A/N: I'm sorry that I've been so bad about posting updates lately. I'm moving and trying to get everything straight so it has been hectic. Thank you Miss Anya for the reply and Cal, I hope your computer is back up and running very soon!

Chapter Eight

When Jack awoke the next morning his head was killing him. He looked across the table to see that Gibbs was still knocked out and he shook the man's shoulders roughly to awaken him. Gibbs looked up at Jack groggily.

"Do you feel as bad as I do?" Jack asked.

"Aye," Gibbs managed.

The two men left the tavern together. Stepping out into the sunshine, Jack felt as if the bright light was burning holes in his brain straight through his eyeballs. He had not had a hangover like this in a long time. Mr. Gibbs said he knew of a place where they could go and get some more rest and Jack agreed that was a very good idea. He followed him down an alley to a small shed, but when Gibbs opened the door and Jack saw that they would be sharing their sleeping area with pigs, he decided to attempt to cure his hangover the old-fashioned way.

Saying goodbye to Gibbs and agreeing to meet him at the tavern later that afternoon, Jack returned to the Briar Rose. He took a seat at the bar and ordered more rum. If he wasn't going to be able to sleep off the effects of the alcohol, he would have to play its own game.

After drinking several mugs of the pungent liquid, Jack was feeling much better. He decided to leave the tavern and wander through the small town. He spent the better part of his day at the docks. Jack couldn't stand to be away from the ocean for too long, even if he was on an island surrounded by the sea. He had to be right there on the water, breathing in the salty air, and feeling the ocean's spray on his skin. The Pearl was the only thing he loved more than the ocean. It was where he belonged, the only place he really felt at home.

So Jack wandered among the ships that were docked, speaking to sailors and captains alike. He noticed that the Duchess was gone, she must have left earlier this morning, Jack thought. He was glad that he and Gibbs had gotten a chance to speak to Captain Kendrick when they had. Things seemed to be working out pretty well for him lately, a much-deserved change he believed.

Jack left the docks and wandered to the outskirts of the town. He walked down to the water's edge and found a large rock that was close to the sea. Taking off his boots and coat, he left them lying on the rock and walked down to the ocean. The water was cold, but felt good splashing on his feet and up his legs. Jack stood there for a while, the waves lapping at his skin as he stared out at the beautiful blue water.

"Ahh," he sighed. "This is the life," Jack said to himself. He loved the feel of sand between his toes as he wiggled them. He laughed to himself, almost feeling like a child again.

Jack walked back up to the rock and sat down on it. Rolling his sleeves up, he leaned back on his elbows, stretching out his legs. The warm sun felt good to him as he soaked up its hot rays on his bare skin. As Jack stared out at the ocean he couldn't help but think of the Black Pearl. She was never far from his mind and whenever he was alone he found that she was usually the first thing he thought of, and more often than not, she was the only thing.

How he loved her. He couldn't wait until they were united again and he knew that one day they would be. No matter what anyone told him, even Mr. Gibbs, no matter how often they told him that it would be in his best interest to forget her and move on, he simply could not. He believed that one day they would be together again and it was with that day in mind that he was able to survive every other day. It was the thought of her that had carried him thus far and it would continue to carry him through any wild card that life could deal to him.

So it was with thoughts of the Pearl on his mind that Jack fell asleep on the rock. The hard surface left much to be desired as a comfortable sleeping place, but the warm sun beating down on him and the events of the previous day coupled with the amount of liquor he had consumed since last night, helped him drift into a sound sleep.

As he slept, he dreamed and his dreams were of the Pearl. He was captain again and everything in life was perfect. He had the best crew and the fastest ship and he was known as the most fearsome pirate in all of the Caribbean…the entire ocean actually. Jack couldn't have been happier, but all too soon he awoke and the reality of where he was hit him like a ton of bricks. He was overwhelmed by sadness remembering that she was not his again, but still belonged to another and he sat up shaking his head as he looked out at the ocean. He rubbed his eyes and pulled himself together.

Standing up, Jack stretched before pulling on his coat and boots. He looked up at the sun's position in the sky and noted that it was late in the afternoon. Remembering his agreement to meet Gibbs at the Briar Rose, Jack hurried back into town.