Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, I do not own Bootstrap Bill Turner (whom, in this story actually looks like Orlando Bloom’s character Will Turner, cause I started this a long time ago, just after PotC came out.)

Author’s Note: This is so very old, and might writing style had greatly improved since I started writing this, but I am trying to edit all my old chapters, so please, don’t tell me about the way that the grammar is off, and that I need a beta reader, cause I’m trying my best to salvage an old dying story. Thanks for listening. I hope If you look passed the errors, that you can enjoy the story. By the way, in this story, Bill isn’t going to become part of Davy Jones’ crew.

The Long Months At Sea

Jack left Bill and Ethel again , but before he had left , he had said to both of them , that they need not do their duties , Bill needed time to grieve , and Ethel was the only one that could comfort Bill the way he needed to be comforted . Jack Sparrow would take over for Ethel for the day , or however long Bill and her needed.

“Bill , please , I want to know , why did you suddenly decided to take the gold ?”

“Like I said , what is there for me ?”

“You have friends .”

“Aye”

Bootstrap smiled sadly ,

“I suppose that is all I need right now , eh ?”

“Yes”,

said Ethel , she hugged him again .

“Now we have another problem .”

He mumbled into Ethel’s hip length hair .

“What's that ?”

“Trying to convince the crew they should come with us to get the gold of Isle de Muerta.”

“Ah , well , I still don't want the gold meself , Bill.”

“But there is so much gold there ! “

said Bill , trying to convince the crew that Isle de Muerta was worth the sacrifice .

“ Aye Bill , but we've 'eared stories . That treasure is cursed . Anyone who takes a piece turns cannibal”

said the man who had " healed" Bill the previous night.

“Fine , we are going no matter what”

said Jack .

“You'll drop us off in port than ?”

said the carpenter.

“Who said anything like that ?”

Ethel grinned evilly .

“But , you said , you's was goin' no matter what .”

“Ah , but this is my ship , as is Jack's , and you are it's crew , so you'll be coming with us.”

“I am really starting to hate the crew ,”

Ethel grumbled to herself as she walked into the Pearl's cabin .

“Why's that love ?”

Asked Jack .

“We have not been to port in a few months now , and they are getting "ideas’”

“Been approached by true men of the sea , have ye ?”

Jack smiled devilishly as Ethel sat down opposite him and Bill . Both men were trying hard to not laugh .

“It wouldn't be so funny if you were in me position !”

spat Ethel , causing the two to laugh harder.

“Incase you haven't noticed , I am NOT a whore !”

Bill stopped laughing , Jack did not .

“Jack !”

hissed Bill , shoving Jack , so that he fell from his seat . Ethel raised her eyebrow , wondering if the fall would stop his laughter , it did not . He laughed harder , until Ethel rose and put her cutlass to Jack's Adam’s apple , causing him , to stop laughing.

“Ethel , dear , what's s'wrong ?”

“I am NOT a whore ! I may be a ruthless , bad ass , thief , murder, and a female pirate , but I am NOT going to disgrace myself like THAT !”

“Ethel , love , you are a pirate ! You shouldn't care !”

“I may be a pirate now , but when I was a lass , living in London , my mother raised me to be a proper Lady ! I will not disgrace myself with that pirate scum !”

Bill looked a little surprised , correction , really surprised by Ethel's outburst , Jack , who was still lying on the floor , was not helping himself in anyway. Ethel gently pressed the blade into his throat , causing a slight cut , she than replaced her cutlass into it's sheath , turned on her heal , and stalked out of the room.

“I have got to get meself away from these scum !”

muttered Ethel as she continued to stalk down the hall away from Jack and Bootstrap . She walked into a spare room , took her keys from her belt , and locked herself in . She collapsed onto the bed , she was so mad , she was shaking from anger , and the adrenaline that was rushing through her body . There was a knock at the door , and Bill's muffled voice followed through the wood.

“Go away !”

Shouted Ethel. She buried her face into the dusty pillow , she heard light clicking , and thought nothing of it . The side of the bed closest to her depressed , and someone stroked her back .

“How’d you get in here Bill ?”

She said , lifting her head .

“Look at the door” was his answer . Ethel glanced at the door and did a double take . The door , which had been locked , had the entire metal lock cut out of it . It was now locked again , William's cutlass was jammed into the wood above the empty space where the lock had once been , and into the door frame .

“Why’d you do that ?”

“I thought you would like privacy ,”

“Oh , but you cut your way into the room ?”

“Sorry . But why are you so upset ? You are a pirate.”

“Because I do not like being compared to a street hooker ! Just one of Jack's many ‘flings with a lassie‘!”

“You aren't”

“I know ! But it has been three long months at sea !”

“Everything’s an equal share”
“Alright Barbossa , I trust ye …”

“Captain Ethel !”

cried the youngest of the Pirate crew . Ethel lifted her head from her friend’s shoulder , and said ,

“ Eric , what is it lad ?”

“Captain Ethel , Captain Sparrow gave up his bearings to First-mate , now captain Barbossa !”

“For how long ? Did he say ?”

“No , he just said everything was an equal share , including the location of Isle de Muerta!”

“Well , it cannot be that bad , can it ?”

Said Ethel , turning to face Bill ,

“I don't trust Barbossa , but I'm sure that everything will be fine.”

“You are right Bill , see ? Eric ? No reason to fret.”

Bill shook Ethel awake rather unceremoniously,

“What's de problem ? “

Groaned Ethel , still asleep.

“Don't ye hear that ?”

Ethel sat bolt upright , she heard what Bill was referring to , shouts , HELP !' repeated the male voice , until it stopped , suddenly , someone had put their hand over the man's mouth .

“That's Jack's voice !”

Hissed Bill , grabbing Ethel's shoulders and dragging her to the door . They pressed their ears to the wood , straining to hear the problem with Jack .

“You see , Jack , we be only three days from Isle de Muerta , we don't need you , or your compass anymore !”

Ethel snapped her eyes shut , as Bill's were already, as they listened to Barbossa.

“No food , or water will we give ye , but I will give ye this , yer pistol , with one last shot in it”

There issued a sickening splash and nothing more , the Black Pearl just continued on into the night. Ethel's eyes opened ,

“Bill ! What are we gonna do ?”

“ I don't know…”

“Yeh worthless bunch of slobs !”

Barbossa yelled to the crew. Ethel Kidd heard him , she pulled her tri-cornered hat on tightly over her head , and stalked out of her cabin .

“Barbossa ! What is the meaning of this ?”

She was acting as though she had heard nothing last night , of Jack's mutiny .

“Miss Kidd , morning' to yeh --”

“BARBOSSA ! What is the meaning of this ?”

“h , you see Miss Kidd , that is something' that only I will know --”

“BARBOSSA !”

Barbossa jumped a little at her voice . It was more powerful than a man's and thrice as shrill .

“Well , Miss Ethel ,”

Ethel's eyebrow raised as she watched Barbossa squirm under her gaze .

“Aye ?”

“Miss Ethel , Jack, well , Jack be on an island .”

Barbossa pointed into the distance . Ethel leaned over the side of the rail , her hair whipping past her .

“Bloody mutineer !”

Bill's voice cut through the salt saturated sea air .

“Aye , boy , what business of yours be it ?”

Ethel leaned back in from the rail .

“Well done , Barbossa, but this was my ship , so , I am still Captain . Good try.”

“Ah , Miss Kidd , yeh be mistaken , you gave the Black Pearl unto Jack , Jacks' gone , so it be mine now !”

Ethel moved to fight Barbossa , but Bill caught her arms and held them behind her .

“Ethel , Barbossa is right . And though I hate it , Jack is gone . Do not fight with Barbossa, we don't need two marooned Captains.”

“Bootstrap is right Miss Kidd , best be listenin' tah him.”

Barbossa left , Bill leaned in and whispered into Ethel's ear from behind .

“Actually , I meant Barbossa” .

“Aye . I'll try tah control me temper , but I make no promises Bill .”

“Aye , I agree.”

The crew looked around , uncertainly , they would have Ethel Kidd as Jack's replacement any day , over Barbossa . But , than again , there were some that had helped Barbossa the night before , some cheered him on , others cheered on Ethel as she had moved to fight Barbossa. There was no point in getting worked up about it , but ever since she and Bill had found that compass , things had gone wrong , terribly wrong.

“Perhaps it is the curse of the boy we killed ,”

said Ethel as she paced her cabin , Bootstrap's eyes forever following her .

“Do you believe that ?”

“No , not for a second” .

“Than do you believe the curse placed on the Aztec gold ?”

“By the heathen gods , to make any man who had taken but a piece , into a cannibal ?”

“Yes , that curse”

“No , should I ? It's just a way of scaring people from taking the gold . Do you believe it , Bill ?”

“I never used to , but lately , everything has gone so wrong . I don't know , I don't know Ethel .”

“You're right , ever since I picked up that stupid compass , everything has gone amiss !”

Ethel threw herself into a chair across from Bootstrap.

“Now Ethel , it's not your fault.”

“BILL ! I seem to remember , that no more than five minutes after I picked up that dn thing , that yer leg was cut open !”

“Ah , but that would have happened. I am sure it would have , even if you hadn't picked up the compass .”

“You're right. Why am I so worried over something so stupid ?”

“Because you have a heart , and you worry , as do I , as did Jack …”

Ethel's hands were shaking .

“It will be alright soon , you'll see”

Bill took Ethel's hands in his own.

“Yes , but how soon is soon?”