Carmen's bare feet padded against the wooden ground as she made her way roughly through the already busy wharf. Many people, mostly men, stared at her flamboyantly coloured dress, her messy hair and dark rimmed eyes, and mostly at her exposed leg every time she took a step.

"'Ello deary. Need anyone?" An old, toothless man grabbed her arm.

Carmen looked disgustingly at him, "Defiantly not you." Pulling her arm free, she made quicker steps to the ship with the black sails. She finally got close enough to see the people boarding the ship. They all looked dirty and unforgivable. Her eyes continuously scanned the area for possible ways of sneaking upon the ship, and then her eyes fell upon the various barrels the men were carrying on board…

"'Ere comes the Capt'n," yelled one of the men heaving a large box up the ramp. The pirates started to load crates onto the ship.

"An' he 'as another bottle 'o rum!" A tall, dark skinned woman yelled in annoyance, and snatched the bottle from the Captains unsuspecting fingers.

"Aye! Give it back!" Jack glowered at her as she pretended to drop the bottle off of the wharf, but caught it just as it almost went off the edge.

"Com' on yer scabrous dogs! We set sail in a few minutes," Jack bellowed as he started to move over to the barrels, "whose takin' these on?"

Several men came over and started to heave the barrels onto the ship.

"Geez, this one 'eavy!" One of the crew members said through clenched teeth as he carried the last barrel up the ramp, over the deck and deposited it within the galley.

-

"Where we goin' Capt'n?", asked Gibbs.

Jack Sparrow stood by the helm, his face distant as he gazed out towards the ocean. "Yer know Gibbs," he turned around, his arm swinging around his side, "I 'ave no bloody idea!"

Gibbs smiled knowingly at his Captain, before resting his arm on a railing, "Capt'n, I'd say we should grace the oceans for a while."

Jack nodded, "Sounds reasonable. We don't gotta be anywhere's important fer a - "

There was a loud thump, and both Jack and Gibbs stared confusingly at each other.

"Wha' was that?" Jack asked, while taking the steps and towards the galley.

-

Carmen groaned in pain. She had managed to roll the barrel over, proceeding to knock the top off and having herself thrown out harshly onto the ground. She pulled herself onto her knees, and inspected the graze that had formed on her elbow. "Shit," the words only stressed more so as her eyes ran up the person who stood before her, his eyes staring wondrously at her.

Jack stared at the crouched young woman before him. She had instantly backed away, forgetting about the gash on her elbow. Gibbs entered the room, followed by a few other crew members, his mouth open to say something, but had stopped as his eyes landed upon the stranger.

"Gibbs, tell Locklan' an' Drake to make a warm bath an' ask Anamaria if she 'as any clothes tha' will fit this girl", Jack instructed without looking away from Carmen, as she slowly pulled herself up. He could see every single muscle in her body was tense and her eyes were large and aware.

Gibbs hesitated a moment, before pushing past the few crew members and disappearing. The few members still stood, awestruck at the sight before them. Jack's commanding voice broke through, "Well, wha' yer all starin' at? Get back to work!"

The crew scurried out without another word.

Jack reached out a hand and Carmen reluctantly placed her hand in his. He pulled her up, his body close to hers as she stared worrying at him. His face was expressionless as he spoke, "Now tell me somethin' darlin', how did ye' manage to get on me Pearl without anyone noticing?"

Carmen didn't dare move. She couldn't decipher what Jack would do if she tried to run. "I- I was in the barrel," she didn't break eye contact, she didn't risk it, "look, Sparrow, If your going to kill me for sneaking upon your ship, do it now."

Jack's face curled into a sly smile, "Luv, I don't kill pretty exotic jewel's as ye'self." His eyes lowered to the necklace and pendant upon her neck. Carmen noted that a thoughtful expression fell upon his features.

"I 'spose ye'd like to clean up, ay?" He asked after a moment, and noticed the gleam in her eyes. She nodded, but gave a sharp intake of air as Jack pulled her closer, a suggestive grin upon his face, "An' I 'spose ye'd need help with getting' that dress off?"

Carmen instantly felt this was a competition of wit. Her hand trailed down his side, resting upon which she assumed was the hilt of a small knife. Jack gazed at her, a smile still upon his face until he felt cool metal trail along his neck.

"I nay thought women could move that fast," Jack smirked as she playfully glared at him.

Carmen nodded slowly, while trailing the knife to his collar bone, "Yes, of course. Typical male. You fail to realise that I'm not a wh -" before Carmen had time to finish the sentence, Jack had swung her around, his chest now on her back and her arms tightly crossed.

"I nay thought yer' were a whore, darl - " Jack wasn't given the chance, because she had pulled a hand free, tried to fled, but Jack had pulled her back, spun her and now held her in a dip.

"Yer need a lil' work on yer feet, luv," he said in an amused tone. Carmen had an amused smile upon her features as well.

"An' would yer look at this position", his eyes raked over her upper half, her golden face and neck. Jack was enjoying himself until he felt her knee now inches higher between his legs.

"Try that again Sparrow, and you'll loose your joy toy," she said in a mock-anger tone, that still made Jack's eyes widened then his brow furrowed.

"Tha's Capt'n Jack Spa-", her knee went up just more for him to see she had won.

She battered her eyes and smiled in a charming way, "You'll loose it forever, Captain."

"I'm the one who does tha' threatenin' around 'ere", his voice was deep, and his face only inches from hers, yet Carmen did not falter just yet.

-