Thank you so much to my reviewers! I feel loved! #virtual hugs# reviews on the first day! hehehe! Well, here is the next chapter...
"Yeah, hi." Jack Sparrow mumbled, holding his side and wincing. Johnny stepped out of the way as Jack came in, and promptly tripped down the ledge and fell flat on his face. "Forgot that was there." He pushed himself up, wincing again. It had been five years since they had last seen Jack. He had popped up every now and then, since nearly being hung and escaping from Port Royale nearly fourteen years ago. He had returned for Will and Elizabeth's wedding, though they didn't actually speak, as the whole navy was chasing Jack at the time, so he just sailed by, waving his hat. Then he had washed, shaved and changed his pirate clothes for respectable, civilian clothes (slightly out of date, but nonetheless smart) and had been almost unrecognisable, and had come to Elizabeth's funeral. Will had always found it slightly amusing, as he has stood next to Commodore Norrington, and had a full conversation with the person on the other side of him about piracy, and no-one had noticed him. He then returned again, three years after that, to see how Will was coping. He had stayed a few days, until Norrington had got suspicious and Jack made his escape, not before telling Will he should move. He returned again, two years later and then again three years after that, when Johnny was eight.
"Jack!" Will said, laying aside the half-finished sword and hurrying over to his friend. "What happened?" He helped Jack onto a nearby chair.
"Pirates… fight… took the Pearl…" Jack mumbled.
"The Pearl? You mean the Black Pearl, your ship?" Johnny asked.
"Aye, the very same," Jack said, looking up. "Fastest ship in the Caribbean that one, mate. Couldn't find another ship like it…" He trailed off, clutching his side.
"Let me see, Jack." Will said, looking concerned. Jack looked as though he would've liked to protest, but thought against it, and moved his arm. There was a deep gash running along the base of his rib cage. It looked like it had been there at least three days, and hadn't been cleaned.
"Jack… how did this happen? You need to get this cleaned up, Johnny, fetch that pail." Will said. "We need to get you home."
Johnny returned with the pail of water and a clean rag. Will dipped the rag in the water and began to clean out Jack's wound.
"What happened? Was it a mutiny? Tell me, Uncle Jack!" Johnny said, perching next to the pirate. Jack couldn't help smiling.
"Nah, it wasn't a mutiny. Ow! Oi, Will, if you're gonna do that be careful!" He yelped.
"Hold still and get on with your story." Will said, in mock irritation.
"Well, we got attacked by a ship called The Steal Snitch.She's cap'n-ed by a pirate called Scarr. Nasty guy, very nasty. Anyway, they were coming up behind us, didn't pose a threat, so we carried on. Apparently, this guy, Scar, um… didn't like me, for some reason, something about Barbossa and 'killing my brother'." Jack grinned suddenly. Will raised an eyebrow.
"Barbossa had a brother?" He asked, mildly surprised.
"Yup, and it seemed they were pretty close, too," Jack paused as though in thought. "Anyway, on with me story! Well, they came up beside us, guns loaded and the Jolly Roger was suddenly up in the air, and this Scarr-face was shouting death-threats over. Course, we didn't have much time to get the guns out an' load 'em, 'coz we were taken by surprise. So, this guy blew a few holes in my ship-" Jack stopped, suddenly looking furious. "Bloody bastard- oh, sorry Will." Will had thrown him a 'watch-your-language look'. Johnny, however, didn't seem to mind.
"Come on, Uncle Jack!" He said, excitedly.
Jack smiled.
"Well, he didn't seem intent on destroying the ship, coz soon his men were boarding and attacking us. Anyway, I got into a fight with Scarr-face 'imself and then about three other pirates joined in, on his side. I mean, talk about cheating…" He caught Will's eye and grinned sheepishly. In their first fight, he had cheated.
"Yeah, anyway, so… the fight… 'pparently Scarr's got a cursed sword or something, anyway, if the blade touches you…" He glanced at Johnny. "Well, you're a dead man basically. So obviously, I had me mind on that one, and wasn't worrying too much 'bout the others. But it was one of the other's that did this…" He indicated to his side that was now throbbing painfully.
"What does the sword do to you?" Johnny asked.
"Well, usually they run you through…" Jack said, knowing perfectly well that he hadn't answered Johnny's question.
"Scarr's sword! What does it do when it touches you?" Johnny said.
Jack glanced at Will. Will shrugged.
"Well, legend has it that that sword was once part of the sword of some god or other's sword. Anyway, in a battle thousands of years ago, a splinter of the sword broke off, and fell down to earth. So, I guess Scarr found it." Jack said. "Legend has it that nothing can break that sword, nothing natural anyway. When it touches your skin… well it kinda melts it all and turns it green and mouldy. And it burns like hell and if it pierces you… well, like I said. You're a dead man. It turns your blood green, and poisoned. You can't breath, so you end up suffocating, your whole face goes green, and then you die… in agony." Jack finished.
"Oh." Johnny said, now whishing he had never asked. "But it doesn't kill you if you just touch it? 'Coz obviously Scarr can touch it and he ain't green. Is he?" He added uncertainly.
"No, he ain't green!" Jack laughed, then winced. "And no, it don't kill you if you just touch it. He pulled up his sleeve on his left arm. There was a large burn mark, as though he had been branded, but there was no shape. "His sword touched me here, and it went all mouldy, so I had to cut it off."
"Why's it burnt?" Johnny asked.
"'Coz I had to stop the blood flow, and get it to heal quicker. Easy really. Just get a piece of iron, wait till it's white hot and stick it on the wound." Jack said. "Hurts like hell though." He added as an after-thought. "Still, 's'not like I ain't used to it…" He showed Johnny the pirate brand on his arm.
Johnny winced at the thought.
"Anyway, Will, I meant to ask you last time I was here, when you gonna get the brand?" Jack said, turning to Will, who was washing the rag.
"Well, as I live in Port Royale, close to half the Navy, friends with the Commodore, not very soon." Will said.
"Ah, come on Will! I keep telling you to join me! I mean, it's not like you've got the misses to look after any more-" Jack cut off suddenly at the furious look on Will's face. Jack looked shocked at what he'd just said. "I'm not saying- I didn't mean- Will, I- I'm sorry." He finished lamely.
Will looked away, tears burning his eyes. It had been thirteen years since Elizabeth's death, but the memory of it still haunted him.
"Will, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I just- I-" Jack apologised.
"It's ok, Jack." Will said, turning back to Jack. There was an awkward silence. Johnny cleared his throat.
"Um… what were you saying, Jack?" He said timidly.
"Yeah, um… Will, you should come with us. You're a pirate, mate and you can't honestly say you prefer this?" Jack said, clearly glad for an excuse to move on.
"It holds a lot of memories." Will said simply.
"Yeah, but mate, you can't dwell on he past. Elizabeth's gone, and anyway, she always liked pirates better then blacksmiths." Jack said, watching his friend carefully for a reaction.
"Maybe she did, but I also have a son to look after." Will said, slightly coldly, looking at Johnny. Johnny went red and looked away.
"He can be cabin boy!" Jack said. "Been looking for one o' those for ages!"
"Yes, but may I remind you, that you no longer have a ship." Will snapped at Jack. It was Jack's turn to look hurt. Will took some bandages from a shelf and began to tie them around Jack's wound, a little roughly. Jack, however, didn't say anything, realising he had hurt Will.
"Johnny, go get your coat, and take Jack's things. Go get a cab." Will said to his son. He obeyed and scampered out.
A few minutes later he popped back in and announced the cab was there. Will helped Jack up and led him to the cab. Once settled inside, Will told the Cabby where to go and they were soon outside Will's house. It was Elizabeth's old house, which she had inherited from her father, and Will had inherited it from her when she had died.
When the cab finally stopped, Johnny jumped out and ran to get a maid. Together the maid, Will and Johnny helped Jack into the house and set him down in the guest room. Will left as soon has he had set him down.
"He ain't gonna get the Commodore, is he?" Jack asked Johnny.
"I don't think so. I mean, he wouldn't, would he?" Johnny said, uncertainly.
"No, I'm not going to get the Commodore," Will said coming back in. "Jack you should rest. That wound is going to take a few days to heal."
He and Johnny left the room, and Jack, suddenly realising just how tired he was, fell asleep almost immediately.