Once again a really big hug to my beta Anamaria Sparrow

AN: For the readers of Insanity is an Option - you might see a glimpse of Toomey in this one

Day 2.

When Jack woke up it was still night and the first thing he saw was the clear sky above him covered with stars. He remembered how he used to watch the stars when he was a little lad and couldn't sleep. He even made up stories around them, especially to entertain his two much younger sisters, Carolina and Catherine. Slowly he reached one hand out and pointed at one of the stars.

"Tha's the evil grandmother of the lot. She was ugly as well, tha's why no of the other stars wants te be near 'er. See?"

Of course, no response, but Jack didn't notice.

"Tha grandmother had tried te trick the queen. There's the queen," Jack pointed at a large and very bright star in the sky. "She was a very beautiful woman, just like a queen should be. Lovely dress as well. White with some pink. The grandmother had given the queen an apple and then the queen had fallen in a deep sleep. But luckily there was a prince who could save her. There," Jack pointed at another star close to the 'queen'. "And he kissed the queen and she woke up and lived happily ever after together with 'er prince. And the grandmother was laughed at and nobody came near 'er anymore and she felt all lonely so on her own..."

Jack looked away from the sky and for one moment he saw his two younger sisters, sitting on their knees in the sand listening intensely to his story with large shining eyes. Twins they had been. Two little girls with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing clothes made out of rags. He had always tried to 'find' things for them: nice dresses, dolls and other toys just to see them smile and hug him with great enthusiasm. Jack shook his head in anger. They were not there!

Jack stood on his feet and made a run for the sea, hoping that just like before the seawater would take his thoughts and fears away from him.

He was all alone.

Jack dived under the surface of the water, swimming as deep as he could before he had to go up for air again.

Alone on an island in the middle of the ocean.

He dived again, but the thoughts didn't go away. He was alone. No ship, no friends and no family. Jack smirked. His family couldn't be here in the first place. His dad had disappeared on sea and his mum and sweet sisters had died during the years he spent in prison at a disease that had killed many more poor people. That's why he didn't want to return to his home country. There was nothing for him left there.

The sun rose and Jack was still swimming. This time swimming didn't seem to help at all, but Jack couldn't think of anything better to do than swim. To add to his discomfort that feeling was back as well. There was definitely something wrong and Jack had the odd feeling that this time it was not about him, but about William 'Bootstrap Bill' Turner. He had done something incredible stupid. Knowing his friend he was just sure about it. 

Slowly Jack swam back to his island, preparing for yet another day trying to stay sane and alive. He highly doubted if he could continue like this for long, he was not exactly the most patient man in the Caribbean.

He sat down again, on the same spot where he had fallen asleep. The Bible lay forgotten in the sand and Jack tenderly picked it up: a last memory from his old life. Then he put it back in the case; not wanting to get it damaged by the sun or eventually the water. This time he didn't bother to take off his shirt or trousers to get them dried, the sun would do her work anyway.

Carefully he put the other stuff back in the case as well, until he only had got the log and the drawings left. The drawings show various things. Some were sea views, but there was also a drawing from the Pearl and drawing from Tortuga and lots of people.

One drawing showed his mum like she was after his father had disappeared, a skinny and sad looking woman trying to keep her head above water and taking care of her three children. Another one showed his two little sisters, happily smiling at him. There were a couple of drawings from William Turner, one where he was standing at the main deck, another one where he was frowning and staring at a map in front of him. Then there were drawings from a various amount of crewmembers: Long John the cook, Samuel, the man who wanted to become a priest, but ended up as a pirate, Fredericks, his first captain and a man Jack didn't really like at all. David with his younger brother Marty, from a ship they had once commandeered and who both had decided that they wanted to join the crew if that would bring them home. David had died during a stupid fight in an inn somewhere near India and Jack still remembered the look of total terror on Marty's face when he had found out. There was a drawing of Marty standing next to Anamaria, something that in truth never had happened. The last drawing showed a large group of people, sitting around table playing cards. Jack saw William, Marty, Walter Toomey, Keith Banks, Samuel and Martin with big smiles on their faces, clearly enjoying the moment. Yes, Jack had always loved to draw.

This also gave him an idea. Out of the back of his old log he took a page and he went through his case to find the kohl back. He was going to make a drawing! That always helped to keep his mind of things. The subject was easy to pick: his Pearl.

Deeply concentrated Jack started to draw, first setting up in some quick strokes his Pearl and how he wants to background to look and then he slowly got into detail. Hours later the drawing was finished. Jack frowned. The Pearl looked a lot scarier than she was. To him she looked more like a ghost ship than his leading lady on the sea. He could only hope that this would not happen in truth. Barbossa would probably not understand her; he was not going to listen to the things she wanted to tell. That was the mistake most captains made, Jack had quickly found out, they saw their ship as a thing to keep dry on the water, Jack saw his Pearl as a lady that you should handle with respect.

Jack sighed, suddenly feeling very depressed and close to tears. Captain Jack did not cry! But the lump in his throat definitely started to grow and Jack found himself staring at his clenched fists. Damn Barbossa! He was going to kill him when they next met again!

Then Jack sat up again: time for another discovery tour on his island. He might had overlooked something. Something that could get him off the island or at least entertain him during his stay.

An hour later he had seen it all. Every tree and every rock on the island. No water, no sign of life, no nothing except sand, stones and trees. Just great! Sweat was pouring out of every hole in his body, something that normally didn't happen very easily. Jack shrugged; this whole maroon thing was probably not very good for your health. He stared at the horizon, hoping for a sign of his Pearl or any other ship.

Nothing.

"This is not good," Jack muttered. "ave to get off this island before I go bloody insane." He started to walk around again, noting his footsteps in the sands everywhere.

"Ye have gotten yerself into trouble now, mate. Ye have to get yerself out of it again as well."

Easier said than done. What could he do? Swim? Make a raft? What would he use for robe?

"Hair from me back," Jack muttered frustrated, knowing that William would have laughed because of this remark. But he wasn't there. He was doing something incredibly stupid.

"Bloody hell!" Frustration started to grow until it was one big heap inside his mind screaming to get out, to blow off steam. He had to get off! His walking started to change, he no longer walked with an odd sort of confidence, now he walked as if he's in a non stop state of drunkenness; which was impossible. The last bit of alcohol Jack had touched had to be in a small tavern in Port Maison, drinking on the health of his good friends that stayed behind and that was now about 4 days ago. But Jack didn't notice this change in behaviour at all; he's too lost in his thoughts.

Weak because of the laughter Jack was sitting in a corner of a small tavern in Port Maison named the Clawless Cat. The waitress had already winked a couple of times at him, but he simply ignored that. This was probably one of the last nights he was going to be together with this bunch of people, so for once he didn't have time for any lass. Soon she noted that as well and with a pout she left him alone.

"Do ye remember that time with that cleric?" Samuel said laughing while emptying yet another mug.

"Aye, mate, of course I do. Jack had learned well from ye!"

Long John, who never could handle alcohol very well, made an odd noise that could be explained as laughter. "Rem'mber the look on tha' man's face, when he realized 'e was robbed... by a...p-pirate?"

Jack grinned, simply enjoying the moment. Of course he remembered that day. He had been impersonating a cleric from the Church of England to win a bet he had made with Keith Banks, the man who made bets of anything. Keith had said that Jack would never be a believable cleric, especially not with his golden teeth and large collection of tattoo's and scars. Of course Jack had to win that time, simply to prove that he was Captain Jack Sparrow above all, and doing the brilliant was what he did.

The night before he had talked until the early hours with Samuel. Samuel had wanted to become a priest as a young boy and could give Jack all the information he needed. The next morning he had left his Pearl and gone ashore and he had robbed the first cleric he met. At that time he had been polite enough to bring the poor man another set of clothes, since Jack highly doubted if the cleric would appreciate it if he had to go back in naught but his skin. Jack had taken the trinkets out of his hair and tried to hide most of his hair under a small black hat.

Then he had simply entered the village, not thinking about any consequences of his actions.

The people in the village had bowed to him and showed him all sorts of respect and he was soon invited to the richest man of the village, a Sir Teabing. Sitting in the rich and monstrous house of Teabing Jack had soon started to collect all sorts of small objects, hiding them under his clothes and even a small statue of a naked lady under his hat. His motto wasn't for nothing 'Take what you can, give nothing back!'. As soon as Jack had heard screaming outside that sounded suspiciously as if the real cleric had been found he made a run back to his ship and won the bet.

"Jack? Ye'right?" slurred Long John with his high voice. Jack still remembered the day that John had explained to him that his high voice was caused by staying on the main deck while sailing over the equator. Of course, every good sailor should know that the equator was a burning line of fire going around the world and because he had still been on the main deck his vocal cords had melted and given him a high voice. Even at 17 Jack hadn't believed that story, but Long John simply loved to tell it once in a while.

"Sure, John. Ye sure you should drink more? Ye sound a bit... of the world?"

"Just say bloody drunk, Jack!" William grinned at him. "Don' worry, Long John, Jack is just over thinking his sins," William winked at Jack.

"I think I should get back to the Pearl, lads," Jack said way more calm then he was actually feeling. Immediately the atmosphere darkened and the other 3 men looked sadly at their hands.

"Aye, cap. Guess it's about time," Samuel said softly. "Shall miss that wooden lady of yours, Jack."

"I know, mate. I shall visit you once in a while... and you too, John. I might even allow ye to cook for me." Jack joked, but he actually felt really sad. Everything changed, he knew that. But he'd rather had his good friends still with him on board of his Pearl. Suddenly Long John, who was surprisingly strong with his skinny arms, pulled him in a strong hug.

"Wish I could read or write, mate," John whispered and even some small tears leave his eyes. Jack grinned sadly. Yes, he was going to miss his friends an awful lot. Almost a good reason to stop pirating. Almost. "John... Samuel. I've always trusted you. And I would be a liar if I would say that I'm not going to miss you. Even your cursing, Samuel... and yer cooking, John. But we stay in contact, savvy? I know yer not going to stay in this rotten place, but I'd track you down."

Next was Samuel who pulled Jack in a hug, while John was saying his goodbyes to William. "Keep chasing the stars, Jack. People like you are the ones who make life worth living. And yer Captain Jack Sparrow, above all!"

Slowly the small group of sad men walked to the harbor of Port Maison. When Jack and Will rowed back to the Black Pearl, two silhouettes keep watching them from the shore, waving once in a while when they knew they were seen. The two were still standing there when the Pearl disappeared at the horizon.

He had to get off this island. He had to. He had promised to keep chasing the stars! He had promised to bring William back to his wife and kid. He had promised to take care of the Pearl. He had promised to stay Captain Jack Sparrow! He couldn't just stay here and wait for his death!

He started to look around. Maybe he had overlooked something, somehow. If only he had a bottle so that he could write a letter and hope, pray, that somebody would find it in time. If only he had his Pearl back.

"I should do something."

He took a couple of steps north, before turning around a walking into another direction.

"Bootstrap, what are ye doing? Ye have te stay alive fer yer kid." Jack whispered a dry throat starting to deter normal talking. It was only now that he started to notice that he was in fact hungry, and probably even worse: thirsty. And during his years on the sea he had learned something very important: never drink seawater. It would make you sick and you couldn't drink it properly anyway. With a sigh he sat down again in the sand, feeling suddenly very hot.

It was just going incredible! To add to all his problems was now also a fever that worsened his conditions. Trying to ignore all the discomforts Jack started staring at the horizon in front of him again. The Pearl had to be somewhere! Maybe she came back to save him. Maybe Barbossa would regret what he had done. Maybe William would think of something.

Maybe.

"Ye know what the problem is, I couldn't save meself." Defeated Jack lowered his head. He simply couldn't, unless as by a miracle a boat would appear at the horizon, who would, also by a miracle, notice him.

"William, I'm sorry. I should 'ave listened to ye. But like ye said, I've always been a stubborn fool."

"I get wounded as sailor and wake up as a pirate," William said dryly. "Who should have thought."

William and Jack were both standing on the main deck, staring at the black sails that had replaced the ragged white ones.

"Ye don't have to, mate," said Jack. "Ye can go back to shore if ye want to. Nobody would hold it against you... except me, cause I need ye."

"Haven't noticed you did, that was a very good thing you did during the storm. Not many people would have managed to avoid those rocks in such weather."

"I'm afraid tha' was more a combination of luck and desperation," Jack grinned.

"Ye have the possibilities, Captain. And a fine ship," William looked approvingly around.

"Aye. Fastest ship around, mate."

The new Black Pearl was painted and soon ready to become legendary.

"One battle and we go back, isn't it?"

"Aye, that's the plan. Everyone approved with it. One battle and we have enough money to take care of ourselves."

"Good."

One battle wasn't enough. Especially not when the money they had earned was spent as soon as they went ashore again by the largest part of the crew. This annoyed William (and Jack) to no end. Of course they did spent some of their treasure in inns, but most was kept safe for future use. So soon they attacked another ship... and another. And slowly they became notorious pirates, especially since they didn't kill when it was not needed.

Their first agreement was even forgotten. Until a month ago.

"Everything alright?"

Jack shakes his head. "I can't believe I just killed that man."

"You would do it again," said William.

"Yes," said Jack with a surprised voice. William was looking at his hands.

"Something wrong, Will?"

"Yes. Jack, I know this isn't the right time to say this, but--- I want to stop."

Jack looked up in shock.

"I have continued it way too long already," explained William quickly. "Maybe because I hoped you with stop being a pirate as well," a small smile appeared on his face, "but you're a pirate at heart, Captain Jack Sparrow. I want to stay with my wife and lad, instead of just visiting them once in a while."

Jack sighed. "I know, mate. I wondered when you would start to realize that yerself."

"Why don't you...?"

"No, Will. I can't. Not only have I nothing to go back for, it's this life. I don't do this for the money, the attention, the fame... it's the freedom. When I'm on me ship, I'm free in all the ways I want. I can never be like that on the dry land."

"Once your luck will run out, Jack."

Jack flashed his grin. "I know, mate."

"You are a stubborn fool, Jack Sparrow."

"I can only try."

Jack swallowed, trying to get away that dry feeling in his throat, but it had no use. More and more things started to hurt, the muscles in his arms, his stomach... even sunburn was starting to become a small problem. And he had never felt so hot in all his life. Was the sun warmer on this small spot somewhere in the Caribbean?

"I can only try," Jack whispered. "Something."

If only he had some luck left. Some of the luck that kept him alive all these years and made him do the brilliant, the insane. He didn't need much... only a little luck.

"William? Do ye think I 'ave some luck left?"

No reply. But Jack would have sworn he had seen William, only seconds ago, telling him that he was going home. That he was going to leave him.

"William?"

Where had he gone? Had Jack simply forgotten that William was back in England already? Jack frowned, trying to concentrate. Then he shook his head. He was starting to scare himself!

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl," he whispered. "Barbossa has taken her, William is in trouble and I'm stuck on a godforsaken spit of land."

Was he? Or was he confused about that as well? Was he dreaming? Maybe he was still in prison... but he wasn't 17 anymore. Was he? Again he shook his head. He really started to frighten himself.

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl."

He stood up again, slightly unstable, and made a run for the sea. Seawater was what he needed now! A fresh head. He splattered around a bit and slowly calmed down. He was not going insane!

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow of the Black Pearl." And I'm going insane.

----

Kuramasgirl556 - Well, the idea is that I'm going to describe the three days of Jack on his island and that each day will be one chapter, so there is still one left to go

Morph - Well, seems you are a real fan as well, right? Thank you so much for reading (and reviewing!) everything I write!!!

Warriormaid 3000 - At your service :)