Commandeering Commodore

Chapter 44

James was close enough on Jack's heels to see he didn't even bother knocking on the cabin door, just went in unannounced. As James entered Jack was shaking Will from a sound sleep.

"William, ya need ta wake up lad. Something a bit unfortuitous seems ta have happened." Jack said, still trying to wake the man.

"What is it Jack?" William said groggily as he tried to open his eyes and focus on the man shaking him.

"It's your bonny lass William, seems she's somehow managed to find herself even more undesirable company than those bloody French.

Will snapped to full wakefulness in an instant, "What? What are you talking about Jack? Is Elizabeth all right? What's happened to her Jack? Where is she?" Will almost shouted with a look of panic on his face as he threw himself out of the bunk and faced the men standing there.

"Mr. Turner, if you are to deal with the situation you will need to keep a level head about you." James said seeing the look of trepidation on the man's face.

"Aye William, it may not be as bad as it looks." Jack said with a flop of his hands and an encouraging expression, trying to assure William, and then much softer, "Although I'm thinkin it is pretty much as bad as it seems."

"What has happened to her?" As he waited for the answer he felt the Pearl give a lurch and the realization that they were still underway and not docked at the island sunk in. He started for the door and was restrained by the strong hand of the Commodore.

"Mr. Turner…….William, rash actions will not help your wife."

"Somebody better start explaining just what is going on here!" Will said in a no nonsense tone, his gaze going from Jack to James, who still had a grip on his arm, and back again.

"Well lad, seems your lass has gone and somehow gotten herself in a right fine pickle here," Jack answered with a wave of his hands as he rocked back and forth, "Seems for reasons known only to her at the present time, and the reasoning for her to come up with this mishmash of such reasons if there were a reasoning to said reasons that is, would no doubt cause any sane or unsane man a bit of pause as it were…er even more than a bit of a pause actually, and as past experience with said lass has proved she is not normally of the reasoning sort of person ergo why she would come up with these particular reasons to do what she most certainly and unreasonably has done to put herself in the present situation is beyond reason if ya get me meaning."

"Jack where is she." Will said glaring at Jack, his patience gone.

"She's on a ship……….not this ship exactly…….and definitely not where we left her with the reasonable expectation of that being the place we would pick her up." Jack replied, the last bit delivered in an almost accusatory way.

"What ship is she on Jack?" Will said, not wanting to allow the thoughts of just which ship they were talking about here that were trying to creep into his mind and dreading the answer he was about to hear.

"Before I tell ya William you are going to have to promise me you're not going to do anything….stupid." Jack answered.

"I am going to do everything I can to rescue my wife Jack. If in your opinion that includes anything stupid then so be it." Will said as he once again headed for the door.

James tightened his grip on Will's arm as he caught the man's eyes with an intense look and said in a serious tone, "If you mean that statement Mr. Turner then you need to act accordingly, not in a rash way. It is imperative you keep your wits about you and not allow emotion to interfere no matter how hard that will be for you. Do you understand?"

William held the Commodore's gaze for several minutes before dropping his eyes and saying, "I just want her back Commodore, I will do anything to that end."

"Good," James said a bit more kindly loosening the grip on Will's arm a bit, "I would suggest you show as little emotion as possible when we face Barbossa." Will grimaced at the name although he knew for some reason that was who they had been speaking of. James paused, a brief flicker of compassion showing on his face before he continued in his Commodorely tone, "He will no doubt be looking for any weakness he can find, and we, as well as Mrs. Turner, would be best served to show him no such thing." After another pause he added, "If you feel yourself unable to adhere to this Mr. Turner I suggest it would be prudent for you to stay below." James finished in a rather harsh tone.

Will's eyes snapped up to meet James as the words sunk in, "NO!" and then getting himself under control finished resolutely, "No Commodore, I can do this, I cannot stay here and not know what is going on up there."

"Aye, there's a good lad," Jack said as he smiled and slapped Will on the shoulder, "Now just follow me……and the Commodore's lead William and for ya know it we'll have yer bonny lass out o the clutches of that villainous scoundrel and back to yer lovin arms once again."

"God I hope so Jack." Will said almost like a plea as he followed the two men towards the deck.

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"Now Mrs. Turner, I'd be most grateful if you and yer friends would oblige me by bein on yer best behavior whilst the negotiations are bein negotiated." Barbossa said with a smile that came nowhere near meeting his eyes. "Else I'm afeared stronger measures may have the unfortunate need ta be used." He said as his hand went to the pistol in his waistband. They were standing in the bow of the ship, Barbossa standing behind them.

"Will is going to kill you for this Barbossa!" Elizabeth said vehemently.

"I'd not be lookin on it in that exact light Mrs. Turner. Seems ta me his concerns, since he being the devoted husband he surly is, may be on rescuing you and not blowin a hole in me or me ship, specially since yer so well displayed here in the line of fire." Barbossa said indicating their position.

"You bastard!" Elizabeth spat back.

Barbossa replied with a laugh, "Now Mrs. Turner, I'd not be castin dispersions on me parentage if I were you. Not very ladylike nor very proper for a Governor's daughter ta be letting such things pass from those lovely lips. And not a very well thought out way of garnerin me generous and merciful nature."

If looks could kill Barbossa would be lying on the deck a burnt ashy crisp of his former self at the glare Elizabeth shot him.

Elizabeth tore her eyes away from Barbossa and back towards the Pearl that was almost within hailing distance. Her heart jumped as she saw William standing on deck next to Jack and James. She smiled at him and was a bit surprised when he didn't return the smile, she knew he could see it; the distance was not that great between the ships now.

She stood there pondering the meaning of that when she heard Barbossa call out, "Jack, Jack, so nice ta see ya again."

"What do you want Hector?" Jack called back.

"It seems I may have come across a bit of baggage you might be interested in." Barbossa said with an evil grin indicating Elizabeth with a sweeping gesture of his hand.

"Now Hector, what would make you be thinking such as that? You've no idea how….peaceful it's been around here without her." Jack said waving his arms about, "No I'm thinkin you can just go on and keep her."

To Be Continued

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