Ok here's the next chapter and I am introducing a new character that I am quite proud of. I hope you like this chapter.

Thank you XXDavy4LydiaXX, Crystal991 and JulieIsAwsome66 for your reviews. It means a lot.

The brig was colder than last night but it was lighter because Jack had lit the lamps as we entered. I looked to the cell that the thief was in and saw that he was out still out cold. There was now a small bump that had risen on his head from where I had hit him the night before. I hadn't had a very good look at him until now because it was so dark last night. He was probably in his late twenties and his hair was shoulder length, dark and matted. His clothing was made up of tattered tags that hung from his shoulders. How could anybody get themselves into such a state? I couldn't help but pity him. "Still unconscious," Gibbs remarked, "You must have hit him rather hard Sam." Jack looked at me with an expression that told me he was impressed. I opened my mouth to respond to Gibbs's statement when our prisoner opened his eyes gradually. He looked to us and then his gaze settled on the bars enclosing him into his cell. He went to stand up but his eyes riled back and he raised a hand to the lump on his head. I suddenly felt guilty for hitting him.

"Ah, he is awake." Jack nudged Gibbs in the side to snap him out of his daydreaming. Obviously Gibbs was still very hung over. "What is your name?" Jack asked, saying the words slowly. The man looked up at Jack.

"Harry Beckett." My breath caught and my hand instinctively went to the brand on my wrist. I knew that name, how could I forget that name. "I take it by your expressions that you know my brother Cutler Beckett." I flinched at the memories that burned in my mind. I nodded, unable to look at Harry. Instead I looked over at Jack and Gibbs who both shared the same expression. Clearly they hadn't had a good past with him either.

"We knew him," Jack said bluntly. "He died several years ago." I couldn't help but feel glad that that world was now rid of that man.

"Well, don't worry; I can assure you that we are nothing alike." I found it interesting to see that Harry didn't look even remotely upset that his brother had died. I finally managed to look at Harry and could see very little resemblance of Cutler Beckett in his face. Jack was first to respond.

"If you really are a Beckett, what are you in this...mess?" He gestured to the clothes Harry was wearing.

"Like I just said, I'm nothing like him. I disagree with slavery, have no interest in greed and have no hatred for pirates like he did." He sighed. "When I was 14 he left me, marooned on an island for death because I refused to assist him with killing pirates. I had nothing, lived on the streets for years. Harry looked down at his hands and I'm sure j saw an escaping tear.

"I can imagine him doing something like that." my voice shook as I remembered my encounter with him when I was 18 and my left wrist started to burn in the location of my 'P' brand, marking me forever as a pirate.

"You understand that stealing rum is a serious offence on my ship." Jack took a few steps closer to the bars of Harry's cell. Harry nodded and tries once again to stand. This time he succeeded but not without wincing and clutching his head. I couldn't help but feel very sorry for him. He had after all had many years on the streets as I had and now was stuck locked in a tiny cell because of something out of his hands.

"If I may interject my view, I believe that Harry has a good excuse for what he did and don't think he should be punished to severely." I looked to Jack to see if he caught where I was going. He gave a small nod to show he had.

"So what be his punishment? He did steal rum after all." Gibbs commented. Jack thought about this for a second.

"I think that Harry here should join my crew. He could be useful after all." It felt good to know that Jack was on my side. Harry made a small smile.

"Thank you Captain, but I am afraid that it could be rather difficult for me to join your crew." his eyes looked so sad, I had to help him.

"And why is that?" Asked Jack, waving his hands in front of his face in an elaborate motion that I noticed he usually did while talking.

"I do not possess any of the required skills." said Harry. Jack stopped to consider this for a second a before he could go back on what his previous offer I jumped in.

"I could teach you, I have years of experience with the skills and on my father's ship I used to have to train a few of the more incompetent sailors." I quickly pushed the memories that were rising in my mind of my father aside and gave a small smile in a hope that I had said enough to persuade Jack.

"And what of your other duties?" Jack asked. "You already have additional work helping me to clean the mess he created." Jack gestures to Harry.

"Well," I took a step forward considering my words carefully to be sure I got the outcome I was after. "With Harry learning the skills some of the jobs will get done quicker." I looked pleadingly at Jack. There was a moment of silence as he made up his mind. For a second I assumed he was going to say no buy then he pulled a rusty key from a pocket and began to unlock the cell. As he did so he told us how this would work.

"Sam, you will continue your duties as usual and Harry will assist you, learning the skills as he does so. Savvy?" Me and Harry nodded in understanding and Gibbs who had been silent for most of this conversation opened the cell door to let Harry out. I gestured to Harry for him to follow me to the upper decks and watched as he staggered out of his cell and limped towards me. I made a mental note to examine his leg for injury later on. He said nothing as he walked. I heard Gibbs mutter something indecipherable to Jack but was unable to hear Jack's response.

"Thank you." Harry said with so much sincerity it made me pause.

"Don't worry about it." I continued to walk but slowed my pace so that Harry could keep up.

"No, really. It's the first time someone has been nice to me in 15 years." He sighed, "I'm surprised that you even have me a second thought."

"Well there are a lot of things people don't know about me." I snapped. My hand flew to my mouth. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean it that way." I quickly apologised. "Let's just say I haven't exactly had a good past either so don't worry about it ok." I smiled to him and opened the door and stepped out into the main deck. I felt the heat of the sun on my neck and could smell the salt in the sea. These things together instantly calmed my mood. I looked back to see Harry squinting at the light of the day. "Are you ok!" I asked. Harry nodded.

"Yes, I just haven't seen sunlight since the ship set sail a couple of weeks back so it seems a bit bright. I will get used to it." I smiled as the sympathy I already felt for him grew.

"Ok, first job for today is fixing and re-tying the ropes. It's quite simple so a good thing l start you on." I explained.

"Ok, show me what to do." he responded.

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Harry picked up on the skills I taught rather quickly and it didn't take long for a friendship to grow between us. My friendship with Jack also grew stronger especially during our time cleaning up the rum room. I couldn't help but feel there was something more to our friendship because when I wasn't around him, I sort of missed him. It was an odd feeling to me and for some reason I thought he felt it too, although I couldn't be sure.