INTO THE CARIBBEAN

CHAPTER SIX – Revelations

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Clear and vast, the sky reached out towards the horizon until it met with the deep blue waters, uninterrupted by any land. The afternoon sun warmed the skin and the wind that filled the sails soothed it. As the Interceptor glided through the water, waves splashed onto the hull, creating a relaxing sound of tranquility.

Alex stood by the port rail on the main deck, a peaceful smile on her face. As she ran a hand through her short hair, she realized how wonderful everything seemed out on sea…so quiet, so perfect, so…beautiful.

Contently, Alex relaxed against the wooden rail, leaning on her forearms and enjoying the spray of the sea against her face. The peaceful reverie was shattered when a shadow loomed over her.

"And what do you think you're doing, Keller?"

Annoyed, Alex turned around to face Jack, who stood with his arms crossed against his chest. "Nothing that concerns you, Sparrow. Oh, I'm sorry, Captain Sparrow." She corrected with a roll of her eyes when she saw he was about to reprimand her.

"I think you've misunderstood the concept here between you and I, Miss Keller." He said, pointing a finger between them. "I'm your captain, you're part of my crew. That means you obey me, and everything you do does concern me. That's how it works from now on, savvy?"

"Whatever you say, Captain." Alex replied mockingly. "And being captain, shouldn't you be at the helm, or is it your intention to get us lost?"

Jack hummed deep from within his throat, which may have been a small laugh or snicker. He motioned towards the helm with his head, the beads clinking against each other in his hair.

Will stood by the helm, obviously trying to keep them on course while the pirate spoke with her. His eyes showed he was in deep concentration, yet his faint frown revealed his nervousness. Alex knew he had never been at the helm before, unlike herself where her father would sometimes let her place her hands on the wooden sticks and use his hands to guide her. No, he was a blacksmith, not a sailor, and Jack was crazy for letting him do this.

"I told the whelp to go at it for a few minutes…it'll be good for him." Jack chuckled.

"And how would it be good for him?" Alex asked irritably. "He's never done that before. Sailing isn't in his blood."

Jack laughed out loud before knowingly grinning. "You'd be surprised, lass."

For a moment, Alex wondered what he meant by that, but she still rolled her eyes at him, convinced that mostly everything that came from his mouth was pure nonsense. She turned her back on Jack and faced the sea, but that didn't get rid of him easily. Grabbing her shoulder, he turned her to face him.

She sighed in exasperation. "What?"

He raised his brow, slightly amused at her behavior as a man but yet annoyed by it as a captain. "Did you do what I told you to do?"

Mouth agape, she stared up at him blankly. Jack rolled his eyes.

"Did you check to see if there are any supplies on board?"

"Oh, that?" Alex smirked. "Yes, I did."

"…and?" Jack waited expectantly, his patience wearing thin.

"And ol' Norrington packed this ship full of provisions to last us a few weeks, but we're missing a banana…I think it's the one shoved up your ass."

Jack hummed, his brown eyes swirling with amusement. "That's some surprising language coming from a lady such as yourself."

Alex scoffed. "I am by no means a lady, trust me."

"Ah," Jack chuckled, letting his eyes leisurely scan her attire. "You're one of the most interesting lasses I've met, I'll give you that, Keller."

"And you're an arrogant drunk fool, the complete opposite of what I hear and read in stories." She retorted.

"Ow, you wound me." He frowned, placing his hand over his heart. "You don't find me charming, devilishly handsome, and irresistible like the stories say?"

True, he did have a certain charm about him, something that seemed to flow naturally. And true, he was handsome, and no doubt was popular with the ladies he came across. But unlike them, she was able to resist him.

Alex snorted. "Hardly."

Jack studied her as he unconsciously toyed with the braids from his chin. Suspiciously, Alex stared up at him, wondering what obscene thought was crossing his mind now.

"So, you must have an eye for the ladies then." He finally spoke, a grin hiding behind his serious eyes.

"What! Do not!" Alex protested, her eyes widening with anger.

"Well, you must have, since you don't find me charming, devilishly handsome, or undeniably irristible." Jack grinned, secretly enjoying seeing her feathers ruffled.

"That's because you're intolerable!"

"Well, then who do you have your pretty eyes on?"

Her mind momentarily went to Will as she stared defiantly up at Jack. Will's caring brown eyes, his contagious smile, his sweet laughter…but as fast as his face had come, it went away with the same speed, leaving Alex glaring up at Jack's amused face.

"Now that, Sparrow, is none of your concern."

And with that, she roughly brushed by him, her shoulder colliding with his chest, causing Jack to turn and watch her storm down below.

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Later that afternoon after Alex took a leisurely nap and cooled off, she emerged back onto the sunny deck. Using her hand to provide shade, she searched for Will, and quickly found him sitting on a wooden crate sharpening his sword. His sleeves were partly rolled up towards his elbows; his eyes showed intent concentration, just like they always did when he worked.

"Ahoy, mate." Alex chuckled, sitting on the deck with her back against a cannon, facing Will.

"Alex." He replied in greeting, and smiled at her, but she saw he was distracted. After several moments, he sighed deeply. "When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself. After she died, I came out here, looking for my father." He finished, staring purposely up at Jack, who stood just a few feet away checking the ropes.

"Is that so?" Jack replied distractedly. He strode up the small flight of stairs to the helm. Will and Alex followed moments later.
"My father, Will Turner…at the jail, it was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help. Since that's what I wanted, I didn't press the matter. I'm not a simpleton, Jack." Will stood behind Jack, his eyes boring into the back of his head. "You knew my father."

Alex watched as Jack sighed, tilting his head to the side and losing himself in a brief memory. He turned and stood up to Will. "I knew 'im. Probably one the few who knew him as William Turner." He took a step back to the helm and removed the rope that held the spokes in place. "Everyone else just called him Bootstrap or Bootstrap Bill."

"…Bootstrap?" Will questioned, confused. Alex also worried her bottom lip with her teeth, a habit she did when in thought. If her memory served her correctly, then wouldn't Bootstrap Bill be…
"Good man. Good pirate." Jack turned and stared straight at Will. "I swear you look just like him."

Alex's eyes widened in shock and realization. Could it really be? Will's father, a pirate! Her reaction would have been one of shock and excitement at the news, but Will took it differently. His eyes darkened.

"It's not true. He was a merchant sailor, a good, respectable man who obeyed the law!" He reasoned, his anger slowly rising.

"He was a bloody pirate, a scallywag!" Jack shot back.

"My father," Will swiftly unsheathed his sword and pointed the blade at Jack, "was not a pirate!"

Jack shifted on his feet in a bored manner, his head slightly tilting back as he stared out onto the horizon. "Put it away, son. It's not worth you getting beat again."

"You didn't beat me." Will glared. "You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd kill you."

Rolling his eyes, Jack turned and faced him. "Then that's not much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it?" Suddenly, he spun the helm, causing one of the sails to quickly speed towards them. Alex's eyes widened and she ducked just in time as it went over her and towards Will, knocking the sword out of his hand as it caught him across the stomach and swung him out over the sea.

"Why the hell did you do that for?" Alex shouted angrily at Jack, who stood to his feet with a smug grin.

"Needed to knock some sense into the lad." Jack smirked. He picked up Will's discarded sword and pointed it at the blacksmith.
"Now, as long as you're just hanging there, pay attention." Jack started. Will grunted, his legs helplessly swinging in the air as he tried to properly grip the sail so he wouldn't fall. "The only rules that really matter are these – what a man can do and what a man can't do. For instance," He took a step backward and rested a hand on the spoke of the helm, "you can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man, or you can't. But pirate is in your blood, boy, so you'll have to square with that someday. Now, me, for example," He dug the tip of the sword into the deck. "I can let you drown! But me and the lass here can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by our onesies, savvy? So…"

He turned the helm again, making the sail swing back in the opposite direction. Alex fell to the deck again so she wouldn't get hit, and glared at Jack. Will fell onto the deck, and immediately Jack was towering over him, the tip of the sword at his throat.

"Can you sail under the command of a pirate?" He flipped the sword in his hand, so now the hilt was now open for Will to take. "Or can you not?"

Will carefully took the sword and crooked his brow. "Tortuga?" He questioned acceptingly.

Jack smiled widely, his gold teeth shining and excitement dancing in his eyes.

"Tortuga."

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Alex found Will along the starboard rail, staring uneasily at the pirate town of Tortuga. The setting sun's rays played handsomely along his features, casting orange and red hues along his skin and illuminating his features. With a small gulp, she approached.

"Looks exciting." Alex commented, resting her elbows on the wooden banister beside Will. He shrugged.

"It seems dangerous. I don't like it one bit." He sighed deeply. "Be careful, okay, Alex? I don't trust Jack, along with that town." He glanced back at the glowing lights along the island.

She frowned, and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Will, look at me." He obeyed her and stared her straight in the eye, his brown eyes almost looking black with the growing absence of light. "If Jack was friends with your father, a good and respectable man, then I'm sure he is too."

"I hope so." Will quietly replied, staring back out at Tortuga as the rest of the sun disappeared beneath the horizon.

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A/N: Important! By the next update, I'll be changing my name to runawaypirate (or some other variation of it, if the name is already taken) I just feel like I need a change. So if you see this story updated under a different name, don't worry, it's still me!

Now, I'd like to thank SilverWolfSingsToTheMoon (Haha, really? That is kinda creepy!) obliviongates (Thank you, I enjoy writing their little arguments with each other :) Thanks for reading!) VagrantCandy (Hmm...how so? I've been trying to keep Alex far from that, but I only know a few definitions for that term. And to your question...not in the near future, but maybe in the future, wink wink) Mystich (Thank you! He is a funny lil pirate, isn't he?) doctress (Thank you! I was hoping I wouldn't screw up their characters...and I agree with you, about the tingly all over) Terriah (Haha, I'm glad to hear that!)

And even thanks to those who read, but yet have reviewed...seeing how many hits each this story gets is encouraging, but your reviews would be even more encouraging and make me update faster :) /hint

Please review!