Talia found a small exit from the cave that led to a very small beach with one or two trees on it and a large rock. Pulling Sarah over to the rock, simultaneously trying not to be rough with her, Talia set her down, leaning against the rock. She slipped off her jacket and made a sort of tourniquet for her. Neither of them noticed the rain that was soaking them to the bone.

"Dem that cursed man," Talia muttered as she finished tying the jacket around her friend's middle. Sarah looked at Talia, glanced at the hole in the rocks where they had come from, then returned her gaze to Talia.

"He had planned it," She said quietly. Sarah knew. Drew had been planning it from the start. As soon as he saw her with Talia and Jack, she could tell he was up to something, but she hadn't been quick enough. "E-ever since he saw me with you…and Jack…"

Talia looked up. She would never have known. Drew had just seemed stupid to her. All flustered and enamored. So…had that been an act? A very good act, if it was, indeed, all fake. All the more reason to hate him with every fiber in her body. "…Didn't see that coming." She shook her head. Sarah sighed loosely.

"I should have told him."

"Hmm? Told who what?"

"…I should have told Jack when I was on the Black Pearl with him, looking for you." Sarah had really, really meant to. It was so hard. Talia didn't get what she meant, though. There were millions of things to tell people every day, and many of those things, people never said.

"Sarah, whatever that was that you should have told him, I'm sure you'll be able to. He'll be back soon, really." Talia didn't know where the words coming out her mouth were coming from. Was she really saying them? Strange. "Or do you mean…because of Drew…" No answer. "Sarah?"

"…Yes." She finally answered. She knew Jack would be back. She didn't know, however, how much longer she could sit in the rain and bleed. She coughed and looked back at the cavern.

Oh God. Talia didn't say it out loud. She wished Jack would kill Drew quicker. Sarah needs you, you idiot. Finish it and get out here. He'd never hear her if she sat and tried to communicate telepathically to him, but she wanted to stay with Sarah. She needed to.

- - - - -

Jack still had questions. As he protected himself against Drew's attacks, he tried to get answers. "So--if your family disowned her, then why did you befriend her? Wouldn't that--" He ducked an attack, picked up a handful of treasure and threw it at his adversary's face. "--be going against your family?"

"Isn't it obvious, Jack?" He drew his sword back then brought his blade forward, catching it against Jack's. "I never really befriended her. I wanted to track her, find out how far against our family name she'd go." He broke away and jumped to a higher level of rocks. "Apparently, she'd go very far."

Jack knocked Drew backwards, off the rocks, with an attack and advanced slightly. "So you acted the part of her friend to spy on her?" Drew acknowledged this as correct. "If your family disowned her, then what point is there in knowing whether or not she disgraced the family? There have to be about a hundred Warrens in the Caribbean alone. No one could tell the difference if she was related to you or not."

"It's the principal, I suppose." Drew tripped Jack, who recovered quickly and hastily pushed Drew into a wall.

"But you, yourself, are a pirate!"

"You haven't grasped this yet! You're slower than I expected--I acted as a pirate. Pirates are vile and disgusting--" He was pushed into a wall again, nearly dropping his sword.

"Watch what you're saying, mate." Jack didn't like people who badmouthed pirates right to a pirate's face. They were complete morons. Have common sense, people. Pirates kill practically for fun--so why risk insulting them when they're in earshot?

"--What, can't take the verbal abuse?" He slipped away from Jack and approached him from behind. Jack dodged his sword just in time, then backed away for more attacking room.

"I don't get you--first you lie to your sister to find out if she's disgracing the family that disowned her, then you betray her to my first mate so that there was a chance of her being executed, then you go and stab her?" He threw another rock at him. "There's something wrong with you."

"Well. We all have opinions, don't we?"

He wasn't finished interrogating him yet. "And Talia?" What of that, he wondered. Was he really in love with the crazy woman? And if so, why??

"Ahh…Talia…" He got a dreamy look, which distracted him for a moment. "…No, my love for her was no lie…she completes me…" Insane? I think so. Drew apparently still, after all of her threats and attempts on his life, did not get it that she HATED HIM with a FIERY PASSION.

"Oh, then I suppose you've realized that, even if she completes you, she really wants to take you apart and sort you in to separate boxes, right?" He couldn't believe that anyone could be so stupid to not get the concept of even-if-I-love-you-you-might-not-love-me. It was incredibly simple. "And I suppose you've also realized that Talia is a pirate, as well."

Drew seemed like he didn't hear those last two sentences. He probably didn't. He appeared to have incredibly selective hearing.

After what felt like ages of fighting, Jack spoke again; "You know, Drew, I think it's time that you paid for the many, many bad--and stupid--things that you've done. Honestly."

Drew laughed, and it sounded cold and hateful. "Me, pay? Sure! Do that, Jack, I'd love to see it." That man had to have some incredible luck, because he sure didn't have the skill. He slashed forward, catching Jack off guard, and leaving a shallow gash across his chest. Jack stepped backwards, and, not realized that the rocks beneath him were layered, tripped and fell over on his back, dropping his sword.. Drew stepped up to him and stood at his feet. He pointed the tip of his blade at Jack. "Nice work. I'm definitely feeling the payback." What luck. Now Jack was unguarded and defenseless. Drew officially had the upper hand. "Well, Jack Sparrow, any last words?"

"Sure. I'd just like to say that you are the biggest imbecile I have ever had the misfortune to meet. You deserve worst judgment for what you have done. I only wish that Sarah would have never met you. But I suppose that's beyond reach now, eh? And this has drawn on far too long." His hand lingered near his belt, but Drew was too focused on Jack's face to notice. "So I'll end it now. G'bye Drew. It's been fun."

The tables turned. Jack pulled out his pistol and shot Drew, who was, unluckily, shot in a very deadly spot. When you aren't far away, your aiming improves. He fell backwards and died shortly after that. Jack tucked his pistol back in his belt and sighed. It was finished. Thank God. He pulled to his feet and grabbed his sword as he went to look for Talia and Sarah.

- - - - -

Demmit, Jack, don't tell me Drew beat you. Talia was getting irritated and a little worried. Sarah sighed heavily. "Well…you know…you stopped calling me wench, Talia." Sarah was attempting feebly to make conversation.

"Yeah," Talia laughed a little. She had stopped calling her that a while ago, but just hadn't realized it. Funny how things got overlooked sometimes. "I suppose that I did."

"…Yeah. Hey Talia?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. For h-hiring me, you know…and…even though you used me like a possession in…th-that negotiation…" Sarah smiled, though it looked slightly strained.

"Stop, don't thank me, I know what you're doing." She did. Talia knew. Sarah knew she wasn't going to make it, so she was saying thanks before…it was too late. "You're not gonna die, and you can believe me, because I'm always right." They both laughed a little, though it was sort of that laugh that you use when you think you should laugh but don't have the heart to.

"Sarah?" Jack appeared at the hole in the rocks. Sarah looked over and smiled again, that same, labored smile. Making his way over through the wet sand, he kneeled next to her. Talia, who watched as Jack took Sarah's hand, stood up and walked to the hole in the rocks.

"I'll leave you two alone. I'll be in here, checking to make sure Drew stays dead." It was a true excuse, she really did want to make sure Drew stayed dead. Drew + alive = not good at all.

The rain didn't matter anymore. No one could feel it, they were so numb from the water and the hurt. Jack watched Sarah pull something out of her coat pocket, which had sand in it. "Jack, I…I have something to give to you." He didn't want it; he was afraid of what it might be. She placed it in the hand that wasn't holding hers.

Jack didn't need to look at it to know what it was. It was the necklace he had given her before the dance. The blue one on a ribbon. No. "Please…Sarah, don't give this to me…" She shook her head, eyes blinking slowly.

"It's yours. K-keep it, please." He heard what she wasn't saying. She was saying, "Keep it, please--to remember me by." He didn't want to remember her, he wanted her to stay. She could still survive, right? The wound wasn't necessarily fatal. He continued to tell himself this. She didn't have to…

"You'll make it. I promise." He said. He wasn't sure which one of them he was saying it to. Don't… "It's…I…this is…" There was nothing to say, he couldn't force his voice to work. It couldn't happen like this. His hold on her hand tightened.

"…Jack…I meant to tell you…on the Black Pearl…when we were coming here…but I couldn't do it." She couldn't say it, but she had to. This was her last chance before…before she… It was just so hard. "I love you." It felt really strange. So strange, she almost didn't feel the pain from her midsection. It was impossible to tell which water droplets on her face were rain and which were tears.

That was pretty much the breaking point for Jack. He couldn't take it anymore. Tears ran down his face, as well, hidden among the remnants of rain. Why did it have to happen this way? Fate had to be wrong, it had to be. This couldn't be the way things were supposed to happen. No.

- - - - -

Talia crossed her arms and glared at Drew's dead body. He was most definitely dead. There was no way he could come back…or something. And that made her slightly happier. No more Drew.

At this point, she turned toward the stone chest full of Aztec gold. She saw the cadaver lying near it. Judging by the way Jack the monkey was sitting, staring at it, hunched over, she couldn't figure out who the body belonged to. She now knew Jack had killed her uncle, but she just didn't have the heart to be angry with him at the moment. Not now, with Sarah the way she was. Talia looked up at the silver sky, which appeared almost as if it were crying, crying tears of mourning for the lost.

It would be time to return to the duo soon.

- - - - -

Sarah and Jack could say nothing more, just sit together and know the truth. It was unfair. So many things lay ahead, so why did Sarah have to go so quickly. It was unfair.

Talia's footsteps made light, crunching noises against the dark sand underfoot. She came to Jack's side and crouched next to him. Her timing was impeccable. Sarah took a deep, shuddering sigh.

"Hey Talia." Talia smiled and nodded. "Do something for me, will you?" Just for a little while…n-not too long…watch Jack--make sure he doesn't do anything…stupid." Both women exhaled slightly in a short laugh.

"In return, say hello to Asher and me brother for me."

Sarah nodded. "Okay." Her gaze shifted back to Jack, but she said nothing. They could read each other's gaze and hear what the other was not saying. Jack squeezed her hand one more time.

The wind sighed and the rain quivered. For a fleeting moment, all Jack wanted to hear was Sarah's voice, just once more; but she said nothing. Her eyes closed and she was still. Talia sat down.

It was finished. It was over now. No, God no… It was cruel twist of destiny. It felt so wrong. Talia sighed, but Jack barely heard it. Sarah's hand, which had been cold already from the rain, became colder in his hand. "No…" Talia dropped a hand onto his shoulder. She knew that he felt the same way she did when she lost her friend and her brother.

"…I'm sorry." She said. She hated to see her comrade go, too. The Death Lily wasn't the same anymore without Asher and Adrian, and now Sarah was gone as well. Luck had really dealt a bad hand.

Eventually, they dug a hole in the sand and buried Sarah beneath one of the trees. They couldn't just leave her on the beach. It was really terribly sad. Perhaps it wouldn't have been as awful, had they not had to watch her die, slowly in front of them.

The two of them sat in silence for a long time, just letting the rain drench them, lost in thought. Soon, Talia said something about returning to the Pearl, so Jack slowly stood up and followed Talia back to the little boat that would take them to the Pearl. He was too upset to argue with her about which of them should have lead the way to the ship.

Next to the Pearl was the Death Lily. It turned out that Talia's crew had stopped in Tortuga, after figuring out, using common sense, that Drew had kidnapped her, and found out the destination and the location of the island (somehow; the location-finding-out part was still a little blurred). Talia had her ship, Jack had his. It was time to head home.

Jack and Talia had agreed to travel together one last time, just until they reached the next island. It was the end of their negotiation--Drew was dead and Jack had helped Talia. He knew this…and it hurt, because the deal had been that Sarah would come with him if he helped Talia to her satisfaction. She could never come. Jack really loved her. Now…she was gone. He stood at the side of his ship and remembered, wishing she were there with him, as he looked at her necklace.

He could never love anyone like he loved Sarah, he knew.

And it rained and rained.