'P' IS FOR PIRATE
By : mirkwood-elf-2931 & Thala

CHAPTER 10

Jenny recovered well within as little as three quickly passing days. Unfortunately well enough to take a turn in grocery shopping in the town's market to pick up some items for a special dinner of the Governor's favorite when he came home in only two days. Of course Charity went with her, and between the two of them in the end, they were weighed down with two bags each.

"A few things, eh?" Jenny had muttered on the way, while looking at the list the other maids had given them, and again when they started back home while struggling with the awkward material bags in her arms. Walking slowly, they took their time, but only for a short time.

"Hey!"

Charity's outburst from the silence in the empty streets startled Jenny somewhat. "What's the matter?" She asked, giving her companion an odd look.

"Someone's stealing my ship!" She shouted, dropping her groceries and dashing off ahead.

"You have a ship?" Jenny looked left toward the water, then back to where Charity stood on her right.

Only she was no longer there.

"Iron?" Glancing down at the lone bags on the ground, she then spun around at another loud shout, spotting a figure running full speed down to the end of the pier to her left.

"Hey! Stop!" Charity continued to yell, almost reaching her docking spot. Taking off her gun, she dove off the dock and into the dark waters. Swimming as fast as she could, she gained the ship's position and drew her sword, preparing to climb to its decks. Grabbing hold of a hanging rope on the side, she had pulled herself only up half way, when the taught fibers suddenly became disconnected and she fell back down into the sea. She resurfaced to find one of the men on board had cut her lose and was leaning over the railing waving at her. She might have gone further after it, but the ship was already twenty feet from her, the wind picking up and carrying it away from its rightful owner.

She headed back to shore and walked up the short stretch of sand, panting and dripping wet. She glanced up to see Jenny running toward her.

"Iron! You okay?"

"Fine," Her chest heaved as she took a final deep breath and turned to stare back out at after her stolen property. Watching for which direction the thieves might take it.

"The Drifter, eh? I never knew ye had a ship." Said her dry clothed companion, who had always wanted one of her own, but certainly could never afford it. And Charity never would have either if it hadn't been for Ethan's kindness as more a friend than a boss.

"Well, I don't now." She muttered, though mostly to herself. Remembering how she told Ethan she would take care of his gift to her.

"Don't worry," Jenny tried to comfort, giving her new friend a slap on the back that sent a few droplets of water airborne. "We'll get it back."

Charity nodded sadly and after collecting her pistol, the two picked up their groceries and went on their original way. Since the Governor was away, they didn't have to sneak in the back, instead just went casually through the front doors.

"Hello, girls! Home so soon?" Greeted Elizabeth, just coming down from the upstairs to meet Will, who was already there and staring at the newly arrived two. And when at the bottom, she could see that one of them seemed different. "Charity, what happened to you? You're soaked!"

"Her ship was stolen and she went in after it." Switching to her proper voice, Jenny replied for her, since her friend hadn't said a word the rest of the way.

Charity merely stared down at the floor, face still grim.

"Your ship was stolen!" Exclaimed the Governor's daughter. "Well...shouldn't we report it?"

"No," Charity jerked back to attention. "Somehow, I'll get it back myself." With that, she piled her bags on Jenny and proceeded up to her room to change.

Jenny gave the couple a small saddened smile and took the four sacks of food into the kitchen.

"Will, isn't there anything we can do? She's a friend, we need to help her!"

He nodded. "I already planned on it."

"Should that be where I come in?" A new voice added its opinion and the two turned outward from facing each other to see Jack in the doorway. "Because obviously I am now the only one with a ship."

"What are you doing! You can't be seen!" Will eyes were as wide as Elizabeth's; who didn't even know the man was back in town.

Jack shrugged as a response, looking in and around the large room, hoping that no other maids were about, but most of them were upstairs helping with the last of the installing of new furnishings. "Heard the Governor was out, but I knew you three were here, so I thought I'd pay you a visit."

"Why would you help? What's in it for you now?" Asked Elizabeth with much suspicion.

He took a deep breath and admitted. "Nothin', but I do owe Charity...and I always will. I know what it's like to have your ship taken away from you, don't forget."

In a fresh, dry maid's dress, Charity soon came back down stairs to help Jenny put away the supplies into storage, but stopped short seeing a new face in the foyer. "Jack, what are you doing here?"

"I overheard the Drifter was stolen," And as hard as this was to say for him, he braved it and spit it out. "And I'm...offering my help."

Her current look was surprised, but it soon left her and she continued down the staircase. "Well, let's see, I don't see anything in it for you. Jack Sparrow freely helping someone. That's new."

"Well, do you want it or not?" Cocking his head, he held his arms up in a gesture of waiting for an answer.

She considered the offer. An offer that meant she would have to set foot on the Black Pearl again. "Yes. Perhaps maybe you have changed after all. Or are you actually feeling guilty?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, luv." He smirked at her once more. "So, do you know which way they went? It might help, you know, if we knew that."

"They were turning her east."

"Probably heading for Tortuga or some island." Put in Will.

"Right you probably are." Said Jack. "Now if we can just catch them before they make it wherever they're going. She's a merchant ship; once stopped they'll probably trade her in for another type of faster ship, if they can."

"Good. I'm coming too, I'll be ready in a bit." Elizabeth said quickly, turning to run back upstairs before Will could say anything.

"I have to change too!" Charity's voice echoed down, as she followed the younger girl's path.

"Iron? I mean...Charity?" Jenny came around the corner from the kitchen.

Will and Jack turned their attention to the familiar maid simultaneously.

"You again!" Her expression switched instantly into a glare toward the man still in the doorway.

"Yes, me again. And how's that pistol wound of yours doing?"

"Fine, no thanks to ye! However," She pointed to the crossman and smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks to you, Turner."

"Hey! I got you to him, didn't I? You're the one who pulled your gun first! I had no business with you! I could have left you for dead in that alley, you know."

"And then when I found out, guess what I would have done to you, Jack."

All three heads turned back and up at the stairs, as Charity foot the many polished steps back down to them, back in dry men's apparel, armed and ready to rescue the Drifter.

The dark clad pirate sighed. "Can we just go? My offer is about to expire."

"Go where?" Asked a puzzled Jenny, who had been left out of the entire discussion before.

"To free my ship."

"Oh...let me guess, he's helping."

"Yes," Said the stolen ship's captain, as she loaded her pistol. "Are you coming, Jenny?"

"O'course! I thought I told ye that we would get it back, eh?"

Elizabeth quickly scribbled a note that she'd gone to Will's shop, so the maids wouldn't worry, and the party of four left the mansion. Their fifth member, Jack, had already left down for the water to alert his crew, having told his invited company to meet him at a cove east of town on the sandy shore, where he would have a row boat waiting.

TBC ...

mirkwood-elf-2931 :
Well, nothin' much to say...no one to reply anything to...but hey, check out my new anime site! It's the 'homepage' back on my profile. And if anyone's wondering why my profile name changed to Landailyn, read the IMPORTANT paragraph in bold at the top. Hope everyone had a good Valentine's! I got three cards and two anime plushies, which are a grunty from .hack/SIGN and Kuro Neko the cat from Trigun!