Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one from PotC.

A/N: This is just a little one shot in response to a challenge from the Black Pearl Scrolls. This takes place just after the scene with the new crew in Tortuga, and before the big storm that they end up sailing through.

Scars:

"How exactly did you come by this ship, Captain," Anamaria asked conversationally. "HMS Interceptor just doesn't sound like a pirate ship, to me," she said, stressing the "HMS."

"Loosen the head'sils," Jack ordered the crew. "Quite simple, luv," he turned to momentarily address Ana. "Jus' informed the good men of the Royal Navy that young William and meself were in need of a ship. They were very 'elpful in getting this one all ready for us." Jack produced a wide, golden grin to accompany his light hearted tale.

Ana arched an eyebrow. "What happened to the boat you took from me?"

"Borrowed."

"Lost it, did you?" Ana teased.

Jack glared at her, as he grabbed hold of the wheel and set to steering the ship out of Tortuga's harbor. His silence betrayed him, he had definitely lost Ana's little boat.

"Why is the boy here?" Ana tried a different tact. This venture did not make any sense. She knew how long Jack had chased after Barbossa in hopes of getting his beloved Pearl back, but what part did the boy play and where had Jack found him?

"The whelp is lookin' for 'is one true love."

"Good fer him. What's he doing here?" Will was able enough with the sword, and he was proving to be a quick learner when it came to sailing a frigate. However, he was no pirate, and Ana could not figure for the life of her why Jack had agreed to bring the young lover to his lady fair.

"We 'ave an arrangement."

"An arrangement," Ana repeated, searching her captain's face for some hint of what he meant. "What's in it for you? From where I stand, all the boy is doing is sailing us straight to a cursed island and into battle with a monster. We stand to lose this ship, which happens to be mine, and our lives. What kind of a deal is that?"

Jack turned on Ana, something dark in his eyes. "He broke me out of prison, alright," he said in a harsh whisper.

"Prison?" Ana hissed. "You were in prison."

"Yes."

"How did they catch you?" Ana demanded, worry momentarily taking over her thoughts.

Jack sighed. Quite obviously he did not want to tell Ana what had happened, but he could see that she had no intention of leaving him alone until she got some answers. Tying a rope around the wheel, so that the ship would hold her course, Jack rolled up his right sleeve revealing the mark that told the world he was a criminal. "Navy saw this," he said, suddenly serious.

Ana took Jack's arm in her hands. The white scar stood out in stark contrast to his tanned skin. Tracing the letter with her finger, Ana was startled when Jack almost flinched at her touch. Her eyes met his. Jack had bore the mark of a condemned pirate on his arm for almost seven years. He hardly ever spoke of his time as a prisoner of the East India Trading Company. Ana was always a bit afraid to ask. She had seen the charred skin when the burn had been new. She had seen Jack's eyes. Ana was almost certain that her heart would break to know what was done to Jack to haunt his eyes like that.

Smiling sadly, he said, "still 'urts, I guess."

Ana leaned forward and kissed the scarred flesh. "Some wounds always will."

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