive and then we plan to sail to England in search of my father."
"Well you can stay with me until then," Elizabeth told her, "and I'll tell Commodore Norrington everything so that."
"No," Catharine said quickly, "No Commodore Norrington is friends with my master. It was his ship I hid on to get here. We were delayed because he decided to leave early." Jack looked sharply at Will.
"You mean to tell me Norrington is here," Will nodded his head, "Well luv," he said directing his comment toward Catharine, "it seems that you and I have a common enemy. I know it was a short visit, but I must be getting back to my ship."
"Oh, but Jack I'm sure you can stay the night and leave at dawn." Elizabeth begged.
"Only for you luv." He answered cheekily. Will rolled his eyes.
"Then it's settled. I'm sure father wouldn't mind me staying the night here seeing as how there's another woman around." Will seemed a bit taken aback, but recovered quickly.
"Very well then the two of you shall sleep in here. Jack and I will occupy the front room. Sleep well." He told them before leaving the room and closing the door behind them.
"I'm sure we'll be able to figure something out in the morning on where you can stay, but for now I'm exhausted." With that last comment Elizabeth helped Catharine settled into the bed while she pulled up the overstuffed chair. Among several protests from Catharine about Elizabeth sleeping in a chair the two drifted off.