"Jack you better slow down," Roux said talking a swig of his drink.
Jack was busy downing his third glass of rum Abberline had bought for him at the Ten Bells, a pub that had been around for nearly a century. He burped and licked his lips, sliding the empty mug over to the other two empty ones.
"not bad. It's not Tortuga rum, but it's still good," Jack said.
"Abberline…" Roux said.
Abberline moved his dark eyes in Roux's direction and swallowed his drink.
"how do you get into a business like this?" Roux asked him.
"Family business," Abberline simply said.
"oh I see. It's quite fascinating, don't you think so Jack?" Roux said to Jack who was eyeing the barmaid.
Roux poked Jack and Jack returned his attention to them.
"oh yes, very interesting," Jack said with slurred words.
Abberline grinned for what was probably the first time upon Jack and Roux's visit. He loved how uninterested Jack really was and that he was pretending. The truth was, Jack and Roux cracked him up. Although his face may have remained firm and uninterested, inside he was smiling. Abberline had spent a total of 4 hours with these two gentlemen, and he couldn't figure out if they were just really close friends or brothers. He and Godley were sort of brothers they way they joked and looked out for each other, but he doubted their bond was the same as Jack and Roux's.
Roux sighed and rested his head in his hands. "Jack.." He said quietly.
Jack turned to him, his jaw rolling around as if he was chewing something.
"Jack," Roux continued, "I'm really having a great time, but we need to get back home."
"the boat is just a few blocks away, let's stay a bit longer," Jack said.
"no, Jack, I meant home, home," Roux clarified.
Jack sighed and Abberline and Godley exchanged confused looks. Jack ran his hand over his jaw line and rubbed his neck.
"alright well, you'll have to take me back to Tortuga then," Jack said.
"we tried that before remember? Didn't turn out so nice," Roux said with one eyebrow raised.
"yes, but I'm captain Jack Sparrow. Those sorry excuses for men won't lay a finger on me. And if they do, well they'll be crossing blades with a pirate and I'll make it inescapably clear that they won't do it again. Of course it will be quite lonely all by my onesy savvy," Jack said grinning.
"I'm sorry Jack, but I need to get home, Vianne's missing me and you have no idea how much I miss her," Roux said, gazing out in front of him.
"no, I do actually…..but I'd rather not get into that," Jack said picking at his dirty fingernails.
The door of the Ten Bells opened and a young woman with long curly red hair came in, looking around. She wore a gray corset with light blue skirts which she picked up as she came farther into the pub. Her eyes targeted Abberline and she smiled excitedly.
Abberline turned round on his stool and smiled as the woman hurried to him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and gave him a desperate kiss. Abberline pulled her close to him so she was almost sitting on his lap and held her face in his hands.
"well they're quite friendly now aren't they?" Jack said to Roux, watching them.
"I missed you dearest," the woman said.
Abberline stroked her hair and remembering Jack and Roux, said, "Mary, these gentlemen are Jack and Roux."
"pleasure to meet you, I'm Mary Kelly," Mary said.
"pleasure is all mine," Jack said grinning.
Abberline eyed Jack suspiciously.
Roux stood up and pulled Jack to his feet as well. "this has been a lot o' fun but Jack and I need to get going," Roux said.
"oh but you mustn't leave yet! You've only just arrived! Why don't you boys come with me and I'll make you some supper?" Mary said, getting to her feet.
Jack and Roux exchanged looks briefly.
"it's up to you," Jack said to Roux with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"well, I am a little hungry," Roux said.
"wonderful" Mary said. "come gentlemen, follow me," she said as she pulled Abberline after her by his neck tie.
They exited the Ten Bells and started walking down the street. Abberline and Mary had clasped hands and Jack and Roux followed behind them, with Godley in the rear. The train of people turned the corner ad walked up to a small dimly lit house. They went inside and closed the door behind them.
A small white and black pug dog greeted them, growling at Jack. Roux reached down to let the dog sniff him and the pug licked his hand. Jack tried to do the same, but snatched his hand back as the dock snapped at him.
"now, that's not very nice," Jack said to the dog. The dog growled louder and Jack rose his eyebrows, leaning away from the animal.
"Jack!" Abberline yelled.
The dog cowered away into the corner and Jack jumped, alarmed himself.
"he started it!" Jack said to Abberline.
"no not you, my dog's name is Jack," Abberline said, petting the pug.
"that's a popular name when it comes to animals," Jack said, recalling Captain Barbossa's monkey that was also named Jack.
"is this your house?" Roux asked, turning to Abberline.
"yes," Abberline said. "Mary lives with me. We are to be married next spring."
"you know what the best part about a wedding is?" Jack questioned.
"the dancing?" said Roux.
"no no. The drinks. The rum, the shake, the wine, the beer, all of it," Jack said.
"I imagine you've been to many weddings Jack," Abberline said.
Jack nodded with his trademark grin.
"boys, come in 'ere please," Mary called from the kitchen. Mary was running about, checking cabinets and adding ingredients to a large pot that sat on the stove. The smell of the food was faint, but it was a good smell just the same.
"now you buys must tell me what you'd prefer to have in your soup. Chicken with rice? Chicken with vegetables? Just rice? Just Vegetables? Whatever you want I can do," Marry said as she stirred the pot with one hand on her hip.
"I'm sure whatever you make will be wonderful," Abberline said smiling at her.
Mary smiled and looked at the others, who all agreed with Abberline by nodding their heads.
"alright then. That's all I wanted. Off you go then," Mary said, shooing them from the kitchen.
They headed back out into the front room, but Roux hung back and walked up to Mary.
"would you like some help? I could help a bit if ye like. I'm a great cook, I've got references, just ask Jack," Roux said pointing his thumb behind him towards the living room.
Mary giggled and said, "sure, I'd like some help."
Roux and Mary worked in the kitchen, cutting up chicken and vegetables, adding rice and a few other ingredients for taste into the large silver pot on the stove. They cooked a fresh loaf of bread and Roux showed Mary how to bake a mixture of garlic, olive oil, and chives into the bread for extra zest and flavor. When they were finished, they set the food on the table, smelling the delicious scents that drifted around the kitchen. Mary and Roux started out to get the others and slowly opened the kitchen door.
"no no no, You're doing it all wrong inspector. It's yo ho, YO HO, a pirates life for me, there are two yo ho's," Godley said to Abberline.
"right," Jack said
"okay okay, what's the next verse?" Abberline asked.
"We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack, drink up me, Roux," Jack said looking up at Roux and Mary, standing in the doorway.
"drink up me Roux? That doesn't make sense," Abberline said confused.
"no, Roux," Jack said pointing to the kitchen door.
They turned to see Roux and Mary smiling at them in the doorway.
" 'ello," Abberline said.
"we didn't want to interrupt, but supper's ready," Mary said.
"yes food!" Jack said hopping up, heading into the kitchen.
Godley, Abberline, Mary, Jack and Roux sat around the dining room table and helped themselves.
"great meal love," Sergeant Godley said as he shoveled in some more soup.
"thank you, you're too kind. But Roux did help me a lot," Mary said, smiling at Roux.
Abberline looked up from his bowl, flicking his eyes between them suspiciously. If one thing was for sure, it was the fact that Abberline was very protective of Mary. Mary slipped her hand around Abberline and kissed his cheek, making him feel better.
When they had all finished eating, they stretched out in the living room, listening to classical music in the background. Jack was sitting in a chair by the door, looking half asleep. Roux sat in a chair across from him, smiling and thinking about something clever as usual. Abberline and Godley were sitting on the couch with their head's in their hands. Mary was curled up next to Abberline with her head in his lap. Abberline was stroking Mary's strawberry hair and she had closed her eyes, smiling with contentment.
A loud snore woke them from their calm state and they turned towards the source of the snore.
"what'd I miss?" Jack said through a yawn.
"Mary went streaking down the street a little bit ago," Abberline said.
"oh, that's nice," Jack said as he closed his eyes again.
"yeah, he's totally out of it," Roux said. "I'm so comfortable I don't want to move, but Jack and I should get going," he said, getting to his feet.
"well, there's no hurry, really," Mary said sitting up. She turned to Abberline, "Perhaps, under the circumstances, they could stay here tonight dearest?"
Abberline nodded, "I don't see why not."
"are you sure? I don't want to intrude," Roux said
"it's great, really," Mary said.
"Alright then, we'll stay," Roux said.
"I'd love to stay too, but I've got a wife and baby at home so I must be off," Godley said standing up.
"g'night Peter," Mary said kissing him on the cheek.
"tomorrow morning, come to the morgue and we'll most likely have more information on that woman. You two can come if you like, after all you did find the body," Godley said as he put on his coat.
"I'm sorry but I only have 1 bed in the house, so you guys will have to sleep out here," Abberline said.
"that's fine with me," Roux said. "Good night inspector,…. Mary."
They exchanged goodnights and Mary and Abberline went into their bedroom.
"Jack…Jack?……….Jack wake up!" Roux whispered loudly.
Jack's eyes fluttered open. "what do you want mate? It's bad luck to wake a man when he's sleeping….., besides, I'm catching up on my beauty sleep."
"I thought you should know that we're spending the night here," Roux said.
"alright, wonderful, now I'm going back to sleep," Jack said rolling over in the chair.
Roux raised his footrest and folded his hands, placing them behind his head. Roux closed his eyes and fell asleep with the rumbling of Jack's snore in his ears.
The next morning Roux woke up and jack was already gone. Roux got up from the chair and stretched. He went into the kitchen and saw Mary and Jack eating breakfast.
"oh hello Roux, did you sleep well?" Mary asked.
"very well, thank you," Roux said yawning.
Jack was eating toast with Jam and had already finished his eggs and bacon. Jack looked up and waved at Roux.
"Roux, are you hungry? We've got eggs, bacon, toast, milk or orange juice 'ere for ya. Please help yeself," Mary said.
"thanks. The inspector leave already?" Roux asked, sitting down next to Jack.
"yes. Fred went to the morgue with Peter early this morning. They're trying to find information about that poor girl that drowned," Mary said, as she buttered some more toast.
"Do you have any apples?" Jack asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
"sorry, no," Mary said.
Jack shrugged and took another piece of toast instead.
After they had eaten breakfast and said farewell to Mary, Jack and Roux were sent off to the morgue to say goodbye to Abberline and Godley. They opened the doors and a short bald man pointed them down the hall to their left. Roux and Jack headed in their direction and peeked through a window fixed on the door at the end of the hall. Abberline and Godley were huddled together, standing over the body. Abberline saw them and signaled for them to come in. They reluctantly stepped through the door and towards the body.
"we came to say goodbye," Roux said.
"yes I know,"
Abberline said nodding.
"so what've you got?" Jack said
rocking on his heels and gazing at the cold dead corpse below him.
"well, she was injected with a slow acting poison that made her go limp, and our guess is that she was pushed into the river by someone. We have a source that told us an Agent Sands, who works for the F.B.I. Was involved. We're waiting for him to come back from Mexico to call him for questioning," Abberline said.
"that's very interesting," Jack said.
"well, good luck inspector. It was good to meet you," Roux said shaking Godley's and Abberline's hands.
"thank you for your hospitality mate. Oh yeah, and thanks for the drink," Jack said to them.
"G'bye gentlemen," Godley said.
"best of luck to you both," Abberline said.
Roux and Jack walked out of the morgue and down the cobblestone streets until they reached Roux's boat. Jack yawned, scratching his bottom as Roux untied the boat from the dock.
"well, this is our last trip together Jack," Roux said, sitting in his deck chair.
Jack leaned up against the mast, folding his arms.
"yeah, good thing too. You're starting to make me crazy," Jack said grinning.
Roux smiled and picked up his guitar, beginning to play a song.
The boat floated down the Thames and back into the vast ocean. They drifted farther and farther out to sea and the sun sank lower in the sky. Roux was reading a book and Jack was steering the boat. They sails weren't catching much wind at all so the trip would be longer than expected. Jack was staring out at sea, his hand on the wheel, eyes searching the horizon. Jack glanced at Roux and then reached in his coat, pulling out a bottle of wine. Jack grimaced as the bottle hit the wood, making a dull clinking sound. Roux looked up from his book. Jack uncorked the wine and took a sip.
"Jack, where'd you get that?" Roux asked.
"I found it," Jack said taking another sip.
"you liar, you swiped it from Abberline's didn't you?" Roux said, narrowing his eyes.
"Well so what, they've got a whole lot of it, I doubt they'll be missing one measly bottle," Jack said.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Roux said, glancing at the wine. "Can I have some?"
Jack grinned, handing the bottle to Roux. Roux took a quick sip, licking the liquid from his lips, "mmmmm, tasty,"
Jack and Roux's journey to Tortuga began that night. They played cards, told jokes, made dinner and dessert. Jack and Roux exchanged stories of their adventures across the ocean. Jack had apparently been to twenty different countries and was well known in each one, well known by most of the ladies of course. Roux had become a famous musician in Italy with his band of Irish gypsies.
They closed in on Tortuga a few days later, docking the boat and tying it up to the wooden planks that jutted out from the dock. Roux and Jack walked to the edge of the dock at the outskirts of the town.
"well," Roux said.
"Well," Jack said.
"Take care of yerself Jack, you're a good man," Roux said, shaking Jack's hand.
"Oh I will, and you. Take care of your woman back home, and give her a smooch for me eh?" Jack joked with a grin.
"of course, I will," Roux answered.
Jack placed his hat on his head and adjusted his belt, turning back to Roux, "well, I'll be seeing you,".
Roux nodded and Jack strolled into town with his trademark waltz, slightly swaying back and forth, arms swinging. Roux turned around, smiling and boarded his boat once again and pushed off, bound for the coast of Italy, where his dearly beloved awaited his return. His part of the journey was over, but the friends he had made would stay with him for all time.