Seven Sins of a Dying Sparrow
Cause Every Dog Has Its Day
Like every woman, she gets her own way
And if there's a ship that sails tonight
I'll captain that too, just to be there with you
Flogging Molly-Every Dog Has it's Day
Disclamier: Don't own the song Or Pirates.(cries
Chapter one: Propriety and Isabelle Saves Jack
It was sad actually.
Captain Jack Sparrow was currently sitting alone in the dirty, smelly, dimly lit and very uncomfortable prison of Port Royal. He was sitting on the ground and his back leaning against the stone wall his right leg against his chest and his left extended before him and his beloved tri-corn hat tipped over his eyes. He had been there for at least two hours with no visitors not even the Commodore to rub in his misfortune of being caught.
Captain Jack Sparrow in short ladies and gentlemen was bored.
"Bloody stupid propriety." Grumbled Jack to no one in particular but Jack was quite used to having one-sided conversations.
Captain Jack Sparrow had only one thing in mind when he returned three years after his first escape from Port Royal and that was simply to ask Elizabeth's father for her hand in marriage.
In an odd turn of events (not fixed or premeditated by Jack), Elizabeth had followed him to Tortuga and had asked to join up with the crew, free of special treatment. When asked why such an interest when she should be off planning a wedding, Elizabeth stated "And live a life with out freedom are you mad Jack?"
Instead what he what he learned while she was aboard was how to love.
It was a very different love from what he had for his ship, his hat and rum. The love he felt for her was all consuming and she made him want to be a better man. Not that he would give up piracy but he doubted he ever would because he knew she enjoyed the life despite the hard ships of the life as much as he did.
Maybe that was why he fell in love with her; her sprit was just like his, their blood craved adventure, the threat of death at every turn, the rush of a successful raid and the call of the sea to take them to new places.
Elizabeth was fierce and beautiful, full of spark and sensitive all at once. She was in fact quite a woman. In any case they had been together for almost three years and now for whatever reason he knew he wanted to do at least one respectable thing in his usually unlawful life and get married.
At least her father was compliant on the matter of course Jack was amazed on how scary Governor Swann could be…
"Jack Sparrow!" the governor jumped up from his chair by the fire place, his wig going askew and grabbing the fireplace poker that was near him, raised at the ready. Jack still a bit wet from rowing a leaky row boat was tracking mud prints on the expensive Persian rug, Jack held up his grimy hands in surrender one clutching his beloved hat.
"It's Captain Jack Sparrow if you please and, no worries mate I mean no harm, at this time." Jack answers patently and the governor's shocked features take on grave ones as he realizes that Jack Sparrow is standing in his office but his daughter is not. A terror rips though his heart as a cutlass through skin.
"Elizabeth!" the governor's grip on the poker slackens and Jack waves of his worries before striding near the governor.
"She's safe, and by now, no doubt bloody enraged at me for leaving her in Tortuga with the company of Cotton and Ana-Maria. Not to mention, not telling her where I was going in the first place." Jack explains and then his ever fluttering hands fall to his sides; lifeless, this gesture is a sure sign that Captain Jack Sparrow is nervous yet this is lost on the governor.
"Well then I am glad to hear that, and most likely my daughter will be inclined to give you a thrashing as I would have loved to see her…what are you doing here?" The governor asked after the news of his daughter's well being is delivered a slight note of confusion lilting his tone; he then fixes his beloved wig so it no longer obstructs his view of the infamous pirate.
Jack is relieved to note the governor places the poker by his chair.
"Brandy?" Governor Swann inquirers filling up his glass which rest on a small bar on a roll away cart beside his comfy chair. Jack shakes his head no and for a moment the sound of clanking beads fills the room.
Jack attempts to speak then shuts his mouth, the governor takes sip of his brandy and watches Jack for a moment.
"You seem oddly out of character." Governor Swann speaks amused, and then nearly chokes on his next sip of brandy at Jack's words.
"I would be most appreciative of your blessing regarding my hopeful marriage to your daughter." Jack said, a small grin appearing on his face as he was quite happy to have gotten the sentence out of course the grin vanished at the governor's reply.
"You must be joking Captain." Governor Swann accuses until he looks in Jack's eyes and within the dark depths views nothing but seriousness and gives a slight laugh. "Never thought I would live to see the day a pirate would ask to marry my daughter." Governor Swann chuckles and pours himself another drink before turning to Jack again.
"Is she happy…being a pirate?" Inquires Governor Swann and Jack's eyes widen fractionally at the question; it was one he had not been expecting.
"I assume so she is bloody good at being one. Not to mention you might have even heard stories about Lizze Swann. " Jack replies his pride evident on how well Elizabeth does in her chosen life.
The governor nodded before speaking. "Yes I have Captain, quite hard to believe it is my little girl the tales speak of. I give you my blessing Captain, as for some reason you make my daughter happy and her happiness has always been one of my main concerns, although…" It is here Governor Swann picks up his fireplace poker and aims it at Jack's throat. "I warn you Sparrow should you ever cause my daughter moment of pain or sadness you will no longer have to worry about the Royal Navy you will have to worry about me."
Now normally one would not expect to fear the sissy Governor who could not fight and cared very deeply for a wig but by the look in his eyes Jack could tell he was not kidding around.
So Jack nodded and smiled gold teeth glinting in the fire light. "It never once crossed my mind." And with that the governor invited Jack to the kitchen in such of some rum and whiskey.
That had been hours ago, Jack had been caught returning to the docks to find his row boat had sunk and the British naval officers Murtogg and Mullroy (nice chaps really) incarcerated him. Also to make matter worse if he did not return to the Pearl by morning Gibbs and the crew were sure to take off and that would be very bad.
Then he heard a very familiar sound; cannon blast.
Tipping back his hat he listened more intently.
"I know those guns." Getting up from his place on the floor he hopped to the barred window to see his father's prized ship the Falcon float just off shore and currently catching the attention of the Royal Navy with cannon blast.
"Blazes what's goin' on 'ere?" Jack questioned only this time he got an answer.
"Why saving you silly Jack Sparrow." Jack whirled around to the source of voice and his kohl lined eyes flew open in surprise.
"Isabelle?" He questioned not sure if had gone mad in the last few minutes or not.
Isabelle returned his look with a small giggle and proceeded to call over the doggie holding the keys from under a near by bench. When she has complete taming the guardian of keys she opens the cell door and hugs Jack with crushing force despite being small.
"Easy there kitten my back's not what it used to be." His face is stern but his voice is playful. Isabelle releases him, but keeps a grasp on his hands for a moment.
"No time to dawdle Jack we have to leave." Isabelle says pulling away. She runs to grab Jack's effects which were hanging on a near by wall, she searches for something before handing him his things and by the pout on her lips Jack knows she is disappointed.
"No coinage on me tonight kitten." Jack puts on his worn felt gray coat and buckles up his cutlass to his side; his gun is unfortunately, still on the Pearl.
"Monetary compensation for saving you tonight is not what I am after, I need the Compass…" Before Isabelle can explain the family reunion is interrupted with Norrington pointing a pistol at them.
Jack is the first to notice and pulls Isabelle in front of him one hand on her shoulder, whether it was to keep her from Norrington or to use his baby sister as a human shield is not clear, but Norrington does not care and pulls the safety from his gun.
"Jack Sparrow. I should have known you would have your harlot rescue you." Norrington spat although he had been talking to Jack, Isabelle answered back.
"Harlot! I am no harlot…I may sleep around and break men's hearts but that in no way makes me a harlot my good sir." Isabelle approached Norrington and kept poking her finger at his chest with a slight force while she yelled at him. Norrington made no move to shoot or stop her as she was very pixyish in size and she did not seem to pose a threat; he did however keep the gun aimed at Jack.
"Oh and one more thing I am not his harlot I am his sister!" and with that she delivered a spinning kick to Commodore Norrington's head. He did not get back up and his gun went off barely missing Jack's foot.
"Sorry sir but calling me a harlot is one thing I will not abide to." She addresses the unconscious commodore then picks up Norrington's hat and places it on giving Jack a grin.
"You have improved kitten but we best be off before other officers come." Jack said as he heard the marching steps not far from them Isabelle nodded and grabbed Jack's leather clad hand and they ran from the prison, Jack tilting one way or another.
When they got to the row boat Isabelle had hidden they shoved off in the dark waters; Isabelle thankful it was a relatively calm night for the waters. Jack began to row and Isabelle pulled out a gun from underneath a blanket in the boat and shot it in the air. Two shots rang back out that were not of cannon fire and the Falcon started to retreat from battle with the Royal Navy.
"We met up with Gibbs and the Pearl on the way here; they are waiting for you not far offJack can I have the Compass? " Isabelle says conversationally.
"Why of course you can as soon as I get it back from…my…wench." Jack says lowly and Isabelle strains to hear.
"Wench…you have a wench now, just one wench?" Jack looks at her then looks away; it takes Isabelle a moment to realize what Jack is actually telling her without telling her. "She must be special, that you would give her one of your most prized possessions." Isabelle smiles her rough hands fluttering all about in a way that was reminisce to Jack himself. "I can tease you about that later but I really need the Compass and not to mention…um…well sister will be waiting for me at the Pearl." Isabelle said flustering at the word sister and weary of Jack's reaction to the word.
Jack stops rowing and regards Isabelle with a keen eye, Isabelle gulps but slowly takes the oars from Jack and begins to row toward the hidden Black Pearl. Jack sits back and begins his conversation all mirth gone.
"Not that I am not grateful for your help in my escape kitten..." Isabelle was about to protest helping when in fact she rescued him but Jack holds up a graceful hand and places a be-ringed finger to his lips and Isabelle is silenced; she pouts but rows on.
"If oneechan is risking seeing the wonderful me, then whatever you are here for besides the Compass must be bad." Jack insinuates his hands now behind his head. Isabelle puts down the oars and then burst into tears. Jack sits up straight now not knowing what to do.
"Sorry kitten I didn't mean it." Jack panics and Isabelle looks to her older brother and then after a few sobs drops the news she was hoping to avoid for as long as she could because in all honesty and besides being a pirate who is never suppose to cry she did not want to think of their father's final fate.
"Papa is dying." Isabella whimpers and grabs hold of Jack crying softly into his coat, Jack is now stone silent.