Chapter 28
"Have I Gone Soft?"

I woke to the feeling that someone was watching me. Jack's comforting presence had seemed to vanish. I hadn't opened my eyes. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know who was hovering over me. My eyes shot open; my blood ran cold when I realized just who was standing over me. I stood, eyeing him sending a glare at him. Norrington stood before me, a grin on his face. My mind instantly trailed to where Jack was, and how the Commodore had gotten loose. My eyes trailed to a man who was trying to untie the rest, Norrington's accomplice. I quickly grabbed a dagger from my boot, throwing it with a precise aim. It wedged into the man's back, I watched his body fall to the floor with a thud. I directed my attention back to Norrington.

"How the 'ell did ye manage this one?" I questioned, my eyes beginning to glaze over at the thought of killing him right then and there.

"That's not any of your business." Norrington grinned.

I pulled my sword, noticing Jack passed out from drinking a little too much rum, lying on the cold stone floor. My eyes trailed back to Norrington. How easy it would be to just run him through and leave him in a cold puddle of his own blood. Norrington's sword came up, heading toward my mid section, I blocked it. Sending him flying off of the large perch back to the floor. He quickly gained his composure and stood. I jumped down, landing on my feet. The pains in my leg running over my face after I landed. My adrenaline began to run, sending any feeling of pain from my body.

"As I 'ave said all along, yer a foolish man." I commented, a mischievous twinkle coming to my eyes.

"Not at all."

I put my right hand on the hilt of my sword, pulling it from its sheath. I eyed Norrington, but how was I to kill him, the words lingered in my mind that we had to keep him for ransom money. But, I felt at that very moment my life was on the line. Norrington's blade came up, he tried to cut my arm but I blocked it, the power of our blades connecting shaking through my body. I took a step back as Norrington took a step forward with an evil grin playing on his lips. I shook off the shake that had run through my body slightly. My eyes glared at Norrington, they had glazed over at the thought of killing him. I tried to stab him through the opening he had left; he blocked it with a chuckle.

"You can't beat me." He reminded me

"Oh I know I can. Only takes a little effort." I grinned, slicing his arm from his left elbow to his wrist.

He growled as blood began to trickle out.

"You stupid bitch."

"Oh such language." I grinned

"At least you have confidence, its rare in pirates."

I eyed him once again, I growled, every pirate had confidence. We stood toe to toe, I would swing and he would block. He took a swing and I would block. I punched him square in the jaw in the perfect opening. He stepped back, a look of hate filling his eyes. A fire ran through my eyes as I kicked him in the stomach. However, I came too confident thinking I had him beat. He stood straight, kicking the sword from my hand. My breathing became faster as he backed me up to the wall. I felt the tall stonewall behind me with my hands. My eyes went wide, fear was shown for a few seconds, but then was replaced by hate.

"Wha are ye going to do, Commodore?" I questioned, I felt the sword jab into my neck, a small mouth of blood trickling down it. I was breathing quickly, trying to think of a way out of this. My mind silently cursing everyone for drinking too much and sleeping. My lip curled at the thought that I would die at his hand. I closed my eyes for a short moment and then opened them again. The Commodore stood firmly in front of me, an evil grin on his lips. A fire inside him that I had rarely seen in such high-ranking men.

"I'm going to tell you something, I know you care for Jack Sparrow, but know this, he doesn't care about anything but himself. He's probably just using you to get what he wants. After that, he'll leave you on some island." My eyes ran cold; he had no right to say anything like that to me. What went on between Jack and myself was nobody's business beside ours. "Its such a shame, to kill a beautiful woman as yourself. But, oh well."

I watched his hand come up, his blade coming closely to my neck. I heard a shot being fired; I stood confusion running over my futures. The Commodore's blood on my face and neck. I swallowed hard, the fear leaving my eyes as I watched his blade fall. The Commodore fell forward on me. I quickly pushed him backwards; he stumbled and fell to the ground with a dull thud. My breath had caught in my throat, my eyes searched for the one who shot and did him in. I found Jack, standing from the spot he had been sleeping. The pistol was still smoking as he dropped it to his side. "Nobody touches me luv."

My hand came up to feel the blood that had splattered on me. I closed my eyes and sunk to the floor. My knees to my chest, my hands covering my eyes as I rested it on my knees. I had finally begun to breathe again. I felt Jack's presence next to me. I lifted my head, opening my eyes. I looked at the fallen Commodore, his face was pale, his eyes still open as he laid in the pool of blood, two feet away from me. I looked over to Jack who was kneeling next to me. I tried to speak but couldn't. Jack grabbed my arm and pulled me up, I looked him in the eyes.

"Thank ye." I said softly

He nodded.

"Like I said, nobody touches ye. Well except me." he grinned

I chuckled, slightly and shook my head.

"Get rid of the body, I can't stand to look at him." I told Jack, he nodded and walked over to wake Lefty and Ana Maria.

He ordered them to take the body outside. They quickly nodded and did as they were told. I looked at Jack.

"Are ye sure its such a bright idea to send them out there?" I questioned, concern running over my face.

"Aye, they are not going to far. Juss far enough." He grinned I nodded, Jack had returned to his perch, with me next to him. I started at the puddle of blood that still remained even though the body was now gone.

"Captain's, Captains!!" Lefty shouted as he came running back in, soaked from the torrential rains that pounded the shore.

"What is it?" Jack Asked Jumping to his feet.

"It's Ana Maria...she's.. She's gone." He said, stopping dead in his tracks. I looked up at Jack from where I was sitting, stopping at his chest with a small grin as I met his eyes.

"What ye mean she's gone?" Jack questioned

"We took the body out a strong wind came, I couldn't see anything, and the next thing I knew.. She was gone."

I sighed, feeling a small ounce of guilt.. Oh sure I hated her with my whole being. But her to die out here like this? It was partly my fault for having fallen asleep, but the men. The men should have been watching the prisoners, why were they not?

"What are we going to do?" I asked Jack shrugged.

"We stay 'ere. She's resourceful, shell find 'er way back. We can't afford to lose anyone else."

I nodded. I leaned my back against the stonewall. My mind trailed back to what Norrington had said. "When he's done wit ye he'll leave ye on some island." I instantly looked at Jack, my eyes wide. Upon feeling my eyes on him, he quickly looked at me.

"What it is, luv?"

"Juss something, the Commodore had said."

"Which is?"

"Never mind, its nothing." I lied.

"Ye sure?" I nodded quickly.

"Aye, sure."

I looked away at the other prisoners. Norrington's words continued to flow through my mind. Was it true? When Jack was finished with me, he'd maroon me? Damn, I think I've gone soft. Such words wouldn't have fazed me. That was it; I had to get back to the old me. The stubborn me, the one who didn't care about what anyone said or did. This was final.