The Gift

Chapter 15: Diatonic

Setting: Post POTC 3

Characters: Norrington/ OFC

Author's note: So my beta is in Denver stuck in the blizzard! Forging on without her…BTW I'm also up dating this story at my livejournal account lyralupin. It's a bit neater over there is you want to friend me. Cheers! L

Dawn broke aboard the Falcon as Admiral Norrington stood on the front most bow contemplating the beauty of the rising sun; the pinks, yellows and amber hues stretching in the morning light, pushing away the blue night sky. But he could feel no joy in the day's dawning, because self- doubts plagued his mind and his heart.

In the distance, a bell rang.

"Sir, shall I take this watch? You've been up all night." Theodore added with gentle prodding.

The winter wind rustled around them as Norrington asked, "What if we're too late? What if the letter is…" He couldn't finish his words as the thought sickened him.

"James," Theodore clasped his hands tightly behind his back and leaned in closely. "I can not speak for Miss Gagliano, for only you know her heart, but I swear to you, Andrew Gillette would rather die than betray you. You are brother, father and friend to him and he would follow you-- has followed you," he corrected himself, "to the ends of the earth."

Norrington looked down and sighed, "I know it is most unfair to doubt him. No, Theodore, what I doubt most is myself." The last part he added very quietly. "If I lose Lucy then I fear I shall go back to that dark place… that place I was after the hurricane, after Elizabeth. A state of mind that's such a black abyss that it drove me to the bottle, it drove me to Tortuga …to utter madness."

His green eyes turned far out to sea, "I never wish to know that kind of despair again..."

The chilling sea wind whistled around them with foreboding. "I wonder are those demons really gone or have I just pushed them further down into my soul and they will spring back up at the first moment of tragedy. I've never doubted my character in battle or with my men, but" he chuckled sadly, "I'm afraid I doubt the strength of my own heart."

Grove was astonished at James' words as he wasn't use to hearing self-doubt in the Admiral's voice. "You will never go there again, James."

His jaw set hard, "If we don't find Andrew and Lucy then you will go on…" Then he added hesitantly, "and you will love again. You have been so fortunate to make a match of love and that's only because you are capable of loving and that trait of character never fades."

Norrington pursed his lips, his jaw twitched. Yes, he did love, but it was not returned, she had made that clear. He knew Groves meant his words to be comforting, but his mind strove into the darkness anyway and he wondered if he was somehow he was unworthy of loving. He wondered what flaw of character he possessed that made him so undesirable that no woman could give him her heart. Was he only to ever know a woman's body, and not her soul?

"Thank you, Captain Groves." Turning quickly on his heel, "The watch is yours."

"Sir," Groves saluted staunchly, wondering what he had said wrong.

Lucy and Andrew were once again shackled and hauled up to the deck. The pirates encircled them snarling and laughing; pulling at Lucy's skirts.

"Don't let them see you fret, Lucy. You'll be fine. They won't disobey their captain."

Within a moment, Barbossa meandered into view, a thick wad of tobacco between his lips. "I'm afraid Captain; this is where our journey comes to an end."

He nodded his plumed hat toward the port of Santa Marta.

"I must say, it was only somewhat pleasurable." His purple lips smirked.

Gillette reddened, "I am afraid I can not return that compliment, Barbossa."

"Captain Barbossa, if you please," he said as his sword, swished up from its sheath and flicked against the shinny buttons of Andrew's waist coat.

"And now, Miss Lucy, I'll be needing return of that dress." The sword moved now between her breasts and then lower, cutting the stays of the bodice.

Lucy cringed and Barbossa laughed roughly. "A shame, my dear, a true shame that we didn't get to know one another," then leaning closer, his yellow eyes wide, "In the biblical sense, that is."

She jerked her head away from him as he continued to cut her stays, the pirate crew chanting and singing with a mocking laughter.

"I suppose during your, well, lifetime—how ever long that might be picking coffee beans on mother's plantation, Captain Gillette, you might do the honor of," and he said the last part very loudly for the enjoyment of the crew, "the honor of riding Miss Gagliano of her prudish ways and her virginity."

Lucy flushed a deep red and Gillette turned his head away in disgust. The crowd of dirty sailors cheered again.

The sword moved to Gillette's britches and played at his buttons. "Perhaps, we should insist on a demonstration of that now!"

Another loud cheer from the pirate deck.

"Stop this buggery at once Barbossa! We have done as you have asked, now put us at port." Andrew insisted.

Barbossa lowered his sword, and grabbed Lucy, giving her a deep throaty kiss. Upon his releasing her, she turned promptly and vomited. The crew laughed.

Mrs. Gravely now appeared. "Come Captain Barbossa, we're ready to go ashore."

"Alright, cappie. I shall acquiesce to your request." The Captain of the Golden Bones snarled.

God bless Mrs. Gravely, Andrew prayed to whatever god might listen.

Aboard The Falcon:

"Yes, it's Lucy and Andrew. I can't believe it! How did Barbossa ever get them?" Groves looking through his own spy glass with astonishment. Norrington stood next to him, his eye to his glass as well.

"Dear God, if they toss them over, we'll never be quick enough to save them." He collapsed his glass, "We should hoist colors and make ready the guns."

"Wait sir, look! They're putting them over into a jolly boat. I think they mean to take them to shore."

Norrington pulled back out his glass. "Yes, I believe you're right, Captain... God lord, look on shore Groves."

Groves gasped, "Spanish slavers!"

Then Theodore moved his glass a half inch to the left, "That's a fine pair of cannons on West bank. If we take them at the harbor mouth, we'd be out of range of the those long nines and have a much better chance of gaining victory as well as a sweet prize."

"Groves, the command is yours, take them at the harbor mouth. I will take a jolly boat to shore with Lieutenant Mowett and four men. We'll row back out to you when we have Gillette and Miss Gagliano."

"Aye, sir."

"While we are covertly rescuing Miss Gagliano and Gillette, you shall take the Golden Bones and if you can keep her out of the way of the canons, keep her as a prize. I believe Lieutenant Aubrey would make a fine captain, but of course, that is up to you."

Groves was smiling immensely. "I agree as well, sir."

"Now, I have a date with Scruffington… Direct me to one of your men that might be of my same height."

Grove had difficulty stifling a laugh, "Scruffington, sir? How did you know that we called you such during those dark times?"

"I may have had a mind to the bottle and my face in pigsty, Groves, but I wasn't deaf." Norrington replied with very proper English gentlemen airs.

"No. but you were extremely stinky!" Groves laughed and added. "Thank goodness Andrew didn't need to give you a cuddle then."

Norrington smiled pleasantly, eyes diverted. "Thank you for reminding me of both, Theodore."

"Aye, Admiral." The captain saluted with a smile.