A/N- Sorry I haven't updated in quite awhile. RL has been rather merciless the past few months with Parent's illnesses and problems of my own as well. Throw in computer problems on top of it all and there you go. Hopefully, although I can't guarantee it, things appear to be simmering down a bit now and perhaps I shall be able to do more than just a quick few minutes on the WWW every week or so. Thank you to all who are still bearing with me.

Regrets, I May Have Had A Few

Chapter 8

James struggled to his feet, his attention divided between looking around at their surroundings and trying unsuccessfully to remove the porcine ordure caked on his person. Irritatedly he said, "Blast! These clothes are beyond ruin."

"You do have a bit of a funny smell about you Commodore…not funny as in ha ha funny you understand….more like you fell in a pig pen…which you did in fact do….and decided to wallow around a bit before…"

James glared at Jack as he interrupted, "I do believe that will be enough Mr. Sparrow, I am fully aware of my current state of dishevelment and do not need elucidation from you."

Jack, noting the look on James face, put his hands together in front of him, and with an apologetic "Sorry mate." began backing away from James in case James decided words weren't getting his point across. He stopped in the alley about fifteen feet from the pig pen they had been standing in.

James huffed loudly, and then in a more tolerable tone as he too made his way to the alley said, "Yes, well perhaps we should use our energy to find out just where we are and in procuring a bath and fresh clothing rather than stand here with the pigs bickering with each other."

Jack smiled and held his index finger up in front of him, "Ah! And I may have spotted just the place. Follow me Commodore."

Jack, with James a few steps behind him, made for a tavern toward one end of the alley. As they approached the rear entrance Jack tipped his head to the side, turned and smiled at James over his shoulder, and said, "Rum." A few steps further and he suddenly stopped, rocked back and forth on his heels a few times as he looked around, then took a dozen steps off the side of the path they were on, leaning down and pulled a half full bottle of rum from the hand of a man passed out on the ground. He gave the unconscious man a touch of his forehead, "Thanks mate." he said before raising the bottle and taking a long swig. He offered the bottle to James who grimaced and said, "If you please Captain Sparrow, I am much more anxious for a bath and clean clothes than a drink of rum." James paused for a moment, then the grimace still on his face, a disdainful tone in his voice, continued, "especially from a bottle that has had god knows whose mouth wrapped around it….up to and including the current possessor of said bottle."

Jack stared at James for a few moments with a pout before shrugging and saying, "To each his own mate", took another long swig from the bottle, and swayed toward the door at the rear of the tavern.

James shook his head exasperatedly then followed.

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They stepped through the door and immediately ducked as a liquor bottle hit the wall a few inches from their heads. For a few seconds they were both on alert until it was clear the bottle had not been aimed at either one of them personally but rather had been thrown by one of the patrons of the bar at another patron of the bar who were co-occupying a table several yards from where James and Jack stood. As James and Jack assessed the situation further and noticed no one was paying the least bit of attention to them, and it became clear the two patrons were having some manner of disagreement and were taking turns throwing bottles at each other. Unfortunately for the other patrons of the bar the two men had emptied, by way of drinking, a quantity of bottles that were now haphazardly lined up in front of them on their table. Also unfortunately for any patrons in the tavern neither one of the men, due no doubt to the large amount of liquor they had consumed, could aim worth a hoot seeing that they were sitting less than four feet apart and had failed to even come close to hitting each other.

Jack warily skirted around said table and sat down at a table in the corner, his back to the wall. James followed and took a seat against the wall as well. A few minutes later a barmaid approached, "What'll it be gents?"

James and Jack spoke at the same time, "A bath." "Rum."

She looked at James and pointed at a room just to the left of the bar, "Back there's the washroom. I think Sophie's back there 'cause she just finished the wash 'n she mi'ten not thrown out her water yet. Welcome to if if she ain't. 'N fer an extra few coins she might could come up with a change of clothes for ya as well if ya ask real nice. Course can't be guaranteein they'll fit ya 'r nuthin, have ta take yer chances on that. 'M also mostly sure she'll charge ya a bit extra if ya want a clean towel as well."

James snorted, snarkily thanked the barmaid, and headed off toward the room she had indicated.

She looked at Jack, "Rum fer you ya say?"

"Aye! Rum." Jack said with a smile. She returned his smile, winked at him, then headed back to the bar.

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James rejoined Jack at the table, "Have you been able to gather any information about just where we may be…" James paused as he noticed one empty rum bottle on the table and the one, now less than half full, in Jack's hand and continued in an accusatory tone, "or have you spent the whole time I was gone seeing how much rum you could consume?"

Jack gave James an affronted look, "Have not! I'll have you know Dear Commodore I have been very busy while you were gone."

The barmaid returned just as Jack finished speaking. "Another bottle for ya Jack?" she said as she leaned over to pick up the empty rum bottle sitting on the table, giving Jack, as well as James if he was of a mind to look, a peek down the front of her bodice. Jack looked, smiled, and then looked up at the barmaid, "Another bottle it is Mary."

James snorted drawing the barmaids attention away from smiling at Jack, "Something for you sir?"

"A mug of ale will suffice." James replied. As Mary walked away James spoke, "I think that very neatly sums up exactly what you were 'busy' doing during the time I was absent Captain Sparrow."

Jack once again acted offended, "Was not! In fact I have been busy with more than just the amicable relations with said barmaid, although I will admit that took up most of the time you were gone. Finding out where we were was the simple part, convincing young Mary she might want to spend more…quality time as it were….with me the more difficult, kind of hard to believe that, aye?" As James made a moue Jack hurriedly continued, "In fact Dear Commodore, I was able to specifically find out we are on Hispaniola…and even more specifically than that specific is the specific that we happen to be on Saona Island….." Jack suddenly had all of the Commodore's attention. "Aye, thought that would catch your attention. Seems to me like id be a bit more than just a coincidence that we happen to be looking for a certain person by the certain name of Sao and we just happen to wind up on a certain Saona Island now doesn't it Commodore?"

"Indeed Captain Sparrow, it does indeed." James replied.

To Be Continued

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