Chapter 4: The Sacrificial Loss

            Kat picked her head up from Jack's chest and looked over at Harriet who was still on the ground despite Norrington's efforts.  Harriet's crying had settled to silent sobbing and Kat could tell that she was trying to be strong and stop her crying.  Slowly Kat began to climb out of Jack's warm embrace and half crawled over to Harriet.  The two women grabbed at each other for comfort with Harriet still trying to control her tears.

            "I'm sorry, Harriet," Kat whispered to her cousin, "Robert… was a good man.  And a wonderful father."

"Yes, he was.  But now Olivia will have to grow up without that wonderful father," Harriet said in a harsh voice, "…and without the use of one leg.  For the time being at least."

"What?" Kat held Harriet at arms length to look her in the eyes, "What happened to her?"

Harriet struggled with herself as she tried to explain the tragedy in words.  Kat gave her a reassuring hug as Jack made his way over to them.  He stood above the two women and waited for the explanation as well.  No one but Kat really understood how much little Olivia meant to him; even though he had only met her that once when Harriet brought her along to tell him of the alleyway for his escape.  Harriet looked up at Jack, thinking that she could escape her explanation for the time being.  He knelt down next her and facing toward Kat.

"Hello Jack," she said quietly, earning a smile back from him.  Before he knew what was happening, she brought her hand up and slapped Jack quickly across the face, "That's for leaving her here, when you knew perfectly well that she belonged with you!"

            Jack held his face in his hand as Kat tried to suppress a giggle, "Wha' is it with women in yer family Kat?  All 'o them wan' to slap ye when ye though' ye were doin' somethin' good for someone ye luv."

            "Well, what you did wasn't good.  You almost broke her heart!" Harriet was about to slap him again until Kat caught her arm and stopped her from inflicting any more damage.

Harriet saw her blank and worried expression and realized that she couldn't side step it any longer.  Harriet took a deep breath, looked up at Kat and Jack and began to tell them about the attack.

*~*Flashback in Harriet's POV*~*

As far as it seemed, the night was going to be still and calm, as many were in the past days.  The sea breeze had climbed up the rocks and into the small portside city, cooling the rocky roads and the civilians walking about.  No one has reported any robberies for the past week; I guess the news of the new reinstalled Commodore Norrington was the reason for that.  Ever since he was said to be coming back to Port Royal in the next week, the crime had dropped immensely.  Everything was going great, and I had many things to look forward to in the upcoming days and years.

Olivia was playing in the yard with Jessie and Emily Turner.  They were playing pirates once again, their favorite game since they could remember.  Only to think that they began to play it last year.  All three children had grown so much; Olivia was almost four years old as Jessie had just celebrated his a few months ago and little Emily had recently turned two years old.  Jessie was now about an inch over Olivia and was starting to take on most of his father's characteristics.  Emily, while trying to still be a lady, would jump into the pirate's fights, just to stir up trouble.  And my sweet Olivia was getting bigger each day.  She has begun to watch the sunset and rise each day as her Kat- my dear cousin- used to.  I guess she has more of Kat flowing through her veins than she has of me.

Just after sundown William Turner came by to pick up his children on his way home for his blacksmith shop.  Just a couple of years ago Mr. Brown passed away in his sleep and left it all to his apprentice, Will.  Will's swords have been demanded everywhere and no one could say that they were useless.  Nearly everyone uses them these days.  Olivia waved at the three Turners as they walked down the path toward their home.

Robert and I looked at each other and smiled.  I looked down and rubbed my relatively flat stomach.  I was expecting once again and in the matter of a few short months, Olivia would be an older sister.  Robert and I were ecstatic and happy.  I leaned my head on Robert's shoulder and watched the sky explode and become swallowed into night.  Olivia seemed to dance in the yard as she ran between the fence and the steps of our newly built home.  It seemed that her extreme pirate fights with Jessie and Emily hadn't tired her out.

Suddenly, Olivia stopped in the middle of her fifth lap and stared out to the bay.  She turned around and ran straight toward up at full speed.  Her wooden sword was drawn and in her left hand.

"Mommy, pirate's in the bay!" she whispered harshly to me, "They are mean.  They aren't like Uncle Jack."

I smiled at her, thinking that she had seen another merchant vessel and took it for a pirate ship; as she usually would do whenever an unfamiliar ship sailed into port.  She still idolized Jack and Kat as if they were lifted on pedestals just because they worked under a pirate flag.  She wouldn't take her bandana off her head unless I threatened to take away her dessert at dinner. She would never forget Jack's promise to her.  She was absolutely convinced that he would come back with Kat one day.  Especially since his name was now cleared in Port Royal.

As soon as she stopped her hurried whispering I heard far off sounds.  Sounds I hadn't heard in a very long time.  The sounds of cannons being fired off of a pirate ship.

Before another second passed a cannon ball screeched through the air and hit out new home in the side.  Robert covered both Olivia and I with his body to make sure that none of the debris hit us.

As soon as the debris stopped falling I looked up to see a good sized hole in the second story of the estate.  Robert picked Olivia up in his arms and rushed the both of us inside.  Once we locked up the door tightly, we told Lena and the rest of the help to hide in the cellar.  Robert and I watched as the pirates flowed over the lawn and began to pummel the door.

"Harriet, take Olivia to the cellar.  They cannot get to you there, Will and I have made sure of that," Robert kept staring out the window, trying to ignore eyes contact with me, already knowing what my answer would be.

"But… what about you?" I asked touching his arm lightly.

"It does not matter as long as you and Olivia are safe.  I can lead them away; make them believe that I was the only one here."

"Do not talk nonsense, it does too matter!" I screamed, grabbing harshly at his arm, "I will not lose another one I love!  Especially not my husband."

"Please do not argue.  I-"

Robert was cut short as we both heard Olivia's scream from the other room.  We looked around us quickly and found that she must have run into the other room, looking for her small, toy pistol that she had earlier in the day.  We both rushed into the next room to find a broken widow, crushed in from the outside.  On the side of the room, a pirate had Olivia in his arms asking her and yelling at her to tell him where her parents were.  And strangely… where Captain Jack Sparrow was.  She cried and told him that she didn't know.  He grabbed her leg and twisted, breaking the fragile bone and then threw her to the ground.

I screamed, distracting the pirate and his attention turned directly to Robert who found a cane to the side of the door.  He was wearing dark clothing, as if he previously thought it would shelter him, as if he would blend into the night.  He gave both of us a nasty smile and Robert lunged forward.  I quickly ran over to Olivia, picked her up and ran straight toward the cellar.

My motherly instincts took over and I could only think of getting Olivia safe and her leg treated.  Robert threw the pirate off and then followed; closing and locking doors behind us.  He picked up a spare sword from one of the rooms as we passed through.  At the end of the long hall he crowded Olivia and I in the cellar with Lena and the others.  As soon as he closed the door and I locked us in, I heard the clash of metal.  Then… silence…

I heard nothing for a few seconds that grew into minutes.  After those agonizing minutes I heard a few muffled words exchanged between the men.  Before I even had a chance to move, a broad sword pushed through the wood of the cellar door.  It was tipped with dark red.

I turned away.  I knew what happened.  At that moment… I knew I had lost my husband.  The sword withdrew from the wood and someone began banging on the heavy wooden door.  After a few moments, they gave up and it was silent again.

The help started to bandage and correct Olivia's leg as I held on and tried to keep her quiet.  Her eyes were filled with tears, more than likely from the pain in her leg.  I just held on tight.  It was the only thing I knew how to do at the time.  Just to hold on and never let go.

About the time the next morning came William Turner found us in the cellar and helped us out.  That night, before going into hiding, we buried Robert in the cemetery behind our home.  Right next to Dena.  He died saving both Olivia and I.  He died saving his family.

*~*End Flashback*~*

"He did what he thought was right," Kat said with a small, low voice after Harriet had finished.

"No… He did what he knew was right," Harriet went into a blank stare as her eyes focused on the edge of the grass nearby.  She then began to speak again in a monotone voice, "I want to kill them all.  Their whole crew.  Feel their blood on my hands.  Especially the one that killed Robert.  I want to see his full, fear filled face as he drops dead to the ground.  Then I would be happy."

"That won't bring Robert back, Harriet."

"But it will avenge him," Harriet broke her stare and looked up at Jack, "Why would someone do this?"

"No one would do this," Jack said in a callous, rough tone, "Only monsters like Barbossa are able of these acts."

"So, we should continue to the hiding spot, shall we?" Norrington intervened.

"Yes, I think it wise if we move on," Kat nodded and helped Harriet find solid footing, "Lead us to it."

Norrington nodded his head, keeping his eyes away from connecting with Harriet's and started a quick pace.  The rest of the walk was silent and unfulfilling.  No one started light conversation- or any talk for that matter.  Everything seemed to be dead… silent… lonely.  Passing through some of the rubble, some bodies could still be seen, or at lest parts of them could be seen.

Jack put his arm around Kat's waist, trying to both comfort her and to keep her warm.  Thanks to the climate and the now low buildings the wind began to pick up and Kat did not think to bring something to wear over her shirt.  The crew of the Pearl was wondering where the extra woman came form, since they were not present when Kat and Norrington picked up Harriet from the cemetery.  Harriet clung to the shawl that was draped over her shoulders and watched the ground pass by.  The silent procession continued on until Norrington stopped abruptly at the edge of some rocks.

"Why stop here?" Kat looked around, still cautious about the pirate situation.

"This is where we are hiding," Harriet pushed past some brush and showed a heavy looking door to Kat and Jack.

Norrington opened the door with a key and held it open as Harriet went in.  She gave him a nod of thanks and was followed by Kat.  Jack patted Norrington on the back as he entered and Norrington rolled his eyes.  He turned and told his men to guard the surrounding areas, but not to linger near the actual hiding place.  Soon after he followed the others into hiding, locking the door behind him.

Harriet led the way, Norrington held at the back, while Jack and Kat looked at the place.  At the moment, they were stepping down a small staircase, lit with tiny candles prodded into the wall.  At the end of the staircase there was a huge room that seemed to be used as a living quarters for the time being.  People were spread over the room in their own space.  To the opposite side of the room there were a few other tunnels heading to where Kat could only guess.

Kat looked around the room at each person, trying to find some familiar faces.  For quite a while she could not find one.

"Jack?" a meek voice called out from the side of the doorway, "Captain Jack Sparrow?"

Jack looked at a woman who strode over to him.  He braced himself for a slap, but it never came.  Instead only a small bit of silence filled the void.

"Jack, open your eyes, I'm not going to slap you," the woman said gently.

Jack opened his eyes and a smile began to appear, "Lizzie."

"Elizabeth?" Kat stepped forward and was immediately swept into a hug.

"It is lovely to see you again, Kat," Elizabeth said after she released her from the hug, "I was hoping that you would find our suave pirate."

"Where is Will?" Kat said in a little giggle.

"Oh, he is running around somewhere.  More than likely trying to round up Olivia, Jessie and Emily."

Both Jack and Kat's faces melted, "How is Olivia?"

"Just fine," Elizabeth said quietly, "She gets along wonderfully on her crutches."

"Crutches?" Kat looked at Elizabeth confused.

"Will found two canes and modified them so Olivia can still walk and play… somewhat normally," Elizabeth finished a little unevenly.

Before too long Will trudged over to where Elizabeth was sitting with Jack and Kat… with a child under each arm and another following close behind.  Little two-year-old Emily was upside down in her father's left arm and Jessie was trying to kick and wiggle his way out of his father's grasp.  Then about three feet behind him was little Olivia leaning on her new crutches, but with her same bright smile and demeanor present.  She poked and laughed at Jessie and taunted him on how he had managed to get himself caught, while she hadn't.  Even though she was the one that was reduced to using crutches.

"I told you," she beamed at Jessie's sour face, "No one can beat Jack Sparrow!"

"Aye, tha' be true," Jack said loudly, gaining the attention of all three children and Will.  Will barely noticed that they were there while he was focused primarily on finding his wife.

"Jack," Will grinned, "I didn't see-"

"Uncle Jack!" Olivia pushed off of her crutches toward Jack and tried to jump into his arms.  Jack leaned over and quickly pulled her up in his arms.

"Well, who this be 'ere?  This can't be Olivia!  Yer way to big and way too luvely, luv," Jack joked with Olivia a little and gained a few giggles from the young girl.  She bounced in his arms, trying to show her excitement.  She grabbed his prized hat from him with a wide smile and placed it on her own head.

"I knew it!  I knew you were coming back!" Olivia said to him with a wide smile, "You promised me and I waited!  Now you're here!"

"He's not the only one who came back," Kat said acting a little hurt and with a pout, "I'm back too."

Olivia looked at Kat and her smile faded.  She looked at Jack with a confused face and then back at Kat with squinted eyes, "Kitty Kat…?"

"What's wrong?  Why do you look so confused?" Kat questioned, putting down her arms that she had spread out in front of her, "It's me …Kat."

Harriet came up to them from another group of women and saw the situation.  Meanwhile, Will and Elizabeth decided that they needed privacy and went to another part of the big room.  Olivia looked at Kat then at Jack, and then buried her small head into his heavy jacket, away from Kat's gaze.  Kat tried to gain back her attention and looked her in the eyes, craning her head a bit to align her vision.

"You… but you were dead," Olivia said softly, "Bad, mean pirates killed my Kitty Kat."

Kat seemed to jump back a bit from her statement and looked up at Jack.  He looked at Kat with a confused expression and then over at Harriet.  Kat turned to see her cousin standing by a little uneasy.

"Harriet?" Kat asked her with a worried tone.

Harriet shifted a little, "I had to tell her that you were dead.  She kept telling people that you were alive.  Soon enough I knew that soldiers would start to question Robert and I.  We had to keep it quiet."

"So you told her a lie?" Kat asked a little more harshly than she meant it to.

"She stopped talking about you after that… she kept quiet… and we thought you would be safe," Harriet tried to justify her and Robert's decision.

"Mommy?" Olivia asked, picking her head up from Jack's chest.  Her small head switched back and forth between Harriet and Kat and then up to her Uncle Jack, "What is happening?"

Harriet looked at Olivia in Jack's arms and touched her face lightly, "Honey… I don't know how to tell you this… I told you a lie.  This is your Kitty Kat."

"A lie?" Olivia's voice trailed off as she thought and her mother continued.

"Your Kitty Kat was not dead.  She was alive-"

"She was!" Olivia looked at Kat and smiled happily before turning back to her mother, "You lied…"

"I hope one day you can understand why.  I'll leave you to talk.  I bet you have a lot to tell Kat and Jack," Harriet walked toward one of the tunnels with her head down, and disappeared into a separate room.

"Why did mommy lie?" Olivia asked, hurt shining in her eyes. She knew what a lie was.

"Oh Olivia," Kat took Olivia from Jack's arm's and looked her in the eyes, "Sometimes people think that they have to lie.  Sometimes they have to do things they don't want to do."

"Even lying?!" Olivia asked astonished at the thought.

"Even lying.  Sometimes to keep our loved one's from getting hurt, we have to say things we don't want to."

"Aye," Jack said chiming in and standing near them, "Like when I told Kat 'ere tha' I didn' luv her and left fer Tortuga."

Kat hit him lightly in the side with her elbow that wasn't supporting Olivia's weight, "Bad example, Jack."

"But it hurt me when she told me you were gone.  I thought I wouldn't see you again."

"It was better that she told you that, then a soldier finding out that I was alive.  He would have more than likely got to me and Jack," she looked at Olivia; trying to get her to understand, "Don't be so hard on your mother.  She was trying to do what was right."

Olivia nodded and started to talk about what had happened between the time Kat 'died' and now.  She hugged and giggled with her Kitty Kat and Uncle Jack.  She was so happy to know that they were both happy and free.

"And then… then the mean pirate broke my leg.  See!" she pointed to her leg that was wrapped and had a makeshift splint around it, "Then daddy-"

Olivia stopped dead.  Kat and Jack knew why.  Kat gave the little girl's arm a squeeze and Olivia turned to her, "Is daddy really dead?"

Kat looked at Jack quickly and then back at Olivia, "Yes Olivia.  Your daddy isn't coming back."

"Oh," Olivia said softly, "I wasn't so sure."

"Why not?" Kat asked.

"Mommy told me," Olivia said, then picking up into a lighter tone and happier demeanor, "Tomorrow's my birthday!  I'm going to be four!" she holds up four of her still slightly chubby fingers.

Before Kat could say anything Jack smiled and jumped in, "Four all ready?  Well, I think ye should get a present early."

"Present!" Olivia tried to jump out of Kat's arms, but fell right back into her with out her crutches to balance her.

"Calm down, Olivia," Kat giggled a little at the young girl.

"I'll be righ' back, luv," Jack winked.

"You're not going out there, are you?" Kat asked, worry apparent in her voice.

"'O course not.  The crew brough' some supplies in 'ere.  I 'ave the perfect present fer Olivia.  But I 'ave to find Anamaria."

"All right!" Olivia started to get on her crutches and push at Jack from behind.  Jack chuckled a little and started to walk faster.

Kat shook her head nonchalantly and decided to walk towards the direction Harriet went.  She needed to talk with her cousin… badly.  Kat walked down the tunnel Harriet had only an hour ago.  She found an open door and found Harriet sitting on a bed.  She looked up at Kat as soon as she entered the room.

"She hates me, doesn't she?" Harriet asked miserably.

"No," Kat sat next to her, holding her hands within hers, "She's just confused.  She'd never truly hate you, even if she says she does one day."

"This can't be undone by a simple apology," Harriet looked up at her.

"She has to grow up faster than most, Harriet.  In the past week she lost her father and the use of her right leg and… her childhood.  She has to be more mature than most.  She has to grow up too fast."

"What do I do then?"

"Be there for her.  Hold her.  Be her mother," Kat patted Harriet on the stomach, "Be both of their mothers.  They both need you terribly."

Harriet nodded and looked to the door with a smile on her lips, "It looks like Jack needs a little help."

Kat turned and looked at the doorway where Jack was being weighed down by the two Turner children and Olivia hanging from his neck.  She covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the picture in front of her.  Jessie on one arm and Emily on the other, giving Jack a little weight unbalance.

"Will ain't going to help me," Jack struggled to keep balance, "The stupid whelp."

Will came into the room and looked at Jack in an improving fashion, "At least I am not covered with children."

"Hm," Kat considered, "Hey everyone!  Will has something good in his pockets!  Tackle him to get it!"

The children stopped hanging on Jack and ran –or limped as the case may be- over to Will and tackled him to the bed beside Harriet.  They all searched Will and his pockets for their sweet food or toys.  Kat walked over to Jack with a playful smile.

"Why didn't ye help me, luv?" Jack asked a little out of breath as he came up to Kat.

"Well, since you are all ready a husband, why not be trained as a father," Kat whispered… apparently not low enough.

"You're what?!" Harriet asked, "You married?"

"You're married?!" Will piped up from beneath the pile of three children.

"Aye, and wha's the problem?" Jack asked with a raised brow.

"Nothing," Harriet said, "I was just hoping for some news."

"Considering that Jack had warrants for his arrest and I was suppose to be dead, we didn't want to take the chance," Kat explained.

"Uncle Jack," Olivia hobbled to the pirate, "Will you play with me and the sword you got me?" she held up a smaller form of Jack's cutlass in her hands.

"Actually," Kat interjected, "It's my turn to play with Uncle Jack."

Jack turned to her and lifted one eyebrow seductively.  A smirk began to grow on his features, "Will… where be Kat and me room?"

"It is two rooms down on the right," Will said partially amused.

"Thank ye," Jack said quickly, picking up Kat and rushing down to the room.

Will looked at Harriet, "I still can't see him settled down."

"Same with Kat.  She was always a free spirit," Harriet smiled, "I bet that she'll keep him busy for a while, though."

"What do you mean?" Emily asked innocently.

Will shook his head and ushered Jessie and Emily out of the room, "Never you mind."

"But I wanna know too!" Jessie voiced his opinion.

"Ask you mother," Will said exasperated.

"I heard that William Turner!" Elizabeth yelled at him.  A sudden face full of fear covered Will's usually calm exterior.

"Yes dear…"

*******~*~*~*~*~*~********

A/N:  Sorry it took sooooooo long again.  I was having a very hard time with my computers.  But nonetheless here it is.  See, it wasn't little Olivia… I'm not that cold hearted.  Kill a little girl…. Huh, I'm not a monster!

…………

I just killed her father…. Sorry.  Anyway, next chapter is being written, so hold on tight.  Until next chapter!

^-~ Ana