Thank you guys so much for all the reviews and encouragement. I really do sincerely appreciate your taking the time to do that. Well, I've had my fun making you squirm so here's the last two chapters of the fic. Thanks again!

Jack was right, Will realized: he couldn't stay there forever just treading water. Nobody was going to save him this time, nobody was going to fish him out of the water, no girl was going to tell him it was all right. Will realized that it was up to him to decide, to sink or swim, to Port Royal or the Black Pearl. With grim determination Will took his first stroke in the direction he chose. It was going to be a long afternoon.

.........

Jack heard a knock at his door and pulled his attention from the window. He was less than pleased when he realized that his glass-filled hand had been bleeding profusely, and there was now a sizeable bloodstain on his favorite rug. He looked up just as the door opened and was surprised to see not Gibbs but Henry, the young, inexperienced sailor he'd picked up in Tortuga the night he'd found Will.

"Sorry fer interrupting Captain," Henry said nervously, "but Gibbs asked me to come in an' check- Agh!" Henry interrupted himself, finally noticing the bloodstained rug, and, more importantly, the source. "You want help with tha' Captain?"

"No, no, 's alright, take care of it m'self," Jack said dismissively. "How's ever'thing ... out there?" Jack finished lamely, not knowing how much Gibbs explained to the crew about their current situation.

"Mr. Turner is still in around the same area as you dropped 'im, sir." Henry explained. "He's not made an attempt to swim either way so far as we can tell."

"We?" Jack asked, suddenly having the sinking feeling that Gibbs had told the crew far more of the plan than he'd wanted.

"The crew, Captain. We're all watchin' him. Oh, don't worry, we're stayin' out of sight jus' like you wanted, but we're all hopin' he'll choose to come back." His tone switching from hopeful to concerned, Henry added, "Captain Sparrow, are you sure you don' want a hand with that, being it's yer right hand an all?"

Jack, realizing that it would indeed be difficult to remove all the glass left-handed, agreed. He took a seat at the table while Henry scurried off for bandages.

'So,' he thought, 'the crew wants Will back as well. Seems he makes an impression even when not as his best.'

"Henry," Jack started when the young man sat down. "Why is it the crew wants t' see young Will return?"

"They all think well of him, Captain. He's well liked, even if he's more'n a touch on the moody side at times."

Jack nodded and winced as a large chunk of glass was gently extracted from the base of his thumb. "So, they like him then? They want him aboard?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, we're all real fond of him," Henry confirmed. He grabbed the new rum bottle just before Jack could drink from it and poured some over the Captain's hand. He worried for a moment when Jack hissed as the alcohol entered the cuts but reminded himself again that Captain Sparrow wasn't an unreasonable man. He wouldn't find himself on the receiving end of a beating just because he caused the Captain a bit of pain. "And we see that yer very fond of him as well," he added. Henry felt the wounded hand he held stiffen slightly. "You should know that we're rootin' for the both of ye, sir," Henry said, with a small, shy smile.

Jack stared at the young man. He was rarely at a loss for words but this was one of those few times. He wondered why neither Gibbs nor Anamaria had mentioned that the crew was coming to certain conclusions that, while not entirely false, were likely not completely true yet either.

"I understand why ye did it though," Henry said. Since the Captain hadn't told him to be quiet and mind his own business yet, he decided to charge on. "I mean, if the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow had just walked up to me an' offered me a job the moment I set foot in the tavern, it would have thrown me. Still does to be honest."

"Mmm hmm," Jack said, not really getting quite what Henry was getting at.

"You see, I spent all day talkin' to Captains an' not a one was willin' to give me a chance. But then you come along an' offer me a place up just like that. I bumped inta you an everythin'. What I'm sayin' is, I felt like even though I screwed up, ye still gave me a chance, and I'd been tryin' so hard that in a way it was almost like I'd earned it, although I guess I certainly didn' do enough t' earn a place on so good a ship."

"Aye, lad. Ye do see why I did what I did t' Will," Jack agreed, watching the blood well up in one of the cuts on his palm as another glass bit was removed.

..............

Will's arms and legs burned with the strain. He'd been swimming for he didn't know how long. It seemed like the faster he tried to swim the further his destination was. Despite how tired he felt, Will didn't even consider turning around and changing his mind. He'd die before he'd do that. His mind was set, and there was only one place that was worth swimming for, only one destination he was willing to keep moving towards. He'd earn it, he'd earn his place because nobody was going to sweep him up and save him this time.

................

When Will was finally close enough a rope was tossed down into the water for him. Too tired to hang on as they pulled him up, Will tied the rope around himself. Feeling like a drowned rat, he looked up only to find the entire crew of the Pearl gathered along the side. When he was finally hauled over the side and his feet again had blessedly solid ground (or ship as it were) under them, a loud cheer went up amongst the crew. Will had long since learned that pirates were especially vocal about their victories and triumphs. It would appear his return was good news indeed. Many hands clapped him on the shoulders. He found himself pulled into several (he thought) rather-unpirate like hugs and was congratulated by what seemed like every member of the crew. Everyone, that was, except the captain...

Will watched as the sea of pirates parted for Jack. The captain swaggered up to Will and stopped. He looked at him, head tilted slightly, as though he was assessing him. The crew had finally fallen silent.

"So, young Mr. Turner, you've made your decision then?"

"I have," Will said, noticing the confident sound to his voice that had long been absent.

"I trust we'll be able to hold most of your attention from now on?"

"Yes."

"Good," Jack said simply. He paused just long enough to make Will get that puzzled look on his face before he quickly lurched forward and pulled the soaking young man into his arms. "Welcome to the Black Pearl, Luv," he said softly into Will's ear.

The crew again shouted and cheered in support, which Will had decided must be their unique way of clapping. For a brief moment, he considered if this was perhaps what it would have been like when he married Elizabeth. He wondered if the guests in the church would have applauded, would have shouted and cheered when they kissed. When Jack pulled him tighter Will forgot the church, the guests who weren't his family, the girl who ran away from him. Jack didn't run. Jack pulled him closer.

One more chapter guys...