Wind in Your Sails

"You've pushed us too hard one too many times."

"Aye. It be time for you to leave."

"Walk the plank."

The men advanced on the small girl who stood in their midst, pushing her ever closer to the rail of the ship.

"You don't even make people walk the plank any more," she said smartly, whipping her dark hair around her head.

"We can make an exception for witty pirate whores," the captain said, emerging from his quarters with a slight swagger. "If that be what you want Sam."

Sam gulped and moved closer to the rail to escape the pressing crowd of dirty sailors. "No, Captain," she stammered.

"See, lads, even the famous Sam Sparrow be afraid of her captain's wrath," Captain Plummard chuckled. It echoed throughout the crowd. "I guess you're not like your father."

"I'm not afraid!" she insisted, reaching for her sword. Her hand closed on air. Plummard laughed again.

"Your sword be where you go next. In the water." He pointed. Sam looked over the edge of the ship. The water rippled in the brilliant Caribbean sun. Beneath its shimmering surface, a sliver of black slowly sank.

Sam felt a pressure on her back and felt her feet lift from the ship's slippery deck. The crisp water closed in over her head.

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"Now that was fun Jack!" Giselle giggled as she adjusted her dress. "Why can't you be like that EVERY time?" She ran her hand down his his body, ending by tugging at his belt. "We could spend so much time together. In this room. Right here. Just like this." She began to unfasten his belt.

"See, I'd be happy to, love, but," he paused for dramatic effect. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He backed away and began to rebuckle his pants. "It's in my nature to always be...moving."

"But Jack -"

"No arguments love. There's no time for that. Now, if you'd like to escort me to my ship," he took her by the crook of her arm, "we could try to have a little more time."

Giselle giggled again and marched at a brisk pace towards the Black Pearl, which hovered just beyond the dock.

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Sam emerged from the ocean soaking and gasping for breath. She leaned against a tree and removed her boots, watching as the water spilled from them in a river.

She sat down on the white sand and put her head in her hands. She began to sob.

Gradually, the tears subsided and were replaced with a chanting mantra.

"I am Sam Sparrow, daughter of Captain Jack Sparrow. I am a pirate. Pirates are strong. I am strong. I am Sam Sparrow, daughter of Captain Jack Sparrow. I am a pirate. Pirates are strong. I am strong. I am Sam Sparrow -"

"So ye're Sam Sparrow, are ye?" Sam jumped up, wheeling around. A lanky old man was leaning against a palm tree. His skin was just as knotted as the trunk of the tree. Sam would never have noticed that he was there if he hadn't spoken.

"I'm - ummmm - I'm Sam Turner," she stammered.

"Yer father wouldn't be too happy with yer denyin' his name." The old man smiled slyly. "Oh, I remember when young 'Lizabeth Swann tried that trick. Well, now she really is 'Lizabeth Turner. That's what you call ironic...So, Miss *Turner*, where ye be heading?"

Sam hesitated for a moment. Where was she going? "I'm going to find my father," she said after a time of contemplation.

"Ah, the famous Jack Sparrow. Or is it Jack Turner now?"

"No!" Sam said quickly. "CAPTAIN. CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow."

"So how are ye 'Turner?'"

"I'm married," Sam said resignedly.

"Married? At yer young age? I don't think so Miss Sparrow. Tell yer father Captain Barbossa sends along his greetings."

"Barbossa!?" Sam looked startled.

"Aye. Didn't ye ever wonder what happened to me?"

"Yes, but, I mean, I didn't expect you....here." She looked around It was certainly a deserted island, with nothing but the crystal clear water, white sand, and palm trees to look at.

"Ye didn't? Didn't ye notice? This is the same little island we made Jack the governor of on two successive trips. And now I'm the governor." He pointed proudly to himself.

"Oh." Sam looked around. She thought he'd gone slightly mad, which after long years in the sun and the heat, he had.

"And there be no rum to burn this time."

"So how have you been living all these years?" There didn't seem to be a whole lot in the way of food.

"Luck, mostly. And some help." He whistled slightly and a tiny capuchin monkey climbed onto his shoulder. The monkey was as old as the man, but still nimble enough to quickly scale the palm tree, leaping from Barbossa's body. "Thank you Jack." Barbossa took a fruit from the monkey's hands and bit into it, the juice spilling over his chin. "Why're ye here?"

"The crew of the ship I was on marooned me here." Sam found that she could not lie to this broken old man.

"Ah, so ye're in the same spot of trouble as me." Barbossa sat down at the base of the tree, Jack's tail curled around his neck. "Well, ye'll be here a while, so make yerself comfortable."

"No!" Sam stared down at him. "I'm not staying here. We have to get off this island! Come on Hector, you used to be the captain of the Black Pearl! You know these waters! There must be SOMETHING you can do!"

"Aye, I was the captain. But don't you think I'd've gotten off this island already if I knew how to?" Sam nodded slowly.

"What about sea turtles?"

"Sea turtles?!?!" Barbossa asked incredulously.

"Yes, like my father did."

Barbossa laughed. "He didn't use sea turtles, he bartered with the rum runners! What's in your head girl?"

"A raft! We'll make a raft!"

"Aye, and the waves'll carry us right back here. It won't work. Nothin' ever works."

"Yes, but we'll make a raft and OARS. Two people should be able to get off this island." Sam stood up and began pulling at branches with her hands, bending them with her weight.

"I don't know if this is going to work, but I'm willing to try!" Barbossa jumped up, reenergized. "The first thing I'm going to do if we leave; eat a whole bushel of apples!"

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"Jack!" Giselle began, her yellow dress rustling as she rushed to meet him.

"It's been too long, love."

"Yes, it has. Nine months too long, Jack."

Jack looked puzzled. "Nine months you say?"

"Yes, nine long, painful, ROUND months," she said, her words dripping with hidden meaning.

"Oh." Jack looked everywhere but at Giselle. "So...where's the, ummmmm...you know, the child."

"I gave HER away. It was a girl. Sam. Sam Sparrow."

"You just gave her away? You didn't even let her see me?"

"I didn't know if you were ever going to come back. But here's a present from her to me to you." Giselle reared back and slapped Jack in the face.

"So, when do I get to meet her?"

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"Have you ever met your father?" Barbossa asked.

He and Sam were gently drifting on a raft made of branches and palm fronds. They had been paddling for the past two hours and their arms refused to put in any more work. The island was nothing more than a narrow strip of white, receding on the horizon.

Sam looked at the crystal clear water, rhymthmically undulating. She could see the colorful coral that blanketed the sea bed. "No," she replied slowly, measuring each word. "I never met my mother either. I was raised on that ship. Captain Plummard never treated me any differently than any of the rest of the crew. I learned to sail like the best of the men. I thought I'd spend my life on that ship. But now I have no choice. I have to find my father. I have to prove that I AM Sam Sparrow."

"Well, who would deny that fact?" Barbossa was absentmindedly stroking the monkey, who was chattering amiably.

"Captain Plummard and the crew of the Deliverance. They don't think that I can possibly be related to the famous Jack Sparrow. I'm just not good enough." Sam had never told this to anyone; she had never had anyone to tell it to. Somehow she felt incredibly comfortable disclosing her inner feelings to the broken Barbossa before her.

Barbossa nodded knowingly. "I'll tell ye what. We'll find your father (he owes me money anyway) and then you can take him with you to Captain Plummard. Simple." He reclined on the raft, his boot-clad feet hanging over the edge.

"One problem," Sam began. "He won't think I'm his daughter either."

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"Sir? Captain? Jack?" Gibbs called. Then, rearing back, he tossed a full bucket of water over the sleeping figure.

Jack stirred slightly. Then, with a start, his eyes opened wide and he sat up. He was covered head to toe in mud. It was the stench that awoke him. He had been thrown in with the pigs.

"What happened?" Jack sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "I remember rum, then - oh." He stood up somewhat shakily and began to walk towards the city.

"Captain?" Gibbs asked after him. "What are the crew to do?"

"Stick to the code."

"But what about you, sir? The code is more guidelines than actual rules, afterall."

"Stick to the code."

Gibbs rushed after Jack, but the crafty pirate captain was too much for him to catch. He quickly lost sight of the characteristic dred locks in the crowd surrounding the bar.

"Well, Tortuga. There've been worse places to be stuck," Gibbs mumbled to himself, before entering the crowded bar.

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"Jack Sparrow?" Scarlett answered, "not seen him in a month. But I know Giselle's been looking for him."

"I'll keep that in mind," Sam replied. "Any luck?" she asked Barbossa as they met around the corner.

"None. I don't think he's here."

"Oh. I think he is," Sam said smartly and returned to questioning the rabble of rowdy riff-raff.

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"Giselle!" Jack called over the roar of the crowd.

"I thought I told you to never talk to me again," Giselle said distractedly. She continued to talk to Scarlett.

"I know, I know. It's just - I want to meet my daughter."

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

"My legacy." Jack stood up straighter. "She's my daughter. And because she is my daughter, we have the same blood. And the same blood means we are inextricably linked. Therefore, she must be like me."

Giselle rolled her eyes and turned back to her conversation.

"Do you know where she is?" Jack asked. "That's all I want from you, then I promise, I'll never bother you again."

"I haven't seen her in three years. She joined the crew of the Deliverance. She must be sailing with them."

"And, can you tell me where I can find this 'Deliverance?'" Jack asked sheepishly.

"No." Giselle turned on her heel and marched away.

"So I'm on my own - again," Jack mumbled to himself.

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"How can NO ONE know where he is?" Sam asked, throwing her hands up in the air. "He's not exactly what I would call sly. He announces his intentions to EVERYONE."

"I'm not so sure about that, lass. He can make himself disappear when he wants." Barbossa looked down at Sam. He was at least a head taller than her. "And I think he wanted to."

"But we MUST find him!"

"Why? So you can prove something to a feckless pack of ingrates? It's not worth it, missy!" He gripped her by the shoulders. "You need to remember that Jack is a force to be reckoned with. He'll not take you easily."

"But I have to try." Sam broke free from his grasp and hurried towards the entrance of the bar.

She ducked inside the doorway. It was chaos. She couldn't hear herself think over the chink of glasses, loud chatter, the band, and all the simultaneous bar fights. It reeked of sour beer, sweat, and vomit. Sam held her breath to keep from gagging.

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"The finest place in the world! Tortuga!" Jack steered Gibbs by the arm.

"Amen to that!" Gibbs replied, raising his glass. "But you've yet to tell me why we're here again, Captain"

"It's a matter of - ahem - shall we say - offspring." Jack looked meaningfully at Gibbs. Gibbs looked puzzled.

"Offspring, sir?"

"Yup. Offspring." Jack nodded emphatically.

"Whose?"

"Mine."

"Yours?!?!" Gibbs looked shocked. "You have a CHILD?" Jack nodded again. "How old?"

"Nearly seventeen I suppose." Gibbs spit out some of his rum.

"Seventeen?" he choked. "But Jack, how?"

"Well, once upon a time Giselle and I -"

"Never mind." Gibbs cut him off. "I don't really want to know. So, uh, where do we find her?"

"I'm not entirely sure. That's where you come in." Jack pointed theatrically at Gibbs.

"Me sir?" Jack nodded.

"I need you to stay in Tortuga until she comes here. Every pirate crew comes here at some time or another."

"Stay here? But what about the crew?"

"I'll handle them. Good luck." Jack stood up and walked out of the bar. Gibbs couldn't follow him in the crowd.

"Tough luck, eh?" said a voice from behind Gibbs. He wheeled around on the spot.

"Missed me?" asked Barbossa cynically. Gibbs looked thunderstruck.

"What are you doing here?" Gibbs managed to stammer out.

"Same thing you are. Looking for Jack."

"Well, he was just here."

"And he left you?" Barbossa smiled slyly.

"To look for his daugher." Gibbs looked down at the floor. "I don't think I'll ever find her in this."

"Think again." Barbossa yanked on an arm whose owner was just out of sight.

Sam Sparrow appeared beside Barbossa. "Gibbs, meet Sam Sparrow."

Gibbs looked shocked and froze for a moment before he sprinted off into the crowd crying, "Captain! Captain!"

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"I never expected that you'd be so...well...small," Jack said several hours later.

All four people (Sam, Gibbs, Barbossa, and of course Jack) were standing on the deck of the Black Pearl, which was anchored just off the coast of Tortuga. The hot sun reflected off the waves and deck as they stood.

"Small?" Sam looked her father up and down. "That's all you can say?"

"Yes, well," Jack looked nervously around. "I knew you were a child but I didn't know you would be little."

"I'm not a child!" Sam protested. "I'm nearly eighteen!"

"Eighteen?" Jack looked puzzled. "I thought you were seventeen."

"You thought wrong."

"If I do say so, captain," Gibbs interjected, "she looks just like you."

"No she doesn't. She hasn't got my hair, my eyes, or my dashing good looks. And I bet she doesn't even like rum." Jack said airily and marched away from the group.

"I do so!" Sam said and grabbed the bottle from Gibbs' hand. She opened it and took a large gulp of the liquid inside. She nearly gagged as she swallowed it. There was quiet laughter from Jack.

"Doesn't even like rum." he shook his head.

"But I am your daughter!" Sam said, thrusting the bottle back into Gibbs' grateful hands. "The least you can do is admit that!"

"No. You are not my daughter, nor do I recognize you as such."

"But you were looking for me! You must want something with me!"

"How do I even know that you're my child?! There's no evidence."

"You know in your heart." Sam laid a delicate hand on Jack's chest, then walked away to join Gibbs and Barbossa.

Jack stared at the mast for a moment, contemplating, then he too walked over to the crowd.

"So, ye came around did ya, Jack?" Barbossa asked eyeing him with something like amusement. A sly smile played upon his lips. "You were finally man enough to accept responsibility for your actions."

"If that's what you call it." Jack seemed subdued.

"So you'll come with me to the Deliverance?" Sam brightened instantly.

"Come on," Gibbs grabbed Barbossa's arm and led him away from Jack and Sam. "Let's let them talk this out."

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"So you won't come." Sam glared at Jack.

"Nope." Jack continued to examine his hand which was encrusted with rings of all shapes, colors, and sizes.

"Well, why not? I haven't asked too much of you! It's the least you can do after seventeen years!" Sam was close to tears. She was not usually this emotional. It was the combination of her father's indifference and her dread of return to the Deliverance without him that was putting her in the state. She struggled to contain herself.

"And why, love, would you want me to climb aboard the Deliverance. What's in it for me?"