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 Twelve

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"Where do you think you're going?"

Jack came to a stop, Will's hand holding him back. "I'm goin' after her," he replied pointing in the direction Ana had went.

"You'll get yourself killed," Will protested. "Let Gibbs or I go after her. You're hurt."

The pirate captain yanked his arm free from Will's grip. "Don't try to stop me, Will."

"Jack you don't understand! You're injured! You probably can't even see out of that eye! You're just going to wind up getting killed or worse," the blacksmith argued. "You can get Ana killed as well! Is that what you want?!"

Jack glared at him, his fingers prying Will's own from his arm as he seethed, "No lad, I don't think you understand. Ana is out there fighting or dying by now for all I know! Ye say I'm in no condition to fight, well Ana isn't either, Will!" he hung his head. "If it were Elizabeth out there, fighting, and ye knew she was in danger, what would ye do?"

Will looked past Jack at the thick smoke that poured across the deck. His grip released Jack's arm and he sighed, "I'd go after her."

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Ana cautiously trekked across the deck, the smoke stinging her eyes clouding her vision. She gripped the sword in her hand tightly as she used the other to feel her way along the railing, unsure of where she was going. Finding her way along the Pearl had been easy; she had walked that ship so much, she'd be able to walk it blindfolded if need be. But this was not the Pearl.

With her guard up and sword ready, she had forced herself to cross over to the Belladonna in her attempt to follow Derrick. But she had lost him somewhere between the two ships, the smoke acting as a cover for her enemy. It wouldn't take much, she just needed one clean shot at him, and this whole thing could be over; she and Jack would be able to live in peace again without the constant fear of knowing someone was always following them.

But Jack was Jack, and someone was always following them, so in the end, Ana figured it futile to consider having peace anytime soon. But at least for a while, she'd be rid of one thorn in her side, able to be carefree and not worry that around every corner, someone somewhere would be waiting. Ana gripped the sword tighter as she made her way through the haze. She pivoted on her heels at a noise to her left, a soft tinkling sound that made her skin crawl.

A figure burst through the smoke, a sword drawn and a pistol leveled. "Ana?"

Ana lowered her weapon, "Jack? What are you doing here?"

Jack put his pistol away; his sword still unsheathed just in case. "I want ye off this ship now, Ana. I don-"

"No."

"What?"

Ana chewed on her bottom lip. "I said No, Jack. I can't just let Derrick get away with what he's done. To me, to you! I heard how he had you marooned Jack, and I'm sick and tired of sitting here not doing anything about it!" she tilted her head. "You want me to leave, fine, but not until after I've killed Derr-"

"Ana look out!"

The female pirate spun around, "Wha-" she trailed off as something hot passed across her upper arm, her sword falling from her hand. The shock of the sudden attack made her stumble back, a hand gripping a small gash on her right arm. From her position she saw someone rush forth from the smoke as another figure pushed past her from the side. The sound of two blades meeting echoed in her ears making her cringe.

Looking up she saw Derrick, the rage and fury in his eyes as Jack stood in his way, his sword being blocked by the pirate captain's. Ana scrambled to her feet in a hurry to retrieve the sword she had dropped, her right arm not completely cooperating with her movements. She heard a shuffle behind her and turned to see the two moving across the deck, Derrick trying to get around Jack and Jack blocking his path.

Ana reached her sword and stood up, turning to help Jack when she saw the captain topple over the railing into the water below and Derrick no where to be seen. She rushed to the railing, throwing her sword down in her hurry as she leaned over, looking for Jack. Her eyes traveled the empty waters with no sight of him. "Jack?!"

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"Jack?!"

Will rushed to the side of the ship, his hands gripping the railing as he leaned forward to peer through the smoky haze at the enemy vessel. He could make out Anamaria shadowing his actions- leaning over the side of the railing, her eyes frantically skimming the waves for Jack as she called for him. He turned his gaze downward, mirroring Ana looking for the captain when something from the other ship drew his head up.

"Anamaria, behind you!"

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Ana's head snapped up, her dark eyes catching sight of Will across the gap, yelling at her. "Anamaria, behind you!" She spun around as a shadow leered down at her before blackness consumed her.

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The roughness jolted her awake, her senses slowly returning. Sitting up she looked around to see the cold greeting of cell bars, the damp darkness covering her like a blanket. Her wrists were bound together with a tuft of rope, the course length rubbing her skin raw as she struggled to her feet. Crossing the small space of cell, she looked down the hold, herself being the only one occupying the brig. Her bound hands gripped a cell bar as she slid to her knees, her head against the cold metal.

"Jack," her voice was barely a whisper, a tone only she could hear. Please be all right.

A loud creak drew her eyes up as she sheepishly wiped away the forming tears with a sleeve. Allowing her eyes to adjust to the steadily brightening hold, she saw a buffed figure appear before her cell, a lantern in his hand.

"So you're finally awake, pigeon."

Ana leaned back, away from the hand that reached through the bars to caress her face. "Don't call me that," she growled. "And don't touch me."

"Feisty as always, I see." Derrick mused. He set the lantern on a crate and crouched down to peer Ana in the eyes. "So sad to see you reduced to this; a pirate whore in a cell with no escape and no freedom."

Ana stared him in the eye defiantly. "I'm not a whore."

"Aren't you?" Derrick smiled. "Maybe not for the public, but Jack is another story. He pays you well I hope," he sighed. "Alas, what would your father think of you now?"

Angry, Ana lunged at the bars, her fingers grasping Derrick's shirt as she seethed, "Don't speak of my father in my presence. He was a good, kind man and one of Jack's best friends- he'd never believe anything you'd tell him."

Derrick gripped Ana's hand, making her wince as she hissed in pain. "Your father made a grave mistake allowing Jack Sparrow into your life. That pirate has corrupted you, ravished you and used you- look at where you are now, Ana. Knocked up with his whelp and alone in a cell. Mark my words, pigeon, he'll leave you here. He is a pirate. He abides by the Code- 'he who falls behind gets left behind.' Isn't that how it goes?"

Ana stared at him. "How do you know about the Code?"

There was a chuckle as Derrick twisted a finger in Ana's hair, his expression wistful. "Every pirate knows about the Code, Ana."

Pulling back, Ana watched him, her lips turning into a frown. "You…"

"Yes, I," he answered as he mockingly bowed to her. "Am a pirate. Or was, before I was sent to find you."

Ana scoffed. "Find me? And pray tell, who would send a two faced scoundrel like yourself to find me?!"

Derrick grinned as he ran a finger the length of a cell bar. He cocked his head before replying, "Who, doesn't matter. Its why, that is the real kicker."

"Tell me who!"

Leaning back on his heels Derrick gazed at her with bemusement. "Did I ever tell you, how I survived that night on Port Maria, when you left me there to die?"

"I didn't leave you there to die," Ana protested. "I saw you die, you stopped breathing! You can not blame that on me!"

"Its all the same, you left. I was fished off the shore by Flood's men, you remember Captain Flood don't you?" Derrick asked, his eyes sweeping to Ana. The look that she gave him answered his question. "Yes, of course you do. So Flood picked me up and off we went, back to merry Old England."

"You haven't got any family in England," Ana stated distantly.

Derrick looked thoughtful. "No, no, of course I don't. But I knew of someone there that could… help me if you wish. See there in England lives an old man, a wealthy noble from his hair to his toes. This old kook had himself a son, equally wealthy as his father, but because of problems between the father and son, the son left his inheritance to his only child. This made the old man very angry. The only way the father could have this inheritance was if his son and his family were no longer living," he paused and looked at Ana, her expression unreadable.

"So, a plan he formed and a pirate he hired to take care of his son and his family. Eventually news came that the man's son had been killed, as well as his family, but there was no evidence of his grandchild being deceased. But there was someone who indeed knew of the child's whereabouts and sought the old man out," he grinned. "All I had to do was bring him his granddaughter, and I'd live in wealth until the day I died. And that's where my story ends, everyone goes away happy. Or not."

Ana stared at him, her eyes cold and filled with hatred. "Bastard. You're going to trade my life for some wealth that you can't be sure even exists!"

"Oh it exists all right," Derrick corrected. "Thack was a rich man, Ana, did you know that? He saved up all his earnings, put them in your name for when you were older. But you never got them, and now that I have you, you never will," he rubbed his chin. "I guess I could always just go through with my original plan and marry you, and then all of it would be mine. But no, that's just not fun. And besides, like your dear Captain stated earlier, you're damaged goods my dear."

Anger well inside Ana at the story as she spat on him. "You son of a bitch! You lead my father on to believe that you lov-," Ana stopped, she couldn't bring herself to say 'love', it had all been a ploy to get her father's money. "They were nothing but lies, all of it! You had Jack marooned, to keep him away from me and foiling your plans!" Something clicked inside Ana's mind. A plan he formed and a pirate he hired to take care of his son and his family.

"You helped kill my father," she suddenly whispered.

Derrick smirked. "So you did catch on. You're very clever."

"Flood was sent by my grandfather to kill us! And for what! Money? Riches that won't last! You'd have been better off selling your soul to the devil for what you have done!" Ana screamed as she reached for him, his steps taking him out of her grasp. She turned from him, her back quivering with her sobs. "The deepest circles of hell are reserved for betrayers and mutineers, and I hope you rot there for eternity."

Derrick picked the lantern up and turned to leave, his chuckle echoing in the dark that shrouded a weeping Anamaria.

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A/N: Quick notes, a BIG thanks to everyone who has reviewed and supported this story. I haven't updated for several days, and my next update won't be immediate like usual. Between the holidays, the company it brings and work, my free time is shorter than usual, so please bear with me and may you all have a Wonderful Thanksgiving.

-J