Freedom's Slave

This is a flashback chapter (more or less). So that means a bit with Bootstrap and a bit with Will and Ana.

And 'cause I forgot last chapter; Blessed Lammas fellow neo-pagans! (if any happen to be among my readers)

Akurei: Thanks! I'm glad you're reading this. ;)

Sandrine Black: Heh, I tend to sit and just wait for reviews while I write, so don't worry about not having a life. ;)

Pookie: No more gourmet jelly beans for you... *looks through bag* Ooh! Marshmallow! Nope, no romance between Jack and Bootstrap, just makes it too weird when Jack then starts sleeping with Will. I don't make you suffer! I find new ways to spread my insanity. ;)

Insane Pineapple: Eh, I don't like mindless abuse fics. Even in LotR. I'm more of a "torture them mentally than kill one while the lover watches helpless". And Will is kinda withdrawn, but knowing Ana for two years is bound to inspire anyone. ;)

ShadowSpirit: I'm making a habit of avoiding FF.net right now. :P What anime do you write in? I tend to stay with Fushigi Yuugi(Tas/Chi), Gundam Wing(5x1 or 3x1), and maybe one or two others.
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~~~~~~~~ Nine Years Ago ~~~~~~~~~

Jack watched in amusement as his friend pushed away from the t, le, leaving a half-empty tankard on the wood. He always knew Bootstrap wasn't one for drinking, but that never stopped him from giving his friend a hard time about it.

"Oh, c'mon, mate. You barely started."

Bootstrap smiled wryly, "Think of it as more for you, Jack."

Grinning, Jack grabbed his friend's mug, "Your loss."

Shaking his head, but not leaving or making any attempt to, Bootstrap leaned back and prepared to make sure Jack managed to stay out of trouble. He pulled out a small pendant and the glint of gold caught Jack's attention.

"Now, I know that wasn't wit' the last 'aul, Bill."

Bootstrap smiled, "No, you would've gotten hold of it."

Jack took it from his friend, examining the relatively smooth surface. A small design was carved into the front, and something written on the back. "Katlyn? Don't tell me you've settled..."

Bootstrap took the pendant back, fingering it thoughtfully. "Unlike you, Jack, I know what love is."

"Love's not s'pposed t' last more than a night, Bill," Jack grinned.

Bootstrap shook his head, "You'll never change."

"Not plannin' to. Now, who's the lady?"

"Someone you're going to meet when we go to England."

Jack frowned, "Y' could just tell me."

"I'd rather not," Bootstrap smiled and took his tankard back from Jack. "You'll just have t' wait."

Jack glared at his friend, "Bastard."

"I know."

The two had been friends for more than five years now, only Gibbs had known Jack longer. Bootstrap had helped Jack get rid of the old crew and bring in the new one, though he had wonders about how a mute could teach a parrot to talk. Unlike Jack, Bootstrap hadn't laughed off Barbossa's threats and vows for blood.

"Your thinkin' again," Jack muttered, bringing Bootstrap from his thoughts.

"It tends to happen."

"You do it too much."

Bootstrap raised an eyebrow, "An' you don't do it enough."

Jack chuckled, "Don't worry, we leave day after tomorrow. Then you can tell me all 'bout this lass."

Bootstrap let him mind wander again, thinking of just who was waiting for him in England. "You'll have to come with me to see her."

Jack smiled, "I will, but are you goin' t' finish that?"

Pushing his tankard, nearly empty, to Jack, Bootstrap looked around the small room. He tensed at the sight of several familiar faces. "Jack..."

"I see 'em," Jack's tone was low, and Bootstrap knew from experience that the captain was quickly figuring out a new plan. "Barbossa must be near too."

"You can't honestly think t' go after 'im."

Jack frowned, "No. But if he's here, there's no way he's no goin' t' try somethin'."

Bootstrap nodded, pushing aside his own unease.

*********

Even after so long of watching Jack's antics, it never ceased to amaze Bootstrap at just how much the younger man could drink without actually becoming drunk. They were only a few blocks from where the Pearl was docked when Jack stopped his happy chatter and started to keep a hand on the hilt of his sword. Bootstrap followed his example, unsure of what had suddenly upset his friend, but trusting Jack's instincts.

There was no time to react when Bootstrap felt the blade of a knife pressed against his throat. The only reason he didn't struggle was because he saw at least three different guns pointed at Jack, and three different men keeping Jack from reaching his own sword.

"Well, seems like you've been caught, Sparrow," Barbossa's voice came from behind Bootstrap and the latter immediately began his own plans on how to get out of this. A nick from Barbossa's knife stopped him. "None o' that, William."

"What the hell do you want, Barbossa?" Bootstrap demanded, seeing the way Jack's eyes were shifting between different points; calculating.

"Revenge, my dear lad. It's quite a pain tryin' t' find a new ship."

"You'ot got gettin' th' Pearl," Jack spat, eyes narrowing on Barbossa.

"I don't want that piece of wood, Sparrow."

Bootstrap shifted his weight, testing Barbossa's hold. "And what do you want?"
his his for one," Barbossa placed some pressure on the knife and grinned at Jack's attempt to escape the three different men holding him. Softly, and only for Bootstrap to hear, Barbossa spoke; "Don't worry, Bill, the whelp will be joinin' you soon as I get t' London."

With that, Barbossa swiped the knife across Bootstrap's throat, dropping the man's dying body and pulling out his pistol. Aiming it at the shocked Jack's heart, Barbossa prepared to fire.

Jack growled, a sound that caught his captors by surprise enough to make them lose their grips. Unseathing his sword in one quick movement, Jack managed to gut two of the men and swip the tip of his blade just below Barbossa's eye before the latter regained his footing and fired the intended shot. The force pushed Jack against a wall of the alley, and he decided to let them think they had killed him.

Too preoccupied with his shallow cut to bother checking Jack, Barbossa left with his remaining men. Slowly, and ignoring the pain shooting through his shoulder, Jack moved to his friend's still body.

"Bill, c'mon," Jack said softly. "You can't do this. Not after everythin'..."

Feeling his friend's skin, Jack shuddered at the cold already settling. The blood had stopped and Jack knew there was no chance to save his friend. He closed his eyes against the tears threatening to fall, letting every ounce of sorrow he possessed be replaced with anger. Carefully closing Bootstrap's eyes, Jack's hands wandered to the chain around his friend's neck.

"I swear I'll kill him, Bill," Jack swore. He removed the chain and placed the pendant in his jacket pocket and took his friend's dagger. "It'll be your blade that spills his blood."

Jack smiled slightly, "An' I'll take care o' your lass. No harm'll come t' her, mate."

Getting up, and immediately regretting that he couldn't give his friend a decent burial, Jack knew he had to have Gibbs check his shoulder...

~~~~~~~ Present Day ~~~~~~

Jack threw the dagger, watching with a grim satisfaction as it embedded itself in the wall next to the door, barely missing Gibbs' head.

"Sorry, mate," Jack said.

Gibbs looked at his captain carefully as he placed the small bowl of food on the desk. "Want to talk, Cap'n?"

Jack shook his head, "No. How's Will doin'?"

Smiling, Gibbs started to leave, "He and Cotton aren't too fond o' each other. I think the parrot's startin' t' annoy 'im."

"That bird can annoy anyone."

Gibbs smiled, "That it can."

Jack stood and pulled the dagger from the wall after Gibbs had left. He couldn't understand why nine years had passed and his guilt and anger never ebbed. Nor had the memories faded.

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Just 'cause I know Nicole will hunt me down and tie me to my chair until I finish writing this fic (and any others, I'm sure), I'm putting Will and Ana's flashback in the next chapter. And, man, that was a crappy chapter...