Part 11:
Notes:
Sorry took so long to get this up. School and family intervened.
At dinner most of the crew gathered around two large trestle tables shoved together, Jack sitting at the head, his right hand men, Gibbs and Will, sitting on either side. Elizabeth, one of the last people to the table, moved to take the chair next to Gibbs.
"Come sit on the captain's lap," Jack suggested, patting his thigh.
"You may sit on this captain's lap," she replied.
"On this side, Elizabeth," Will said even as Mad Mary slipped into the vacant chair beside him. The two glared at each other. Even sitting Mary towered over Will by almost a foot, and Will turned his hostile glances to Jack instead, who continued on oblivious.
"Here, Miss Elizabeth," Gibbs said, moving over and leaving the chair beside Jack and across from Will empty.
"Thank you." She gave both Jack and Will smiles and started loading up her plate. "Did you have some potatoes Jack? They're delicious." She looked up as at Will. "I will always have found memories of potatoes."
Mr. Gibbs and Mad Mary looked at each other, looked at Will's red face, and pushed their plates away. "I'm full," Mary said.
"Aye."
Jack looked at the people around him, Gibbs and Mary uncomfortable, Will embarrassed and Elizabeth looking pleased with herself. "It's nice having the family together for dinner, isn't it darling?" He put his arm around Elizabeth, pulling her close so he could whisper in her ear.
"Do you think letting me know what you have been doing with dear William will make any difference to me?" But she could feel his hand squeezing her shoulder too hard, and she knew it did.
"Let's not make a scene in public, shall we?"
"Wouldn't dream of it."
"I take what I want, just like you do."
"I know."
The uncomfortable dinner was with a call of 'ship ahoy' from above deck. Jack and Elizabeth scrambled from their seats to the stern where Pintel and Regetti were watching the quickly approaching ship.
"What have we got here?" Elizabeth asked immediately.
"Wait a minute, Missy," Jack interjected. "Who's the captain of this here ship?"
"My apologies, Captain Sparrow."
"That's right. I'm in charge; you're supposed to be under me."
"Unless I'm on top of you."
Jack started to say something but stopped, grabbing Elizabeth by the arm to pull her away from Pintel and Regetti, who were listening in rapt attention. "Do not make me look bad in front of my crew. The snide remarks are not necessary, nor are they appreciated. I love you like I love myself, but that does not mean--"
"I'm sorry Jack," she said, meaning it. "I'm just used to being in charge."
Jack smiled. "It's what I like about you. Now then--" He was interrupted and thrown to the deck when the other ship's first shot made contact with the Pearl. "Wonderful!" He scrambled to his feet. "All hands on deck!"
Elizabeth started shouting orders as well. "Man the cannons; hold 'til I give the signal!" She followed Jack to the wheel. "Ely the Gent?" she asked.
"Most undoubtedly."
Will appeared at their side. "Elizabeth, you'd better go to Jack's cabin where it's safer."
"Jack's cabin!"
"I've finally gotten you. I wont lose you again."
"No one has gotten me, Mr. Turner, and I'm prepared to fight for my own good name. Now if you will excuse me, we are in the middle of a battle." Another cannon ball splashed into the water feet from the ship.
"Not too keen on actually hitting us, is he?" Jack asked.
"He's too far away from us to get an accurate shot. Either he's a worse sailor than I am, or he's arrogant, or he's firing warning shots, or--"
"Too many 'ors' luv."
Will frowned. "This is all your fault, Jack."
"My fault?"
"If Elizabeth had never met you, this crazy pirate scheme would have never crossed her mind, and we wouldn't be in this situation right now, getting shot at when I'd rather be killing you."
"If she had never met me, she'd be dead. Let's worry about this later, shall we? Run and tell the men to get the oars out. I want that entire crew eitherdead or in custody by morning. Then you can kill me."