DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or any of the characters included in the package. I do like to play with them and often end up giving them back worse for the wear. (Especially Captain Jack Sparrow!) ;

CLAIMER: I do, however, own the plot of this story and all my OC therein. Some stay around, some don't. That's life, ne?

Part 10: Arrival in Egypt

The Black Pearl made good time across the remaining stretch of ocean, though she traveled slower than normal with her foremast in disrepair. Jack kept the crew working on it each day but there was only so much that could be done without extra wood.

Throughout the voyage several small problems had arisen but were dealt with. One such example was where the dogs would…do their business. After many trial-and-error attempts to sort things out, Chelsea was given a broom, a bucket of water, and rags. Being their caretaker, whenever a dog messed she would shove the excrement overboard with the broom, then scrub the wood thoroughly. As Jack watched her work from behind the helm, he almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

After all, he only agreed to take the dogs along; not to care for them. Truth be told, when he had accepted, he hadn't been awake enough to think ahead and sort out the problems that were arising now. He wasn't worried about Chelsea, though. Chelsea, to anyone who didn't know her, seemed the definition of innocence. With her long blonde hair drawn back into a neat braid and her pale skin that glowed angelically in the sunlight, the only thing that gave her away for something starkly different than a proper lady was her eyes. Those wild eyes.

And the fact that she was scrubbing the deck of a pirate ship.

"Land ho!"

Jack shook his head and looked to the horizon where once there was only sea and sky, but now the hint of a dark mass was coming into view. He narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the details of the foreign land. "Dozell!"

Footfalls thudded on the quarterdeck stairs and Dozell appeared at Jack's elbow in mere moments. "Yes sir?"

Jack handed the younger the spyglass and indicated the black mass on the horizon. "Is tha' yer Egypt?"

Dozell handed back the spyglass without even making use of it. "No. Where we're headed is further inland. We will require horses to make the journey."

Jack nodded, his concentration divided between the approaching land and Dozell's comments. There was something vaguely familiar about those distant shores, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Shrugging inwardly, he decided that they may just have sailed within sight of it on one of their voyages to Madagascar.

"Pharaoh,"

Jack's eyes narrowed, trying to penetrate the fog with little success. He had still not been able to peg the woman as a threat or a friend, but he knew better than to let his guard down in any case. "Stop callin' me tha'," he growled, unconsciously standing straighter and taking on the attitude he used when commanding his crew.

The fog drew into a single wall from which the woman appeared, delayed tendrils of mist fusing with her and clearing the area, leaving it blandly single-toned. Despite the lack of substance in the area, Jack remained on-edge.

"Very well, Captain Sparrow, however you should get used to responding to your royal title. Your homeland approaches and needs you."

"Jack, it's gettin' late."

Jack started, having been shaken from his dazed half-sleep on the rail by Ana's gentle queue. Eventually it sunk in that the sun had set, Dozell was gone, and that the distant shores were no longer visible in the starlit night. He turned a guarded gaze towards Ana, still shaken by his other-worldly conversation. After reassuring himself that it was just her, he turned his eyes back on the dark water.

Ana didn't touch him, nor did she speak again. She simply stood by his side and regarded him. There was something on his mind; that much was obvious. He was tense, not relaxed like he would normally be. It could be the long voyage playing on his nerves, but that was rather improbable. Unable to decide what it was, Ana went with her instincts. She leaned lightly against him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Ana was caught off-guard by his sudden question but she recovered quickly. "What's so special about it Jack?"

"Nothin' in particular,"

"But?"

"But…there's somethin' about 'er tonight. Somethin'…different."

As if to fortify Jack's statement, a loud splash echoed from far off in the night and both pirates strained their eyes to search the water for the cause. Finding nothing, Ana turned concerned eyes on Jack who was still scanning the water with a guarded calm.

"Wha' was tha'?"

"I'm not sure…but s'not a threat."

Ana was struck speechless. It was very unlike Jack to fear the unknown, but he didn't just shrug off things that could endanger his ship or crew. The Jack she knew would investigate, but that was not the pattern of behavior he was showing now.

"Well, if yer sure…"

"I am."

"C'mon, it's gettin' late," Ana mumbled, tugging gently on Jack's shirtsleeve and turning for the quarterdeck stairs. To her relief, Jack turned as well and followed her closely down onto the main deck without a word, leaving Cotton standing behind the helm.

"G'night Cap'n." Before Ana could make any real progress across the deck, she found two strong arms wrapped around her waist. She squeaked a bit as Jack drew her towards him and held her close, pressing a light kiss to her neck. Finally regaining her senses, she pushed herself away from his touch and looked curiously into his dark eyes.

All she found was a warm light that was present only when they were alone.

"Jack, we can't…" The argument sounded incredibly weak to her and she found herself lost in his eyes. She silently cursed the cool glow of the moon and stars and the beauty of the night for weakening her defenses even as she allowed Jack to pull her into a passionate but gentle kiss. Despite her mind's desperate commands to avoid the situation, she found herself returning the kiss whole-heartedly.

- - - - -

"Lower th' anchor ye dogs!" Jack stood at his post behind the helm of the Black Pearl and his intelligent, if not slightly wild, amber eyes scanned the deck of his beloved ship. The crew was scurrying about adjusting the rigging and preparing to drop the anchor as the majestic ship sailed into port. It didn't take long for the experienced crew to settle the Black Pearl into her temporary port.

"Gibbs!"

Gibbs looked up from the knot he was working on and upon finding the caller he finished the knot and climbed the quarterdeck stairs. "Cap'n?"

"Ye're in charge of resupplyin'. Take good care o' her," he added, patting the helm with a loving hand.

"Aye Cap'n," Gibbs replied automatically. Then another thought occurred to him. "How long d'you want us t' wait Jack?"

"Tha's Captain Sparrow; we're still on th' ship. And, according to Dozell, we shouldn' take more'n a month." When the older sailor shifted, Jack was brought to his next point. "But, I didn' say ye all had t' wait. Ye're to take th' crew out once th' Pearl is restocked. Stay close, but feel free t' have some fun. If we take longer, go out again if th' crew gets too…" Jack paused and his hand twirled in the air nonchalantly as if searching for the correct word. "…rambunctious, savvy?"

"Aye Cap'n. Fair winds,"

"An' a followin' sea." With that, Jack was heading down onto the main deck where Will, Dozell, Ana, Chelsea, and the dogs were grouped and ready. Jack paused before the group, looking them over with a critical eye. A rather scattered group, he must admit, but all were worthy in their own way.

Yes, even the dogs.

- - - - -

Jack stood with legs braced staring at something several feet away. His chin rested on the palm of his hand as his sharp eyes traveled over the animals before him. Ana stood at his side, while Chelsea stepped forward and rubbed one of the creatures behind the ears.

"I'm not likin' this idea," Jack mumbled to himself, crossing his arms in front of him.

"What's wrong Captain Sparrow, can't you ride?" Chelsea joked, still stroking the horse's nose.

"'Course I can," Jack huffed indignantly. "I jus' don' like to."

Chelsea chuckled to herself, keeping her attention fixed on the horse before her.

"I just thought of something: how are we going to pay for the horses? I have no money."

Jack turned a golden grin to Dozell, finally looking like his relaxed, daft self once more. "Pirates."

Dozell stiffened perceptibly, not liking the intonation of the word one bit.

"Relax mate," Jack soothed, "You'll not have t' do a thing 'cept ride." He looked over at Ana and jerked his head at a strong black horse. "You know what t' do, aye?"

"Aye Jack."

Jack grinned again and swaggered casually over to the owner of the horses. "'ello mate,"

"Hello," the owner replied somewhat hesitantly. He couldn't afford to lose customers, but he didn't like the looks of the seemingly drunken man coming towards him. Jack stopped mere inches from the shop owner's face, keeping the man's attention with his mesmerizing eyes and hand gestures.

"So mate, 'ow much fer, say, four o' your fine horses, eh? Oh, and toss a cart into th' mix."

"Um…I…uh…well, each horse will be fifty pounds and the cart another twenty-five."

Jack drew back a few inches as if he had been slapped and his face wore an insulted expression. "Tha's two hundred an' twenty-five pounds mate! A bit steep wouldn't ya say?"

"Well, I, um-"

"Nuh-uh, not another word. I won't pay you a penny less'n three hundred pounds, savvy?"

"T-three hundred?!"

"What? Tha' too much? Very well, no more'n fifty pounds. Tha's a fair deal fer th' both of us, aye?"

"Well, I um…no…"

Four sets of hoof beats drumming on the sand behind him caused Jack's eyes to dart for less than a second before returning to the owner standing dumbfounded before him. "Alright, ten pounds it is. Ye drive a hard bargain, mate." Jack tossed a small bag of coins into the man's hand and not a moment later Ana thundered past, sitting astride the black horse that was now saddled. Jack grabbed her hand and swung up behind her, saluting the owner who was staring at the pouch in his hand. "Thanks fer th' horses, mate!"

Review thanks:

JackFan2 - -sighs- aye, we 'ave an accord...here's another chapter and th' one after this is almost done. Ye best git t' work!

bittersweet46 - I don't think men will ever learn that arguing is bad, lol. No offense to men. Thanks for takin' th' time t' review!

Scarlett Burns - hehehehe, I'm glad you like it so much, mate. And if you think it's getting hot now, just you wait, lol. I best shut up before I give something away, lol.

kungfuchick - It's probably my fault for not making it clear that this was the sequel... -Bad Writer, WHACK- lol. Glad you like what you're reading.

Redbud-Tree - Now, why no threats? Threats are fun, lol. More Jack torture? Hmm...well, given my muse's...-attitude-...I dare say -Muse clamps hand over author's mouth- -hands over fic compass- Thanks fer th' review!

Lykosdracos - Yes, -sighs- I know...I'd give him a hug any day... XD Thanks for reviewing!

[a/n: I know I ask this probably too much, but please tell me what you think? It really would make me happy...pwease?]