See Chapter One

I haven't been able to update as soon as I wanted, because my computer decided to be a total prick and crashed, thus losing every file I had saved on the computer. Including what I had written for this chapter. And then the new computer I got decided to not work as well! (insert screaming and howls of pure exasperation here) I finally have one that works now, so I should be able to get things done quicker, although I don't make any promises. School's started, and that makes getting anything done mucho harder.

There's a fight scene in this, and I'm unsure if it's any good. I'm way out of practice writing fights. Let me know if it works out!

Ficpimp to L.M. Griffin for wonderful Sparrington, and giving amazing life to characters such as Lieutenants Gillette and Groves (known in her fics as "Bush"). Love her Lieutenants. They rock. So does James. Hell, they all rock. Writings can be found at FanFictionNet as L.M. Griffin, Noir Sensus in the Bella Donna section (NoirSensusCom/authors/almgriffin. Html) and also TheParleyArchive. Net.

Dis Aliter Visum

The Gods Decided Differently

Jack drummed his fingertips against the wood of the Black Pearl's rail. Times like these, he thought, made one realize why avoiding the navy was the smart thing to do. What had possessed him to kidnap Norrington? Yes, yes, there was that possibility of all that lovely gold, but the Captain wasn't sure it was worth all the trouble!

First they had gone through that trouble of finding the man's ship (really they stumbled upon it, but who wanted to quibble over such a small thing?) and captured Norrington.

Only to have the man escape from the brig, making the crew look like incompetents, and then bloody well kipping over in fever! So Jack not only had try and save the blasted man who'd tried to hang him more than once, but he also had to give up his bed and his personal space. And how was he repaid? The one night he'd attempted to reclaim his bed, the bastard pushed him right out!

Well, served him right for interfering with navy 'affairs'. What had made him try anything, in any case? It wasn't as if Captain Jack Sparrow didn't have his choice of bedmates.

It was those eyes, he decided. Green like the sea, and expressing plenty of her temperament, but lovely all the same. And the man looked so vulnerable and appealing, it was no wonder a body was taken in. Lovely body, too, come to think of it... No! Leave Norrie alone and find safer prey--pastimes! Safer pastimes!

Jack looked around furtively, hoping no one caught his slip. Anamaria was a powerful slapper. Then he realized he hadn't actually spoken aloud and relaxed.

Well, involvements with the navy always ended in tears, anyway.

The Commodore was a guest, nothing more, until such time would come to dispose of him in exchange for a great deal of money. He nodded decisively, glad to have come to a decision. Jack's stomach seemed pleased too, and growled in commendation. "Breakfast time, aye?" Blast, he'd better feed Mr. 'God yes-- no, wait, I changed my mind,' as well.

Bloody commodores.

He could, of course, ask Cal to do it, or even Anamaria. After all, she wouldn't go and undo all the work she had put into healing the man, right? ...Right?

But in either case that smacked as being something along the lines of running away, and Captain Jack Sparrow did not lack in courage facing a sick man aboard his own ship!

A few minutes later, Jack flicked the latch open with one hand while the other held a plate, unceremoniously kicking the door open. "Mornin' love!" he called, in his best obnoxious manner. Unfortunately, the Commodore was already awake and sitting up.

Sparrow paused, feeling something was off. Every muscle in the other man's body was tensed, like a cat preparing to spring. Or like a rabbit about to flee, the pirate amended, seeing the wary look in Norrington's eyes.

Now that was more than passing odd. Despite the vulnerability inherent in the situation, the Commodore had never been more than perfectly self-assured whenever Jack had seen him. Being strong and upstanding-- certainly better than mere pirates-- seemed to be ingrained into the man. And now it was like he was... afraid?

Foregoing whatever other words of greeting the Captain had planned, Jack went to the other man's bedside and put the plate on the bed within easy reach. Norrington didn't take his eyes off him, but refused eye contact. Interesting.

Just as he was turning to leave-- "Sparrow."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Aye?"

"About last night... Was that the price of my continued well-being on this ship?"

"What?"

Now Norrington looked away, to the floor, the cupboards-- looked anywhere but at Jack and at the bed. "I am just curious how long I will have the option of pushing you away."

The Captain clenched his fists and had to remind himself not to strike an ill man."A pirate I may be, Commodore, but I. Do. Not. Rape!" Sparrow snarled, all traces of the usually friendly lilt in his voice gone. "My apologies for not living up to your expectations!" Without another word he left the room, and slammed the door behind him.

Jack growled at anyone foolish enough to make eye contact and the crew quickly made themselves busy. How dare that man assume-- how dare he even think--

Thrice damned bloody navy!

Back inside the captain's cabin, James buried his face in his hands and shivered convulsively.

"Cap'n?"

"Aye?" Jack mumbled in response, sitting up from the cot he'd commandeered and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The thing was horrendously uncomfortable, even after three days to get used to it, but at least he didn't have to put up with the snoring of the crew-- or a certain unnamed member of the Royal-pain-in-the-ass Navy.

Matthew shifted nervously. "Well, 's 'bout Norrington."

Maybe not so unnamed.

The pirate captain muttered curses under his breath and reluctantly dragged himself from the cot to collect his clothing for the day. "What's 'e up to?"

Matthew flushed and looked away from his Captain's somewhat less than clothed form, which Jack thought was rather interesting. Especially considering that all the crew knew rather well that he'd occasionally wandered about the ship naked whenever it took his fancy.

"Well... 'e's not stayin' inside your cabin anymore, Cap'n."

"What?" Was the man well enough to walk yet? Jack blinked. Had it been three days already? Then he frowned. What the hell did he care if the bloody Commodore was getting himself into trouble, as long as he stayed alive long enough for them to claim the ransom!

Sparrow had left the recovery and care up to Cal and Anamaria and had done an admirable job of not once glimpsing the man in the past few days, considering that Norrington hadn't left the cabin. Until now, apparently.

"Been botherin' the crew?" Preaching about the evils of piracy, no doubt. Repent thy raping ways and save thine immortal souls! Jack scowled as he laced up his breeches.

"Ah... No, Cap'n."

"'N wha's th' problem?" the pirate asked, his voice muffled as he pulled a shirt over his head.

"Anamaria don't know 'e's up."

Ouch. Jack winced at the thought of the screeching when she found out. "For God's sake, lad, keep him outta sight until 'e tires and goes back inside."

"We're tryin'..."

That didn't sound very good. "But?"

Matthew gave an exasperated sigh. "Th' bloody idiot's lookin' for 'er."

"He what?"

"Says 'e wants t' thank 'her... D'ye think the wound's gone to 'is mind?"

And right on cue, the sounds of some sort of commotion penetrated the door. Jack and the other man exchanged a look and hurried outside what had once been the first mate's room, then a storage room after the Barbossa incident, and at the moment the room Jack slept in.

And the Captain realized that there was a reason the word commotion was really a very similar word to commodore.

"Look, Miss--"

The woman snarled, advancing on Norrington, who backed away with his hands held out before him in a placating way. Not that it would do him much good, as Jack knew from experience.

"Miss Anamaria, I don't--"

"Shut up!"

"'E's in for it," Gibbs muttered. Sparrow glanced at the man who'd joined them. "Can't say as I blame, 'er, either, what with the way he's been tauntin' 'er." The pirate captain raised an eyebrow and Gibbs explained, "Well, it's been 'Ma'am this' and 'Miss that' since 'e's been out here, and ye know how Ana hates bein' made fun of."

"He'll have more than just Ana to answer to, in that case," Jack replied in a low voice, making the other two look at him in surprise. No man interfered with his crew, especially not some snot-nosed, high society, rooster. Especially not Norrington!

The Commodore caught his ankle on a rope, giving Anamaria the time to close the distance between them. She lunged at him, but he managed to get free and dodged out of the way just in time. Neither moved for a moment after, catching their breath. Norrington eyed the woman warily, while Anamaria glowered.

"Would you kindly just explain what I did to upset you, Miss Anamaria?" the Commodore demanded with a great deal of confusion mixed with exasperation evident in his voice.

"Fils de pute!" she snarled. "An' stop callin' me that!" And Anamaria dived after him again, only to have him evade her grasp once more.

"My mother was not a prostitute," Norrington snapped in reply, finally getting angry enough to stop running from her and taking up a fighter's stance.

The rest of the crew, who had gathered to watch, took in breaths of anticipation. Anamaria was well known as the best bare-handed fighter of the entire crew- she had to be, being the only woman aboard. A reputation that was starting to spread to other ships as well.

Her hand swung out and he intercepted the strike roughly, in a block that was half blow. Anamaria recovered quickly, drawing back before he could take his turn to attack.

Norrington didn't press his advantage, but glared at her and continued angrily, "My apologies if my way of addressing you offends, but that is the way I was raised to speak to a lady."

Anamaria eyed his stance, looking for weaknesses, and snorted. "Aye, 'm sure someone like ye thinks I'm very ladylike. In case ye 'aven't noticed, my skin's quite a bit darker 'n yours- an' my mother was a whore."

"You are a woman, Miss Anamaria, and that makes you a lady," Norrington answered with an icy voice.

"Funny how none but ye seems t' think so!"

Matthew and Gibbs exchanged a look. "Five f'r Anamaria," the younger pirate said.

"Seems t' me the Commodore were always decent 'n a fight... An' 'e's been holdin' his own so far- I'll take that bet."

Jack ignored the other two, focusing on the fight before him. If he was following things correctly... then the whole thing was because of a misunderstanding.

Bloody hell. Couldn't a pirate have a single uneventful week?

The pirate woman finally got a grip on Norrington, tossing him over her hip. The Commodore managed to roll to his feet and caught the kick she'd aimed at him, sending Anamaria to the deck.

"If it bothers you that greatly, then I'll do my best to make sure we do not cross paths again." Norrington informed her, and with that, he turned and stalked furiously back into the captain's cabin. The crew parted respectfully before him to let the Commodore pass, but he didn't seem to notice.

Anamaria stared after him, looking like she'd been slapped in the face.

Jack felt a headache building up. Why couldn't the man just act like he was supposed to and not disillusion a pirate? The Captain lifted a hand to massage his temples as Matthew ran to help Anamaria up.

It hadn't been for the fame and glory of taking out the last pirate threat. 'I serve others, Mr. Sparrow, not only myself.'

But then, 'For me, as a wedding gift.'

There was definitely more to the Commodore than duty and a shiny sword.

Oneiriad - How is it you always manage to be the first person to review for my chapters? (gives a cookie) No, Jack isn't a bush-beater. (pause) Heheh. That sounds like a dirty phrase or something. (snerk) XP

pirategrrl - (grin) Who wouldn't be needy with a delectable pirate on top of them?

HieiTheDarkGem - Oh good, thanks! I wasn't quite sure.

Authoress Pendragon - Aw, but I so wanted winter wedding… (sigh) I guess I'll just have to live without you. (ahem) Norrie? Not innocent? (cough) I haven't the idea what you're talking about, I'm sure. (halo slides off devil horns)

Update 4/25: We could get married in Massachusetts! It's legal there, now.

Raphe1 - You're welcome! Always glad to help a good writer along.

elaneon - Why thank you! Quite a lovely reviewer you are. The hammock one-- was it by Webcrowmancer, perchance? 'Cause one of hers was like that, and I, too, winced a bit. And how on earth do they not fall off? Or you'd think after all the activity one of the rings holding it would break or something. (snerk)

ndm - Thank you for the lovely review-- and you're right about the throw. Thanks for pointing it out to me!

Saavik13 - Hey, glad you enjoyed the story.