Power of the Sparrow

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 Title:
Time
and Time Again

Author: Hellborne (the_ferret_mom@yahoo.com)

Disclaimer: Characters, if you saw them in the movie
or if they're real people, not mine. See the Mouse and the Real People.
Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.

Typing convention: / is used for thoughts. * - * - *
is used for scene changes and passages of time.

Summary: Will gives Jack a birthday present.
Unfortunately, it's cursed. J/W, O/J.

Warnings: Torture, N/C, SMBD, slash, H/C, angst,
lemon, major sadomasochism.

Betas: The two greatest BetaGoddesses in the world,
Pendragginink and Littlebird! You're both truly magnificent, and I
wouldn't be able to write half as well without you!

Admin Note:  As you know, Hellborne has
passed away, but the follow had been given to her Beta's and we wanted
to make sure we could share as much of her insight into the story with
you, her readers!

Chapter 22 - Begging the Captain's Pardon

Will entered the giant cabin and immediately dropped what he was

carrying, dashing across to the Captain's cabin and inside, coming to

a stop outside the head, alarmed by the terrific, thunderous

sounds issuing from behind the closed door. To his blacksmith's ears

it could be nothing less than the thick iron plating of the hull

being breached, the heavy metal screeching and moaning, shrieking like
a dying thing as it twisted and ruptured.

The noise was loud and terrifying, like a great rusty hinge groaning

under water; or the noise below deck when the great anchor chain was

run out; or a great whale in horrible torment, its tortured calls and

squeals bellowing in the final throws of its agony. Actually, Will

thought it might very well be all three.

Will flung the door to the head open to find Jack, naked, floating

serenely on his back in the huge tub, belting out his favorite song

as loud as he could, eyes closed.

As he felt the breeze on his body from the suddenly open door, Jack

righted himself, standing hip deep; the cacaphonous croaking stopped

immediately. "This hot bathing pool is magnificent! HisMajesty 'imself would

give 'is crown and scepter for such an outfit! And the soap! Smells wonderful,

and cleans a body better than any I've used, including lye soap, oiled sand and pumice."

Bill laughed heartily, having strayed up behind Will. "Jack, your

young captain here thought you were in dire straits. I'm afraid your

singing voice has NOT improved one jot."

Will smiled sheepishly. "The echo in the room made it sound like a

dying monster in horrible pain, and in this realm where we've already

found a dragon..."

Jack grinned. "Don't worry, lad. I don't bite...though I may nibble

your ear a bit later..." All three men laughed.

"Jack, the Pearl is done being unloaded. I was about to set her

adrift for Shamir."

Jack frowned. "I'd like to visit her one last time, lad. After all,

I'm losin' my Lady forever."

Will started to nod, but Bill interrupted. "Jack, you've never seen

her true form. The sight of her will kill a man. Will saw her in mid-

change, only halfway to her true self, which is why he's still alive.

Her head is full of snakes. Jack, like Medusa from Greeks. One look

at her true form will turn you to stone."

"Then I'll keep my eyes closed. I'll be fine. My Lady would never

harm me."

Will cleared his throat, hardly believing what he was hearing. "Jack,

she tried to kill you, and nearly did."

"So? She won't do it again."

Bill put his hands on his hips and frowned. "Very funny, Jack. Now

that I'm alive again I don't want to lose you, I want you in my life

even if only as a friend and my son's lover. She's deadly, and even

death is no obstacle for her torturous ways. You're NOT going."

"Yes, I bloody well AM!" Jack made his way up the steps of the tub

and grabbed one of the big, elegant and fluffy Turkish towels that

were hanging on a heated rack nearby and dried himself, tight-lipped

and silent, nevertheless barely able to keep from making a fool of

himself with 'oooing' noises from the sheer luxury of it all. Will

tripped the lever that drained the now bilge-filthy water from the

tub and sprayed it down, cleaning it automatically.

Not saying another word, Jack moved out into the main cabin and found

the sea chest with his clothes and other effects in it. He threw on

shirt and breeches and pushed past Bill for his boots.

Standing arms akimbo, his hand and his stump on either hip. Will

confronted Jack, facing him down. "Jack, my father is right. You're

not going."

"And who's to stop me?"

Both Turners blocked him and spoke in unison. "I WILL."

Jack turned his back on the pair, picked something out of the pile of

dirty clothes on the floor and swung back around, pistol in hand,

apparently loaded and ready. "I think not, gentlemen. Now...I only

have one shot, so it means only one of you will die. But how ever

shall I choose between you? Tell me Bill, would you stand by and let

me kill your only son? William...you've only just gotten your da

back. Are you ready so soon to bid him farewell? Don't you want to

get to know him? Hmm...two Turners...one shot. Which Turner will it

be to die today?"

Jack moved the barrel of the pistol back and forth alternately aiming

at each of the men in turn while he sing-songed, "Eenie, meanie,

miney, moe...Which Willy is the one to go?"

"STOP IT, JACK! This isn't like you at all! Now put that pistol down

and I'll show you our cabin...um...let's see...say, I know! How about

you help me 'break it in'?"

Bill looked closely into Jack's eyes. "No, you're right, Will, it's

not like Jack. Not like Jack at all. This is Pearl's doing. I'll take

care of Jack while you get this ship moving. Just get us away from her;
I don't care if ye have to get out and row!" He stepped toward Jack and

stopped, having gotten his full attention. Will nodded, turned and

rushed from the cabin.

With the barrel of the pistol aimed point-blank, Jack drew a dead bead

between the eyes of the man who had once been his first mate, closest
friend, and lover.

Neither man moved. The silence in the room was broken only by the
ominous click of the hammer as Jack's thumb pulled back on it.

* - * - *

TBC