14. All Hands, All Together

Disclaimer: Thank you to my reviewers!! I hope you're liking the story so far. If you have any suggestiosn for anything feel free to make a review and I'll give you credit in the story. I don't own anything except my story line and my characters.

I am lying on my mat surrounded by pirates smoking opium when I suddenly see Jack's face above my head.

"Can I speak with you, please, dahling?" Jack asks through clenched teeth. I roll my eyes and sit up.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," I say as I stand up from the mat and move outside with Jack.

"What d' ye think yer doing?!" he exclaims once we're both outside.

"I don't know Jack—you tell me! I'm doing exactly what you're doing!" I retort angrily.

"I…I am NOT doin' what yer doing!" He replies, pointing inside at the pirates.

"You're right—forgive me. I'm consorting with pirates and you're consorting with whores. Forgive me, my bad. You're more in the wrong than I am!" I yell back at him.

"Am…m…not!" he stutters, knowing he's wrong.

"Jack, if you consorting with wenches isn't supposed to bother me, because 'it's Singapore'" I mock, "then me consorting with other pirates shouldn't bother you," I reply, turning to go back inside.

Jack grabs my arm and spins me around, "Okay, fine, it bothers me!" he gives in.

"And why is that?" I ask, wanting a full apology from him as I cross my arms in front of myself.

"Because the mere thought of you being with someone else is unbearable and actually seeing you with other men makes me wanna go back t' Davy Jones's Locker," Jack blurts out quickly. He pauses for a moment and looks at me through dark eyes. He appears vulnerable to me so I take his hand in mine.

"And how do you think it made me feel seeing you with all those beautiful girls surrounding you?" I ask, my voice softer now, "because saying 'it's just Singapore' won't cut it, Jack"

"Pretty much the same, I'm sure," he replies quietly.

"Yeah," I reply with narrow eyes.

"I'm sorry dahling," he responds.

"Good," I reply with a small laugh, "me too,"

"Well you don't need t' be sorry—I know you were just doin' it t' get back at me," he replies with a grin and a flash of golden teeth.

"Oh was I?" I ask, returning his sly grin as I turn and go to walk inside.

"Luv! Ye were just trying t' get back at me, right? You didn't really want the attention of all those pirates, did you?!" He chases after me into the tavern.

0 0 0

The next day we all awaken and meet downstairs in the tavern. The mats and women are all gone from the night and there are tables and chairs for us all to sit in. Jack takes a seat next to me and then stands when everyone is present.

"Now ye all probably think we're goin' t' be on the island," Jack begins, "and many of you will need to remain with the ship in the harbor to make sure it stays in the harbor," his voice is strong and with purpose. "However, this is not true,"

"I don't understand, Captain," Marty exclaims.

"Alright you scurvy dogs, listen up!" Jack commands, "It's goin' to be a difficult trek rescuing Norrington, but it can be done,"

"Rescue Norrington?" Elizabeth and I both ask in unison, both of us equally surprised at this new information.

"I thought you said James was residing here in Singapore," Will states with anger in his voice.

"Ah, right, 'residing' 'rescuing'—such similarly spelled words. Did I say residing? I meant rescuing!" Jack replies with a smirk.

"If I had known there was going to be a rescue involved I wouldn't have made the journey," Will states firmly.

"Well maybe that's why I told ye residing—because oh look! Here you are," Jack replies with wide eyes. Will just averts his gaze from Jack, knowing that Jack has twisted his words in the past. Will feels like a fool for believing Jack—that this would be just a simple venture to Singapore.

"Jack, I can't believe you didn't tell me Norrington needed to be rescued!" I respond incredulously.

"Like I said, dahling—" Jack begins.

"I know, there's a lot I don't know about you. Well how can I learn about you if you lie to me?!" I respond angrily.

"Hush now, dahling. Not now. It's not going to be difficult getting bloody Norrington back. He's with an old acquaintance of Sao Feng," Jack explains.

"Well apparently not a very good acquaintance of Sao Feng if he's being held prisoner!" Will retorts, still upset at the matter at hand.

"Aye, but Sao Feng and I were acquaintances and he most definitely would have held me prisoner," Jack responds, a quick memory flashing through his mind as he averts his gaze upwards from the table.

"So how did this happen, Jack?" Elizabeth asks, calmly.

"Norrington was revived by Calypso, as I told ye before we came on this venture. Well, I had been searching for the Pearl, since Barbossa had taken it again from me," Jack glares at Ragetti and Pintel who just look at each other and shrug, "and I ran into Norrington on me way to Singapore. He offered to help me get the Pearl back because he had seen where Barbossa had sailed. Together, Norrington and meself sailed after the Pearl and the two of us captured her,"

"It was really quite a spectacle!" Ragetti chimes in. Jack just shoots him a glare and he sinks back down in his seat.

"Now, our task at hand was to find Barbossa a ship—which was part of the bargain we made. We sailed to Singapore and commandeered a grand British Navy ship that was docked in the harbor for Barbossa. As we sailed the enormous vessel out to sea, a battled ensued between us and Sao Feng's rival captain, Captain Dao Yun Ching. Now, Captain Dao Yun Ching was always an angry force against Sao Feng because he became the pirate Lord of Singapore, and not him. This rivalry and tension ensued for many years and when he had recently heard of the battle we all fought in as pirate Lords against Beckett, he was overjoyed to hear of Sao Feng's death. He felt that because of Sao Feng's death, he would be renamed Pirate Lord of Singapore in his stead. Of course, we all learn of this information as we are tied up on his ship. I am just about to bargain my way out of said defeat when bloody Norrington mentions that Sao Feng named Elizabeth Swann and Lindsey Ferrara pirate Lords of Singapore at his death. This of course, enrages Dao Yun Ching and in his bitter anger, takes Norrington aboard his ship and lets us all go free—me on the Pearl and Barbossa on his Navy vessel. As he left with Norrington, he said something about wanting to find you both," he gestures to me and Elizabeth, "kill you and take your places in the Brethren Court as Pirate Lord of Singapore. He is using Norrington as his tool to find you both,"

"So this is really why we're on this journey then, not the Jade Flute?" I ask, glancing over at Matt.

"No—we're really goin' t' find the Jade Flute because Captain Dao Yun Ching is the one who possesses the Jade Flute. Once we find him and rescue Norrington, we kill Dao Yun Ching, take the flute and Norrington and get the bloody heck outta Singapore," Jack states with a few hand gestures.

"How do we even know Captain Dao Yun Ching is even in Singapore if he's searching for Lindsey and Elizabeth?" Will asks.

"Because of a little friend of ours, who happens to know Dao Yun Ching's whereabouts," Jack states as he gestures to the doorway. Barbossa is standing in the door holding Jack the monkey.

"Aye—I be knowin' Dao Yun Ching's location because I be followin' him as he searches aimlessly fer ye two lasses," Barbossa states as he walks over to the table. A smile crosses our faces as he stands next to Jack. The two of them are a pirate sight to be seen as they lay out their maps and addresses us all in their pirate lingo. Matt squeezes my leg and smiles at me in excitement. I smile back and grab his hand as they plan out our venture aboard the Pearl and Barbossa's new flagship, the Devil's Majesty.

Once the plans are all laid out for us, Barbossa orders his crew inside the tavern and we split up who will be going on which ship—which I feel is stupid and superfluous when we already have tow crews, but Barbossa insists.

"Jack, ye needn't Pintel and Ragetti," Barbossa coaxes as he motions for them to join his crew. They nervously walk to Barbossa's side of the tavern.

"Then I take…those two!" Jack points to Murtogg and Mullroy. They both shuffle over to Jack's side.

"I be thinkin' this is fine fer now," Barbossa states.

"Fine with me," Jack replies with a grumble to his voice.

"Oh, maybe I should be takin' Miss Swann again," Barbossa jests, "er, Mrs. Turner," he corrects himself as he catches her glare.

"Barbossa, I'm staying wherever Will is," she replies with a smile.

"Fine, be it that way," he replies with a grin, "and who be this?" he gestures to Matt, standing beside me.

"This is my best friend, Matt," I speak loudly, "Matt, this is Captain Hector Barbossa,"

"A pleasure t' be meetin' ye, Matthew," Barbossa greets Matt with a slight bow.

"Same to you, Captain," Matt replies nervously.

"So I take it Matthew will be remaining on yer ship, then, Jack…unless I vouch t' take Lindsey aboard me new ship," Barbossa teases.

"Belay that! Lindsey stays on the Pearl—as does Matt and the Turners…oh I like that!" he says with a smile as he turns to Will and Elizabeth who both smile back.

"Alright alright, Jack. Let's make way then! Captain Dao Yun Ching is only sailin' further as we wag tongues," Barbossa exclaims.

"All hands to the Pearl!" Jack orders.

"All ye muttons—t' the Devil's Majesty!" Barbossa hollers. Everyone inside the tavern scurries out the door and runs for the harbor—each side boarding their ship.

"So, Jack—how d' ye like bein' back in Singapore? Must be bringin' back some fond memories!" Barbossa asks as he wraps an arm around Jack's shoulders.

"As long as I don't run into any old friends, I'll be fine," Jack replies with an anxious grin.

"Old friends or old lovers?" Barbossa asks with a snicker.

"Hector—not now," Jack replies, glancing around to see if I'm anywhere to be found.

"I take it you've not told her?" Barbossa asks as they exit the tavern. Jack spots me and Matt walking towards the harbor, both of us laughing at something.

"Not entirely," Jack responds, gazing at me through debating eyes.

"Well, I know it's none o' me business, but if yer wantin' this little romance t' NOT end up like yer other serious one, I'd tell 'er…and I'd tell 'er soon," Barbossa advises Jack before they part ways onto their ships.

Jack nods his head in agreement and heads for the Pearl.