A/N: Back again! Thanks once more to all who reviewed…and thanks to Kendra Luehr for referring people to my fic, greatly appreciated. Well, enjoy everyone!

Chapter 4

I was awed at the shocking beauty of the ship with black sails that I saw from a distance the past year. Jack was visibly pleased with my awe. Placing a hand on my back, he led me up to the ship. A wave of dizziness suddenly claimed my balance, and I began to fall. Jack quickly caught me, helping me regain my balance. "I know she's spectacular love, but no need to feel intimidated," he grinned. I couldn't help but laugh.

"No, it's not the ship. I mean yes, it's spectacular, but it's my head…" I trailed off. Still grasping me around the waist, he looked at my head.

"I think you've got yourself a concussion, love. I'll fix that up when we get on the ship," he told me, his voice slightly concerned. He helped me onto the ship and was greeted by a woman with long, dark hair.

"Who 'ave you picked up this time, Jack?" she snarled at him.

"Now now, Ana Maria, is that anyway to talk to your captain? She's a runaway, was abandoned by the pirates who invaded Port Royal about a month ago. Injured, she is, couldn't just leave 'er," he told her sternly. I made eye contact with Ana Maria, and she scowled at me venomously, spun on her heel, and stalked away. "Don't mind 'er, love. Become a bit used to being the only woman on board, I do believe. Best keep that between us though," he whispered to me.

"We have an accord…" I mumbled, steadily losing consciousness. He grinned at me, then shook me gently.

"You can't fall asleep, love. If you've got yourself a concussion, that jus' won't do." he insisted. Unable to move anymore, I felt him pick me up in his strong arms and carry me the remainder of the way to his cabin.

He placed me on what I assumed to be his bed. "You're not exactly holding up to your end of the bargain, love," he jested, trying to keep me awake. "Stay here, and try not to fall asleep, Hallie. I'll be right back," and then he was gone. At this point, I was thinking possibly I was delusional. Me, Hallie O'Conner, sailing with Captain Jack Sparrow. It seemed too good to be true. I smiled, but winced in pain as a sharp pain shot through my head. I moaned slightly, squeezing my eyes shut tightly. I hadn't realized Jack had returned. "Sorry love, know it stings a bit, got to disinfect it though," he comforted, pressing a damp cloth to my head. "Good news though, I think you're alright to get a bit of rest now," his voice was soothing, and I smiled once more. "What's that smile for, love?" he asked. I sighed.

"It's just that everything turned out so much better than I hoped for. Thank you so much Jack," I was quickly surrendering to my exhaustion, and I felt him help me lean back into bed.

"Alright, love, stay here in my cabin for tonight. Get some rest," he told me, brushing a strand of my damp hair out of my face. I heard him leave then, closing the door softly behind him, and I fell into a deep sleep.

"Don' tell me you gots a thing for her, captain!" Jack's first mate, Mr. Gibbs, sighed.

"Of course not! You're forgetting a minor detail…I'm Captain Jack Sparrow…savvy?" he retorted.

"Of course, captain. But I never seen you so willing to bring a woman on board so quickly is all. My apologies," Gibbs added, the curiosity still reflected in his voice.

"She needed help! Tha's all! Poor girl was miserable at home, wanted to get away, captured and beaten by pirates, then abandoned in Tortuga! A little hospitality certainly would do 'er some good!" Jack roared defensively. Gibbs wasn't convinced.

"Aye, captain," he muttered, then went back to his duties. Jack sighed heavily, taking the wheel, staring out into the horizon.

It was nearly twenty-four hours before I awoke. My head felt better, and the drowsiness was gone. I sat up slowly, stretching and yawning heavily. There was a very quiet knock on the door, and Jack stepped in.

"Ah, so you're awake then," he smiled. I smiled right back.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked a bit groggily.

"Almost a full day, love," I glanced out the window, guessing it was probably mid-morning. "I put some clothes there on the desk for you, love. They'll be a bit big, but they'll do for now," he told me. "I'll let you be then," he told me.

"Wait! Jack…" I started, and I looked into his dark, perfect eyes. I rose slowly, and approached him, wrapping my arms around him gently. He seemed surprised, as his muscles tensed. "Thank you so much…for everything you've done," I said quietly. I felt his muscles relax, as he returned the embrace gently.

"Aye, love," he said simply, pulling away gently. He smiled, then left the room. My skin tingled where he had touched me, and I couldn't help but smile. Hallie Sparrow…had a bit of a ring to it. Of course Jack wasn't the type to fall in love and get married though. But a girl can dream. I laughed at my childish fantasies, as I washed and dressed quickly.

Walking out into the sunlight, I could smell the sea air, and it felt wonderful. I had only been here a few hours, yet it felt more like home than Port Royal had in its seventeen years. I smiled, the wind blowing my hair freely in the wind.

"I picked this up back in Tortuga near the docks, love. I assumed it was yours," Jack was holding up my red bandana. "Got the blood out of it," he smiled. "Allow me," and he tied it around my head. "You do look the part, love," I grinned at him.

"Thank you Jack. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay you," I told him seriously.

"Hallie, you're a part of my crew. Tha's repayment enough, so long as we stick to our accord…savvy?" he assured me. I smiled.

"Jack, what's this on your shirt?" I asked him, pointing to a symbol of a bird and a sun on the breast pocket of the shirt of his that I donned. He pulled up his sleeve, revealing a tattoo identical to the symbol on both his and my shirts.

"Got 'em on all me shirts," he grinned. I couldn't help but laugh. "Come, let me show you around the Pearl."

Jack and I walked the area of the ship for a few hours, simply talking, while he showed me the ropes. "All my life, part of me has longed for the life of a pirate," I thought out loud, then blushed slightly.

"Not a surprise to me. You've got that fire in your eyes that one only sees so often," he looked into my eyes for a moment, then cleared his throat awkwardly. "So…what finally made ye do it? Run away, I mean," he asked me, breaking the silence.

"Well, it's been on my mind for a very long time. Since I was very young, actually. Elizabeth Swann was a dear friend of mine. I knew for years that her heart would always lie with Mr. Turner. Then all the excitement of you coming to Port Royal, and then the three of you off on a big adventure…well, I must say I got rather caught up in it. I was so frightened for you that day at Port Royal, when you were to be hanged. But then the way you escaped, and Will confessing his love for Elizabeth…well, I was so thrilled. But I was sad also, because I wanted to go with you so much. Then my parents, wanted me to marry Commedore Norrington, since Elizabeth hadn't…he didn't love me, nor I him. It would have been awful. So I ran," I told him, a few stray tears escaping my eyes. I wiped them away furiously. Jack gazed at me with an expression of something unidentifiable.

"There are few women who are as brave as you, Hallie O'Conner. As a matter of fact, ye got more courage than mos' the men on this ship," he told me. Another tear rolled down my cheek. Jack placed his hand gently on the side of my face, then gently wiped my tears away.

"I'm sorry Jack, I'm so sorry. I don't mean to burden you with all my problems…" I told him, my voice trembling. I averted my gaze from his.

"Look at me, Hallie…look at me!" he demanded. I made eye contact with him once more. "Never be sorry for feeling. Never," he told me. Unless I imagined it, he leaned toward me ever so slightly. My breath caught in my throat, my heart started beating furiously.

"Captain! We're going a bit off--oh, I'm sorry, Captain. Didn't mean to interrupt anythin'," Mr. Gibbs apologized, clearing his throat awkwardly. Jack took his hand off my face, giving me a last glance.

"Excuse me, love," he told me, leaving the room tensely. As he left, I heard Mr. Gibbs grumble, "Bad enough to 'ave a woman on board, but two women! We just askin' for trouble!"

A/N: lol, sorry to tease you like that. I'd really appreciate reviews, particularly about Jack…does he seem in character? Thanks so much! Everyone have a nice weekend!