The old man stood on his balcony watching the last of the dying sun set. Breathing deeply he looked around at the town that lay, not too distant from where he stood. As he watched the darkness of night creep over the town, he couldn't help but feel that it was a metaphor of his life. He knew night was coming to his life just as it had come for the town below. A small half-smile curved the corner of his mouth. Getting philosophical in his old age, he thought. Turning from the view he entered the room, turning to make sure that the doors to the balcony were closed and locked. Crossing to the bed he laid himself down upon its comfortable softness. It seemed that he was nostalgic tonight. Again that half-smile graced his lips. He had lived a long and good life, he thought. No need to regret any part of it. He had been the greatest pirate catcher there ever was. All that was gone now, of course. Pirates, pirate catchers, no need for either any more, and that was good. Still it had been a great and wonderful ride while it lasted. Many adventures and daring do, many memories both good and bad to think about.
Though all the many adventures and people the old man had met and knew there would always be one that stuck out, for him anyway. That was the rather odd and always interesting pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. James couldn't help but chuckle thinking of him. He remembered all the encounters along the way with the aggravating pirate. Never did the expected, that one, always unpredictable. Thinking about that he remembered the times, and there were several, when that unpredictability showed up the most. Like when he turned up after he was dead to a certain Commodore Norrington, to tell of an immanent attack on Port Royal. Thinking back, that had happened several, three times to be exact, during in his life. It had scared the tare out of him every time. He was sure that Jack enjoyed that aspect of it thoroughly. He wondered what the irascible pirate would make of him now. On that thought James felt his eyes close, he was tired, so tired.
Poke, Poke, now what, thought James Norrington? Poke. "Oh come on mate, you might as bloody well wake up. You know I'm not going away until you do. An 'sides we need to be leaving soon." Now that got his attention. "Leaving? Where were 'WE' going?" Opening one eye cautiously, James looked around. Sure enough there by his bedside was none other than Captain Jack Sparrow in all his braded and beaded glory. But something was different with this visitation than the other times he had seen Jack. Jack looked more real, less spooky and it was broad daylight. Grinning, his famous golden grin, Jack held out his hand and beckoned James to join him.
There's horizons to catch and adventures to take, the grinning pirate said. Grasping the hand in front of him James stood up. Surprisingly with much less effort than that action had taken in quiet a while. "Adventures, James repeated? Shaking his head he replied, "my adventure days are long gone I'm afraid Jack." The grin just got bigger. "Not any more Jamie-boy" and he gently turned the ex-navel officer around. "Look" he said pointing towards the bed. There on the bed was, himself. How old he looked. Wait a minuet, if that was him there on the bed, how could he be seeing himself all the way over here.
Looking down he realized several things, he felt stronger than he had felt in a long time, he was dressed in the dress uniform of a navel commodore, and at least his hands looked young again. Smooth and unlined like in his prime. Startled he looked into the face of his old friend, yes he was that James finally realized, his friend. Jack nodded. Now there's no reason that you can't come sail with me, he said. Smiling James Norrington, lately of his majesty's navy agreed.