Disclaimer: See previous chapters and stories.

AN: Over100 reviews! Now the question is: do people want some Jack/Elena action or not? Someone said that it would ruin the story, but I promise nothing too graphic, and it will take place at an appropriate time. Anyway, I need to know if people will read this if there's some Jack/Elena action in it, so please review your opinion!

Chapter 10: Unexpected Findings:

Jack stood at the helm of the Black Pearl, muttering angry curses to himself. Finally, after fighting Mother Nature, ship leaks, and other unpleasant things, they had at long last arrived within sight of Port Royal. However, Jack was still upset that it had taken him over a month to do so, especially when it should have taken him less than a few days! Jack should have been happy at the sight of Port Royal on the horizon, but he wasn't. Commodore Norrington still had a price hanging over his head, and he definitely did not want to end up hanging from a noose anytime soon. Now they had to wait until dusk to drop anchor near Port Royal and take a rowboat to shore to get information on Sally, and then get her to talk about where Captain Green and his crew had taken Elena. Either way, Jack was in for a bit of legwork.

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After the sun had set and the moon had come out, Jack once again took the four Black brothers and rowed to shore. He had hidden the Pearl offshore, out of sight of Port Royal, and had ordered the crew to pick up and leave if the Royal Navy should somehow find them out. Jack was happy that it was night and that no one could see him and his crewmates clearly as they walked around town. Even if they were spotted in the part of town they were heading for, they would simply be mistaken as dockworkers and ignored.

After they landing the boat, Jack and his four crewmen headed towards the seedier parts of Port Royal. Jack was somewhat surprised to find out that a respectable town like this had a bad side, but it couldn't be helped; every town had lowlifes and there was no way to be rid of them. As they walked around the rundown taverns and bars, the five pirates began asking about new barmaids. Jack finally found his quarry at the most rundown bar on the street. She was serving drinks, and looked worse than she had in Tortuga! Jack couldn't help but grin as he signaled for his men to take action as he turned and headed back towards the rowboat.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sally had just set down her empty pitcher when she felt an arm wrap around her waist and hoist her up over a shoulder. From her place over the shoulder, Sally looked up and saw that there were four pirates, including the one she was draped over, and they were the best-looking pirates that she'd ever seen! And best of all, they were carrying her out of the tavern! Sally didn't know whether to cheer at her good luck, or cry for help (that is, until the look on the innkeeper's face told her that what awaited her outside the tavern wouldn't be good). Something hard connected with her head and she blacked out. When she came to, Sally found herself alone on the floor of a small, windowless cabin onboard a ship, the door closed and probably locked. Sally then scanned the room, discovering that the ship that made completely of black wood.

Suddenly, the door flew open, revealing three very angry pirates. One was a dark-skinned woman with black hair and wearing a very sharp cutlass. Another was an elderly man who not only wore a cutlass, but also a pistol. The third was definitely the captain, considering that he wore the captain's hat and had all sorts of rings on his fingers. He also had beads and bones woven into his dreadlocks. This was someone Sally would definitely want to get to know: Captain Jack Sparrow! That meant that she was on the Black Pearl! Sally couldn't believe her luck. Maybe she could get something out of Sparrow if she bedded with him; after all, he was known for his love of loose women. She immediately put on a sultry smile, trying to appeal to the man in charge.

"What can I do for ye, Captain?" she purred in her most seductive voice. Unfortunately, he did not seem effected by her appeal.

"Where did Green take Elena?" he asked, bluntly. "Where is she?"

"I don't know what ye mean," she said, trying to look puzzled while trying to cover up her panic. He couldn't know about her bargain with Captain Green, it wasn't possible!

"Don't play dumb," snapped the woman. "We know ye went aboard the Blue Star and six days after he left Tortuga, he came back without ye and kidnapped Elena." The woman drew out her cutlass.

"Annamaria, that isn't the way to get the girl to talk," the Captain said, holding her back. Annamaria began to protest. "No buts, Anna," Jack said, glancing down at Sally, who was still seated on the floor. "She'll tell us what we need to know."

Sally gave him another seductive smile. "And what if I don't?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him. She gulped when the Captain suddenly pressed his own sword against her neck.

"Trust me, lass," he whispered, glaring at her with hate and anger. "You'll tell me because I'm Captain Jack Sparrow and I want to know, savvy?"

Sally nodded, suddenly frightened and angry. "Why would ye want to know about that red-headed wench, anyway?" she asked, looking up at him. "I'm much more entertaining than she is! Why don't you pick a real girl like me instead of her?"

"Because she's worth more than a hundred of ye, that's why," the elderly man said, glaring at her. The three pirates looked fiercely down at her. "Now where is she?"

Sally shook her head, pretending not to know. "I don't know," she lied. "I simply told Green to take her someplace away from Tortuga, away from you. That's all I know!"

Jack frowned. "If yer not telling the truth, Sally, I'll have yer head decorating the bow of the Pearl," he threatened. "Annamaria, Gibbs, take her down to the brig and don't forget to feed her." He then turned and left the cabin.

The woman's eyes widened. "The brig?!" she cried. "You can't send me down there! You have no right to keep me here!" She definitely didn't want to be onboard when, or if, Jack and his crew found out that Elena was here in Port Royal.

"We're pirates, lass, we can do whatever we want," Annamaria said, grabbing Sally by the hair and dragging her up. "It's time to visit your new home." Annamaria and Gibbs grabbed her arms and led her out the door.

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Later that night, Jack angrily walked down the darks streets of Port Royal, headed towards the more respectable parts of town. He was mad as hell that he was unable to get any information from Sally, but couldn't do anything about it. In order to calm himself down, he decided he might as well go and visit Will and Elizabeth. Jack really hoped that they still thought of him as a friend and would put him up for the night. Carefully, Jack dodged three approaching red-coats and made his way up to the white-trimmed, blue cottage that had been described to him by several sailors at the docks. He walked up and knocked on the door, smoothing out his clothes, mustache, beard, and hair, hoping to make a good impression. As he looked over his shoulder, checking for more soldiers, the door opened.

"Jack!" gasped a familiar female voice. "Will, Jack's here!"

Jack turned around. "Elizabeth!" He walked right through the door and kissed her on the cheek. "How are ye and the whelp doing? Had any little ones yet?"

"Jack, it's good to see you again," Will said, coming down from upstairs to shake Jack's hand. "Come in and take a seat. I'm afraid out new cook is out buying groceries for tonight, but I'm sure that she can stretch it out for one more person!"

Minutes later, Jack was on the Turners' couch. As he sat there listening to Will and Elizabeth chatter on about their wedding and lives since their adventure together, he couldn't help but glance around their spacious home and admire all of the expensive furniture and knick-knacks decorating the room.

'Elizabeth sure has good taste,' he thought as Elizabeth was serving tea, tiny cakes, and sandwiches, along with some rum for Jack. As he took a swig from his glass, his back facing the entryway, Jack heard the door open and shut, and footsteps enter the hallway.

"I'm dreadfully sorry about my lateness, Mrs. Turner," said a familiar voice from the hallway. "The market was absolutely chaotic today."

'I know that voice,' Jack thought as Elizabeth rose and went into the hallway.

"Ah, Elena, you're here!" Elizabeth said from the hall. "Would you be a dear and add another plate to dinner, we have company." Jack simply stared at the doorway. A moment passed before he heard footsteps headed into the kitchen.

Elizabeth returned a moment later. "Sorry about that, Jack, I had to have our new maid set a place for you tonight at dinner."

Jack jerked out of his daze. "Oh, no problem, Lizzie," he said, taking a big swig of rum to calm his nerves. "What's the lass's name, by the way?"

"Her name is Elena, and she's the best cook that we've ever had," Will replied, helping himself to some more tea and sandwiches. "Only a week of working for us and we love her already!" Jack didn't reply. "Jack, are you listening to me?" Will asked.

Jack snapped back to attention. "Sorry, Will, what were you saying?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "I think Jack's interested in our new maid and cook."

Will also laughed. "Well, Jack, if you want a woman, you'll have to look elsewhere," he said. "Elena is a good girl, and not for your use as a bedwarmer."

Jack shook his head. "I wouldn't dream of taking advantage of so lovely a lass, whelp, don't worry." He could see the surprise on their faces; he usually wasn't this courteous about women.

"Well, why don't you go and talk with her then?" Will said, waving towards the kitchen.

Jack immediately stood up and made towards the kitchen. After he had stepped through the doorway, he stopped and stared. He couldn't believe who he saw in front of him. It was Elena! His bonny lass was here, right in front of him and he couldn't help but stare at her as she put her cooking talents to good use. He closed the door behind him, giving himself some privacy as he watched her.

She was as graceful on land as she was at sea, in the Pearl's galley. Her steps were soft as she padded around while cutting, stirring, seasoning, and tasting her creations. Jack loved everything about this woman: she was beautiful, graceful, talented in the kitchen, and had a love of books to match his own! He also couldn't help but notice that she seemed sort of content to be here, on land in the Turners' home. Looking around the kitchen, Jack started taking in the comforts that it had to offer.

'I think that she actually belongs here, where it's safe,' Jack thought sorrowfully. 'She shouldn't constantly be in danger while working on a pirate's ship. Working for Will and Elizabeth means getting a decent wage, a good place to live, good food, and becoming a part of society. She might even marry into a higher place in the social ladder.' Jack inwardly winced at the idea of her marrying someone other than him. 'She should stay here.' Feeling his heart drop to his stomach, Jack turned and walked out of the kitchen and into the parlor, shutting the door behind him.

"Well, whelp, I'm off to explore what the taverns of Port Royal have to offer," Jack said, suddenly feeling the need to get drunk. "Don't wait up for me, savvy?" Without waiting for another answer, he sped out the door, heading for the town's lowliest taverns and bars.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That night, Elena was worried. The Turners' guest hadn't been at dinner, and Elizabeth had said that he had gone down to the seediest parts of town to go drinking. She couldn't imagine why he would spend his time drinking instead of talking to the Turners.

"Elizabeth, who was your guest, and why would he be drinking at this time of night?" Elena asked her employer and friend as she and Elizabeth put the dried dishes away.

Elizabeth hesitated before replying. "Elena, do you promise not to tell anyone who he is and that he's here in Port Royal?" Elizabeth asked her new friend. Elena nodded. "His name is Jack Sparrow, and he's a pirate captain," she said. "He is a good friend of ours, he's saved both of our lives, and we don't want to get him into trouble with the Commodore."

Elena felt her insides jolt in surprise. Jack was here, and he was friends with the Turners! Fate certainly had a twisted sense of humor. Elena suddenly felt the need to talk to Jack, to explain what had happened in Tortuga and tell him how much she cared about him.

"Um, I just realized that I need to run an errand in town, Elizabeth," Elena said, thinking quickly. "I promise to be back soon." Elizabeth looked at her in suspicion. "I promise that I'm not going to tell anyone about Jack! I just need some things for the kitchen!" Elizabeth nodded her consent. Elena then quickly darted out the door, headed for town.

As she walked along the harbor, searching the few seedy taverns in Port Royal, Elena heard women laughing through the doorway of one, and peaked inside. What she saw stopped her heart.

It was Jack, and he was sitting on a bench, surrounded by giggling women. He quickly gave one woman an affectionate kiss before turning his attention to another.

Elena had seen enough. She turned and headed home, knowing that Jack Sparrow would never care for her the same way that she cared for him. She then headed back to the Turner home, her heart utterly crushed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* AN: Okay, I know the review system is screwed up, but it supposedly works now, so please tell me whether you want a 'loving' chapter or not! Please?!