I'm sorry for the lack of update, but the holidays do nothing good to my creativity!

And this time, not yet corrected, but I hope it's good enough without it.

She woke up with a terrible headache and she did neither even know what had happened nor where she was. When she tried to open her eyes, it was nearly impossible, her left eyes seemed to be swollen and hurt incredible as did a lot of other parts of her as well. Her body started to shake and she didn't know if it was from the cold and the mud she was sitting in or from the things that had happened. Well actually she couldn't remember anything, besides that she had left the ship and then passed out. With her right eye she was able to look around, when she looked down she saw that her once yellow dress was covered with dirt and was ripped at some parts. She was starting to panic. What had happened to her? Had she been raped? Captured? Tortured? She looked timidly around but saw just an empty alleyway. She was lost and alone and something had happened to her, now tears were running down her cheek, she guessed that is was worse than if she had died when she tried to. She didn't want to think about it, just find a way back to the ship, perhaps he could help her, but which way was it? She had no clue, but she decided to follow the noise. On wobbly legs she was walking down the streets, shivering from the cold and trying to find the right way with just one eye, not to mention the horrible headache that was still not ebbing away.

Oh how her father would now laugh at her, he had always done it when she had just followed her curiosity and had survived the most horrible situations. He had even once told her that one day she'll die because of it and that she was just incorrigible. But would he even laugh when he saw her this way? She couldn't imagine it and she didn't want to imagine it. It was worse enough for him that she ran away and now even finding out that she sailed with a pirate, was brought into the pirate town and now even at least had been beaten up, if not more worse. She felt horrible about the whole situation. She had betrayed the trust of her loving father, the trust of her new Captain, she had to be called pirate, not anyone else!

She heard the sounds of the town growing louder and even a few people were heading into her direction, most of them some whores with their customers. It was like hell, she hoped it was only a bad dream from witch she would awake very soon.

Suddenly she bumped into a man, she stumbled and felt to the ground and he helped her politely to her feet, then he frowned.

"Miss Elizabeth? Is it you?" he asked surprised

Elizabeth tried to focus on this man, yes, he seemed somehow familiar, but she didn't know from where she had known him. When he became no answer he told her his name.

"It be Gibbs, I was telling you the stories 'bout the pirates on the passing from England."

Yes, now she could remember.

"Mister Gibbs!" she threw her arms around him and then started to sob.

"You are my last hope. I don't know how I came hear, I was told to stay on this ship, but I didn't and now…now I can't find the way back and I have to…" her voice trailed off when she started to cry again.

Meanwhile Jack had found his way into his favourite tavern "The faithful bride" where he was supposed to find his loyal former first mate. But when he entered he found no sign of him and so he decided to order some rum, which was something he needed after this strange and disturbing night.

Why did he care for this girl? Why was he supposed to save her? These questions hadn't left his head since he had rescued her. After he finished the bottle, he turned around and saw some familiar faces. They had been part of his crew some earlier time so he found it quite nice to get them back and well they were glad to come with him. Given some orders to stock up the ship he made his way back to the ship. Content he entered the cabin but was shocked in his tracks when he found it empty.

"Stupid girl!" he cursed and found the half empty bottle of rum, sitting down on the chair. Where should he search for her? Tortuga wasn't a small island and he didn't want even to imagine some places.

Back at Port Royal:

Governor Swann had sent a letter for help, they needed a ship very urgently. He hated being in the Caribbean, had he been in England then there wouldn't have been the problem that he had no ship. How many times had he wished that he wouldn't have agreed to become the Governor of Port Royal, then he would be living in his favourite country, not dealing with pirates and her daughter would have been married to a respectable man.

James Norrington was lost in his thoughts as well. He could never forgive himself if anything was happening to Elizabeth. He was glad that the Governor hadn't said anything about his job, but still he could see how broken he was, how much he missed his daughter. Well, she was the only thing he had left. After her mother had died he had agreed to give everything up and move to the Caribbean and now, his life was falling apart. Norrington had gone back to his house, but he couldn't sleep, his mind was too occupied with all the worries.

Will was still angry. He just couldn't sit around and wait till a ship was sent. First of all the letter had to be delivered, which would at least not be before next week. He went down to the docks and found a little dinghy and stole it. At least he perhaps would somehow find his way to Tortuga. On the map, it hadn't seemed that far, so he hoped he could reach it with the strength he had.

Somewhere in Tortuga:

Scarlett and Giselle had become best friends, after they have found out that they both had been fooled by Jack and so they have found a flat which they shared when they had not to work. Their business was running bad and they had a lot of rivalry, so they had schemed a plan that they'll do everything that is necessary to keep other or new girls away from this town.

They had seen Elizabeth walk of a ship, dressed in a short yellow dress, and they wanted to show her that she had nothing to do here. They hit her with a bottle unconscious and then they found a sailor who had helped them to carry her to their flat. In front of it, they started to kick and beat her. For them it was as well a good instrument to get rid of her aggression they had carried for years. Elizabeth wasn't the first lass/wench they hadn't beaten up, it became easier with every time, but still, it helped them so much.

Back at the Interceptor:

Elizabeth had told Gibbs shortly what had happened, as much as she knew, and which ship it was she had to go to and shortly after this she collapsed and Gibbs had to carry her to the docks. When he reached the ship, he sat her very carefully down on deck, leaning her against the rail. Before he had to speak with Jack, tell him how irresponsible he was leaving her alone on a ship. He went to the only cabin aboard this ship and opened the door, without knocking.

Jack had fallen asleep in the chair, he had drunken only two bottles of rum, but it was enough for him, for he had been nearly sober over two weeks. But it was the only thing that could help the Captain to keep up his legend. In fact he was suffering from seasickness and the only cure seemed to be to get drunk and be able to be the great Captain Jack Sparrow he was.

Gibbs went over to where Jack was sitting and smacked him at his cheek. Jack eyes shot open wide.

"I don't think I deserved that." Jack mumbled, rubbing his cheek

"Oh, yes Jackie, you do!" Gibbs answered him in a serious tone

"Why? Can't remember I've done somethin' wrong?" Jack started to play along for he had no idea why Gibbs was angry with him so he put on his usual smirk

Gibbs smacked him a second time, but this time harder. Jack cursed under his breath.

"Joshamee ye know I'm Captain and ye know the punishment for not respecting the Captain." Jack was looking very serious, his brown eyes had become nearly black, with anger.

"Punishment? " Gibbs was now yelling at him "Ye've no idea of this, Jack. I knew her since she was a little lass, I was the first person who told her 'bout pirates and I was visiting her every few years to see if she'd been alright, and now? Now I find her beaten up, if not somethin' worse had happened to her. And you…you haven't taken care of her! Left her alone in this town, on a ship, without a crew!"

Meanwhile Jack had walked back, his face into a frown, he was wondering what Gibbs was yelling, but when he heard she had been beaten up, he was shot out of his thoughts and knew immediately who Gibbs meant.

"WHAT?" Jack yelled as well "Where's she? How's she doing?" Jack couldn't think straight anymore, why was this girl always trouble, why was he responsible for her? And yet, he felt his heart breaking when he heard what had happened. Gibbs just nodded his head into the direction of the door and Jack was sooner gone then Gibbs could look back.

He ran outside and saw her leaned against the reeling, he ran over to her and bent down. Her body was cold, she was whiter than snow and a complete mess and immediately he started to feel if she still had a pulse. Yes, thanks to god, she had, even if it was a weak one. Quickly he shrugged of his coat, while Gibbs was coming out of the cabin. Jack shouted at him to tell the rest of the crew, that he needed a small bed for this ship and some new clothes for her. Again he thought, how many times he had to undress her while she's unconscious. He carried her over to the cabin and laid her down onto the bench, stroking some dirty hair out of her face, still holding her hand as if he was afraid to lose her, if he wasn't holding it.

"I'm so sorry, Lizzie!" he whispered and his eyes started to tear up, but he wouldn't cry, at least he was Captain Jack Sparrow.