Thicker Than Water – Chapter Fifteen – Make It Stop

Had he really just hugged her? Had he really just shown affection for someone other than himself? He was confused. Jack spent the next hour in his cabin kicking himself. What's wrong with him? Jack Sparrow doesn't go around hugging people. Especially people he's only known for less than twenty-four hours.

Jack was afraid to go up on deck. Rebecca made him act so different, and it scared him.

I don't want to be a father, he thought. He was sick of it. All of it. But once they get to Tortuga this will all be over.

Rebecca was back to manning the wheel. Her left arm was in a sling. She had protested, but the crew saw through her attempt at being tough and insisted on wrapping her arm.

They were about three hours away from Tortuga. Rebecca almost didn't want to stop. It was so nice on the boat. The breeze, the view, everything was just so nice. She was getting along with her father pretty well, too.

By the way, where was Jack? As soon as the rope was fixed and they had started sailing again, he disappeared.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. Except for the fact that when it got dark, she couldn't really see where she was going. Eventually Jack ventured back on deck and took over the wheel, merely grunting when Rebecca asked if he was all right.

When they entered Tortuga it was pitch black. As soon as they docked Jack grabbed Rebecca's arm. "Come with me." He said. Let's just get this over with.

Jack, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Gibbs walked over to another boat. The Bounty.

A man walked out onto the docks, a few people following behind him. The man carried a lantern. He placed it on the ground between them. The orange light cast an eerie glow over the scene.

"Captain Blackmore, I have retrieved your map." said Jack.

Blackmore opened his hand. Jack pushed Rebecca foreword.

"What?" Rebecca said, starting to panic.

Blackmore stared at Rebecca, confused. "This is not a map."

"Ah," said Jack pulling out a knife, "But this is." He cut open the back of her shirt. Rebecca screamed and held the front of her shirt down. Jack forced her to turn around, so her back was towards Blackmore.

Blackmore scratched his chin. "How did the map get there?"

"Not a clue. If you take her, Captain, I want my sack." Elizabeth hit Jack. "Oh yes, and Will. If you would be so kind."

"No, Jack. You said that you wouldn't hand her over to Blackmore." said Elizabeth.

"Precisely, love. I'm not just handing her over. I'm bargaining. What say you, Captain?"

Elizabeth stared at him, shocked. She made no move to do anything. Being a woman surrounded by tough men, there was really nothing she could do.

Blackmore thought a moment and then pulled out the sack from his pocket. He waved his hand behind him and two men came out holding Will. Another two men grabbed Rebecca, who started screaming.

"JACK! NO, YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I'M YOUR DAUGHTER!"

"I believe I just did." Jack said, staring at his fingernails. Jack's whole body was tense, but he forced himself to look calm.

"NO! WAIT!" Rebecca screamed at the two men holding her. They stopped pulling her backwards. "Jack... Jacky. Everything that happened. Was none of it real? Are you even my father?" Rebecca started to sob.

Jack's heart was being ripped apart. But no, he couldn't let it show. "No, love. None of it was real," He forced himself to say. He looked at Elizabeth. She just stared back at him with cold, hard eyes. Will was just as shocked, staring at Jack in disbelief.

Jack turned to leave. He could hear Rebecca screaming as they dragged her onto The Bounty. "NO DADDY, PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME!" Rebecca thrashed and kicked over the lantern. The docks were pitch black once more. All that was left was Rebecca's petrified screams, echoing through Jack's ears and seeping into his veins, making every part of him numb.

Jack shut his eyes tight. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop.

Gibbs put his arm on Jack's shoulder. "Come on, Cap'n. Let's get outta here."

Jack nodded, unable to speak.