Back at the Pit

Disclaimer: Same as before…

AN: I know since I mentioned the Pirates of the Caribbean, I've not really gone into much detail about them…

Alan Breck rose early, as was his custom when aboard the Black Pearl. He still felt a bit of fuzziness from mugs of ale he had downed with the other pirates in San Francisco. Time to be alone was paramount. He gave Ted a nod, as the Canadian seemed blissfully preoccupied as he poured his morning coffee.

He checked the sword underneath his gray overcoat, the rapier he had carried since before Culloden his faithful companion. The brace of two pistols was also in place. He found the hill top he always practiced his sword fighting forms on and drew the rapier out.

"Excuse me." A voice from behind.

"Yes." Alan replied, turning to see a young girl with red hair.

"You're from Scotland aren't ye?"

"Yes." Alan replied.

"What is your clan?" Rahne Sinclair asked.

"My clan is MacGreggor, relations of Rob Roy Macgreggor." Alan replied, "And ye?"

"Rahne Sinclair..."

"Any relation to the Sinclairs of Glasgow?" Alan replied, "On my world they moved from the Lowlands into the city when the redcoats destroyed their farm."

"I'm from Glasgow." Rahne brightened, "But obviously not your version of it."

"Aye," Alan replied, "I could be your grandfather several times over."

"I canna believe the X-men left me behind." Rahne replied.

"Believe me, San Francisco was a proper scuffle." Alan replied, "A bunch of lads from the FOH decided to cause some trouble."

"Really?" Rahne replied.

"Certainly provided opportunities for all of us to keep our swords sharp." Alan replied.

"Not to mention send several FOH members into the hospital." Rahne replied, "I read of it in the newspaper."

"Why did you throw your lot in with the pirates if ye come from a noble Scottish family?" Rahne continued.

Alan turned towards her, his face expressionless but his eyes betraying a pain many years buried. He wasn't sure why, maybe it was because the child was a fellow Scot and he'd not seen a fellow Scot for nearly three and a half years. Maybe it was because he tired of carrying the burden of being one of the few living Jacobites.

Rahne wondered what she had done. Maybe she shouldn't have asked the solitary Alan Breck that question. He was the only other fellow Scot she had seen in a long time, the fact that he was from an alternate Scotland notwithstanding. He also seemed to appreciate the idea of running off on one's own every now and again. Granted Ted was the same way, but after the incident with the live ammunition she was a little afraid of him.

"Scotland was devastated by years of fighting among the noblemen, until we united under Bonny Prince Charles. The English were fearful of a united Scotland, and we sought to remove their threat to our southern borders." Alan began.

Rahne's eyes widened, "Tavington, Duke of Worcester called upon a terrible force to assist him. The Heartless routed us at Culloden, and hunted us to destruction. But Culloden wasn't the end of it. It didn't satisfy Tavington to simply defeat us there, he chased us throughout Scotland."

Rahne put her hand to her agape mouth, "Tavington burned our farms, our lands and homes. I watched helpless as the English burned my home, as Tavington watched them kill all before them. My aged father slain at his sickbed, my mother killed trying to protect him, taking up my grandfather's sword."

"I swore revenge for this wrong and will not rest until I have taken Tavington's life." Alan replied.

"What became of Tavington?" Rahne asked.

"I don't know." Alan replied, "But I have searched worlds for him until my vengeance is achieved."

"He killed all that you loved?" Rahne asked.

"Aye, all but one. And my search is never ending." Alan replied, his eyes betraying a great deal of sadness.

"How did you fall in with Jack?" Rahne asked.

"I was hunted like an animal after failing to kill Tavington. They cornered me I just kept running down the beach and swam out to sea, hoping to simply die unbroken by Tavington rather than surrender. Jack found me near dead on the water's surface…" Alan replied, "I had best be going, lass."

Alan walked off, leaving Rahne alone with her thoughts.

"You seem to be in a cheerful mood, Maple Leaf." Wolverine began.

"That I am." Ted replied to his fellow Canadian.

"I can smell it on you." Logan replied. At Ted's blank stare he added, "Unless you've suddenly taken to wearing Chanel perfume…"

"I'd forgotten that you've got the sensory abilities of a bloodhound with color vision as well as being the most ornery scraper to have emerged from Alberta." Ted replied.

"Someone's gotta show you British Columbia Boys how it's done." Logan grunted.

"If I'm not mistaken, this British Columbia boy served in the Occupied Territories as well as the East Jerusalem beat." Ted replied.

"Well, I can't count the number of battlefields I've served on with both hands…" Logan retorted.

"Boys, boys." Emily began, as she began to make a pot of coffee, "Can you not fill the atmosphere with testosterone and hostility."

The Englishwoman smiled at Ted and said, "You must have had a good time with Paige last night."

Ted nodded and Emily continued, "While we were off trying to convince Sands to come over here and had to deal with Shipwreck, Spirit, Roadblock and the Blind Master on a drinking binge. Not to mention try to prevent Piper from beating Shipwreck to death with an umbrella…"

Cover Girl walked down the stairs just then, "Let's not forget the drunken pirates either."

"To be fair, they did pay the bartender with a couple gold doubloons. That kinda took the edge off the fighting." Ted replied, "And let's not forget the Friends of Humanity idiots started the whole thing."

"Let me guess, any excuse for getting into a fight." Cover Girl replied.

"I remember my Uncle Mark used to love to go into pubs and start fights back when he lived in the UK." Ted quipped.

"This isn't the UK!" Cover Girl snapped, "No offense Emily."

"None taken." Emily replied, "Most Brits have more sense than that. Bloody Canadians."

"Hey…" Logan and Ted both retorted.

"Finally you two agree on something." Cover Girl replied.

"Well, I've got a lesson plan to prepare for the kids…" Ted began, slinging the AK-47 on his right shoulder.

"There better not be live ammo in that thing." Logan warned.

"Relax, I'm going to teach them how to disassemble, clean, and disable them." Ted replied.

"How's Shipwreck?" Emily asked.

"He's gonna have a hell of a headache between the hangover and Piper braining him multiple times with the umbrella." Cover Girl replied, and at the Englishwoman's enigmatic grin she added, "What?"

"I do believe that was concern in your voice." Emily replied.

Cover Girl looked at the smiling English woman and Emily innocently replied, "It was just an observation."

"You're awfully happy this morning." Phoebe observed as Paige poured herself a cup of coffee at breakfast, "I take it the date went well."

"Ted's a great kisser…" Paige began at Phoebe's blank stare she added, "We kissed on the front porch."

"I didn't see, I was trying to keep Piper from killing Shipwreck." Phoebe replied.

"Why am I not surprised." Paige replied, "About Piper trying to kill Shipwreck I mean?"

"That crazy sailor and three of his buddies were flying down the street in a rocket propelled shopping cart." Phoebe replied.

"What?" Paige asked.

"They somehow got a hold of a rocket booster and attached it to a rickety old metal shopping cart." Phoebe replied.

"Are you kidding me?" Paige asked.

"No. Then they wrecked the shopping cart, Shipwreck came staggering to the door looking for iodine and Piper bashed him several times upside the head with an umbrella." Phoebe asked, "So while you were smooching Ted on the front porch I was trying to keep Piper from homicide."

Piper was watching the TV, bouncing little Chris on her knees and trying to feed him his apple sauce. "Come on sweetie, one more bite…"

"Piwate…" Chris said, pointing at the TV, and a video of Jack Sparrow, Mr. Gibbs, and Anamaria chasing Graydon Creed around with cutlasses and an old style pistol.

"Ha ha ha har!" The pirates chanted as the poked him with their swords in the behind making him yowl and jump several feet into the air.

"In other news, several severely intoxicated individuals dressed up in pirate costumes were involved in a massive brawl against members of the Friends of Humanity." The newscaster said, "Speaking for the Friends of Humanity is Mr. Graydon Creed."

"Thank you." Graydon Creed replied, he still had a massive bruise on his forehead, courtesy of Duncan hitting with the crowbar earlier when trying to get a coyote off his boss' head.

"The individuals that attacked members of my organization are little more than deranged felons who enjoy dressing like pirates and attacking people with deadly weapons. Their leader's name is Jack Sparrow and he travels with associates such as Mr. Cotton, Gibbs, Anamaria, and Alan Breck…" Creed began, "Any information you have leading to their arrests will be most appreciated. Remember these men and woman are dangerous fugitives and should be considered armed and dangerous…"

Piper balanced little Chris on her hip as she walked into the kitchen, "Paige, next time your boyfriend brings his crazy buddies, tell him that Jack Sparrow's in some deep…"

"You rang?" Jack Sparrow replied, as he and Ted teleported into the kitchen.

"You!" Piper hissed, "Out! Out! Out!"

"I extend the olive branch, love," Jack replied, "and you beat me over the head with it?"

"I'll do more than THAT!" Piper snapped, "If Creed finds anything about you guys being here I'm going to take the olive branch and shove it so far up your…"

"Mommy…" Wyatt asked, tugging on the hem of Piper's jeans, "What's an olive bwach? Are you going to spank Unca Jack and Unca Ted? Are they in trouble?"

"Big trouble, sweetheart." Piper replied, advancing menacingly on Jack.

"I'm already seeing someone, missy." Jack replied innocently, "Anamaria would be furious, for two. And I'm not entirely sure that I'd be into being beaten by an olive branch anyway. Not really a turn on, lass."

"Watch it!" Piper replied.

"Guys, calm down." Paige said as she walked into the room, she and Ted exchanged a quick kiss before she asked, "What's going on?"

"We're here to extend our invitation to a christening ceremony to be held next week for the newborn child of Elizabeth and William Turner, members of Jack's crew." Ted replied, "We figured we'd best extend the olive branch, before Piper decided to use it for something of a more devious purpose. Boy do I pity Leo…"

"Ted…" Piper replied, whirling on him, "Watch it."

"Sorry, I was just kidding." Ted replied.

"Mommy," Wyatt said, lifting his arms.

Ted crouched down and lifted the little boy, "Here you go fella…"

Piper gave Ted a look, expecting Wyatt to be alarmed or start crying, especially because he barely knew Ted. Piper was surprised when Wyatt fingered the embroidered Israeli flag on the shoulder of Ted's olive drab combat uniform.

"What's that?" Wyatt asked.

"That's the flag of Israel, where I just came from…" Ted replied.

"What's Iswael?" Wyatt asked.

"That's another country." Ted replied.

"Is that in America?" Wyatt asked.

"Not exactly." Ted replied, speaking gently to the kid, "Here, go to you Auntie Paige."

Ted handed Wyatt to Paige who said, "Come here sweetheart."

Wyatt still held onto the patch on Ted's uniform, tearing the Velcro away. "Wyatt…" Piper admonished.

"No, he can't hurt anything. I've got another one." Ted replied, pulling one out of his shirt pocket and replacing it.

"So what do you say?" Jack said, "To our invitation."

"We're not having the christening at the house." Piper began.

"We're not planning on having it here." Jack replied, "It's going to be held at the Pit."

"At an Army base, uh uh." Piper replied.

"We're not like the rest of the Army." Ted replied.

"You're not even in the American Army." Piper snapped back, "You're from the Israeli Army."

"Exactly. If anyone tries to mess with you guys, they're going to get a good old fashioned Israeli ass-kicking from me." Ted replied.

"Auntie Paige, what's an Iswaeli ass kicking?" Wyatt asked.

"Do you have any more bad words you plan on teaching my two year old?" Piper asked.

"Sorry, it just slipped." Ted replied.

"Don't swear in front of my kids again…" Piper warned. Right about then Chris grabbed one of Jack's braided and beaded locks of hair and began to put one of the beads in his mouth, tugging as he did so.

"Ow! Damn…" Jack began.

Piper glared at Jack. "Sorry." Jack replied.

"We'll be there." Paige replied, "But you had better be on your best behavior, or I think Piper and Anamaria will draw straws to see which one gets to skin you alive."

"On pain of death, I will be on my best behavior." Jack replied.

"Besides, Hawk confiscated all the rum you and Shipwreck bought." Ted quipped.

"Good. I don't need more exposure to drunken pirates." Piper replied.

Paige's cell phone rang just then and she said, "Can you take Wyatt again?"

"Sure." Ted replied.

Paige watched as she took her phone call from her boss and couldn't help but smile. Ted was doing or saying something to make Wyatt giggle and laugh. The little boy was holding on to the patch that he'd taken from Ted earlier. She finished her call and took Wyatt asking Ted, "You seem so good with kids. How does that happen for an Israeli soldier?"

Ted's eyes took on a cloudy cast, "Children are war's most tragic victims…"

Phoebe walked through the living room, hurrying to get to work when she accidentally brushed against Ted, seeing his memory of Gaza, 2002.

The gunshot reverberated through the air at the nearby checkpoint. A group of children had been pelting an Israeli checkpoint with rocks and bottles and an irate army sniper opened fire, hitting one of the boys in the leg.

Ted, the bald sniper everyone called Imhotep, Avi, and Samad were in their vehicle, carrying out tactical reconnaissance for a future YAMAS operation. Ted stopped the vehicle and Samad said, "What?"

"That kid just got shot." Ted began.

Imhotep looked at Ted, "The fucking idiot was throwing rocks at that checkpoint. Our boys are getting pissed over those taunts."

Ted grabbed his medical bag and his CAR-15 and leaped from the vehicle. "You idiot! You want to get shot!" Avi shouted.

Samad followed after him, the hulking Druze a few steps behind the running Canadian. Imhotep looked at Avi for a grand total of one second and grabbed his own weapon, "Stay with the vehicle!"

Imhotep sprinted after the two other soldiers and dropped to one knee behind a junk car. Within a few seconds Ted had reached the victim. The two Israeli soldiers manning the checkpoint couldn't have been any older than nineteen. They came running towards the Palestinians and the two YAMAS operatives, their rifles raised. The Palestinians pulled back, but only just so far, leaving the injured boy.

"What the hell is going on here!" A lean bodied Israeli soldier, an immigrant of Polish descent shouted.

The Sephardic soldier behind him kept his rifle trained on the crowd of Palestinian boys, remaining silent, not wanting to oppose the other soldier.

"One of your marksmen just shot a kid." Imhotep growled, "Our medic wants to treat him."

"The kid was throwing rocks at us! Let him bleed." The soldier retorted.

Ted continued to go about his work, the bullet had passed by any arteries and had not severed any major nerves. The kid had gotten off lucky with only a flesh wound. All he had to do was patch him up properly and…

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the irate soldier level his rifle, "What the fuck are you doing?"

"He's a damn kid!" Ted shouted back.

"Those people killed at the disco because of that suicide bomber in Tel Aviv were kids too. Two of my friends died there asshole!" The soldier said.

"You'd shoot me…" Ted replied, disgusted.

"You'd want to die for a fucking Arab!" the other soldier retorted.

"Put that away you little prick." Samad replied, drawing himself to his full height of six feet, "Or I'll make you eat it…"

The young soldier hesitated for a minute. From their uniforms he knew the three men were Israeli soldiers that came from the Sufa jeep a few feet away from the checkpoint. Nearby the other soldier was trying to reassure an old woman, yelling frantically in Arabic at him.

Ted made sure the dressing was on properly before taking a syringe out of his bag. The old woman began cursing at Ted and picked up a stone. Imhotep promptly flung her on her back, aiming his rifle at her. The old woman looked angrily at the Israeli soldier but did not do anything else.

"Calm down." Imhotep said, in Arabic, "He's just giving him medicine and he can go back to you."

"Israeli pigs! Israeli swine!" the woman shouted, spitting on Imhotep's boot.

Ted injected the antibiotics into the kid and handed him a small pouch of painkillers, "Take one every four hours and get yourself to a hospital."

"How can we get to a hospital?" An old man, obviously the old woman's wife, shouted, "Your soldiers make us stand for hours in the sun just to find work in Israel!"

"Come with us." Ted told the frightened boy.

"Are you nuts?" Samad asked, "You're taking him with us?"

"He needs to get checked out Samad." Ted replied, and turned to the soldier that had been antagonizing them earlier.

"You there! Give us a hand!" Ted commanded. The sullen soldier did as he was told as Samad glared at him, not forgetting even for an instant that the other soldier had leveled the weapon at Ted.

They loaded the boy into their jeep and drove away. "Now what, genius?" Avi began, "How are we going to explain this to the boss that we were late from patrol over a shooting?"

"We come clean." Ted replied, calming the boy and hooking up an IV, "There's a UN vehicle a couple kilometers down the road, we can leave him with them."

They stopped by a UN food distribution vehicle and Samad stepped out of the jeep and said to one of the workers, "You, come here."

A petite woman blonde woman barely five feet tall in her mid thirties stepped down from the vehicle. She ran to the Israeli jeep where Ted had just hooked the IV into the boy's arm. "What happened?" the woman asked in a British accent.

"He got shot in a crossfire earlier." Samad replied.

"He's stabilized, but he just needs a check." Ted replied.

The woman climbed into the vehicle, "I'm a doctor."

Ted explained everything he had done and the woman replied, "You're a medic?"

"Yes." Ted replied.

"He should be alright, but we'll take him to the hospital." The woman replied.

Ted pulled his map out and replied, "Thank you. These are the coordinates of the checkpoint where we took him from."

The UN vehicle drove off with the injured boy. "You did the right thing today." Samad began.

Ted blinked his eyes, remembering that memory of four years ago in Gaza.

"You did the right thing that day." Phoebe began, "Did he survive?"

"Yes." Ted replied, "Three hours later the UN people dropped him off outside the refugee camp and made sure he got back to his grandparents."

Paige could see a look she had seen many times before, on kids that had suffered trauma usually. Ted blinked a few times and then seemed ok. "Do you want to talk about it?" Paige asked, gently.

"I'll be outside for a little while." Ted replied, heading for the porch. Paige followed him after handing Wyatt off to Phoebe.

Will Turner looked Lance in the eyes. "A sword is formidable weapon in the right hands. Notice I said in the right hands. You had better know how to handle it, or an enemy will make short work of you."

"Aye." Alan agreed, "If you don't know how to handle it, your foe has a slash at your belly if he's really cruel."

"Defend yourself, wielder of the Keyblade." Will began, and tossed a training sword to Lance.

Lance hefted the sword and Will drew his own sword. Lance made a sudden stab at Will, who side stepped the thrust and parried. Lance switched tactics and went for a high cut until he felt the tip of a sword at his back.

"That isn't fair!" Lance shouted, as he saw Alan out of the corner of his eyes.

"Fighting is not fair." Alan replied, "Defend yourself."

Lance lunged towards Alan, angered. He found the hilt of Alan's sword under his chin. "The blade is not the only part of the sword." Alan replied.

"Again." Will began, "What if you can't protect Kitty because you are unable to wield the Keyblade…"

Lance lunged angrily. "You're angry. It is death to a sword fighter." Alan added.

Will launched a thrust and Lance parried it and Alan swung in from behind. Lance spun around and blocked it only to feel the cold steel of Will's sword against his neck. "Be sure to dispatch a foe first before you turn your back on him." Will cautioned.

Lance continued to train with the two men for the rest of the afternoon, the fear of being unable to protect she who he loved most spurring him on.

TBC

Occupied Territories – Since 1967 Israel has owned Gaza, Judea and Samaria. These areas are known as either the Occupied Territories or simply the Territories. Here the Israelis fight the Palestinians.

Sephardic – Refers to Jews of Arabic descent that live in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East.

AN: There have been isolated incidents where Israeli soldiers have shot at Palestinians throwing rocks. This chapter is intended to show that both sides are equally as guilty in the fighting.