Bootstrap Bill was up on the quarterdeck of the Dutchman, watching the man who was standing up at the bow, his posture slouching slightly, his hands tucked into the striped sash around his waist. His long coat blew around him, and his tricorn hat was pulled low over his eyes. Jack had awakened in with a strange look in his eyes on this day, and was uncharacteristically quiet. Bill looked over at William, who was studying a chart and consulting with a compass to chart their course.
"You're concerned about Jack, aren't you, Father? " William could read the look in his father's eyes, as they both studied the still figure that had been standing in the same manner, in the same place, not moving... for hours. The only way that one could tell that he was not a carved statue was his head rocking slowly back and forth... back and forth...
"He has been so quiet and just... odd, Will. I have known Jack Sparrow for years, but I have never known him to be... "
"... this bad?" William sadly finished his father's sentence. He rolled up the chart and tied it with a small piece of leather string. He sighed heavily, "Jack was this way when we found him on the Other Side. Even with not knowing what we would find if we found him, I wasn't prepared for what we encountered. He can't help it... he can't control it...and now he fears that he is impeding us because of his presence on the Dutchman...can anyone blame him for locking himself in my cabin last night when we were administering to the crew of the last ship that went down in these waters during the very storm that we found him floundering around in? It shook him up, it reminded him of things...and he has been muttering to himself all day."
Bill shook his head, and looked a bit guilty for his time of service under the former captain of the Dutchman, "Maybe it is because there was no one there to 'administer' to Jack, when the Kraken took him down... I hate to say it, son, but Jack needed someone there for him when he went to the Locker, and no one was there to guide him... no one as there to help him..." Bill looked away from both William and Jack... both Jack and his own son had suffered, and were still suffering, because of Davy Jones.
William looked angry for a moment; not only did he despise Jones for what he did to his father, and for all of the lost souls that were relying upon him for aid, he was now furious for watching his friend when he got into a state, such as the one that he was in, now... he blamed Jones for the damage done to Captain Jack Sparrow... damage that Jack was doing his best to live with... today, it had been a losing battle for the captain.
William looked sadly at the lone figure, whose hands were now out at his sides, long, slender fingers waving ever so slightly and delicately in the fine, misty spray of the sea as it flew up in the bow's wake and washed over him. He was becoming soaked in the spray, but did not seem to be aware of it.
"Maybe one of us should go to him, Will... I feel like he needs us, as much as you need him... we're his friends, son... you told me that he put so much money and love into restoring the Black Pearl back to her glory after the curse, and now she is in Hector's hands, again... should I go and see if he wants to talk?"
"... it won't do any good, Father. When Jack is like this, he wouldn't hear us...it's best to leave him alone, until it passes. All we can do is keep an eye on him...he is just having a bad day..." William replied. He then turned to Bill and said, "We've got to decide how we are going to put our plan into motion... Jack needs the Black Pearl... and we need to call on some friends to help us... I have charted a course to Tortuga. We need to find Joshamee Gibbs."
And the slight, silent figure remained alone at the bow, until the sun went down, and William finally took him away from the waters that held no answers for the man who, once again, simply wanted his ship back...William gave Jack some rum, and sat with him until slumber finally came to him... slumber that would help him to force the depression deep down inside of himself... back to its own Locker...
Joshamee Gibbs waited in the shadows of the harbormaster's shack on the dock in Tortuga City. He had recieved word through a cryptically written note that was passed along to him by a tavern wench at the Faithful Bride that he was to meet with "an old friend" at the docks after dark. The note said that it was a very serious matter, and the wench could give him no other explanation except that whoever had passed along the note requested that his assistance was required immediately, and that it was imperitive. He had no desire to stay on Tortuga... he had worn out his welcome with Scarlett and Gisele, especially since Jack had simply disappeared from the dock on the day that they were returning to the Pearl after a day and a night in town, and Gibbs had no money. Of course, Jack had no money, after having had a fine time merrily and deservedly getting drunk and singing his shore leave away, but Gibbs conceded that it would have been a more pleasant stay on the island with Jack as company, even if he was in a foul mood after the departure of the Pearl, without her captain.
Gibbs sat in the tavern and perused his options... he could stay away from the dock and stay on Tortuga and end up in the same sorry state that Jack had found him in the last time, or he could go down to the dock and find out who was wishing to meet with him. He would simply make sure to have his pistol loaded and have his dagger ready at hand.
"Mr. Gibbs," came a familiar voice out of the humid darkness, a voice that Gibbs had thought he would never hear again. He looked around with wide eyes, and whispered, hoarsely, "Will??? Will Turner???"
A tall figure came into view in the lantern light, standing up in a long boat tied off to the dock... a tall figure with curly dark hair under a faded blue bandana... and an open necked shirt, showing a muscled chest bearing a long, jagged scar. Gibbs tore his eyes away from the sight, when the figure extended his hand and smiled. "Aye, Joshamee... it's me."
Gibbs hesitated, then stepped down into the boat and took William's hand in a hearty handshake, "Will! I never thought tha' I'd lay eyes on ye again, lad!" He then hesitated again, and cleared his throat, "... how are things on the Flying Dutchman?" he asked, conversationally, trying to cover up his discomfort that he was now meeting in the dark with the captain of the legendary ghost ship, in spite of the fact that this captain was a good friend and ally.
"... things on th' Dutchman are as fine as bloody frog's hair, ye scalawag," came a familiar, slurred, husky voice that came from the front of the boat. The figure had been cloaked in darkness, away from the lantern light, and as he leaned forward, Gibbs burst into a grin to see the smiling visage of Captain Jack Sparrow, whose dark features were easily hidden in the nighttime.
"Jack! Mother's love, Jack, wot th' hell is goin' on here? Why are ye with William... no offense, lad..." Gibbs stuttered, embarassed at his complete surprise at the pair in the longboat in Tortuga City, of all places.
"No offense taken, mate..." William shrugged, grinning at his old friend. The three friends laughed and clapped each other's backs all around.
"We've come t' get ye, ye worthless dog," Jack smiled, golden teeth and eyes glittering in the far lights of the streets next to the dock. He then uttered a statement that Gibbs had heard in the same town only three years ago, a statement that had started one of the grandest adventures of Gibbs' life.
"... I'm goin' after th' Pearl..." Jack's eyes gleamed with excitement... the same way that they had shone that night at the Faithful Bride, in what seemed to be a lifetime ago.
"We need your help, Gibbs." William smiled, "... We're going after the Pearl, and we can't let you miss out on the fun..."
Gibbs smiled broadly, and took a pull from his flask. "Aye, lads, I was wonderin' when Jack would be comin' back t' fetch me! Count me in!" he exclaimed. William had started to reach up to cast off the rope tying them to the dock, but Jack had come forward to do it for him.
"Jack, I could have done that," Will frowned, "... I wouldn't be on land..."
"No reason t' take chances, William," Jack smiled, "I tied her on, I can cast 'er off. Ye simply don't need t' take chances... we need t' take care o' ye for Izzy."
William smiled at his friend's back, as Jack pulled the knot free and pushed off. "... thank you, Jack."
Jack simply nodded to him as he clumsily turned around and wobbled to his seat. "Off we go, then..." He fluttered his hands at William. "I ain't touching those oars, William... I ain't good wif oars, these days." Jack rubbed his head and looked at William in a pitiful fashion. William shook his head, and muttered, "I am the bloody 'master of the seas', and Jack's giving me orders?" He chuckled.
"Where are we headed, gents?" Gibbs felt for his flask, only to see Jack taking a healthy swig from the flask that he had so handily pilfered from Gibbs' very person as the captain had made his way to his seat. Jack wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and gave it back to Gibbs. He leaned back lazily, and waited until Gibbs was taking a long drink of his own, before he gave his answer...
"We, Mr. Gibbs, are heading for th' Flyin' Dutchman."
Joshamee choked hard, and spit his rum out. William laughed out loud and Jack narrowed his eyes with satisfaction. "Look on the bright side, mate! Th' las' time, we only had th' Interceptor!"
Gibbs stared at both of his companions, then sighed and crossed himself... at least this time, they weren't facing Davy Jones. But he was with Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain William Turner, and anything...anything... could happen.