Coming Along

Aly/Insatiable: Full of questions eh? First, the morals; will be dealt with. I have a lot more to write with this. So many great ideas. Second, Bootstrap; all coming up, except for that last one...

Datiye: Sorry 'bout that, mate. Well, no I'm not. I have to find some way to keep you guys interested. ;)

Geuna: gyah! Don't do that! It's coming!

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Jack covered his shock immediately, "Bootstrap Bill Turner! And here I was thinking that you were dead."

"Captain Jack Sparrow, takes a lot to kill me."

"So I see," Jack looked behind the man to see the ship. "So, that yours?"

Bill nodded, "The Pendulum, almost as well known as the Pearl."

"So I hear. Well, you've called 'parley', so I think we have some talkin' to do."

Jack led the other man to the dining room where he and Will had often shared meals. Ignoring the feeling of unease he was getting, Jack offered a seat. Bootstrap smiled when Jack pulled out a bottle of rum.

"You haven't changed a bit."

"You'd be surprised, mate."

Bootstrap leaned forward in his chair, "You're right. As a matter of fact, I've gone through quite a few changes over the past years, since we parted company. One being the interesting experience of being undead."

Jack nodded, "I heard about that curse. Tough luck, that."

"It was quite interesting. Troublesome, of course. But the strangest thing happened last year."

"And what was that?"

"It was broken."

Jack nodded, "Heard about that too."

"Then you know that it was my blood that was needed to break the curse. I'm not a simpleton, Jack. I know that you had a part to play in this. And since I was quite a ways away from Barbossa; where is my son?"

Jack coughed, "Right to the point, as always."

He stood, "Come on Bill, how would I know where your kid is?"

Bootstrap stood, a hand on his pistol. "No games, Jack."

"Bill-"

Bootstrap raised his pistol and cocked it. "Where. Is. He?"

Jack gingerly turned the barrel away from him, "He's noad, ad, no worries on that. Well, we're still working on that. And do you realize how much like you he is? Always doing stupid things."

Bootstrap rolled his eyes at Jack's antics, "Will you just answer my question?"

"I thought I just did. Oh! You mean 'where' as in a location. He's in his cabin, resting."

Bootstrap lowered his pistol, "You have got to be the most impossible man to hold a conversation with."

Jack grinned, "I've been told as much. Of course, I think you should tell me what you're doing here before we go scare young Will."

"Fine."

The two sat again, a little less on edge than before. Bootstrap took a draught of the rum Jack offered. "We were supposed to be protecting that ship I suppose you just sacked. Got out a little later than expected. I noticed the Pearl and had heard rumours that Captain Jack Sparrow was back at its helm."

Jack grinned, "Good to know I'm still talked about. The Pendulum, eh? Heard about it, you've gone buccaneer."

"Pays well," Bootstrap said with a smile. Jack rolled his eyes.

"It was the best way to stay on top of what was happening on the sea. I knew that Barbossa would be out looking for my son."

"And you wanted to..."

"Stop him."

"Ah."

Jack stood again, "Well, that makes sense, kind of. Better tell the crew to relax, and get to work."

"And my son?"

"Quite obssessed, aren't you? We'll get to him in a minute."

The two returned to deck and noticed the unease between the three that had come with Bootstrap and the Pearl's crew. Jack sighed, "To work, scallywags."

Bootstrap moved to talk to his men, Jack following. "Of course, Bill, I encourage you to stay for dinner."

"Since we have a lot to talk about, still, I'm taking you up on that offer."

Jack smiled and waved Gibbs over to tell him while Bootstrap gave orders to his own men. Turning back to Jack, Bootstrap crossed his arms.

"Well?"

"Right, right. This way."

Jack started to lead Bootstrap below deck, "He's been working as a blacksmith for a while, a long while, before I met 'im. Annoying as Hell. Kind of like you."

"I'll ignore that."

"No, he really is. The annoying part is really his own doing. But he's more like a younger, more energetic, version of you. Very odd."

"And just what is he doing on a pirate ship?"

Jack shrugged, "Being a pirate?"

"You know what I mean," Bootstrap said as they came to a stop outside a door.

"I do. We met, we fought, he called me a cheater, he joined up with me. Broke curse, killed Barbossa, got the Pearl back. Then he showed up a month ago."

"There has to be more to it than that."

"There is. Hold on a minute," Jack said as he opened the door, leaving Bootstrap in the narrow corridor.

***********

"I thought you said you'd be back in a minute."

Jack smiled, "I meant several minutes. And something interesting came up."

Jack knelt next to the bed and kissed Will, "And, unfortunately, it's not going to wait. You okay to see visitors?"

Will nodded, "Yeah."

"Alright."

Jack stood and opened the door. "Will, meet... well, Will."

Will sat up slowly, watching with wide eyes, the man in the doorway. Jack had crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, watching Will for any signs of tension that might hinder the young man's healing.

"William..." Bootstrap started, taking an uncertain step into the room. "I thought they would have killed you."

"Why was I never told about you?"

Bootstrap stopped, "You were young."

"Too young to know my father was a pirate?"

"Yes," Bootstrap said simply. "But right now, I really don't think you can use that to justify your own choice."

"I don't. But I had a right to know; before I had to hear it from Jack."

"Though that was amusing," Jack muttered. The two ignored him.

"It would have put you in danger."

Will raised an eyebrow, "More than I was in last year? Had I been told, I might have at least had an inkling that you would have had enemies that would come after me. I thought you were dead."

"I was."

Will looked at Jack and the captain smiled. "You were right about the curse takin' to him."

"Then you could have broken it yourself," Will said slowly. Bootstrap nodded.

"But I would have needed to get to Isla de Muertes. And after getting the medallion from you."

"If you had, I probably wouldn't have met Jack. So I'm grateful you didn't if for only that reason."

Jack smiled, "Why, thank you, Will. I think that's the second compliment you've ever given me in public."

Bootstrap crossed his arms, "For someone upset that they weren't told I was a pirate, you've become quite one yourself."

Will tensed and Jack frowned, prepared to come to Will's aid if he felt it was needed. Will forced himself to relax, "It was my choice to make."

"But the Black Pearl?"

"I trust Jack. He's odd, but a good man."

Jack grinned and was about to say something when Gibbs came to the door. "Dinner'll be soon. Ye might want to get ready."

Jack nodded his thanks and turned to Will. "Think you can manage to dinner? Or do you want something here?"

Will stood, "I've rested enough."

"Just don't let Gibbs see you."

Will smiled and picked up his discarded shirt. Bootstrap frowned when he saw the wound. Jack pushed Bootstrap out the door while looking back to make sure Will was okay. The food was already set onto the table by the time they reached the dining area. Will sat next to Jack with Bootstrap across.

"What happened?"

"I saved Jack's life, again."

"I doubt that saved my life. And I've saved yours several times. We've gone through that subject several times."

Will smiled. Bootstrap shook his head and Jack just grinned and took a drink of actual wine, rather than rum. Below the table, Jack placed a hand on Will's knee.

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Hm, a place to leave off. I figure my average is around 1.5-apteapters a day, at the moment.

FF.net responses: Ch. 5;

Kayu Ishida: There's slash, I'm really just working my way into a plot.