'Clump, clump, clump,' he paused, causing the echoes from his boots to become silent.

'Hm. . .' he thought, 'I coulda sworn I heard somethin'. . .must be the bloody rum. . .' And with his mind at ease once again, he carried on.

Jack Sparrow was known to be drunk most of the time. A functioning alcoholic. . . well, mostly functioning. . . as in, he was still alive.

As he trudged on through the dank alleyway, he could still hear the faint cry of distress. He paused yet again. Silence. He hadn't had so much to drink that he should be hearing things. . . Ah, there it was again. He quickened his pace, heading in the direction of the cries.

**************

I situated myself deep into the shadows, wanting so desperately just to vanish all together. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. I was completely and utterly alone.

My parents had both died recently, just days before my nineteenth birthday. My uncle, the only family I had left, was the most conniving, abusive, perverse man I had yet to encounter. Rich and important, yes, but evil beyond compare. So I chose nothingness over living with him. The better of two evils.

Thus, I wandered the filthy streets of Tortuga. It had just become dark, the nightlife of Tortuga beginning to come alive. Whores and drunks littered the streets, taking part in all the sinful pleasures the town had to offer.

I pulled a half empty barrel of sawdust in front of where I lay. I thought I'd be safe. Immersed into the darkness, hidden from view by a barrel. Let alone the fact that I was located in a completely desolate alley.

I had just started to drift into an uneasy sleep when I heard voices. Three sets of drunken voices.

"Righ' John- then we pushed 'im in the river and took 'em- the very one's he been tellin' us about!"

Their voices ricocheted off the walls, breaking the silence like a hammer. Their inebriated laughter echoed eerily. They were getting closer.

I bit down on my lip, pleading with the darkness to consume me. I pulled my legs in tighter to my body, trying with all my might to disappear. They were close now. I turned slightly, pushing myself against the wall when suddenly there was a crash. Right above my left shoulder, a bottle fell and shattered on the ground below.

I gasped. There had been a bottle sitting atop the barrel.

The men had become silent, and I cursed myself inwardly. 'Please,' I prayed silently, 'Please. . .'

"Wha's this?" One of the men standing above me slurred, "Come look'at here Clyde."

I looked up, fear tearing at my bones as I beheld three men. The one took out a knife from his breast pocket.

"Whatch'a say to havin' a li'l fun, Sweetie?" He inched closer, pointing the blade at my face.

**************

Turning the corner, Jack caught site of some people huddled in the shadows. He could hear muffled whimpers from within the group as he approached closer.

Just as he realized what was going on, one of the men turned to him.

"Carry on- nuffin' fer ya to see here, Mister," the man named Clyde looked Jack over.

"Actually," Jack pointed his index finger in the air, speaking obnoxiously loud, "It's Captain. Captain Jack Sparrow."

Clyde threw a look of annoyance over his shoulder as he kneed me in the ribs to keep quite. The other two men had stuffed their handkerchiefs in my mouth to keep my crying to a minimum. My skirt was pulled up to my waist, but my undergarments still remained intact, thanks to this 'Captain Jack Sparrow'.

"And just out of curiosity," Jack inched closer, peering into the darkness with squinted eyes, "Ya sure this lass is willin'?"

That was it, Clyde buttoned his trousers up again and turned to face Jack fully. "I think ye'd better be off, aye?" He studied Jack intensely, "Captain?"

"I think I'll be hearin' a few words from the lass first," he took yet another step towards Clyde, practically touching noses now, "Aye?"

Clyde glanced back at his companions, quickly turning back to throw a punch. His fist met flatly with Jack's lower jaw, causing him to fall sideways onto the ground. He laid there for a moment, causing the dread to come seeping back into my body. Then, suddenly he sat up; and after straightening his hat, dusting off his pants, and rubbing his chin he stood up.

"That, is a wonderful trick. But once again, I must beseech you. . . let the lass speak." His voice had become strangely serious. Threatening. The men released me, dropping my ragged body to the ground. Free of their hands, I quickly pulled the handkerchiefs from my mouth, gagging in the process. They weren't clean.

"Hello, Love," Jack looked past the men that were now standing before him, "wanna tell Ol' Jack what's been goin' on?" I wiped my mouth and sat up, glancing nervously from my man to man. Seeing my hesitance, he continued. "Looks to me as if she's had a night. What'ya say to lettin' me take ya home now, Miss?" He started past Clyde and his men.

"I'll take her home when she's had enough," Clyde stepped between my rescuer and me.

I saw my chance. I knew that this 'Captain' would have a hard time of it by himself. I sprang from my position, hurtling myself onto Clyde's back and latching a hold of his neck. I bit down sharply on his ear, almost immediately tasting blood. His hands rushed up to mine that were grasped tightly around his neck. He struggled under the pressure that I had laid upon him. I subconsciously saw Jack, drawing his sword and hacking at the remaining two men. They dropped to the ground, clutching their sides and cursing in pain.

He then turned toward my victim, aiming his blade at Clyde's face as they had so recently done to me.

"So. . . Yer gonna let me take the lass home, aye?" Jack inquired coolly.

Clyde nodded.

"I can't hear ya."

Clyde gasped for air against my clenched fists.

"Let 'im go, Love." I reluctantly released my grip. He clutched his own neck, gulping in lungfuls of air.

"I'm waitin'," The blade still hovered.

"Aye, take 'er, taker 'er!" He nodded vigorously, causing the blood that was oozing from his torn ear to drip to the already stained collar of his shirt.

"Tha's a good chap. Come along, Miss," he turned to me with an outstretched arm. I slowly approached him, still very much aware of Clyde standing not but a few feet from me. As soon as I was within range of Jack, he took a hold of my arm and hurried me down the alleyway.

************

"You alright now, Love?" We had made it back to civilization. Not that the civilization Tortuga had to offer was much of a relief.

I nodded meekly to Jack, my newly found savior. But even though he had saved me, and I owed my very life to him, it was humiliating thinking back to it now. What those men had done to me. What this Captain saw of me. I felt filthy. My cheeks blushed furiously at the afterthought. What if he hadn't come along? Where would I be right now? It was too much to think about.

"Thanks," I whispered, suddenly exhausted from the night's events.

"T'was nothing. . . I'd just been passin' through is all."

I smiled. He had no idea how much his 'passing through' had done for me. I don't think I could have lived with myself if those men had been left to do as they pleased.

"So. . . erm. . . where is it ya live? I want to see ya home safe and sound, savvy?"

I bit down on my lip. See me home?

"Yes. . ." I considered, "Um. . ." I studied the houses we passed. If only one belonged to me. All I needed was one. The smallest, drabbest one they had to offer would do, "I. . . uh. . ." Was I really going to have to admit it? After all the humiliation I'd already encountered that night? My helplessness among those men. Did I really have tell him I had no home as well?

"Do ya not even know where ya live?!" He exclaimed, staring at me suspiciously.

"Of course I do!" I shouted in defense. It would be even worse if he thought me dumb. He held out his hands as if to coax an answer from my mouth. "It's that one," I blurted, not realizing what I was saying. I pointed to a small stone building, next to a store front.

"Well that's more like it." We approached the door, and I just prayed that no one would hear us from inside. Staring at the door for a moment, Jack leaned toward me, a look of perplexity spread across his tanned face, "Ye might want to go inside now."

"Oh. . ." I anxiously looked to Jack, then back to the door, "Right." Slowly I reached out for the handle. It would be only seconds before he knew the truth. My lie had been in vain. I grimaced as I twisted the handle, sure that it would be locked. When the handle turned smoothly under my hand, a exhale of relief followed from my mouth.

"So. . . uh. . . thanks again," I turned back to Jack, postponing my intrusion on the unfamiliar house.

"Yes, yes, you're very welcome," He waved his hands at me, motioning that he didn't want to speak of it anymore. "Get on inside now, it's late and I must be on my way."

"Oh. . . Okay," I peered into the darkened room of the house, "Goodbye Captain Sparrow." I suddenly felt a pang of sadness. He was leaving. He had other, exciting things to do. 'Captain' things. I would return to my life of nothingness. Sleeping on the streets of Tortuga night after night. Who's to say I wouldn't encounter Clyde and his men again? Or any bunch of drunken men for that matter? Would I really be as lucky as to have someone save me the next time?

Jack waved over his shoulder as he sauntered away. I turned quickly to the room ahead of me, not wanting him to see my eyes that had welled up with stinging tears of envy. I closed the door and leaned back against it. I would wait a few minutes, then leave. Jack would never be the wiser.

I wiped the salty tears from my eyes, as they slowly adjusted to the shadows. There was a table with chairs in front of me, an icebox, sink, and pantry. The floor was hardwood, but with a large Oriental rug covering most of it. I tried to focus harder on the rug, the design was beautiful. But there was something dark on the one side opposite me. I took a step closer, perhaps a large stain? Suddenly the spot moved, and upon hearing a low rumbling I realized what it was.

The dog's eyes glowed green as he stood, growling from deep within his chest. I backed up quickly, slamming my back into the door.

"J. . .Jack!" I hissed, a lump forming within my throat. The moonlight shone off the dog's glistening teeth as he inched closer.

I groped the door sightlessly until my hand closed around the cool metal of the nob.

Silently, I turned the handle. I moved flawlessly in spite of my paralyzing fear. In almost no time at all, I was on the other side of the door, clicking it back into place. My heart was pounding so loudly, I could hardly hear the barking from within the house.

"Who's out there?!" I quickly turned from the house and ran through the twilight, following the route that I saw the Captain take.

Turning the corner, I spotted him. His slow, even strides not allowing him to get very far. I ran up behind him, grabbing at his arm.

His sword was drawn almost immediately, and positioned at my throat. After a moment of absolute stillness, he slowly lowered it, "Don't ya know never to startle a man!?" He cursed, realizing it was only me. "Bloody hell, I coulda killed ya." He sheathed his sword and sighed.

"I'm sorry. . ." I apologized, humiliated yet again in the same night.

He sighed, studying my face, "S'alright, but what'sa matter now?"

The memories came flooding back from moments ago. "It was dark, and, and a dog, a big ugly horrible dog. . . and he was growling. he was growling, and I couldn't find the handle. . . And. . . and. . ." I paused, staring back at his puzzled face, "I'm. . . I'm coming with you." Sure, it was bold, but that was how it had to be. He had no choice, I was going with him whether he liked it or not. There was no way I could stay here. No place could be worse.

"I beg'n yer pardon?" He threw his head back, a look of utter confusion on his face.

"I said. . . I'm coming with you."

"Oh, no, no, no. . ." he wagged his finger, shaking his head vigorously, "No, no. Yer gonna go home, and have a good night's sleep. You've had a long stressful day, and there's no way in he-"

"I don't have a home," I confessed, abruptly cutting him off.

"Now don't give me that, in case you don't remember, you showed me the very place you li." he trailed off, obviously realizing that it had been a falsehood. He studied me harder. "Bloody." He turned around, and rubbed his face in exasperation.

"I'll do anything. . . just, please. . . take me with you." He didn't move. "I owe you for saving my life. . ." I added.

Peering over his shoulder, he slowly turned back around to face me. He frowned, examining me harshly. Finally, with yet another sigh, he muttered, "Come on, then. We've got a lot to do before setting off." And with that, he turned on his heals and continued walking.

I stood staring for a moment, not believing what I just heard. He was bringing me along with him. And even though I had no idea what was to happen, or where we were headed, I knew that any place, any other conditions, would better than the ones I had been facing.

I jogged to catch up, falling into step beside him; I couldn't help but smile to myself. I had found a way to break out; to leave the endless days of wandering.

Glancing back up at him, I noticed he had a bit of a grin on his face. Was he happy that I was coming along? Was he excited to have me joining him? At the time I didn't know, but fairly soon, I would come to realize how very lucky I had been to be free. No matter that my days had been filled with nothingness, I had been free; and freedom isn't something one should give up so readily.