Author's Note: I promise you that the next chapters will be longer!!

***

It was no coincidence that Jack and Ahriman found each other outside of Milady's.  Ahriman relied on Jack finding out on where Cordelia was in one way or another.  In the alleyway next to the building, Jack smiled lopsidedly, the gold in his mouth flashing for a moment.

"I knew ye'd come back, Sparrow," Ahriman said arrogantly.

"It's been a long time since I spilled a Barbossa's blood – I jus' couldn' resist."  Jack wasted no time in pulling his sword from its sheath.  "Let's dance, then."  Jack moved closer to Ahriman, who now had his own sword drawn.  No more words were said as the steel clashed and echoed through the alleyway.

"C'mon, move!"  Anamaria's voice was just outside of the alley and Jack knew he couldn't last until the end of the week to know if Cordelia was all right.  With a few swift moves, Jack kicked Ahriman's legs out from under him and ran to the corner of the building – he just wanted to see her one last time.  His stomach turned when he saw Cordelia in Gibbs arms with no sign of movement.

No…

Jack ran out from the alley and called to his crew, they all turned to face him.  He made his way to the group and looked at Anamaria.  "She isn'…is she?"

"No," Anamaria replied.  "Knocked out, but she'll be fine.  Jack, jus' come with us.  She doesn' know a thing, we found 'er like this so I 'aven' said a word an'…"

"No, Ana.  It 'as t' be this way."  He walked to Gibbs and saw the bruising on his lover's face.  "'E's goin' t' pay fer doin' tha' t' ye, love."  Not able to help himself, he put his face dangerously close to hers.  Part of him hoped that her eyes would open and that there would be no other choice than to leave with his crew and his love, but more of him hoped that she'd find a happier life without him.  His voice was so soft that not even Gibbs could hear him.  "I'm sorry for wha' I've done.  I love ye, Cordelia.  You're the only one who'll ever get inside me heart."  He gently pressed his lips to hers, quickly pulling away.  His eyes were welling with tears as Ahriman came running out from the alley.  Jack took one last look at Cordelia and yelled, "Go!"

The crew didn't think twice before they began to make their way back to the docks.  Jack looked at Ahriman, pure hatred in his eyes, and charge at him.  "How dare ye hit 'er!"  Jack's sword hit Ahriman's with so much force that he knocked the man back a few steps.

"Where are they takin' 'er?" Ahriman growled. 

The only word Jack said was, "Home!"  He didn't realize what had happened in that one brief moment until he looked at his sword – the blade had run clean through Ahriman's abdomen. 

Ahriman Barbossa stood perfectly still for a moment, much as his father did when Jack had shot him.  He refused to give Jack the satisfaction of him saying a word…he fell to the ground – dead.

"She's too good t' share yer blood," Jack said softly.  He walked away from the body and looked back out at the docks.  The ship was prepared for departure before Anamaria and the small crew returned to make for a very quick exit.  Jack fought the urge to run to his ship – it was the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life.

Once The Black Pearl was out of any tempting distance, Jack allowed himself to go to the dock, find Dolon, and get passage to Tortuga, a place that could never be the "Pirates' Promised Land" that it once was to him ever again.