GHOST OF A GOOD THING

Author: Captain Cheesehead
Rating: R
Pairing: You/Jack
Categories: Romance, Action/Adventure

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Walt Disney World, Pirates of the Caribbean, eBay, or anything else I may mention in the course of this story.

Summary: The sequel to Sunrise From A Tropic Isle. You go back in time to straighten things out between you and Jack. Familiar characters are back with new ones. A new story, a new adventure.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 1

Three years later you found yourself in a rather large condo situated nice and snug on the beach. The original plan before you were thrown into the world of pirates and treasure was that you were going to move in with your parents as they left your favorite Floridian home to the big city of New York. But when moving day came along, your heart told you to stay where you were happy, so you remained in Daytona with your friends.

Your father's company boomed, so you were financially secure enough to buy the lovely condo on one of the highest floors of the tallest condominiums. Your best friend since elementary school, Kylie, moved in with you because she barely had any money after paying for medical school and you were more than happy to help a friend.

But as wonderful as it was to be home, something was seriously depressing you. Working was unnecessary, so you found yourself staring endlessly into the ocean from the east balcony. You mostly thought of Jack and the exact reason you left in the first place. But there lies the problem. You couldn't understand why you did it.

Jack took your advice and kept records of his travels. This made him one of the most notorious pirates in history. Jack Sparrow was a name of legend to everyone. Many books existed in your present time, yet you couldn't bring yourself to read them. You were afraid that if you opened them and read, you would find that Jack ended up happily ever after. Part of you wanted him to be happy, but a larger part wanted him to be miserable without you.

So this was how you spent your days. Daydreaming and reminiscing. "If I leave Jack, it won't be for long. I promise. I'll be back. Don't forget about me..." The words rang clearly through your mind as though they had just left your lips. When were you going back? What was holding you back from fulfilling your promise?

On the rare occasion that you left the house, you avoided at all costs your friends to avoid awkward questions about your state when you came back. You couldn't blame them, for one of their friends to suddenly show up looking significantly thinner and worn with a gunshot wound and random scars of various kinds since last time they saw her a few hours ago must've been very strange. But during that time when you were trying to restore your health, your friends moved on and drifted away from you. With the exception of Kylie, of course. So everyday you understood less and less why you were here and not back in the past with Jack.

* * * *

It was a particular stormy day in about mid January when you got sick. You assumed it was the flu, but nonetheless it left you in bed for a few days. Poor Kylie was trying her hardest to keep you comfortable. "I left your medicine on the counter and I got you those microwavable ravioli things you like so much. If you need anything else just remember I'm not that far--"

"Kylie!" you said. "You sound like my mother. It's just the flu. What I need is for you to go to school so the next time, you will be able to treat me legally. Go on. I'm perfectly fine."

Kylie smiled and started walking out the door. "I almost forgot!" she said while coming back in. "I got you something." She ran into her room and began rummaging around. She came out with a white plastic bag. You couldn't read the store name on it. She handed it to you. "Here."

You opened it and first pulled out a black t-shirt. You unfolded and looked at the white letters forming the words 'Kiss Me I'm A Pirate' along with the skull and crossbones combo. You smiled and looked at Kylie, who motioned for you to look bag in the bag. You pulled out a rather thick, hardcover book entitled "The History of the Black Pearl Under the Command of Captain Jack Sparrow".

This gift caught you quite off guard. Kylie began to explain at your questioning face.

"Remember a couple years ago when you wanted to be a pirate and we all laughed at you? You had such a passion for learning everything there was to know about them. I was so convinced you were going to show us all up and actually sail away on a seventeenth century boat with a hoardfull of gold." You smiled and she continued. "But ever since your parents moved to New York, I've noticed that you became uninterested and every day, you seem to get more depressed."

You were amazed at how much your best friend could read you. "Kylie, I'm sorry..." you say barely audibly.

"Don't be. I just hoped this maybe would help you get happy again. Everyone misses the way you used to be. I checked your bookcase, which had about every book about every pirate. Except for the most famous. So I got you this. Hopefully it's good, I mean look at this picture." She flipped to a page in the book. "I was definitely having serious double takes when I saw this."

Kylie held the book out to you. You fought hard to stifle a gasp and looked puzzled. Halfway through the book was the picture Daniel had drawn of you and Jack playing cards.

"Man, that Sparrow dude was kinda cute," Kylie nonchalantly commented. "And that chick looks exactly like you. Look how happy they look together. That's how I pictured you sailing off in that ship."

You smile. "He was cute, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, too bad he's not living now. I gotta run, feel better for me, okay?"

"Alright, thanks. See you later."

After she had gone, you sigh and look back at the book. You've been left in the dark for too long and you were much too curious to put it off any longer, so you opened the book and began reading. The book was filled with excerpts from Jack's log with lots of other notes from a historian.

"Jack Sparrow was described by his crew to be an eccentric but brilliant man. He could seduce his enemies with his remarkable wit. He was well loved by his crew after he recovered the Black Pearl from his mutinous first mate Barbossa in 1709. The Black Pearl under Barbossa's command was said to be cursed, but there was no scientific evidence to prove such a tale. But it's most likely that particular legend that gave Jack Sparrow his reputation of being the most feared pirate in the Spanish Main."

For the rest of the day, you sat in your bed and read. You were so deeply immersed in the book that you half expected to feel Jack wrap a lazy arm around you and say, "Feelin' better, luv?" But of course he didn't. You read some excerpts about the rescue of Annabelle.

"August 24th, 1711: The lass told me to write stuff down about the voyages, so I suppose I'll take her advice. We started out today in search of the Red Storm, a vessel commanded by Captain Giltmore, an enemy of mine. Apparently, Elizabeth's friend Annabelle has been kidnapped for unknown reasons..."

Reading about an adventure you took apart in was almost as interesting as being there again. It did make you quite nostalgic though. But you carried on through the story, which surprisingly came close to the end of the book. An emotional onslaught caught you unaware.

"On a most unfortunate day, October 18th, 1711, experts believe a massive hurricane ripped through the Caribbean and across Jamaica. Reports of the storm are in several sources including the testimony of the Black Pearl's first mate, Joshamee Gibbs. Jack Sparrow was onshore that day staying with his friends William and Elizabeth Turner. They survived the hurricane, but sometime during the day, Sparrow got a false report that his ship sank while trying to get cover in the harbor. Distraught, he committed suicide on a beach overlooking a harbor not far out of town. His body was found by one of his many enemies; Commodore James Norrington of Jamaica. A gunshot wound to the head was what he found."

You were shaking so hard, you could barely continue the reading.

"The Black Pearl in fact had not sunk, but sailed off to a protected cove other than it's usual anchorage. Elizabeth Turner used her power as the Governor's daughter to ensure that Sparrow had a proper sea burial and ceremony. Sparrow's final and most curious journal entry was found in his coat pocket. It read as followed: She left me and now my ship is gone. This is how the famous Captain Jack Sparrow goes down."

You couldn't stop the tears from falling now. This was a horrible blow to you. You had always pictured Jack retiring in a huge house in Tortuga with a whole room full of treasure. Somehow you felt to blame for this happening. After a couple of hours of crying, you fixed your gaze across the room to an old chest where you kept all your important stuff. You rushed to it and threw all the contents out until you reached the bottom, where a tiny silk bag laid. You hurriedly pulled it open and slid out the small, coin-like disc of wood you used to get home. It had to be at least a week after you left that all this happened, so all you had to do was go back and if it worked like last time, you should end up in the same place at the same time you left. That would be Jack's cabin in the middle of the night at Tortuga.

With this small whim of hope, you began throwing things in a bag. This time, you were going prepared. In went a couple of shirts (including your new pirate one), some pants, socks, underwear, and basically all your practical clothes. You grabbed a small blanket and threw that in as well. Soon, you had two bags full of stuff like a lighter, brush, toothbrush, a journal of our own, and about four pairs of shoes. You were extra careful not to bring something that can get lost easy. Introducing things like that in the past could seriously change the future.

Kylie walked in while you were in your frenzy. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Umm, finding stuff to sell on ebay," you say quickly. Then a thought occurred to you. This may be the last time you ever see Kylie. You smile and say, "I'm taking you out to dinner, wherever you want."

"So you're feeling better I take it?"

"Of course. Let's go." Kylie shrugged and followed you back out the door.

* * * *

Two hours later, you were thoroughly stuffed as you enjoyed a great meal with your best friend at an all-you-can-eat buffet. On the way home, you and Kylie started talking. She knew something is up.

"You know how you find someone to make you extremely happy, and you know that you were meant to be with that person?" you asked.

"So you're in love? That's why you're being all strange?"

"No. I was just wondering if you knew what it's like," you said. It would've been better if she didn't ask questions.

"Hm. I don't think so. I never really loved someone like that. So, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"Mmmhm. Right."

"I'm glad you're my best friend," you said, changing the subject. "And I'm glad we went out tonight. That was fun. And thanks for the book. I would've never known."

"Known what?" You didn't think she heard the last part. You meant to not say that.

"Just that Jack Sparrow was so awesome," you say. Your smile dropped as you said his name.

"Thanks for dinner. It was awesome. Remember that dude who kept looking at us while we stuffed our faces?" The two of you laughed all the way home about random things. You were grateful for the cheerfulness.

When you got home, you made one last sweep of the house and found a polaroid camera. You instantly remembered explaining to Jack about what a photo was, so you stuff it into your bag.

After saying goodnight to Kylie, you threw the bags over your shoulder and crawled into your bed. It was a weird feeling with the weight of the bags pressing against your shoulders. You picked up the coin and held it tight while trying your hardest to sleep. It took you a long time to drift off, and when you did, the familiar floating sensation took over you. The voice of the old desert lady came back. "I warned you about changing the past, be careful." And with that you felt the weight of yourself and your bags against a hard ground.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 2

Blood pulsed through your tingling limbs as you stood up off a dry, dusty ground. It was dark, too dark to determine your surroundings. It was stifling hot. The air was heavy with the pressure of an oncoming storm. You made to move forward but dizziness overcame your senses so you stood still for a moment more, wishing desperately there was a glowing neon sign telling you where you were.

Heat lightening forked above your head and branched off across the sky giving you the slightest glimpse of your surroundings. You seemed to be in a narrow alley crowded by two-story buildings on either side. Picking up your bag, you began to walk in one direction, hopefully leading yourself towards somewhere useful.

Eventually you came to a larger street and a slight breeze hit your face. The half-moon peaked out of a small clearing in the clouds and gave you visible light to tell that the road sloped downhill towards what seemed to be a harbor.

Silhouettes of sailing vessels barely showed against the near black sea and sky of a horizon. Although seeing all of this made you more comfortable, your heart sank. If this were in fact Tortuga, the whole town would be wide-awake. Music, gunshots, and the seductive words of wenches would be filling the air, not this eerie silence. Still, if there were to be anyone to help you find the whereabouts of a ship to take you to Jamaica, it would most definitely be sailors. So you started to make your way down to the ships.

As you came closer to the water, the more you realized that not everything was silent and dead for the night. The nightlife of this town, or city, or whatever, was taking place in the more clandestine alleyways. You could make out hushed feminine giggling and lustful moans around the dark corners, and even more so as you nears the docks. Enough to actually make you homesick of Tortuga. That sinking feeling in your heart surprised you again as flashes of your last evening in said place entered your conscious thoughts. But you managed to convince yourself not to dwell on it then. You had a mission to attend to.

You came across a few men tossing dice under a lantern by a boathouse. They heard your footsteps when you were about fifteen feet away and all snapped their heads in your direction. You stopped just outside the pool of light, fearing you may have made a mistake to approach seedy gamblers in the middle of the night.

“Who the devil are you?” one said when you stopped.

“I’m, umm, err, Anne Bonny!” You blurted it out without thinking. Of course you weren’t the one and only Anne Bonny, and surely these sailors knew that. But you didn’t feel comfortable giving your real name out, especially to these guys. The man chuckled. “Well, Miss Bonny, what business is it of yours to be patrolling these here parts of Charleston at night by yerself?”

“Charleston? Charleston where?”

“Well ye see lass, there’s this big area of water that separates England from the Americas, and we just so happen to be on the greater side. I can draw a map if it pleases, miss.” The other men laughed at his attempts to mock you but you ignored it.

“Would any of you gentlemen know where I could barter a passage to Jamaica?” you asked with a confident smile.

“Anything for Miss Bonny. I may have a way of getting ye to Kingston. What’ll ye pay?” You turned around to search your bag for anything worth a trip to Port Royal, but before you could even get it all the way unzipped, you feel a sharp pain in the side of your head and everything went black.

* * * *

Deep voices rang through your head though you couldn’t decipher what they were. The very next thing that you noticed was the fact that you were moving. Not too fast, but gentle. Like you were rocking... wait... rocking?! You were on a damn boat! Your eyes snapped open and you had to blink the spots out of your eyes before you could see, although it was almost too dim as it were. You were face down on hard wood. You turned your head to the right and saw the wood panels that made the side of the ship. You turned your head to the left and saw iron bars. Wonderful. You were stuck in an unknown ship going only God knows where. You watched as a pair of boots walked past and seemingly out of the brig. You slowly sat up.

How on earth could you have let your guard down and get into this situation? That stupid mistake probably cost you valuable time in getting to Port Royal. You had no idea how long you were out for. It could have been merely minutes, but to a pessimist it could have been days. “Fuck!” you yelled while kicking the bars that enclosed you. You slumped down into the corner and put your head in your arms and cried in frustration and fear.

After a few minutes passed, you heard a few soft footsteps move towards you and then stop. You looked up to see a man peering in at you. He wasn’t old, twenty-five or twenty-six you guessed. He had long, dark-brown hair that came to his shoulders and he carried a cutlass and a pistol. He looked at you with sympathetic brown eyes. With a surprisingly Jamaican accent, he asked, “Are you okay, miss?”

“What the hell kind of question is that? Of course I’m not fucking okay! I’ve been knocked out and apparently kidnapped and now I may be losing the love of my life because I’m here stuck on this god damned ship!” You were letting your emotions get the best of you again. You couldn’t guess why, but he was only trying to be nice. You started to feel guilty. He had no response to your outburst so you sighed and said almost forcefully, “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just upset. I am a proud member of the crew of the infamous Black Pearl and I request a meeting with your captain, so if you’d be so kind as to go get him. It’s rather important my captain finds me alive and well.”

He contorted his face into this look of utter confusement. “Y-You’re from the Black Pearl?”

“Yes, and I believe you know our reputation, or should I remind you again of the Curse?” you tried to say threateningly.

“The captain will be so glad to hear this!” His face lit up and he scurried up the ladder at a run, leaving you very confused in his wake. You sat back in the corner again and thought about the conversation that just took place. Then your mind drifted towards your so-called captain of a so-called cursed ship. With all your being you wished you were on time.

About an hour later, you hear a few pairs of heavy-booted footsteps coming down. In front was the man that went to fetch the captain. Next was a larger man looking quite perturbed. Inwardly, you hoped he was not the captain. The last person who came down the ladder came as quite a shock. You gasped and jumped right up when you saw Madison Lewis walk briskly toward your cell.

“This is her, Captain Lewis,” The younger man gestured towards you.

“Captain Lewis now, is it?” You smiled as wide as you can.

Madison looked extremely confused but within moments a look of realization graced her face. “And here I was coming down here thinking I was going to be faced with a lying scallywag!”

She grabbed the keys from the large man and quickly unlocked the door. “I really need to start checking the prisoners before I have them held in the brig for so long. Sorry about that by the way.”

The two men looked bewildered. Madison didn’t bother to explain. She quickly led you to the galley and had all sorts of food prepared. Soon the two of you were seated at a table laden with pork, wine, fruits and cheeses.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that I ended up on your ship. And I hate to do it, but I need a huge favor from you if you would consider it Captain.”

“Please, Madison is fine as always. After all we been through, there no need for formalities, aye? Why are you here? How’s Jack doing?” Your thoughts must have appeared in your expression. Madison’s smile dropped. “What happened?”

You managed to give her a condensed version of your predicament, strategically leaving out the whole hurricane part. You weren’t sure if she was willing to take the risk to help you out. So you finished with, “...and so I need to get to Port Royal as soon as possible, before--” you stopped there and Madison nodded grimly.

“We were heading to Tortuga as it were. I owe Jack and you more than all the gold in England. Don’t worry lass, we’ll get you there as fast as this ship could possibly go.” Madison took a long swig of wine.

“Thank you.” Those were the only words that you could think of saying. The two of you ate in silence for a few more minutes. You were thinking back to when you last saw Madison. She was only first mate then.

“How’d you become captain?”

She didn’t look at you. She was clearly struggling with some thoughts.

“Izea, the man who let me back on as first mate, he was the captain.” She looked up with a face that showed no emotion whatsoever. But her eyes had softened. “He got an infection from a wound he got in Africa, fighting Giltmore. He died on the crossing of the Atlantic.”

“Oh Madison, I’m so sorry.”

She pursed her lips and stood up. “It’s the pirates life. Always dangerous. Can’t get close to someone without being hurt.” She headed towards the ladder to the upper deck and gestured to the young man from the brig. “James here will show you where you are to sleep. Good night.”

* * * * *

(Author’s Note: Here ya go! I’m so happy I actually get to type this up!!! Forgive me! And one thousand hugs and cookies and eye patches for everyone!!! Sorry this chapter is kinda short, but I was excited to get it done and send it to Ebony before she updates again. Next one by the next update. And I may even get the next chapter for Ireland done as well, all depending on how busy I am. Thanks for being patient!)

* * * * *

CHAPTER 3

James turned out to be quite the talker. He rambled on about everything. Particularly the ship. You knew much of what he was explaining, but decided to indulge him and let him talk. "And I had to fix that sail myself a few days ago. Climbed all the way up there on naught but a rope. The wind's not always on your side, you know. Ah, here's where you'll be staying..." He led you into a small closet-like room under a staircase.

"Unfortunately, this is all we have by means of privacy," James explained with an apologetic smile.

"That's alright," you said while looking as the small straw mattress taking up most of the floor space. "I'm not here on a pleasure cruise."

"I'll leave you to sleep then." He tipped his wide-brimmed hat in your direction and walked out. You could hear his boots on the stairs above you as he walked back up to the main deck. You threw your bag on the mattress and laid your head on it. You felt the ship's sway in the ocean as you tried to close your eyes to sleep. But there was too much running through your head to do so. Madison was a good person, but how much could you trust her with? The word 'hurricane' flashed in bold letters in the back of your mind and you couldn't get around that. Would Madison sail on and risk all to help you? You weren't quite sure. She was a pirate nonetheless. She could choose to save her ship and crew instead. Hell, if you were in her position, you would do the same thing.

And that was the very reason you were going to keep your mouth shut. All that mattered then was Jack.

* * * *

The days passed by agonizingly slow. You were anxious at all times. Madison noticed it with an irritating manner and ordered James to put you to work. You were grateful to have something to keep you busy, but James was always with you. Talking. And talking. And repeating things over. You much preferred to work in silence and plan your course of action once you reached Port Royal. Instead, you were treated to long, detailed accounts of chases and small suffles with the Royal Navy. You always listened half-heartedly and nodded here and there. Some days later, as the ship neared Jamaica, you noticed that James suddenly seemed distant. Your work that day was in silence. It was eerie. Later that night you told Madison about this oddness and it suprised you when she laughed.

"Why is that funny? I think something is wrong with him."

"You have been blind, haven't ya? Poor James. He's a fine example of a heartbroken fool. He was talking all about you last night during the nightwatch. Going about your smile and kind demeanor and whatnot. Then I told him you were Captain Jack Sparrow's lass and he'd better back off if he didn't want a sword run through him when we got to port."

"Oh," you said, slightly embarrased and suprised. You didn't realize the attention he was giving you was of the romantic sort.

"That pretty much shut him up, aye?"

* * * *

The wind picked up that night and you knew that you were nearing the storm path. The ship rocked more voilently and you couldn't sleep. You stayed up on deck with the others trying to keep the ship on course. Madison barked out orders that were barely heard over the howling wind. The worst of it came after midnight. The ocean swelled up over the decks and made a hell of time trying to keep everything secure. You were sure that the ship was going to flip on almost every wave peak. Hours later, dawn broke and land was visible. The storm was still in full force and the crew was exhasted, but Madison managed to keep morale up as the ship was expertly steered into the harbor. Small fishing boats where scattered in pieces along the rocks that made the jetty and you could barely make out the skeletons of ships on the beach. The next few hours seemed a surreal experience. You weren't thinking at your sharpest, being tired and worried and thinking of nothing but finding Jack. You vaguely remembered getting into the rowboat with Madison and James and fighting the choppy waters to the beach. You could recall the slightest sensation of running through the sharp rain up the street to the large manor house by the sea where the Turners live. But you did remember the damage quite clearly. Several front windows were blown out and waves crashed well above the little cliff where the house sat. Saltwater mixed in with rain as you wrenched open the door and ran into the surpised Turner couple standing in the front parlor holding lanterns.

Nobody said a word for a few moments. Elizabeth looked at you as if she just saw a ghost. Will wore a matching expression. Water dripped off of you, Madison, and James in huge puddles. Finally, Madison spoke.

"A few blankets and some tea would be lovely right about now."

The shock quickly wore away and Elizabeth went into the next room while Will rushed towards you with a weird expression. He said your name in a questioning tone and you nodded slowly, still trying to catch your breath.

"What happened? How did you get here?" Will asked quickly as Elizabeth walked back in the room carrying some blankets.

"Jack. Where's Jack?" You completely ignored Will's question and looked at him with a pleading expression.

"He left about an hour ago to go check on the Pearl. Why? What is the matter?" Before he even finished the question, you darted out the door and was once again running down the street towards the harbor. The wind was dying down and the trees would sparkle occasionally with an escaped ray of sunshine through the clouds. Rain was coming down in light droplets and stopped completely when you reached the harbor. Debris was everywhere. Wood scattered the beach and floated in the still-choppy tide. You looked all around the harbor. Not a soul could be seen. You called out Jack's name a few times and jogged along the beach. Waves of panic rippled through your body in sharp jolts. You couldn't find him. Then your eye wandered to the spot where the beach went around a cliff into the harbor where you last saw the Pearl docked in Port Royal.

You followed that flooded sandbar around and right as you turned the corner, you ran right into the Captain himself. Tears of relief and regret came pouring out of your very soul as you grabbed onto his bewildered form. It took all of your remaining strength to stay standing, for your whole body seemed to go numb.

* * * * *

(Author's Note - A small update, but an update nonetheless. Hey, a lot happened in this chapter...)

* * * * *

CHAPTER 4

It was a few moments before Jack Sparrow could fully realize what had happened to him just seconds ago. He placed his hands on your shoulders and slowly pushed you back so he could properly see your face. You stared through your tear-swollen eyes into his dark, kohl-brimmed ones just to incite a look of utter confusion on the pirate's face. He furrowed his brows and looked over your shoulder into the ocean before returning his gaze back to your face. He released you and looked up towards the sky.

“That's interesting. . .” he muttered.

You looked up, could not determine what held Jack's attention, and scowled at the Captain. “Is that all you can say?”

He looked into your face once more and said with an impish grin, “Well, I've said it before. The ladies always come crawling back af--”

He didn't get a chance to finish. You turned around and began walking towards town. After all that's happened. After that incredible journey from Charleston. The ladies all crawl back my ass...

“Your precious ship is fine by the way, since that seems to be all you care about!” you shouted angrily over your shoulder. Your stormed up the roads trying to remember the way back to the Turner Mansion. You muttered to yourself while you made you way back up the dirt streets. Then you got around to thinking and trying to rationalize things, as was your habit.

You started to regret storming off like that. It must have been the strong emotions you were feeling. They could change in the blink of an eye when flooded together as such. And being a lovesick woman certainly couldn't have helped it at all. The sun began to shine in full force and the brightness made your eyes ache. You suddenly became aware of how exhausted you were. And you still weren't over that pesky flu. All of the activity over the past couple of weeks certainly did not help it much. Your nose was stuffy and your body was cold in some places while feverishly hot in others. You may have regretted leaving, but something in your heart told you that Jack would be just fine now, so you continued on your way back to the Turners house for some rest. Madison and James were waiting outside the house when you arrived.

“He's fine,” you said shortly. “Where's Will and Elizabeth?”

“Out looking for you.” Madison looked at you through those ever-questioning eyes she always seemed to have stored for occasions such as this, but said nothing as you walked into the house. You just wanted to find a quiet place to lay down and sleep away the day. Your feet carried you off to the second level guest bedroom you occupied on your last “visit”.

You fell into a light sleep that seemed to rob you of energy rather than providing it. You heard voices and footsteps outside your door, but no one ever came in. Another storm came through after the hurricane darkening the room you were occupying. Thunder and lightening kept you awake. You could hear the wind blowing against the house and the waves crashing against rocks. Eventually the door creaked open and Elizabeth walked in to set a lighted lamp on the nightstand next to you. You pretended to be asleep until you heard the door snap shut. You then opened your eyes and turned your head towards the lamp.

“AHA! I knew you were awake!” Elizabeth said from the dark corner by the door. “Get up! There's no use being up here all alone. Come down and tell us what happened!”

“That was a dirty trick,” you said while wiping the sleep out of your eyes and stretching. Sitting up made your head spin for a few moments.

“Jack and Will are waiting downstairs. We were all rather worried about you.”

“Sure you all were,” you said sarcastically. But Elizabeth didn't catch the edge in your comment. You swung your legs off the bed noticing that you still had on your shoes and slightly damp jeans. Nothing about going downstairs appealed to you, but Elizabeth and Will deserved to know why you randomly showed up at their home uninvited and unannounced. You still felt groggy from the flu symptoms. Your hands and face felt clammy.

You follow Elizabeth downstairs and into the main parlor. Will stood up as the two of you entered. Jack, being Jack, just lounged about seeming very interested in picking at his nails. You sat down on the furthest seat away from him and Elizabeth took a place next to Will. An exaggerated yawn escapes your mouth and you struggled to suppress a cough. Lord, was this going to be tense. . .

You suddenly became aware that everyone was staring in your direction. “Huh?”

“I was just wondering about how... what... well, why you're here now, after disappearing for a couple weeks,” Elizabeth said. All eyes were locked on you. “And you look so different.”

You glanced at Jack, whose gaze was focused directly into your eyes. You looked away quickly. Maybe you owed Jack an explanation before the others. Especially after that reunion earlier that day. You look at the Turners and smile apologetically and stood up. “I really need to speak to Jack alone.”

The air felt unnaturally warm as you walked out of the parlor and out the back door to the balcony overlooking the sea. Debris was scattered around and water was still dripping steadily off the eaves of the house. Jack followed you out.

“Beautiful night, eh?” you muttered with a small smile. Jack just looked at you with a face showing no expression whatsoever. You took a deep breath and looked him dead in the eye. Just like going for a job interview. Except you were hoping for a second chance from a man you rather fancied, not a gig working at some office. “Jack, I'm sorry for the way I was this morning. I was just frustrated and tired and... I'm sorry.” Still, no emotion graced his features. “But I had a very good reason for coming back.

“Now hear me out, it's a strange story and even I have trouble trying to believe it. It's only been a couple of weeks for your since our last meeting, but for me it's been a couple of years. A very miserable two years. I went back feeling empty. A part of me was missing.” Damn. Those enticing brown eyes were still revealing nothing of his thoughts. “It was being out on the ocean. With a little bit of adventure every day. It was the danger. The people. It was you, Jack.”

Jack looked directly into your eyes. It was a softer expression than earlier. The eye contact was enough to make your heart skip a few beats.

“My only joy was Kylie, my best friend, but even she couldn't fill that hole. Every day I felt like another part of my life was being wasted. Everything I went back for was gone. And I felt so guilty for leaving all of this, that I refused to read your history. You are famous Jack! One of the greatest pirates that ever existed! Your stories have been made into movies and books and legends.”

You didn't care whether he knew what movies were or not. Jack was slowly moving his arm around you and pulling you closer. He practically pleaded. “Tell me more.”

You smirked. “You certainly can't ever hear enough about yourself, can you? Well, I'm afraid this is the bad part and you're not going to like what you hear.”

“I'm a grown man, luv. I'm sure I can stomach it ,” Jack drawled while he slowly moved his thumb in slow little circles on your waist. You try to ignore the gesture and pull away slightly. Worry still filled your heart when you told him.

“Two years after I left, and two weeks ago from today, I finally had the courage to read your history. It was amazing and I was absolutely absorbed in it until I got to the end. It was this very day when you died.”

“And yet I'm still breathing. The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow defeats death again. Why is that so unsettling?”

“Not to bruise your ego or anything, but if I hadn't come back, then you would for sure be six feet under already. Or hanging off of Gallows Point, whatever the dear Commodore would've preferred.”

“Bloody Norrington was going to kill me? That stuffy cad couldn't snuff me on several occasions if I remember correctly. I believe it highly unlikely that he would've today. Especially with that storm tearing the city apart. He barely would have the time to waste on me.”

“It wasn't Norrington! He just happened to stumble across your--” You couldn't get the word 'body' out. It was way to real for you. Even if Jack didn't believe he would've been dead.

“Well then, who was it? I ought to go hunt them down now--”

“It was you Jack. You killed yourself.” You gaged the look on his face for the reaction before continuing. It was one of those looks that seemed to say, 'Are you insane? How much have you had to drink?' “You thought the Pearl had sunk. And everything was gone. She is your most prized possession and your greatest love.” Jack furrowed his brows a little before you continued. “That's the thing that finally pushed me to come back. I did it for you.”

“So the Pearl is fine then?” Jack's voice was slightly frantic. You nodded and he smiled off towards the ocean. You grinned too after seeing more than a little relief flood his expression.

“And I'm sorry for my reaction this morning, but after all I went through to get back here, thats not what I wanted to hear.”

“Then we'll just have to remedy that.”

The pirate completely overwhelmed you with a deep kiss which left your disoriented for a couple of seconds before realizing what he was doing. The familiar sensation brought a flood of memories into your mind, and you were about to succumb to it all before you regained your wits. You gently pushed Jack away and frowned slightly.

“Jack, I don't want this to happen again. Lets start over with a clean slate. Take it very, very slow.” The look on his face almost resembled that of a pouting child. It amused you. “Lets focus on whatever the occasion calls for, and if we still feel they way we did, then we're bound to get there some day. But right now, lets be just shipmates. I'll even call you 'Captain' in front of the crew.”

“But that is going to be quite a hard concept to get used to. Especially since you are now so delectably curvy.” His hands ran up your sides from your hips to the top of your waist. His touch tickled through your t-shirt and you pushed his hands away.

“It's called a 'proper diet', Jack. It's what happens when you aren't stranded out at sea without food or water. You turned me into a bag of bones.”

“So all I have to do is feed you and you'll stay this way?” Jack asked as if you were a pet of some sort that needed regular care. You rolled your eyes and walked back into the Turner's parlor, very much aware that Jack's gaze followed you. Just this once, you'd let it slide.

Man, it felt good to be back.

* * * * *

(author's note: Sorry it's another short chapter, but I thought it was appropriate to end it here. You are happy, right? I don't know when the next update will be. I plan on updating Ireland before this, and you guys know how lazy I get with writing. Unfortunately that just can't be helped because I'm all stubborn like that. Until next time, adios!)

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CHAPTER 5

That night at the Turner house was amazing. It was such a happy reunion for you. After everyone learned your story, they were sympathetic, but happy to have you back. Will, Elizabeth, you and Jack all sat around the parlor talking and generally having a good time. Elizabeth even allowed rum in her house, to Jack's great pleasure.

It felt very odd, because just outside the house was destruction and death in everything in the wake of the massive hurricane. Something about the whole scene was eerie as hell. It was still windy out, every so often you would look out the window and see huge palm fronds blow by. Jack seemed to be edgy about this as well, and you noticed him glance out the window with the slightest expression of worry. The untrained Jack-observer wouldn't have noticed a thing.

It was rather late when Elizabeth and Will decided to retire to bed, definitely in the wee hours of the morning. Elizabeth was going over the mandatory hostess speech about making yourselves at home. “Take the room you had last time and if you need anything at all, don't be afraid to wake Will or myself up.”

After about fifty reassurances that you were settled for the night, Elizabeth went upstairs to join her husband. You were tired, but too excited to sleep. You were finally back to the world you had so foolishly escaped from. Sitting next to you was a man you loved-- wait... scratch that. You still weren't sure. Too much has happened that day to trust your head to make a sound decision, and you certainly were not going to let your emotions do it. Scared, relieved, angry, sick, tired, happy, content, cautious. These were all the things you felt during the course of the day after arriving to Port Royal and it was quite enough to last a month.

Highly emotional or not, you were back. A smile crept across your face. Jack took a long swig of rum and then looked out the window again. You caught his eye and he suggested what you wanted to do all evening. “Let's say we leave Mister and Missus Turner to enjoy the pleasures of wedded bliss and go out for some air.”

“What do you have in mind?” you asked with a smirk. You knew perfectly well where he wanted to go.

“Oh, I heard of this cove where pirates sometimes keep their boats to hide from the navy.”

“Pirates! You don't say...”

Ten minutes later, you and Jack were walking through the dark streets of Port Royal trying to avoid anyone of the militaristic nature. Guards were really hard to avoid; they were everywhere. You supposed it had to do with post-hurricane looting and pillaging. Whatever the reason, every few minutes, Jack would grab your arm and pull you into the shadows. The first time he did it, you weren't expecting it and almost got the two of you caught with your loud protests. Jack covered your mouth with one bejeweled hand and pointed at the guard with the other.

When you got out of the darkened streets that made up the town, Jack pulled you through a small tavern as a “detour”. On the way through, Jack picked up a couple of mugs off someone's table and handed one to you as you made your way out the door at the other end, which came out right on the beach. You couldn't help to smirk at his look of pure innocence after downing the mug in a few gulps and throwing it towards the water. You sampled the liquid in your own mug. It was pretty much disgusting, but you drank it all anyway because it felt like heat flowing through your veins.

The tide was up, so you and Jack had to wade through the water to get around the cliffs that made the cove where the Black Pearl was anchored. The water got pretty deep at some points, and it seemed easier just to swim.

Mr. Gibbs was waiting near a long boat hidden in some off-shore shrubs. He didn't hear you and Jack approach, so you caught him completely unaware when you walked up to witness his drunken rendition of some sea shanty.

“Oye, Jack! It took ye long enough to get here.” Gibbs made to take another swig of rum from the bottle in his hand and stopped when he noticed you. “Well sweet mother of pearl! We was all worried sick! Where'd ye get off to, lass?”

“Another story for another time, mate,” Jack said while dragging the longboat towards the water. Gibbs threw his now-empty bottle into the boat and started to push as well. Eventually, you made it out to the ship. You pulled yourself up the ladder and inwardly gasped as you once again stood on the decks of the most magnificent ship ever made. You walked over to the other side and felt the dark wood of the railing. A flood of memories filled your senses and you couldn't help but smile as a cool breeze blew your hair back.

Perfect. That was the only word to describe that particular moment.

Gibbs staggered off to go sleep and Jack slowly walked up behind you. He sensed your contentedness at being back and he himself felt a smile stretch across his face. Hours ago, he thought everything he had in the world was gone for sure, but the truth was now the exact opposite. Everything he could possibly want was right there. You were standing on his ship, turning around to face him with a look he had never seen on you before. It was a look of certainty. The rain clouds parted in the horizon behind you and moonlight mixed with starlight over the ocean. Yes, everything he could possibly want was right there. Without really remembering that he was supposed to take things slow, Jack grazed his hand along your jawline and guided your face up to meet his.

You, also forgetting that you were taking things slow, completely gave in to the kiss. At first, it was slow and tender. When your broke apart, you looked in his eyes and pulled him back to you, this time in a fierce kiss that even Will and Elizabeth would envy. Jack tasted like salt and alcohol. Almost like a margarita, you mused to yourself. Jack felt you smile into the kiss and drew back to speak.

“I've missed you.” He then commenced kissing you again. “It's been too long.”

You broke apart to respond. “You've no idea what a long time it was.”

Jack then dragged his lips across your jaw and down your neck very slowly. “I think you should break this habit of running away. Look whats it doing to your self-control.”

“Mmm... well perhaps we should retry that conversation up in the crow's nest.”

Jack reluctantly pulled his lips from your neck and followed you as you began the climb to the top. You froze about halfway up after taking a gander down into the slightly-choppy water a good distance below. You weren't about to look up to see how much was left. Oh god... maybe this wasn't the best thing to do after being away from ships for so long. Not to mention your senses being clouded due to lack of sleep.

You heard Jack dramatically sigh in annoyance below you, but you still clinged to the ropes like a scared cat. You closed your eyes and tried to will yourself to move, but to no effect. After about a minute, you felt Jack climbing up, half-over you. He put one of his hands over yours, causing you to relax as his sort of massaged it. He smirked at the effect and picked up your hand and put it on the next rope up. Then that trademarked cheeky grin of his spread across his face and he climbed above you up and towards the top. “Unbelievable,” you muttered to yourself and swallowed your fear to follow him.

As before, the climb was completely worth it. It began to rain lightly as soon as you got settled against the mast next to Jack, but you didn't care. You were already wet from trying to get to the ship anyway. It was nearing sunrise, and the eastern horizon was lightening to a weird purplish-gray color you haven't seen before. The moon was on the other side of your view range, fighting to be noticed through fast moving clouds in the inky blue. The days following a hurricane would give you the weirdest weather sometimes.

“So, Jack, what now? What does a captain such as yourself do when he's not off on some random adventure?”

“That's a good question, luv. A captain such as myself is always off on some random adventure.”

“And how does one stumble upon said adventures?”

“Just wait for the opportune moment. The adventure comes to you.”

As if on cue, the sound of a cannon vibrated across the water. A few seconds later, the Black Pearl shuddered as the shot hit her starboard side. Jack yelled some profanity you couldn't understand and took out his spyglass. A small ship flying unknown colors had sailed into the mouth of the cove in the cover of rain and darkness. It was blocking the Pearl's escape. Jack placed the spyglass in your hand.

“Find out who they are,” he said and began the descent down. You squinted through and could make out nothing but dark shadows. If only the sun would come up already.

Down below, you heard the crew working around the deck and Jack and Gibbs shouting orders. Someone gave the order to fire. Cannonballs shot towards the offending ship and hit her hard. The ship turned and started running out to sea. Pirates were climbing up to release the sails to give chase. Amazement at their speed and agility distracted you a moment. It must have been a practiced skill indeed to get the large ship movie so quickly.

Trying your luck with the spyglass again, you watched as the small ship sped out of the cove and towards Port Royal. Just before the ship disappeared from view completely, the first rays of the rising sun illuminated the cove and water in it, giving you a glimpse of the flag. It looked like a modern-day American flag with the red and white horizontal stripes, but instead of the patch of blue spangled with white stars, there was a red cross on a white background. Flying under that flag was a smaller, darker one with light markings you couldn't make out.

Very, very slowly, you began to climb down from the rigging. This was proving to be exceptionally difficult because the ship was rocking more violently in the choppy waters as it turned to give chase. Eventually, you were able to climb down all the way down into a flurry of activity on deck. Jack was at the helm using his expert steering skills to catch the ship in the most efficient manner. You walked clumsily up to him to report what you saw.

“The flag was red and white with stripes and a cross in the top left corner,” you said quickly.

Jack considered this information very carefully and ended up surprising everyone when he gave the orders to stop. Gibbs looked at him in disbelief. “Cap'n, we're the faster!”

“Aye, indeed we are. But that ship,” Jack animatedly pointed his hand around the cove where the ship just disappeared, “Is flying colors of the East India Trading Company. Either she just found us and was going to report we are here, or she was trying to lure us out, savvy?” He elaborated at the blank expressions of some of the crew members. “Gentlemen, why would she fire one shot at us and run?”

“Because she's scared?” one crewman offered.

“Because they have a trap set!” Gibbs exclaimed.

“Shot on!” Jack said. “I knew you were always sharp, mate.”

“But Jack,” you said warily as everyone snapped their heads in your direction. “It seems we are going to have to fight either way. Either the Pearl springs their trap now or they will eventually make their way into this cove.”

“Aye, she's right!” Gibbs said. “What are we to do, Cap'n?”

Before Jack could answer, you voiced your opinion. “We should sail out at once! Like you said, there's the possibility that ship is only reporting us and we could get away easily if she is. And if we have to fight our way out, then so be it. Better sooner than later.”

Everyone looked at Jack for orders. He thought for a split second. “Go on then, do as she says!”

You inwardly smirked as everyone went about to follow your orders. Well, they were sort of your orders. It was an unusual experience nonetheless. You heard the guns being prepared on the deck below. Whatever was waiting around that wall of rock was going to get blasted good. Jack was focusing his attention to steering. He wanted to get out of the cove in an angle that would not leave him vulnerable to sudden attack, but he also wanted to be the one who ordered the sudden attack first.

Everyone seemed to be holding their breath when the massive black ship began to sail full speed around the cove wall. At first, nothing was visible but a few small warships in the harbor, but everyone was looking in the wrong direction. The sound of fifty cannons being fired off to the port side had everyone looking around in shock. You couldn't believe what you saw at first. It was simply impossible.

Most of the fifty cannonballs hit the Pearl broadside. Jack instinctively pushed you down on the deck. You could hear the wood groaning at such force. When the first round was over, you raised your head up and stared at the biggest ship you have ever seen in your life.

“Return fire!” Jack shouted at Gibbs, who relayed the message to the gunners. The Black Pearl's own firepower seemed weak against the monstrous ship. Jack looked at your shocked expression and explained, “It's a British Ship of the Line, luv. We aren't getting out of this easy.”

“Have you ever battled one?” you asked hopefully.

“I've never even seen one. Come to think of it, I've never even heard of a Ship of the Line being out here in the Caribbean. They are normally used for blowing apart enemy warships over in Europe. At least eighty guns and more men then you could possibly imagine operate that ship.”

“What are we going to do?” you asked nervously as the three decks of cannons exploded from the other ship. Different options ran through your head, but all of them ended with either the ship going down or the lot of you being hanged. You nervously put your hands in your pockets and felt it... Bingo.

Jack was just about to order to fire back again when you put your hand over his mouth to stop him. “Listen to me! Don't get the Pearl blown apart just yet. I can get us out of jail! Just surrender!”

“Whatever you are going on about, please do explain. Quickly.”

You reached deep into your jeans pocket and fished out that small disk of wood you used for time travel. You held it up so Jack could see it. “This is what will get us out of jail. It will bring us back to my time, and then to Charleston. If we act quickly enough and find a fast enough ship, we can come back and save your ship and the rest of the crew before they become decorations on Gallows Point.”

“That seems overly complicated. Any other ideas?”

“Fine. Get your damned ship blown up. See you in the next life, Jack.” You started to walk away. Jack grabbed your arm just as a cannonball flew right in front of your face. Your eyes widened at your near sudden death, but there was no time to dwell on it.

“Alright, we'll do it your way. Mr. Gibbs!”

“Aye, Cap'n?” Gibbs shouted from the bast of the main mast.

“Run up a white flag.”

The crew looked stunned. Gibbs stared at Jack like he had grown an extra ear. “But Jack, we don't have a white flag. We aren't accustomed to... surrendering.”

“Then improvise.”

“You're willing to risk all our necks to save your ship?” someone shouted from below. Jack countered with a smirk, “You are all willing to risk your necks to save my ship by staying to fight.” He continued after successfully confusing some of the crew. “I'll be honest. We either stay and go down with the ship like true, noblemen, or we surrender and try our luck at escape. I personally, am no nobleman and have no intention to give my life up so wastefully.”

“But what about the Pearl?” Gibbs said while placing his hand on the smooth wood of her railings.

Jack grinned. “Do you really think the navy or the East India Company would scuttle the infamous Black Pearl? We'll get her back.”

After the explanations, somebody took off their white shirt and raised it up a line as the symbol of surrender. One of the smaller naval ships from the harbor crashed along the side and a company of British soldiers boarded the ship and arrested the entire crew.

An officer accompanied by several heavily armed soldiers strode up to where you and Jack were standing by the helm. His every step was full of pompous self-importance. “Jack Sparrow. We've been waiting a very long time for this.”

Jack gave a sarcastic little smile. “With all due respect, mister... ahh...”

“Lieutenant. Lieutenant Gillette.”

“Well then, Lieutenant Gatsby, I'll have you know that it was not you or your dinky little tub of a boat that made me surrender. I have a score to settle, so you can go tell your Commodore Norrington or Lord Beckett, whoever the hell you redcoats report to these days, that I'd like a word.”

“I am sure they will be honored,” the Lieutenant said dryly.

You narrowed your eyes at the officer who put the iron cuffs around your wrists and followed silently as the crew was brought aboard the small ship that was tied to the Black Pearl. The second time you were arrested seemed so much more serious than the first. You couldn't imagine the significance in sending a British Ship of the Line after Jack. You'd soon find out, however.

TBC...

(A/N – Jeez.. that was a lot longer than I intended. Sorry this wasn't up by the last update, a little thing called “college” got in the way and I was forced to spend my free time doing math and other nonsense. Terrible, I know. That said, I will try to get the next chapter in when I can, but you guys know me, so don't hold your breath.)

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