Treasure

A/N: A big thanks to Anon, mary-sue, Citadel, M.R.C.C., zoe, Barbara, and Whacko_dante! You're comments have made my day! I was really starting to get discouraged, but now I'm more than ready to pick up my pen again. These last three chapters are dedicated specifically to you guys!! *kisses*


Will watched miserably as Elizabeth made her way out to the lifeboat, leaving Will and Jack behind in the cave. Jack sidled up beside him and slung an arm around his shoulders.

“If ye were waitin’ for the opportune moment,” Jack said, “that was it.”

Will felt a sudden anger rising in his chest, although he was more upset with himself than with Jack. He’d known that it was the opportune moment, the moment that he’d been waiting for ever since he’d first seen Elizabeth…and yet, he hadn’t been able to form the words. Something had held him back…something that he was only vaguely aware of in the back of his mind.

“Oh, shut up, Jack!” he heard himself shout. “What do you know about love? The only person you care for is yourself.”

“Now, wait just a minute,” Jack fired back. “Who d’ ye think I’m here for? Meself? Not likely, mate. I could’ve made me way back to me ship as soon as I got away from that bloody Commodore, but I came back here instead to make sure that Barbossa didn’t kill ye.”

Jack paused and looked down before meeting Will’s gaze and saying softly, “Me crew will be long gone by now. I’ve nowhere to go but straight to the gallows.”

Will stood frozen, his mind trying to register what had been said. Jack had gone after him, knowing full-well that in doing so he was giving up his one chance to live. He had raced into a sure death so that Will might have a chance to live.

An indescribable emotion welled in his chest, and he surprised them both by throwing his arms around the older man before him. Jack said nothing. He simply put his arms round the other man’s waist and pressed his lips to his forehead. They stayed like that for a moment before Jack gently pulled out of Will’s embrace and followed Elizabeth toward the lifeboat.

* * *

Will stared out at the sea, watching the sun sparkling on the deep blue Caribbean waters. He repeatedly played the scene that had unfolded here, only yesterday, in his mind.

He was more than a little offended that Jack’s only parting words, after all they’d been through, were simply, “Nice hat.” More than anything, however, he was glad that Jack had escaped.

That morning, he had tried to return to his usual work in the smithy, but he found that his heart just wasn’t in it anymore. He could almost swear that he could hear the crash of waves above the pounding of metal and the sway of a ship beneath his feet.

Fearing he’d gone mad, Will set aside his work and had wondered through Port Royal to the place where he and Jack had last stood side-by-side. As he sat perched on the same ledge that Jack had tripped over, he heard footsteps approaching.

“I thought I’d find you here.” Elizabeth took a seat next to him and placed a hand on his. “Will, is this really what you want?”

“Of course it is,” he answered mechanically. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you look like a little boy who’s just lost his most cherished toy.”

“Elizabeth, what-”

“Excuse me, sir, but is you Mister Will Turner?”

Will and Elizabeth glanced down to see a small boy with messy blond hair and freckles gazing up at them.

“I am,” Will said, looking puzzled. “Do I know you?”

“No, sir,” said the boy, “but a man asked me to give this to you.” He pulled a crumpled piece of parchment from his pocket. As Will took it from him and read it, Elizabeth took a coin from her purse and handed it to the hopeful-looking boy, smiling as he eagerly scampered off in the direction of the local sweets shop.

“Will, what is it?”

Wordlessly, he handed her the note. It simply read:

'Head west about five miles from Port Royal. Me ship’s docked there. Come alone tonight.
–Captain J.S.
P.S. Remember our bargain.'

“It’s from Jack? What does he want?” Elizabeth looked up at him, handing him the note once more. “Will, what bargain is he talking about?”

“I-I promised to help him with something in return for his assistance in finding you,” Will blushed.

“Oh,” Elizabeth said. After her conversation on the beach with Jack, she could pretty well imagine what Jack would want from Will. “Five miles…you’d better be off. Even if you leave now, you’ll only just make it by sundown.”

“You actually want me to go?” Will asked. "I won't go if you ask me not to."

Elizabeth scrutinized him sharply. She had known Will since he was a small boy, and she thought that she could read him pretty well. He may be telling her what his mind said, but she knew well what was in his heart.

“Of course I want you to go,” she said, trying to put as much authority in her voice as possible. “You made a bargain, and I expect the man I marry to keep his word, Mr. Turner, even to pirates.”

Will cast her a slightly desperate look before nodding and heading down to the smithy to pack some food and a compass for his short journey. Elizabeth accompanied him with a heavy heart, knowing full-well that this was the last she would see of her best friend for a long time.

Before they parted, Will bent down and kissed her, saying, “I should be back sometime tomorrow.”

“Are you so sure?” Elizabeth gave him a small, sad smile. “Will, I’m a big girl. I know that feelings change over time. The thing I want most in the whole world is for you to be happy and truthful with yourself.” She gave him one last hug, whispering, “I’ll understand if you don’t come back.”

Then she turned and strode abruptly away, ignoring Will’s confused questions. Even though this parting saddened her, she smiled knowing that her best friend would be happy. She never would have insisted that he go if she hadn’t been sure that it was what he secretly wanted.

'I just hope all goes well,' she though. 'He hasn’t even admitted to himself that it isn’t me that he loves. I pray he won’t be too stubborn and miss his chance for happiness.'

Looking up, she saw Commodore Norrington walking through the town square just ahead of her. Despite herself, she felt her heart flutter.

“James,” she hurried to catch up with him. “I’m on my way home and seem to be without an escort. Perhaps you’d care to accompany me?”