I apologize for not including the monkey. I recently watched DMC and realized the monkey didn't return to Barbossa till the end when he came back from the dead. So, sorry, I should've written the little miscreant into this story before now.

Are they ever going to find Kate's father?

"Noo!" Elizabeth cried in alarm. "You beast!" She charged at Conner, raising her fists. He grabbed her wrists and chuckled.

Will dashed toward the edge of the ship, but Jack pulled him back and tilted his head toward Conner, as if to say, "I've got this one, mate. You take care of the cuttlefish." Jack shoved his effects into Gibbs' hands, then sprang off the ship, diving into the water. The thugs all gaped, speechless.

"You dirty rat!" Will snapped and lunged at Conner. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?!" As the officers were rendered speechless, Anamaria and the crew were preparing to draw their weapons and fight.

"Like you, whelp?" Conner grinned. But then Jack the little monkey scrambled up the captain's side, stole his pistol and fired at Conner's own men.

"Attack!" Will commanded, then all chaos erupted.

Jack swam downward, hard and fast, thankful it was still daylight so he could see under the water better. Although the farther down he went, the darker it was becoming. He couldn't let the lass drown. But he didn't see her! He would have to resurface before his lungs burst before too long, and if he hadn't found her by then...in this open ocean...it would be too late.

Come on, Katie! Where are ye?! He shouted in his mind. He felt a pulsing through his chest, and he sensed the familiar urge to swim back up...soon! He was beginning to lose hope that this would be one rescue he might not make. If he didn't...

Jack finally spotted her! She was so limp and continued to sink. Jack swam faster, till he just reached her, and quickly slipping his arm around her small waist, pulled her up as he kicked back vigorously with his feet. Jack's head finally broke the surface as he gasped. He struggled to keep Kate on his shoulder. Granted, she was shorter than Elizabeth-so, a bit smaller-but she wasn't making any effort to wake or swim. Jack gasped hard for the air, but then his arm cramped up and they began to sink again! He fought against the dark currents below, making sure he didn't let go of her, for if he did she'd fall to the depths and be lost to Davy Jones' locker. But he couldn't keep this up forever, and it wasn't like they were anywhere close to land!

He managed to break surface again, frantically whipping his head around for any signs of help. "Jack!" He heard Gibbs call from somewhere. "Jack! Up here! Grab the line!" He looked to his left and saw Gibbs on the Pearl, throwing him a long rope. With his free arm, Jack anxiously reached for it and clenched it with all his strength when he felt it in his grip. "Jack, ye got it?!"

"Got it! Now pull us up!" Jack called back. With Gibbs and his friends tugging back on the line, Jack could let his arms relax a little. He kicked his feet to keep pace, and kept his other arm firmly around Kate, who just leaned weakly on him. "Almost there, luv. Hold on." Jack whispered to her. "Don't you go off and die on me now." He told her sternly, though she couldn't hear him. It felt like forever before they were finally within arm's length of the ship.

"Jack, you're all right!" Gibbs cheered. "You got her!"

"Get her on board." Jack commanded him. Will threw himself over the edge of the boat and clambered down the ladder, reaching his arms out. As soon as Jack gripped a plank on the wall, Will took Kate and crept up the ladder with her. Elizabeth met him and helped him bring their friend away from the edge and onto the floor.

Gibbs helped Jack up. "You had us really worried there for a minute! That was some rescue, Jack." He commented.

"Not quite a rescue yet, mate. Not sure if she's even breathing." Jack panted, with a streak of concern. He was wet and cold. He hoped he hadn't been too late!

"Kate? Kate, can you hear me?" Will asked the girl, gently patting her face. She didn't respond. Elizabeth leaned down close to her mouth, shaking her shoulder a little.

"Is she dead?" Ragetti asked.

Will and Elizabeth sat her upright to try to get the water out. Her eyes gaped open and she began to choke. "She's alive." Elizabeth said in relief. Will turned her on her side and began slapping her back and shook her shoulders. Kate threw her head back and began spitting out gushes of salt water. Elizabeth couldn't help but remember that time only a year ago when she'd been the one on the ground coming to and choking after Jack had saved her from drowning.

"You saved her, Jack." Will approved gratefully.

"Gotta do whatcha gotta do, mate." Jack shrugged innocently, but he was very relieved that he'd been able to help.

"Wh-what happened?" Kate gasped as she saw her two good friends' heads hovering right above her own.

"Kate? Are you all right?" Elizabeth asked softly. Kate sluggishly sat up, clinging to her friend's arms.

"C-c-cold. I'm c-c-cold. So cold!" She stammered shakily. Will offered her his coat.

"Best take her inside." Jack said.

"Of course. Come on." Elizabeth smiled and helped her friend to her feet. "I'll look after her." She walked Kate to their cabin.

"Thank you, Jack." Will sighed with relief.

"And what of the filthy dogs that creepy-crawled their way onto my ship?!" Jack growled, narrowing his eyes.

"All locked tight and solid in the brig, Cap'n! Snug like a tin of sardines!" Marty announced.

"Excellent." Jack nodded. "And what of the dear captain?" He asked saucily.

"Oh, we got a special place for him, we does." Pintel gloated, gesturing toward the mast. Captain Conner was out cold, tied securely to the mast-six feet above the ground!-unarmed, his head lolling down to his chest.

"Ahh, good lads." Jack smirked. "A fine reward for such a generous fellow, don't you think?"

"Aye!" The crew agreed.

"The officers weren't worth breaking a sweat, really." Gibbs explained as he handed back Jack's effects to him. "But now the captain, aye, he's a tough old bird."

"But the dear lady had the fortitude and initiative to put the dirty fungus out of his misery." Marty smiled at Anamaria. She was smiling widely, with her arms crossed, and a cast-iron skillet in her hands. Jack squinted in sheer approval at her. She'd never looked more beautiful than when she was on fire.

"Ashamed I missed it." He mumbled.

"Yes, it was!" Anamaria scolded him, playfully. Then Jack pulled Gibbs aside.

"She didn't bring down any permanent damage on him, did she?" Jack whispered worriedly.

"No, no. Just enough to insure he gets a good, long sleep." Gibbs assured him.

"Good. Would hate to lose Anamaria to the noose for manslaughter." Jack sighed.

"But it'll be the devil to pay when the dear captain wakes up with a champion of a headache!" Gibbs warned him.

"I am looking forward to that." Jack smiled.

Elizabeth helped Kate change into some warm, dry clothes, but she was still shivering. "Here." Elizabeth placed a blanket around her shoulders. "Don't want you to catch cold."

"Elizabeth, where are the...what happened to..." Kate trembled as she sat on the bed.

"They'll be spending the night most comfortably...crammed down in the brig!" Elizabeth huffed.

"Good!" Kate added. "What did happen?"

"Conner took his hand to you so that you lost consciousness and then knocked you into the water. You could've drowned. Jack jumped in and saved your life!"

"Jack? He...did that? I must thank him!"

"Of course. But later might be a wiser time. Right now you should rest."

"That doesn't sound half bad." Kate agreed.

Will knocked on the door. "Come in!" Elizabeth told him. Will stepped in quietly with Gibbs in tow.

"Kate? How are you feeling?" Will asked.

"I'm alive..." Kate sighed heavily. "So cold."

"Well, keep warm. Here, you should eat this." Will said, handing her a quarter loaf of bread from the food they'd purchased in England.

"I...I can't." Kate shook her head.

"Don't argue." Will interjected and shoved the bread into her hands. "Go ahead. Eat it. It'll help you regain your strength."

"Thank you, Will." Kate nodded.

"You should've seen Jack, miss!" Gibbs boasted. "Didn't waste a moment. Just climbed to that rail and jumped right into the sea, like a dolphin. And never once did he let you slip, even though he was trying to keep the both of you above water."

"Oh my goodness." Kate bit her lip. "Is he all right?"

"Aye, he's fine. Jack's a strong swimmer, he is. A real hero today, wouldn't you say?"

"Aye." Elizabeth nodded, smiling.

"Two rescues in one day. Yes, I suppose he is." Will shrugged.

"I'll have to thank him." Kate murmured quietly.

"But not at the moment. You rest, and you can speak to Jack later." Will told her, ever sounding like the big brother he fancied himself to be. "I'll leave now. I'm glad you're all right." He smiled and walked out. Gibbs followed him.

Kate cocked her head at Elizabeth. "Just how did you manage to infiltrate those bilge rats?" She asked. "Last thing I remember...they had us outnumbered." A naughty smile filled Elizabeth's face.

An hour later, Elizabeth was silently emerging from her cabin when Jack strode over to her. "Shhh!" Elizabeth held up her index finger. "Keep your voice down."

"Aye." Jack nodded. "How's the little lass?"

"She's sleeping."

"Good."

"And I'll not have you creating a disturbance."

"Mum's the word, luv." Jack squinted. "So, Lizzie, I hear you girls had a lot of fun while I was out rescuing the helpless damsel in distress." He said huskily. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.