Disclaimer:  I own them in my dreams.

AN:  This is part 4 (maybe part 5) of my series that starts in "A Taste of Misery", continues in "Trust Me Still", and continues yet again in "To Love and Protect".  Knowledge of "To Love and Protect" is going to be essential to this.  As always, I'm extremely grateful to everyone who reads, and especially to those who take the time to tell me what they think.

My Brother's Keeper

Part 1

The wooden door shuddered as someone pounded on it from the outside.  Will was on his feet quickly, grabbing his sword before moving to open the locks.  He stood off to the side as he slowly opened the door.  Sword, lock and stance were all survival techniques, habits he had slowly picked up after one too many bad encounters.

The fact that the blond hurricane that swept into the room knew where he would be standing to grab him into a tight embrace told him it was a friend, though the man wasn't standing still enough to make more of an identification.

"I got it!  Will, I got it!"

"You got it?"  Will grinned at Elizabeth, standing by the table with the children and trying not to laugh.  Jack and Ana weren't quite succeeding in keeping their mirth to themselves, though the twin's victory cry showed that they understood what was happening.

Brian laughed himself, releasing Will and grinning self-consciously before making his way over to the rest of the family.  "Aye.  You're looking at a Captain again.  That's not the best part, though."

"He gave you the Intrepid back.  Oh, Brian, I'm so glad."  The embrace that the young Navy man and Elizabeth shared was less exuberant than the one that Will had found himself engulfed in but no less loving.

"When are you heading out?"  Will sat down, gesturing to the extra chair at the table that was usually kept out for the young man.

"Tomorrow morning.  Most of my old crew'll be there, except for Rollin.  He's already gotten himself a captaincy of his own."  Brian sat slowly, as he normally did.  Whether it was a leftover habit from the weeks and months when movement of any kind had hurt or whether there was still some pain where he had been shot nearly two years ago, Will wasn't certain.

"Are there any strings attached to the promotion?"

"No.  Commodore Jenkin is planning on coming with us on this first voyage, but it's understood that it's strictly in an observational capacity.  He just wants to make sure everything's going to work out.  He also mentioned something about two spare hammocks, one of which is the perfect size for a twelve-year-old powder-monkey who plays at being a pirate."

Dead silence fell.

"I'm sorry if I was being presumptuous.  I know you've been working with your father, Jack . . .I just thought . . ."  Brian shifted his gaze between the members of his surrogate family, clearly at a loss for both words and understanding.

"Jack swore he'd never work on a Navy ship again."  Ana didn't flinch at her brother's glare, returning it full force, and for a moment they reminded Will quite vividly of their namesakes.  "Well, you did."

"Oh.  I see."  It was quite obvious that the young captain didn't see.  "I suppose there's always merchant sailing."

"That's not quite what he had in mind, either.  Ow!"  Ana returned her brother's kick under the table.

"You know piracy is dying out, Jack.  It's getting more and more dangerous.  Even privateering is being looked down on.  Why won't you work on a navy ship?"

"Because they're hypocrites!  They're hypocrites, and they're vicious, and they turn on their own!"  The young man struggled to reign in his temper.  "They took your ship away from you.  They demoted you for fixing their mess."

"They could have hung me.  They should, by rights, have hung me.  Jenkin . . .altered the story and saved my life and my career.  What I did was treasonous, Jack.  The fact that I wasn't only given my life but allowed to stay an officer . . .that speaks volumes about both the judges and Jenkin's storytelling prowess.  Besides, do you really think pirates don't turn on their own?"

"At least when they do it's expected.  You saved my life, you saved Goduncle, you saved who knows how many other marines from dying when they didn't need to at the orders of a madman, and they repaid you by taking your ship and your rank when you couldn't even stand up straight to defend yourself."  The anger had been replaced by a sullen animosity as the table leg received the brunt of the youth's unrest.

"I broke the law, I paid the price.  It was my choice.  If you don't want to come, that's fine, but I thought you'd like being at sea again.  I think George and Adam were looking forward to seeing you, too."  Brian shrugged and looked away.  "Can I have a drink, Will?"

Will nodded and rose, and the silence lasted the entire time he was pouring the brandy.

"I'll come."  Jack timed his answer to the click of the mug being set on the table.  "I'll come on the Intrepid.  She's not normal navy, anyway."

"She is.  She's exactly like every other navy ship out there, and she operates under the same code."  Brian didn't meet his godson's eyes as he spoke, instead staring in Will's general direction.  The blacksmith got the distinct impression that the Navy man was struggling not to grin.

Jack paused again and scowled before sighing.  "I'll still come.  Papa'll never let me crew on Uncle Jack's ship, anyway."

"That's because your father wants to keep you alive.  I'm glad you're coming, though.  It wouldn't have been the same without you, demon."

The boy grinned at the use of his goduncle's nickname for him.

"What about the other vacant hammock?"  Elizabeth's voice was soft, her eyes troubled.

"It was supposed to go to Lord Riley, another reason that Jenkin was planning on tagging along, but it seems he discovered on about day seven of the trip from England to the Caribbean that he and water get along much better when the water is standing still.  He declined the invitation, claiming that he still hasn't gotten over being seasick from the first voyage.  So that makes it captain's choice whether or not to fill the vacancy."  Brian turned his bright blue eyes on Will again, questioning.

"I can't, Brian.  I'm sorry, but I have—"

"I already talked to Robert, and he said it was fine.  It'll only be for a week.  It'll be like everything's come full circle, back to what it was before . . .everything."  Brian's gaze clouded and darkened, and Will felt pity again for the young man.

Will also couldn't deny that the thought of being on a ship again brought a thrill to his heart.  He could content himself with life on land, could love it for the family it brought him and the closeness and security it offered, but . . .Whether it was the pirate blood in him or something else, he had developed a definite fondness for the sea and all her wild ways.

"You can keep a closer eye on your son.  If you don't want to come, that's fine too . . ."

"Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth smiled gently, though a ghost of uncertainty, maybe even fear, seemed to touch her eyes.  "If you want to go, Will, then go.  Just make sure the three of you come back in one piece."

"Then I'll come, Brian.  I want to help sail her, though, not be a pampered passenger."

Brian laughed.  "I can treat you like the lowest impressed enlisted man if you want."

"I don't think that'll be quite necessary . . ."

                                    *                                  *                                  *

"I love you, Elizabeth.  You're so beautiful . . ."  Will nuzzled his wife's neck, completely content in her company.

"You can't even see me, William.  It's pitch dark in here."  His wandering fingers drew a giggle from his wife.

"I don't need to see you to know you're beautiful."

"Will . . .Will, please.  Promise me you'll be careful."  Elizabeth clasped both his hands to her heart.

Will froze, all thoughts of intimacy disappearing abruptly at the troubled note in her voice.  "Of course I'll be careful.  What's wrong?"

"I don't know.  I just . . .have a bad feeling about this.  Promise me you'll be careful, and watch out for Jack.  He's starting to act too grown up for his own good.  And Brian . . .he's too willing to die for a cause."

Dying?  When had dying come up?

"I'll be careful, Elizabeth, and I'll watch out for them.  You're sure it's just a feeling?"  Will smoothed her hair away from her face, caressing her jaw-line gently.

Elizabeth sighed, and he could feel her skin tighten as she smiled.  "I'm just becoming a panicky old wife."

"I'd take you being a panicky old wife over anyone else any day of the week."  Will leaned down to capture her mouth with his own, and all signs of distress or uncertainty quickly faded from both halves of the couple.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

"And that would make this my game as well.  Thank you, gentleman, ladies, and sea dogs, for another wondrous night of fun."  Jack downed the last of his grog in one swift gulp before collecting his earnings, bowing slightly, and moving swiftly to the opposite side of the tavern, a grin spreading across his face as he watched his former companions.  If someone didn't calm down, it looked like the perpetual brawling in The Faithful Bride would have another facet soon.

He loved winning.

Especially when his opponents were so bad that he didn't even have to cheat.

"Hey, love, fetch me a rum, won't you?"  The serving wench nearest him nodded, eyeing him thoughtfully as she beat a hasty retreat.  Jack's grin only broadened at the attention.

This was turning out to be quite a wonderful day . . .well, night.

"Enjoying yourself, Captain?"

Jack spun around and easily caught his first mate into a tight embrace.  "Aye, love, I'm quite enjoying myself, and with you here it's just gotten better."

Ana-Maria calmly extricated herself from his hands, smiling as she did.  "Good.  I see you're making a new batch of enemies."

"They won't even remember who took their money come morning.  Besides, I won fairly."

The female pirate lifted one eyebrow.

"Honestly, no tricks!  Don't you think I can win a game of cards, love?"  Jack affected his most aggrieved expression, managing to look injured even while accepting his rum with one hand and tossing a coin to the wench with the other, all without breaking eye contact with his lover.

"I know you can.  I just . . .Jack?"

Jack shook his head, closing his eyes and wincing as he rubbed at his temple.

"Jack, what's wrong?"  Ana-Maria's voice had taken on a distinctly worried note as she grabbed the rum from his hand and set it on the closest table, where it was immediately snatched by another patron.  "What is it?"

"I don't . . ."  His eyes had taken on a distant quality and he swayed slightly, finding it incredibly hard to focus.  "Will . . .something . . .something bad.  Something bad's happening."

"What?"

Jack felt a gentle tug on his arm and followed the movement hazily, most of his being focused on trying to make out something more coherent over the link.  For the last two years it had settled into a quiescent buzz, just barely noticeable, a faint reassurance that everything was going well with the Turners.

What could Will have gotten himself into that would cause a warning to be sent out?  Blacksmithing was supposed to be a safe profession . . .

"Will!"  The pirate captain screamed the name, doubling over as pain and terror suddenly stood out brightly before the link again dropped to a barely-audible level.

"Jack?  Jack, what's happening?"  Ana-Maria's arms supported him as she continued to guide his staggering walk through the town and towards the docks.

"I don't know."  A few deep breaths were enough to calm the nausea and the growing sense of unease, at least for a moment.  "But it's not good."