A/N: Hey everybody! Is this soon enough for an update? I am truly sorry for taking so long last time, but I guess I just lost it. I was doing senior stuff for high school and I am now trying to get my college classes I need. Well, that's enough from me. Time to get on with the fic! Bring on the Captain!
Chapter Seven: Baby Talk
"Well, now we know why they're after you, Sparrow," Norrington commented as he stood up, "Now we must find a way to defeat them."
"You know as well as we all do that they can only be killed after they spill their blood and become mortal again," Will said exasperated.
The group was still sitting down with the exception of Norrington who was now starting to pace in the back of the room. Harriet looked at her hands, which were folded in her lap and kept quiet being the only one not completely filled in about the past history of the curse. Kat sat next to Jack and rubbed his back as he thought over the situation. Will and Liz both sat with empty stares as they thought about having to fight another cursed lot of pirates. Once in a lifetime was one too many times.
Norrington sighed, "If this meeting is over, I need to see to my injured."
He made a move to bow to each of the women in the room. Kat could see the venomous look Liz gave him from her side of the room and she could only imagine how bad her death stare looks at the moment. She turned to Harriet to find that she did not hold the same scowl or death glare as Kat thought she would. She looked strangely…content.
"Thank you, James," Harriet bowed her head as Norrington finally exited the room and headed toward his injured men. The others turned to look at her for a moment and then quickly to the object they were looking at before.
After a few minutes of silence Will finally spoke up, "This turns things around, doesn't Jack?"
"Wha's tha' Will?" Jack pulled his eyes from the ground.
"The first time they were after my blood to end the curse. Now they want you head for revenge and to keep the curse. Although, we have the advantage that this is a different crew," Will said with a slight chuckle.
"Aye, this be a different crew, but I wouldn't call it an advantage. This crew is vicious, I should know," Jack stood up with Kat's hand in his, "I'm retirin' to bed. I think ye should all do the same. It's been a long day."
Kat smiled and kissed him on the cheek, "I'll be along shortly. I need a word with my cousin."
"Aye, don' be too late, luv," he smiled and left with Will beside him.
Kat turned toward Harriet, "Now, what was that with the new commodore?"
"What do you mean?" Harriet rolled her eyes.
"Do you remember that he is the cause of all this?" Kat stood with her hands on hips, "Why so friendly to the man who is responsible for you husband's death?"
"He has apologized to me personally. He is sorry, Kat. Why do you all keep rubbing one mistake in his face? We all have made one or another during our lifetime," Harriet stood up and began to walk to the door.
"None that has caused these many lives," Kat commented.
"No, yours just cost your mother and brothers," Harriet said harshly. Kat turned around and stared sharply at Harriet. She has never mentioned that event to her in over five years. And never blamed her for it, "Goodnight, Katerina."
Kat watched with mouth agape as her cousin exited the room and went toward her room. She slowly slid back down into a sitting position next to the base of the wall. She started to hug herself and leaned her head back against the rock wall behind her. She didn't want to remember… she wouldn't allow herself to remember. The screaming. The calling of her name. The splitting of wood from the burning estate. The smell of smoke slowly immerged from her memory. She didn't want to remember.
Before long a small prick of pain began in her gut again and she let it pass. She clutched her stomach a little tighter and let the pain fade a little at a time. As she felt the pain fade to near nothing she began to get up, using the wall as a support.
"Slow down, Kat," Elizabeth put a hand on Kat's shoulder, pushing her back into a sitting position, "Don't push it."
Kat then noticed that Elizabeth had never left the room and was sitting there, waiting for her turn to talk with her. She heard everything that Harriet had said and yet she was concerned for her health instead of the issue with Harriet.
"Push it?" Kat asked a little out of breath, "What are you talking about?"
"Cramps?" Liz asked her, brushing back some of Kat's hair, "Is that what you really believe it is? The pains."
"What else would the pains be?"
"How long have you had them?" Liz knelt in front of Kat.
"The harsh pains started this morning," Kat said looking at Elizabeth with a questioning stare, "Why? What do you think is happening, Liz?"
"I didn't understand what the pains were either when I first had them. They actually scared the goodness out of me and I just had no idea," she then took a deep breath, "until I began to throw up in the mornings."
"You know what's happening?" Kat smiled a little, a bit of hope shining in her face.
"Everything you're going through is perfectly normal… when you're pregnant."
Kat's eyes grew enormous as the news flowed through her mind a few times. She put a hand over her lower stomach and tried to regain her breath. She now noticed a small bulge starting to show underneath her pants.
"Pre- pregnant?"
"Your body is just adjusting. I'm sorry to say you will probably be throwing up in the mornings more often than not," Elizabeth giggled.
"I guess that was to be expected," Kat smiled and looked up from her growing belly, "Can we be sure?"
"The physician was injured in the last attack, but they are pretty sure he will be on his feet and helping with the other injured in a few days. Then we can talk to him."
"Good."
"Ahem-"
Both women turned to their side to see Anamaria in the doorway, "Yes, Anamaria?"
"Sorry te interrupt, Kat," Anamaria scratched the side of her head, "But the problem of Charlie is still needin' te be discussed."
"Of course," Kat motioned for her to come in and watched her take a seat on the chair opposite her, "What's the matter with him?"
"Tha's jus' the problem," Anamaria looked at Elizabeth and then back at Kat, "Charlie be a she."
"What?"
"Aye. I found her tryin' te bind herself so no one would know. She did it te become part 'o the crew. She knew how bad women pirates be looked down on. An' the cap'n wouldn' hear of another female on board. But I don' know wha' te do now. I can't tell the cap'n. He'll probably boot 'er off fer jus' lyin' like tha'."
"Calm down, Ana," Kat said, "You told me. I'll try to find a way to tell Jack. Don't worry; Charlie will stay a part of this crew. She's been a great contribution and I doubt that Jack will want to let go of her work ethic."
"Aye," Anamaria nodded, but did not leave immediately following Kat's promise. Elizabeth looked at her, prompting her to continue with her thought, "I 'eard wha' ye said. Ye really think tha' she be with child, Elizabeth?"
"Only time will tell for sure," Elizabeth smiled at Kat again.
"Wha' should I be tellin' the crew?"
"Nothing yet," Kat said, "I want to be sure before anything seeps out. I also want Jack to hear it from me instead of Gibbs or even Cotton. You know he doesn't keep many things under wraps these days."
"Aye, the 'ol blabbermouth," Anamaria nodded and remembered how a parrot can tell a lot of things if you let it.
"I doubt that there is a high chance that you're not, Kat," Elizabeth mused, "You are showing the signs and I should know. I've been through it twice now."
"So no word te the crew or cap'n then," Anamaria nodded and started to the door, "Wha' should I tell Charlie 'bout her situation?"
"Tell her it will be taken care of and she is part of the crew. Nothing will change that."
"Aye, aye Kat," Anamaria left them to talk once again together.
"Are you sure, Liz? I mean, could you be wrong?" Kat started to go off on her ranting and worries.
"I don't think so, Katerina. Why are you so inclined to disbelieve?"
"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be so negative. It is just that this day has been too full of surprises… and I don't know quite how to tell Jack."
"Why? Is he against-"
"Oh no. Nothing like that. We were actually talking about children the day Norrington told us about the attack. It'll just be a big change," Kat put her hand on her stomach again and smiled, "But I think it will be a good change."
Elizabeth smiled and kissed her on the forehead, "It'll be our little secret, along with Anamaria, of course."
Kat grinned and began to push off the rock, "Walk me to my room?"
"No problem," Elizabeth held on to one of Kat's arms and helped her to bed. She stopped her outside her room and continued down toward her and Will's room.
Kat took a breath and entered the room to find a few candles still lit and a sleeping Jack on the bed. He held one of his favorite rums in his right hand. Kat guessed that he probably got it off the Pearl before entering the Port. His right leg hung over the side of the bed with his boots still on. His head was to the side and he looked so peaceful. Kat tilted her head an smiled softly.
'Just couldn't wait up for me, huh?' she shut the makeshift door softly behind her and made her way over to the sleeping Jack. She pried the bottle of rum from his hand and placed it by a few bags they managed to take before the attack. She put his leg back up on the bed, took off his boots and his hat. She then took off her own boots and climbed into bed next to him. His breathing was rhythmic as usual and Kat needed the normality. She was tired of surprises. She just wanted peace again… well, as much peace she could have as a pirate.
Kat placed her arm over Jack's waist and laid her head on his chest. Soon enough his arm wound around her back and she heard a low grunt. Kat opened her eyes to see a small smile on his face. She sighed and closed her eyes as well with a smile on her face. She felt a reassuring hug on her back from Jack's arm and the touch let most of her thoughts float away. She felt relaxed, safe… she felt like she was home.
"Ye doin' all righ', luv?" Jack asked in a whisper and opened one of his eyes.
"I didn't mean to wake you," Kat looked up at his face.
"Well, once ye take a bottle 'o rum from me hand, and I wake up very fast," he repositioned himself where he was sitting up and let her lean on his chest, "Now wha's the problem?"
"Problem? Who said anything about a problem?"
"Ah, first point denial," he held up a finger and looked down at her head with a smug grin.
"To tell you the truth…" could she tell him now? Why not? He was fine with the idea of their children. But what will happen with the crew? What will change?
"Kat?"
"I'm sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a moment," Kat said a little wispy.
"Is it somethin' tha' Harriet said to ye?"
Kat thought for a moment and then realized that Harriet did say something that had torn her pretty badly, "It might be part of it."
"Wha' 'appened?"
"She was defending him… Can you believe it?"
"Who?"
"Norrington. She was defending Norrington. The man who can be directly linked to the cause of her husband's death and she is defending him. I just don't understand."
"Did she tell ye why?"
"She told me that he personally apologized to her, but that doesn't bring back Robert."
"And she probably realizes tha', luv," Kat looked up at Jack with a confused look on her face, "She realizes tha' no matter how long it takes fer her to get over Robert's death, she cannot blame Norrington all her life. One thing is because it ain't goin' to help. Nothin' is goin' to bring back Robert."
"You do have a point, and now I understand why she is so upset with me," Kat said and then began to whisper, "but it does not excuse what she said to me."
"Wha' did she say to ye?"
"It was my fault that my family was killed in the fire," she stared at her hand that was on top of Jack's chest.
"Wha?"
" Yes. Was she that upset to remind me?" Kat started to fade out of reality and back into the night so long ago.
"Remind ye of wha'? Ye weren't at fault, Kat."
"That's what I want to believe," Kat took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "Can we please just stop talking about it now?"
Jack felt her grab tighter to him and closed his eyes as well, "All righ', luv. All righ'."
He kissed the top of her head and sunk back into the pillows, forgetting to blow out one of the candles at the side of the bed.
Jack stirred a little and felt the familiar pressure of Kat against his chest. He grinned a little and turned his head so his cheek would be in her hair. He breathed in the scent and wallowed in the feeling of her hair. Every morning he tried to remember a different part of her. Her hair, her breathing rhythm, her voice when she wakes up, her eyes when she first opens them… anything that he can grab a hold of. He would never tell her, but he wanted to know every part of her just in case he didn't have a chance to get back to her. Just in the event that something prevented him from coming back to her…like death. If the unthinkable actually happened he would have the thought of her in his mind. She would be his last thought.
His thoughts were disrupted as Kat began to shift beside him, usually signaling that she was waking up. He opened his eyes to see her chocolate eyes staring up at him. A smile immediately was on her face and he lightly brushed through her hair.
"Mornin', luv," he kissed her forehead and turned on his side, "How are ye doin'?"
"Better," Kat breathed and closed her eyes as she scooted closer to him, "I just don't want to face the day just yet. Let me sleep the rest of my life away."
"Now where would the fun in tha' be?" he chuckled and looked at the small candle that was still flickering at the side of the bed, "I'm guessin' ye forgot to put out the candle."
"Probably," Kat sighed and opened her eyes, but kept her gaze away from Jack's.
"Wha's wrong, Kat? There's somethin' else, ain't there?" Jack asked noticing her reluctance to talk about anything.
"I… I think tha-" suddenly she covered her mouth and rolled out of the bed.
"Kat?" Jack grew worried as she ran to an adjoining room and found a place to vomit. He immediately got out of bed and found Kat doubled over a hole that was to be used as a 'waste compartment'. Kat saw what was left of what she ate at Olivia's party in the small hole. Then a strong hand began to rub against her back and everything stopped spinning. Everything started to calm down and she could see straight again.
"Wha's goin' on with ye Kat? I'm worried," Jack said placing his chin on her shoulder.
Kat hesitated a moment and leaned her head on Jack's, "Don't worry, it's normal."
"Normal? Luv, ye are-"
"Jack!" Will bursts through the door to their room and stumbles in.
"Will? Wha's goin' on?" Jack poked his head from the room with Kat.
"They got through the rock. They will find us in the matter of half a hour."
"Get everyone together and use yer other exit. We got to move," Will nodded and ran down to warn others. Jack turned back to Kat and picked her up from the floor, "Come on, luv. Let's get yer boots on and get out 'o 'ere."
Kat walked quickly hearing Will's announcement and helped to get the two bags together and her boots on.
"How did they get though?" she asked, sounding a little weak.
"Don' know, but we got to go. Ye okay to walk by yerself?"
"Of course," Kat slung a bag over her shoulder and began to stand up, only slumping back on the bed after her legs began to give a little beneath her.
Jack quickly put his boots and hat on then went over to her side and slung her arm over his shoulders. As he passed through the door, he grabbed the other bag and looked out into the main hall. The chaotic scene that was presented in front of him was nothing he'd ever seen before. Usually on the Pearl everyone is pretty calm, but this- everyone was panicking. Women rushed by with children in tow and men pushed from the back. Jack grabbed a hold of Kat's side tightly and tried to find his way to Will in the crowd. They both saw Will with Elizabeth and the children upfront waving to them. Both of them struggled through the rush and made it up to them.
"I don't know what happened. They just got through the rock…" Will stammered, "We're not ready to fight back. Too many are injured."
"What about the injured? Where are they?" Kat asked stroking Emily's hair with the hand closest to the little girl.
"Norrington and Harriet are in the front helping the injured and the children out first. They know the way," Elizabeth yelled over the crowd, which started to scream louder.
They bumped against the other survivors, which weren't many, but with the panic in their systems they can turn into a mad force. Jack and Will tried to calm others around them, but no one would listen very well to reason. Will gave Jessie over to Elizabeth and looked toward the back of the group.
"We got to help the back," he told Elizabeth and gave her and his children a small kiss. She nodded and watched him go back with a firearm in hand.
Jack turned his head toward Kat and unhooked her arm from around his shoulders. She started to shake her head and looked Jack in the eyes, "I know you aren't thinking about leaving me again, Jack."
"I'll be back," he kissed her on the lips to seal his promise, made sure his pistol and sword were at hand and left toward the back with Will.
Elizabeth grabs Kat's hand and tells her to grab Emily. Thankfully the pains had dulled enough to allow Kat the energy and strength to lift the two year old. After only a moment or two Kat begins to see light and the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, light doesn't always mean safety. As soon as Kat and Elizabeth stepped into the sunlight they were grabbed and shoved to one side with other women. The bright sun shone on the scene as pirates took the women from children and placed them in two different places. Both Emily and Jessie were torn from Elizabeth and Kat's arms and thrown toward the injured and the men. Norrington stood with the injured and little Olivia was balancing herself on her crutches at the side of his legs. Jessie and Emily ran toward Olivia since she was the only familiar face they found.
Harriet soon emerged from the other faces of the women and held Kat's arm, "They are going to take the women."
Kat looked at Harriet's face and tried not to show the sadness that still was present in her from last night's altercation and focused on the present, "What?"
"They're looking for you. They want the ultimate bait to lure Jack."
"My God, Jack!" Kat turned just in time to see Will and Jack lead the civilian men from the caverns. Pistols and daggers lifted to meet them and Kat could only watch with fear as Jack was put up as the main target.
"Well, if ain't Cap'n Jack Sparrow," a tall, skinny looking pirate stepped up from the circle of pirates, "Didn' think ye'd see me again, did ye?"
Kat could only see bits and pieces of the pirate standing before Jack, but judging by the huge hat and elaborate clothing it was the new captain. The hat covered the face and although the voice was a little high, the captain had a menacing stance.
"Dornie," Jack looked at the pirate and seemed to growl the name.
"Ah, so ye do remember me," Dornie takes off the hat and reveals a smile. It was a woman underneath the pirate captain's identity. Dornie was a woman. Her smile broadened a bit right before she clenched her fist and punched Jack in the gut, "Good. I remember ye too, Jack."
Jack fell to the ground and Kat tried to run toward him, but was held back by a bigger pirate that she remembered well. It was the same on who held her on the Pearl over a year ago as Jack and Catterine talked. He still had the abnormally large arms, which didn't help Kat in her push to get to Jack. She watched as Dornie kicked Jack in the gut and saw him lift off the ground. Will tried to help, but was put back in his place by a pistol aimed straight for him.
"Stop it!" Kat cried from the bigger man's arms, "Don't you dare touch him again, Dornie! I swear if you do, I will serve your head on a golden platter to the sharks."
Dornie's head snapped in her direction and began to stomp toward Kat. Jack raised his head weakly and grabbed at his injuries.
"Kat… don'…"
Dornie stepped right up to Kat's face and looked her in the eyes. Kat showed defiance, stubborn will and a love she never saw before. She tilted her head to the side and without warning struck Kat hard across the face.
"Speakin' out of turn be prohibited 'ere, ma'am," she mused. Kat turned back to her as the man released her arms. She felt her cheek for a moment and then clenched her fist. She threw all her weight into one shot and punched Dornie right in the jaw. Dornie flew back into the dirt.
"Well, I hope that wasn't out of turn. I want that one to count," Kat cracked her knuckles and looked down at Dornie, "If you touch my husband again… I will kill you."
Dornie wiped off the side of her mouth, stood up and nodded for the pirate to grab a hold of Kat once again, "Ye're hardly in a position to make threats… Mrs. Sparrow."
Suddenly Kat's world went black and everything faded into nothing.
"Dornie!" Jack made it to his feet, "Yer fight's with me."
"Aye, it be," she smiled, "But ye know wha' they say Sparrow. Ye always hurt the ones ye love. How 'bout we make this a bit more interestin'? We be takin' the women, ye keep the children. Ye want yer wives and their mothers back… follow me to where it all started. Or I can jus' take me vengeance on yer pretty lil wife. She seems like she be waitin' fer a fight."
"Ye touch her and yer dead," Jack growled.
"Why not, I'm half way there?" Dornie snickered and whistled for the pirates to come with her. She put her oversized hat back on and walked with the rest of the crew back to the Harbinger. The pirate holding Kat threw her unconscious form over his shoulder and followed closely behind Dornie. Jack took a step toward the retreating group of pirates, but Will held him back.
"Live to fight another day, Jack," he said through clenched teeth.
"Tha' day should be today," Jack struggled against him.
"How much help are you going to be to her dead?"
Jack clenched his eyes shut and dropped to his knees. He began to hit the ground with his fists as if his life depended on it.
"Damn her!" he cried to no one in particular, but screamed it just the same, "Damn that woman!" He soon settle into the dirt and was oblivious of the children trying to find their way to their fathers.
Jessie and Emily ran as fast as their little legs could carry them and ran straight into their father's arms. Jessie was the first one to speak, "Are we going to get mommy back, daddy?"
"I promise we will, Jessie," Will hugged his son and daughter tightly, "I promise."
Jack gritted his teeth together while he tried to piece together his thoughts. His eyes were receiving only blurred images through the tears. After only a few minutes after the Turner children found their father Jack heard a small voice above his head. He brought his head up from the dirt and saw a blurred version of two legs and two crutches in front of him.
"Uncle Jack?" Little Olivia was trying desperately to make sense of the situation. She saw the tears in his eyes and it frightened her to think of her strongest person crying. She put her crutches to one side and tried her best to kneel in front of Jack. She placed her small hands on either side of his head and kissed him lightly on the tip of the nose.
"That's so you feel better. Mommy and Kat always kiss to make better. I make Uncle Jack better?" she questioned.
Jack took a deep breath and smiled at the small child, "Aye, ye did."
He took her in his arms and let her settle into his embrace. He loved Olivia as his own and no matter the situation, it seemed she knew what to say. Her innocence made it possible and bearable to fight back.
Jack looked up from Olivia and saw Norrrington, Will and the other men stare at him for an answer. For the next step. Norrington was the first to comment.
"They disabled the Golden Eagle. She isn't seaworthy," it was strange. His voice… Norrington's voice was shaky. He was scared.
"Then we take the Pearl," Jack said looking up at him, "And we follow them."
"To your death?" Norrington watched as Jack stood back up with Olivia still in his arms.
"They 'ave me wife, Olivia's mother and Liz. I ain't goin' to run away. Even if it means me life," Jack turns from Norrington and heads toward the injured Mr. Gibbs, "Gibbs, signal the Pearl and round up the crew."
"Aye, sir," he saluted with the hand that wasn't on a crutch, "Except one thin' sir."
"Wha's tha'?"
"They took Anamaria and Charlie. We are three members short when we count Kat."
"Well, tha' means that Dornie will 'ave her hands full, won't she?"
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs hobbled on his crutches toward the edge of a small cliff and whistled into the bay where a bell answered back, "They be ready fer us, Cap'n."
"Perfect," Jack looked down at Olivia in his arms, "Are ye ready to go and ride the Pearl as I promised ye?"
Olivia's eyes lit up, "Aye, aye, Uncle Jack!"
"Let's go get yer mum and Kat back."
A/N: Whatcha think? Review please!
