Chapter 5

Blackbird paced impatiently up and down the dock. Jack was running late, as usual, and she was eager to set sail. A fair wind was blowing and there wasn't a cloud in the sky; a perfect day for sailing. The only thing they were missing was a captain...

She heard someone trying to sneak up behind her. "You're late, Jack," she said, turning around.

"Perhaps you're early. After all, I'm the captain here. I'll show up when I please. Anyone else is simply early."

"Then half your crew is early," she replied. "I put them to work loading the last of the supplies, but you might want to check and make sure everything's in order. I don't trust them anyway, and I suspect that they've already been dipping into the rum."

Jack nodded. "I'll look into that. Any sign of Will?"

"No," Blackbird said disappointedly. "I talked with him last night after he left the tavern, but I can't say whether anything I said made a difference. We can give him until the last of the crew arrives."

A loud crash on deck followed by angry swearing confirmed Blackbird's suspicions. She simply gave Jack a look that clearly said, Told you so, and watched him hurry up the gangplank to investigate. She spotted a figure making his way toward the ship and was surprised to see Mr. Cotton.

"Your bird lied to me, Cotton," she said, approaching him. "He said you wouldn't be joining us."

"Dishonest man, dishonest man," the bird squawked.

"Dishonest bird," Blackbird countered.

"Never trust a pirate," it replied.

"That goes without saying," someone said from behind them.

Blackbird turned around in surprise. "Will! We had begun to think you wouldn't be seeing us off."

Will ignored her statement. "Where's Jack?" he asked.

"Right here," Jack said, returning from the dispute onboard. "Glad you could make it. Did you find passage on a ship?" he asked, indicating the small bag Will had slung over his shoulder.

"I did, actually. It's a fairly large ship with a decent reputation. From what I hear, the captain's the best in the Caribbean. The only terms were that I sail as one of the crew, as my father once did." Blackbird gave him a knowing smile. "William Turner, at your service, Captain," Will said, bowing slightly.

Jack returned the smile but quickly became serious again. "Get to work," he said roughly. "We're about to set sail and the only part of the ship you know how to get to is the brig. Blackbird, see to it that Mr. Turner knows his way around as soon as humanly possible."

"Aye, sir," she said. "Come on Will, I'll show you to the crew's quarters."

Ducking to avoid a low beam, Blackbird led Will to the forecastle. "You can set your things over there," she said, pointing to an unoccupied hammock.

"I think the brig was more commodious," Will commented, slinging down his bag.

"Well, personal space is not a luxury given to the crew. You're only in here as much as you choose to be. We work on a watch-and-watch system, so the four hours in between watches are to be used as you please. You can sleep, eat, talk, whatever, just make sure you're on deck when your watch begins. Jack's assigned you to my watch, so we have the next two hours off before it begins. I have to work until we set sail, but after that I can show you around a bit more."

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Once on deck, Jack caught up to Blackbird. "What did you say that changed his mind?" he asked. "You didn't tell him, did you?"

"Of course not," Blackbird said calmly. "He's still too scared of me. I just told him to follow his heart."

Jack couldn't help but laugh. "That must have been odd to hear coming from a pirate," he said.

Blackbird shrugged. "Maybe the pirate wasn't the one doing the talking," she said quietly.

"Maybe," Jack agreed, "but right now I need the pirate to do the work I'm paying her for and stop standing around talking."

"Aye aye, Captain," she said with a mocking salute.

Jack sighed. "Why do I even let you sail with us? You do nothing but mock me. If you can't respect me as your captain, at least respect me as an elder." His tone was serious, but Blackbird could see a smile in his eyes.

"Maybe it's because I'm one of the best sailors you've ever had and I run all the finances on this ship. Admit it; you'd be lost without me."

"Yes, what would I ever do with all that spare time and no one to argue with?" he said sarcastically.

"'scuse me," Gibbs interrupted, "but if you two are done bickering, we're ready to set sail."

Jack nodded and made his way to the helm. Blackbird stood watching as Gibbs shouted orders to the crew. He was always doing her work. She knew that he had never approved of her even being on the crew and hated that she was first mate, which made her his superior. Whenever Jack wasn't around, he would order her around and talk to her as if she was still a child. Not that it really mattered. She still made a point of lording her status over his head whenever she got the chance.

"I thought you had to work," Will said, standing next to her.

"I did, but it seems that Mr. Gibbs has decided to relieve me of my duties. So thoughtful of him. Come on, I'd better show you around."

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After they had toured most of the ship, Blackbird led Will to the galley. An elderly man stood at the small stove. "Mornin' lass," he said cheerfully. "How are we this fine day?"

"Hungry," she replied. "What do you have for us today?"

The old man smiled and tossed them both a small loaf of bread. "Eat up," he said. "I'll have coffee ready in a minute."

"Ah, the legendary hospitality of the Black Pearl's culinary staff. Always a nice break from the real food I can get in Tortuga," Blackbird said sarcastically.

"Be grateful that you're getting any," the man shot back with a grin. "The quality of food should actually go up this journey, thanks to the strangeness of Mister Ewing. You'll never guess what the lad showed up with today."

"I can imagine all sorts of things from Ewing, but let's hear it."

"He brought a cow and a dozen chickens. Said we weren't gettin' enough nutrition on our journeys. Seems we'll be 'aving milk an' eggs fresh every day."

Blackbird laughed. "That's a new one, even for him…Will, if you think I'm touched in the head, which I know you do, wait until you have a talk with Ewing. He's as crazy as they come. Bloody good sailor though, and one of the best fighters I know."

"Will?" the old cook said in surprise, setting two steaming mugs on the low counter. "Will Turner?"

"Aye…" Blackbird replied, giving him a warning look.

"I knew I'd seen that face somewhere! Will, I knew yer father when 'e was naught but a lad. Good man. I'm sure you're tired o' hearing this, but you look just like 'im."

"So I've been told," Will said mildly.

Gibbs stuck his head in the doorway. "Blackbird, Jack wishes to have a word with you…Now," He added insistently when she ignored him.

Blackbird rolled her eyes. "I'm coming, I'm coming," she muttered, draining the last of her mug. "Stay here, Will. I'll only be a minute."

When she had left, Will turned to the old man. "Well," he said, "I don't believe I caught your name."

"You can call me Joe," he replied.

"Joe…how long have you known Blackbird?" Will asked.

Joe rubbed his short grey beard thoughtfully. "Since she was two or so. Why?"

"Who was her father? I've heard her speak about him on several occasions."

"I don't feel at liberty to say. That's Blackbird's business."

"Well then can you tell me anything about her? I'm just curious," Will said.

"I can tell you that 'er father died when she was young," Joe said slowly. "She didn't know her mother. Beyond that, few can say. Really the only people that know the full tale are Cap'n Sparrow and Blackbird herself. Jack keeps quiet out of respect for Blackbird and she keeps quiet because it's still painful for her."

"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger," Blackbird said quietly from the doorway. "Come on, Will."

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"Why were you talking about me?" she asked when they were back in the forecastle.

"I was just curious about your background. It's difficult to get to know someone unless you know where they're coming from."

"Well don't," she said seriously. "If I want you to know something, I will tell you myself, savvy? Until then, I'd appreciate you keeping your nose out of my business."

A shrill whistle indicated the start of their watch. Blackbird had already explained to Will that they didn't use a bell for fear of announcing their presence prematurely. Will watched Blackbird shout orders to the rest of the crew. He was already beginning to see another side to her; a more focused, determined side. Will stared out at the endless blue surrounding them and sighed.

"What was that about?" Blackbird asked, coming up beside him.

"Nothing," he said. "It just hit me that I'm stuck with these lunatics for the next month, that's all."

Blackbird pretended to be offended. "We aren't insane!…We just see the world a bit differently."

"This is coming from the woman I found arguing with a bird," Will pointed out.

"At least I won," she said defensively.

Grabbing him by the sleeve, a method of transportation she seemed fond of, Blackbird pulled him over to a man with unkempt red hair attempting to untangle a knotted mass of ropes.

"Will, this is Mister Ewing. Ewing, Will Turner. Will, why don't you help Ewing out with these ropes? I have other things to do."

The man gave Will a boyish grin. "Have a seat," he said, gesturing to the ground next to him. Will glared at Blackbird, but she just shrugged and went back to her own work.

"She's somethin' fine, ain't she?" Ewing said when Blackbird had left. "She's mine, y'know," he continued. "So don't be tryin' anything."

"That's fine with me," Will said uncomfortably. "I have a wife at home."

Ewing smiled again. "Good…So what's Blackbird like? I mean, what does she like to do an' all?"

"How would I know? I only met her two days ago," Will said.

"Oh," he said disappointedly. "I just assumed you'd know, bein' Bootstrap's son an' all..." his voice trailed off.

Will shot him a look. "What does that have to do with anything?" he asked.

"Nothin'," Ewing said hastily. "Just a madman's ramblings. You'll have to excuse me. They think that just 'cause I don't 'ave it all together up 'ere, I can't do none o' the real work. 'Swab the decks, Ewing. Clean the privy, Ewing. Untangle the bloody ropes, Ewing.' I get all the dirty work no one else'll do."

"Well, someone has to do it," Will pointed out.

Ewing forced the last knot out of the line and stood up slowly. "I'll be captain of me own ship soon," he went off muttering. "Then they'll see. I'll make 'em do all the dirty work. I'll show them all one day...one day soon..."

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Blackbird sat up in the rigging, staring off into the distance. She was snapped back to the present by Jack. "Blackbird!" he called again. Sighing, she slid down one of the outer shrouds, not bothering with the individual ratlines.

"Yes sir?" she asked.

"The outer jib got entangled with one of the lines! Cut it loose before it takes our bowsprit with it!" Not wasting time by replying, Blackbird vaulted over the rail and onto the slick bowsprit. Clinging firmly to the backropes with one hand, she used the other to slide her knife out of its sheath. Calculating the plunging and swaying of the bowsprit, she readied herself. At just the right time, Blackbird slashed at the taut rope and swung herself under the bowsprit at the same time. The heavy canvas, now freed, lashed out like a whip only inches from her head. A few seconds later on her swing and it would have knocked her unconscious and into the sea. She swung herself back up onto the bowsprit and made her way back to the ship. Blackbird couldn't help but cock her head defiantly at Will, who had been watching, before returning to her work.

She made it through the end of the watch, but the second it was over she collapsed into her hammock and was instantly asleep.