A/N: Thank you again for the reviews! They're all greatly appreciated. And especially a big thank you to Kathleen…that was the most wondefulest review I've ever gotten. That really made my day when I woke up to that this morning!

I'm up over 25k words now – halfway to the finish line for NaNoWriMo!

Chapter 13

Their trip through the Devil's Throat that led to Shipwreck Cove had been as uneventful as they could have hoped. That is not to say that it had been easy or boring or…well, anything except a trying time. There was a reason they had been named as such: all ships that wanted to get to Shipwreck Cove had to pass through the Devil's Throat, a narrow passageway surrounded by sharp reefs. Ships that went through the passageway too quickly went with the risk of running aground on one of the reefs. Many did such a thing each year, tearing open their bellies and quickly sinking them. The pirates would salvage what was left of the hulls, adding their bulk to the island and claiming anything it had carried as their own. Shipwreck Cove was, perhaps, the most unique place Elizabeth had ever seen. The island, such as it was, was entirely made up of these shipwrecks, put together one wreck at a time.

Anamaria had not navigated this particular stretch of water before and Jack, worried about the state they might arrive in, had pushed aside the helmsman and not allowed anyone else to come near it while he shouted orders to a crew not his own.

Anamaria had been upset and had gone on a tirade, shouting at the men, calling them all sorts of names, and stalking back and forth across the deck of the ship. At one point, she passed Elizabeth, muttering something that sounded remarkably like a curse laid on Jack's head.

"He's the only one who can do it." Elizabeth spoke quietly, knowing full well the impact of those words would halt Anamaria in her tracks and force her to come back to her.

"What did you say?" The darker woman's words were accompanied by narrowed eyes. She pushed her floppy hat back and glared at Elizabeth.

"You know it's true." Elizabeth raised her chin higher, daring the other woman to challenge her. Jack had a special talent, an understanding with the sea that few could parallel. Anamaria was a good sailor and a good captain. Elizabeth had seen that well enough in the last day. She had an easy grace at the wheel, a good rapport with the men on her ship, and respect. The latter was the most important, for without it, a captain was nothing. But she was not Jack and she lacked Jack's sharp-honed instincts.

Anamaria leaned forward, fire radiating from her eyes. Elizabeth matched her. And then Anamaria had backed down, the reality of the situation bearing down her. Had Jack not appeared, this particular stretch of water might have meant the end of her ship, if not her crew. She didn't like admitting it to herself. She was a competent captain. Jack was brilliant, a genius at the helm, as daft a man she had ever met, yet everyone who met him wanted to follow him. Even she had at one point, before he had stolen her boat and then destroyed it.

They had arrived at the other side, close enough now to Shipwreck Cove to see the great spires rising out of the water. Jack had turned over the helm to Anamaria once they were through. Elizabeth had watched him bow sardonically to the other woman before retreating. He immediately walked to Elizabeth's side, a smile upon his face.

"You love doing that, don't you?"

His satisfied grin said all it needed to. He didn't just love it. He lived for it. "Of course," he had answered anyway. "The feel of the ship as it turns under your hands, the pull of the waves and the wind, feeling it fight against you as you pull it under control. That is freedom."

Elizabeth reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. She hadn't seen Jack this relaxed since…well, she barely remembered the last time she had seen Jack this relaxed, this happy. Perhaps the last time had been when they were marooned on that island together, careening around the fire, singing loudly and crazily.

For a brief moment, Jack reached a hand up and covered Elizabeth's. It was a moment of completely companionable silence between them.

It was interrupted by the arrival of the surgeon. His face, always so grave, was showing evidence of a smile. "He's awake, Miss." Elizabeth let out a small gasp and gripped Jack's hand tightly, turning to look at him.

"Go, love." He let go of her. "Go see him. We'll be at the Cove soon and we'll want to move him off this ship." She smiled, a great brilliant smile, and headed off.

Strange, Jack thought, a rueful grin upon his face. That brilliant smile did something odd to him.

Elizabeth bent low over her companion before looking at Higgins. "He doesn't seem well." She had rushed down into the hold, only to find Sammy still laying on his side, still looking thin and motionless. When she had bent over him, she was happy to see him raise his head slightly and offer her a tentative lick on the cheek.

He was alive. And yet he looked so tired, so drained of energy. He didn't attempt to get up and it ate away at her heart. "Infection?" she asked, the dreaded reality of what Sammy could go through from here on out.

"Not so far, Miss." The surgeon drew himself up to his lanky height and showed a little bit of smugness. "I'm a good surgeon."

"I never once doubted your abilities, Mr. Higgins. But I also know what these kinds of injuries can do to a person…or an animal."

The man nodded. "Well, he's awake and while I'm certain he's in some pain, he appears to be doing well."

"Can we move him?" Jack had said they would be leaving the ship as soon as it docked. She wasn't sure where they were going from there, if indeed there was even a "they" going anywhere, but she knew it was nearly time to depart from this particular ship.

"We'll give him a little something to knock him out. It will be easier to move him if he's not in any pain. But yes, you'll be able to move him after we dock."

She nodded and left the hold, heading back above to see the final docking and find out what would happen when they disembarked from the ship.

Jack stood at the bow of the ship, watching carefully as it came into port and docked. The men around him went into action, tying down the sails, lowering the anchor, and fastening the ship to the dock. It was a careful procedure, but one that was done with such exact precision that it was obvious the men had done this many times before.

"So what now?" Gibbs came up quietly behind Jack, joining him in his quiet vigil. Jack glanced at him briefly before staring back at the island.

"We leave the ship. Find our own. Pursue the Pearl." Simple. It was a simple and unadulterated plan. And it was obviously not what Gibbs meant when he had asked the question.

"You know what I meant." Gibbs' voice was exasperated. He knew Jack's original plan. Get to Shipwreck Cove, leave Elizabeth there, and continue on on their own to pursue Barbossa. He still remembered his words from just a couple weeks ago. If she is on that island…I will not be held responsible for what I do to her. So far he hadn't done a damn thing except argue with the chit. Their exchanges of barbs had been legendary back when they had all spent time on the Pearl together. Bets had gone 'round the ship as to when all the passion they had put into fighting would finally boil over into a different sort of passion.

Apparently it finally had. At the very end of things, the end of Jack's life, for the first and only time so far, she had kissed him. Jack had implied that it was out of a need to distract him in order to chain him to his ship, but Gibbs thought there might be more motive there than just that. Now, again, the passion was obviously high between them. They had been bickering on and off from the moment Gibbs had sent Jack after her. And he was damned sure he had caught them at the tail end of some of that boiled over passion. Ah, if only the old crew were still here. He'd have won that bet he had made with them all so many years ago.

"Ah yes, the infernal Miss Swann. What are we to do with her? Is that what you mean, Mr. Gibbs?" His voice was amused. Gibbs couldn't have even guessed at the reason why.

"Aye, Cap'n."

Jack turned and looked at him and Gibbs was surprised at the bright look in his eyes. "I don't know."

Only one thing went through Gibbs' mind in that moment. This does not bode well…

The disembarking went quickly and easily. Once the ship was docked, Anamaria dismissed those men who were not guarding the ship and they departed with cheers and whoops. Shore leave at Shipwreck Cove meant no fear from the authorities, a chance to see family and friends who resided there. It was bound to be a wonderful time for all, full of drinking and laughter and…other things. Elizabeth knew from past experiences that the men would come crawling back some time after dawn, heads in varying stages of fuzziness. They would regret it the next day, no doubt, but for now it was a cause for celebration. They had successfully docked in the Cove.

Anamaria, watching her crew depart with an amused grin, made her way over to the trio who remained.

"They'll have a good time tonight," Elizabeth said to the other woman. "You're a good captain."

Anamaria let out a bark of laughter. "Tell that to the men left on board." She hooked a thumb over her shoulder and Elizabeth eyed the somber men with a small look of pity on her face.

"They're new. They have to learn."

"Aye." Both women fell silent. The men standing nearby had little to say in that moment as well.

"Well, " Jack suddenly said, his voice unnaturally bright. "It looks like it's time for us to take our leave. Thank you for everything!" He walked behind Gibbs and Elizabeth, placing one hand on the back of each and started to move them toward the plank that had been put down for going ashore.

"Sparrow!" Anamaria shouted. He dropped his hands from the others' shoulders as if he had been burned and twirled around lightly on his feet.

"Anamaria…" he started to say, hands held up in surrender.

"You got us safely here." The implication was obvious in the rough sound of her voice. "Thank you." Elizabeth could clearly hear how much she hated to say those words.

Jack nodded. "Of course I did. I'm…"

Anamaria interrupted him. "Don't say it Jack, just don't say it."

He didn't. "You're welcome," was all he said.

Anamaria, having said her peace, departed from the ship. The trio, with Elizabeth holding an unconscious Sammy in her arms, followed slowly.