Sorry, I feel as though this is a tad late but I have recently realized that writer's block is no joke. But I'm free of it now so enjoy…

Disclaimer: POTC isn't mine, neither are the wonderful characters…

Chapter Four: Allies?

"AAAHHhhh!" Beckett snarled throwing the chest across the room. It thudded loudly against a wall, leaving an indent as it clattered loudly to the ground. He seethed and tore at his powdery wig. Where was it?! No one had touched the chest, he had locked it up and hidden the key and yet… it was gone! His power, his hopes, his dreams were ruined once he saw the empty condition of the chest.

"No!" Beckett shouted his used teacup and chucked it at the far wall, watching it shatter delicately and listening to the pieces delicately fall to the ground. Who stole it?! Who stole everything he'd ever wanted right from under him?!

He stared at the small metal key in his hands and remembered his pure joy as the key had twisted in the lock, his blissful anticipation as he swung the lid open, and then his crushing despair and anger when he was greeted with nothing but a dirty, cool bottom of a metal chest. Was the heart still on the island? No, he wouldn't have left it there… but then again he had been too stubborn to open the chest earlier for fear of eliminating his happy suspense, but now he had nothing! He didn't have anything but an empty chest, broken teacup, and fresh frenzied anger he just couldn't wait to take out on two very dead people that would soon be at his mercy. But first he wanted to know the whereabouts of his greatest treasure.

Snatching his sword off his desk he watched it gleam and smirked. Once he had the heart again he wouldn't let it out of his sight. Chuckling he slide his sword in its sheath, concocting gruesome plans for the unsuspecting thief. He strode on deck and watched in amusement as everyone stilled their actions and turned to him expectantly, awaiting the orders they knew he would call out. Beckett took a couple of slow steps forward and then smiled, a sick glint in his eyes.

"It seems we have among us a thief. And as Commodore I find a thief among the Navy despicable, you give a bad name to this honored group. So come forth now before you create more mockery and disgrace to your fellow soldiers." Beckett stood his ground waiting for someone to step forward. His confident smile wavered as he watched the soldiers look at each other in confusion and apprehension. Except for Barbossa standing proudly against the main mast, this didn't go unnoticed by Beckett and he started to feel doubt creeping into his mind for asking this pirate to help him on his journey. But he couldn't be sure, Barbossa had been eager to earn the gold Beckett offered him and he had absolutely no hesitation towards the torturing of Jack or Elizabeth. So far Barbossa hadn't given him a reason to not trust him but… had he given him a reason to trust him. Beckett took in a breath and laughed lightly, he had to loosen them up to get a confession, he'd strike fear into the culprit's heart once he found him.

"No one is stepping forward and taking responsibility for their actions? Well, then I guess we're just going to have to do this the hard way then. Soldiers, gather into a single line and… oh, bring forth the prisoners." Beckett observed the soldiers arranging themselves into an unsure, anxious line. They knew being on Beckett's bad side was the worst place to be. And they were definitely not looking forward to doing this the "hard way."

--

"Jack, where are we going?" Elizabeth inquired as she clung to his arm. They had been plodding along in the middle of nowhere for quite sometime now. After Elizabeth's tears had dried and Jack reassured her that Will would be fine, he was probably finding a way to rescue them right now (I bloody wish…) and when they did return he would completely understand why and how she feel in love with the charming Jack Sparrow. To this Elizabeth was a bit skeptical she wanted nothing more than to leave this desolate place and sail the seas with Jack but… how could she tell Will? How could she tell him that she no longer loved him in that way and though she appreciated his strength and tenacity to put his life on the line for her's she didn't want him? She… she couldn't, she felt as though Will had became her best friend, almost a brother, how could she break his heart? At the present time these thoughts seemed useless it was more probable that Jack and Elizabeth would never set eyes on Will again, so why plague herself with troublesome thoughts.

Jack on the other hand wanted Elizabeth to be free from the whelp, he didn't care if the Will was suffering right now, he no longer was the subject of Elizabeth's love and Jack wanted it to stay like that. But Jack did noticed mush to his delight that Elizabeth wasn't very reluctant to drop the Will topic.

He also noticed a certain black spot gone that he had nearly forgotten about. Unfortunately the bruises from Beckett's punch and the gash from his sword were not healed on Elizabeth and as they walked Jack noticed her breathing becoming a bit ragged. He knew she must still be sick, the locker wouldn't be kind enough to spare her that. In fact as he looked down at her he realized she was limping and the sight broke his heart. She was in pain.

Sighing Jack slowly stopped and kissed the top of her head and then froze. There was something in the distance. Rubbing Elizabeth's arms that were entwined with his he kissed the top of her hair again. Squinting, Jack tried to get a better look at the object just barely able to be seen when he heard Elizabeth mutter something.

"What?" Jack asked feeling Elizabeth hug herself closer to him and he wrapped arms around her.

"I said, where are we going? Though I'm pretty sure the answer is nowhere seeing as we are in- Jack? What's that?" Elizabeth had been looking in Jack's eyes when she realized he wasn't listening and turned to see what captured his attention. There was a small object that seemed to be lying… just lying there unmoving in the distance.

"Luv, the answer to yer first question is wherever that something in the horizon is. Shall we?" Jack spoke holding his arm out for Elizabeth to take. She laughed and nodded wrapping both of her arms around his one and they trudged forward. It was hours before they finally were close enough to identify the object. And when they discovered what it was they wished they hadn't. The figure was a young man, in a tattered sailor's garb. Well, they were pretty sure it was a young man; his face was mutilated as if it had melted away, and his arms and legs weren't in ay better condition. Even though being in the locker meant you were dead this sailor was obviously further gone than that, no longer conscious of the heat and empty plain he was in. They had no idea how long he had been wondering this horrid place or how long it took for him to be reduced to this sorry state. All they knew was the locker probably held more dread than they were aware of.

Elizabeth began to cry she buried her head into Jack's chest and he stroked her hair nervously. He couldn't help but to wonder if this was to be their fate. Is this what was to become of them, wondering around frantically searching for nothing and eventually withering away to the point of not having a face. He shuddered to think of being conscious during this ordeal.

"'Lizbeth, luv, it's okay. Let's walk this way." Jack gently offered, but as they started walking away his heart pounded painfully in his chest watching her sob into his chest with such a painful limp in her step. He gathered her in his arms and strode off, as far as he could manage from the ruined corpse.

"Jack… Jack is that… is that what's going to happen… to us." Elizabeth asked terrified, between her sobs. Jack sat down and pulled her into his lap, crushing her tightly to his chest as he buried his nose in the crook of her neck.

"No Lizzie. I will not let that happen to ye, besides I'm sure my valiant crew is on their way to rescue their favorite captain." Jack lifted Elizabeth's chi and planted light, sweet kisses all over her face. Elizabeth wished more than anything that what Jack said was true but she wasn't sure how Gibbs would be able to convince the crew to sail to world's end. But for some reason it didn't scare her, well, not very much. As long as she was with Jack she knew she'd be fine, even if she it meant staying in the locker.

That's when it hit her. It wasn't just a strong fondness or infatuation, no this was it, this was the real thing. This was love. If she was willing to stay in the locker for all eternity enduring pain and torture just for Jack, it must be love. It explained so much, the flutter in her heart when Jack looked in her eyes, her quickened pulse when Jack stroked her hair, and the absolute bliss when their lips molded together. The first night that they had kissed she felt such a burst of emotion she was sure it was love, now there was absolutely no doubt.

Grinning from ear to ear because of her discovery she pulled Jack into a rib-crushing embrace and captured his lips, kissing him hard with every ounce of love and devotion she could muster. The horrors of the locker and perhaps the locker itself disappeared and it was only Jack and Elizabeth. They pulled away only to catch their breath; Jack smiled and caressed her cheek. Once Elizabeth's ragged breaths had slowed she looked deeply in Jack's eyes.

"Jack… I love you."

--

Will stumbled onto the deck, blinking from the intense sun. He had no idea why the prisoners were ordered to assemble on deck but he knew it couldn't possibly be for anything good. But after a few moments Will realized the prisoners weren't the only ones being lined up, the whole crew was in a line, and judging by the shifting of their feet and eyes cast downward Will guessed they weren't thrilled with this sudden arrangement.

Fiddling with his shackles Will surveyed the deck until he spotted a very grim looking Beckett. Whatever happened, I hope it won't interfere with saving Elizabeth.

Beckett nodded his head in approval at the neat formation he then began pacing slowly in front of the large line. He stopped when he noticed Barbasso standing off to the side observing the line as well. Anger bloomed inside of Beckett; did the pirate think he could disobey orders? Sure Barbossa was a captain as well, but not of this ship and he was being paid to be of help, not to be second captain, after all he was only a pirate, someone who can't be trusted.

"Mr. Barbossa, didn't I clearly tell everyone to form a line? Which, if my eyes aren't deceiving me, was done, except by you. Why is that?" Beckett squinted his eyes in fake confusion, as he stood before Barbossa. Eyes widening a fraction Barbasso turned and looked Beckett squarely in the eye.

"Boy, I'd think about givin' ye elders a bit more respect, 'specially one in possession o' certain map and knowledge of the very place ye headin' to." Beckett blinked then recovered. The nerve of him! Did Barbossa think he was better than him?! If so, he was in for a rude awakening, Beckett wasn't going to let Barbossa speak to him like that. Elder or not Beckett thought sarcastically.

Beckett was struggling to keep his temper in check, as was Barbasso. What exactly was Beckett insinuating, that he was lowly? Did Beckett consider him a crewmember, because if he did he wasn't going to think that for long! Both captain stared angrily into each other's eyes. Both were too stubborn to back down and let the other take charge. Beckett realized this and snapped, someone undermining him and then humiliating him in front of his crew was too much.

"Gentlemen, I think we've found our thief." Beckett finally spoke, slowly, watching Barbasso's face change from annoyed, to shock, to enraged. The crew, however, was delighted to have Beckett's rage set on someone else.

" And what exactly is it I've stolen from ye?" Barbossa hissed, clenching his fists in frustration.

"Mr. Barbossa, do you remember a certain chest stored in my cabin?" Beckett inquired, raising an eyebrow as he stepped forward. Of course Barbossa had seen it and of course he had already devised plans on stealing it, but he hadn't yet. Beckett's accusations weren't far off but as of now they were wrong.

Pintel and Ragetti's hearts sped and they threw frantic glances at each other. The heart seemed very conspicuous in Pintel's front pocket; he gulped as he felt each distinctive beat of the heart. They finally had one treasure to themselves and it was giving them bad luck, what are the odds?

"Aye, is it no longer in yer possession?" Barbossa guessed glaring at Beckett powerfully, he hated the demeaning tone Beckett was using, it was a tone you'd use with a disobedient six-year old.

"Yes, it has unfortunately disappeared. Though it was a poor move on the thief's part, for I have with me the only key that opens the chest. So I'd hand it back now before you get into deeper trouble, Hector." Beckett sneered, no longer being polite. The stubborn pirate was causing more trouble than help at the moment and Beckett was beginning to wonder if throwing him in the brig would be the best.

"I would except I am without it. Ye've got the wrong thief." Barbssa laughed dryly, and then turned on his heel heading for the stairs.

"Not so fast. You are a pirate, a very successful one I hear. So believing you as the thief isn't entirely astonishing, is it?" Beckett called to the retreating pirate, he didn't want to become enemies with his guide to world's end but why wasn't Barbossa cracking and admitting he stole the heart?

"I told ye, I don't 'ave it! Besides if I were to steal the chest I'd 'ave a better plan so as ye wouldn't come throwing ye nonsense at me!" Barbossa barked, he was now infuriated. So Beckett really did believe he was lying and that he was taking more than Beckett offered for his help. Well, Barbossa did plan on taking the chest, but still to think Beckett expected such poor stealing from Barbasso was hurting his reputation. Barbossa huffed, he felt threatened, and began acting on a pirate's instinct; he slipped a small key from his pocket and held it discreetly in his hand. He sauntered over to Will and grabbed him.

"What makes ye think this pathetic excuse for a man didn't steal it, he's been known to spring cells." Barbossa hissed angrily, and then much to Will's surprise and shock he felt Barbossa slide the small key into his hand as he circled over to Beckett leaving Will with the key to the shackles that bound him and the rest of the Pearl's crew.

"Mr. Turner hasn't escaped these cells I'm sure of it. But you have been roaming this ship freely and therefore have had plenty of opportunities to take what was rightfully mine." Beckett had it; he stepped up to Barbossa, withdrawing his sword ready to plunge it into his heart when he felt a small dagger go to his throat.

"Drop your sword." Will demanded digging is dagger into Beckett's neck.

Again, I apologize for the delay; I've gotten some nice reviews but please, would you be so kind as to send me more. In exchange I'll fork over some virtual cookies. Ugh, sorry about the misspelled Barbossa's, I must be having an off day...