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What A Man Must Do
A sequel to 'The Sacking of Port Royal'

by TortugaBlack
First Post: February 27, 2006

Two

Sparrow beat him to the bottle and hurriedly drained the last few drops of the amber nectar into his own tankard. “I think I’m going to need this more than you. In fact---“ he stumbled to his feet, staggered to the regiment standing faithfully at attention in the liquor cabinet and grabbed the next brave soldier in line. Weaving his way back to the table, he dropped unceremoniously into his chair. “---A lot more.” 

Sparrow had filled his tankard and emptied it again before he chanced another look at his drinking companion. He was still seeing only one Turner. He reached again for the bottle.  

A work-callused hand reached over to cover the top of his tankard. “Jack, listen to me, please, I need you sober.” 

Sparrow looked up. “William, I am entirely too sober to be talking of taking the Pearl back to Port Royal.” He pushed Turner’s hand away, tipped the bottle, and raised the tankard to his lips. “Believe me, drunk….very, very drunk…is the only way you are likely to get me to consider it.” 

Sighing, Will filled his own tankard and took another hefty drink. Sparrow’s eyebrows shot upward. That was NOT a good sign… or was it? With eyes hooded, Jack studied the younger man more closely. Drunk enough maybe the lad would forget the whole thing. A moment later, the pirate’s hopes were dashed. 

“I have no intentions of putting you, your ship or your crew in danger, Jack. All I ask is that you get me there and back. I’ll be the only one going ashore. If I’m not back at the agreed time, stay to the Code.” 

Sparrow studied the boy’s features carefully. “The man who falls behind, is left behind?”  

Turner straightened in his chair. “Aye. Word is the Dauntless still lies in dry dock awaiting repairs, there should be no risk to the Pearl…” A smile touched the edges of his lips. “Seems Norrington is finding it difficult to find a competent blacksmith to finish the iron works.” He sobered. “I will risk no one but myself on this venture, Jack, but it’s something I have to do.” 

There was a fire of determination in the lad’s eyes Jack had seen only once before when, for the love of his woman, the boy had been willing to risk all.  He set his drink aside. Rum alone was not going to sway Will Turner when he got that particular look in his eye.  “And what does your bonny lass have to say to these plans, mate?” 

Turner dropped his eyes, grabbed his tankard and took another healthy drink. His actions did not go unnoticed.  

“Mr. Turner?”  

“She doesn’t know…” 

Sparrow shook his head in nervous disagreement, “No, not good, mate. Not good.” Already, he could sense a big storm brewing on the horizon. “You’re planning to be gone a week, maybe more, you had to have told the lass something.” He watched Turner closely. The blacksmith would not meet his gaze. Jack moaned softly and grabbed for the bottle. ‘Well!” 

“I told her I would be working at the shop and making a couple of trips with you to some of the islands, picking up items I still needed for the forge…for the shop…” 

Watching Turner closely over the rim of his tankard, Jack had just filled his mouth with rum when the impact of Will’s words hit him. He choked. With eyes watering, arms flailing, the pirate struggled to breathe past the sharp bite of the raw beverage that had taken a sudden wrong turn on its way down his throat. Sparrow coughed. Once…twice… Taking a couple of painful swallows to clear his lungs, he took a swipe at watering eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. At no time did his eyes leave the figure across the table from him and not once did Will Turner raise his gaze from his tankard.  “You---you…lied to her???” Sparrow croaked hoarsely.  

Turner’s head came up with a snap, the chocolate brown eyes touched with the righteous justification of his actions. “I---I couldn’t have her worry.” 

“Ah, mate…” Sparrow cleared his throat before lubricating it with another drink. Clearing his throat again, he leaned forward. “If it is one thing I’ve learned in all my years, Will Turner, it is NEVER lie to one’s woman.” 

Turner’s expression turned to one of disbelief. “You’re telling me, Jack Sparrow, that not once have you lied to Annamaria?” 

Sparrow grimaced at memories brought forth by Turner’s inquiry. “Aye,” he admitted grudgingly. He seriously contemplated the blacksmith before straightening. Taking a deep breath, he brought his hands up and, with index fingers of both hands pointed skyward for further emphasis, he whispered,  “But just the once.” Having made the admission, he curled the fingers down to join their mates in tight helpless fists before again opening them to grab at the tankard. 

Skepticism filtered across the boy’s youthful features. “Only once.” 

“Aye.” Sparrow took another drink. “Only once.” 

“What happened?” 

“What happened?!” Sparrow sputtered. “She hit me so hard I couldn’t turn me head from port to starboard for three days!” 

“And you’ve never lied to her since?” Will’s brow wrinkled in doubt. 

“Not worth it, mate.” 

“I’ve seen Annamarie hit you many a time, Jack…” 

“Aye,” Sparrow agreed readily. “But those were just warnings.” He met Turner’s gaze with serious directness. “You’ll rue the day you lied to a woman the likes of your Elizabeth, mate. Mark my words.” 

“I shall, but it will not change my course.” 

Sparrow sighed. It was getting late, he had lost the pleasant buzz he had enjoyed earlier and with the prospect of the boy’s determination eventually swaying him to make a very bad decision, he saw no hopes of things getting any better.  “And what be the nature of this trip to Port Royal, Will Turner, that might have you exchanging the bliss of the marriage bed for a hangman’s noose?” 

“I…I’ll explain once we get under way.” 

Sparrow’s eyes narrowed. “And why can we not discuss it now?” 

“---Because there isn’t time.” 

“Time?” The pirate captain flipped a hand to draw attention to the quiet room. “We have the rest of the night…” 

“It will soon be first light…” 

“Aye?” Suspicion touched inky black eyes.  “Just when did you plan to sail, mate?” 

“On the morning tide.” 

Gaping with astonishment, Jack Sparrow was caught momentarily speechless. “I…I couldn’t get the crew…” 

“They’ll be here in time to sail.” 

Will was watching him closely. Sparrow frowned. He didn’t remember ordering the crew back. He eyed the tankard and the bottle in front of him. He wasn’t drunk. He knew when he was drunk…and he wasn’t drunk. He should be drunk. Since Will’s unexpected arrival and the lad’s astonishing request, he had certainly tried to get drunk. Hell, he thought, it wasn’t a request! It was mutiny! “Has it occurred to you, Mister Turner, that I might not go along with this ill-conceived plan of yours?” 

“Yes...” Will softly admitted. “But I’d hoped once you heard my reasoning behind this venture you would agree.” 

“Then let’s have it.” 

To Part Three

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