Fic: 'Stormalong' (1/8 - J/E - 'R')
This is the last story for my 10_hurt_comfort table, and the theme is 'Love', which lends itself to a wide variety of plot options. I finally settled on one, and it'll be six or maybe seven chapters. Thanks, as always, goes to hereswith for her mad beta skillz. She is amazing, let me tell you. My stories are SO much better for her input and sharp eye. And thanks, once again, to artaxastra for the wonderful post-AWE universe she created with her Outlaws and Inlaws series -- it came at a time when many of us really needed that lift.
~ Stormalong ~
Chapter One: Errand
"Where is she?"
Jack's expression as he strode purposefully down the gangplank toward Teague did not convey happy relief in arriving once more at Shipwreck Cove, the one place in the world he might reasonably call home.
Teague's mouth twisted in a grimace. He'd expected this, Jack being unlikely to miss the absence of the Empress. "She's gone. Come along to the Green Goose, and I'll tell you about it."
"Bloody hell," muttered Jack.
He fell into step with Teague without a backward glance. Understandable: the Pearl was in good hands, Gibbs barking orders right and left, and the crew complying with a will that betokened a strong desire to finish their work and debark for the many diversions to be had along Shipwreck City's waterfront. The Green Goose was more of a trek, away from the hustle and noise, and it was closer to Teague's lodgings -- and the King's, too, of course. Not that Jackie'd find aught but a cold bed there this night.
As they walked, Teague asked how business had progressed. Jack allowed it had been fairer than the weather. "Finished negotiations with Redmond a couple of hours before that storm closed in."
"Much damage to the port?" Teague asked. Andrew Redmond was an old friend of Teague's.
"No, edge skimmed by us, is all. Looks like you had it worse here." Jack waved a hand at the evidence of tide and wave that still stained the lowest level.
"A bit. Nothin' like that storm four years ago, when you sailed in on Groves' pinnace, right in the teeth of it."
Jack chuckled, briefly, but then his humor faded. Thinking of the lass, no doubt. Teague knew that'd been their first time. A wicked storm had battered the Cove without, but there'd been a wicked sweet one within, from what he'd gathered from them the next day. Not in words, of course, but the signs had been plain enough. Jackie was bound to remember that fondly. "Told her I'd be back by the end of the month," Jack groused now. "We were supposed to head off to Curaçao, the Empress and the Pearl both."
"Something came up. She's gone on a mission of mercy."
"A what?"
Teague laughed shortly, but just said, "You'll do better with a drink in hand for this one."
*
Teague gave Meg, owner of the Goose, a buss on the cheek and took the tankards from her. "You're a right one, Meggie."
"Get on wi' you, John Teague," she said, blushing like a girl.
His smile dimmed as he made his way to the table where Jack slouched in his chair, drumming his fingers against the stained wood. Teague wondered if Jack would take the news as badly as expected. "Here, drink up." He handed his son a tankard and sat down with his own.
Jack drank deep and then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "All right. Let's have it. Short and sweet."
"Well, short, anyway," Teague agreed. "Fella named Pontchartrain sailed into the Cove five days back-"
"Pontchartrain? The old man from Île Sainte-Thérèse?"
"Not that one. He's dead some years, I reckon. Boy didn't mention him. It was his son, Henri. Île Sainte-Therese was hit hard in the storm, and young Pontchartrain unbent enough to come beggin' supplies from us scum of the earth pirates. And for a physician: seems there's some fever or other breakin' out in the poorer quarters, and their own leech was killed in the storm -house fell right in on him!"
"And Lizzie went?" Jack exclaimed, sounding appropriately horrified.
"She did. No one else offered, of course. Told her about the bad blood between Île Sainte-Thérèse and the Cove, but she'd have none of it. Got right incensed - you know how she can be. Vowed she'd load up the Empress and go herself, if no one else would aid them, and that's what she did. No leech to be had, but she said a couple of her Chinamen were better'n any Westerner and they'd see what could be done for the folk of the Île. Hadn't planned to stay, though, and that's what worries me. She should've been back yesterday, or today at the latest. It's only two day's sail, with the wind we've had out there, but there's been no sign of 'em."
"And I suppose you want me to go to the Île, is that it?"
Teague's mouth twitched at Jack's annoyance, belied by the worry in his eyes. The lad was too easy to read, sometimes. "Thought there was a chance you might be willing. Maybe you'll meet up with her as she sails back, eh?
Jack frowned. "Where's Jamie? She didn't take him?"
"No, she wouldn't risk him, not with a plague of some sort starting up. Mighty put out he was, too. Nell's got him right now. He'll be glad you're back: we were buttin' heads today. Wasn't best pleased when I told him he couldn't go down to the docks to watch the Pearl come in."
Jack's expression lightened. "I'll go to him." He drained off his tankard in one fell swoop.
"What about our fair liege?" Teague asked, though he already knew the answer.
Finished, Jack smacked the tankard down with a thunk. "Bloody woman," he said, though there was more fondness than heat in it. "If there's no sign of her by noon tomorrow, I'll be off to see what's become of her. I'll give her what for, shall I? I'm supposing she completely ignored your sage advice - or any advice."
"Didn't so much ignore it as throw it in me face," Teague grinned. "She's a mind of her own, if you hadn't noticed."
Jack just rolled his eyes in reply.
*
A while later, when Jack brought Jamie down to the kitchen for supper, the little lad was in better trim than he'd been since his mother had sailed.
"Captain Teague!"
"Jamie-lad!" Teague gave an Ooomph! as he was hugged with a five-year-old's violence. "Whoa, there, careful of an old man. So you're not miffed at me any more, eh? That was quite a fit you had, earlier."
Jamie let go of him and straightened, and assumed a contrite air. "I'm sorry, Captain, and I'll never do it again."
Teague chuckled. "You've been takin' lessons from an expert. Uncle Jack had considerable practice with those words when he was a young varmint like you. Ah, well. I'll accept the apology in the spirit it was given. Let's go have some supper now, eh?"
The three sat down and set to, Jack looking blissful at the taste of the stew. "That Rosie - she's a better cook than her mother ever was." But he glanced up quickly. "Don't tell 'em I said that!"
Teague nodded. "No worries, eh, Jamie?"
"Mum's the word," Jamie piped, and grinned when both men laughed.
Jamie sat quiet for a while after that, picking at his stew and listening to Teague and Jack discuss the Pearl's business with Andrew Redmond, but when the conversation lagged, the boy spoke up. "Are we going after my mother, Uncle Jack?"
"We're not going anywhere," Uncle Jack asserted, pointedly. "If she don't show by tomorrow morning, I'll take a few men and sail the Pearl over to Île Sainte-Thérèse and fetch her back for you."
"Can't I go? I'll--"
"No! Don't know what sort of fever Ponchartrain was goin' on about, but whatever it is, your Mum wanted you to keep clear of it. What kind of an uncle would I be, bringing you nigh of it 'gainst her wishes, eh? You'll need to stay here and take care of Captain Teague, savvy?"
Jamie pouted and grumbled something under his breath, but Jack ignored this and changed the subject. Teague followed suit, though he kept a corner of his eye on the boy. It was evident there'd be troubled waters ahead if Jamie's mother didn't show on the morrow.
*
She didn't show. The lookout, high atop the volcanic ridge that surrounded the Cove, couldn't spot even the hint of another ship by noon the next day. Jack, who'd spent the morning seeing to the disposal of the Pearl's swag and the loading of a generous number of crates and chests of additional supplies for the Île - "Just in case we need 'em!" - was ready to head out by noon with a handpicked skeleton crew.
"Where's Jamie?" Jack frowned when Teague came to bid him fair seas.
Teague scowled. "Hiding again. Scurvy brat. I gave him a scold for goin' on about you leaving him behind, and he took off. Probably in some closet again, somewhere."
Jack swore colorfully. "I'd help you hunt him down, but we'd miss the tide."
"I'll find the lad," Teague assured him. "Just bring his mother back safe."
"No worries. Or," Jack amended, "some worries. But no worries so fierce they'll keep you from your well-deserved repose - or other recreational pursuits - eh?"
Teague grimaced. "Recreational pursuits like catchin' that little scapegrace? Thought you had a tide to catch, Jackie."
On to Chapter Two