A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews!

Disclaimer: Disney owns Pirates.

Chapter 21:

"Where do you think you're taking me?" Elizabeth asked through gritted teeth, stumbling down the dark passageway, her lips stained with tears and wet from the moisture of his angry, relentless kisses.

Justin glanced back at her for a moment, taking in her bruised mouth and flushed appearance with a smug expression, then looked forward again, tugging hard on her wrist so that she'd be forced to keep up with him. When she realized he had no intention of answering her, she leaned back, trying to dig the heels of her boots into the ground beneath her, trying to make it so that he'd let her go. He frowned, then turned on her, pulling her towards him so suddenly that she collided into his chest.

"You don't fully understand the situation you're in, do you?" he asked sharply, sliding his fingers into her hair and gently tipping her head back, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"You kidnapped me." Her eyes were narrowed; voice acidic and poisonous. He smiled wryly.

"Hector is out in the hall with Jack. If you come with me - willingly and without a fight - your precious husband will not be killed. If you choose to give me a hard time?" His question hung in the air as his voice trailed off, leaving only a hushed echo which faded as it traveled down the hall and into the musky, dead, emptiness beyond.

She grimaced, then shut her eyes, feeling his fingers curl tighter into her hair as he waited for her to reply. Hector. She had known he would be planning something, some sick attempt at revenge, but she hadn't thought he would figure it out so soon! They were supposed to leave tomorrow. It would have been safer out at open sea! With Jack close by at all times, there would have been no chance of this happening. And even if there was a chance that Hector and Justin would have attempted something like this, the crew would have quickly outnumbered them.

Yet, with being in Shipwreck Cove, there was no one around to even consider helping them. Teague was out drinking, the cooks and maids had left for the night, and all the Pirate Lords had gone their separate ways. Elizabeth had pondered over screaming, but what good would that do when no one was around to hear you?

There was Jack to think of as well. He was in danger of dying if this didn't go Justin's way. If he died - again, and all because of her - she'd never forgive herself. He was her husband, her life, her world, her universe, and the knowledge of his death - of him really being dead - would, in return, kill her as well.

Opening her eyes with great effort, she focused on her captor; twin brown orbs cold, angry, dimmed by her surrender. A triumphant smile crept over his lips, and he leaned forward, his lips hovering over hers.

"Damn you, Justin Marshall. Damn you to the deepest, darkest, blackest circle of hell." The light of the torch fell harshly onto her face; a hateful venom shining brilliantly in her eyes. He grinned, then brushed his lips against hers, the idea of kissing her again springing to the surface of his mind.

"Good girl." he whispered, the words falling into her mouth and leaving her with the bitter taste of helplessness. Deciding against kissing her, he pulled back and slowly pulled his hand from her hair, then motioned for her to follow him and stay quiet. She trailed behind, grateful that his grip on her wrist had loosened considerably, not that she would try and run. It would be a foolish thing to do, for Jack would only be in more danger, and she had realized something. She had a way to protect him, to keep him safe, and it really didn't matter if she got hurt in the process. He was everything that mattered to her. Her own life was of little importance.

Hector groaned and slowly opened his eyes, staring hazily up at the ceiling. He could feel the pain throb angrily through his body, and slowly lifted himself onto his elbows, grimacing in agony. How long had he been out? Long enough, he thought. His head felt terribly heavy - his blood pounding loudly in his ears. Slowly and carefully, he swept over his wounds with glazed eyes, feeling relieved. There were two in all. One bullet had gone clean through his shoulder, the other had buried itself deep in his side. The blood had clotted, but it was still a precarious situation. He was a little surprised, though. Jack must have been in a great amount of pain to have missed his heart, but even then the bullets had done their damage.

Gritting his teeth, he ignored the pain and got to his feet, then swayed and braced his good shoulder against the wall, vision blurring and going red for a moment. He shut his eyes, taking in a deep breath, then forced himself to hobble forward, clearing his mind and focusing on taking one step after another. Soon his side had numbed, leaving only a stinging sensation. As soon as he found Justin and the girl he'd have his first mate clean his wounds. He wasn't sure he'd be able to do it himself.

Justin waited near the door when he arrived there, Elizabeth standing behind him with wide, beautiful, proud eyes. Grimacing, the boy came over and studied the wounds, his manner quick and assessing. After a moment he pursed his lips and shook his head, leaning back and opening the door that led to the streets. They were taking a back route, just in case Jack caught up with them. It was more discreet that way. Stepping out into the darkness, Elizabeth soon followed, clenching her hands into fists but keeping silent.

"What happened to you?" Justin asked after they had walked a ways. Barbossa grunted, studying the blade he'd picked up before he left. It was stained dark red, which made him grin, content to know that Jack hadn't gotten away without a scratch.

"Jack, that's what happened." he said sourly after a long moment, putting the dagger away. Elizabeth blinked and smiled a little, though ducked her head when Justin glanced back at her, amused. "Shot me, the bastard."

"And who's to say you didn't deserve it?" Elizabeth asked in quiet, firm voice, uncomfortable with the silence that had followed. She had seen the dagger, and was sick to think what had happened to her husband. Was he dead? She fervently hoped that he wasn't. Barbossa chuckled darkly, not bothering to glance back at her.

"Never said I didn't." He was quick to reply, keeping his voice low, silently warning her to do the same. "Was a means of keeping 'im occupied. Just didn't think he'd shoot me...twice for that matter." Her lips twitched, but she held back a smile. So he had gone through with it. She hadn't been there to stop him, and therefore he hadn't withheld. Not that she blamed him, she was starting to hate Hector just as much as he did.

"It's a pity he didn't shoot you to death." she muttered before looking down the road. The buildings that surrounded them cleared, and suddenly she could see the ocean's black expanse; the moonlight reflecting off the waves as they rolled in towards the shore.

A wild smile flickered across her lips; her mind alight with thoughts of freedom, and of beauty, and of him. Her husband. Her friend - the man who always looked out for her, risking his life to save her a million times over. The person whom introduced her to freedom, whom opened the doors to her cage - guiding her like a bird teaching its fledgling to fly. Her partner - the sly pirate who's eyes gleam with over a million different thoughts and ideas, ready to divulge his knowledge at a moment's notice, ready to prove his worth and his courage in the face of immediate danger. Her enemy - the one man she feared more than any other, the only one who could destroy her with a look and nothing more. Her world, the planet of which she revolved, dependent on him to keep her going.

Shivering a little, she made her way quickly towards the docks, trying to ignore the sound of Justin's footsteps as he followed close behind her. She had thought about running now that Jack wasn't nearby, but where would she go? They'd only have caught her if she tried, and even if she did try and flee now, there was a good chance that Justin would grab her before she could make any ground and force her to keep walking... or worse. Not only was she unsure of his intentions towards her, but it suddenly seemed like she had never really known him at all! Where was the boy she had grown up with, the one that made her smile and laugh as they climbed trees and explored? Everything - everyone - has changed, she thought wearily, exhausted.

Walking up the gangplank, Elizabeth realized that she had been on that ship before. It was the Chinese Dove, the one Jack had commandeered to find her, since the Black Pearl had been taken by Barbossa. It was ironic to think that they were now stealing on board and taking that ship, when her husband got the Pearl in return. It was as it should be, though, and she was grateful.

"Why are we not taking the Pearl?" Justin asked, looking around a few men came aboard, beginning to get the ship ready for sailing. Blinking, it dawned on Elizabeth that this was now an empty ship, and so they'd not have to take it over. Jack's crew had moved back to the Pearl, where they belonged.

"We'd be frightfully outnumbered, boy." he said, in the midst of whispering commands to the crew, who were trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to draw attention to themselves. "Our throats would be slit before we could even draw our weapons." He glanced over at Elizabeth, who stood there quietly, smart enough to know not to run. There were too many people who could go after her now. She was trapped. "You there!" he ordered one of the rugged looking sailors. "Take Miss Swann here to me quarters and lock her in. Yer her official keeper now, make sure she doesn't escape."

"It's Mrs. Sparrow." she snapped angrily, feeling the man lightly place his hand on her arm. Roughly, she pulled away from him, then walked towards his quarters, her chin lifted slightly. She was not helpless, and even though she was their captive she'd not be treated like an inferior. After all, she was their King, and she wanted respect, though she knew she'd probably not get any from them.

Opening the door, she stepped into his quarters, then made her way across the room, hearing the door shut behind her. Going over to the window, she clasped her hands behind her back, looking out at the glistening sea. She waited for a brief moment, and then she smiled, feeling the presence of someone behind her.

"I've fended well on my own, you didn't have to do this. Now we are both trapped here, and unless you want the shot of a pistol to be the last thing you hear, you cannot stop them from doing things to me. They think of you as part of the crew, remember?" Turning, she came face to face with him; his cold, starless eyes fixed on her.

"You all seem to forget one thing." Jack whispered hoarsely, reaching out to brush the back of his hand against her cheek. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. I'll be damned if I let them touch you." She smiled a little, cupping his face in her hands.

"It's too late for that." His eyes widened, and then darkened in anger.

"What did they-" he began to ask, but she cut him off, placing a finger against his lips.

"Does it really matter? You're here now, and you're safe. That's all I care about." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she stretched up, brushing her lips against his. He smirked for a fraction of a second, then grimaced when she tightened her hold on him. She pulled back abruptly, looking concerned. "What is it?" He shook his head, resisting the urge to place his hand on his shoulder. Frowning, she pushed his coat off his shoulder, then unbuttoned his shirt. At the sight of the bloodied bandage she gasped, her eyes darting to him. "What happened?" she asked, though she had an idea.

Smiling wryly, he brushed her hands away and buttoned his shirt up, then pulled his coat back on before sighing. He debated, for a moment, between telling her and distracting her. Did she really need to know? No doubt she saw the way Barbossa limped, and figured that he had been shot. And then she had just seen the bandage on his shoulder... Put two and two together, and she'd come to a very satisfactory or unsatisfactory conclusion. Either one.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist, then pulled her against him, wrapping one arm around her waist and threading the other hand into her golden hair. "You're smart, you'll figure it out." he murmured, then leaned down and kissed her. Placing her hands on his chest, she kissed him back, the memories of Justin's kisses slowly fading away with each moment his lips remained on hers.

Stepping forward, he pressed her against the wall, his hands moving to rest on her hips. Elizabeth broke the kiss, then pressed her forehead against his, locking eyes with him once again and loosing herself in the shadows of the night - a night with moonless skies that seemed hauntingly alive, flawless, and eerily beautiful.

"Three o'clock." he whispered suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Beg pardon?" He cocked his head to the side for a moment, listening, then pulled away from her.

"Three o'clock." he repeated. "We're getting out o' here. Ye'll be stayin' in the spare quarters tonight - until they decide what t' do wiv' ye. The door'll be locked, but I know where t' get hold of the keys. Be awake and ready then, and then we'll escape in a long boat. The Pearl is trailing behind; we'll meet up with them, then sail for Florida." She nodded in understanding, putting all her trust in him. If anyone could spring her from this prison, it would be him. He smiled roguishly at her, then glanced over at the door before reaching out and kissing her again, pulling her tightly against him.

At once she was floating, no longer able to feel the ground under her feet. She saw stars when her eyes closed, and the room seemed to spin around her, making her dizzy and tremulous. Her knees buckled under the blissful assault he was rendering on her mouth, and she melted against him, the only thing keeping her upright was his arms tight around her body, holding her as close as possible. Her thoughts a swirl of desire and love, she blinked when he suddenly pulled away from her, crossing the room in two steps to stand by the door. Gasping for breath, she sunk down in a chair and put her head in her hands, trying to collect her wits. Each and every time he kissed her she lost herself; her control, reason, and sense of reality scattered to the wind.

The door swung open, then soon after shut again. The floor boards creaked as someone walked across them, and finally she lifted her head to see Justin standing there, staring at her. She glanced to the side, hoping to see Jack still standing by the door, but he was gone. Grimacing, she looked back to Justin, watching him pull up a chair and sit down across from her, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. They sat there in silence for a little while, and Elizabeth was relieved to realize that he wasn't about to do anything to her. Good. It gave her time to think up of a plan.

"Where's Hector?" she asked casually, relaxing and stretching her arms over her head. It would be easy to trick him into thinking she was tired, because she was. She winced, knowing that if this hadn't happened Jack and herself would have already been asleep, snuggled up against each other with nothing between them. A dull flicker of anger rose in her, but she was quick to snuff it, knowing that her anger would get her no where.

"Getting his wounds cleaned." He smiled at her, and she smiled back (though forced), making his eyes brighten in delight. "The one in his side went pretty deep." he continued eagerly, glad that she didn't seem mad at him...at the moment. "The bullet didn't come out easily, so it'll be a couple of weeks until his wounds fully heal." This was great news to him, as he got to spend even more time with Elizabeth before having to hand her over, something he didn't seem so eager to do anymore.

"Mm." she mumbled noncommittally. Lifting a hand, she brought it up to her mouth and yawned, allowing her eyes to fall shut for a moment as she struggled with the weariness in her body. Justin noticed this and stood up, offering her his hand. She took it and got to her feet, then pulled back, rubbing at her eyes.

"You look tired." he commented with a hesitant smile. "You have the spare quarters to sleep in tonight, I'll take you there." She nodded in acceptance, then let him wrap his arm around her waist, leaning against his side as they walked out into the hall. He led her down the stairs, then stopped at a door. "Here you are." He let her go, then lifted his hand to brush some hair from her eyes.

"Thank you." Turning, she opened the door, then paused in the doorway before turning around to look at him. "Oh, and Justin?" she added, then before he could respond stepped towards him and reached up, placing a sweet kiss on his lips. "Goodnight." With a smile, she turned around and went into her cabin, shutting the door and leaving a bewildered Justin standing motionless in the hall. A goofy smile appeared on his lips, and then he turned and went to check on Barbossa, forgetting to lock the door.

Elizabeth sat down on the bed and wiped at her mouth with her sleeve, then smirked when she heard footsteps fading away from the door, and no sound of the lock clicking into place. Why hadn't she thought of that before? All she needed to do was smile, bat her eyes, look as if she cared, and he'd trip over himself! Maybe the kiss had been a little much, but it had ensured her freedom.

By that time it was almost midnight. Having nothing better to do, Elizabeth went over to the dresser and crouched down, opening the drawers and looking inside them. They were all empty, except for the odd sock or torn strip of fabric. Plucking the fabric from the empty drawer, she stuffed it into her pocket, then opened the last one. Her eyes widened, and she gasped, lifting out a thin, green, cotton dress. Brushing it off, she held it up to herself, then twirled around, smiling. It came down to her knees, and it seemed to be just the right size! Biting her lip, she shut the drawer with her foot, then turned and lay the dress on the bed, studying it. They must have missed this when cleaning out the ship...or perhaps Jack had put it in there to surprise her if she found it. Well, if that was his intention he had done a good job. She loved it! It would be wonderful to be able to wear a dress again and feel like a beautiful woman, if only for a moment or so.

Slipping out of her normal clothing, and glad to have an excuse to change, she stuffed them into the dresser, then stepped into the dress, pulling it up and reaching around to do the ties at the back. After lacing it up, she looked down and smoothed out the front, smiling. It felt amazing to be in something light again, which was nothing like the itchy, stifling breeches and shirts that she usually wore. Grabbing the strip of fabric from the bed, she tied her hair back, then moved to look in the mirror. She brushed her hair back behind her, then tucked a strand behind her ear before giggling softly. It wasn't that she missed her old life of being a governor's daughter, because she loved everything that being a pirate got her, but once in a while she missed the fancy dresses, the warm herbal taste of tea, and the daily baths she'd get from her maids and father. Being on the Pearl with Jack brought her happiness and contentment, but in wearing men's clothing and not bathing she felt like one of them. It was hard to remember that she was supposed to be something beautiful and desired when the crew treated her like a man, though she didn't blame them. In fact, she was grateful that they left her alone, but that was beside the point.

Going over to the window, she unlatched it and threw it open, placing her hands on the frame and leaning out to take in a deep breath. The night air refreshed her, and she shut her eyes, feeling the cool wind ghost across her face.

She wished, at once, that she could be up on the deck of the Black Pearl, standing next to Jack at the helm. He'd hold her close and teach her about the stars, guiding her hand with his and pointing out all the different constellations that made up the night skies, telling her tales about each one. She'd snuggle up against him, ignoring the cold, entranced by the sound of his voice and the things he'd teach.

With a tired sigh she pulled back from the window and shut it, then turned and sat down on the bed, falling back against the pillows. Elizabeth hadn't realized how tired she really was, and soon drifted into a dark, dreamless sleep, loosing all sense of time, forgetting quickly that she was to awaken again when Jack arrived.

"Lizzie."

Elizabeth moaned a little and turned over on her back, slowly starting to creep towards consciousness. Someone let out a stifled groan, and her eyelids fluttered, wondering who was speaking to her, too tired to know immediately.

"God, Lizzie, wake up and stop tormenting me."

Her eyes opened, and then she yawned sleepily and lifted herself onto her elbows, glancing over to see Jack crouching next to the bed, the edge of the mattress gripped tightly in his hands. Tilting her head to the side, she sat up, then realized with a start what had happened. Falling asleep, she had quickly lost track of the time. What time was it, anyways? Turning, she stood up, then smoothed out the front of her dress before looking to him, noticing that was starting at her intently.

"What?" His gaze made her heart beat faster; stomach clenching as she suddenly was able to read the look in his eyes. Oh God.

"I always thought it should be a dress or nothing." he said huskily, breaking the moment of silence. "We've wasted precious time. Come." Leading her out of the cabin, he shut the door quietly behind them, then smiled a little. "It's my fault, though. Should have known that ye'd fall asleep." he continued in a low whisper, making it so that she had to lean towards him to catch his words. "And if I would have known that the door was unlocked I wouldn't have spent the time searching for the keys." She smiled a little. "How is it that yer door wasn't locked anyways?"

"Persuasion." she replied, looking away as they crept up the stairs. Jack caught her arm and pulled her down, and she looked at him, hiding a smile at the curiosity that was apparent in his eyes.

"Friendly?" he asked, his eyes dropping to her lips for a moment before slowly moving back up to her again.

"Perhaps." Her smile was smug; amusement growing when he blinked at her, caught off guard by her reply.

"Better not have been." he grumbled, moving up the stairs again and stopping at the top, peering around cautiously to see if anyone was looking in their direction.

"Pirate." she argued in a whisper, then came up next to him, watching as he raised two fingers to his lips and motioned for her to be silent. Nodding, she followed his fingers with her eyes as he pointed to a long boat, one that was already prepared. Quickly and silently, they stole across the deck, stopping next to it. Jack looked around again, then tilted his head down, and Elizabeth bit her lip before disappearing over the side of the ship, climbing down and settling herself on one of the seats. Her husband soon followed, and then the boat was quietly lowered the rest of the way. They both froze at the splash it made, and waited with bated breath for someone to come over and realize that one of the long boats were missing, but to their great relief nothing happened.

Jack untied the ropes with nimble fingers, then picked up and oar and moved the long boat away from the ship, trying to be as quiet as possible. Elizabeth reached for an oar as well, wanting to help, and soon they were out in the open water, watching the Chinese Dove sail away.

With a soft sigh, Elizabeth placed the oar on her lap, then stretched a moment before folding her legs together, a million questions racing through her head. Jack looked to her, then set his oar down as well, reaching over and taking her hands in his with a small smile.

"Well, that was relatively easy." He chuckled, but soon his smile fell. "How tired are ye? There is an island close by, and that is where we be headed, as well as where we will meet the Pearl. It's 'bout an hour's travel, but with the two of us rowing it might save us some time and energy."

"I'll manage." she whispered, squeezing his hands in hers. "Thank you for stealing aboard and rescuing me." Her smile was teasing; loving. "It seems I will always be in your debt, Sparrow, for you keep saving me, and I never seem to be able to pay you back." Jack smirked mischievously.

"I know of a way ye could pay me back." he said, then leaned over and kissed her. She moved closer to him, kissing him back, and smiled when he placed a hand against the back of her neck, his other arm snaking around her waist and pulling her closer.

Breaking the kiss, she gasped for air, her eyes scanning over the long boat desperately. He noticed this and laughed - pressing his lips to hers once more before pulling back completely, taking his oar up again. She pouted slightly, but took hers up as well, beginning to row, forgetting her weariness as her muscles began to burn with the effort. They were silent for a little while, content just to row and be in each others company. Then, Jack smiled thoughtfully and looked to her, stilling for a moment.

"Did I tell ye how good ye look in that dress?" Elizabeth laughed softly, then splashed him with a little water, secretly pleased with his words.

"No, I think you left that out." His grin was lop-sided, causing her to tighten her grip on the handle of the oar and quickly look away.

"Well, you do, you know."

"Sh. Less talking, more rowing." He chuckled, then continued the strenuous activity, falling once again into comfortable silence.