Chapter Eleven – Spiritually, Ecumenically, Grammatically

Rachel walked along the shore. She didn't belong on this island. She felt lonely now that Will was gone and Carly had moved in on her territory. She wasn't used to this feeling, the feeling of being surrounded by people and yet being so alone. She had always had a sense of belonging; being stuck here with Carly, Jack, and the crew of the Black Pearl, she had lost that. It seemed to her that the longer she was away from her ship, the farther she and Jack were growing apart, with Carly to blame for that. Carly was bringing out the worst in her, and she hated it. She missed the sea.

"Rae, I think ye ought to have something to eat," Mr. Gibbs spoke.

"I'm not hungry," she said bitterly, forgetting that it was not Gibbs who she was mad at. Jack walked up, bringing her a banana.

"Eat." He said, forcing it into her hand.

"I said I'm not hungry," she sighed, becoming annoyed. "Besides, there's no point."

"Aye, but Mr. Turner is still out there, and there are still hopes of saving him from his suicide mission."

"We barely escaped last time, Carly was right,"

"And even Carly has agreed to accompany us,"

"What makes you think we'll be able to save Will and save ourselves?"

"Ye have us," Gibbs spoke up.

"We've got ourselves back up." Jack assured the young Captain. Rae doubted it would make any difference, but didn't argue.

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Rachel sat on the beach, her legs stretched out on the sand. She stood and took her boots off, brushing off the sand from her pants and stepping forward towards the water. Every time it would come up on shore it would wash over her feet, and she watched the waves come in a steady pattern. The wind picked up and she could smell the sea breeze; it was almost like being on her ship again, until someone joined her. Carly took off her boots as well and stepped out into the water a few feet away from Rae.

"It feels nice, doesn't it?" she commented, not sure if Rae would go along with her attempt at civil conversation, give some snotty remark about how captains are too high and mighty to converse with commoners such as her and lecture about how she should bow every time she was in Rae's presence, or simply ignore her.

"Yes, it does," Rae said. Carly was pleasantly surprised. She noticed the waves had gotten stronger as she walked farther out into the water to where it reached midway between her hips and her knees. She stumbled back when each wave came and hit her at the waist, threatening to knock her over. Rae stood near her, considering bringing up the subject of Captain Snarl. The water blended into the night sky with the moon being hidden behind a mass of clouds, and consequently they were unable to see the monstrous waves until they were little more than a couple feet away.

"Why did you decide to come with us back to Corcova?" Rae asked after a few minutes silence. Carly looked at her and felt a small tinge of defensiveness rising up from her stomach.

"Well I know you'd rather I stay here to die, but – "

"No," Rae said quickly, "I didn't mean that. I was just wondering what made you change your mind."

"Oh." Carly narrowed her eyes a little. "Well if you must know – "

But before she could answer, another massive wave had snuck up and knocked the two of them over. They stood once the wave had receded, both of them soaking wet messes. They looked at each other and slowly they began to smile and laugh together. They picked up their boots and went to the fire where Gibbs, Anamaria, and Jack were gathered.

"What happened to you two?" Gibbs asked.

"Probably been off trying to kill each other again," Jack said, grabbing himself a chunk of coconut from a selection of coconuts and bananas.

"The waves knocked us over. They're really picking up, wouldn't be surprised if we get a storm," Rae said as she put on Will's coat and sat by the fire.

"Let's hope not," Anamaria said, offering her some pieces of coconut. Carly sat by Jack and attempted to squeeze some of the seawater out of her hair. He picked up his coat from beside him and handed it to her.

"Put this on, you're sopping wet,"

"Thank you," she smiled slightly at him and wrapped the coat around herself. Rae watched them, shooting daggers at them with her eyes, which they didn't notice.

"Rae," Mr. Gibbs raised his voice, attempting to get her attention. Finally she turned to him.

"Yes?"

"How ye be getting along with Miss Carly?" he repeated himself.

"Oh I'd say we're bonding quite well." She smiled sweetly. "Coconut?" she offered a piece to Carly, still maintaining her forced smile that was becoming increasingly painful by the second. Carly couldn't help but notice how fake her smile was, and was reluctant to take anything from her.

"Well I'd say we've reached a nice, calm, bicker-free point now, haven't we?" Jack said to the two girls, pleased.

"Yes," Carly looked at Rae, deciding two could play at her game. "Besides, if I wanted to kill you I'd have done it by now."

"Like you could," Rachel scoffed.

"You're not much use with a sword, and I doubt your aim with a pistol would be much better. But lucky for you, I have no intention of killing you, Miss Rae."

"You haven't seen me at my best, and it's still Captain Rae to you." Rae stood and threw her piece of coconut into the fire.

"Don't burn our food," Carly yelled at her. Rae merely smiled pleasantly at her and turned to walk away. Carly grabbed a whole coconut from the pile and threw it at Rae's back. Rachel spun around and pointed her pistol at Carly.

"Seeing as you claim to be a pirate, let's put our skills to the test, shall we?" she suggested. "Mind you my aim hardly needs improving and this trigger doesn't stick." Carly stood and pulled out her pistol as well.

"Guns, they've got guns, Jack. Shouldn't we stop 'em?" Gibbs said.

"No, someone might get hurt." Jack watched the two girls, deciding to allow them to settle their feud once and for all. Keeping their pistols aimed at each other, Carly pelted whole coconuts at Rae, who chucked them right back at her.

"I'm wondering, Miss Rae, did you plan on firing that pistol?" Carly asked, holding another coconut at the ready. Rae raised an eyebrow and fired her pistol in Carly's direction, missing her by a couple inches. Carly's mouth dropped, enraged.

"Alright, that's enough!" Jack got up finally and stood in front of Rae. Carly threw her coconut at Rae, hitting Jack in the side of the head instead and knocking him unconscious.

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"Bloody pirates," Will said under his breath, walking through Corcova and avoiding the whores.