Sorry it took so long everyone (usual reasons) Enjoy!

Chapter 18

"Father, there's no need for this, he's a good man!" Gin insisted, following him through the gathered crowd up to the platform where the governor stood, speaking quietly with Norrington and Richard. Colonel Harold turned to face his daughter upon reaching them.

"Virginia, he's a pirate. The very definition of the word makes your claim impossible." He straightened his blue coat, attempting to collect his appearance after listening to Gin's protests for half the morning. "Now, no more of this. We will do what must be done. Jack Sparrow has brought this upon himself."

"Father-"

He held up a hand to silence her and Gin looked helplessly to Elizabeth to find that her friend's expression was much the same as her own. There was nothing either could do; the last daring rescue Elizabeth had taken part in on Jack's behalf would not work again, let alone with Will locked up for the afternoon to ensure that that didn't happen. Her next try was Richard and the commodore, both of whom seemed firmly set in their convictions that any pirate would hang. And she was sure the governor would offer no help at all.

As she stepped up beside Elizabeth, Jack was pulled into view, being dragged by two naval officers who seemed rather irritated with him. No doubt he was making it harder for them with some sort of sarcastic remark. The gallows sat just in front of the platform she stood on with the others, the clear view saved for those of the highest status. Why anyone would come willingly to such an event was beyond her.

"Jack Sparrow," another officer, standing near the hangman began, holding a scroll out in front of his face, spectacles slipping down on his nose. Jack didn't bother to correct him, "be it known that you have…"

She glanced at Jack as the hangman slipped the noose around his neck and he grimaced when he tightened it.

"…for your willful commission of crimes against the crown; said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature. The most grievous of these to be cited herewith: piracy, smuggling…"

She turned to her father again, but his eyes were fixed forward on the proceedings and she knew she would get no further with him.

"…impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England…"

He certainly has been around, Gin thought to herself. The list seemed rather daunting when one heard them all read aloud. And the official was not even finished.

"…sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness."

Here he paused and Gin looked up at the officer, sucking in her breath.

"And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck, until dead. May God have mercy on your soul."

Her eyes shifted from the officer stepping off the platform, to the hangman, testing the rope with a few pulls, and finally to Jack to find him already staring at her. He looked…fine. Not frightened, not resentful. Calm. As if he had accepted the situation.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. The drums that she knew were being tapped in the back of her mind grew louder, more insistent.

Growing desperate, she stepped in front of the colonel to ensure that he focused on her. "Father, I know that you think Jack deserves to be hanged, but you can't do this! It's not right!" Colonel Harold sighed, but did not reply. Here Gin seemed to deflate, her hope lost to a certain extent. "Please…let him go."

"I am not releasing a wanted pirate," he stated firmly. "Now enough of this. It's no concern of yours."

Gin looked at Elizabeth again, tears welling in her eyes, silently begging her to do something. But her old friend looked just as helpless as she felt, and almost as distraught.

She turned back to Jack who, to her surprise, gave her one of his devilish half grins. She squinted curiously at him and he winked in reply.

She didn't have much time for confusion as she watched horrified while the hangman released the rope.

She felt Elizabeth place a hand on her shoulder as the rope caught. It offered little comfort. The drums ceased abruptly and a deafening silence filled the square.

Elizabeth suddenly felt the need to offer Gin some measure of solace, but she knew she could not embrace her, just as she knew Gin could not allow the tears brimming in her eyes to fall. Not without revealing to her father and fiancé that Jack had meant something more to her.

"One down," Gin heard her father say to Norrington. "Couple hundred to go." With that, he turned and nodded at a few surrounding subordinates and they followed him in the opposite direction away from the square, leaving her and Elizabeth in Richard's care.

Gin watched him go, eyes wide at the callous comment, then faced front again. She was glad the crowd had not parted yet. Seeing Jack's swinging body would have made her break down right there, regardless of who would be watching. As it was, the picture of it in her mind was almost enough.

Nods from the few officers standing near the gallows indicated that he was in fact dead. Norrington gave a curt nod as well and walked down a few steps to begin speaking with them as they crossed the cobblestones to him.

In his absence and Richard's distraction with the conversation, she welcomed Elizabeth's hug

"Alright, everyone!" she heard Norrington call out to the gathered spectators. "Head home, go about your business!"

The crowd began to disperse, talking amongst themselves and slowly dwindling back to the other parts of town.

"Leave him there a few days," came Norrington's voice again. Squeezing her eyes shut at this, she allowed Elizabeth to lead her away, back in the direction of the governor's estate.

* * * * *

"Turner."

Will lifted his head at the voice, lowering his knees which had been drawn up to his chest and rising to his feet, dusting off his pants.

"Colonel says you're to be released now," the officer on the other side of the bars of Will's cell stated, sifting through the keys on the ring in his hand.

"Jack Sparrow?" Will prompted, almost afraid to ask for fear of the answer.

"Dead as of this morning. The only reason I'm here as there's no longer any threat of your shenanigans."

Will's shoulders sagged and his thoughts shifted to Elizabeth and especially Gin. She couldn't be handling this well. And grieving was not even a possibility with her father and Richard.

"Ah, here we are." He lifted the proper key and slipped it in the lock, turning it. The door swung open and he stepped aside to let Will pass. "And the governor's daughter wishes a word with you."

Will looked back at him at the mention of Elizabeth.

"Said she'd be waiting at the Swann manor."

Will nodded and headed up the stairs.

* * * * *

Before everyone starts screaming at me, just wait for the next post ;) .