Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish I owned Jack Sparrow….*drools* Unfortunately, I don't, so I have to content myself with shamelessly exploiting the character for my own amusement.

AN: Thanks so much for the glowing reviews! As I said, I have most of this story written, so it's just a matter of finding the time to update. PineAppleLint, it's really funny, because I'm seeing a lot of resemblances between your story and mine! Funny ole world, ain't it? ;)

Chapter Seven

Nora woke gradually, the fuzziness receding slowly from her head. It took her a while to get her bearings. She was lying on a wood floor, could hear the drip of water, and could faintly smell the sea air. But all was dark. As her eyes adjusted to what little light there was, she realized she was locked in a brig. She felt the back of her head tenderly, and then it all came back with a rush. She was a prisoner on the Conqueror.

She quickly noted her surroundings. There must be a leak somewhere she thought, as the floor was damp. However her cell was very well kept, more than she expected from a man who very seldom took prisoners. She realized that Billy must have been planning this for quite some time, as she surveyed the well-oiled hinges and the new lock.

She wasn't getting out of here any time soon, and even if she did, she wouldn't be able to take on Billy's entire crew all by her onesies. She was rather shocked to find herself, for the first time in her life, in a situation that she wouldn't be able to get out of without outside help. The realization made her more than a little angry.

Nora wandered the length and breadth of her cell, finding in a corner a piece of stale bread and a mug of lukewarm drinking water. Well, at least they didn't intend to kill her immediately. But she had known that the moment she had woken up to find herself still breathing.

Suddenly she heard footsteps on the stairs. Several pairs of heavy boots were approaching. She quelled a small smile as the thought occurred to her that Billy Blackheart, one of the most feared pirates in the Caribbean, had brought guards with him to deal with Nora Williams, a failed pirate captain with no ship or crew, and a woman to boot.

"Ah, Miss Williams, it's good to see yeh awake. I was afraid my man had caused yeh serious harm. And we certainly wouldn't want that." Billy sneered at her as he approached her cell, flanked by two of his men.

Nora remained obstinately silent. She knew what Blackheart wanted, and she swore on her father's watery grave that he wasn't going to get it.

Billy, seeing that he wasn't going to get a response, continued. "Now, ye know why yer here. And if you give me the bearings to the island, I won't lay a hand on ye. So what do ya say?"

Nora walked up to him, looking at her between the bars of the cell with a smirk on his face. She knew he was lying, and that even if she did what she was told, he would simply kill her more quickly. She didn't say a word, just came as close as she could to Billy, and spat in his face.

He cursed loudly as he wiped the saliva off his face. He then pulled out the key, opened the cell door, strode in, and struck her across the face. The impact sent her reeling across the cell. She tasted blood in her mouth. But she refused to be beaten down. As soon as she stood up straight again, Billy grabbed her by the throat, slamming her up against the wall.

"Tell me where to find that island, or I send you to meet your father again!"

He loosened his grip just enough for her to speak. "Never." She managed to choke out. Billy let go of her neck, gave her a knee to the ribs, which sent her to the floor of her cell, doubled over and gasping for air, and then promptly left, locking the door behind him.

Alone once again, she smiled ruefully. She knew that as long as she was able to hold out, Billy would never actually kill her. Of course, if she tried his patience too long, he might. But that didn't matter. She would die before giving up her father's treasure to the man who had killed him.

Nora wondered what had happened to the Pearl- and Jack. The thought of Jack sent a pang of regret through her. She had acted like a spoiled little girl, and he had always treated her fairly. Never mind that his share in the treasure motivated the treatment. No, she thought, he was a good man, and wouldn't have treated her any other way, even if she had been his captive. At least, he wouldn't have struck her. Jack Sparrow would never have struck a woman. And now he was surely dead, and she would never be able to apologize for her actions.

For several days the routine was the same. Nora was fed once a day and always the same meal: stale bread and lukewarm water, barely enough to keep her alive. Every day, Billy came to her cell, demanding to know the whereabouts of the island. Always, Nora refused, so he would beat her until she was barely conscious.

Nora was in so much pain that she finally stopped even making the effort to cross her cell when the food was given to her. She no longer had the strength to stand, opting instead to crawl around on the floor when she decided to move at all. She could tell that she had several cracked ribs, and every breath was a painful effort.

She found solace in her memories, which came to her with clarity she had never thought possible through her pain.

*********

The clash and ring of swords; the sound of quick, light footsteps on the wooden deck of the ship. But instead of being accompanied by shouts and curses, laughter resounded through the room.

"One of these days, Nora, you'll be nearly as good as me!"

She laughed. "One of these days, Jack," she retorted, "I'm going to beat you!"

"Now that will never happen, love." And with that, he batted her cutlass out of her hand, and sent it skipping along the floor. He smiled roguishly, his gold teeth flashing in the sun.

It was a younger Jack that smiled at her, not quite so weather beaten, with perhaps fewer laugh lines around his eyes. But Nora was younger too, only 16.

"Alright, alright! You win! Yet again." She stuck out her tongue at him petulantly.

"Now don't go hiding up in the crow's nest again just because I beat you." He said warningly. "The last time you did that your father nearly had my hide. He was so worried that I had made you run away."

"Well it served you right!" Nora shot back. "At least this time you fought fair."

"Aye, and I still beat you!"

He had put his weapon away, and at this statement she lunged at him, sending them both sprawling across the floor of Nora's cabin in a jumble of limbs.

"Alright, you've proven your point! Now get off me, ya Hellcat!"

Nora did so, and stuck a finger in Jack's face. "Don't call me names!"

He nodded solemnly, but with a hint of mischief still in his eyes. He leaned up against the bedstead, and Nora rested her head on his shoulder. They sat in companionable silence for a few moments. Then,

"Jack?"

"Mmm?"

"When are we going to run away together?"

He chuckled, then gestured grandly. "Why, whenever ya want, love."

This had always been their private joke. Jack and Nora had been planning on 'running away together' for several years now. And always when she asked, she got the same answer. This time, though, she had been halfheartedly hoping for a different one. She looked at him, and he met her bright green gaze with his deep brown one.

It was a gaze she could easily lose herself in. That day, she nearly did, and for a moment the world stopped.

Jack was the first to break away. He stood up quickly, and strode for the door. "I've got work to do, and you know how your father gets when someone shirks their duties." He smiled at her again, then left, closing the door behind him, leaving Nora to her very confused thoughts.

That day, she had realized that she was in love with Jack Sparrow.

And now, over a decade later, Nora knew she would never be able to tell him so.