AN: Thank you so much for the reviews!
Rat - Yeah, Jack sure isn't "stable at the moment"!
Bootlaces - Um. . .I hate to tell you this but I've used "soulful eyes" again. . . *backs up & hides behind dining room table*. . .it just fit so well! It was necessary, honest! ;)
Yakkorat - Yes, I could have written a better start to the fire scene. Naughty me for rushing! How's chapter 3 of 'Do As I Say, Not As I Do' coming along? Will you be updating soon? I hope you will be!
XtineSparrowDepp - I hope you like this next (& last) chappie too!
Blue Wolf2 - Jack watching Anamaria. . .now that's a good idea. . .I'll see what I can do!
Anaticulapraecantrix - I'm glad you like my past for Jack and Anamaria!
Cal - I'm planning to write a more detailed account of Jack and Anamaria's meeting in Tortuga sometime. Whether it'll be a story just about that or part of something else, remains to be decided.
Jackfan2 - No need to apologise. Yep, I'd choose Jack over Jerade (or anyone like him) any day! They were both remembering the events of ten years ago. However, I wrote it in 'story' style rather than 'memories' style so that I could easily switch perspectives or write in 'neutral'. A lot of it is slightly slanted towards Anamaria's perspective, though. I used whatever I thought would allow me to get the most information across. The fire at the inn is mostly from Jack's perspective as in that scene Ana was pretty much out of it and so not taking much in.
Cheercheerbubblegum - I really like ROTK too (well, actually all three movies). Though, nothing beats PotC for me!
This is the last part to this story, so thank you to those of you who have reviewed or will!
Take care and happy writing/reading!
~ Starzangel ~
***
Part Three: A Star To Steer By
"Trust me, Jack, trust me. . ." Anamaria repeatedly murmured her plea, as she wiped a damp cloth over her captain's scorching forehead.
His eyelids flickered over his glazed eyes until finally closing.
.
Captain Jack Sparrow stood on the top deck of the Black Pearl. His crew bustled about to carry out their duties, but always left a noticeably clear circle around him. The sun beat mercilessly down and the Caribbean Sea glared back the light like a giant mirror.
"Mutiny," whispered the wind in the rigging; "Mutiny," whispered the sea against the hull; "Mutiny," whispered the voice in his mind.
Cold fear resided in his gut and reached up with snaking hands to clutch his chest. He didn't want to be a captain without a ship again. He couldn't lose the Black Pearl again. He couldn't.
"Mutiny. . .mutiny lies on the horizon, Captain Jack Sparrow. You know you can see it."
He shut his eyes tight in response.
"Nice place ya got 'ere, Jack," the familiar rasp of Barbossa told him.
Jack opened his eyes to find himself stood in a structure made from pure white stone. It looked like a fully-restored version of the Ancient Greek temples he had seen in Athens. Columns rose to the heavens and supported the roof, and steps led up to a tall chamber containing a throne of solid gold, draped in red velvet. The name 'Captain Jack Sparrow' was etched into the stone of the arched entrance to the room and inlaid with gold.
Barbossa stood beneath the archway, taking gold coins from the people that brushed past Jack to go up the steps and lay out various gifts in front of the throne.
"But I wonder," Barbossa said, mock-thoughtful, moving down the steps towards the astonished Jack, "will it hold up against the weather?"
The mutinous pirate put his arm around Jack's shoulders and spun him around.
Jack found himself stood on the grass surrounding the temple and Barbossa approached the grand building with a tin jug full of water. The older pirate poured the liquid over a low wall, as if watering a potted plant, and watched in gleeful fascination while the white stone crumbled like sand.
Jack could only watch in horror as the sky darkened, bringing torrents of rain that lashed down onto his beautiful temple. The water crushed it like it would a giant sandcastle built by a child on a beach. Barbossa's cruel laughter sounded above the booming of the storm clouds.
The rain passed and Jack was left alone on the beach of a deserted isle, no sign of the temple remained. He was running across the stand, stumbling and whirled his arms about in a desperate attempt to move faster.
Behind him in the calm turquoise waters that lapped against the shore were three rowboats with his buccaneer crew in. They waved madly and called to him, working Cotton's parrot up into an excited frenzy, but he kept running away.
He heard the splash of someone jumping out of one of the boats and into the shallow water. Steps hurried up to the dry sand and then stopped.
"Jack," Anamaria's voice shouted, "don't run!"
Surprise passed over Jack's features and he stopped running. He turned to see his first mate standing on the beach. The breeze pulled her long dark hair away from her pretty face and fond memories called to him.
He took a step towards her.
Suddenly, Barbossa jumped in front of him.
"No!" he growled, his yellow eyes wide with anger, and his monkey shrieked in concordance.
The monkey leapt from Barbossa's shoulder aiming for Jack's neck, baring his teeth.
An instinctive scream rose from Jack's throat.
.
The pallid form of Captain Jack Sparrow bolted upright, straight into the arms of Anamaria.
Sat on the edge of his bed, Anamaria held him tight against her. She could feel the rapid beating of his heart against her own chest and felt the trembles that ran through his whole body.
His skin was blessedly cool and, gradually, his breathing became slow and steady and strength seemed to surface in him. He raised his face from her shoulder and leaned back to survey her face. His dark-brown eyes fondly lingered over her features and his fingers reached up to touch her cheek.
She read all she needed to know in his soulful eyes and felt both relief and an unexpectedly surge of joy.
A warm smile curved Jack's lips.
~ Fin ~