A/N: My gosh, it has been AGES hasn't it!? I'm soooooooooooo sorry for not updating in months, but I have been unbelievably busy! I make you all a promise now, that I will update as often as I can, given that I have the time. I will keep this promise don't worry! I hope you guys are still reading! Oh, and one last thing. If you guys review, it gets me moving a lot faster when I write… ;-D

Jack felt his stomach drop and his heart skip a few beats. He snatched the letter away from Gibbs so fast that it looked like a blur, and almost ripped clean in two. He read it over quickly, but made sure he read everything carefully. It said:

Dear Captain Jack Sparrow,

We have your wench.

Jack scowled at the word. Sure he had used it once or twice before to describe some women in Tortuga, but it was the last thing on Earth anyone could call Elizabeth Swann. Jack looked down at the letter again and continued reading.

If you ever want to have her back safe, sound, and alive, you must find and rescue her in 13 days starting the day after you receive this. After 13 days, she will be dead and buried.

That's it? thought Jack. No ransom? No good clues? Amateurs…what was to point of taking her then? But the fact that this was the worst ransom note he had ever read in all his years as a pirate, didn't push the worry and anger he was feeling out of his mind. Trying not to show too much concern, he turned to Gibbs, who had a shocked and disbelieving look on his face. "Well…this certainly puts a damper on our plans…we have to try and find her."

"But how cap'n? We haven't a clue as to where she's been taken!" replied Gibbs.

He has a point there… thought Jack. "I need to think about this. Master Gibbs, you are in charge until I decide our plan of action; and would you be so kind as to inform the rest of the crew not to disturb me? A brilliant plan needs time and quiet to be made."

"Aye sir. But, where abouts are we heading now?"

"How about just outside of Tortuga. We can settle down there for the night…"

"Sure thing Jack." Said Gibbs. He turned round slowly, obviously still shocked. He was taking too long for Jack to be happy. "Come on Master Gibbs, step to!" he ordered. Gibbs jumped and quickened his step. Jack followed in his usual swagger, but it seemed less Jack-ish than usual. But no one seemed to notice. They were all attending to their duties on the Pearl. Jack watched from behind as Gibbs went up to the helm where the Captain's Wheel was located, and then walked straight forward into his cabin. He sat down at his desk that had maps of all sizes and of many places littering the top, and many trinkets from his other adventures in the drawers (as well as around the room). After several seconds he heard Gibbs calling all of the crew members down to the helm where he was currently steering the ship. And soon after that, he heard his voice telling them all to leave Jack alone. Satisfied, Jack got up from his chair and started to pace up and down the confines of his cabin, thinking. He did so until he noticed the sun setting, and decided to go out to his favorite spot up on deck and watch as he had done for the longest times previously. He pulled open the door and jumped. Mr. Gibbs was standing there with a fist up; he was obviously just about to knock. He also looked rather timid.

"What?" Jack asked.

Gibbs then had a look of surprise in his eyes, which then turned to relief. He had been expecting Jack to explode or yell or something of that nature, but was very thankful he didn't. "Just wanted to inform you, captain that we have dropped anchor for the day, and are retiring to our bunks now. Everything is in order."

"Wonderful," said Jack flatly. "Just peachy."

"So we are free to go then?" Jack gave a curt nod, and Gibbs sighed with relief. He hurried off to the other end of the ship. Jack remained in the doorway a couple moments longer until the last pirate had closed the door to the bunks below deck. He then walked over to that one spot of railing that seemed to shine more brightly in the sinking orange and pink sun than the rest of the ship. The spot where he had done much of his thinking unknown to anyone else in the past…now with the exception of Elizabeth. Jack ran his hand over the smooth, highly polished railing, his coat ruffling lightly in the warm breeze that had absorbed the Pearl and the Sea around him. Elizabeth…where are you? Suddenly Jack's hand on the railing became a fist, and it hit the railing with a loud thud. Jack's facial expression was a mixture of furiousness and disappointment. "I should never have left her alone…this is all my fault."

13 days. 13 days was all he had to rescue the only woman he had had a weakness for…and he knew he would never be able to forgive himself if he didn't make it to her in time. And neither will her father for that matter…Jack sighed deeply, his mind made up. Since they hadn't traveled very far from Tortuga at all and were relatively close, he would have to make a beeline for Port Royal and have a visit with Governor Wetherby Swann; which he knew would not be a very cheerful visit at all. Knowing him, he would try to send out the Royal Navy on a search expedition… or not. If Beckett still has a hold on dear old Governor Swann, he won't be able to do anything…another problem. How to see him…I shall figure that out later, with a bottle of rum at my side. Jack smiled slyly to himself. At least Cutler Beckett would come to be of some use to him…very little, but useful nonetheless. Jack looked around him, suddenly aware that it was almost completely dark except for the millions of stars shining brightly above him, casting faint glow on the sea and the Pearl, making it look quite beautiful. Realizing how tired and cold he was, Jack yawned and stretched, walking slowly back to his cabin as he did so. After closing the door gently behind him, he walked even more slowly over to his rather large bed and collapsed upon it, knowing he had a lot of thinking to do the next morning. After almost 10 complete minutes of lying there and staring blankly at the ceiling, Jack drifted off into an uneasy thoughtful sleep…

Jack's dreams that night were full of horrid, despicable thoughts. They all involved Elizabeth; and at the very end of every single one, she would always die a cruel death. Even though he was unconscious he felt as though he was actually witnessing it over and over and over again. It was rather unbearable, seeing her die so many times…sometimes in his very own arms. She was shot, hanged, stabbed, and many other awful things…and try as he might, Jack just couldn't get himself to wake up.