Thanks so much to Arquenniel, the-american-hockey-girl, and idle curiosity for reviewing!! I can't tell you how much I loved reading your responses to this story!

And to continue...

Chapter 2: Threats and Abductions

The pile of paperwork Norrington found himself trapped behind nearly reached his nose. His junior officers were helping all they could but it was nigh to impossible to get all of it done. Most of it had to be verified by Norrington anyway.

Rebellions were most inconvenient, he decided glumly. Mountains of ledgers had to be filled out to report happenings of late in Port Royal hoping to stifle any possible uprisings. Great Britain was not keen on secession in their colonies.

Feeling greatly put upon, Norrington lifted a sheet of parchment and began to write. Ink stains from so much scrawling had coated his fingers in black. Yes, he was really beginning to resent the 'Americans' for revolting.

The door creaked open and Norrington, with a mighty effort, smothered a sigh, praying it was not more paperwork. "Yes?" he inquired tiredly of a clerk.

"A Mr. Turner is here to see you."

"Send him in." Norrington threw down his quill and stood, eager for any excuse to take a break for his cramped fingers to rest even if it was the man who had taken away the perfect woman from him. A tendril of bitterness rose within his heart.

It was not that Will had disreputable character, in fact, it was quite the opposite, Will was one of the most respected men in town. It was that Elizabeth, the woman James loved, loved Turner.

He would not go voicing his resentment but it was a sore spot in his being, one that was often encountered.

Right at that moment in walked Will and Norrington straightened his stiff shoulders. "Mr. Turner, pleased to see you."

"The same to you." The younger man gave a nod in greeting.

The faint animosity between the two existed and they both felt it keenly at that moment. Norrington cleared his throat uneasily. "Please, sit down."

Will sat across from Norrington, his face an unreadable mask.

"Can I assist you in some way?"

"Yes, you can. Elizabeth and I were visited this morning by a Captain Hawthorne. He informed us that I had been selected for service in the army."

Norrington shifted his stance by a hair. He could feel a sheen of cold sweat building on his skin. "Continue."

"Sir, as I'm sure you know, Elizabeth is pregnant with our first child. I can't possibly be expected to leave."

"Mr. Turner, if you have been drafted I cannot intervene. I am a commodore not a general. I deal with the Navy. My authority does nothing in the Army."

Will leaned forward in his chair. "You mean to tell me that I am to leave Elizabeth and go to a far away land and fight in a war I know nothing about?"

"I am sorry. My hands are tied in this matter."

"Commodore Norrington," Will took another approach, "I was also told that I was highly recommended. Now you and I both know it had to have been someone high up. After all, someone with my history, helping pirates and all that, wouldn't be so sought after if someone hadn't vouched for him."

There was a long, uptight pause as Norrington ever so faintly whitened.

"You know, perhaps you were right. Perhaps I shouldn't have hoped for your assistance," Will stood, "Thank you for your time." He turned and strode towards the door but halted just before leaving and said sarcastically, "Oh, and I should also thank you for the recommendation." Then he was gone.

It was near dusk and Will had not returned. That was it for Elizabeth. She wrapped herself up in one of Will's overcoats, as it was scandalous to be in public so far along in her pregnancy, and marched down the side streets, dark by now, to the Fort.

He would have spoken with someone there. Who? She didn't know. Maybe Norrington. Maybe Gillette.

Head high and bracing herself for the heavy resistance she would receive upon entering the military establishment, she strode forward.

Yet, no one stopped her. No one even spoke with her. They shifted to the sides of the halls and pretended not to see her.

Shoving all fear away, Elizabeth tramped down the corridors until she came to Norrington's office. With a yank she jerked the door open and entered like hurricane. "James! Where is my husband?"

The response was the sound of a quill being pulled rapidly over a piece of parchment followed immediately by loud curse.

Elizabeth felt a bit apologetic seeing his reaction to her gale and lowered the volume of her tone. "James, my husband would have come to speak with you. That was at eleven this morning. Where is he?"

Norrington glanced up briefly from his work at her then returned to trying to remove the newly created blotch of ink roughly the size of a piece of eight. "He did visit earlier today. I, unfortunately, was of no assistance to him. I assume he left to speak with the Navy."

"I don't believe that was the answer to my question."

"Nor do I." Norrington's attention span was worn though and he wanted desperately to curl up and never visit the waking world again. Instead he crossed the room. Lifting a crystal decanter, he poured himself a generous portion of brandy. "I will be frank with you, Miss Swann-"

"Mrs. Turner." Elizabeth interrupted, irate that he had refused, after three years of marriage, to acknowledge her married name.

"Very well, Mrs. Turner, Will is no longer on this island or in this colony. In fact I have substantial reason to deem he is on board the Waking Power even now, sailing for the American colonies to help quench the rebellion."

Elizabeth's jaw could have hit the richly carpeted floor. "What?!"

"I'm very sorry but-"

"Do not apologize for something you are not repentant of, James!" Elizabeth's flummoxing emotions were near flooding point. "Now, where is my husband?" she asked almost lethally.

"He is gone."

Will's head felt the size of the Black Pearl and his sight swam as he regained consciousness. He eased himself to sitting position and tried to salvage some semblance of composure.

Wincing, he blinked several times to clear the fuzzy clouds obscuring his vision then strove to remember why his head pounded like someone was firing cannons inside it.

As the pummeling pain in his head receded, his memory returned...

Will strode down the halls, trying to suppress his urge to hit something. The forge had always done that for him. Whenever he was cross he went to pounding away at the heated metal but that was impossible now.

He had given his word to straighten this mess out and he always kept his word, no matter the cost.

He didn't know where he was headed, really. He had a vague idea he should head for the Governor's. But as fate would have it he ended up almost running right into none other than Captain Hawthorne.

"Ah, I see you've returned. Excellent. The Waking Power is ready to sail as soon as we board." He didn't notice or chose to ignore the glare settling on Will's tanned face.

"Captain, I don't know why I was chosen for this, as I have no military knowledge, but I cannot be forced to serve."

"Indeed."

"I was just on my way to the Governor's to speak with him about this very matter. I am sorry to disappoint but I will not be joining you in the colonies."

"Oh, I think you will."

Will's frown deepened. "I beg your pardon?"

"Mr. Turner, I have done some...research, shall we say, on your background." The captain lifted several sheaves of paper then began to read off a list marked on the top page. "William Edward Turner II born to William and Anna Turner in England, June 25, 1755. Father left in May of 1760 as a merchant sailor. Mother died of unknown illness, November of 1767."

"I fail to see the point of all this." Will interrupted at the mention of his mother's death.

"You will, Mr. Turner, if I may continue?"

Will didn't see any other choice as the Captain was blocking the passage to the door.

Taking the silence as acquiescence, he continued, "Let's skip a bit ahead, shall we? July of 1775, sailed with notorious pirate Jack Sparrow." Hawthorne looked up pointedly.

"I was granted clemency by Governor Swann," was the curt response.

"Yes, for participating in piracy. But shortly thereafter you contrived an escape attempt for Sparrow. A failed attempt. Yet you were never arrested."

Here, Hawthorne waved the papers tauntingly in front of Will. "I have the information right here that could send you and your wife to the gallows."

Will's hands curled into fists. It was obvious that the man wanted something from him. The question of what, worried and angered him. "What do you want?"

"For the time being, all I want is for you to board the Waking Power, travel to the colonies, and fight."

That sounded simple enough. Too simple. Why would they go through so much trouble to delve into his past just to get another able soldier? "You are lying." He said bluntly. After all, there was no need to gloss over the truth.

Hawthorne's lips quirked. "Quite right. I must say I'm impressed Turner. I didn't think you to be so clever."

A smart reply popped immediately to mind but Will had no chance to say it as a hard object came in contact with his head and he was thrust into darkness.

A hand fell on his shoulder and jostled him firmly. "Oi! Lad! Wake up!"

Will felt like socking whoever it was. "I am already." He shoved the two burly hands away and rolled into a sitting position. His eyesight was still foggy and he had to wait several minutes for the wide face of a man with crinkly blue eyes staring at him.

"Must a' had some strong liquor to give ya a hangover like that one." He laughed, apparently thinking Will's bleary glare extremely amusing.

"I don't drink."

At this the man laughed even harder. "If'n you don't drink than I'm a honest man." He roared in mirth. "That's liquor spilled down your shirt if'n I ever saw it."

Will's eyes fell to the white, cotton shirt he wore. A large amber stain coated the front. It reeked of brandy or another strong alcoholic beverage. What could he say to refute that? The proof was right there yet he hadn't taken a sip of the foul stuff.

"Cap'n wants ever'body on deck."

TBC...