AN: Whoo, I just saw Dead Man's Chest, and it pretty much blew me away. Here's me hoping the Jack-Elizabeth relationship happens. Anywhoo, this lil thing is my contribution to the POTC fanfiction world. Surely, one of the less readable contributions, but a contribution, nonetheless. Enjoy if you can stomach it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean (and by extension, Jack Sparrow…and by more of an extension, Mr. Depp)

Bloody Smirk

"Aye!"s resonated around the small hut as the survivors of the Kraken attack answered Tia Dalma's question: were they willing to do anything to save Jack Sparrow. Captain Jack Sparrow.

All attention was centered on Elizabeth now. They were expecting an answer. It should have been an easy call, after all. Jack had given his life to save them, and these gentlemen expected the woman to jump to the rescue.

Alas, Elizabeth knew better. True, the guilt had gnawed at her stomach as soon as the thought of leaving Jack behind crossed her mind. But the shame had lessened at her determination. This insufferable man had left them to their doom more times than she could count, and at the time she wanted to wipe that lazy grin from his face.

So she kissed him, wanting to lure him to the mast, where she would shackle him. Ah, but her determination left her as soon as her lips touched his, and the taste of salt and rum kept the guilt and shame at bay. For a few short moments of bliss, she was perfectly alive, and it scared her, that she should find such contentment in the arms of he-who-was-about-to-die.

Jack's back hit the mast, and snapped her world back into focus. The cuffs clicked shut. The captain was trapped.

I'm not sorry. She couldn't remember telling a bigger lie in her life.

She looked at his face, and was startled to find his mouth twisted in a smirk.

Pirate. She knew what he meant. He wasn't alluding to the fact that she had chained him; he was talking about the damned kiss. She needn't have done that…there was more than one way to lure him to the mast. No, she had acted upon a selfish desire, just like a pirate.

She looked into his eyes, his blasted kohl rimmed eyes. Try as she might, she couldn't find a trace of fear in them. The dark depths were calm and understanding. She fought the urge to smile; what did she expect? He was the oh-so-charming and oh-so-crazy Jack Sparrow. He'd probably jumped at the beast with his sword, that smirk still plastered onto his face.

Bloody Pirate.

She shouldn't be feeling this way. She shouldn't want to rescue the man she'd murdered. Then again, she shouldn't have kissed him either, and that hadn't stopped her.

"Yes" I'll go. I'll save him.

And in her mind, she smiled. She'd find him. She'd see his dark eyes again, and that delicious smirk.

She'd have him.

AN: Told ya it was pretty unreadable. Oh well, what can I do. Compliments are adored, constructive criticism is appreciated (somewhat), and flames will be read and laughed at hysterically. Toodles!

Anaii