Alternative Ending - Chapter Three: Too Many Questions
Jack's ship pulled out of Louisiana swiftly. Mr. Gibbs was more confused than anyone as to why things were going as they were. According to the captain, he had already met up with the Black Pearl, and yet he and the boy were back on this ship. It seemed like a pointless detour. It was a question that seriously required answering.
"I don't get it, Captain. Why bring him back? You went to find the Pearl, took him for the ride, you did, only to bring him back? I'm afraid I don't follow."
Jack lowered his voice, ensuring that the boy was not in listening range.
"That boy is the grandson of so-called Captain Barbossa."
"Grandson? How's came he by that? Didn't know he had a son," Gibbs replied.
"A daughter actually."
"Fancy that."
"Barbossa used to bring her back when I captained the Maid."
"Before the Pearl?"
"I was in-between ships at the time," Jack said.
"But you met 'im in Tortuga. Came in lookin' fer a crew you did. Nothin' but cutthroats and mutineers. Marooned you to take the gold fer themselves," Gibbs recited.
Jack went blank for a moment. He knew that if he was to correct Gibbs on this detail, the rest would surely follow.
"I knew some of them beforehand," Jack said trying to cover his tracks. He figured that it was enough for Gibbs to believe. After all, Gibbs passed on the story of the sea turtles like a religious crusade. It was nice to know that someone had such relentless faith in the captain's abilities.
"Is it true that everyone thought that you were dead?" a voice asked from behind them.
Obviously they weren't as quiet as Jack had hoped.
"I thought you were asleep?" Jack said to the boy. "Go on back to bed."
"I'm on a pirate ship, I hardly think that bedtimes apply."
"On my ship it does. Go on now," Jack said.
"Fine, I will," Tristan said, "after you answer the question."
Jack sighed.
"I can't get to sleep if my mind is curious. It'll keep me up all night."
"I hate when that happens," Gibbs said. "Just the other night I be laying down when that toad of a woman popped into me mind. For the life of me I couldn't remember what it was we called her. Drove me half mad tossin' and turnin' over it."
Jack stared at the man with a furrowed brow. Then he said, "Mr. Gibbs, take over the wheel." Gibbs saluted and hopped to his post. "And you," he said turning to the boy, "to bed with you." He walked the boy there, scooting him along by pushing his back forward. "Your mother put you in my charge."
"I was in your charge before you knew that she was mother," the boy pointed out coyly.
"Well I know now, don't I?"
The boy stopped and turned to face the captain.
"You are, aren't you?" Tristan said hopefully.
Jack looked puzzled.
"You knew my mother. You hate my stepfather. You were missing for twelve years. I'm nearly twelve years old," Tristan said, listing each on his fingers.
"I think that's enough for tonight," Jack said.
"Admit it," the boy said excitedly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jack said dismissively.
"You're my father," Tristan said louder than Jack would have liked.
A few heads turned Jack's way.
"I think you've had a little too much excitement for one day, son," Jack said.
"See!" Tristan said. "You know it! That's not the first time that you've called me son."
"It's a common pronoun, everyone uses it. Get to bed."
"I can't sleep now!" the boy protested. "I have to know. Please!"
"Your mother would kill me if she heard you going on like that."
"Did you love her?"
"What?" Jack said caught off guard by the sudden question.
"My mother. Did you love her?"
It was no use, the boy was relentless. With each question his energy seemed to build up stronger and stronger. He was practically jumping out of his skin at the moment. Jack couldn't imagine what one more question would do to the boy.
"She was, is, a fine woman."
"So why did you leave her?"
"Some things are too complicated for straight answers. Now get to bed."
Tristan was content. Although Jack didn't readily answer his questions directly, his inability to deny them proved everything.
"Goodnight, Captain," Tristan said bouncing off to bed.
"Goodnight, son –" Jack said, realizing his mistake the moment he said it, "er, lad," he attempted to correct.
"See!" Tristan cried out excitedly.
Jack panicked and shut the cabin door. He rested his back against it, trying to catch his breath and disentangle his thoughts. Never before had Jack ever been so bombarded with questions and accusations…well, perhaps on a few past occasions. Tristan was truly his mother's son. Thinking about that way, Jack could only smile and laugh.