"Your father's alive." Marti and Ana Maria both set foot on deck just in time to hear the words that would change Will Turner's life forever. Marti was just about to turn on her heel and go right back where she came from but Ana Maria stuck out an arm to stop her. Will glanced at them, and went back into his apparent state of shock. Then he turned on Marti.
You knew about this," He said, "You knew all the time we were at Port Royale, and all the time we were on that pathetic boat of yours," Marti put up her hands,
"Easy mate, I were just followin' orders." She said, backing away slightly. Jack stepped in front of Will, his hands up in the same way as Marti's.
"She's right Will, I made her swear not to tell you, not to breathe a word…"
"But why?" Elizabeth interfered, seeing the sense of betrayal in Will's eyes.
"If young William knew before 'and how could I be sure of 'im comin' here?"
"You couldn't." Will said. Jack saw how his words were affecting Will. He looked to Elizabeth, who had all the sorrow in her eyes of seeing the man she loved in so much pain. Will pushed past Jack and went down the gangplank into the streets of Tortuga. Jack looked set to go after him but Elizabeth stopped him.
"Don't, Jack," She said, "You've said enough." Elizabeth disappeared off deck. Ana Maria, Marti and Gibbs stepped out into view. Jack looked at them all.
"Don't pretend any of you expected less." He said, walking away.
Jack went to his cabin. He opened the glass drinks cabinet and selected a bottle. He started to pour the rum into a glass, then stopped and looked at it. He threw the glass down so that it shattered, and sat down in his chair so hard that the cutlery on the table shook, then began to down the bottle.
Marti stood outside the door to Jack's cabin. She knew it wouldn't be locked, but she felt like she just couldn't open it. Perhaps that was the idea the Captain was going for.
She knocked lightly. But there was no answer. She knocked again, louder, and still no answer. She suddenly felt worried and pushed the door open.
"Jack?" She looked around the room.
"Don't you worry yourself about me luv," A deep voice said from the depths of the Captain's great arm chair. "I haven't drunken meself into his locker yet."
"Jack…"
"Don't you be sayin' anythin' you don't be meanin Teeny," Jack said, "I know it was me idea, and I know you were only following orders."
"But if I hadn't…"
"Then you'd have ignored a direct order." Jack stood up, and wobbled, only slightly. "You did right."
"Right." Jack put a hand on her shoulder.
"You did right." He said again, "And William will agree. He will. The lad's just… he's thought his father was dead for so long."
"So have we." Marti said, indignantly. "It's not of if he ever really knew Bill. He thought his father was a respectable merchant. We're coping pretty well with it, so he hasn't got an excuse."
"We knew, know the real Bill Turner, Will has no idea what to expect." Marti sighed,
"Jack, you make more sense when you're drunk than you do when you're sober."
"That's because luv, when I'm sober… When am I sober?"
Elizabeth sat with her legs dangling over the edge of the ship, staring out into the streets. In daytime, Tortuga looked almost civilised. This was because until the evening, everyone was sleeping off the previous nights exploits. Ana Maria approached and joined her. She didn't say anything, but instead waited for Elizabeth to speak first.
"Do you think he's alright?" She asked.
"Your husband managed to stay alive when Barbosa wanted him dead. I'd say that Tortuga would be a walk in the docks." Like other pirates, Ana Maria always said what she was thinking. But unlike most pirates, what she thought was actually quite sensible. She was very different to Marti, who often said things she shouldn't, and without concern for other people's feelings. "Besides, he's your husband. Do you believe he will come back to the ship?"
"Oh, I believe he will," Elizabeth said, with a slight laugh which lacked humour in every way. "I just don't know when." Neither of them spoke for a moment. Elizabeth felt strange, having this conversation. She hardly knew Ana Maria at all. And the last time they met, they had spent their time having 'differences of opinion' and Elizabeth had spent a great deal of time ordering her about, which, although it worked at the time, she hadn't been all too happy about. "Did you ever meet Will's father?"
"Not once," She said, "I didn't meet Captain Sparrow until after he lost the Pearl, and Barbosa had disposed of Bill Turner before I had the pleasure of meeting him."
"Then Jack was the only one?"
"Marti knew him, or knows him quite well. And Mr Gibbs… well, I know they've met. There have been a lot of questions floating around about him since we found out." Elizabeth had not taken her eyes of the main street of the town of Tortuga since they started talking.
"How did you all find out?" She asked.
"We- hmm," Elizabeth regarded Ana Maria, who looked unsure of what the answer was, "We… Jack told me. The crew was so shocked at the time, and then we were attacked by a French merchant ship,"
"Attacked by a merchant ship?"
"Well, it was foggy… and it didn't see us, and then it almost hit us, and then,"
"Do I really want to know?"
"I'm a pirate, lady," Ana Maria said, "It's in the job description. But, after that we came here, and there were stories floating around about Bootstrap Bill Turner being alive. People had seen him, and told others, and… then we sent word to Marti because we knew she was in Jamaica, to come and fetch you. The Pearl could not exactly turn up in Port Royale. But Marti had never been to Port Royale, and we knew she wouldn't be recognised." Elizabeth had realised that the reason she was feeling out of place in the whole situation because she was out of place. Every one else had a connection, but she… she wasn't a pirate, she hadn't known Will's father, and most of all, she was an well bred English Lady, from a well established English family. Her thoughts were interrupted when she spotted her husband in the distance. She stood up, catching Ana Maria off guard. She looked set to run to meet him, and started to, but then turned back,
"Ana Maria," She said, pausing, "Thank you." Ana Maria smiled and gave her a nod. Elizabeth turned away to meet her husband.
Way hey! Another chapter up, done and dusted, although, I hate to say that I'm already planning the end! Don't worry though, you have plenty more to read, about 20 chapters into the future is where I am at the moment!
New reviewer! PED Sarah, thank you very much! And in answer to your question, I have removed all of my previous stories and only have this one going at the moment. I did not know what was going to happen with the others and just made it up as I went along, and usually this stopped me from taking any risks so I just ended up with a load of mushy Mary Sue stories, *cringe!* So this time I brainstormed the story, and the characters. I know exactly what is going to happen, but my ending is still a bit fuzzy. But of course, in time I'm sure you'll find out for yourself! I'm very glad you're enjoying the story, and I hope others are too, although they aren't reviewing!!! Hint hint peeps!
As for the rest of ye, what d'ya think you're playin' at eh? Where's me reviews mates?
Hope to hear from you guys soon,
Savvy Z