A Halloween Wish

Disclaimer: I do not own the "Pirates of the Caribbean" or any other parts of Walt Disney's creations. I only own the characters I create and the storyline changes that I made, since this takes place during the movie. Enjoy mates!

~Wow! Fingers.pain. Anyway, enjoy this one, mates! Kind of a long one. Hehee~

Chapter 8: Jack Sparrow

The next morning, Natalie was beginning to stir, though she kept her eyes shut to see if she could sleep longer. She felt a soft bed below her and she was quite warm. When she rolled over, she ended up with her arm wrapped around something.or someone. Whatever it was, it smelled of rum, sea water, and something she could not place.

Wait.RUM! Her eyes shot open and she noticed that her head was lying on a tanned, muscular chest. Natalie gulped and tried to slip out of the bed, but a strong arm held a firm on her waist. She took a deep breath and sat up, placing her feet on the ground. "Where ye going, love?" Natalie stopped dead and started to breathe heavier and faster than normal. Jack pulled her back onto the bed and tightly against him. "Please let me go," Natalie said quietly.

"Ye slept fine last night.and ye were in me arms."

"Just.l-let me go. I'm begging you." Jack's grip loosened and Natalie took advantage of that and stood up, brushing herself off. "WAIT!" she yelled as she stared down at her outfit. It was one of Jack's shirts and a tight pair of black pants. "I was wearing white and red yesterday. Now I'm wearing black and red? What did you do?" Her voice was becoming filled with fury, but Jack seemed amused. "Love, I didn't do anything."

"Sparrow, if you didn't do anything, how did I end up wearing these clothes?"

"I DID change you.but I didn't observe your body. Thought you'd prefer to show me that on your own free will, love." Natalie opened her mouth to say something, but shut it to avoid him getting rough. "If you'll excuse me, Captain," she said with a glare, "I must get on deck."

She and Jack walked out to see the crew all watching the surroundings. There was an eerie fog all around them and destroyed ships. Jack took the helm and looked at his compass. They were almost at their destination. Natalie stood next to Gibbs and Will, listening to the silence that surrounded them. It was broken by Mr. Cotton's parrot saying, "Dead men tell no tales." Natalie silently laughed, knowing that she had heard that line the last time she was in Disney World with her father. Now, she was in a world that had been based on the ride.inside the movie. "Puts a chill in the bones how many honest sailors have been claimed by this passage," Mr. Gibbs said to Will.

"How is it Jack came by that compass?" Will asked as he followed Gibbs, who secured some ropes. Natalie followed him too, but kept quite. "Not a lot's known about Jack Sparrow before he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of the Isla de Muerta. That was before I'd met him.back when he was-"

"Captain of the Black Pearl," Natalie interrupted. Gibbs looked at her curiously and crossed his arms after taking a drink of rum from his canteen. "How did ye know that, lass? Did he tell you?"

"Well.I.I just guessed," she lied.

"He failed to mention it to me," Will interrupted.

"Well, he plays things close to the vest now. And a hard learned lesson it was. See three days out on the venture the first mate comes to him and says everything's an equal share as should be the location of the treasure, too. So, Jack gives up the bearings. That night there was a mutiny. They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die but not before he'd gone mad with hate," Gibbs said.

"Ah, so that's the reason for all the." Will stated as he moved his hand like Jack. Natalie grinned and continued to listen to the story, even though she had heard it a million times before. It never bored her. "Reason's got nothing to do with it," Mr. Gibbs replied as he, Will, and Natalie sat down, "Now Will, when a pirate's marooned he's given a pistol with a single shot.one shot. Well that won't do much good hunting or to be rescued. But after three weeks of starvin' belly and thirst.that pistol starts to look real friendly," Gibbs continued, placing his fingers to his head in the shape of a gun, "But Jack, he escaped the island and he still has that single shot. Oh, he won't use it though, save for one man.his mutinous first mate."

"Barbossa," Will and Natalie said in unison.

"Aye," Gibbs replied with a grin.

"How'd Jack get off the island?" Will asked, seeming interested in the story.

"Well, I'll tell ye. He waded out into the shallows and he waited there three days and three nights 'til all manner of sea creatures came acclimated to his presence. Then on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed them together and made a raft."

"He roped a couple of sea turtles," Will said.

"Aye, sea turtles" Mr. Gibbs replied.

"What did he use for rope?" Gibbs suddenly couldn't remember the answer to that question. He pondered it for a minute until he noticed Jack standing over them. "Human hair," Jack said, "From my back. Let go of the anchor!"

"Let go of the anchor, sir!" the crew yelled.

"Young Mr. Turner and I are toy go ashore," he said as he walked toward the rowboat with Will and Natalie following.

"Cap'n, what if the worst should happen?" Gibbs asked.

"Keep to the code."

"Aye the code." Will followed Jack into the boat, but when Natalie stepped in, Jack grabbed her wrist in a vice grip. "Where do ye think you're going?" he asked.

"With you," Natalie stated clearly. Will nodded his head, but Jack glared at her. "You can't come with us, Miss O'Connell. It be too dangerous for a lass like ye."

"I think I can handle myself, Jack."

"It's Captain Jack Sparrow, to you," he almost shouted, his grip tightening on her. She cringed slightly at the pain of his rough hands on her, but she had to keep a straight face. "You will stay here."

"Hell no! Jack.I mean.Captain Jack Sparrow, I can help. I kind of know what's gonna happen."

"What do you mean?" he asked, pulling her into the boat with him, holding her hands.

"I'm not from this time.and.this is a movie in my world. I know how it's all gonna end. Please.let me help." Her blue eyes were pleading with Jack to allow her to come, but he showed no emotion to her. Natalie took a deep breath and looked toward the ground, unable to face Jack for her own reasons. There was something about who he was, his touch, his looks, everything about him was intriguing. When she looked back up, Jack was smiling at her. "You can come, love.but ye better not get us into trouble."

"I won't.promise," she replied with a sincere smile.

Soon after, they entered a cave tunnel in the rowboat. Natalie sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap as Jack rowed the boat and Will kept watch with a lantern. Natalie couldn't help but think about what was going to happen to everyone. Once they got into the caves, Will would end up knocking Jack out and saving Elizabeth, telling the crew that Jack fell behind. But what about her? Natalie realized that she would have to make an important decision. Should she escape with Will, or should she stay with Jack and risk her life with that crew? Her thoughts were broken by Will's voice, "What code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?"

"Pirate's code," Jack replied, "Any man that falls behind.is left behind."

"No heroes amongst thieves, eh?" Will asked coldly.

"You know for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga.and you're completely obsessed with treasure." Will, Jack, and Natalie all looked at the gold that surrounded them in the water. It was the most beautiful sight, but Will was starting to grow angry. "That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure," he said as they all stepped onto the land as the boat finally reached it.

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate," Natalie told Will, taking that line away from Jack. The Captain somewhat grinned at the comment and then walked up a hill, followed by his companions. They all looked on at the ritual, seeing Elizabeth and Barbossa standing on a mound of gold and jewels. "Elizabeth," Will muttered as Barbossa continued speaking.

"Every last piece that went astray we have returned.save for this."

"Jack!" Will almost shouted scrambling up. Fortunately, he was pulled back down by Jack, but it upset some of the treasure. Natalie ducked down as far as she could, knowing the monkey had heard them. "We wait for the opportune moment," Jack whispered as he and Natalie walked back down the small hill they had climbed. "When's that.when it's of greatest profit for you?" Will asked. Natalie shook her head and exhaled, seeing Jack fill up with a small amount of rage. "May I ask you something? Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Do us a favor, I know it's difficult for you but please stay here. and try not to do anything stupid." Natalie started to follow Jack, but he stopped her. "You stay with the whelp."

"Jack, I'm not staying put. I'm coming with you," Natalie said, putting on her puppy-dog eyes, which Jack could hardly resist.

"No, love.not this time. I promise I'll be back." Jack touched her chin and left quickly. Natalie gazed after him for a moment and then noticed that Will had disappeared. "Shit," she muttered as she ran in the only direction Will could have possibly run in. The walls were dark and the cold water that surrounded the cave made this place extremely creepy. She finally found Will, holding an oar in his hands. "What are you doing?" she asked furiously.

"Getting us outta here."

"How?"

"Well, I put all of the crew's oars in the boat, so they can't follow.and now I'm gonna save Elizabeth after.I get him."

"Get who?" Natalie asked. Then it came to her and Will was walking away. She saw Jack standing in front of Will, but he turned around and met Will's oar with his head. "Sorry, Jack. I'm not gonna be your leverage." Natalie rushed over to Jack's side as Will walked past them. He turned around and saw the girl holding Jack in her arms. "Miss O'Connell, come on," he said as he motioned for her to follow. She shook her head and he let it roll off his back. Right now, all he cared about was Elizabeth.

Many moments passed, and Natalie was still trying to shake Jack awake. His eyes weren't opening, so she lifted his face so it was only inches from hers. "Jack, wake up.wake up!" He groaned and she was relieved that he was alright, but then she heard Barbossa shouting, "THE MEDALLION! SHE'S TAKEN IT! WELL, AFTER HER YA USELESS PACK OF INGRATES!"

"Crap," she whispered, "Jack, we have to get out of here."

"You go.I'll take care of Barbossa." Natalie smiled and kissed Jack on the cheek before running down some twisting dark tunnels, glancing around corners for the pirates. She finally reached the boats the pirates had come in on and saw that they were standing facing away from them. She had walked in a giant circle. Then, Jack came staggering out of the darkness in front of them with the oar in hand. "You.you're supposed to be dead!" Pintel yelled.

"Am I not?" Jack asked looking at himself, "Hmm." He turned around and found pistols pointed at him. He turned around again and found more pointed at him. Natalie took this as the opportune moment and slipped under the blankets in a rowboat, knowing they would get back without the oars. She couldn't just leave Jack alone and Will had already escaped with Elizabeth.

It seemed like forever until she felt weight shift in the rowboat. She knew that the pirates were there and she couldn't move or they would know she was there. Natalie kept her breathing calm as she felt the boat moving out of the cave over the calm water.

She then felt the boat being lifted up into the air. She tried not to move, but it was exceptionally difficult, considering the boat was rocking. When it hit the wooden deck, she let out a quiet groan and closed her eyes, hoping the pirates had not heard her. There were loud cries of victory and defeat and she heard Jack trying to talk his way out of his predicament.

Then, everything went silent.and it was much too silent for Natalie's own good. She started to tremble and then felt the blanket get thrown off her. She kept her eyes closed forcefully, hoping again that the pirates had not seen her. "Well, lookie what we have here." Natalie opened her eyes and saw Pintel hovering over her. I guess I'm not invisible Natalie thought to herself. "Looks like one of Jack's whores!" Ragetti yelled, laughing heartily.

"PARLEY!" Natalie yelled as she sat up straight. Pintel shook his head and then looked up at the sky. "She knows the code.we're takin' her to the Captain!"

Meanwhile, Jack and Captain Barbossa were in the Captain's cabin. Barbossa was sitting down in his chair, looking closely at Jack, who was standing and offered a proposition. "So you expect to leave me standing on some beach with nothing but a name and your word it's the one I need and watch you sail away on my ship?" Barbossa asked with a laugh.

"No," Jack began, "I expect to leave you standing on some beach with absolutely no name at all, watching me sail away on my ship and then I'll shout the name back to you, savvy?"

"But that still leaves us with the problem of me standing on some beach with naught but a name and your word it's the one I need."

"Of the two of us, I'm the only one who hasn't committed mutiny, "Jack said as he picked up an apple and sat down, propping his feet up on the table, "Therefore, my word is the one we'll be trusting. Although, I suppose I should be thanking you because in fact, if you hadn't betrayed me and left me to die, I would have an equal share in that curse same as you." Jack then took a bite of the apple and said, "Funny ol' world, innit?" Barbossa shrugged and nodded his head. "Captain, we're coming up on the Interceptor," Bo'sun, one of the crew said gruffly, "And we found a little surprise."

"Bring it in," Barbossa said as he stood up, hearing a woman scream.

"UNHAND ME YOU BASTARDS! YOU FILTHY BASTARDS!" the woman screamed as she was thrown to the ground in front of Barbossa. Jack immediately stood up and was surprised that the woman was Natalie O'Connell. She kept her head to the ground as Bo'sun kicked her in the side twice, causing her to role onto her back and cry out in pain. The pirate continued to injury her until Jack shouted, "Leave her alone!"

"Captain, shall I stop?" Bo'sun asked Barbossa.

"I'm under the protection of parley.PARLEY!" Natalie shouted as loud as she could. Jack ran to her side and kneeled beside her, lifted her so her he gently held her body in his arms. "You're not supposed to harm anyone under the protection of parley. Ye know that," Barbossa said calmly to Bo'sun, "Now leave us."

"Aye, sir," he replied as he left the cabin, closing the door behind him. Barbossa looked back at Jack and noticed that he was now stroking the woman's face and whispering to her. "I told you to get away."

"Jack.Will.he left-" Jack cut her off with his fingers to her lips. "Don't speak of Will," Jack said no louder than a calm wind, not wanting Barbossa to hear about Will, and luckily he hadn't. "Didn't know ye were goin' soft, Jack."

"I'm not, Barbossa.this lass just happens to be a friend," he replied as he stood up and helped Natalie stand. She was leaning into him and felt pain shoot up her body from being beaten. "Well, she's gotta go to the brig, Jack."

"I'll take her then.but I'm having a thought here, Barbossa. What say we run up a flag of truce? I scurry over to the Interceptor and I negotiate the return of your medallion, aye? What say you to that?"

"Now you see, Jack, that's exactly the attitude that lost you the Pearl. People are easy to search when they're dead. Bo'sun!" Barbossa shouted.

"Aye, Captain," Bo'sun replied as he came running into the cabin.

"Lock them in the brig." Bo'sun nodded and grabbed Jack and Natalie, forcing them out of the cabin, down the stairs, and into the cells. Water had flooded the floor and made it colder down there. "Apparently there's a leak," Jack said as the pirate locked him and Natalie in the brig.

Natalie sat down on the floor, trying not to think about Jack, who was looking out through a hole in the ship to see barrels and debris floating in the water. He had saved her twice now and told her how he cared about her. Her heart began beating faster when she looked at him and then back at the wet floor. What had he done to her? Why was she feeling this way about a man who she didn't want to deeply care about? She needed to think rationally, but her heart was telling her different. Could she be in love with Jack Sparrow?