Chapter 46:

A/N: Yeah I know you guys loved the last "cliffhanger" although it was not much of one. Well I suppose I should let you read instead of holding you up, because ye might try to kill me. Ahhhh! * Mad mob of reviewers are running towards me* I scream once more for a dramatic effect before a rope falls from the sky and lands at my feet. A rope? What am I to do with a rope? Anne: Climb it you Ninny! Nev: Anne? Hey I'm not a ninny! Anne: Just climb the rope! Nev: Okay, okay don't be pushy. * I climb the rope and land on top of her ship* I knew this ship would come in handy some day. Anne: My precious. My precious. *Rubs the steer with her fingertips* Nev: Ahem! Anne: Oh, right! Nev: So where are we going? Anne: To the Caribbean, mate! Where else would I take ye? Nev: Yay! * Skips around and does happy dance which freaks out Anne* Anne: On to the story.

Disclaimer: No!

Salina could feel her body going numb as her and the boat gradually sunk to the sea floor. She frantically tried to wake herself from her slumber but could feel herself slipping. Her body was now completely engulfed in the night water.

There was a loud splash as a man dove into the water just feet from Salina. Her eyes were closed and there were small bubbles spread around her pale skin. Her hair waved through the water in an enchanting way as she continued to fall. The man grabbed her around the waist and slung her onto yet another rowboat.

He pounded on her chest trying to remove the water from her lungs until she reluctantly gagged it up. Salina rolled over and faced the bottom of the boat as the realization of what happened hit her. She almost drown.

~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%

Back at the pub Jack sat at a table with Gibbs and Will and for the first time in his life refused a mug of rum. "Jack what is wrong with ye? You've been sittin' there all night not even drinkin' the rum in front of ye face."

"I don't know." His face was gloomy and he starred at his reflection in the mug.

"I do." Will piped up. "It's Salina."

Jack's eyes didn't even move from the mug, he just sat there silent. "Oh." Gibbs said after a minute, he took another swig of his rum before slamming it to the table.

"What happened now Jack?" Will asked curiously.

"The same thing that happens every time. I feel like she is floating away and I can't keep her here and I don't know what to do." Gibbs was a little surprised at Jack's saddened expression, he had never seen Jack this way, and no one has ever seen Jack this way.

"Why don't you do something for her?" Will suggested with a smile.

"Like what?"

"Like getting her flowers, roses. You know she loves roses, or maybe chocolate."

"She's a pirate, not a bloody pansy!" Gibbs cut in.

"Well then how about spending some time with her, just you and her." Will added.

"If I do that, then it'll just happen all over again. We'll be fine for a while then we'll get into a brawl and then fight and then, well you know. She'll run off again. She is so indecisive."

"Well you're one to talk!" Will exclaimed.

Jack's eyes flickered from the rum to Will. "You need to do something just for her, something she'll love you for. Something that will keep her from leaving."

"And what the bloody hell do you suppose I do? I can't just marry the lass ye know!" Jack shouted.

"That's it!" Will hollered. Jack's eyes widened with fear.

"What? Marry her?"

"Yes! You love her right?"

"Yeah but I'm just a pirate I can't. She can't. No!" Gibbs just sat by watching the men toss the idea back and forth.

"If ye marry her she won't leave, cuase then she knows fer certain that you love her."

"But Will, this is marriage we're talking about here. Marriage to Salina, not to some other girl. If it was anyone else it'd be fine, but it's not."

"Yeah and what's wrong with marrying Salina?"

"Well she's, and she's, and then she'd, well it's just imposable!" Jack hit the table and growled.

"Jack you love her, that's why it's so hard." Will smiled and snickered a little.

"I do not love her!" Jack protested as she stormed out of the pub, he made it right outside and then shouted. "That wench! She has me bloody hat!"

Will and Gibbs hit their mugs together and then began to laugh at the predicament Jack got himself into.

~%~%~%~%~%~%~

Salina kept her eyes closed and felt around the area where she was laying. She could feel cotton sheets and feather pillows. She slowly opened her eyes and took in the sight of the room. There was a small light coming from a candle next to the bed.

Salina sat up and stretched out, she was in Jack's cabin. But where was Jack, was he the one that saved her? There was a figure of a man sitting in a shadowed corner of the room. "Jack?"

"No, milady. Tis only his first mate." The man stood and began to approach the bed.

"Barbossa."

"Found you I did, pulled ye out of the water and brought ye back here." There was a dip as he sat on the bed. Salina curled her legs to her chest and she noticed that her cloths were still damp.

"Thank ye." She replied in a whisper.

"Say, what was ye doin' out there any way?"

"I was coming back to the ship." Her eyes focused on the bed linens and never made eye contact with Barbossa.

"Ah." He lifted his hand and touched her cheek and Salina forced her face away. "I can't help but notice that you've been careful to avoid me these past two days, may I inquire as to why?"

"No reason, I've just been tied up in different things." Salina looked to the side of the bed and noticed her effects.

"Jack?" With that name Salina's eyes flew and met Barbossa's. At first there was anger in them then fear. Salina stood and walked to the desk where her effects where.

"Nah, that bloke he can't rain on my day. He's not worth it." She said with a fake smile then turned away as put her boots on.

Barbossa walked to the desk and stood in front of her. Salina's pistol was right next to her hand. Her palms began to sweat and her hands shook with panic.

Salina reached for the pistol but was forced away when Barbossa
grabbed her hair and yanked her over the table. He now had her back
to his chest and his blade placed against her throat.

"Not a smart move, milady."

A/N: What will happen next? Will Salina escape? Will Jack save her?
How will this problem unfold? Only a few more chapters left until the
end, what will happen? Te he, I'm good! Oh No! The angry mob got their
own ship! Ahhhhhh!