Jack stood at the rail and sighed in relief at the sight of the port as we pulled in.

"Ah! Tortuga!" He exclaimed cheerily. I rolled my eyes and jumped down from the riggings to go below decks.

His bandaged hand went around my wrist. "Wat do yeh think yer doin'?" He asked slyly. I attempted to pull my arm out of his grasp but he held on tightly, pulling me to the gangplank.

"Let go!"I dragged my feet, dreading the return to land. The dry ground rejected me like the negative side a magnet.

"No." He replied simply. "Can't risk yeh runnin' off, now can I?" He yanked me on to the dock. "Cummon, luv! We haven' got all night!"

Once we were on the road, I felt it hit me. My immortality was gone. The moment I was on dry land, I turned human and that frightened me to no end. Any moment could be my last.

Jack knew this.

He set up a table for Gibbs at The Faithful Bride and soon had men going to it. Jack sat next to him, shaking his compass mumbling, "I know what I want! I know what I want!"

I sighed, crossed my arms over my chest and watched sailors come up. Gibbs wasn't being to picky about who he chose either.

"And what makes you think you're worthy to crew the Black Pearl?"

"Truth be told, I've never sailed a day in my life. I figure I ought to get out and see the world while I'm still young." Said a man who looked old enough to be my father's father. (And that's saying something!)

"You'll do. Make your mark. Next?"

"My wife ran off with my dog, and I'm drunk for a month, and I don't give an ass rat's if I live or die."

"Perfect. Next?"

"Me got one arm and a bum leg."

"It's the crow's nest for you. Next?" I stifled a laugh at this.

"Ever since I was a little lad, I've always wanted to sail the seas. Forever."

"Sooner than you think. Sign the roster."

"Thanks very much."

Jack looked up from his compass to Gibbs. "How are we going?"

I looked at Gibbs' sheet. "Including those four? We have four." He grimaced to my joy. I gave him a small smile that reminded people of my mother. He cringed away slightly.

Gibbs looked up at the next applicant. "What your story, Sailor?"

I looked up from my nails. The man stood before the table had seen better days. He was wore practically to nothing but filth from the crown of his grimy head to the tip of his ratty boots.

"My story?" His voice was smooth, practiced. He sounded like an official. "It's exactly the same as your story, just one chapter behind. I chased a man across the seven seas." Jack looked around. "The pursuit cost me my crew, my commission, and my life."

His little speech went over my head but I was alone in that.

Gibbs gasped, "Commodore Norrington?"

Norrington snarled. "No, not any more! Weren't you listening? I nearly had you all off Tripoli." Jack grabbed my arm and hide behind a leaf and started to sneak off. "I would have, if not for that hurricane!"

"Lord, you didn't try to sail through it?" Gibbs scoffed as if it were nothing.
"This Sir, do I make your crew or not? You haven't said where you're going. Somewhere nice!" He tipped Gibbs and table over, stopping Jack in his tracks. "So, am I worthy to serve under Captain Jack Sparrow? Or should I just kill you now?" He pointed the gun at Jack.

I stepped in front of him. "Stop tat! Only I be the one to threaten Jack, not some stinkin' bilge rat like yeh!" I snapped, ignoring the pistol my head.

He looked me over. "Who is this girl?"

Jack grabbed my hand and attempted to pull me away. "She's no one. My mother's sister's cousin's daughter twice removed. Terrific singer-"

He pulled to hard and my shirt shifted slightly with a flash of silver as my locket revealed it's self to the world.

There was a collective gasp. Jack nearly lifted me off my feet as we ran out of there, dozens of pairs of hands reaching and groping for me. He dodged them like branches in the woods.

I slipped on spilt rum and hit the deck. Feet and fists collided with my sides and face. I curled into a ball, crawling to the door. Two hands grabbed me under the arms, dragging me to the door.

Once outside, I fought wildly from those hands. "Let me go!" I clawed and bit at the hands.

"Easy, luv! Tis' only me!" Jack's worried voice responded, setting me on my feet. I swayed and fell with a cry of pain. My legs were bruised badly, as were my sides, arms and I felt blood trickle down my cheek, telling me my face was as well.

"I would apologize but why should I?" I told him bitterly as he wrapped his arm around my middle to support me as we moved quickly through Tortuga, Gibbs at our heels.

"Because despite our previous brushes with each other, I do still care what happens to yeh." Jack told me, not looking at me. "Yeh may not believe me, but I do still care fer yah."

I stopped to look at him. He looked at me with wide eyes.

"Gibbs, give us a mo'." He murmured, his arm still around my waist.

"But Cap'n, the-"

"Gibbs."

He moved on, as Jack lead me over to an Alley. I waited for a moment and moved so we were close.

"What did you say to me before?" I whispered, our lips nearly touching. I knew what Jack liked and he was water in my palms now. I could do what I wished with him. He gave a small smirk, shifting closer.

"I still care for yeh, Mala." He moved to kiss me before I pushed his shoulder and ducked out of the way. I slapped him across the face. Before he could respond, I backhanded him and then punched him in the jaw.

"Yer a fool, Jack Sparrow." I snarled. I began to walk away before he grabbed my arm and slammed my against the stone wall, his hand around the base of my throat.

"You try my patience, Mala." He whispered dangerously. "We had something once. You can't forget that. We had something."

I shoved him away. "Now, we have nothing."