A/N: Sorry I left the story at such an evil place last night, lol! For that I updated as soon as possible. Going on day three of no school thanks to the snow, but I'm guessing this is the last. Updates will not be quite as often most likely after today. But I'll do what I can. Thanks as always to all you who reviewed, you've made this story possible! Also, I want to say a quick congratulations to Johnny Depp for his Oscar nomination for best actor for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean! VERY well-deserved! Good luck at the Oscars! Okay, enjoy everyone!

Chapter 8

Back on the Pearl, Ana Maria smiled to herself cruelly. She figured she'd give it another couple of hours before going to Jack. Then he would be wrapped around her finger. As the sun began to rise, she quickly whipped up some fake tears, and began banging on the door to Jack's cabin.

"Captain Sparrow! JACK! Open the door!" she cried in panic. She heard Jack stumbling out of bed as he threw open the door.

"Bloody 'ell, wha's the matter with ye?" he snarled. Ana Maria threw herself against Jack.

"It's…it's Hallie! She's fallen overboard in the night!" Ana Maria wailed dramatically. Jack pushed Ana Maria away from him harshly.

"Tha's not funny, Ana Maria," he snarled. Fake tears streamed down Ana Maria's face.

"I wouldn't joke about this, Jack. I know how you feel about her," she sobbed.

"It's not true…no, it's not true, HALLIE! Hallie, where are you love?" he shouted, running the area of the ship madly. "We've got to go back an' look for her! Gibbs! Turn 'er around!" Ana Maria rushed to Jack, placing a hand on his arm.

"Jack, the ocean between here and Isla de Muerta is completely infested with sharks. You know that as well as I do," she told him. He clutched the railing in agony, his knuckles turning white. Ana Maria was thrilled her plot had worked so well. She approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "But I'll be here for you in every way, Jack," she whispered, running her arms seductively down his chest. He tore her arms off him furiously.

"Do you really think that little of me?" he snarled. Ana Maria was stunned, and Jack tore off to his cabin, slamming the door behind him.

"It's only a matter of time," Ana Maria told herself. Jack didn't emerge for several days.

~*~*~

I awoke early in the morning, rolling over in the sand miserably. I squinted against the bright sun, praying it had been a nightmare. Sitting up, my heart sunk. I was marooned on Isla de Muerta while Ana Maria was probably trying to seduce the man I loved. And I did. I realized that I loved Jack with everything in me. I believed that he loved me too. Yet we were separated, possibly forever. I looked down at the shirt I was wearing, his shirt, passing my hand longingly over the symbol sewn onto it. My heart longed for him. I stood up unsteadily, every part of my body aching from the labor of the previous night. My throat felt like it was coated with sand as I searched desperately for anything to drink. It appeared hopeless though. Stumbling into the dark tunnel, I leaned against the small rowboat I had used last night. I cried out in anguish, longing to feel Jack's kiss once more. That's when an idea hit me. I knew the small rowboat would never catch up with the Pearl. But no way in hell was I going to sit here and starve to death on this god-forsaken spit of land. Before taking the boat, an idea came to me. Searching the tunnel, I came across a white rock. Taking it in my grasp, I carved a message into the side of the tunnel, tears streaming down my face. When I was satisfied, I dragged the rowboat across the beach, then pushed it into the ocean. Looking out at the seemingly endless water, I figured I was mad. This was almost certain death. As was sitting on Isla de Muerta, I supposed. Tucking the pistol into my belt, I jumped into the rowboat hastily, rowing away from the island.

~*~*~

Gibbs rapped on Jack's door sharply. "Jack! Bloody 'ell, ye been in there for almost a week now!" he shouted. "Poor mate," he mumbled to himself. "Captain! We be reachin' Tortuga by nightfall. Can't pass up Tortuga, can ye mate?" he called in. Gibbs heard a bottle smash against the door as he jumped back, startled. Finally, Gibbs just went in. There were five or six empty rum bottles scattered around the dirty cabin. Jack was lying on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Bloody 'ell, Jack…" Gibbs muttered sympathetically.

"This is why Captain Jack Sparrow doesn't fall in love…or shouldn't 'ave." he mumbled, speech slightly slurred.

"So ye did love her, then?"

"Of course I did. From the moment I laid eyes on her," he snarled, taking a swig of rum. "What the 'ell did I get myself into?" he moaned bitterly. "An' what the 'ell do I do now? She's all I think 'bout, mate. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, an' I threw it all away for a girl," he slurred in agony. "But it was so worth it, mate. Can't believe I'm talkin' like this, but the only feeling that's ever made me feel even close to that wonderful is when I'm at the wheel. Nothing's ever done that before, nothing," It was heartbreaking for his first mate to hear this.

"You 'aven't thrown it all away, Jack. Life goes on, mate. I know it 'urts like 'ell, but you jus' said it yourself…being at the wheel is the only thing that makes ye feel good, since…recently. So wha' say you, mate?" Jack saw a beseeching look in Gibbs eyes. "What say you to that?"

"I say aye," Jack mumbled half-heartedly. Gibbs pulled him to his feet, and Jack stepped into fresh sea air for the first time in nearly a week. Breathing deeply, the wind blew his dreadlocks back, and he felt relief. Jack took the wheel in his hands, remembering when he had wrapped his arms around Hallie, showing her how to steer. All the memories flooded back to him as he stared into the horizon. He almost expected for Hallie to come up behind him, wrapping her arms around him. That's why he was so shocked when he felt someone's arms wrap around him. He spun around, finding himself face to face with Ana Maria. "Oh…it's you," he grumbled, turning his gaze back to the horizon.

"Aye, it's me. I'm so glad you're back at the wheel, Jack. Finally you've moved past your fun with that little wench and concentrated on…other things," She pulled Jack toward her, causing him to turn around. She twisted her finger in one of the small braids of his beard, and pulled his face up to hers.

"Take…your 'ands…off of me," she pulled back, shocked.

"You don't mean that…you're a man, Jack Sparrow, you have desires…" she whispered seductively. He pushed her away from him as if she was the plague.

"Ana Maria, don't you GET it? I loved her! I still do! It's not like I was just 'aving some fun with her, this was the real deal, love! I'm sorry to be harsh, but you just don't understand," he shouted. She then saw, for the first time in the years that she had known him, that he was fighting back tears. The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow was fighting back tears over a woman he loved who she, in her streak of jealousy, had committed mutiny against.

"You…you loved her…dear God, what have I done?" Ana Maria cried in a panic. Jack sighed.

"I'm sorry, love. You were jus' trying to cheer me up. I didn't mean to be so harsh," he was such a good man. And she loved him. How could she have done this to him? It was her turn to fight back tears.

"Oh God, Jack, that's not what I meant! Oh God, I've done something terrible, Jack, just terrible! Something unforgivable!" she screamed. Jack was looking at her with a peculiar expression.

"I don't understand…What 'ave you done, Ana Maria?" he asked. She inhaled sharply, knowing this may very well be the last time Jack would speak to her.

"Hallie didn't fall overboard in the night." she whispered, almost inaudibly. "I set it up so that she was left behind on Isla de Muerta." The tears were flowing now. Jack stared at her. The stunned silence that followed was agonizing.

"You…marooned her on Isla de Muerta? The woman I love? No food, no water, and then let me believe she was dead?" the disgust with which he was addressing her was far worse than any physical pain that could be administered. She nodded painfully. "GIBBS! Ready the sails! To Isla de Muerta, mates!" Jack turned the ship around hurriedly. "And for God's sake, hurry it up!" he shouted. The crew was scurrying about the ship frantically.

"What the 'ell are you doing, Jack?" Gibbs asked, clearly believing Jack had lost his mind.

"Why don't you ask Ana Maria?" Jack spat venomously. Gibbs looked at the tearful Ana Maria.

"I marooned Hallie on Isla de Muerta. She's still alive. Or she was, when I left her," she cried. "Jack, PLEASE let me explain…" Jack swaggered up to her, bringing his face right in front of hers.

"If anything, and I mean ANYTHING has happened to harm even a hair on her head, I will see to it that you suffer far more than Hallie or I have, if possible. Savvy?" With a final glare, he took the wheel once more. Ana Maria ran to her cabin, sobbing miserably.

Jack stared out into the horizon. "She's alive mate, I know it."

A/N: So yes, it finally came out for sure; Ana Maria hated Hallie so much because she loves Jack, of course, lol. Will Jack get to Isla de Muerta in time?!?! Alas, you'll just have to wait for an update, lol. My apologies. Bye for now!