Chapter 6: The Blood Ritual

"Looks, positively dreadful." Elizabeth murmured, looking out the window at the rocky island. Kyra couldn't agree more.

"Supposed to be full of treasure though. Mounds and mounds of it." She said and Elizabeth looked at her.

"More than enough to buy you your own wardrobe with I'd wager?" She asked with a small smirk and Kyra turned towards her slowly with a sheepish look. "I just hope it's for more men's clothing."

Kyra rolled her eyes playfully. "Hey, I told you yesterday I like wearing this stuff." She turned back to the window. "Some of it will be though." Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. The door to the cabin opened and Kyra frowned as four pirates came in. Pintel, Ragetti, Koehler, and Twigg.

"Oh look, Lizzie, the idiots cometh." The men scowled and Koehler growled at her.

"Time to go poppet." Pintel spoke to Elizabeth, trying not to make eye contact with Kyra. The girl took Elizabeth's arm gently.

She gave the older girl an apologetic look. "Sorry, Liz."

"It's okay." Elizabeth murmured as she was led out of the cabin.

Ragetti began chanting over and over as Elizabeth's hands were tied in front of her.

"Would you shut up, already?" Kyra scowled. "You're so annoying." The pirate made a face and she glared at him until he scurried back. Her father stepped forward with the medallion and placed it around Elizabeth's neck. Kyra still wasn't sure what exactly her father was going to do with Elizabeth after the ritual, but she knew that she'd have to decide where her loyalties lied. With her new friend or with her father.

Jason found Will leaning against the railing with the rest of the crew, staring out into the fog towards Isla de Muerta. All Jack had told them of the island was that it was where they were headed and nothing more. He saw Will looking out with a determined expression and knew he was ready to get Elizabeth back.

"We'll get her back." He said and Will grinned down at Jason with appreciation.

Jason turned back to look at the fog-shrouded island of rock and sighed quietly. All night long he had had thought about what Jack had said and he was positive that he had figured the pirate out. Jack didn't want anyone to know that he was his kid. The pirate had a reputation and if word got out that Jason was his kid they might think less of the infamous pirate. The boy couldn't blame him for that. He could see why Jack didn't want him.

Will frowned a bit. "Jason, are you all right?"

The boy jerked from his musing and nodded. "Yeah. I'm great." He stated, his voice slightly dejected, and Will took his shoulder in concern.

"Jason, you can tell me." The boy hesitated and Will thought he was finally going to get an answer when:

"Dead men tell no tales." Mr. Cotton's parrot sang from above their heads in an eerie tone and Jason and Will looked up at the bird.

"I don't like the sound of that." Jason whispered and Will nodded with agreement, feeling the exact same way. Hearing footsteps, they turned to Mr. Gibbs as he came beside Will to lean against the railing.

"Puts a chill in the bones to see how many honest sailors have been claimed by this passage." He nodded towards the many wreaked ships sticking up out in the water. It did look haunted to Jason. Will turned and looked at Jack and Jason turned too, to see him looking at his compass. Jack turned slightly to find himself being watched by Mr. Cotton. Jason wanted to laugh as Jack suddenly shut his compass, rather awkwardly. He refrained from doing so and turned back around.

Jason had considered leaving the ship when Will rescued Elizabeth, but he had already made a deal with Jack and he didn't want to go back to Port Royal. He would be the pirate's cabin boy and nothing more. He certainly couldn't call him a friend now.

"How is it that Jack came by that compass?" Will asked and Jason looked Gibbs.

"Yeah, how?" He asked, cocking his head to one side.

"Not much is known about Jack Sparrow before he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of the Isla de Muerta." Gibbs explained as he made sure things on the ship were where they were supposed to be. Jason trailed after him, making sure to look busy in case Jack looked at him. "That would be before I met him, when he was Captain of the Black Pearl."

"What?" Will said and Gibbs almost choked on his flask. Jason's jaw dropped. He couldn't help but be shocked.

"The Pearl is his?"

"Aye." Gibbs nodded at the boy and then looked solemn.

Will frowned. "He failed to mention that."

"Well, he plays things closer to the vest now. And a hard-learned lesson it was."

"What happened?" Jason asked before he could contain his curiosity.

"See three days out on the venture the first mate comes to him and says everything's an equal share. That should mean the location of the treasure, too, so Jack gives up the bearings. That night there was a mutiny. They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die but not before he'd gone mad with the heat." Jason nodded to himself. Now what those two pirates had said to Jack that night in the fort made sense.

"Ah." Will said. "So that's the reason for all the…" He trailed off and started mimicking Jack. He waved his arms in the air and walked a little with a slight sway. Jason couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled up and Will grinned at him, glad to see a smile on his face. Gibbs shook his head and Jason quieted down a little when Jack looked in their direction. He eyed the three of them for a moment, suspicious, and Jason looked away. He didn't see the frown on Jack's face.

"Reasons got nothing to do with it." Gibbs said and then he squatted down. Will and Jason got down too. "Now boys, when a man is marooned he is given a pistol with a single shot-one shot. Well that won't do much good hunting or to be rescued. But after three weeks of a starvin' belly and thirst, that pistol will start to look real friendly." He put a gun that he made with his hand to his head and Jason swallowed. "But Jack - he escaped the island, and he still has that one shot. Oh, but he won't use it, though, save for one man. His mutinous first mate."

"Barbossa." Will and Jason said at the same time.

"Aye." Gibbs said, nodding at how quick they picked it up.

"How did Jack get off the island?" Will asked and Jason waited.

"Well," started Gibbs. "I'll tell ye. He waded out into the shallows and there he waited three days and three nights till all manner of sea creature came and acclimated to his presence. And on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed 'em together and made a raft." Jason's brow furrowed as he tried to process what Gibbs had told them.

"He roped a couple of sea turtles." Will said rather skeptically.

"Aye, sea turtles." Gibbs nodded. Jason was still trying to figure it out when he decided to ask a question.

"What did he use for rope?" He asked and then a voice behind him made him jump.

"Human hair. From my back." Jack looked down at them with an amused expression and Jason made a grossed out face. He couldn't exactly stay mad at Jack. He was a pirate after all and a captain to boot. Who wanted to be associated with a kid like him anyway? All he had done was cause the pirate trouble so far.

"Let go of the anchor!" Jack shouted to the crew and Gibbs, Jason, and Will got up to follow him.

"Aye, captain, aye!" They yelled back in unison.

"Young Mister Turner and I are to go ashore." Jack told Gibbs when the older man finally caught up to him. Jason wondered if Jack was going to give him a list of things to do while he was gone and immediately looked around for mop. He didn't particularly like swapping the deck, but it would keep him busy for sure.

Jack had hoped to see a bit of rebellion at not being mentioned and frowned when the boy didn't even give him a glance. All morning long, Jason had been acting distant and it worried him a little. "Lad, want to come along?" He asked and Jason looked at him. Did he want to go? Of course! Jack saw the boy's eyes light up and he smirked.

"Aye, Captain!"

"Well move along then." Jack waved him towards the long boat and Jason grinned. He could still have fun being with Jack. Things hadn't really changed, he decided. He just learned he didn't need to go looking for anyone to care for him after all.

"Jack, are you sure-" Will began and Jack waved him off.

"Boy will be fine."

"Captain!" Gibbs said and Jack turned to look at him. "What if the worst was to happen?"

"Keep to the Code." He answered.

"Aye, the Code." Gibbs nodded his head, while giving him and Will a strange look. An almost remorseful look. Will frowned a bit not sure he liked that. He followed Jason down the ladder and into the long boat.

"I'll row." Jason stated and sat down.

Will arched an eyebrow and looked from the ship to the island. "It's a long way, Jason."

"I can do it." The boy said hurriedly as Jack came down the ladder.

Jack smirked at the boy who was getting a good grip on oars. "Make you a deal, lad. I row there and you can row back." Jason nodded and moved so that he was in the front of the boat. Jack nodded when the boy had settled down and then took up the oars.

Kyra rolled her eyes as the pirates in front of her ran through the cavern laughing like maniacs and dancing about. She knew that they had to be excited about getting rid of the curse, but did they have to be so annoying? She pushed her way through the men and came to stand next to Elizabeth.

"Is that the chest?" Elizabeth asked quietly and Kyra followed her gaze to a large chest atop the largest pile of gold. Foreboding designs were carved into its surface.

"I think so. It looks like it could be." She said quietly back and looked at the girl next to her. Elizabeth looked scared and she couldn't blame her. She didn't know what to say to comfort her.

"Move." Twigg snapped and pushed at Elizabeth. Kyra punched him in the arm.

"Knock it off." She snapped at him and he grumbled, tugging the rope attached to Elizabeth's wrists. Kyra frowned and then heard a noise behind her. She turned her head and saw Pintel and Ragetti carrying in a chest. Smirking, she stepped closer. She knew what was in that chest.

"Ten years of hoarding swag," Pintel was saying to his nephew.

"And now we finally get to spend it." Ragetti beamed and they giggled like little girls. Kyra smirked wider. They were about to get a big surprise. They tipped the chest over and paused. Dresses, parasols, and other frilly things fell out onto the cave floor. Kyra giggled quietly as Ragetti picked up one of the dresses and held it against him, while Pintel picked up one of the parasols.

"Once we're quit of the curse, we'll be rich men." Pintel grinned. "And you can buy an eye what actually fits. And is made of glass."

Ragetti rubbed at his eye. "This one does splitter something terrible." He said twirling his parasol in one hand and opening it.

"Stop rubbin' it." His uncle hissed. They both froze when the Bo'sun walked by. He gave them an eye roll and walked on with shake of his head. Pintel slapped Ragetti with the parasol in his hand and Kyra burst into laughter. They both sent her glares.

"Daughter." Kyra looked over and saw her father beckoning her. She gave them another snicker before walking over to him.

She checked to see what his mood was, but his face gave nothing away as usual. "Father?" He looked down at her, hesitating a moment.

"You be thinkin' of where you'd like to go after the curse is lifted. We'll sail anywhere you like." Kyra smiled.

"Really? Even to France?" She asked excitedly.

"If you wish it." Barbossa chuckled. "Ye've stuck by me lass. All this time. Put up with the curse." She hugged him quickly and he patted her in a brief show of affection. At least that made her happy.

As they approached a cave, Will held a lantern out for them to see by and Jack rowed them in.

"It's huge." Jason said and ducked down when his voice echoed back to him. Will snickered and Jason rolled his eyes. Looking around, the boy almost wished he were in the dark. Skeletons littered the rocks around them and he shivered.

"What Code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" Will asked and Jason turned around. Jack looked at each of his passengers' curious gazes before responding.

"Pirate's Code. Any man that falls behind…is left behind."

"No heroes amongst thieves, eh?" Will asked, frowning a little. Jason remained silent, wondering if maybe he might be left behind.

"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga...and you're completely obsessed with treasure." Jack said as Will leaned over to look at the gold.

They hit land and Jason hopped out, taking hold of the boat to pull it ashore. Jack and Will got out and together they pulled the boat up a bit so it would slide and float away.

"That's not true. I'm not obsessed with treasure." Will scowled as he followed Jack up the tunnel. Jason could hear voices and he hurried after Jack to see what was going on. They started up the rocks soon after and Jack got up to the top first, nodding towards the light.

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." He gave Will a look over his shoulder. Will and Jason got to the top and peered into the cave below. Jason climbed up a little higher on the rock to see. In the cave were Barbossa's crew and at the top of a pile of gold was Elizabeth, wearing a dark red dress. Next to her stood a man in a feathered hat, he could only assume was Barbossa. Jason couldn't see him very well, but he could hear him speaking to his men and it made him shiver.

"Gentlemen, the time has come!" Barbossa shouted. "Our salvation is nigh! Our torment is near an end!"

"Elizabeth." Will whispered from next to Jason.

"For ten years," Barbossa shouted and Jason jumped. Jack sent him an amused look and Jason grinned sheepishly. "We've been tested and tried, and each man jack of you here has proved his mettle a hundred times over and a hundred times again!" Barbossa continued and then his crew started cheering. "Punished, we were, the lot of us - disproportionate to our crimes! Here it is!" He shouted and then he shoved the lid off a treasure chest. "...the cursed treasure of Cortés himself. Every last piece that went astray, we have returned...save for this." He pointed at something around Elizabeth's neck.

So they are trying to rid themselves of the skeletal curse, Jason mused and then narrowed his eyes. But what did they need Elizabeth for?

Will tried to climb out and Jack pulled him back down making some coins fall from the rocks. Unknowingly, they disturbed Little Jack the monkey and the creature's eyes looked for the source of the falling coins.

"Jack!" Will protested and Jack shushed him. Jason turned from looking at the pirates and looked to the two next to him.

"Not yet. We wait for the opportune moment." Jack got up and started walking away and Jason slid off the rock to follow.

"When is that? When it's the greatest profit for you!" Will asked with annoyance and Jack whirled around. Will halted and was bumped into by Jason who scowled.

"May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?" Jack didn't wait for an answer. "Do us a favor - I know it's difficult for you, but please stay here and…try not to do anything stupid." Jack took off and then he stopped again. "You stay here too, savvy?"

"Aye, Captain." Jason nodded and Jack gave him a small relieved smile and turned back around.

Will ground his teeth and a feeling of dread coursed through Jason and it was intensified when Will wandered back to the boat.

"Will?" He asked nervously when he came back with an oar. "What are you doing?" Will didn't answer, he just sped up and Jason gulped, not liking where this was going. Jason ran to keep up. They rounded the corner and Jack turned with a surprised expression, before Will smacked him with the oar.

"Sorry Jack, I'm not going to be your leverage." He said as the pirate fell to the ground.

"Will!" Jason rounded on him hissing angrily. "What did you do that for?" He couldn't see what good it was to do that when Jack was supposed to help them. "He was trying to help you."

Will sighed. "I know it seemed that way, Jason, but pirates don't always think about anyone but themselves and I need to help Elizabeth." Jason looked from Jack to Will, confused once again as to what to do. On one hand, he knew that Will was right. He had learned that last night, but on the other hand, he had a loyalty to Jack who was his captain. Will could see the conflict in his eyes and sighed again. "I'm not going to make you choose between me and Jack, Jason. Despite what I think of him, he does care about you." Jason flinched.

"Right." He muttered lowly before sighing. "I have to stay, Will. I'm his cabin boy."

Will nodded and took hold of his shoulder. "You'll be fine. Jack will look after you." Jason wanted to argue that, but he held his tongue. "Be careful."

"Go save your girl." Jason pushed at him and Will gave him one last look before darting up the path. He looked down at Jack who was lying motionlessly on the ground. "Now what do I do?"

He heard a shout and gave Jack another look. He thought he ought to stay next to Jack, but he wanted to see what was going on. So deciding to check out what was going on, Jason left Jack and went to see what the other pirates were doing. He hid behind a pile of gold and watched as Barbossa slit Elizabeth's hand and held it above the coins. Her blood dripped down into the coins and the crowd fell silent.

Kyra waited on baited breath, rocking back and forth on her heels. Her father released Elizabeth's hand and she dropped the bloodied medallion into the pile of gold coins. The pirates around her started to murmur lowly after a moment.

"Did it work?" Koehler boomed out.

"I don't feel no different." Ragetti agreed and Pintel nodded.

"How do we tell?"

Barbossa rolled his eyes and took out a pistol and shot Pintel in the chest. They all looked at him. He didn't fall over.

"You're not dead." Koehler accused and Pintel gave a small laugh.

"No." He said and then he glared at Barbossa. "He shot me!" He hollered pointing at him.

Ragetti began to panic. He shrieked.

"The curse is still upon us!" Twigg shouted and Kyra frowned. Why didn't it work?

"You maid!" Her father shouted at Elizabeth. "Your father, what was his name! Was you're father, William Turner?" Elizabeth smirked at him.

"You lied?" Kyra whispered and felt a bit betrayed. She watched her father glare at her once before looking back at the young woman. Kyra flinched. So much for going to France.

"No." Elizabeth answered. He grabbed her shoulders and started shaking her.

"Where's his child? The child that sailed from England eight years ago, the child in whose veins flows the blood of William Turner! Where?" When she didn't answer he slapped her.

"Father!" Kyra gasped as her friend rolled down the piles of coins. She was torn between running to check on her or staying put to find out what they were going to do now. As she tried to think things out, she spotted a young boy peering out from behind one of the gold piles. Where had he come from? He looked to be about nine or ten and had messy dark brown hair and dark eyes that were watching the pirates apprehensively. Every now and then the boy would find something in the gold he liked and would shove into his pocket. She smirked and wondered how her father would take to seeing the little thief.

"You two!" The Bo'sun shouted and Kyra saw the boy jump and began to edge backwards. She decided to leave the boy alone for now and turned around to see the dark-skinned muscled man point accusingly at Pintel and Ragetti.

"You brought us the wrong person!" He snarled at them.

"No!" Pintel argued as they all looked at him. "She had the medallion! And she's the proper age!"

"She said her name was Turner-you heard her!" Ragetti came to his uncle's rescue. "I think she lied to us!" He turned to Kyra. "She was friends with her. How come she didn't know?"

"Yeah, that's right." Koehler growled, turning to face her. "You little wench! You knew and went along with it! You never wanted the curse lifted!"

Kyra ground her teeth and brandished her sword at the man. "First of all, flog off you son of a donkey!" She cursed and got several guffaws at that. "Second of all, how dare you call me a liar?! Have you no more brains than a sea-turtle!? She never told me her name!"

"You brought us here for nothing!" Twigg shouted at Barbossa, turning the arguing around towards the captain.

"I won't take questioning and no second guessing, not from the likes of you, Master Twigg." Barbossa growled, his hand tightening on his pistol.

"Who's to blame? Every decision you've made has led us from bad to worse." Koehler shouted.

Kyra snorted. "Well, it was much better than your plan to go to armory in Port Royal! You never even found anything!"

"That wasn't our fault!" Twigg yelled at her. "A six-year-old tricked us!" He paused a moment as his words rang around. His fellow pirates were giving him confused looks. "Oh, um, what I mean is…Don't question me, question our captain!" He said, flustered, and pointed at Barbossa. Immediately they went back to yelling and complaining.

"It was you who sent Bootstrap to the depths!" Someone shouted.

"And it was you that brought us here in the first place!" Bo'sun snarled, brandishing his sword and Kyra's eyes widened. She had always had a small fear of the man.

"If any coward here dare challenge me, let him speak!" Barbossa shouted angrily. Unsurprisingly, with all the complaints not one stepped forward and Kyra smirked. Her father was the fiercest pirate ever.

"I say we cut her throat and spill all her blood just in case!" Koehler shouted and they all agreed with him. Kyra heard Little Jack and gasped. He was jumping up and down pointing the tunnel.

"Captain!" She shouted and got his attention. "The medallion!" Barbossa looked at where Elizabeth was no longer and glared.

"She's taken it!" He exclaimed and they all looked up at him. "Get after her you, feckless pack of ingrates!" Kyra ran with the others, hoping she'd find Elizabeth before everyone else. She had a sudden thought as she darted up the tunnel. Perhaps the boy she had seen had helped the girl escape.

"There's no oars!" One of the crew shouted and she frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"The oars! They're all gone, Miss Kyra!" Ragetti pointed out and Kyra scowled.

"Well don't just stand there, go find them! We have to have a way back to the ship!" Most of them grumbled, but went into the water and Kyra turned around. She spotted the boy again, running and dodging behind mounds of treasure. She narrowed her eyes and decided to try and find him. Perhaps he knew another way off the island.

Hearing Barbossa shouting made Jason nervous about being caught, so he ran to find Jack. The pirate was still out.

"Captain." Jason hissed and shook the pirate's shoulder. "Wake up! There are pirates everywhere." Jack groaned. "Jack! Jack, wake up!" He patted his face and Jack finally sat up. He looked down at Jason groggily.

"What are we doin' down here?" He asked and Jason rolled his eyes.

"Will hit you with an oar, remember?" The boy grabbed Jack's arm. "Come on, we have to go. Barbossa set his pirates loose." He tugged, trying to get the pirate off his bottom. "Jack, come on!"

"You stayed?" Jack poked him and Jason sighed.

"Yeah…I'm your cabin boy. Now get off your bum." Jack used Jason and the oar Will had hit him with and managed to sway upright.

"S'good boy." Jack slurred, obviously still feeling the effects of getting a good smacking. Jason stiffened when the pirate ruffed his hair. "Me…lad…son…thing." Hating the feeling he got from the fatherly touch, Jason shoved his hand off. He felt a bit dejected at the entire situation and sighed.

"Come on. We've got to go. No doubt Will is making Gibbs keep to Code and are leaving us behind as we speak." Even half-conscious Jack noted the change in the boy's demeanor.

He swayed the boy as Jason led him up back the way they had come. Jason stopped abruptly and swore under his breath. The pirates were everywhere. They would have to find another way to go. Jack prodded the boy in the back with the oar.

"What's the matter, boy?" Jack asked. Jason didn't respond and Jack jabbed him with the oar a bit harder. Jason scowled and looked at him. "What's the matter?" He asked louder and the boy winced.

"Shh." Jason hissed. "The bad pirates." He said and pushed the oar away. Jack stumbled forward to see.

"Oh." He grabbed Jason's vest and pulled him backwards. As they moved back a bit their movement was seen.

"You." Ragetti paused and the other pirates turned to see what he was talking about. They all crowded around and Jack pushed Jason behind him. Jason scowled at Jack's back and then peered around him.

"You're supposed to be dead!" Pintel said and the other pirates nodded. Jack blinked.

"Am I not?" He asked and then looked down at himself. "Oh." He said and turned to leave, pushing Jason back the way they had come. Jack paused as a pirate with a gun and pistol blocked them. Jack gave up and turned back around, keeping Jason nearby.

"Palulay...palu-li-la-la-lulu." He said instantly and the men gave each other looks. Pintel and Ragetti looked at Jason and the boy shrugged. "Parlili... parsnip, pasley, par - partner, partner..." What was the bloody word?

"Parley?" Ragetti offered and Jack grinned.

"Parley! That's the one! Parley! Parley!" The pirates did not look too happy at this at all and they all scowled.

"Parley?" Pintel snarled and he glared at Ragetti before aiming his pistol at Jack. "Damn to the depths whatever mutton-head came up 'parley.'"

"That would be the French." Jack said, sounding a little more coherent, as he pushed the offending pistol away.

"Take them to the Captain." Kyra spoke up, stepping through the pirates. "You heard them say parley."

Jack looked the young woman up and down and grinned. "And who might you be, luv?"

"Kyra Barbossa." She said cheekily, tossing her braid over her shoulder. She had heard stories of Captain Jack Sparrow, but seeing him in person was much better. She smirked at the slack-jawed look Jack gave her. "My father is not going to be happy to see you, Captain Sparrow."

"Hey, it's that little runt from the fort!" Twigg shouted and moved forward to try and grab at Jason. The boy smirked and stepped back.

"Aren't you tree branch or something like that?" He asked and some of the pirates snickered.

Twigg snarled. "It's Twigg!"

"Is that the six-year-old that tricked you?" A pirate asked and Jason scowled.

"I'm ten!" He snapped and Jack put a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"Captain, wants to see you now!" Bo'sun yelled and Jason backed into Jack. He didn't like the look of that pirate.

"Come on." Kyra called and turned around.

Kyra led them back to where the piles of gold were and Barbossa pushed his way through the surrounding men. Jack leaned casually and almost smug-like against the oar he was holding onto. With one hand he kept Jason behind him.

"How the blazes did you get off that island?" Barbossa snarled at Jack. His men looked on as well, just as curious.

"When you marooned me on that Godforsaken spit of land you forgot one very important thing mate. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He said matter-of-factly.

"Ah," Barbossa started coming towards Jack and Jason swallowed. "Well I won't be making that mistake…again." He paused and looked at Jason, seeing him for the first time. "Who's the lad? Your cabin boy?"

"Aye." Jason responded, trying not to be intimidated. Barbossa arched an eyebrow, looking from the boy to Jack. A smirk went across his face.

"Well, this be interesting."

"What is?" Kyra asked, tilting her head and wondering what her father was smirking at.

"Never mind it. Gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow?" Barbossa smirked.

"Aye!" They all shouted in unison and they seemed a little too excited to shoot the man.

"Kill him. Bring the boy with you." Barbossa added and Jason was instantly pulled forward as Jack was surrounded by pistols. The boy dug his heels into the floor of the cave trying to stop the auburn haired girl from pulling him away from Jack. He was Jack's cabin boy!

Jack didn't miss the look of worriment and fear the boy gave him and felt the urge to protect him. "The girl's blood didn't work did it?" He asked, making sure that Barbossa heard him through the hollering men.

"Hold your fire!" The pirate yelled and the men looked very disappointed at having to lower their weapons. Barbossa whirled around and came stalking back towards him.

"You know whose blood we need." Barbossa said to Jack, getting in his face.

Jack smirked, knowing he had just won. "I know whose blood ye need." Barbossa cursed and then pointed a finger at Jack.

"Yer comin' with me, Sparrow. You and yer cabin boy." The way he sneered it made Jack narrow his eyes.

Jason shifted in the boat next to Jack looking up at the Pearl in awe.

"Wow." He said, taking in the large ship in amazement. "She's beautiful." Jack smiled and nodded.

"Aye, that she is lad."

Jason studied the ship some more and then turned to Jack. "She's supposed to be yours, right?" He asked lowly, making sure only Jack heard. The pirate arched an eyebrow.

"How'd ya know about that?" He questioned and Jason smirked.

"Gibbs." Jack rolled his eyes. "So it's true then?"

"Aye."

Jason nodded and then glanced at Barbossa who was eyeing them suspiciously. "So...how are you going to get the ship back from him?" Jack followed his gaze and he could see the calculating look that Hector was giving him and his son.

"I've got a plan." He murmured and then cleared his throat. "So, want to tell me what's going on, lad? Been acting funny all day."

"It's nothing." Jason shook his head, slightly frustrated. He wanted to call Jack out on it, demand the man give him answers about why he didn't tell him. However, he knew that Jack might get mad for being questioned, that and he assumed he already knew the reason Jack never said he was his father.

Jack watched Jason's face, seeing the anger and some sadness there in his eyes. There was something bothering that boy. "Come, come now. You mustn't lie to your captain."

Jason sighed and frowning, he looked back up at Jack, his eyes narrowed.

Jack saw the look and frowned back, slightly shocked at the anger. "What, lad?"

"I just want to know…" Jason took a deep breath. "If I wasn't your kid, would you still have offered me the job?"

Jack swallowed nervously. "You know then." The boy nodded.

"I heard you, Will, and Gibbs last night." Jason looked at his lap. "I understand you not wanting me." He looked back up at Jack, angry again. "But I didn't want your pity."

"Who said I didn't want ya?" Jack frowned.

"You did."

The pirate winced. Oops. He had said that.

Jason glared at him. "I thought you were my friend, Jack, but I can't even call you that anymore." The boy blew out a breath. "Look, I won't tell anyone. We can keep pretending that we don't know. Then things won't change because I liked how things were going." Jack put a hand on the rambling boy and shook his head.

"I ain't-" He didn't get to finish his sentence because they were being forced up the ladder of the Pearl.

"So you expect to just leave me standing on some beach with nothing but a name and it's your word it's the one I need and I watch you sail away on my ship?" Barbossa was saying. He sat at one end of the table and Jack stood at the other end. Kyra and Jason sat near the middle, across from one another. Kyra pushed the fruit bowl over to the hungry looking boy and smirked when Jason snatched an apple. He glanced at Jack and then at the monkey. Kyra got Jason's attention and tossed a grape at Little Jack. The monkey hopped up and down excitedly and Jason smiled.

"No." Jack said rather bluntly. "I expect to leave you standing on some beach with absolutely no name at all, watching me sail away on my ship and then I'll shout the name back to you. Savvy?" Jack said and Jason looked at him as he leaned across the table.

"But that still leaves us with the problem of me standing on some beach with naught but a name and your word it's the one I need." Barbossa murmured.

"Of the two of us," Jack said as he dug through the fruit bowl, pulling it from Jason. "I am the only one who hasn't committed mutiny, therefore-" He plucked an apple from the bowl like Jason had. "-my word is the one we'll be trusting." He went back and sat down putting his feet upon the table. "Although...I suppose I should be thanking you because, in fact, if you hadn't betrayed me and left me to die, I would have an equal share in that curse, same as you." Jack bit into the apple, and Barbossa looked angry. "Funny ol' world, innit?" He then offered the apple to Barbossa and a flicker of resentment crossed the elder man's features. Jason looked at Jack in horror. He couldn't imagine seeing Jack as a skeleton.

Unbeknownst to Jack and Barbossa, Jason had been secretly pilfering grapes into his mouth. Kyra had been quietly laughing at him, until she realized that he thought the food was going to be snatched away if he wasn't careful. She frowned slightly. Surely Sparrow, treated his cabin boy better than that.

"Captain!" The Bo'sun suddenly opened the door and called in. "We're coming upon the Interceptor." Without warning Barbossa's monkey shot across the table right in front of Jason, just as he had finished stuffing his mouth with grapes.

"Pffft!" Grapes went shooting across the table at Barbossa as he sat there trying to get air. Barbossa looked disgusted and Jack laughed loudly at the look on the older man's face. Kyra made sure her father didn't see her laughing. Barbossa glared at Jack and Jason before stalking out the door muttering about "Sparrows and their cabin boys". Jason grinned apologetically and then pointed at the monkey.

"He made me do it." Jack laughed again and Jason grinned at him a little. Jack followed Barbossa out the door, leaving Jason with Kyra.

"So," Kyra stated and Jason looked up from cleaning off the table. He really hadn't meant to make a mess. "What's your name?"

"Jason." He responded. "Is…he really your father?"

"Is Jack really yours?" She asked back and Jason frowned at the table. Kyra tilted her head, sensing something was amiss. "Did he not tell you?"

Jason sighed. "I don't really want to talk about it." He said and shifted. "I can't believe that your father doesn't mind having people know you're his kid."

"Why is that?" Kyra questioned and Jason shook his head with wide eyes at her tone.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way! Honest!" He stated, holding his hands up defensively. "It's just that most pirates might think it makes them weak or something."

Kyra nodded in understanding. "I get it. You don't know how well." She said quietly and then arched an eyebrow. "So…you really beat Twigg?" Jason grinned cheekily.

"Yeah. It was really great too." Kyra smirked.

"Think you could take me on?"

Jason gave her a smug look. "I could be you any day." He challenged and Kyra laughed. The kid was at least six years younger, but he was definitely smart.

"All right." She nodded. "I'll hold you to that." She stood up from the table. "Come on. We better see what's going on."

Jason followed Kyra and found Jack irritating Barbossa.

Barbossa was gazing at the other ship through his telescope and Jack was getting his way, his face filling up the eyeglass. Barbossa lowered it with a scowl.

"I'm having a thought here, Barbossa." Jack began. "What say we run up a flag of truce? I scurry over to the Interceptor, and I negotiate the return of your medallion, eh? What say you to that?" Barbossa narrowed his eyes at him.

"Now you see, Jack, that's exactly the attitude that lost you the Pearl." He mocked. "People are easier to search when their dead." Jason gulped. Barbossa nodded towards Bo'sun. "Lock 'im in the brig." Bo'sun grabbed Jack and started dragging him down below deck. Jason looked at Jack who twisted around in the Bo'sun's grip to try and locate him. Jason nodded at the pirate, telling him he was okay and then Jack was out of sight.

"Bloody Sparrow..." Barbossa muttered and tossed Jack's unfinished apple out to sea. Hector turned to see the irritating pirate's cabin boy still lingering about and smirked.

"Boy, might I have a word with ye?"

Review?