Time and Time Again

Title: Time and Time Again
Author: Hellborne (the_ferret_mom@yahoo.com)
Age Rating: 13+

Disclaimer: Characters, if you saw them in the movie or if they're real people, not mine. See the Mouse and the Real People. Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.

Typing convention: / is used for thoughts. * - * - * is used for scene changes and passages of time.

Summary: It's the year 2001. Will Turner, descendent of a particular blacksmith, has been left a journal and a scarf...leading him to a particular cave.

Betas: The two greatest BetaGoddesses in the world, Pendragginink and Littlebird! You're both truly magnificent, and I wouldn't be able to write half as well without you!

NOTE: I live for reviews. Being quite depressed lately about my health and missing my job, I could really use some reviews...and don't think I'm begging for cudos! I happen to love flames and constructive criticism just as much and sometimes more! Lord knows, without constructive criticism, I'd have never fixed some of the boo boos I've made!

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Chapter 12 - Feelings

"Lad, I'm hungry enough to eat all your Swansons. I think we'd better stop at Tortuga and pick up supplies if we're heading to Panama. And whelp, if ye pick up any more o' those 'T.V. dinners', YOU will be on the next menu."

Jack the monkey ("Isn't he adorable, Jack?" "NO!") rode on Will's shoulder back to the yacht and jumped off, making himself comfortable. Jack the human carried a bucket full of ordinary gold coins in both hands. "The gold was a lot lighter when I was cursed."

"You didn't feel how heavy it was when you were cursed. Try lifting one side of the Aztec chest now. Believe me, when we moved it last time, Terry and I weren't really helping...that thing weighs a ton!"

"Well, I guess that makes sense. Can't wait to try the hot tub now that I can feel it. But first I want some food. Oh, and where d' you keep the rum?"

"I don't. There's no booze on the yacht."

Jack's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that when we get to Tortuga." He fairly ran to the galley to fix himself some food.

* - * - *

"Bugger!" Jack heaved over the rail again.

"I thought you were a sailor, Jack."

"I am." He vomited again, producing nothing but bile. "Took me a month to get used to it the first time. Once I got my-" -heave- "-Sea legs, I didn't stay on land long enou-" -heave- "-enough to lose them."

"Imagine that! CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow...SEASICK!" Will laughed so hard he started coughing as he brought Jack a large pitcher filled with ice water and a glass. Jack took it with thanks and drank the first glass.

Will was still giggling. "I'd offer you a sea-sick pill, but you'll just barf it up."

"Jus' kill me and be done wid it!" He heaved the water and took another glass-full.

"Nah, I'm having too much fun."

"Whelp, when I feel better, you'd better be a faster runner than I am. I'm going to take you over my knee!"

Will continued giggling while Jack alternately drank water and vomited into the Caribbean.

* - * - *

As Jack tottered down the gangplank to where Will was waiting for him; he looked around, wide-eyed. "Will, THIS is Tortuga?"

"Yup.. See the sign?"

Jack looked, unbelieving. The words "Welcome to Tortuga" blared at him. "I's changed. Tha's all I'll say."

They walked into the harbormaster's office, paid their fees, showed their passports and went next door to rent a car.

Now that he was on land, Jack's stomach began to settle. "I'm hungry. Let's eat, and no more of those Swansons. If you find somewhere to unload them, do so before I toss the bloody things overboard."

Will drove to the local market and they bought supplies for the trip home. On the way back to the dock, Jack got excited. "Stop! I don't believe it! Will, find a place to park!"

"Why?"

"Because I've found the Faithful Bride! It still exists after all these years!" The building looked far different than he remembered it, and the sign was in neon, but it was there.

Will parked the car and Jack was off like a shot. By the time Will made it through the door, Jack was sitting at the bar, drinking ale from a very large glass mug. Jack signaled him over and ordered another ale, which was delivered in the same size mug. "Jack, I can't drink all that."

"Don't worry, whelp. I'll drink anything you can't."

"Jack, remember what happened to your sea legs. I'd take it easy if I were you."

"Nonsense! The day I can't hold a bit of ale is the day I stop drinkin'!" He called the waitress over and ordered another one for himself.

* - * - *

Jack sat on the floor in the bathroom and prayed to the porcelain god.

"I guess you won't be drinking anymore, huh, Jack?"

"Nobody likes a smart-mouthed whelp, Will. Least of all, me." He heaved again. "I just have to get used to drinkin' again. I was raised on ale, so it shouldn't take all that long."

"Tell you what. I'll buy a keg of beer for when you want to try drinking again." Will left, giggling.

* - * - *

"See? I told you I'd have my sea legs back in no time!"

"Jack, the yacht's not rocking; we're IN the canal."

"Well, now that I've got them, I won't be losin' 'em." Jack took another bite of turkey leg. "And you must admit, I cook better 'n tha' Swanson woman."

"Jack, that's not saying much. I cook better than Swanson's, and the most complex meal I make is hot dogs."

"Which, as I recall from several trips to Singapore, is quite delicious when ye add the right spices."

"Hot dogs in Singapore?"

"Aye, lad. Ye don't want them to serve the dog up cold, do ye?" He eyed the ever-present monkey on Will's shoulder. "Come to think of it, dog is almost as good as chilled monkey's brains. Perhaps ye'd like to try some on the way home."

"Jack!" The monkey gave Jack a dirty look and dodged behind Will, tail still wrapped around his neck.

As the Angel of Desire left the last lock of the canal and entered the Pacific Ocean, Jack took a deep breath of sea air. "Aye, I've got my sea legs back, lad. Ye won't find me heavin' over the side anymore. Perhaps some of that beer you brought would be good with the ham I made. Lord knows ale went with it perfectly."

"Jack, if you keep eating like that, you'll have to go on a diet."

"I'm not eating so much as that, and I'm only makin' up for a bit o' lost time. Remember, lad, it's been over two hundred seventy years. I'll settle down ere long. And I don't see you keepin' food away from the monster."

"That's not his name, Jack."

"I call 'em as I see 'em, mate."

* - * - *

"Will, is it ALWAYS this COLD on this coast? Jack wrapped another blanket around himself.

Will thought it would be a miracle if the shivering bundle could fit through the door. Then again, it was a miracle any air got in Jack's blanket cocoon or sound got out of it. "It's not that cold, Jack. You're just overly sensitive!"

"I'm NOT overly sensitive! It's COLD!"

Will looked at the thermometer. "It's fifty-eight degrees. You don't need to wear two coats and three blankets. Tell you what, go relax in the hot tub."

"And that's another thing! It's HOT!"

Will giggled. "It's a hot tub, remember?"

"Aye...I remember. I also remember not being too hot or too cold before."

"Oh, you mean when you were starving and couldn't do anything about it?"

"Aye. I'm going to have to get used to livin' again, Will. I've spent so many long, lonely years just wishin' and prayin' to live again that I'd forgotten that not all sensations are pleasurable." Jack poked his head out of the blankets. "Say, Will. Do you think I could find a wench to tumble?"

Will cringed. "Jack...erm, uh...about sex...there are STD's out there that kill. I know you've read all about AIDS. You don't want to get your life back just in time to lose it to something so stupid as having sex with the wrong lady."

Will could see the blanket droop. "Will, is there ANYTHING in this time that's actually pleasurable? Other than my cooking, of course, but that's not exactly from this time, now is it?"

"Disneyland...Six Flags...a good massage-"

"A massage? That sounds lovely. Where do we find one?"

"In L.A."

"Fine. I'll try that. Now...give me that other blanket." He ducked back into the heap as Will draped yet another woolen blanket over Jack's head.

* - * - *

TBC

A/N: Please review. I've had so few reviews lately that I'm wondering if I'm doing well at all. And at that point, my muses tend to get depressed...and I don't want them TOO depressed, please review and cheer them and me up. And remember, I like constructive criticism even better than cudos!