Disclaimer: Jack is not mine. Neither is the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise that is attached to him.


After deciding that it would be suicide to stroll into Tortuga with a member of the British Navy, Jack got the marvelous idea to place Madison into a disguise as well. She didn't have the physique to be one of the older more rugged pirates but with the proper attire, she could easily pass for a young cabin boy.

Not as fortunate however, was Norry who had been forced to retire the hideous white wig and pull his hair back into a messy ponytail. He now sported an outfit similar to Will's, complete with a shirt that was a little oversized even for him. He was completely humiliated. How degrading it was for his alias to be the very thing he despised. His life's great ambition and good deeds had resulted in this masquerade where he intended to rescue a woman who had left him for a pirate. And then there was this new girl to consider. Sparrow's girl. Who would probably rather hang by his side at the gallows than sleep in a warm bed with a man of the law. What was it about a bunch of smelly pirates that women were so crazy about?

They walked purposefully through the streets. Jack led the way of course, looking more or less like he owned the place. In fact, anyone might have guessed so by the way people reacted to his presence. Half of the town made gestures toward him and broke into storytelling while the other half dolled themselves up and flashed cleavage in his direction. Madison shouldn't have been surprised. It was still a couple hours before sundown and the strumpets were already in business. She eyed each one they passed by, almost daring them to approach her captain. They were almost to the Faithful Bride. Almost clear of the women working the corners and the alleyways... And the front door of the tavern. That's where she came from. They couldn't dodge her. And Madison recognized her instantly. Whitney. Jack should have known to brace himself, but he didn't. She marched right up to him, said something inaudible to the rest of them, and slapped him forcefully. Jack turned back, giving Maddy a grin.

She wasn't amused. She had to sit by and watch it be done repeatedly in the movie. Screaming and throwing things at the television screen hadn't helped. But now she was here. Maddy pushed up her sleeves and stormed up to the retreating figure of Jack's scorned ex-lover. One tap on the shoulder and she spun around. She didn't even know what hit her. Maddy slapped her so hard that the woman lost her balance and stumbled a few steps, clutching her face in shock. Everyone in the vicinity gasped and Madison realized what it must have looked like with her dressed as a man. She heard mixed whispering off to her right. "The lad appears t' be a little 'off'." "Aye. 'e fancies the cap'n if ye ask me."

Madison watched the humiliated tart disappear into the crowd just as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Jack leaned in close to her ear. "Remin' me t' thank ye thoroughly fer that later."

She felt a shudder at the prospect of the thanking she would receive as they crowded into the entrance of the tavern. The scene was almost identical to the last time they were there. Raucous laughter, barroom brawls, and the continuous flow of rum. Jack turned to Norrington, slapping him roughly on the back. "Time fer a change o' profession, eh Norry?"

He couldn't believe the scene before him. The room was full of some of the most notorious active and retired pirates of the day. Even some that Norrington had believed to be captured or dead mingled amongst them. He himself was in the pirate lair. His instincts gave him the desire to see each and every one of them swing from the gallows, but he remained aware of the present situation. Still, he was in awe of the fact that in his disguise, they were completely oblivious and actually believed him to be one of their own.

Will leaned in closer to him. "It's quite different seeing the other end of the spectrum, is it not?" Norrington was still speechless as Will highlighted his point, "They're just a batch of regular men, really. It's only the few like Lestat that makes the rest look as savage as you see them." He walks on to a table where Jack was already ordering drinks.

Madison and Norry linger near the door for a few moments more before seating themselves at the table next to them. They weren't there as back up. This was the meeting where the terms of the exchange would be discussed. Jack wanted them there so everyone involved would know what they were dealing with. Especially Maddy. She had to know every detail of how it would play out.

Not even a minute passes before a barmaid approaches and places two mugs on the table. Norrington eyes them. "I'm sorry but we did not order these."

She smiles seductively. "Ye looked thirsty, sailor."

He starts to pull some coins from his pocket, but she stops him. "It's on me, luv."

"But I really insist on paying..." She places a finger on his lips.

"There are other means of payment. Ye may consider them later." With that, she walks back to the bar where three other women were ogling him as well.

His eyebrow arches as he tries to figure out what just happened. Maddy almost laughs. "Way to go. You've got groupies already." And he had every right to. James the Pirate looked damn fine in her book.

She would have pursued the formation of his fan base further had Lestat not just entered with two of his men. Her smile faded and the hair on the back of her neck bristled. She also had the sudden urge to throw up, but withheld. She put her head down as the men passed by and watched as they were seated. She couldn't believe how Jack kept his cool, or Will for that matter.

Jack had watched them approach, noting how Lestat was hiding his wounds. He imagined the man was bandaged up pretty good under his clothes. Anyone who didn't know would never suspect how much pain he had to be in. He did well to conceal it, especially due to the smug grin on his face. He knew he had one up on Jack and wasn't about to let him forget it.

"Ye didn' bring the girl."

"O' course I didn'. Ye 'aven't specified yer terms yet." Jack knew Lestat was going to gloat.

"Ah well. I'll be havin' fun with 'er soon enough."

Jack's jaw tightened. "An' Elizabeth? I expect ye t' return 'er unharmed."

Lestat's smile broadened. "Yes well... It's a shame I'm in the market fer a blood heir. I could've made good use of the babe she's carryin'."

"You bastard! That's my wife...!" Will made a move as though he was about to reach across the table and kill Lestat with his bare hands, but Jack slammed an arm in front of his chest to stop him.

"S' tha's it. Tha's why ye wan' the girl. Fer an heir." Jack had half a mind to release Will and let the blood fly.

"Now ye know it's more than tha' Jackie boy." He seemed damn pleased with himself and the control he had over the situation.

Jack gritted his teeth. "Do not call me that." His words were almost a whisper but cold as ice. The meeting had barely started but he was more than ready for it to be over. "Wha' are the terms?"

"Aw come on. Are ye not havin' fun? Stay an' have a few drinks. I'll pay."

He was firm in his response. "The terms, Lestat. Now."

The man let out a long sigh. "I don' like t' rush in t' things. Tha's how mistakes are made. Besides, I'm gettin' quite fond o' the lass already on board. She's been... interestin'..."

It's evident that the man is operating beyond Will's tolerance level, as well as Jack's. "I wan' this matter settled immediately. Elizabeth's condition doesn't allow for delay."

"Indeed tha' hasn't gone unnoticed, but yer not in a position t' be makin' demands Sparrow. I be the one wit' the leverage this time around and I think it's best we tend t' business t'morrow. I wouldn't want t' play into any preplanned escape attempt ye may 'ave conjured up."

"An who's t' say ye won't sail off in the night or spring one o' yer own surprises? Ye have never given me much reason t' trust ye after all."

A reminiscent smile spread across Lestat's face. "Well as me dad always said 'the man who trusts a pirate is a fool by any right but 'tis the pirate who trusts a man who is the biggest fool of all'."

"Ahh... An' how far did that wisdom get yer ol' dad?"

His smile fades at the acknowledgement of his father's apparent demise. "I won' sail off because I'll take greater pleasure in watchin' ye squirm as I sail in t' the distance with yer lass on my ship."

"My lass? Ye mean the whore? She means nothin' t' me." Jack was trying to play it off in an effort to conceal his feelings. "Not good fer anythin' more than a bit o' fun really... An' not even all tha' satisfying."

"Now ye an' I both know tha's not true."

The words from Jack are hard for Madison to listen to but she knows he's only saying them to protect her. He couldn't let on that she meant anything to him or else Lestat would be more desperate to have her for his own. The words, 'He only wants what he can't have,' are still fresh in her mind.

Lestat rose from the table. "I wan' ye stayin' on land t'night. Get a room, some pleasurable company t' help ye pass the time, an' enjoy the Tortugan night." He looks at Will. "Ye might wan' t' get one yerself lad. Ye won' have this opportunity again." The man laughed as Will clenched his jaw in silence. "Oh an' Jack... If any one o' yer men even attempts t' board my ship, I'll make sure the lass isn't alive long enough fer them t' rescue 'er." With that, Lestat strode confidently out of the tavern with his men in tow.

Jack immediately tossed some coins on the table. "Will, I wan' ye an' Norry t' report back t' Gibbs an' let him know we're stayin' on land. Tell 'im t' make sure the men are ready t' sail out o' here tonight if need be. I'll see wha' I can do abou' getting' us a couple o' rooms."


After pairing off to complete their designated tasks, Maddy was thankful to have Jack at her side once again. She would have enjoyed it more, however, if he weren't walking with such strides that made her nearly have to run to keep up with him. Why were they in such a hurry anyway? Was there some discount on rooms somewhere that she didn't know about?

All of a sudden he ducked onto a deserted alley. It was so sudden that she would have walked on by had he not latched onto her hand and pulled her along with him. She didn't even have time to react. His lips were on hers. She felt her knees go weak. He had to stop surprising her like this. She tangled her hands in his hair as his own began roaming freely over her body. Jack leaned into her and she could feel his excitement as he pressed her against the cool stone of a building. So this is why he was in such a hurry. Granted, she would have preferred some place a little more private than a side street in Tortuga but a full-on make out session with Jack Sparrow wasn't something that one would bother being choosy about.

Her moment of bliss is disrupted however as she catches sight of someone out of corner of her eye. "Ja...Jack..." She manages to say his name but it's spoken more or less into his mouth.

He caught sight of the figures as well and broke their kiss as they both turned to see that they were in fact being observed by a couple of girls working the streets. The older looking one of the two mumbled something under her breath about always knowing 'that Sparrow character was a little off'. The younger one just looked heartbroken as they walked away. They must have made quite the impression with her still dressed as a man and Jack still pressing her against the wall. She's embarrassed for him and the vibration from her laughter causes him to moan slightly.

Jack furrowed his brow at the retreating figures, thinking about the consequence of the gossip that was about to ensue. "No' quite the legacy I wanted t' leave..." They both laugh. "Oh sod it. I'll deal with i' later..." He turns his attention back to Maddy. "Now where were we?"


(A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review.)