Open Waters

Jack stormed into the bar quickly and threw a small shillings pouch down on an empty table - gathering everyone’s attention. Tortuga had been bad ten years ago but now it seemed a hundred times worse. "I'll give any man this pouch of shillings if he can tell me where to find The Flying Dutchman!" He yelled, marveling at the quietness that took over the bar. No man in his right mind went hunting down Davy Jones - except for the infamous; "Jack Sparrow?"

"Aye, now who will take me up on my bargain?"

The men all exchanged a look before bursting into deep hearty laughter. "You're as crazy as you were ten years ago, Jack!" The bar keep assured, slapping his hand down on a table as he tried to quit laughing. "You left a good woman to venture pirating and still have nothing to show!" The men’s laughter grew louder into a roar - causing Jack to narrow his eyes.

"Excuse me, mate but did you not hear I am the captain of The Black Pearl?"

No one seemed to care - they continued to mock him and returned to their singing and drinking as if he wasn't even there. Apparently there was no one in this bar that could give him what he wanted. "Let's go Gibb's, these men be pickled.." Jack muttered, pushing his way back to the exit of the small, cramped room. They stepped out into the streets, sighing from the rain that had blown in - soaking everything in its path.

"I hate you, Daniel! You are the most vile - disgusting man in all of Torguta!"

Jack turned his head quickly and spotted a frail young woman standing in the rain with her tattered cream colored dress clinging to her in the least unfashionable way. She was yelling obscenities at a man who looked rather drunk and he was to far away from the couple to do anything when the man reach his hand and slapped the girl hard across the face, sending her spiraling down to the mud below.

"You can't strike a woman that way!" Gibb's declared, making his way over to the man and ready to fight. He was a pirate - no mistaking that - but to place an angered hand on a woman was wrong and he wouldn't stand for it. Jack seemed frozen in fear or confusion as he stared at the girl - the moonlight illuminating her face. Of all people, he thought, telling his legs to move as he made his way towards her. The girl remained on her knees, trying hard to keep her emotion to herself as she wiped the mud from her face and looked up at Jack - who had his hand extended to help her to her feet.

Their eyes met and the girl hesitated to take his hand for a moment, but then allowed him to help her up quickly. "Thank.. thank you, sir.." She muttered, keeping her eyes down. The gentlemen looked so familiar and a part of her, the part that felt cold and numb all the time, knew who he was but she didn't want to believe or accept it. Jack touched her red cheek softly - causing her head to lift and their eyes to lock again. He couldn't believe what he was seeing - Olivia Winslet - the once lively, beautiful girl he had known now looked beaten and tired. Her left eye was swollen, her bottom lip was scraped and her cheek was red from the latest assault. "Olivia, what’s happened to you?" He asked, his voice quiet with emotion. If this sorry excuse for a man had caused all of these hardships to her he was going to kill him. "Life," She stated - matter of fact - "Life happened, Jack.. now please, I don't have anything to offer you for your help so please, just go.."

Olivia pulled herself away from Jack. The rain had caused her hair to fall limp and cling to her shoulders and her eyes, once so full of life were blank and dim. "Olivia please I never meant for anythin' like this to happen to you.. let me help you.." She laughed at the thought. There was no help for her anymore. Jack had left all those years ago and she had married the first man that showed an interest in her - Daniel Rumsworth - a poor excuse for a man whose only hopes in life were loose women and cheap booze. He didn't stay home long enough for them to try and have children - he always seemed to fulfill those needs while he was out on the town anyway. After Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow had passed Olivia had nowhere else to turn and her life became more miserable every passing moment. "If you want to help then just leave and never return.. seeing you now is heart breaking.. it reminds me to much of things I've tried so hard to forget.."

"Olivia, look at you.. how could you let someone hurt you like this.. you must come with me, on my ship - I'll take you away from here... I know some people in Port Royal that will help you.." Jack continued, he couldn't believe how much she had changed in ten years, she looked pitiful and he blamed himself. "Liv, I've missed you.."

"You are incapable of missing someone - having feelings of love or compassion towards any living creature but yourself, Jack. You're a selfish man who obviously doesn't know the power of a woman scorned. Good day to you, Mr. Sparrow. I pray our paths never cross again."

How dare, Jack Sparrow, think he could just waltz onto her island and think she would welcome him with open arms? He had betrayed her when he left in search of treasure and adventure.

It was Jack's turn to be shocked and expressionless.

"Fine, love. If that's your wishes but remember - it's Captain Jack Sparrow to you!"

Olivia turned towards her home and Jack turned back towards the town. "Let's go, Gibb's! I need a strong drink and what I came here for and then we are leaving first thing in the morning!" Gibb's punched Daniel one last time and hurried off with Jack - disappearing into the crowd as Olivia slammed her door shut - leaving her husband passed out on the steps.

~

That morning..

"Is there a doctor in the room!?"

Jack jerked his head up from the table quickly and looked around - a young man had burst through the door of the bar he had slept in last night screaming about a doctor and a fight or something. A few of the less drunk men woke up and tried to calm the boy down with no prevail. "Rumsworth's boy had nearly beat his wife to death in town... please, come quick I don't know if she's going to make it.."

"That son of a bitch.."

"They should have took him to the gallows the last time he tried such a thing.. beating on a woman - he's ten times her size!"

Jack watched the men gather their things and make way towards the town - he grabbed Gibbs and drug him along, silently praying that Olivia was alright. Once they were in the streets he saw her, lying lifeless in the opening of an alley. Jack took off towards her and fell to his knees, running a hand through her hair. She looked worse then when he had left her last night - obviously Daniel had woken from his beating and took his aggression out on her. "Olivia, I shouldn't have left you last night..." He whispered, moving an idle finger over her bruised lips. "I'm sorry for everything, love... I should have took you with me.. none of this would ever of happened... I just thought you'd be safer here then with me.."

"Jack?"

Olivia stirred slightly, she wasn't dead after all but she looked like hell. "They've caught Rumsworth at the shores trying to high-jack a ship and flee but he's headed to the gallows now, Ms. Winslet. You'll not have to worry about him anymore.." One of the men assured, glancing over at Jack. "Jack... will you take me to this Port Royal that you speak of? I've heard it is a lovely place.. nothing like Tortuga.."

"Of course, love. Anything you want.." Jack whispered, leaning down to place a small kiss on her forehead. "We'll take you to see the medic and then be on our way.." Olivia smiled up at him. She had waited for so long for Jack to come back to her and as soon as she'd given up hope there he was.

"Thank you, Jack.."

~