They searched around town for Esteban for hours before Jack suggested they take a break in the nearest pub. Ash agreed, because she was hot, hungry, and wanted something cool to drink. They sat at the bar wearily, and Ash was about to order some drinks when Jack asked the man behind the counter if there was an Esteban around here.

"Sure, he's in the back, playing dice."

Ash immediately abandoned her seat and Jack sighed before following her. She was as stubborn as a terrier going after a rat. As soon as she entered the darkened room, before her eyes had time to adjust, someone grabbed her collar and dragged her inside. Ash saw a flash of silver and just managed to block the knife from ripping her throat out. She heard a click, and saw Jack aiming his pistol at the man holding her, his expression dark as thunder clouds.

"Woah!" Ash protested, "Easy there, we just want to talk! El Sombreador said you could tell us about Captain Steele and where his lair is!"

Bright green eyes blinked at her.

"Oh. El Sombreador? I'm sorry, 'course I'll talk to you!"

Esteban released Ash and even tried to help smoothing some of the wrinkles out of her collar.

"My apologies. It's just that it's not easy to think about my pirating days, you understand. Captain Steele was... a difficult captain to serve. His hideout is in an old abandoned mine, but there's only one entrance, and it's closed off. There's a key, of course, but I don't have it. The first mate took it. Last I heard, he settled further inland than me. His name is Sal."

"Any chance you can give up a little more than that to go on?" Ash asked wearily.

"Over food and drinks, maybe?" Jack put in.

Ash glanced at him. Right. She needed to eat something. The three of them got a table and had a barmaid fetch them food and drinks. Esteban showed them a route they could take as they ate, and as Jack looked at the map, he realized it was too far a distance to take all in one day. They would have to resume their search tomorrow.

"We'll have to get a room, love," he said quietly.

Ash scowled and folded her arms, but nodded once, a surly look on her face. She recognized the necessity, but that didn't mean she liked it. Then, a second later, she perked up as she realized she could have a bath – with hot water! She tried not to inhale her food, but it was hard not to when lunch was missed. Jack called Jahir over and told him to take the crew in town and bring them back to mind the ship until they could return. Jahir only stared at Jack, his dark eyes impassive. Then he shifted slightly and looked at Ash. Noticing this, she rolled her eyes.

"What he said," she said after swallowing her most recent mouthful of food, "And let them know in the back of the house that I want a bath readied in our room."

Without a word, Jahir turned and walked away. Jack frowned and folded his arms.

"Not sure having a crewman with divided loyalties is such a good thing," he grumbled.

"No, I'm pretty sure his loyalties are rather singular," Ash smirked.

Jack glared at her.

"Oh come on, only maybe two of the crew look to me first for orders," she insisted, "That's not so bad, surely?"

"Suppose not."

"Well, I wish you both the best of luck with your hunt," Esteban said as he stood, "Though if you're really going after Captain Steele, I half expect you to be dead within a day."

With that cheery note, he left them. Jack finished his meal next and started to look around.

"Wonder who I can get interested in a game of cards," he murmured to himself.

Ash stood.

"Good luck with that. I'm going up to enjoy my bath."

That got his attention.

"Want some company?"

She smiled at him.

"I thought you were looking to find a card game," she teased.

"That can wait."

"Mmmm, well, it will take some time yet for them to warm the water. I don't know what I could possibly find to occupy myself with in the mean time. But you're welcome to join me and help me look if you really want to...captain."

A glance over her shoulder and a smirk had Jack lunging out of his chair. Laughing, Ash raced upstairs with him hot on her heels. They had just concluded their activities when people came in with hot water to dump into the tub. Bucket after bucket went in, until the bath was full and the two pirates were left alone again. It was perfect timing actually, as things between them had been rather rigorous earlier, and there was now a very thin sheen of sweat across their bodies. They lounged in the hot water for a while, passing a bottle of rum back and forth, Jack occasionally kissing Ash's neck and shoulders.

"You can tell I love you a great deal," Ash said at last, "Because I'm sharing my bath with you."

"And you can tell I love you because I'm sharing my rum with you," Jack answered.

Smiling, Ash turned and kissed him full on the mouth. Sharing his rum with her was more for him than he would admit, he realized. He could taste the rum on her lips as they kissed, which made it all the sweeter. With her on his lap, kissing him, feeling her soft skin... it wasn't long before they were at it for the second time that night. Water sloshed over the sides of the tub with their movements, but neither gave it a second thought.

After relaxing in the afterglow together for a few minutes, Ash insisted they actually get cleaned up now. Jack was more than happy to lather his hands up with the soap and run them all over her body, massaging it into her skin with long, firm strokes. When she was cleaned and rinsed off, she did the same for him, giving a few of his more sensitive areas naughty squeezes that made him gasp and tested his rapidly thinning restraint.

"I've never taken so many baths in such a short amount of time since meeting you," Jack said to take his mind off how she was making him feel.

"Mmmm, you do it because you know none of this would happen without them."

"Well aye but...I'm so curst clean these days. Can't help but wonder what it does for my reputation."

Ash cast him an amused glance.

"Worried people would think you're not such a fearsome, terrifying pirate if they knew the extent of your good hygiene ?"

"Aye, as a matter of fact."

"Well Jack, I'm both pretty and hygienic, but that doesn't seem to stop Fitzy from being threatened by me."

"You had to bring him up," Jack complained.

"Aren't you concerned he's going to catch up to us again?"

"No, we'll just escape him again."

Ash frowned.

"Our luck will only last so long."

"Don't fret so much, love."

"One of us has to," Ash replied archly, "You don't worry at all."

"That is because no one can keep Captain Jack Sparrow down. Or his woman."

Ash climbed out and dried off, casting thoughtful glances at the door. Jack followed her and took the towel once she was done with it, watching her beautiful skin disappear under clothes as he dried himself.

"Why are you doing that?" he frowned.

"Well, I was thinking of going down and inviting myself to your card game."

"Huh. I was thinking of staying here and seeing which of us could pin the other two out of three."

Ash looked at him, shocked, and Jack merely flashed her a roguish grin.

"Again?" she asked.

He only nodded.

"But I'm already dressed."

"Oh. So you are. Here, let me help you."

She spun away from his reaching hands and went towards the door.

"No, no, no. I'm going to have a drink and a game."

"But – "

"You could always play me for a third round before bed," Ash smirked.

Jack looked thoughtful at the idea, then nodded and grinned.

"Aye, love. You're on."

He dressed and followed her downstairs. A few people looked curious at the game going on between them, as there were no coins on the table, but if anyone dared to ask, Jack just told them they were wagering something far more important. Ash would smirk and take a long drink of her wine to hide it. But as it happened, he won their card game. He stood, intent on claiming his prize immediately, but Ash insisted on joining a card game with another table.

"After all, the wager was just 'before bed'," she said, "It never stated exactly when within that time things would take place."

Jack's mouth fell open, his expression the picture of indignant shock, and Ash had to fight hard not to smile.

"You can't do that!" he challenged.

"Oh, but I can."

"Fine. I'm staying too then."

"I'd hoped you would."

They continued to play late into the night, until eventually, they retired to their room, and Jack received his long awaited prize. They fell asleep in each other's arms, warm and content, and woke the next day ready to take on whatever came during the day. Ash negotiated for them to get a ride on a cart to the town further inland, and they spent the majority of the day talking or napping. When they reached the town they were looking for, Ash could tell right away something wasn't right. Jack, for once, picked up on the odd mood the townspeople were displaying, and followed her with one hand on his sword to an old man picking up a crate, grumbling as he did so.

"Blasted crazy lad..."

"Excuse me, sir? What happened here?" Ash asked.

The old man glanced up, squinting at her.

"Sal, he makes rum. Went around ravin' like a lunatic about ghosts and holy ground. Probably drunk off his ass..."

Ash looked concerned.

"Where is he now?"

"Ran off in that direction," the old man pointed, "Probably ran for the church. Needs the fear of God in him, that one. Hope he gets it."

Ash ran off without another word, Jack right behind her. He chased her to an old church, the doors already open. They raced inside, and found a man inside backing away from them.

"No! Stay back!" he shouted.

Ash put her hands up, showing her palms were empty and she wasn't going to hurt him. But it wasn't her he was frightened of. In the corner of the room, a man appeared, dressed in a long blood red coat and large black hat, a long cutlass at his side.

"You rotten traitor," he spat.

"He's got a point," Jack murmured, "You sure we have to save Sal?"

Ash elbowed him in the ribs.

"Thought ye could start a mutiny against me and live?" the red coated man continued, "You owe me, Sal. And Death, too."

"No!" Sal gasped, terrified.

His eyes darted around the room, until they lighted on Ash.

"You there, pirate! You have to stop him! The cards! You need the cards!"

"Enough!" Captain Steele snarled.

In three strides he was across the room, and swiftly ran his former first mate through.

"Oh no," Jack said, "Shame, that."

"Jack," Ash said sternly.

Hearing them, Captain Steele turned on them.

"So, puny one, you call yourself a pirate?"

"Uhhh..."

Sword raised, he came at them. Ash panicked, thinking she was about to get skewered, when Jack grabbed her collar and dragged her backwards, out of the church. He closed the doors and dropped the lock bar across them, sealing them closed.

"What are you doing?" Ash demanded.

"He can't be killed, remember?" Jack shot back, "Come on!"

Grabbing her hand, he ran with her though the town. They'd never make it far on foot... and the cart man wasn't fast enough with that sad little pony that plodded along in front of it. Spotting a riderless horse with it's reigns tied to a fence, Jack untied the reigns and threw Ash onto the horse like a sack of potatoes before jumping up after her.

"Hey!" Ash complained.

Why did he get to sit up?

"Sorry love, no time."

There really wasn't. Captain Steele came bursting out of a side door of the church, and at that instant, Jack kicked the horse into a gallop. Ash took Jack's pistol from his belt and fired at their pursuer.

"You know that does no good," Jack said.

"Maybe, maybe not. I'm not trying to kill him, just slow him down."

"Oh. Well then, by all means."

Captain Steele, the church, and the town soon faded from sight thanks to the hose, but Jack didn't slow down. He wanted to get as far from here as fast as possible, and back to his ship.

"Wonder what Sal was talking about," he commented after a while.

"Don't know. Cards makes me think of gambling. What's with undead pirates and gambling? But that doesn't tell me much. The only cards that actually tell you things are...oh!"

"What?"

"We have to get back to the ship."

"Already on it."

"No, not because we're running from him. Most of my supplies are there. Along with my deck of tarot cards."

"You going to tell his future?"

"No. I'm going to ask a question. The universe will answer, through those."

"Is the question 'how do I kill Captain Steele'?"

Ash cast an amused glance up at him.

"Something like that. I'm more interested in his key. Which Sal had, but Steele just killed him, so pretty sure he's got it now. I need to take it from him, don't I? Which, most likely, will entail killing him. I can't just ask for it, can I? He'd probably say something like 'you'll have to take it from me cold, dead hands', to which I'd like to be able to shrug and say 'okay' and then do it like a scary, ruthless pirate should. Can we re arrange positions now? This really isn't a very comfortable way of riding."

Jack stopped and allowed Ash to slide off the horse, then he helped her up to sit upright in front of him. After that brief adjustment, they were off again. With the faster horse, they made better time, and reached the tavern they left from that morning by sunset. They stopped there only to get Jahir, who had stayed in the tavern to wait for them. Jack and Jahir rowed their longboat to where the ship was waiting off shore, and as soon as they were on board, Jack shouted orders to get the ship moving. In what direction, it didn't seem to matter. Just away from shore and the undead pirate captain that would surely be coming after them.

To Jack's surprise, Ash didn't immediately disappear into her magic room below deck. She was, in fact, in the galley when he went to see what he could throw together for dinner. As everyone ate, Jack got updates on how things went with the crew while their captains were on land. Ash listened with half an ear as she ate, and was wearily collecting empty dishes to take to the sink when Jack stood, putting a hand to hers to stop her.

"I know you're dying to get to your cards. Go on. I'll clean up here."

Ash frowned at him.

"No, Jack. It's my area of responsibility."

Jack gently but firmly tugged the plate she held from her grasp.

"It's alright, love. Go."

Ash frowned for a moment more, then smiled, and went up on her tippy toes to kiss him. Jack lowered his head a bit so she could do so.

"I love you," she told him.

Jack beamed at her.

"And I love you."

He watched her leave, the crew exchanging uneasy glances and low mutters behind him. Jack pressed the plate he held against Jahir's chest, who stood beside him.

"Clean this mess up, aye?" Jack smiled, and walked off.

Jahir glared after him. Renzo, who sat beside him, sniggered into his cup. The big black man scowled down at the brightly dressed Italian, and reached out to flick his ear.

"Ow!" Renzo shouted.

"Fly on you, butterfly," Jahir said innocently.

"Horse shit, you great, graceless bear!"

As they argued, Ash was in the room she stored her magic equipment in, the door locked as she set out the tarot cards. When she came up on deck and found Jahir and Renzo facing off with swords, she looked around, bewildered, and asked what was going on.

"Renzo challenged him to a duel," Gunnar said, "We're placing bets. Which one do you think will win?"

"Me," Ash said grimly, taking a sword from a nearby crewman and stepping over to Jahir and Renzo.

She took a deep breath and raised her voice, projecting the way she'd heard Jack do.

"Oi! What's gotten into you two louts?"

"He has crossed the line for the final time!" Renzo insisted, eyes blazing, "I will have satisfaction!"

He raised his sword and began a powerful overhead stroke at Jahir's head. But Ash's slender, shimmering blade caught his and lifted it up and to the side as she got between the two men.

"No, Renzo."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jahir stick his tongue out at Renzo, and she whirled on him next, putting the point of her sword under his chin.

"And you! Stop egging him on!"

Jahir immediately dropped his sword and nodded.

"But we had bets on this fight," someone muttered.

Ash turned to face the rest of the crew.

"You with the bets! No one lost and no one won, so give back the coin by sunrise! Those that don't get to have a chat with me in the morning."

Everyone knew by now her attitude in the mornings. Coins changed hands so fast, they flashed in the slight moonlight. Ash dropped her sword, disgusted, and went over to where Jack had come out of their cabin.

"What's wrong?" he asked in a quiet voice, following her inside and closing the door behind them.

"Those idiots! I mean honestly..."

Jack shook his head.

"You were in a bad mood before you saw them."

Ash folded her arms.

"I was not."

"Aye, love, you were. You weren't at dinner though, so something happened between then and now. Something to do with those cards. Bad news?"

Ash sighed. He was too sharp. She didn't answer him immediately, instead going to pour herself a cup of rum. She sipped, enjoying the way the liquid scorched it's way down her throat, then looked over at Jack.

"It's about the worst news I can think of."

Jack smiled an went over to put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them in slow, firm circles.

"Can't be that bad," he said, "After all we've faced so far together. Nothing we can't do, aye?"

"Oh, I'm sure I could do this. Not sure how to do it, but wouldn't be the first time. I'll figure it out."

"Aye, there! See? You're starting to catch on. So what's the problem?"

Ash brushed his hands off and turned to face him, her expression solemn.

"The cards told me I have to summon Death."

Jack was quiet for a beat.

"You mean...Death?"

"The physical manifestation of it, yes."

Jack took another heartbeat to consider what to say to that. Finding no words to respond to that, he took the rum from her and had a long drink.