Author's note: This is virturely unbeta'd so bare with me. I just had to get it out of the way so it would stop bugging me.
Jack slept like the dead for two days. Gallagher had had no choice but to leave him in the Captain's Cabin until he woke. "How much belladonna did you put in there?" Gallagher asked Jacquelyn on the eve of the second night. "Um....can't remember." Jacquelyn said sheepishly, tending to Jack's shoulder. "It's healing nicely, should scar little."
"Good." Gallagher muttered, moving over to the window and running a hand through his white blonde hair. Jacquelyn gently touched the area around the wound, or thought she did.
Jack sit up with a gasp, causing her to jump back, falling off the edge of the bed with a thud. Gallagher turned to see what had happed..A short string of curses where issued from the rouge pirate captain's mouth, a tainted English cockney that Gallagher was used to from his time spent in the British Courts as a child. Jack flopped back in the bed, breathing hard, eyes closed for a moment. "Try not to do that again, savvy?" He muttered.
Gallagher snickered, before looking at his friend's pale face. "What's wrong with you?" "Besides the pain that just shot through me shoulder, oh nothing much." But in all honesty, Jack had just lied.
It wasn't just Jacquelyn's touch that woke him, but surprisingly, a nightmare. One he wanted to forget as soon as possible, the images haunting him even now that he was awake. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he gave his head a shake to forget the dream.
Standing, he wobbled a bit, sit down again, and got up after a moment. "Again, Dove," Gallagher used his pet name for Jacquelyn, "I ask you, how much Laudanum did you use?" Gallagher asked, after surveying his friend. "Two fourths of the bottle..." Jacquelyn answered, grinning brilliantly.
Gallagher did his best to hid his laughter. Jack was looking at her with such a look, eyes narrowing in and out. "Come on, Jack, let's get you some coffee." Gallagher said, taking the other man's arm. "What she mean two fourths....?!" Jack questioned, looking over his shoulder at Jacquelyn as Gallagher dragged him out.
They found the galley and Gallagher proceed to make the strongest coffee Jack had ever had. "Yep, that helps." Jack muttered after a long moment. Gallagher grinned sitting down at the table opposite of his friend. Jack raised the cup again and inhaled deeply. "So, get me back to the Pearl and I'm going after this treasure." Jack sit the cup down and took the chain out from his shirt and removed the medallion piece, sitting it on the table. Gallagher picked it up, examining it. "You sure about this, Jack?" He asked.
"You've only got one piece."
Jack nodded, taking another drink of coffee. "I'm sure. The other piece is rumored t' be in Port Royal."
"And you're just going to sneak in and get it?"
"That was the plan, yes."
"They'd have a noose around your neck before you had a chance." Gallagher said giving the other man a look. Jack shrugged, eyes gleaming in the fire light. "We'll see."
They reached Tortuga in good time and Jacquelyn convinced Gallagher to go with the pirate captain. In truth, it had been a long time since Gallagher had shared an adventure with the man he'd grown up with on Bonney's ship. So he gave in. They docked in Tortuga near the Pearl. Gallagher gave Bill orders to remain in the port for a month's time.
"And if you don't send word or return?" Bill asked softly, looking at the younger man. Gallagher sighed, shoulders sagging as he secured a rope. "Then the Marcosa is yours and you're Captain." With that, Gallagher gave him money for the lodging and such. He knew his crew wouldn't burn it out, as some crews would.
"Captain's aboard!" Mr. Gibs called as Jack came up the gang plank, with his usual swagger. "Thank ye kindly, Mr. Gibs. We have guests." Jack told the older man gesturing to Gallagher and Jacquelyn with a flourish. Mr. Gibs nodded and looked at Gallagher and Jacquelyn. "Always a pleasure to see you again, Captain Spike, Mrs. Spike." Gallagher nodded. "We set sail for Port Royal!" Jack ordered as he moved towards the helm.
He ran his hands lovingly over the ship's wheel, "Hullo darling." He whispered to it, grinning. His Pearl, the Black Pearl, was a well built English racing gallon, with two cannon decks and sweeps to aid in her speed. Her myth had been born from the legend of the fiercest, fastest ship in the Caribbean, a title her Captain was proud of.
But it, nor he, intended harm that was believed. Her creation, was only known to three men...and two of those men were dead. Since getting her back from Barbosa, Jack had scrapped, plundered and fought to restore the ship to her former glory, and though she had some work to go, she gleamed in the setting sun.
An early morning sun was shinning brightly on the Caribbean ocean, reflecting blue and green. And in this area, only one ship was on the sea, or so her captain though. In truth, Jack Sparrow would have flown into a rage if he knew the Raven and her despicable captain was only leagues ahead of them. The Black Pearl sailed along gracefully. Mr.Gibs was at the wheel, while the ship's captain, was sitting on the yard of the main mast, staring out over the horizon. His men scurrying along the deck, Anamaria giving orders.
Glancing back down at his compass, Jack nodded to himself, then slammed it shut, letting it hang from his belt again. "Set a course do west!" He yelled, pulling himself to his feet. Captain Jack Sparrow stood next to the main topmast a moment, longer, a satisfied smile on his face, before grabbing a sail rope and sliding down it, to land on the main deck.
"Due west!?" Jacquelyn asked on her way up the hatch from the hold. "Are you sure you know where you're going Jack?"
"Of course I know where I'm going, luv." Jack said staring off into the horizon thoughtfully.
"Whatever you say Jack. I still think you're wrong." she said, and moved to the forecastle deck to watch the progress of they're journey.
"Women..." Jack said under his breath and staring at her. "Where be that pest of a husband of yours?!" Jack called.
"Best not being plotting on my ship!" She wasn't listening. Jack rolled his eyes and looked down at the hatch. "Jacquelyn, are you listening to me?!"
"Too late for that. And call me Jac, Jack. You know how much I hate being called Jacquelyn." She said without looking at him.
Jack retorted sharply. "As long as your on this ship, JACQUELYN, you'll go by yer full name. There be only one JACK on the Pearl, and that be her capt'n!" Jacquelyn glared hotly, but Jack's tone had left no argument.
"Gallagher's around somewhere. Maybe you should go find him, rather than holler at him!? Cuz I know that's what you're going to do next." Jack gave her a dark look. "If only to ask him if I can throw you over board, luv." He called back. It was beyond him as to why Jacquelyn was suddenly rubbing him the long way, but he was starting to discover he couldn't stand the sight of her, in her breeches and loose shirt.
His crew was a respectable one, but it didn't stop them from staring as she pranced around the deck as if she owned the bloody thing. One of these days, she'd get her self into trouble and Jack wasn't sure he wanted to help! He sighed softly, tossing that thought out. Of course he'd help, she was his best friend's bloody wife. Prat.
From the wheel, Mr. Gibs shook his head. "There will NOT be another time when I agree to letting Gallagher Spike on MY ship." Jack yelled back, crossing his arms and glaring. "No you cannot throw my wife overboard, friend." Gallagher said appearing from the Captain's quarters.
"What were you doing in my quarters!?" Jack snapped, eyeing him.
"Just checking up on things..." he said winking at his wife who had come around behind Jack.
"Oh were ye now?" Jack questioned, looking from Gallagher to Jacquelyn. "Oh fine! But let me throw her overboard just this one time!? Please?"
"No." Gallagher said flatly.
"Fine!" Jack giving Gallagher a look. "But we're still heading west!"
"What ever you say, Captain." Gallagher replied. Jack waved him off with a gesture. Gallagher's wife rolled her eyes.
"Oh c'mon Jacquelyn. Who knows where we're going, but if I know our Captain well enough, he's taking us somewhere that we've never been before...and treasure." Gallagher whispered to his wife, with a faint gleam in his eyes. "But that doesn't mean there won't be fun along the way...ya get me sweetheart?"
Jack climbed the few steps to helm and gestured Gibs aside. Then he took the wheel, muttering something to himself and shooting Jacquelyn a dark look. Then he took his compass from his belt and opened it, suddenly looking deep in thought, something seemed to be pulling them in the wrong direction and Jack couldn't figure it out.
The weather was fair, the wind gentle, he knew the barring to Port Royal by hear, even with out his compass. "Yeah I get you, Gallagher... sweetie? hold on a sec. I have an apology to make." Jacquelyn said softly.
She moved up to where Jack was at the wheel and gave him a big hug from behind. "It's your boat, your compass. You make the course and we'll follow it. It's you, captain, not me that is the head of this voyage." "Well it's about time some body came to their senses." Jack said evenly, with a nod
"East it is..."
"I thought you said west." Gallagher remarked coming towards them. Jack looked around.
"West, yes, that's about right."
"Wow...why don't you just point in the direction we're headed eh?" Jacquelyn laughed with a wink.
"Don't worry Jacquelyn, we'll be fine! So now you and Gallagher do what ever." said Jack with a broad, but sarcastic grin.
Jack had been watching, what seemed to him, to be a low cloud as they drew near a cluster of small islands. Not unlikely, with the other storm clouds in the direction of they were headed, but he realized, with regret, suddenly, that it was no cloud!
He slammed his compass shut, let go of it, which went back to dangling on his belt and cocked his to the side. The dark smoke was drifting towards the Black Pearl now. "Anamaria!" She came scurrying up to the helm at his call, taking the wheel.
Jack jumped over the rail, to land on the main deck. He ran to the forecastle deck as the ship entered the smoke area. "RAISE THE FORESAIL!" Jack ordered. He wanted the speed dropped, but not dropped so dangerous as if another ship was in the area, they couldn't run.
The wreckage of another ship came into view. Burning remnants about the water. Jack caught sight of a flag before it went under. "An English merchant ship." He muttered, to the presence that came up behind him, raising an eyebrow.
"Pirate attack?" Gallagher asked, having been the one to come up behind him. "I want everyone on their guard!" Jack yelled. "And someone load the deck cannons! If it is, the ship could still be lingering." Jack replied to Gallagher.
"What's that?" One of Jack's crew asked, pointing. Coming into view through the smoke was a thick piece of board. Holding on to it, was a young man. He looked up towards the ship slowly, before letting go of the wood and slipping under the water.
Jack quick to take action. Quickly, he pulled off his hat, tossed it at the desk behind him, and unsheathed his sword, thrusting it at Gallagher. "Hold this!"
With that, he dove gracefully off the bowsprit in to the littered water. He could see the boy sinking deeper into the ocean, quickly he swam down towards him. Then grabbed the collar of the boy's shirt and began swimming back towards the surface.
Gibs ordered another crew member to take the wheel and was on the main deck, ordering the rope later to go over the side as the Captain surfaced with the boy in tow.
Jack wrapped an arm around the lad's upper chest, under the shoulders and side stroked back towards the Black Pearl. A man had half climbed down the rope later and was extending a hand.
He helped Jack get the young man over the side of the ship on the deck. But as Jack was climbing over the side, a cannon blast pierced the air, the ball landing dangerously close to Jack
Jonathan stirred slightly as he was dragged onto the deck, vaguely aware someone was touching him, impressions breaking through the haze in his mind.
A hard surface. A loud cannon blast. The rocking of a ship.
He tried to open his eyes, to look around and figure out where he was, but he didn't seem to have the strength. So he lay motionless, trying to piece things together.
I had been talking to him... and then... Then, for him, had been a cannon blast and a fall into darkness. And now.... he was here. But where was here?
The haze was coming back, stronger than before, and he released his mind, let it drift back into unconsciousness.
"Gallagher! Figure out where those blasts are coming from! We'll hit them with all we've got. They'll soon remember that the Black Pearl is not to be messed with." Jack cried, he himself running to help load a cannon.
His crew had learned that their Captain, fought by their side always, worked with them as if he himself were a lowly member of the crew when they were short handed. He was fair and just. He'd earned their respect and their undying loyalty.
Jon jerked awake at the next cannon blast. Where am I? he tried to say, looking around frantically. He didn't recognize anyone, or the ship.
"Davina?" he managed to whisper, gathering strength. "Davina? Where are you?" There was a woman leaning over him, but Jon continued to look around.
"Davina? Who's Davina!?" Jacquelyn asked Jon quietly. Something tugged at her and she looked back over the side of the Black Pearl to see another person, a young woman, floating adrift with a piece of bed-board. "Man overboard!" she cried, jumping to her feet.