I honestly did not catch that Torrington and Norrington thing until it was brought up lol :P And I'm setting this story between...Curse of the Black Pearl and Dead Man's Chest. I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. Review please :)

Tortuga, Secrets and Thieves

Jas listened to the pirates dock the ship at the Tortuga dock and she carefully crawled out of her hiding place. She snagged another bottle of rum for later and tucked it in her belt. She peered above deck and noted that only three pirates were left to guard the ship. All of which were engrossed in a game of cards. Jas rolled her blue eyes and hurried off of the ship and into the main part of Tortuga.

"Sometimes I wonder why I even bother coming here," Jas muttered and wrinkled her nose in disgust as a man stumbled by drenched in mud and his own bile. Admittedly, she herself was not the picture of cleanliness, but her hair was free of lice and her body free of mould and fungus. She glanced up at the pub and slipped inside. She was bound to find another ship to catch a ride on.

She settled herself on a stool up on the second floor and pulled the bottle from her belt. She uncorked it and took a swig before resting her chin in her hand and glancing around the pub. Nothing but dirty pirates playing cards and others leering at her. Nothing unusual.

"...the sacred ruby of Jalapa Island."

Jas arched an eyebrow as she picked up this tidbit of conversation and turned her gaze towards the speaker. She immediately recognized the first man. It was none other than Captain Jack Sparrow! But she had no idea who the man with the grey mullet chops was. She moved a few stools over and pretended to be interested at the sword collection on the wall while she listened.

"Aye Mr. Gibbs. But what does this ruby do for me?" Jack questioned, taking a long drink of his rum.

"Well Cap'n, t'is extremely valuable it is. Any man would pay a hefty price, they would." Gibbs persuaded.

"And how do you know that you're source is trustworthy?"

"What would he gain from lying?"

"Good point. Set sail for Jalapa Islands and ready the Pearl. We set sail on open oceans as soon as dawn breaks over the horizon. And a few more bottles of rum."

Jas smiled thoughtfully and ran a finger around the rim of her bottle. A sacred ruby sure sounded like it would pay for a ship and crew. It certainly was a start.

Do you really think you can out-pirate Captain Jack Sparrow?

Jas hummed and carefully weighed her options. Jack would be a hard man to trick, but if she got to the island first, then she should have no problem.

And how, pray tell, are you going to find this sacred ruby?

There ought to be a book about it somewhere. Captain Teague must have some ancient text on this sort of thing.

And you think you can best Captain Teague because...

"Bloody inner voice," Jas hissed. Anything was worth a try, was it not? All she had to do was find a way to get to Shipwreck Cove.

A cool blade was pressed to her throat and for a moment Jas couldn't breathe. As quickly as the blade had arrived, it disappeared. Jas thought she imagined it at first before noticing the sudden lack of weight against her chest.

"BLOODY LATCH!" Jas howled in outrage and leapt out of her seat. She could see her amulet clutched in a grimy fist as the thief dove down the stairs. She took off after him and ignored the amused and pitting stares. These people obviously thought she couldn't do anything.

Instead of running for the stairs, she ran up to the railing that prevented the pirates and sailors from toppling to the first floor, though it rarely worked. She launched herself over the railing and tackled the thief below.

"Yer mad, you are!" The man hollered and attempted to stab her with his dagger.

"I am not!" Jas snapped back and wrestled the knife away from her throat. She swung her knee up and got him in the gut. One hand locked around the wrist holding the knife and the other keeping his other hand from slapping her in the face, Jas looked in disgust at his grimy hand and shuddered. But she really wanted her amulet back...

She sank her teeth onto his wrist and the man cried out in pain. She refused to let go until her amulet was dropped and she broke through the skin.

Jas snagged her amulet off of the ground and slammed her boot into his face for good measure before gagging and wiping his blood off of her lip.

"I think I just gave myself a disease." She hissed and stormed out the pub doors, not noticing the impressed applause that exploded behind her.

...

"Bloody wench 'ill pay, she 'ill." The man growled and was about to chase after a revolted Jas when a sword pointed at his neck made him freeze.

"I wouldn't if I were you mate. She's just a young lass, and I for one am against harming wee lasses. And this lass seems to have some fight in her. Wouldn't want to have your pride bruised a second time, would you now?" Jack Sparrow asked, his tone conveying there was no room for argument.

The man lowered his knife and slunk off to drink away his shame. Jack sheathed his sword and shook his head.

"World's bloody going out of control it is. Young bonnie lasses are dressing up in men's clothes and swinging a sword."

"T'was quite impressive," Gibbs remarked. "Never seen a lass with such skill with a sword other than Miss Swann."

"As long as she doesn't burn the rum, I couldn't care less."

...

Jas leaned over the street and threw up the two bottles of rum. She wiped her mouth off with a scowl and glowered at her amulet.

"First off, we're going to fix you. Second, we need to find a dinghy and we are going to row all the way to Shipwreck Cove if we bloody have to. But after I...delay Captain Jack Sparrow's voyage."

I warn you now; I am not good at accents. I will try my very best though. Review please :)