The Price of Rum

Title: The Price of Rum (11/?)

Author: Lydia NightShade

Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Will Turner

Rating: NC-17

Warnings: Dear lord this chapter is SAPPY!! I’m surprised man!!! I’m almost disgusted with myself…..never thought I was this cushy!

Archivet cat can be put in any list archive that I’ve posted at, anywhere else please ask.

Disclaimer: I so don’t own any of this, I wish believe me, but no it’s all crap.

Feedback: The voices demand it!

Beta: Sara! The sole reason why I’ve decided it’s an okay state and not just the flaccid penis of the U.S.A….hehehehehee! *muwah!* Love you all!

Author’s Notes: Hahahahahaa! I’m listening to Jewel! Hahahahahhhahahahahaaaaa!!!! Oh and the voices have spoken to me….Craig’s death has been foretold….yesssssss….hahahahaaaaa!! Yodel!

A/N 2: Speech “blah”; thoughts ‘blah’; passage of time/scene change~*~*~*~*~

Dedication: The voices…..*rocks back and forth in chair, clutching head and mumbling to herself* JACK’S GONNA BE OUTTA CHARACTER SO CRINGE ALONG IF YA DON’T LIKEY!!!


“I’ll get help, just hang on!” Craig shouted, his own laughter hard to contain. His plan was working out beautifully and he was quite proud. Of course he didn’t go for help. Instead he sat down against the wall and listened to the cries of his handy work. He rested his head back against the wall and closed his eyes in satisfaction, listening to Will’s plead for help.

“Oh Jack help me! Wahhhh!” he mocked to quiet for Will to have heard. He felt the boom and rumble and then the sound of the water rushing in more quickly. He was half pleased by this. Of course the water rushing in quicker would lessen the chance of Will being discovered before it was too late…but Craig wanted the whore’s end to drag out a little. “Make his suffering linger as mine has!” he hissed. “Five /long/ years of watching, waiting, and always being there for him and nothing! Then to spend the last year watching this trollop hang all over /my/ Captain! After one night he gets to share Sparrow’s bed?!” He shook his head and took a calming breath…he couldn’t let his voice get too loud.

When he heard Will start to cry and splash around hopelessly he almost felt a twinge of pity and guilt. Will really was young…and Barbossa had put him through a lot. ‘Haven’t you suffered much at his actions though?’ the little angry voice in his head seethed. ‘Hasn’t he flaunted his relationship with /your/ beloved enough?’ Craig clutched his head and rocked. He hated when that voice came around…even though it was always right.

“Yes, yes he /has/!” he shouted angrily, standing up and kicking the latch closed, locking away the cries of his victim. “You won’t taunt me anymore!” he yelled, obviously enraged. ‘Cover up your mess. You don’t want to look guilty now do you?’ the voice instructed in a mothering tone. “I know…I know,” he mumbled, heading back up the stairs. He never noticed the water seeping out from under the latch, shortly after he left.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Craig made his way into Sparrow’s chambers and looked around ctioctionately. This was the room he’d been desperately trying to get into for five years. Now he was here…but not for why he wanted.

‘You know what must be done,’ he thought…whether it was him or the voice he didn’t even know anymore. The line became blurred so many times over the past five years he didn’t even realize when it was happening anymore. He rather liked it this way…there was no feeling…no looking back…and no regret.

He removed his pistol and aimed at the wall beside the bed. He hated to do this, to destroy his place of fantasy. The battle was still ragging no one would notice a misplace pistol shot…or two. He cocked the trigger and fired. It blew a small hole in the side of the cabin.

“Good.” His voice was empty and mechanical. He then took the hilt of his weapon and smashed various things around the room, breaking the chair and shattering the mirror as well. “One more finishing touch,” he stated routinely, grabbing a shard of the broken mirror. He observed himself in smalsmall pieces on the floor and laughed at the image. “Shattered…like my sanity,” he laughed, genuinely amused.

“No time for nostalgia,” he scolded, as he ripped his shirt and started to slash himself (1). He made several cuts of varying sizes and depths before he made one on the side of his head. “Oh Jack I wanted to save him, but I was knocked out by something!” he rehearsed aloud, making sure he could say it with a straight face. “Well, done.” He cocked his head and winked at his shattered, bloody reflection before staggering up on deck…the sounds of battle were dying…Jack would soon be looking for the whore.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“We have them men!” Jack growled in victory as he secured the Captain of the merchant vessel to the mast of the Pearl. The man looked genuinely frightened. Jack was rather pleased. The ship had given him a damn decent fight. “Since you gave us a good chance to stretch our pirate muscles, I’ll not be sinking you’re vessel.” The man seemed to smile at this and Jack flashed his dashing smile, “However, I /will/ be robbing you blind,” he put his hands together and bowed before swaggering off to see how the rest of the merchant crew were fairing. The rest of the crew had the merchant sailors chained and subdued. Many bodies were scattered about and Jack grimaced at the sight. He didn’t like killing innocents, but sometimes it just happened…he justified by it the ‘wrong place, wrong time ideology’. He did enjoy the battle…but somehow when the reality sunk in it was always less amusing.

“Give these men a proper sea burial men. They fought well and deserve no less.” He used his most serious voice to make sure no one got lazy and decided to just chuck them overboard like trash. “And after that make sure you get everything of value!” He turned to go below deck, but then paused and spun on his heal. “Leave them enough water though,” he commanded. He really was feeling generous today. Must have been the safe return of his heart.

“Speaking of which,” he smiled as he thought of his precious lover, sleeping in his bed. He trotted over to the stairs leading to his cabin, eager to get back to Will, but was stopped by a slack form on the middle steps. He furrowed his brow in confusion before he realized who/what it was.

“Craig!” he gasped, “What in the name of Davey Jones’ Locker happened to you?! He cradled the bloody and seemingly weak cook in his arms and looked over the injuries.

“O-one of the p-pris-prisoners….got loose…had to fight him back…Will…” Jack felt his blood run cold. He shook Craig and forced the young man to look at him.

“What about Will?! What happened to him?!” Jack had to resist the urge to drop Craig and go running to his cabin, but Craig looked near death.

“I-I-I don’t know…we were attacked…I lead him out of the room…” he paused to cough violently, complimenting himself mentally on the standout performance he was giving. “Then we were attacked….Will ran down further….near the bunghole (2). I fought off the attacker and managed to get him back in the cell…but I couldn’t find Will…Jack, I’m so sorry!” he wailed, pretending to be upset that the tramp was missing.

“It’s okay Craig, you did your best,” Jack comforted. “Ana! Get over here!” he bellowed. She came running, obviously about to argue over the gruff way he called her, but he gave her no chance. “Take care of Craig, something’s happened to Will, I have to find him!” He handed Craig over and flew down the stairs.

He headed straight for the storage decks, calling out to his young lover the whole time. When he finally got to where they kept the food he panicked at the amount of water he saw seeping out. There was serious damage and Will might be in there! He dropped to his knees and flung open the latch, crying out as he did. Will’s motionless body was floating, face down, right before him.

“Will!” he screamed grabbing his lover’s body and pulling him out. Will’s eyes were closed and his lips were purple in color, his face very pale. “Oh god no!” Jack whimpered, Will wasn’t breathing! “Don ‘t leave me!” he wailed, stroking Will’s hair and cradling the prone form to che chest. He couldn’t lose Will now! Not after all they’d just come through. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs and looked up to see Jonathan.

“Ana sent me,” he said in explanation as he looked over the sopping wet blacksmith. “Where did you find him?” he asked worriedly. Jack pointed to the water-logged chamber and felt himself start to lose it.

“I-in there,” he sniffled, desperately trying to keep his composure.

“Give him to me,” Jonathan instructed, putting his healer’s mask on. Jack reluctantly released Will’s limp body and watched as Jonathan laid him out and placed his ear to the slim chest. “He’s still alive!” he exclaimed. Jack released the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, but he was still horribly afraid.

“He’s not breathing!” he moaned in anguish, looking at his lover’s deathlike features.

“I know, stand back I need to try something.” Jack scooted back slightly, but couldn’t pull himself away more than few inches. Jonathan tilted Will’s head back and opened the boy’s lips before breathing into them. Jack got angry.

“What the fuck are you doing!” he roared in anger, pushing the healer of his lover.

“I’m putting air in his lungs!” Jonathan yelled back. He knew Jack wasn’t thinking rationally at this point so he didn’t take the act personally. He knew Jack would have realized he was trying to save Will’s life if he wasn’t so close to the boy.

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry,” the pirate captain mumbled, as he fidgeted in his seat, running his fingers through his jeweled dreads. Jonathan didn’t waste any time in accepting, Will was in serious danger of dying. He resumed his life reviving technique, explaining each step to Jack as he continued. He pumped Will’s chest and continued to breath into his mouth.

“Come on, live!” he shouted angrily. He was rather found of the youth himself…he hated to lose anyone…but it was always worse when he knew his patient. He continued the frantic motions, seeing his captain trying to remain calm out of the corner of his eye.

“Why isn’t it working?!” Jack asked, sounding years younger than he was. Jonathan squeezed his eyes shut, as he pushed once more. He didn’t want to have to tell the man that it might be too late…that Will was lost to them.

“I’m sorry,” he choked out, “But I don’t think he’s coming back,” he felt his own grief well up in his chest and could only imagine what Jack was going through. The man looked frozen…paralyzed by the shock. Jack laughed and shook his head looking back and fourth between Jonathan and his lover.

“N-no…ha! He’s not dead…he can’t be…that wouldn’t make any sense, right? I mean he survived all that just to die now? That’s crazy!” Jack was obviously starting to lose touch with reality. He was facing the worst fear of his life and to make matters worse…he was stone cold sober…possibly for the first time in his life. As hard as Jack tried he couldn’t brush this one off…couldn’t pretend he didn’t care and then mourn later in private.

“We always promised to go together you know?” he said sadly. “I knew he meant it…I was the one that always doubted it. I always thought I’d go first…I mean…I am the older one and the daring pirate captain and all. Thought maybe it would happen taking a bullet or a sword to the gut for him…I always knew I’d die for him…can’t really live without him, ironic eh?” Jack started to giggle, but it didn’t sound like one. It was an eerie insane, pain filled sound. The sound of a man that just lost his reason for living and perhaps his mental well-being.

“I’m so sorry,” Jonathan whispered as he reached out to touch Jack’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort. Jack pulled away.

“No. No it’s not over! It can’t be over! Damn it I won’t let it be over!” he screeched as he started mimicking the behavior he saw Jonathan performing. “Don’t you break your promise! Don’t die on me and leave me here alone! I don’t want to live this life without you!” Jack wailed, pounding on Will’s chest.

“Please…please come back to me William…”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Will was floating again. But this time it wasn’t in a cold, black space of despair and he felt no pain. It was bright and warm. His clothes were made of fine silk and all his injuries were healed. There was some bright tunnel coming at him and he felt afraid at first until he heard someone call him name.

“Who’s there?” he called curiously. He heard the melodic voice laugh lightly in amusement.

“Oh my dearest baby William. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already?” the voice said sounding slightly hurt.

“I know whom you sound like, but you can’t be,” he said disbelievingly, tears prickling his eyes.

“But it is me, William…who else would be watching over you?” Will swallowed and squinted slightly. It just /couldn’t/ be who he thought it was. The light faded and Will gasped, tears immediately falling from his eyes. Before him stood a beautiful woman, in her mid thirties, long wavy brown hair and beautiful green eyes. She had wings made of the purist light and a flowing gown of the whitest silk.

“Momma?” he spoke in an awestruck voice, throwing himself in her arms. “I missed you so much! I’ve been so miserable!” he sobbed. The angelic figure held him tight and ran her feather soft hands down his back.

“I’ve missed you too…my little boy,” she said lovingly. “But I’ve been watching over you…you couldn’t see me though,” she comforted. “I’m so sorry honey…” she wept. “I couldn’t stop that evil man.” Will didn’t say anything, he just held her tighter, not fully believing he was actually seeing her.

“I don’t care about that anymore, mother.” He sniffled and looked up at her in wonderment. “You’re an angel?” he commented, not really expecting an answer to the obvious question. She smiled and placed a gentle kiss to his forehead.

“Your angel,” she corrected. Will looked at her contemplatively and then observed the surrounding atmosphere.

“Am I dead?” he asked, less disturbed than one would expect. His mother cocked her head and pursed her lips, shrugging slightly.

“Mmmm, sort of,” shed shd showing her human side. “Technically, you should be…but apparently the powers that be are very fond of you William,” she chimed. “They’re giving you a choice…seeing as how you’ve kind of gotten the short end of the stick most of your life.” Will nodded and smiled awkwardly…so they /had/ noticed.

“I miss you so much mother…I want to stay with you. There’s no pain here,” he said softly, hugging her tightly. He was acting like he was a little boy again, but he didn’t care.

“That makes me so happy to hear you say that…but I think you should see something before you make up your mind,” she cooed, her voice slightly chocked with tears. She led him over to a large, gold-framed mirror. Will looked into it, but all he saw was his reflection.

“I don’t understand…this is just a mirror…I know what I look like,” he said confused. His mother smiled and placed her hand up to the mirror, whispering a small prayer. Suddenly the picture changed and Will saw his lifeless body back on the Pearl. Jack was frantically trying to breath life back into him, long after Jonathan had begged him to stop. He heard the anguish in his lover’s voice and the unshed tears in his eyes.

“Don’t leave me here all alone!” Jack sobbed in his mind, but he might as well have shouted it.

“He didn’t say that. How can I hear it?”

“When the living think of the dead, the dead can hear them,” his mother explained.

“Please come back to me angel! I need you! I’m sorry I left you alone! I’m sorry Barbossa hurt you! I’m sorry I put you in harm’s way! I’m so sorry for everything, /please/ forgive me…don’t leave me!” Will could sense the desperation and feel the pain Jack was going through. He wanted to cry…Jack had been blaming himself this whole time?

“It’s not your fault!” Will shouted, tears falling down his face. “I have to go back! He needs me…and I need him…besides…we promised to go together,” Will confessed. “I’m sorry mother…I want to stay here but…” he was cut off as his mother placed a finger to his lips.

“I know, honey…I know.” She pulled him close and gave him one last hug, before kissing his brow and releasing him. “We’ll meet again…when it’s really your time,” she said sadly, stroking her pride and joy’s face. Will placed his hand over hers and closed his eyes…this was so hard…but at least he got to say goodbye this time.

“How do I go back?” he asked.

“Close your eyes and think of him…everything you love about him and your life together.” Will nodded and closed his eyes.

“Oh Will?” she whispered. He looked at her questioningly.

“You won’t remember any of this…but you can hold on to this…just know,” she paused to collect herself. “That I love you…no matter what…and that I couldn’t be more proud to have you as my son,” she said shakily. “I know you’ve been doubting your worth lately and I don’t want you to ever think you’re worthless! That’s an order young man!” she mock scolded. Will blew her a kiss before he began to fade.

“I love you momma!” His fading voice called out…but it was only an echo now.

“I know, sweetie…I know…”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Oh god, Will!” Jack moaned as he rested his forehead against his young lover’s chest and started to cry. He wasn’t coming back! He’d tried everything, but Will still wasn’t breathing! “I’m so sorry…”

Jonathan didn’t know what to do. He’d tried everything. ‘Please God! Just let him live!’ he prayed silently. He leaned down and pulled Jack up.

“You breath, while I pump…it’s worth a try!” he ordered. Jack looked at him hopelessly but did as told. “One, two, three, four, five…breath!” Jack bent down and blew air into the cold lips, pleading with every higher power he’d ever heard of to let this work.

Suddenly Will’s eyes flew open and he gurgled, spitting up water. Jack couldn’t believe it! He was alive! Will rolled over onto his side and spat up the water, continuing to cough violently. Jack patted Will’s back and felt tears of joy running down his face. When Will calmed he pulled the youth into his arms and squeezed him so hard Will thought he’d die again…this time by asphyxiation!

“You’re alive! Don’t ever do that to me again! You scared the shit out of me! I love you, angel, I /love/ you!” Jack was rocking and stroking Will’s hair as he mumbled into his ear all the fear he’d been holding in. Will returned the embrace as best he could in his weakened condition and nuzzled Jack’s neck. He couldn’t believe he’d survived that. Will felt his own eyes watering, but he held them back…it was Jack’s turn to cry now…the pirate had held it in for far too long.

Tbc….


(1) Yes, pun /intended!/ I just couldn’t resist. Especially since when I first crossed over from the Anime fanfiction into the LOTR fandom I thought that’s what Slash meant because in Anime it’s called Yaoi! And femslash would be Yuri…so yeah I made and ass of me self once again….good thing I’m such a slash lover eh? That could have been very traumatic otherwise!

(2) Hey don’t laugh! I read that on a pirate webpage that actually said the Bunghole is what they called where they kept the food. Oh who am I kidding….I can’t even say it without laughing!! I grew up on Beavis and Butthead! That’s why I only used it once!

Oh and some notes that I didn’t mark: Let’s pretend they new about CPR in the 17th century…in case they didn’t…I don’t think they did, but if you want me to take it out I can but…..Will’s gonna die then! I am prepared to do that! Rahr!!

Yeah the afterlife thing was corny and sappy but whatever….it just came out….plus I’m avoiding writing the love scene I was going to put in this chapter. I chickened out again! If anyone has seen my writing balls could you please give them back to Terra, or lend her yours? *holds out hand* Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? It’s a Will/Jack which is not what I usually like and I’m not a big fan of it so I’m all squicked….well…maybe that’s too strong a word, but I’m delaying!

Yeah Jack was quite OOC but I think it was necessary! And it’s AU-ish so I’m using my creative license dag nabbit! And he almost lost the most important person in the world to him sooooo yeah….you’d be a little weepy too! *sticks out tongue* Oi! I’m spending too much time alone! LoL!