The Map

Little Choice

Chapter 18

Little Choice

Bryant watched Jack start to climb the rocks that lined the waterfall. It suddenly clicked into place in his head and a red haze covered his vision as he lost control of his temper.

"You whoring son of a bitch!" he shouted and launched himself at Jack grabbing him by his jacket to drag him back down into the water.

Jack was taken aback and found himself floundering in the water, being pummelled and kicked. He reacted quickly and fought back sending Bryant to his back in the shallow water.

Bryant scrambled to his feet as Jack reached him.

"Mister Bryant!" Norrington tried to reach him, but Bryant landed a solid right punch to Jack's jaw sending him backwards into the water.

Dwent and Hock reached Bryant first and although he put up quite a fight they soon had him strong armed between them. He pulled uselessly against their hold as Jack staggered to his feet, his fingers touching his aching jaw line.

"What the devil are you thinking, Mister Bryant?" Norrington advanced quickly and angrily "Did you not listen to a word I said to you earlier?"

He looked at where Jack was eyeing Bryant with black watchful eyes, his fingers still gently probing his jaw. Jack suddenly smirked and half bowed to Bryant before he waded closer to him.

"You may or may not have reason enough for that hit, but I will tell you now, it's the last time you'll touch me. Next time I won't be so amiable about it. Savvy?"

"If I touch you again it will be to kill you!" Bryant hissed, glaring at Jack completely ignoring his commanding officer or the dark looks of the crew holding him.

"An explanation for your actions, Mister Bryant!" Norrington was rapidly losing his own hold on his temper as he glared at his second in command.

Bryant didn't break eye contact with Jack.

"You knew. It was why you refused to let us hide her. You were quite prepared to just hand her over without even trying to stop them." Bryant all but spat at him.

Jack sighed deeply and rubbed his chin gently, aware that even Hock looked surprised by Bryant's words.

"I had little choice," Jack replied carefully, realising that there was a lot at stake here.

His crew would be loyal to him and on any other occasion he wouldn't even begin to explain his actions. But he realised now that Nell had unwittingly wiggled her way into the affections of most of his crew. And judging by the look on both Hock's and Dwent's face, they were also waiting for his reply.

"I realised the moment they took Elizabeth that they'd be back not just for the map but also for Nell," he replied softly and placed his hands at odd angles.

Norrington stared at him, his earlier anger at Bryant put to one side as he listened to Jack's soft slightly slurred voice.

"So why the hell didn't you at least try to make it harder for them to get her," Bryant shouted.

"My hands were tied," Jack said quietly. "They were going to take her no matter what you or I did to stop them."

"You might as well have handed her over to them," Bryant hissed straining to break from the hands on his arms.

"Yes, perhaps I should have done. Maybe then Stewart wouldn't be lying dead," Jack said coldly and none of his usual good humour showed.

"You'd sacrifice Nell so easily?" Bryant shouted angrily.