Chapter 3: Barbossa's Solution and The Arrest of the Turners.
As Jack and Guinevere made way to save Juliet, a small dinghy sailed the sea. Standing atop the mast of the leaky boat was the most seasoned pirate to sail the seas, Captain Hector Barbossa.
"Father, this ain't the Pearl, so I'd be getting down from there!" groaned Lucia Barbossa, who was every inch of her father, save for her beauty.
Since Jack and Guinevere had retaken the Black Pearl, Barbossa and Lucia trekked the seas in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. Unfortunately, with no compass, charts, or proper ship, their search was for naught.
Sparrows, Barbossa groaned as he climbed down from the mast.
"Next time we have the Pearl, we don't let it out of our sight," Lucia declared.
Barbossa smiled unctuously. "Lucia, lass, I think you be forgettin' who the Captain of the Pearl is. If I was you, I'd not be forgettin' again."
"Well, this be not the Black Pearl…Captain," Lucia replied in annoyance, "So you're not Captain, you're just…boat man!"
"Let us not forget who it was drunk at the docks when Sparrows stole my ship," Barbossa argued.
"You know Jack better than I, where were you?" Lucia demanded.
"I was expectin' you'd know your mate Guin well enough to not let her sail away with my ship!" Barbossa said crossly.
Lucia sighed. "You make a good point…for once."
"Thank you, Lucia," Barbossa said with a grin.
"But there's only one problem as we have no way to find the Fountain," Lucia said glumly.
"That be true," Barbossa agreed.
"What do you suggest?" Lucia wanted to know.
"We must find the Sparrows," Barbossa declared.
"How do you propose we do that?" Lucia demanded.
"Why, Lucia, the only way possible: by looking," Barbossa told her.
"How do we find them when they have the Pearl?" Lucia asked in annoyance.
"You know they'll not be gettin' anywhere fast with Mrs. Sparrow expectin' the Sparrow Junior now," Barbossa explained.
"True," Lucia acknowledged.
"We find Sparrow, we steal the compass, and the charts," Barbossa added.
"And we find the Fountain!" Lucia finished.
"You are me child after all," Barbossa said proudly.
"Where do we start?" Lucia asked, excited with the new plan.
"Where else would you expect to find a Sparrow?" Barbossa asked pointedly.
"Tortuga!" Lucia said brightly.
Barbossa took the oars and cracked a toothy, gold and silver toothed smile. "Aye, Tortuga!"
At this time, Will, Elizabeth, and Bootstrap returned to the hospital to check on poor James. Much to their delight, James, despite a bandage around his head, was sitting up in bed and eating a bowl of hot soup.
"Will! Bootstrap! Elizabeth!" James greeted cheerfully.
"James!" Elizabeth greeted happily, "How do you feel?"
"As well as I can be," James replied.
"You never cease to surprise me, James," Will said proudly.
"I always knew you were a strong lad," Bootstrap commented.
"Any news of William?" James asked in concern.
Neither Will nor Elizabeth spoke. They didn't know how to explain Will's disappearance to his best friend.
"Well?" James asked in anticipation.
"No, James," Bootstrap replied, "I'm afraid William is gone."
"Is that all? Do you know anything else?" James questioned.
Before Bootstrap could speak, Will spoke up. "James, perhaps you should rest."
"With all due respect, no," James argued, "I don't need rest; I need to help William."
"James, love, listen to me," Elizabeth said calmly.
"No, you listen to me!" James snapped, "William is missing because of me. He is my best friend and it is my responsibility to help him."
Will sighed. "We think we know who took William."
"Who?" James asked anxiously.
Before Will could answer, a gaggle of officers stormed into the hospital!
"What's the meaning of this?" Will demanded.
"Lieutenant Walker, at your service," greeted a tall, grey-eyed officer.
"Lieutenant, I demand to know why you are here," Will addressed.
"We come to arrest William Turner, Elizabeth Turner, William Turner II, and James Cardinal," Walker replied.
"On what charges?" Bootstrap questioned.
Walker read from one warrant. "Piracy, consorting with a pirate, and the murders of Cutler and Rupert Beckett. Arrest them!"
In a flash, James, Elizabeth, Will, and Bootstrap ran for it. With no weapons, the foursome fended off the officers with their bare hands. Just as they made it out the door, they were surrounded by bayonets!
Lieutenant Walker strutted up to them. "We were expecting an escape attempt. Shackle the prisoners!"
Instantly Bootstrap, Will, Elizabeth, and James were subdued and chained.
"Welcome, Mrs. Turner," Lieutenant Walker greeted.
"Get away from my wife! Leave us alone!" Will growled.
"I don't think I can do that," Walker told him.
"You won't get away with this!" Elizabeth snarled.
"And you just won't get away," Lieutenant Walker laughed.
Poor James fought against the rough hold of the officers and groaned. "Let go! Get off me, you flaming, craven ingrates!"
"James!" Will gasped, "Let him go! He's just a boy! Can't you see he's hurt?"
"I told you that I cannot, Mr. Turner," Lieutenant Walker replied, "He should've thought of that before."
Unable to control himself, Will leapt forward and coiled his chains around Lieutenant Walker's neck. Walker's men pointed their bayonets at Will.
"They go free!" he shouted, "Let them go right now!"
Undaunted, Walker's men kept their guns on Will. Suddenly, Will's head collided with the butt of a bayonet from behind. All Will knew was Elizabeth gasping his name before he knew no more. When Will awoke, he was in Port Royal's jail cell. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed Elizabeth holding him.
"Welcome back," Elizabeth greeted warmly.
"Happy to be back," Will replied, "Where's Father and James?"
"Walker and his men took them for questioning," Elizabeth informed him.
"Did he hurt you?" Will asked in concern.
"No. He'd be a fool if he did," Elizabeth reassured him, "I think you scared him out of his stockings."
Will smiled. "That's because no one messes with Will Turner!"
"I don't doubt that for a moment," Elizabeth replied with a grin, "This reminds me of when Beckett had me locked up ten years ago. Do you remember what I told you?"
"How could I forget? You said, "If it weren't for these bars, I'd have you already,"" Will told her.
"Well, we're not separated by bars, and I have you now," Elizabeth told him.
"That's true, Mrs. Turner," Will agreed, wrapping his arms about Elizabeth, "No bars can separate us. If a Goddess can't separate us, then nothing can."
"It feels wonderful to have some comfort in the middle of this crisis," Elizabeth said, "I want our boy back. I want to hold him again."
"I know, and so do I," Will said comfortingly, "He's our son. He's a Turner. He's as wise as you and as strong as me. I know he'll be safe and we'll save him. I promise."
"That is for certain," Elizabeth said with a smile, "When Will Turner makes a promise, it is never left unfulfilled."
"Precisely," Will said with a grin.
"I love you," Elizabeth whispered.
"I know," Will replied.
Elizabeth leaned up and kissed her husband's soft lips. Even though they were in jail, at least they were together. If they were together, then at least to Will and Elizabeth, nothing could be so bad. They were prepared for anything ahead of them.