Authors Note: This chapter was edited and re-posted on 06/08/2012.

His Little Mermaid

A few minutes later, Nettie found herself at the Port Royal piers looking around carefully for her captain. "Now where did he go?" she muttered to herself. She was starting to hope he hadn't gotten lost when she spotted his familiar tricorn hat. Huffing, she walked over to him with less haste now, and instead looked over all the ships in port with a low whistle. There were a lot of good looking ships here; some meant for speed, others power, but none the less, all spectacular.

It was too bad that they had to steal a ship - it would be nice to actually buy a nice one for once.

"Ah, there's my Nettie!" Jack called out in a slur, and Nettie raised an eyebrow in confusion until she saw the small tin in his hand. "Hello, Nettie!"

"I can't believe you," muttered Nettie as she marched over to him, snatching the tin away and ignoring his cry of protest. "I'm only gone for thirty minutes, and already you've manged to get drunk. Where did you even get this?"

"My Nettie, give it back," Jack said with a whine while still slurring.

Shaking her head, Nettie shoved it in her bag. "Not till we find ourselves a ship. Come on now, lets get a move on." When Jack didn't move at first, she grabbed his arm and pulled him up, gently as possible to make sure she didn't hurt him. "Come on, Jack. The sooner we get a ship, the sooner we can get to Tortuga. Remember? Women and rum?" Usually they mention of those two things got him moving.

That seemed to perk Jack up a bit, and with swaying steps, he went forward and lead Nettie towards the ships. He seemed to know where he was going even though he was clearly drunk.

It was then that Nettie saw it. Small and not to over the top, with the word INTERCEPTOR emblazoned on its stern with gold lettering. Made for speed, which is something they wanted. And it was just the size that it might be possible for Nettie and Jack to crew by themselves, if they kept on their toes. And it certainly was a grand-looking ship.

At first, Nettie was confused as they approached the ship. While it was a good ship to steal, there was two guards protecting it. No, wait, they were playing a card game. And now they had seen them and were abandoning their game.

"Jack, what are you..."

"Shh, love, I know what I'm doing," Jack promised in a mummer.

Both guards, a tall thin one and a short round one, stood tall as they were suppose to and called for them to halt, causing the pirate and thief to stop in their tracks. "This dock," said the bald one sternly, "is off-limits to civilians."

"Terribly sorry, I didn't know," said Jack with his still present slur. "If I see any, I shall inform you immediately." With that he tried to sidestep around the man, but the two guards moved in sync to block his way.

'So they aren't complete imbeciles' Nettie thought to herself. At least whatever game Jack was trying to play would be interesting.

"What's your names?" Jack asked.

"I'm Murtogg," said the thin one irritably, "and this here's Mullroy. Now get lost, the both of ya."

"Well, Murtogg and Mullroy, there appears to be some sort of high-toned and fancy to do over at the fort, eh?" Jack said, nodding to a fort nearby Nettie gave it a quick look over. It did seem like there was some kind of party or ceremony going on, she could see people moving across the rooftop, and if she listened hard enough, she could hear music, boring as it was. "Now how is it that two fine, upstanding gentlemen such as yourselves did not merit an invitation?"

It took Nettie a monument not to snickered when she noticed the hidden sarcasm in his tone, but she rolled with it and said, "Now, Jack, that isn't nice to ask. I'm sure there's a very good reason they're staying here."

"There is. Someone has to make sure this dock stays off-limits to civilians," Mullroy replied, he looked very annoyed now and was clearly wishing in his head that the two would just go away and leave him and his friend to go back to their card game.

"A fine goal, to be sure," Jack replied, nodding in agreement. "But a ship like that," he argued, gesturing at the man o' war, "makes this one here a bit of... err... what's the word I'm lookin' for?"

"Superfluous?" suggested Nettie.

"Aye, that's it!" said Jack with a nod. "A bit superfluous, don't you think?"

"Oh, the Dauntless is the power in these waters, true enough," Murtogg replied. "But no craft can match the Interceptor for speed," he said proudly as he gestured to the ship.

'Well, thank you for confirming my suspicions,' thought Nettie with a hidden smirk.

"I've heard of one," Jack replied. "Supposed to be very fast, nigh uncatchable." He paused for a moment before leaning in, speaking in a whisper for dramatic effect. "The Black Pearl."

Now Nettie was curious, for she had heard Jack speak of that ship before, but only when he was completely drunk and his words were so mixed up he could be talking about a goat and you won't know it. But the two guards seemed to know the ship, with Murtogg frowning while Mullroy just guffawed.

"Well, there's no real ship as can match the Interceptor."

"Black Pearl is a real ship. I've seen it," Murtogg said defensively.

Mullroy turned to his friend. "No, you haven't."

Murtogg frowned. "Yes, I have."

"You haven't!"

"Yes, I have!"

A hand wrapped around Nettie's arm, and she looked up to see a smirk on Jack's face as he nodded towards the ship while tugging at her to follow him. Nodding back, both slipped past the bickering guards and made their way up the ramp. "So I guess things are going according to plan?" she asked once they were out of hearing range and stepping up the wheel.

"More or less," Jack said with a shrug as he placed his hands on the wheel, almost sighing with relief at the contact. "Ah, forgot how nice it was to be guiding a ship out at sea."

"Well until we figure a way to get this ship out of Port Royal without be shot at or captured, keep dreaming," said Nettie as she leaned against the railing. "What's the plan for that?"

"Er..."

"You don't have a plan?!" Nettie smacked herself in the forehead. "Damn it Jack, do you ever think things through?"

"Sometimes, but that's usually when my plans start to fall apart."

"Ugh - I hate you."

"Oh no, my poor Nettie."

"Shut it."

"No, you shut it."

"Oi! You two!" The two had finally caught up, muskets aimed at them. "You don't have permission to be aboard here!"

Taking his hands off the wheel, Jack held them up in defeat. "Sorry, it's just such a - a pretty boat - hiccup - ship, sorry."

Murtogg held his musket up higher. "What's your name?"

"Smith, or Smithe, if you like," Jack told him.

Frowning, Murtogg then pointed the musket towards Nettie. "And yours?"

"Mrs. Smith, wife to this idiot." she answered, jabbing a finger towards her captain. She was a little miffed when the two men looked at each questioningly before shrugging it away. She couldn't look that much like a boy! Self-conscious, Nettie peered over the railing at the clear water below, running a hand over her hair. Could she?

"And what's your purpose in Port Royal, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith?" Mullroy asked angrily, cocking his musket.

"Yeah, and no lies!" Murtogg put in for good measure.

"Right then, I confess," Jack sighed, stepping towards them while Nettie raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was going to say. "It is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, with the help of me lovely mate, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder, and otherwise pilfer my weaselly black guts out," he told them happily.

Nettie felt her mind go blank for a few long seconds before she was filled with a sudden burst of anger and disbelief. What. The. Hell?! Was he trying to get them killed? She began thinking of ways she could escape while at the same time killing Jack when Murtogg spoke up again.

"I said no lies!" the guard said, though he did look a little confused. Nettie blinked. Huh?

"Think he's telling he truth, mate," Mullroy replied as he looked a Jack with slight awe.

"If we were telling the truth, he wouldn't have told it to us!" Murtogg replied with confusion.

"Unless," Jack put it helpfully, "he knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if he told it to you..."

Both of the guards were very confused now. "Huh?"

"Please, ignore my husband," said Nettie sweetly. "He a bit touched in the head," she said with a tap against her temple. "From the sun and rum. Really, we are just here in Port Royal to get us some new clothes. As you can see, I've had to resort to wearing his," she giggled as she waved a hand towards her clothes. "But I just wanted to see the lovely ships before we left."

"Uh, well, I'm sorry ma'am," said Mullroy. "We aren't allowed to let civilians on board..."

"Oh please, would just show me this one little ship? Please?" said Nettie in a pleading tone. "Its such a lovely ship, really. Please, could you indulge this little wish of mine?"

And even though it went according to plan, Nettie still felt a little bad for deceiving them when both the guards lowered their weapons and started to take her on a tour of the ship. But she couldn't help but hold back a little laugh when Jack called out after them, "Oi, what about me?"

Fifteen minutes later, Nettie had them in the palm of her hand as she feed them stories about her 'good for nothing husband', who couldn't hold a job and drank too much. They sent the occasional glare at Jack, who ignored them as he walked around the deck, probably trying to figure out a way for them to get out of Port Royal unseen.

"Oh, if only I could have married someone like you two," Nettie sighed dramatically. "You both have good jobs, and both sweet as sugar."

"That's very nice of you to say, ma'am," said Murtogg with a blush.

"Do you have an eye on a girl?" asked Nettie.

"Err... I was hoping to ask for the hand of Miss Gray, she's the daughter of a tailor, after I save up some money," admitted Murtogg with a blush.

"Well she'll be very lucky to have you -" Something caught her eyes and they went wide. Something, no, someone had toppled over the edge of the fort wall, falling towards the deep waters below. Nettie screamed. "JACK!"

"Mm?" Her audience and Jack turned just in time to see the body hit the water with a loud 'splash', just missing the rocks. The four raced to the railing with wide eyes as they watched the fallen person start to sink towards the bottom.

"Huh." Jack turned to the two Navy guards. "Will you be saving her then?"

"I can't swim!" Mullroy replied, clearly panicking as he continued to stare at the still sinking girl, and Murtogg shrugged hopelessly.

"Oh hell," Nettie said simply. Instead of screaming at their idiocy - really, what kind of navy doesn't teach their men to swim! - she tossed her bag to the ground and slipping of her boots, glad that she wasn't wearing anything heavy at the moment. She heard Jack growled, and glanced at him to see he was stripping out of his own things, thrusting his sword, hat, and everything else into the arms of one of the guards.

"Pride of the King's Navy, you are," Jack said sarcastically. But if he said anything else, Nettie didn't get to hear it as she held her arms out straight and dove into the water as easily as a fish.

If this hadn't been a rescue mission, Nettie would have marveled at the blue waters and taken her time to lazily swim around. She was loved the water, and Jack once called her 'his little mermaid' when he saw what a natural she was. But this wasn't the time.

Without hesitation, Nettie kicked forward and moved swiftly through the water. A muted 'splash' made her aware that Jack was right behind her, but she didn't bother looking behind her to confirm that as he quickly caught up with her.

After catching up to her, both Jack and Nettie reached the body just before it hit the bottom. It was a girl her age, her blonde hair free and looking pale and see-through in the water. That with her pale skin and she reminded Nettie of a corpse, and a shiver ran through her. Her captain wrapped her arms around her waist and then he tried to kick his way to the surface and air. But he couldn't' move more then a few feet, and he frowned as he took a brief moment to figure out what was wrong. Then he nodded at her dress.

Nodding, Nettie took a moment to reach into her sash and pull out her knife. Swimming around to the girls front, she carefully sliced open the front of the dress before placing her knife between her teeth, while she used her hands to tear it off rest. She let the heavy material sink to the bottom, watching briefly as Jack surged upward with the girl in his arms, Nettie following him with a kick of her feet.

Breaking the surface just moments after Jack did, Nettie removed the knife from her teeth and gasped for breathe before following her captain as he swam to the docks, making sure that the girls head stayed above water. Murtogg and Mullroy helped pull the girl up while Nettie lifted herself onto the pier, and she pushed aside her hair, which had gotten free and was now heavy curtains around her face. "Is she alive?"

"She's not breathing!" Mullroy cried out, clearly unsure of what to do.

Glancing over the girl, Nettie saw that he was right and she getting paler by the second. Almost immediately, her eyes went to the corset. "Move!" she ordered, her knife in her hand again. In another swift motion, she sliced through the tight strings of the corset, tearing it off as she did. Almost immediately, the girl began coughing up lungfuls of sea water.

Tossing the corset to one of the guards, Nettie gently turned the girl to her side so that the water wouldn't choke her as she coughed it all back up. "That's right now, get it all out," she said calmly, rubbing small circles on her back as the girl tried to breathe again. "There you go."

"Never would've thought of that," Mullroy said admiringly.

"Clearly," Nettie said with a roll of her eyes.

"And clearly you've never been to Singapore," Jack said. Then he sudden reached out and grabbed something that was hanging around the girl's pale neck. Looking up from helping the girl, Nettie couldn't help but stare at the gold coin in her captain's hands,a skull emblazoned on it with markings around the edges and hanging from a chain as a necklace.

Jack turned it between in his fingers, it gleaming in the dim sunlight. As he did so, Nettie couldn't help but notice that the wind was gaining strength as the the sun suddenly went behind the clouds, and the waves slapped against the hulls of the ships angrily. What was going on?

"Now where did you get that?" Jack asked the girl, his eyes meeting hers, brown clashing with brown.

The girl didn't even get to answer when the sound of footsteps made Nettie's head snapped head, her eyes going wide. "Oh shit," she said as she scrambled up and stuffed the knife into her soaked sash, ready to make a run for it. But it was too late. A number of soldiers in red coats surrounded them with muskets now pointed directing at their chests.

"On your feet," barked a man with a sword pointed at Jack. Slowly, Jack stood up with his hands held in defeat. "You too, and hands up," he said to Nettie, pointing the sword at her until she did as she was told.

"Elizabeth!" a man called out as he pushed past the soldiers, the white wig on his head almost falling off as he reached the girl they had just saved. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Elizabeth replied in a slightly hoarse voice while her father took of his jacket and wrapped it around her. Nettie saw her hands go to her chest, slipping the gold coin out of sight before anyone else could see it. "Thanks to them. They saved my life."

"Thank heaven's you're safe," he said with relief. Then then he noticed the corset that Murtogg was holding, who's eyes went wide before he dropped said corset and pointed to Jack and Nettie accusingly. A look of anger crossed his face. "Shoot them," he ordered.

'Oh, bugger.'

"Father!" Elizabeth exclaimed while trying not to be smothered by her father. "Commodore Norrington, do you really intend to kill my rescuers?"

The commodore, who was the one that had ordered them to stand before, seemed torn to follow the order and shoot them or listen to Elizabeth and lower his weapon. Eventually, Norrington lowered his weapon, motioning the other to do the same. Both Jack and Nettie nodded towards Elizabeth in thanks while lowering their hands, the later of the two giving her a small smile.

"I believe thanks are in order," Norrington said, extending his hand towards Jack. Nettie could tell that her captain wanted to ignore the gesture. But the tone of his voice told him that he'd better go along with this, or else.

So very reluctantly, Jack took the hand and shook it.

And without any warning, the commodore ripped open his sleeve and exposed the white 'P' on Jack's wrist, branded into his skin. Nettie had seen only once before, and all she had been told was that it came from an incident with the East India Trading Company, who had marked him as a pirate. That same pirate swore softly.

Still holding onto Jack's wrist, Norrington was looked as smug as a cat that caught a bird. "Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we, pirate?"

Elizabeth's father was furious once more. "Hang them!"

"Keep your guns on him, men!" The soldiers lifted their guns again as Norrington called out to another man. "Gillette, fetch some irons for the both of them." While the man did as he was ordered, the Commodore pulled Jack's sleeve further up, revealing the tattoo of a bird taking flight over ocean waves. She had seen that one too, but unlike the other Jack never said were he got it. "Well, well. Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow." Jack corrected him as he pulled back his arm, yanking the sleeve over both the marks. "If you please, sir." He said the last part mockingly.

Ignoring him, the commodore turned to Nettie. "And whats your name, lad?"

Nettie narrowed her eyes him briefly. "Excuse me?" Oh, this was the last straw.

"I said, what's your name, lad. Or can you not hear me?" said Norrington with a sneer.

"Oh no," mumbled Jack as Nettie took a step towards Norrington and ignored the guns that were ready to shoot her the moment their commodore gave the order.

"You did not just -" Nettie jabbed a finger at Norrington's chest. "Are you a fool? I'M A BLOODY WOMAN, YOU BLIND GIT!" she yelled so loudly the commodore stepped back in shock with wide eyes. She threw her hands up in disbelief and groaned loudly. "Dear Lord in heaven, are all of you blind? I. Am. A. Woman! Someone say it with me! Woman! Except you, Jack," she snapped when Jack tried to speak up.

"Aw..."

Running both her hands angrily though her hair, Nettie closed her eyes in aggravation, muttering about how stupid men were before finally turning back to Norrington, finishing her rant by saying, "And if you must really know, Commodore, the name is Nettie. Think you can remember it?"

A few seconds later, Norrington blinked and simply looked at her for a long moment. "Are you quite sure about that... statement?" he finally said in a drawing tone. "You certainly aren't a very good one, are you?" He turned away before he could see Nettie flip him off, questioning Jack as if he hadn't been cursed and yelled at a few moments ago. "Well, I don't see your ship, Captain," he said, sarcasm dripping off every word.

If it wasn't for the fact that he was surrounded by guns and swords, Nettie was sure Jack would have decked the man. "I'm... in the market, as it were."

"That's right! Said he'd come to commandeer one," Murtogg spoke up.

"Told you he was telling the truth!" Mullroy cried triumphantly as he hastily picked Jacks things off the ground before holding them out, like a child showing off his new toy. "These are his, sir!"

A look of pain and protest crossed Jack's face as the commodore examined the items one by one, his smirk increasing with each object. "Pistol... with no additional powder nor shot. A compass that doesn't point north..." He pulled the cutlass a few inches out of its scabbard. "And I half-expected it to be made of wood." Then he glanced towards Nettie. "What about you? Any weapons?"

Nettie didn't say a word first, just glare at him. When she was 'gently' butted in the back with the end of someone's musket, she said so sweetly it made her teeth hurt, "Feel free to search me, Commodore." She held out her arms. "I promise I won't bite to hard when you do."

Jack laughed, mostly because he knew she would do it.

Realizing that he wasn't going to get a straight answer out of her, Norrington glanced at Jack with a smirk. "It amazes me, you are, without a doubt, the worst pirate I have ever heard of. You with your... crew of one."

"But you have heard of me," Jack pointed out.

The smirk on Norrington's face slid off, and he gripped Jack by the arm and pulled him towards Gillette, who had returned with two pairs of handcuffs in hand. "One of you bring her over," the commodore barked at the two guards and nodding towards Nettie.

Murtogg and Mullroy seemed to have a silent argument about who would take her, and finally Murtogg step forward and took her by the arm. "Come on, Miss," he said while leading her forward. "Sorry about this."

"Its not your fault," Nettie said with a shrug. "This is what happens when we decided to be heroic apparently."

"Commodore Norrington, I really must protest!" Elizabeth interjected, leaving her father as the cuffs were put on Jack. "Pirate or not, these two saved my life. That must mean something!"

"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness," Norrington told Elizabeth sternly, like a man scolding his small child.

"Though it does seem to be enough to condemn him," Jack remarked.

"Indeed," the commodore replied dryly.

"You don't even wanna know about my "lifetime" of wickedness," Nettie mumbled as Gillette placed the first cuff on her. She winced. Dammit, she hated these things.

"I'm sure that we can do something to help you." Elizabeth said, looking from her father to the commodore. "I sure her crimes aren't as great, maybe-"

"Its alright," Nettie said with a forced smile "Really." Dying probably wasn't so bad. Right? ...Oh hell, she was going to be hanged. Of course it was bad.

As Gillette finished putting on the cuffs on her and stepped away, Jack spoke up. "Finally!" With one swift motion, he brought the chain of his shackles over Elizabeth's head and wrapped around the girl's throat, pressing it dangerously again her bare skin. Everyone including Nettie gaped and gasped, and those with guns swung them at Jack and his hostage. Nettie felt Murtogg pull her back and out of the range of fire.

"No! No, don't shoot!" Elizabeth's father cried out.

Jack grinned. "I knew you'd warm up to me."

"Jack, what the hell are you doing?" Nettie hissed. "This wasn't part of the plan!"

"We didn't have a plan for this, my Nettie," said Jack. "And I'm not ready for the gallows just yet. Now, Commodore, if you would be so kind, my effects please. And don't forget my hat."

The man just stared.

"Commodore."

Any emotions he had hidden behind a calm mask, he nodded to Mullroy, who came over and handed them to him, and Norrington pushed the bundle of things into Elizabeth's hands.

"I can't believe you, Jack," Nettie said with a shake of her head. "You shouldn't be getting her involved in this."

"Don't worry, my Nettie, I won't leave you behind. And Elizabeth will be just fine if everyone does as their told - it is Elizabeth isn't it?"

"It's Miss Swann," Elizabeth growled, remarkably colder towards him now that he was no longer her savior, which from Nettie's point of view was understandable.

"Well then, Miss Swann, if you would be so kind and place my effects on me." Elizabeth didn't move. "Come, come, dear, we haven't all day," he said, turning her around and giving her a smirk. "Now, if you would be so kind."

With her face contorted with anger, Elizabeth placed the pistol in his hand first, then went to work on putting on sword. In doing so, she had to half-embrace him. And even though Nettie knew it wasn't her fault, she suddenly felt something tighten in her chest while having the feeling of wanting to rip Elizabeth. away from her captain Instead, she growled at Jack, who was giving the commodore and the girl's father little smiles when she did this.

"Oi, easy on the goods, love," Jack said as Elizabeth tighten the strap for his sword.

"You're despicable," Elizabeth hissed, taking his hat and smashing it onto his head.

"Sticks and stones, love," Jack replied calmly. "I save your neck, you save mine. We're square."

"I don't think holding said person hostage is included in that deal," Nettie hissed.

"But you're not thinking like a pirate, love."

"Stop calling me that!"

Everything returned to him, Jack turned Elizabeth around and pointed the end of the pistol to her head. "Now, if you would kindly let go of my Nettie and let her come over to me."

Norrington clearly didn't want to, but he nodded to Murtogg to let her go. Nodding, the guard pushed Nettie forward, who stumbled a bit before finding herself at Jack's side.

"Stand behind me, love."

Glaring at him, Nettie did what she was told, but gave his hostage a look of sympathy. "I'm sorry about this," she whispered, but the young woman just glared at her.

"Now, gentlemen! Milady," he added, glancing at Elizabeth. "You will always remember this as the day that you almost caught Captain! Jack! Sparrow!" And with that, he pushed Elizabeth into the mass of troops, and before Nettie knew what was happening he had grabbed her and was running.

The thief could hear the soldiers scrambling to go after them. "Jack, you better have a plan!" she yelped.

"Hold on," said Jack as he let go of her. A few moments later she heard a 'crash'. Nettie spared a glance back so see there was a large hole in the dock, and some of the soldiers had fallen into it while other were tried to get around it.

Suddenly, Jack grabbed her again and pulled her to a stop just as they reached the end of the dock. "Jack -"

"Swim, my mermaid," Nettie heard him whisper. And before she could register what he meant, she went flying for a brief moment before crashing into the water.