Disclaimers: I don't own POTC, nor Norrington, Groves, and Gillette.

'And then, they told him go open the chest and to his surprise, he found fruits in it!' Lawrence was bent over, holding her stomach with laughter. Lieutenant Groves knew really good stories and jokes. Both of them were standing against the ridge of the ship, laughing merrily during their noon-meal break. The Lieutenant and the young sailor had spent from time to time very enjoyable hours together since Lawrence's arrival.

'Well, if you ask me Lieutenant, I wouldn't have minded if there were oranges in that chest, I do so love oranges! God knows how disappointed I would have been if those were coconuts or pomegranate!'

Groves clapped her shoulders, still laughing. Yes, he really liked this boy, he reminded him in some ways of his younger brother. Maybe that was the reason why he had felt so compelled to take under his protection young Reynolds and have light conversations with him whenever he saw the occasion fit.

'Are you aware of how out of place you both look, Lieutenant Groves, Mister Reynolds?' admonished their Captain with a reproving look. He was climbing down the stairs from the top deck to come up to them.

Red spread over Lawrence's cheeks. Only now that her Captain said so, she realized how improper her behaviour had been. But Groves' conversation was so much more appealing than the one she had with the other lower members of the crew. Though she enjoyed Simon's company, her higher education made the conversation between them on an unequal level. Whereas with the Lieutenants, she felt more confident, more at home. It is true that they were older than her by seven or eight years, but they reminded her of her brother.

She lowered her head.

'My apologies, Captain. It is very improper of me to be so familiar with a higher member of the crew. It won't happen again.'

'Now James, give the boy a break! It isn't as if we'd committed a crime. We were merely laughing during noon-break.'

'There is nothing wrong with laughing…' 'Ah, you're the one to say that!' replied Groves, rolling his eyes, '… but I do believe that Mister Reynolds has work to attend to now, don't you M. Reynolds?' continued Captain Norrington.

'Yes Captain, sir. Good afternoon.' She saluted them both and quickly went to the stock room to help Ol' Crab with minor tasks.

'I understand that Mister Reynolds reminds you of your brother, but it isn't a sufficient reason to prevent him from doing what he is foremost here for, Theodore.'

His Lieutenant sighed and nodded. 'I know, I know, I reckon it. But really James, I do think it is a shame to see him working at such a low position. You should hear all the things he knows, his upbringing was one of the best, I'm sure. I even feel ashamed to say that more than once he has completely lost me in our discussions, his knowledge is vaster than mine, and he is almost half my age!'

'Now, Lieutenant, you cannot truly mean what you're saying. Your rank in the Navy hasn't been given to you by a play of cards. You have earned it by your knowledge and merit.'

'Thank God, I know that! But that's exactly my point. This boy shouldn't be mending barrels in the holds, or whatever it is that he's been asked to do.'

'And what is it that you suggest, Lieutenant?' asked Norrington, with a raised eyebrow. 'A promotion?'

'I think that would indeed be the rightest thing to do in this special case, indeed.'

'I will think on the matter then. Now if you'll excuse me, I believe it is my turn to be at the helm.' On that, he saluted his Lieutenant and climbed up the stairs to the top deck.

Lieutenant Gillette joined his friend Groves soon after.

'So, what was all this about? No trouble I hope…'

'Not at all Andrew, James and I were merely talking about young Mister Reynolds.'

'Ah yes, and so? Did you tell him about the promotion? What did he say?'

'He said he'll think of it. But I am quite confident about the outcome of it.' Lieutenant Groves winked.

Lawrence didn't get the chance to talk either to Lieutenant Groves or Gillette for some days because of her new task she had been assigned: washing the deck boards with Simon and three other mates. This was an exhausting work to do, but she complied with her orders given by Tim O'Weill. She was glad Simon was working next to her, with his more than often one-sided conversation, time went faster.

Today was a particularly hot day, making this task harder than it was, so to give themselves courage, the men sang a couple of songs. Lawrence had always been fond of music, but she had never heard sea shanties before, so she listened eagerly to each song, humming along with them, not yet knowing the words.

Captain Norrington watched his crew thoughtfully. Glancing at the men washing the floor under this harsh sun, he felt sympathy towards them. This task was already unpleasant, and this scorching heat didn't help at all. The he noticed young Reynolds dutifully working among those men.

Norrington felt a pang of regret. The boy never complained about anything, but this task was indeed to tiring for his frailer body. 'I should have told him about his promotion earlier today, he wouldn't have been assigned to that task then' the Captain thought. He'd have to tell him tonight before being given another backbreaking work.

At one point, Lawrence felt a sharp pain in the palm of her hand and dropped her rag to look at what had hurt her. She then realized that a rather nasty looking sharp had stuck in her palm. Simon noticed that his friend had stopped working and looked at what had distracted her. 'Ouch! Go to the doctor Law, it'll fester if you don't!'

'No, it's okay, it can wait, Simon. I wouldn't dare to miss at my post.'

'Tut, go see him, we're almost done anyways'

If the shard hadn't been that large, she'd have stayed with the men, but her hand really hurt, like most tiny cuts did.

She entered the quarters below the main deck and went to see Mister Davis, the doctor on board. To her, Doctor Davis looked more like a sham than a proper doctor, but it wasn't as if she'd have other choice. The doctor examined her hand, and proceeded to take out the piece of wood that was stuck in it. He poorly did his job but eventually plucked out the nasty thing. Lawrence had considerably paled by the end of the procedure. She stifled a cry when M. Davis had poured a drop of alcohol on the cut and had clumsily pressed the small wound while wrapping it in a linen rag.

She almost regretted to have come to the doctor. 'This man has almost butchered my hand for nothing! I fear for the severely wounded in his care…' she mumbled in the corridor when she bumped into a hard body.

Two firm hands steadied her as she swayed backwards. She has knocked into Captain Norrington who was going the other way.

'I'm sorry, I didn't… Mister Reynolds!' Norrington said, eventually seeing who he was talking to. His eyes widened with worry. 'Are you alright? What were you… why do you look so pale? Are you coming from the doctor's?' He assailed her with questions, his worry clearly showing.

To be fair, the young woman didn't look at her best, her hair was untamed by her work outside, her aching limbs made her look like her energy had been drained, and she still looked rather pale, despite the colours the sun had given her.

'It alright Captain, I'm alright, nothing to trouble with. Just a minor injury while I was wiping the decks, sir. If you wouldn't mind, I have to go back to my task.' She wasn't in the mood to be admonished on whatever it was she had done wrong to the Captain's eyes. Since their first encounter on the Daisy of the sea, she had come to the conclusion that the Captain didn't really like her. At first he had thought she was a thief, then had reproached her on several occasions of being too familiar with his Lieutenants. All the interactions she had had with him ended up in a negative way for her, so naturally, this time wouldn't be any different from the others.

As the Captain was the one coming in the corridor, and she was the one going out, Norrington's face was obscured by his body blocking the sunlight, that way she couldn't see that his bright green eyes were filled with worry.

'Nonsense! You don't have to go back to your work if your Captain says so. I see plainly that you feel ill. Come, let us go to the top deck, fresh hair will do you good, and I must admit that it is a good timing, I had to speak with you on a matter.'

'Oh no, what have I done this time to disappoint him? I swear, seeing the state I'm in, I'd break down without being able to prevent it' she thought glumly.

She followed him to the top deck where he led her to the back ridge of the ship to keep their conversation more private.

The Captain straightened himself, his hands clasped together behind his back.

'I have noticed on many occasions that my officers Lieutenant Gillette, and more particularly Lieutenant Groves, and yourself have become quite familiar with each other. They both have a high opinion of you by what I gather from what they say, and such familiarity is yet unheard of between officers and simple sailor, especially at such a young age as yours. I understand that you come from a wealthy family and have had a thorough education in most fields of knowledge, am I right?'

'Yes sir, all that you say is indeed true. As for my education, I have had the chance of having several tutors of renown before and while training for the Navy.'

Norrington nodded in approval or to confirm what he already knew.

'It has then occurred to me and my officers that your current position on board of this ship is quite inferior to your social background and knowledge, which is why I promote you for now to the rank of Ensign, therefore welcoming you among the few officers of the Dauntless. Congratulation, Ensign Reynolds.' When saying those words, the bright green of his eyes bore into the blue-grey of hers, and for the first time since she was on board, Lawrence realized how handsome her Captain was, especially now that he was smiling, tightly, but it was way more than the quarter of a curt smile he had noticed once. Norrington presented his hand for her to shake, which she did, sending a shiver down her spine though this act was nothing but formal.

She realized her mouth had gone dry, either because of her sudden promotion or her shift of perception of her Captain. She coughed lightly before talking.

'Thank you very much sir, I am deeply honoured by such an attention. I don't know what to say…'

Norrington chuckled, visibly amused by her embarrassment, embarrassment that proved once more to him that this young man was a well-rounded one promising to become a great officer in the future, and not someone full of pride.

'The Lieutenants Groves and Gillette are already aware of your promotion, you can join them freely from now on. I think you should ask one of them to show you your new quarters. Oh and before I forget, you are invited to dinner in my quarters to celebrate your promotion with the other officers.'

'I look forward to it, Captain, sir. Thank you once again' Lawrence said before saluting him and finding either Groves or Gillette, whoever she would find first.