Dead Men Tell No Tales

Disclaimer: Hold on to your hats. I may not own Jack or Will but I have to say I have done them justice.

Someday

I turned Will and made him look at me. After our eyes met we both glanced around and looked at the stunned faces of the crew. A thunderous boom blasted through the air accompanied by a horrible whistling noise as a cannonball sailed by, just inches from our ship.

"Should we fire?" one of my crew yelled, looking at me frantically as he lashed down a loose line.

I looked out at the Pearl and smiled. "No, that was not meant for us. That was an honest mistake. We are not the enemy. Let's just get out of the line of fire. Light sails only, rig the steering boom in snug," I ordered. "We don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves."

Elizabeth came up and placed her left arm around me. She had Raven in her other arm and Bill was hanging on to her skirt sucking his thumb. "Jack, I know all you want to do is to get your ship back and we are with you, I mean that is a fine goal. But, from where I am standing, I think you should reevaluate the situation."

A flash of orange came from the right, slightly off our bow. The noise of guns firing followed almost instantly.

Will raised his eyes to Elizabeth and then to me. "Jack, Elizabeth took the words right out of my mouth. If you don't reconsider, I'm going to have to throw you overboard. You can't seriously believe we can take that on, can you?" Will pointed at all the ships.

Kat, who had come up behind Elizabeth, began to giggle. Elizabeth looked at her scornfully and nudged her back. "I'm sorry; I can just see William trying to throw my Dad off his own ship."

I had to smile at her and pulled her close to me. I squinted against the glow of the fire burning behind the town, which effectively cast the warships in the harbor in sharp silhouettes. Eight Naval ships and The Black Pearl and then us, one little undermanned ship.

Another cannonball came flying at us and this time it hit. My crew shouted and we all dodged the debris from the blast.

"Now should we fire?" Will asked.

"No, don't shoot, don't shoot!" I yelled, while I scrambled back to my feet and helped Kat up. "Let's just get the hell out of here." I flung myself at a line that bound one of the sails. "Quickly, we need to move now!"

Before we could move twenty feet another cannonball hit us, blasting the top of the mast to smithereens and one of the sails dropped to the deck with a loud slap. As the sail came down I yelled, "Lay down flat on the deck!"

"Should we fire now?" I heard Kat shriek as she threw herself prone onto the hard wood.

"NO!" I yelled back.

I could hear The Pearl's cannon fire echoing off the island and as I watched the splash of the cannonballs hit the water I was mesmerized. "I swear if she were not my ship, I'd commandeer her." I said softly.

Will had managed to crawl up beside me. "Jack, technically she is not your ship and we have to do something. She and everyone else are firing at us."

I brushed my hand across my goatee and smiled like a kid in a candy shop. "William, remember what I said about having faith in me?"

"Yes, and I do, but this is ridiculous."

"It would be if we were going to attack those eight ships, but we aren't."

I stood up and the rest of the crew followed my actions and manned their posts.

Will shook his head, confused. "We're not?"

"No, we are not. The Black Pearl will."

Elizabeth stole close and pulled Kat under her arm. "Yes, but they are shooting at us too. Come Kat, I think you, Bill, Raven and I should go below. Your father has lost it."

Will gave a meek smile towards Elizabeth, "Darling, you are assuming that Jack had something to lose, in order to lose it."

Elizabeth swatted at Will and started to leave.

"No Elizabeth," I pulled Kat away from her. "Someday The Pearl will belong to Kat and she should stay to see what her ship can do. The Pearl appears to be in the middle of the battle. We will let her take the lead and we will follow, savvy?"

Elizabeth frowned at me and attempted to pull Kat back. "Well, I have to say Jack that makes me feel a whole lot better. I don't think anybody informed Barbossa that we are not the enemy."

I rolled my eyes and turned Kat to face The Black Pearl and all her glory.

"Jack," Will now put his arm around Kat and gave her a hug. He gently pulled her back towards Elizabeth. "Elizabeth is right, The Pearl isn't her ship. It isn't even your ship. You don't know whose ship she is."

"Well, we know it's not Norrington's." I gave him a golden grin and motioned to Kat to come back. She tried but she couldn't because Will was holding her tight. I narrowed my eyes at Will and he returned the gesture. He would not let her go.

"William," I decided to try a new tactic. "We know Norrington is on one of those ships, most likely the flag ship. His goal is to sink The Black Pearl. As you can see, they are all maneuvering their guns on her but I have no doubt she can hold her own, especially with Barbossa at the helm. We will let him handle seven ships and we will handle Norrington's."

"Jack," Elizabeth once again pulled Kat toward her and handed Raven over to her as she picked up the screaming Bill. "Jack, someday Kat will have a ship and hopefully you will be the one to give it to her. Today is not the day and, if you have not noticed, they are still shooting at us!"

Ducking as more debris fell on us I stuck Bill's thumb back in his mouth to shut him up and I seized Kat from Elizabeth, shoving Raven back into Elizabeth's arms. Raven began to shriek and Elizabeth almost dropped Bill.

"Jack Sparrow, you are impossible. Please do us all a favor and stop having children. You are one rotten father and I am beginning to wonder what type of captain you are. If you keep this up there won't be a someday for Kat or for any of us!"

Before I could say anything Will stood between the two of us. "Elizabeth, please leave Jack alone and take the children below."

"Will, try to get that sail back up." I was talking to Will but glaring at Elizabeth. "We are going to need speed. Kat, get everyone to their stations and then come back to me, and I mean ME. Elizabeth, will you please secure yourself below with Bill and Raven?"

"Jack," Elizabeth started again.

"Elizabeth, I said please and that is the best you are going to get from me. If you wish to help before going below you can do so by lightening the ship. Throw everything heavy overboard. Everything but the rum, not the rum."

Elizabeth held both Raven and Bill close to her body. "I'd like to throw you and your fat ego overboard."

"Elizabeth!" I was losing my temper and my voice was loud. Without another word she did as I asked.

"Jack," Will was winded after successfully getting the sail back up. "How do you know Norrington will be on the flag ship?"

I smiled at him. "That's where the having-faith-in–me part comes in. I know Norrington, and he would not want anyone else to have the glory of taking down the infamous Black Pearl. You, lad, have known him for many years and you know how self absorbed he is. I've seen him engineer attack after attack and he's used the same method each time. I see no reason for him to change that now."

"But," Will started, waving his hand toward the harbor, "which one is the flag ship?"

"You'll see. He'll show himself before too long."

"I don't have quite the confidence you have Jack."

"Will, I would not expect you too. Stay at the helm and try not to bring any attention to us but do get us close. Kat, douse all lanterns; we need to run silent and dark. We will make a surprise attack."

I climbed up into the crow's nest. I wanted first to watch for trouble and second to see if I could find Norrington. From the height of the crow's nest I could see the guns being wheeled out of the portholes. I watched as the ships aimed their guns and fired at The Pearl. I pulled out my spyglass and that is when I saw him. Striding along the deck of the ship was Norrington, but, to my surprise, he was not on the flag ship.

So James was playing a different game. Realizing this, I yelled down to Will: "Turn about!"

"Jack, are you daft?" Will yelled back. "We're almost clear of the guns."

"I don't care, turn back! Turn back! We are going after Norrington and saving The Pearl!"

Will looked at me as if I had gone stark raving mad, which I probably had.

As our ship started to turn so did The Pearl. The largest of the navel ships started to shoot the crap out of The Pearl. I couldn't believe it, men started to bail out of the Pearl like fleas jumping off a dog. The two nearest naval ships started pulling the pirates out of the water. I couldn't believe they were jumping overboard, what cowards! If I were Barbossa, I would string them up for leaving their posts but on second thought. Norrington's Navy would do that for him.

The gunpowder was thick in the air, getting in my nose and leaving an acrid taste in my mouth, but worst of all it hung in thick, heavy grey clouds over the deck, obscuring my vision. By the time the gunpowder dispersed enough so that I could see the deck of the Pearl, it was in shambles. The ship appeared to be slowly sinking into the water.

"Where is he?" I yelled, desperately scanning the ship. "Where is Barbossa? He better not let my ship sink!"

As I strand my eyes from the crow's nest, Kat climbed up to join me. "Do you see him yet?"

"No but I know he is out there. The Pearl is taking a beating but she is giving better then she is getting. Four of the naval ships are out of commission thanks to Barbossa and The Pearl's cannons. He is probably waiting for the others to get into range, and then he'll---"

A flash of orange came flying at us. Wood splintered and flew with the velocity of missiles. I flung myself over the side of the crow's nest, barely touching the rope as I slid towards the deck. I was shouting the order to fire before I was halfway down.

Another flash and boom boom boom, cannonballs ripped through the night and our ship was reeling with the blows. The hits were so hard that Kat lost her grip on the rope ladder from the crows nest and fell to the deck. She lay still and stunned for a few minutes, but she managed to crawl back to her feet.

The ship bucked as I fired off three guns. I felt a moment of satisfaction at hearing the shots connect with a solid form rather than splashing uselessly into the water.

"Drop the sails," I shouted above the sound of cries. "Will, helm to port! Helm to port!"

Kat rushed to get the sails lowered so we could maneuver ourselves out of danger, but fell to the ground when our mainmast was struck by a lucky shot and it came crashing down on her.

"Port," I yelled, loading one of the guns. "Will, helm to port!"

Will jerked the wheel hard to the left. The ship shuddered and wanted to fight him. He then tied the wheel and ran to help pull the rigging off Kat. He hauled her to safety and ran back to the helm, but before he could make it, a horrible grating sound stopped us all dead in our tracks.

"We've rammed her," I yelled. Over the remains of the downed mast I could see that we'd run smack into Norrington's ship. Dark shadows danced around on her deck, indicating they were as aware of the situation as we were.

"Boarding axes," I yelled. "Let's take them down."

"Yarr," Will yelled, snatching up his sword and axe. Others grabbed short axes and various other weapons. A couple of crewmates threw grappling hooks over the side, but that wasn't really necessary. Norrington's bow was wedged into the port side of our bow. I leaped onto the railing, throwing myself onto Norrington's ship with a cry that would have scared the crap out of me if I wasn't the one making it.

I saw Will scramble up onto the railing and he paused a moment to assess the scene. The men from my ship were pouring onto Norrington's. The fighting that followed as the two crews clashed was noisy, chaotic and bloody, at least from what I could see of it. Kat hauled herself onto the railing next to Will. She was holding an arm-sized piece of wood from the broken mast in her hands. Will shoved his axe at her and she protested, but I heard him yell. "I do better with a sword anyway; you need to use the axe." He then flung his sword at the nearest naval man and killed him.

I myself was facing a man with a pistol. He fired in my direction, but his aim was fortuitously bad. He tossed the pistol down and I rushed him with my sword drawn. I considered running him through, but he chose to jump off the ship.

"That's another one down." Will yelled, whipping his sword around dramatically. As he danced around, another ship in the fleet blew up and wood went flying everywhere. We all paused a moment at the sound and we had to dodge the debris.

As I stood there, two men rushed me, both armed with cutlasses. I faced them and tried to fight fairly until one of them smacked my hand so hard with the flat of his blade that I dropped my weapon. I was going to make a dive for it, but then I did a bit of calculating with regards of their size and speed and I came to a quick decision. I turned and ran. "WILL!" I yelled, running down the deck to where I could see him madly fighting with his sword plunged into yet another man's chest. The two men were in hot pursuit behind me.

I could see Will was occupied so I turned to face my enemies and pulled my gun. To my good fortune, one of the men had fallen back so I only had one to contend with. As I turned he slipped and fell on a short pike, which buried itself in his chest. I stopped and stared down at him, time seeming to halt as he gasped a couple of times then died. I bent down, took his sword, and continued fighting.

Blood and seawater were everywhere. The light was almost nonexistent as various lamps were knocked down by the battle. The screams of the wounded and the sound of the wood creaking as the tide rocked the ships together wove together to form a nightmarish scene that I feared would never end.

My small crew struggled against almost overwhelming numbers as Norrington's men continued their onslaught. We fought hard but one by one we dropped until there were only five of my crew left. I crouched at the bow, bloody and cornered, but I was not ready to give up. I had yet to see Norrington. I held my sword out in front of me while Norrington's crew formed a semicircle around me, laughing and sneering and taunting me. I wasn't going to go down without taking a couple of them with me.

"James," I yelled. My voice was hard to hear over the groans of the wounded and the wood-on-wood shriek of the ships.

I ripped open the port hatch. "Norrington, I know you're down there skulking like the coward you are. Come out here and fight me like a man."

Not wanting to face the men on deck, I started to go down the ladder but fell backwards as a shot rang out from below. Kat screamed and Will came to my assistance as a circle of red appeared on my side.

"Damn you Norrington!" Will yelled as men pulled Kat and Will away from me. They twisted their arms behind them and took Will's weapon. They hauled me back up and tossed me to my knees.

Norrington leaped out of the hold, standing over me with a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other. "How very fitting to have you groveling at my feet Sparrow."

I glared up at him. "Captain, Captain Sparrow if you please," I said with my teeth clamped tight and my hand on my stomach.

"Very well, Captain," Norrington put his foot on my shoulder, knocking me to the ground, and kicked my sword from my hand. As I fell backwards I saw, looming right beside us, The Black Pearl.

"Oh, you are so dead," Will yelled, struggling to free himself. "Did you have to shoot him? You are a slimy bastard!"

Norrington looked over at Will, his eyebrows raised. "If you value your life, Mister Turner, and the lives of your family, you will remain silent as the grave."

"Right, like you won't kill me next?"

As Will spoke, the last of Norrington's fleet blew up. Norrington's ship shook and the sky was as light as noon. "Aye, that is me Pearl. She won't go down unless she can take all of you with her," I said as I attempted to get to my feet.

Norrington looked at me and sliced my face with his sword. "Blast those damn pirates," Norrington yelled. "Men, The Pearl is in a perfect position for us to blast her to smithereens. Do it, and do it now!"

Will twisted himself free of the men who were holding him. He tossed himself to the ground and then slid his hand into his boot. Before my very eyes a silver flash shot out and sent Norrington reeling backwards, right into the opened hatch. He fell into it screaming, "You…you…cheated!"

"Pirate!" Will yelled back as he pulled himself up off the deck and took control.

As Will and the rest of my small crew took over the ship, I snatched up a length of rope. "Kat, make sure Elizabeth and the children are well. I am going after The Pearl. Don't try to stop me and don't have Will rescue me, savvy? This is between Barbossa and myself."

Before she could say anything, I scrambled up on the railing, took a deep breath, and flung myself over. As I flew through the air, Norrington's men blasted The Pearl. They made a direct hit, sending shrapnel everywhere.

I landed in the ocean. The cold water stunned me for a few moments. A falling piece of debris slammed into my head. I must have lost consciousness, because when I came about I was sinking down to the depths. I struggled to drag myself upward, but black spots started to dance before my eyes and my lungs began to burn. I could see the hull of the ship, but it seemed to be a long distance away. The water didn't seem to be so cold now. In fact, it was rather pleasant, as if it was welcoming me. I drifted peacefully into the deep abyss but my journey was halted by a painful jerk.

I was suddenly slammed up against the side of the ship, my lungs convulsively gasping in both air and water as I broke the surface. I felt pain all over my body as I collided three more times with the ship as men hauled me on board.

"Well it appears we meet again Captain Sparrow. We thought we'd lost you."

I vomited up a couple of gallons of water, got to my knees, and pushed my dripping hair back from my face. Around me the air was full of the sounds and smells of cannon fire, the screams of injured men, and the terrible, shattering boom of ships being blown apart.

I was aware of the blood seeping through my shirt and dripping off my head, but it didn't matter. None of the destruction of battle seemed to matter. The pain that wracked my entire body didn't even matter. The fact that my ship was damaged, possibly to the point where she might not make it to shore, meant nothing to me.

I coughed, choked and vomited up more seawater as I turned my head. Finally, I looked up and in a horse voice I said, "Am I dead? Jem? Jem!" I really did think I had died and gone to heaven.

"Yes Jack, it is me Jem. I'm here and I have you. Don't worry my pet; I am now the captain of The Black Pearl." She knelt down beside me and cradled me in her arms. I couldn't believe this. She pulled me close to her and held me tight. I could feel the warmth of her bosoms; I could hear the beat of her heart. She looked into my eyes and then she closed her mouth around mine.

The kiss seemed to bring new life into me. I felt hope, I felt safe, I felt love, I felt like I was floating on air… then I felt…I felt…sick.

I must have been turning a fine shade of green because Jem pulled away as I vomited up more seawater.

"Jack," Jem kindly wiped my mouth with her sleeve and cupped her hands around my face. "Jack, you're safe now and I'll give the helm to you, when you are ready."

"Famous last words Luv," I coughed slightly, and then passed out.

XXXXXXXX

When I woke up I was lying in my quarters. I was on The Pearl. I could hear Elizabeth's and Jem's voices but I could not see them. "Please go fetch me some bandages. No, he is not dead. He is unconscious and, to be honest, it is best he remains that way. I need something to stop the bleeding: gauze, clean linen, something."

Then Jem came into my view. She was more beautiful than ever. Her body was slim, her face was tan, her hair hung down over one shoulder and it looked like a river of silky dark chocolate. Her eyes shone and she wore her opal necklace around her neck. She must have removed it from my neck. She did not know that I was awake and watching her every move. She was breath taking and I couldn't help but gasp.

She turned and looked directly at me. "Oh my god Jack, you're awake. Can you hear me?" She ran over to me and knelt down beside me.

I tried to answer but the words would not come. I felt as if I were going to be sick again.

"Jack, I have to see what I can do for you. Please just lay still." She unlaced my shirt, ripping the bottom half so that she could peel it back and expose my torso. There were half a dozen small abrasions due to flying debris and a bloody bullet hole in my side. But what had Jem staring in helpless horror was a large, fist-sized piece of wood that jutted out of my belly.

"This can't be happening," Jem pulled back and turned very pale. "Jack, I know that has got to hurt."

"Just a little," I managed to mumble.

Whispering to herself, she picked out bits of wood and metal from my stomach and chest, leaving the biggest chunk in. I had a nasty feeling that if she pulled it out, she wouldn't be able to stop the bleeding and I would surely lose consciousness again.

"Jem," I called to her and raised my hand.

"Jack? My sweet Jack, please don't say anything."

"Jem," I said as a spasm of pain clutched at my stomach when I tried to move.

Jem put a restraining hand on the upper part of my chest.

"Christ, I feel horrible. What happened? Where is Barbossa? Why…how can you be here?" I asked Jem as she released her hold on me.

"You were hit with shrapnel. Don't move. I'm taking care of you now."

"You?" I asked weakly, lifting my head to look down my body, my eyes widening as I saw the blood and gore. "Christ almighty and all the saints! I think I'm gonna be sick."

"I'm going to take it out," Jem said to me softly, laying a couple of clean white cloths next to my hip, along with a corked bottle of what looked to be brandy.

"Elizabeth," Jem called over her shoulder. Elizabeth was there almost instantly.

"Put a hand on Jack's forehead and gently push his head back into the pillow. Lean over him so all he can see are your eyes."

"Jack," Jem spoke but I could not see her. "I want you to remember something, something very important."

"What's that?" I asked, trying to see her around Elizabeth and trying not to get sick.

"Remember you are Captain Jack Sparrow, and nothing can harm you. You've been hurt worse. All you have to do is make your brain understand that you will be fine and the pain will go away."

"It seems bloody painful to me," I growled. "What are you doing down there? You're not going to do what I think you are going to do, are you?"

"I am going to remove the wood, remember you will feel better after I pull it out. Just tell yourself there is no pain." I managed to see around Elizabeth and I saw Jem wrap both hands around the piece of wood and yank it out with a quick move. "Jack, remember that I love you."

"JEM!" I yelled and tears collected on the outer corners of my eyes. "Aaaaaaaaaaagh!" I screamed and my back arched off the bed. Elizabeth grabbed my arms and tried to hold me down as Jem muttered an apology before pouring a liberal amount of brandy on the open wound.

"Mind over matter," I yelled and thrashed around on the bed with one long scream of pain ripping from my throat. Jem worked quickly to clean the wound out with alcohol and she picked out tiny splinters of wood along with the bullet.

Elizabeth had to throw herself across me to keep me immobile. "Jack stop it, you are being a royal pain. Really, it can't hurt that much."

"Like hell it doesn't hurt! If you want to talk about pain, you try laying here and have that sadist tear you open." I took a deep shuddering breath.

"Jem is helping you. She is not the one who tore you open. She has to pick out all the slivers of the wood or it'll get infected."

Jem's beautiful face now appeared close to mine and she laid her finger across my dry, chapped lips, silencing me. "Don't worry Jack, you will be fine." She then gave me a crooked smile. "So I am a sadist?"

She placed her soft lips on mine and gave me a kiss that sent sparks through my body. I ached to wrap my arms around her but then again I just ached.

Jem stroked my hair back and ran her gentle fingers down my check. "I won't lose you again Captain Jack Sparrow." She turned to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, I have to stitch him up now. You may want to go get Will to help hold him down."

I yelled a great deal more when Jem started to sew me. It was wise of Elizabeth to get Will. By the time Jem was done stitching the wounds together and covering them with crushed herbs she and I were exhausted. She wrapped a cloth bandage around me and forced a fever draught down my throat and I mean she forced it down.

I lay on the bed motionless. Will, Elizabeth and Jem stood by the door whispering. Jem gave me a long look and rubbed her weary hand across her forehead and then turned to Will. "All I want to do right now is sleep for a hundred or so years."

Elizabeth placed her arms around Jem. "Welcome back. You are going to have to tell us how you got The Pearl. What you did with your father? Oh, and your daughter, she is… she is beautiful."

Will smiled at Elizabeth and pulled her away from Jem. "Jem, go ahead and get some rest. You can tell us everything later, I am sure Jack would not mind if you lay beside him."

"No, I can't do that." Jem spoke softly as she looked over at me.

Will pushed her toward the bed. "Go ahead, you are so in love with that man you can't see your nose in front of your face, and I am a sucker for a good love story."

She started to protest but then laughed and came over and lay down beside me.

Will doused the light and both Elizabeth and Will left the room. I placed my arm over Jem. "You are a wise woman for listening to Will. You are also good with a needle." I eased myself closer to her. Her eyes were closed, but one opened up just long enough to give me a sleepy look.

"Jem, before you fall asleep, I need to talk about what we're going to do."

Her eyelid closed. "Jack, I am going to take care of you."

"Yes, I know," a lazy smile came across my lips. "Jem, I love you, and you love me and we will take care of one another." I started to run my hand up and down her arm.

"Stop that." Jem pinched my arm. "You are too weak to be thinking about things like that."

"No my pet, I am not talking about making love to you. Not that I wouldn't want to." I moved closer to her and a sharp pain stopped me short.

"Jem, I am trying to tell you something. I am head-over-heals in love with you." My words were coming out slower and slower, slurring slightly. "You have to - you have to marry me."

"Jack, you have my heart that is all you need. I am not the marrying type and neither are you. Jack, you know that deep inside we belong to each other."

"No Jem, that is not enough for me anymore. I want you to be my wife. I need you to be my wife." I stroked the small tendrils of hair that were lying across her cheek back and out of her face.

"Jack please…what ever…what ever you want my love…just go to sleep." She grabbed my hand, kissed it and then laid my arm beside me. "Please stop… tickling me, I am…so tiered. Jack…I love you."

"Jem, I want you to marry me tomorrow."

"What ever Jack…What ever…Someday." she answered just before falling into a deep sleep.

I looked over at the beautiful creature lying beside me in my bed and wondered. Would she marry me tomorrow not someday?

A/N Oh no! It is coming soon. Yes, the end of my story. The next chapter, my friends, may be the last. I have been having a wonderful time with Jack and Jem and they may come back in a sequel but I will work on Mighty Pirate Hunter for awhile. If you have liked my story and you have read it all but not reviewed then please send me a note and let me know what you think.

TA FOR NOW

Lovely Raven Sparrow