Chapter 2 loyalties

James fell exhausted onto his cot and lay there for a few moments before he heard his brother's usual loud footsteps coming down the hall. It had not been a good day. He had fallen out of the rigging when a particularly large wave had hit the Pearl and landed on the railing, a very painful experience but he was not given the gift of a break because they were already shorthanded.

"Mental case," He heard Jack mumble as he came in the room and also jumped into his cot. "He is really pushing it this time,"

"Its okay," James mumbled closing his eyes. His head still hurt.

"No its not, you'd think after you passing out and not remembering where the hell you were, would let him have reason to let you have the day off." Jack continued, his rage getting stronger.

It was true; James hadn't remembered where he was, or who the people standing over him were. Not until Captain Sparrow came up and barked for him to get up. Jack Sparrow looked the same as James had always known him, which was a little too odd for his liking.

"Let it go," He mumbled to Jack who was still fuming. "He is Captain."

"And you're a wuss!" His brother yelled throwing a pillow at him.

"You have no respect for authority," James said sitting up and glaring at Jack.

Jack backed down immediately and frowned. "I'm a pirate, that's what we do."

James shook his head and lay down again feeling as though he was going to die. His heart was suddenly pounding and he didn't know what was wrong.

"James?" Jack asked after a moment getting off his cot and moving closer to his brother.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," James lied rolling onto his stomach.

Jack knew his brother well enough to know when he was lying but if he was lying Jack knew it was something he didn't want to talk about.

"Goodnight," Jack said taking off his sweaty shirt and lying down on his cot once more.

"Night," Came a mumbled reply as James slipped off to sleep.

James's sleep was anything but restful, he kept dreaming of the night his father gave up on life; the night Will's overburdened life drove him into a depression that he never recovered from.

"Jack?" James asked.

"Hmph?" Jack replied.

"What do you think he's doing right now?"

Jack immediately opened his eyes and turned to look at his twin. Jack knew James was talking about their father.

"Why are you thinking about that?" He asked a little taken back, they never talked about him.

"I was dreaming about that day when Christine took us to the Black Pearl, when he finally lost it." James explained looking up at the ceiling.

"Why?"

"Yesterday, when I became conscious, for a moment I thought I was on the Constance again, and I had no idea who you were or where Alaina was, or why he and Alaina weren't watching over us like hawks like they used to because they didn't trust-" James stopped then because he couldn't continue, just thinking about his sister and his father made a lump form in his throat.

Jack was silent for a long time, there wasn't a day that went by that he didn't think about the life they used to have and wish he could have it back. So what if they didn't have a mother? Their father had been sane, vacant but loving when he was with them, Alaina had been alive and Christine helped fill the void that their mother had left. That life had its severe flaws but it was better then the hell they lived now.

"Probably still asleep," Jack said after he could find his voice.

James nodded. "Is it wrong that I don't hate him?"

Jack felt his eyes begin to sting with oncoming tears.

"No," He answered finally after he had himself under control. "He put up with a lot of shit, more then I could have ever dealt with, to be honest, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did."

"I think losing his business finally did him in," James said.

Jack was just silent. Their entire world had been shattered when she died, she had been her father's supporter, his business partner, his friend, she had been their mother, sister, friend, and the one who could always cheer things up. When she died, a big part of Will died too, but having his business stolen was the final straw.

"Grant's going to pay for what he did, don't worry." Jack told his twin.

"I'm not," James assured. "He's going to regret the day he ever heard the name Turner."

Jack nodded and they both lay in their cots silently thinking of how they were going to get revenge.

"I guess we should go up on deck now," Jack said finally. James nodded in agreement and they both stood up and stretched before changing and heading out. The two shared a look as they stood out in the sunshine, a look that they had shared for years, and both knew that their pain was the same and that neither had to deal with it alone.