Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Pirates of the Caribbean (oh but I wish I did. Jack Sparrow yum) nor am I making any money from this story. I do however hold all rights to Katherine Darcy and any other original characters that may appear in this fanfic.
Author's Note: Sorry its been so long since I updated this story. But finally I'm going to finish it. I've even started a sequel. Hope its worth the wait. And now the final two chapters.
CHAPTER 19: Under Fire
Two hours later they were all seated at the table eating dinner discussing the upcoming wedding. Jack stiffened when he heard a thunder like noise rumble in from the harbor. Ignoring the shocked looks on his friend's faces Jack jumped to his feet and ran towards the door yanking it open. Jack's suspicions were confirmed when he saw the flashes of cannon fire and burning buildings. "Damn it!" he cursed turning and striding quickly back to the others. "Port Royal is under attack." He shared a grim look with Will. "Pirates."
"What?" Governor Swann jumped to his feet. He shook himself. "Gentlemen, fetch your swords. We must get to the fort."
Will and Jack headed upstairs and Katherine followed on their heels. Katherine and Jack went directly to their room and Katherine grabbed the trousers and shirt she had been wearing the day she arrived in Port Royal and stepped behind the screen changing quickly. She pulled her boots on then grabbed the sword that Will had given her as a wedding present as well as the ruby studded dagger Jack had presented her with tucking it into her boot. She looked across the room to find Jack standing on the balcony. Joining him her eyes widened in horror. "Murdock," she whispered recognizing the Bloody Sword. Turning her eyes downward she could see a group of pirates making their way towards the Governor's home.
"Bloody Hell!" Jack cursed grabbing Katherine by the hand and pulling her back down the hall. "We've got to get you out of here. If Murdock finds out we're here-," Jack didn't finish not wanting to even consider the possibilities.
Jack and Katherine sprinted back downstairs to find Will already there, armed and ready. Even the Governor carried his sword and Jack spied a pistol tucked into his waistband. It seemed that the Governor had learned from the last time Port Royal had been attacked by pirates. The house was filled with the cries of frightened servants fleeing through any possible exit. "It's Murdock," he told them grimly.
"I hope Commodore Norrington blasts them to shreds!" Katherine hissed her eyes glittering with hatred.
"We can worry about that after we get to the fort. There's a group of pirates on their way here. We've got to hurry." Jack tugged Katherine's hand leading the group towards the back door. Unfortunately, when Jack stepped out the door the pirates were already there. "'Ello Mates," Jack offered a weak grin pulling Katherine closer.
"Well, look who we have here," Katherine recognized the pirate as the man who had dragged her up on deck of the merchant vessel shortly before she jumped overboard. "The Captain will be pleased." He turned to one of his companions, "Go back to the ship and tell the Captain we'll be bringin' back a present for 'im" The man ran off and the ape as Katherine and taken to calling him turned back to her. "The rest of ye dogs, . . .take her."
Jack pointed his sword at the ape like pirate. "I don't think so, mate. The lass happens to be the future Mrs. Sparrow and I don't fancy parting with her any time in the foreseeable future."
"Ah. Captain Sparrow," the man grinned, "Captain Murdock will be even happier when I bring him yer head."
"You'll have to earn it," Will said stepping up beside Jack. Governor Swann stayed behind them, protecting Elizabeth even if she was more than capable of protecting herself.
The stocky pirate swung his sword and Jack blocked it easily and the other pirates sprang into action engaging Will and Katherine. A tall thin man with a scraggly beard lunged towards her and Katherine fought her attacker with all the rage she could muster over the death of her father. The image of him laying on the deck dead eyes staring at nothing flashing in her mind fueled her anger and gave her strength. Using her small stature to her advantage she ducked under the pirate's sword and thrust her sword through the pirate's heart. The pirate looked down at her sword in shock and Katherine pulled her blade out watching dumbly as he fell to the ground dead.
Katherine didn't have long to contemplate her first kill for Elizabeth cried out in alarm behind her and she turned to see more pirates coming from their back. "Hurry it up!" she yelled and Jack and Will hearing the urgency in her voice dispatched their opponents quickly. Jack grabbed Katherine's hand. "Run!" he barked and the others obeyed. They ran for the fort only to find their way blocked by a large group of pirates. There was no way that they could fight them all. Katherine gasped when she realized that Murdock himself was with them.
Jack sneered. "Dutiful Captain you are. You should be commanding your ship."
"When I heard that you and that wench were here I could resist," Murdock explained with a smile. His smiled faded when he saw the blood staining their swords. "You'll pay for the death of my men."
"Your men?" Katherine cried angrily, "What about my father, you murdering bastard?"
Murdock gave her a mocking grin, "Really, it's not very lady like for to carry a sword. Can you use it?"
Katherine stepped forward eyes flashing, "I can use it. If you'd like I'll show you."
"Katherine," Jack hissed, "Shut up!"
"Now, now," Murdock tisked, "I'm intrigued with the lass, Captain. I'll tell ya what. I'm in a good mood so I'll make you a deal. If the wench agrees to fight me and wins then my men will spare your lives. If she looses then you all die."
"What if she chooses neither?" Jack demanded not liking the idea of Katherine fighting Murdock.
"Then you still die," Murdock replied amiably.
"I'll do it," Katherine said softly.
"Katie!" Jack turned to her but she shook her head
"There's no other choice, Jack." She reached up to caress Jack's cheek knowing that Will wouldn't let Murdock attack her when her back was turned. "I can do this, Jack."
Jack cupped her chin. "Be careful."
"I will," said Katie as she stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on Jack's lips. After a moment she pulled back and turned to face Murdock. She grinned mockingly. "Whenever you're ready."
Murdock pulled his sword and slipped into a fighting stance. "I'll give you one thing you've got guts. They'll soon be on the ground but you've got guts. What's your name, girl?"
"Katherine Darcy," she answered proudly. "Now, let's get this over with . . . unless you're frightened, Captain?"
Murdock laughed then swung his sword at her head but Katherine brought her sword up to block it. Murdock thrust again testing her and again she parried. More cannon fire echoed in from the harbor and the two combatants turned to see another ship firing on the Bloody Sword. Katherine felt her heart leap when she recognized the ship. "It's the Pearl!" she cried with renewed hope. She smiled sweetly at Murdock, "It seems that your little ship is in a wee bit of trouble." Murdock only snarled in rage and lunged at her again. A circle had formed around them as the spectators waited tensely for the outcome. Katherine fought well but was having a difficult time with the more experienced pirate. She didn't know how long she could keep this up. She cried out when his blade got though her defenses and left a slash along her right thigh. She fell to one knee and has Murdock closed in her hand went to her right boot. Vaguely, she heard Jack cry out in rage.
"It was a nice try, missy," Murdock smirked, "But not good enough." He raised his sword to deliver the killing blow and Katherine pulled her knife and lunging towards him thrust the blade into his body just below his breastbone. Murdock gasped in shock and his eyes shot up to meet Katherine's cold blue eyes. She twisted the knife and Murdock dropped his sword and fell backwards dead. Katherine stood looking down at his dead body and shuddered to see that his eyes were open and staring at the sky in shock.
Realizing that their Captain was dead the other pirate's turned to flee onto to find themselves boxed in by British soldiers. Left with no alternative they surrendered dropping their weapons to the ground. Jack rushed to Katherine's side and wrapped his arms around her. "Are you all right?" he demanded pulling back, "How bad are you hurt?"
Katherine shook her head, "I don't think it's too deep. We can worry about me later. Let's get to the fort and see if the Commodore needs any help."
"Let me see." She allowed Jack to inspect the wound and his shoulders slumped in relief. "You're right. It's not too deep. Won't even need stitches." Jack stood pulling her into his arms once more.
Katherine looked into his dark eyes and then back at the harbor. Murdock's ship was in flames and Murdock's men were dead or prisoners of the Crown. It was over. She looked down at Murdock's body again and closed her eyes. "For you, Father," she whispered.
Jack heard her and tipped her chin up. Katherine opened her eyes and Jack grabbed her hair and kissed her roughly. Katherine threaded her fingers through his unruly locks and returned the kiss with equal passion. Jack pulled back slightly resting his forehead against hers, "I was afraid I'd loose you. I've never felt so helpless."
"I'm not going anywhere, Jack," she promised.
Will stepped forward and pulled the dagger from Murdock's chest and handed it back to Katherine. "Well, done."
Katherine nodded, "Thank you. Are you okay?"
"We're fine. We were worried about you."
"I'm fine right, Jack?"
She let out a startled squeal when Jack didn't respond but instead swung her up into his arms. "I can walk, Jack. Really, I'm fine."
"Hush," Jack told her, "Just enjoy the ride."
Katherine relaxed in Jack's arms wrapping her arms around his neck. His warmth and touch soothed the tumult of her emotions. As the Governor was with them they were given an escort to the fort. When they reached the stronghold Katherine saw that the town's doctors scrambled about tending to the wounded.
Norrington spied them and hastened over. He paled when he saw that Katherine was injured. "Are you all right? Do you need a doctor?"
Jack shook his head. "It's not too deep. I should be able to take care of it."
"What's our status?" Governor Swann inquired glancing over at where Will and Elizabeth stood huddled together and then to where Jack stood still holding Katherine in his arms.
"We've got everything under control now. The pirates have been routed and most of them are dead or have surrendered. The cannon fire from their ship was giving us some trouble but the Black Pearl took care of that." Norrington met Jack's eyes as he said this. "It seems that we are in their debt. I've given orders that they are to be welcomed and shown to the fort."
Jack smiled suddenly. "Thank you, good Commodore. But if you'll excuse me I need to take care of Katherine's leg."
Norrington nodded, "By all means. Governor if you'd please," Norrington led the Governor away so that he could inspect the damage.
Jack's crew reached the fort a half hour later to find Jack wrapping a bandage around Katherine's leg. "Captain!" Gibbs called as he and the crew rushed over to Jack's side, "Is she all right?"
Katherine smiled up at Gibbs. "I'm wonderful," she replied holding up the half empty bottle of rum, "Never been better in fact."
Jack's crew chuckled relieved that neither their Captain nor the young miss had been seriously injured. Anamaria's eyes narrowed and she stepped forward catching a glint in the moonlight. "What's that on your finger, Katherine."
Katherine smiled shyly up at the older woman, "It's my engagement ring."
Anamaria's jaw dropped then a grin lit up her features. "You're getting married?" she asked turning to Jack.
Jack grinned back, "Aye. We were just waiting for the lot of you."
Gibbs clapped Jack on the back, "Congratulations, Jack!" He sobered, "I'm glad we got here when we did. What of Murdock?"
"He's dead," Katherine replied her voice fierce, "He's gone to hell where he belongs."
Gibbs scratched the back of his neck, "Who killed him? I don't remember seeing him on board his ship. How can you be sure?"
"She killed him," Jack told him quietly.
The crew turned stunned eyes toward Katherine who looked back at them blankly. Their opinion of Katherine went up another notch but Jack was worried about how calmly Katherine was taking all of this. To his knowledge she had never taken a life before tonight and tonight she had taken two. Jack looked up at his first mate, "Take the crew and speak with Norrington. See if he needs any help with the wounded."
Gibbs nodded, "Aye, Captain. With me!" All of the crew followed except Anamaria. She stared at Jack for a long moment and then much to both their surprise hugged him tightly. Jack grinned as Anamaria pulled back but the grin left his face as she promptly slapped him. Well, a very light slap. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, Jack Sparrow!" Anamaria grinned when she heard Katherine giggle.
Jack's grin returned, "You should know not to worry about me by now, Ana." Jack gave Anamaria a gentle push. "Go on. Go give Gibbs a hand."
Anamaria smiled back and with a final nod to Katherine did as her captain ordered. Jack turned to find Katherine using the wall to push herself up. Jack reached out and pulled her to feet. "I'm proud of you," said Jack quietly, "Your father would be too."
Katherine nodded. "I owed it to him. Hopefully he can rest in peace now that his murderer is dead."
"You did what you had to do, luv," Jack's concern was evident in his voice.
Katherine reached up to brush a few strands of hair away from his face. "I know. I'll be all right." She paused and pulled him down for a kiss, "I love you," she whispered against his lips.
"And I you," Jack returned breathlessly. They stood together in silence for a long while as the people of Port Royal licked their wounds and mourned their dead around them.