"Where's Jack?" Will surveyed Elizabeth's guilt-ridden face accusingly. She looked around at the crew, cramped into the small longboat. Her eyes passed over everyone, averting her glance from Will's.
"He elected to stay behind, give us a chance." Even she didn't believe her lie. She could still taste the Captain's salty lips on hers, the warmth of his touch. She dared a glance at Will. He knows… something. She redirected her glance ahead of her at Marty, not able to bear Will's gaze any longer. She almost shouted, "Go!" Turning her head to hide her face from Will's searching eyes, her mind filled with thoughts. Her body swayed back and forth as she held back tears. What have I done?
Will could feel his heart sinking as he saw them kiss. Or rather, saw Elizabeth kiss Jack. He felt the burning anger rise when she wouldn't look at him, wouldn't say anything. He couldn't fathom what he had done to deserve this. He sat in silence, watching Elizabeth as she slowly rocked back and forth. He wished he could say something, anything to calm her, to comfort her. He heard the cracking and splashing that was the Pearl as if from a terrible distance. He thought he heard a voice somewhere near, calling to him.
He rose from his trance at a sharp whack on the head from Raghetti. Mr. Gibbs looked at him questioningly, at which time Will realized he had been being called. "Sorry, didn't catch that." He tried to look normal, or as normal as one can look after a terrible ordeal such as the one they just went through.
"Do we have a destination?" Mr. Gibbs tried to decipher Will's estranged expression. When he failed to answer, Mr. Gibbs tried to reach him again. "Will? Should we go as far as Port Royal? Upriver to see Tia Dalma?"
"Whichever one's closer." Elizabeth looked up for the first time, answering the question. "I need to get out of this boat." I need to think. As she turned her head away again, she caught a glimpse of Will's face. His pained expression, trying to understand hers. She tried to say something, tried to say even his name, but she felt the breath catch in her throat. She was too overcome with regret and guilt to face the crew. He wouldn't… understand. I can't tell him. He doesn't have to deal with this.
Elizabeth… It'll be alright. It's over. The words formed in his head. He tried to voice them. But he knew it was a lie. It wasn't over yet. Not for him. He remembered the look on his father's face when he left. He remembered his promise. He knew it wasn't over for her either. I do what I can. I fix things. But this…this I can't fix. "Elizabeth…" Her eyes met his, and he held her gaze. He wouldn't let her go.
Marty and Cotton, at the edge of the boat, were searching for land. Marty searched the shoreline for the familiar entrance to the canal, but couldn't find it. He looked over at Mr. Gibbs. "We are going Upriver, aren't we?" Gibbs nodded sullenly. He had just come to an important realization.
"We can't go back to Port Royal. But then, we're on the wrong side of the Isla Cruces."
Raghetti gaped at the words. His arms were tiring from the rowing. "We have to turn around?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked over at Pintel. They were both out of energy. Gibbs could see it too.
"Someone switch jobs with Raghetti and Pintel. They can't row forever." He looked around at the weary troupe. Elizabeth volunteered after a short pause. I need to do something. Get my mind off it. Will, seeing his opportunity, volunteered as well.
Will was hit by a wave of grief as he remembered something Jack had said to him so long ago. Wait for the opportune moment… If any moment was opportune, it was this one. He felt the aftershock of grief in the form of anger. Remembering Jack, and the last time he saw him. The sudden burst of anger set an extra force into rowing, and the boat began to turn unnecessarily. He tried to channel the energy, but found it increasingly difficult. Elizabeth looked around at him angrily. He looked right back, staring into her eyes. Her look changed from anger to guilt, and she rapidly withdrew her gaze, looking in front of her at the retreating shoreline, wishing she were standing on it, rather than here with the crew.
The members of the crew began to doze, one by one, as the couple continued rowing. Determinedly looking anywhere but at each other, not saying a word. Once or twice Will tried to capture her gaze again, but she wouldn't let him.
The clouds gathered in the darkening sky, the sun illuminating the party, making it glow soft gold. The first drops of rain woke the crew, as the air cooled. It wasn't long before the rain intensified, drenching the crew and gathered in the boat. Will and Elizabeth were growing weary, and so switched places with Marty and Cotton, moving to opposite ends of the boat. They had nowhere to look but into each other's eyes as Gibbs worked on bailing the water out of the boat. The boat gave a violent shake and water pooled at Elizabeth's feet. The boat was rapidly filling with water, slowly tipping on it's bow. The waves became choppy and rough as the storm grew. With one particularly terrible shake, the bow delved into the water and the boat began to sink.
The crew was panicked; there was nowhere to go but into the angry waters. Elizabeth was first to be pulled underwater. Will, on his way down, was able only to say one thing. He whispered it as if it were a secret he wanted not to be heard. "Elizabeth…"