Chapter 7

Catherine walked to Will's room, but when she got to his door, it was already slightly ajar.

"Will?" Catherine whispered. She got no answer. She entered into the room, the darkness surrounding her. She made her way over to Will's bed. Looking down, she noticed he wasn't there. 'Elizabeth's room,' she thought to herself. She then made her way to Elizabeth's room.

Catherine stepped lightly as she walked down the hall. She knew that she had indeed found Elizabeth's room when she saw the light coming from under the door. Not bothering to knock, she opened the door a bit before entering.

"Will, Elizabeth. Sorry for, um, interrupting, but I have something to tell you both." Catherine looked at the two of them sitting on the bed.

"What is it Cat?" Elizabeth asked curious.

"Jack's in my room and…" Elizabeth interrupted; Will clapped his hand over her mouth, giving Catherine some time to finish.

"Jack's in my room and he wants to leave tonight." Catherine finished.

"Tonight? But why?" Will asked confused.

"If you want to know Will go ask him. I just came to relay the message and to tell you both to pack lightly." Elizabeth got up, as did Will. Will left to get some things and Elizabeth started gathering a few items together. Catherine turned and went back to her room.

~*~

"Ah you're back so soon Cat." Jack stated watching her enter the room.

After closing the door, she replied, "Yes, I'm back and they're packing."

Catherine went to her desk and opened the leather journal taking out some parchment. Dipping a quill into the ink, she sighed. She didn't know where to start. So she decided to write the truth.

Dearest Timothy,

I hope that you can understand that I need to be free for a while. I need to explore outside the gazing eyes of Father. Do not bother trying to locate me, for you will not be able to catch me. I shall return soon, but until then I shall be safe.

Please understand my need, since you have known me longer than most. Before I sign my name to this, Collins, I love you.

Your Darling Cat

She folded the letter and slipped it into its cover putting a seal on it, after writing the name 'Lieutenant Timothy Collins' on it.

Catherine looked back at Jack who looked to be asleep in a chair. She smiled slightly and got up to grab a satchel big enough to hold her journal, her glasses, inks and quills, and a few other trinkets. She then nudged Jack.

"Lets go." Jack tipped his hat up over his eyes to look at what she had packed. To him it seemed to be nothing.

"That's all you packed?" Catherine nodded. Jack smiled, "Aye lets go."

Jack opened the door to see Elizabeth at the end of the hall and Will by her side arguing in a hushed whisper.

"Oh bloody hell, what has that woman done this time?" Jack mumbled.

"It is Elizabeth, need I say more?"

Catherine and Jack went to the end of the hall and saw the problem. Elizabeth had packed too much. Catherine went to help fix this "problem", while Jack and Will stood outside the doorway.

"You're taking Cat along I see." Will stated the obvious.

"Aye, I think she needs this. I have a feeling about her, and I can't quite place what it is yet." Jack replied. Will just nodded lost at the moment for a comment.

~*~

"Cat, are you daft?" Elizabeth asked, assured that her cousin had completely lost her mind, telling her just to wear what she had on.

"It's for the best Elizabeth. You know you cannot take all this with you. We would never get past the front parlor with all the luggage you have. Take what you need." Catherine grabbed a satchel and watched her cousin place items and trinkets into it.

When the two emerged from the room, they were ready to go. Catherine and Elizabeth took off their shoes as to not make as much noise going down the stairs. Jack and Will quickly made their way down the stairs to the door. Elizabeth went out the door first, then Catherine, Will and Jack who very quietly shut the door. Catherine and Elizabeth put their shoes back on and they ran down the stairs, down the driveway onto the street.

As they were running down the street, Catherine started coughing and wheezing. She started searching through her satchel for the elixir. Hyperventilating, she couldn't find the small bottle. Jack looked back as he saw Catherine fall to the ground. He ran back to her, and reached into his pocket and fished out the bottle she had forgotten.

"I figured you'd be needing this." He said while putting it to her lips pouring a bit into her mouth. He then picked her up and started running to catch back up to Will and Elizabeth.

Elizabeth looked over at Jack. "Jack is she alright?" She asked panting.

"I think she'll be fine love." They continued running towards the docks.

When they reached the docks the Pearl wasn't that far away. Anamaria and Gibbs both saw them running towards the ship. Gibbs noticed that Jack was carrying someone or something. Jack was onboard first and quickly left to go to his cabin. Elizabeth and Will stopped to rest, while Gibbs and Anamaria looked at them bewildered.

~*~

"Cat, love, you're on the Pearl now." Jack said putting her on his bed.

"Jack…"she started, "How did you know?" Catherine was staring at him.

"Bout what?" He asked sitting on the edge.

"I thought I had left the elixir. How did you know to bring it?"

"Actually I didn't, I thought that it were an interesting bottle. So I pilfered it." Jack said reaching back into his pocket and handing the small bottle to her. Dawning hit her and she just mouthed an 'oh'.

"Jack…" She whispered. He looked at her and she continued. "Don't let them know about it. I haven't told anyone about the elixir."

"Tell me about then." He lay beside her.

"Well, the doctor gave it to me for a cough, that's all. It just seems to help with all kinds of coughing though. My Father hasn't told me about the reasoning behind me having it. I just do. Just don't worry about me, I'm fine." Catherine smiled at him. He smiled back, leaning in towards her. She pushed him away making him fall off of the bed.

"What'd ye do that for?" Jack asked standing up. Catherine sat up and replied, "Because Sparrow, I am NOT going to become your…darling strumpet."

"I wasn't gonna make you a strumpet, I've already told ye that."

"Yes Jack, I know. Sorry about pushing off. I just wanted to push you away." Catherine put her head down, trying to suppress a fit of giggles from emerging.

"I'm going on deck love, come up when you're ready." Catherine watched him leave. A feeling of guilt ran over her. In less than an hour, her life was changing according to her own decisions. She immediately thought of Collins and him reading that poorly written excuse of a letter. A solitary tear found its way down her cheek.

~*~

"Will, Elizabeth…Go find a place to sleep tonight, I'm sure that Gibbs here has made an arrangement for the two of ye. Since I'd already told him about asking Will about this voyage." Jack smiled going to the helm.

Looking out over the Pearl, Jack could see forever. This was his freedom, his Pearl, the open seas, and discoveries yet to be made. He happened to see Anamaria walking up the steps towards him.

"Ana." She smiled, and held a bottle up in her hand.

"Captain, would ye like your rum?" He took the bottle, opened it and took a long drink.

"Who's the girl Jack?" He nearly spit out the drink.

"What?"

"The girl, the one you were holding?" Anamaria could get into his mind sometimes.

"Her name's Catherine or Cat. She's staying with me, I'm sure that you don't mind now do ye Ana?" Jack handed her the bottle from which she drank.

"No I don't Jack." Ana looked at him, he was smiling.

"Jack, I'm leaving ye to your thoughts." Ana left him alone at the helm, lost in his reverie.

Author's Note: Ok so this is taking me a bit, but I think that my mind is getting clouded by listening to another soundtrack from a different movie. And the fact that I SHOULDN'T watch Chocolat while working on this story. I hope to have the next chapter out soon. Thanks.