Power of the Sparrow

Power of the Sparrow, by Hellborne (the_ferret_mom@yahoo.com)
Pirates of the Caribbean – NC-17

Copyright: Characters, not mine, See the Mouse. Story, mine, but I make no money. He does, but not on this.

Archive: adult-fanfiction.org. Other than that, no problem, just tell me the URL.

Beta: Now beta’d by my most perfect and wonderful Pendragginink and her magnificent Jackal! Hail to thee, oh modest and humble BetaGoddess!

Typing convention. / is used for thoughts.

Summary: Will gives Jack a birthday present. Unfortunately, it’s cursed. J/W, O/J. Slash, angst, lemon.

A/N: I really want some reviews here. My plot bunnies are starving, and reviews tend to feed them! So hit that Review button and type something! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE?

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Chapter 9 – Consequences

Jack stood facing the mainmast, stripped naked, save for a breechclout; his wrists tied above his head, rivers of sweat stinging his eyes and pouring down his body.

The first day wasn't too bad; there were a couple hours of cloudy skies; though he was thirsty, having sweated away a fair amount of water, he still felt healthy. During the night, however, that changed.

About three-quarters through the midwatch, Jack was in a bad way; he felt the need to relieve himself. Not wanting to befoul himself or piss on the deck of his Lady, he held himself in as long as he could, but by the end of the midwatch, his body let go of its own accord in extremis, running down his legs and onto the deck. The weakness accompanying the embarrassing dehydration caused him to almost lose consciousness; his knees buckling beneath him so that he hung there by his arms.

The second day was far worse. By two o'clock in the afternoon, he stopped sweating completely. His head pounded, his vision dimmed and it took a great deal of effort to remain on his feet, his swollen tongue, held in by the gag was all but choking him, and his thirst was nearly a living thing by itself.

Will watched the pirate from a shady vantage point, wondering why Jack would attack him in the first place. He was sure it had something to do with Bill and the relationship they'd had together, but what? Had Jack told him the truth? Was his father jealous?

Jack was very close to passing out when Bill walked up to him. "Now you'll have no choice but to keep your promise concerning Will. He hates ye and he'll never trust you again. You're mine, Jack Sparrow, and I intend to keep ye."

Jack shook his head and fell over, too dizzy to get back on his feet. Suddenly, the bright day turned black as a cloudy night, then a glow began to emanate from everything from the water, the ship and all the people on it. The lookout gave out a bloodcurdling scream and held on to the mast with both hands, eyes closed.

Jack lifted his head and saw a horrible sight. While he recognized the lookout as Cubbins, his visage had become hideous, the skin missing in places; the face seemingly partially melted. He looked away, his eyes focusing on Will, who watched him with a terrified look on his face. Will looked different too, but he couldn't quite figure out how. He looked at Bill and saw what he could only describe as a quasi-skeletal banshee-demon; the shroud was in tatters over a very meaty, gory skeleton, the face mostly gone, with eye sockets burning with the fire of hell. When the thing reached out for him, Jack lost control and screamed through his gag, struggling to get away. Screams were heard all over the ship, and several crewmembers actually leaped off the ship trying to get away from the apparitions they were seeing, never to resurface. The dead were just as distressed as the living.

The only calm being on the entire ship was Bill. "I warned you about this area, Jack. I'd thought that you would be completely spared, you being in both worlds, so to speak, but I guess it just hit you both ways. You should see yourself, Jack. If my son didn't hate you before, he'll be terrified of you from now on." The apparition pointed at Will, who was staring at Jack as if seeing the Devil incarnate.

Will cautiously made his way over to Jack and Bill and nodded. "So you're my father. I can't say that I see the resemblance that everyone talks about."

"This is not what I usually look like, son." Bill removed the gag from Jack's mouth. "Here. Help me take Jack into the cabin."

Will's eyes grew wide. "You removed his gag!"

"Aye, in this area, our worlds overlap. Tell me, Will. Has Jack's appearance changed to you, or were you merely noticing me?" Bill untied Jack's hands and the pirate captain collapsed onto the deck.

Will helped Bill carry Jack to the makeshift shower to clean him up, removing the breechcloth. "Jack changed into a monster. I can barely recognize him even though I watched it happen. Is he dead?"

"No, but for some reason he's in both the world of the living and of the dead. I see him probably similar to the way you do. That's the 'REAL' Jack, Will...what he is like inside his soul. From what I can see and what I have been described as looking like, he's far worse than I am."

"He's definitely more demonic-looking. So if this is what his soul looks like, how did it get that way? I mean, since I met him, he's always been a good man."

Jack moved, opening his eyes, still unable to support himself. "Whelp, I've heard the legends...a man's soul shows all the things he's done in his life; the good and the evil; they all leave their marks. You barely changed at all, as somehow, the purity in you that I love so much has countered any evil thoughts you may have had or deeds you may have done." He stopped talking, trying to grin as he contemplated his own words. "I must look the very devil, lad."

Will nodded. "You're not pretty, Jack." He finished washing Jack's body as Bill held the sagging, helpless pirate; they carried him into the cabin and laid him on the bed. "Father, tell me the truth. Did you possess me and trick Jack into doing what he did?"

"The truth is that I could never have tricked Jack. He knew what was going on, yet he went along with it. He hurt ye, son. I'd hoped that I was wrong; that he'd refuse to harm ye. Then I could have given ye both my blessings despite his breaking his word. But he didn't refuse, and I'll never forgive him, and neither should you, boy. Once a man is violent to the one he loves, you know he'll do it again."

"Then Jack spoke the truth."

Jack smiled feebly, his eyes closed. "Told ye." He opened his eyes and tried to get up, falling back on the pillow. "Now, could somebody please stop the room from spi—" Jack doubled over as the severe cramps of dehydration began; he heaved, nothing coming out.

"He'll need as much cool water as he can stomach and then some." Bill raced out of the room.

"William, I'm sorry I gave in to Bill. I couldn't believe it was him...he'd never asked for pain. I thought it was you, even if it didn't sound right." Jack heaved again. "But—" *Heave* "—I can deny you nothing, Will."

"I know that, Jack...now. And I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

"Let's just not admit it to your da, eh?" *Heave* "He's proven he'll do anything to keep you—" *Heave* "—away from me."

Will nodded. "I'll sleep with the crew till it's over."

"No, lad. I'll string up a—" *Heave* "—a hammock on deck. 't is you who were wronged, not I."

"My father wronged both of us."

"But that's—" *Heave* "—not what anyone thinks, nor is it completely accurate. —" *Heave* "—I DID break my—" *Heave* "—promise to Bill. Whether you were a —" *Heave* "—god or a troll when ye grew—" *Heave* "—up, I had no call—" *Heave* "—to go back—" *Heave* "—on my word."

"Pirate."

"None o' that excuse, whelp. —" *Heave* "—My word is somethin' I be very—" *Heave* "—proud of, and other than falling in—" *Heave* "—love with you, I've kept it—" *Heave* "—short of dyin'—" *Heave* "—for it. What I did, when your da was controlling you—" *Heave* "was evil. Now—" *Heave* "—shush. Bill will be back any—" *Heave* "—time now."

They remained quiet save for Jack's dry heaves till Bill returned. He'd brought several men with buckets of fresh water and a bathing tub from the hold. Jack judged that the men were part of the spirit crew, since he saw everyone strange and horrible, and from the boy's reaction, Will appeared to see them the same way he did. Bill brought two pitchers to the bed and Jack started drinking the life-giving fluid as fast as he dared. Will brought over an extra bucket in case Jack kept heaving. Once Jack was finished with the first pitcher, Bill picked him up, ignoring his protesting and dipped him in the tub, holding him there for one minute, then pulling him out for a minute. He repeated this procedure several times, until the cramps stopped and Jack's color returned to normal, or as close as Bill could tell, anyway. He brought Jack back to the bed as Will pulled the covers down, and settled him in, pulling the covers up over Jack's shoulders, making him as comfortable as possible.

Will walked to the desk and sat in the chair. "Now what? With Jack unable to guide us, and the two crews scaring each other, how shall we get to the treasure?"

Bill grinned, which did nothing to ease Will's nerves. "You and your crew stay below. My crew can get us there. But could ye go on up to the nest and bring down your lookout? He's not looking out at anything right now, and I'd rather not have him fall."

Will nodded. "And I think I can handle Jack's recovery."

"That reminds me, son. Other than your initial reaction, you seem able to handle the effects of this area better than the others of your crew. I can because I've been here before, but why are you able to deal with it?"

Will shrugged. "I've dealt with cursed skeleton pirates. Why would this be different?"

"This is different, son, because we really ARE dead. There's no curse involved, save for Jack's, if it IS a curse. Compared to we who are dead, his situation is a blessing."

Jack started shivering. "The lad's too stupid t' be scared, Bill. He's an innocent. That's why I love him."

"Now stop with that fool's notion that ye love him, Jack. He sees you now for what you really are; a monster who beat him once and will beat him again if the mood takes ye."

Will puffed up, indignant. "I'm not stupid, Jack. I just don't see members of the crew as dangerous."

"See, Bill? Stupid. 'e trusts men too far. William, if it weren't for the Ship's Articles keepin' 'em at bay, you, lad, would be the plaything of almost every man onboard, be they dead or alive. If I were you, I would beware of ALL the men on this ship, and that goes DOUBLE for me."

Will shrugged, smiling. "Being wary and being afraid are two different things, Jack. You had to EARN my trust in the first place, and after what happened on this journey, if I stay aboard as part of the crew, you'll have to earn it again."

Jack started sweating and threw the covers off. Still shaking, he rose from the bed; Bill helped him cross to the tub, where Jack splashed water on his own face and neck. "I'd better get to work moppin' up the mess I made on deck." He brought his breeches to a chair and pulled them on. "The cabin is yours, William. I'm steppin' down as captain at least until we get back to Tortuga. Once you decide whether or not you're stayin' on, I'll decide whether or not I want to be captain. Who knows? I might just want to retire."

Will stopped him. "This is YOUR cabin, Jack. I'll sleep with the crew. Besides...you'll scare them looking like that."

"I was planning on stringin' a hammock on deck. Though if ye don't mind seein' me like this, I could string it in the corner over there. But the bed is yours, love. I don't deserve to be in it." He left, obviously troubled.

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TBC

A/N: There's more...and I'm still writing...what do you think? Tell me by hitting that REVIEW button!