Part Five. Crossing Paths

"Well, look what we have here…" Joan murmured to herself upon seeing the still form of the dark eyed man from the tavern.

She knelt down next to the man, thinking how convenient for her that someone should fall into her lap when the night was so young. She paused before moving further, seeing that he was not dead as his chest still rose steadily. Joan fidgeted with the thin chain around her neck as the man started to stir.

"Ah… where am I?"

"The bottom of a well," Joan said softly.

The man's eyes widened when he saw her and tried to back away quickly, but he had apparently struck his head in such a way that prevented him to move far without causing himself pain. "You! Get away from me!" he groaned.

"Hardly," Joan stated. "You fell down here. You're in my territory now… What was your name again… Sparrow?"

"Jack Sparrow," he replied, raising his hand to his temple.

Joan looked at his dark hair and weathered face that was stained with dried blood. She followed it to where it had originated. She reached out her hand to inspect it closer, but he grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"Uh-uh, missy, I don't trust you."

"What happened?" she asked earnestly.

"That be none of your business," Jack grunted irritably, trying to force her hand away. But he stopped short upon seeing a pendant that hung down from a thin chain. His eyes widened again, looking over the symbols that traced over a crescent moon. "Is that… I've only heard of it…"

"Oh, this?" Joan took a moment to glance down at the silver pendant. Then she looked back at him and smirked. "Well, I guess you could call it a living legend."

"… The Sign of the Zodiac."

"Yes, that's right. And don't worry, Mr. Sparrow, you don't have to relate the stories to me. I've heard them all. I know exactly what it's for."

"Then… then why aren't you richer than God himself?" Jack spluttered, forgetting the pain in his head for the time being.

"Well, it's rather difficult for me. I can't very well afford my own ship, and no one seems to be willing to trust me… I can't very well swim there," she sighed, looking up at the dark sky above her that seemed so far away. "But I'm still having a hard time grasping how you found your way down here."

"Oh," Jack smiled a bit. "Remember your friend from the bar?"

Joan laughed. "Chased you, did he? Yeah… I know his type."

"Listen, I have an interesting proposition for you," he started, being more business man than pirate for the time being. "I've got myself a ship. Fastest in the Caribbean. How 'bout… you don't bite into me like a melon the way you did our friend from last night. And I'll give you passage to the Bounty of Zodiac."

"Well, I am thirsty for blood at the moment," she replied, her voice having a contemplating tone to it that made him uneasy. "But I suppose this would be a once in a lifetime chance… I've been looking for someone for years to take this on."

Jack grinned, his eyes glinting. "Well, you haven't met many Captains like Jack Sparrow, now have you, m'dear?" Suddenly, the pain in the back of his head and the place where the bullet had grazed his head came back.

Joan saw the pain reenter his eyes and felt something for him she hadn't for a long time. A pang of compassion. She stood up and turned back to the small archway that stood about half her height at the bottom of the abandoned well.

"Come on, this way," Joan commanded, jerking her head towards the archway.

Jack turned himself over and stood up a bit shakily. He followed Joan through the archway that led to a ladder that led upwards. He stopped to hold his head, as Joan had already begun to climb the ladder. The space wasn't large. Only about six by six feet, but seemed to serve for some sort of lair for his newfound friend.

He finally began to climb after Joan, his head still throbbing painfully. Now and then he would be forced to stop it would become so great, but he moved on as steadily as he could. By the time they had found their way above ground, the Caribbean had been sufficiently cloaked in night.

"Well, I'll show you to my ship, and then we'll be setting off as soon as possible," Jack said, his eyes darting cautiously about him, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "No need to stay here more than we need to…. Oh, good God!"

"God, eh? Better stay where you're better acquai- Whoa!"

Jack grabbed Joan and pulled her into a nearby alleyway at the sound of approaching footsteps. Joan looked at him questioningly, but his eyes were wide as he listened. The three men from before were stalking past, muttering angrily to each other. Joan surveyed Jack's face which was a cross between irritation and pain. His dark eyes always seemed busy.

"We can get to the docks this way," Jack muttered, grabbing her arm, and pulling her down the alley.

Joan couldn't help but laugh. "Is the great Jack Sparrow afraid of a couple of pirates?"

"I'm not afraid," Jack snapped, moving further down the alley. "But they're looking for you, and I rather not run into trouble at the moment."

"Sparrow!"

"Ah, Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed as if exhausted. "What is it with these people! They're like bloodhounds! C'mon, luv. Better run faster than that, I'm not interested in having a second run in with these blokes."

Finding a door that stood slightly ajar, Jack pulled Joan in after him and slammed it closed, just in time to hear another gunshot go off. Joan fidgeted through the semi-darkness to find the locks to the door.

"What is it with people always trying to shoot me!" Jack muttered angrily. He spun around to find another exit, and was needless to say, quite surprised at what he found. "Not more guns."

"Jack?!"

"Will? Is that you?"

Stepping out from where he couldn't be seen was none other than Will Turner. He smiled broadly, then turned to the woman holding the pistol. "It's alright, Rhiannon. He's a friend. You can put it away."

"Yes, please do, luv," Jack said, smiling a bit.

The young woman called Rhiannon seemed a bit reluctant in doing so, but obliged Will's request, nonetheless. "Jack… Jack Sparrow?"

Jack spread his arms and bowed elegantly to Rhiannon. "The one and only, luv." Upon standing up again, Jack reeled slightly and stumbled back into Joan. Sighing, she helped him to sit down in a wooden chair that had been cast off to the side.

"What happened?" asked Almour, her head popping up from behind a cabinet, making Jack and Joan jump slightly at the sound. Jack opened his mouth to answer, but before another word could be said, Almour's eyes widened and she toppled backwards out of view. The other's exchanged glances. But again, Almour cut off all speech when she came back into view.

She raised the hammer she had been working with to point at Joan. "That pendant! Where did you get that?!"

Joan narrowed her eyes at the other woman suspiciously. "I've had it for a long time… What difference does it make to you?"

"Because it should have been mine," Almour replied flatly from behind clenched teeth.