Sorry for the excessive length! But I hope you enjoy it. Definitely a 'misadventure' chapter. The title should tell you all you need to know. Wanted to do another one where Kate and the captain get to know each other a little better, in typical Jack Sparrow fashion. Oh, right...that's Captain Jack Sparrow!

I'd never been to Tortuga, and by the mixed emotional faces from my fellow passengers, I wasn't sure if this meant prosperity or trouble for us. Jack was quite ancy, as though he couldn't wait to arrive there. Gibbs, along with that short, ugly teeth fellow and his skinny friend with the scary wooden eye, and a load of others cheered as we sailed to the small harbor. Will and Elizabeth on the other hand, appeared as if they wished this stop was all over. Nevertheless, Elizabeth attired herself as a ship's cabin boy. Most efficiently. Aside from her dark brown eyes and her familiar voice, I hardly recognized her! "Is that really necessary, Miss?" I asked apprehensively. I was beginning to feel hesitant about this little excursion.

"'Tis better to be prepared for trouble and it not come, than to have it come and not be prepared at all!" Elizabeth replied with a sigh.

"You are right." I sighed back. From the moment Jack had mentioned we were heading to Tortuga, Will had informed Elizabeth of the filthy place so she would be equipped for any distaste or trouble. With Elizabeth's coaxing, I added a bit of grease and coal ashes to my face to make my countenance look less appealing to people of the opposite gender. However, I preferred to still wear a calico skirt over my baggy breeches. When my mistress and I emerged from our room, Jack gaped in disbelief. Even Will was slightly taken aback at how boyish Elizabeth looked.

"You know, these clothes do not flatter you at all." Jack told Elizabeth flirtatiously.

"I'm not taking any chances, Jack. Especially with the likes of you and your taste in...culture." She retorted. Jack pouted with a puppy dog face.

"Ah, well." Then Jack turned to me. "Who is that?" He asked, squinting underneath my nearly coal colored face. "Kate, darlin', ever been?" He gestured to the town we were coming up on.

"No." I shook my head innocently. Jack smirked, like a young boy heading to the candy store.

"Ah! Well, then live entertainment like you've never seen." Jack told me excitedly. "It's never not a good time of year to visit Tortuga!"

"Consider the source." Will grumbled. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes in agreement.

"Don't listen to him, lads. The stiff whelp doesn't know how to loosen up his rigid shoulders and take a breather." Jack said.

"Have you arms at hand?" Will whispered to me as the ship floated to the dock.

"Yes..." I gulped.

"Keep a sharp eye. And have your weapons at the ready."

"Why?"

"If you think Mr. Jones going to the tavern every Friday evening is disreputable, this place makes him look like a gentleman!" Elizabeth answered for Will. That did not make me feel at ease, but if my mistress-a lady-could go in and brave the ruffians, then I was willing to risk it.

"Tortuga!" Jack announced as he tied the ship to the docks then clambered back up. "All right then. Go on, lads. Have some fun for yurselves! But let's not forget to not leave the port without what we came for." He reminded them. Elizabeth was shocked he even remembered that the main reason we'd come here was to resupply necessities for the ship! Jack glanced at her and Will. "As for you two lovebirds..." He said 'sternly', "off you go. And try not to spoil the mood for our neighbors." He said pitifully. Then he looked at me. "Kate, you will come with me. Business matters." Jack said.

"Jack! I don't think that's a good idea." Will protested.

"I most certainly agree with Will!" Elizabeth pursed her lips. Jack frowned.

"Now, now, not to fret, luv." He told Elizabeth. "Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?" Elizabeth glared.

"Jack, she's not a pirate." Will said protectively. "She doesn't mix with these types of characters. I'll not have you dragging her into an unsavory, dangerous environment like this!"

"Ah, it's so nice to be appreciated." Jack said sarcastically. "And who appointed you as the over-protectively, boring big brother type, eh?" Elizabeth looked ready to bite his head off.

"All right, fellows! That's enough." I spoke up, when I could finally get a word in edgewise. "I'll go with him." Jack grinned smugly.

"See? She trusts me." He gloated.

"Don't push your luck." I warned him, and that silly grin slightly faltered.

"Kate, this isn't like the pub in Port Royal." Elizabeth told me cautiously. "It's much more distasteful, and vulgar, and..."

"I see what your trying to say, Miss Swann." I assured Elizabeth. "Not that it isn't appreciated. But we're wasting time just standing here arguing."

"Aha. The lady has spoken." Jack added.

"And," I gave him a pointed look, "I don't want to waste any more time when my father's life could be at stake. So let's just have this done with. Don't worry about me. I'll be all right."

"Stay on your guard, Kate." Elizabeth told me firmly.

"Don't worry, I will!"

Will walked up to Jack sternly. "If she doesn't come back with you the way she left, you'll have me to answer to, Jack!" Will snarled.

"No worries." Jack shrugged, waving his hands in the air. I still couldn't understand yet why he did that all the time. It was most odd, especially for a 'fearsome' pirate! My first impression of Jack as 'intimidating' was long gone. On the contrary, he was the most easy going pirate captain I'd ever seen!

Will and Elizabeth reluctantly marched away to locate supplies with Anamaria. While I trotted along, trying to keep up with Jack, but the floppy boots I wore made it difficult. He didn't seem in any great rush, but rather looked as if he was taking his time savoring up the relief of arriving 'home'. Why, I had no conception! We'd barely made it off the dock, and already my nostrils were yelling at me in belligerent tones!

As we entered the town square, I stopped dead in my tracks, shocked and appalled by everything around me. It was unlike any place on earth I'd ever visited! Even the poorest districts in Port Royal! The music was lively to be sure, but... "Good grief!" I gasped. Men sleeping dead drunk in pig sties, or horses' feeding troughs; women of all shapes and sizes and races, immodestly dressed and parading themselves to the men in the most suggestive ways; men everywhere doing everything unsavory that would make a Christian's skin crawl; the town smelled worse than an untended stable, and I could not decipher which was the bigger highlight for these devil-may-care residents: the ale or the ridiculous gun fighting. I felt more out of place and disgusted everywhere I looked. Up on the footbridge, an auctioneer was calling out bids, on colorfully dressed ladies! A huge sign was hung up, reading,"

AUCTION

Take a Wench for a Bride!

The ladies were blowing kisses, flouncing their outfits and their hair, doing whatever they could to get noticed and chosen. I felt bad for them, yet at the same time was appalled at the cheap way they and the other citizens were treating themselves. "Well, Elizabeth warned me." I muttered.

"Oui? So, whatcha think, luv?" Jack asked me excitedly, making me flinch. I'd been so swallowed up in 'taking in the sights', that I'd completely forgotten about Jack. I cringed, and looked at him with a look that said, 'tell me you did NOT just ask me that'.

"Miss Elizabeth's description of distasteful and vulgar is a serious masterpiece of understatement!" I exclaimed.

"Isn't it?" Jack sighed happily.

"How long will we have to be here?" I asked in exasperation already. The awful, horrid smell of unkempt personal hygiene was making my stomach churn-a far, far cry from Governor Swann's beautiful, clean house!-. Honestly, I was starting to feel seasick again.

"No need for rushing about. We've only just landed!" Jack announced. I grimaced sourly, wondering if I looked as green as I felt. "You look bloody awful." He cocked his head. I supposed he actually did notice some things. "I know just the thing that will fix you up. Come, come." He turned and walked merrily through the dirty streets, waving to people and cheering them on with their bets and most dangerous stunts they were trying to pull under the influence of rum.

I tried to keep up with Jack, but he was walking much too fast for my upset stomach to take in. "Is it...always like this?" I asked glumly.

"Aye. A man can find anything he wants here." Jack smiled.

"Except a matter of integrity."

"Pirates, luv. This be where we can be free without the heat of battle, or..."

"Whatever." I sighed, trying to keep down the bile I felt rising in my throat. The stench in this town was practically unbearable. How were these people even breathing normal?!

"Here it is." Jack said, looking up at the bar's sign. Staring at the ground, I didn't notice where I was going and bumped right into his back.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

"You seem a bit tipsy. This place will set that to rights!" Jack walked inside and I slowly trudged in behind him. I could not believe the name of the pub we were entering: The Faithful Bride!

"You can't be serious! The man who founded this establishment must have been drunk when he christened it." I shook my head.

"Hmm? What was that you were conversing up?"

"Nothing. I was talking to myself." I groaned. I just wanted to sit down. Jack shifted around the brawling, drunken fellows who were not only pulverizing whoever or whatever they could see, but also shooting their guns at, it almost looked to me, anything that moved! We finally made it to the bar! I leaned forward on the counter, staring down at my hands.

"Jack Sparrow!" The bartender smiled.

"There should be a 'captain' in there somewhere, Boggins." Jack said. "Must I remind your forgetful brain every time?"

"Sorry, Jack. Who's your visitor?"

"Cabin girl!" Jack told him quickly. "Found her on the streets, starving, skinny as a rail. Offered her a place on the Pearl. Good worker though." I shook my head in disbelief. Just how many lies a day did this man tell off the top of his head?

"Welcome to Tortuga." Boggins greeted me. "What'll it be, Jack?"

"Ale for me, thanks."

"Sarsaparilla, please." I moaned.

"Come now! You're gonna sail on the Pearl, ye gotta drink like one!" Jack gaped.

"You order me anything else, and I will be sick! I'm not joking." I retorted. Jack shrugged innocently.

"No need to get testy now, luv." He said, waiting for his drink. "You know, this is the place to learn all the secrets, or find clues to whatever you're searching for." He told me.

"I don't doubt it." I replied, rubbing my forehead. Now the stuffiness and smoke of the room was making my temples ache. "Just what did we come here for?"

"Information." Jack held up his index finger.

"Well, it better be worth it." I breathed heavily.

"Never fails." Jack said. The bartender handed us each a tankard. As I drank the root beer down, it was soothing my current ailments.

"So, what brings ye to Tortuga this time, Jack?" Boggins asked curiously.

"I'm looking for a ship."

"Again? Seems to me yur always lookin' for a ship, or a damsel in distress, or a stolen treasure some rival pirate pilfered off of ye."

"You know me well." Jack grinned. "The Cartwheel. Haven't seen it around here of late, have you?"

"The Cartwheel you say?" Boggins' jaw dropped. "Why would you be lookin' for that bloody vessel?"

"The question be not why I am lookin' for it, but have you seen it? Savvy?"

"Not for a couple years. You know that. It's not as if they're a welcome bunch here! Aye, I pity the poor devils trapped on that ship. Crammed like a net of fish they be."

"Did they spill out anything interesting the last time they passed through?"

"Like...perhaps...something about a captain of some sort?" I asked hopefully. I knew the timing gap since Father's vanishing was very far-fetched, but I just had to at least ask!

"Not that I recall." Boggins tapped his chin. "No. The only thing I heard the ditsy fools brag about was how the money they made off their current load of 'cargo' would buy them loads of my good ale! It would've been flattering to me business, had it not been for the leverage of cargo they referring to."

"Indeed." I snarled. My head was beginning to clear and I suddenly wasn't feeling so queasy anymore!

"Anything else?" Jack asked.

"Nope. That fancy fellow Briggs came struttin' in here like he owned the place. Was I glad to see him leave!"

"Quite." Jack agreed, getting a bright gleam in his eye. He reached into his pocket and pushed a few coppers to Boggins. "Thank you, Sir. You've been very helpful! Come, luv. Our business is finished here."

I grabbed one more sip of root beer. "Thank you." I told Boggins breathlessly, then rushed after Jack. He was acting like a bloodhound on the trail. I lost sight of Jack as I was bumped hard from a large man stumbling backwards with another man on top of him, clenching his throat. "Hey! Watch it!" I huffed at them and tried to find my footing. I narrowly ducked as one drunk sailor swung his bottle at a scraggly looking woman, who spat in his face and kicked him in the hip. "Ugh." I grimaced and tried to make for the door. But another sailor blindly tried to punch me in the eye! I pushed him away and he landed on his side, drunk as a horse and began gulping down his rum as it spilled onto his chest.

"Ohh! Where is he?!" I groaned impatiently. Then another drunk pinned me against the wall as he fought off another fellow pushing him into the wall. He squeezed me hard back up against the wood and I honestly don't think he even knew I was there or what he was doing. I tried to slip away but he was a very able-bodied fellow and so I was stuck. "Ugh. Jack!" I hollered. It would be a miracle if he could hear me above the ruckus! "Jack Sparrow, where are you?!" I yelled.

Then I felt a pair of hands grip my arm and with a sharp kick to my captor's hip, I was free and my rescuer pulled me quickly out through the back door! It wasn't till we were outside that I saw who it was. "Jack! There you are!" I panted.

"I thought you were the one who said we shouldn't waste any time." Jack teased cockily. "I turn me back for one minute, and you decide to have some fun with the lads as it were, eh?"

"Oh, please. As if!" I rolled my eyes. "You slipped out so fast I got caught up in the crossfires. I'm lucky all my bones are still in place, with the way they bashed each other around!"

"Yur bones look perfectly safe to me."

"Ahem!" I grunted loudly. "Anyway, thank you for coming back for me. It was impossible to find a way out of there!"

"You just give it four or five tries and you'll learn to commandeer yur way around." Jack said.

"Who says there will be a next time?" I looked at him incredulously with my fists on my hips.

"You can't visit Tortuga but only once, luv."

"Are we finished here yet?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Hardly. We won't set sail till morning."

"What?! We've got to get going!"

"Now, now. No need to fall to pieces, dear. Aye. You'll be relieved to know that this little visit was not entirely wasted as you may seem to think." He began to walk down the alley.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?" I asked in a rush. "You had a peculiar look on your face when he mentioned the Briggs man. Does that mean anything?"

"It means everything." Jack nodded happily. I grabbed his arm and ran in front of him so he'd face me.

"Wait! Briggs was involved in the Marquis of the Midnight Moon, and we have reason to believe he was responsible for my father vanishing into thin air. Jack, please tell me what this means for us! I can't quite clearly nail it, but I know it means something important!"

"If Briggs is still alive and running the show, then that is the most solid clue we need." Jack nodded then started to walk again.

"Jack! So...if Briggs is alive and well, then...that means...could it be...my father, is...still alive?"

"Darling, if so be the case, which Boggins speaks the truth-at least to me-I can personally guarantee that yur dear old dad is still alive." Jack said fervently. I gasped and my heart raced.

"Oh, Jack..." I tried to speak, but I was too excited. "Oh my! So, you had a good reason for coming to this filthy place. You knew we could find clues here. I want to get out of here as soon as possible, but...thank you! Thank you for coming here, even if I didn't see the light of it at the time." Before I knew it, I threw my arms around him in a hug. I was so happy I couldn't help myself. Jack was most surprised, but quite pleased with himself. He shrugged and stood there smirking. "Oh! Sorry." I laughed timidly, breaking away.

"What's there to be sorry about?" Jack narrowed his eyes.

"I suppose I lost myself there for a moment." I looked away, feeling incredibly shy.

"Regrets?" Jack pouted. "T'isn't every day I get thanked with such tender affection!"

"Oh, you..." I laughed against my will.

"Ahh, I think I see an old friend!" Jack looked across the street to a ladies' dress shop. "Pardon me, luv." He walked quickly up to a woman with the reddest hair I'd ever seen. "Scarlett, miss me much?" He smiled at the woman.

Oh, please! I thought to myself. However, the woman scowled at him and throwing her hand back, she slapped him hard across the face. I bit my lip sympathetically. "Ooo. Ouch!"

"Who's the new hussy?" Scarlett glared at Jack. He looked back at me then her.

"What? Nobody! She's nobody, I promise. Just a friend that owes me a favor. Savvy?"

"That's what they all say." Scarlett squinted and slapped him again, this time harder.

"That had to hurt!" I gulped. Scarlett shoved Jack away then huffed into the dress shop. Jack was rubbing his face when another woman, a tall and pretty blonde, strode over to him.

"Giselle!" Jack exclaimed in relief.

"I have one word for you, and it's not welcoming!" Giselle hissed. And with that, she also smacked his already sore face. This time, I couldn't help giggling. Then she dug her heel into his boot and pushed him so that he fell on his backside. She picked up her yellow skirts and marched away. The men nearby laughed at Jack, while the women scolded him, saying that he deserved every bit of it and more. He finally got back to his feet as I came to him.

"Is this a common occurrence, or is it just an annual thing when you're around?" I teased.

Jack looked at me sorrowfully, as if he'd been expecting me to take pity on him. "Comes with the territory, I suppose." He mumbled, still blinking from his stinging cheeks.

"I can't tell you how happy I am not be you right now." I snickered.

"I can't tell you how happy I am for you not to be me!" Jack replied wittingly.

"We should probably go. The others must be waiting for us." I suggested.

"With the exception of young Turner and Miss Perfect Izzie, I seriously doubt it." Jack shook his head. "Hungry?"

"Thanks, but I think I'll wait till the ship is replenished." I backed away. I didn't want to stay inside the town any longer than necessary. But I hoped it was soon. I was hungry!

"Suit yourself." Jack said and we strolled through town. We met a few of the crew who looked like they were having a merry time doing things I'd rather forget. We finally entered the quieter part of the town when Jack's eyes lit up. "Mustn't forget that!" He exclaimed with glee.

"What?" I asked.

"Can't sail on a dangerous sea voyage without rum!" Jack smiled. "You stay here and wait."

"Alone?"

"Aye. What, can't handle yurself against ruffians and thugs?" Jack challenged me.

"Of course I can." I growled, hoping I came off as much more confident than I felt. "My father and Will were not flimsy trainers!"

"Oh, good. No worries then. I'll just be a minute." Jack stated and made his way down the street to the rum seller's. I sat down on a bench, leaning against the side of a building. I made sure to sit in the light, and as close to the street as possible, so I could see anyone or anything nearby. Just for safety's sake, I ran my hand over the dagger under my skirt and the gun holster at my side. Fortunately, most of my life as a maid had been pretty safe, so I'd hardly ever used the defense tactics I'd been taught, save for a few choice times when I was a child.

"How can he be thinking of rum at a time like this?" I asked myself. I pulled out my diary and quickly began penning my thoughts down.

Jack says my father is alive! He's alive, I'm sure of it! I can't believe it! It's hard to swallow for it to be even possible, but it appears so. My heart is jumping around so much, I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to calm it down again. I cannot wait to get back on the Black Pearl, and off of this unsavory place. But, I suppose it was worth it to find a solid heading!

I was engrossed in my writing that it was only as I stuffed my diary back inside its hiding place, that I noticed intimidating figures out of my peripheral vision! I kept my eyes down, but felt my narrow space being closed in on. Before I knew it, I was surrounded...by four tall, dirty men. I avoided eye contact as my heart began to race. It had been years since I'd faced this kind of scenario. I just prayed they'd move on, and that Jack would hurry back so we could leave! The men reeked of ale, sweat, and animal stalls. I nearly gagged.

"Look it what we got here, boys!" One of the mugs jeered. "A wee lass all by her lonesome." I stiffened, cringing.

"Not bad, right?" The skinny one snickered.

"What makes you think I'm alone?" I asked flatly, hoping the idea of having an escort would scare them off. I still kept my eyes averted.

"Aw, come now." A stout fellow answered. "Ye wouldn't be sittin' around here mopin' less he up an broke yur poor little heart, goin' after some other saucy wench." I grimaced.

"I'm fine, thank you very much." I said firmly. "If you sirs will be so kind as to excuse me, I'm waiting for someone. Now, if you are looking for Captain Jack Sparrow, he's right down the street, at the rum trader's."

"Captain Sparrow, she says! You don't say, lassie. That's very interesting. Yeah, I'd a run-in with old Sparrow once..."

"Excuse me." I huffed and stood on my feet and began to march away into the 'safety' of the crowded street, but they blocked me! "I said, 'Excuse me'!" I snarled.

"What's yur rush, lovie? Fellas come here to have a good time. You wouldn't wanna spoil the mood for us poor, unfortunate, underappreciated souls, now would ya?"

"You're despicable. The whole lot of you!" I hissed, and tried to get away.

"Feisty! Yeah!" The leader cheered. I glanced frightfully toward the street, hoping Jack would see my predicament and shoo the ruffians away. But he seemed caught up in a lively conversation with the rum trader. Which pretty much meant I was on my own. Oh, where were Will and Elizabeth when I needed them?

"I have a pistol, and I'm not afraid to use it!" I warned them.

"Ooo! She's got a pistol!" They laughed scornfully. I'd never done something like this before, but I was scared. I pulled out my gun and aimed it at the man closest to me.

"Convinced?" I sneered, slipping my hand inside my skirt to clench my dagger.

"That won't do ye much good around here." He chuckled. And reached for the muzzle. I was so scared, I only did the first thing that came into my head. I pulled the trigger. The bullet grazed his left arm. He gaped at me, then ran down the street wailing like the big sissy that he was. His partners still nearby me laughed.

"Who's next?!" I hollered, my body shaking as I aimed the gun toward them and clicked it. "W-want some more? No, you don't!"

"Easy there, lovie. We ain't gonna hurt ye." The skinny one shrugged. I revealed my dagger and clung to it. "Now just ease up. Let's just have some fun."

"Noo!" I screeched and fired again. The skinny man's hat blew off.

"Oui now! That's me favorite hat!" He whined.

"Most unfortunate." I glared.

"No one speaks that way to my friend." The fourth one slurred, very drunk. "Ye are my friend, no?" He dazedly asked the skinny man.

"So, ye want to play rough do ye, ye saucy little wench?" The third thug smiled creepily.

"Don't come any closer, you dirty dogs!" I cried, holding up my gun. Did I really just say that?

They came at me. I swung my dagger and began wildly shooting, flailing, and kicking. I got one of them in the nose with my knee as he fell to the ground. One of my stray bullets found the third one's wrist, but he was so drunk he didn't seem to feel it. "Get out!" I yelled as loudly as I could. "Jack! Get off me, you thugs! Leave me alone!" Where the heck was Jack?!

Jack and the ale dealer were reminiscing about old times. With all the commotion in the town already, it was no surprise at all he didn't hear Kate's cries. Until he heard a frantic female voice call out, "Jack!" Jack turned his head and saw a row up the street, but the area was dimly lit so he couldn't make out exactly what was going on.

"Apparently, someone needs my help." Jack sighed. "Good chattin' with ye, Sam. See ya around." He tilted his hat then ran quickly to the source of his town crier. As he neared the building where he'd left Kate, he didn't see any sign of her, much to his relief to know that the jerks weren't hurting her. But three frenzied men were beating up on each other in the dark. Jack rolled his eyes and fired his gun close to their ears. They all drew back, cursing and spitting. "Now that's not very nice." Jack said casually.

"She got away!" The skinny man wailed.

"Well, then I guess this just isn't your lucky day." Jack said cockily, with his hands on his belt. But he was a bit concerned. She'd gotten away. Good for her! But where was she? Had she been able to protect herself from being used by these uglies? "But the fun's over now, boys. Off you go. I'd be movin' yur ugly hides along right about now if I were you." Jack said in a more serious tone. The men stared at him as if he was loony. Jack retrieved his pistol and drew it between their three heads. "Don't make me have to use this again. Savvy?" He squinted dangerously.

"Let's get out of here." The trio muttered and scrambled away.

"Better luck next time, lads. As you were." Jack waved as they scurried away. He put his gun back in the holster. He looked around for Kate but saw no sign of her. "Where is that girl?" He huffed to himself, and began to whistle, as if summoning a dog. "Katie?" He called softly, peering around corners of the building. "Oh, Katie? It's all right, luv. They're gone! We're shippin' out. Where are ye?"

Next thing he knew, a sudden gush of water doused him from out of nowhere, making him choke and gag. And he felt a wooden, solid cylinder around his head. Removing the bucket, he spat and shook his head. He heard a thump in front of him and tried to bat the water out from his foggy eyes. I stood there, glaring. "Aha, Found ye." Jack said with a grin.

"Why did you bring me to a place like...like this?!" I cringed. When the men had roughed me up, I'd managed to stand on top of them, using them as leverage and when they'd started in on each other, I'd been able to hoist myself up to the awning and clamber up to the roof of the building while the goons beat one another.

"Pirate paradise, luv." Jack shrugged casually.

"Disreputable. It's unsavory, in every unimaginable way you can imagine." Oh, drat! Now I'm beginning to talk like him!

"Welcome to the Caribbean, luv. Where ye been hidin'? I was looking for you."

"Apparently, you didn't look soon enough." I crossed her arms.

"Oui?" Jack asked innocently.

"Next time, don't leave me by myself in the middle of a dark alley, overrun with dirt-bags and alley rats!" I seethed. Jack glanced at me incredulously.

"I thought it was you who said that dear William learned you how to defend yurself." He interjected sarcastically.

"Unlike some people I could name, that doesn't mean I just go anywhere looking for trouble!" I replied in exasperation.

"Best get used to it, darlin', if you're gonna stick with me." Jack shrugged with a sigh. I gulped. I should've known better when I chose to ask him of all people to help me, that we were bound to get into some hair-raising scrapes. "Three against one. That doesn't sound very fair to me."

"It was four, actually." I muttered.

"You all right? They didn't do much damage, did they?" Jack asked, genuinely concerned about that part, hoping she hadn't been assaulted.

"Not even half of what they wanted to!" I declared furiously. "I only hope I was able to return it threefold on their sorry faces!" What am I saying? I've been mingling with pirates too long!

Jack smiled proudly. He'd feel bad if something truly terrible had happened to her, and on his watch. But he was pleased to see that she'd somehow managed to hold her own. There were only three women on earth he knew who could do that: Elizabeth Swann, Anamaria, and the woman from Seville. Now he'd be adding a number four to that list, whether he wanted to or not. "Well, good to see they didn't get away with it." He said with a wide smile. She's got the Summers' blood in her veins, no doubt about it. Fighters, they are.

"Was it really necessary to try to drown me?" Jack asked in a more irritated tone.

"Call it a warning." I sighed heavily.

"A warning? For what?"

"If this happens again..." I tried to sound intimidating, like I'd seen him do a few times, but by the amused look on his face, I was obviously failing miserably. I felt even more stupid now.

"You'll what?" Jack squinted haughtily. "Go on, dearie."

Then I could not wipe the smile from my face as a redeeming answer flew to me. "If it happens again, I'll tell my father on you." I said, satisfied. "A matter of leverage, wouldn't you say?" Jack rolled his eyes.

"Fine then." He puffed. "You got me all wet!"

"It'll dry off, if you start walking." I said flatly. "And where have you been?! They took my gun, and my dagger! I was unarmed. Would you honestly not expect me to be infuriated?!"

"Pretty much...not." Jack shrugged.

"And how can you be thinking of rum at a time like this? My father's out there, and I'm gonna find him!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Come. Gotta pick up my rum." Jack slowly trudged forward, with water-logged strides. One of the crew members was at the ale dealer's and Jack made him lug the entire load of rum back to the ship! Jack uncorked a bottle and offered me a sip. I just looked at him blankly. He shrugged and took a swig. I would've ran on ahead of him, but he knew this area better than I did, and I did not want to run into a problem like the one I'd just wriggled out of!

"I know you say this a pirates' paradise," I groaned, "but personally, I fail to see the charm you find in it."

"Freedom, Miss Summers. Freedom!" Jack declared wistfully. I just shook my head and kept walking. In a way, this place was freeing of responsibility and social obligations-which I knew Miss Elizabeth hated-, and it wasn't as if we humans weren't tempted now and then to completely let loose and act all fancy free if given the chance. But here? Shouldn't the line be drawn somewhere at least?

I was quite upset that I'd lost my weapons to those goons, and how stupid it made me feel that they'd been able to get them. And I was sure to hear teasing from Jack about it. I kept hoping he wouldn't bring it up. I gasped with relief when we rounded the corner and the Black Pearl came into view! "At last!" I breathed.

"Leaving so soon?" Jack pouted. "The night is still young."

"Oh, please! I've had more than enough of my fill of 'fun' tonight, thank you. I'm rather tired and would like some peace and quiet."

"Then why did you follow me?" Jack asked, greatly irritated. Apparently, he was going back into town for some relaxation.

Seriously?! Are you so dense? I gaped. "'Cause you've got the gun!" I retorted sharply.

"Oh." Jack grunted.

The ending, I'm thinking, "Uh, yeah. Duh!"