Free From Hell.
Disclaimer: Karla is mine, but I don't own POTC!
Chapter 8: They Call Me Bootstrap.
It had been 2 days since the Black Pearl left Tortuga and Bill Turner joined the crew. Jack had been getting along well with Bill ever since. He thought he was a good man. Captain Williams and Bill had come to be like father figures to Karla and Jack. Jack had made a great friend out of Bill and he admired him a lot.
Jack was standing against the railing looking lost in his thoughts, a haunting look in his eyes. Bill strolled over next to him and sighed.
"What's wrong, lad? Something troubling ye?" Bill asked looking at Jack with sad curiosity. Jack looked at him and gave him a small smile.
"Aye, I have always wondered where me dad went. Sometimes he would just disappear for months without us knowing where he was. Now at least I finally know. He has been a ruthless, cutthroat pirate all along!" Jack said staring at the waves crashing against the Pearl's hull. Bill looked at him with sympathy in his eyes.
"If it makes ye feel any better, lad. Me dad used te be just like yer one. I don't think he was ruthless, though. And I knew that he was also once a great caring man who loved his wife and his child, the one day he just suddenly changed. Sometimes people just lose it, I be thinking." Bill said sadly. "Before he got violent, he used to call me Bootstrap Bill, cause me Ma would make me where these boots with huge straps on them and he used te make fun of me. But even now the name has stuck. Most people know me as Bootstrap anyways." He added, trying to cheer the lad up. Jack looked at him with a small grin.
"Can I call ye that too? It is kinda awesome in a way, Bootstrap?" Jack said with a small good natured laugh. Bill chuckled and nodded at Jack, glad to cheer him up a bit.
"Aye, course ye can!" He replied with a smile. Jack looked at Bootstrap with a smile and sighed worryingly again.
"I just don't understand how people can change so drastically. Me dad used to be such a good, nice gentleman! And he adore me Mamma."
Bill sighed and placed a gentle hand on Jack's shoulder." I don't really know, Jack! But ye are safe now. Sometimes things happen that nobody knows the reasons as te why. Just don't worry so much, lad. Ye'll be safe on the Pearl and fer now that's all that matters, aye?" Bill said gently. Jack smiled sadly and sighed.
"Aye, that be true! I'm going to see what Karla's doing, okay?" Jack said as he walked towards Captain Williams and Karla at the helm. Bootstrap sauntered off to get back to his duties.
"Aye, talk te ye later, lad." He replied.
Captain Williams was letting Karla hold the wheel, Him still guiding it gently as he saw Jack walking towards them.
"Aye, Jack me boy! Ye wanna learn how to steer?" He asked cheerfully. Karla giggled.
"It's really fun, Jack! Have a go!" She exclaimed happily and moved aside so Jack could have a turn. Jack smiled as he stood behind the wheel, the feel of it was amazing! This was the most free he had felt for a long time.
"Wow!" Jack laughed as Captain Williams guided him through it and the captain chuckled.
"It is an extraordinary feeling, aye?" He asked. Jack just grinned with wonderment and joy. Karla smiled at her younger brother.
"I think Jack is gonna be a great Captain one day!" She said happily. Captain Williams nodded in agreement and smiled.
"Aye that he is, Karla! That he is!"
"So are ye liking this life, lad?" Captain asked later that night as they both looked out to the blackness of the sky. Jack smiled happily.
"Aye, I do Captain! I love this freedom! It's the most wonderful feeling in the world!" He replied joyously.
An: Well here is the 8th chapter! hope you enjoyed it! please keep the reviews coming!