Chapter 5/6:
Flashback:
Jack and Will had two chances and two only. Once a day a big, bullish man came in to feed them. For some reason the felt the need to come into the cell and deliver the food personally. Someone should have told him it was a bad idea. Never the less, since Jack and Will were in separate cells, the man came to each one of them, hence the two chances. Jack had told Will exactly what they had to do.
It was the second man's job. The first man couldn't do it. So it all depended on the serving order. The second man had to snatch the keys from the man's belt. As luck would have Will got fed first. That left the snatching to Jack. Will was relieved by this. Except Jack was cocky, and things went wrong. The keys fell to the floor. So Jack slammed his plate into the man's head, and they made a run for it.
Will was just along for the ride. He had no idea what was going through Jack's mind, but Will could guess that Jack was heading toward a bar. The only one in Port Royale in fact.
And that's when they bumped into the one person Will really didn't want to see.
End Flashback
Jack had bound the boy's hands. If he could steal things, so could the boy. Plus if he was tied, he was less likely to run away.
They were sitting at a table in the Freedom Granter. No one was talking and Jack still didn't have his rum. Daniel was seriously regretting coming out to play. He should have stayed with his dad, who he missed terribly at the moment. He glared up at Jack and told him so.
"I miss my dad. Let me go." Jack smiled down at the runt.
"Yer da's right there boy. William Turner." Daniel shook his head and started to cry softly.
William looked down at Daniel and then over at Jack who was grinning at the crying child. He couldn't take it anymore. "Jack Sparrow. You've the most atrocious kidnapping manners in the world. He's just a kid. Do we really need to tie his hands? He can't really go anywhere, and he is probably beginning to bruise. And you've gone and made him cry. That's low even for a pirate." Will said as he took the ropes off of Daniel's wrists. Daniel buried his head in Will's chest, sobbing loudly. Will patted the boy's head and glared daggers at Jack. Jack shrugged and got up to find some rum.
"Listen…" Daniel looked up at Will and smiled.
"I'm Daniel. You're nice. My daddy would like you. Except you're a pirate. He doesn't like pirates very much. And you're kinda dirty, he doesn't like that either." Daniel said bouncing in his chair. Will gave Daniel a goofy grin.
"Yeah kid, I know your dad. Good man, if a little misguided." William traced patterns on the table.
"Mis….misguided?" Daniel repeated trying to make sense of the word in his head. Even with his education, he'd not heard the word before.
Will laughed at Daniel. "I bet you miss your Dad right now don't you?" Daniel nodded. "Well you don't mind staying with me for a while do you?"
"Well…I don't like that other guy, but you aren't so bad." Daniel said.
Will laughed. This kid…no, his son was so adorable. It was clear that James had raised him well. Will's eyes widened. Since when did he call the commodore James? He laid his head on the table. Jack just had to 'let' himself be captured by the Commodore didn't he?
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James stepped out of Elizabeth's house. He walked slowly, a bit off balance. The whole ordeal had taken a lot out of him. To remain calm with her in front of him. It had been almost impossible. He put his hat on his head. He'd almost forgotten protocol that's how out of it he was. He choked back another wave of tears. If only she'd stayed with him. Then Daniel would be his, truly his. Daniel and at least two more.
He needed a drink. He needed to forget. So he changed his direction form home to the Freedom Granter. It wasn't the most respectable place, but the liquor was strong. And he was assured that Daniel wouldn't walk in on him. Daniel would never see his father drunk. Not if he could help it.
The path was easy to remember even as engrossed in the past as he was, and soon he was inside.
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"DADDY!" Daniel saw his father come in.
James looked over to see his son and the two pirates he had sworn were locked up tight in jail.
"Daniel? What are you…?" Daniel laughed, raced over the table top, and hugged his dad.
William gave a sad smile. It was obvious that the Commodore had been crying. He had come to forget William was sure.
"Daddy they kidnapped me! It was such an adventure." The bar crowd was looking at the display with interest, or as much interest drunk seamen can give to something.
Daniel took his dad's hand. "And Jack keeps telling me that my daddy is Will. Tell him he's wrong." James glared at the pirates. It figures they would come and ruin all my plans. Now he was forced to tell Daniel the truth. There was nothing for it. James looked Turner is the eye. Pain flooded him, and he grasped Daniel's hand tighter. There was Daniel's real father. There was the man who should have taken care of Daniel for the past seven years. That damn blacksmith who inevitably took everything he loved away from him.
Even so, he deserved the truth. James' lip curled in disgust. He was going to be forced to invite these filthy pirates into his home. His clean home. He gave the invite with a much disdain as he could muster. They weren't really welcome. He picked Daniel up.
"Can they have dinner with us too daddy?" Daniel said, smiling big. James couldn't refuse that smile. It was so sweet just like his mother. Why had he never noticed before?
William stood by his side. They were just waiting on Jack bloody Sparrow now. James needed to keep an eye on him. He didn't trust the man any farther than he could throw him, and he was sure Sparrow would try and run.
"F'its alright with you mates, m'goin to stay where the rum is." Jack said signaling the barkeep. Will and James glared at him.
"Fine, fine!" Jack exclaimed, standing. "Can I at least bring some rum with me?"
James gave him a look that could kill, and Jack just grinned. Riling up the Commodore could become a great hobby. Like the piano or knitting.
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