Title: Recompense

Author: WickedRum

Disclaimer: I have no right to use these characters, Disney does. I do so mostly for my own entertainment.

Summary/Pairing: When Elizabeth learns the navy has a plan to hunt down Jack Sparrow, she sets sail once more to warn him. Obviously Sparrabeth.

Set: post AWE.

Genre: romance/angst.

Rating: probably PG 13, for violence.

Captain Jack Sparrow's blockade of Roatan, Cap Francais and alternatively, Saint Georges was a well known operation in the Spanish Main to be avoided by all merchant and most pirate ships alike.

When Elizabeth's first heard about Jack's recent luck she could hardly believe it. Not only did Jack get his Pearl back a few years ago, but he had also acquired a couple of other, lighter vessels as well. Then with the Pearl as his flagship he first ordered for all three anchors to be dropped a little off just before Saint Georges harbor and he took up residency there for weeks, not letting any ship in or out without giving them a percentage of their cargo. It worked like taxation really, and it worked really well.

For the couple of years Elizabeth kept hearing about him blocking off different harbors on a regular basis only two of the ships they attacked was sunk and there tended to be no casualties either, the trick had worked simply on reputation only, the reputation of a victorious ship that came out as the winner over the Flying Dutchman once and the one that was famed to have sent the HMS Endavour to the depths.

Jack, once again, has used the power of legend very well, but Elizabeth was surprised he kept coming back. Although dangerous for the navy to know you will turn up by one of those three harbors at some point, the whole thing just seemed too routine and well organized for Jack. Wanting to ask him the explanation for it was something that was nagging her for long, but she hoped she'd finally have the chance to do so, although the reason for her meeting him was not the most pleasant. With her located in Port Royal and mingling with ex acquaintances of her father she came to believe Jack was going to be attacked by all three first rate ships of the line of the East India Trading Company stationed in the Caribbean, under the command of Lord Warlow, adamant on making his mark.

As soon as she learned about the plan she asked her neighbor, wife of lieutenant Pembroke if she could take care of her son for her as she thought leaving him with a naval officer's family would be the safest in any case and boarded the Tree Bark, a small merchant ship heading to Roatan with necessities, hoping Captain Sparrow will be at Tortuga where he was alleged to spend his time between blockades.

Elizabeth too, was hoping her old rescuer would be in Tortuga as well, for different reasons, but she was wrong. The sound and smoke of the ongoing battle reached them first before they could identify the ships before them, but by then Elizabeth was already gone in one of the longboats, her weapon hidden under her skirt. If she was belated, Jack could at least use those skills Will once thought her of wielding a sword. In the midst of the deafening explosions of the cannons, making the Pearl rock as she climbed aboard she went instantly into action, not minding the smell of burning flesh and the splinters of the main mast. She briefly caught a sight of Pintel and Ragetti running to outdodge the bombardment, but otherwise she could see noone she recognized. No matter, she would know which side to fight on and kicked one of the redcoats in the face when he tried to climb up after her. The deck was scattered with navy men and pirates alike, it was impossible to determine which side had the advantage. She held her cutlass up amongst the sounds of things breaking, canon and gun fire, the clashing of swords. There was the thump of a fallen pirate behind her, but she didn't have time to look who it was. She blocked an attack and registered a bullet whizzing past her head and penetrating the mast instead before shoving her opponent out the way, her mind focused on one thing and one thing only, finding Jack, making sure he was all right. Maybe she should try the helm. She spun round over and over again, more defending herself on her way up to the wheel than anything else.

A redcoat with full admiral markings was up there and as he moved a bit to the side she could see Jack challenging his sword with his own blade, a sequence of movements that seemed quite easy for him, but Elizabeth had enough knowledge of the use of swords to know that was anything but effortless.

Somebody swung at her, forcing her back to a battle of her own and to bring her cutlass up high to stop the blow. She jumped back, then slammed her cutlass one way, before slashing the other way quickly, confusing her opponent, something she had seen from Jack himself. Her pleased smile didn't come to life though when the man fell down the stairs unbalanced as most people froze at a gunshot ringing out a lot closer than the others coming from the other ships.

The man she recognized as Lord Warlow, present chairman of East India Trading was obviously less withdrawn in battle than his predecessor. Holding onto the rigging and standing on top of the railing he fired one single shot only a few feet away from Jack and right into the middle of the pirate captain's chest. He made a "you're welcome" gesture at the admiral and swung off the way he came, his job done. With their pirate lordie down, the rest of the pirates will give up quickly, he knew that with utter certainly from experience.

The force of the hit pushed Jack with his back to the wheel, but his right hand was still feebly holding up his cutlass even with his strength gone, a fountain of blood having found its place in his chest. His eyes searched for aim in marvel, trying to find the location the scream of a woman came from than anything else.

The admiral found himself distracted by the same source and taking advantage of it, Elizabeth put such an amount of force in her stab than ever before, burying the whole length of her cutlass in the officer's side. Nothing would stand in her anger and her way to the other man with a mortal wound she came to see in the first place to tell him so many things, all of which could be expressed with three simple words she shouted desperately at him while trying to break his fall as he slipped down to his side, cutlass spiraling down with a clunk when life left him.

"I love you!" Elizabeth had no idea if he'd heard her as he took his last labored breath. She screamed again, shaky and drawn out till her voice drowned in a sob. Some time later, Elizabeth didn't know or care how much she was jolted out of the buzzing void she found herself in by somebody touching her.

"Drop yer weapon, Mrs. Elizabeth," Gibbs held his hand on her shoulder, "we have to surrounder to the navvy."

tbc