A/N: Thank you to all who have reviewed so far! I love you all. Well, I am stuck on my other fiction, and my thoughts are flowing freely on this one, so I might as well keep going on this, right? I guess part of it is that I really want to get to the third installment, but can't start that until this one is done, now can I? Well, here is chapter ten, I hope you like!
Chapter 10: We Desperately Need A Plan
Several days have passed, and Jack could start to feel the affects of them. Every morning he would find that Kat's space was empty or was partially filled with Olivia laying right beside him. She now made it a ritual to embarrass Norrington with one of the tricks Jack taught her and then run to Jack's cabin to go to bed. Either way, he wasn't very used to the idea of the vast space where Kat used to sleep next to him. This morning he didn't want to open his eyes, but slid his hand over the empty spot where she used to sleep and the empty space was surprisingly warm and he had to open his eyes. A small white bow was lying on the pillow and a smile started to appear on Jack's face. He sat up on one of his elbows and looked around the room.
"Olivia?" Jack called out into the room and looked around.
He didn't get an answer for a few seconds and he slung his feet over the side of the bed. She must have gotten up earlier and found the Turner children to play with. She did that now every once in a while in the mornings. Jack rubbed his head and headed from the ceramic basin that Kat had put in after they were married. He splashed his face a few times and then started to look around for some cleaner clothes than what he had on. The clothes that he was now occupying were so bad, that he could barely handle them, and defiantly needed to be washed. He found another light brown t-shirt and some dark brown pants with his black boots on over them.
It was probably going to be a long day. According to his calculations, they would be at the isle in half a day, tops. He got his hat off from the side of a table and placed it on his head, ready to actually do some sailing today. As he opened the door he was tackled back toward his room by Jessie and Emily. They laughed loudly as Jack fell back into one of his chairs. He chuckled with them and looked toward the door looking for Olivia to come hobbling in.
"'Ey now," Jack smiled at Jessie, "Where be Olivia, eh?"
"Guess who?" two little hands clasped around Jack from behind and Olivia smiled from beside Jack.
"And where 'ave ye been?" Jack reached behind him, pulled her over one shoulder to make sure that he didn't hurt her leg and placed her in his lap, "I wake up and yer no where in sigh'."
"I was hiding!" Olivia smiled and hugged Jack around the neck, "I wanted to surprise you!"
"Ye sure did tha'," Jack smiled, "Now wha' are ye children doin' today?"
"Going on lan'?" Emily asked tugging on Jack's shirt sleeve.
"On land?" Jack asked and looked down at her.
"Yes, Gibbs found land this morning and he docked on the far side of the island," Jessie explained. It was strange to Jack, because the four year old had such a big vocabulary and had a knack for finding out what's really happening around him. Nothing seemed to get past the elder Turner sibling.
"We can't be there already," Jack carefully put Olivia at the side of the chair where she was able to balance on the arm and walked over to his huge windows. He opened up the drapes and looked over the island in front of his ship, "Isle De Muerta."
"Is that were mommy and Kat are, Uncle Jack?" Olivia hobbled to Jack's side finally able to reach her crutches.
"Aye," he looked at the children and tried to put on a smile, "Why don' ye go down to the cabins and play with some 'o the wooden swords, eh?"
"Okay, but I get to play Captain Jack!" Olivia shouted as she tried to run out of the room on her crutches. Jessie and Emily followed her closely, each of them laughing loudly.
Jack grabbed the compass from his dresser and put on his jacket. He wanted to know why he wasn't informed and how long they have been docked for. He walked out on deck to find the new crew members and soldiers staring in awe at the island. Will stood by the wheel by Mr. Gibbs and saw Jack emerging from his cabin. He walked down and walked right up to Jack.
"And no one told me tha' we got to the island because?" Jack asked a little annoyed.
"We just docked and you were still alseep," Will offered for an explanation.
"Tha' be no excuse, Turner," Jack looked at the shore and took his compass from his pocket and opened it, "Well, do we know if the Harbinger 'as docked 'ere yet?"
"The Harbinger is just on the other side of the island."
"So is Dornie," Jack said and closed the compass, "I need only a few men to come with me to find the women."
'What about Dornie and the crew? They will be looking out for us," Will reminded Jack, "Especially you."
"We will 'ave to steer clear 'o them as much as we can. I wan' ye and Norrington to come with me to shore," Jack looked up at the wheel where Gibbs was looking over some maps, "Gibbs!"
"Aye, Cap'n?" Gibbs looked up from his maps.
"Stay aboard and watch the kids," Jack said, "Mr. Turner, Norrington and I will go to shore with a few men. Keep alert, there is no doub' tha' Dornie be lookin' fer us."
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs sauluted and went back scrutinizing the maps and papers in front of him.
"Daddy!" Jessie ran toward Will and jumped into his arms, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to get your mother back," Will hugged him back and put him back on the deck, "Stay on board with Mr. Gibbs."
"But I want to rescue mommy too," Jessie said triumphantly, brandishing his little wooden sword.
"Jessie-"Will began, but Jack stopped him before he continued.
"Ye 'ave to stay aboard and protect the Pearl," Jack said kneeling in front of Jessie, "I don' know no one better to take care 'o me ship while I be gone. Can ye do tha' fer me, Jessie?"
"You can count on me!" Jessie nodded and ran up to the wheel where Gibbs finally plotted another course for escape if need be.
"Thank you, Jack," Will said softly.
"Now let's get Norrington and find our wives," Jack turned to Will and smiled, "We've made them wait too long, and ye know how dangerous tha' can turn out to be."
Will smiled back and followed Jack to the side of the ship with Norrington in tow.
Kat looked at the other women in the brig. Some had scowls on their faces and looked at Kat, Anamaria and Charlie with distaste, most likely because they knew their occupations. Ana and Charlie sat a few feet away from Kat playing with some cards that they found and snuck off the Pearl. So far, Charlie was winning every game and Anamaria was becoming even further frustrated. Harriet sat the closest to Kat with Elizabeth just on the other side. She was fumbling with her hands in her lap again which usually meant that she had something on her mind. Kat seemed to remember the brig of the Harbinger being much smaller. Although, the last time she was there she was stuck in a small cell in the corner, which was still there. She watched the huge door to the brig as it opened and closed every once in a while to give stale bread and some semi-fresh water to the women.
Her mind couldn't concentrate on the time and situation they were in at that moment. Her mind was still focused on her conversation with Dornie and how she planned to kill Jack. Kat still had no idea on how she was going to save him while being stuck in the brig. She had to think of a way out, of an escape. If she didn't she knew that Jack would be there in a few days, if not less, and Dornie will get what she wants. Jack dead. And Kat could not handle that. She needed Jack now more than ever. He had the right to see his child born and to be there as it grows as well.
"Kat?" Harriet's voice penetrated Kat's thoughts, "What's wrong? You seemed distracted."
"Decided to talk to me on civil terms, eh?" Kat asked Harriet with a raised eyebrow.
"I am sorry for what I said earlier," Harriet lowered her head, "It was unprovoked and I really didn't mean it. You know that right?"
"What about defending Norrington? You mean to do that?"
"What is so wrong about James?" Harriet asked exasperated, "He made a mistake. We all have."
"Nothing this huge," Elizabeth joined into the conversation, "He made the choice not only to ignore Jack, but Will as well. This is where it has led us."
"James is a good man," Harriet stood up and looked down at Kat and Elizabeth, "Please… stop blaming him, I have."
"If I didn't know any better, Harriet," Kat started to stand up and began to talk in a teasing manner, "I would say you were fond of Norrington."
"Don't be ridiculous Katerina," Harriet said looking toward the brig walls, "You are imagining things."
"That's what I told you about running into pirates," Kat smiled and hugged Harriet from behind, "I'm sorry, I just… just wish this never happened. But blaming Norrington or anyone else isn't going to help any."
Harriet turned around and looked at Kat, "Thank you for understanding. I miss Robert, and I always will carry his memory with me, but I cannot place blame. Not forever."
Both women hugged one another and Elizabeth coughed, "Not to interrupt, but I think we have some company, Kat."
Kat looked toward the huge brig doors and saw two, burly looking pirates step into the dark under hull of the ship. They both looked at each one of the women from the doorway and scrutinized each one of them for something. The bigger of the two stepped further inside the brig and took a breath before he started to mumble to himself. Harriet sat back down behind Kat as the man looked over toward their side of the brig. Anamaria and Charlie came over and Charlie took a seat next to Elizabeth, the only one of the two women sitting that knew she really was a she. Anamaria came up to Kat and stood right beside her, looking at the other pirates.
"Wha' ye think they're doin, Kat?" Anamaria whispered keeping her eyes locked on the two men.
"They're looking for something," Kat watched as the two men stepped into the brig and passed by so many women, looking at each one of them, "Dornie said something about knowing when a woman was pregnant or not, by feeling the presence of the unborn child. Maybe that is what they are looking for."
"Why would they do tha'?"
"To find out who would be the best for being the first victim," Kat looked at Anamaria, "She won't kill women who are with children. Knowing most of the survivors, there is a good chance that most of these women are. That's a bad sign for women who are not."
"Wha' did she say 'bout ye?" Anamaria nodded and looked at Kat's face which shifted back to the pirates.
"Well, let's just say when we get back to the Black Pearl, there will be another celebration."
"Ye mean if we get back," Anamaria said drolly.
"No, I mean when. I have faith in Jack and the crew. They will pull through; I just hope it is before anyone has to die."
Suddenly the two pirate men stopped in the middle of the huge brig and started to yell an announcement to all the women, "We 'ave orders te take all ye outside te a more… 'spacious accommodations'. Now, any 'o ye tha' wan' te struggle will 'ave te take it up with the cap'n. Let's move out, now."
The two men made the women get into one line, one pirate at the front and one at the back. Kat helped Harriet and Charlie, making sure that both were close to her in the line. Anamaria and Elizabeth followed closely after them. The pirates put them into a makeshift holding pin out on shore that looked actually pretty easy to get out of, but Kat will have to wait to see how many pirate guards there will be before she could make an escape plan. She looked over her shoulder to Anamaria who looked like she was thinking about the same thing. They gave each other a small smirk as they both put their minds to work.
The two pirates pushed the women into the makeshift holding pin and blocked the doorway. Kat looked back at the two and realized that they were still looking over the women, searching for who was with child and who was not. Kat looked over and found Anamaria knocking on the side of some of the walls, looking for weak points no doubt.
"Anamaria," Kat called to her, "They are still looking, I think they have no idea what they are looking for. They seem confused."
"Mus' be," Anamaria shook her head in shame, "The Harbinger crew was ne'er one to be bragged 'bout when it came to brains."
"Right," Kat nodded her head and looked back at the two pirates and saw that one of them was starting to head to the middle of the holding room, "Now what are they up to?"
"Alrigh', ladies!" the pirate in the middle of the room shouted, "We be needin' te know somethin' from ye. I need all the women with child te raise their 'and."
Kat knew what they were doing. They couldn't find out for themselves who was pregnant, so they tried to get the women to tell for them. Kat went over to Elizabeth, Harriet and Charlie, where Harriet already had her hand raised. Kat looked back at the pirate, who hasn't yet scanned this side of the holding pin.
"Elizabeth, raise your hand," Kat instructed her.
"Why? I am not-"
"Maybe you're not, but if they find out that you aren't then you will possibly be the first one to die. So put up your arm," Kat said little more harshly then she needed to. She then looked at Charlie, "Charlie, try to stay behind us and hide yourself. You are way too young to be pregnant."
"Aye, ma'am," Charlie nodded her head and hid behind Harriet and Elizabeth.
"Charlie's a girl?" Harriet asked a little surprised.
"Shh!" Kat said as the pirate went over and looked at the group. Kat stood near the others with her hand down and looked back at the pirate with hatred.
"Tha' means ye raise yer 'and too, Mrs. Sparrow," the pirate called out to her and Kat gently, but slowly rose her hand from her side, "We needs everybody to be honest."
Harriet looked over at Kat and looked her over a little more closely. It was true, she thought that Kat was gaining a little weight, but didn't mention anything to her. Could the ruffian be telling the truth?
"Kat, you're…?" Harriet asked softly as the pirate passed them over.
Kat looked into her eyes and nodded just a little and turned front again. Now Harriet knew, and she would be watching her every sparing moment she had. She was a great big sister in that way, and Kat appreciated it most of the time, but she didn't want to give Harriet the idea that just because she was now pregnant, that she needed to be treated any different. She was still going to do everything in her power to help Jack and the other women, but at the same time protect herself and the baby that was now growing inside of her.
The pirate in the center of the room suddenly jumped down from the box he was standing on and went back over to his partner under the doorway. True, there were only a few hands raised, but there were only a few more women that were actually survivors of the initial attack on Port Royal. The one that made all the shouting began pointing to different sections of the room and to different women in the room, including Anamaria.
"I don' like how this is goin', Kat," Anamaria said with a little apprehensiveness in her voice.
"Neither do I," Kat looked at the women that didn't raise their hands and they were looking toward her, no longer with distain, but with the hope that she had a plan, "They are going to take two women out of here now, probably to send a message to Jack as soon as he comes to dock. And it won't be pretty. The only thing stopping them from picking any one of us is that Dornie will not kill unborn children."
"Aw. So the crew mates have to figure out who is eligible, eh?"
"Exactly."
"Wha' can we do?"
"Nothing come to mind. You?"
"I 'ave somethin', but I don' know if ye be up for it," Anamaria looked at Kat and put a hand on her shoulder.
"What is it?"
"How long do ye think they've been out on the sea without some 'company'?" Anamaria raised her eyebrow and moved her eyes toward the two men. Kat caught on quickly.
"Very long," Kat turned to the men and then to Harriet, "Harriet, I want you to promise that you will never repeat or tell anyone about what you are about to see. Especially Jack. Do you understand?"
Harriet nodded and Kat and Anamaria began to get ready for some terrific acting.
The two men, closed the door behind them and began to proceed into the room, one came straight up to Anamaria and grabbed a hold of her arm. Before Anamaria could even get a word out, Charlie leapt from behind Elizabeth and bit the guy on the arm. Anamaria fell back from the man and Charlie ran over to her side, yelling at the man in front of him.
"Ye leave 'er alone! Understand?" Charlie yelled at the big man.
He looked at the fading teeth marks on his arm and began to chuckle. He turned to the other pirate and called him over. The other man dropped the woman he was planning to take and walked over to him. Kat looked past him to the woman who was just dropped on the floor. It was her good friend, Athena. Apparently she had the money, but never was able to give a child. It was actually much better that way. At least a child wouldn't be born to a woman who still had no concept of love.
"Looks like I 'ave a volunteer te go on the wall," one of them said and picked up Charlie by the back of her collar. She began to kick and punch with all her might, but it didn't do her really any good. She was caught and now she was going to pay for the small bite she tried to inflict.
"No!" Kat said in a pleading voice, half of it a real plea- after all it was one of her crew members, "Please let her go. She is only a child," Kat half closed her eyes and touched the man's arm lightly.
"Aye," Anamaria stood up and walked slowly over to the other pirate standing close by, "I though' ye boys were goin' to take me instead."
The men looked at the two women and traded a lustful look to one another, "I guess we could make arrangements."
"I surely hope so," Kat said, trying to sound seductive and not so much disgusted as she felt. The one man let go of Charlie and let her drop to the ground. Charlie scooted over to Liz and Harriet and clung on to them.
"Wha' do they think they're doin'?" Charlie asked a little terrified.
"They're going to give us time to try and get out of here," Elizabeth smiled, "Just stay down and let them work. They know what they're doing."
"I thought you told me that nothing could fill their lustful desires when they are under the curse," Harriet whispered to Liz remembering the tales that Elizabeth told her while Jessie and Olivia played with each other.
"I did, but I doubt that they know that," Elizabeth watched as the two pirates led Kat and Anamaria out of the holding pin.
As they left, Elizabeth saw a slight glint of what she thought was a knife conveniently stored in the side of Anamaria's boot. Once outside the two women were escorted to different places on the shore, and could now longer plot with one another. Anamaria gave Kat a knowing wink when she left, giving Kat some confidence about the plan. As they neared the edge of the shore which was partially covered with sand, the pirate began to take off his vest and nodding to Kat to do the same.
Kat shook her head and sat down on a rock to the far side of the shore, "I don't know if you are man enough for me, now that I think about it."
"Oh well, ye will 'ave to deal with it," the pirate said reaching for her and squeezing down on both of her arms making sure she saw his face, "Because ye can't figh' back."
"What makes you so sure?" Kat gritted her teeth, but tried to be defiant toward his advances.
"Because I can't die. Which means ye can do whatever ye think is goin' te help ye, but yer goin' te go no where," he put his mouth right next to her ear and whispered again, "I can't die."
"Yeah, but it will take a while fer ye te piece yer head back together, mate," the pirate lifted his head toward the voice and in a spit second his head exploded to many little pieces, some falling into the water nearby.
The shot's echo stayed with Kat for a moment even after the pirate dropped her to the sand and the body fell struggling to find the pieces of its head. Kat found it a bit disturbing, but all the more lucky for her. There was more smoke than what she remembered being fired from a pistol, but it was also being shot from pretty close range. She slowly looked up at the person who saved her through the smoke and found Jack lowering his pistol to his sash around his waist.
"Ye all righ', luv?" he smirked and knelt down toward Kat, becoming eye level.
She gave him a half smile, because with all the emotion that she had going on, she could manage a full one, "Just fine-"
She cut herself off as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face underneath his chin. Holding him tight, she could feel the tears begin to flow down her cheeks and land more than likely on his jacket.
"You shouldn't have come, Jack. She's going to know. She's going to kill you," Kat began to sob into his jacket, "I'm not going to lose you again! I could have found a way to free them, free us! Why did you have to come?"
"To find ye, 'o course," he looked down at her and lifted her chin to get some eye contact, "No one takes me wife and gets away with it."
"But Dornie-"
"Will never know we're 'ere if we do this righ'," Jack smiled and kissed the tears off of her face, "Now, where be Anamaria and Liz?"
"Anamaria!" Kat looked over Jack's shoulder and down the beach, "She was also taken-"
Before she could explain she heard a screech come up from down the shore a bit. After a few seconds Anamaria came sauntering up cleaning up her knife and putting it back in her boot. Kat and Jack look at her a little strange as she smiles back at them.
"Well, good te see yer 'ere, Jack."
"Anamaria, what happened to the other pirate?" Kat asked, letting Jack help her up.
"Well, I taught him that it was never nice to touch without permission," she smiled wickedly.
"Meaning?" Kat urged her on.
"I cut off his hands and feet and threw them into the bay. It's goin' to be very hard fer him to get those back," she shrugged her shoulders and began to walk back toward the holding pin.
Kat and Jack looked at each other and gave nervous grins to one another, "Luv, remind me never to borrow from Anamaria again."
"No problem," Kat said a little out of breath and guided Jack toward the other women.
A/N: He he, stupid pirate. Well, I hope you liked this chapter, I was al little in and out of it, but it's there and a little longer than what I thought it would be. Next chapter may be a little "if"y, but I'll get right on it. Until next chapter!
