A/N: Wow. MAJOR apologies for this fic going on hiatus for so long. I got wrapped up in so many other fandoms...I guess Pirates just took a backseat for awhile. Trust me, I'm mad enough at myself that I haven't updated this fic since August. Hope the chapter's good for you all anyway!

Hoist the Colors: Book One

Chapter Ten

Jay's POV

As soon as the words left my mouth, murmurs rippled throughout the crew. Many of the men looked at me with scorn, disbelieving of me, and Barbossa was no exception to this. His eyes flashed with anger as he took a step or two towards me – clearly he was in no mood to play games. "That be a bold claim to make, missy," he hissed.

"Perhaps," I replied, "but that doesn't make it wrong." Even as I spoke, wheels were turning in my head, a plan formulating.

He tilted his chin upwards a bit, a smirk playing on his lips. "Of course, ye would not make such a claim unless you were intendin' to tell us who we're searchin' for."

"Better. I can lead you to him." This drew several more soft gasps and whispers of interest from the crowd below. "But such a notorious, noble pirate such as yourself would know that I will only do this on certain terms."

I could see the amusement in Barbossa's eyes; he was enjoying this. Good. That's what I need. "Name 'em."

I pursed my lips slightly, stepping away from him and the pirates who'd been guarding me so that I could stand in full view of the crew, just in front of Cortes' chest. "Elizabeth and I are to be treated fairly. No rough handling, and no harm done. We are not slaves and will not be treated as such." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement down in the water from where she had fallen. Will. "You are to return us to Port Royal immediately...which, conveniently, is where your wanted waits. Once we arrive, no more than three of you will wait at a specific location nearby, with my cousin at your side. I will go into town and lead the person down to you, at which point you will release both Elizabeth and myself and take him for your own."

More murmuring, and I turned to Barbossa again as he scratched his chin. "And how can we be certain that you'll not betray us?"

"Because if I don't return within the hour, you can kill Elizabeth," I answered, as difficult as it was to say. Then, taking a step closer to him, I added "And you'll remember that you have no other way to find this person other than taking what I offer."

The captain nodded. "Ye know how to bargain with pirates, Miss Jay. I'll give you that."

"One more thing," I said. "I want a name." I stared coldly into his eyes, determined to get some information of my own out of this.

"A name?" Barbossa said, still with a proud smirk on his face. "Could the lady be a bit more specific?"

"You know what name I want to hear," I said lowly, holding out my hand. "Do we have an accord?"

Barbossa stared back at me for what seemed like the longest time before nodding and accepting the handshake. "Aye, we do." He quickly turned to his men. "Gentlemen! Let us escort the lovely ladies back to Port Royal, and claim he whose blood need be paid!" A cheer went up amongst the pirates, and I watched them as my mind raced to figure out how I would keep Will safe now with the deal I'd just made. I was so focused on my thoughts that I hardly noticed Barbossa come even closer to me, and almost didn't catch the single word he spoke so softly into my ear.

"Rimmel."

oOo

Elyse's POV

I didn't know what to think. I really didn't! I was angry, worried, scared, and confused all at once! When the pirates had started shouting at each other and getting angry, I'd started to back away, thinking that they were going to start leaving the caves from the way they were talking. But then I'd heard Jay speak up just as I'd gone around the first bend, so I'd stopped to listen some more. And now here I was, a barely restrained fury flooding my veins as Jay bargained for her own freedom by putting Will in grave danger. The nerve of that girl! He and I came all this way to save her, and for what? His life to be put on the line? Oh, when I get through with her...

But I didn't have time to think about that now. I snapped back into focus just as the one I'd determined was the captain gave an order for the men to begin leaving the caves. Fear gripped me as I realized that I still hadn't seen any sign of Will or Jack, and that I was on the verge of being either captured or left here alone. Gripping my scepter tightly in my hands, I took off down the corridor, trying to move as quickly and quietly as possible. I was so caught up in trying to be stealthy that I failed to notice the figure of a man getting to his feet not far in front of me, and nearly screamed as I bumped into him in the dark. Just as I raised my weapon and was about to bring it down on his head, he put a sword to my chest and spoke. "Oy! None of that! I've been hit quite enough today!"

I blinked in surprise. That voice! "Jack?"

He seemed to be just as shocked as me. "Elyse?" As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I made out the features of his face. Yes, this was Jack. "What are you doing here?" Then his expression changed to one of slight anger. "You jumped ship."

I stood firm. "You were not going to leave me behind again, Jack Sparrow. I came for a purpose!"

"To secure Mr. Turner's safety, eh? Well you've done a bloody fantastic job, haven't you?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

It was only then that I noticed he was alone. "Wait, where is he? Will was with you, wasn't he?"

Jack narrowed his eyes. "I thought so. However, it would seem that the whelp absolutely cannot resist any chance he has to do something stupid."

I didn't follow, but wasn't about to try. "Well, we've got to find him!"

"No," Jack pointed to me. "We've got to find our way out first. Come on."

"But Jack!" I hissed. The pirate ignored me, turning and grabbing an oar that was leaned up against the wall before walking off. I growled when I realized I had no choice but to follow. Bloody pirates!

The two of us continued to sneak through passageways that led around the crewmen below, and Jack stopped just as we reached an area that would lead us across the main room. "There's a pathway just ahead that should lead us out. Follow me and be quick about it."

"We've got to find Will!" I protested. "We can't just leave him here!"

"Is it possible for you to follow orders and trust others at all, Miss Norrington? You're nearly as bad as your brother." Once again, he left no room for argument and walked on, forcing me to trail behind him. I have had just about enough of this! This is ridiculous! Surely he wouldn't just leave Will behind-

I rounded the corner and bumped into Jack again, but when I realized why he'd stopped, I froze, eyes bulging. Just in front of us stood a group of the pirates we'd meant to avoid. "Bloody good orders those were," I growled into Jack's ear.

I was about to back up and pray that they hadn't noticed us, but it was too late. Two of them stopped in front of us, soon drawing several others near. "..You!" a taller, thin one spoke, seemingly shocked to see Jack there.

A short, rounder pirate standing next to him seemed just as shocked, but also angry. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"Am I not?" Jack asked incredulously, feeling himself as if to check. "Oh." He turned, and I started to back away from them as well, but was quickly met with the feel of cold metal pressed against my neck and the click of a pistol in my ear. We were trapped. Jack turned the other way, but those pirates quickly drew their weapons, too. No going that way.

"..Jack..." I said nervously. "Do something!"

Staring warily into the barrel of a gun, he spoke. "Palulay...palu-li-la-la-lulu..." He clenched his fist, clearly trying to come up with a certain word. The rest of us watched on as he continued his strange antics. "...parnini...parsnip, par...sley, partner, partner..."

"Parley?"

All of us looked up at the sound of the voice that came from amidst the crowd of pirates...a voice that sounded strangely female. I found her dark-haired head quickly, relief flooding over me as she pushed her way through the crowd.

Jack frowned, not recognizing her. "Who said that?"

"I did." Sure enough, the pirates moved aside to let Jay step forward, standing just in front of Jack. "I believe the word you were looking for was parley."

"Parley!" Jack exclaimed, grinning and standing up straight. "That's it! That's the one! Parley!" he called out to the rest of the crowd.

"Parley!" the fatter pirate hissed, shooting a venomous glare up at Jay. "Down to the depths whatever muttonhead thought up parley!"

Jack turned to correct him. "That would be the French."

I was too excited to finally see a familiar face. "Jay!" I ran down to her, shoving past Jack and embracing her tightly.

"Elyse!" She pushed me away, disbelief written all over her face. "What on Earth are you doing here?"

"You know each other?" Jack cut in.

I turned to him. "Yes, this is Jay!" I looked back at my friend again. "Oh, thank God you're all right!" Remembering my purpose, though, I grabbed her arm. "But where's Elizabeth? And Wi-"

"I don't know," Jay cut me off just as I said his name, and I frowned when she mouthed the words 'don't say his name' to me. "Elizabeth was here a moment ago, but now we can't find her, and I-"

"Enough with the small talk!" The fatter pirate yelled, causing Jay to glare at him. "They've called for a parley, and they'll get one. Bring 'em in!"

A second later, I was roughly shoved forward along with Jack, but was surprised to see Jay walking along calmly with the rest of the men. I shot her a questioning look, but she shook her head to say 'we'll discuss this later.' What has she gotten herself into now?

oOo

Will's POV

Elizabeth had been uncomfortably quiet on our swim back to the ship, and it bothered me. Of course, she had been grateful that I came to her rescue and smuggled her out of the caves, but I had expected her to be asking questions about everything. As we reached the side of the ship and I motioned for her to climb up, I wondered if she was hiding something. What could she have learned from those pirates?

I heard a thud as her feet hit the deck, and a soft gasp as she noticed who else was on board. "Not more pirates."

"Welcome aboard, Miss Elizabeth," Gibbs replied as I came up behind her and landed safely on the deck as well.

Her faced was riddled with confusion. "Mr. Gibbs?"

The first mate, however, was preoccupied with noticing that there were only two of us standing there, not four. "Hey boy, where be Jack?" he asked me.

That also got Elizabeth's attention, and she looked to me also. "Jack? Jack Sparrow?"

I turned back to Gibbs. "He fell behind," I said lowly. Even now, I felt some guilt at leaving Jack, but that was nothing compared to-

"And Jay?"

I paused as I met Gibbs' gaze. "...I couldn't save her." That at least was true. I had seen Jay standing by the chest and talking to Barbossa when I'd pulled Elizabeth out of there. She'd been trying to strike a deal with him, it had seemed, but I hadn't been paying much attention to what they were saying. I had told myself in the caves that Jack would be with her; she'd be fine, but it was not enough to comfort me now. "Where's Elyse?" I asked, suddenly noticing that she wasn't with the rest of the crew.

Gibbs jerked his head in her general direction, but his expression was one of shock. "...Down below. Said to send you back to her once you returned." I nodded and began to gently guide a soaked Elizabeth through the crowd, unnerved by the stunned silence of the others. "...Keep to the Code!" he said loudly.

My jaw clenched as we descended into the depths of the ship, the guilt building in my gut still. The last thing I wanted to do was tell Elyse that I'd left her closest friend to die among pirates. She'll be furious.

"Will?" Elizabeth's voice shook my from my thoughts, and I blinked, realizing that I had stopped at the base of the stairs and hadn't moved for several seconds.

I cleared my throat. "Right." Slowly, I began to scan the area. "...Elyse?" I frowned. There were no lanterns lit. It wasn't like her to just sit in the dark alone. "Elyse?" Stepping further forward, I began to panic now. There was no sign of her anywhere.

"Where is she?" Elizabeth asked.

I was about to turn and call for Gibbs when my eyes landed on something nearby. A small piece of paper pinned to the top of a barrel by an unlit candle. Immediately, I grabbed it, my eyes racing over the note, and as I finished, my entire body felt hollow. She's on the island. Any nerves I'd had a moment earlier were now drowned in absolute fear as I turned and raced back up the steps, brushing past Elizabeth and shouting for Gibbs. She's surrounded by cutthroat pirates. She's going to die.

oOo

Jay's POV

I stepped aside as Barbossa emerged through the crowd of pirates, coming face to face with both Jack and Elyse, the former with an incredibly smug look on his face as he matched the gaze of the other captain and leaned on a oar he'd somehow gotten. Elyse looked worried, but I could also tell she was still furiously trying to piece everything together in her mind. And me? I was once more an observer of the action, letting everything unfold before I made my move, with 'Rimmel' bouncing around in my head all the while.

Barbossa spoke, his voice slicing through the tension. "How the blazes did you get off that island?"

All eyes turned to Jack, who answered proudly and without missing a beat as. "When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate!" Barbossa looked at him oddly, waiting. "...I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!" he finished. I smiled to myself. And just as humble as I remember him.

"Ahh, well I won't be makin' that mistake...again," Barbossa countered smoothly, taking a few steps more towards him. Then his gaze turned to Elyse. "And are you his accomplice?"

"Decidedly not," she replied. "I was dragged into this against my own will."

"She's friends with Jay over 'ere!" Pintel announced, gesturing towards me.

Barbossa looked over, and I nodded before he turned back to her again. "Fortunately I have nothin' against ye, Miss. But gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow?" he spat his name out with contempt as the others nodded and made grunts of agreement. "...Kill 'im." He walked away, and instantly the pistol of every man in the room was trained on the tanned sailor in the middle.

"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?" Suddenly my stomach dropped, realizing what Jack had planned to use as leverage. Oh, no...

Barbossa stopped just next to me, but merely smirked as he turned around. "Are ye about to claim to know whose blood we need?" Confusion flickered in Jack's eyes, and just as he was about to respond, Barbossa cut him off. "I'm sorry to say this, Jack, but Miss Jay here has already agreed to provide us with the information." Murmurs and cackles rippled throughout the crew as a look of helplessness slowly started to creep onto Jack's face. That had been his way out. And now he has nothing...they're going to kill him. "Men! Let 'im taste lead."

Once again, I found myself taking action before I'd even completely formed a plan. "No! No, don't fire!" I stepped up in front of Jack to face Barbossa, hoping I could somehow save the man behind me. I glanced around at the other men. "Lower your guns! I am not to be harmed, remember?" Begrudgingly, they obeyed, but the malice in their eyes told me they didn't have much patience left.

Barbossa rolled his eyes. "Miss Jay, there be nothin' ye can say or do to convince me to save Sparrow's life."

"And what will ending it solve?" I asked. "A petty feud from the past?"

"You don't know what happened th-"

"I know well enough," I said sharply. "You all marooned him, he escaped, and now you're bristling with anger because he's come back to you." An idea clicked in my head. "Well, if you really wanted to let him have it, I didn't think you'd just let him have the easy way out."

The captain looked mildly curious. "And you have a better solution?"

I smirked. "A bullet in his head give him a quick, painless death. Why not lock him up for awhile, in his own ship from the past, nonetheless! That'd at least be more fun that killing him now." Now I knew where to go with this. If I could just get Barbossa to take the bait... "And you can keep a couple men down there to guard him, if you're worried about him slipping out." Barbossa seemed to be pondering it, and I sealed it by taking a step forward and looking right at him, a devilish smile on my face. "Let him rot in the brig. Remind him who the real captain is."

The glimmer in his eyes satisfied me, and he chuckled. "Congratulations, Sparrow. She's spared yer life another day!" I stepped aside as he strode forward again, and Jack was giving me a murderous glare. "And you can join 'im." Barbossa looked to Elyse. "I don't trust ye further than I can spit." A look of horror overcame her, and soon she was joining Jack in sending me a look of hatred as well. "Shackle 'em, men! Back to the Pearl!"

As the men went in to officially capture Elyse and Jack and begin heading back to the ship, Barbossa cornered me. "And what about our little bargain? How do ye plan on upholding it now that Miss Elizabeth is gone?"

"I know where she is," I replied. "She'll be aboard a British ship nearby. Evidently someone saw fit to come and rescue her." That, at least, I could be confident in. Elyse and Will wouldn't just conveniently have shown up here with Jack all on their own. They had to have a ship somewhere.

The confident smirk returned to his face. "Yer a smart one, Miss Jay," he said quickly before turning and stalking off with the rest of his men. I took a deep breath and followed suit, wondering if I could ever get this to all work out in the end.

A/N: And there we go. Another chapter to this story is finally done. Hope I still wrote in-character for everyone after all this time. D:

Again, I am seriously REALLY sorry it's been so long with this one. I don't expect or deserve reviews and such from you guys after dropping off the face of the Earth with this fic since summer. And I also can't really promise consistent updates with this one either...especially with my other LotR fic going on. I will tell you that I'm not going to let this story die, though. I will finish it, one way or another. That's a promise. :)