I'm so excited to finally get this chapter up! I literally just watched an old interview with actor Paul Blackthorne-who did a spectacular job portraying Captain Quentin Lance in Arrow-and I got to actually hear his British accent! I knew he was originally British, but I've only ever heard his American voice in Arrow. I didn't even pray for this, but God brought it to me at the perfect time, as I was trying to imagine him speaking in his native tongue-for my imagination in this chapter to seem more real-! I mean, how cool is that?

Paul Blackthorne is the man I picture in my mind as Kate's long lost father.

Hope you like this chapter. Please leave reviews!

Kate's POV

It has been days-no, weeks since we left England so much so that I have lost count of how long we have been at sea. The vast water stretches on for miles and miles. What I would give to see a sight of land! Each new day brinks in my mind a whirl of hope mingled with dread. Each new day I hope and pray with all my heart is one step closer to finding my father, if he is even still alive. But I'm terrified. What if we don't make it to Bermuda? What if we do, and...and he ISN'T there anymore? What will we do then?

I've been trying so hard to merge together in my mind everything I can remember about my father, what he looked like, how he sounded, what it was like to be in his presence, but the lingering memoirs are hazy. If...if we don't find him...if he is alive but somewhere no person on earth can find him, then I will have failed, failed the promise I made to my mother! And when I meet her in this afterlife, that is one confession I do not want to have to make to her!

Kate clutched her necklace as she wrote in her little diary. The long days at sea were making her homesick, and she wondered if this journey she concocted would ever end! She gently rubbed her left shoulder, where her scars were. They'd healed, but were still quite alarming to look at. She prayed that she hadn't suffered them for nothing.

She flipped through the pages, looking at sketches she'd worked on. She grinned when she came to the rough one she'd managed of Jack. She went back to the page of the first day she'd met Jack, when he'd agreed to help her find Captain Summers. It felt like years since that day had come, and now it felt like years before they'd ever finish this trip.

"Hey." Thomas smiled at her. She looked up.

"Oh. I didn't know you were there." Kate said quietly.

"Ahh, well, Jack finally let me have a little free time. I swear, that man works me like a horse." Thomas joked. He sat down beside her. "You've been very preoccupied of late, and I couldn't help but notice...you seem sad."

"Just, many pressing things on my mind." Kate sighed without facing him.

"Aye." Thomas nodded. "That's quite a necklace you have. I don't recall seeing one like it before."

"My father gave it to me when I was just a child. I've always kept it."

"Mph. I'm sure he's happy to know that."

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Thomas cocked his head.

"My father disappeared when I was only six. My mother fled England with me and settled in Jamaica. She died nine years ago. I promised her I'd find my father, or at least what happened to him. Now it feels like it's all just a precious waste of time." Kate mumbled, hanging her head.

"I don't think so." Thomas shook his head. "Seems to me you've gathered every lead possible."

"Thanks to Jack. He knew Dad. That's why I had to enlist his help. He's the only one who can help me find him."

"Well, I'm here too. And I can help." Thomas offered. Kate looked down at him. He was smiling widely, looking like an eager puppy. Kate instantly smiled back.

"Thank you." She murmured. Thomas hesitated, not sure if he should, then he slowly took her hand in his and just held it. Kate inhaled deeply and looked into his eyes. "Maybe us coming upon the slave ship, wasn't mere luck...or accident."

"I think not." Thomas grinned.

Will and Elizabeth were peeking at the pair from inside the girls' cabin. "Would you look at that?" Will remarked.

"I think it's wonderful." Elizabeth smiled.

"Mmm. He's a fine lad."

"He reminds me a little bit of you." Elizabeth scooted closer to Will.

"Me?"

"Mmm-hmm." Elizabeth nodded. "He's sweet, and so eager to do what's right. And thoughtful...precious...and brave." She leaned her head close to under his chin.

"How do we keep getting thrown into these types of adventures?" Will asked playfully.

"Jack. Things become ripples in the still water every time he comes around." Elizabeth laughed.

A Week Later

"Land ho!" Ragetti shouted from the crow's nest. Everyone raced to the starboard side. Jack pulled out his spyglass. Sure enough, they were sailing straight to a long stretch of land.

"Where could we be?" Elizabeth asked.

"Bermuda, mates!" Jack declared with satisfaction.

"B-Bermuda?" Kate gasped.

"Aye. We've reached our destination." Jack said. "Prepare to weigh anchor." He started making his way to the helm. Kate was on his heels. "What, luv?" Jack turned back to her. "You're pursuing me like a terrier. Must have something valuable to tell me." He teased.

"Jack, I..." Kate was at a loss for words.

"Yes?" Jack asked slowly.

"We...we made it! We're here. I never could've gotten this far without your help. I'm so grateful." Kate said. Jack shrugged, but it was clear he was eating up every word of praise.

"Aye, luv. It's been one exciting adventure, has it not?"

"A little more adventurous than I would've preferred. But it will be worth it if...if only we can find..."

"We'll find him, luv. Never fear." Jack said tenderly. "He's there. I can feel it."

"I pray you're right!" Kate exclaimed.

It was after dark when they finally made it to land. Jack warned the crew to use caution, as this was one of the most popular slave trading ports in the Caribbean. They anchored off shore and approached in the long boats. There were many other ships around, but Jack had moored the Black Pearl far off so it wouldn't spook the landlubbers and interrupt their important mission. He demanded that Thomas and Anamaria remain on the ship: Anamaria would instantly be looked at as good slave profit, and Thomas was so young and new to the crew that Jack didn't want to take any chances on him screwing up the operation.

"And just how, Jack, do you intend for us to stroll about town without being captured?" Will asked as they rowed along the dark water.

"Just follow my lead, mate." Jack smirked. As usual, he had a plan and also as usual, he wasn't telling anyone just what that was. Elizabeth and Kate were dressed in their pirate clothes. Gibbs told them it would be safer, as pirates also came to this place for slave trading and that the two girls were lustful property. But if they disguised as pirates coming to make business then they should be safe.

As they finally docked the boats, Jack told the harbor master that they had come on business to find some 'able-bodied' livestock. The harbor master completely fell for it and let them pass on without interruption. As they strolled through the town, it was obvious to see who was well-to-do and who was the 'scum of the earth'. Those who could survive had clothes, the richer ones showing off their wealth. The poor people wore barely any clothing, their bodies were filthy and malnourished, and they begged on the street for food like dogs. Obviously, a slave auction was being held in the town square. Jack and his crew observed from the back of the crowds as dark-skinned people, some even children, were dragged up to the platform in shackles, whipped if they didn't behave or stand properly, and were bartered for like horses. It was very sobering to watch. Kate felt like throwing up, to think what these people were forced to go through, and knowing that her own father had been put on display like that so cruelly. It was inhumane!

Jack shooed his crew away from the revolting sight. Slaves were all over the town, laboring strenuously for whatever tasks they were commanded, their feet shackled and being flogged by an overseer when they didn't move fast enough. "We can't just leave this place in the shape it's in now." Elizabeth groaned sadly. "We have to do something!"

"You're quite right." Jack nodded. "Keep a sharp eye, and try to mingle. Less conspicuous. Katie, you stay with Gibbs. Lizzie...you and the whelp...ugh...do whatever."

"Where are you going?" Will frowned.

"Business, mate." Jack shrugged. "I think I see an old friend." Naturally, he scurried over to the rum trader and the two men began talking and laughing as if they were old friends.

"Where don't we go that this fellow isn't acquainted with someone?" Kate asked.

"I've resigned to asking that question long ago." Will sighed.

"Jack's connections can be questionable, but they are solid." Elizabeth said.

Jack had been contemplating in his mind the whole voyage where he could find Captain Summers if he was still in Bermuda. Yes, he'd make an excellent slave, with his stature and build. But also, considering Briggs' tactics, Jack's old friend would most likely be put in a position intended as a cruel mockery to his former life. If his hunch was right, Briggs would intend to scorn his father, and make him eat all the words of life's great lessons he'd tried to teach his son. Jack found a few pirates and asked them if they'd ever been to Bermuda. One of them did, and bragged about it. Jack claimed to be new and asked where everything was. That's where he got his answer.

Jack strode through the torch light on the dark streets, toward the large gates of the town's main work-yard, where the slaves were severely forced to manually labor and were treated no better than oxen. As Jack made his way there, he saw a few guards dragging away a small, older man who looked barely alive. He was bleeding badly. Apparently, he'd been reprimanded today and was finally released of his torturous punishment. Jack grimaced in the shadows, watching and put a fist over his heart as he bowed. Then, he sauntered over to one of the guards who stood alert at the gateway. The man's partner across the way was sleeping, dead drunk, so he didn't notice the pirate. Jack watched the other guard.

He was very tall, with broad shoulders. He stood keenly astute like a soldier at attention. He had dark, aged hair underneath his hat, and dark stubble peppered his face. His dull frown of anger and disgust told that he'd seen better days. He observed his surroundings, with dark, troubled eyes, his doleful features sagging as if the gruesome sights he took in every day were too much. This was no hard-hearted nightwatchman that Jack Sparrow saw tonight! He was just a beaten, broken, miserable, sorrowful shell of a once respected, sturdy, self-assured man. Jack smiled in satisfaction. He had found his man!

He cleared his throat and quietly approached. "Pardon me, mate. I seem to be a bit lost." Jack tapped the man on the shoulder. "'Fraid I don't know me way around here."

"Yeah? Not much to see here." The man said dryly, curling his lip. "You can't miss the brig, man. The Death House I call it. Be like this fine city's capital. And all the unwelcome of the world are more than welcome there. To h- with the runners of the horrid place! To h- with this living rat-hole! Where are you trying to go? This island is hell on earth!"

Jack peered very closely into this man's face through the light of the torch flickering above them. "Captain Summers." Jack whispered slowly. The man's large, bloodshot, dark eyes widened at the mention of the name. For a moment, his face lit up with hope but only faltered seconds later. He stared long and hard at Jack. "Been a long time, mate." Jack said quietly to the rugged fellow whose once confident, intimidating stance had now dissolved to defeat and grief.

"Sparrow?" The man breathed in disbelief. "Jack...Sparrow."

"Captain Jack Sparrow. Remember?"

"No. It can't be." The guard breathed hard to calm himself.

"Captain David, my old friend, you don't know any other Captain Jack Sparrows,' now do you?" Jack snickered.

"After all these years, I've finally gone mad!" The man cried.

"Come, sit down over here." Jack offered.

"Can't leave my d- post!" Captain Summers growled.

"Come now. Obviously, you hate the work you do, but you're afraid to say anything about it." Jack stated. Captain Summers glowered deeply.

"Don't you dare taunt me about fear, Sparrow!" He hissed in a strangled voice. "You don't know what real fear is!"

"You're probably right." Jack sighed. "But there's no one here to berate you, mate." Jack said casually. "Your partner seems to have taken advantage of the night's less drilling schedule after a long day's work. So, why shouldn't you?" He patted the seat next to him, which was the back of an empty cart left there during the day. Captain Summers slowly stepped over and sat across from Jack. Jack offered him some rum, which his friend gladly wolfed down a swig. "Rum lightens up everything, eh?" Jack chuckled.

Captain Summers faced him directly. They used the lantern he carried on himself for a light, but otherwise they were well hidden in the shadows. "Well, this is a fine how-do-you-do, after all these long years, Sparrow." Captain Summers stated huffily. "What the h- are you doing here?!"

"Mission." Jack answered. "To find a missing friend."

"Find a missing friend, hmm? That's a new one." Captain Summers remarked mirthlessly. "Don't you have black crystal ship to catch or something?" He muttered.

"She's called the Black Pearl, mate." Jack rolled his eyes.

"Typically when you show up, you usually have more of an agile rendezvous of the pickpocket kind. I've forgotten how good it feels to clasp you in irons and hear a metal door slam behind you." Captain Summers said bitterly.

"Aye, good times, weren't they?" Jack sighed with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

"I can see those thirteen years haven't changed ya for the good. Still up to your old tricks?"

"Even you can't deny, my friend, they come in quite convenient when ye find yurself in a tight spot."

"Maybe I should've left the straight and narrow, and joined up with the likes of you. Maybe if I'd learned to use your methods, I'd have escaped this infernal paradise years ago."

"The trick is to not let yurself get stuck thinkin' the plan will always go through. You and I both know that that doesn't always happen, and often with less than favorable turnouts." Jack explained. "Improvise, hearty. If ye can't improvise, you find yurself stuck."

"You come all this way just to chit chat about your devilish pranks and notorious escapades?" Captain Summers asked gruffly.

"Belay that." Jack shook his head. "Need to pick something up. Was hoping you could help me with it."

"Jack, if it was important, you know I'd help you if I could, but...look at me! I'm useless. I'm not worth anything to this world...anymore."

"I know someone who would care to argue that point." Jack smiled.

"Mary..." Captain Summers choked as he thought of his beloved wife.

"My deepest sympathies, mate. She's been gone a long time." Jack said sympathetically.

"Nooo..." Captain Summers's face scrunched together with heartache. He rubbed his dirty face with his large hand. "What are ye doin' here, Jack?" He sniffled. "If you were smart, you'd do yourself a favor and get off this godforsaken land, as far as possible, and loot out on the open sea like the devil that you are."

"Clearly." Jack agreed. "Like I said, on a mission, for a friend, to find a friend."

"A rescue by Jack Sparrow, eh? Well, I guess those happen." Captain Summers remarked sarcastically. "What do you want to know?" He sighed gruffly, rolling his eyes. What did he have to lose? It was good to see an old friend again! Someone who knew what tremendous sacrifice he'd been forced to make, just to see to the good of his fellow man. But there was no use hoping that said friend could whisk him off this island.

"Nothin' much for meself, mate. I brought someone I thought you outta meet." Jack said.

"Why? What good is that gonna do either of us?"

"I give you my word, mate. I'll get ye out of this place."

"You? Get me out of here? That's rich. You certainly picked a fine time to do it!" Captain Summers retorted hurtfully. Jack didn't defend himself. He knew his friend had undergone unimaginable pain and seen unthinkable things in those long thirteen years, with no hope of ever escaping it. It was understandable that he was skeptical of freedom when it was offered to him.

"I swear on pain of death, my good friend, we will not leave this place without you!" Jack promised fervently.

"Ohh?! Now you tell me! And just how do you intend to do that?" Summers glared. "What's your brilliant escape plan this time, Sparrow? Huh? You intend to 'sell' rum and bang the town gong hollering, 'Come and get it'!?"

"Ye know, that's a wonderful idea. I'll have to use that one at the opportune moment!" Jack's face lit up. Captain Summers did not share his enthusiasm. "Sorry. Trust me, Captain Summers. I'll think of something! And if you don't have the faintest idea what that is, a piece of advice? Just go along with it...and try not to do anything stupid."

"If I don't follow your extraordinary example of escapades, then I do not fall into the stupid category." Captain Summers retorted, with a faint hint of dark humor in his voice. Jack grinned warmly. "Now, about this mysterious visitor you brought along, or knowing you, more likely rather dragged along..."

Jack tilted his head in the direction of his team across the street. "That one." Jack pointed out to Kate. She was leaning against the wall of a shop, looking as if she felt awkward and disheartened by the things she saw in this town. Will and Elizabeth were close by and didn't look any more comfortable than she did.

"Really, Sparrow? You dragged an innocent young lady here after you, to meet me? And here, this hellish place? Sorry, but I don't have a hankering for your infamous moonlighting."

"Nah." Jack leaned in very closely, clasping Summers' shoulder. "That, my good man, is your bonny little lass. The one you said goodbye to and sent away, thirteen years ago." Jack told him. Captain Summers's entire countenance fell into dismay, awe, heartache, joy, longing, and anger all at once. Tears instantly filled his eyes as he watched Kate gaze sadly on the horrid life of the population that made up this island.

"No...no! It can't be!" He gasped raggedly in a strangled voice as he braced himself against the wall.

"She is what she is, Captain. And you didn't do half bad for yourself when you picked out a wife." Jack smiled.

"My little girl..." Captain Summers bit his lip hard. "My precious baby girl!" He struggled to stay composed, especially in front of Jack Sparrow of all people! But his shoulders were shaking.

"Amiable, is she not?" Jack prodded.

"Like her mother." Captain Summers said painfully, heavy sobs trying to escape his chest.

"No denying that. But not gonna lie, mate, she's got your stubbornness, the drive to know the facts, and a heck of that Summers determination you carry on ya!"

Captain Summers glared at Jack. "Why? Why the h- did you bring her?! To...to this hellhole, Jack? You'd better have a good reason!"

"Trust me when I tell ya, it was never my intention or my plan to take her anywhere close to a place such as this. I wasn't even planning to take her to sea. It was all her wild idea!"

"Why?!" Captain Summers demanded. He hated to think of what horrific evils could harm his precious daughter on this large spit of land.

"She wanted to find the truth, and if I may be so bold as to say, I think it's time she knew the truth about what really happened." Jack said seriously.

"No." Captain Summers said stiffly, grasping the sides of his head. "No. Get her out of here! Tonight, Jack, right now! I'll not have her see me like this!"

"No worries there, mate. Your appearance won't frighten her away." Jack teased.

"I don't want her to see me like this and feel I failed her, failed her, her mother, or our city."

"You know," Jack scooted closer to him and spoke in hushed tones, "truth is more hindrance than help, in my line of work. But in your case, I believe that truth would be the most logical route to take."

"And what if I do, huh? What then? She learns what I did, and leaves. And she should. This is a waste of time, Jack. So, it was nice seein' ya again, but I really think it best if you just take her and leave." Captain Summers said stiffly.

"Belay that." Jack shook his head knowingly. "Your mouth says one thing, but the face...says a lot more. And right now everything I see is fighting the total opposite of what you say. You want to know your own daughter, and know the woman she's become. Savvy?"

"Jack...I can't." Captain Summers gulped hard, his countenance deeply pained. "I just..." He covered his face with his hand, hunching over. "I can't. Can't let her see me this way."

"Not a time for trifles, mate." Jack reminded him and shifted away and left the man to weep down his sorrows. He made his way back to his crew-mates across the street.

Gibbs, Pintel, Ragetti, and Marty had joined in a game of cards with some men outside the tavern. Will, Elizabeth, and Kate watched. "Did you learn anything, Jack?" Will asked.

"I did." Jack nodded. "We need to head in...err...uhm...that direction." Jack said, pointing to the stables.

"The stables?" Will creased his brow.

"Aye. Kate, darlin'?" Jack spoke. "Come here."

"What is it?" Kate asked as she came to him.

"You came on this trip to get answers." Jack said casually. "Well, the man who can tell you everything you need to know, is right over there!" Kate followed his hand gesture.

"Him? He knows about everything, what we're here for?"

"Aye. He can tell you everything, about where to find yur father."

"Can I trust you?" Kate asked nervously. "This isn't another wild goose chase, is it?" Jack gazed at her intently.

"Wouldn't lie to ye, luv." He said earnestly. "Not about this." He gave an encouraging smile. Kate nodded and taking a deep breath, she approached Captain Summers.

"The stables, Jack?" Gibbs gaped.

"Stables." Jack agreed, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. Elizabeth wasn't sure what he was planning, which was most of the time, but she went along with no arguments, figuring Jack had a plan, however crazy it most likely was.

Kate ventured into the shadows across the street, but could see a tall figure with his back to her. Captain Summers had shifted back to his post-struggling to calm himself. "Excuse me, Sir?" Kate spoke up behind him. Captain Summers firmly kept his back toward her.

"Yes? What is it?" He grunted. His mind nearly snapped completely in two when he heard her young, soft, feminine voice.

"Captain Sparrow said that you had information. I'd like to speak with you." She reached into her coat for coins.

"No need for money, miss. What is it you want to know?" He still kept his face averted.

"I'm looking for my father." Kate said.

Captain Summers was very close to losing it. He faked a cough to hide his quivering voice. "Why?" He asked gruffly.

"Because I, I don't know if he's alive or dead." Kate said sadly. "I...I made a promise to my mother, to find out what happened to him. My mother is gone. I have to know the truth!"

"And...what would you say to him, if you did find him, if you knew he was alive?" Captain Summers asked cautiously.

Kate sniffled. "I would want to tell him that I hope he's all right." She said, tears filling her eyes. "That I'm proud of him for not backing down from the truth, that I hope his good deed paid off somehow, that I hope I can make him proud, and...and that...I miss him very much!" Kate tried to wipe her eyes. "That I love him!"

Captain Summers could fight it no longer. His heart wrenched in two. His face scrunched in tears. He wiped his nose and loudly snorted. Then...he turned and faced her. "I'll be sure to tell him, lass." He said confidently. "If I ever see him, I'll be happy to tell him." He finally took a good look at her. She wasn't a little girl anymore, but a young, lovely, zealous woman. It nearly took his breath away.

"Thank you, Sir." Kate nodded gratefully and looked up into his face. The man was exceedingly tall, towering over Kate by at least four heads. His dirtied face and broken countenance were vividly contrasted by his deep, dark, soulful eyes, and an intense gaze that seemed to look into Kate's very soul! Something inside Kate electrified, sending vapors of surreal bewilderment through her mind. It couldn't be! A faint picture-a flashback zapped in front of her eyes, of a sunny day out on the green English cliffs, gazing out at sea with a tall, imposing figure. A little girl stood next to him, the wind blowing in her hair and she giggled as she looked up at her companion. In her eyes, he was a true gentle giant who would always keep her safe. She looked up into his eyes as he proudly glanced down at her. Those eyes, those eyes! Every time she looked into those eyes, she knew she'd be safe!

Kate began to hyperventilate as she yelped and her hands covered her mouth. The man tried to speak, but his voice faltered and his lips trembled. He slowly removed her pirate hat, letting her blonde hair flow down on her shoulders and gazed into her baby blue eyes. "K-Katie?" He choked.

"F-Father?" Kate gasped, afraid to say it.

"Katie..." Captain Summers sobbed.

"Father!" Kate cried as he threw his long, strong arms around her, swallowing her up into himself, and embraced her tightly. They wept for joy on each other. "Father..." Kate tried to speak. She breathed deeply, soaking in every moment. His strong arms around her, filled her with a such a sense of belonging, of home, of her mother, of love that it took her breath away.

"My baby girl...my little daughter." Captain Summers whispered, unable to speak. They clutched each other for dear life for what felt the longest time. He finally broke back and stroked her small face with his large, calloused hand. "How did you…" Then he noticed the necklace. "You...you kept this? All this time?"

Kate nodded happily with tears. "You gave it to me." She sniffled. "It was one of the only things...I had left of you."

"Oh, baby..." Captain Summers gulped hard. "Let me look at you." Kate nuzzled her nose into his hand, smiling jubilantly through her tears. "You're beautiful, Sweetie."

Nowhere near as beautiful as Elizabeth, Kate thought.

"Just like your mother. You've got her eyes."

"I do?" Kate choked, barely able to breathe. She continued to clasp his weathered, calloused, hard-bitten hand close to her soft face.

"Aye."

"Oh, Father, I never thought I would ever see you! I've prayed so long to see you again! Jack Sparrow helped me find you!"

"But why, darling? Why would you come halfway across the world, to this hellhole, just to see me?" Captain Summers asked firmly.

"You're my father. And I had a promise to keep." Kate responded sadly.

"Sweetheart, I never asked you to." Captain Summers shook his head sadly. "You have to leave."

"Not without you!" Kate demanded, clenching his hands. "We came all this way. You're coming with us, Father. We can get you out of here."

"I can't, Sweetie."

"Why not? There's nothing here for you." Kate begged.

"Katie, I'm a guard here. If I leave, they'll know I'm gone, and..."

"Oh, scratch that." Kate said firmly. "They consider human life cheap. They won't miss you. And I'm sure they'll find a replacement who doesn't have half the heart that you do."

"Darling..."

"Ahem! Hate to break up this little family get-together," Jack interrupted as he sidled up to them. "But I think we've paid our respects long enough. We'd better head back to the Pearl."

"Jack, I..." Captain Summers stammered.

"I'm not letting you go, Dad!" Kate tugged firmly on his arm. "Come with me!"

"What have ye got to lose, mate?" Jack smiled. Captain Summers glared at him, then looked at his daughter. At least now he knew she was alive and had grown up fine. But it was his job to keep her safe, and she'd never be safe as long she remained on this terrible strip of land. He wanted to be with her with all his heart. And she and Jack were right. He had no life here.

"More than I'm willing to pay the price for." Captain Summers replied gruffly, referring to his little girl, but she didn't know that. Kate gazed at him, stunned. He looked at her fondly and clasped her small hand. "But you'd better have one h- of a plan for getting us out of here, Sparrow!" He snarled playfully at Jack.

"I thought you'd never ask, mate." Jack beamed naughtily.

Jack and his men were in the town stables, lurking in the dark. Elizabeth was squatting under the rum trader's wagon. Captain Summers and Katie were hiding in an alley between the apothecary's and the seamstress's shop. "This is madness." Will sighed as he leaned next to Gibbs.

"Aye, that's the best kind of way to live." Gibbs cheered.

"You sound just like Jack." Will rolled his eyes.

"All right, mates. Get ready!" Jack whispered.

Across town, a herd of pounding hooves rumbled through the square, and people jumped out of the way as a band of horses came barreling through. The officials were baffled. How had the horses just let themselves out? As the patrolmen raced to find what had caused it, other men hurried to catch their mighty steeds. So the auction was interrupted. That was the signal. Elizabeth snuck around the barrels of rum while the town was preoccupied, broke open the barrels and rolled them out onto the street, spilling the liquor all over. Captain Summers and Kate made their way through the frenzied crowd without really being noticed as they headed for the docks. Elizabeth's arm was grabbed by a drunken loafer, but she punched him in the gut and kicked his shin than took off.

Jack and his band were hiding behind the post office. They had a cannon. It was aiming at the stand where the slave auction had been happening. No one was on it, save for the nasty overseer with the whip. "Fire in the hole!" Will yelled. Marty fired, and the cannon blasted the deck to smithereens, with a stunned overseer trying to get back on his feet. By now, the citizens were in a confused uproar, running everywhere not knowing where to go or what was really happening. Gibbs, Pintel, and Will seized the overseer in charge of the slaves. They gagged him, threw his whip away, and bound him to a tree. He was furiously hurling abuses at them in a muffled voice.

"Nothing personal." Jack smiled. "Would love to stay and chat but we have more pressing matters at hand. Pirate's life, ya know. Much obliged, mate." Jack shook the guy's keys in his face then pranced off. He threw the keys to Will who made his way to the band of slaves. He was grateful there weren't even nearly as many as they'd come in contact with on the Cartwheel!

"Go. You're free!" Will smiled at them.

"Follow me!" Elizabeth told them. They snuck along the town behind the buildings, in the dark, through the trees. Meanwhile, Jack was strutting around the town. He came back upon the pirates he'd met when they'd arrived.

"Could you use some good men?" He asked him.

"Aye. What ye be offering?"

"More like a favor, really. The poor devils that were shackled in irons. They won't get far around here before they're shot or hanged. You let them sail with you, take them to Tortuga, and I'll be in yur debt." Jack explained. The other pirate furrowed his brows suspiciously.

"Sounds more like an errand I'm not about to do just to satisfy Jack Sparrow."

"Captain. It's Captain Jack Sparrow!" Jack rolled his eyes.

"In that case, I'll be a needin' some collateral."

"Oh?"

"You have yur scurvy sea dogs load this miserable town's rum onto my ship, all of it, and I'll be on my way."

"Rum is an excellent prize to bargain with." Jack nodded. But he knew that Elizabeth had more or less destroyed this town's liquor. And they were running out of time. "Done." Jack smiled casually.

Will and the others had helped the slaves board onto Captain Bishop's ship, The Ambassador, and now everyone was waiting for Jack in the longboat. "Katie, how in the world did you end up with this bunch?" Her father asked, furrowing his bushy eyebrows.

"It's a long story." Kate grinned.

Jack arrived at the dock, driving with gusto. He was driving the tavern wagon. He'd stolen it on the spur of the moment. "There ye are, mate." He smirked to Captain Bishop. Captain Bishop narrowed his eyes with scrutiny.

"That's it?" he spat.

"Ran into a little trouble along the way, as it were." Jack said sheepishly. "Anyway, there's yur rum. So, I'll be on me way. Lovely chatting with ya!" He waved as he began to strut off.

"Oh, I don't think so." Captain Bishop grinned like a cat in a birdhouse.

"Eh?" Jack turned and gulped.

"It's open season, boys!" Captain Bishop bellowed loudly with laughter. He and his fellow pirates hauled out their guns and began shooting at Jack, jeering excitedly as he fled like a scared rabbit. He ducked into the shadows and rolled down the hill, not coming to stop until he landed in the water. Grimacing and grumbling, he slowly made his drenched way into the long boat.

"What kept you?" Elizabeth asked.

"A little bartering matter, luv." Jack pouted. "I've been swindled."

"Day in the life of a pirate, eh?" Captain Summers teased. Jack threw him an exasperated look but then shrugged. He pulled a bottle of rum out of his wet coat.

"At least you made it back, safe!" Gibbs clapped Jack on the shoulder. They finally reached the Black Pearl and hoisted the anchor and opened the sails.

"I don't believe it." Captain Summers breathed. "So, this is your precious ship."

"Aye, mate. A real beauty is she not?" Jack asked proudly.

"Hard to tell in the dark." Captain Summers retorted. Jack flinched a little.

"Nice to know we're back on good terms." Jack teased.

"Yeah, well, don't press your luck." Captain Summers squinted at him. Jack wandered off to take over the rudder from Anamaria. Kate grabbed Captain Summers by the arm and held tightly to him. He smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"Ahh, dear Bermuda. You will always remember this day as the day you were paid a visit by Captain Jack..." Jack began dramatically, but the monkey snatched his hat. "Oui! Bring me back me hat! Monkey!" Jack hollered.

"I can see what a ride this is going to be." Captain Summers remarked. Kate giggled.

"We're on our way, Father." Kate smiled proudly at him. "Let's get you home!"