A/N: Just so you know I would never truly slap any of my friends, no matter what, even if they were acting completely crazy and out of their minds and also, sorry I took so long to update.

~Vicky~

'As nice as it is to see you, how did you get here?' I asked Kirsten. We are sitting down in a different pub to before, Jack and Gibbs are sorting out the crew and Will is standing close by.

This pub is even noisier than the last, but luckily it was mainly laughter and chatter rather than cursing and arguing.

'To be honest, I don't even know properly,' was Kirsten's reply. 'My family and I were just hanging around on deck and the sky was all clear, but then suddenly everything changed. Big grey clouds just rolled in and the sea started going crazy like some freak storm. The boat started to rock, not gentle swaying, really rocking. I was checking something so I had my suite case on deck, but I got too close to the edge and fell overboard with it. I used the case and another bag to stay afloat, and I don't know I must have passed out, because all I can remember afterwards was waking up on the beach in Tortuga. After that I saw you. Speaking of you what happened? How did you get here?' She finished.

I sighed and started retelling her the story, Kirsten stayed quiet throughout the tale. One thing I have always liked about her, she is a great listener.

By the time I was finished it was very late, we went upstairs tried to get some sleep. Jack had hired Kirsten and I a room to sleep in. Before we went to bed we had a bath (It feels great to be clean again). I tried to sleep but failed, all through the night I was plagued by nightmares and images of Dana's gruesome death.

Morning:

'Feast your eyes, Captain. All of them faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt and crazy to boot.' When the sun had finally come up and the noise of Tortuga had died down, Gibbs came and woke us all up.

He brought us out to the dock and showed a bunch of men all lined up in a row.

'This is your able-bodied crew?' Will asked, not sounding very impressed.

'You sailor!' Jack said walking up to a man holding a parrot.

'Cotton sir,' Gibbs replied for the man.

'Mr Cotton…do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders, stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?' jack paused for a few seconds but got no answer so added 'Mr Cotton! Answer man!'

'He's a mute sir, poor devil had his tongue cut out so he trained the parrot to talk for him, no one's yet figured out how…' Gibbs replied for the man.

Jack looked at Gibbs for a few seconds then turned back to the man 'Mr Cotton's…parrot, same question.'

'Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!' the parrot squawked. At all of the confused looks Gibbs added, 'Most we figure that means yes.'

'O'course it does,' Jack turned to Will and added 'Satisfied?'

'Well, you've proved they're mad,' Kirsten said, she was going to say something else but one of the sailors but in first.

'And what's the benefit for us?' a girly voice asked.

Jack walked up to the sailor and took off its hat, revealing that the sailor was in fact a girl. 'Anamaria,' he said, but was slapped in the face.

'I don't suppose you didn't deserve that one either,' Will asked.

'No that one I deserved,' Jack replied straightening up.

'You stole my boat!' Anamaria accused.

'Actually-,' Jack started to explain, but was slapped in the face again 'Borrowed! Borrowed without permission, but with every intention of bringing it back to you!'

Throughout this whole encounter I was trying (and failing) not to smile or laugh. Noticing my not so subtle laughter Jack sent me a glare over his shoulder.

Jack and Anamaria kept arguing, Kirsten and I walked over to Cotton's parrot and tried to pet it. I was expecting it to peck my hand off, but surprisingly it let me.

'Does it have a name?' I asked Cotton, he shook his head no.

'Can we give it a name?' Kirsten questioned, Cotton nodded and smiled.

We stood there and thought for a moment, what to name him? Usually I would just name it Jack, but that was the monkey's name and it would kind of be hard to explain to Captain Jack. Then I thought of it, a great name for such a colourful bird. 'Skittles,' I suggested looking over at Kirsten.

'It's perfect!' she exclaimed.

'What's perfect?' Jack, Will and Anamaria had finished arguing, the rest of the crew had started to get the ship ready for launching.

Cotton took hold of Skittles, placing him on my shoulder and left to do his job.

'The parrot's name is now Skittles,' Kirsten replied.

'Skittles?' Jack looked confused, I was about to explain but Gibbs cut in looking upset.

'It is frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard,' he said glancing at Kirsten, Anamaria and I in order.

Jack pointed at Anamaria saying 'It'd be far worse not to have her and as for these two,' he pointed at Kirsten and I 'They have to go with us to save their friend.'

Gibbs still looked unhappy but boarded the ship anyway.

~Kirsten~

That night a storm had broken out at sea. Vic and I are huddled in the Captain's quarters, scared out of our minds. Vicky was sitting against the wall with her knees pulled right up and her head resting on them, I am sitting similarly, but with my head back.

I tried to stay calm, but couldn't. I was jumping at every little sound coming from outside. We can hear the sound of the giant waves crashing against the boat and the shouts of the crew outside the door, trying to regain control of the ship. I am mumbling to myself, not really hearing what I am saying.

Finally Vicky had had enough of my nearly incoherent mumbling; she stood up and walked over to me, stumbling with the swaying of the ship. 'We're not going to die!' she shouted.

'Yes we are!' I shouted back.

'No we're not!' she shouted back, and then she slapped me across the face. I am stunned; Vicky has never hit anyone in all of the years that I have known her.

I stayed quiet and Vicky added in a more gentle voice, 'Jack and Will are out there, we have to trust them and their ability to control this thing.'

She sat down next to me placing her arms around me; I hugged her back and stayed quiet, both of us jumping whenever we heard a wave washing over the deck or the booming sound of thunder.

There is was, I hope you liked it. I didn't realise how long it has been since I have posted, it took until Kirsten threatened me to remember :/

Again sorry for the long wait, reviews and constructive criticism are welcome. Flames will be used to build a nice campfire to roast marshmallows over with Kirsten and Becca :)