With the Cartwheel's crew and army out of commission, Will was helping the previous slaves make themselves comfortable on the vessel, on real beds, with food, and clothes. Many of them were deeply grateful, while there was a handful of others who were deathly suspicious of why the pirates had rescued them! Elizabeth, Cotton, Pintel, and Ragetti helped Will try to put the prisoners at ease. They searched the crowd for a possible sailor. One old man, with graying hair, numerous scars and tattoos, and weathered skin said he could man the Cartwheel, as he'd served under a French sea captain, before Briggs' men had captured him, intending to sell him like a prize hog! Being a seasoned reader of people, the fellow rounded some sturdy men from the galley that he knew would make good sailors.

Jack told the slaves that they were free now, free to sail the ocean wherever they liked. Many were afraid that Briggs' men and or the East India Trading Company would hunt them down. Jack knew they were most likely right about that! "I know just the place for you, mateys. One word: Tortuga." Jack told the 'captain'. "Sail there, set up shop, and you're as free as the fish in the ocean!" The new captain of the Cartwheel had been to Tortuga a few times in his travels and he had no qualms about taking his load of escapees there to start a new life. Now, whether they ended up choosing to stay in that place would be up to them! The new captain thanked Jack heartily. "No need for that, mate." Jack shrugged smugly. "If you ever happen to run into trouble in these unforeseeable, treacherous waters, just give a yell for Captain Jack Sparrow!"

"Jack, you didn't set them free all by yourself." Elizabeth corrected him, after they'd watched the Cartwheel tread to the horizon.

"My idea though, was it not?" Jack retorted saucily. Elizabeth wasn't going to waste her breath trying to debate with him.

Seeing as Kate was safely resting, and they'd set sail again, Jack decided to go downstairs and have a look at the scurvy sea-dogs his hearty crew had managed to turn the tables on. As he entered the brig, Conner's men hollered at him from the cells. Jack gaped at them, feigning shock at their behavior. "Now, now, now, lads. Let's not lose our heads." Jack said lightly, waving his hands in the air.

"What have you done with our ship?!" One of the officers bellowed. "Thieves!"

"Pirate's life, mate." Jack grinned. "Take what you can, give nothing back."

"Let us out of here! We can barely move around!" Another hollered.

"That's a shame, really." Jack stated. "I seem to recall another set of sailors, very recently now, that were in about the same unfriendly predicament you're in now. Though might I say, my accommodations are much more friendly than the ones you deserve, ye cowardly codpieces."

"Filthy pirate! You have no right to keep us in here."

"Was that not the same inhumane, unsanitary, demeaning treatment you gave those what-do-call-it's on your ship? Let me think. What were they called?" Jack winced and tapped his head, pretending to have difficulty thinking. "No, no. Don't tell me! It's comin' to me!"

"I believe the general phrase used by such dogs is livestock." Will snarled. "Or have I got that wrong?"

"Noo. No, that ain't it." Jack grimaced, pretending to be annoyed with Will. "Ahh, I've got it! Yes, they're called slaves...human cargo, are they not?" He leered at his confined prisoners.

"It's what's done." One of the patrolmen muttered.

"Just because it's what's done, doesn't mean it should be done!" Elizabeth huffed sharply as she appeared. Will smiled proudly at her. "You treat people no better than supplies you toss onto a ship. Beastly curs is what you are. Despicable." Jack rolled his eyes.

"Ahem!" He grunted loudly. "The last time I looked, this was my ship! My ship, I get to harass and entertain the guests. I don't need no help from two waifs who don't know when to seal their traps shut!"

"Oh, go on and berate us, if you like." Elizabeth told him. "These men need to understand what it means to be human!"

"And I was coming to that." Jack moaned in 'exasperation'. "The attractive, but overly zealous, notoriously outspoken missy does bring up a very pointed point though, gentlemen." He turned his attention back on the soldiers. "You'll be happy to know that your precious vessel is in capable hands."

"Happy isn't the word I would use to describe the way they're looking, Jack." Will said sarcastically.

"Good point." Jack nodded. "Aye, you can relax, gentlemen. Your ship will be well looked after."

"By slaves!" An officer gagged. "By those...those...scum-eaters! The idea!" Then he let out a fistful of curses.

"They're not scum-eaters! They're...people, same as you." Elizabeth said firmly.

"Can someone let me out? I'm beginning to feel faint and believe I am going to be seasick from listening to this nonsense." Another officer scoffed.

"Well then, let us get out of your way." Will retorted and followed Elizabeth outside. Jack began to pursue them. The men protested.

"Sorry, can't help you, fellows!" Jack waved to them wistfully. "But while you're on my ship, you're going to learn a hard lesson, about showing some respect for you fellow man, slave or not." And with that, he made his way back up to deck, ignoring the verbal abuse being hurled at him.

"Captain? What about him?" One of the men asked Jack, gesturing toward 'the flea', who was still gagged, tied to another mast far away from Conner.

"Leave him there." Jack muttered. "We'll serve him up later."

"I'm hoping you mean size up." Elizabeth quipped. "Will tells me he tried to protect the slaves from you!"

"Eh." Jack shook his head. "All a cheap, theatrical facade. The beanpole was afraid of losing his meager wages, so naturally he takes it upon himself to keep his master's merchandise around."

"I don't agree." Will spoke up. Jack rolled his eyes and pouted pitifully.

"No use frettin' over a mangy scamp who's of no use to us anyway." Jack cleared his throat. "He'll be done away with the rest of the bloody blokes...just as soon as I can spot the perfect place for them."

Kate woke up from a restful sleep, but a small breeze ran through the cabin, so she pulled a blanket over her shoulders and made her way outside. It was dusk, but the stars in the heavens were shining brightly already. It was a welcome sight after a rough day. Kate leaned on the rail, looking out on the dark horizon. "Father, if you're out there, please hang on a little longer. When we find you, I'm taking you home, no matter what!"

Kate clutched her blanket closer around her shoulders. She didn't feel sickly, but the slight ocean breeze did send shivers through her. She heard clomping footsteps behind her. "I didn't expect to see ye out on deck!" Jack stated loudly. "I'd have thought you'd prefer to stay in bed at this time."

"I was...just thinking." Kate sighed wistfully.

"Mmm. The sea is an excellent place for such solitude." Jack agreed and also looked out on the dark water. "You look much better." He said, tilting his head. "Can I offer you some rum? It'll take the chill away."

"No, thank you." Kate grinned, shaking her head.

"Splendid. More for meself." Jack gulped down the ugly brown liquid.

"Thank you, Jack." Kate said quietly.

"For what, love?" Jack asked curiously.

"For saving my life today." Kate smiled softly.

"Captain Jack Sparrow, love," Jack spread out his arms theatrically, "rescuer of fair damsels in distress, at your service!" Kate couldn't help giggling heartily. But then tried to settle down after a coughing fit. "Ye sure no rum? It will make ye forget about the barking."

"No."

"Pity." Jack quipped.

"Not so." Elizabeth teased him as she appeared. "It is a vile drink..."

"Ohh." Jack cringed. "Listen not to her, Katie! She has insidious scruples that will lamentably, regrettably, pathetically rub off on ye if you don't draw the line!" Kate just laughed.

"Well, someone has to draw the line around here." Elizabeth squinted at the captain.

"What ever for?" Jack asked pitifully. "A good pirate has to relax sometimes!"

"What happened to the slaves?" Kate asked, changing the subject. "And I don't see the Cartwheel."

"They're free now." Elizabeth said proudly. She was more than satisfied having been a partner in the endeavor to set free humans that had been severely mistreated. "Jack let them take the ship that held them captive."

"Good riddance!" Kate glared. "I don't want to see that awful boat again!"

"Nobody would blame you for that, love." Jack smiled.

"It's so difficult to wrap my mind around...that my own father was on that ship, a lifetime ago." Kate said, more to herself than to them.

"Maybe...he found a way to escape." Elizabeth offered hopefully. Jack drank his rum. He knew better.

"I hope so." Kate nodded. But if he escaped, then why didn't he come back home to us?

"So, Lizzie, were you afraid when those fancy-dressed beetles took over my ship, till I came to the rescue?" Jack asked flirtatiously.

"Of course...not." Elizabeth lied. "We could take them, and so we did."

"Ahh. You hesitated." Jack pointed out. "So you were afraid!" He teased mercilessly.

"I was...concerned. They had us outnumbered after all." Elizabeth said defensively. "I was...trying to improvise an attack strategy, but Will beat me to it."

"Where is the whelp anyway?" Jack asked wryly.

"He's keeping the prisoners in line." Elizabeth said.

"Ha!" Jack huffed. Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something but stayed silent and marched away.

"Hey." Kate frowned at Jack. "She's spoken for!"

"A fellow can dream." Jack shrugged.

You are the strangest person I have ever met. "You don't like Will, do you?" Kate asked in an offensive tone. Jack frowned in 'surprise'.

"He's just a bit too honest for my comfort." Jack said, twisting his mustache. "And dreadfully impulsive, and notoriously law-abiding."

"And that's a bad thing?" Kate raised an eyebrow. Jack fidgeted.

"Piracy isn't all that bad." He remarked. "Just trying to earn a living, eh?"

"You know, honesty isn't a bad thing." Kate replied.

"Ugh. You've been hanging around bloody, stupid Will and Miss Swann too long." Jack joked.

"Will is not stupid!" Kate scolded him. "He just...maybe sometimes, he cares too much. I character trait I happen to find very attractive but rare in a man." Kate squinted at Jack with a hand on her hip.

"Ahh, to be young and in love." Jack scoffed. "Dreadful waste of time." Kate said nothing, but solemnly looked out to sea again. Jack took another large swig of rum. He was getting the silent treatment.

"I almost died today." Kate said, hanging her head. She sounded shocked.

"Ahh, but Captain Jack Sparrow sent that event packing." Jack boasted.

"I might not even be here, right now..." Kate continued, the reality of life's fragility holding her attention widely.

"Well, then I say it's your lucky day!" Jack exclaimed. "Come, come. Buck up, dearie. You should be celebrating rather than moping over it."

"I'm not moping." Kate said defensively. "I'm just...facing it." The fact that she'd nearly perished from this earth, forever this afternoon made her shudder. So, it's true then, what Mother told me so many times: we're not promised tomorrow. Kate looked at Jack.

"Something on your mind, luv?" Jack asked curiously.

"Aren't you ever afraid?" Kate asked thoughtfully.

"Eh? Afraid? Of what?" Jack chuckled.

"Of the sea? Or...rather, the unknown dangers of the sea. Sea monsters, merciless other pirates, hurricanes...not knowing if you'll come back from your voyage?"

"Nay, luv. I love the sea." Jack said passionately, getting a faraway look on his face. "It's not just a place to go, for touristy tourists. It's a small chunk, a piece of a considerable, much bigger world, to be explored. Just imagine, places no one has ever been to yet! Magnificent treasures beyond one's wildest dreams at one's fingertips, all ready for the taking. Miles and miles of open ocean...freedom! That's what it all really is...freedom."

Kate listened pensively. She'd never heard Jack speak so passionately, so heartfelt about anything before. "It is beautiful." She spoke up. "But there are so many things out there that could hurt us, and so unexpectedly!"

"You'll find plenty of unforeseeable dangers on solid ground, darling." Jack reminded her solemnly.

"That's not untrue." Kate agreed sheepishly. "But the dangers at sea, mythical or not, are so blood-curdling. The sea monsters, ghosts...living nightmares! Doesn't that ever frighten you, Jack?"

"All part of the adventure, luv. It's what makes it so thrilling, taking on things bigger than life than no one else believes you can dare challenge!" Jack said grandly.

"Well, I'm not that adventurous." Kate said with embarrassment. She was discussing fear and weak spots with a seasoned sea captain after all! Pirates were tough, and didn't think about those things. I must sound like such a wimp. But I'm not making for land off this ship till we find my father!

"It's not the ocean waters that is dangerous. It's what you don't want to believe in, things very real, but unseen under the waters and sometimes on, that is to be feared."

"My mother used to say that we're not promised tomorrow." Kate said.

"Yur mother sounds like a wise lady of the female kind. Lamentably, a rare trait I hardly run across in my travels."

"Well, right now that statement of hers brings little comfort to me." Kate shook her head.

"Fear is quite inspiring, you know." Jack said casually.

"What?" Kate blinked.

"Oh, yes. It always inspires me!"

"To what?" Kate was taken aback.

Jack sighed. "To find a way quickly, to get out of or away from whatever it is that is putting the fear in me."

"Ohh..." Kate giggled. "Right, of course. So, you aren't not afraid, of some things."

Jack bit his lip. "If it contains the proper leverage of frightfully fearful, seemingly, horribly dead ends...then, I suppose you could say I do have a sense of...urgency, if the moment calls for it."

"Not an exact admittance," Kate chuckled, "but I'll take that as an indirect non-incriminating reply."

"Oui?" Jack acted confused.

"Nothing." Kate shook her head and turned to go. "Thank you, for not letting me drown today." She smiled warmly.

"I wouldn't let that happen, luv." Jack said nonchalantly. "Where would be the fun in that? I haven't shown or even begun to teach you all the wonderful, thrilling delights that comes with a pirate's life!" Kate rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh. "Besides, promised to help you find yur dear old dad. Now how would it look if I showed up and found him at long last, but without his pushy, determined, brave daughter to present to him in person, eh?"

"Thanks." Kate stepped away, then turned back. "Jack...do you really think I'm brave?"

"Aye, luv. Wouldn't lie to you about that." Jack nodded. Kate smiled and officially left him.

Kate made her way towards the helm but noticed Anamaria cleaning 'the flea's' dirty face off with a wet cloth. "I don't know why you're bothering to do this for me." The young man said. She'd removed the gag from his mouth. "But thank you very much!"

"Aww, don't mention it, love." Anamaria told him in a motherly fashion. At least now he looked like he had a face!

"Did the captain give you permission?"

"Balderdash. Unlike addle-brained Jack, I know a good man when I see one." Anamaria boasted. The young man smiled at her.

"Excuse me, Anamaria?" Kate interrupted them.

"Aye, missy?" Anamaria turned to her.

"I've recovered my bearings. Is there anything you could use some of my help with tonight?" Kate offered.

"Aye. I'll be with you as soon as I'm finished here." Anamaria said. "Now then, I'll go find you a bite to eat. You're skin and bones." She scolded 'the flea'.

"That does sound wonderful." He smiled. Anamaria tromped off to the ship's hold. Kate lingered for a moment, but kept her eyes on the ground. The young fellow stared at her. She was the girl who'd tried to stand up for him! "I didn't think I'd see you again! I wanted to thank you, Miss. For trying to keep them from turning me into fish bait. I'm very grateful!" He exclaimed.

"That's all right." Kate shook her head. "They're supposedly my friends, but that doesn't mean I always agree with their methods. Or understand the methods behind their madness. But you're welcome, fellow."

"You're too kind to be one of those blokes. You're a pirate too?" He asked.

"No, not really. I'm no pirate." Kate sighed. "I don't have what it takes. On this ship, more along for the ride as it were. I'm here on a personal rescue voyage, but had to make a bargain with a pirate to accomplish that. Not the soundest or safest decision I've ever made!" She berated herself, making the bound fellow laugh. "Look, I'm not sure what Captain Sparrow intends to do with you, but I just want you to know that I think it was brave and very good of you to try to stand up for those poor prisoners the way you did!"

"Thank you..." The boy said slowly, surprised at hearing such praise. "And, my name is Thomas, miss."

"Thomas what?"

"Just Thomas."

"Well..." Kate smiled warmly, "goodnight, Mister Just Thomas." That earned her another giggle from the young man as Anamaria returned and fed him a bit of bread. Kate went off to find Elizabeth.

"She was so nice." The boy sighed wistfully. Anamaria squinted at him.

"It ain't gonna last for you, if the captain has anything to say about it!" She warned him. She knew that look. "So be kind to yurself and put it out of yur mind." The boy just smiled and opened his mouth as she fed him.

"There you are." Kate smiled when she saw Elizabeth again. Elizabeth hugged her.

"You look like you regained some color." Elizabeth noted. Then she looked closely at her friend. "I'd say more than just a little color." She smirked.

"Huh?" Kate frowned.

"Forget it. Were you very frightened, when you nearly drowned?" Elizabeth asked.

"Not really." Kate shook her head. "Because I was unconscious, so I didn't really even know it was happening. Not nearly as afraid as I was when that sea serpent rose it's ugly head out of the water! It was like being in a nightmare we couldn't wake up from!"

"I know. Even though I realized that Barbossa and his crew were people too, under a curse, I still did endure some sleepless nights after it was all over." Elizabeth admitted.

"I can't imagine being in the presence of the living dead!" Kate exclaimed. "How can you think of going back to sea after such a terrifying experience?"

Elizabeth shrugged, smiling. "If you look around, you'll find that there are bigger and more lovely things to do and see out on the ocean besides monsters." She said wistfully.

"You're much braver than I am!"

"Kate, I think you are very brave to rally up an entire buccaneer crew to help you find your long lost father." Elizabeth interjected.

"Well, Jack did that part."

"I mean it. You persuaded him to help you, and Jack doesn't usually go along with those types of bargains unless there's something in it for him!"

"Who knows? Maybe there is, something we don't know about." Kate sighed. "But what matters is that he agreed to it. As long as he actually knows what he's doing."

"Sometimes I wonder about that." Elizabeth remarked.

"Please! Don't destroy my confidence, because right now I don't have any!"

"Don't fret, Kate. I was merely teasing." Elizabeth chuckled. "Jack might be a wily old pirate, but you can trust him." Elizabeth hugged her lady in waiting tightly, much longer this time. Kate breathed heavily, relishing in the comforting touch. It had been so long since she'd felt this way, with someone's arms around her.

"Thank you, Mis-Elizabeth." Kate breathed when she broke away. "I really needed that."

"We almost lost you today! I'm glad you're safe and still with us."

"Me too." Kate sniffled. "Well, I'd better go assist Anamaria. Goodnight, Elizabeth." Kate curtsied.

"Goodnight." Elizabeth said. As Kate left, Will surprised Elizabeth by coming up behind her and touching her hand.

"Did I scare you?" Will grinned.

"No. Just caught me by surprise." Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you for not forcing me to stay on the ship during the ambush today. I would never have spoken to you again!"

"Did you really think I would be able to talk you out of it?" Will retorted playfully. That was one of the things he loved about Elizabeth. She had a mind of her own.

"You couldn't." Elizabeth smirked. So, Kate is afraid of what she doesn't know. Jack...Jack will never admit what he's afraid of. As for me? What do I fear most? I...I feel it is, not understanding what it is I want most in this life.