I'll Do Anything
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The blue uniform was now replaced with a red dress that suited her more. Isabelle marched down the hallway, her heels rapping against the wooden floor. After a lot of thinking - something she had done while trying to understand the fact that her brother had been kidnapped - she had decided that she was going to head after the Black Pearl and the pirates on it, with or without Norrington. She wasn't going to let them get away with taking Johnathan. Not without a fight.
Her dark eyes blazing, Isabelle's right hand went to the sword at her left side. Although Mary had protested - saying that a lady shouldn't be anywhere near a sword, let alone have one at her side - Isabelle ignored it, she wasn't going to go out and about without it now. She wanted to be ready when she found the ones that had kidnapped her brother.
The officers that were guarding the door nodded to her as they opened the door to outside, but she didn't pass through yet. "I'm looking for Commodore Norrington, do either of you know where he is?" she asked.
"And you are..."
"His fiancé," Isabelle said sharply. She didn't have time for questions, not when she needed to find out what Norrington was going to do.
"Oh. Sorry, Miss Bennett," said one of the officers, probably remembering her from the announcement made yesterday, " - Commodore Norrington is that way," he said, pointing her in the general direction. "He's looking over some charts with Governor Swann."
"Thank you, officer." Stepping out into the courtyard, Isabelle winced at the bright morning sun, which was climbing high into the sky. There were plenty of soldiers about, most of them cleaning up but trying to get rid of the rubble or bodies that seemed to be everywhere. It was a sad sight to see such a once powerful fort turned into a battlefield.
Not far off, Isabelle could see the Commodore and the Governor pouring over various maps, probably trying to figure out the best way to find the Black Pearl. Coming to a halt before they could see her, Isabelle hesitated. She had said some rather harsh words to Norrington before she left to get dressed. Maybe she shouldn't talk to him for awhile...
Before she could even think about turning around then, Isabelle was almost knocked aside by someone passing her, and it was only by good luck that she caught herself on a nearby wall. "Excuse me, sir!" she bit out, but the man didn't even seem to notice her. That was when she noticed that the man looked very familiar.
"Mr. Turner?" Isabelle said to herself with a cock of her head. What was a blacksmith doing here? And why was heading towards the Commodore...?
Moving forward and cursing the person who invent such noisy shoes, Isabelle hid behind a nearby pillar, one that was slightly damaged, but strong enough to hold onto while she peered around it, watching as Turner approached Norrington.
"They've taken her," said Turner as he raced up the stairs. "They've taken Elizabeth!"
"Mr. Murtogg, remove this man," said Norrington without looking up from his charts.
"We have to hunt them down!" said Turner urgently as Murtogg took hold of him by the arm, but Turner brush him off. "We must save her!"
"And where do you propose we start?" asked Governor Swann as he stepped forward, sounding frustrated. "If you have any information concerning my daughter, please, share it."
Turner looked away, clearly having nothing to give him, and with a sigh, Governor Swann started to walk away. Isabelle bit her lip. There had to be something that could tell her where to start looking for her brother.
"That Jack Sparrow," spoke up Murtogg, and everyone looked towards him. "H-He talked about the Black Pearl."
This caused Isabelle to frown, and she suddenly wished to hold her mother's necklace. That was right, there was a ship named the Black Pearl - Johnathan had been going on about it last night. But she didn't pay attention to it, she was more concerned about getting her brother to the cellar. The Black Pearl... was that why Sparrow had been so interested in the necklace when she found him?
"Mentioned it, is more what he did," answered the other officer, giving Murtogg a look that suggested he shut his mouth.
But Turner wasn't going to let it go as easily. "Ask him where it is!" he said to Norrington, who still had not looked up from his charts. "Make a deal with him. He could lead us to it." The blacksmith sounded desperate, though Isabelle couldn't understand why. How did Turner even know Swann?
Deciding not to listen anymore, Isabelle hid behind the pillar again so she wouldn't be seen by Norrington, biting her lip as she went over what she had just learned in her mind. Sparrow knew something about the Black Pearl. If Norrington wasn't going to do something with that information, she would. Maybe Sparrow could tell her where it made berth, or if nothing else, where was the most likely place it was headed.
Marching forward, her heels clacking against the stone ground, Isabelle knew exactly where to go in order to talk with Sparrow.
Even though it was the last place on earth she wanted to be.
~o0o~
"Damn it," cursed Jack, as he tried yet again to pick the lock to his cell with his sharpened bone. This was quickly becoming impossible. How was he going to get out of there in time to avoid being hanged and follow the Black Pearl before it was gone again? Groaning, Jack tried again, getting more and more frustrated by the second.
The sharp sound of heels alerted Jack in plenty of time. Abandoning the bone, Jack quickly laid himself out on the floor and closed his eyes, so that the guard, or whoever it might be, would walk passed him with out bothering him. And once they were gone, he would get back to work.
Whoever it was who came down the stairs soon slowed down, and to Jack's dismay, stopped in front of his cell. "Sparrow."
Almost twitching at the familiar voice, Jack forced himself not to move a muscle.
"I know you're awake, Mr. Sparrow, so get up. And believe me when I say I'll wait as long as it takes."
Groaning, Jack sat up, his arms holding him up as he looked to who was at his cell door. Standing there was the lovely Isabelle Bennett, dressed in a pretty red dress that did nothing to soften the hardness in her dark eyes. Well, at least he could say for sure that she still hated him. Still Jack chuckled. "Well, if it isn't the Navy brat, Miss Bennett. Or is it Mrs. Commodore Norrington now?"
"Spare me the attitude, Mr. Sparrow," snapped out Isabelle angrily, and Jack could see her pale fingers itching to move towards the sword that was at her side. "I didn't come here for such a childish act."
"Then what is it you have come for?" asked Jack as he stood, brushing the dirt off his coat. He flashed Isabelle a grin, showing off some of his golden teeth. "Have you decided to take me up on my offer?" he said slyly, referring to the words he whispered to her at the docks.
"Hardly," drawled Isabelle. "I've actually come to ask you some questions about the pirate ship from last night, the Black Pearl."
"The Black Pearl?" Crossing his arms, Jack leaned against the bars so that they were the only things that separated them. He wouldn't admit aloud that he was a little happy when Isabelle didn't step back, just sneer at him. "Now why would a young lady like you would want to know about a pirate ship?"
"That's really none of your business," said Isabelle, this time with a slight hiss.
"Au contraire, Miss Bennett," said Jack with an even bigger grin. "I don't give my information away for free. You tell me why you want to know about that lovely ship, and I'll tell you what you want to know."
"... Those pirates have kidnapped Miss Swann," answered Isabelle after a moment. "And she's important to someone who's... close to me."
"Tsk. Not the right answer," said Jack with a wag of his finger. "Come on, deary, tell me the whole truth."
Glaring at Jack angrily, Isabelle took a moment before also taking a deep breath. "They also took my younger brother - Johnathan. And I plan on going after them and getting him back. At any cost."
"Hm." Jack was a little surprised, he had to admit. He didn't think the Navy brat had it in her, to go after pirates, even if she did hate them. He expected her to send her daddy's officers after them instead. "Alright," he finally said. "You've answered my question, now I'll answer yours. What do you want to know?"
"Where does it make berth?" asked Isabelle instantly.
"Where - Where does it make berth?" Jack gave a little chuckle. "That wasn't the question I was expecting... Have you not heard the stories?" He went on though when Isabelle gave him a look that made him clear his throat before going on. "Captain Barbossa," that name he spat out angrily, " and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta -"
"The Island of Death?" interrupted Isabelle with a frown.
"Ah, very good. It's an island that cannot be found except by those who already know where it is."
Scoffing, Isabelle glared at Jack again. "You're making this up."
"Swear on me mother's grave," said Jack with a nod, though he couldn't even tell her if his mother was alive or not. "It's the truth."
"So, if that's true, how can it be found in the first place if no one can find it unless they already know its location?" shot out Isabelle.
"Ancient wisdom, love," said Jack with a nod, even though he wasn't quite sure himself. "Oh, and I'm sure some magic, too."
"Fine." Isabelle huffed and crossed her arms. "Let's say this place is real. How do I get there?"
"How are you so sure that I know its location?" asked the pirate with a raised eyebrow.
"You won't know if this place truly existed unless you'd been there personally," pointed out Isabelle, and inwardly, Jack cursed himself for giving too much away. "So, tell me its location."
"Can't help ya there, I don't know it." When Isabelle started to reach for her sword, Jack back up, his hands in the air. "Easy, deary - it wasn't as if I used a map to get there. Sides that, its been ten years. My memory may be good, be it ain't that good."
"But you can get me there," said Isabelle slowly.
"If I wanted to." Jack sighed dramatically as he dropped his hands. "But I don't think I want to..."
"What do you want then, Mr. Sparrow, in exchange for taking me to this Isla de Muerta?" asked Isabelle coldly. The island's name was touched with a hint of Spanish accent, making Jack wonder about her heritage briefly. "I'll give you anything that you want."
"I don't think you have anything I want, deary," said Jack, brushing her off with a wave of his hand. "Since even if you get me out of here, I'll just run the moment I'm free." He smirked at her. "Unless... maybe if I could have that lovely pearl necklace of yours. The one you said was your mother's." There, that would get him off her back. She would never give that up.
"It's yours the moment I have my brother in my arms," said Isabelle with pause, surprising the pirate so much that his jaw almost dropped to the ground. "Plus anything you need to get out of Port Royal." She held out her hand. "Do we have a deal, Mr. Sparrow?"
"... It's a deal, Miss Bennett," said Jack as he took her hand, giving it a firm shake. "I swear on pain of death that I'll get you to your little brother. Now you have the chore of getting me out." Pulling his hand back, he leaned against the bars again. "Good luck, by the way - the keys ran off."
"Excuse me?" asked Isabelle with a raised eyebrow.
"Dog held the keys, ran off with them last night," explained Jack as he waved a hand towards the last place he had seen the dog. That stupid dog. "Don't know where it went."
"Damn," cursed Isabelle, and Jack chuckled at the "unladylike" word. But before either one of them could say another word, there were footsteps as someone came down the stairs. Without pause, Isabelle drew her sword and shifted into a better fighting position. "Stop!" she called out as soon as someone came into view, her sword dangerously close to their neck.
"Miss Bennett?" To Jack and Isabelle's surprise, the young man from the blacksmith shop stopped a few steps from the bottom to avoid being skewered by a sword. "What are you doing here with this pirate?"
"You know him?" asked Jack as he looked to Isabelle, who hadn't lowered her sword.
"He works at the blacksmiths and is the one who made my sword," said Isabelle calmly, as if she wasn't pointing a sword at the young man, or standing in the same room with the pirate that she hated. "What I do with this pirate is my business, Mr. Turner, so I suggest you leave now."
'Turner?' It couldn't be. But the young man did look a lot like a young Bootstrap...
"I can't do that," said Turner with a shake of his head. "I need him to tell me where I can find the Black Pearl so I can find Miss Swann."
"I don't know what your interest is in Miss Swann, but I've already bought Mr. Sparrow's services," stated Isabelle. "So you can leave the hunt for Miss Swann and my brother to me and Commodore Norrington."
"Your brother was taken too?" When Isabelle gave a firm nod, Turner went on. "Then let me come with you - I could help you!"
"I don't need anyone's help but Mr. Sparrow's," said Isabelle as she advanced on Turner, who stepped back. "Now, if you could please leave while I try to figure out how to break him out of his cell -"
"Wait, I can do that!" spoke up Turner, sounding eager to convince Isabelle that he was useful. "I can get him out of the cell."
Finally lowering her sword a smidgen, Isabelle looked a little doubtful, but still asked, "How?"
"I helped build these cells. These are half pin-barrel hinges." Turner gestured towards the nearby bench - the same one that the bloody dog with the key had been hiding under earlier. "With the right leverage and the proper application of strength, the door will lift free. Please, if I do this, let me come with you... I just want to save Miss Swann."
A long moment passed, with Isabelle just staring at Turner, before sighing and sheathing her sword. "Fine. If you can get Sparrow out of that cell, than you can come with us."
With his own sigh of relief, Turner went and picked up the bench, turning it over and hooking two of the bench's legs into the cell door.
"What's your name, boy?" asked Jack after a moment of watching. The longer he stared at him, the more he thought Turner looked more like Bootstrap Bill...
Turner glanced up, confusion on his face. "Will Turner," he answered.
'Ah ha!' "That will be short for William, I imagine," said Jack, feigning thoughtfulness. "Good, strong name. No doubt, named for your father, eh?"
"Yes..."
"Please hurry, Mr. Turner," said Isabelle suddenly as she glanced towards the stairs. "I imagine someone will come down to check on Sparrow soon."
"It'll make a lot of noise, so we better run once we get Jack out," stated Will.
"Not without my effects!" said Jack.
Shaking her head, Isabelle marched over to the hooks and grabbed all his things before turning back to the two men. "Once we're out of here, we'll take my carriage, after getting rid of my driver, and head for my home, so I can gather a few things. You'll have to drive, Mr. Turner, while Mr. Sparrow and I stay inside. After that, we'll heed for the docks and find a boat."
"Agreed." With a push, Will yanked the door up, stepping aside just in time to avoid the cell door as it came crashing down. "Hurry," he said as Jack climbed over it.
"Thank you for holding my effects, love," said Jack with a grin as came up to take his things from Isabelle.
With a huff, the young lady shoved the items into his arms. "Don't call me love," she said hotly before briskly walked away. But that only made the grin on Jack's face get even bigger as he followed her. He did like his women feisty.
"Why would pirates want your brother?" Jack asked some time later.
Glancing to the man sitting across from her in the carriage and probably wondering why he would ask such a question, Isabelle shrugged before looking out the window again. "I suppose the same reason they wanted Miss Swann. Ransom. Money. My brother is the son of a very important man, and Miss Swann is the governors daughter. Governor Swann would give a lot of money to see his daughter returned home safely."
Jack leaned forward. "But not your father?"
"My father does not deal with pirates," said Isabelle coldly, though it seemed more like it was directed at her father than at him. "'One does not interact with pirates, help pirates, or let pirates take advantage of them.' That is something that has been drilled into our minds since we were children."
"Which is why you're going after him instead of dear old daddy?" said Jack curiously.
"My father is not in town," stated Isabelle. "And I have no idea when he will be back. The longer I wait, the longer Johnathan is in danger."
"You care very much for your brother," said Jack slowly.
For the first time, Jack saw Isabelle smile, though it was small. "Yes... I do. He's very important to me."
"What about your mother? You haven't mentioned anything about her..." Jack trailed off, waiting for her to go on about her family.
Isabelle shot a dark look at Jack, which made him flinch a little. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but you go too far, Mr. Sparrow. I've told you much more than you need to know, and it would be best for you to leave it at that."
"Sensitive subject, I see," muttered Jack to himself, but apparently he wasn't quiet enough.
"Yes, Sparrow, it is!" snapped Isabelle, cause Jack to jump at the sudden outburst. "As I said before, you go too far, and you test my patience." She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "You are here because you are the only one who can help me find my brother. That is all we will talk about. Any other subject is off limits. Do you understand?"
"Clear as a bell, love," said Jack smoothly.
"Don't call me that," Isabelle hissed.
The carriage came to a stop, and after a long moment of Isabelle and Jack glaring at each other, young William opened the door. "We're here. Get your things and lets get going."
"Of course, Mr. Turner." Taking Will's outstretched hand, Isabelle stepped down and marched up to her house. "I'll be back in a few minutes," she called out. "Be sure to be on the look out for Norrington's men."
"Course, love!" Jack called back, and Isabelle paused for a moment to send another glare his way before entering her home.
"So... what do you know about Miss Bennett?" Jack asked Will, breaking the silence after a few long minutes of them just starting at each other.
"Why do you want to know?" asked Will with a frown.
"We're going to be traveling with her, aren't we?" Jack pointed out. "And she doesn't seem too eager to ask any question I ask." Well, not after he asked about her mother. "So you're the next best thing."
After a moment of thought, Will leaned against the carriage and sighed. "I don't know a lot, really," he said. "I just know what everyone else knows. She came from England when she was about five, with her Father, Admiral Matthew Bennett, and his wife, Gabriella. I think her mother died when she was eight due to some unknown sickness, and her father remarried a year later to his current wife, Rose. They had a son less then a year later named Johnathan. Err... and she's not very popular because she's half Spanish on her mother's side and a bit of a loner."
"That's it?" said Jack with a frown.
"Like I said, she's loner," said Will with a shrug. "I've only met her a few times before now, and that's only because she commissioned me to make a custom sword."
"And a very fine sword it is, Mr. Turner."
Both of the men turned towards Isabelle as she came back down the steps. Gone was red dress and fancy shoes that made too much noise. They were replaced with a loose white shirt that obviously once belonged to a man, a brown skirt that reached the middle of her calf, and brown boots that must have stopped at her knees. In her hands was a worn pack, and at her side was a sword that hung off a black belt. Her hair was freed from its tight bun, and was cascading down her back in waves. And finally, a familiar necklace hung around her neck, the black pearl glinting in the sunlight.
"Is something the matter, gentlemen?" asked Isabelle with a raised eyebrow when the two men did nothing but stare. "I thought we were in a hurry."
"Right, lets get moving," said Will as he seemed to snap out of it. "Whats our plan?"
"We have one?" asked Isabelle. "I didn't know it was my job to make them."
"Don't worry, lo - deary," said Jack with smirk. "I do."
~o0o~
"You have got to be joking, Sparrow," hissed Isabelle lowly.
At her side, the pirate chuckled. "Do you have a better idea, Miss Bennett?" asked Sparrow quietly.
Scowling angrily, Isabelle couldn't answer right away as Turner motioned for them to be silent, signaling that another group of soldiers were marching past their hiding place. She was quiet for a long, tense moment, waiting until she was sure the danger had passed before speaking. "I'm sure that I could have thought of something better than this with some time." She was not happy with the idea of tricking her fiancé, let alone the Royal Navy. What her father would say if he ever found out...
Of course, then there was her small fear...
"Time is something we don't have a lot of, love," stated Sparrow. "Not if you want to save your dear little brother."
Her eye twitching at the fact that Sparrow had called her 'love' yet again, Isabelle turned towards the pirate in the small amount of roam they had under the rowboat and glared at him. "Are you even sure this will work, Sparrow?" she asked in a harsh whisper.
"Positive, Miss Bennett" said Sparrow with a grin. "I've done this before, when I had to escape a very upset young lady and her father -"
"Perhaps you can tell me another time," said Isabelle to cut him off. "Let's get this ridiculous idea of yours over with."
"As you wish," said Sparrow, smirking at her. "Will, is the coast clear?"
Peering underneath the boat, Turner nodded. "Clear."
"Then let's move."
With a grunt, the three lifted up the row boat - Isabelle already regretting her decision to wear a skirt instead of trousers - and crawled into the ocean. The salty water washed over their feet, and Isabelle shivered from not just the cold. Biting her lip so hard that it started to bleed, Isabelle held in her fear, even though it was threatening to burst out like a scream, threatening to choke the breathe out of her. But soon the water soon reached her neck, and soon she started to panic as the water continued to rise, forcing her to stand on the tips of her toes. "Ja-Jack!" she cried out.
"Eh?" Startled by the fact Isabelle had called him by his first name, Sparrow looked back to her and came to a halt a moment later. "Love, you're pale as a fresh sheet!" The water hadn't even reached his throat yet, and Isabelle hated the fact she was so short. "What's wrong?"
"I - I -" Flashes of white light filled her vision, and Isabelle whimpered, her fingers digging into the edges of the boat.
"I think she's afraid of the water," said Turner, and there was a moment that Isabelle wanted to kick him for stating the obvious. But the water rolled with the waves, threatening to rise higher, and with another whimper, Isabelle screwed her eyes shut.
"Shit," cursed Sparrow. "Alright, love, listen to me. Let go of the boat - Will and I can do it on our own."
Shaking her head, Isabelle forced out between clenched teeth "I can't."
"Yes, you can. Let go of the boat and then place your hands on my shoulders. That should keep you above the water." When Isabelle shook her head, the ends of her damp hair flying, Sparrow pressed on. "Trust me. I won't let anything happen to you."
Shuddering, Isabelle waited a long moment before she released one of her hands and reached out to Sparrow. For a single moment, she didn't even want to touch the pirate, but her fear overrode that, and she gripped his shoulder tightly with one hand before doing the same with the other. Isabelle whimpered as she started to sink, and she wrapped her arms around Jack's neck, burying her face in his shoulder.
"Feeling better?"
Nodding hesitantly, Isabelle tried to breath slowly as they started moving again. She hated that she was holding onto a pirate, but hated it more that she had such a large fear of water.
Sparrow chuckled. "You're a strange one, Bennett. How is it that a Navy brat like you is scared of water?"
"Oh, shove it," grumbled Isabelle. "Please, let's get this over with." The sooner she got out of the water, the better.
"I can't believe this is working. This is either sheer madness or brilliance," mumbled Turner behind her.
"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide," said Sparrow cheerfully.
"No, it's just complete madness," growled Isabelle.
After what felt like an eternity, the three were climbing up the side of a ship as quietly as possible, using a rope that was hanging off the side to get them part way up before climbing the rest of the way. While the two men got to the top quickly, Isabelle winced as she continued to slid down the rope, the palms of her hands stinging. She was not use to this kind of thing. After all, she was a lady, even if she did know how to use a sword. And since she had refuse to go first - not when she was wearing a skirt - she had no one to help push her up. And it looked like she had no one to pull her up, either, since Sparrow and Turner seemed to have gone on ahead.
"Just my luck," mumbled Isabelle, glancing up at the ship before looking down to the water below, which was only a few feet away, and gulped silently as her grip on the rope tightened. It seemed like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Suddenly, Isabelle felt something hit her back, and she couldn't help the tiny scream that escaped her while also clinging to the rope as if her life depended on it.
"Calm down, love," said a chuckling voice above. "I'm just gonna pull you aboard."
"A little warning would have been greatly appreciated, Sparrow!" Isabelle spat out.
"But where's the fun in that?" said Sparrow with a smirk. He gave the rope a shake. "Grab on, or would you like to stay there?"
Biting her lips so she wouldn't yell, Isabelle slow took hold of the new rope, giving a little cry when she slid a few inches once she grabbed onto it, shaking violently in fear of the water below. Sparrow then gave the rope a few tugs, pulling her up quickly since they didn't have a lot of them, and when Isabelle found herself close to the railing, he held out a dirty hand. "Come on, then. We've already secured the ship while you were down there."
Reluctantly, Isabelle took his head and let herself be pulled up the boat, cursing at her skirt, heavy with water, when it threatened to catch on the railing, and tried to look dignified, despite the fact that she had been shaking like a leaf a few moments ago. "Now what?" she asked, glancing around to see no one aboard but Turner, meaning they had done the job of forcing its occupants off without her.
Only letting her hand go once he was sure she won't fall, Sparrow looked to the docks and grinned. "We'll be putting on a little show for your fiancé. And you get to play the damsel in distress."
"What are you - What on earth do you think you're doing?"
~o0o~
"Commodore!"
Looking up from the books he had just been going over, James glanced towards the spot Groves was staring at. He narrowed his eyes as he saw Gillette waving his arms at him like some wild man, shouting something that he couldn't understand clearly. What was he doing?
Closing his book with a snap and shoving it at Groves, James took a spyglass off a nearby barrel and opened it up, peering through it.
"Sir, they've taken the Dauntless. They've taken the ship!" Gillette pointed at said ship, and swinging his spyglass towards it, James could see two men on board, trying to get it ready to sail, but obviously failing. "Sparrow and Turner - they've taken the Dauntless!"
"Rash, Turner," said James with a frown. "Too rash."
"Sir, I think there's someone else on that ship," spoke up Groves.
With a deeper frown, James glanced over the ship again before he saw what the man meet. Tied to the mast was Isabelle, glaring at Sparrow and shouting at him angrily. "Isabelle," James gasped out before lowering the spyglass, closing it noisily. "You go too far, Sparrow," he growled under his breath.
"What should we do, sir?" asked Groves.
"Tell the men we're setting sail now," barked out the Commodore. "We're going after them." Turning on his heel, James marched up to the Interceptor, shaking his head as he wondered how Sparrow had managed to escape from prison and kidnap his fiancé. But however he did it, James was going to make the pirate pay. With a rope necklace.