Disclaimer: Disney still owns POTC. I am still a single poor college student and my Norrie is not in sight.

Chapter 13: Man the Battle Stations

Pru had been in Port Royal for about three weeks. In those three weeks, Pru had fallen in love with the town and the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean. She had been embraced in a family and had gained a sister. She was happy, she truly was. Then, why did she feel like pulling her hair out in frustration?

Consciously, Pru reasoned that she had very little reason to complain. Elizabeth and her fiancée, Will Turner, took it upon themselves to show her Port Royal and all its diversions. When she admitted that she loved sword fighting, Turner even offered to practice with her once a week, secretly of course. Again, Pru thought that any dissatisfaction she had would be worked out in a good fight, but it was not. Life with the happy couple wasn't always fun; Pru, more often than not, became a third wheel during many excursions. Even then, she didn't begrudge them their happiness. They were in love, and that wasn't easy to find.

She attended all the right parties and social events. Eventually, after about a week, Pru realized that at every event she was searching for a certain wigged person of her acquaintance. James was never there, no matter how hard she looked. It only took a few times of inquiring to his whereabouts that Pru realized talk about her and the Commodore would circulate rapidly if she continued. She finally decided that it wasn't the wisest course to let it be known who she was looking for and held her questions.

She still enjoyed those social activities though. She met a great deal of pleasant people. Port Royal society had quite a few varied personalities and Pru often simply loved to people watch. Overall, Pru gained the reputation of being a perfectly lovely girl and met many new acquaintances.

Not everyone liked her, however. Pru simply chalked it up to the fact that she had become a bit outspoken during her trip to Port Royal. Little did she know, the ladies of Port Royal had already heard from her uncle that she was the 'mysterious lady' Commodore Norrington had escorted to the Governor's Mansion. This was another reason that several of the older matchmaking mamas had taken to giving her deriding glances. They weren't happy that competition, as they saw it, had entered their daughters' marriage prospects. Pru laughed it off and neglected to mention that she had no intention to marry. There was no reason to spoil her fun, after all.

Finally, it was at a welcoming ball held in her honor that James finally appeared. Pru sensed his entrance immediately as he evidently created a stir at such gatherings. She paused in her conversation and stared at him. To her eyes, Norrington looked tired as if he had stayed up too late or wasn't sleeping well. Probably knee deep in paperwork, Pru thought. As propriety dictated, he headed straight for her, Elizabeth, and Governor Swann to greet his hosts.

He bowed. "Good Evening, Governor Swann, Miss Swann, Pr…Miss Martin."

The others greeted him in turn. He stated something about it being his pleasure to attend and that he was grateful to be invited. He wasn't sure as his eyes were on Pru. She looked lovely in a deep mauve gown. It was plain with little decoration, but she looked wonderful in it, such a sight after three weeks of gazing from afar. Good Lord, James thought, What am I turning into? I had vowed to stop this…

"Miss Martin," he began, "I trust you are well?" I missed you, Pru.

I'm quite well…and you?" Pru asked. Where have you been? I thought we'd become friends…

"You look lovely." You look breathtaking actually and quite ravishable…

"Thank You." Your formal navy uniform looks smart on you. Can you take the wig off?

"Are you enjoying Port Royal?" The Port Royal I had wanted to show you, damn it!

"Yes, I find that I could not love a place more. The Caribbean is a vibrant beautiful place. The sea is such a beautiful sight. If you aren't busy, could I persuade you to give me a tour of the fort?" Remember when we were on the sea? Show me the fort! I miss talking to you, damn it!

"I will endeavor to make time in my schedule. I will send you a note on the times I am available and you shall pick whichever moment pleases you. I must speak to someone, if you'll excuse me. Governor, Miss Swann, Miss Martin." Come anytime! I want to see you everyday! I miss our arguments! No one at the fort dares to cross me, save Gillette, and even then it's not the same! Dash it, I'll end up saying something embarrassing. It's time to make my escape. Goodbye Pru.

"Commodore.," Pru murmured as he walked away. Fine! Go away! See if I care…well, I do care…actually I've missed you quite a bit…

Norrington made his way across the room. Within minutes of becoming stationary, he was surrounded by simpering ladies. He sighed. Well, perhaps one of them wants to marry me, James thought, It can't hurt to get to know them better. Soon, he was conversing with a large crowd of maidens by the wall…

Pru herself observed every minute of Norrington's popularity. She didn't like it one bit. She hated it in fact, although the rational part of her brain reminded her that she had no claim on him. The irrational part told her brain to stop talking and go to the devil. Fine, Pru fumed, if he can ignore me, than I shall entertain myself. Soon, Pru began flirting with any single male that came across her path. Despite the fact that Pru had never really flirted before, one of the reasons she had been a bit of wallflower in Massachusetts, actually, a good sized circle of gentlemen surrounded her.

She wasn't having fun, was quite miserable in fact. The gentlemen were very pleasant and most were actually fairly intelligent. She should have been having fun. Flirting was really diverting. It was because of him that she couldn't concentrate on having a good time. James stood on the other side of the room. Having disengaged himself from the simpering ladies of before, he stood with his back against a column, glaring at her with eyes sparking.

James was more uncomfortable atthis event than he usually was at such parties. He had no major talent for conversation among large groups. That being said, he had tried, he really had. He'd spent at least a half hour of talking with the young sheep…ladies of Port Royal. Unfortunately, their main topic of conversation was either silk or the weather. He craved far more stimulating conversation with the lady across the room. However, she was currently preoccupied. Hence the situation he found himself in, staring at Pru from across the room.

James was a rational man. He fought when duty demanded it. He followed orders and made well thought out decisions. Why, then, could he not decide which one of those men to call out for a duel first? Perhaps it was because he would need a reason. Yes, hang it all, he would, and, alas, he currently had no valid reason for a duel. That doesn't change the fact, James mused, that I need to skewer something…

Suddenly, Pru looked directly at him. She was clearly not happy, although she tried to keep it hidden from everyone else. She silently commanded that he follow where she went as she disengaged from her lapdogs and exited into the gardens. Careful to attract no undue attention, James went an alternate route, exiting through a back entrance and looping around to the gardens. He found her in a secluded corner, obviously quite angry. James swallowed nervously.

"WHAT do you think you're doing?" Pru hissed.

"Following you. Was that not what you wanted?" James facetiously asked.

"What do you think you're doing across that room, glaring at me?"

"I was concerned."

"About what? You haven't even sent a scrap of paper my way in the past three weeks and now you're concerned, you arrogant…"

"Now, Pru, temper…temper." Norrington chided.

"I am most decidedly not amused." Pru said coldly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I've failed in being your comedic entertainment tonight."

"Yes, you spent most of your night squawking with a large group of ladies. You don't see me glaring at you, do you?"

"No, but you did notice." James said smugly.

"You are so arrogant…as if I would deign to pay attention to what your highness is doing. I might be blinded if I stare directly at you!" Pru vehemently stated.

"Indeed."

"Is that your favorite word? Indeed…Indeed…Indeed…Well, what were you indeed doing glaring at me? Answer me this time, damn it!"

"Such language from lady," James mocked, his ire being raised, "I was concerned, as I said."

"I know you were concerned. Why in bloody hell were you concerned, you arrogant pea brain?"

James snapped. "I was concerned, because I watching you become the biggest flirt in Port Royal!"

Pru's face turned white. The only color that remained was two bright spots of red on her cheeks. Immediately, Pru raised her arm and stuck him on the cheek. They both stood in stunned silence. Pru broke out of her frozen state first. Picking up her skirts, she ran back to the mansion. Norrington stood there for twenty minutes before reentering, paying his respects, and leaving.

Pru went straight to her room, having sent a message down that she was suffering from a headache. Her emotions told her that something entirely different was aching, but her brain shut those thoughts off. So that's what he thinks of me, Pru thought as she lay on the bed, I'm the biggest flirt in Port Royal. What does he expect? I don't hear a word from him in three weeks despite the fact I thought we were friends and he expects me to follow his orders as to what he thinks is proper! Certainly, I only began flirting because he paid more attention to those other girls, but I am NOT jealous. I am merely concerned…yes, concerned…

Pru lay there for a half an hour. Any tears she had shed had long since dried. She called for a maid who promptly arrived and helped her prepare for bed. The candles were blown out and the maid left as Pru closed her eyes. At the sound of the door closing, Pru's eyes opened. She leaped out of bed and looked in the bureau where she'd hidden her men's clothes in case of emergency. She was tired of being accompanied by Will and Elizabeth. Pru wanted to see Port Royal on her own.

Pru was never good at creeping about places. This was proven when Elizabeth caught her as she was trying to exit the servants' entrance. "Pru! What are you doing here? Dressed in men's clothes?"

Pru glanced at Elizabeth's attire. "I could ask the same thing about you, cousin dear."

"Oh, it's nothing. I find it comfortable to lounge about in breeches when we have no guests…Father will not like it if he catches you leaving alone like that."

Pru arched one of her eyebrows. "Your father also will not be happy if he finds out that you're sneaking out to meet with Will Turner. I say we both keep quiet about this…Do we have an accord?"

Elizabeth blushed as if she thought Pru wouldn't figure out where she had been going. "Agreed."

Reaching the city proper, the girls separated: Elizabeth to find will; Pru to see the sights. Besides that, Pru desperately needed rum. A great deal of rum.

James returned home directly after what he would term 'the incident'." Nothing could distract him from replaying the memory of the fight. He had been an utter cad. He knew that. He also felt that he had a right to be angry with her. Pru had insulted him too.

What he couldn't figure out was why he felt he had the right to be concerned about Pru. He wasn't jealous, he wasn't. Pru was a friend, of sorts, and he would never want her reputation harmed. He had been the protector of her reputation while on his ship and he felt strangely reluctant to relinquish that duty. And she needed protection. She had been flirting with every rake that passed by her circle. She was too innocent to know what those men wanted to do with her. He knew. He didn't consider himself a rake, but he knew what he wanted to do with her, to her. He had the self control and honor to hold back. What frightened him was the fact that many of Pru's potential suitors could not claim the same.

His mind ran around in circles until James, frustrated beyond belief, had to find a distraction. He knew several of the officers had a standing engagement at one of the few higher class proper taverns, The Vintner's Mark, for drinks. He might just join them tonight…

Port Royal still proved to be a bit rough. Most taverns were a bit dirty and raucous for Pru's taste. Having paid attention to the gossip around Port Royal, Pru had heard that the best tavern and the cleanest, was The Vintner's Mark.

The bar was much to Pru's liking. She didn't so much mind the dirty bars. She been in plenty of them before. She just didn't need the noise and the 'ladies of the night' to proposition her. She wanted quiet, to contemplate what happened tonight, and to drink some quality rum.

Sidling up to the bar, Pru ordered, "A fine New England Rum, if you have it." The barkeep poured her a glass as she laid coins on the bar. She took the drink and walked to a table in the back of the room. Here she could people watch.

There proved to be several merchants and many navy officers partaking of refreshment that evening. A panicked scan of the room proved that Norrington was not in it. Lieutenant Gillette entered shortly after her and sat at the bar with his colleagues. Pru dared not greet him. With her luck, Gillette would mention it to James and then all hell would break loose. Well, more hell than had already broken loose.

She had just begun to relax, the rum streaming through her system, and was about order another glass, when he entered. Yes, Norrington had decided to have a bloody drink with Gillette tonight. Bloody hell, Pru silently screamed as she scrambled to hide.

The commotion in the corner of the room drew the officers' eyes to its source. Norrington frowned at the noisemaker and stopped, staring at her in confusion. He appeared to be thinking on something. Immediately he turned to the barkeep.

James had merely wanted to relax and forget. Events, or certain infuriating persons of his acquaintance, however, proved that wouldn't be possible. Hoping that his suppositions weren't true, he turned to ask the barkeep, "Could you tell me what drink the gentleman in the corner ordered? My friend and I are curious."

The barkeep shrugged. "He ordered a, what did he say, a "fine New England Rum"?"

Norrington knew he had been right in his recognition of the patron. His blood boiled. He grimly thanked the barkeep and tossed a coin over for his troubles. Turning to Gillette with barely contained fury, Norrington said, "Gillette, do you recognize the patron in the corner?"

Gillette glanced quickly to the corner. His eyes widened. "Is that?"

"Yes, Indeed it is. Gillette, I want you to do something for me. Go over to the man. Request in no uncertain terms that you will be escorting him to my office as I have need to talk to him. Take the man to my office and wait with him there until I arrive. I am going to finish my claret and hopefully, by that time, I will cease seeing red. Is that clear, lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir…but don't you think you should wait until tomor-"

"Now, Gillette."

Gillette crossed over to the corner. He was seen in intense conversation with the gentleman in the corner. The gentleman periodically gasped and made quick glances toward the bar with an angry glare. Finally, defeated, the unknown man left with Gillette in tow.

Breathe, James, he thought, Breathe. Killing her would serve no purpose, no matter how much I want to throttle her at the moment. I must, however, force into her stubborn brain a few rules on safety and propriety that must be obeyed.

AN: Thanks Mrs. CaptJack Sparrow for adding this story to the C2 and thanks for all the reviews everyone! I'll update when I can.