A/N: I just watched Dead Man's Chest again so I've got a better sense of these scenes now. :D Hope you enjoy the chapter! Thanks for all your reviews :)

"That's the Flying Dutchman?"

Will pointed out into the middle of the wild sea, his hair and skin drenched from the pouring rain. Violet walked towards him and Jack from below deck, wondering if they'd really found the cursed ship. When she saw the wreck Will was pointing at, she frowned immediately. She wasn't an expert, but there was no way in the seven seas that ship was the fabled Flying Dutchman. What was Jack playing at?

"Will, that's-" she began, but Jack snatched her arm, pulling her away from Will and Gibbs.

"Excuse me, love, can we chat for a minute?" he said quietly, giving Will a fake smile. "Gibbs, ask the boy about his plan." Will looked genuinely confused, as did Gibbs, who quickly began stumbling through his words. It was Gibbs' flustered state that confirmed Violet's suspicions. Gibbs always knew what to say.

"What are you doing?" Violet demanded, wrenching her arm out of Jack's grip once they were out of earshot. "That's not the Dutchman."

"You know that, and I know that, and Gibbs knows that, but Will doesn't," Jack said quietly, staring warily at Will and Gibbs. "Violet, please, I know you and I aren't on the best of terms at the present moment, but if you warn William everything will be ruined."

"What will be ruined?" she asked, wondering whose side she should take. Jack's cause was almost certainly a selfish one, and she had promised to help Will. But she had only said she would help him find Jack, which she had. And if helping Will win over Jack and his compass would put her in danger, then it was better for her to stay on the ship.

"Love-" Jack began, and then he sighed, bringing out his hand. "This is why I'm doing what I'm doing." Slowly, he unbandaged it, and she stared again at the gaping black mark on his hand. It made her heart clench, slowly constricting as she sucked in a breath.

"Please don't ask me to pick between you and sending an innocent man to his death," Violet pleaded, shooting an agonized look at Will.

"You've killed many a man, Charles. And now you suddenly care about one?" Jack asked, and Violet saw the sadness in his eyes. He wanted Violet to choose him. And, deep inside her, she knew that she would. She would always choose him, and she hated that. He was her weakness.

"So you'll sell him to Davy Jones when he shows up, is that it? To settle your debt?" she asked quietly, and Jack groaned, leaning back against the side of the boat.

"I'll try, love, but you and I both know it surely won't be that simple," he said wearily, and she shook her head, staring out at the sea. She knew she could live with Will's death. She'd just have to add it to the ever-growing list of those she'd killed.

"Fine. We'll send him to die. Or, to not die, I guess. I have no qualms about it," she said finally, and Jack gave her a curt nod.

"Fine. Good. Let's do it then," he said, and she followed him to the side of the boat, watching Will be lowered down into the wild ocean in a rowboat.

"If you do get captured, just say Jack Sparrow sent you to settle his debt! Might save your life!" shouted Jack, and Will nodded determinedly. He was too noble. Sooner or later, it was going to get him killed.

They watched Will row off towards the shipwreck, his eyes focused ahead. In front of him, thunder rumbled through the sky, the already pouring rain intensifying.

"Is this where I apologize for our little disagreement, love?" asked Jack after Will was gone from sight, and Violet gave him a look, watching the raindrops slide down the ridges of his face.

"It's not just you, Jack," she said, sighing, not believing that she was really having this discussion with him. "It's both of us. We're just too-"

"I don't really think you want to finish that sentence, lovely," Jack said, turning to her with a pleading look in his eyes. "It's better for both of us."

"Why?" she demanded, throwing her hands in the air. "Should we just keep doing this? Going in this circle? Fighting each other?"

"Yes?" Jack asked hopefully, and she scowled at him. "Look, Violet, I don't want to talk about- whatever this is - right now. Just don't leave me. Savvy?"

She stared at him, stared at his soaked hair and wild eyes and wondered how insane she'd been to go looking for him again. But he was right. There were more important things to worry about then her heart at the present moment.

"Fine," she said, turning back to the ocean. "Hand me that telescope, won't you?" She held out her hand to Jack, who pulled the telescope from his vest. But instead of handing it to her, he slid his fingers through hers delicately, his skin floating against hers. Her breath hitched in her throat as his fingertips met her palm, his rough skin strong against hers.

"What was that you wanted?" he said in a low voice, slowly moving towards her until he was close enough to kiss her. If he wanted to. She no longer felt the pelting rain against her skin, the darkened sky around her. There was only Jack, his eyes boring into hers. Why did he do this to her? Why was she always defenseless when it came to him?

"Your t-telescope," she stuttered, her heart beating a mile a minute.

"Is that it?" he asked softly, and he wrapped his other arm around her waist, drawing her nearer to him. Slowly, he leaned towards her, his face growing closer and closer until-

"Jack Sparrow!"

Immediately, both of them swiveled to face the loud booming voice that echoed through the ship. Standing in front of them was a tall man- if you could call him that. In place of his face was a squid, its tentacles long and curling at the base of his neck, and a wicked look in the two eyes situated in the middle of the creature. All around them, the crew was immediately seized by ungodly creatures, some showing signs of once having been human, some completely overtaken by the ways of the sea. All were grotesque and reeking of dead fish.

"Damn," Violet whispered, staring at his menacing presence. There he was. Davy Jones.

"Oh come on, Jones, can't you see we're a little busy?" Jack said in a weak attempt at bravery, and Violet quickly pushed away from him, realizing his arm was still tucked around her.

"Your- friend -can wait. You have a debt to pay," he demanded, advancing on Jack. "You were captain of the Black Pearlfor thirteen years. That was our agreement."

"Technically, I was only captain for three years. Then I was viciously mutinied upon," Jack replied, raising his hands in surrender, and Violet followed him as they walked back from Davy Jones.

"I hope you know what you're doing," she whispered quietly to Jack, who shook his head slightly.

"Love, do I ever?" he asked, and she rolled her eyes.

"Then you were a poor Captain, but a Captain nonetheless. Have you not introduced yourself all these years as 'Captain Jack Sparrow'?" demanded Davy Jones, and his words were echoed with the laughter of his crew.

"Captain Jones, we've already given you a soul for your crew. The boy, over there," Violet said, pointing to where the shipwreck had been moments before. Only now, though, there was a large ship, bedraggled and worn from the waves of the ocean. The Flying Dutchman. Laughing, Jones turned to her with a leer on his face.

"We? How sweet of you, Miss Charles, but I'm afraid it was not you who made a deal with me," he said mockingly, and Violet fought to keep the red from her cheeks. Don't be a fool. Davy Jones is dangerous. "And anyway, I'm afraid one soul is not equal to another."

"So we've established my proposal is sound in principle, now we're just haggling over price," Jack said with a grin, extending his arms.

"Price?" asked Jones, shaking his head.

"Just how many souls, do you think, my soul is worth?" asked Jack, and Violet bit her tongue from making some sarcastic remark. This was not the time nor place.

"One hundred souls. Three days," demanded Jones, and Violet let out a breath. This was a good deal. If it would save Jack, she'd take it in a heartbeat.

"You're a darling, mate. Send me back the boy, I'll get started right off," Jack said, beginning to walk away, but Jones only laughed in his face.

"I keep the boy, a good faith payment. That leaves you only ninety-nine to go. Unless…" Jones' voice trailed off, and Violet's heart beat faster.

"Unless what?" she asked, and Jones gave her a wicked smile.

"If you hand over Violet Charles, Captain Sparrow, I will send you back to boy. And I will take off five souls from your debt," he said with a cruel glint in his eye, and Violet's eyes widened. Five souls? Is that what she was worth? She turned to Jack, who looked extremely pained.

"Five souls? Oh come on, I think I'm worth at least ten," she said haughtily, trying to buy time, but she knew what Jack would do. It was too good to pass up. And she'd be alright. Wouldn't she?

"Six souls. And that's my final generous offer. So what will it be, Captain? Will you be able to let go of your lady?" asked Jones, and Violet turned to Jack.

"Do it," she whispered, and Jack shook his head.

"I can't let you go," he shot back, and she rolled her eyes.

"Six souls, Jack. If it'll help save your life-"

"No!" Jack demanded, turning back to Jones. "No, thank you, you can keep Turner and I'll keep Charles, and we'll be off now to collect our ninety-nine souls, but have a safe voyage."

"Ah, I see," Jones said coldly, the glint gone from his eyes. "Has somebody finally made you noble, Sparrow?"

"Let's settle this," Jack demanded, holding out his hand. Jones gave him a biting smile before snaking a tentacle around Jack's fingers.

"Three days," Jones said, the sound fluttering between his crew members, and suddenly, they disappeared into the night, fading away like ink.

Suddenly, Violet stared at Jack's outstretched hand, taking it in her own and gently pressing his slimy fingers back from his palm.

"It's gone!" she said, staring at the clear skin. There was no sign of the spot that had been there moments before.

"Happy I didn't sell your soul then?" he said with a grin, and she shook her head as he folded her fingers in his own.

"No," she said quietly. "I think you should have taken the offer. I would have been fine, you know. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can," Jack hummed, tracing the back of her hand absentmindedly, and she bit her tongue to keep from smiling.

"Er- Captain?" asked Gibbs suddenly, and Violet quickly snatched her hand away, remembering where she was and who she was with.

"Yes, Mr. Gibbs?" Jack said in an annoyed voice, his hand floating face-up in the air as if still holding the ghost of Violet's own.

"Where to?" Gibbs said, and Jack folded his fingers, lowering his arm slowly.

"I'd say it's time to make a little trip to the perfect place to harvest ninety-nine desperate and battered souls," he said calmly, and Gibbs nodded.

"Tortuga, then," Gibbs agreed, and Jack gave Violet his signature pirate grin.

"Tortuga. Again."