Freedom's Slave

Raz Gaiale: I hope I can keep up that expectation. :)

Sandrine Black: *blinks* Uhmm....I hope I can keep doing a good job. Thanks. :) *huggles*

Nicole: Heehee. Glad I have your approval. Especially with that insistance to put in that Ana bit. ;)

Pookie: Ana's only scary to the people that piss her off.;) And more chapters to come. :D

SwordsNSparrow: I liked your fic. Great descriptions, and deffinately able to progress if you wanted it to. Thanks! There's more coming.

GundamNymph: More here! And who else would openly threaten Jack? ;)

Datiye: W it it in about two hours. Good to my readers? If it weren't for you guys, I wouldn't have much of a 'job' with this, now would I? ;)

ShadowSpirit: Elizabeth has spirit, but not enough to last a few years in slavery. Ana, on the other hand...

Jadefire: Thanks.

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Jack smiled in response to Anamaria's glare as the woman followed Gibbs and Cotton into the town. The captain had managed the think up some random task for her so he could talk to Will. Of course, he fully expected for Anamaria to be angry at him later on, but he wasn't really erneerned with that.

As the woman and two crew members left, Jack found Will. The young man was pulling on a fresh shirt that had been given to him and Jack's smile faltered at the quick glimpse of scars before the skin was covered. Will turned, smiling in greeting.

"Captain-"

"Just Jack, lad. No need t' be formal now."

A nod and nervous shifting was his response and Jack smiled to try to put the younger man at ease. Wanting to fill the silence that fell beween them, Jack sat on the edge of one of the bunks. "You alright?"

Another nod and uneasy look and Jack sighed. "I'm not going to hurt you. And any of the crew touches you, they'll answer t' me. Savvy?"

"Why?"

"Eh?"

"Why did you help us? Free us?"

Jack's smile returned, "Why not?"

Will raised an eyebrow and Jack stood. "My question is, lad; why is that friend of yours so protective of you? I have the feelin' it has somethin' t' do with these."

Jack lightly patted Will's back, judging the young man's sensitivity to the action. He wasn't surprised when Will pulled away a few steps. "If you don't want to say-"

"It's alright," Will said. Jack was once more reminded of his old friend, the same soft voice of Bootstrap seemed to belong to the boy as well.

Suddenly, Jack couldn't help himself. "Who was your father, Will?"

The young man's brow furrowed, "I was told I was named for him."

"I take it you knew 'im?"

"No, not really," Will shook his head, taking a seat on a bunk and Jack sitting across from him. "If I did, I don't remember him."

Jack leaned back, trying to make connections. "Turner's an English name."

"I lived in London. Until I was twelve."

"And when you were twelve?"

"My mother died. She had told me my father was in the Caribbean, so I was on a ship to go."

Jack nodded, "And I take it you were attacked then, eh?"

A nod and Jack thought. "Must've been nigh eight years... You have a lot of spirit, lad. I take it that Anamaria had somethin' t' do with keeping you like that?"

Will smiled, "Ana... Ana's interesting. But I've only known her for two years."

"From the way she was actin'," Jack mused; "it seemed like she could 'ave been your sister."

"She practically is. A little too overprotective, though."

"I've noticed."

Will smiled and Jack stood. "Well, I think you need a meal. Or rather, I need a meal, and you should come along."

Will hesitated and Jack pulled him up. "C'mon, lad. I'll even buy."

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

"Am I really needed for this?" Anamaria asked, leaning against the side of a building while Gibbs and Cotton started to figure out what supplies would be needed for the coming months on the Pearl.

Gibbs spared her a look, "No."

"So why am I here?"

There was a hesitation before Gibbs answered, Cotton moving away a few steps but watching. "Jack wanted a few minutes t' talk wit' the lad."

Anamaria narrowed her eyes but said nothing, and the silence unnerved Gibbs. He just hoped Jack knew what he was doing when dealing with this woman.

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A bit shorter than I would have liked, but I'll update soon.