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Disclaimer: I own nothing

Sorry for the long wait, hope you like it….la!

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You want to catch your breath you want to get out
but as you surface you don't really know how
how to live upon the solid ground
Sometimes it's easier to let yourself drown
--Holly Brook

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"All hands on deck! I mean all! Get Richard and Sam from the brig and have them up here!" Jack was shouting orders left and right, trying to be louder then the storm at hand. It seemed to come out of nowhere, but in all honestly, it just seemed that our luck ran out.

The men were all helping to secure items, trying to fight this storm out. The order was given to throw some of the heavier things overboard. I ran down the stairs behind Gibbs to help carry some things up.

"Miss Percy, go ter the kitchen, find the chest in there."

I didn't bother asking what this was or how heavy it was – there was no time for it. I felt like this was one giant race, but every time I completed a task it seemed a new one came to me. Running down the stairs, I heard a scream. Or was it just the thunder?

The ship gave a sudden lurch, and I heard the call for a rogue wave on deck. I fell down the last two steps and hit the wall.

"Bloody Friggin Hell! Are you kidding me?" I cried, picking myself up, soaked to the bone. The pain I felt in my body from hitting the wall went in my head and straight out – I had to get this chest he was talking about.

Then it happened again – the scream. My thoughts immediately went to Emily, locked up. Was she all right down there in the brig? I couldn't think about that though, because I had a job. Yet that scream, what was it? Where did it come from?

A blurry figure ran past me, shouting something I could barely understand. Something along the lines of, "…is out!...running around….escaped!" But it could have just as well been my imagination. Stormy night on a tossing ship, and all that. I ignored the man, and went to the kitchen.

Where was this chest? Ah, under the table was a chest that had been used to store the bowls and heavier cooking items. I grabbed it, and yes, it was heavier then it looked. Heaving with all my wondrous might, I pulled it up and started to leave the kitchen.

I went down the hall that would lead me to the staircase up, when I was shoved foreword, caused to drop the chest. But this time, it wasn't the storm that had caused me to fall. I turned around, and tried to keep my balance, which is hard in rough seas.

"What the-?" I asked, searching for who pushed me, but I was cut short when a hand grabbed my neck and forced me to lean over the chest I was now holding. "Hello, milady." A voice whispered in my ear.

E gads! It was just like those stupid horror movies where you see what's going to happen before it does, and you want to scream at the character DO NOT GO IN THERE, but of course, they don't listen. This is how they find themselves with girls and guns on their backs. That's what the yelling was about! Emily has escaped, Emily had been running free! Why didn't I care enough about that to listen? Why didn't I process it? Oh bloody hell. Percy Hart was going to be killed in a storm! Well, bury me at sea!

The cold steel of her magical gun was pressed firmly into my neck, her rank breath in my ear. Oh why was I noticing her breath? Wasn't I about to die? Did it matter if the gun was cold?

I say magical, because I had no idea where she got it. But now that I knew where the screaming was from…what did she have planned?

"Miss Sparrow! So lovely of you to…er…" I swallowed nervously, fumbling around for something to grab and hit her with. Where were my powerful rocks when I needed them? "Take time out of your busy schedule to visit me!"

She snorted, something she loved to do, apparently, and yanked me back by my hair. Involuntarily I felt my eyes watering, ouch woman! She held the hair close to my scalp, and forced me to look at her, gun aimed right at me.

The madness that had been concealed in her eyes before shone through now. And I have to admit, I was a little scared. Oh, all right, I was frightened to death. After all, this was a gun in my face! How often does that happen? I did not want to die, and I didn't want to be murdered. Oh God, Oh God, oh giddygod!

"Listen up, I'm not going to take pity on you, and you are going to die tonight, so don't even bother mumbling little prayers that girls like you do. I don't know how things are done in the future, but this isn't Percy land, and things are going to go my way. I'm going to kill you here and now, but first, I want you to do something for me." Her voice was thick with malice, as she whispered these words to me. No way, was she going to kiss me now? Like they do in those movies? Because I am just not mature enough for that.

"Well, since you've motivated me…" I managed to sputter. She made a face, and slammed my face on the chest, placing the gun back on my neck. I felt something wet on my face, and either I had a sudden runny nose, or she actually gave me a nosebleed.

Ok, I mean, Gibbs could come in and help me, right? I know, I know, all the crew is up on deck, but I have to have hope. He sent me for this chest a while ago; he has to be wondering where I am. Right? He'll save me. Yes, Gibbs will run down the stairs any moment now. Come on, old Gibbsy, come on!

"You're going to scream, for me, Percy." Ew, what? Is this going to be a perverted death? I didn't even stop to consider getting raped by a girl! Let alone, Emily! Ok, this is going too far. I clenched my mouth shut, as she pressed harder onto my neck. The pain in my neck was nothing, I imagined, to the feeling I would have once I got shot.

Ok, so, bless me lord for I have sinned!

My prayers were interrupted suddenly, "No, wait, you don't have to Percy. I'll have him do it."

Who? I slowly lifted my head as high as I could, and looked to see Gibbs staring at us. His mouth was open, like he wanted to say something, but he had seen the gun, and was very much aware of what was going on. Come on, Gibbs! I knew you'd be the one to save me! No offense Jack, but you've got a ship in a storm, I don't blame you.

"That's right, Josh." Josh? Why did she call him that? Oh right, it was like a nickname of his full name. "I want you to do us a little favor, and you're going to do it, or I'll blow her brains out right now."

Umm, lovely, nope not graphic in one little bit! I wanted to point out that regardless of whether or not he yelled, she would kill me, but didn't. He must have nodded, but I didn't see it, seeing as how I couldn't bring myself to look at him anymore. Terror has seized me, and I didn't want to see what would happen. Just do it, please, Emily!

I've read those books where they poke your eyes out, cut your fingers off one by one, and shove stakes up your arse. The sad thing is, those were all history books. If Emily really wanted to be cruel, she could, and oh how that scared me. I think at this point I began to shake, and then I felt ashamed. I had to be brave about this! I couldn't let my last moments have me shaking! But the thoughts changed nothing. Well, I could always blame it on the cold, after all, I was soaked.

"Yell up to your Captain, and tell him to come down here."

I swallowed, and a new thought hit me. She was going to call Jack down here, and have him watch her kill me! Oh god, oh, oh, oh, please I don't want to die! I didn't know what to do, but I felt like crying. I imagined if Jack were in my position, and I was forced to watch him die. I couldn't do that. Then something else occurred to me, about Jack, oh Jack. It was in this moment, perhaps my final one that I realized that I was truly in love.

And maybe it was because I was so sure that I was going to die, that I realized it, but did that make it less true? At this moment, I felt a sudden sense of pride surge through me. If Jack were in my position, he wouldn't just let her push me around.

I jerked back, which surprised her, and I think I head butted the gun out of her hand. Sadly, she did not drop it, only got angrier. Emily grabbed me firmly by the hair again, causing me to yelp, and yanked me to I was standing. "DO IT NOW, MISTER GIBBS!" She ordered harshly. Oh, this position was much better! Now I could face him and watch Jack witness what was happening. But what if he didn't come?

Emily secured both my hands being my back, using strength I hadn't considered in her, and kept the gun firmly at my temple. Urh, I hated this whole one false move and you die bit.

"Captain! Captain come down quick!" I looked to Gibbs, yelling up the stairs. I noticed he wasn't being so loud, perhaps hoping to buy some time.

"I don't believe he heard you, Mister Gibbs, and if I were you, I'd be much louder this time."

He cleared his throat, and looked at me, unsure what to do, "Jack! Get down here! Jerome- get the Captain!" He called to a crewmember. He must have seen something, or a crewmember must have yelled something in response because he said, "Tell Jack to get his ARSE DOWN HERE!"

The ship rolled a bit, causing us to slip, I took it as my chanced to escape, but she only knocked me with the butt of the gun. Was I this sad and pathetic that I was going to fall to a brat like Emily? Ew, here comes the shame again!

There was a loud clap of thunder that came next, and Gibbs looked to the man coming down the stairs. He turned back to us, and Emily said, "Leave us, and tell no one what happened."

Did she trust him that much? Or did she realize that if he were here she'd be truly outnumbered? Jack walked past Gibbs as he was leaving, but he didn't look at us. He instead watched Gibbs retreating. Finally he turned to us, an anger written on his face like nothing I'd seen before.

Was this my worst nightmare? Was Jack going to come over and high five Emily, and say good job sis? Please no, just save me! I don't care if this is damsel in distress or whatnot just save me! But no, Jack didn't make any move; he just narrowed his eyes and looked at Emily.

There was a silent exchange between the two, before he turned his eyes to me. They softened a bit, and I felt as if he were telling me if it would be ok. I managed a weak smile, again trying to let him know it wasn't really so bad. He looked back to her, "So what's this? Ye want me ter watch ye kill her?"

"Yes, Jack, that's it-"

He cut her off, certain she wouldn't hesitate to just off me right then and there, "Do not make me choose between my sister and my lass, because you will not like my choice."

"I've chosen for yo-" She was cut off a second time, but not by Jack's words. No, it was the sound of a gun firing that silenced her. She gasped, and suddenly I felt wet.

AH, EMBARRESMENT! I JUST PEED MYSELF!

But no, it wasn't that, it was blood. Had I been shot? I felt my eyes go wide, as Emily's grip on me tightened, then immediately lessened to a point where she released me and fell to the ground. I was shaking, as I fell to my knees.

I turned back and looked at Emily, as she lay moaning on the ground. Another loud clap of thunder went off, but wasn't really important right now. She had been shot in the side, not a shot to kill, but merely wound. Ah, so pirate or not, he had a good side to him. I must forever remember this, always. That and the fact that I realized I loved him.

But now wasn't the time for that, now was the time for the pressure of the situation to cause me to collapse. I was crying, as I kneeled over her. I didn't hesitate to rip her shirt and press it against the wound. Jack yelled up to Finnegan, the ships doctor, and some other men to come down and help her.

He then came over to me, and pulled me from his sister. Jack held me in his arms, as I tried to dry my eyes. Some men came down, and took the moaning Emily away, but she hadn't cried yet. Not like me, the blubbering fool.

"I'm so sorry…" I mumbled into his chest, as we kneeled together on the floor. One of us bloodied up. I remembered then that my nose had been bleeding, and I had been leaning on him. I pulled back, and apologized again, as I wiped my nose on my sleeve.

"S'alright, Percy…." He looked me in the eyes, and then pulled me close to him. He kissed me, and I kissed him back. "Ye should-" He said, pulling free from our embrace, "get dried off, and put on some clean, blood free clothes." The smirk that I had grown accustomed to on his face was gone, replaced with worry.

I nodded, and hugged him. We both stood up, or tried to, on the rocking ship. I fell against him, thanks to a rather large wave, and we leaned together against the wall. "Jack…" I whispered. Do I tell him now, that I've fallen in love with him? I hesitated, and instead kissed him. He wrapped his arms around my lower back, as I rested my hands on his chest. What was it like, kissing a girl with blood all over his face? He didn't seem to mind though, so who was I to complain? I had started to kiss his neck when he pushed me away. "Not now…" He mumbled, turning and walking up the steps.

I was confused, yet at the same time I understood completely.

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In the cabin I had changed back into my clothes from the future, minus my boots, and lay on his bed. I wanted to go back out into the storm, but Jack's parting words were "Do not come back out tonight." Which for once, I didn't feeling like arguing with.

So many thoughts clouded my head, as I glanced at my bloodied shirt that I had also used to wash my face with. I had judged Emily too soon, but I had judged her for the better. Someone once told me, "Do not be quick to judge someone, because not everyone has had the same advantages as you."

But I had judged her, and falsely. I replayed the night into my head over and over, and kept thinking there should have been a way for her to avoid getting shot. Jack had chosen me, he made that clear, and as happy as it made me, and it made me so sad. I never wanted him to have to choose, though I always feared he would have too.

What if Emily wouldn't make it? What if she died because Jack had shot her? I know he didn't want to hurt her, but he saw the situation and understood how it had to be handled. It made sense, that he would shoot her to hurt her rather then have me shot and killed. But I knew he'd feel guilty if she were to die because of him. And how could I convince him that he'd done the right thing without sounding conceited?

Sleep came to me, despite the rocking of the ship. At least the thunder and lightening had stopped, something I took to be a good omen.

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I woke up feeling the comfort of being wrapped in a cocoon. Or a persons arms, rather. It was nice, laying there, facing him. He said something in his sleep causing me to smile. As the sun shown down on us, I took in it's warming rays, nestling up closer to him. For a little while, I had forgotten the events of yesterday, and then they suddenly came crashing back to me. Would we ever be able to function like a normal couple? Maybe not, but perhaps I could deal with that. So long as Jack still cared for me.

Oh, and the whole love thing? Did I mean that, or was it the moment? I decided not to go there, and think on a new road, when there was a pounding on the door. Jack didn't even open his eyes, "Percy, go get that, ay?"

"Hah, yes, watch me Jack." I replied, not opening my eyes either. We both ignored it for a second, until it started up again. "Oh bloody hell." He mumbled, finally pulling free from me. He sat up and got off the bed, dragging me with him.

"Hey!" I cried, as he put on his boots.

"If I'm being woken, so are you."

I made a noise, but I put on my boots. "Fine, be that way."

We both walked to the door and headed out on deck. The ships seemed to have made it through the storm in pretty good condition, but we lacked a lot of supplies now. We had to restock, obviously, and drop off the Norringtons. Well, they weren't married, but they acted it.

"Captain," A man who I hadn't really spoken to said as we came out onto the deck. "'tis yer sister. Finnegan sent me up here t' get ye, 'n tell ye t' come down 'n natter t' 'im." Natter, being another word for talk. With that, the man nodded and trotted off. Hm, funny little bugger.

Jack looked at me, shrugged, and headed downstairs, me trailing behind. When we got there, Emily lay on a table, but she was breathing, thankfully. Finnegan, the red haired doctor walked over to us.

"Captain, your sister should be fine, if the wound doesn't get infected. I don't know what you would like to do with her though, in this condition."

"Aye, and I've already thought that all over." Jack said, eyeing her over. He looked as if he expected her to pounce any second and kill him. Or, me.

"Percy, do ye think ye should be in here?" I crossed my arms, and ignored him. Ok, he was right.

"Nope." I answered, and walked out the door. He would tell me what happened, but right now I didn't want to be in the same room as her.

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Right, so sorry to cut if off so abruptly there. I realize it's all a bit sloppy, and my apologies. Don't worry, things will pick up shortly!

Review! Noflamethanks.

P.S. OH! And I just saw EPIC MOVIE, and I gotta say it was HILARIOUS. Especially the pirate rap part. And Jack Swallows with the wheel…did anyone else see it??

Preview for the next chapter:

"Fate does not want us to find this treasure, Jack."

"Who's fate?"

"The concept, Jack."