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Chapter 5: Pretenses
The sun shone clearly through the thin layer of fog that covered Tortuga like a blanket; the clatter of early morning coming far too soon for some and not soon enough for others.
Deep in his thoughts, a worn man leaned against the large brick wall behind him, deep in thought as he studied the large ship before him. The Pearl in dock at the ports of Tortuga lent only one answer to its presence.
"Barbossa." He snarled, standing straight as he made his way quietly to the bow of the ship. Hopping easily onto the deck, memories began to flood his mind as he touched the large wheel before turning to inspect the deck. No one seemed to be aboard; probably below deck squabbling over the swag from recent trips.
"It'll be the loot yer after, Turner. You wouldn't have it any other way." Barbossa grinned as he placed an unwelcome hand onto Bootstrap's shoulder.
"No, I don't want any part of the loot. Take the swag for all I care." He spat, twisting a hand through his long black tresses. The necklace in his palm his only claim as he returned below deck to think about the present situation. Barbossa knew something was amiss, he was sure of it. He'd seen the look on his face. Turning to find the Captain standing in his way, he smiled and placed a grateful hand to the younger mans shoulders.
"How you be Captain?"
"Well enough. Since we'll be going together William, I'd like you to know where the treasure is. Just in case something happens, as it were. Wouldn't have it any other way mate."
"I don't think it wise to tell the others. Seems to me that Barbossa might try something. You know how greedy this crew is." Returning to his books, he sat next to Jack as the Captain flipped open a map.
"They're my crew, and despite what we may think of them they have a right to know. Everything's split into equal shares. I would think that William Turner would know of this."
"I'm only looking for enough riches to send me back to my family."
Bootstrap stopped as he came across the long board that stretched across the starboard side of the ship. When slid into place, it hung out over the side to service as a plank. Closing his eyes, he felt a new rage as his mind drifted back to that fateful day.
"I don't have it."
"What's in yer head, Bootstrap? What are you talkin' about?"
"I DON'T HAVE it."
"Hand over the piece of gold, Turner." Barbossa stalked up to the pirate, a gleam of betrayal in his eyes.
"I sent it away. We deserve to be cursed for what we done to Jack Sparrow. He was a good man." A fist connected with his cheekbone as stars flashed across his vision. Falling heavily to the ground, he looked up with startled eyes at the new Captain of the Black Pearl.
"Who did you send it to? We must find it. I won't be cursed forever just because you're havin' an onset of clarity, Turner!" He snarled, kicking a vicious boot into the man's side.
"You deserve to be cursed. And remain cursed; mutineer." He turned and spat onto Barbossa's shoe as he received another kick to the chest.
"Tie him up and throw in the brig." The Captain ordered as they turned and headed back to the ship.
The next two days were a blur, the numerous beatings he received from the crew as they slowly began to realize there was no way of finding the lost piece of the Aztec gold that Turner had sent away.
"I know you sent it to yer son, Bootstrap. Who else would ya be so foolish about? We'll find him, ya know."
Barbossa spoke vehemently as the blindfold was removed from the former pirate's eyes. Hands tied behind his back in a tight knot and his feet bound to the end of a large canon, his eyes fell to the plank.
"Over ye go, Turner." The crew cheered as the plank was yanked back and the canon fell into the water. Wrenching his leg along with it, he followed; the cool water crashing around his head as he felt himself sinking lower and lower before touching the bottom of the ocean.
Snapping back to reality, he knew that the curse had been lifted. He'd known for almost two years that Barbossa had found his family out and killed his son to pay for the curse that his father had been subjected to. This knowledge had kept Bootstrap alive these long years. The man or men who had done this deserved to die, and he would see to it. The crying of an infant brought his mind back to reality as a frown clouded his features, his dirty face scowling as the lines and creases on his cheeks and under his eyes gave him a constant brooding and dark look that some found ominous. Taking tentative steps to the stairwell, he lifted the latch and preceded down the steps; the sword drawn in his hand gleamed in the light that filtered through the crossbars above him.
Following the gurgling noise of an infant, he stopped before a semi closed door and took a deep breath before pushing it open fully. His black eyes came upon the crib in the corner, a well rounded baby girl sitting up in the corner as she chewed on her fist. Looking around the room he saw clothes scattered and strewn, dresses hanging in the corner as well as a tailored brown and gray vest placed delicately over the back of a chair.
Turning and making her way back down the corridor, Elizabeth stopped short when she noticed the open door to the cabin her and Will shared, as well as their sleeping daughter. Peering around the doorframe, her eyes widened in shock as she pulled back to look around the small entry-way. An empty bottle sat precariously on the edge of a small table facing their room and she lifted it into her hands by the neck, the bottle now becoming a weapon as she turned and stepped silently into the room, the man brandishing his sword to the innocent child never leaving her vision as she tripped over a long forgotten stuffed bear.
Hearing commotion from behind him, he turned quickly. The sound of crashing glass mixed with a cry and a muffled thump reverberated off the walls of the small den as the baby began to wail and Elizabeth let her tears fall. Discarding the rest of the broken bottle, she rushed to the crib and picked Emily up. Moving silently from the room, she found several men with weapons out and ready gathered around the small door, and she frowned up at Gibbs.
"I didn't recognize him." She spoke quickly as it dawned on her that she very well may have rendered a valuable member of the crew unconscious.
"Me neither. Up you go, wait for Jack and Will to return. We'll tie 'im up." Gibbs placed a gentle hand to her quivering shoulder as he picked up the comatose pirate off the floor and dragged him down the hallway.
* * *
It seemed that hours had passed since Jack and Will had left the ship to search in vain for Bootstrap Bill Turner in Tortuga. Wandering from pub to pub they were unlucky in their quest, finally returning back to the ship. With a regretful sigh, Will climbed over the railing as he caught sight of most of the crew gathered around the bow.
"Seems that we got ourselves a spy." Gibbs explained at the curious looks of the two men before him.
"Who is this?" Will walked over to Elizabeth and placed a tender arm around her waist and his other atop the child's soft head as she slept soundly against Elizabeth's shoulder.
"I found him sneaking below deck, inside our room as a matter of fact." She clarified as the man tied to the post began to come to.
Lifting his head with a groan, the large knot on his temple throbbing, he looked up at the people gathered around him with mild disdain. This wasn't the crew of the Black Pearl, he knew for sure.
"Barbossa…" He mumbled, catching Will's attention.
"What about Barbossa?"
Turning his eyes to the young man before him, Bootstrap's voice caught in his throat as he stared into the eyes of a fellow Turner.
"No doubt about it, boy; you be a Turner." He chuckled and tried to lift a hand up to remove the curled gray hairs from his face, finding his wrists tied securely behind his back.
"What? How…how do you know who I am?" Will questioned, crouching down beside the man as he looked into his deep dark eyes, his own blood reflecting in their depths.
"Turner…" he whispered as his legs gave way and he fell the rest of the way to the deck.
"You're….you're Bootstrap Bill Turner?" Elizabeth's calm voice called out, catching the elder's attention as he turned his gaze upon the young woman.
With a curt nod that he regretted, his eyes closed quickly as he felt rough hands untying his bonds. His head was swimming as they helped him to his feet.
"Jack Sparrow. S'been a while." Bootstrap extended a hand out to the fellow pirate as Jack grinned and pulled the older man into a hug.
"Well William, I always admired your spirit but I never thought…that you of all people would risk your life for mine. That's a debt I can't repay, mate." Jack's voice was calm as he gave a meaningful look up at the gruff old man.
Will sat stunned on the deck, his legs folded underneath him as he looked up at the man he was supposed to call father.
"You told us you were a merchant sailor." His voice was deep and confused, the anger he'd been holding for years finally surfacing as he turned his cold eyes to the identical stranger before him.
"You look exactly as I would have imagined, Will. My son has come back to me." Bootstrap smiled, taking a step toward his child as a frown clouded his features at the boys comment.
"I told you that to keep you and yer mother safe. I never intended it to go as far as it did, you have to believe me. Trust me when I say that all I wanted was to go back to you in London, my boy."
"How can you say that? You didn't try; even when mum died I waited, hoping you'd come for me and take me away on your ship. That's when I got the necklace you had sent me, and I kept it close to my heart. Finding where it came from I stowed away on a merchant ship to find you when it was attacked. I gained a family on the crossing from England. Since that's what I wanted I didn't press the matter of trying to find you." Will's voice shook as he tightened his hands into fists, clenching them to his sides.
Turning, he pointed a finger to Elizabeth as she cradled Emily against her, a small reassuring smile on her otherwise clouded face.
"They are my family now. They stayed. I've no more room." He walked away quickly, almost jumping the few steps below deck and made his way to his stay room.
Bootstrap's chin quivered as he looked up to her friendly eyes and gave her a sad smile. Redirecting his gaze back to Jack his shoulders slumped forward.
"Not to worry mate, I've got somethin' that will make your day turn out right." He grinned, leading Turner Sr. below deck to his quarters.
* * *
A/N: Good heavens! That was about the WORST chapter ever. And I DO mean that. Took me three frickin days to write that darn thing! Anywho, I hope you're all still with me! And now to thank some of my faithful reviewers!
From A TOT:
Little Green Lawn Gnome: Thanks for the review! I'm finding a few people really enjoy the cute fluff stuff, so I'm trying to put a mixture of each in my story.
TheSilverLady: I'm glad you like it!
From DLG:
Little Green Lawn Gnome: I figured from your other review that you would love the mushy stuff. Kind of an interlude chapter, if you will.
Obi-Wan Jenobi: That has to be one of the coolest reviews I've ever read. Made me smile all over the place. Thanks for your review! Don't forget the other stories!
TheSilverLady: Thanks for the review!
Lady LifeCharm: Seriously? I love a guy who does poetry and all that sensitive stuff. I know I do!
For LS:
Twistedangel27: Thanks so much for your review, and to tell you the trust, I can't wait to find out what happens as well.
Onyx and S: Ah…I do so love your reviews. Yes, I'm striving for aome interesting parts, hoping that my brain won't crap out in the process. Thanks so much for our conversation the other day,…you really helped me out!
Icy878: Yet another barrage of greats, and I thank you again! I can't reveal too much…but now we know that Elizabeth can hold her own.
LOTR-Freak: I agree whole heartedly. If they were going to make so much of the story revolve around Will Turner, they should have had him in it more. But hey…there's always hope for the sequel.
Gabi217: My secret to my stories is description. Nothing more, nothing less. The lines don't matter half as much if the audience can't picture it in their minds.
Ponytail Goddess: I'm glad you're following along so well! Your replies mean a lot to me!
Pirate-chicha: Hope you haven't been waiting too long for the update, but here it is.
Lordlanceahlot: I know! It was a total pain in the butt, but I've gotten it all done. Most of it anyway….everything is on disks. But hey…I'm not perfect you know? Accidently deleted all of my POTC downloads….which really sucked…but Anywho thanks for the review!
ChelseaBloom: Oh, I savvy. Here you go girl!
Guamgirl101: I appreciate your review, more than words can ever say. About Will being subjected to torture of the mind and heart in the future….all I can say is maybe.
Carrie9Softball: Thankful that you're enjoying the series. I wasn't too sure how it would pan out, but it seems to be going over really well.
Angelsflame265: I promise I won't. If it's one thing that I hate the most about fan fiction, is that there are so many authors out there that don't stay true to the story or to character. So I'm hopefully trying to maintain their kind of personalities in my stories.
PowerhouseMom: Thanks for you two reviews, and I'm glad to see you've done so much for me just to be able to review! I appreciate your criticalness, I love it. I do agree that she gave in rather quickly…but she also realized that Will needed to find his father if at all possible. If that meant sailing with him for a while, she couldn't say no. Even with Emily. The kids a Turner! She'll be fine!
Well, that all! And I must say, I absolutely love all of you soooooo much for reviewing! Especially those who review more than one, I love to know what you guys think through the entire story! Not just at the first chapter or at the end. Hopefully it will become easier to write, unlike this chapter, and we'll have updates more often!
~Jean~