Jack's boots thudded into the deck as he paced back and forth.

"Now I see why the crew gets set on edge when I do that," Ash muttered to herself, watching him.

With a sigh, she got off the stairs and went to him.

"Jack, stop," Ash said quietly, "We will find a way."

"They might not have known me in Spain, but they certainly do in England. You should see the wanted posters. You'll have to go without me."

"Like hell. We'll just have to minimize the impact."

"How?"

"We go in disguise, and get in and out."

"That will never work, the Black Pearl's too noticeable."

Ash took a deep breath.

"I know."

Jack stared at her as he started to understand what she was getting at.

"No. I can't leave her."

"Jack..."

"I can't."

Ash looked down at her boots. She could only imagine the pain of parting with the Black Pearl, even briefly. It must be like ripping out his heart.

"We...we can tow her. Anchor her farther out at sea where they won't find her, and some of the crew can remain to keep watch."

Jack nodded.

"Best get Taiyō supplied for the journey there," he said gruffly.

Ash sighed when he walked away. It was hard to see him like this. But it had to be this way, because the alternatives were worse. She went into town to get proper disguises for them, and returned to find the crew ferrying supplies onboard Taiyō. When she went on board, she noticed the other half of the crew scrubbing down every surface, and the Captain's Cabin was dust free and clean when she entered. She found Jack staring out the window.

"I want to say something to comfort you," Ash said, "But I know there are no words."

Jack gestured around them.

"Had to toss the mattress. It wasn't suited, after being abandoned so long."

Ash smiled as footsteps sounded from outside and Jahir came in carrying a brand new mattress.

"I thought of that already."

Jahir put the mattress in place, and Renzo was right behind him to dump sheets, blankets, and pillows onto it. They both left, closing the doors behind them, and Ash began to make up their new bed. After a moment, Jack moved over to help her.

"Look at this," he said, disgusted, "You've changed me, lass. I take baths, I know how to make a bed, even cook a bit. I'm practically domestic."

Ash smirked.

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone I've turned the fearsome Captain Jack Sparrow to clay in my hands."

Jack huffed and yanked the bottom sheet down, tucking it under the mattress. Still smiling, Ash made her way over to him slowly. She thought she knew of a way to cheer him up.

"And you know...this is a new ship, or new to us anyway. We've christened just about every part of the Black Pearl. This ship deserves the same attention, don't you think?"

Jack looked at her, scowling in annoyance and confusion.

"What? We didn't chri–" he stopped suddenly.

The look on his face cleared and brightened, like the sun coming out from behind the clouds.

"Oh," he said.

Ash nodded seriously.

"Oh," she agreed.

Jack put the bedding down and moved over to her.

"Well lass, if you're in need of some assistance, I'd be all too happy to give it to you, in whatever form you require. Which surface should we start with? The desk? The bulkhead? The door?"

"Whichever one you want to start with, captain."

He began with a heated kiss. Ash moaned and tilted her head back, reaching up to tangle her fingers in his hair at the back of his head. She barely noticed Jack walking her backward until her behind bumped into the desk. The crew, waiting outside for orders, did their best not to notice the sounds that may or may not have been coming from the captain's cabin over the next hour or so. When they dressed and emerged on deck at last, the crew jumped to attention. Ash made her way up to the helm, Jack on her heels. She put her hands on the spokes of the wheel, feeling the smoothness of the wood.

"It doesn't seem right for you to steer," Ash said quietly, "Not now. Not yet. It should be me, for the first time."

Jack smiled. He couldn't help but remember the first time he steered his own ship out of port.

"I understand, love. Or should I say...Captain."

A tiny smile curled Ash's pink lips. She felt her heart speed up and realized she was both excited and nervous. She had captained a ship before, after all, but it was so long ago, and a much smaller vessel. Ash took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and began shouting orders in a clear, strong voice to the crew below. A few jumped, startled at the different voice giving the commands, but when Jack glared at them they all rushed to their places. He was there by her side as the ship got out of port, just in case she needed advice. But she handled everything just as he would have, if not a touch better. She had a natural ability to judge distance and timing. Once they were safely out of the harbor, the ship really picked up speed, and the deck vibrated under Ash's feet. The wind blew her hair back and she grinned, delighted, as she looked up at Jack.

"The ship!" she said, almost laughing, "It really feels like it's alive!"

"Aye," Jack smiled.

Sure that she had everything in hand, he sauntered down the steps to the main deck.

"What? We're to take her orders now?" Gibbs asked as he came up to him.

Jack shrugged.

"Her ship, mate. So, aye."

He walked away, and Gibbs looked around at the crew on deck, all going about their assigned tasks. No one had voiced an objection to Ash being part of their crew before, and they had all come to respect and even fear her. But Gibbs wondered if their attitudes would change now that she was the First Captain.

Jahir and Renzo both had the same thought, and the three of them kept a look out for discontented crew men. But over the next few weeks on the journey to England, nothing happened. No only with the crew, but there were no encounters with other ships. Even the weather was fair. It was like the world was holding it's breath, and it's wrath, until they reached their destination. They left the Black Pearl anchored at sea before they reached England. Ash asked Jack why he didn't have any crew remain on board, to look after it.

"Something is telling me to bring them with us," Jack said, "I can't explain it, but I think we should."

"I know that voice," Ash nodded, "I'd listen to it, if I were you. It hasn't led me wrong so far."

With everyone aboard Taiyō, they continued onto England. It was night when they reached land, the fog had rolled in, muffling sound and giving the scene an eerie quality. Ash gave orders to get the ship docked as quietly as she could, and sent the crew out in pairs of two into the city with orders to find Felinus or word of him if possible and get back to the ship by morning.

"It's two shillings to tie up a ship at the dock," an official said as they approached.

"Docking price has gone up," Jack commented.

"The economy, you understand," the official smiled.

Ash didn't like him, greasy, rat faced man that he was. She tossed him four shillings, not wanting to touch him.

"The extra two is for your silence," Ash said coolly, "By morning, we'll be gone. So if anyone asks, you never saw us."

"Of course."

"We'll be gone by morning?" Jack muttered under his breath as they strolled away.

"Yep. Sail out to where we left the Pearl, get some rest, change into our disguises, come back to town in a longboat. We shouldn't need the disguises at night, but in case we don't find him tonight, we would need them in the light of day."

"Good plan."

"Thank you."

They passed a fisherman, his line in the water, and vanished into the fog filled streets.

"Where do you think they took him?" Jack wondered.

"Well, if the Royal Navy nabbed him, I'm guessing one of their jails. Question is, which one?"

"City this size, must have more than one," Jack nodded.

"So we'll have to check them all."

They slipped into the first jail quick and quiet as shadows over dark rippling water. There was a set of stone stairs winding it's way down to the floor below, and when they reached the bottom, they found a stone room full of empty iron cells. A wooden poll in the middle of the room had an empty chair resting against it. Seeing it made Ash start to get a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"That's odd," she murmured, "I thought there would be at least one guard in this place."

"There are no prisoners," Jack responded.

"Aren't there?" a horribly familiar voice said suddenly.

Ash and Jack both spun, swords drawn. Fitzwilliam came trotting down the stairs, wearing an enormous smile, pointing a pistol at them.

"You can only shoot one of us," Ash said, "The other will be on you before you can fire again, and then you're a dead man."

"You would be correct. If I came alone."

They all heard the door at the top of the stairs bang as it hit the wall, then the sounds of booted feet on stone steps reached their ears. Declan appeared at the bottom of the steps, a pistol in his free hand, accompanied by one of the Black Guard. Seeing Declan, Ash's eyes went wide, her mouth made a thin line, and she went white as a sheet. Jack wondered if she would scream, try to attack him, or both.

"Drop your weapons," Declan commanded, "More men are just outside. You cannot escape alive."

Ash sneered and raised her sword, but Jack grabbed her wrist.

"We won't make it out with his tiny army out there," he whispered, "We must wait."

She turned on him, eyes alight with fury.

"Jack!" she hissed.

He shook his head and squeezed her wrist until she dropped the sword. She glared at him as he began to remove the weapons from his person. After a second, Ash started doing the same.

"This is low, Fitzy, even for you," Jack said as their weapons thudded to the floor, "Have you been working for this swine all along?"

"No, Jack. I'm not part of the East India Trading Company. But I guessed they would be very interested to know I've had my run ins with you. And you'll never guess what he told me when I went to him. You're after a map, and not just any map, but the map to Cibola, a legendary city of gold. Why didn't you tell me about that, Jack? I'm hurt."

"Good," Ash spat.

"And you!" Fitzy smiled, turning to her, "You're the real one behind this, aren't you? Far more dangerous than him, I see that now. Do not trust her, she has escaped me twice now. Bind her entire body in chains, and gag her as well."

"Your problem, Fitzwilliam," Declan began quietly as his man moved to restrain Jack, "Is you attempted to hold them long enough to return them here and bring them to trial."

Fitzwilliam frowned as the assassin finished binding Jack's hands.

"Well, yes, of course," Fitzwilliam said, confused, "A trial is –"

"Not necessary," Declan interrupted, "This man is a notorious pirate. And this woman is headed down the same road. From what you tell me, in many ways, she's worse than he is. They are not entitled to a trial when we already know of their guilt."

Declan leveled his pistol at Ash, whose eyes immediately widened. Jack shouted and lunged forward, but the Black Guard assassin stopped him. The pistol clicked as Declan prepared to fire.

"NO, I'M PREGNANT!" Ash shouted.

Declan paused.

"What?" Fitzwilliam asked.

"What?" Jack said, sounding strangled.

Declan gave a quiet noise somewhere between a chuckle and a scoff.

"You're not," he said, "Even if that were true, that does not excuse your guilt."

He raised the pistol again, and Fitzwilliam stepped in front of her.

"Woah, hold on. You can't shoot her right now, especially if she's telling the truth! She may be guilty, but the child is innocent!"

"We don't have time to ensure she is telling the truth. They will escape. Step aside, Fitzwilliam."

Fitzwilliam took a breath and squared his shoulders.

"No," he said firmly.

"No?" Jack gaped.

"Fitzwilliam, this is your final warning," Declan said, "Consider yourself fortunate, as one is all people generally receive from me."

"I won't let you – " Fitzwilliam began, but he was cut off by the sound of a gunshot.

Ash screamed as he dropped to the floor and blood sprayed. Her attention immediately refocused on Declan as he began fixing his pistol for another shot.

"No, please," someone begged.

Ash turned to look at Jack, shocked. She'd never heard that tone in his voice before.

"Don't hurt her," Jack went on desperately, "Please, I'll – you have me. Just hang me. Let her go, I'll give you anything."

"You have nothing I want pirate, excepting your death, which I will shortly achieve."

"The Pearl. The Black Pearl! I'll tell you where it is, it's yours, just don't hurt her."

"Jack!" Ash exclaimed, startled.

He couldn't –

But he was already speaking, telling Declan exactly how to find the Black Pearl. Ash couldn't believe her ears. Once upon a time, Jack died trying to save that ship from another tyrant of the East India Trading Company. He'd gotten himself into a life debt to get it back and return from a watery grave. And now he offered it on a silver platter for her...

"No," she whispered.

Declan was nodding thoughtfully.

"Thank you for that, Captain. But you forget something. I do not make deals with pirates."

He aimed his pistol at Ash again, and a single shot rang out. Jack was the one who yelled this time, but it was Declan who took a step back. Fitzwilliam wasn't dead yet. Bleeding, yes, but not dead yet. He'd shot Declan, aiming for the heart but only hitting his shoulder. Cursing, Declan stumbled back, a hand to the wound, trying to stop the blood flow. The assassin started toward Fitzwilliam. Ash dove for him instantly. They rolled around on the floor, each wrestling for an advantage. The assassin came up on top, but Ash grabbed a dagger on the floor from where she'd thrown it and drove it into the man's neck, killing him instantly. She shoved the man off and looked around for Declan, but he had fled in the scramble.

"We've got to go, he'll be sending his men in next," Jack said.

"He was lying," Fitzwilliam said, "They're not just outside. But he will be sending men after you. You've got to go."

"We can't leave him," Ash said.

"Like hell we can't!" Jack responded spiritedly.

"Well, I'm not leaving without him!"

"Lass, I will drag you out of here if that's what it takes."

"In my condition?"

Ash and Jack stared at each other for a tense minute. Finally, Jack cursed and looked away.

"If I'd known about your bloody condition, love, I wouldn't have allowed you here at all."

"Exactly."

Ash cut Jack hands free, they both replaced their weapons. Grumbling under his breath, Jack hoisted Fitzwilliam up, and the three of them stumbled up the stone steps and out into the cool, foggy night.

"Where can we go?" Ash asked.

"The ship," Jack said.

"Without the crew?"

"Where else can we go?"

"I have a house," Fitzwilliam said, "I live alone."

"That's the first place they'll be looking for you!" Ash replied hotly, "You're a fugitive now too, you know!"

"They don't know about the place," Fitzwilliam said stubbornly.

"I wouldn't put anything past Declan," Jack put in darkly.

"Our choices are shit, but we've got to make one fast," Ash said, "Ship or house?"

"Ship every time," Jack said.

"But we can't crew it with just the two of us!"

"Three," Fitzwilliam said.

"Two. You're wounded, remember?" Ash snapped.

"If only I could forget. But the lightning pain racing through me every time I take a breath is a bit difficult to ignore!"

"Blast this night to hell," Jack swore.

Fitzwilliam gave them directions, and they kept to the shadows as much as possible. Luckily this was a law abiding town and so, most people were asleep at this hour and not roaming the streets. They burst through the door and got Fitzwilliam onto a small wooden table in the dining room, barely big enough to lay him out on.

"Where do you keep your supplies?" Ash demanded.

As Fitzwilliam was telling her, Jack stripped him to the waist to get a better look at the wound. Ash went to retrieve the supplies and was back in seconds.

"Not good that it's a chest wound, but it could be worse," she said.

"How?" Fitzwilliam demanded.

"He could have shot you in the head. Or you could be coughing up blood. If it punctured a lung there's not much I can do. But this, this I should be able to handle. Just going to hurt a bunch."

"I am accustomed to pain," Fitzwilliam said stoically.

"That's not what you said outside, when you were whining like a girl," Jack chirped.

"Jack," Ash said sternly.

"I do not – " Fitzwilliam began, but Jack interrupted him.

"A baby girl!" he added.

Ash rolled her eyes. She made sure there was no exit wound, then went in with a pair of long tweezers to get the bullet out. Once she did, the blood flow increased, and it was a tense minute or two as she worked to stop it. Finally, she cleaned, stitched, and bandaged the wound.

"I thought you were the cook," Fitzwilliam said.

"And the doctor. And the co captain. You could say I do a bit of everything."

"Well, thank you. Pretty sure you saved my life."

"You saved mine first. We're even now."

"Why did you do that anyway?" Jack interjected.

"I wanted you two arrested, that's true. But I never thought Declan would go so far as to murder a baby still in it's mother's belly. I see now that just because one is on the side of the law, it does not necessarily make one a good man."

"Right," Ash chuckled nervously, "About that...I'm not pregnant."

"What!" Jack exclaimed.

"I had to think of something to stop him from shooting me! I thought I could buy us some time to escape. And then Fitzy got shot and, well. I owed him, so I kept the lie up for a bit. Honestly, Jack, I can't believe you bought it. I told you I drink a special tea daily to prevent such a thing."

Jack's mouth opened and closed several times.

"I don't know if I'm upset or relieved," he murmured at last.

"Well, my position remains unchanged," Fitzwilliam said, "Lie or not, it revealed some truths to me that otherwise I might never have understood. And now that I have defended you, it means they will be on the hunt for me. So...sod it. If you are unable to defeat your enemy, you might as well join them."

"Oh no," Jack said, shaking his head, "No, no, no. You're not joining my crew!"

"Even if I can get you Felinus?"

"How do you know – Oh never mind, you've talked to Declan, you know it all now, right?" Jack said, annoyed.

He sighed and looked at Ash, who had gone suspiciously quiet. Guessing what she was thinking, Jack waved his hands back and forth in the air before him.

"Oi! No! No, no! I'm not having him on my crew, love."

Ash looked up at him.

"You have a better idea to get to Felinus? Fast?"

Jack thought for a moment, then his shoulders sagged. He could only come up with one thing to say.

"Bugger."