Disclaimer: I own only Shelly, Nicholas and Henry. Everyone/everything else is not mine and I make no money from this.
Warning – mild slash. Also, this is admittedly not the best story I've ever written. Originally written for the J/W ficathon on the JackXWill Yahoo group.
"An thas' when I tol' him those weren't barnacles in 'is bed!" Jack finished his tale with a flourish of his mug as the rowdy crowd laughed. Seated at the head of his customary table, Jack smiled and threw back more rum. Story telling, at least the way Jack did it, was a parching activity. He watched as rough and rowdy sailors and pirates slowly dispersed throughout the tavern. Several of his own crew remained at the table as Jack took a break from his dramatic storytelling.
Over the rim of his mug, the tavern owner's wife caught his eye. Shelly, a woman probably only a few years older than himself, had caught Jack's eye the very first time he'd entered The Rusty Heel. He'd mistaken her for one of the numerous ladies of leisure at first and had threatened a man propositioning her in a less than appropriate way. She'd been most grateful, and Jack had thankfully discovered that she was the proprietor's wife before he'd gone on to make any ill conceived propositions of his own. The next day, upon discovering that the man harassing her had been found dead, likely a victim of poisoning, he doubly thanked his lucky stars that he was on the good side of both Shelly and her husband Nicholas. It was most useful to be friends with the house, particularly in a place like Tortuga where most people would as easily slit your throat as let you pass by. While Jack still found Shelly more appealing then any of the "available" ladies, he knew to leave well enough alone. He flirted with her like mad whenever in the tavern, but had no intentions of ever bedding her. He did however take time to talk with her whenever in Tortuga.
Tonight would be no exception. Jack watched her grabbing some things behind the bar, pouring drinks, all normal but for the look of concern on her face. She was dealing with the rowdy and noisy patrons in a distracted way that was very different from her normal game and fun attitude. She might not be a member of his crew, nor was she a conquest, but Jack was certainly not going to leave her alone looking so unhappy, if for no other reason than he'd managed to entertain and enthrall every occupant of the tavern during his stories earlier; it simply would not do to have someone, let alone a woman he considered a friend, not enjoy the bright mood.
Getting up and staggering just a tad more than he wanted to, Jack weaved his way across the crowded room toward the bar. Having a crew (a TRUSTED crew, he amended) around, and finding himself in a tavern where he knew the staff would look out for him as well, Jack drank far more freely. He was almost surprised to find himself that drunk, but then they'd been at it all day, and he'd never quite managed to get a meal. No longer surviving all by his "onesies", Jack was a bit less careful about the amount he drank while ashore. Still, he'd learned his lessons the hard way, and wasn't about to put all his trust in others to protect him. Those who he did trust to help watch his back meant a great deal to him, however, and as Jack reached the edge of the bar, bumping into it slightly before resting his hands on the edge, it occurred to him that his thoughts were bouncing around just a bit more than he was used to. Looking up from the bar to see Shelly handing off a drink to the man next to him, Jack remembered why he'd walked (the term being used rather loosely) over from his table.
"Shelly!" he said a touch too loudly, his words slurring together. "W'as a matter, Luv? Ye look like somebody dropped an anchor on yer wee puppy."
"Captain Jack, 'is good to see ya," Shelly said sincerely with a smile, though the look of concern never left her face totally. About to say something else to the reeling pirate, Shelly was interrupted when Jack was smashed into from behind. She saw him get shoved hard into the bar from behind before she could warn him.
"Jus' a moment, Shel," Jack said, grinning at her. He turned and cuffed the offending man hard on the ear. Addressing the young man, who was now holding his wounded ear, Jack growled out, "Best be watchin' who ye be bangin' into, and more importantly who ye be interruptin'."
While Jack had been referring to Shelly, the man recognized the infamous pirate captain and immediately apologized, a nervous look in his eyes. "S- sorry Captain Sparrow," he said with a small duck of his head.
Impressed with the man's way of addressing him, Jack clapped an arm around his shoulders, and spoke loudly enough to be overheard by many in the bar, though he seemed to direct his speech to those of his crew who were seated at the table.
"CAPTAIN, eh? Well, you may not 'ave the best of manners, but you do have the good sense to address me properly." Jack paused and glared at his crew, especially those who were forever leaving out his title, though he suspected they did this just to irk him. "Tell you what, mate, you apologize to th' lady Shelly here for interruptin', and maybe there'll be a place for a man like you abord t' Pearl. How's that sound then?"
Several minutes later Shelly was leading Jack to a small table off to the side where they could talk more in private.
"You gave 'im a job cause he smashed inta ya or cause he got yer name right?" Shelly asked, watching as Jack sat down, and nearly tipped over the side of the chair before righting himself.
"I gave 'im a chance on me crew 'cause the lad clearly has no clue how to win a bar fight, nor does he 'ave a position on any ship."
"And you know this how?" Shelly asked.
With a small shrug, Jack admitted, "Been watchin' him all evenin' since he came in 'ere. Been turned down by every man 'e asked for a place on a ship."
"So he 'as no ability at convincin' others and he can't fight. Well, there's a winnin' pirate for ye, Jack," Shelly observed.
"Lad's persistent and knows how to address a Captain," Jack said with a meaningful look. "He can learn the rest."
"Well, CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow, groomer of young pirates then, eh?" Shelly asked with a grin. "Enjoy lookin' out for clueless youngins do ya?"
Jack was watching the young man, Henry he'd learned was his name, as he talked with some of Jack's crew. Henry was animated, and looked pleased as he conversed with Gibbs, likely about the details of his new position on the Pearl. Jack could tell Henry clearly knew next to nothing about pirating and likely had little knowledge about sailing, but the lad was strong and had potential. There was something about the young man that reminded Jack very much of another youth he'd run into some months back.
Turning back to Shelly, Jack saw the smirk on her face.
"I know yer a big softy, Captain. You jus' want to keep the ignorant lad safe, don't ya?" Shelly asked, finally getting it.
"Pfft! I needed another crew member. Tha's all," Jack justified. They both knew he was lying. They both also knew a man who couldn't handle himself in a bar fight would have to learn to either be a better fighter or be more careful whom he slammed into.
After a moment, the rum in Jack's brain sloshed in a different direction, and he finally remembered why he'd come over to talk with Shelly in the first place.
"So why'r you lookin' so glum t'night? I 'aven't seen hide nor 'air of ye all a'fernoon."
Shelly sighed, the concerned look back in place on her features. "Well let's jus' say the last young man who did something stupid didn't have the benefit of you around to help 'im out."
When she paused, Jack motioned to her to continue with one hand, glugging rum from his mug with the other.
"Upstairs, e's in one of the rooms. Was pretty badly beaten by th' time Nicholas pulled him out of the brawl last night. Nice enough lookin' young lad. Polite as you can imagine even when he was half passin' out. In rough shape now though. Can't imagine what a well mannered lad like that would be doin' here or 'ow he came to be mixed up in such a fight."
Jack looked around the tavern, and, seeing his audience and crew spread out and otherwise entertained, he decided to see just who this young man was. Shelly might know more truth about Jack's motivations than he'd like but it was true that, likewise, he knew she was never one to turn out a wounded or needy man. If she'd been so concerned about this young man, then Jack figured the least he could do was go see if he needed a doctor or if perhaps he needed a job.
"Well le's go see him then," Jack said as he rose unsteadily from the chair.
Shelly got up, shaking her head slightly, a knowing grin on her face.
At her look Jack said, "Well, I might be in need of another crew member."
Guiding the wobbling man towards the stairs, Shelly snorted, "The Black Pearl's a large ship, Captain, but at this rate you're not going to have room enough for all your treasure."
Jack paused for a moment, a look on his face like he was considering her words.
He decided that just having a chat with the young man couldn't hurt. He could set him straight, give him some advice, maybe find him passage on a ship back home if he weren't the pirating type.
Following after Shelly, and holding tightly onto the railing of the rickety stairs, Jack shook his own head at his actions. When had he become so concerned with the fates of young men? He supposed it started with finding himself alone for so long, stuck in his arduous quest to regain control of the Pearl. Living that solitary life had taught him the importance of having a safe and secure home on a ship surrounded by trustworthy ... well, pirates. As trustworthy as any such group could be at any rate. He didn't envy those who found themselves without a place and fellow crew, as he himself had been for so long. But really, he knew that this particular interest, this almost paternal watching out for young men, especially those with more bravery than brains or savvy, had been the direct result of his encounter with one Will Turner. Their adventure had so impressed upon him the importance of guiding whelps, in particular those who would charge to the rescue in what was seemingly the most reckless and unplanned way possible. Henry had potential, that was true, but he paled in comparison to Will, who had all the makings of an even better pirate than his father had been.
Weaving his way down the dim hallway after Shelly, Jack sighed. 'You damn well better appreciate him, Elizabeth,' he thought. 'Whole pirating business is missing out 'cause of you.'
"Quiet now, 'e was sleepin' las' time I looked in on 'im," Shelly warned.
Jack followed her through the opened door, into the room. There on the bed laid a very badly beaten man. Jack however hardly noticed the bruises and cuts he was so intent on the unfocused, defeated look in the young man's red rimmed and puffy eyes.
In shock, Jack softly said, "Will?"
TBC. ..