Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners.

Finally an update for everyone, I am hoping that for the time being the writers blockade I've had to deal with is finally broken down. It feels so good to be able to write again and hopefully will have some more for you soon, I'm going to try and update this at least once a week if not more. Thank you to those of you reading, faving, reviewing and alerting. It's muchly appreciated. A special thanks for being so patient with me. Now onto the update

Chapter 38: Surprise Attack

He eyed me suspiciously for a minute. "Thinking on your feet?" an amused smile slowly slid across his face. "Just don't get killed…I would have to follow, no one can stand my weirdness but you." His expression turned to a mischievous one.

"The good commodore does." I elbowed him, watching him jerk in surprise before he burst out laughing at the face I made.

"He doesn't know the real me, just the thing Elizabeth tries to pawn me off as. If he knew the real me…that man would have a heart attack." He tilted his head thoughtfully, his eyes searching mine.

"Ye may have a point there." I sighed staring heavenward briefly. "Maybe ye are more of a pirate then ye get credit for…or maybe…

"You're a bad influence." I smirked ducking out of his grasp and sauntered across the deck.

--Jacks POV--

"I think it's the other way around." He watched Blair climb up to the crows nest for her watch. He knew she had done something to him, knew what it was and for once it didn't bother him. That didn't mean he appreciated feelings anymore then he used to, but he did have a respect for some of his newly acquired ones. He immediately turned on his heel and headed back to his cabin, he had a lot of research to do and a story to come up with. One that he hoped would be convincing enough for Tia Dalma and that Blair could work with.

Inside his cabin he had went through several bottles of rum, and far too many documents and such on his desk. His eyes were sore and he was starting to feel very annoyed. He found more information than he cared on the book, even if some of it was necessary, there was far too much to sort through. Everything he had come up with to work out a good believable story with Blair had seemed to backfire, and he was thoroughly annoyed at finding the last rum bottle empty. "Bloody rum, always gone." He sighed glaring at the pages of the book, until they blurred together. He jerked upright hearing footsteps outside the cabin, wincing when his neck cracked rather loudly, and very painfully.

--Original POV--

I opened the door hearing an odd sound and glanced over at Jack. "Was that you?" he winced again rubbing his neck.

"Aye." I rose a brow seeing he had spent a good deal of his night with rum and too many documents, books, and other things on his desk. "This thing is becoming more complicated…" he paused making a face at the book. "…then I want or need." He groaned hearing his back crack and realized he had been sitting far too long, and was very stiff.

I walked over watching him lean forward on the desk. "I figured that…magic is always very complicated." He muttered, or at least attempted to mutter something until I placed my hands on his shoulders and attempted to massage away the stiffness. "You can sort this later, right now your creaking more then the Black Pearl." I heard a muffled sound and watched him lift his head briefly.

"Thanks a lot love." He snorted and turned his head slightly. "I don't sound that bad." I stopped massaging his shoulders and placed my fists lightly in the knots in his back, there I proceeded to hear at least four more cracks. "Maybe I am, but it's this bloody things fault…that and coming up with something believable for Tia Dalma." He winced hearing another crack and turned his head slightly. "How do you keep finding those and all the aches with them?"

"Talent." I stated amused with his sour look. "Something I've been able to do since I was a kid, no idea how I do it, just do." I stopped and stepped back tugging on his arm. "Up…you have more knots then a yarn factory." He scowled at my joke but got to his feet. "Bed."

"Ye implying something?" his amused expression was giving off where he was headed with this line of questioning.

"Yes…get on that bed, I'm getting these knots out and you're going to sleep. It's nearly two in the morning Jack." His expression changed to one of surprise. "Get that libido in check." I shoved him lightly hearing his startled sound when he fell face first on the bed.

"Ye be evil woman." I smirked straddling him and again working the knots out of his back, hearing a satisfied sound with an amused chuckle to follow.

"Proud of it too." I couldn't hide the grin on my face, and continued to massage out the tension I kept finding. "I could always attempt the cold compress's again." He lifted his head briefly at this.

"Ye don't even think about it." I giggled finding a particularly sore spot and heard him grumble slightly before laying his head back down.

--Jack's POV--

Jack squinted up briefly at the light in his cabin; it wasn't that late maybe seven, which promptly made him glance around his bed briefly. Blair was sound asleep as usual her arm still resting across his back, from her attempts at soothing his sore spots. "She has magic hands too." He smiled briefly before sighing tiredly. He slid carefully from her arm and out of bed, he then quickly got dressed pulling on his affects. His eyes strayed back to her sleeping form, watching her laying there unbothered by his movements. Her hair was sprawled behind her and across her face in a labyrinth of tangles, her breathing soft and content. "I no longer have the urge to repay Lizzie for the hell she put me through, how are we going to work this out though?" his mind was straying to concerns he hadn't ever remembered having, ones he felt, or rather needed to put to the back of his mind for the time being.

He left the cabin silently and headed up to the helm, he took notice to everyone doing they're jobs and realized it was oddly quiet that morning, especially for his crew. "Gibbs!" he saw him immediately stop what he was doing and join him at the helm. "What's going on?"

Gibbs took notice to the odd quiet and glanced around for Anders and Anna-Maria. "The crew wanted to let ye sleep in…figured ye were up dealing with that book all night." Jack rose a brow at this and took notice to Anna-Maria's small smile. "She worries about ye Jack, can't blame her though."

"I need to discuss her conversations, rather late night conversations with Anna." He glanced back toward his cabin. "She worries too much…back to work." For the first time in his life, Gibbs could have sworn Jack had actually flushed out of embarrassment. "Don't stare." He snapped watching Gibbs jump and all but run off to work. "Feels a bit warm today." He ignored the odd feeling in his face and kept his gaze steady ahead.

--Original POV--

I stirred glancing around the cabin; I then promptly rolled off the bed with far less grace then usual. "That's what I get for reaching for my watch half awake." I groaned painfully and peered at my watch with one eye closed, barely functioning yet. "Eight!" I couldn't believe I had willingly moved before noon, slowly I climb to my feet and studied the cabin.

"What is that?" I glanced over at the dark corner of the room, but ignored the movement I had seen going to clean up and dressing into a red tunic and gray pants. "Oh." I saw the movement this time and groaned in annoyance; slowly a small black spider scuttled his way across the floor. Without really considering the consequences due to the fact they scared the hell out of me, I yelled the first thing that came to mind. "JACK!"

In all about ten seconds I heard feet outside the door and it opened with a quick flourish. "Blair, ye alright?" his expression suddenly turned confused, I was paler then usual and couldn't seem to move my mouth. "This looks…" he paused glancing around the cabin and found the source of the problem immediately. "…ah, thought so." He stepped into the cabin and promptly lifted the spider into his hand and escorted it from the room.

"EW!" I shuddered watching him take the spider easily outside. After minute he returned shutting the cabin and then casually leaned against the door, he had a broad grin on his face and was stifling an amused chuckle. "Not amusing." I scowled at his amusement and promptly turned my back on him, cursing under my breath.

"I thought it was ridiculous in the beginning and a great leverage tool." I stopped listening to his amusement, wanting desperately to smack him. "Now this whole girly aspect, is very amusing…" he paused taking notice to me slowly turning to him. "…it's rather, interesting." That did it; I turned and immediately walked over to him. He caught my wrists before I even came close to smacking him. "I thought we were past this." His brows rose curiously at my annoyed scowl.

"Were…until you decided to be cute." He used his grasp to his advantage and pulled me easily into his arms, promptly pinning my arms to my sides in the process.

"Ye never call a pirate cute." I felt my expression turn confused and noticed his smirk broaden. "I'm not cute, nor cuddly." I felt a small smile tugging at my lips.

"Matter of opinion." This got me a curious look, before he again cut off my words with several small kisses.

Bang!

I knew that sound and instantly braced my feet against the rocking of the ship, both of us turned to the door seeing Gibbs standing there with a weary expression on his face.

"Dexter's Ship Cap'ain." Gibbs was gone in a matter of seconds, leaving Jack and me to brace against another sharp movement from the Black Pearl.

Jack started from the cabin waving a hand for me to stay put, and then thought better of it tossing me a throwing knife. Before he exited the cabin he grabbed a spare pistol and slid it in the sash around my waist. I froze at the idea of using the weapon and seen his expression turn far too serious for my liking.

He placed a finger against my mouth before I could protest. "Ye don't have to shoot to kill love, it works as a good injury tool too." He was then out of the cabin before I could state otherwise to his opinions on the weapon now at my side.

I went outside seeing the ship was again in virtual chaos, the sky was loud with false thunder from the cannons, crates were flying apart around me and men were fighting to regain their positions on both ships. Jack was at the helm dealing with his own share of intruders and I was conveniently forgotten for the moment. I heard a sharp call and noticed Anders had a few more men then he could handle in his still injured condition, without considering what I was doing I took aim with the double barrel pistol and shot. I hit one of the men in the arm forcing him to become defenseless within the massive mans range, and then I was with my sword in hand swinging at anything that attacked me.

I had successfully kept myself out of trouble before hearing a call from somewhere behind me. "Shit!" I wasn't fast enough seeing the knife coming at me and winced letting out a sharp breath and swearing violently. "Son of a bitch." I glanced at the silver dagger embedded in my shoulder and wished I had fallen unconscious with the unyielding burning pain.

--Jack POV--

Jack easily sent another one of the crew over deck and turned hearing Marty call to Blair from across the deck. "Bugger!" he growled seeing the dagger land within her shoulder forcing her to stagger from the surprise.

Gibbs ran past Jack and was on the deck before he could react, his intention was getting to her rescue while Jack dealt with the pirates currently ganging up on him and the others fighting at his side.

--Original POV--

"Ye alrigh lassie?" I glanced up at the concerned expression on Gibbs's face and nodded, he then promptly sent the man who had taken to attack me to his death with one swift movement of his sword. "Ye ge yerself up to Jack lass." I knew better then to argue with his tone of voice and nodded starting my way across the deck.

The dagger was painfully biting into every movement of my body, but I was reluctant to remove it due to the fact I had no idea if it would cause more damage or not. I felt nauseas, and my head started to seem like it was floating. "I'm going to pass out." It was a very unwelcome realization and I promptly stopped in my tracks ducking under the stairs that led to the helm. I knew I would be safe there, I had been overlooked before and it wasn't long after I made into the shadows of the stairs I felt myself give into the blackness.

--Jack's & others POV--

Soon the ship was again in Jacks control and the other ship was gliding low in the water taking on water fast. Instead of pursuing the enemy and finishing the job Jack ran down to the main deck and studied the area with concern. "Where is she?" he paused feeling a firm familiar grasp on his shoulder and peered up at Anders.

"Where's Blair?" Anders rose a brow and shrugged glancing around the ship for Gibbs. "GIBBS!" hearing Jacks call Gibbs's ran from the backside of the ship and halted at the worried expression on his face. "Where is she mate?"

Gibbs was suddenly sick to his stomach; he had sent Blair to find Jack not long after her injury. "I sent her to ye…knew with the dagger in her arm it was the best bet for safety. Ye had Anders and Anna-Maria at yer side." He noticed the paleness suddenly take over Jacks face and realized Blair hadn't made it that far. "Oh hell." He was instantly getting the crew around for a sweep of the ship.

Jack didn't need any more information and was to the helm before the others could even get off a question. "She was coming to me…she's got to be around here." He deduced skeptically eyeing the area around the helm and then glancing down at the main deck. Something seemed to register and he all but slid down the stairs, and swung under them holding onto the railings. There laying in an unconscious crumpled mess was Blair, blood drenching her shirt and skin paler then usual.

"GIBBS! GET THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND GET YER BLOODY ARSE TO ME CABIN!" was all he managed carefully lifting her into his arms and immediately rushing into his cabin. "Thank ye Anna." He stated greeting his concerned friend as she opened the cabin door for him.

--Original POV--

I was very aware of concerned voices and then of a very painful pulling sensation within my injured shoulder. "OW!" was all I managed before a torrent of very fowl words made their way from my mouth.

I finally registered four familiar faces in the cabin and noticed again Jacks hands were laced with blood; unfortunately it was mine and didn't help me feel any better about the current situation. Anna-Maria was busily ripping bandages, while Anders made an effort of consoling Gibbs and keeping Jack from swearing himself into a stupor. Clearly the only one in the room with any level headedness was Anna-Maria at the moment, it was almost chaotic the way everyone was acting within the cabin at the moment. I winced swearing again when I was greeted with rum within the wound, and instantly wished for modern day treatments to the unbelievable burning caused by the alcohol within the beverage. Anna-Maria was busily bandaging the wound and shaking her head at the three men before her. All three were now in a massive argument over whose fault it was, and what could have been done to prevent this to begin with.

Anna-Maria finished her work and scowled at the suddenly raised voices. "Ye all shut up, she be fine." She crossed her arms seeing three pairs of eyes land on us both. "Listen to wha she has to say…crazy fools." With this she gathered all the medical supplies and left the cabin.

I felt very conscious of three pairs of eyes leveling with me in a scrutinizing fashion. "What?" I felt suddenly irritated and crossed my arms, only to flinch remembering my shoulder.

"What did ye have to say on the matter love?" Jacks voice had an odd tone within in it, almost guilty and I didn't like it one bit.

I studied them for several minutes and found myself smiling slightly. "You three really need to stop worrying about me so much, in case you didn't notice I've dealt with Elizabeth for nineteen of my twenty-four years…I'm used to painful experiences…" I sighed seeing a small smile on Anders face, clearly seeing he was getting my point. "…I am fine, and…you three need to stop blaming each other. I am not a typical girl and can handle things on my own…" I glanced at my bandaged shoulder. "…well, usually I can."

Gibbs and Anders took the hint and left the cabin. "Lizzie isn't quite that bad love." Jack still had that guilty tone in his voice and I was ready to bite his head off for it.

"Wanna bet?" I offered a wry smile and ignored the dark look he shot my way. "You have nothing to feel guilty over Jack…besides if it wasn't for you remembering my antics…" I winced as the unspoken thought crossed my mind. "…I might have bled to death." Seeing his annoyed expression fade at the thought, I knew I hit a sensitive subject for him.

"Aye." He walked over to his desk and grabbed the nearest rum bottle eyeing one of the maps. "We're about three days from Port Royal…

"Like hell you're taking me back…if I decide to turn pirate, you have to get used to this and me. I can't and won't be treated like a porcelain doll Jack." I stood ignoring my throbbing shoulder and walked over within meters of his personal space, watching him step back in surprise from my determined look. "You may be Captain Jack Sparrow, but even my wrath is something to deal with…

"Don't threaten me love." I stopped eyeing him curiously; I wasn't sure if he was actually threatening me, or if he was joking around with me. "Didn't expect ye to listen…" he smirked seeing me scowl at him. "…Yer wrath isn't what concerns me, how easily ye deal with this pirate life is what does." Imagine how confused I felt right then.

"Huh?" I leaned away lowering my arms to my sides. "What do you mean?"

He chuckled at my puzzled expression and stepped forward interweaving his arms with mine. "Ye have more pirate in ye then even I suspected…I'm starting to rethink the whole princess part. Ye have a mean streak and a stubborn streak…which may very well rival me own." He then pulled me into a soft kiss, carefully brushing my injured shoulder with a concerned look. "Ye be careful and rest for a bit. I'm going on deck to make sure everything is in order, and then we should be about a day away from Tia Dalma's Bayou." I wrinkled my nose with contempt.

"Peachy." I then stomped irritably over to his bed; clearly he was ordering me to stay put and didn't plan on giving me much of a choice.

--Other POV & Jacks--

Anders paused in his work taking notice to how quickly Jack was scrambling around the ship, and taking inventory of all that needed to be repaired, and what needed to be re-supplied. Anna-Maria leaned heavily against his side and met his dark eyes with a rose brow.

"Ye realize tha woman has im loosin his min more then usual?" Anders grinned at her exasperated expression.

"Aye…and I think it be a good thing." He eyed Gibbs seeing the man nod in agreement with him. "I jus hope those two can get through to me sister…she be hidin something…" he turned to his two friends ducking around debris getting moved overhead. "…I have a feeling it's very important." With this he went about his duties and ignored the questioning looks shot his way.

Jack nearly smacked into a mast avoiding the chaos he himself had put his ship into, it was unlike him to be in such a hurry, but several things were plaguing his mind at the moment. He still had to come up with something believable for Tia Dalma, and for Blair to be able to work with it. He had to wonder why Dexter was so determined to come after the book; it clearly would be useless to him, unless he had someone that could translate the idea behind it. He also had to be concerned with Blair being hurt and what Will would eventually do to him on their return trip. Elizabeth and Norrington were still prime problems within their current strange relationship. He also had a feeling that things weren't going to get any easier for them in the near future, unless they really worked for it.

He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't hear the call for him until he felt the pain. "BLOODY HELL, YE TRYING TO KILL ME?!" he turned to the sound of running feet and glanced up from his new position across the deck seeing spots before his eyes, and part of his beloved ship a few feet away.

"I tried to warn ye…stupid man." Anna-Maria glanced up in time to see Anders toss the offending piece of the Pearl away and lift Jack rather easily to his feet; he almost appeared as though he was a rag doll in a fashion. "Ye alright?" she questioned watching him stagger more so then usual and then find his footing again with the help from Anders.

Jack nodded studying his crew and then glancing across the ocean. "Me head." He managed wincing at the throbbing lump forming on the back of his head and glaring up at the sky above. "Gibbs…" Gibbs paused at the sound of his name. "…women are bad luck." With this is immediately dodged Anna-Maria's rather indignant smack to his arm and headed to his cabin, it was safer to think within his own chaos then the one he had created outside on his own ship.

--Original POV--

I glanced up hearing Jack muttering curses, something of 'women being back luck', and slowly caressing the back of his head, wincing each time. "Jack?" I grimaced gritting my teeth when I shifted my arm suddenly in the process of standing.

He glanced up long enough to notice my presence and then went back to muttering. He brushed his head again lightly and scrunched his face in pain. "Aye?" he went immediately to the nearest bottle of rum and took a long drink.

"What happened?" I asked feeling my eyes widen slightly at the rather large bump on his head and the slow stream of sticky red, which was now present on his hand.

He ignored the question and concern drinking more rum. He then went over to the medical supplies still present in the cabin, taking a cloth with rum on it and swearing profusely in the process of cleaning his own wound. I narrowed my eyes in an irritated fashion, before walking over and taking the cloth from him. I proceeded to take care of the wound myself ignoring his muttered protests and swatting away his hands. He was avoiding me and I had a feeling there was more to it then the recent attack on the Black Pearl, I mean since when did he get hurt so easily on his own ship, when there wasn't a ship fighting back?

"Jack…

"Not now love." He was harsher then intended and cringed at the slamming of his cabin door.