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Chapter 4

Will sailed his ship following Jack's heading only taking a break to sleep. Ever since he thought he had figured out what the compass was trying to tell him, he had attempted to avoid the pirate as much as possible. He liked Jack but only as a close friend right? Maybe that's what it had meant and besides he couldn't see Jack having feelings for him in return even if he did like him more than a friend.

Every morning when he woke though, Jack's arms were always round him and he could feel his hot breath on his neck. In spite of his confused feelings at the moment he found it gave him a sense of security and it was always with regret that he slid from Jack's arms and left the cabin.

Jack on the other hand was equally confused. He had always thought that his greatest and only love was the sea and his beloved Pearl but the compass was telling him differently. Every day he opened it and every day it pointed to Will and it wasn't a vague direction ether. He had no intention of letting Will know this however and kept giving him a false heading to follow.

"How are we ever going to find me ship if this thing won't help me!" He muttered frustrated and drank deeply from his ever-present bottle of rum.

He was also getting frustrated with his lack of movement. He was a man of action and lying there on Will's bed was not helping his mood. The only time when he felt good was when Will was wrapped in his arms though he hoped Will thought he wasn't doing that on purpose and Jack noted that he didn't seem to.

There was something about Will that fascinated him more than anyone else ever had. Maybe it was his determination or his skill with the sword Jack couldn't decide. One thing was for sure, he didn't think he should be feeling like he did.

He drained his bottle and slowly rose and hobbled over to the cabinet to fetch more.

"Bugger these crutches." He said as he swayed and wobbled. His half-drunken state wasn't helping but where rum was concerned nothing was going to stop him getting it.

He finally retrieved a bottle and made his way back to the bed. The crutches were alright for getting about the cabin but there was no way he could get out and about on deck on them. He fell back on the bed with his prize and dropped the annoying crutches on the floor with a clatter.

"Bugger." He said again as they dropped out of his reach. Maybe Will would come back soon and put them back within his reach but then Will hardly came in only to sleep it seemed so Jack knew he could be in for a long wait. He sighed and started his new bottle.

It was a few hours later when the lookout spotted a ship in the water ahead of them.

Will sprung into action giving the helm to Anamaria and ordering his crew to prepare for battle. Will's hopes that it might be the Pearl were dashed when he saw through his spyglass that it was just a merchant vessel. Oh well maybe they had a decent amount of plunder to be had. Will fingered the hilt of his sword and excitement rose in his stomach at the prospect of a battle.

Jack heard the commotion of the crew and knew immediately what was happening. His heart sank at the thought that he wouldn't be able to join in but he knew that Will was more than capable and plus he had his crew to ensure a swift victory. Not that he was putting Will's own crew down at all he knew they would all be good pirates after all Will was the son of Bootstrap Bill Turner and would have chosen them well.

"Raise the colours." Will ordered and the skull and crossbones were raised where it flew proudly.

"Ready the guns." Will shouted and the pirates rushed round loading the cannons ready to fire on the ship.

The ship finally caught up with the merchant vessel and drew up alongside it. Will drew his sword and yelled "FIRE!" and the battle began.

The other ship fired back but it was no match really for Will's ship.

"Prepare to board!" He shouted and the grappling hooks were grabbed. The other ship was in danger of sinking so they had to plunder it as soon as they could. Will swung over along with his men and began to hack down the sailors. They fell quickly not really being fighting men and no match for pirates.

Most were killed and the rest taken prisoner to be locked in the brig. Will went below with some of his men to see what they could find.

There was plenty of food and fresh water to be had below decks and to Will's delight a good supply of rum!

Grinning he ordered the ship to be stripped bare of all her cargo and the remainder to be sunk properly.

It did not take long for the eager pirates to carry out the task and lay a trail of gunpowder to the barrels that they lit before running back to their own ship.

Will and the crew stood and watched the stricken ship explode and sink below the surface of the ocean to cheers from the pirates.

"Well done men." Will congratulated the crew. "Tonight we celebrate!"

The pirates raised their swords in a big cheer and Will went to his cabin after telling Gibbs to bring enough rum to replenish his cabinet for himself and Jack.

"Plenty of rum now Jack." He grinned at the pirate who was lying on the bed waving his almost empty bottle in celebration.

"Aye ye did good lad."

"I learned from the best." Will said and saw what he thought was a very slight blush tint the other's cheeks. That wasn't right Jack didn't blush! It must be the effect of the rum he decided and wasted no time fetching his own bottle.

"Anythin' else?" Jack asked hopefully.

"No treasure." Will said glumly. "But we now have a plentiful supply of food and rum."

"Thas' good lad at this rate we are going ta need it!" Jack chuckled.

Will raised his bottle and they toasted success until the early hours of the morning.

Once again Will found himself wrapped in Jack's arms when he woke but this time Jack was rubbing his stomach gently.

"Jack?" He murmured but there was no response. Will liked the feeling that Jack's hand was giving him. He smiled to himself and felt pressure gathering in his groin.

"Bugger." He mumbled and removed himself from Jack's embrace. He grabbed some fresh clothes and changed quickly noting that the pirate on the bed seemed to be sleeping soundly. He made his way outside and into an empty cabin to take care of his little 'problem'. He did not notice the slight smile that was on Jack's lips as he left the cabin, which was perhaps a good thing.

Jack lay grinning to himself. Evidently young William seemed to enjoy the gentle strokes that he had been doing and his groin had definitely agreed with that. Smiling wider, Jack proceeded to take care of his own little 'problem' that he was grateful that Will hadn't seemed to feel thankfully!

Will stood at the helm of his ship scanning the horizon for any sight of a ship that could possibly be the Pearl but there was nothing to be seen but the vast expanse of ocean.

They had now been searching for an entire week with no sign of the ship in question and Will was beginning to worry.

What if they never found it? He didn't want to think about that. The ship was fast yes but surely they would be stopping every now and then to plunder various ships they came across? That would allow them to catch up at least a little. Will sighed and absently watched his crew going about their work on deck a few of them looking a little worse for wear due to the previous night's celebrations. He smiled knowing he himself couldn't look that brilliant with a hangover. No matter how much of a hardened rum drinker you were, it would always catch up with you the following morning.

They sailed on for several more hours until Anamaria appeared with a plate of food for him.

"Take a break cap'n?" She offered and Will allowed her to take over the helm gratefully. Being captain was great Will thought but there were times when it could be boring.

He made his way down to his cabin and found Jack awake but not drinking for a change.

"Mornin' lad." He said and Will chuckled.

"It's the middle of the afternoon Jack."

"It is? Aye well afternoon then."

Will offered some of his food to Jack and the two of them ate quietly.

"Jack," Will said when they were both done, "are you sure we're going the right way? We've been sailing for a week with no sight of the Pearl yet."

Jack frowned and took out his compass. He thought of his ship and how much he missed the feel of her weathered wood and sturdiness under his feet. He opened the compass but nothing had changed, it still pointed straight to Will. He closed it with a snap.

"Aye lad we be goin' the right way. Keep this heading savvy?"

"Okay Jack if you say so."

"Ship ahoy!" came a shout from outside and Will left his cabin to see for himself.

He ran to the helm and took out his spyglass.

"It's a ship of the navy." He said to Anamaria and they both knew that it would mean a lengthy and dangerous fight.

"Maybe we shouldn't attack them cap'n?" She suggested but Wills eyes glinted with a thirst for battle and something else, anger? Anamaria knew that Elizabeth had left Will and married the commodore so no wonder he was angry.

"Ready the guns." He growled in a voice quite unlike his normal one.

Anamaria left Will at the helm and ran to inform the other pirates of what they were facing. She also told Jack who wished he could impale a few navy scum on his own blade but knew he couldn't and it frustrated him. Still there was no reason he couldn't enjoy the battle was there?

He grabbed his crutches and hobbled to the cabin door which was actually open Anamaria having forgotten to shut it in her haste to chivvy the crew into action. He stood outside where he had a very good view of the ship they were catching up with.

"Jack! You should be in the cabin." A voice shouted at him.

"Aye I know but I wanted ta watch the fight lad."

"I don't want you to get hurt Jack, please go inside?"

"No."

"Fine just don't get killed standing there." Will said knowing he couldn't really make the pirate captain stay indoors when he didn't want to. 'Just don't get killed Jack I couldn't bear that.' He added to himself.

They caught the ship up rapidly and could see the other vessel had her guns out ready. It was a bigger ship than Will's own but he had full faith in all of his crew knowing they would fight well to the death of need be. They were pirates and destined to die at sea including himself he knew but he didn't want to join his father in Davey Jones's locker just yet.

"FIRE!" he yelled when the ship was within range and the battle began.

The navy ship was well prepared for battle like this and the firing went on for a long time both ships taking damage but not enough to sink either one.

Will decided he had had enough of waiting and after checking to see of Jack was okay – which he was – he gave the order to board.

The pirates swung over to the other ship and the battle began in earnest.

Many men were lost on both sides but the pirates were winning.

Jack watched as Will battled hard and wished he could join in but knew he couldn't.

"Bugger this leg." He growled as he watched impressed as always with Will's swordsmanship. He recalled their first battle affectionately and realised he had liked the boy since then but had refused to admit just how much. Should he tell him? The compass was never going to give him any peace until he did but he just didn't know how.

"I'm no good at this stuff." He muttered and continued to watch the battle.

Will found himself fighting three navy men at once one of whom he thought he recognised.

"Gilette?" He said suddenly and the naval man smiled.

"Yes that's right Mister Turner." He said a sneer curling his lip.

Will's surprise gave one of the other men just the opening he needed. He lunged at Will who cried out in pain when he felt the blade sink into his shoulder.

At the cry from their captain, the pirates turned and attacked the three men decapitating Gilette and finishing off the other two.

A yell came from the other ship and after finishing off the rest of the naval men, the whole crew turned to see Captain Jack hobbling over to a rope and making ready to swing over.

"No cap'n!" Gibbs shouted running over to stop Jack before he could go.

"Let me go Gibbs!" Jack growled looking so fierce and Jack-unlike that Gibbs backed off a few feet in fear.

Ignoring the pain in his leg, Jack swung over to the navy ship landing on his good leg, which unfortunately gave way when he landed. He found that due to the splint he couldn't get up again so he crawled as fast as he could dragging his broken leg behind him.

He reached Will who was bleeding from the wound in his shoulder. Blood pooled round him and Jack tore some fabric off his own shirt to bind the wound.

"Don' die on me lad."

"Jack? What are you doing?"

"Saving ye lad after all ye did t fer me."

"Yes but the crew would have seen to me."

Jack didn't know what to say for once. How could he explain that all he had wanted was to reach Will and make sure he was okay?

"Hush whelp." Was all he could think of and although the young captain was annoyed at Jack for coming to him, secretly he was pleased and relaxed in the strong arms.

TBC…