What Is & What Will Never Be
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I do not and cannot obtain ownership of POTC 1, 2, or 3...
Jack strolled into the kitchen, checking his compass, and with relief, saw that it was pointing west. He stopped at the counter, placing the compass atop it, and then commenced examining his pistol.
"Jack?"
He looked up. "Ah, Will! Jus' the person I wanted to see."
"You're up bright and early. Off somewhere?" Will asked.
"I could ask you the same question."
"Well, I'm off to work."
"Startin' up again today, are ye?"
"Aye", Will responded, slipping his coat on. "And what about you?"
"Well, I have to be off to Tortuga fer a spell." He paused. "Ye understand?"
Will finished fastening the clasp on his coat, then answered, "Well, Jack, I know I can't deprive you of all your pirate iniquities" He gave a slight laugh. "So I'll let this one slide."
"Much appreciation, mate", Jack bowed. "How's lovely Mrs. Turner an' the little one this morning?"
Will smiled. "Asleep." He sighed. "Ah, Jack, you don't know how much more joy that little girl has brought into my life..."
"Oh, Will", Jack murmured, slapping him on the back. "Don't get all sentimental on me now. Elizabeth just douses me with sentiment."
"Ah, yes, Jack—I would hate for you to get too emotional there", Will riposted, as he made his way to the front door.
Jack clapped his hand on Will's shoulder. "Alright, mate. You and Elizabeth take care o' yerselves whilst I'm gone, savvy? 'Tis three weeks, but I know how much trouble one like you can get into...'specially with Bootstrap in yer veins. Don't do anythin' stupid!"
Will nodded impatiently.
"An' make sure Miss Jenevieve behaves fer her Uncle Jack..."
"Oh, Uncle Jack, is it?" Will smirked.
"Lay off", Jack growled. "An', make sure Jade..."
"You know Miss Rochet is welcome in our home, Jack. It's a pleasure to have her, and Liz and Jen just adore her."
"Well, thank ye, mate." The clock chimed. "I'd best be off", Jack concluded, tipping his hat, and exiting the front door.
"Safe journey!" Will called. Jack waved his hand inattentively behind him as he continued down the hill, on to the docks, where he would meet Gibbs and start the voyage back to ol' Tortuga...
"...Tortuga. This is Tortuga, missy, if ye haven' noticed!"
"I have bloody noticed, goddamnit!" Katrina screeched vehemently. She had her hands on her hips as she angrily argued with the bartender, Jasper.
"Well", he gave a sarcastic laugh. "If ye think yer goin' to lure yer bleedin' sweet'eart 'ere..."
"Look—I'm doin' what it takes", Katrina hissed, surreptitiously putting her hand in her pocket to make sure the letter was still there. "Will's got to be miserable with that bloody hag..."
She pursed her lips, loathing Elizabeth more and more.
"In't she yer bloody cousin?" Jasper asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"So what? And what right do you 'ave to get into my bleedin' family affairs anyway?" Katrina retorted.
"Hey!" he growled, leaning over the bar, and tugging her forward by the top of her dress.
"Yer the bar slut 'ere; I'm the boss." He jerked her back. "That clear? Cause if it's not..."
His gaze traveled to a table in the corner of the bar. "There's a whole group o' drunkards who would gladly 'ave you."
"But I'm off work..."
He snapped his fingers. "One more wisecrack like that, and that's how quickly you'll be back on work."
Katrina was about to respond, but Jasper snarled, "Get outta my sight!"
Without another word, Katrina hurried up the rickety, wooden staircase, and into her small bedroom, locking the door.
She couldn't help but smile to herself. She'd get Will...one way or another...
Jade was curled up in a chair, a mug of hot tea in her hands, and a cloak about her shoulders as she watched the rain pelt against the window.
She tapped her fingers nervously on the side of the teacup. "Oh, I hope Jack is alright", she reflected to herself, as she thought how horrid the weather must be out on the seas. It was nearly 8:00 am now, and Jack and his crew had left at least two hours ago.
Jack had awakened her at the crack of dawn, bidding her farewell. She had fallen back asleep, but had reawakened just a short time ago.
Will had left as well, to restart his work in the Blacksmith/Jeweler shop, just shortly after Jack's departure.
"Jade?" a voice inquired.
Jade rose to see Elizabeth walking towards her, dressed in her night robes, as she cradled Jenevieve in her arms.
"Bon matin", Jade greeted, smiling, as she walked towards them.
Elizabeth gave her a slight embrace. "I was just getting some milk for her." She set Jenevieve in the extra cradle and crossed over to the kitchen.
"Bonjour, petite", Jade whispered gently to the waking babe. "Oh, Elizabeth, I left you some tea on the counter."
"Oh, thank you", Elizabeth answered as she reentered the living, holding the mug in one hand, and the bottle of milk in the other.
"It's a tad liberating, isn't it?" Elizabeth said with a smile, as she gave Jenevieve the milk. "Being free of our men towering and fussing over us."
Jade laughed. "I'd dare say so!"
"Where is Captain Sparrow, anyway? Tortuga?" Elizabeth guessed.
Jade nodded.
"Really?" Elizabeth murmured in moderate surprise.
"Do you know of it?" Jade asked.
Elizabeth laughed a bit. "Only what I've heard from Will and Jack's conversations. Will won't speak of it at all. He only said that the memory of going shall always linger in his mind."
"I can't be that dire of a place can it?"
"Well, they're probably just conserving our innocence", Elizabeth sighed as Jenevieve finished the bottle.
"Mmm."
"Well, I'm sure Mr. Sparrow will get into plenty of tomfoolery while he's there, so he'll have plenty of stories to tell us about it when he returns", Elizabeth assured with a gentle smile.
Indeed...Jack was not yet aware of what was in store for him when he would finally reach the good ol' land where men never felt unwanted...
In fact, he felt the change in the wind (well, literally, since the seas were rocking tumultuously in the ferocious rainstorm) and his compass was spinning rapidly.
What was Gibbs (or Pintel and Ragetti) not telling him?
Bon matin: Good morning