Author's thanks:

Snarker: It's okay that you didn't review last chapter. I was just getting worried that everyone forgot about my piece since it's taken so long to get an update posted! But I've been reassured. So, thank you for your kind words AND your review! Enjoy the next part!

Kungfuchick: Jack probably thinks it's a sin to drink wine in church when you could have rum… so I could only assume that not having it on a ship would be a greater sin to him… And yes, Ana and Jack did kiss. It was my favorite scene to write. As for James, rest assured I would NEVER kill him. I love him too much… :) Let me know what you think of the next part!

ShanniC: All IS well with the world, ain't it?? The Jack/Ana kiss was a great scene. I had to get that in there sometime, right? Thanks for the review… see you next post!!

Molliejoy: Enjoying a might too much rum, luv?? How long did it take you to write that review?? :P Anyway, thanks for the good word. Jack's slurry brogue is really fun to write… Love you!

Saxony: Thank you for the review! And good luck with your own pirate story. Let me know where to find it and I'll take a look-see. And you're right, Jack can be a difficult character to write… but if you keep him in mind and just have fun with it, it's not as hard as it seems. My own wariness at writing for such a unique character was put at ease when I began to think like Jack (and you may have to watch the movie a million times in order for that to happen. Trust me, I did it…) So, again, good luck… and I hope you like this next part!

Coolpuella: Oh, I know what you mean! I'm chomping at the bit to get this going and finish it! It's almost there, I can see the end. The task is in getting there, though, and having the discipline to sit down and write! Thanks for the review! Here's the next part per request! Enjoy!

Amber Myst: The excellence of the first Jack/Ana kiss (no matter how small) shall never be eclipsed… except, hopefully, by the ending. It… just… got… interesting… well, I've found it interesting all the way through, but then I'm the writer. Here come the much awaited action sequences… I hope you like them! Let me know what you think!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Jack emerged from the bowels of the ship in time to see the crew of the Zephyr scurrying about the deck. Seeing that the good captain was deeply entrenched in conversation with his first mate, Jack snuck back into the captain's quarters. He stopped in surprise as he watched Ana finish loading a pistol she'd 'borrowed' from Deverill's well-stocked cabinet. After cocking the hammer, she stuffed the weapon into the waist of her pants.

"What are you doing, luv?" Jack asked, curious as to what the woman was thinking as she broke open the hope chest in front of the bed and pulled out an elegant blade. Ana tested the point with her finger and gave an approving nod.

"What does it look like, Jack? I'm preparing," she said. Jack closed the door behind him and approached her.

"I doubt very much that the good captain will allow us to leave this room wielding weapons meant to kill the blighter… especially if they are his own weapons," Jack noted as he set the carafes of rum down on the desk. Ana didn't look at him but continued to sort through the items in the chest. She picked up an old-looking cutlass and after inspecting it, she tossed it towards Jack. He caught it and inspected it as well.

"I'm not going to die aboard this ship, Jack," Ana said as she stood, hands on her hips.

"Who says we're going to die?" he asked. Ana gave him a look.

"We're the bait, Jack. Damien wants Norrington and once the Commodore gets here, we are expendable. I'm not going to sit around in here and wait to be thrown to the whim of Davey Jones' locker. I heard a few men talking earlier and it seems we're fast approaching Damien's allies. We have to fight… they're not just going to let us hop over to the Pearl…" she said. Jack gave her a small smile.

"I know that, luv. I'm just trying to figure out what the opportune moment would be," he said. Ana rolled her eyes.

"You and your blasted 'opportune moments'," she said. Ana pulled out another pistol and tossed that to Jack as well. "Load that, you daft pirate. We're going to need it at your 'opportune moment'." Another cannon-fire, this time from the Zephyr, interrupted whatever Jack was going to say. Jack took his time loading the pistol and by the time he was finished, two more rounds had been fired from the Zephyr. Bending over the supply of pilfered weapons, Jack chose another cutlass, this one smaller than the one that Ana had chosen for him. Ana watched with a slight frown as she watched him put it at his waist and suitably disguise it in the overly long sash at his waist. He then took up the larger cutlass and made his way to the door.

"What are you doing, Jack?" she hissed. Jack smirked.

"I'm going outside, luv," he said simply, waving a hand in the direction he was going to go.

"I thought we were waiting for the opportune moment?" she asked, arms crossed. Jack pointed at the door again.

"I'd rather wait for it out there where I can see what's coming than wait for it in here, savvy?" he asked. Ana let out a huff.

"And you couldn't share this plan with me?" she asked.

"Now where's the fun in that, luv?" he asked. Ana glared.

"Fun?" she asked. Jack's grin just got wider.

"Come Ana… you'll do what you've been doing… being civil to the good captain. And I'll do what I'm best at," he said. Ana lifted a questioning brow.

"Drinking everyone into a stupor?" she ventured a guess. Jack looked proud of her suggestion but quickly corrected her.

"No, no, no… I'll talk to the man," he supplied. Ana let out a snort.

"Right… if you think it'll help. Why should I doubt you? You've talked yourself into the hangman's noose, I don't see how you couldn't talk yourself into a sword in the gut. You'll probably even get one for me as well," she said with a confidence that had Jack smiling, until he understood exactly what she said. But whatever comeback he'd had waiting was cut off as she opened the door and strode through it. Not to be one left behind, Jack quickly tucked his pistol near the small of his back and followed the exasperating woman out the door waving the cutlass dangerously.

"Deverill, my good man!" the pirate shouted, causing most eyes on the ship to turn to him. "Was that cannon fire I heard? Are we raiding? Will I get to skewer some lily-livered sea dogs?" Jack punctuated his questions with a few, disorderly swings of the weapon he was holding.

"Sparrow…" Damien said coolly as he descended the stairs to the deck. "… I'd advise you to keep yourself away from all weapons. We wouldn't want to mistake you for one of them, now would we?" Jack's eyes narrowed at the suggestion as he watched the captain reach for the weapon and remove it from Jack's grip.

"Of course not. Wouldn't want innocent blood on your hands, now would we?" Jack asked back with a nasty smirk. Damien looked to where Ana stood, arms crossed and watching nonchalantly, as he handed the confiscated weapon to his first mate. Ana just looked back at the captain and gave a small, almost disinterested shrug. Damien turned back to Jack lowering his voice so only he heard it.

"My fight is not with either of you, but that does not give me reason to part with your company. I'd much enjoy seeing both of you dead, but in this moment it would defeat your purpose. I could stand to make a lot of money… off the both of you. But I don't have time to dally. Do what you must," he said. Jack gave the man another smirk before clasping his hands together and giving him a small bow before pulling the second cutlass. Damien eyed it with disdain.

"We certainly shall, my good man," the pirate said, casting a quick look at Ana, whose eyes were focused on something in front of them. Jack's dark eyes followed her gaze to where he could make out two dark shapes ahead of them in the water. Thunder rolled in the clouds as lighting flashed on the horizon. The Falcon and the Châtiment were lying in wait of the Zephyr, ready to assist with cannons already rolled out should there be need.

"Prepare the cannons… prepare for battle!" Damien cried to his own crew as he unsheathed his sword. As rain began to fall, the Zephyr's crew scrambled and clamored about the ship in order to ready it for the upcoming fight. The Pearl was close enough now that Jack and Ana could just make out the forms of each crew member, who were also clamoring about in preparation. As the two ships got closer, all crew members drew their swords and crouched in anticipation for the starboard pass. The bow of the two mighty ships crossed, and a cry rang out from both ships to fire the artillery. Deafening blasts were heard as the battle commenced and bodies began to swing over the rails of both ships. Metal clanged as the fights began in earnest. Jack and Ana separated as they each took on an adversary of their own. A hand clasped Jack on the shoulder and he swung around to detach the man from it only to stop mid-stride when he realized it was Will.

"Young Turner… it seems you've come at the opportune moment," Jack said with a grin. Will shrugged.

"It had to happen sometime, didn't it Jack?" he asked. An angry yell erupted from a charging man. Will turned quickly with his agile sword and stopped him in his tracks. The man fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Will turned back to Jack with a slightly amused look.

"Just like old times, eh Jack?" he asked. The pirate grinned again.

"Oh, aye, just like old times," he said before looking down at the dead man and nudging him with the toe of his boot. "Let's just hope they stay dead this time…" Will laughed, but his eyes went wide as he looked behind Jack.

"Lookout, Jack!" Will cried as one of Damien's men lunged at him with his sword. A gunshot was heard and the man fell dead at Jack's feet. Curious, Jack looked up and tried to find his savior. Manuel Sanchez stood a few feet away, smoking pistol in hand.

"Good to see you found your way out, mate. And just in time for our happy little battle," Jack said. Manuel smiled.

"Good to see you still alive, amigo. But we won't be much longer if we continue to talk," he said. Five men Jack had never seen before stepped behind the Spaniard.

"Captain Deverill had these men stowed away in a secret hold for trade. I've released them and you've allies in us," Manuel said in his heavily accented English before saluting and running off into battle again. Jack turned to Will and raised his cutlass.

"Let's go lad… there be a fight to win," Jack said, leading the way back into the heart of the fray. Cannons were firing left and right as the two men separated once more. Each piece of wood that was splintered on his ship caused Jack to wince. The battle was heavy and it took Jack several moments to locate his quartermaster. Gibbs looked happy to be engaged in the fighting, and was slowly making his way towards the Zephyr. There was a hearty squawk from above and Jack looked up to see Cotton's parrot circling the main mast of the Zephyr. Curious as to where his owner was, he turned to see the wily old man swinging across onto the other ship. His confidence in his crew strong, Jack turned his back and swung his cutlass, cutting down another one of Damien's officers. The pirate's eyes scoured the deck of the Zephyr for another to lay low, but his eyes were drawn back to the Pearl. Elizabeth was caught in the menacing hold of an adverse pirate as she'd tried to swing across to where Will was. Her struggle was valiant and eventually, the unfortunate pirate had to release his hold on her to save his person. A fatal error on his part as the young woman rounded with a hefty punch. The blow sent the man over the rail and careening into the dark, turbulent water. Elizabeth allowed herself a moment of pride, but her eyes caught at something on the opposing ship. Eyes wide, she turned to look for her fiancé… or Jack. Her eyes finally met the pirate and she pointed.

"Jack! Look!" she cried. Two pirates were loading what looked to be a chained cannonball into a rear cannon. It was used mainly to disable the main mast of an enemy ship… but they were nowhere near the mast. Knowing that it would come to no good, Jack began to run towards the two men manning the cannon. But the attention came too late. The cannon fired just as Jack reached them. He watched in horror as the cannon ball ripped through the front of the Pearl's hull, taking large chunks of wood as it went. It was a fatal wound to the ship. Across the battle Jack's eyes met his quartermaster's. There was a sadness in Gibb's eyes that almost rivaled the emotion rolling through Jack.

"Abandon ship, me laddies!" Gibbs gave the hopeless cry. "The ship is run through!" The crew of the Black Pearl all scrambled to find their way off the crippled ship as it began to sink. Some swung over to the Renegade, others to the Intrepid, and those close enough made their way to the Zephyr. Jack turned his back to the destruction and swung his sword in an angry arc. Ana was fighting a few yards away from him, her back to Commodore Norrington, whose back was to her as well. They were holding their own. Will was tangling with the Zephyr's first mate and with one strong blow, knocked the man off the rear of the ship. Norrington and Will then rushed to the helm and took the unfortunate man who was trying to steer the boat away from the rush of reinforcements the Renegade provided. As they gained control of the Zephyr, the Commodore's men lay siege to the second opposing ship. The Falcon's crew was no match for the experienced naval men, and one by one, skirmish by long skirmish each man dropped. A hearty cry of 'Huzzah' sounded as the Intrepid's crew overtook the smaller ship. Jack smirked as the tide tipped in their favor… and the Châtiment made quick work of their topsails, hoping to make a hasty exit. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Ana fighting off two attackers by herself. Jack brought the pistol out from where he'd hid it and leveled the sight at one of the men. The bullet ripped through him, evening Ana's odds. She shot him a grateful look as she turned her attention to dispatching her opponent. Jack gave her a quick, cocky salute and turned to take on another attacker. And then, suddenly, a painful cry echoed in his ears. Jack spun around so quickly that his braid ornaments left a painful mark on the side of his cheek… but he didn't feel it… he didn't feel anything as he saw Ana skewered from behind, Damien's blade piercing her shoulder through. There was another painful cry, but Jack didn't realize it had come from him. And it had nothing to do with the fact that the man he'd been battling had sliced into Jack's arm. Without any conscious thought, Jack turned and easy work of the unfortunate man. With steely eyes, Jack watched as the last of his beautiful Black Pearl sunk into the arms of the ocean. And then, he turned to watch Ana's lithe form drop to the wet, indifferent wood of the Zephyr's deck. The storm had arrived.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A/N – Oo, oo, oo, oo! What's gonna happen now?? Wait! (raises hand) I know, I know, I know… but I'm not gonna tell you until next post! I'm cruel that way, you know… :P I'm so close to finishing this sequence that I can almost taste it, as I'm sure you can as well… Fear not, a post should be on its way sometime soon! This one is short, I know… but it felt so long to write. So please, tell me what you liked and tell me what you didn't like (also, this was a very hasty post, so if there are mistakes that are glaringly obvious PLEASE let me know so I can fix 'em!). Till then, adieu!