Coming Along

Nita: Why don't I trust you on that 'no hurting' bit? More here.

Jade: Elizabeth cares for Will, but not ~love~. I'm almost done this, but I have at least three short ones and one possibly longer AU one.

Insane Pineapple: Thanks! Deffinatey helped. *hands a lolly* Heh, if I were following Jack, I'd have some serious doubts too, but for some reason, he's still dependable. ;)

Sandrine Black: Ice cream's healthy! I swear! Well, my breakfast... er, dinner?, was a glass of water, so...

Insatiable: Have you noticed that the age difference between Norrington and Elizabeth is about the same between Jack and Will? And if Norrington and Elizabeth are an acceptable couple, it would stand on reason that Jack and Will get the same. ;) And Swann's a pompous, overly-confident father, that reminds me way too much of my own.

Thursday: Heehee, smut is overrated in my opinion. Plus I'd ruin it. This chapter should be interesting.

Icy: Hi! Thanks. It's surprisingly easy for me keeping themcharcharacter.

Akurei: Elizabeth can be just as cunning as Jack sometimes, well, almost. ;)

Mel: So it's marvelous now, eh? Interesting. I'll try to find my thesaurus for you. ;) I've been takin' a look around for info that I need, but I think I have a friend that can help out. I just need to get back to her on the plot feedback issue. Thanks though. :D

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

The docks of Port Royal spilled over into part of the market, vendors turning from vegetables and home items, to fish and sailing neccesities. It was in the latter area where the remainder of the Pearl's crew was. So far, no one had recognized Will, and the young man was glad that he had spent so much of his time away from others.

Anamaria was a little skittish, unsure of the amount of soldiers in the area and unnerved at having to be practically surrounded by 'enemies'. Gibbs seemed to be the same, nervous, but finding ways to distract himself from such. Jack, on the other hand, couldn't seem to care less.

The captain stopped and looked at several things, ignoring his companions, and, at times, doing it only to agitate them. Jack stopped in midphrase, getting a feral grin at the sight of two redcoats standing by one of the piers. The rest of the crew turned to look at who had caught Jack's attention.

Will frowned, knowing the look on Jack's face all too well. "Jack..."

Anamaria switched her gaze from Jack and Will to the two talking redcoats. "Who are they?"

Jack smiled, "Two interestin' blighters."

Will grabbed Jack's arm, "Don't even consider it, Jack Sparrow."

"Oh, c'mon, love," Jack sighed, both ignoring the confused looks from the rest of the crew. "Just some fun. Not like those two are the swiftest, on feet or in mind."

Gibbs stepped in front of the two younger men, "And just what are ye two doin'? Who are they?"

Rather than answer, Jack's eyes focused on something else; something moving. "What the 'ell are you doin' just comin' in?"

"Th' Pendulum?" Gibbs asked to dead air, the crew ducked into the small 'alley' between two tented shops as a group of soldiers marched by.

Will watched as Jack's eyes fixed on the figures coming off of the Pendulum, settling on the one in front. Anamaria frowned, having a clear view of the calculating look in Jack's eyes.

"How much do you trust me?"

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

Bootstrap sighed, having expected the over-disciplined soldiers but not wanting to deal with them. He stood straight, glaring at the first one to stop in front of him.

"I know I'm in violation of the Commodore's orders, and at the moment, I don't care. Just tell him I'm back and want to tto hto him."

"The Commodore will-"

"Reprimand me?" Bootstrap said. "Just go. I'll n hin his office in a few minutes."

Muttering their dissaproval at the lack of protocol, the soldiers started on their way. Bootstrap followed at a slower pace, letting his eyes wander the docks for a second, feeling something was out of place. His eyes widened as two familiar forms caught his eye. Will stood just out of the way of the passing (idiotic) soldiers, arms crossed and looking none too pleased. Jack leaned against Will, one arm on the younger man's shoulder as a brace, seemingly relaxed. With another look, Bootstrap could see two of the other crew members from the Pearl nearby; the woman, Anamaria (sporting a frustrated look, not unlike Will), and the older man, Gibbs.

Drawing his sword, which alerted the soldiers, and his own crew, Bootstrap started over. Jack said something only for his own to hear and smiled when Bootstrap was close enough to challenge him directly.

"You must have either been drinkin' too much, or taken too many blows, Jack. This is suicide," Bootstrap expected Jack to draw his own sword, or at least his pistol. Instead, the pirate captain turned Bootstrap's sword a little away from him.

"Not gonna fight you, mate."

Bootstrap's brow furrowed in confusion, and Jack noted that it was the scutecute look Will got when something didn't seem to make sense. "And why's that?"

"'Cause killin' you hurts Will. And I don't like doin' that. Was hopin' for a nice chat though."

Turning to the soldiers that were now flanking him, Bootstrap ordered the Pearl's crew into custody. "Not going to happen, Jack."

"Pity," Jack said, almost nonchalantly, causing Bootstrap to wonder what idea Jack had gotten into his head this time. As he mused, he noted that one soldier was being a little more rough than neccessary with Will and caught Jack's growl. "Do that again, mate, and you lose your arms."

Again, Bootstrap frowned, realizing that none were fighting, or talking, for that matter. "What have you got goin' through that head of yours, Sparrow?"

"That would be ~Captain~ Sparrow, if you please," Jack said. "And I thought that by now you would have figured somethin' out 'bout me. Ten years isn't that long, mate. Well, it is, but, you understand what I mean."

Norrin's s's second, Gilette, stepped up before Bootstrap could reply. "Take them away. Good work, Captain Turner."

Bootstrap's confusion rose again as Jack, Will, Anamaria, and Gibbs suffered themselves to be led away. He remembered Jack well enough to know that the man could get out of this within a second if he really wanted to. He shook his head, ralizing Gilette had justsaid something.

"Pardon?"

"I said, Captain; I'm sure you can expect a dawn execution. I'll take you to Norrington myself."

***********

"No! You cannot allow this
No
Norrington was slightly taken back by Elizabeth, not having known her to show this much determination before. "Elizabeth, dear."

"Don't you dare 'dear' me. These are my friends! I will not allow them to-"

The woman was interupted (much to Norrington's gratitude) by the office door opening and Bootstrap walking in for the second time that day. The earlier meeting had been cut short by Governor Swann's appearance.

"Captain Turner, please, have a seat," Norrington tried to keep the relief out of his voice, knowing he failed when Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him.

Bootstrap glanced at the furious Elizabeth, "That won't be neccessary, Commodore. I just want to make sure our agreement still held."

"Yes. Yes, of course. He's yours as long as he agrees to leave the crew."

Elizabeth crossed her arms, "And what agreement is this?"

"Nothin' for you to be worrying 'bout, lass."

"If you dare patronize me-"

"Elizabeth, that's enough," Norrington's voice took on the tone of a commander, but even that didn't seem to faze the woman. "These are matters out of your hands."

Elizabeth scowled and stormed out. Bootstrap looked amused, "You do realize she's going to do something stupid, right?"

Norrington sighed, "The guards won't let her to the cells. And if they do, they'll be in earshot of anything."

Bootstrap smiled, "She reminds me of my late wife."

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

Anamaria leaned against the stone wall trying to get comfortable. She was sharing a cell with Gibbs, and apparently, the guards thought nothing of putting Will in with Jack. "Jack, you had better have a plan for this."

"I do," she could hear the e ine in the captain's voice. "Don't worry."

Will was playing around with the hinges on the door, "New doors, different pins."

"Where's that 'lil bag o' tools ye had, lad?" Gibbs asked.

Will frowned, "They got 'em."

As always, there was a scruffy looking dog sitting with the keys hanging from its mouth down the hallway. Jack had commented that they really needed to get a hook for those. Will settled for pacing, bored; stopping when the sound of hurried footsteps reached them.

"Elizabeth!"

Three additional heads turned when the young woman came in, looking furious. Jack grinned and stood, leaning against the bars. Elizabeth immediately went up to him, reached through, and slapped him.

Anamaria chuckled, "Thanks, mate. I've wanted t' do that meself for a bit now."

"Nice t' see you too, darlin'," Jack muttered. "An' what did I do now?"

"This!" Elizabeth indicated the cells with a sweep of her hand. "What are you thinking, Jack?!"

"That's ~Captain~ Jack, lass. And I have a plan."

"Which you seem happy enough to keep from the rest of us," Will pointed out.

Jack smiled, "It'll work, love. Just sit tight."

Elizabeth frowned and turned to Will. "Bootstrap has a deal with Norrington. You go free, if you agree to leave the Pearl. You might be able to negotiate the others too."

"I'm not leaving the Pearl, Elizabeth."

"Will..."

Jack smiled, "You're doin' it again, Will."

"And what's that?"

"Somethin' stupid. Just keep it in mind."

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

Bootstrap frowned, he would have to wait until Elizabeth was finished before going to give Will the offer, and he was tired of waiting. This close to having his son safe under his eye, and it had to wait. Then there was Jack, and the thought caused the wave of confusion to return.

"What the bloody hell do you have in your mind, Jack?" he muttered, turning to the window and seeing the sun just moving past its peak.

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

Mm. Longer one, eh? Interested?

And I just 'bout got the AU fic figured. Same with a story that focuses on my version of Bootstrap. And a couple of small Pearl ones. Maybe one with Will, a pre-slash thing. All except the AU are tied into this one in some way, shape, or form.