Fic: The War Within

Rating: M
Characters: Elizabeth/Jack Elizabeth/Will
Chapter Title: Re-negotiation
Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. Disney does, no money being made off this.
Summary: Captain Elizabeth Swann, Pirate Lord and King. Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirate Lord, lecherous pirate, son of the Keeper of the Code. What will happen on the eve of battle. JE. Reviews welcome.

Author's note: I apologise for the delay in posting. Here is a small tidbit…

"There you go Jack."

Barbossa handed Jack a peanut. As Jack the monkey gnawed at the peanut he held in his paw, Barbossa stroked him absently, his gaze falling to the other pirate ships surrounding the Black Pearl. He noted the tension in the air. Barbossa turned his eyes to across the water, where the Endeavour, the Flying Dutchman and their armada of East India Trading Company militia ships sat, also waiting. He eyed the large number of ships waiting to take them all down.

The muscles in his right cheek twitched as his frustration and ire mounted. He was damned if he was going to wait for them to decide his fate on his seas.

Barbossa turned his head quickly back to the decks of the Black Pearl. His eyes jerked from one side to the other, glowering suspiciously at everyone, one eye twitching. The pirates on the decks were looking out over the railing, sitting down sharpening their weapons of choice or were just quietly talking amongst themselves. Satisfied for the time being that nothing was amiss, Barbossa swung back to his monkey. His mouth curved into a small grin, yellowed teeth showing. "Won't be long now will it Jack?" he crooned to the small monkey. Jack chattered back at him.

Barbossa was quite satisfied that things were turning out the way he had pictured them. He felt rather smug about outsmarting Jack like that and Elizabeth too. They played right into his hands.

"Calypso…" he practiced in a low voice as he tickled Jack the monkey's chin. "I release you…"

Barbossa turned his head sharply to see if anyone was listening, his distrustful gaze squinting over anyone close to his proximity. He noted that they were either too far from him, or that they tended to give Barbossa a wide berth. He smirked and his eyes were bright from the knowledge that many still feared him.

Barbossa heard a sudden clatter from below the quarterdeck, a door slam shut, followed by a bottle smashing against a wall – or door – and footsteps running down steps. He raised his eyebrows at Gibbs who was nearby.

Gibbs shrugged, mystified.

Barbossa jerked his head toward the sound, motioning for Gibbs to find out when Ragetti's scruffy blond head came into view. He scampered up the steps, his single eye nervously ticking as he sought out Barbossa.

Barbossa leered and negligently beckoned the young man to come to him. Gulping, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously in his throat, the tall, lanky man walked to the fearsome Captain. Ragetti's steps were reminiscent of a rat, scurrying forward, and eager to impart his ill-found news.

Barbossa stayed focused on Jack the monkey as Ragetti sidled up to his side. The blond man leant down slightly before whispering in Barbossa's ear. Barbossa's hand paused momentarily before reaching up to stroke Jack once more.

"Did ye manage to stow it away like I said?"

Ragetti gulped. "Yes," he replied, his one eye shifting nervously from side to side. "Yes. It's hidden careful like. Jus' like you told us to. Pintel's keepin' an eye on it."

Barbossa handed Jack another peanut. "He'd best be keeping a close eye on it if he knows what's good for him."

Ragetti nodded. "Oh aye, he's sitting on top of the barrel that's hiding it. Thought it best that way. No-one'd be the wiser that it be hidden in there, and nobody'd pick it up accidental like." Ragetti stopped for a moment. He looked liked he had more to say. He nervously moved his weight from foot to foot, his hands wringing together. "Just' another thing…theys had a fight I think, down below," he whispered to Barbossa.

"Hmmm…" replied Barbossa noncommittally. He held the last peanut out to Jack, who grabbed it in his paws, chattered once and then scampered off. Barbossa brushed his hands together before looking at Ragetti out of the corner of his eye.

"What else was said inside me cabin?"

"Well, there was an awful lot of silence – for a while – but then it sounded like Jack was needlin' Cap'n Swann and then he left like the very devil was after him. He headed down below – maybe he needed to see Tia Dalma – but whatever it was, he weren't too happy about it."

Barbossa nodded.

Ragetti continued, his nervousness disappearing as Barbossa listened on. "He accused her of murderin' hisself, and then being a wench."

Barbossa's mouth lifted as his eyes gleamed with happy thoughts. 'Ah Jack – thought you were so good with the ladies.' All was not well with the two Pirate Lords. All the better for him to step up and take leadership. Aloud he said "His graciousness is only half as gracious as meself. Jack could not be so forgiving towards the young Miss for his rather early demise. Perhaps Jack has seen the folly of his ways and will be open to re-negotiation."

Ragetti grinned widely. "hehe…yea… re-negotiation…" he nodded along. Then he stopped. "Re-negotiation of wot?"

"Re-negotiation," Barbossa's leer literally beamed at the blond man, causing him to sidle quickly away from the older pirate, "re-negotiation – the pirate way."

More chapters to come... feel free to review... TJ