Chapter 5: The Deal

Just as Jack and Guin were facing problems, Will and Elizabeth were incarcerated in the jail of Port Royal. They were anxiously waiting for Bootstrap and James to return. Bootstrap and James were gone for hours; Will and Elizabeth were apprehensive.

"I don't know how much of this I can take," Will said, running his fingers through his silky hair.

"What are they doing to them?" Elizabeth whispered anxiously.

"I don't know, but I don't like it," Will replied fearfully, "James shouldn't be here as hurt as he is. I've come to love that boy as if he was my own son and I swear that neither he, my father, nor you will be hurt."

"If these men are smart, they won't touch them," Elizabeth commented, "I think you scared them."

Will laughed. "That's because no one messes with Will Turner!"

Elizabeth smiled, but the smile was ephemeral.

"What is it?" Will asked in concern.

"I miss our boy, Will," Elizabeth sighed, "I'm scared for him. I can't stop thinking about how scared he must be or the danger he's in."

Will wrapped his arm about Elizabeth. "I know. It is hard, but I try to be optimistic. He's learned well from both of us and he's very strong. We will find him, Elizabeth, and he'll be back in our arms where he belongs. I've never made a promise I haven't kept and I don't plan to."

Elizabeth smiled again. "That is an encouraging thought."

Just then, Bootstrap and James were dragged into prison and unceremoniously tossed into the cell with Elizabeth and Will. As soon as gazing at Bootstrap and James, Will and Elizabeth were horrified and outraged. Bootstrap bled from his nose and had many bruises on his head, but he was still alert. The same could not be said of James. He was unconscious and sweat poured from his head. Like Bootstrap, James also wore purple bruises.

"Good God!" Will gasped.

"They've hurt you!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Don't worry about me," Bootstrap reassured her, "Under Davy Jones, I've grown accustomed to pain, even years after being free from him. I'd worry about poor James there."

Will and Elizabeth turned to James.

Will rested a hand on the boy's clammy forehead. "The fever is on him."

Hastily, Will removed his coat and draped it over poor James.

Elizabeth took James's warm hand in hers. "Hold on, James. Everything is going to be all right."

Will turned to Bootstrap. "What do they want? Why did they do this?"

"Why else do we keep getting into trouble?" Bootstrap replied.

Will's eyes widened. "Jack."

"Precisely, William," Bootstrap laughed.

"If he wasn't a husband to my best friend or my goddaughter's father, I would kill him," Will groaned.

"Don't blame Jack, son," Bootstrap advised, "He's merely a tool in all of this, not the architect. Besides, you may not have to kill him."

"What did he do this time?" Elizabeth groaned.

At that moment, Lieutenant Walker unlocked the cell. "Mr. and Mrs. Turner, my master would request your audience."

"Really?" Will replied sharply, "What if we don't want an audience with him?"

"You don't have a choice this time, Turner," Walker told him coldly.

Will and Elizabeth turned to Bootstrap.

"Whatever you want to know, you're about to find out," Bootstrap told them.

"Watch over James," Elizabeth told him.

"Aye," Bootstrap said dutifully.

Will and Elizabeth were then dragged out of the cell by Walker.

"Lock them in irons and stay alert," Walker ordered his men, "We don't want the Turners escaping."

Will and Elizabeth were immediately chained at the wrists and escorted out of the prison at gunpoint.

"Who could've done this?" Elizabeth asked apprehensively.

"I think I have an answer, but I hope I'm wrong," Will replied.

Silently, Will and Elizabeth were marched from the prison to a building just behind Fort Charles.

Lieutenant Walker opened the door and his prisoners were shoved in. Will and Elizabeth were led down a long hallway until they came to a door. The door opened and they were shoved in. There, they beheld a man they knew and their blood boiled.

"You!" Elizabeth growled.

"Why do I hate it when I'm right?" Will groaned.

"Commodore King, the prisoners, as you ordered, Sir," Lieutenant Walker announced.

"Very good, Lieutenant," Commodore King acknowledged before he waved his hand, "Leave us."

Walker and a few guards exited the room, leaving Will and Elizabeth alone with Commodore King.

"Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Turner," Commodore King greeted.

"On the contrary, it has not been a good day…Commodore," Will snarled.

"I'm very saddened to hear that, Mr. Turner," King said unctuously.

"Funny, you weren't sad when you had my father-in-law and a little boy beaten!" Elizabeth snapped.

"They refused to cooperate, but I'm hoping that you do cooperate," King replied.

"What makes you think that after what you have done to us, we will cooperate with you?" Will demanded.

"Because, Mr. Turner, if you ever want to see your son again-" King explained.

"My son?" Will gasped, "What have you done to my boy?"

"He's not here, Mr. Turner," King explained, "He is with a partner of mine."

"If you hurt him, I swear you're a dead man," Elizabeth threatened.

"You are in no position to be making threats, Mrs. Turner," King said dismissively, "If you do not cooperate you will never see your child again."

"What do you want?" Will demanded.

"I already told you, Mr. Turner," King replied, "My new target is Jack Sparrow-"

"Captain!" Will and Elizabeth corrected him.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," King continued, "I want him captured and hanged along with all of his associates."

"We are no associates of Jack's," Elizabeth said quickly.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't lie," King said sternly, "I am no fool. I knew of your affiliation with Sparrow all along. That is why you will aid me in his capture."

"Is it?" Will asked.

"I want you to go to Sparrow and lead me to him," King explained, "If you are successful in leading me to him and his crew, I will release you and your child."

"What business do you have with Jack?" Will asked.

"This world isn't big enough for Jack and his kind," King said, "He stands in my way of protecting the seas from his kind."

"You mean taking over the seas," Will corrected.

"The world was not meant for the likes of Captain Sparrow," King said scornfully.

"Neither was it meant for the likes of you," Elizabeth said icily.

Commodore King glared at Will. "Do we have a deal?"

"Why don't I steal Jack's compass and you can find him yourself?" Will asked.

"Because I desire more than just killing Sparrow and this is your chance to save yourself," King replied.

"What becomes of William Turner and James Cardinal?" Will demanded.

"They will be released as well," King told him.

"How can I trust a man like you?" Will asked coldly.

"You can trust that if you do not agree now I will be forced to send you all to the gallows and find another way to locate Sparrow," King replied, "Do we have an understanding?"

"Agreed," Will said reluctantly.

"Very good," King said with a smile.

"Where do we start?" Will demanded.

"Use your instincts, Mr. Turner," King said wisely, "Search for Sparrow and do not stop until you find him."

"It'd be easier if we were released of these shackles," Elizabeth spat.

"Certainly, Mrs. Turner," King agreed, "Walker!"

Lieutenant Walker entered at his commander's call. "Sir?"

"Remove the shackles on Mr. and Mrs. Turner," King commanded, "I want you to release William Turner and James Cardinal as well."

"Yes, Sir," Walker said obediently.

Will and Elizabeth were freed from their bonds and they rubbed their wrists of the chafing chains. With one last glare at Commodore King, they quitted the room and headed for the prison.

"I don't like this idea, Will," Elizabeth said, "He hurt James so badly, what do you think he could do to William?"

"We have no choice, Elizabeth," Will told her, "If we don't agree with him, what do you think he'd do to us and William?"

"But what about Jack? He's going to kill him and everyone who sails with him!" Elizabeth protested.

"Jack's the one who got us into this mess," Will replied, "If this is what frees us, then so be it."

"Are you really willing to betray the ones you love to help a monster and save yourself?" Elizabeth asked pointedly.

"I'm saving us," Will corrected.

Elizabeth was stunned. "How can you say this?"

"I'm thinking as Jack would," Will replied.

Elizabeth frowned and said no more to Will. Once they reached the prison, they found Bootstrap kneeling over a sick James. Walker opened the door for Bootstrap.

"William, what's going on?" Bootstrap wanted to know.

"Commodore King was behind this," Will explained, "He's releasing us to go after Jack. If we find him, we are free."

"How is James?" Elizabeth asked.

"He's not improved," Bootstrap said glumly.

"We must get him to a doctor," Will said immediately.

"Out of the question, Turner," Walker told him.

"Do you not see the boy is sick?" Will demanded.

"Of course I do," Walker said, "You are to find Sparrow. The boy can wait."

"Do we have a ship ready?" Will asked.

"Yes," Walker answered, "To the docks."

Will eased the sleeping James into his arms and the group exited the prison for the docks. Once at the docks, they came upon a ship named The Intrepid.

"Commodore King was kind enough to provide you with a fast ship and a crew," Walker told them, "I would advise you not to disappoint him."

Will, Elizabeth, Bootstrap, and James made their way up the gangplank.

"Father, take James below," Will said.

Bootstrap gingerly held sick James in his arms and disappeared below decks.

Elizabeth came to Will's side. "Where do we start looking for Jack?"

"Where else?" Will asked.

"Tortuga," Elizabeth said knowingly.

"Aye, Tortuga," Will replied with a smug grin.