Author's Note: I'm trying to get this finished, so hopefully the next part will be coming soon. I have difficulty ending stories, and it's up to about twenty pages, now. Any suggestions in the reviews would be greatly appreciated, especially if you readers want any kind of resolution.

"I don't have much time left, Emeline," Joseph said quietly. "I should really be leaving." She watched him, her eyes hard, but unrevealing. "Is there anything you want to say before I go?" He knew something was on her mind, something she was refusing to tell him. She shook her head. "Are you sure?"

"Now I suppose you don't trust me?" she snapped.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" he questioned suspiciously.

"Joe!" she said, exasperated. "I'm not hiding anything from you. Maybe you should get back to your ship." After a moment, she said with a tinge of annoyance, "I wouldn't want you to get hanged for my sake."

He refrained from retorting, though what he really wanted to do was give her a good beating. He kissed Ana's small forehead and his wife's cheek, and went towards the door. As he was turning the knob, the doorbell chimed. With a questioning glance at his wife, he opened the door.

The man quickly took off his hat and looked terribly embarrassed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I must be at the wrong house." He looked around Joseph, spotting Emeline. Joseph didn't take his eyes off of the man.

"You're sure you're at the wrong house, sir?" Joseph asked.

The man suddenly turned to him again. "Pardon? Oh, yes. I'm certain. Sorry to disturb you." He tipped his hat. "Ma'am." Joseph watched the man leave, then he kissed his wife's cheek softly again. "Look out for yourself, all right?" He nodded at his daughter. "Keep her safe." He glanced behind him, through the door. "You know I love you very much, Emeline." Her red lips quivered as she nodded, and he turned and walked out the door. The man who had called was still near, pretending to be admiring some rosebushes. He wore a fancy black suit and top hat. He clanked up, saw Joseph, and, panicking, starting walking away.

"Sir!" Joseph called, running to catch up with him.

The man stopped and turned around, a guilty look on his face. "I apologize again for disturbing you, sir. I mean no harm by it at all," he said quickly.

Joseph nodded understandingly, then pushed him up against the nearest wall. "Stay away from my wife, you 'ear? Because if you touch her, I'll know. And when I find out, so help me God, I'll hunt you down and cut your throat."

He let the man go and he rubbed his neck where the collar had cut into it. Joseph gave him one last glare before walking away. He had to hurry or the ship would leave without him.

When he boarded the HMS Surprise, it was like a completely different ship. He spotted many men he didn't know, but also some he had never even seen before. He headed toward the ladder, hoping to slip onto the ship, unnoticed.

"Name?" Apparently that wasn't going to be possible. "Name, I said."

"Joseph Nagel, sir," he finally replied.

"Rank?" the man asked.

"Carpenter's mate, sir."

The squat man murmured absently as he scribbled notes. Suddenly, he stopped. "Nagel, you said? Joseph Nagel?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why, it appears you're already on the roster." He stared at Joseph. "Why are you on the roster but not on the ship, Mr. Nagel?"

"Erm, I went for a walk, sir," he said. It was partly true. "I swear, sir, I wasn't gone more'n half an hour."

"Why did you leave the ship," the man began, annoyed, "when you knew full well that the Captain specifically requested that no one set one foot on dry land?"

Joseph looked confused. When had Captain Aubrey said that? "Honest, sir, I didn't know."

"Wait." He looked at the roster again. "You're one of those mutineers, aren't you, from the Defender? Well, then this defiance makes perfect sense. Perhaps a day in the brig would smarten you up?"

"Watson!"

"Lieutenant Pullings, sir!" The squat man, Watson, saluted stiffly. "I did not see you, sir."

"Yes, well, men were not blessed with eyes in the back of their skulls. It is a pity, though." Pullings was fairly young, much younger than Watson, but he seemed to significantly outrank him. "Do you not have better things to do, Mr. Watson, than terrify new recruits?"

"He's not new, sir, he came from the Defender, sir!" Watson squeaked, hurrying after Pullings as he walked away.

"Regardless," Pullings dismissed. "The Captain has other business for you to attend to."

Joseph sighed, relieved. He'd just narrowly escaped a day in chains in the brig. He heard a squeal, and then some loud laughter coming from the docks, and looked over the side. A young man about his own age was kissing a girl passionately on the mouth. He watched her twisting her fingers around his golden curls once they had parted. Joseph could imagine what loving words they were exchanging. He wondered how long it would last, thinking of his own marriage.

"I love you!" she cried as he came onboard. "Come back soon!"

"Don't worry! And I love you too!" the man called back to her. He was beaming as he slipped onto the ship, and, unlike Joseph, managed not to be seen.

He leaned against the rail, watching his girl walk off, and sighed dreamily.

"Is that your wife?" Joseph asked, looking at him.

After staring at Joseph for a moment, he replied, "Been married for a while now, but I swear, the passion's still there." He stuck out his hand and Joseph accepted it. "Name's Will Warley."

"Joe Nagel."

"It's a pleasure, Joe." He sighed again. "You're new, aren't you? I can't rightly place you."

"I was on the Defender before I came here," Joseph explained. "Mutineer, you know."

Will's face suddenly became filled with awe. "A mutineer, eh?" His eyes shifted back and forth furtively, and he leaned in closer, whispering, "Did you kill anyone?" Joseph rolled his eyes. "Really, did you?"

"Not personally," he said.

"I've never killed a soul," Will admitted, a little shyly. "This is my first time on a long voyage like this. I reckon you've been in battle loads of times, eh, Joe?"
Joseph brushed a fly from the side of his face. "Besides the mutiny, I haven't been in any close combat."

Will eyed him. "I would've thought you tougher than that."

"Who said I wasn't tough?" Joseph demanded. Will laughed and Joseph found himself laughing as well. He stared out at the sea and ran a hand through his hair, biting back another chuckle. "Will," he said, suddenly serious again, "is he a fair captain?"

"Lucky Jack?" Will smiled. "A right fair man, he is, or I'm no sailor."

"Why do they call him 'Lucky' Jack?" Joseph asked, curious.

Will shook his head, exhaling slowly. "Some of the men could tell you stories of the money they've brought back, ones who've served under him longer. Amazing tales, with gold and jewels, more prize money than you could ever imagine." Will got a dreamy look in his eyes. "I'm hoping we catch that privateer. Think of it, Joe." He gave him a friendly shove. "I could take my wife to one of those fancy dressmakers."

Joseph thought about what he would do with all of that money. He'd marry Emeline, he decided, and marry her proper. He hoped that when the time came, she would still have him. That was what she had always wanted. She could buy herself a pretty white gown and he might even be able to afford a suit, one like the man's who he'd met earlier. He thought about the rich man again. Had Emeline found someone else? Had he come to her or had she sought him out?

"Joe," Will said, breaking his trance. "Articles of War." He nodded toward the gathering crowd.

Joseph snorted. His last captain had never read the Articles of War aloud to them. That way they had to keep on their toes for fear of breaking one of the laws and not knowing it until it was too late.

Jack Aubrey stepped up to the podium. He cleared his throat and began reading the laws that were before him. Joseph had found Captain Aubrey imposing when he had met him before and nothing had changed. He was still as powerful-looking as ever. Each time he looked up from the book, his eyes pierced a different sailor. Joseph tried to keep his eyes on the captain, but they instead wandered to the boys to the left of him. They were young, all wearing blue uniforms and top hats. One of them was significantly older. He looked nervous, standing up there, and somewhat out of place. All of the sudden, their eyes met, and Joseph quickly flicked his eyes toward Captain Aubrey again. After a minute or two, he glanced back at the tall midshipman. There was something strange about him—his age, the way he stood, the mournful look about him. It was a stunning contrast to the boy next to him. Joseph saw pride in his shining eyes. He was full of hope and ambition and honor. This was a boy Captain Aubrey would have asked for had he been given a choice.

"Article 20: If any person in or belonging to the fleet shall make or endeavor to make any mutinous assembly upon any pretence whatsoever, every person offending herein, and being convicted thereof by the sentence of the court martial, shall suffer death: and if any person in or belonging to the fleet shall utter any words of sedition or mutiny, he shall suffer death, or such other punishment as a court martial shall deem him to deserve: and if any officer, mariner, or soldier on or belonging to the fleet, shall behave himself with contempt to his superior officer, being in the execution of his office, he shall be punished according to the nature of his offence by the judgment of a court martial." It was here Captain Aubrey looked straight at Joseph. He wondered if the captain recognized him. Joseph already knew he was a stern captain, but Will had said he was fair. As long as he kept in line, he would be fine. He had no reason to mutiny again…at least, he hoped he didn't.