CHAPTER 21

"Oh there you are," he said to the note opening it. He was surprised to see what was written on the slip of paper and quickly dropped it like it was on fire. He looked at it lying on the table and reaching out slowly picked it up and read it again. With awe he looked back over at the sleeping form of Mandy and then looked back down at the paper and his heart started pounding faster. There was only one thing listed on the note; he quickly refolded it and tucked it in a drawer not really knowing what to do about it. He started for the door; his instincts telling him to run before it was too late but he must have made a sound because Amanda stirred.

"Jack where are you going?" she asked sleepily.

Jack turned and looked at her; she had sat up clutching the blanket to her chest. Her tousled hair fell around her shoulders making a shimmering halo in the low lamplight. His heart did a little flip making him rub his chest, 'stupid thing is actin' crazy,' he thought to himself.

"I was just gonna go up on deck and get some fresh air, luv."

"Oh, alright," Amanda laid back down turning onto her side facing away from the door. The blanket was lying across her hips leaving her back exposed to the faint light. The golden glow touched her skin making shadows in every curve. The slow rise and fall of her ribs told him that she had fallen instantly back to sleep feeling safe in his presence.

Jack turned away from the door and went over and opened the drawer and pulled the slip of paper back out; taking out a bottle of rum he sat down contemplating the turn of events that have changed his life so completely. He had known many women in his lifetime but the instant he met Mandy he couldn't get her out of his mind.

He looked at the unopened bottle next to him, "Bloody hell I've even stopped drinking my rum," he muttered.

With determination he uncorked the bottle and tipping it to his lips took a big swig. The alcohol burn a fiery path down his throat and into his stomach. He looked over at Amanda and took another swig from the bottle.

It was hours later when Amanda started to stir and noticed that Jack wasn't in the bed. She rose up and looked around finding him sitting at the table with his head resting upon it.

"Jack?" When he didn't answer she got up pulling on one of his shirts. Walking over closer she soon discovered why he didn't answer. He had finished off one bottle of rum and consumed half of another. Amanda reached over and shook his shoulder when he didn't budge she shook him again even harder.

He looked up at her trying to focus, "Whatca' doin' here? Oh ya yor da one who wants me soul."

"Jack what are you talking about I don't want your soul?"

"Yup all youns are alike ya want ta control a man by takin' his heart and soul."

"You're drunk and you don't know what you are talking about. I told you I hated it when you got this drunk."

Jack stood up swaying on his feet, "I hav ya know I'm not drunk. If'n I wanted ta be drunk ya can't stop me, anyhow." He started to walk across the cabin and stumbled over his own feet. Amanda reached out to steady him and he jerked away from her almost making himself fall again.

"What's gotten into you, Jack?"

"Nofin' gotten inta me! Don't touch me if'n ya do I'm doomed."

He staggered over to the bunk and fell face first onto it snoring loudly. Amanda walked over looking down at the now snoring Jack; she quickly put on her breeches and started for the door when she turned and looked back at Jack. Still wondering what had made him act this way she walked over to the table where he was when she woke up. It didn't take much rummaging and she spotted a folded piece of paper. Upon opening it she discovered that it was her list. It was obvious that he had found it and finally read it. With a sad look towards Jack she slipped the piece of paper in her pocket and then quietly went out the door. It was now starting to get daylight and several of the men had made it back to the Pearl sleeping off the rum they had the night before. Amanda didn't see anyone awake so she slipped off of the ship but Ragetti and Pintel had seen her they were among the group that was assigned second watch. When they saw Amanda leaving the ship without Jack Pintel hurried over shaking a few sailors awake telling them they had to watch the ship. The then he and Ragetti hurried off of the ship looking for Amanda; they both knew that Jack didn't want her going off alone and they better find her.

At first they thought they had lost her and then Ragetti spotted her down a side street. They hurried to catch up with her, "Captain Jack wouldn't want ya ta be walkin' around by yournself in this rowdy port," stated Pintel.

Amanda turned and looked at them with sad eyes, "I've got news for you guys he doesn't want me around and really won't care what happens to me. So go back to the ship I'll take care of myself."

She turned and walked away leaving Pintel and Ragetti staring after her they then looked at each other and started following her.

"Ta beg ya pardon missy but if'n da capt'n didn't want ya around he wouldn't have rescued ya," stated Pintel.

"That's right, he was right worried, he was," agreed Ragetti.

"You two are sweet but wrong," she turned and kept walking.

The two pirates followed her at a discreet distance, not letting her out of their sight. Amanda wandered through the town for a while. With it not being long after dawn the town was quiet everyone was sleeping off the effects of the night before. She eventually found a beach and started walking in the sand along the shore. At the end was an outcropping of rocks. Amanda climbed them and sat down watching the surf pounding below her. Seeing that she was finally stopping the two men sat in the sand waiting; wondering what she was going to do next.

"Why da ya think she left wi'out the capt'n?" asked Pintel.

"May haps he sent her away," stated Ragetti.

"Don't be stupid, why would he do that? Ya saw how happy he was."

"Look who's callin' who stupid…

"Will you two shut up?" The two pirates snapped their heads around and looked to where Amanda was sitting.

"You sound like two old women what with the way you are always bickering with each other! Just go back to the Pearl and leave me alone." Amanda turned her head away from them resting it on her knees.

"I think she…"

"Shush she'll hear ya, again!" Pintel scolded in a whisper.

"It wasn't me she heard it was you," whispered Ragetti right back.

"No it wasn't!"

The two sat there glaring at each other not talking. I was a few hours later that both men decided that it was time for one of them to go back and get Jack. Ragetti jumped up and headed down the beach back towards Tortuga.

The port town was still relatively quiet but people were starting to wake and move around, since it was getting to be midday. Ragetti hurried through the streets to the docks and onto the Pearl. Mostly everybody was still asleep and with a deep breath he pounded on the Captain's door. When there was no answer he turned and looked out across the deck.

Ragetti spotted a sailor coming towards him "Is the capt'n still in his quarters?"

"I've hadn't seen him come out," was the reply.

Ragetti took a deep breath and cracked the door open peeking inside. Light was spilling through the windows and he could see Jack lying on the bed. Opening the door further he walked inside.

"Capt'n…Capt'n?"

Jack didn't move so he got closer, "Capt'n…Capt'n?" When Jack still didn't budge he reached over and started poking him.

"CAPT'N WAKE UP!" Ragetti was now yelling and shaking him.

"Wha..what do ya want?"

"I have somethin' important ta tell ya."

"Nuthin' can be more important than tryin' ta get my blasted head ta stop poundin'."

"Capt'n Amanda left da Pearl."

"She what?" Jack sat up fast and moaned looking slightly green. He staggered to his feet clutching his head and quickly sat back down trying to focus on Ragetti.

"Now what did ya say?"

"I said the missy left da ship. She looked really upset and Pintel and I followed her."

"Where is she now?"

"She is way off of da other side of Tortuga and Pintel is watchin' over her."

"Why would she be doin' that?"

"Like I tol ya capt'n she be really upset."

"Why would she be upset? Women I'll never…" Jack looked over at the table and slowly rose from the bunk. When he got to the table he started rummaging through all the papers and didn't find the list.

"Oh bloody hell!" Jack slammed his fist onto the table.

Ragetti jumped when Jack hit the table and started backing out of the door.

"You…" Jack pointed at Ragetti making him stop in his tracks, "You are going ta take me where she's at."

"Huh…yah that's why I came ta get ya. Pintel and I saw hur leave da ship and we followed her."

"Good now take me ta her." As he started out the door he turned back grabbed the half empty bottle of rum and took a swig. He glanced over at Ragetti who was watching him, "For the head ya know," Ragetti grinned.

Grabbing his effects he hurried out the door with Ragetti following close behind. After about ½ hour they arrived at the beach and he could see Amanda at the end sitting on the rocks watching the surf.

"Ya did a good job mates, now go back ta the ship."

As the two pirates were leaving Jack walked down the beach and stopped at the base of the rocks.

"What are you doing here?" asked Amanda without looking at him.

"I've come ta get ya and take ya back ta me ship."

"Why?"

"Why? What kin of question is that ta ask?"

"Because I want to know, Jack, you see I know you finally found the note," she pulled the piece of paper out and waved it at him. "I guess I shouldn't have written that little tidbit."

"Darlin' it wasn't…"

Amanda stood up and climbed down from the rock, "Don't darlin' me, Jack Sparrow." By the time she said his name she was face to face with him and poking him on the chest for emphasis.

"You read that note, got drunk and then told me I was going to steal your soul."

"It was the rum…"

"Shush let me finish." She waved the note under his nose. "To think a little something like this would affect you that way. Obviously I was wrong to write it and I wish you had never found it. What a fool I was. You know I'm going to make a bigger fool of myself and then leave."

"Mandy…"

"Heaven help me…I love you Jack Sparrow. I didn't want to; you are a drunk, a flirt and one of the most exasperating men I've ever known, and on top of all that you are a pirate, but God I love you."

Amanda turned and walked away. Jack stood rooted to the spot stunned and mentally warring with himself.

"Mandy don't walk away!" When she didn't stop he hurried after her but before he could reach her she started to fade.

"Mandy, MANDY…NO!" he yelled running.

Right before he could reach her she disappeared.

Jack frantically ran up and down the beach yelling but Amanda didn't reappear. He dropped to his knees in the sand and yelled up to the heaven's. Looking down in misery he saw something fluttering in the breeze. Picking it up he realized it was the note; the damn note that caused this. Just as he was about to rip it up he stopped and unfolding it re-read what was on it.

All I want or need is

YOU

He carefully refolded the note and put it in his pocket.