A Promise is a Promise

I didn't look up from the blade that I was sharpening. I had seen him from the
corner of my eye and I could not fathom that I was seeing him. But I should
have known he would come. Captain Jack Sparrow could never resist a challenge,
and now he was going to end up right back in jail, and I was not sure I was
willing to rescue him this time.

"You're not supposed to be here."

"Well, no, of course I am not. I am seldom places where I am supposed to be.
They are not very much fun."

I could feel the smile behind his words as I watched the edge of the blade in
front of me grow sharper and when it reached perfection, I stopped. I
pretended to study it carefully, though I already knew it was just as it
needed to be. I needed time to think. Part of me wanted to laugh with Jack and
part of me wanted to throttle him. I would have to decide which I was going to
do before I looked at him because seeing him always fired me into action.

I decided for now I would return his grin, looking up to him with air of
disbelief. "So Jack Sparrow has returned."

"Captain Jack Sparrow if you please, Will Turner."

"Aye of course, Captain." I shook my head. This was a rogue who never would
change. "You know if Norrington catches you here he'll have your head."

"Funny thing is he's been saying that for years."

"One day, you'll find the executioner has a longer axe than you figured on,
Jack, and that'll be the end, Captain or not."

"Aye, but what an end it'll be with the ladies and their weeping over the
likes of a pretty pirate eh? And speakin' of ladies, how is your fair bride?"

"Elizabeth is -- in a delicate condition."

"Ah, you mean you went and knocked the lass up? Tut tut, Will, you are never
supposed to leave a trail."

I closed my eyes and attempted not to process that statement. "We are both
quite happy with our fortune."

"Aye well isn't that a pretty speech? So when do I get to see the well
fortuned lass."

I looked at him in alarm. "You don't"

"No? You're not going to let the godfather see his charge pre-existence so to
speak?"

"Who said anything about you being godfather?"

"Well, I am the logical choice after all."

"And how do you figure that?

"Well, I knew your father better than anyone."

"Now what does that --" Suddenly I realized what he was doing. He was getting
me off topic, and it almost worked. "-- Jack you are not to go anywhere near
Elizabeth. She is in an extremely delicate condition and the doctor said she
wasn't to be made nervous or agitated. Both of which you do."

"Now I'm hurt."

"I doubt that, but if Elizabeth so much as glances a thread of your sash, you
will be." I promised.

"Bold words, young Turner. Bold words indeed."

**********************************

Much to my surprise, Jack had honored my request to stay away from Elizabeth.
Of course much of that may have been due to the fact that Norrington had his
men stationed directly outside of our home. He too felt that Jack would want
to pay a visit to my wife because we both knew Jack was never one to obey an
order. And so the guards at our gate should have been comfort to me, except for one
detail, the guards were bothering Elizabeth as much if not more than the
swarthy Captain might have done.

"Get rid of them, Will." Her tone brooked no argument, but unfortunately, mine
was the argument to make.

"I would, love, but the seem to be rather set on staying,"

If looks could kill, Elizabeth would have made herself a widow right then. "I
am sorry, love." I handed her a glass of cold water in peace offering.

"Well why are they set on staying right outside of our door?" She took the
water somewhat pacified, but she definitely wanted an answer, and short of
lying to her there was no way that I could refuse her any longer.

"Elizabeth --" I sat next to her on the divan taking her feet in my lap and
began massaging them slowly.

She looked at me suspiciously. "Will, just tell me what is going on."

"Elizabeth, Jack is in town."

Her eyes went heavenward as her head shook softly. I bent down to kiss her
round stomach, "I'm sorry love, I thought it best --"

"I know Will, I know, but all the same you can just keep rubbing, Mr. Turner."

I smiled at her resuming my ministrations of her feet. "As you wish, Mrs.
Turner."

"What is he doing here?"

"He heard the price on his head went up, had to see for himself."

"Of course he did. Of all the pig-headed, boorish, brainless --"

"Elizabeth!"

She stopped, looking at me.

"This is exactly why I did not want you to know. The very mention of him
distresses you."

"I know, Will," she sighed looking at me. .

I kissed her stomach again reassuring her. "I will go make you some tea, my
love. Please, try to relax." She nodded, and I saw her slip deep into the
couch as I went to the kitchen. I was content -- I should learn never to be
content.

I was filling the kettle with water when I heard it. First shouting, then the
breaking of glass, then more shouting then? screaming? Elizabeth was
screaming. I added my own noises as the kettle fell to the ground, and my feet
flew back to the parlor. "Elizabeth? ELIZABETH" I was shaking by the time I
reached her. She lay there clutching her stomach. When I went to her she
grabbed me holding me as close as she could my form bent over her trying to
calm us both.

"O-Oh W-Will OOOOOOh WILL"

"SARAH" I screamed to our housekeeper "Get the doctor"

She appeared out of nowhere, "A guard has already gone, sir"

I gave her a look that let her know in no uncertain terms I would not be
trusting my wife and child's welfare to one of Norrington's guards,and Sarah
quickly wrapped a shawl around herself, hurrying out.

I rocked Elizabeth gently feeling her calm underneath my touch. "What
happened, Love, please? talk to me"

She was white as a sheet. "It was -- It was horrible! I don't know what it was
and it flew in through the glass -- and there was screaming and oh OH Will!" I
looked around but other than the shattered glass I could see no sign of the
demon she described. Then my eyes narrowed, on a brightly colored object on
the table. That had not been there before had it. I walked over picking it up
then returning quickly to my wife, staring at it a moment, as my temperature
began to rise.

"Will? what is it?" Elizabeth was looking at me expectantly.

"Nothing darling," I replied soothingly "just a stray thread."

***********************

I stayed with Elizabeth until the pill the doctor gave her was in full effect
and her breathing seemed calm. Sarah agreed to be at her side, and I told her
where I would be. She gave me a look of surprise, but was too well trained to
comment. I knew I might have to worry about gossip about what the master did
while his poor wife was abed, but I did not wish to explain myself, I could
hardly believe what it was I was about to do, but as I fingered that
ummistakable thread in my pocket, I knew that I indeed had to do it.

I entered the door to my shop quietly, locking it tightly behind me, and
dropping the key in my pocket. He was here; I could feel him somehow, but I
had no intention of letting on. By letting him thinking he was surprising me,
I would have the element of surprise.

It was a wicked game, and one I knew he was enjoying. I would enjoy it too
were the circumstances not quite so serious, and soon, I would be the only one
enjoying it. I picked up a razor strop from my worktable. I generally used it
for sharpening smaller blades, but it would serve another purpose this night.
I folded it in half with a snap that echoed throughout the shop. Did he have
any clue what I meant to do? Part of me hoped he did.

With that simple motion I unfolded the strop and began sharpening a small
dagger, it was one of my favourites. I could feel his eyes on me, and I knew
immediately where he was. I knew every inch of my workspace whether I was
looking at it or not. He must have known that, but the poetry of it was too
deep. He would meet me on my own ground, at the very spot that the "challenge"
had been made. I had challenged him, and he had met me. Now he came to see if
I held up my end of the bargain. As the knife began to glitter in my hand, I
knew that I would.

I let the knife fly into the corner of the room he was well out of its way as
I knew he would be, but I had shaken him. I would have shaken any man, not
that his countenance allowed me to see it, but I knew. "Well Mister Turner, it
seems you missed your mark."

I held the strop casually in one hand, calling no attention to it, letting it
just be there, casually. "Have I?"

"Well," he danced into view, just out of arms reach. I waited. "I am still
here."

"So you are." I reached slowly into my pocket pulling out the thread. "I
believe this is yours."

"Aye, so you caught me, young Turner." He reached forward to take the thread
and I had him. In one motion, Captain Jack Sparrow's hands were clasped behind
his back and he was bent over.

"The wife not giving you enough pleasure these days Turner?"

I added that comment to his list of offenses. No matter, they would all be
dealt with this day.

"So what is the plan Turner? Chop my head off? Many have tried."

"Yes they have, but no, that is not what you deserve." Jack turned his head to
try to look back at me. I was surprised to find that he wasn't really
struggling. I felt confident that I could hold him if I needed to, but he
wasn't resisting, but then force was never really his way, and I had his
curiosity piqued. He would see this through, and I would be glad to lead him.
And so I lead him to my work bench. Laying the strop down beside it.

"Umm, Turner, this is getting a wee bit uncomfortable."

"Not yet."

With that I sat on the bench, unblancing him so that fell down on lap. He was
surprised enough not to move, It took the opportunity to anchor his legs with
mine and grab both of his slender wrists bracing them against his back. He
would not be moving any time soon.

"Turner! What the devil?!?"

"Well, Jack, it seems that this night you have been a terribly naughty boy."
With that I yanked his pants down uncovering a well-positioned bottom, that if
I was not mistaken appeared to be trembling.

"Now Will, be reasonable."

His voice had a pleading note it in it I had never heard from the Captain and
it pleased me.

"The time for talking has passed little Sparrow. First," I raised my hand and
slammed it into his waiting backside. "First, we will deal with your crude
insult." With no more than that, I began spanking him in earnest,my hand
lighting on each cheek hard, and giving enough time for the sting to rise
before landing the next blow, watching as the pirate's bottom turned a lovely
shade of pink.. Except for the occasional intake of air he gave no reaction to my
punishment, but I was not through.

"Now," I landed two blows, the hardest of yet directly to the fullest part of
his bottom, with enough force to make him rock slightly. "Now, we have the
matter of your little stunt tonight."

"Will." His voice was more subdued than I had ever heard it. "It was a simple
jest."

"It was stupid, and it was dangerous. And dangerous, my little Sparrow, means
that you won't be sitting comfortably for some time." With that, I picked up
the strop. "You should be leaning over a table for this, but something tells
me that you won't stay, so I shall have to make do." I folded the strop over
giving it a shorter length for my purposes; it would do indeed.

I started at the top of Jack's bottom,working my way down each lash of the
strop leaving the skin red. I was careful to make sure none of the stripes
touched. That would come in time. I could here Jack grunting. It was very
muffled. I stopped, surveying my target. I could hear his breathing holding
relief and anticipation. He knew I was not through yet. And he was right. I
repeated the pattern on his already sored skin. With the second round of
stripes he began to wiggle. I paused again and went in for a third. I could
practically feel the heat coming off of him, but the stubborn captain would
not submit.

And so I went through it again. My anger no longer fueling the strokes. His
bottom was a livid red, and I stopped placing the strop aside and using my
hand again instead. "Little Sparrow, I could have lost both my wife and child to your pretty
little "jest" and I do not take kindly to that."

"Y-Yes sir."

I almost stopped in sure surprise. I was getting to him. I definitely was. I
slowed my pace making each spank hard and sure. And then I could see them,
tears running down both of his cheeks. I was definitely getting to him.

"Is there something you would like to say, little Sparrow?" I was giving him
the chance to end it.

"Will -- I-- I'm sorry."

That was all that it took. I relented. I released his legs and arms, but he
didn't move, and I didn't push him. I finally took a quiet hand and rubbed
across his back. He probably had not cried this hard in some time, if ever.

Finally I lifted the little sparrow up, holding him as though he were nothing
more than a child. This made his tears harder and faster.

"It's over, little Sparrow, you have been punished, and you have been forgiven."

I helped him stand up and replace his clothing. He was becoming himself again,
but I knew that our relationship had forever changed this night.

"Well, Turner"

"Yes, Jack?"

"I best be on my way before you get anymore bright ideas."

I nodded, seeming to let it go, but as he turned to leave I left my voice low
in his ear. "I will not hesitate to do it again, little Sparrow, you had best
behave."

He went on as though, I hadn't said anything, but as he reached the door the
look he shot me let me know he had. And this time he would have no doubts. I
would keep my promise.

**The End**