Disclaimer: I don't own POTC.

Chapter 28: The Power Shift

Jack had woken up shortly after Camille. He was still exploring most of the nooks and crannies of the extravagant mansion, and the wheels in his head were constantly turning with ideas on how to smuggle most of the furniture to the ship.

As he passed the kitchen, something caught his eye. He stopped, backtracked, and looked out the window to the garden. Squinting his eyes, he could see Camille's redhead above the tall grasses and flowers. He pulled out his spyglass and watched. She was with Will, of course. He shook his head, watching the two talk before he once again began to snoop around for things.

Several minutes later, he was in the dining room smuggling the good china when Camille burst in, carrying a crying baby and an open bottle of milk. He started, quickly closing the cabinet as she was still focused on Cadence.

"Jack, could you open that liquor cabinet below you…there, right by your left leg, and find a bottle of whiskey?" she asked, putting the bottle on the table. "Shh Cadence, it's all right. And put those dishes back," she said to Jack.

"Dammit," he mumbled, reluctantly putting the china back in the cabinet. He found the half empty bottle. "Don't you think it's a bit early to start drinking, Camille?"

"It's not for me, it's for Cadence. She's teething. Could you put some in her bottle for me?"

He gave her an odd look, uncorking the bottle. "Isn't she a bit young?"

Camille rolled her eyes. "A few drops, Jack. It'll ease the pain."

Jack obeyed, and Camille took the bottle. "Thank you," she said, putting it to Cadence's mouth. Jack was still holding the whiskey bottle and gave it a sniff, letting the temptation take over him.

But Camille looked at him sharply. "The last thing you need to do in this house is drink," she said firmly. "And don't think I didn't notice that last plate. Put it back."

Jack huffed, stooping to put the whiskey back. "Christ, woman. You've got bloody eyes in the back of your head."

Camille smiled and winked, giving Jack a slight twinge in his stomach and causing him to worry quite a bit. Was he coming down with something?

Camille and Cadence exited the dining room and went back into the kitchen. Will and Dorian were sitting at the table. Dorian smiled upon seeing his daughter. "Good morning, ladies," he said.

"Morning, Father," Camille said pleasantly. Cadence only babbled a couple of syllables, but smiled and laughed.

Jack came into the kitchen next, and the look on Dorian's face changed immediately. He stood up, causing the chair to scrape across the floor. He and Jack glared at each other for a moment, and Will and Camille exchanged worried glances.

Dorian cleared his throat. "I wasn't aware that he was in my house," he said with his mouth in a straight line. "If I would have known that I would have never defended you so strongly last night, Camille."

She didn't hesitate. "Father, Jack needs to lay low for a bit. I told him that he was free to stay here." But she caught the look in her father's eye, and knew that this would not last. He was very protective of her, and would most likely throw Jack out of the house or come close to it unless she argued tirelessly with him. And with him still recovering arguing was the last thing she wanted to do.

Dorian looked at Will, then back at Camille. "Would the three of you excuse us?" he said, meaning himself and Jack.

Camille swallowed. Her father was extremely calm, and that made her nervous. If he was yelling, she could tell exactly how upset he was. But this…this just made it difficult to know what to expect. She carried Cadence over and set her on her feet so that she could walk with Will. She wanted to tell her father to be reasonable, but something told her to walk out of the room as quickly as possible.