AN: Thank you for your reviews!

Rat, in response to your question, I think Jack believed he'd accepted that the fates might not be on his side this time and didn't expect anyone to try to save him. However, this leads me on to Miss Becky's review and to comment on another of Jack's expressions during the film. When the gallows' trapdoor opened beneath him and he fell, his eyes widened with fright and shock (aaw!). So, perhaps he wasn't as ready to face Death as he'd thought.

Civeta, Morph and Katherine Dark, thanks for your encouragement.

Jackfan2, in regards to Will, that was my thought exactly! (Hence the following scene!)

I hope you all like this next scene!

~ * ~

2.

Visited

No Heroes Amongst Thieves

Unfortunately for Captain Jack Sparrow, he had to share the Dauntless's brig with certain pirates who weren't exactly fond of him. Once these scallywags had been loyal to him, but that had been a very long time ago. Fortunately, he was alone in his cell, away from the cells containing the others. The shock of the curse lifting and being captured had blessedly left the mutinous pirates rather subdued, so they didn't disturb Jack's gloomily wandering thoughts or prevent sleep from creeping up on his weary body.

Under his grimy white shirt, Jack's chest rose and fell in a deep and regular pattern. His head slipped to one side. Dark brown eyes moved in response to his dreams under closed eyelids and his face was stripped by calm, giving him the look of childlike, peaceful innocence.

The brig's wooden door creaked open and quiet footsteps sounded on the deck. Jack's eyes snapped open and stared through the dark in the direction of the noise.

A slender figure hesitated in front of the cells, raising an oil lamp turned down dim to peer into them. The faint yellow light illuminated the familiar face of a young blacksmith.

"Looking for anyone in particular, lad?" Jack asked, the lamp catching his usual amused grin, as Will Turner moved towards the sound of his voice.

"Jack," Will greeted in a hushed tone, smiling faintly.

The pirate captain glanced at the door and then returned his gaze accompanied with a frown. "The guards?"

Will shifted uncomfortably. "They're…indisposed at the moment."

"Ah."

"I can't stay long," Will said, hurriedly. "Governor Swann has granted me clemency, but if I'm caught here…"

"Then you shouldn't have come at all, lad. Not worth you hanging."

Will ignored him. "How's your hand?"

"What? Oh. I've had worse."

"If it's anything like mine, you'll be wanted some wine and cloth to clean it."

Mumbling his thanks, Jack accepted the almost empty bottle and shreds of white material that Will passed through the bars to him.

"Have you spoken to your bonny lass?" Jack asked, as the lad held the lamp up against the bars to give him light to see by. He winced as he wiped an alcohol-soaked cloth over his cut palm.

"No," Will admitted, quietly, heartache and sorrow evident in his tone.

"Well, if the opportune moment so happens to come along again, this time have the sense to take it."

"Elizabeth is engaged to be married," Will said, his voice almost breaking, "to a man who is better fitting her status."

"Perhaps. But it's not Norrington she's in love with, now is it?"

"I don't know…"

Jack gave the younger man a withering look. Will's pained and confused expression became more pained and confused.

The pirate sighed. "If you can't see it, mate…"

Jack wrapped a long piece of cloth around his wounded hand and tied it with the help of his teeth. He then picked up the wine bottle again and swallowed the mouthful that remained.

"Jack, what are you going to do?" Will asked, watching the imprisoned pirate captain with concern.

"I don't follow ya, mate." Jack knelt to pick up the scraps of material.

"When we reach Port Royal, what will you do?"

"I believe I have an appointment with the gallows," the pirate answered, rising and handing Will the empty bottle and cloths through the bars.

"You mean you won't even try to escape?" Will stared in surprise and horror.

"If the chance arises, I shall take it, have no doubt," Jack told him, leaning against the bars. "If it doesn't…I guess this is the end of the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Jack…"

"Don't worry about me, lad. I'm a black-hearted, good-for-nothing pirate, remember?"

The young blacksmith stared at Jack's lopsided grin with amazement and frowned.

"You're a good man, Jack."

"That makes no difference to the Crown or the noose," Jack stated, matter-of-factly, though his dark eyes showed a hint of Will's words having touched him. "You'd best be getting back, before the guards find you here." He moved away from the bars and sat down in the shadows at the back of his cell.

Will hovered for a moment, but the sound of a thud from the deck above made up his mind. He cast one last look into the pirate's cell, barely able to make out the man in the gloom. "Goodbye, Jack." He left without waiting for a response, slipping silently out of the door.

Alone in the darkness, Captain Jack Sparrow sighed heavily and closed his eyes again. He escaped into dreams of black sails filled by the wind, blue waves glinting in the sun and endless horizons… Freedom.