Disclaimer: Only Disney has the pleasure of owning PotC.

A/N: As always, I must thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the kind reviews.

Chapter 23:

"Tables are turning, luv," Jack whispered, his breath tickling her ear. Ana blinked away the host of inappropriate thoughts that flooded her brain due to the close contact with the pirate. She was acting like a silly love struck girl in the midst of a life or death situation. Things could very well go completely wrong. She could die thinking dirty thoughts about a pirate.

"You knew this was going to happen," James Norrington's voice broke through the tense silence that had descended. He was glaring at Prescott, clenching and unclenching his fists.

Prescott met James' glare with calm, cold eyes. He was not surprised by Ana's actions. "What are you insinuating?"

"Insinuating?" Norrington repeated the word. "Prescott, you practically told Annie to take my pistol!"

"I did no such thing," Prescott said, "and I caution you James. You're dreadful close to insubordination."

"And I caution you. This is not the Loyalty. I am not one of your lieutenants. You may play God on your ship, Prescott, but we are not on your ship and you are not God."

In a few short steps, Prescott had closed the gap and stood glaring down at James. "Bite your tongue if you wish to save it."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Yes."

"Gentlemen," Cornado interrupted the officers' argument. "Is any of this really nessessary?"

"With all due respect Don Antonio," James said. "If Prescott has helped this pirate escape. He, too, is guilty of treason."

"That may be true, but it is irrelevant. His actions are for nothing."

"What do you mean?"

Ana felt Sparrow's body tense as Cornado walked past James and her brother and stood in front of them. She heard the "click" as Jack cocked the pistol.

"Take another step and it's your last, mate."

The Spaniard halted his advance but did not respond to Sparrow. "I mean, Capitán Norrington, that even if this pirate escapes . . . again." Cornado paused to glare at her brother. "He is still alone on an island of enemies. He cannot hide behind a woman forever."

Ana stared into Don Antonio's hate-filled, gray eyes. He was goading Jack, hoping that his comments would insult the pirate's sense of pride. She suddenly felt very helpless. What would she be able to say to stop Jack from fighting the Spaniard. She had no doubt that Cornado would fight dirty, and she found herself afraid for Jack's safety.

"Your wrong, father."

Cornado spun around and Ana felt herself smiling as she saw Miguel step out from behind the cave. He no longer wore any remnants of the Spanish naval uniform. A simple gray shirt and black trousers coupled with his dark hair falling loosely around his face actually made him look rather like a pirate.

"Father?" Ana heard her brother's voice. "What in bloody hell is going on here? I thought your son was dead."

"I apologize for the confusion, Capitán Tarret. I am Miguel Cornado, and though my father would rather I died, I am still very much alive."

Prescott raised both eyebrows.

"You see, last year my father challenged me to a duel. I won, but I refused to kill him."

Ana watched Prescott's face as he listened to Miguel's explanation. He had stopped looking at the younger Spaniard. His eyes were fixed on Don Antonio as he began to understand that the tyrant had tried to kill his own son. "

He shot me in the back and he would have finished the job if it were not for Jack Sparrow."

"Sparrow!" Norrington apparently could not contain his shock.

"Sí," Miguel nodded. "If he had not intervened, I would be as dead as my father wishes me to be."

All eyes turned to the pirate.

"Señor Sparrow, I owe you my life."

"You owe me nothing."

"I owe you everything. It is a debt I can never repay." Miguel drew his sword and stood facing his father, "but, I shall try."

Cornado moved into position opposite his son. He chuckled softly. "We have been here before, and you could not kill me."

Miguel lunged forward, his blade crashing against Don Antonio's. The older man stumbled backwards. "I did not kill you before, father. Rest assured, this time I will not make the same mistake."

Ana jumped as steel met steel, time and time again. Miguel fought with passion and fury. Don Cornado fought with the cold discipline of a man long accustomed to defending his honor.

Subtly, Prescott had moved closer to Ana and Jack, while Captain Norrington was preoccupied watching the duel. "Captain Sparrow, you should go," he whispered out of one side of his mouth. "No one will notice until this fight is over."

Turning slightly to see Jack, Anamaria found the pirate's eyes already looking down at her. His brow was furrowed, as though he were awaiting her permission. She was suddenly aware that, if she asked him to, Jack might stay. Somehow, Ana knew that the pirate would give up this chance to leave on her request. She could still hear the two Spanish men fighting, but all she could see was Jack's deep brown eyes. She did not want him to go.

"Yes, Jack. Get out of here." Ana heard her words, but it sounded like they were coming from somewhere very far away. Jack had suffered enough trying to protect her. If he would not have tried to help her after Don Cornado stabbed her, he would never have been dragged to the fort. He would not be in this very position, if it were not for her. She blinked away the memories of Sparrow curled in a corner of the hold. She had asked enough of the pirate. Too much.

Jack nodded. "I'll be keepin' this though, mate," he said gesturing to the pistol. Prescott nodded. Jack stuck the gun in his belt and brought his hand to Ana's cheek. "Anamaria," he said, his smile reaching up to his dark eyes. His hand dropped and he walked out of her life.

Ana fought against the moisture gathering in her eyes. She always knew he was going to leave. She was not going to cry for something she always knew would happen. Before Ana could brush away the single tear that had gotten through her defenses, she was forcefully brought back to reality by Miguel's body striking her own. They both tumbled to the ground and she cried out as her wound connected with the jagged stones. Miguel rose to his knees.

"Are you alr –"

Miguel instantly stopped speaking. His breath hitched, and his eyes widened. Ana gaped in horror at the Spaniard's scarred face. Something warm was dripping on her arm. Don Cornado pulled his sword from his son's body and kicked him roughly to the ground. Ana heard someone scream, only later did she realize that the sound came from her lips.

"Miguel?" She tried desperately to cover his wound with her hands, but she could almost feel him slipping away. "Miguel, hang on." Her lower lips was quivering uncontrollably as she watched Miguel struggle to breathe.

"A-Anamaria," he said, grabbing her by the hand that was trying to stop his bleeding.

"No. No. Don't try to talk."

"Tell J-Jack . . . Tell him. I-I'm s-sorry."

No amount of fighting could prevent Ana's tears from falling as Miguel's face went slack and his hand fell from hers. Slowly she rose to her feet. Prescott was at her side without hesitation. His hand was on her shoulder and he kissed the top of her head. She stared at her own hands in disbelief. They were covered with the blood of a good man. "How could you?" she said.

"You forget. It was he who challenged me, Señora." Don Antonio's lips curled into a spiteful grin.

"He was your son!" Ana broke free from her brother's protective grasp.

"He was a disappointment. And he was a fool to think that he could beat me."

"You bastard!" Ana screamed as she backhanded Cornado with all the force that she could muster. The smile was wiped from his face, replaced by the blood of his son.

"That was a mistake," Cornado growled, grabbing Ana's arm. He spun her around so that she stood with her back against his chest, and he raised his sword so that the cold steel was pressed against her neck.

"Cornado, what the hell do you think you're doing!" Prescott yelled.

"Your sister must learn her place."

"Unhand her," Norrington demanded.

"Or you'll what? Arrest me?"

"I'll hang you myself." Ana had never heard so much anger in James' voice.

"I do not think so," Cornado said his eyes fixed on her brother. He shifted the sword putting more pressure on Ana's neck. "I think that your sister will come with me."

"With you?"

"Sí, it is a long voyage to Spain. She will accompany me."

"Like hell I will," Ana spat, the thought of spending any length of time with Don Antonio made her stomach turn.

Cornado drew his sword in further and Ana could feel the blade cutting her neck. "I'm afraid you have no choice."

"What makes you think I'll let you take my sister out of Kingston?"

Ana felt the Spaniard shrug his shoulders. "If you do not, I will kill her."

"Not if you know what's good for ye, mate." James and Prescott turned to face the voice that Ana knew belonged to Jack Sparrow. He stood, pistol drawn, glaring at Cornado.

"Jack!"

"Ah, the gallant pirate returns to rescue his fair maiden."

Sparrow thumbed the hammer.

"Sadly, killing me will not clear your black name, Señor Sparrow."

"No. But it'll make me feel a whole lot better."

The woods suddenly erupted in sound and a puff of gun smoke billowed up from the pistol. Ana felt Cornado's head snap back and his body went stiff. The Spaniard's sword clamored to the ground and his limp body crumpled at the lady's feet.

In a second, Prescott had enveloped his little sister in his arms, making sure that she did not have to see the mess that the pirate made of Cornado's face. Ana let go. Burying her face in Prescott's coat, she cried, not tears for Miguel, Jack, Findley, or Christopher. Ana finally cried for herself.

"James," he said quietly. "Go to the fort, tell them what's happened, and bring some men back to take care of this."

"What about Sparrow?"

Ana pulled away from her brother. Through eyes blurred by tears, she stared over Prescott's shoulder.

Jack Sparrow was gone.

Well, that's it for now. That was a hard one to write. Believe me I gained no pleasure from killing Miguel, but sometimes you have to go where the story leads. Hey, at least Don Antonio's gone! Don't forget to review on your way out.