Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, although I certainly wouldn't mind owning At World's End on DVD. I probably will one day. Also, far be it from me to mind the possibility of owning Captain Jack Sparrow… -cough- Not likely to happen. Used without permission, not for profit, etc.

Sentimental
by misaoshiru

Captain Jack Sparrow was many things. Disloyal was never one of them, even if it sometimes seemed to be. In his line of work, the only friends worth having were the ones who could handle their fair shares of peril. Even if Jack was occasionally the instigator. As such, he never really thought twice about putting his friends in harm's way if it was to his benefit. It was easy to rationalize away, as long as it was something he knew they could handle. Otherwise, he couldn't have answered, "I'm good with it," when Jones asked if he could live with himself after dooming Will to a lifetime of servitude aboard the Flying Dutchman. He knew that the blacksmith, stick in the mud though he may be, was the son of Bootstrap Bill Turner, who was one hell of a pirate. Furthermore, Will Jr. was a big boy who could take care of himself and, with any luck, retrieve the key while he was at it. Not too shabby a plan, if he did say so himself.

However, for a pirate, he was an honorable man. Well, that's what some people called it, anyway; he preferred the term "sentimental." It was a trait he knew for a fact would get him killed one day. Hell, it already had once. Even so, when he saw Will go down, a sword he had forged stabbing right through his heart, and Elizabeth running toward him, kneeling by him, begging him not to die…

What the bloody hell was he thinking, giving up a chance for immortality like that? Damn it, he was going soft in his old age.