Disclaimer: Yes, no I don't own them. One more chapter dusted off and uploaded for my faithful readers. Can't remember if this was part of the original chapter 25, but I know I've added LOTS to it, so hopefully it won't read too repetitively. Funny thing about a hiatus, it gives you time to think about subplots without the pressure of having to write. :0)

The italicized part is a flashback scene. All others between normal font style are thoughts.

Enough said. Enjoy!

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Chapter 27 – WHAT…ARE YOU DAFT?

As the Pearl sailed away, leaving in her wake a smoldering and beaten enemy, a lone turtle stood atop the poop deck. With arms at his side, Leonardo bowed his head towards the stricken HMS Falcon, now almost out of sight. He thought long and hard about what had happened. The ship was small, now, barely noticeable against the darkening, northeastern horizon, but Leo knew that a frenzied and desperate crew raced about the British decks. Likewise, his own brothers were helping the pirate crew tighten the Pearl's canvas for quicker sailing, not wanting to linger too long in the area. It was a given that another British frigate could be in the area, patrolling the waters in the same way as the Falcon had. The ominous cloud of smoke coming from the beleaguered ship would be all its contemporaries would need to know that something was amiss and it would be their task to investigate it, too. Of course, the Pearl had her own cloud, an ever-present billowing fog that followed her, but it was as obvious a sign as the black cloud rising about the Falcon that spoke of something 'different' and 'strange'.

Meanwhile, as Jack's crew worked to distance the Pearl from the scene of battle, the pirate captain steered the vessel southwest.

High above the man on the upper deck and offering one more long look towards the British, Leonardo finally mumbled a Japanese prayer Splinter had taught him years ago, for such a time when and if he ever killed an innocent. As far as Leo was concerned, the Falcon's crewmen were innocent, where the curse did not protect them. Of course, he knew it was impossible to prevent any deaths at all, considering the circumstances, and because of that, the turtle forgave himself…and his brothers. Still, this did not diminish his grief. Leo understood that with her sails torn and the pilot's wheel decimated by cannon fire, the HMS Falcon could do nothing more than drift in the warm Caribbean waters. She was, as they say, a 'sitting duck' for other pirates.

Earlier, and, just as Leo predicted, her crew had freed themselves quickly before the Pearl slipped too far away. With his keen eyesight, he had seen the youth free himself of the ropes first…and Leo couldn't help but smile. Mikey had been the one to tie up the lad, so he probably didn't tie the boy too tightly, fearing injuring him. Or, maybe Mike figured the boy wouldn't have the dexterity to free the others too quickly and, so, made sure the young man would be first to undo his binds.

Either way, the Pearl had been a quarter mile out before the child freed himself and it didn't take long for him to do likewise to one of the officers. Then, it only took a short while before all hands were running about, fixing the damaged ship.

Leonardo figured it would take them many days to have their vessel repaired well enough to set sail again. Maybe they would even give chase, but he doubted it. No, Leo was certain that Captain Williamson would head back to port for further repairs and, while there, most likely alert the authorities for reinforcements. Then, the British would once again give chase against the Black Pearl. It would be a moot point, of course, since the Pearl already had a sizable head start. In the vastness of the Caribbean Sea, it would be difficult to find her, but once anchored off whatever coast or island Jack's compass led them to would eventually make the Pearl an easy target. Leo hoped, of course, that if that happened, by then he and his brothers would have found a way back home again.

He groaned, suddenly, remembering the fight, remembering how close he came to relinquishing his hold on his self-control, of giving in to his lust for blood. Yes, he had done well, thwarting the need to kill, and keeping his brothers to their honor-bound ways by helping to save as many of the British soldiers as was possible. It was after the fact, after they had boarded the frigate, when he – and they - had tasted the other insatiable part of the curse, the need to satiate a ravishing greed. It had certainly blindsided him. It came totally unexpected. Leonardo never thought he would ever experience such a consuming lust before. It was certainly not only a lesson with how strong the curse was, but it also reminded him just how valuable Splinter's training and lessons were. He made a promise to himself right then to be watchful for any other misguided and curse-induced 'feelings' or 'inklings'.

As Leonardo continued watching the slowly darkening horizon, below him at the helm, Jack Sparrow guided the ship. The turtle heard the man mumble under his breath and Leo smiled, "Ah, Captain Sparrow, tis indeed a hard thing to do, to be kind and merciful when it's not necessary to be cruel."

Then again, it wasn't because of leaving the frigate intact that bedeviled the man. No, it was something much more contentious than that. Smiling, Leo allowed the pirate to fume unchallenged, knowing it was better than not hearing anything from the man at all. Leonardo had learned long ago that a silent rage was a dangerous one and thoughts of his brother, Raphael, came to mind. As his keen hearing allowed him to eavesdrop on the captain's continuing litany of complaints, he smiled.

"T'was bad enough to have that retched beast talk me out of me rightful pillagin'," Jack huffed indignantly and cursed under his breath. With one hand on the wheel, the other grasping his compass, "but…" he growled, "givin' one o'me longboats t'th'British scum…an' without permiss'n…should warrant a guttin."

Yes, indeed, Leonardo would long remember the confrontation, Sparrow going red-faced, as he challenged the turtle's request...

"WHAT D'YA JUST DO, YOU INSEPID INFIDEL? ARE YOU DAFT?"

The reptile's latest suggestion seemed to be the final straw for the man and one where the captain had been prepared to rally his crew and toss the four mutants overboard. Jack would have, too, but he had had a niggling feeling the turtles wouldn't dismiss so easily, not with how well they fought against the British. It only added weight to his concerns…and fearing another mutiny if he pressed any issue that challenged Leonardo's sense of honor. So, Sparrow held himself in check, but he did allow himself the pleasure of complaining about it. And, unsurprisingly, Leonardo had a well-planned reply, too.

"No, Captain, I am not daft," Leo countered confidently, all while his brothers stood guard between him and the crew crowding around the confrontation, "but those men over there were only following orders, much like your own men." Leo waved one arm to include the motley collection of buccaneer sailors that surrounded him and Jack. For a moment, their discontent stilled, apparently fascinated with the mutant's reasoning. The turtle continued his explanation, "Their own longboats are destroyed, Captain, and if there is more damage to their ship and it sinks, they'll need something to keep them from drowning."

"They all knows the risks of goin' t'battle, turtle!" Jack had spat, "as do me men. It's just simple facts and ones the lot of us has accepted from the get go."

As the men audibly agreed with their captain, Leo persisted, "Still, they probably have families back home. Offering them a bit of help, along with knowing you stopped short of destroying them, they will remember your kind deed long after this day!"

A few of Jack's men nodded in mild agreement, apparently switching sides. The talked amongst themselves, some wiping tears as they thought about their own families left behind. Smiling, Leo cocked one eye ridge, and added, "And…they may even sing songs about you!"

Now, some of the crew became excited, intrigued with such an outcome. Sparrow, too, seemed mildly interested. For a moment, a wistful expression crossed his face, but it was only for a moment. After all, the Black Pearl was still his ship, which meant her longboats belonged to him, too. For this interfering reptile to take things into his own hands by giving said property to the enemy (which was a first for any pirate ship, everyone readily agreed), was a sin justifying a flogging, if not a keelhauling.

Jack quickly recovered from his thoughtful moment, "Takin' their rum probably angered'em more than a boat would appease. I don't thinks they will consider it square, laddie. I knows I wouldn't!" Sparrow wagged a finger in Leo's face, 'Sides, I've worked long 'n hard on creatin' a cutthroat rep'tation," to which a chorus of affirmed 'ayes' rang out from his crew, "but this 'kind deed' ye did will put ALL o'tha'inta'QUESTION!" More noisy confirmations came from the men as they stood behind their captain.

Leo replied softly in rebuttal, "They're only MEN, Captain Sparrow, and if honorable men, they now know that you chose not to destroy them."

"You gave the boat, lad, but I took their rum! And in these parts, Mister Leonardo," Sparrow narrowed his eyes in threat, "ye don't take another man's rum. 'Sides, there be many versions of what ye call 'honorable'."

Still more "ayes" and "right ye are 'bout that, Cap'n," sang out from the crew, bolstering Jack Sparrow's position. He stood a bit straighter, a wry smile to his lips.

"Yes, I know," Leo countered, giving the captain a critical look, lowering his own voice in warning, "But I will NOT take part in murder, no matter what!"

His final remark seemed to quell the crew's hot and heady support for Jack. To have this creature boldly title their thwarted plans of mayhem with its correct definition seemed a bit more transparent than to what they were accustomed. Curse or no, quirky terms were an easy way to describe the ugly aspect of piratedom, but to hear the very word that said it best seemed to quench the conflict. Ultimately, the idea of flogging or keelhauling Leonardo waned in popularity. After all, the purpose behind their sailing was in returning the gold it to its rightful owners. Running into a battle hadn't been on their agenda.

"Cap'n," Gibbs slipped up next to Jack, "don't ferget, we have a mission, a quest, that's more urgent than arguin' over one longboat. I fer one would gladly give th'British both…" to which Gibbs cringed as Jack shot him a withering, warning glance, so he hurriedly explained, "if it means we gets t'where we needs t'be in order t'give the gold back…and relieve us all of this blasted curse! Yes?"

Jack stared at the man, his mind conflicting between what he wanted to do and what he needed to do. His eyes blazed dangerously from his contempt over losing anything that he deemed his, but eventually, the weight of Gibbs words proved more truthful that irritating.

Finally, "Indeed, Mr. Gibbs, the curse tis a bothersome tic, is it not?" Jack grimaced sourly, "I so miss…tasting food – and other experiences," he glanced over at Elizabeth, who narrowed her own expression in warning. He sighed, then, and shrugged, "Well, then," he turned back to Leonardo, "I will forgives ya this one offense, turtle, but next time – do me a favor," he smiled a little, "confer with me first before 'donating' any further property that belongs t'me. Savvy?"

Leo inclined his head just a little, "I will, Captain."

Soon after, the men had dispersed to go about their duties, doing whatever it was that would speed the Pearl to their destination, with Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello assisting where they could. As Sparrow resumed his position behind the helm, Leonardo retired to the poop deck for what he said would be a time of contemplation, promising his brothers that he would join them soon enough.

Now, well after the confrontation and his prayer, Leo remained atop the highest deck, staring after the HMS Falcon, now just a speck along the horizon. When he could no longer see the frigate, due both to distance and the graduating dark, Leo rejoined Sparrow at the helm.

The two stood at the wheel, side by side, with Jack steering and Leo watching the horizon. Leonardo saw how he and Sparrow were similar in many ways, two leaders, yet two vastly different individuals, with an equally distinct set of standards and life experiences. The same, but different. Apples and oranges, Leonardo thought. He swallowed dryly, then, quickly dismissing his analogy, as it conjured up a hunger he knew he could not satisfy.

Taking advantage of Leonardo's close proximity, Jack launched into yet another complaint about the mutant's charitable 'gift'.

"Good deed or no, I cannaw understand why you did that," the pirate whined on, "What if we finds ourselves needin' tha' boat?"

"Curse, remember?" Leo grinned as he stood beside the captain. While Jack sneered at him, the turtle continued, "Remember, I'm just trying to improve your reputation."

"I does well enough on me own, I tolds ye that!" Jack snapped, looking straightaway at his horizon again, his chin tilted in defiance, "But if we go t'ground, I'm holdin' ye responsible."

"If we go to ground, Captain, it won't be because of me. Remember, you're the one steering!" Leo chuckled and took in a deep breath of salted air.

Jack gave the mutant a sideways glance, "Bugger all, yer a crafty one, tha's fer sure."

"So I'm told." Leo was silent for a moment as he stood next to Jack. The late afternoon was nearing its last few moments and the first stars winked on in the east, announcing the coming evening. As the sun touched its watery horizon, a salt-laden breeze came up, blowing over the Pearl, and whipping about the ninja's bandanna tails. While the ship cut through the ocean, the turtle stood firm, riding the deck like an experienced sailor, while the Pearl undulated with the waves. He breathed in deeply, again, but it didn't give him the kind of relief he would have normally felt. For a moment, Leonardo remembered the curse anew.

Sighing, Leo turned to the pirate, asking, "So, Captain, do you know where we're heading?"

"Of course. I'm the captain." Jack stood a bit straighter, holding his head a tad higher, his chin thrust slightly forward, as if posturing himself in this way would prove his words.

"What I mean, Captain, do you know where to find these Aztecs?"

"Oh, that. Well..." Jack hitched one shoulder in a half-shrug and he cocked his head a little, "...tha's diff'rent. I sort of know where t'go t'get t'where we needs t'be…in order t'find 'em. It's kind of an…instincts thing."

"Do you have a map?"

Jack smiled at the mutant's simple question and held up his compass in such a way so that Leo could see the inside. With its top flipped back to expose the navigational card, the needle pointed oddly towards the southwestern horizon. "I have's this and it'll get us t'where we needs t'be, mark me words."

Leo stared curiously at the device. There was something odd about this compass, but he ignored it for the moment to ask the pirate, "How can a simple compass tell us where to find a group of people. It's suppose to tell you which direction to go, not who to find. Compasses operate on the magnetic pull of the north…"

Jack shook his head impatiently, declaring as he interrupted the turtle, "My heart, laddie. It's akin to m'heart and any desires I may'ave…and…I desires t'find these Aztecs, t'return their accursed gold."

"And once we do that…we'll be free of the curse?"

"Sort of."

"Ah…wh - what do you mean, sort of?"

Sparrow cocked his head coyly and gave a toothy grin to the turtle, gold teeth glinting in the late afternoon sun, "There be a bit of condition to…liftin' this accursed curse. Some…things have t'be offered first…willingly, or not, but offered they needs t'be or we stays cursed…forever."

"Then, we do what we must to break the curse, correct?"

Jack Sparrow beamed brightly, "Laddie, if tha'is yer mindset, then y'ave made me task of returnin' the gold much more easier." He gave a slight bow of his head and turned a smiling face towards his horizon once more, "But, given what I knows of this – curse," he gave a sideways glance to the turtle, "…y'best be makin' sure your brethren align themselves with our task."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Captain," Leo smiled eagerly, "we all want to return to our normal, mortal selves and find our way back home. Mike especially. He's never felt so lost without food." Leo chuckled a bit, but then he went serious again, "Only, I don't know how to find our way back home once we return your gold."

Jack glanced at the turtle and gave a sympathetic grin, "Maybe if I lets you hold me compass a while…" but then he seemed to change his mind with his next set of words, pulling the device close to his breast again, "Ah, but naw'until after we find th'Aztecs, of course."

"Of course, Captain, that is our first priority."

"Me thoughts exactly!" Jack grinned wider.

"Well, I think I'll go down to join my brothers. I'm sure I can help in some way besides keep you company. I'll leave you to your task, Captain." Leo turned towards the stairs, but then gave a look back over his shoulder at the pirate, "And thank-you, again, for not leaving Mike behind."

Sparrow sniffed indignantly and then smiled, "Ye didn't give me much choice, laddie, but – as it turned out – I'm glad I did. Yer brother…is far more than a th'waister we thought he was. Proved hisself in th'fight, he did."

Leo smiled softly as he said, "He'll be glad to know that," and then the turtle slipped down the steps to the deck below.

As he watched the turtle rejoin his brothers and the rest of the crew, Sparrow silently steered the ship. He had to wonder if New York township was truly the reptiles' home. How could such beings as walking, talking turtles, and whose fighting skills were far more effective than any he had seen so far, call New Amsterdam home with not a rumor or legend preceding them? It had been a question nagging the captain ever since they explained their existence way back on that suffering island. Certainly if a witch had cursed them, the magistrates back in New York would have knowledge of her. Certainly, they would have brought this sorceress to justice, or…maybe there wasn't any witch at all?

That was when Jack's breath hitched with sudden alarm. Did not turtles in general live in and near water? Maybe these four were sea turtles at one time? Possibly these beasties were in league with Neptune himself, just as the pirate had first theorized, and if so, then Calypso would most likely know of them, too.

This bit of understanding did not fill Jack with much enthusiasm or confidence. Given what the Brethren Court did to the 'lady of the sea', and even though the wench no longer patrolled these waters, Tia Dama might still have ways to fulfill her need for revenge. That is, if she even thought Jack had taken part in her sticky situation.

"Maybe these beasties will do t'us as Neptune hisself does to sailors tossed overboard. Turn us all into porpoises…" and the pirate's eyes widened further with his next thought, "…or, maybe turn us into sea turtles?"

That idea had him just a bit spooked. Knowing the kind of delicacy such creatures offered sailors, sailors such as his men, Jack imagined himself harpooned and made into salamagundi stew. Of course, none of this would happen until after he satisfied the antidote to the curse. Regardless, this did not sit well with Captain Sparrow. It seemed far worse than his other concerns of losing a longboat. He shuddered, then, imagining the horror. Suddenly, Jack realized his only redeeming act might be to help these creatures find their way home after all. In fact, maybe that was the test; he had to show – compassion!

Jack made a sour face and clicked his tongue in disgust, reacting as one would to sucking a lemon. He spat and then inhaled the salted air. It seemed to clear his head a bit, but he had to admit, "Can't make a habit of tha'one, tha's for sure. But, maybe just this once, I can be…charitable."

The more Jack thought about it, the more he was certain that this was indeed a test. This kindness thing was something he had to prove. Given the fact that Leonardo said as much with regards to the Pearl's rowboat, now in the hands of the British navy, it was more likely true than not.

"Hmm…possibly doing these few measly acts might free meself of me other transgressions…and commitments," Jack mused and he couldn't help but smile deviously, "Couldn't hurt, that's for sure."

With that thought, he decided he would take into consideration any further suggestions from the turtle Leonardo. It might very well appease the gods and possibly satisfy his other problem, a concern he knew would come upon him soon enough. It was one that could – if not all went well – condemn him to scour the seas forever in search of doomed sailors. He shuddered involuntarily just thinking about it and glanced quickly at the palm of his hand, almost expectant.

Just as it had for the past twelve and half years, his hand showed clean of any black spot. He smiled in relief and let out a long, breathy sigh, taking in his horizon once again. Tightening his hold on the wheel, Jack gave a quick glance at his compass, to get his bearings, and turned the wheel westward a bit more. With his hexed device in hand, the battle done and over with, and still no black spot to beleaguer him, Jack Sparrow settled in for the long night ahead.

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TBC