Disclaimer: All these characters are owned by a mouse and a frozen man. A/N: I wrote this when our geography teacher abandoned us for half an hour, and in history when I was bored. Sorry if it sucks. (I really hope this hasn't been done before. I don't intend to steal others ideas) Please read and review and let me know what you think. Summary: Jack is falling, in more ways than one

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jack Sparrow was falling. He was used to a great many things in life, but falling was not among them. For a pirate, falling was bad. Well, it's not good for anyone, but for pirates, falling was usually associated with death, or at least severe injuries. Jack's last fall had been cut short, and not by the rope around his neck. No, a sword had shortened his already short short drop- his sudden stop had was mercifully not fatal.

Now he was falling again. Falling with no Will Turner t come to the rescue. If he'd only thought of it before he fell. Only thought to grab the young blacksmith and drag him away from that wretched woman, and over the edge with him. He'd soon realise that a piratical life with Jack was much better than a life on land as the husband of the Governer's daughter. It would take time, but guilt would fade and freedom would sink its claws into him.
But will wasn't here, wasn't falling alongside Jack. With a start, Jack realised that this was the third fall for him since Will had broken him out of gaol. He'd fallen up on the gallows from the trapdoor, and he'd fallen from the wall. But he had also fallen in love. He had fallen hard, for young Will Turner.

Jack hit the water without feeling it. It was only instinct that made him kick up for the surface and towards the Black Pearl. With each stroke, he felt himself falling still, this time into despair. His heart and soul wanted nothing more than to return to shore, and bring Will to sea with him, but the logical part of his mind- and a wish to stay alive- kept himswimming towards the ship.

As he was pulled on board the Black Pearl, he knew there was no chance he could go back for Will. He'd leave the whelp with his 'bonny lass' for the time being, until the heat died down. Jack took the wheel from Anamaria and ordered the crew to get to work. It seemed that Norrington wasn't going to be on their tail from the start (an honorable man, that Commodore. Although Jack did wish he'd insisted Elizabeth marry him and keep her word) but Jack had no desire to tempt the man into changing his decision to allow them a head start. He set the course out into the open seas, then turned back to look at Port Royal. Elizabeth and Will stood on the barracks, watching him sail away. Jack sighed, resoving to return to Port Royal as soon as possible. Farewell for now, young William. I'll be back for you. You're mine, whether you know it or not.

And up on the barracks, Will stood, wondering why he felt suddenly empty, even though the woman he loved stood with him.