Disclaimers: I don't own Potc and its characters.
My readers are the salt of the earth, thank you so much.

'Haven't you heard the news?' exclaimed Mrs Harrington in Isabella's chambers.

'Port Royal's been attacked last night! I knew those were canons I heard, but Mr Harrington kept telling it was my imagination. Port Royal, attacked by pirates! Really, this is terrible.' Mrs Harrington heavily sat in a chair and fanned herself.

'And the worst, my dear Isabella, I am so sorry to tell you this, Miss Elizabeth has been kidnapped!'

Under the shock, and considering her health that was still low, Isabella fainted. Lawrence was on her feet, pacing up and down the room, her mind racing.

'Does anyone know why the pirates chose to attack now? Are there a lot of casualties?'

'I don't know my child, I don't know' Mrs Harrington shook her head, wiping her tears.

'And what about Elizabeth? Any idea why she's been kidnapped? Are there people going after her on sea?' By people, I really want to know about James and my friends, but I really can't be so forward with her…

'How would I know? I hope they will find her soon and that she's treated properly, that's all that matters. You should go to the harbour and tell about it when you return, dear!'

As she was talking, Isabella recovered herself, very pale.

'Please Charlotte, don't go yet. Stay with me…'

Lawrence was dying to know more about the whole incident, but she couldn't leave her cousin that way. She took Isabella's hand.

'Of course I won't, don't worry!'

Lawrence stayed by her cousin's side for six days, which left her a lot of time to think about a lot of things; she knew Captain Krupke would propose any day now, it couldn't be otherwise, his behaviour told as much. She couldn't possibly accept that idea, no matter how hard she tried, she would never imagine herself married to anyone; she knew that was a shame, for he was a handsome man, and he was really wealthy, but he would never fill her heart, and a life in a country house wasn't what she dreamt of; he wasn't the man that made her heart beat. Which led her to the next major questions that kept going up in her mind. After barely a month with her cousin, she couldn't stand this kind of life anymore; she needed to do something useful, something meaningful; and that meant only one thing: becoming Ensign Lawrence Reynolds once again.

But that led to another problem: James. What would she say to him? She would have to face him eventually. She knew Andrew and Theodore would be overjoyed to see her again, but James… She didn't know what to expect from him, their last encounter had broken her heart, although he was only performing his duties. Would he denounce her and send her to jail, as she should have been? Or would he be happy to see her again? In any case, nothing would be as it were before the discovery of her true identity.

'Oh, there's also one think I haven't thought about…' Lawrence realized with dread. 'What will I tell Isabella, and my aunt and uncle? I can't tell them about my real plans, and certainly not about what happened the previous year.'

She waited for Isabella to be fully recovered to announce them the news.

'So, you're leaving us already?' Mr Harrington said, puzzled.

'Yes, I am so sorry. One of my French friends is really sick and has asked me to see her in New Orleans.'

'We understand my dear, you do well to go to your friend when she's asking for you' Mrs Harrington said. 'But you will come back to us the, won't you?'

Lawrence half-lied, promising her to join them as soon as possible.

'But, Charlotte, what about Captain Krupke? You should wait until he proposes! That way, you would go to your friend as a happily married woman.'

'I'm afraid I will have to let my chances with him go and give them to some else who deserves it better than I do.'

'When are you going then?' asked Isabella sadly.

'I don't know yet, I will try to figure it out today and take a chamber in the harbour until the right ship arrives.'

'Today? You mean… you are leaving us now then?'

'I'm afraid so, dear cousin. But don't you worry, I will write to you as much as possible!' She realized she wouldn't, as she never wrote to Theodore nor Andrew since she had left them.

She thanked them for their generosity and wished them well until the next time she would see them, and left to the city of Kingston before going to the harbour. She needed to buy some male clothes, and the money Mr Harrington had given became very handy. She couldn't simply buy some boys clothes in a shop, that would only raise suspicions, so she headed to the darker streets of Kingston.

A few people stared as she went from gloomy streets to gloomy streets with her fine clothes, but nobody dared disturb her. In the end, she entered a tavern, and luckily for her, not a soul that there yet except for a large women who seemed to be running this tavern.

'And what would a fine lady be doin' round here?' the woman said, quite surprised.

'I-I am looking for something, and I hoped that perhaps you could help me…'

'What is it? Someone's stolen your pretty necklace?'

'No' Lawrence said, furrowing her brow. 'Not at all. I was wondering whether you… whether you might have boys clothes about my height.'

'And why would you need that for?' she eyed the newcomer suspiciously.

Lawrence shrugged. 'Boy's clothes are safer than those I'm wearing, don't you agree?'

'What's in it for me? What if I find some?'

'I'll pay you, plus I'll let you my dress to sell.'

The woman thought about it for a couple a seconds then agreed.

'Alright then, just wait for me here, I'll see what I can do.'

She came back a few minutes later with a bundle of clothes in her hands.

'I'll take the money now. You can change in the first bedroom.'

When Lawrence came downstairs, she looked like any young man of the streets; her clothes weren't the cleanest you could find but that would do. She gave her dress to the woman and left for the harbour.

She wasn't expecting such a sight; a couple of buildings had been badly damaged by the canons, and there was still a lot of commotion around the area.

She went straight for the naval barracks and identified herself as Ensign Reynolds. She was relieved that the guard at the sentry wasn't performing his duties properly, for he would have asked her questions she wouldn't have been able to answer.

'Excuse me, sir' she said to a young man who looked slightly older than her. 'I am looking for the clothing office. I've been robbed last night so I need a new uniform before leaving.'

'Just on the other side of the courtyard, you can't miss it.'

She thanked him and indeed found easily the clothing office, where she told her lie once again.

'What's your name again, boy?' the man behind the counter asked.

'I am Ensign Reynolds. I served under Captain Norrington on board of the Dauntless.'

The man who wasn't expecting such an answer apologized quickly for his familiarity. 'Begging your pardon, young sir. Let me find you your new uniform.'

'Here you go. And don't forget to go to the armoury!'

'Thank you. And err, where should I go?'

'Down the main hall, on the left.'

'Thank you, sir. Have a good day.'

Lawrence decided to change herself before heading to the armoury and inquire about her friends, so she wandered along the corridors and up the stairs until she found the first room where she could safely change her clothes. Once done, she went straight to the armoury where she got her new sword and pistol. She knew the stocks were pretty limited, but being an officer of the Navy, nobody could possibly refuse.

Now fully equipped, Lawrence sat on a low wall to think about what she would do next. She was happily surprised by how well everything went so far, not only a few hours ago, she was still wearing a dress and pretending to be Charlotte, whereas now she felt like Lawrence again.

'I don't think James would still be here a week after Elizabeth's rapt… So the Dauntless is out of the question. I need to board another ship, I need to find James and help him safe Elizabeth.' She sighed. 'I just want to see her safe, I really like her. My feelings for James don't have to get in the way. If he ever forgives me, he'd never share my feelings; at best he would consider me as a friend. It'd be enough for me, as long as he is safe and happy and that I am with him and Theodore and Andrew, then I don't need anything else in the world. Alright, time to get things a-moving then.' She stood up, straightened her navy jacket, and went to the office of the admiral.

She could no longer wait, she had lost too much time; her actions would be bold, but then again, they've always been bold from the start of her journey.

She knocked on the door and waited for the admiral to let her in.

'Yes, what is it?' He lifted his head from his paperwork and noticed her insignia. 'May I help you, Ensign…?'

'Reynolds, sir, Ensign Lawrence Reynolds.'

'Reynolds, the Reynolds who made such an impression on board of the HMS Dauntless?'

Lawrence narrowed her eyes. 'Has James talked about me? Maybe there was still hope of redemption then…'

'Himself, Admiral, sir. I came to you for that very matter, sir. I was wondering whether one of our ships would her back up in the recovery of Miss Swann.'

'No, we won't send another ship for the Governor's daughter, it would require too much trouble for a task easily done.'

'But sir, if I may insist, anything could happen in the open sea, they might need our help!'

'They won't. Now, if that is all you came for, I would appreciate if you returned to your duties and left me to more important matters.'

'Yes sir, I understand. My apologies for the disturbance.'

Lawrence left his office grumbling. Clearly, it would have been too perfect had he accepted, she needed another plan. She went to look at the chart of the ships currently at sea and those bound to leave and let out a heavy sigh.

'I don't even know where they're heading' she said, crestfallen.

'Where who's heading?' a red-hair man asked her. He had come to her side while she was looking at the different names of the ships and their respective missions.

'Oh, I didn't see you coming! I was thinking about the Dauntless, sir. I used to be assigned to that ship, and now I've missed her departure.'

'The Dauntless? Why, it was stolen by the pirate Jack Sparrow and the blacksmith's apprentice, Turner. The Commodore went on board of the HMS Interceptor to take her back and look after Miss Swann.'

'The Commodore... Norrington? He isn't Captain anymore then?'

'Of course he isn't! Where have you been the last few days? Everybody was there!'

'Oh, well… I was ill and took bed for a couple of weeks.'

'Ah, that explains a lot then.'

'So, you mean that Cap- Commodore Norrington and his crew went after pirates with only one ship?'

'That's what I said indeed.'

'Do you know where they're heading?'

'Why? You do realise that they left about six days ago and that there's no way you can join them?'

'Of course, I know. I just wanted to know, I still have some friends on board so…'

The man nodded.

'I heard they were heading east, but apart from that, nobody knows yet. Who can predict a pirate? For all I know, the pirates that took Miss Swann are in Tortuga at the moment.'

'Tortuga?' Lawrence had heard the crew talk about this place before, but she never dared to ask about it.

'The fever has really damaged your brain! Tortuga, the worst island there is, full of pirates and drunkard, that's what it is. For your sake, Ensign, never set foot in Tortuga!'

'I won't. I thank you for the information you have given me, sir.'

'My pleasure.' He saluted her, being of a lesser rank, and left her to her thoughts.

'Alright then, I've got to start somewhere, so Tortuga it is then!'