DISCLAIMER – Don't own anyone, especially the movie Jaws or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. And thanks to those continuing to stay with me throughout this story and big hugs to everyone who have reviewed. You've all been very encouraging. :0)

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Chapter 24 – Sailing, Sailing, Over the Open Sea

The moment Don shot from his chair and vaulted over the table, Leonardo knew that something had happened - and it wasn't because the Pearl had changed course, either. That the ship had even turned about was surprising enough. But to watch Donatello jump over the desk without so much as a "Hey, Leo, something's wrong" (especially where he had been so detached after all the teasing Mike and the crew heaped on him earlier), told Leo that something had gone amiss.

"Don, what's wrong, what's going on?"

Instead of answering as he would normally, Don ignored Leonardo's query, nearly ripping the cabin door from its hinges as he opened it. He then ran outside, frantically yelling, "MAN…I mean…TURTLE OVERBOARD, TURTLE OVERBOARD!"

Leo and Raph both looked at each other in stunned surprise, "MIKEY?"

The two exploded from their seats, running out the cabin door and on deck as they followed Donatello outside. When they noticed Don rush for the bulwarks, shouting as he ran, "I gotta save him! He'll drown, or get eaten by sharks, or…" Leo raced after him.

"NO, DON, DON'T!" Leonardo yelled frantically, soon catching up with him and just in time to prevent Don from jumping over the railing to join his floundering sibling in the sea. Leo grabbed Don by the arm and spun him around, "STOP! What happened?"

"It's MIKE!" Don snapped, "He must have lost his balance on the bow sprit when the ship changed course and now he's in the sea, all by himself, probably drowning!" He nearly lost his composure, then, "We need to get this boat turned around or Mike could DIE!" Even though what he just said completely contradicted the fact that Mike couldn't possibly drown due to the curse, it didn't seem to matter for the moment. Don didn't wait for a vote on the topic. Instead, the bo-wielding turtle raced around Leo and Raph, bounding up the companionway stairs, taking three steps at a time. He quickly reached the helm above and hollered excitedly, "CAPTAIN SPARROW, YOU HAVE TO TURN THIS SHIP ABOUT…NOW!"

He found the pirate at the wheel, gripping the handholds tenaciously - one fist hard around the two o'clock pin, while the other clasped his precious compass. With his eyes fixed hard on the new horizon, he had a look of stern determination, seemingly oblivious to Donatello's presence.

Don repeated his urgent request a second time, and this time Jack replied, his eyes still facing towards the Pearl's bow, "Nay, laddie, can't do that, need t'put speed in them sails and get away, 'fore that frigate catches us." He stared hard towards the prow of the ship, ignoring Don and now Leo and Raph as they joined their brother. The rest of crew behaved as if unaware of Michelangelo's plight or his brother's petitions, but instead scrambled about, either on deck as they cinched sails tighter to coax more speed from the ship, or balancing on yardarms above, unfurling smaller sails previously tied up in reserve. Suddenly, as the newly released canvas snapped open with a loud proclamation, the wind caught the material and, almost immediately, the Pearl picked up momentum.

"BUT, BUT…MIKE FELL OVERBOARD!" Don declared loudly, grabbing the man' shoulder and turning him about in desperation, thereby garnering his gaze, "WE HAVE TO TURN BACK, Captain, we HAVE to!"

By this time, Leo and Raph had joined their panicky brother, but they watched, rather than interfered, standing behind Donatello, ready to press the issue if the pirate did not comply.

Shrugging from the turtle's grasp, Captain Sparrow's eyes narrowed at the mutant, "Serves'em right for not holdin' on. Nothin' but a waister, he was. 'Sides…" he looked ahead again, "He's a turtle, he can swim, unless…he can't, and then, doesn't matter anyway, he won't drown – the curse, remember? 'Sides, I still can't assist."

Now, all three turtles were yelling for the captain to turn the ship about. When Jack still refused, Leo and Raph both reached for their weapons.

Jack caught the threatening movement, though, and wasted no time. He whipped out his pistol and cocked the lever quickly as he brought it up smartly, pressing it hard into Donatello's beak. Don gulped. With one brow raised, the pirate lowered his voice in threat, eyeing the other turtles, "I suggest the two of ye still yer hand. Though yer brother here may not die, seein' as how we're cursed, I assures you, die or no, th'shot it'll sting like 'ell!" The man smiled broadly, exposing his gold-capped teeth.

Donatello nodded and took a step back, his two brothers reluctantly doing the same. For now, they left their weapons sheathed.

Jack smiled, "Now, there's a trio o'smart turtles."

Nonetheless, the murderous glare they showed him told Jack Sparrow that he had suddenly made an enemy times three.

In response, he quickly offered, the smallest hint of compassion edging his words, "Terribly sorry 'bout yer siblin', but…" the pirate briefly waved his gun in the direction of the ship's stern before quickly bringing it back to point at Don's beak, again. "If ye takes a look-see out the stern, ye will notice we're not alone on the high seas 'nymore. What's comin' might not take time t'understand ye three. Ay, we can fight," Jack nodded, "an' prob'ly sink the bugger ship, but…on the off chance we don't an' they clap all o'us in irons – an' the curse won't protect ye from that, laddies – ye'll be a curiosity t'em. So's they'll take ye back to good ol' England, an' given over t'doctors who likes t'fiddle with strange things such as yerselves, t' find out what ye are and how yer made, AND…" Jack poked Don's plastron with the end of his pistol, "what ticks - inside - this shell o'yers." Jack smiled broadly, "Given the fact yer cursed an' cannot die…ye'll watch as they cut ye open and screams ye will but ye can't do nothin' 'bout it, cuz tied down ye'll be!" He then finished with a smug grin, "So we run! Savvy?"

Leo's expression narrowed dangerously as he took one measured step towards the pirate, "We do not run, Captain. But if you insist on doing so, then please release one of your rowboats, so we can go rescue our brother."

"Nay, again, laddie, it'll take much too much time and time is naw what we have a lot of, ya see," Jack noticed the creatures expression grow more livid and so he added, "That frigate back there is fast, faster than the one I helmed not long ago by the looks of it, and one most likely captained by someone who wants me t'dance th' hempen jig…and personally speakin, boys, I 'aves no desire t'appease that rope!"

"What in the world is a Hempen Jig?"

"Th' hempen jig, Raphael," Jack replied airily, "is when you wear a noose-tie around yer neck and they hang you out like a puppet, kickin' and squirmin' 'til ye can't kick nor squirm n'more."

"Oh."

Then, using his gun again to gesture where he wanted the turtles, Jack added, "Now, ye three best get yerselves down below and outta me way, 'cuz if tha'which is chasin' us DOES manage t'catch up, they won't be fightin' w'swords and fancy forks." He waved his pistol about, implying the type of weapon his pursuers would use.

Raph growled, apparently insulted by such a trivial description of his precious weapons, and Jack smirked and cocked his head coyly.

"But, we can fight, Captain, we're not helpless here," Don interrupted, "and bullets obviously aren't a problem for us, either…the curse, remember?" Don saw Jack's expression fall and knew he had made a valid point.

Leo smiled and concurred, "That's right Captain Sparrow, my brothers and I are well trained in the art of warfare."

Raph nodded eagerly and cracking his knuckles as if to limber up.

Sparrow carefully studied the mutants for a moment, one eyebrow cocked in mild interest. Finally, he said, sarcasm dripping from each word, "Now, isn't tha' a surprise. War-farin' turtles? Who would a'magin." He harrumphed, then, "It's not news ye have courage, lads, given our first encounter on the recently disposed island." Jack took a deep measured breath, "But I have an agenda and I don't wants to waste time fightin'."

Before Leonardo could argue Jack's position, Gibbs came barreling up the companionway stairs, shouting his way over to the captain as he barged through the turtles, "I dunno how they did it, Cap'n, but tha' ship must 'ave caught a wind, 'cuz it's sailin' on a run. The frigate will soon be within firin' range!"

Sparrow spun around and stared hard behind him. The frigate was only a quarter mile away. Almost in answer to Gibb's proclamation, it fired one of its cannons as a warning. However, the ensuing projectile missed the Pearl by only a few yards. Jack's eyes flashed wide, "Bugger all, yer right, Mr. Gibbs. We need t'get more speed!" Jack turned and yelled at the men above, who were working the sails, "YOU, UP THERE, TIGHTEN THOSE SAILS MORE, OR WE'LL HAVE T'FIGHT!"

Gibbs cleared his throat and asked, "An…tha'would be bad because…"

"The Aztec's treasure, Mr. Gibbs? Curse or no, d'ya really wants t'risk the ship going t'ground…even a wee bit? Tis a deep part o'the sea we're in and I, fer one, care not t'retrieves the coins…from where Davy's Pet sleeps! Savvy?"

Gibbs nodded eagerly, almost nervously, eyes wide, "Aye, Cap'n, I sees what ye mean…" and he turned and raced back down the steps, yelling for the rest of the crew to "hurry up and frap that sail", or "someone unfurl the lateen", as well as threatening any sailor moving too slowly with a double dose of keelhauling.

Unfortunately, the moment his first mate left the helm, Sparrow found his pistol suddenly knocked from his hand. It fell to deck and skittered across the slick boards, out of reach of Jack. Before he could go for his cutlass, Raph had him by the throat, slamming the pirate against the mizzenmast behind him. As the enraged turtle pressed himself hard against the man to keep Jack from unsheathing his sword, Raphael growled, "I AM NOT LEAVIN' MIKE BEHIND, YOU FRICKIN' PIRATE!" And to prove his intent, Raph brought a sai into position close to Sparrow's face. While he slowly closed off Jack's windpipe, Raphael sneered, "Or we'll mutiny this ship and toss 'ye t'Davy Jones Locker', minus an EYE!" His smile widened malevolently.

Leo stood back and watched as Raphael strangled the captain. The red-wearing turtle's expression narrowed in intensity as his hand tightened around Jack's throat. However, no matter how much pressure Raph applied, the pirate just stood there hard against the mast, smiling, which infuriated the ninja even more.

"I can see yer rather serious about goin' after yer brother, I can understand that." Jack graveled out, his vocal chords chafing under his opponent's strength. "But…yer attempt t'strangle the breath outta me has a wee bit of a problem, mate."

"Wazzat?" Raphael growled.

"The curse, remember. If I can't die, then ye can't strangle me. Tis simple 'rithmatic, laddie."

Despite Sparrow's logic, Raphael refused to let go, and he spat, "Then I'll take an eye, or BOTH!"

For a moment, Jack's confidence waned a little. Finally, Leo came to his rescue.

"Raph, we're wasting time. Let him go. There…are better ways."

Before he released his captive, Raphael shoved his face close to Jack's, nearly spitting as he declared, "I promise ya this, Sparrow; the moment we're free from this curse, yer mine!"

Then, the turtle let go of Jack's throat and the pirate sidestepped around the mutant, coughing a bit. When he finally recovered, he grinned, "I much prefers women, laddie."

"Why YOU…" but before Raphael could reclaim Jack's throat again, Leo stepped in-between the two.

"Let it go, Raph, he's just baiting you. We have Mike to worry about, remember?"

The turtle in red stood there, glaring at the pirate, who smirked in reply. Finally, Raph conceded, "Yeah, yer right, Leo, but – seriously," and he glared at his brother, "this joker's gonna feel the business end of my sai the moment we're mortal again!"

"Fair enough."

Behind them Jack seemed to pat himself all over, whirling about, as he looked around, "Hey, where's m'cutlass?" squeaked Jack.

Leo smiled as he turned to face the man, "Right here, Captain." In the blue turtle's hand was the pirate the newly pilfered sword, taken from the man's bandolier during his encounter with Raphael.

Now, as the three mutants surrounded him, the mizzenmast still at his back, as three sets of weapons pointed at his face, Jack truly panicked.

Leonardo grimly instructed, "Now, Captain, you will do as we request and turn this ship around. If we have to engage in battle AFTER we rescue Mike, so be it, but I would rather go down with the ship – curse or no curse - with all of my brothers than leave even one of them behind!"

To emphasis Leonardo's words, Raphael brought his sai up towards the pirate's right eye again, "And curse or no curse, I bet this'll hurt just as much as a shot to Don's beak!"

Jack gulped and nodded, "Correct," and then he finally seemed to acquiesced, "I'll turn this ship about, just as ye request, but if I so much as lose even a single coin," the pirate's face tightened, despite the threat to his eyesight, "one o'you have t'fetch it, savvy?"

All three turtles slowly chorused and nodded, "Savvy!"

"Well, then," the pirate said cheerily and slipped around the mizzenmast, again, and out of reach of his opponents' weapons, "Les' get this boat about, shall we?"

Jack swaggered over to the helm, mindful of the three well-armed mutants behind him,

While Don and Raph bookended the pirate and with Leo at the man's back, Jack pocketed his compass, and then delicately grabbed the wheel pins. As he began turning the ship around, once again, the Pearl changed her course.

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For the first time since he had found himself resurrected from death's grip back on Isla de Muerta, Mike praised all that was holy for the curse. If it were not for that, he was certain he wouldn't have survived the Black Pearl slamming into him after he fell into the sea.

Now, with sinking apprehension, Mike watched as the ship completed its turn. He shouted again for help, hoping someone from the boat would hear him and alert the captain. Unfortunately, his efforts proved futile as the abrupt displacement of water by the Pearl created far too much noise. Now, the ship sailed away, heading west from where he floated. The wake itself nearly overcame the poor turtle and he had all he could do to stay afloat within the churning water. When the turbulence finally leveled out, Mike desperately looked back at the Pearl, searching, hoping someone had heard his pleas. Yet, not one person - or turtle – looked back, no one seemed to notice him in the sea, or maybe they didn't even care. After all, since the tsunami, he had overheard snatches of conversations from the crew about how much of a burden he was. He had heard them label him a waister, whatever that was.

Nevertheless, poor Mike could do nothing more but tread water while he stared forlornly at the retreating ship. Soon, a feeling of hopelessness crept into his usually joyful self.

As he allowed his gaze to travel up the stern and to settle on the captain's window, something caught Mikey's attention. It was a turtle looking out from the Jack Sparrow's personal quarters, a face pensive and resigned, and obviously oblivious to Mikey's plight. A face lined in purple!

Mike heartened.

Don's lack of reaction, though, caused Michelangelo's momentary joy to crash. For a moment, Mike was certain that even Don had missed noticing his baby brother floundering in the sea. All seemed lost.

"Great, my first time on a cruise and I'm lost at sea. First port I swim to, I'm filing a complaint!"

Mike thought about swimming after the Pearl, of course, but its sails had caught a good strong wind. Now, as it sped through the Caribbean full throttle, no way could he hope to catch up with it. He would most likely exhaust himself before that would happen. Defeated, Mike gave one last longing look at the distancing Pearl, trying to capture the receding image of Donatello staring out the window, and it was then when his genius brother gave a wide-eyed expression. In the next moment, Don turned sharply around and because of Mike's position in the water, disappeared from the orange-wearing turtle's view.

"YES!" Mike cheered loudly. Of course, he hoped he was correct, that Don had indeed seen him, but just to make absolutely sure, the turtle in orange waved frantically as he yelled, "SOMEBODY HEEEEELP, I'M DROWNING!"

Mike was certain that Donatello went to find Sparrow, maybe even to get the pirate to turn the Pearl about. As the minutes ticked by, though, and as the ship continued to pull away from him, it became all too clear to Mike that Don had not been successful.

Maybe he's getting back at me for teasing him? thought Mike, but he realized quickly that that wasn't Don's way.

Then again, Mike recalled Sparrow saying something about how the curse could change a man, make him more 'cuthroaty', greedy, and lusty (and that last one explained why Elizabeth at times seemed so alluring to Mike). Still, the longer Mike watched the ship as it sailed away, the more he realized with a sinking heart that the Black Pearl would not be changing its course. Consequently, Mike bobbed there in the Caribbean Sea, alone. A feeling of self-pity washed over him, suddenly, causing him to think about how much he was going to miss his brothers, his Sensei. It didn't take too long before Mike began to tear up and then, suddenly…. the Pearl changed her course again.

As it came about and began heading towards him, Mike cheered, pumping the air with one fist, only to then feel a tingling sensation nip at the back of his neck, a kind of warning, as if something was coming up behind him. It was then when he remembered the other ship.

Instinctively, the turtle dove under the waves, and just as he did, the frigate roared over the very spot where he had been.

As with the Pearl, Mike found himself rudely knocked around by the ship's forward hull, the wooden vessel tumbling him down and under in the water as it rode over him. The abrupt displacement of sea pushed him even deeper underneath the surface and Mike had to force himself not to panic, counting on the curse, again, to keep him alive. And it did just that and in the same way when he had walked the sea floor from Isla de Muerta with his brothers and Mr. Gibbs.

Once clear of the vessel, Mike stopped descending. He hovered there underwater and gazed upwards, watching as the frigate sailed overhead, a dark silhouette against the bright afternoon sun. As it continued its course towards the pirate's ship, Mike realized with sudden clarity that it was in pursuit, and more than likely to engage in battle.

Pirates, after all, were the scourge of the high seas and more than likely had bounties issued for either their capture or eradication. Mike knew from Splinter's history lessons that the British were the police of the open sea and their navies took great pains to bring such pirates to justice.

Quickly, the orange-wearing turtle swam to the surface and the first thing he heard when he did were explosions…and then more explosions. When he looked around for the two ships, he saw the frigate had pulled even with the Pearl. The two vessels were now sailing side by side, their cannons firing at one another. Plumes of smoke bellowed from each discharged cannon, with small explosions erupting on the frigate as the Pearl scored and then a similar bombardment hit the pirate's ship almost immediately. Fortunately, the vessels were too far apart to allow anyone to swing Tarzan-style to the opposing ships, so for now, it was a simple sea battle between the two, the crew of each trying to sink the other without engaging in actual hand-to-hand combat.

Mike wasn't sure how the curse worked with the ship, but that was his farthest and least important thought. He cared for only one thing.

"Great and here I am missing all the fun."

His need for adventure suddenly reborn, the orange-wearing turtle immediately began swimming towards the warring ships. As he did, Mike tried to decide which one to board.

"Lessee, the Brits probably have some great tea and scones, maybe some lemon curd…wait…that's right, I can't taste anything. Shoot." Mike stopped swimming for a moment, mulling over his problem. Before long, he came to a quick resolution and began swimming again, "Well, guess it's back to the Pearl, at least they know me there and 'sides…my bros are there and they're just as unhungry as I am!"

It was then, when Mike discovered a new problem.

"How in blazes am I goin' t'get up to deck and not get blown to pieces? Well, not that it matters, cuz I'm cursed and all, but…yeah, dude?" He thought for a moment and suddenly brightened, "Hey, if Don caused Sparrow to turn the ship around, I bet he or Leo or even Raph are waiting to throw me a rope!" Another explosive boom resonated over the water and Mike sighed, "No, they're probably watching the show. How can they not? Well, I'm ninja, I'll think of something, but I have to get over there first."

Once he reached the warring ships, Mike looked up and stared at the Pearl. Since the ship had turned around, no longer could Mike see the captain's window. The bow sprit from which he fell loomed high overhead, teasing him, reminding Mike how stupid he had been for not being more aware. He hoped to see Don or Leo – or even Raph looking for him, but the longer he waited without even a hint of a brother, the more Mikey realized they probably had more important things to do.

"Shoot, now what…" but he found his thoughts interrupted when something fell in the water just in front of him, shooting up a huge spray of sea. When nothing else happened, Mike figured it was just a wayward cannon ball overshooting its target – the Pearl, in this case.

Yet, as it fell out of sight on its way to the bottom of the sea, hundreds if not thousands of feet below him, Mike had sudden visions of monsters. Credit his love of movies, such as Jaws and Twenty-thousand Leagues under the sea. Once again, Mike had a good enough reason to shout for help.

"HELP, HELP, SOMEBODY TOSS ME A ROPE!"

Still, no one seemed to hear or notice him. Then again, with the concussion of explosions and shouts of battle cries from the crew, it wasn't any wonder. And where the ship's stern proved an effective barrier, Mike realized that no one would see him either. So, Mike swam around to the port side of the pirate's ship and away from where the battle raged. As he came alongside the Pearl, Michelangelo scanned the bulwarks above hoping to catch someone's attention. What crew he saw hung on lines and yardarms high above the deck, firing their pistols towards the starboard side andwhere the frigate was. Of course, no one thought to look his way, and why would they? Their attention was on shooting the enemy than on wondering where some waister of a mutant turtle was.

"Why would anyone even care," Mike lamented sorely.

All of a sudden, a familiar face came into view as it peered over the railing above. It was a rather pretty and familiar face, too. Mike knew right away that it wasn't Gibbs or Jack – or even Raph.

It was…Elizabeth Swann. She seemed to be reloading her weapon and just happened to look over the edge of the ship. That was when she saw Mikey.

"HEY, LIZ BABY…" Mike shouted happily, bobbing like a cork in the sea, and grinning up at the woman.

Elizabeth scowled down at him with all the air of a spoiled princess – or someone too busy to care in that moment. Instead of calling for someone to help him or even toss Mikey a line, Ms. Swann moved out of the floundering turtle's line of sight.

Mike began to panic, now, his yell turning into a girly scream, "HEY, DON'T DO THAT, DON'T GO...away." Now, he really pouted and as the wallowing turtle dropped his gaze to the side of the ship, he suddenly cheered.

Handholds! The side of the ship had handholds! Well, horizontal slats, anyway, which were just as good as any handhold, probably had something to do with keeping the boards of the boat intact, Mike thought, but they would do well enough for climbing! "I am ninja, after all!"

Not wasting a moment, he quickly swam towards the ship, using the waves to speed him along. As he came to the Pearl, he found himself vaulted high against the vessel by one very large wave. It deposited him against the hull and as he felt wood, he grabbed the side, and soon found a slat. Digging his fingers firmly into the horizontal boards, Mikey held on tenaciously as the wave dropped back down to the sea again. Then, Michelangelo began to climb. Grabbing the one-inch wide slats, Mike hauled himself up and as soon as his toes found purchase, he focused himself on getting to the deck above. Pushing both feet against the side of the ship, he began to grab-and-push, grab-and-push.

Suddenly, Michelangelo heard someone call out his name.

"MIKEY?"

Mike looked up and when he saw a familiar purple mask, the turtle in orange grinned as wide as the sea itself.

Don, good old wonderful brother Don, the brother Mike had teased, the brother he had dubbed Mr. Messdeck Lawyer extraordinaire, the brother who would be justified in flipping Mike off for all the trouble he had caused him.

Mike grinned even bigger and gave his wonderful brother the largest puppy-dog eyes he could muster, "Hey, Donnie-san, my knight in shining armor, my favoritest brother in the whole world, what's the deal here, you start a war and didn't invite me? Com'on, toss me a rope, will ya?"

TBC

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A/N – Waister means an incompetent sailor; frap means to tighten the sails; lateen is a triangular sail rigged on a ship's spar – or bowsprit, which is what Mike straddled in the previous chapter: and keelhauling is a type of punishment where a sailor is stripped of clothes and then tied to a weighted line (his hands and legs bound to prevent him from swimming). He's then dragged quickly underwater from one side of the ship to the other. Usually, the man drowns or becomes severely injured by the barnacles on the hull. If 'there be sharks in them waters' and with the ensuing loss of blood due to shredded skin, consider said sailor 'fish bait'.

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