A/N: Just my storm. Nothing more.

The clouds build suddenly on the horizon and by the time Jack sees them they are too late to avoid. "Men, batten the hatches! Tie down anything that moves an' fer God's sake save tha rum!" He realizes I am on deck. "Lizzie, go in me quarters an' hold on tight."

I give him a look. "I've as much invested in this as any other man in this ship. How can I help?"

He scowls. "By followin' ye cap'n's orders."

"I'm not going to hide in the bowels of the Pearl just to make you happy."

"I've plenty ta worry 'bout wit'out thinkin' ye been o'erboard e'ery minute."

I roll my eyes. "Such confidence."

His patience is done. "Go 'low now 'fore I drag ye there meself."

Disgusted, I do what I am told. For the moment.

The wind has kicked up and whips my hair around something fierce. By the time I am securely in my hiding place, the Pearl is being tossed back and forth. I hurry to put away Jack's effects that aren't bolted down and then sit primly on his bed while I wait for the right moment to go back on deck. He knows I won't stay, I tell myself, so it's not that I'm not following orders. The men need all the help available and because I am a woman is no bloody excuse to hide in the Captain Quarters. Deeming enough time has passed, I grab my hat, tuck my honey blond hair underneath it, then make my way back to the treacherous top deck.

Jack is at the helm, sheets of rains drenching him while he battles nature to keep his ship afloat. Walking is nearly impossible as the deck turns starboard then back. It is impossible to walk a straight line. I manage to make it to Long, who is tying down a black sail. I give him a much needed hand.

After he secures the sail he gives me a pierced look. "Go back down, Miss Liz'Beth. This here ain't no place fer ye."

I glare at him. "I'll not hide while my men need my help."

"Tha Cap'n said--"

"Oh, hang when the captain said. He's the most important man on this ship and he's out here."

"But, Miss Liz'Beth..."

I roll my eyes, a gesture lost in the rain. "I'll not go down with this ship hiding below. Now, excuse me." I slowly make my way across the slippery dock to where Mr. Gibbs is bellowing out orders.

"You, lad," he points to me and I realize the driving, stinging rain has made him half blind. "Go up tha mast an' secure tha top sail. Ye be small 'nough ta have no problem."

The footholds are slippery and I struggle to keep my balance as I climb. Twice my footing is lost completely and I almost plummet down to the deck. Or the sea, depending on how sideways the ship is tossed. My heart beats wildly in my chest as I clutch tightly to my hold. I finally make it to the top and perform my job to the best of my ability.

Nature helps me down as I lose my footing mostly down the mast and the last thing I think it that Jack is going to be pretty angry with me.

I come to lying in bed. I try to move but everything hurts and I reach up to scratch my head only to find a bandage covering my forehead. Someone is pacing but my head hurts too much to look. I must have moaned aloud because the pacing stops by my bedside and a worried kohl-eyed captain is staring down at me. "What happened?" I ask.

The look of relief is quickly replaced with anger on Jack's face. "What happened be ye disobeyed ye cap'n an' nearly died in tha process."

"Was the storm last night?"

He shakes his head. "Try three nights ago."

"My head hurts."

"Good," he says, nastily. "Mayhaps ye think 'fore ye disobey 'gain."

I give him a tired smile. "Doubtful."

He sighs before sitting on the side of the bed. "I be glad ye be alright, Lizzie."

"Me as well. May I have a drink?"

I smile as the captain goes to do my bidding for the first time.