A Pirate's Love

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

It was a long two-day journey to Port Royal.  Madeline had locked her mother in the brig for one of those days and nights.  She had torn apart the cabin she was in.  Nearly driving Madeline insane.

Jack tried to comfort Madeline again, but she pushed him away.  Jack knew she wasn't herself and he let her be.  He was fighting his own pain himself.  He had just started to know his son and then he was gone.  But Jack knew deep in his heart that they would find him and he would be safe. 

He didn't argue with Madeline when she put her mother in the brig.  She refused to speak to her mother though and that worried Jack.  Madeline needed to talk to her.  But she refused.  Stating only that when they returned from rescuing their son, then she would speak to Pamela.  She no longer called her mother.

They were about a half-day away from Port Royal.  Madeline was studying the maps and charts in Jack's quarters.  Trying to rack her brain as to where Jacquette had taken JJ.  In frustration, she pushed everything off of the table.  She sat back in the chair and rubbed her temples. 

"Oh JJ." She said out loud.  She stood up to go find Jack.  As she was walking by the mess on the floor, she caught sight of a book with a map.  She bent down to pick it up.  When she saw it, she knew where Jacquette was headed.  The other side of the world.  China.  She threw the book down and went in search of her pirate.

She saw him at the wheel of the Pearl.  Compass in hand.

"Jack!"  She went running to him.  "I know where he's going!"

"Where love?"

"China."

"But that's the other side of the world.  Are ye sure love?"

"I'd bet my life on it Jack."  Jack sighed and pulled her into his arms.

"Alright love.  We get yer mother to Port Royal and then load with supplies.  Then off to China."  Madeline didn't remover herself from him.  She breathed a small sigh of relief and Jack held her tighter. 

Gillette raised the scope to scan the horizon.  He could see a ship with dark sails approaching the shores of Port Royal.  He immediately recognized them.

"Commodore.  The Black Pearl is approaching."  He handed the scope to him. 

"I don't believe it!"

"Commodore?" Gillette questioned him.  Norrington closed the scope and handed it back to him.

"Prepare a small squad and have them follow me to the docks."

"Yes sir."  Gillette did as he asked, but was curious as to what the commodore was thinking.

Madeline decided it would be best to not bring her mother up on deck until they were docked and ready to go to the governor's mansion.  As the crew was tying up the Pearl, she saw Norrington and a small regiment approaching

"Bloody hell." She heard Jack behind her.  She turned to him and held up her hand.

"Jack, please, let me talk to him."

"Alright love.  But I don't like it."

"No! Take me back to the island.  Please Madeline.  I'm begging you!" Madeline turned to see her mother behind her.  Mr. Taylor holding onto her.

"It is for the best.  You have no home on the island any longer.  Where would you live?"

"Anywhere but here.  Madeline, please!"  Pamela turned to Jack.  "Please Captain Sparrow.  Tell my daughter that I can't stay here."  Jack looked at the woman in front of him.  She was so different than she was three days prior.  The effects of the laudanum was starting to wear off, but she continued with her outbursts.  Her desire for the drug didn't diminish.

"I'm sorry madame.  But this is the best place for ye at the moment."

"Bloody damn pirate." She swore at him.  He nodded to Mr. Taylor and they proceeded to disembark to the docks.

Madeline led the way.  To be met by Norrington and his men.  Jack held back just a bit.  But not too far.  Norrington looked at the way Madeline was dressed and could scarcely believe his eyes.

"Madeline, why are you dressed like that? Did he kidnap you?"  She was dressed in black breeches, a flowing white shirt, boots and a plumed hat.  A sword strapped to her hip.

"No James.  He did not.  Now please step aside."

"James?" she could hear Jack behind her ask through gritted teeth.  She turned to glare at him.

"Not now Jack."

"You keep with the company of pirates and you tell me to step aside.  I will not."  Madeline walked closer to him so that Jack was out of earshot.

"James, please.  I need to get my mother to my uncle.  And then Jack and I are leaving.  We need to find our son."

"Your son? JJ is his son?"

"Yes.  Now please let us pass.  We will not cause trouble to the town.  I am taking my mother to her brother."  Norrington couldn't believe his ears.

"Where is JJ Madeline?" he asked.  His hand on her arm.  She glared at him and he removed his arm.

"Kidnapped.  By a pirate worse than Jack.  And if you so much as consider taking him into your custody, I'll kill you."  Not thrown by her words, Norrington looked behind her at Jack who was becoming angrier by the second.

"If JJ has been kidnapped, it is my duty as an officer of his majesty's navy to go and look for…"

"James! It is my duty as his mother!" she yelled at him.  "Besides, you're not a pirate.  Ye wouldn't know where to look."