(OT: YAY for any reviews D! Well, I got my order of scenes a little screwed up so the dress bit will more than likely be in the next chapter. I'm still deciding how to portray the Tortuga scene(s) (with the deleted ones and such) Goodness, I keep thinking of moments that we missed in the movie and a viewing of the first movie last night helped too haha. Enjoy! And please review!)

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-00--0-0-0-0

Will hastily charged back into the streets, his gaze scanning the pirates' victims and the scattered soldiers hither and thither. He then froze, his hand gripping the axe's handle even tauter as Elizabeth lurched forward, dragged by a gang of disheveled pirates. The young woman's flowered robe flapped behind her, and Will watched her beautiful mouth shake in a whisper...In a whisper of his name.

"Elizabeth," he said, stepping forward to chase the grimy criminals.

Why would they want her?

Then again, why wouldn't debauched, hideous, and insane pirates want a governor's daughter to torture for ransom?

He then halted when a man that was all too familiar stepped in front of him chuckling, his musty, black face formed in a delighted smile. Didn't Will just kill him not five minutes ago? He tilted his head and squinted, attempting to form an explanation. He was certain he had chucked his axe, the same one that resided in his hand at the moment, into the pirate's back, the man had fallen, the axe was recovered, and Will had moved on.

"Huh-Hello," the pirate half-way stuttered, still laughing as he glanced to Will's feet.

Will then followed the pirate's giddy gaze, only to see a sizzling and flickering black grenade not an inch away from his left foot. He continued to observe the grenade as it fizzled, until the sparks finally stopped flying. He was safe; it was a dud. The pirate frowned as William met his gaze, fully intending on repeating the murder again. As he leaned forward, his weapon rising, Will felt a solid clunk against his head, the world whirled for a moment, and then he was falling into space and crumpling onto the dirt path, the yells and screams and commands drifting farther and farther away. Chase them. Save her. Save Elizabeth. Save...Elizabeth. Save...

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Barbossa turned back to her, his eyes glinting maliciously and now eagerly awaiting a response. Elizabeth clenched her fists as the pirate captain strode toward her, his creased expression so evil and his eyes so empty. He wanted something. The aged man desired something so badly... He could taste it when he was close to Miss Swann.

"And how does a maid come to own a trinket such as that?" he asked, his eyes twitching. "Family heirloom... Perhaps?"

Elizabeth composed herself; she wasn't going to be alarmed by their half-smiles and avid gazes at her nightgown. An agreement was being formed, and she would see to it that those revolting men followed through. "I didn't steal it if that's what you mean."

Barbossa nodded slightly, watching the girl carefully, realizing she was inexperienced but resolute. "Very well then," he said, holding out the palm of his filthy hand. "You hand it over and we put your town to our rudder. And ne'er return."

With her teeth grinding behind her pursed lips, Elizabeth cautiously stared at the man's complacent expression and then glanced to his open palm. If he was lying, she would have nothing else to barter except for her life and her name. But if he was telling the truth, then her feet would be safely back on the ground in no time flat, and she could return to the ruined city with a grand story to narrate. She was naïve, but at least she could retain her poise. Releasing a quavering sigh, the twenty year old gently laid the medallion in Captain Barbossa's palm, the chain clinking against the golden skull as it settled.

The captain's pale, gray eyes were vacant and chilled as he strung the medallion up to his roosted monkey and waved for the animal to leave. With a light screech, the monkey scurried onto a rope overhead and disappeared in the darkness. Barbossa made no move and shouted no orders.

Elizabeth's eyes widened in the realization of her bad decision. Stupid girl. She was so ignorant to believe him! To believe a pirate!

"Our bargain?" she asked, waiting, hoping, and praying for any command to slip off his tongue, but hope barely lingered.

Barbossa turned without a word and nodded to the scowling bo'sun, unyielding in his confident stride and his shoulders rolling with each step as he approached the staircase.

She would not let him just desert her!

"Steal the guns and stow 'em," Bo'sun roared, and his lean, black muscles rippled as the towering man gestured to the crew.

No! Oh... That incompetent, dastardly, horrid bastard!

"Wait!" Elizabeth barely glanced at the vessel's scuttling crew before chasing after the captain, a light wind making her thin skirt billow around her legs. He had lied. He had lied to her face without so much as wincing. What person could do that? What moral human being could withstand the guilt burdening his soul? The young woman indignantly stalked after the pirate, intent on returning home, and shouted, "You have to take me to shore! According to the code of the order of the Brethren—"

The captain whipped around, his eyes flickering as he said, "First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement, so I must do nothing."

Should she jump overboard now or make a break for the gangway? Play along for now? Would they shoot her either way?

"And secondly, you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply...And you're not." Elizabeth's unbelieving eyes bulged. This was a story for fantastic novels and children's games, not for her. "And thirdly," he said, almost sarcastically. "The code is more of what you call 'guidelines' than actual rules." He paused, his crooked, dirty teeth jutting forward. "Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner!

She stood speechless, unable to procure a reply or another negotiation as Pintel and Ragetti marched forward and gripped Elizabeth's wiry arms on either side. She immediately writhed in their soiled grasp, releasing a small yelp, but the repulsive, rotting men hauled her backward and then forward.

"Come along, Poppet!" the grinning, stocky man said, nodding to his friend to keep the girl steady.

"Get off me!" Elizabeth thrust her feet and wailed, only making the two men cackle harder and swing her off her feet.

"It won't be long," the skinny fellow muttered in her ear, rubbing his straying eye with his free hand as they stiffened their grip. Elizabeth swiftly realized it was futile to attempt an escape at this point. She felt the black, weathered deck lunge forward as tattered sails hauled wind out of the misty bay, and another scruffy pirate swung open the dark French doors as Elizabeth neared the spacious chamber.

"After you." Pintel chuckled, nodding to release her arms.

With a sidelong glance, Elizabeth grudgingly glided in, promptly hearing the doors clunk and lock behind her. A single candelabra was alight on the great, black table, and Elizabeth plunked down in the nearest chair, crossing her arms and pulsing her slender fingers against her night-garments. What now? Her eyes lifted to the hazily lit square-paned windows, and the young woman rose form her seat and narrowed her eyes as she tentatively strode to the far wall. Avoiding the sprawled objects, she found a bare area and clambered onto the tapered counter and pressed her palms against the window, giving it a slight shove. It did not budge. Elizabeth searched for latches, but alas, the captain's cabin was not built for escaping. Growling, Elizabeth climbed down and walked the length of the room, occasionally admiring the intricate designs upon the carpet. She had to find a way out...She had to return Port Royal, find William, and tell him to... To ask for her hand before it was too late...Before the commodore had a chance to remind Elizabeth of his offer and before anyone knew that he was a...And that she was captured because he was a...Oh!

The woman rubbed her elegant hands down her face, scrunching her cheeks before turning and pacing the room again. If only she hadn't take the medallion those eight years ago but then Will would be here, locked in this room in the same position, perhaps with less hope than she. Elizabeth shook her head. It was better that she was captured instead of Will. Yes, because her father, James, the entire Royal Navy, and maybe even Will Turner would be intent on rescuing her. She was confident in that fact.

But if Will had been captured...Her father would've ignored it. Her nose crinkled at the thought. Of course, she would have fought, but she too would have been disregarded. The matter would become a "lost cause" and forgotten, and James would only focus on helping the city recover from the pirates' attack. Elizabeth resumed her seat at the table, and with her eyes fluttering open and closed, she blankly stared out the foggy windows as the Black Pearl made for the scarlet glow of dawn.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

What's your name?" Jack asked, propped up on his elbows and gazing at the lad who steadily held the wooden bench against the steel gate, a quizzical look upon his face. He'd never known a young man to fight so fervently for a lady. Of course, she was a beauty but worth fighting Barbossa? Eh, perhaps there was advantage in that.

"Will Turner," he answered, his hands writhing against the bench. He curiously watched Jack's expression switch slightly. What was he thinking? Never trust a pirate. Will had always learned that, known that...But he had to trust this one, didn't he? If he wanted to save Elizabeth.

"That would be short for William, I imagine." Jack rose to sitting position, strands of straw clinging to his back, and his eyes bouncing from the floor back to Will's handsome face as he said, "Good, strong name. No doubt named for your father, eh?"

"Yes..."

Now, Will wondered, why would that be important? It then connected that Jack Sparrow was a pirate; his father was a merchant sailor... Of course. Jack must have known him at some point. Raided a ship and met him or... Well, he'd ask later.

"Uh-huh." Jack's head tilted slightly. Ah, leverage. "Well, Mr. Turner," he said, climbing to his feet. "I've changed me mind. If you spring me from this cell, I swear on pain of death, I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?

Will was wary of Jack's sudden alteration, but... He couldn't idly stand by and let Elizabeth be harassed... Possible murdered by pirates. He nearly shivered at the thought. The man gripped the pirate's offered hand.

"Agreed."

"Agreed. Get me out." Jack wildly waved his hands and watched the young blacksmith step backward and regain his grip upon the bench.

Grimacing as his muscles strained beneath his blouse, Will popped the cell's bolts and lugged it aside, thrusting it out of the way. He stepped aside, making a path for the pirate and hoping Jack wouldn't go back on his word, and heaved out a deep breath.

"Hurry," Will said. "Someone would have heard that."

"Not without my effects!" Jack skipped from the prison and scampered over to the wall's pegs, quickly filing along the possessions. Shackles clanged together as he lifted the flintlock pistol, separating it from his other weapons.

"Why bother with that?" Will asked, his eyebrows furrowing as the reality began to sink in; he would be tried and set to hang if he and Jack were found in the prison, but, once again, no one was more consumed by the loss of the governor's daughter than he. Will had to hasten the man. "You could have escaped if you killed me before, but you weren't willing to use it."

The pirate leveled the pistol, his swathed finger at the trigger and his gaze steady. "Are you advising me that was a mistake?" The boy had some learning to do, but Jack certainly wasn't going to be his mentor willingly.

Will gazed at the man, unafraid but aware that he had started this ordeal, and he would have to climb from it.

"When you've only got one shot," Jack said with a curious grin, realizing that William had no qualms with being shot. Brave and stupid. A coincidental and interesting combination, but an altogether working one if he did learn from Jack. "It's best to wait for the opportune moment. That's wasn't it." Jack lowered his aim. "Nor is this."