Commodore James Norrington was returning from the fort. He had to prepare for the ball at the mansion that night and he was not looking forward to it. As he walked through the docks, he noticed two figures in front of one of the warehouses, "Who goes there?" Norrington yelled out.

Gibbs turned around and looked up, "Bloody Norrington," Gibbs whispered. "He can't see us here," Gibbs snapped at Will.

"What? Why not? It's just the commodore," Will started to walk forward out of the doorway.

Jack stopped dead when he heard that voice. Raising his eyes skyward, looking for divine intervention. When nothing was forthcoming, he stuck his head out once again to verify that it was indeed Norrington.

Gibbs shot a look at Will, "You know what Norrington thinks of Jack and well I'm certain by now he knows that I was with Jack on the Pearl and you put two and two together and we'll never make it out of Port Royal." Gibbs started banging the lock harder and finally got it to break. He rushed to get inside, "Get in here." Gibbs yelled as he grabbed Will's arm and pulled his inside after him.

"What?" Will gasped and then felt himself being pulled inside the building. Realizing that they'd just broken into a warehouse and an officer of the royal navy was outside, he turned and slammed the door shut. Fussing with the lock for a few seconds, "It's broken. Find something to barricade the door with!"

Norrington began walking faster, "I said who goes there?" he commanded as he was coming closer to the warehouse.

Jack was able to finally see who was with Gibbs - Will! He watched as the two finally managed to break into the warehouse. His head darted back and forth as he tried to find a way to distract Norrington. The apple core he'd discarded lay about five feet from him. Inching forward, he grabbed it and lobbed it at the commodore, hitting him squarely in the back. He started to grin when he suddenly realized he was standing in full view of the man should he turn around. Whirling about, he scooted down the narrow passageway
between the buildings.Gibbs walked further into the building, "It certainly is a pottery warehouse." Gibbs said as he noticed all the mugs, plates, vases, teacups and teapots. "It's in the back though. That's where I put it, that thing we're looking for," Gibbs said pulling Will along behind him.

"Well, what else did you expect in a pottery warehouse? Rum?" Will felt himself being pulled further into the building. "Wait, it's dark back there. Shouldn't we light a candle or something?"

Gibbs looked at Will, "Are you mad? If we light a candle Norrington will find us." Gibbs said to him. "Now come along. " Gibbs said pulling him back.

Back outside, Norrington felt something hit him in the back, "What?" He whirled around to see what it was. Lying on the ground was the apple core. "An apple core?" Mumbling softly to himself, he scanned the area for movement. "Something is certainly amiss here, but what is it?" he said as he turned to head back to the warehouse.

He knew he had been distracted for a reason now. He was more determined to go inside now. Walking to the door of the warehouse he paused to inspect the broken lock. "Interesting," Pushing the door open, a loud squeak heralded his arrival. "Who is in here? I know you are in here and I will find you." Norrington said to the air in the warehouse. As he walked carefully inside, checking each side to ensure he wouldn't be attacked with a blow.

Reluctantly at first, Will followed Gibbs further back. Then he heard Norrington's voice. "Umm, Gibbs? Perhaps we ought to hide, if you think it best that is."

Jack frowned as he saw the commodore enter the warehouse Gibbs and Will had entered. Knowing he had little time, he took off at a run down the street back towards the town. He had to think of something to save his friends. Passing by a few buildings, he suddenly saw that one lazy person had inadvertently forgotten to bring their clothes in. Grinning, he grabbed several items off the line where they'd been drying and turned back towards the warehouse.

Gibbs nodded, "Bout time you see things my way. Hiding is the best plan." Gibbs said as he found a couple of crates. "Behind these should work." Gibbs whispered as he ducked down.

Norrington put his hand on the hilt of his sword, "I know you are in here. I saw you outside and I can hear you whispering. You best come out now because I will find you." He walked further into the warehouse down the main walkway checking each area for signs of who it was that was in here.

"I'll take my chances over here, thank you," Will found an empty crate and got into it, pulling the top back over his head. No sooner had he settled in than Norrington's voice could be heard coming even closer.

Reaching the warehouse, Jack stopped to inspect his new clothes. Holding up the first item, he frowned when he discovered that the pale brown linen he held wasn't trousers at all, but a ladies petticoat. And the white linen was, "No!" He groaned and held up a chemise, a very LARGE one at that. Continuing his inspection of the articles, he encountered a pink flowery bodice, again, made for the figure of a very ample woman. A lace-edged bonnet completed the ensemble.

Realizing he didn't have any time to race back and find any other clothes, Jack quickly donned the items. Carefully folding his he placed them behind a bush, setting his hat on top of the pile and with a grimace. Taking the bonnet last, he put it on his head and sighed. Time to see if he could fool the commodore.

Entering the warehouse, he waited a moment while his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Listening carefully, Jack finally heard Norrington's voice near the rear of the building. Setting his cutlass and pistol down on a table near the door, he looked back toward the rear of the room. 'Showtime', he thought to himself. Wincing, he shouted in a high falsetto voice, "Commodore? Commodore Norrington? Are you in here? I saw you sneak in here."

Norrington shot around when he heard his name called out, "Who is it?" Not able to see well in the darkened building, he pulled his sword out as he began to move back to the front of the warehouse slowly and carefully.

Gibbs squinted his eyes as he heard the voice, "Jack?" he mumbled to himself. 'It can't be he thought.'

"Oh, it is you," Grabbing a long scarf he saw hanging over a chair near the door, Jack quickly wound it around the lower part of his fact, hiding his beard. "I thought so," Seeing Norrington approaching with sword drawn, he gasped in feigned fright. "Oh! Please put away your weapon, you are frightening me."

Norrington slowly walked forward keeping his sword down but still drawn, "State your business here," Coming closer he squinted his eyes to see what he believed was a woman. He put his sword away slowly. "What is a lady such as yourself doing in a dusty old warehouse at this time of night?"

Thinking quickly, why was he here? "Why, I might ask the same of you Commodore. This is my husband's warehouse and he remembered some letters he had left behind. Since I had to run out to get some things for supper, I offered to stop by and pick them up. So," Jack looked pointedly at Norrington, still keeping the scarf over his face, "Why are you in here?"

Norrington looked at her oddly, "I thought I saw a couple of intruders and the door was open. I came to inspect it." Norrington looked at her oddly, "I thought I saw two men entering here." Norrington scratched his head. "You didn't see them enter here did you, ma'am?" Norrington asked her curiously.

Gibbs at that moment chuckled hitting a box that made a loud noise.

Norrington turned around, "What was that?"

Hearing the chuckle, Jack started hacking and coughing, attempting to mask the sound. "Dusty!" WHEEZE! GASP! HACK! HACK! "Dusty in here," COUGH! COUGH! "Always makes me cough. Sorry, commodore, you were saying? Oh, two men? No, I didn't see anything. Besides," flourishing his free arm about the cluttered warehouse, "What would men want with," WHEEZE! "Teapots and such?"

Norrington turned back towards the woman. "Are you alright ma'am?" He asked her as he walked over and gently patted her back, "Can I get you anything?" he asked her curiously. He was slightly concerned. "Perhaps we should get you to a doctor."

At Norrington's touch on his back, Jack jumped backwards away from the man. "No, I shall be fine, thank you. Don't trust those quacks one bit," Glancing about at the assorted jumble of things, an idea came to him. "Perhaps a spot of tea might do. Would you like to join me for tea?" Thinking rapidly, wanting the man out of the room. "In town?"

Will wrinkled his nose. The dust in the crate he had selected was beginning to bother him. He could feel a sneeze coming. Trying to stifle it. Suddenly, "PPFFSSTTT!"

Hearing the sound, Jack grabbed Norrington's elbow, "Do let us go," HACK! HACK!

"PPSSSFFFFTTTT!"

Norrington nodded at the woman, "I'm certain a cup of tea will do just fine." he said as he was beginning to walk out. He then held up his hand, "Wait a moment. I am certain there is something in here. Do you not hear that?" he inquired. He turned around and began to head back into the warehouse. "Who goes there?" he yelled out again.

"Nothing, in here. Except rats. Big, horrible rats. I've told my husband about them and he hasn't done a thing about them. And I am afraid of rats. Dearie," A drippy, syrupy voice, Jack grimaced as he spoke the affectionate term to Norrington, "Let's get out of here before they attack us," Grabbing Norrington's elbow, he started to pull him towards the door. "Besides," as he sighted one of hundreds of teapots, "I need a drink of tea."

Norrington turned to the woman, "Rats?" he inquired. "If you are certain it is nothing but rats. It sounded like something more than rats to me." Norrington sighed, " I will join you for a cup of tea, but I only have time for one. " Norrington said as he turned to follow her out.