Jack sat with his head on his knees in his cell awaiting the result of the trial. Butterflies flapped frantically in his stomach as he tried to imagine what the pirate lords would decide.

In the end, Jack's own lawyer had really played his cards well. He'd managed to claw back some credibility to Jack's account of why he couldn't have killed Christophe while also incorporating the small rebellions he made along the way to not truly be a part of Christophe's crew.

He'd also asked Jack about his recent scrape with the East India Trading Company which had resulted in his brand. This was a rather brilliant move to prove that Jack did, in fact, care more about human lives than doubloons; when the time came Jack had chosen to free people from a lifetime of slavery rather than legally buy his own ship. His lawyer had argued that this proved that Jack believed in that oldest of pirate traditions; Freedom above all else.

"You could argue that five years ago Jack sparrow abandoned us here as my colleague would have you think. Or you could say that five years ago a twenty-year-old boy was put in a difficult position and didn't know how to act. Did any of us at that age! Five years later though, that same boy clearly had learned from his mistake and acted in a way that put his own life second and did the right thing." The man paused for dramatic effect as Teague tried, once again, to hide his pride. "Are we really going to say that Sparrow deserves a death penalty when we can see he's learnt the error of his ways."

"Sparrow." A guard barked at Jack, bringing him back to the dank cell around him, "They're ready for you."

Jack stood and his heart leapt into his mouth.

He was led into the court room past Esmeralda and Gibbs while he flashed a nervous smile.

"'e looks white as a sheet." Gibbs commented once Jack had passed.

"Wouldn't you?" Esmeralda responded. Her heart was beating erratically and she tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

Gibbs saw her eyes fixed on the back of Jack's head and the tears that she was trying to fight back. He grabbed her hand. "It'll be ok." He tried to reassure her.

"I hope so." She responded smiling weakly.

Meanwhile Teague had begun walking back in along with the pirate lords who entered from the side chamber. Teague felt quietly confident that this would go Jack's way- he'd killed both of the rogue captains for crying out loud. The closing statement his lawyer had given about what a great character Jack had for releasing slaves was fantastic and he couldn't see how they could argue that Jack hadn't made amends.

Teague turned to Mistress Ching, the acting head of the Jury. "Have you reached a verdict?"

Jack's stomach knotted and his ears began to fog over, the corners of his vision went blurry and he gripped the table for support breathing deeply.

"We have." She responded.

Teague gestured for her to announce it.

"We the jury find the defendant-,"

The world felt like it had stopped and that all the air had been knocked out of Jack's lungs as his ears completely clouded over and his jaw hung slack. He tried to gain control of his breath as he fought to get air into his lungs just as two guards began walking over to him with handcuffs. His eyes turned wild as he looked at Teague desperately. Teague's face bore the same horrified expression as Jack's.

Jack could see Teague's lips mouthing words but couldn't make out what they were. Jack could hear someone howling like a beast before realising it was himself.

He fought the guards as they came near him, trying desperately to push them away from him before turning around to face Esmeralda who looked as if she was screaming. Tears were streaming down her face as Gibbs held onto her arm trying to stop her from running. Upon meeting Jack's eyes, she felt her knees buckle and Gibbs grabbed her waist to keep her standing. As Jack was marched out, he saw her collapse into Gibbs' shoulder.

Jack thrashed like an animal as two guards led him out of the chamber- he turned just as the doors closed behind him to see Teague bellowing at the pirate lords as chaos erupted in the chamber.

Once the doors were closed Jack's fighting spirit gave in and he felt himself slacken against the guard's arms as his knees buckled beneath him. They pulled him to his feet once again before leading him downstairs. They threw him in the cell and as Jack found his footing his hearing returned and he could hear himself screaming and crying out before his knees once again gave up on him and he sunk to the floor. His heart was beating erratically and tears fell freely from his eyes as he shook. His chest felt tight and he found it hard to breathe. Fearful thoughts raced around his head over and over as he thought forwards to the outcome of the court hearing which only caused his whole body to shake in terror and his breathing to constrict even further. Far away he could hear footsteps racing down the stairs and then through the door of his cell. He felt arms drape themselves around him as someone pulled him close to their shoulder protectively. Jack realised as he was shielded from the world around him that it was Esmeralda who clutched at him defensively.

"Breathe." She whispered in his ear; her voice shaky. As soon as he did, he clung to her tightly, burying his head deeper in her shoulder and hiding from the world as he cried and cried out. One of her hands moved to his head as she held him tightly in place stroking his hair and whispering comfort to him. Tears sprung from her eyes and she did her best to swallow them down, brush them off, anything to not fall apart in front of Jack who needed her desperately, however hard, to stay together. Her eyes darted up as she heard footsteps coming towards Jack's cell, she looked up to see who the intruder was, fixing a glare in the direction the noise came from as she positioned herself more firmly between Jack and whoever this person was.

It was Teague. Immediately her eyes softened as she pleaded with him for help. Teague stood frozen in the doorway as he watched his son fall apart in front of him.

Jack's eyes darted to Teague and he gently pulled away from Esmeralda, his breathing still erratic and tears still streaking down his cheeks.

"You said it would be fine." He choked hoarsely. His voice breaking as a fresh wave of grief rolled over him, "Help me." Jack pleaded before breaking down freshly as his head once again filled with the reality of the situation and Esmeralda grabbed him close again trying her best to comfort him. Her eyes fell on Teague with the same look of helplessness.

A grim determination seemed to set itself on Teague's face as he turned to the guards who had led Jack in.

"How dare you bring him here!" He turned furiously "He's under house arrest- you won't take him down here to rot again!"

"Sorry sir, it's policy once prisoners have been-,"

"POLICY?! You think I give a DAMN about policy right now!" he roared at the guards. "That's my SON!" At the word Teague could feel his throat constrict. "I won't leave him here." He finished quietly but no less threatening. The guards fearfully scuttled away as Teague stalked over to Jack furiously protective.

He crouched down gently beside Jack, gently relieving Esmeralda of him and grabbing his face;

"Listen to me." He spelled out firmly. "I will fix this." With that he pulled Jack into his arms. "I promise."

Esmeralda looked at Teague with a renewed hope. Teague smiled determinedly at her.

As he let Jack go he pulled him to his feet, placing one around his waist to keep him standing as Jack adjusted to this new position, he felt weak and faint and so much more vulnerable than he had when he'd arrived in Shipwreck cove. His face was pale and red blotches hung around his eyes. Teague could sense his son's vulnerability at this point and stayed supporting him as they walked back to the cove.