Pairings: JS/OC, WT/ES
Overview: The Infamous Captain Jack Sparrow has had interesting acquaintances and activities in the past. This story is of a chain of many events that have gone awry, and come back to haunt him.
Disclaimer: -sings and dances- I own nothiiiiing... -disappears into the distance-
A/N: For future reference, italics are thoughts, and bold is emphasis.
Thanks to all those who reviewed my story! - I very much appreciate it.
Chapter Two: Who Knows
Where Jack goes hunting for help, Will gets annoyed, and memories are brought to light.
Jack vaguely heard the bell for the Dog's Watch. He was staring down at the map on his desk, unable to concentrate. Blinking a few times, he looked at the bottle of rum in his hand. The half-full bottle of rum in his hand. He lifted it to his mouth, but paused before he took a swing. One second… two seconds. Then he slammed it back down on the desk with an aggravated groan, the amber liquid sloshing around, a drop falling on the map, only to be sucked up greedily a moment later.
"Now that is a shame." Jack looked morosely at the bottle by his hand, before pushing himself away from the desk, leaving the rum on it's own. It was surreal. So concerned over these thoughts which plagued him, Jack could not drink. Much. And that really concerned him.
He kept replying a conversation over and over again.
She had asked for the truth.
He had responded with a lie.
"Listen Jack, I just want the truth. Is that so hard to give?"
"Fine luv." Jack sighed. "The truth is… the truth is… is… that I really… really cannot stand you."
The truth is I love you, More than I wanted to, more than I believed I could ever love. I… a pirate loves the sea, and can have no other mistress, but, oh, how I wanted-
"Trust me, Sparrow, the feeling is mutual."
"Only two and a half bottles of rum. That is a shame…" Jack stood up and stretched, thinking that perhaps a walk on the deck of his Pearl might make him more thirsty. This lack of drinking was… disturbing. Unnatural even. What's worse is that the reason for this here disturbance could be… her. Jack shuddered, quickly pushing the thought from his mind. It was bad enough he was worrying over this woman, but to admit to it? No, that was to a path that the Whelp had taken. No no no no no, Jack knew better than to love a woman, any woman.
Staring back at his rum, Jack had a thought. Perhaps the Whelp could help. The more he thought about it, the better he felt. With his usual loopy grin pasted upon his face, Jack went back to his rum, and downed the bottle.
Yes, the Whelp can help.
The sun rose on the faded jet sails of the Black Pearl, and the crew was murmuring over the invigorated Captain at the wheel.
"Mister Gibbs!"
"Aye Capt'n?"
"Set sail for the nearest port, we be needing… a new crewmember."
Joshamee Gibbs, though perplexed, did exactly as the Captain asked of him – he knew well enough by now not to question any of Jack's daft plans. They usually worked out in surprising ways – with lots of shiny things.
By evening, the Pearl reached a small port, mostly unknown by the name of Port Jacob. Jack announced to his crew that they would be having shore leave for the next two days while he attended to some business, and the jubilant crew didn't question their captain. Many of the pirates made their way to the pubs and the brothels of the port while a few remained behind to watch the Pearl. Jack went off on his own, disappearing into the night. No one thought much of it, what the captain did was his own business, and it was better not to get in his way.
Two days later he returned with an elderly man, who wore a ragged cap on his head, and had a mostly toothless grin.
"Lads, this be Peter, he'll be accompanying us for a while. Help him get settled in." With that, Jack disappeared below deck. The crew looked at one another, puzzled, but shrugged and helped "Peter" get settled into a bunk below.
Within a day, the crew was all grumbling over Peter. He was slow, had poor eyesight and smelt bad. Jack just sagely smiled when Gibbs tentatively mentioned this to the captain, and informed the first mate that Peter wouldn't be onboard for much longer, then dismissed Gibbs.
Two days later, Jack arose with the sun, and grinned. Today was the day. The crew was stirring below deck as Jack climbed the stairs to look over the horizon.
However, Jack waited until midday when he made his move.
Moseying over to Peter, the Captain "attempted to help" Peter with tying off a rope, and somehow inadvertently caused the poor old man with the gimp leg to fall overboard.
"Man overboard!"
"Get the line!"
"Belay that! He'll be fine." The crew looked at Captain Jack in shock, to see him smiling most chillingly. They looked back overboard to see Peter flailing in the water.
"Er, Capt'n? Are we going to –"
"Just wait."
And wait they did. A few moments later, they watched as the arm slid below the surface. Mister Gibbs crossed himself.
A few moments later, a sail was seen on the horizon.
"Captain! It's the Flying Dutchman!"
"Right on time. Mister Gibbs! Hoist the colours!"
"Aye Capt'n!"
The Dutchman moved closer and Jack stood at the bow of the Pearl, waiting. William Turner materialised out of the wall beside him.
"Ah, Master Turner. So good to see you. I trust the Dutchman treats you well."
"Why are you here Jack?"
"Is that any way to greet a good friend?"
"Jack…"
"Oh, fine, if you really must know, I'm in a bit of a predicament. Over a woman."
"Aren't you always Jack? And did you drop that man off your ship just so you could talk to me?"
"Aye, he was annoying, but that's asides the point William. This is a different sort of problem."
"Well, you just killed a man so you could talk to me, I do suppose that would qualify as a different sort of problem. Shall we talk on the Pearl, or on the Dutchman?"
"The Pearl's closer. Come to my cabin."
A few moments later, William was trying to wrap his head around the problem for the fifth time.
"Alright, let me get try to get this straight Jack. You love her."
"Aye."
"And she loves you."
"Well, in a round about, possible kind of fashion, one could say that –"
"Jack, yes or no. That simple."
"It would appear that way, yes."
"Then what is the problem here!"
"William… do you see a lass on board, aside from Anamaria?"
"No, I did not."
"That is the problem. I've been having the worst… thoughts, ever since I left her on Tortuga."
"You left her on Tortuga? Well, that's one of your problems right there. You know what that town is like!"
"Aye, that I do…" Jack grinned, reminiscing.
"Jack, what do you want me to help you with?"
"I want to know why I feel like … like I'm drowning on land. Like I've misplaced something, or I'm forgetting something important. There's this nagging feeling… and I feel all worried all the time. Will, I never feel worried!"
"Perhaps Jack… you've gotten attached to her."
"No!"
"Jack, just consider it! You've already dealt with the other possibilities, haven't you?"
"Aye… and none of them fit. I couldn't drink rum Will!"
"Oh, this is serious."
"Aye. So, what do I do?"
"Perhaps you ought to go talk to the girl."
"You think?"
Will stood up. "If all you've said is true, then perhaps you should. But I have to get going, there are more souls I need to ferry. And we need to find you a better way of contacting me Jack."
Jack smiled. "Aye that we do."
"Just consider what I said, all right? And give it a try, it's better than nothing. If that doesn't work, find me again."
"Aye Will."
Will left through the wall, disappearing as if he had never been, and Jack headed back out on deck, the bright afternoon Caribbean sun greeting him. "Alright lads, set sail for Tortuga!"
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