The oceans calling

Chapter 28: Conflict

Time had passed so quickly. Though they hadn't escaped the Locker, only the desert island, they were still stuck. Stranded in the lifeless waters where there was little wind and only the blaring sun to slow cook them. Supplies were at an all-time low on the ship as well and with no way of them finding a way out they were doomed thus far. Everyone was spread out on the ship. Some were taking shelter below deck while others were sat on deck with nothing to do but try and make the last of the supplies last a little longer and while watching the sunset on the horizon.

None of them really knew how to escape but they did know that the answer would lie in the charts that Jack was currently studying. Though the brunette wasn't sure if the crew were more upset about there being no rum on the ship at all. The thing she noticed most of all though was that Will and Elizabeth were still on no speaking terms. She wondered if Elizabeth knew about Wills plans; if not then there were some problems that the two of them needed to speak about. "If we cannot escape these doldrums before night, I fear we will sail on trackless seas. Doomed to roam the reach between worlds. Forever."

That didn't sound too good. They only had till nightfall and yet the sun was already setting. They had mere minutes to figure out how to escape otherwise face the reality of being trapped in the Locker. Gibbs moved over quickly looking out at the sea beside Tia Dalma and Will "with no water, forever looks to be arriving a mite too soon" Will was clearly frustrated too as he looked up to Barbossa at the helm. The older pirate just standing and waiting.

"Why doesn't he do something?"

Rebby then decided to join Jack. Her thoughts crossing the path that two people working on how to escape was better than just one. She didn't know how long she could put up with being around those she thought she called trusted friends "I don't see you trying to get us out of here, captain" she spoke the last part rather harshly and mockingly.

Before she could get to Jack though she noticed Ragetti fighting with Jack the monkey to get his wooden eye back and then there was the quick footsteps of Elizabeth as she moved to catch up with Rebby. "Rebby wait. I just want to…"

The brunette snapped around at Elizabeth's voice and the touch of her hand on her shoulder. She had been able to keep herself in check up until now but the woman that she grew up with and trusted was now in front of her and she could feel those emotions building. "Explain yourself? Apologise?" Rebby finished Elizabeth sentence for her "It wouldn't change anything. The whole time Jack was gone, I was struggling. You knew it, I knew it, and everyone else knew it. I thought it was my fault that he died; that I could have done something to prevent it and you let me sit there in my own pity. The only reason you're here is because you feel guilty. Guilty for killing Jack and guilty for kissing him!" Elizabeth took a step back at her loud tone.

"You know about that?" she put a hand over her mouth in some form of protection.

Rebby narrowed her eyes at the woman that used to be a friend. "You think Jack keeps secrets from me? He's a terrible liar around me and I trust him to tell me things I need to know instead of hiding them from me – which I can see is what you planned on doing." Elizabeth didn't know how to respond to that and remained silent "we could have found a way to stop the Kraken. For all we know it would have been satisfied with just the Pearl but you chose to take things into your own hands and kill the man I love" Rebby's voice had gotten evidently louder and the crew were noticing. Will had noticed but the look the brunette gave him made him stay back.

Jack was the one that interrupted them. He rubbed his hands on her arms in comfort. He saw the look in her eyes; pain and anger. So much emotion that she had been suppressing. "You're lucky that bringing Jack back was possible because otherwise it would have been all on you. You were my friend and I trusted you" Rebby turned to look at the young blacksmith as well "the both of you"

She didn't want to talk anymore. Not to either of them. She could feel the crack in her heart that her two friends had caused. She sat on Jacks lap as he had one arm snaked around her waist to hold her close while the other fiddled with the navigational charts. She felt his warmth and with her ear pressed to his chest she could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. A constant reminder that he was with her at that moment and not dead. She felt the negative feelings drift away again just by his presence but there was a little bit that lingered. She had trusted Elizabeth and Will. And it was clear to her now that even though she wanted to give them a chance there was something that put a wedge between them.

She had given them a chance. Jack had been honest with her and now it was her turn. She shook herself out of her thoughts and looked to the pirate. He was in deep concentration in trying to decipher the charts. It made her smile seeing how serious he was. Only then did he glance at her. "What are you smiling at?"

"You, of course" he returned the smile and held her close to him. Rebby leaned down and pushed her lips onto his in a sweet kiss. "You need to know that Will is betraying you" at once his gaze filled with confusion. "I didn't want to believe it and I wanted to give him a chance to come clean or…" she thought about it for a moment and couldn't come up with a really good reason why she hadn't told him sooner. "I caught Will dealing with Sao Feng when we were in Singapore. He wants the ship to free his father"

Jack looked over his shoulder to where Elizabeth was now back to sitting on the steps in total silence. Whereas, Will was walking around the deck with Gibbs. "Figured that his part in all this didn't make sense. Elizabeth isn't the one that he's saving its Bootstrap. Let him try to take the ship. Jones wouldn't free Bootstrap just for the Pearl, especially when he learns I'm back" he grinned at the brunette and kissed her quickly before focussing back on the navigational charts.

Rebby instantly felt better to get it off her chest. She then looked down at the mysterious circles seeing the words 'sunrise sets flash of green' before Jack spun the circles around a little to find something else.

"Up is down" Jack read the words out loud and the way his voice portrayed his confusion made Rebby want to laugh but she too didn't think that this clue made sense. "Well, that's just maddeningly unhelpful. Why are these things never clear?"

"Clear as mud, Jackie"

"What? Eh?" Rebby looked to Jack in complete confusion and saw that he seemed to be in a world of his own. Perhaps the charts were too much for him and he was going insane. Perhaps he was truly a genius and his head was working through all the clues that the circles were giving. She chose to just let him figure it out in whatever way he could muster up. She watched as Jack seemed to be having a conversation with himself about the pros and cons of getting rid of Davy Jones and becoming its captain instead. She picked up on him vocally admitting that he loved the sea and rum. Then she heard him speak of her. His face dropping to that of complete sadness as he spoke of about not being able to have Rebby on the ship with him if he were to become captain of the Flying Dutchman. Rebecca's cheeks flushed red at seeing how down he looked. And then his face lit up with a realisation. "Not sun down" Rebby got up and stood on the opposite side of the table as Jack leaned over the circles and moved the inner one. "Sundown. And rise. Up"

His gaze shot up to Rebby, his golden smirk glistening in the shining sun. Her eyes looked down to the charts where she saw the ship in the inner circle that was now upside down. Now it was clear; the way out of the Locker was within their grasp. But time was running out. Her blue eyes then dashed to the horizon where the sun was setting fast. Looking back to Jack he still had that same heart fluttering grin on his face that Rebby couldn't help but return as well.

It was crystal clear that the two of them were perfect for one another. Their eyes met and they instantly had the same idea. It was funny and probably a bit stupid but they were running out of time. Jack quickly shot over to the port side of the ship "What's that?" he shouted out and everyone looked towards him. Even Barbossa at the helm. Rebby saw this as Gibbs and a few others joined Jack at his side and then she turned around to face the starboard side.

"No, it's over there!" she pointed out to the sea at nothing but the reaction they got from the rest of the crew was funny as Jack and the others ran across the ship over to her side. Jack took her hand quickly, shooting her a wink as he made a bunch of noises of confusion before he led Rebby to run back to the port side. Again they were followed by the crew as well as a few more that grew curious and joined in. With more people the ship began to slightly rock as the weight on the ship shifted from side to side. Jack and Rebby remained at each other's side as they ran back and forth the ship. Marty had gotten up from laying by the mast and even Tia Dalma began to run with them. Rebecca was sure by this time that some like Gibbs were just running back and forth with them for the sake of it. Believing that there was a purpose – and there really was.

Elizabeth had perked up from her place at their actions and quickly joined them "What is it?" as a response Jack again made indistinguishable noises that Rebby couldn't help but laugh at.

She had spent day upon day without rest and now that she had rested it felt good for her to run without pain or exhaustion. The idea of being able to tip the ship seemed impossible but with more and more people joining them in shifting the weight it was quite surprising how much the ship rocked even more. The brunette could feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins again and it felt good. Her smile widening even as she glanced at Jack and he glanced at her. Soon there was a long line going down the length of the ship of people running back and forth with them. Barbossa had descended from the helm and was studying the navigational charts for reason to why the ship was being rocked. "They're rocking the ship" Pintel spoke as he tried to keep his balance and not fall over.

"We're rocking the ship" Gibbs yelled out

"Aye. They're on to it" no one dared question what they were doing now. The ship was rocking even more now and they didn't let up not with the sun almost completely set. "Time it with the swell" Barbossa shouted out as he moved below deck and almost lost his balance. He was in on the plan as well that would save them all. He barked out orders to the crew that were hiding below deck "Loose the cannons, you lazy bilge rats. Unstow the cargo. Let it shift" as the words left the older pirate mouth there was the sound of rushing feet and thudding. Rebby almost lost her footing as the angle that the ship rocked at got higher and higher. The weight of the cannons moving with the rocking ship really helping.

It was then that they really had to time when they all moved together. Barbossa joined to help and it wasn't long before the bottom of the boat was slowly rising out of the water when it tipped to one side. Now all they needed was the right momentum to tip the ship over completely. They had to keep going.

It got harder and harder to reach the opposite side and it was almost like running up a wall or the steepest hill climb but they didn't let up, not even when one man lost his footing and rolled right off of the ship. The rocking ship got so intense that they were all running with it to keep themselves on board now. They had to keep up. The smile having melted off of Rebbys face as she felt her body boiling from the sudden exercise and the heat of the sun. Even Jack was struggling; the brunette noticing a couple of times that he was checking on her and she would happily admit that she did the same. Not wanting anything bad to happen to each other.

They all had thumping hearts as they made it to the port side and waited until they all felt the ship begin to shift before pushing off of the banister for some extra help and running back to the Starboard side. The last step to the banister was almost a jump to reach it. Everyone hung on tight to the black wood as they prepared to run again only for the ship to creak from the pressure and the weight. Rebby struggled with her grip as her hands were quite sweaty but she wasn't prepared for what happened next. The ship tipped on its left side and the deck seemed to disappeared beneath their feet as they dangled and hung on to the side for dear life. Some of them gasping and whaling at what was happening.

A man's scream caught Rebbys ears as she looked over to see another crew member fall, having lost his grip. He landed on the springy rigging only to be crushed by a falling cannon. Both Gibbs and Jack looked away trying to put the thoughts of dying in such a way to the back of their heads. The young pirate looked to his brunette and saw her worry. She had seen the horrifying death too and he tried to refocus her mind "Hold on" she looked to him and nodded. "Now up…is down" they heard the sound of the ship being submerged into the water as it continued to tip down. The water coming closer and closer towards them until the water dragged them under too. The ship finally having tipped completely and the bottom now sticking out on the surface of the water.

The momentum was great however. The force of the water and the ship as it moved to settle its weight under the water made Rebby lose her grasp on the banister of the ship. She couldn't stop the water from dragging her down. She reached out her hands to try and grab on to something but she was drifting away too quickly. She thought she was going to get left behind in the Locker and the others escaped. That was until she felt something wrap around her upper forearm. She let the bubbles clear and looked to see Jack holding onto her. She too held on to him not wanting to let go. Now they waited – Rebby looked around to see Will had let go too and he was now holding on to one of the masts ropes. She lost some of her breath and accidentally inhaled some water when she attempted to laugh at seeing both Pintel and Ragetti tied to the mast.

She hoped something was going to happen soon as she felt her lungs beginning to sting. They were deprived of oxygen and it wouldn't be long before they all drowned together. Just then there was a small flash of green above the water that was hard to make out. Rebby looked up to Jack as he looked down to her and they both looked questioningly at each other as the water around them began to shift. They could feel it and the ship move slightly but it was hard to see clearly under the water. Jack readjusted his grip on her arm as they felt the water rush past them and their bodies be flung up. Each and every member on the ship gasped out for air as they felt the small gust of wind on their wet faces and knew they were back above the water again. The Black Pearl seemed to bounce up to float on the sea again which made everyone let go of what they were holding on to and fall onto the deck of the ship.

Water splashed about everywhere as it went to go back into the sea. Everyone coughed out the water they had in their system and tried to regain their breaths. Rebby in particular felt like she almost drowned. She cleared her throat of any water that she had inhaled and looked upon where she was. To her joy she found herself lying upon her pirate. She looked down on him as he shook the water out of his dreadlocks and peered up into her face. "We made it" the brunette almost whispered the words before she felt Jack pull her down into a warm embrace where he didn't want to let her go. They both kissed passionately – living in the moment that they were together still and had made it back to the land of the living.

"Blessed sweet westerlies!" the both of them were made aware that they weren't alone with Gibbs voice speaking out in astonishment. "We're back!"

Rebby picked herself up before helping Jack up on to his feet. Everyone on the deck was drenched which should have helped with cooling them all down from the heat. "It's the sunrise" gazes looked out to the horizon where the sun was last seen setting and now it wasn't. True evidence that they were back now and not trapped in the Locker still.

Rebby could already feel the suns heat on her as it began to dry out her dripping hair that hung around her shoulders and her heavy clothes that now weighed her down with the water soaked into them. There was silence on the Pearl as everyone admired that they were still alive and well. Peace aboard the Black Pearl – that was until Barbossa drew his pistol from his person and pointed it right at Jacks face. The pirates' instant reaction was to pull Rebby behind him while Elizabeth, Will and Gibbs also drew their pistols and pointed them at Barbossa. Jack drew his pistol as well as he pointed it at Will with narrowed eyes; a new light being shone on the young blacksmith now that his true aims were known. Secondary pistols were brought out now as Elizabeth pointed another at Jack and Barbossa's at Gibbs and Gibbs at Will. It was one big circle of everyone pointing their pistols at one another.

This is what was going on in the world, everyone turning on each other to survive but in the end no one survives. Rebby wanted to get involved in the conflict show Elizabeth and Will just how much has changed. They wanted to betray her then she wanted to show that now she had no problem doing the same. It got to the point where Jack the monkey brought out his own little pistol and pointed it at Cottons head. The parrot on his shoulder speaking for him "parley".

"We need our pistols! Get untied, hurry!" Pintel shouted as the two pirates tied upside down to the mast struggled to get free. The brunette moved over to them slowly and began loosening the ropes that were tied quite tight.

"You both managed to tie yourselves up the wrong way round and yet can't free yourselves" she laughed shaking her head at them as she freed them and they both fell onto the deck with a loud thud.

The five with pistols in a deadly circle then began laughing. The serious atmosphere dying down as they all lowered their weapons. Weapons that Rebby suddenly realised wouldn't work because they had just been submerged underwater where the gunpowder inside the pistols would have been drenched as well. The pistols were useless but no one seemed to notice this as the laughter stopped and the weapons raised quickly again "all right, then! The Brethren Court is agathering at Shipwreck Cove. And, Jack, you and I are agoing. There'll be no arguing that point"

Rebby cautiously moved back behind Jack. Her hands carefully reaching for her own pistols. It didn't matter that none of them could shoot as long as she showed where she wanted to be to the rest of them. "I is arguing the point. If there's pirates agathering, I'm pointing my ship the other way" Rebby did wonder what Jack had against all the other pirates.

Elizabeth then focussed both of her pistols on Jack "the pirates are gathering to fight Beckett and Mayfair, and you're a pirate"

Jack went to return the gesture when Will did the same on him "fight or not, you're not running, Jack"

Jacks eyes showed just how much distrust he had for the engaged couple as he glanced between them and then trained one of his pistols on either of them. He was outgunned on this part. That was until he heard clicking from behind him. The sound of a pistol ready to fire and before he could look behind him two more pistols appeared in front of him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Rebby pressed against him. Her arms stretched out under his as she pointed one of hers at Will and the other at Elizabeth. Giving her pirate a quick smirk she planted a soft kiss on his cheek before putting her focus back on the others. "Either way the East India trading Company has all outmatched, even with the Flying Dutchman"

"Rebby you're the last person I'd think would want to run from this" Elizabeth spoke to her in surprise

The brunette shot Elizabeth and angered glare that man the woman go pale "things change, which you and William would know all about. I'm not running but I do know that only together, all pirates, we'll be able to beat them. Something I think the people I once trusted have forgotten. Their own agendas having taken priority by the looks of it"

"If we don't stand together, they'll hunt us down one by one, till there be none left but you" Barbossa nodded at Jack.

Jack seemed to consider the idea "quite like the sound of that. Captain Jack Sparrow, the last pirate"

Barbossa narrowed his eyes at the younger pirate. Stepping forward to aim his pistol closer to Jacks head as he moved the one pointed at Will to Barbossa. Gibbs reacted too; stepping forward to train his weapons on the older man. "Aye. And you'll be fighting Jones alone. No ship, no crew and no Rebby. How does that figure into your plan?" Barbossa wore a smug look on his face as she spare a glance at the brunette.

Jack didn't like one bit. "Rebby won't be going anywhere, she'll be with me. The rest unclear at the moment. But I will not be going back to the Locker, mate. Count on that" Jack smirked and raised his pistol to better aim it at Barbossas head and then pulled the trigger. But nothing happened. The rest of them did the same except for Rebby, she put her pistol away instead.

"Wet powder" Rebby smirked as Gibbs spoke the problem. Though she had to admit that she would rather not deal with all of them shooting one another.

Each of them gave the others glares before holstering their weapons and moving over to where the navigational charts had been laid back down again. "Wait! We can still use them as clubs" Pintel tried to get them back fighting.

Ragetti considered the idea and flipped his own pistol over and hit it on Pintels head. Pintel groaning in pain from the small attack to his almost bald head "Sorry. Effective, though"

Rebby choked a little on her own laughter as she followed everyone else past them "try it a bit harder and see how effective it is" she watched over her shoulder as her encouragement almost made Ragetti club Pintel with the butt of the pistol but the other caught it before it could hurt him.

Will sat at the perch over the charts as Rebby stood infront of them. Barbossa and Jack on either side of Will as they studied the map. "There's a fresh water spring on this island. We can resupply there and get back to shooting each other later"

It was a good idea considering they had next to nothing of supplies. The two captains agreed. "You lead the shore party. I'll stay with my ship" Jack looked to Barbossa

Barbossa was quick to counter argue with Jack "I'll not be leaving my ship in your command"

"Why don't you both go ashore and leave the ship in my command" Will suggested rather quickly. Rebby shook her head at him. He was going to seize his chance; it made the brunette quite happy that she had told Jack about Wills agenda on the voyage now. Neither of the two captains looked happy with the idea of leaving Will in command of the ship. "Temporarily" he spoke to try and earn their trust.

"Either way we need the supplies before setting sail to Shipwreck Cove, otherwise we'll dehydrate before reaching it" Rebby tried to be the voice of reason. All eyes were on her. Jack and Barbossa looked to each other for a moment – giving a little nod to each other before looking back to her.

She was about to ask what was wrong until Barbossa beat her to it "We'll go ashore and leave the ship in your command" she was actually surprised that they came to this agreement. She could understand it from Jack. He had made her his first mate as soon as they had reunited in Tortuga but Barbossa had no reason to trust her. She was with Jack. The two captains then moved off barking orders to set sails towards the island which wasn't far off. They both brought out their spyglasses to see it. Jack having made a much bigger one than his last puny sized one which he handed over to Rebby gladly.

A/N: These scenes I actually found hard to write but I hope it wasn't too confusing and that you could follow it. It is one of my favourite ones. I hope you enjoyed and please let me know what you think.