AN: Okay...so this is another kinda slow chapter...but I like it anyway. Originally, I was never planning on developing Trevor into much of a character, but I've changed my mind. I've decided he's a pretty cool kid, so I can promise you'll be seeing more of him (or at least more than I orginally planned).

A thousand thanks to all those that reviewed: I am not lying when I say you are my heroes.

As always, enjoy.

The mansion was not far out, less than a quarter of a mile away, when gun shots were heard.

Jack looked back at Lynn with an expression that suggested he was expecting her to scream, but all she did was stare at him impatiently. "Well, what are we going to do?"

He narrowed his eyes, but cocked a grin at her. "So you'll complain about walking three miles, but bullets don't phase you."

Lynn had her arms crossed and head cocked in a flash. "I've experienced bullets before; walking through brambles and thorns, however, was first experienced today. And I really was out of breath and needed a break--"

The bark of a tree nearby blew into a thousand pieces, and all men crouched over. Lynn found herself smothered by Jack, who had body slammed her to the ground; dirt and leaves had managed to find their way into her mouth, leaving her to sit there and sputter while Jack rose.

When she finally did get up, Lynn resembled nothing of a lady: her hair was in knots and sweaty, her face red as a cherry, and her dress, now tied up, all ratted and torn. Dirt was smeared across her cheek due to the sudden fall from Jack smacking her to the ground. "We aren't going to the mansion now, are we?"

Jack smirked at her tone, grudgingly admiring her stubbornness. "Well, you certainly aren't. Gibbs, take Marty, Bartholomew, Miles, and George and give us some bearings of what is going on at the mansion. Lynn, you can walk that way and circle around to the back--no one, at least enemy wise, should be there."

Lynn looked over her shoulder toward where Jack had been pointing, wasting no energy to try and hide her annoyance at being brushed to the side like a pesky fly. "Alone? Surely you wouldn't leave me unarmed."

Jack cocked an eyebrow, and his smirk grew larger. "Since when could you use a sword?"

Lynn rolled her eyes and folded her arms, wincing slightly as more gunshots were heard. "I can't--I can use pistols, however. Ambrose thought it best to teach me. And frankly, from the sound of things out there, a pistol is going to be of much more use than any sword."

She noticed that a few of the men were mildly impressed (only a few); Jack's expression hardly changed from his Cheshire grin. "Very well, you can have one of my pistols." He removed the weapon and shoved it into her hands before adding, "Don't lose that. I paid dearly for that."

Lynn snorted and glared at him briefly, thinking, Probably with blood, but instead said "How do you expect me to lose a pistol?"

The conversation was on the verge of turning into another argument, but Trevor unexpectedly interrupted, his eyes bright and adventurous. "Can I go with her? That way she won't have to be alone. And anyhow, I know my way through these woods like the back of my hand--she'll come away unharmed and herself."

Lynn heard Jack mutter something to the effect of, "Who says I want her unharmed?", but clenched her teeth and waited for a reply, glancing carefully at the eager fourteen year old boy who had apparently adopted her as his own charge. At least if she went with him, she'd have a better chance of getting through without injury; that much was clear.

More gun shots were heard, closer this time, and everyone ducked in unison.

Jack turned his head worriedly toward the fighting, then looked back at Lynn and rolled his eyes. "Very well, Trevor, please escort our guest to the mansion and to a suitable living space--I wouldn't want her thinking we lack manners, despite the rough, outside appearance we have," he finished sardonically. "The rest of us will be warming up our guns."

Trevor, with a wide grin, clasped Lynn's hand and began guiding (dragging) her through the underbrush. "This path won't be too hard, though your legs will get mighty scratched up. Do you want to take a moment and release Jack's…ah…invention?"

Lynn plowed ahead studiously, but still breathing hard. "No matter. My legs are already scratched up as it is. And I'd imagine this is going to be a great deal easier to walk with than my skirts, at least for the time being. How far to the mansion?"

A bullet hit a tree not twenty feet next to them. Trevor grabbed Lynn's arm and forced her to the further side. "Depends on how much we need to back track to get to the rear door. I sure hope there aren't any men there. I haven't a chance with my pistols."

Sweat dripped in Lynn's eyes, and she wiped it away impatiently. "Why in the world do you have them if you can't shoot with them?"

"Well, there's always the chance that I'll hit my target, right? I'm better with my sword, truthfully, but as you mentioned earlier, swords aren't going to be much use."

"This is a rather pleasant predicament then, now isn't it?" mumbled Lynn sarcastically. "How many times has this happened before? The mansion being attacked and all."

"Just about every time we show up--it seems like they're bombarding the place. That poor aunt too, sitting in the middle of all this. I have yet to actually meet her though. Must be a piece of work by now, after all this fighting right in her front yard."

"How have you not met her?" Lynn asked breathlessly. "Wait, wait. I really can't go on now, I need to catch my breath. We're safe here, right?"

Trevor looked back at her impatiently, but nodded. "I suppose. What's so hard about running?"

"I've never really had to run before," panted Lynn. "And certainly not in situations like these. How do you think I grew up? I've spent more time than was probably good for me in the lap of luxury…or as luxurious as being a maid gets. And you have yet to answer my question."

"Jack hasn't ever entered the house before--we just know our way around the place from fighting so much."

Lynn frowned at this strange revelation. "He doesn't go in the house? Why ever not?"

Trevor shrugged. "Family problems, I suppose. How have you gotten mixed up in all this anyway? I heard the men talking about how you was planning on coming here anyhow, before Jack got it in his head to kidnap you."

Lynn opened her mouth to answer, but realized that it would be a little more complicated than a simple "I'm here because…"

Taking one more deep breath, Lynn began her explanation. "I happen to know he mother very well, and she asked me to come to talk to the governor. Well, she wanted the Ramsey Company to talk to the governor, but I suppose I'll have to do for the time being--"

"I thought you live with the Price family. What does that have to do with the Captain?"

Lynn grimaced. Trevor was a bright lad with a spectacular memory for her past history. "They're one and the same--Jack changed his name from Jacob when he ran away."

The boy's eyes widened, then settled into a disgusted look. "Jack is Jacob? The bully? No wonder you two don't get along! I'm surprised that you're still civil with him--me personally, not to say it's right, but I'd have pounded him flat."

She snorted at his spirit, though rather doubted Trevor had that much anger store up. "Well, unlike you, I do not have the capacity to 'pound' him. And in some respects, I'm not really talking to Jacob…" Lynn sighed and shrugged. "I can't quite explain why, but Jack isn't really Jacob."

Trevor nodded thoughtfully. "Well, we better get walking again. The mansion is just about over this hill."

It was a steep hill with lots of roots and bushes lining the edge of the rough path. Lynn blanched. "Lets wait for another moment. I don't think I'm quite ready yet. I want to get it done in one walk, and I don't have my breath back at the moment."

Trevor wasn't shy about his confusion. "How hard can it be to walk? I know it's a steep climb, but it's not that long. What are you wearing, a corset?"

The comment was meant as a joke (he having enough experience with corsets from lacing up his mother), but if Lynn hadn't already been red, Trevor would have seen her go scarlet. "Well, how else am I supposed to wear this dress?"

The fourteen-year-old boy gaped, then began laughing. "You're wearing a corset? Have you been wearing it the entire trip?"

Lynn narrowed her eyes, but replied calmly, "I've worn a corset most of my adult life; like just about every other women I know. Why would that change if I was on a ship?"

Trevor could hardly respond he was laughing so hard. "Because--because it's not---practical."

She found it rather annoying Trevor was taking so much pleasure from her pain, and laughing at, what seemed to her, common sense. "I don't see what is so amusing. And what is this business about practical?"

It took a full minute before the boy was composed enough to say anything. "I know that I just met you, Lynn, but from what little talking you have done, I thought I had you figured out, more or less. I mean, you're not like any other lady I've met before."

"Trevor, you're only interaction with girls appears to have been in taverns--considering that--"

"Yes, but…" he shook his head and shrugged. "You're practical. Everything you do makes sense and has a reason. So I was expecting you to think practically and see that…well, corsets just aren't practical. In any situation, really." He smirked, one of his widest yet. "I'm surprised you wear one at all."

Lynn sniffed and began undoing the knot Jack had created. "I like to think of myself as practical, but I still try to keep a sense or propriety. Practical or not, I am still a lady, and should behave as such."

"So being pretty takes priority over being smart."

"NO! That isn't what I said, Trevor!"

He became, suddenly, very serious. "Behaving like a lady involves a lot more than just looking like one. And being a lady doesn't mean you have to act like all the other ladies out there."

The comment seemed to awaken Lynn's senses, catching her off-guard, and a little confused. This idea had truly never entered her mind before; possibly due to the fact she had two older sisters she was trying to emulate, but also that society seemed to instill the idea that there was only one way to be a perfect women. "Who told you that?"

Trevor shrugged. "My mum. She may have not been the brightest girl around, not nearly as smart as you, but…she did have a few things straight in her life. A person could do some mighty great things in their life, but they weren't nothing if they weren't gracious, forgiving, and loving. Always told me I'd be the perfect gentleman if I kept those three things; and I believe her. All I can figure is that, if that makes the perfect gentleman, then surely it must make the perfect lady. And there's no set way to be gracious, forgiving, or loving--people do it all sorts of ways."

Lynn was silent, staring at her hands; hands she had gone through pains to keep smooth and soft, though now they were bleeding and rough. A lot of her time, though she was almost ashamed to admit it, was spent trying to keep within the personae of a lady. Jack's words, from only the night before, came floating back to her: You don't want to be seen as foolish. Because that's all you think you have: your dignity.

She had always been concerned with her dignity--gorgeous women had seemed to get their way, but since that was not a particular virtue of hers, Lynn knew her best chance at making it in life was to be dignified, which essentially added up to acting like a lady ought to. Had she spent too much time worrying?

"Trevor, do you think you could cut my corset loose? We're never going to make it up the hill if you don't--and I don't want you carrying me up. That would be ridiculous."

Trevor nodded and began undoing her buttons to the dress.

"You know, you're mother was right," Lynn added. "And I think you are quite the perfect gentleman."

He snorted as he started cutting the stays. "I have a long way to go."

She shrugged. "At least you're working toward it. That's more than some men I know can say."

"Talking about the Captain?"

"Yes. I'd imagine he lost any ability to become anything less than a rascal twelve years ago."

Trevor was silent until he was done, but when Lynn stood up and took a deep breath (goodness, she hardly ever felt this good!), he said, "You know, Jacob sounds like a horrid person. But if you think that Jack isn't Jacob, maybe you could consider giving him a chance."

Lynn whipped around, ready to retort about exactly why Jack deserved no chances whatsoever, but stopped, her mouth hanging open and her eyes bewildered. Jack? Second chances? He had crossed the line last night with his little punishment. And he had refused to say sorry.

At her expression, Trevor bowed his head and muttered. "It was just an idea. Captain Sparrow isn't a bad man…he just, needs a little help, is all."

Lynn didn't even breath, but clenched her teeth. How could she give him a second chance?

The walk up the hill was fast (thanks to the lack of the corset), but very silent.

It was hard to admit, but Lynn rather thought that maybe this fourteen-year-old, chatter box boy understood life much better than herself.

They arrived at the mansion quickly, only to find a group of soldiers retreating and pirates cheering. Jack had been faulty in his directions: the way he had pointed them sent them all the way around the mansion, and near the front entrance, so Lynn had a perfect view of the grounds, which was littered with wounded men, and a few dead. The scrimmage had been short and fierce, but not too bloody, much to the relief of both parties.

"Lynn, why aren't you at the mansion?" called out Jack. His shoulder was red, and she eyed it carefully. "Just a shallow cut that's bleeding a lot. Nothing to worry about."

"You sent us this way, remember? Apparently, the path went a little farther than you were expecting."

Jack shrugged. "Very well. Lucky you didn't show up ten minutes earlier--might have been seriously wounded. What is that?"

His tone had gone from mildly bored to intensely interested, and Lynn followed his gaze to Trevor, who was holding her corset. She blushed furiously and snatched it away from the poor lad, who seemed confused at Jack's sudden curiosity. "You didn't need to carry it all this way! And I'm sure you know perfectly well what this is," she snarled back at Jack, who's grin was more than indecent. "For you're information--"

"I need none. I'm just surprised you were ever wearing that contraption."

"Well, I'm going to explain anyway, before you continue with some disgusting idea. Trevor removed it for me; it's why we weren't here ten minutes earlier."

"Saved by the corset--never thought that would be possible."

Lynn wanted to say something very nasty back, but all she could seem to muster at the moment (she was physically exhausted) was, "Oh, you're so terribly immature!"

Jack roared with laughter. "There's no need to be mad at me! I didn't say anything worth getting mad at."

To slap him at that moment would have been very fulfilling, but Lynn knew that if it came to 'pounding him flat', as Trevor had put it earlier, she would lose. "For heavens sake, I know perfectly well what you're thinking, you vile scut."

Jack raised an eyebrow and glared at her, though still with some humor in his eyes. "Surely you weren't expecting me to be a gentleman; I am a pirate, after all."

"That's no excuse--"

But his hand covered her mouth before she could finishing, pinning itself down when she tried to struggle out. "Trevor, go help Gibbs getting the hurt into the mansion's parlor area. As for you," Jack turned on Lynn, "you need to be meeting my aunt. Now walk."

Initially, she was intent on doing the exact opposite of his orders, but she never got that option for he had taken both shoulders and was forcefully leading her toward the entrance. "I suppose you'll be introducing me?"

"Hardly--I don't go in if I can help it."

"Why not? It's just your aunt; or great aunt, if you want to be specific."

"For two reasons, dear Lillian. One, I've never met her before, and I'm not exactly the type to get chummy with people I don't know. And two, I honestly don't care much about her at all."

Lynn snorted. "You can feel one way or another about people unless you've met them, you fool. And why in the world are you protecting the estate if you don't care about her."

"One word, luv. Treasure."

The only reason Lynn managed to escape Jack's hold was because her reaction was so fast, she hardly even knew what she was doing. Spinning around, she hissed, "You're protecting the estate for treasure?" She wasn't sure why, but at this revelation, Lynn was livid.

Jack sensed the danger as well, and grasped both wrists to pin them down. "Why do you keep expecting such great things from me? Why else would I be doing anything like this?"

Lynn fought back best she could, but instead of simply pinning her wrists down, Jack changed his hold to be constraining her whole body. Seeing her attempts as fruitless, Lynn seethed, "You came from a better family that this. You have no heart, and no feelings! Where in the world did you go wrong? When?"

"I fail to see why you're even concerned at all, Miss Ramsey."

"You kidnapped me! And now you're dragging me all across the ocean for who knows what purpose! The least you could do is behave decently--and you've failed on that account in just about every interaction I've had with you so far!"

"So as compensation for you're precarious position, you want me to behaving properly." Jack's humor was leaving fast, and his grip on Lynn was tightening.

She gasped in frustration and shock. "Yes! No! Oh, I don't know! For goodness sake, Jack, let me go. I don't know what I want."

"Promise not to maim me?"

Lynn growled and rolled her eyes but nodded, and Jack released her.

"I didn't think you'd ever not know what you wanted," he mumbled, his good mood returning quickly, seemingly due to Lynn's frustration.

"Just go away from me," she sighed, walking toward the great mansion now. "I wouldn't want you introducing me anyway--probably say some horrible lie instead of a proper introduction."

"You know, Lynn, it wouldn't hurt you to give me a chance," Jack called back.

She paused, wanting to hit him for reminding her of what Trevor had said, but when she turned around, Jack was already strutting away, leaving her to walk to the mansion alone, and with her thoughts. Too many things had happened in the last few days, and Lynn was becoming ever more stressed.

She wanted to scream. Or hit something.

But all she did was enter the front door demurely and close it, wondering what would happen to her now.

What it worth it to give Jack the chance?