Commandeering Commodore

Chapter 41

"You're going to take me to Will?" Elizabeth said eyeing Barbossa with suspicion.

"Mrs. Turner," Barbossa said with a smile, "I assure you I've naught else on me mind but reuniting you and young Mr. Turner."

"To what end?" Elizabeth said, her suspicion still clear in her tone.

"You wound me with yer suspicious aspersions as to me intentions here Mrs. Turner." Barbossa said trying to effect a wounded expression.

Elizabeth gave a sharp laugh at the man's words as well as the expression he was trying to assume. "You will excuse me if I don't fully trust you Captain Barbossa. Old habits and all you understand."

"Point taken Mrs. Turner, although I might direct your attention to the fact it matters not to me whether you trust me or not seein as you be aboard my ship, and with that sharp mind ya possess would have no trouble ascertanin what all that entails."

Elizabeth stood there for a moment, her eyes locked with Barbossa's trying to decide whether that had been a threat. She finally nodded and said, "Point taken."

"Mr. Rush," Barbossa called out as he nodded to Elizabeth in return, "Be so kind as to show our guests to their accommodations."

"Aye Cap'n." the man answered, and then motioned for the trio to follow him.

As they started to walk off Barbossa said, "After ye've had the chance ta freshen up a bit I'd be delighted to have the presence of you and your companions in the galley."

"Well," Elizabeth thought to herself, "at least it didn't sound like their accommodations were going to be in a locked cell. She gave Barbossa a slight humorless smile as she answered, "Thank you Captain, I don't think we have any engagements at present that would interfere with your gracious invitation."

"Till then Mrs. Turner." Barbossa said tipping his hat.

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"Jack, are you even trying to help here?" William said sharply as he struggled to keep the semi-standing Commodore from falling.

Jack glared at him from where he was crouched, well actually stuck would be closer to the truth, underneath the Commodore's arm, his hair having become tangled unmercifully in the Commodore's buttons. "I'm doin the best I can here William!" Jack answered snippily, "And how come yer not yellin at him?" Jack said as he jabbed James in the stomach with his finger as in his current position that was as high as he could raise his hand, "He don't seem ta be helpin a bit!"

"He's drunk Jack." Will said rolling his eyes.

"Been in me cups many a time William, never stopped me from gettin in a bed somewhere." Jack said sarcastically.

"I'm sure you had a bit more encouragement to enter that bed than the Commodore has." Will said with a raise of his eyebrow.

"Aye." Jack said with a leer and a flutter of his hand, "You might be right about that dear William."

"Now please Jack, let's get him to the bed."

"Can't do much of anything till I get me hair untangled from these bloody buttons." Jack said tugging on said hair as he mumbled 'bugger bugger bugger' with each tug.

"Well let's sit him back down till we get you untangled then." Will said impatiently as he shoved the Commodore back into the chair, giving Jack no choice but to follow.

"Oye William!" Jack yelped, "Easy on the goods there mate."

"Sorry." William answered although Jack had his doubts as to whether the apology was given in a sincere manner.

After trying unsuccessfully for several minutes to get Jack free William said, "I think I need to go get a pair of scissors Jack, I can't untangle this mess."

Jack looked at Will with horror, his tone full of panic, "You'll not be getting anywhere near me hair with scissors or the like Will."

"Jack, I don't know what else we can do." And then after a short pause said, "Unless……….."

"Unless what? Unless what William? What have ya got in mind boy?"

"Help me lean him up a bit Jack." Will said as he grabbed the Commodore's shoulders and pitched him forward.

"My situation does not seem to have improved." Jack deadpanned as he was now pinned between James' chest and his thigh, the Commodore leaning heavily on top of him. "Can't get any worse than this." Jack said mournfully.

At the sound that was rumbling very close to his ear from the Commodore's stomach Jack reassessed his statement. "William! I would be forever grateful to you lad if you could manage to extradite me from me predicament in the very immediate future as I've a feeling he's about to anoint me in a rather unacceptable way."

"What? Oh right!" Will said as he quickly grabbed James' shirttail and jerked it roughly over his head. His action did manage to free Jack but also sent James out of his chair and onto the floor with a rather loud thump as his head met said floor.

"That's gonna hurt." Jack said, standing there with James' shirt still hanging from his hair.

William looked from James to Jack and back again as he nodded his head in agreement. "Let's get that off your hair and then get him into the bed."

"Aye to the first William, but a big nay to the second. He can sleep it off on the floor. Throw a blanket atop him and he'll be right cosy." Jack said as he turned his attention to the dangling shirt.

"Jack we can't just leave him there." Will said.

"Yes we can." Jack answered.

To Be Continued

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