Disclaimer: Each story we go through this, and each time we all agree that none of us, whosoever we may be or claim or think we are, own the legal rights to this movie theme, the characters, the ocean, the rum or the chicken dressed in a man suit. Thank You.

Damned to the Depths

-Chapter Eight

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The curtains fluttered in the warm evening breeze, the sun casting shadows on the walls and floors. Jack watched the figure in the bed, his head tilting slightly.

"What?"

Jack quirked an eyebrow at the question. "Nothin'."

Ana sat up, "Why don't you let me do that Jack."

"Two reasons, darlin'. One- you're sick. Two- did I mention that ye were sick?"

After Ana had finished throwing up on everything, Jack had put her to bed and then proceeded to clean his boots along with the rest of the mess. Being a pirate had its advantages, and then again, it had its disadvantages- this to Jack was an advantage as he tossed the vase out the open window behind him, taking care of it in one simple step. But the disadvantage was, the vase had not landed in the water but more like the deck, the force causing the glass to break, the expelled contents inside splattering all over the wooden floor along with a crew member or two.

Jack stuck his head out the window as someone shouted, his face taking on an innocent expression as he called, "Sorry 'bout that, mate." He quickly retreated back into the room, closing the window where he heard Ana laughing. He shook his head at her with a scowl as he headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Will ye just go to sleep already?" Jack asked, glancing at Ana from over his shoulder.

"Only if you tell me where you're going," Ana agreed.

Jack sighed, "I'm goin' to see Will, happy? Now will ye go to sleep?"

Ana grinned at him. "Can't promise that, sorry."

The pirate captain rolled his eyes and closed the door behind him, intent on finding Will and Elizabeth before it got too late.

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When Jack returned later that evening, he found Ana sleeping peacefully. She was curled up under the covers, her head resting on her arms, her black hair splayed across her face. Jack smiled as he slipped into the room silently, his boots in his hands to keep the noise down. He tossed the boots to the floor with a loud thump before relieving his shoulders of his shirt as he lay next to Ana, his arm wrapping around her protectively.

Ana shifted under his touch, a contented sigh breaking the quiet before Jack heard, "Has anyone told you lately just how noisy you are when you are trying to be quiet?"

Jack buried his head in her neck, "Not in the last 6 seconds, love."

"Well you are," Ana murmured still half asleep. "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

The pirate captain looked up to see her staring at him. "Not quite sure yet, but I do know in the morning I'm goin' to see what kind of damage the Pearl sustained and hopefully we can repair her enough to get her to a port, why do ye ask?"

"No reason."

"Are ye sure?" Jack badgered.

Ana nodded. "Of course. I just wanted to know what our plans were, is all."

"Now see, there is a misunderstandin'. Those are my plans, savvy? Not yours. Ye are to stay here and rest."

The female pirate scoffed, "Doctor's orders?"

"No, mine."

Ana rolled her eyes and went back to staring at the wall in front of her. She traced the patterns in the wood accents, trying to get her mind off of things. She was also trying to think of some way to weasel herself out of the cabin. Staying in bed all day was getting old, and Ana was getting restless. She didn't like it. Not one bit.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Ana snapped out of her reverie at Jack's question. "Just thinking," she answered dully.

"About-?"

There was a sigh. "Derrick." She felt Jack tense at the name, but he was on her mind, his memory and face plaguing her every dream, her every thought.

"What about him?"

"I can't help but to think, how he is still alive," Ana started. "Jack he should be dead, I saw him die. But here he is, alive and well and- and…"

Jack finished for her, "After you."

Ana was thoroughly confused at Derrick's appearance and arrival. She had witnessed him die from a bullet to the chest all those years ago, so how was it, he was not dead, healthy and walking about without a care in the world and now after so long, after her? It didn't make any sense to her, she just didn't understand.

It stumped Jack as well; he had heard Ana's story and knew that, she was by far, the only survivor of that night. He didn't much care that Derrick was alive when he should have been six feet under. No, what had him raging mad and perplexed was why was Derrick after his wife? Jack couldn't think of any reason for the man to just suddenly appear out of no where, attempt to kill him and kidnap Ana. But Jack would be damned if he let Ana fall into the bastard's hands- he'd no sooner stop loving her before he gave her up.

He felt Ana move beside him, the action bringing him back to reality as he stared at her, a question drilling in his mind. "Ana, had ye known that Derrick was still alive before ye became my first mate, would ye have gone back to him?"

Ana gawked at him. "What? Don't even think that, Jack. I don't have any regrets- I wouldn't leave you. Not then, not now," she took his hand and placed it on her growing abdomen. "This is us, Jack. This is where I belong, with you. It always has been and always will be."

Jack found he was a bit surprised at how much Ana had been hiding that he briefly wondered how in the world he missed the fact that she was as big as she was. True, she had been pushing him away, but, they still shared the same bed every night, he still held her as he slept, and still, she managed to hide the bulge that had slowly begun to appear.

"But what if ye-"

Ana pressed a finger to his lips, shaking her head. "Jack, don't worry. Everything will be okay, I promise."

"That's a funny thing to promise, especially when ye can't be sure of what's goin' to happen, Ana," Jack pointed out. "Ye can't predict the future, ye can't say things will be okay, when things are not always okay. I'm just sayin' what if somethin' happens? I can't lose ye."

Placing her hand over his, Ana whispered, "You'll never lose me Jack. Because I'm always going to be here," she tapped his head and then his chest, "and here." She recovered his hand with her own, giving it a slight squeeze. "And we'll both be here."

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A/N: Another short chapter, I know. But I have to make it interesting. Also because… well… I'm lazy. Nuff said. I also needed a good piece of story left for next chapter- that's going to be a doozy. Just wait and see… now, carry on.

Review Thanks- (Yay, long replies this time.)

Tinkabell21- Don't worry… I'm sure somewhere Jack feels bad for the way he acted, but you can't exactly say they had a fight, just a cold shoulder face-off. Gotta love those. As far as the baby thing- motherly instinct; it either runs or it grows. We'll wait and see.

Jackfan2- Hey, thanks for the insight on certain details of the story I was missing involving Ana and her miscarriage. And you're right, why dwell on the past, you can't change it, only learn from it. Glad you enjoyed the little humor there, trying to add some airiness to the whole thing, so it won't seem over-stuffy. I'm counting on ya to keep me in line in that respect, ok? (wink, wink)

Guinevere- Actually, the Commodore mentioned in Ana's story is not Norrington. And yeah, I think Norrington's marriage is a nice one- not sure. I haven't asked 'cause last I heard he and his wife took an extra long honeymoon. As for 'In Your Absence' I took that off the board and restored it in my vault for later usage- possibly. Might revise it, not sure yet.

Rat- Nothing greater than the truth. Or so I am told. P.s. Keep your story coming!

Cal- She might be woman, but she sure roars! Ana the tough old marm, who uh, who uh… likes to knee offending assholes. Yeah! And I'm glad you liked the stand-in's of the last chapter. And yes, any slap/punch Jack gets, he deserved, am I right? Hope this chapter is riveting all the same.

ErinRua- Wow, a new reviewer. (hugs!) And rum! Life should always be on the straight and narrow, not in the backseat, ya know. Life in reality isn't a dream, things happen; Murphy's Law is constantly around us that I just hope I'm accurate in the way things are portrayed. And thank you, very much!

-J