Jade stared at her father's best from, her chocolate brown eyes wide. The young women stumbled a little, shaking her head, backing away. She couldn't do this. She couldn't become captain of her father's ship. It had always been her father's, never her's. To have all the men reply on her to make important decisions, chart their courses, bellow out orders in the thick of battle, looking out for their safety as much as her own. She couldn't do that. So she continued to shake her head throughly, her arms hanging limp at her sides like dead vines.

She couldn't do it.

Gibbs, meanwhile, took it upon hisself to grasp her by her shoulders, barely noticing he was smaller than her. Only by a couple of inches, but smaller anyway. His large, work-roughened fingers gripped her shoulders, dirty nails stopping her from moving. His blue eyes locked with Jade's, white facial hair mucky. His eyes held an edge, telling Jade with just one look that he wouldn't stop trying to persuade her to take up the role of captain.

"Jade," He began, his nails digging into her flesh a little. "Jack wouldn't have wanted any of us to become captain. He would have wanted you to take control," The older man muttered, his breathing still laboured from the battle. "I'm too old to captain the Pearl, and so is Cotton, although he couldn't really do it anyway. Merr knows hardly anything about sailing, and none of the other crew are capable. Only you can captain the Pearl."

She listened to his speech, her eyes only on his, her ears only listening to his voice. Not that anyone else was speaking anyway. She zoned out, only paying attention to him. It was as if he was the only person who mattered now, because he was the only person who was helping her in the terrible wake of her father's death. She listening to him, his words sinking in like a hot knife into butter. She was the only person these men could rely on. She was the one they were depending on to help them through this, to get them through everything and face danger even stronger than before.

"Will you help me?" She questioned, her voice a hoarse whisper. She hated how it sounded. Weak, vunerable. Like she herself wasn't capable to help the crew. But a part of her had always been captain. Always would be, and with Gibbs' help, maybe she could fill her father's shoes, er, boots, and raise the hope in all their hearts.

"Aye. I shall help you through everything I can," He promised, and removed his hands from her shoulder, leaving one out for her to shake. "Do we have an accord?"

She grinned for the first time. It was a weak, but crooked smile. "Aye, that we do, Gibbs. But I want you to remain as First Mate. I'll need you." She reached out her own hand, after hesitating before she spoke, and shook his hand firmly. This was it. She was captain of the Black Pearl, the fastest pirate ship in the Caribbean. Nigh uncatchable, it was. Probably the fastest ship in the whole world. Causiously, she made her way over to the Quaterdeck, climbing the steps, her hands, long slender fingers, running along hte smooth wood, feeling it under her hands. Her father had walked these very steps uncountable times, and she had taken him for granted.

When the new captain reached the wheel, she touched it slowly, feeling as if her father was there. He had often told her that he could talk to the vessel, encourage her. It had sounded crazy, but now... She believed it. She felt as if the ship was alive under her finger tips. Like she would obey her every order, whether or not it could end in her being sunk. More loyal that even Gibbs, who had stuck by Jack for years, through thick and thin. Thick as theives, they were, had been, before...

Returning to her senses, Jade licked her lips, wetting them, feeling the salty sea beeze on her face. Her eyes wattered, but she ignored it, trying to stop herself from crying. She sniffed quietly, and opened her arms, head held high. She wouldn't cry. She had to be strong. So Jade gave her crew a grin.

"On deck, you cockroaches! Let down and haul to run free!Man the braces!"