The Wraith of Jack

Part Twenty-Eight: "Freedom's Serenade"

****
Eyelids flickered open to expose exhausted brown eyes. Jack clutched the top of the blankets to him and sighed heavily. It took him a moment to comprehend where he was. As he gazed around carelessly, Amelia entered the room.

“Finally awake, I see,” she said kindly and strode to him.
“Amelia,” he responded in a faint whisper and smiled.
“We were beginning to seriously worry about you. You’ve been out for three days since James found you.”
He looked beside him, stared at her once more, and asked, “Where is he?”
“He’s off at that man’s field.”
Jack’s features became troubled. “Where?”
“To work.”
“Oh,” he responded uncertainly. He soon spoke with more conviction, “Oh. Of course. I knew that.”
“He’ll be very pleased to know you’re awake.”
“I just wish he was here now,” he stated disappointedly.
“He’ll be here shortly. In the meantime, can I get ya anything? Surely you’re hungry.”
“Not so much. But thanks for the offer.”

She studied his crestfallen countenance for a period, while he simply gazed emptily ahead.

“It’s not like he abandoned you. He’ll be back. Besides, I don’t think he ever could leave ya. He truly cares for you, Jack,” she at last voiced.
Jack nodded and sniffed. “I know.”
“He regrets the things he said.”
“I do too. I’m surprised he hasn’t ordered me to leave. I’m such a burden to him. To you.”
“Don’t talk like that. You are not a burden to either one of us.”
“He can’t be content as long as I’m here.”
“Jack, he loves you. I don’t know if you knew that, but there it is. He cares greatly for you, but he doesn’t know what he can do to make you happy. That’s all he wants.”
You see, Jackie? He can’t be happy unless you are. And seeing as you’re unable to be content with what you have, he’ll never be happy. Seems a tad dismal to me anyway you slice it. Makes you selfish once again.
Jack closed his eyes, and a tear landed on the pillow. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he whispered dolefully.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
“I think the two of you need to have a serious chat. Now, I’ll be right back with some tea and croissants for you.”

She stood and left swiftly. Jack massaged his temples and muttered a number of curses under his breath.

It would only be fair to him to let him know how you really feel, Jackie.

Quietly, he began to sing in an effort to suppress his critical thoughts and to rid himself of the sudden pain taking hold of his body.

****
The flames glowed in the sunken amber eyes that gazed upon the fire. Jack floated between sleep and awareness; it was quite cozy being cocooned within the warm, soft blanket. No part of him showed except for his head and the tips of his toes. He had ventured from the bedroom to the main room sofa to wait for James. It was far later than the time the young man usually returned. Jack briskly shoved away any trace of worry that came to mind.

Fifteen more minutes passed before the door opened, and James strode inside. He shut the entrance, hung up his coat, and paused from spotting the pirate.

“Evening, Jamie,” Jack said quietly without averting his gaze from the fireplace.
James strolled to the furniture and sat down. “Evening.” A broad grin came to his face and he sighed in disbelief. “You’re finally awake. Thank god you’re all right. Are you feeling well?”
“I suppose. Thanks for takin’ me in.”
“No need to thank me. I’m just so relieved I found you when I did. Who knows what could’ve happened if you had been out there another day.” He scrutinized Jack’s seemingly expressionless countenance, discovering that the pirate was hiding his troubles. “Is there something on your mind you wish to speak about?”
Jack licked his dry lips and swallowed before he answered. “Did you get the pouch of money I set on the porch?”
James frowned. “What money?”
“It’s not much, but it was all they would give me.”
“Who?” the young man inquired fretfully.
“I….I took your advice, James,” he stated, sounding embarrassed. “I couldn’t get many. I don’t blame them. Who wants to bugger a used, one-legged has-been?”
“Oh god, Jack-”
“They paid me for a couple of hours. I tried me best to give an extraordinary performance under them. On the floor, on the bed, the chair – it didn’t matter. And I realized somethin’, James.” He blinked, releasing a crystal droplet to leak from his eye. “You were right. I’m nothin’ other than a filthy whore. No longer do I take pride in being Jack Sparrow, nor should I. He’s nothing. I have no purpose other than to submit to men’s desires and power.”
“That’s not true, Jack-”
“I’m shocked you continue to look after me. To let me be sheltered in your home. In your bed. Certainly someone such as you would be repulsed to be around someone as tainted and unclean as I am. I’ve done you wrong; you don’t deserve this.”

Ah, now doesn’t that make ya feel better, Jackie? Perhaps at last he sees it too. It’s funny how you can go from infamous pirate captain to a pitiful prostitute.

James inched closer to the older man, making Jack glance nervously at him.

“Jack, listen to me,” James said gently, yet with some firmness. “You are a remarkable human being. I still find myself in awe of you. Jack, I….I can’t even find words to say that can accurately express how much I care for you. I apologize for the heartless things I said. I’m honored to have you here. Never, never think for one second that you are an inconvenience, or worthless, or anything else. The world has beaten you down, Jack; it’s been unkind, and it’s a horrible shame. But I hope you can see that there is good to be had.”

Without another word, James wrapped his arms around Jack and brought the pirate to lean against his chest. Jack wept silently as the young man simply held him tenderly. Not since Will had embraced him had he felt such an extreme sense of security. A minute smile graced his visage from the abundant feeling of adoration that suddenly welled inside of him for James.

“Jamie,” he whispered in a constrained voice.
“Yes?”
“I want ya to be happy. I love you.” He knew the word did not have the same meaning, nor the same intense feeling, as it did when applied to Will, yet he considered it accurately enough to describe his emotions.
“And I love you, Jack.”

Time was nonexistent for them as they submerged themselves in one another’s comforting arms.

****
A soft murmur came from James, and he smiled from feeling the smooth skin under him. He was lying between Jack’s leg and the edge of the couch; the pirate’s abdomen was his pillow. Jack’s hands rested on James’ head and shoulder and clutched the blanket that was about him as well.

The younger man kissed the man’s exposed torso a few times, eliciting faint sounds from the sleeping pirate. As he gazed at Jack’s peaceful countenance, he was filled with intense admiration and devotion. In his mind, there was nothing more beautiful than Jack’s subdued, tranquil expression.

A noise from the kitchen roused his attention. He raised his head in time to see Amelia coming toward him. With a slightly embarrassed grin, he muttered thanks under his breath for being fully clothed.

“You two were lookin’ so content and adorable, I tried not to wake ya,” she said kindly.
James smiled. “He finally went to sleep last night; I don’t want to disturb him, but I think he’ll be more comfortable on the bed.”
“I’m sure you won’t bother him.”

James nodded and cautiously got up from the sofa. He secured the blanket around the older man’s frame, slid his arms beneath the man’s neck and knee, and lifted him. Jack released a tiny whimper as he nestled against James’ chest.

“Jamie?” he whispered almost inaudibly.
“Shh….Sleep. I’m just moving you to the bedroom.”

The young man walked to his quarters and laid the pirate on the bed gently. He caressed Jack’s cheek delicately before kissing him lightly.

“Don’t go,” Jack breathed, eyes still closed.
“I’ll just be in the other room if you need me.”
“Please. Stay. I want to hold you.”

James had the sudden urge to cry from the overwhelming affection bubbling in him. He crawled onto the furniture and lay on his back beside the man. Jack snuggled against the warm body, placed his hand on the male’s chest, and sighed contently. James cuddled his lover to him and stroked his hair soothingly.

“Go to sleep,” he whispered delicately before kissing the top of Jack’s head.

The words fell on deaf ears, for Jack had already vanished into the comforting abyss to dream.

****
Jack had rested serenely for two hours before he started to cough uncontrollably. He sat up and felt a comforting hand begin to rub his back in a circular motion. The fits before had never been so taxing as it was at that moment; he gasped for air, clutched his chest, and shielded his mouth with his arm. His lungs were on fire, and his throat ached terribly.

“It’s all right,” James said soothingly when he saw numerous tears leak from Jack’s eyes. “You’ll be fine.”

Jack’s whole frame shook as the coughs consumed him. Several minutes passed, and the physical exertion was finally beginning to dwindle in severity. He was now able to attempt a deep breath before he coughed again. Suddenly, he felt something slide down his chin. He touched his fingers to his face and looked at them.

“Oh god,” he choked with extreme alarm.
James swallowed his immense concern in order to put Jack at ease. “It’s all right. It’ll be fine. I’ll get the medicine,” he stated as he raced out of the room.

The pirate was overcome with a few more coughs before the episode at last ended. His shirt sleeve was stained red where he had held it near his mouth, and blood trickled over his lips to drip from his beard and onto his lap.

“Oh god,” he said hoarsely and wiped the tears from his cheeks.
James entered and hurriedly moved to the bed. “Here. Drink this down.”

He poured the medicine onto the spoon, placed it in Jack’s mouth, and removed it once the pirate closed his lips around it. Jack swallowed with difficulty as the young man cleaned his face with a cloth.

“What’s wrong with me, James?” he questioned, panic evident in his brown orbs.
“I don’t know. I’ll bring the doctor here to you today. God, Jack, you had me scared.”
“Me too.”
“Do you want to lie down for awhile? Perhaps move somewhere else?”
“I’m just goin’ to settle meself here. I don’t feel like movin’.”
“All right. I’ll leave now, then, and be back as soon as possible. Will you be fine while I’m gone?”
“I think I can manage. Can you bring me my clothes?”
“Certainly.”

James fetched the pirate’s breeches and shirt from the wardrobe and helped him dress. He kissed Jack’s cheek before leaving the room. Jack fell back onto the pillows and sighed tiredly. His arms were outstretched at his sides and lay limp. Drowsily, he gazed at the ceiling as his respirations slowed to an even pace. Perspiration shined on his skin along with the thin lines of blood from his mouth.

“Where are you, Will?” he whispered desolately. “Please, come back.” He closed his eyes and repeated faintly, “Please come back.”

****
James closed the door once he could no longer see the doctor. His expression was painted with extraordinary despair. The words spoken to him after Jack’s examination kept repeating in his mind, bringing tears to his eyes. He dreaded returning to the bedroom. What was he to say? How was he to say it? Mindlessly, his feet shuffled forward and took him to the last place he wished to be.

Jack was sitting near the edge of the bed, and his shoulders shuddered with each rattling breath he drew in through his opened mouth. He was drenched with sweat, making him pull his shirt off and set it aside in an attempt to cool down. James could hear the pirate wheezing from where he stood at the doorway. With every shaky breath Jack took, he clutched his right side and occasionally his hip. It was evident that he was in extreme pain, yet he smiled as brightly as ever when James started toward him.

“Hello again, love,” he whispered wearily. “Did he leave?”
James bit his lip and nodded before taking a seat in front of the older man. “Yes, he did,” he answered in a choked voice.
Jack frowned and noticed the sadness in the former Commodore’s eyes. “What’s wrong?” He coughed a few times, the third tainting the skin of his hand red, and gasped, “What’s wrong, Jamie?”

As James stared at the pirate’s concerned face, he could not contain it any longer. He closed his eyes and began to weep. Jack put an arm around the young man’s torso and his other about James’ neck. James wrapped his own around the male’s waist, and they clung to one another tightly. Jack shut his eyes and nestled his head in the crook of his lover’s shoulder. The feeling of the pirate’s thin frame trembling against his as Jack desperately tried to inhale at least one deep breath caused more tears to stream from James’ eyes.

“Don’t cry, darlin’,” Jack forced out. He kissed the young man’s neck lightly and rubbed his back soothingly.

They remained in one another’s embrace for fifteen minutes before they finally parted. Jack smiled contently and waited for James to speak.

“I don’t know how to tell you, Jack,” the young man stated quietly. “The doctor believes the infection has spread even more and….”
“I’m not goin’ to get better, am I?” the pirate inquired even though he knew the inevitable answer.
James shook his head and wiped his eyes. “No, you’re not. And he doesn’t think that you’re going to make it much longer either.”

Jack nodded and bowed his head. He felt movement as James crawled to his side before an arm went across his shoulders and pulled him back gently to lie down. James held the pirate to him and showered his face with soft kisses as they lay in silence.

It was soon James’ turn to comfort, for Jack surrendered to his grieving tears.

****
With each passing day, Jack’s condition grew worse. He was hardly strong enough to walk; the pain that frequently came to his right side had become so excruciating that he passed out from it numerous times; and he was rapidly losing his vision in his right eye. James was granted another day off from his work in order to be with Jack more. The days he had to be away, Amelia cared for the pirate. She did not have to do much, however; Jack took to sleeping on the sofa during most of the afternoons. His appetite had declined, and the only reason he ate was because James implored him to do so.

He lay on the bed one evening, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling as he waited for James to return home. A dejected sigh expelled itself from his mouth. Because of his frailty, James had not touched him sexually other than to kiss him tenderly. He yearned to feel the young man inside him; he had tried to instigate such a happening, yet James always denied him. Knowing that the former Commodore was still gone, he unbuttoned his breeches and pulled them down to just above his knee. He pushed his shirt up to his chin and moved his head about on the pillow until he was comfortable.

With languid fingers, Jack cradled his flaccid member and began to massage it gently. A stifled, somewhat high-pitched noise came from him. A quick intake of breath sounded as he caressed himself, and a moan was soon to follow as he started to rub his palm along his length. He closed his eyes, grinning giddily when he imagined Will to be the one tending to his budding erection. Two fingers stroked him from base to tip several times before they commenced kneading the hard flesh.

“Ohhh….Will….” he groaned, his voice laden with ecstasy. “Uhhnnn….Yes, Will….”

As his left hand continued to focus on his arousal, his right slid up his body to his mouth. He nipped and sucked on the four digits individually, making his throbbing organ twitch in a spasm of pleasure. Slowly, he trailed them down to a nipple, and a breathy whimper escaped him as he pinched the sensitive spot. His fingers toyed with the dark, brown area until it visibly protruded from his chest. He panted as he persistently fiddled with the sore areola, while the fingers on his other hand clasped around his groin and started to move up and down the erected member with intense vigor and friction. A throaty moan resonated through the area from the extreme rapture he was experiencing from touching his own body. Perspiration formed on his hot skin as his ministrations became more intense, and the sounds of unbelievable elation came repeatedly.

A quivering whimper forced itself out of his mouth when he felt pleasing tingles ripple through him. He reached his orgasm and ejaculated onto his hand.

Leisurely, his eyes opened half way, and he appeared as if he were in a daze. He breathed heavily and lay immobile as he recovered from the exertion.

He never knew that the intimate act with himself had been observed from the doorway.

“Evening, Jack,” James said as he entered the room.

The pirate’s cheeks reddened, and he looked at the young man with utter embarrassment. James smiled at this and undressed himself completely. He crept onto the bed beside Jack, removed the man’s breeches, and Jack rose up in order for him to take the shirt off. The former Commodore moved over the emaciated being and pressed his lips against the pirate’s chest. He suckled the smooth skin, traced patterns on it with his tongue, and bit it playfully. Jack giggled and entwined his fingers in the male’s hair. He sighed blissfully as James treated his body with affection. The younger man forged a path to Jack’s lips and kissed him ardently.

“Take,” Jack breathed before James covered his mouth again. “Me,” he finished after another.
“Are you sure you can handle it?” James questioned and moved down to suck on the pirate’s neck.
“Yes. Please. I need you.”

The ex-Navy man pulled away and retrieved the bottle of oil from the table next to the bed. He lubricated his arousal, and Jack crossed his leg over the male’s back. James positioned himself and penetrated his lover gradually. Jack clenched his teeth and raked his fingernails repeatedly down James’ shoulder blades. James began to thrust in and out of the pirate’s body slowly. In a short time his pace sped from the increasing stimulation he got from looking upon Jack’s contorted expression and hearing him moan. They rocked together beautifully, and their respirations were quick and uneven.

James’ propulsions grew immensely powerful as he neared his peak, making Jack virtually scream with every thrust. At last, the younger man climaxed within the warm being, crying out Jack’s name as he did so. He bowed his head and unhurriedly pulled out of the pirate’s body. Quaking arms wrapped about him and eased him down to rest on top of the older man. Jack held James’ head under his chin and stroked the male’s damp hair lovingly. They panted for air, and James smiled from being able to feel Jack’s racing heartbeat.

“I love you, James,” Jack said softly as a tear fell from his eye.
“And I love you, Jack.”
“It’s not goin’ to be much longer, is it?”
“No, I don’t think it is,” James whispered and blinked to release a couple of tears.

They lay in silence for a long while before drifting to sleep, and neither knew that the other had been crying.

****
When James woke the next morning, he could hear Jack breathing shallowly behind him. He rolled onto his side and sat up. Jack gazed at him with exhausted, hurt-filled eyes, but smiled cheerfully nonetheless. Dark circles were beginning to form under his eyes, sweat shined on his skin, and James’ heart broke as he stared at him.

“Good morning, love,” Jack said in a raspy, weak voice.
“Good morning. How are you feeling?” James instantly felt like a fool for asking such a thing.
“I’ve been better.” He winced as a bolt of pain went through his side. “My right eyesight’s almost entirely gone.” A bitter cough shook his feeble frame, and James could see that it drained him of every bit of energy he had.
“I’m so sorry, Jack.”
“It’s alright, darlin’.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t have done that last night.”
“Now, don’t say that,” Jack gasped and winked. “Then you won’t want to do it again.”
James gave a small smile. “I suppose.”
There was a slight pause before Jack inquired, “Jamie?”
“Yes?”
The brown eyes were suddenly fraught with helplessness. “Do you think….Do you think Will is comin’?”
James ordered himself to not look away from the pirate’s hopeful eyes. Though he knew the Pearl’s captain would not make it, he replied softly, “Yes. I do.”
The older man beamed happily and whispered, “I think he is too.”
“Well now, you must be hungry then. I’ll go get us some breakfast.”
“Sounds good.”

James made his way off of the bed and put on his breeches before exiting the area. Amelia had a tray already laid out for them when he entered the kitchen. He thanked her graciously, returned to the bedroom, and sighed despondently.

Jack was lying on his stomach, unconscious, with his left arm and leg dangling over the side. As James walked closer, he saw a trickle of blood dripping onto the sheets from the corner of the pirate’s mouth. Hurriedly, he set the tray on the table and moved onto the bed. He lifted Jack’s limp form to lean back on him, pushed away the locks of hair that obscured the man’s visage, and cleaned the red substance from his cheek and chin with his thumb.

With care, he inched his way backward to the wall. He positioned Jack between his legs, placed his arms about his waist, and held him snugly.

Gently, the younger man rocked from side to side and started to sing quietly.

All at once, he shattered into tears.

****
The sun shone brilliantly in the pastel blue sky, and the wind was favorable. Will strode about on deck aimlessly as his crew worked on their tasks. He stopped in the middle of the area and pulled the compass from his belt. There was a bit of hesitation before he lifted the top. The needle spun about wildly as he expected it would, but it abruptly stopped in seconds. He frowned and shook it, though it stayed the same. He looked to the helm quizzically, not understanding what it could possibly be pointing to.

A wave of coldness swept over him, and he knew what was to come. However, the icy sensation changed into a pleasantly warm one. There was a laugh that preceded the image, and he was wholly stunned at what met his eyes.

Jack was standing near Cotton at the wheel with a broad grin on his countenance. The tremendous joy the pirate had was not the only thing that shocked Will. Jack was actually standing on his own; he had his right leg again. He was dressed in the attire Will had always used to see him wear, and every single bead and charm that had been taken from him were back in his thick mane.

Will gaped at him in astonishment. As if he knew Will had been staring at him all this time, Jack averted his gaze to wink at him flirtatiously. The ex-blacksmith raced up the stairs and stood beside the apparition, causing Jack to turn his head to him and smile. Seeing the man so close made tears spring to Will’s chocolate orbs. It was the Jack Sparrow he had used to know, the Captain Jack Sparrow that had not been tortured and raped horrendously.

“It’s a good day today, Will,” Jack said merrily. “I can feel it.”
“J-Jack? You’re here,” Will stated dumbfounded.
“Course I am! Where else would I be?”
Will was unaware he was being watched by a rather confused Cotton as he spoke to the man that was not actually there. “Your leg….It’s not gone.”
“Why would it be gone? Perhaps you should go lie down for a bit, mate. You don’t seem so well.” Jack snapped his fingers, and Will noticed that his thumb was not absent either. “Tell ya what. How ‘bout ye go into my cabin and I’ll be there in a minute. I know a way to make ya feel better.”

He grinned mischievously and chuckled before fading to nothingness.

Will was caught by Cotton before he collapsed to the deck from his overwhelming disbelief.

****
Three days went by, and Jack had been confined to the bed the entire time. He would often weave in and out of consciousness and had begun to vomit small amounts of blood every now and then. His skin grew pale; his figure was terribly thin, for he had given up eating completely. At times, he did not know where he was and did not recognize Amelia or James. He was in a constant state of anguish; nothing could assuage his pain.

It took everything he had to venture out of the bedroom one afternoon. Amelia stopped him before he could make it to the front door.

“Where do you think you’re goin’?” she asked.
“Some air,” he whispered faintly. “I want to be outside today.”
“James told me that I’m supposed to keep you in that bed.”
“Come on. Don’t be like that,” he voiced with a smile.
“Oh, all right. I suppose it’ll do you some good.”
“Thank you.”

He treaded out the door and paused to catch his breath once on the porch before continuing his trek. He made his way to the large, lush tree he was fond of and laid on the ground under its canopy. The journey had ridded him of every ounce of strength he possessed, causing him to breathe weightily as he gazed at the clear sky. A smile spread onto his face as his thoughts strayed to the night he and Will had spent beneath the tree. Though he could not see it, he imagined their star to be directly above him.

“I wish you will not spend time mournin’ for me,” he whispered almost inaudibly. “And I wish that you’ll find someone else to love.”

A sense of peace overcame him, nothing like he had ever known. There was no pain, no memories of his tormented past, and no sadness.

A delighted grin came to his lips as he closed his eyes.

The wind blew gently on the slumbering figure that was protected by the shade of the beautiful tree. Amid the rustling leaves above, a sparrow sang cheerily. It sprang from its branch and glided downward to sit atop the immobile being’s chest. The little bird serenaded deaf ears for a period before the wind increased its speed.

When a calmer breeze swept across the hill, the sparrow took flight toward the freeing horizon with its softly chirping mate at its side.

Epilogue

****
After another appearance from the wraith, Will had set the course for Port Royal and arrived at the small town not two days after James had discovered Jack’s deceased body lying under the tree. He sprinted from the docks to James’ abode and let himself in. The former Commodore clutched a bottle of rum in his hand, and there were a few more scattered on the floor in front of him. The immeasurable sorrow in James’ eyes told Will everything.

James gave a sharp nod toward the hallway, and Will’s heart pounded achingly in his chest as he strolled toward the bedroom. The door was shut, causing him to open it with great reluctance. He stepped in and instantly, his lungs felt as if they were frozen; he could see his breath as he gasped for air. He closed the door behind him and stared sullenly at the bed. A white sheet covered the motionless form lying on the mattress. As Will walked nearer, he could see the man was naked beneath the cloth. His eyes swelled with tears as he thought about the pirate’s nude frame pressed against his after having made love on the floor, the fire heating their already hot skin. The sight of Jack’s alluring smile showed in Will’s mind, and the sound of the older man’s laughter rang in his ears. He had to turn around from the being for a moment to collect himself as he began to silently weep.

After several minutes he looked upon the male’s frame once more and grasped the top of the sheet. With trembling hands, he pulled the linen down to Jack’s shoulders. A choked sob came from him as he gazed at the pirate’s pallid face. The expression Jack bore was of the utmost tranquility; his lips were quirked upward in a minute smile. The black kohl had been cleaned from his now closed eyelids, and his red bandana had been taken from his hair. Will touched his fingers to the strand of beads he had woven into the thick mane long ago, the action making him weak. He sat next to Jack and stroked the man’s forehead delicately. His hand traveled to the pirate’s left pale cheek and caressed it lovingly.

Unable to contain it any longer, Will buried his face against Jack’s chest, put his arms under the male’s shoulders, and sobbed uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry, Jack,” he said between rapid breaths. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t make it, I wasn’t here for you, and I’m sorry. I love you, Jack. God, I love you.”
“And God, I hate to see ya cry.”

Will snapped up, and his heart ceased to beat. Jack was leaning against the closed door with a charming grin on his livened face. He sauntered toward the shocked young man, stopping only inches away from him. Will stood, wiped his eyes, and stared at the pirate in bewilderment.

“No need to cry over me, darlin’,” Jack purred silkily.
“Jack, I-”
“Shhh….Don’t talk, love. Just please let me….”

Jack leaned forward and pressed his lips to the younger man’s. Will kissed him greedily, taking advantage of the fact that he was able to have physical contact with the apparition. They devoured one another’s mouths eagerly; a tongue flicked across Will’s lips before it moved into his oral cavity. He moaned wantonly as Jack explored his mouth. He desired to hold Jack wholly against him, but the pirate suddenly pulled away before he could.

“I love you,” Jack whispered tenderly. “You’ll never lose me.”

He backed away slowly before turning around to tread to the door. Will watched with dejected eyes as Jack dissipated completely.

“I love you, Jack Sparrow,” he said quietly and sat beside the man’s body.

He soon stretched out next to the unclothed being, cuddled him to his own warm frame, and fell asleep.

****
The sunlight broke through the gray clouds and shined on the lone ship anchored in the ocean. There was no land in sight.

The entire crew of the Black Pearl gathered about on the main deck for the ceremony; Will and James stood at the front of the crowd. A finely painted ceramic urn was in the captain’s hands, and every one present mourned the contents of it.

“The reason why we are here,” Will began loud enough to be heard by all the men, “is to pay our tributes to Captain Jack Sparrow.”
“Aye,” was the collective response from the assembly.
“A gentleman of fortune. A good man. The wily captain of the most well-known ship in the Caribbean. And an unexpected friend.” The next sentence was spoken for only James to hear. “And a generous lover. We celebrate this man’s life today. His wish was to be scattered over the ocean, and we will honor that wish. Each of us will honor that wish.”

Will removed the lid and shuffled to Gibbs. Gibbs reached into the vase, gathered a small amount of the ashes, and treaded toward the bow. Will visited the men individually for them to do the same. The large group dwindled as the crewmen spread out among the sides of the ship. After saying their own personal respects, they let the gray dust sprinkle onto the crystal waters below.

“And you,” Will voiced quietly as he offered the urn to James.

The former Commodore took half of the leftover ashes and strode up to the helm. Will ascended the other staircase and exhaled a deep breath as he stood to the side.

“I knew you’d come back to her, Jack,” he murmured softly. “You belong here, to be with what you loved. Goodbye, Jack.”

He slowly dispelled the remains from the container onto the ocean surface and observed as the undulating water swept them away.

A number of minutes passed before he descended the stairs, and James strolled to him unhurriedly. In his hands, the former Navy man clutched Jack’s red bandana. He presented it to Will, who appeared reluctant to take it.

“He wanted you to have this,” James uttered gently. “And I promised him that I would make sure you got it.”

Will swallowed to relieve his constricting throat. He grasped the fabric and held it to his chest as he handed the magnificent urn to James. They gave a kind nod to each other before James retreated to the starboard side railing. His fingers went to his throat to rest upon the vibrant beads of the necklace Jack had given him. He stayed where he was in silence as the crew prepared to make sail.

Once the Pearl began her trip back to Port Royal, a warm sensation spread throughout Will’s anatomy.

“Yo ho, yo ho. A pirate’s life for me.”

Will looked to the helm and found the source of the singing. Jack was petting the smooth wood of the large wheel and he hummed the tune whenever he forgot the words. He smiled at the young man before he transformed into thousands of tiny gold particles. They were blown forward by the intensifying wind and collided with the closest sail, bringing a grin to Will’s lips.

A golden sparrow flew out from the canvas and soared above the ship; in a matter of seconds, Will could no longer see it.

The captain sighed with joy from knowing that Jack Sparrow would never be far from him. Even in death, the famous rogue could not bear to abandon his love or his mate, and Will experienced a feeling of devotion like never before because of it.