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Bittersweet Homecomings	By : JennyPugh Category: Pirates of the Caribbean (All) > General Views: 3442 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
I own everything
not mentioned in the film. I so wish it were the other way round… sob

Thanks to Killer
K, Chelsey, Joe, RandomGal, Roxula’s Bride, Caitlin Berry, Miss Sophia, Jack (I
wish ;) ), Xcoolcomic, Eileen Sparrow and all those who read but don’t review
(hint, hint!) Special thank to Hilary as always…

…

Chapter six: ‘You
have one last chance, or I will kill you.’

The Pearl
moved slowly northwards, every man on board praying desperately for the end of
the doldrums which had beset them for the past two days. Joshamee Gibbs wiped
his sweaty brow, looked up at the sails, still hanging limply and wondered what
to do for the best. The men were exhausted from rowing the big ship even though
they had worked in shifts, but they also needed something to occupy their
minds. There had already been a couple of fights break out and the
perpertrators were in the brig, awaiting punishment from their captain. But
their captain had holed himself in his cabin and was blind drunk. The
quartermaster had risked opening the door a few hours ago and shut it again
quickly in shock at the chaos within. Jack was slumped over the table, a bottle
still clutched in his hand but it had tipped and emptied the rum over the top
and onto the floor. There was glass and crock from smashed bottles, clothes,
books, jewels, the entire contents of the cabin it seemed, strewn everywhere as
Jack had rampaged through sheer rage at whatever it was that seemed to be
conspiring against him. Gibbs did not think it would be a good idea to mention
that they really should have made an offering to Neptune. His captain’s
threat seemed all too real now.

…

Jack sat up with
a start and groaned as his stiff muscles protested at the sudden movement. He
stood, stretching his back like a cat and peered in the gloom at the cabin
floor as his boots crunched something underfoot.

‘Bloody hell!
What’s happened here?’ he swore as more of the mess became apparent as his eyes
got used to the dark. He held his fragile head in his hands as he made his way
unsteadily to the door and pulled it open with some effort. ‘Mr. Gibbs,’ he
yelled, instantly regretting it as his head started to pound violently.

‘Cap’n?’
Joshamee Gibbs hurried down the steps from the deck, worried that something
else had gone wrong.

‘What th’hell
has happened ter me cabin?’

‘Er… you did it
Captain.’

‘Me?’
Jack looked from his quartermaster to the mess behind him and back again. ‘Me?
Just how much did I drink?’

‘A fair bit,
Jack.’

‘Bloody hell,’
he swore again, leaning against the doorframe for support. ‘I don’t suppose
th’wind has picked up?’

‘Fraid not,’
Gibbs shrugged apologetically.

Jack sighed and
closed his eyes, seeing Jenny’s face before him then opened them again
reluctantly. ‘Yer better get some rest, I’ll take over now.’

‘Thanks Jack.’
Joshamee Gibbs made his way back up the steps with his captain following
behind, then made his way across the deck to the main cabin which was his
quarters.

‘I’ll take
th’helm Olabisi, ya need some rest as well I imagine.’

‘Are you sure,
Cap’n?’

‘Yes, yes. Go
on.’ He wrapped his hands around the spokes of the wheel and looked along the
lamplit length of the ship to the flat ocean beyond the bow, feeling his ship
moving slowly beneath his feet.

…

‘Wha…?’ Jack
jerked his head up as the sound of the three bells of the mid watch rang out,
not realising he had nodded off. He shook his head to clear the sleep and set
his gaze ahead once more, frowning as something did not seem quite right. He
looked around at the watchmen and those sleeping on the deck, trying to work
out what it was that was baffling him. Then he realised. Jack’s head shot up
and his mouth hung open as the sails that had not been furled started to fill
out and flap.

‘Loose the
sails,’ he called urgently, bringing about a scurry of activity both on deck
and below as men hurried to get up the rigging as fast as they could in the
dark. He stood with his heart in his mouth as all the sails were unfurled, some
hanging lifelessly from their arms before billowing out as the growing wind
filled them.
‘Haul in
th’sweeps,’ he ordered, much to the relief of the men on the oars who let out a
yell of delight that was taken up by every man until the whole ship was a
cacophony of noise as she plunged through the water with ever increasing speed.

… … … …

Jenny’s days had
been filled with helping Luke Martin in the sick bay, mixing potions and
learning about healing and she was immensely grateful for his calming influence
and friendship. But now they were approaching Portsmouth and fear began to gnaw
at her and she began plotting her escape once more. Her father and Captain
Gillette however, had other ideas and she was watched constantly by marines and
the bounty hunters. The only time she had not got a guard was when she was
alone in her cabin and the only time she was allowed in there was to sleep. She
sat on the bunk and anchored the leather lace to her knicker laces, running her
fingers along the beads which now joined the heart on it then tucked it into
her knickers, shifting them around so they fitted snugly against her skin. She
looked out of the window as Portsmouth harbour appeared in view and bit down a
sob, determined to keep control.

‘Jenny, are you
ready?’

She looked up at
the knock on the door and her father’s voice. ‘Yes, I am just coming.’ She took
a last look around the cabin and straightened her dress out and put on a coat
then opened the door, managing somehow to paste a smile on her face. She had
come to realise the best chance of escape was not here in Portsmouth,
surrounded by troops, but a bit further in on the journey home. Perhaps London
when they would be parting company with Boothe and Hall, much to her relief. So
she acted as if she had accepted her fate and became the dutiful daughter,
hoping her father would not be suspicious.

‘Goodbye Je…
Mrs. Samuels,’ Luke smiled at her as they stood on the deck, being daring
enough to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek. ‘Take care.’

‘Thank you for
everything Luke, I do not know how I would have survived without you.’ Jenny
felt a lump rise in her throat at the thought of losing such a good friend. She
felt her father tug at her arm and walked to the side of The Sutherland,
casting a cold glance at Captain Gillette as she went past him without speaking
and sat in the bosuns chair, not wanting the pale blue dress that had been hers
when she worked for the Governor, ruined by climbing down the ropes, shivering
as the cold January air seeped through her coat.

‘We will be
stopping overnight at The White Hart Inn just outside Portsmouth then
travelling to London on the morrow,’ her father informed her and the bounty
hunters, who did not seem to be taking much notice anyway.

Henry Marston
looked at his daughter worriedly. He had hoped that the marines would continue
to guard her at least until they set off from Portsmouth. But Captain Gillette
was adamant. Once they stepped off the ship, it was no longer his concern. ‘At
least I still have Boothe and Hall,’ he reassured himself.

Jenny sat in
silence during the whole of the journey to the tavern in Hilsea, trying to
block out Thomas Hall droning on and on about spending the money he had earned
from their venture. He very nearly said something but was silenced by a glance
from both his partner and Henry Marston and she spent the rest of the
relatively short journey wondering what it was he nearly spilled.

… … … …

‘Wha…?’ James
Norrington woke suddenly and froze upon feeling cold metal press against his
throat.

‘Where is she?’

‘I-I…’

‘An’ don’t even
think about calling fer help. I’ll have slit yer throat and be back out
th’window before yer men got halfway along th’corridor. Now where is she?’
The blade
pressed down harder and Governor Norrington peered in alarm at the pirate,
whilst trying to reach a pistol he kept under his pillows. ‘I have no idea what
you are on about, Sparrow.’

Jack leaned down
and grabbed his captive’s straying hand, their faces mere inches away from each
other’s. ‘Do not try my patience,’ he growled menacingly, making the man
beneath him shiver with apprehension. ‘You have one last chance, or I will
kill you.’

‘England,’ he
sighed heavily, feeling relieved when the dagger eased from his throat
slightly.

‘England?’

‘Her father came
for her. He has taken her back.’

‘Those two
fools?’

‘Bounty hunters,
hired by him.’

‘Whereabouts in
England?’

‘Their home
town, Droitwich in Worcestershire.’

‘Thank you.’
Jack moved as quick as a flash and was out of the window before the Governor
had chance to think.

James Norrington
sat up in bed and turned the oil lamp up, rubbing his neck and frowning as he
felt a slight dampness where the blade had cut the skin. He stared at the
window for long moments, debating whether to call the guards before sinking
back against the pillows. ‘You’re the Governor and he threatened you. They
would pull out the stops to catch him,’ he reasoned, knowing there would be
a good chance of capturing his adversary. ‘But you doubt whether you should
have informed Henry Marston and Sparrow is the only one who would have the
courage to find her,’ he argued with himself, then he smiled ruefully as he
realised that he had wasted valuable time debating the pros and cons of calling
the guards and that the pirate would be long gone by now.

…

‘England?’
Joshamee Gibbs looked agast at his captain and leaned against the mizzenmast.
‘Why England?’

‘It was her
father who sent those buffoons ter find her. He was in Port Royal th’whole
time.’ Jack looked at the call of sails sighted and smirked as HMS
Adventurer came out of the harbour, heading for them in the dark. ‘Bloody
fools,’ he muttered, nodding at his quartermaster who went round quietly
issuing the order to snuff out all the lights on board. He wondered whether
Norrington had called for the guards or whether The Pearl had been
spotted by an eagle-eyed marine. Jack shrugged, he did not care either way. He
would do as much damage to the naval ship as he could then make his way to San
Juan to supply the ship for the three to four week voyage across the Atlantic
ocean.

‘Make ready
th’guns. Just th’one shot an’ we’ll be off, savvy? ‘Bisi, change course t’one
degree port.’

‘Yes Captain,’
the former slave replied, his grin being the only thing you could see of him in
the dark moonless night.

‘Aye aye,
Cap’n,’ deferred Mr. Gibbs, nodding to David Penhaligan, the gunner, who
ordered his men to be ready for attack.

The
Adventurer ploughed on towards them, oblivious as to where the pirate ship
actually was and she sailed straight into the trap. Cannon fire, shattered wood
and screams all exploded at the same time as the pirates launched their
assault, then sailed blithely away, leaving a scene of devastation behind them.

… … … …

Jenny woke groggily,
stretching in the lumpy bed to ease her aching muscles. She looked across at
her father sleeping in the chair and at Boothe and Hall, both on the floor,
then finally at the door, wondering if she could sneak out. She carefully crept
from the bed, grateful that she was still in the now dirty and creased blue
dress and had not taken it off when she retired to bed. She snatched her shoes
off the floor and gingerly made her way to the door, yelping with fright as
Nicholas Boothe threw himself at her, pinning her against the door.

‘Goin’
somewhere, were we?’ he whispered roughly in her ear.

‘Thank you, Mr.
Boothe. That will do.’ Henry Marston rose and pulled the slim man away from his
daughter and looked at her sternly. ‘I really had hoped you would not try
anything,’ he sighed disappointedly.

‘Well I’m sorry
to let you down, Father,’ she snapped as she pushed her way past him and
Boothe and sat heavily on the bed, looking in disgust at Hall who was
scratching his hairy belly beneath a dirty singlet.

‘The coach will
be leaving around six o’clock, so I suppose we had better see about some
breakfast. It’s going to be a long journey.’ Her father picked up his coat from
the back of the chair he had been sleeping in and brushed it down before
putting it on. He stood by the door, waiting for his daughter then followed her
down the stairs to the small kitchen of the tavern, where the hostlier’s wife
was busy stirring porridge on the stove which also served as warmth in the
room.

Jenny ate in her
usual silence, glancing at the three men sitting opposite as she spooned the
warm, filling porridge down, eager to make for London where she hoped she would
have her best chance of escape. ‘I should not have tried this morning,’
she chided herself, shrugging mentally.

The diners
looked around as the kitchen door flew open and a fat man squeezed himself
through, beaming at the taverner’s wife.

‘Mary! Eh, that
smell good enough t’eat.’

‘Sit yerself
down Josh, I bring yer a bowl over.’ Mary busied herself in finding another bowl
and ladling the oats into it, while the man looked at his dining companions
quizzically.

‘Are you t’ones
goin’ t’Lunnon?’

‘Yes, yes we
are,’ replied Henry Marston, reaching over and shaking a pudgy hand.

‘Ah right,’ Josh
smiled as his breakfast was placed before him. ‘Lemme just finish this an’
we’ll be off, all right?’

‘I’ll get Peter
to fetch your trunks down.’ Mary Webber went off in search of her husband,
leaving the diners eyeing each other up surreptitiously.

‘How long will
it take to get there?’ enquired Jenny, finding her tongue at last.

‘Oh around
twelve hours, give or take, Miss.’

‘She is not a
Miss, she is a widow,’ her father cut in, looking at her bare ring finger with
displeasure.

‘Ah, beggin’ ye
pardon,’ apologised the coachman, giving the impression he couldn’t care one
way or the other.

‘Where is your
wedding ring?’

Jenny looked at
her father coldly and finished off her food before replying. ‘On The Black
Pearl.’

‘You left your
ring on a pirate ship?’

The coachman
looked up in astonishment then bent his head once more, hoping they would
forget he was there and spill more information.

Jenny snorted
then laughed and found she could not stop, but forced herself to when she
realised she was on the verge of becoming hysterical. ‘My cheap wedding band
wouldn’t attract much interest from any pirate worth his salt, father,’ she
gasped, trying to control her breathing. ‘I have seen treasure that would make
your eyes pop. I am richer than you could ever imagine,’ she goaded, knowing
her father’s opinion of people was swayed by their worth.

‘Peter has taken
your belongings to the coach,’ interrupted Mary Webber, entering her dining
room once more and exchanging glances with Josh.

‘Thank you, Mrs.
Webber, I will find your husband and settle our account.’ Henry Marston
indicated for Boothe and Hall to watch Jenny and left the room, relieved to get
away from her and digest the information she had just provided.

‘She is rich,’
Henry Marston thought to himself. ‘Bah, she is only saying that… isn’t she?
I wonder if there is any way of getting it back? Perhaps James Norrington
can help?’ His mind whirred as he settled the bill, trying to think of any
way of getting his hands on his daughters riches without anyone else finding
out.

… … … …

‘If any of ya
want ter take shore leave, then ya can find yerselves another berth,’ Jack
growled, his eyes darting about to see who would disobey him. ‘I want this ship
well stocked and ter be on our way come nightfall, savvy?’

‘One day ain’t
goin’ ter hurt, Cap’n,’ moaned Andrew McCarrick, instantly regretting it as his
captain pushed his face into his own.

‘Then ya can get
off me ship,’ he snarled, shoving the Scotsman in the chest. ‘Anyone else?’

A hush fell over
the deck of The Black Pearl, then another voice piped up from the back
of the group of men standing on deck. ‘Why do we have ter go ter old Blighty
anyway? We ain’t going ter get no booty being away from the Caribbee. Most of
us came out here ter get away from th’homeland fer one reason or another and we
ain’t too comfortable goin’ back, are we lads?’

A cry of ‘No’
rang around the deck and Jack sighed then pushed his way towards the voice.

‘Benjamin
Watson, I might have known…’ He made his way to the forecastle and stood on it,
looking at his crew gathered on the deck of his ship.

‘No, unless we
get lucky, we won’t hit any ships but there’s more than enough fer any of ya on
Isla de Muerta. We won’t be sailing into Portsmouth harbour and shaking hands
with th’Admiral of th’fleet. We’ll more than likely make berth in Ireland or
maybe Holland, depending, an’ I will go across ter England on me onsies,
savvy?’

‘J-Jack,’
spluttered Joshamee Gibbs, looking decidedly concerned. ‘On your own?’

He looked at his
quartermaster, ‘Aye Gibbs, it’ll be safer that way. D’ya all remember
th’articles I read ya when ya join The Pearl? Article two states that if
yer desert ship, ya forfeit yer right to any booty outstanding. Most other
captains would have had marooning as Article two but I ain’t most other captains,
which is why ya wanted ter sail wi’me in th’first pace, savvy? Now get the
bloody ship supplied. Th’sooner we go, th’sooner we get back, wi’Jenny.’ ‘Please,’
he prayed, watching with satisfaction as all the men made their way to the
boats, the two dissenters included.

…

The Black
Pearl set sail for England as the sun sank below the horizon, her captain
standing at the bow, willing her onwards.

…
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Bittersweet Homecomings