See Chapter One

Wow, the response I've gotten to this fic is amazing. I'm very flattered and thrilled that there are so many slash fans. XP

You know, I'm turning out chapters for this fic a lot faster than for any other story I've written. XP I guess y'all are just so inspiring.

I have decided that it makes no sense to have Jack and Jamie's POV spread out like this... So I fixed it. Adding them on to the other chapters. Some editing was done, but nothing major changed, so no worries in case you think you have to re-read it again.

WARNING: Things get a little heavy in this chapter. Honestly, if anyone thinks I should up rating to R, please tell me. I don't want it to be known that I mis-rate!

Story pimp to Raphe1! You can find her works on fanfiction. net or theparley archive. net, I believe. On her fanfiction. net account, she has mostly oneshots- which are awesome! 'Four Sheets To The Wind' is hilarious, and I recommend it to anyone who likes Sparrington. And if you don't, what on earth are you doing here? o.O
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I just want to let everyone know that Sorano (also known as 'Authoress Pendragon") is the most wonderful, lovely person I have ever met. She was nice enough to help me with the steamy pieces of this chapter. X3 She rocks the socks into outer space, man. (glomps Sorano) You never told me if you would marry me or not, muffin! The wedding could be in Holland- it's legal there. XD

And so, this chapter is entirely thanks to Sorano, and I just want you all to know that the especially lovely, yummy bits are hers. (bows down in worship to the Goddess that she is)

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Cum Grano Salis

With a Grain of Salt

James came awake all at once when he heard the door being kicked shut. Unlike earlier that day, he knew exactly where he was, and why. So it was hardly surprising that he really didn't want to open his eyes in order to confirm it.

"Oy... ye awake, sir?" Not Sparrow's voice. His eyes flew open.

Standing by the bed was a young boy, perhaps of twelve years, with bright red hair, but he didn't have the fair skin usually associated with it. The lad had very bright, sparkling blue eyes and was nearly bursting with energy.

Norrington groaned inwardly.

"Cap'n Jack said t' bring dinner to ye, sir." Only then did the Commodore notice the tray of food being held by the boy. As if that recognition had signaled it, James' stomach growled. Well that was rather embarrassing, and he almost didn't get his Commodore face on in time to catch the blush that wanted to spread over his cheeks.

The boy looked pleased, for some reason, and as Norrington struggled to sit up properly he placed the tray on the bed beside him. "M' name's Cal, sir. If'n ye need anythin'..."

Cal stood there, looking for all the world as if there were no place he'd rather be. "Ah... thank you, no." And the boy didn't move. The Commodore cleared his throat, but that didn't work either. How was he supposed to eat with that child staring at him? "Is... is there something you want?"

Rocking slightly on his toes, Cal looked as if he was holding something in. He burst out, "Is it true ye fought Mad Barbosa 'n his undead crew on the Isla de Muerta?"

"Yes, I suppose-"

"And' yer Navy crew was scared like liddle babes an' hid below deck, so ye was fightin' 'em alone-"

"That's not exactly-"

"-an' winnin'! Ye was hackin' left an' right wi' yer magic sword an' cuttin' through their bones like butter 'till they was even more 'fraid o' you than Mad Barbosa an' some 'o them even went an' hid below wi' yer crew they was so scared-"

"I don't-"

"-an' ye beat 'em even worser when Cap'n Jack broke the curse an' they could die proper. But then ye captured Cap'n Jack, but that's all right 'cause he escaped 'cause he's the luckiest man in the world," Cal finished.

"...Is he?" James could only reply weakly.

The boy nodded solemnly. "No one's luckier 'n Cap'n Jack, 'cept maybe you."

"Me?"

"Yer the only one who's ever caught him twice. He's got caught a bunch o' times but he always gets away an' they can never get him again, only ye did get him again! Nobody's as good a pirate catcher-er as ye."

"...Is that so..."

"That's why they call ye Lobo del Mar, the Wolf of the Sea, 'cause once ye get the scent 'o a man ye never rest 'till ye've got 'im." Suddenly, Cal cocked his head the side, as if he was hearing something. "I've got t' go now- 'ope ye have a nice dinner." And like that, he was gone.

James shook his head in disbelief. He'd thought no one could possible be crazier than Sparrow, but apparently he was wrong.

Well. The food was getting cold, so he picked up the bowl, filled with some sort of stew (he decided not to question the contents too closely) and began to eat.

Lobo del Mar? Heh.

After a while, James finished his dinner, and was no longer sleepy. In fact, he was wide-awake... and bored out of his mind. He couldn't even get out of the bed without falling over with dizziness! So what was he supposed to do?

The Commodore had already memorized the carvings on the bed's headboard (grapes vines with a three-inch crack in the top left panel), not to mention what he could see of the room. He fairly itched to see what was in some of those cupboards.

So he spent his time debating with himself whether or not it counted as sin to violate the privacy of a pirate. He rather suspected it was, but he really wanted to know what was poking half out of the one cupboard on the right. And in the midst remembering that if he got up his head would spin, Sparrow entered.

The pirate glanced at the empty plate, "Finished, ey?" and without so much as a by-your-leave, bent over Norrington to reach the tray beside him. Humming a sea tune under his breath.

James resisted the urge to recoil away from the other man. He refused to show any such weakness! Well, any more weakness, he realized. The Pearl's Captain had already seen him ill and unconscious. And that wasn't even bringing up the part about sharing company with the pirate and he was rather less than fully dressed... Unintentional and unavoidable though it was.

It made him feel distinctively uncomfortable; the thought that he was in Sparrow's presence wearing only a shirt.

Jack set the tray on the floor outside the door with a loud clink of silverware (and it was silver- stolen, no doubt) afterwards making a great show of dusting his hands off, as if it had been some difficult task.

Norrington wanted to roll his eyes. Did the pirate ever stop playacting?

Turning with a bit of a swish, Sparrow made his way over the same table he had sat at before, this time leaning against the chair. He shot James a smug sort of grin that was especially annoying. "Enjoyin' your stay, Commodore?"

More than a bit aggravated at the whole situation, Norrington frowned. "The hospitality is somewhat lacking, Mr. Sparrow," and he put a chill in his voice to demonstrate just how much that hospitality lacked.

Sparrow slipped off the side of the chair, stumbling slightly. "Lacking? Lacking? Why, y' ruddy bleater! It seems t' me that you've been rightly treated, and your crew- which is more 'n I could say for me 'n mine if it'd been us captured!"

James shifted uncomfortably, knowing it to be true. But he'd only wanted to wipe that smirk off the other man's face. "I happen to be a member of the King's Royal Navy." It sounded weak, even to his own ears. He remembered the multiple times Sparrow had been locked behind bars, and couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't still in the brig.

Jack snorted. "Royal Navy... bah! More like a Royal pain 'n the arse!" He glowered darkly at the Commodore. "Damned unappreciative man, y' are. An' sleepin' in me own bed, no less!"

Gesturing expansively at the bed, Norrington retorted, "You are free to amend your decision, of course."

"What, are y' tryin' to get Ana t' kill me? If y' budge so much 's 'n inch, she'll have all our hides."

The Commodore crossed his arms over his chest with a huff. "How tragic." The entire exchange felt childish. It was like they were adolescents again, each trying to overcome the other. Norrington had the sneaking suspicion that he might actually be... enjoying himself. Enjoying the battle.

Then he wondered what kind of pain-killer that woman had given him, exactly. That sort of reaction couldn't be normal.

"Well, fine," the pirate growled. "I've had enough." He firmly removed his vest and startedpulling offhis shirt.

James' eyes opened wide. "W-what do you think you're doing?"

"I am pr'paring m'self for bed, if y' must know."

"What- you can't! Not here!" He clutched the blankets around him, as if to keep the bed and its contents away from the other man.

"Can. Will." Jack gave him a look, eyebrow raised slightly, which said as plainly as day, pirate! He finished undressing, folded and set the clothes on the chair with the boots chucked underneath.

Realizing the Captain would not be deterred, Norrington scooted to the far side of the bed as Sparrow settled beneath the covers, ignoring the pain that shot through his shoulder at the hurried movement. He regarded the other man warily, feeling trapped, cornered as he was between the wall of the cabin and Jack. Who, of course, was smirking wickedly and quite pleased with himself.

Bloody pirate.

And the man couldn't even be bothered to keep to one side of the bed, like a civilized being! Practically right in the middle, with no more than a foot between them. James pressed himself further against the wall, scowling.

That was the catch wasn't it? Sparrow just wasn't civilized, though you'd have thought James would have noticed by then.

Strangely enough, the pirate didn't speak any further and Norrington certainly didn't say anything. So the silence stretched between them for what seemed like eternity. Sleep, at least, would be an escape from the quiet, but the Commodore realized that slumbering all day was not particularly conductive to a good night's rest. He was all slept out. And what was the time anyway? All he could see from the small port window was that it was night.

James frowned, rubbing his temple as he felt another headache build up. He was effectively caged in a bed... with a pirate. A very naked pirate. Caribbean heat, or no, it was no excuse to dress so unseemly! That is, no excuse to be undressed in such an unseemly manner... or something.

He really wanted to know what medication was in his system.

Sparrow suddenly rolled on his side, making Norrington start with surprise, and propped his chin on a fist, looking at the Commodore with a knowing stare. "Can't sleep either, eh?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but no, I can't." he reluctantly acknowledged.

"Aye," the pirate said, agreeing. Although exactly what he was agreeing with wasn't clear. "The question is, what shall we do t' entertain ourselves." He gestured expansively with is free arm, adding an extra wrist flick, and fixed James with a speculative gleam in his eyes.

Norrington couldn't help but follow the movement of that elegant wrist, noticing that Sparrow seemed to have a rather delicate bone structure, for a pirate. For a man, really. "I hardly care what a man of your reputation does in his free time," he began, but Jack interrupted.

"I've just the thing!" The Captain exclaimed, and rolled over right on top of him.

"Sparrow! What do you think- mmphff!" Good Lord, he was being kissed. By a pirate. By Sparrow! "Mmmphfff!" He tried to buck the other man off, but Jack was having none of that and kissed him all the firmer and Lord, but his lips were soft and coaxing. Nothing like a woman's for all that, because they were demanding and forceful. A man's kiss, was what it was and oh it felt good.

A part of his brain that was still functioning screamed at his unresponsive body to do something, but another part informed it that they were doing something, thank you very much, and that was enjoying the ride.

Then Jack (and now it was Jack?) was sliding his tongue along his lips and James opened his mouth inviting the pirate to make it a different sort of kiss all together. It was a fierce, shared instant; the scrapping of teeth, delving of tongue, wet, hot, and heart pounding. He could taste the hints of rum mingled with some exotic spiciness. The sensations overpowered him till his head was spinning dizzily.

Norrington couldn't hold in a moan that was absorbed by the other man's mouth and Jack chuckled wickedly.

A whirl of painful awareness registered the pirate moving a callused hand slowly sliding up James' bare thigh as he broke off the kiss to nibble right below his jaw line. Jack placed a sharper bite at his collarbone, and James nearly cried out from the sparks that shot through him.

Sparrow's hand slid across sensitized skin, across the hip and leaving a trail of fire in its wake, finally closed on its target. Impossibly hard, ready, throbbing.

It was such a jolt to his mind, that even as he groaned he realized just precisely what he was doing and whom he was doing it with. God no- yes!- no!- stop!

He put his hands to Jack's chest and gave a hard shove. Caught off guard, Jack went flying and rolled right off the bed, landing on the floor on his rather fine piratey arse.

"You- you-" James was trembling with reaction, and he told himself it was anger, but the needy pain between his legs told a different story. His breathing ragged and his thoughts scrambled, the Commodore shivered as he tried to get a grip on himself.

"Me?" Naked, laughing, the handsome devil of the sea, Jack Sparrow lifted himself off the floor and back onto the bed, moving to be right in Norrington's face. "Quite a pretty sight y' are Commodore," he informed the other man.

And a quick glance down told him that pretty sights ran below the belt too. But Jack wasn't suffering, James thought, nearly as much as he was. "That was uncalled for."

"Really? D' you think a pirate cares for what's called for 'r not?" His face was still close. Close enough for that rum steeped breath to caress James's hot skin. And before James could catch it Jack ran a feather touch over the blanket tent, enough to tease, enough to make sure nothing was cooling down anytime soon.

Swaggering into his trousers and fitting his shirt back on, Jack carelessly flapped his hand over his shoulder in farewell and walked out of the cabin. For all the world like his breath hadn't been as ragged and hitched as the Commodore's.

Oneiriad - Chapter two's first review! Yes, I'm sure we all feel at least a bit sorry for poor Jamie. How many more crazy pirates will be thrown at him? lol! But, yes, he will eventually enjoy his stay... Keyword: eventually.

Authoress Pendragon - Yay Sorano! I always love your reviews. NEwayCal really is a cutie, huh? Hard to believe I totally came up with him on the spur-of-the-moment. But the story the Cal was talking about- that's not one of Jack's stories. Somehow I doubt Jack would view the Commodore in such a light, as of yet. The thing is, people talk, and sailors are horrible gossips (hello, what else is there to do when you're stuck at sea for months on end?) and the tale grows at each telling until the true event is completely unlike the story being told.

BlackJackSilver - Looney little cabin boys are much fun. But then again, it's Jack. Close proximity to him seems to cause insanity. :P Rushing to slash... I like to think that that isn't possible for me. (sweatdrop) I'm writing quite a few stories, all of them slash, and I have still not yet gotten to the actual slash. I was actually trying to do it sooner in this fic. This chapter actually. But slash is different then them getting a relationship... which really won't be happening in a while. I think it will work out- let me know if it works, though, ok?

Raphe1 - I was hoping the imagery of that scene was good. Updating... still relatively soon.

HieiTheDarkGem - lol.

Applesauce - That's ok. We all tend to get a bit irrational over our guys. Yes, of course the Lieutenants will be coming up soon! I can't very well have this story without them, you know.

insert funky name - Not quite my first review, but you're here. That's all that counts. The meaning of my chapter titles are written right in the title. "Bella Gerant Alii - Let Others Wage War." So "Belle Gerant Alii" means "Let Others Wage War." And it's Latin. I'm rather fond of Latin. My other story, a Harry Potter one, the chapter titles are also in Latin, but just the Latin Numbers. Primus, Secundus, Tertius... (first, second, third...)

Lady Lorax - No problem with the spelling! It was very late at night and I was running short on sleep. My bad. Sorry. (also pets James) He's very pet-able, no:P

Kitsune Arashi - (rolls eyes) You're such a pal.

TBC