TAKEN

Elizabeth jumped when a strong hand clamped down on her shoulder,
losing almost all her wits in fright. She retained enough of them to
jab sharply back with her elbow, as Will had taught her to do. It
was caught, however, and she was whirled around and pushed against
the stone wall. The dark shape that loomed above her was a mass of
hair and braids under a very distinctive hat. Anger made her
hiss, "Jack!"

Pulling back a bit so that more light shone on his face, revealing
the dark-lined eyes and familiar smirk as he bowed with a flourish
and replied, "Missus Turner, a pleasure to remake your quaint,
acquaint, good to see you again, Miss Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth hid a grin at the faintly slurred words, knowing the other
man wasn't drunk despite it. It was a strange affectation, but Will
had supposed it to be from being out in the sun too long. "What are
you doing here? If Norrington catches you..."

"He'll kill me, yes. Or, he'll try," Jack amended. "But these are
migrate, migitate," Jack paused, then tried again with a slowly
enunciated, "Situation. We have ourselves a situation, here, Miss
Elizabeth."

"I know that, but how do you? Will's only been gone since a week
yesterday. There's no way that you could have found out so quickly."

Lips pursed, Jack replied, studiously avoiding her gaze, "Let's just
say that I would never leave such a dear friend as Will without
someone keeping an eye on the lad. He's a lightening strike of
trouble."

"Only when you're involved," Elizabeth accused, hands on hips. "What
have you done, Jack?"

"Me? Miss Elizabeth, I am shot through to the quick that you would
think..."

Elizabeth glared at the slightly leaning man. "What did you *do*,
Jack?"

Sighing, Jack answered, "I didn't have to *do* anything, Elizabeth.
But this is the very reason that pirates aren't supposed to have
friends, let alone good friends like Will."

"Are you saying that Will was taken because he's your friend?"
Elizabeth demanded, voice rising.

Jack clapped a hand over her mouth and looked around sharply. When
he heard and saw nothing, he released her and suggested, "Why don't
we continue this on th'ship where you can yell at me all properly,
savvy?"

She nodded, still highly agitated, and started walking.

*  *  *  *

It wasn't really a surprise to find Elizabeth striking out on her
own. What was a surprise to Jack was that it had taken her over a
week to get started. Given how she and Will were, and he grimaced
mentally at that thought every single time it struck him, he'd've
thought that she would have gone off the moment it was known that
Will had been kidnapped.

As they approached the Black Pearl lying anchored in a cove well
outside the town, he asked, "Why so tardy in going after young Will?"

Elizabeth stiffened and answered, "My father had Norrington guarding
the house until just yesterday when they figured it was too late for
me to do anything. He anticipated my going after Will, just as you.
He probably thought that I couldn't come up with a way to go after
Will this late."

"And what were you planning to do?" Jack questioned curiously.

Clearing her throat, Elizabeth replied, "I was going to borrow a
boat and find you."

Jack grinned wickedly and observed, "Borrow? I must be rubbing off
on you, Miss Elizabeth."

"Oh, please."

Snickering softly at her indignant retort, he motioned for her to
get into the lifeboat and then took up post at the oars. It wasn't
long before they were at the Pearl and, having to climb a rope
ladder aboard, he was grateful that she'd worn sensible clothing. Of
course, the form fitting breeches and loose shirt, both presumably
Will's, offered a more than satisfactory view.

Just because he didn't want her didn't mean that he didn't enjoy
looking.; she did cut quite a figure.

Once aboard, the crew automatically went about their tasks to get
the Pearl underway. Elizabeth followed him to the deck where he took
the wheel in hand. Glancing at her briefly, he observed in
satisfaction, "Just in time to catch the outgoing tide, too."

She was silent as the pirates' ship got out onto the open sea and
Jack appreciated that, as well. One thing he didn't want was a
chattering nuisance while he was bringing the Pearl out of a rocky
harbor. He knew this inlay, knew it well, but that didn't stop him
from needing a connection to the water and space around him in order
to steer. He relied on that and the occasional bellow of the sailor
in charge of noting the depth told them by a weighted, knotted rope.

It wasn't long before they were under full sail and aiming south by
west. He watched as the sun began its excruciatingly hot climb for
the day and made a note to repair the kohl under his eyes. It was
going to be a scorcher, he could just tell.

"Do you know where to go?"

Elizabeth's question brought his wandering thoughts back to bear and
he quipped, "I always know where to go, Miss Elizabeth."

Her brow furrowed as she demanded, "For Will. Do you know where to
go for Will?"

"Ah. Well, not exactly."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that I have an idea of who may have taken him, but nothing
for sure and, hence, not a rock solid plan for getting him back.
However, given how plans tend to fall by the wayside around me,
that's just as well."

"Jack..."

Her warning tone reminded him that he wasn't the only one worried.
It also reminded him that she had the more legitimate claim and a
scowl surfaced as he snapped, "I'll find him, Elizabeth. It doesn't
matter where they take him, there's nowhere that I and the Black
Pearl won't retrieve young Master Turner. On that you've my bond."

"A pirate's bond."

"Is there any other kind you can trust?"

Elizabeth snorted, her gaze going out to the now sparkling ocean. "I
just want him back, Jack. Can you understand?"

*All too well,* Jack thought bitterly. Aloud, he answered, "Of
course. Why don't you get some rest, take one of the cabins by mine,
they're all empty."

Surprise etched over her face and Elizabeth glanced out at the crew,
busy at their duties.

"Oh. They'd rather a hammock than a bed any day. Well, unless a
woman's already in it," Jack amended, eyebrows wriggling
suggestively.

Sighing, aggravated, Elizabeth stated, "I think I shall retire,
thank you."

He watched as she went below, then leaned on the wheel and stared
out at the ocean with a heavy sigh. His thoughts darkened,
contemplating what Will was even now going through. He did actually
have a notion on who had taken the young man and if it were true…
well...it didn't speak much of Will's virtue remaining intact.

Not for long.

*  *  *  *

Will had given up struggling to get out of his chains as a useless
cause. There was nothing in the small, bare cell for him to use to
pick the locks and no leverage to pry them from the wall. Whomever
had him obviously knew of his livelihood as a blacksmith and wasn't
taking any chances on escape. It had been several days and, though
fed and watered twice daily, he still had no idea of who had taken
him.

Or why.

And it was perhaps the why of it that had him more worried. There
weren't any of the former Black Pearl pirates after him. It
certainly wasn't Norrington behind the attack. That left absolutely
no reason for him being taken. Being son-in-low to the governor
wasn't nearly the privilege that some assumed, no money was involved
at all seeing as how Elizabeth had moved in with him above the shop.
This wouldn't be for ransom, because he had little to offer. His
father-in-law just didn't hold him in that much esteem, which the
entire colony knew.

Sighing, Will stretched to his tip-toes to look out the porthole and
saw nothing save the unending ocean and late afternoon sun. Exactly
what he'd been looking at since the morning he'd woken up with an
abominable headache, chained to the wall. They weren't even moving
anymore, had put down anchor in the middle of nowhere for a reason
he couldn't yet discern. A reason that he perhaps didn't want to
know.

A noise from above garnered his attention and Will looked to the
stairs. On schedule, the young lad who was his keeper was bringing
his dinner down on a tray. The boy, not hardly more then twelve or
thirteen, set the tray through the slot and waited silently as Will
started eating. He again tried to engage the boy in conversation,
but to no avail. Once finished, he sighed and passed the tray back
through the slot.

Another day gone, another day of uncertainty and fear crawling into
the pit of his stomach. Will knew that he was no coward, but this
kind of existence would tell on anyone.

*Well, except for Jack,* he thought fondly. *Jack would probably
just lounge and sleep the days away without care. Perhaps bellow for
rum, now and again.*

But he would be ready to escape did the chance present itself and
Will fully intended to follow his absent best friend's example.

*  *  *  *

Elizabeth stared openly at the sight of the crew dancing on deck.
Jack did indeed have a fiddler and drummer and they were now belting
out various tunes, always returning to the Pirate's Song. Jack
himself was nursing a bottle of rum and lounging carelessly across
the way.

"Missus Turner."

Glancing over at him, she inquired, "Yes, Jack?"

"I forgot to offer my apologies for missing the wedding," Jack
announced. "And my hearty regret for not being present during the
honeymoon."

Eyes narrowing, understanding the tone and look in his eyes, more
than the specific meaning of the words, Elizabeth replied
cuttingly, "That's quite all right, Jack. Norrington stood up for
Will in your place."

Dark eyes narrowed back at her in return and it was a few moments
before he said, "The honor was all Norrington's, I'm sure."

*It's so hard to take his measure,* Elizabeth mused, looking away.

On the one hand, he was very often the picture of a drunken pirate,
even when he wasn't drunk, but often that act disguised a wicked
intelligence. She wasn't about to forget how thoroughly he'd played
them all during that last adventure. And he was clearly insane,
holding his own life in little disregard given the danger he courted
on a regular basis. On the other, he was strangely loyal to those he
considered friends, which most likely included only those on this
very boat, aside from Will.

*Aside from Will. That's the rub,* Elizabeth thought. *If Jack were
a woman, I'd bet my sash that he was after Will in a heartbeat.*

Because she knew the look that sometimes entered the pirate's eyes,
had felt it in her own when she thought about her husband. Slightly
wondering if Will could be for real, slightly amazed that he was,
and thoroughly bemused to have his attention and love to herself.
And though love didn't enter the equation between Will and Jack, how
could it, Jack had obviously grown used to having Will to himself
while searching for her.

An addictive substance, to have that caring, gentle and honorable
man in one's life. It was a heady brew indeed. Sweeter and spicier
than the darkest of rums, she knew. Something that very well could
tempt even Captain Jack Sparrow into an honest action now and again,
to which she still enjoyed baiting him about.

"Perhaps we should raise a flag of truce."

Elizabeth glanced over at the man who was eyeing her
thoughtfully. "How do you mean?"

"I mean that we both want to retrieve Will, to save him from
whatever peril in which he finds himself," Jack returned. "Towards
that end, we can stop the time wasting insults. At least until we
get him back."

Smiling faintly, seeing that Jack had somehow been following her own
thoughts, Elizabeth nodded, agreeing, "A truce, then."

"A truce," Jack murmured, smirking slightly.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just wondering how many insults we'll be able to save up
for when we get him back."

She laughed merrily, unable to help herself. And there was the other
thing. Jack himself. Most of the time she wanted to strangle him or
push him over the rail, but sometimes, they were definitely of the
same mind.

*  *  *  *

Lying in his bunk, Jack's thoughts inevitably turned to the person
they always did when he was prone and relaxed; with or without the
rum.

Will.

Handsome, daring, honorable, dashing, a wicked fighter and, perhaps,
a wicked lover? No. He would be kind and gentle, loving and careful.
With Elizabeth, Will had probably barely even broken through her
virginity on their wedding night, perhaps hadn't at all. Perhaps
Elizabeth had taken his, as seemed more likely in Jack's mind.

Grinning to himself, Jack's hands wandered over his torso as he
thought about that last day on the parapet. When Will and had jumped
between him and Norrington to save him from the hangman's noose,
again. And then, to all surprise, Elizabeth joining him. He shook
his head, chuckling at the sight of Norrington's shock.

Then, as his hand gripped his cock and started pumping, Jack's mind
turned to the familiar fantasy, the pleasurable day-dream that
changed events on those days. Instead of Jack jumping over the edge
alone, Will had gone with him to set sail on the Pearl. That the
Pearl had left the island colony with Jack and Will at the helm,
shoulder to shoulder, perhaps Jack's hand on Will's backside,
shifting slowly lower, and lower...

And then that night in the Captain's cabin, on this very bunk, Jack
would lick and suck and kiss his way over Will's entire body. His
hands would pay tribute to the incredible man who had saved his life
and believed in him, despite all evidence to the contrary. The man
who always seemed to know which way Jack's wind would turn, even
when Jack himself didn't.

He would taste the salty sweat soaked into the finely tuned muscles
that he had to imagine, thanks to far too much clothing on Will's
part. Then he would lick the dark spot between Will's cheeks,
sucking there lightly while listening to the groans of pleasure from
above. Will would be writhing, not knowing what to feel or why it
was so good, willing to let him do anything.

And anything was exactly what Jack would do. First he would sink
into that virgin hole as slow as cold molasses, making them both
insane with need. Then he would build faster and faster, going as
hard and deep as he could go until Will shouted, no, begged to come.
Not until the tight hole had pulled him in deeper than Davy Jones'
Locker would Jack allow that, hitting that nub inside that made this
kind of coupling so incredibly sweet. They would come almost
together, because Jack would make sure of the fullness of Will's
pleasure before branding the young man with his seed. And he would
come harder than ever before because it was Will, calling out his
lover's name.

Groaning Will's name for real, Jack surged a few more times into his
hands, his balls tightening and then his cock spurting his come over
his hand and stomach. Panting and trying to get his breath under
control, long hair stuck to his sweaty neck and shoulders, Jack
closed his eyes. He pretended for the few moments before sleep that
Will was in his bed, curled close around him to make the night a
sweeter place.

*  *  *  *

Elizabeth tossed and turned in her tiny bunk, wishing that life at
sea wasn't quite as filled with motion. She wasn't sick, exactly,
more like uneasy in her stomach. The walls on the Pearl were thin,
unfortunately, so the racket from the crew, both above and below,
wasn't aiding in her quest for sleep any.

Getting up, she moved to the porthole and opened it, breathing in
the fresh air with a sense of relief. Then an odd sound caught her
attention and she frowned, trying to place it. Her cheeks flamed
when she realized what, and who, it was.

Jack. Jack was, well, had to be...

Swallowing heavily, Elizabeth listened with a sense of guilt and sin
to the not-quite muffled groans and pants. They reminded her of when
Will was inside her, about to find his finish. Her stomach tightened
for a different reason when her mind conjured what Jack must look
like before she could banish the thought: head back, hair strewn
about, chest heaving as he reached the pinnacle.

Then he groaned with what had to be his completion, and it was
Will's name on his lips.

***


Will looked up at the heavy footsteps descending the stairs and got
to his feet, spine stiffening as he would finally meet his captor.
To his surprise, the man looked refined and presented quite a
handsome figure with subdued, clean clothing and his pale hair tied
back in a roughly naval fashion. He was older, probably in his
fortieth year or better, but still quite strapping, with the body of
a man who'd been at sea his entire life. Sharp blue eyes looked him
over and Will grew uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

"So. Master Turner. I understand that you and Jack are quite the
pair."

Surprise skittered through Will as he answered dumbly, "Jack?"

"Yes. Captain Jack Sparrow. The man whom you saved from hanging not
once, but twice."

This was about Jack? Of course it was about Jack. Sighing to
himself, Will wondered how he could extricate himself from the
situation without betraying their friendship. "I saved him the first
time so that he could help me save my wife. The second time, well,
that was in gratitude for helping save her."

"I see. So you don't care that I have him chained to the deck above
and have whipped his back raw for his defiance of me?"

Will automatically looked up at the ceiling as if he could see the
truth of the matter for himself, stepping forward. Then he cursed
himself soundly at the chuckle that came from the other man.

"As I thought," the man stated, motioning for the sailors who had
accompanied him to open the cell. They did so and he entered the
room, not stopping until he reached Will. Staring at the younger
man, he brushed a finger over Will's cheek and whispered, "Such a
pretty young lad. I'm going to enjoy having you...on board, Master
Turner."

Dread shivered through Will at those words. Swallowing against a
throat gone dry with fear, he jerked back from the touch and
hissed, "I don't know what game you're playing, but Jack will come
for me."

"Oh I'm countin' on that," the man replied, smiling broadly. "But
that's not to say I can't have some fun while I'm waiting."

*  *  *  *

The blindfold was driving Will crazy. He could take being bound,
even on a berth by leather straps that cut into his skin when he
tried to get free. He could take the nudity, though granted, it was
more than a little disconcerting to be so all the time. He could
take the fact that he had to have someone else's help to use the
chamber pot and could only go when he was allowed or would soil his
bed. He could take someone feeding him. He could even take the times
that Captain Markus, as he found out his captor's name was, coming
in just to stare at him.

But the blindfold was definitely pushing him over the edge.

He strained to hear all that he could. He could hear the timbers of
the ship creaking gently as they remained at anchor. He heard the
crew going about their daily routine, talking, laughing and cursing
throughout the day. He felt the heat of the sun through more than
one port as each day wore on, the gentle breeze over his skin as it
brought in the clear, salt-water smell. His back and front sides
became well versed in the soft bedding on which he lay.

It seemed like he'd been confined in this fashion forever and it
confused him as much now as it had in the beginning. It was actually
more comfortable than the cell, even given the restraints, which
made no sense. Why would Captain Markus keep him tied up like this?
Something brushed down the hollow of his ribs and Will jumped in
shock, not having heard the door open or anyone come in. "Who's
there?"

"Me."

Oh. The Captain. Licking dry lips, Will questioned, "Why do you keep
me this way?"

"Because I like the look of you thus."

That all too familiar dread again hollowed out his stomach and Will
wished that he hadn't asked.

"I've decided on an even better form of revenge, my boy."

That didn't bode well.

"I've decided to keep you. You'll be my slave, devoted to me in
every way, shape and form. You will pleasure me as you never have
anyone else in your life and do so willingly."

"That will *never* happen!" Will exclaimed, horror sluicing through
him.

A low, warm chuckle spread throughout the room. "Oh, it will my boy,
it will. Just give me time."

*  *  *  *

"Captain, are y'sure y'want t'do this?" Gibbs asked for the fourth
time.

Jack restrained himself from causing bodily harm, but barely. Of
course, it helped that he was in the lifeboat and Gibbs was on deck.
Reaching over would've been very foolish. "Not particlarly, but
there's no help for it."

"But, Sir..."

"'At's enough, Gibbs. Lower the boat," Jack snapped.

Unhappy, Gibbs nonetheless motioned for the hands to do as ordered,
and the boat rocked down towards the water.

Jack eyed the ship just out of canon-shot range, knowing her as
intimately as he did the Pearl. He'd been first mate on that ship a
long time back and, though some of it had been a most pleasant
diversion, if Captain Markus held Will...

Jack threw that thought aside and cast off from the Pearl, taking up
the oars. It had been a lucky strike that they'd found out about
Markus anchoring outside of Antigua. He wasn't normally there this
time of year, preferring easier marks without so much of the Navy
around to hamper him. However, the same man who'd recently departed
the crew of The Trident, had mentioned as how Markus was looking for
revenge on Jack and had happened upon what he thought the perfect
plan was.

Of course, he'd mentioned it under a hard whipping from the flat of
Jack's sword, but that didn't make it any less true of a confession.

It had been over a month since Will had been taken and most of that
had been spent sailing towards this destination. Anxiety over his
friend's fate had made him short with the crew and he'd prowled the
decks looking for something to take his temper out upon. Fortunately
for the hands, they knew better than to provoke him, doing their
jobs without complaint or even much voice.

Even Anna Maria had kept herself from him, something that didn't
normally happen during a voyage. Of course, they hadn't really
gotten together since his official return to the Black Pearl,
anyhow, but that didn't need any mentioning. No, no mentioning, but
every now and again, before this journey to find the blacksmith,
she'd given him a broad wink and asked if he'd had news of Will. The
grins and winks were definitely gone now, though.

Strangely, it was Elizabeth herself who proved to be a boon during
the journey. Despite the truce they'd called early on, she had no
fear of cutting him down with words when his mood got too black and
menacing. They'd spent many nights going back and forth, scathing
words snapping between them like foreplay. Several times they'd
garnered an open-mouthed audience, all standing at discreet and safe
distance, of course. The most intriguing thing to everyone alike was
that ladies like Elizabeth weren't supposed to know words like that.

Now he was heading into the danger that could kill him, as Markus
had known he would. The older man had made his living as a pirate
the last thirty years, after all, he had more than passing
acquaintance with cunning and strategy. Not to mention personal
knowledge of Jack himself.

The rowboat came up alongside The Trident and a rope ladder was
thrown down. Hard to miss his colors, Markus would know perfectly
well who was coming over for a chat. Climbing up the ladder with the
agility of any monkey, Jack swung himself topside and found several
sword points at his throat. His eyes flickered quickly around,
taking note of position, strength, arms and crew.

"Hello, Jack."

Jack turned slightly towards the voice and smiled falsely. "Markus
my lad! How good t'see you."

"And for once, it's the same here," Markus answered, grinning
broadly.

That didn't bode well. Forcing himself to remain calm, Jack
questioned, "I understand that you have something of mine."

"I do indeed. Grown quite attached to the pretty young thing,
actually."

"Yes, well, he has a way of doing that. I'd like him back."

"I think not."

"Let's be reasonable `bout this," Jack warned, keeping his tone
light, but his eyes narrowed. "The boy's hardly the sea-farin' type,
can't be doing you any good."

A smirk crossed Markus' handsome face as he replied, "I wouldn't say
that, Jack. The boy is quite...good at any use I find for him."

*Blighted bastard!* Jack thought with silent venom. It was costing
him a lot to keep the smile on his face. "I just bet that's true.
However. Seein's how he's son-in-law to the governor, you'd want to
rethink keepin' him."

And keeping him was exactly what Markus had in mind, Jack could
tell. He also knew to what purpose, for it was one that he himself
had contemplated often and long. Taking Will would be a pleasure
beyond thought. Aside from that, it had the added bonus of being
Jack's friend that Markus was taking.

Jack would wager from the fact that Will himself wasn't present that
Markus was having trouble taming the lad, which was good. He knew
Markus well enough to know that Will was in no physical danger, but
then, that was so often the lesser of the dangers. Leaning back
against the rail, he continued, "After all, the governor might not
like him much, but he is family."

"Tell me honest, Jack. What is this boy to you?"

A thrice damned question, because no matter which way he answered
it, he was forsaking Will. If he denied his friend, there was no
reason to be there. If he claimed him, further reason for Markus to
break Will. Shrugging easily, taking the path of least resistance,
Jack replied, "An obligation, unfort'nately. His wife is a veritable
shrew and yet, something of a sight, savvy? She's aboard the Pearl
and while I enjoy her company for certain reasons, she wants the boy
back. And I do try t'keep her happy if only to save my ears and warm
my bed."

The grin Markus threw at him said that not a word was believed, but
the other Captain only replied, "Interesting. So to keep her in your
bed, you'll put him in hers. Must get awfully crowded."

"Ah, but the winter coal bill's gone down like you wouldn't
believe," Jack quipped.

Markus did laugh at that, then motioned towards the sailors
surrounding Jack. "Kill him."

"Stop! Don't! Don't kill him!"

Jack instantly locked onto Will, who had been hidden behind the
topmast, pinned by two brawny sailors. He looked a bit wild around
the eyes, darkness almost outstripping the blue even in the sun, as
well as... Jack's jaw dropped slightly at the extent of skin
visible. Will only wore a scant loincloth and nothing else. All the
muscles he'd earned as a blacksmith were extremely visible. Jack saw
that the other man was very well defined, far more so than had shown
from beneath his clothing. Even under such dangerous circumstances,
Jack felt a twinge from down below at the sight.

Marshaling his thoughts with effort, Jack assumed a dismissive
expression and waved a lazy hand at Will. "So you see why the
woman's a bit anxious to keep him around. Quite fond of him, she is."

"Well yes, apparently for the same reasons as myself," Markus
replied. "Kill him!"

Jack winced as the swords came close again.

"I said don't! I'll do what you want, Captain, just don't kill him!"
Will shouted, struggling uselessly against the sailors.

Markus held up a hand as he turned towards Will, demanding, "You'll
give me your word?"

"I..."

"*If* I could interrupt, for just a second," Jack intervened,
mincing forward a few steps. He took the nearest sword-tip between
index finger and thumb and gingerly moved it aside. Now he was
roughly three feet from Markus, but still no real hope of taking the
other man captive. Not with the amount of men and guns surrounding
him.

Markus arched an eyebrow at him and motioned for him to continue.
With an ingratiating smile, slurring his words just a little, Jack
said, "I think per'aps young Master Turner and I need t'have a word
or three. On your `ndulgenz, of course, Cap'n?"

"By all means," Markus allowed, magnanimously.

Jack tipped his hat. "Thank `ee."

Sliding carefully through the trail of swords still aimed at him,
Jack crossed the distance to Will and turned a black glare upon the
two sailors holding him. They instantly released him and stepped a
short distance away. Casting his eyes over Will, Jack saw that,
indeed, the young man wasn't hurt, aside from the sliver of fear in
his normally clear, blue eyes. In a low voice, he questioned, "You
all right?"

"Yes. Elizabeth is with you?"

Damned cheek, asking after the woman when it was Jack risking his
life! Controlling his temper, knowing that it was more the situation
than Will getting his ire up, Jack nodded. "She is."

"Warming your bed?"

"Oh. You heard that."

"Yes, Jack, I heard that."

"Well, no. She's not," Jack clarified. "Just trying to put matters
in a light Markus might understand."

"If I had a sword..."

"Yes, I know. You'd run me through for the insult."

Will smiled unexpectedly and countered, "I'd cut your hat in half
for the insult, beyond repair."

Hand to his heart, which was actually beating faster at the
delightful smile on Will's face, Jack mocked, "To the quick, m'lad,
to the quick."

"My patience runs thin, Jack. I'd like to be killing you now."

Jack didn't even look over at Markus' call. Instead, he gripped
Will's shoulder and said urgently, "Don't give your word to Markus.
You don't know what he wants."

"What does he want?"

Oh, the innocence in those crystal eyes that stared so trustingly
and expectantly back at him. "You know how you and the missus, ah,
have relations? The kind I generally get slapped for neglecting
and/or initiating?"

Frowning, Will replied, "Yes."

"That's what he wants with you."

Will's jaw dropped, eyes widening in shock. "But, but how? I mean,
he can't! There's nowhere to, ah, you know, put it."

"Oh there is, lad. You expel from there almost every day," Jack
informed him.

Horror lit Will's face and put his back to the mast.

Nodding, Jack continued, "I'll escape, never fear on that score. And
I'll be back for you, I swear. Unless it's a trade between your life
and your honor, don't give in to him. And certainly don't give him
your word!"

Moving closer to Jack, Will grasped his forearm and asked, "But how
will you get free?"

Smirking suddenly, Jack moved his hand to chuck the other man's chin
lightly, replying, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, lad. Nothing and no
one can hold me for long, you know that."

"Time's up."

Will took Jack's arm, his jaw clenched shut, obviously keeping the
pleading inside as he shouted with his eyes for Jack to save him.
Jack covered his hand and squeezed it, whispering, "Stay alive,
Will, that's the only thing that matters, do you understand? I'll be
back for you, I swear on the Pearl!"

It hardly seemed possible, but Will's eyes widened even further at
Jack's vow, but he had no time to reply as the sailor's returned and
dragged him away, bringing him below.

Facing Markus, Jack began inching his way towards the closest rail
as fluttered his hands about and opined, "Such a frightful effort at
breaking someone like that in, Markus. All those notions of free
will and rightful places. Doan you want someone who already knows
what to do?"

With a grin, Markus questioned, "Are you offering?"

Jack paused. "No. However, I do know several pretty young things who
are looking for work and none of that womanishness to clutter things
about."

"I rather like that doe-eyed look of his," Markus commented, the
smirk getting bigger. "I can't wait to see what he looks like while
being whipped."

There were several ugly laughs from the sailors around him and Jack
quickly memorized the faces of the ones he identified. If anything
happened to Will, there would be retribution of the bloodiest sort.
Stopping just shy of the starboard rail, the opposite side where the
lifeboat was tied, Jack said, "You're going to kill me now, aren't
you?"

Markus pulled out his pistol. "I am."

Sighing, Jack replied, "I thought so."

Quicker than a blink, he launched himself backwards, heaving himself
over the side. It was a long, long drop to the water and he twisted
midway, wrenching his back but successfully turning the fall into a
dive and striking with barely a ripple. He swam as powerfully as he
could directly under the boat to the other side. By the time he
reached the surface, his lungs were ready to explode and he gasped
in ragged draughts of air.

Swinging over the side of the rowboat, Jack unmoored and shoved off
fast and quiet as he could, still hearing the pistol fire as Markus
and the others shot into the water on the other side. He also heard
Will shouting for him, begging them to stop shooting, which wrenched
his heart far more than the twist had done his back. 

Without another choice, he rowed as fiercely away from The Trident
as he could, back to the relative safety of The Pearl. Fighting for
and rescuing Will would have to come another day.

***

"What do you mean, you couldn't get to him?"

Jack winced at the shrillness of her voice as well as the fact that
even in his cabin, the entire crew would be listening with bated
breath. They'd known, of course, when he'd come back empty-handed
and soaked through that he'd been lucky to get back alive. No one
had questioned it, just given fatalistic shrugs and gone about their
business. Most were confounded as to why he'd even gone after Will
in the first place. Definitely not the Code.

Though he was starting to be of the same mind as Barbossa, that they
were more guidelines than actual rules.

Shaking that thought from his head, Jack stated calmly, "Twere a lot
more of them, than me, lass. No way possible to get to Will. But he
was sound and unhurt and will remain so for a good while, I can
assure you."

Sniffing haughtily, Elizabeth sneered, "So much for the infamous
Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Not even I can go up against fifty armed sailors with naught but my
dagger," Jack snapped, losing temper altogether. Taking a breath, he
managed a smile and continued, "However. I now know the lay of The
Trident, her crew and her Captain, savvy?"

Elizabeth glared at him, but nodded grudgingly. "I do. And what do
you intend?"

"Nothing."

"But, you just said..."

"Right now, love, nothing right now," Jack interrupted.

Calming somewhat, Elizabeth asked, "So you have a plan?"

Still smiling a bit, Jack lied, "I always have a plan, Miss
Elizabeth. And trust me on this. I'll do everything I can to get
Will back."

Amber eyes narrowed at him as Elizabeth replied curtly, "I'm sure
you will, Captain."

The door slammed behind her.

*That can't be good,* he thought, leaning against the wall. But
where on earth would she have gotten the right idea?

Then he realized that the cabin she'd originally taken was directly
beside his, but she'd changed it her second day aboard. It seemed
that he'd been a little too loud for Missus Turner. Although...

"Gobshite."

He must have uttered Will's name without even being aware of the
fact. Not terribly surprising considering how caught up he generally
got in his fantasies. Which were going to be a lot more detailed,
thanks to seeing Will in almost all his glory a few short hours ago.
Gods. How could someone so finely put together be so completely
oblivious to their charms?

Shaking his head, Jack sighed. He knew that it wouldn't be long
before Markus informed Will of his charms and tried to sample them,
if he hadn't already.

* * * *

Though back on the bed and bound nude, as before, Will was
thankfully not blindfolded. He could see the spacious cabin he was
in, as well as all of the books and mariners' equipment on the
shelves by the desk across the room, such as compass and sexton.
He'd been here since after Jack's escape. Markus might call it his
death, but Will knew better. Jack had said that he would escape and
he'd as yet to fail Will in any respect, let alone one so self-
serving.

No. Jack was gone back to the Pearl and was even now figuring out a
way to get him free.

"Evenin' Master Turner."

Will's eyes snapped to the door, where Markus lounged against the
frame. He seemed to loom there, eyes dark and face tense with
something Will wasn't acquainted with. The blue eyes were shadowed,
even as the other man came forward into the flickering light,
kicking the door shut behind him. Swallowing uneasily, Will
replied, "Still trying to find a clear course? You should've asked
Jack, he knows the way like the back of his hand."

"Hmm, yes, so I understand," Markus agreed, amusement now entering
his voice. "But then, I taught it to him, among other things."
Not liking the sound of that, Will said, "You may as well kill me,
for I'll never bend to your will."

Smirking, Markus sat on the edge of the bunk, his hand resting firm
in the center of Will's chest. "As I said before, laddie, you're
quite wrong about that. And I'm going to give you a taste of what
I'm talkin' about."

Before he could ask what was meant, Markus' hand gripped Will's cock
and squeezed lightly. Freezing utterly, Will's eyes locked onto the
tableau, though he didn't need to see to know the man held him too
tight.

"I'm going to show you that your wife ain't the only one who can
bring you pleasure," Markus informed him softly.

Will bit his tongue as he realized that Jack had been right. He
hadn't really believed his friend, thought that even in such dire
circumstance, the pirate had been having at him. Now he knew better,
to his regret.

The hand surrounding him loosened a bit, beginning a slow, easy up
and down movement that set Will's teeth on edge and coiled heat into
his belly. He concentrated on the most vile images he could summon
to stay lax: his father at the bottom of the ocean; his Elizabeth
dead on the rocks instead of falling into the water; and the worst
of Jack with his guts spilling out from a death-blow. A slap to his
face broke his concentration and he looked wildly at Markus.

"You'll pay attention to me, damn ye," Markus ground out. "I'll not
have you thinkin' of anything but me and what I'm doing to you."
But there was no way that Markus could control his thoughts. Will
simply closed his eyes and continued to think bloody thoughts, even
as the pumping of his shaft tried to bring him to fullness.

"I'll bet Jack could get you hard without even trying."

Will faltered at the mention of Jack's name, though it was only
momentary.

"Jack's a fine lookin' man, isn't he? Those dark eyes o'his, and the
way he just prances through everything. I've had him you know. I've
had him beneath me, howling his pleasure to the wind as I fucked him
into le petit mort."

Shaking his head, Will forced himself not to respond to the images
being painted in his mind. It wasn't true, at any rate, Markus was
just trying to thwart his control.

"His ass...ah, now, a man could write sonnets about Jack Sparrow's
ass," Markus continued, his voice low and warm and now directly
beside Will's ear. "My cock were up it so often, I thought of it as
a second home, after The Triton. So tight and warm that I could stay
happily lodged there a fortnight."

Anger burned through Will and he hissed, "You're lying!"

Grinning, Markus answered, "I'm not lad. But then, I'm betting you'd
like to be done by him, rather than do him, am I not correct? That
pretty face of your'n, so sweet. I bet Jack thinks about you often,
lad, thinks about taking you hard and long. I bet Jack touches
himself while he dreams of you in his arms, kissing you like the
bloody fool he is."

That did it. Though he tried to get back to before, Will couldn't.
The picture in his mind of Jack, kissing him as senseless as he
kissed Elizabeth just would not leave his mind. He groaned as his
cock surged with blood and ignored the his of triumph from his
captor. Struggle though he did, Will was no longer in control of his
own body. Markus continued to whisper insidiously into his ear about
how Jack would lick and suck and kiss Will into oblivion like the
romantic harlot he was.

His hips pushed up into the tight tunnel of Markus' hand and his
cock hardened to fullness in only minutes. Will could feel the
tightness of his belly signaling as it always did before releasing
into Elizabeth. But it was a rough, callused hand on his shaft, he
wasn't buried deep within his wife. It was the picture of Jack's
sharply defined face and the thought of his sweaty body heaving into
Will that was pulling him towards completion.

"...and then his cock would slide into your tight, virgin hole and
make you his forever."

Will jerked suddenly, his body convulsing as much as possible, given
the restraints, and he howled a single word of despair as his body
came with shocking force. "No!"

* * * *

"You all right, Missus?"

Elizabeth looked up at the woman's soft question and forced a
smile. "Of course, Anamaria, I'm fine."

"That's a lie, if you don't mind me sayin,'" the dark woman
countered, sitting beside her. "Or even if you do."

The wind caught her long black hair and the setting sun set her eyes
to fire like black opals that Elizabeth had seen once at her aunt's
estate. Setting the silly thought from her mind, Elizabeth
replied, "I'm worried, of course, but Jack says there's nothing to
be done right now."

Giving her a shrewd look, Anamaria observed, "You're not thinkin' on
your man, right now, it's the Captain occupyin' your mind."

Elizabeth sighed explosively and complained, "He's just so, so, so
irritating! Always thinks that he knows best how to go about things.
No matter what I suggest, he turns me aside like some silly girl.
Will is *my husband* and I should have some say in his rescue!"

"Beggin' your pardon, Missus, but the Cap'n knows what he's doin'
even if it don't seem like it at times," Anamaria assured her. "If
he says that he has a plan, then he does. I'll be the first to admit
that Jack Sparrow can be a first class bastard, pardon the language,
ma'am, but he's one that has a lot of tricks up his sleeves."

Silent for a few minutes, Elizabeth digested the information then
asked, "Have you known him long?"

Anamaria snorted. "Too long, I think sometimes. He still owes me a
ship."

Startled, Elizabeth questioned, "A ship?"

"Oh yes. It's a long story," Anamaria answered. "Suffice to say,
that if I had a mind, I could take the Pearl and there'd be naught
he could do to stop me."

Blinking in surprise, Elizabeth questioned, "But you don't?"

With a wink, Anamaria explained, "Menfolk like to think they be in
charge, Missus, or hadn't ye noticed?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"And have ye not noticed that it's to me that Gibbs comes for eight
out of ten tasks that need figuring out?"

"Well, of course, but..."

"Then why'd I need me own ship, when I have one?"

Lips pursed, Elizabeth stated thoughtfully, "You're a very
intelligent woman, Anamaria."

"Thanks, Missus, I appreciate that."

* * * *

Will couldn't believe it. He'd actually betrayed Elizabeth and their
marriage, which wasn't even six months gone. The hand on him, the
words in his ears, the images careening through his mind, all of it
had contrived to bring him off. And he'd been weak and puny enough
to succumb. Where was his honor now? Why could he not have kept soft
and not responded?

Why did the thought of Jack...

Shying away from that, Will turned to other matters. Markus had
cleaned him and then left him to his thoughts. He didn't know how
long that would last and needed to be certain to use the time
wisely.

His efforts to escape were redoubled, the urgency of the situation
now very, very clear to him. He knew that Markus intended to have
him, to...to take him like a man would a woman and...to break him in
the process. That was something he simply could not allow. He had to
find a way to escape of he would die trying.

The boy entered the room with his food and Jack submitted to the
feeding by hand because he would need his strength. He had to be
ready to escape at a moment's notice. It wasn't until after the boy
left that he realized just how tired he was.

* * * *

Soft, gentle lips kissed their way over his chest.

A tongue flickered out to tease his nipples, first one and then the
other.

Will moaned and shifted, unable to come fully awake as the caresses
continued. The unfamiliar mouth moved slowly down his stomach to his
abdomen, then further down still. He knew this wasn't Elizabeth, for
he would never subject her to such behavior and she would never
offer it. But the thought was vague and his exhaustion had drugged
his limbs so that only a wordless protest could be managed.

Wetness surrounded his cock and Will's moans grew louder as the
intensity roaming his body increased. This was so, so wrong and
yet... Suction was given him and he cried out, aching for release
and strangely unable to find it. Something drifted lightly over his
opening, but Will was too far gone to notice anything save the
continued pleasure playing into his body. His hands gripped the
leather around his wrists and he was grateful to them for the first
time.

"Please," he whispered.

Whispered back was, "Please what?"

"I need..."

"Need what?"

"Need...something..."

"I'll give you what you need, Will."

Will cried out as he was swallowed to the root, his entire cock
buried in someone's throat and just then, he didn't care whose. It
was something he'd never before experience and left him dizzy with
wanting. "God, yes, please, please don't stop!"

The mouth and throat were open to him, allowing him to push
forcefully in and then withdraw to renew his thrusts. He heard the
harsh breathing through the nose, felt the swallowing around his
cock and it only heightened his pleasure. Will felt it coiled and
ready to explode out of him and after scant minutes, did just that,
his voice bursting from him as his seed did, this time filled with
hoarse need.

He didn't remember blacking out, but again, when he woke, there was
a mouth on his shaft, sucking and licking all around it. The rise so
soon after his completion was excruciating and Will moaned in pained
pleasure. Then he just groaned in pain when something snapped tight
around the base of his cock. In the darkness, he couldn't see what
was going on and panted, "What's, what's happening?"

clearly. "You come only when I desire it, and not before. Your body
is mine now. And as you lay in this bed, think about how you've
betrayed your vows not once, but twice, and without much persuasion
needed."

* * * *

The chance would come, Jack was sure. Whether or not it would come
in time to save will from the depredations Markus was sure to visit
the young man, well, that was another story.

The storm he was witnessing from afar, the violence building on the
horizon, was nothing in comparison to the fury building inside.