"James! Any word?" Charlotte asked as her husband trudged into the house, drained and feeling worse than he had this morning. There had been absolutely no trace of Ella but for a ribbon from the dress she'd been wearing at the engagement party.
"Not a solitary one..." He replied, unbuttoning his uniform and heading for the stairs.
"This is simply awful..." She said, following him wearily. The day had been a long one with people offering condolences stopping in.
"I just don't understand it..." James said as he pushed their bedroom door open. "Beckett seems to think Sparrow took her, but I can't understand why. Jack Sparrow doesn't just kidnap girls...he only does it if there is something in it for him...he would need her for something and to be honest, he doesn't know her unless..." He stopped, looking at his wife.
"Unless what?" She asked fearfully and he sat on the bed.
"Unless it has something to do with our wedding night." He finished and her eyes widened.
"Our wedding night? What are you...?" She began but stopped when she saw the expression on his face go from upset to angry.
"He kissed Ella...he met her near the sea and kissed her out of the blue." Charlotte thought a moment, sitting beside him and replied,
"Was she kissing him back?" James looked at her, irritated.
"What?" He asked, and she swallowed.
"I asked if she was kissing him back." He looked at his hands.
"Well technically...yes." He admitted. Nervously, she began to fold and unfold the material of her skirt.
"Could it be possible...she ran away?" She dared. His eyes flared.
"Are you bloody insane? Eleanore? Run away with some pirate?" His voice had raised and he was looking at her furiously.
"All I am saying is the woman's heart is a funny thing...they think they want something and find out that what they want is completely different."
"Are you trying to say that my sister is in love with one of the filthiest, dishonest men to ever walk the earth?" Charlotte stopped.
"Well I don't..."
"Of course you don't! You wouldn't know, you've never even met a pirate!" Hurt filled her eyes and she got up, making him instantly regret his harsh words.
"Charlotte..." He said but she shook her head and fled the room.
"Where is the little woman?" Sea Sponge asked his son casually, taking a sip of rum. Elizabeth looked up from mending her dress and said.
"I'll go look for her." Jack shrugged.
"I would...but I simply don't want to..." He replied and Grant elbowed his son in the ribs.
"Get your sorry arse into your chambers and have the decency to check on her mate..." He said and Jack chuckled.
"Old Sea Sponge...you've gone all soft on us..." He said and the old Captain snorted.
"I have not..." He retorted as Jack disappeared into the chambers. Sea Sponge took a sip of rum.
"If the damned child didn't remind me so much of my Cora..."
"Lass?" Jack called, stepping into his chambers and instantly frowning. Something was different. Not that any of the furniture was moved or his items gone, but every thing seemed to shine. His rooms were...clean. He could hear the slight breathing coming from further inside the room and peered around the corner. His mouth dropped when he saw the girl lying on the sofa in his room with a cleaning rag in her hand, deeply asleep. The rust color of her hair was brilliant with the sun shining through the windows of the chambers. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gibbs come into the room.
"Cap'n I was just wonderin'" Jack held his hand up for silence and the man followed his gaze. "Is somethin' different in this here room?" He asked and Jack nodded.
"I think it's been cleaned." He said, moving quickly to make sure his rum supply hadn't been touched. Good girl.
"She's rather pretty isn't she?" Gibbs asked, eyeing the Captain who had been unnaturally silent, but still bemused.
"She definitely is nice to look at, but don't be fooled mate. That lass there is one of those bloody girls who believes that looking at her is a privilege." Gibbs shrugged.
"Believe me Cap'n. I seen plenty o'women an' lookin' at that there woman is privelige. Look long an' hard Cap'n Sparrow...for you'll never see a woman that pure again." Jack pulled out his broken compass and flipped it open. It was still turning but now it seemed to be ticking like a clock.
"Look, i's true...Capt'n Sparrow did finds a lady..." Pintel said, eyeing the small female standing beside Elizabeth.
"I 'eard she's the Admiral's baby sister an' he's pipin' mad 'bout her bein' taken." Rigetti replied leaning against the deck.
"I likes her 'air...i's a nice choc'late color..."
"I'd say more copper..." Rigetti replied as Pintel hit him hard on the back of the head causing his eye to fall out into his hand. "Blast." Rigetti said, popping it back it.
"Ya think he'll marry 'er?" Pintel asked and Rigetti nodded.
"Wouln't you? Look at 'er...I never even been that close to a lass that pretty."
"Sure you 'ave...Miss Liz'beth." Pintel pointed out and Rigetti sighed.
"Tha's different...Miss Liz'beth is spoken fer...she's Mrs. Bootstrap Junior now...r'member?" Pintel nodded, scratching his head.
"I s'pose...I don' think Capt'n Jack'll marry 'er..." He said suddenly and Rigetti gasped.
"Why not?" Pintel nodded at the Captain.
"Well...'E's not the marryin' type...an' he likes bein' alone." Rigetti leaned against the side again and bit his lip.
"Well...I thinks the Capt'n's 'fraid of fallin' in love...s'why he never does..."
"Hmm..." Pintel replied, "I ne'er thought 'bout that.
At that moment, the ship hit a hard wave and Rigetti fell against the side, getting a splinter in his hand and crying out in pain.
"Oh it 'urts!" He said, holding his hand out as the men began to gather around.
"Excuse me...pardon me...I'm sorry..." A small female voice said and before Rigetti knew it, a tiny hand reached out around his wrist and pulled forward. Rigetti gasped as he realized the Captain's lass was holding his hand and inspecting his damage.
"Well sir...it's just a splinter. Nothing a pin and a candle won't fix...come with me." She said, pulling him through the gaping men. She nearly gagged from the stench coming off of some of the crew but managed to hold back her disgust enough to get the lanky man to the Captain's quarters, finding the Captain himself there. He and the elder Captain were drinking as per usual when Ella dragged the pirate into the room.
"What are you doing girly?" The younger Captain asked and she ignored him, finding a pin in the sewing box near the fireplace.
"More than you would if one of your men was hurt…" She replied softly, her shyness dissolving in her determination to remove the man's splinter. Lighting a candle, Ella placed the pin into it, sterilizing it even though she was sure, most of these men were harboring diseases from lack of hygiene.
"W-what're you gonna do with that?" Her nervous patient asked. She smiled kindly at him.
"I'm just going to remove the wood in the skin so that it doesn't get infected, Mr…?" She stopped, not knowing his name.
"Rigetti. S'just Rigetti, no Mister." He said as she finished sterilizing the needle and taking his hand.
"Nonsense…every man is entitled to be called Mister. Do you have a first name Mr. Rigetti?" She asked and he looked to the Captain who was staring at her in a mix of fascination and horror. Rigetti cleared his throat before thinking a moment, not having been called his own name in nearly fifteen years.
"I's Benjamin." He said bringing a smile to her face.
"I like it…so that is what I shall call you, Benjamin." She looked up at the Captain and glared and him before holding Rigetti's hand palm up.
"This will hurt, so brace yourself." She said softly and gently stuck the tip of the needle into the wound.
"Ow!" Rigetti pulled his hand back quickly. She giggled taking his hand back and said,
"Silly boy…I've not even done anything yet." She said, "Now hold still, or it will hurt worse." The soft tone of her voice seemed to relax him as she began to ease the shard of wood from beneath his skin. Even the older captain had become fascinated with the process and both Captain and son were crouched to watch. Rigetti's face was clenched in pain.
"One more little bit…" Ella said, gently pushing the dead skin aside when she began to see the tip of the shard. "Now Benjamin…I need you to hold completely still…this won't hurt…" Using her nails to her advantage, she was able to slide the shard out completely, placing it in Rigetti's hand. He flexed his fingers, testing it and grinned at her.
"You're an angel, Miz…?"
"Ella…you can call me Ella." She finished for him, allowing him to help her to her feet. He thanked her again and ran to show Pintel excitedly. Jack pretended to stretch, putting his arm around Ella again.
"That's a nice name, love…Ella." He said and she glared up at him, but remained soft spoken as ever.
"You sir may call me Miss Eleanore." She said, pushing him off her and fleeing the room. Jack took a sip of his rum as he watched her leave the chambers.
"Something's bloody wrong with that lass's head. There're women in Tortuga and Port Royal who'd rip their clothes off at the sight of me…" Sea Sponge slapped Jack's back, clicking his own bottle with his sons.
"It may help just a bit that those women are being offered coin for their…services…while this girl has no need of money or…services."
Jack thought a moment before looking back at his father.
"If given the right amount of time as it were, I could persuade her to lie with me in my bed…care to make a bet old man?" Grant Sparrow narrowed his eyes at his firstborn.
"I'll not bet away that girl's innocence...and if you take it from her, I swear on Persephone's beauty that I will send you to the Underworld myself…savvy?" Jack whistled, looking at his father.
"Persephone's beauty eh? What's gotten in your head old man?" Grant set his rum down and turned back to his son.
"Jack, there's a difference…between bedding whores and bedding virgins and it's just not right for a man to deflower an innocent unless he intends to be with 'er…"
Jack chuckled, putting his hand on his father's shoulder.
"Relax Pa, it was nothing but a repartee…a joke Pa." He said, frowning as he stared into his rum. Jack was almost grateful when there was a knock on the door. Gibbs walked in with a letter in his hand.
"Cap'n, this 'ere arrived for you from the witch's bird…" He said, handing Jack the letter.
Jack…
If you are sure you have found the right girl, bring her to me immediately…time is running out.
Tia Dalma
"Oh bugger."
"What is the crew doing now?" Jack asked Gibbs, folding the letter and placing it back in his pocket. Gibbs looked reluctant and cleared his throat.
"Well, Miss Ella, she's collectin' their coats and stockin's to wash an' mend em. Says she wants ta clean this place up…bad luck to 'ave a woman on board Cap'n, an' I tol' you that before…" The captain looked from Gibbs to his father. Before he could reply, the door swung open and the girl, overloaded filthy clothing stumbled through the door with the help of Elizabeth and Will.
"That will do Liz, thank you...and thank you for helping to carry Will." She said pleasantly and dropped the clothing on the floor, marching over to the three gaping pirates.
"I suggest if you'd like something cleaned and mended to please give it to me now..." She said shyly but firmly before moving away again.
"What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?" Jack muttered, scratching his head. Old Sea Sponge chuckled and leaned over to his son.
"I suppose it mean you should take off that old coat and give it to the lass to fix up..." Gibbs began to leave with Sea Sponge muttering under his breath,
"Women."
Elizabeth and Will joined Jack and his father as they began to remove everything but their pants as the other men had.
"What is that crazy sylph doing?" He asked them and Will grinned as Elizabeth leaned in and said.
"It's called making the best out of a bad situation..." She said and wiped her head with the back of her hand...feeling a bit feverish. Will put his arm around her waist.
"Elizabeth, are you alright...?" He asked steadying her as she began to sway. She nodded, holding her head. Jack looked up, the girl meeting his eyes for the briefest of moments before rushing to Elizabeth's side.
"I'm fine...I just need..." With that, Elizabeth Turner fainted into her husband's arms.