Guys, I am so sorry I haven't posted in a while (a while for me being around 4 or 5 days), but severe writer's block combined with massive quantities of homework is never conducive to these things. Anyhoo, I'm sorry to say that yes, the story is drawing near it's close, BUT, as I've mentioned before, there will be a sequel. (which I've already started on) I just have two ways I can go with the ending to this, and I have to decide on which one to use. But for now, the next installment in this little drama I've created!

Chapter 17

That night found Captain Jack Sparrow imprisoned in the same cell he had managed to escape on his first visit to Port Royal.

"You know, if you just hadn't stolen that bloody ship, we wouldn't be stuck in here right now," he called over to Will, who sat against the bars of the adjoining cell, resting his eyes, as there wasn't much else entertaining to engage in.

"No," Will conceded, glancing over to where his friend sat, hat pulled down over his eyes. "We would still be on that island."

"Oh, yes," Jack sat up at this. "Trapped on a desert island with a beautiful woman. What was I thinkin'? My mistake. That is much worse than being locked away, sentenced to hang in the morning!" He plopped back against the wall. "Not that any of this matters to you. No, you get the privilege of going home to yer strumpet tomorrow. Now why is that? You commandeer the ship, and I'm the one who pays for it. All you do is tell 'em you were takin' the lovely Miss Swann away from the raid, which, by the way, their convinced I started, and they let you off easy." He gave a sigh of frustration.

Will rolled his eyes. "Are you finished?"

Jack nodded. "Aye."

"Good." Will turned back to gaze out the barred window at the sea.

* * * * *

She had to see him. She couldn't stand the thought of him sitting all alone in that prison cell, waiting to die, simply because he saved her.

How she had managed to sneak out of the governor's household was beyond her. When she had crept through the kitchen's back door, Elizabeth's father and her on had still been discussing the colonel's trip and politics in the parlor. Neither had heard the door close behind her.

How she had made it through the streets without anyone recognizing her as well, also baffled her. Now her only other obstacle was making it past Richard and Sergeant Benjamin Morgan, who had been instructed to stand their posts, guarding Jack and Will. But surely being her father's daughter gave her some amount of jurisdiction, did it not? Though how she was going to explain the reason for her visit, she had no idea.

Slipping inside the door and nodding to a sentry she didn't recognize, she made her way toward the containment facilities, stepping down the first set of steps that lead to the officers' quarters just before the stairway to the cells.

She found Richard and Benjamin engaged in a game of cards that were quickly dropped upon spotting her. Both rose abruptly to their feet in the sudden presence of a lady, nearly knocking their chairs over in the process.

"Miss Harold." Sergeant Morgan gave her a respectful nod.

"Virginia," Richard greeted her, stepping out from behind their table and crossing the room to her, his polished boots echoing on the cold, stone floor. "What are you doing down here? And at this hour?"

She lifted her chin imperiously. "If you don't mind, I would like to visit with Mr. Turner," she lied, surprised at how quickly the explanation formed itself. "He's a friend and I would feel much better about him having to stay the night in here if I could speak with him."

"Of course," he readily agreed, placing a hand on the small of her back. "I'll escort you."

"No, no." She waved a dismissive hand at him. "I'll be fine." She continued past him down the stairs, grateful when she realized he wasn't following her.

The air grew chill and more damp due to its proximity to the ocean the lower she went. By the time she had reached the bottom of the stairs, she was wishing she had thought to bring more than a shawl.

"Ginny?"

Peering into the darkness, as there was only one torch to light the place, she could make out Jack's silhouette, leaning against the bar of the cell furthest from her. She immediately rushed over to him, glancing in Will's cell to find him asleep.

"What are you doin' here?" he demanded, reaching through for her hand.

"I couldn't sleep knowing you were in here," she admitted.

He nodded toward the stair case she had come down before. "How'd you get past ol' Richie?"

"I think he's afraid to say 'no' to me," she half laughed, "I told him I wanted to speak with Will."

"And he believed ye?" He shook his head in disapproval, tsking. "Half-wit." He turned his gaze up to the strong hinges on the cell door that had been replaced since his last escape. "Don't s'pose you know how to get me outta here?"

She shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. "Jack, I'm so sorry," she apologized, her voice practically inaudible.

"Hey, come 'ere." He tugged her closer and embraced her as best he could with the bars in between them.

"I've tried talking to my father, he won't listen, and not even the governor is lenient on this. They won't let me explain," she babbled, burying her face in his shoulder. He sighed, rubbing comforting circles on her back. "And they're going to take me back to England next week." She pulled back and sniffled, crossing her arms.

Jack reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear. "That's probably better."

She nodded, pressing her full lips into a thin line, and leaned her forehead against his. "Why did you have to be so wonderful?"

He didn't respond, simply squeezing his eyes shut, hesitated, then: "You'd better get home," he advised. "Before someone starts wonderin' why you've been down here so long."

Gin stepped forward again, bringing her hand up to his cheek, then sliding it behind his neck and pulling his face closer to cover his mouth with hers. He sighed against her lips, readily accepting the kiss and drawing her as close to him as was possible as long as he was inside the cell and she was out.

"Virginia?" she heard Richard call down the steps, thankfully deciding not to come down them before speaking. She pulled away from Jack, glancing up them, then turned back to him. He nodded toward the direction of her fiancé's voice, a signal for her to leave. Offering him a small smile, she tugged playfully on the braids in his beard and headed back up the stairs. He watched her go.

"I've decided something," Will's voice broke into his thoughts suddenly.

Jack jumped, startled to find his companion awake and faced him, his expression proving his annoyance. "Yer going to join the circus?" he asked, his tone obviously sardonic.

"I'm going to ask Elizabeth to marry me," he revealed, staring at the stairway Gin had ascended. "I have no reason why I'm waiting. And I don't want to lose her because of it."

"How nice for you," Jack said, crossing his cell to sit and lean against the far wall again. "I would ask for an invitation to the wedding, but I doubt I'll be able to make it, so all my best." He pulled his triangle hat back over his eyes, hoping the kid would shut up if he ignored him long enough.

* * * * *

Now I need comments! And a poll (though I'm sure it'll be a landslide vote with you guys, lol):

IMPORTANT! : This story ends, like I said before, one of two ways. Jack dies or Jack lives. I need you guys to offer your opinion on this, because I originally intended to kill him (mean, yes, I know, but dramatic), and now I've discovered the sequel works either way. Now, I know no one wants Jack gone (myself included. Some ppl are just too beautiful to die ;) ) but I need you to vote on what you think would seriously make the story better, cuz either way, they're (Jack and Gin) split up for a while in the sequel. So COMMENT!!!!!!