The small group made their way into the inner most rooms of the great fortress, by passing the many hovels and hide-aways that littered the great structure. As always the pirate fort had a colorful and lively atmosphere that often occurred when any number of pirates came together in one place. However Jack and Lynn ignored all of this, completely focused on their task, though Jack looked more like a man walking to his own hanging.

"Are you sure he's even here? He does like to skip out every now and then," Lynn reminded Jack. "He is a Captain of his own ship after all."

"Aye, but signs point to him being here, and as there are no other places in which he should be at this time, therefore this is the best place to find him, in order to find the object that will lead us to our destination," Jack reasoned in a flippant manner.

Lynn and Gibbs both blinked in confusion before Lynn giggled causing Jack to spin around on her.

"Did you just giggle?"

"No."

"You did."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"I do not giggle," Lynn declared. "I chuckle… with a girlish air."

"Right, you giggled," Jack confirmed then spun back around to continue on his way.

"Did not," Lynn muttered with a pout, sulking after Jack. Gibbs followed trying hard not to laugh at their antics, which had become a daily activity for both over the past weeks.

Neither saw the four pairs of eyes that watched them in stunned amazement as they followed after Jack, weaving their way through one of the many pubs in the fort. The four men sat in silence, their drinks forgotten as they tried to process what they just saw.

"Was that…," one of the men, a fairly broad man, with blond locks and slightly round features stuttered out.

"Aye," another, with shoulder length brown locks tied back in a low ponytail replied. His Romanesque features poised in a frown.

"I did not think she has ever 'giggled' before," the third man, obviously from the desert lands of the Sahara, his long curly black hair and clean-cropped beard framing his dark skinned face.

"It seems she has moved on as well," the fourth and final man stated, somewhat sadly, his hazel eyes and sharp features set in a frown as he pushed his unruly locks of shoulder length brown hair behind his ear. "All the better then."

"Why does that not sound convincing," second man stated sarcastically.

"Did that man she was with look familiar to you," the first man murmured thoughtfully.

"I think I have heard of him,. Jack Sparrow? No?"

"Aye," The fourth man practically growled. "Jack Bloody Sparrow," he took one last swig of his drink before stalking away from the table. His companions watched him go with heavy hearts.

"That went well," The first man grumbled into his drink.

"He needs to get over it. He made his choice, we all did," the second man pointed out. "And for better or worse we have to live with our decision."

"But it doesn't keep doubts from lingering," the third reasoned. All three men nodded solemnly turning back to their drinks.

"Though," the second man spoke up conspiratorially. "I can't help but wonder why she is here, of all places."

"Perhaps we should inquire about this," the first man nodded. "For the safety and well being of the crew of course."

"Of course," the other two chimed in agreement.

Minutes later a barmaid came round to an empty table, cursing the bloody pirates that had skipped out on paying for their drinks, no matter how handsome they might have been.