Stowaways

Will slowly woke up when he felt himself being emerged into what felt like warm water.

"Jack?" He groaned as he opened his eyes to see Gibbs and Cook on either side of him as they help him into the bath.

"Nice to see you are waking up, Master Turner." Gibbs said as he gently wash Will's chest with a white cloth. "Take it easy, you got hit pretty good with that whip, but don't worry, lad. It won't scar, pirate captains are good about making it painful, without causing permanent damage."

"Oh, where's Jack?" Will asked as he winced in pain as Cotton slowly brought the other rag down his back.

"He went to Tortuga to enlist the help of a doctor and is having your friends looked over by the doctor, you are all in very poor shape." Gibbs said shaking his head.

"Where are they?" Will asked looking around not really trusting Pirates with Navy men.

"James is in my cabin with Gillette and Groves. Murtogg and Mullroy are in the cabin boys quarters that are attached to this cabin. They needed rest as do you. Do you think you can stand?" Gibbs said offering his hand to help Will out of the now cold bath. Will nodded yes and grabbed Gibbs hand. Cotton wrapped the sheet around as he stepped out of the bathing tub and helped Gibbs dry him off. It felt good to be dry again and it surprised him a little that Marty came in with new clothes. He hadn't expected Pirates to actually buy or give him clothes. He was even more surprised to see Murtogg step out of the cabin boys quarters in new clothes as well.

"Are you feeling better, Master Turner?" Murtogg asked as Gibbs and Cotton helped him into bed.

"Yes, I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you, Murtogg. How's everyone else?" Will asked as he watched Gibbs and Cotton leave the cabin, giving the men some privacy.

"The Pirates checked the Commodores leg, it's not broken, just very sore. The rest of us were not badly injured, so they tended to the cuts and scrapes, the only people that we really saw were Sparrow, Gibbs, Cotton, and the doctor." Murtogg said sitting beside Will on the bed.

"Captain Sparrow." Jack said from the door. "How about you go back to your room and rest. I would like to talk to Will alone." Jack said nodding toward the cabin boys quarters.

"Aye, Captain." Murtogg said as he returned to his room with Mullroy and shut the door.

"Jack?" Will said as he looked at his friend, wondering why he made Murtogg leave. Jack smiled and sat down next to him on the bed.

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked concerned.

"Better." Will said trying to sit up slowly.

"Good, lad." Jack said rubbing his back gently.

"Thank you for helping us. I know you don't like having Navy men on your ship." Will said smirking.

"It's not a problem, Will not a problem at all." Jack said as he ran his hands through Will's hair and helped the boy lay back down on the bed. Then kicked off his own boots and joined Will on the bed, which made Will tense and his breath stopped for a second.

"Easy, Whelp, you're all right. I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to." Jack said softly trying to calm the Lad.

"I'm sorry, it's just, Captain Brighten, was... Was going to... To..." Will began to stutter before Jack cut him off.

"Shhh, lad, shhh. I know, he won't touch you again, Will. He'll pay for what he did, I promise you, we will catch up to them and then we'll deal with them in their own way.” Jack said softly in Will's hair “They'll hang from the gallows in Port Royal." Jack said as he wrapped his arms around Will's waist and gently pulled him so that they are bodies were molded together. Will slowly relaxed into Jack's arms, when he finally able to convince his mind that he was in no danger.

After a few minutes Jack was rewarded with Wills soft snoring and completely relaxed body. It would take time and he would have to go slow with Will. He had known that he wanted the lad as a lover, ever since he first met the whelp in Port Royal, less than a year ago. He had been devastated when the lad had followed him over the wall, but from what he had heard Norrington had the miss's hand in marriage, so the lad was free from the bird. He would take his time wooing said strumpet, definitely wait till the opportune moment.

************

Two Weeks Later

James and Gillette watched as the waves crashed against the ship. The Scorpion was getting closer to them and neither man was thrilled at her approach.

"Bloody Pirates!" Gillette snarled nervously.

"What your mouth, Gillette. We wouldn't want to insult Jack’s crew, since they were so kind to take us home." James said softly before turning around to look for Turner.

"Mullroy, Murtogg." Norrington shouted.

"Sir" they said in unison.

"Escort Mr. Turner to Capitan Sparrow's cabin and stay with him, were about to have company." James said nodding toward the approaching ship.

"Oh, that's just wonderful!" Mullroy said looking at the ship. "Turner, climb down from there." He yelled as he watched Turner fixing one of the bolts on the crows nest.

"Jack said I need to tell l..." But Will was cut off shortly by the by Murtogg.

"You can learn that later, we have unwanted company, approaching." Murtogg yelled as they both watched Will ignore them.

"Mr. Turner, those are my orders! Get down from there, NOW!" James yelled which got Will's attention.

"Sir." Turner said as he climbed down the riggings quickly, when he almost reached the deck Anamaria grabbed him and shoved him into Murtogg's waiting arms.

"Anyone, who's not crew get into the Captain's cabin!" She yelled. "James, tell the captain that we have Pirates approaching." She said as she shooed them toward Jack's quarters.

"Yes ma'am" James said taking Will from Murtogg and marching him towards Jack's quarters. Once inside James looked around for Captain Sparrow.

"Captain." James yelled.

"I've heard, where's Groves?" Jack asked as he hurried toward the door.

"Here, Captain." he said coming out from the cabin boys quarters.

"Good. Stay put, I'll deal with this mess." He said as he handed an extra pistol to James. Then turned before he left to make sure Gillette and Groves had drawn theirs as well. "No one, will enter this cabin, but my crew." He said reassuringly to Will and the others. Gillette and Groves nodded as James pulled a nervous looking Turner to him.

"It's just pirates, it's not like we haven't dealt with the worst of them before." Will said trying to pull back, thinking back to Barbosa.

"It's The Scorpion." James said softly as he watched Wills eyes fill with panic. "Captain Sparrow won't let them take us. He's a good man, an honorable man." James said pulling Will with him to sit on the edge of the bed. Will looked up into James is eyes.

"I know Jack will protect us, Commodore. You have to stop blaming yourself for what happened, sir. You nearly broke your leg, protecting me. Port Royal needs you, I'm nothing but a worthle..." Bull started to say.

"Don't you ever say that again! You are not worthless, not to me or my men and especially not to Jack! It is my duty and my job to protect civilians, I failed the people on The Sea Song and I failed you. That black-hearted bastard hurt you and I couldn't stop him." James manages to grind out.

"Sir, we reached Tortuga before he had a chance to..." Will said looking at the ground his cheeks flushed.

"Jack loves you. I can see it in his eyes and I can see in yours that you love him as well." James said sternly lifting his chin so he had to look him in the eyes.

"But, but Commodore that's..." Will said turning red.

"You don't think that it doesn't happen on Navy ships?" James was interrupted by snickers. "As I was saying, things like that are common on Navy ships, we just hide it, pirates don't care who knows."

"Oh" Will said sheepishly as James put his arm around his shoulders.

****************


"Captain Sparrow." Brighton said in greeting.

"Captain Brighten" Sparrow said in return.

"What brings you our way?" Captain Sparrow asked.

"We lost some slaves in Tortuga. I was wondering if any happened to stowaway on your ship?" Captain Brighten said looking around suspiciously at the crew.

"And why would they have come to my ship?" Jack asked. He did not like being grilled by this pompous ass.

"Yours was the closest ship and they weren’t in Tortuga." Captain Brighten said.

"Aye, we picked up passengers, friends that I know." Jack said.

"May I see them." Brighten with a cruel smile.

"No reason for you to have to see one of my crew's son or his friends. The lad I picked up was Bootstrap Bill Turner's son and I've been his godfather since the lad was born."

"Sorry for jumping to conclusions, Captain Sparrow, we will be our..." Captain Brighten said as he turned to return to his own ship.

"Not so fast." Jack said as he drew his sword and his crew surrounded Brightens. "You harmed my Godson. From what I've heard your intentions were to rape him and that mate doesn't sit well with me."

"We're pirates, not saints." Brighten snarled.

"James!" Captain Sparrow yelled.

"Captain Sparrow." James said as he stepped out of the captain's cabin with Will and his men.

"Willie, lad, is this the bastard that was going to hurt you?" Jack said looking over his shoulder at Will. James had his hand resting on the lads shoulder for support.

"Aye, Captain." Will said with a quick glance, then kept his eyes on Jack and not the bastard that Jack had his sword on his throat.

"Take them to the brig and lock them up. Gibbs, set our course to Port Royal. We will see these pirates hang at the hands of the British Navy for harming their citizens." Jack said putting his sword away and escorting William back to his quarters. Neither one looked back at Brighten or his crew.
TBC