Disclaimer: I only own the Karvers, Hampton, and the HMS Lady Rose. If I owned the others, I'd be long gone from here.

Chapter Four:

Norrington sighed at his non-cooperative companion. "That was Captain Wilford Hampton of the HMS Lady Rose, wasn't it?"

Jack froze at the mention of the man's name, the deep fear that'd become part of him taking over. His hand shook and his head hung low between his shoulders, his free hand running down the left side of his face. He grimaced as it breezed over the stab wound in his cheek. His breathing had risen uncontrollably, enough for him to struggle for air.

"Sparrow?" The Commodore asked, sounding genuinely concerned. "Sparrow, are you alright?"

He made his way around the desk towards Jack, who saw him coming. He made a noise in his throat and scrambled to climb out of the chair, only to make it fall on its left side. He fell with it. A thud sounded as he hit the ground. He scrambled away from the chair, struggling to get to his feet and failing. He stared at the higher-up warily from a crouching position, as if worried he'd pounce on him.

It took the lost pirate a full five minutes to compose himself and gather enough wits to continue the conversation again. He spent another two minutes getting up, shrugging off Norrington's help when he tried to assist him. He kept his eye firmly fixed on the man as he sat the chair upright and took his place in it again.

"Yes, that's him." He had to use his left arm to keep his right arm steady when he wrote. "But I don't want to talk about it."

"Why don't you?" The Commodore asked, seeming so naive to the pirate.

He nearly slammed his fist down on the desk in disbelief. "If you were me, would you want to talk about the man who tortured you for nine days?"

"No."

"There you go."

"You've got a fair point, Sparrow." Norrington sighed. "Now, the reason I wanted to talk to you is actually because of a contract that came in several days ago. Governor Swann passed it all the way to me because he wasn't sure what to do about it himself."

"You've captured my interest. What do they want?"

"They want the heart of Davy Jones." He answered. "What I'm worried about is how to find where it's at."

"The heart of Davy Jones?"

"Yes."

"They're bloody mad." He paused to rub his face. Then he stared blankly at the parchment for a moment. "You know, I actually have a debt to him that I'll have to pay within the year, and I don't wish to get involved with him yet."

"Is that a no then?" The Commodore questioned.

"Not necessarily."

"I'm assuming you want more information?"

Jack nodded. "It'd certainly help influence my decision."

"Let's just say that if you help us, we'll help you." Norrington promised.

"How do I know you won't hang me for my past crimes instead?" He wrote after a moment of consideration.

"Because I'm a man of honor, Mr. Sparrow." The man let out an exasperated sigh. "I will keep my word, even if you are a pirate."

"You're lucky that I'm desperate then, Commodore."

"Do we have an agreement then?"

He nodded again. "We do."

"Very well then." Norrington held out his hand for him to shake.

The pirate stared at the man's hand for a moment, but then a sheepish grin covered his face. "Sorry, mate, but I'm not exactly very touchy at this moment of time."

"I'll let you get away with that just this once."

Jack let out a chuckle, which was distorted for the same reason he couldn't speak. "Shall we go meet up with the others then?"

"Actually, I was hoping we could come up with a plan now." The Commodore admitted.

"Good thing I've got one already then, eh?" He raised an eyebrow at the other man, smirking. "There's a place- I forgot what it was called- where you could wish for anything you want and get it, or a way to it. If we go there, you can wish for the location of the heart."

"Do you know how to get there?" Norrington asked.

He fumbled for something on his belt. He was surprised, yet thankful, to find that it was still there. He lifted up his compass for the other man to see.

"That compass doesn't point North." The higher-up man recalled, frowning.

Jack sighed, rolling his eyes. "It does if I wish to go North. But North isn't where we're going now, is it? All I need is this, and I promise you we'll get there."

"How long will it take?" He looked unconvinced.

"That, like all other voyages, depends on many things; the ship, the weather, the actual distance, and the possibility of coming across other ships. You get the idea." He paused for a moment. "When do you plan on departing?"

"As soon as you're in good enough health to travel." Norrington responded. "Also, I can make arrangements with Governor Swann for you and the boy to stay in his manor until the time to depart comes. Assuming you'd rather not stay in the fort."

"You're sure he won't mind pirates staying in his house?"

"Since when did you care about others' opinions, Sparrow?"

"Since my nephew and I were taken captive."

"You're related to Lord Karver?" The Commodore seemed shocked.

Jack nodded. "He's my older half brother. Stiles out there with him is his son. Not exactly the ideal family reunion, but… You're sure the governor won't mind?"

"He'll be alright, even if skeptical, once he learns you're helping us." He paused, then chuckled. "Besides, Elizabeth'll win him over if he says no."

The pirate smirked in amusement. "As long as you're certain."

*X*

"I received word from Governor Swann that you and young Mr. Karver may stay in his manor until the voyage begins." Norrington announced some time later, walking back into his office.

"Are we going over now?" Jack wrote.

"We're going in two trips." He shook his head. "I sent the Karvers along first. I believe Elizabeth'll be meeting us at the bathhouse just inside their property."

"Bathhouse?"

"You don't mean to tell me that you plan on strolling in there looking like that, do you?"

The pirate captain looked down at his bloodied, dirt covered hands and sighed. "Suppose not."

"You don't care to tell me what they did to you on your journey here, do you?" The Commodore asked.

The former captive froze for a long few moments, fear returning to him just at the mention of it. His head remained still and eye remained distant when he finally wrote: "You'll see everything you need to see when we get to the bathhouse."

Norrington didn't say anything. Jack didn't write anything else either. They sat there in a tense silence, waiting. The pirate messed with the feather of the quill, but was focused on painful memories. His eye was wide with the same fear the other man had seen earlier.

"No! GET AWAY FROM ME!" It was a harsh sound that escaped his throat.

...The slamming of his head on the hard planks of the ship's floor, followed by the blackness in his left eye.

He let out a whimper, shaking his head violently to clear the memory away. He squeezed the quill tightly, unintentionally covering his hands in the black ink.

"Sparrow? Are you alright?" The Commodore's voice startled him.

The abused man's head snapped to the left, his right eye settling on the man across the desk from him. He took a deep breath, sighing and running his left hand through his dreadlocks. He slowly returned the quill to its place on the desk. He finally nodded in response to the other's question.

"Sir, your ride is here!" A voice came from the other side of the door.

Jack froze for a moment, the man's shout reminding him of Hampton throwing insults at him.

"Thank you, Gillette." Norrington replied. He turned to his companion. "If I take those irons off of you, do you promise not to try anything?"

The pirate nodded.

"Very well then." He walked around the desk towards him. The Navy man seemed to see the latter's jaw clench, and he sighed resignedly. "Sparrow, if I wanted to hurt you, I would have by now. You can relax."

The broken man let out a breath and nodded again. I'm relaxing...now take these off if that's what you want to do.

The Commodore reached him and pulled out a set of keys. He fit one into the hole of the right cuff, twisting it. The cuff popped open, revealing the raw, cut skin of the other man's wrist. He removed the other one, setting the pair of irons on his desk as he put away his keys.

"You should have told me that those were tight." He told him as he helped him up.

His companion rolled his eyes as he rotated his wrists, returning the circulation to them.

*X*

Jack was surprised to find that it was dark outside when he and the Commodore emerged from within Fort Charles. The sound of the crickets refreshed his ears and lifted his spirits ever so slightly. That was until he saw an all too familiar face coming towards him.

"Good evening, Commodore." Wilford Hampton greeted the higher-up man with an arrogant grin. "You seem troubled. Has this rat been an issue? I can deal with him for you."

Norrington opened his mouth to retort, but the Navy captain acted first.

The man's foot connected with the pirate's bad shin, causing him to cry out and fall to his knees. The back of his head was struck with a fist several times, to the point of him collapsing on his side. An audible snap was heard as a boot met his ribcage. Another snap followed three kicks later. He moaned weakly, curling up. His exposed back was met with the same blows his ribs had received. A blood curdling scream of immense pain erupted from his lungs.

The Commodore finally launched into action after a moment of being stunned frozen. "Hey! Captain, what did I tell you about torturing prisoners?"

"I've already been paid for this one, Commodore. I have nothing to lose." Hampton retorted boastfully.

*X*

"That's it!" Norrington snapped, attempting to pull the other man back by his shoulders.

The Navy captain slammed his elbow into his attacker's ribs, spinning around and swiftly punching the man in the face. The higher-up stumbled, but tripped and met the ground before he could regain his balance. A pistol was drawn and pointed at his face.

"You made the wrong choice, Commodore." The arrogant man growled, a click sounding as he locked the weapon and prepared to fire.

"STAND DOWN, NOW!" A voice roared from across the courtyard of the fort.

The two men turned to see Gillette, musket drawn, aiming his weapon at Hampton. The Lady Rose's captain didn't react, though his eyes narrowed dangerously. Within a split second, his weapon shifted upward and fired a shot. A muffled scream of pain sounded from across the courtyard.

"GILLETTE!" Norrington bellowed, concern for his fellow soldier in his voice.

A musket shot rang out and Hampton hissed in pain, stumbling back from the fallen man before him. The Commodore leapt to his feet immediately, drawing his sword and holding it before him. He didn't turn to see who had assisted him- that was irrelevant for the moment.

"This isn't over." The Navy captain growled, clutching his wounded arm.

"Leave Port Royal immediately." The other man ordered coldly. "If you are found here in the morning and any time after, you will be shot on sight."

Hampton let out a sound of annoyance and spun around, stalking away towards the fort exit. Norrington turned to see who had assisted him. He wasn't surprised to see it was Groves. The man had put down the musket and was checking Gillette's pulse. He began to head towards the two men.

"He's still alive, sir." Groves reported, looking up at him as he approached. "Do you wish for me to fetch the doctor?"

"Yes, do that." The Commodore nodded. "And hurry."

"Very well, sir." The man got up and raced towards the fort stables.

Now alone with the unconscious Gillette, Norrington turned towards Sparrow. The abused man hadn't moved from his curled up position on the ground. He narrowed his eyes in suspicious concern for the pirate. He studied his form, half expecting him to pop his head up to see if it was safe. He didn't.

With growing apprehension, the Commodore started towards the unmoving form of the pirate captain. As he grew closer, he realized that the man really wasn't moving. He could see the heavy rise and fall of his flank as he struggled to breath with the broken ribs. Upon reaching him, the Navy man paused and looked down at him. His breathing was an audible wheezing sound. The man's eyes were closed, most likely unconscious as well. But he couldn't rule out that his eyes might just be squeezed tight in fear.

"Sparrow?" Norrington inquired, his voice full of pity. "Are you alright?"

No reaction came from the pirate.

He knelt down beside him, inspecting the man's face. He risked putting a hand on his shoulder and rolling him onto his back. He whimpered painfully, but didn't react otherwise. He was definitely unconscious. What did they do to you so that you could feel it in your sleep? He wondered, not saying it aloud.

"Sorry, Sparrow, but it seems with all the action, you'll be spending the night here." The Commodore muttered to the unconscious man. Then he called,"Mullroy! Murtogg!"

He quickly took a piece or parchment and a quill from his coat, scribbling down a short letter to the governor.

"Governor Swann,

Due to some complications at the fort, Sparrow's arrival must be delayed. Tell Lord Karver, his son, and dear Elizabeth that they may visit him over the night. Warn them that he's currently unconscious however, and refuses to speak.

Have a good rest of your night,

Commodore James Norrington"