As much as I want to I still don't own potc. Thank you for you reviews guys, much appriecated.

Untouchable- yes but is it a trick? i've got a few more twists in this story for you to sweat over.

Funkified beans- I'm really enjoying your story too, i'm glad your liking this!

XXXX

Devon wallowed in her own self pity locked in a cell in the pit of the ship. The storm had finally broke, she could tell because the brig had slowly filled up to her ankles in slimy cold sea water. It sloshed back and forth as the ship rocked with the wind of the storm. She knew fine well it was her own fault that she was down here and she hated to admit it but she probably deserved it too. Her butt and feet were completely numb as she sat in the freezing water, but it was the sheer boredom that aggravated her the most, there was absolutely nothing to do, in in the flickering light of the single candle there wasn't much to look at either. If hypothermia didn't kill her she was quite sure the boredom would. She tried in vain to try and sleep but the water in the brig had picked up a stray empty bottle and was swaying it back and forward against the hull, the banging was driving her near insane. She was shivering violently now, the water soaking her breeches and splashed her shirt and face yet she refused to call out and beg for her release, not that anybody would have heard her, she could hear the wind screaming out side and the rain lashing against the ship as it battled to stay upright. Wrapping her arms around her legs she pressed her forehead onto her knees in an attempt to keep the little heat she still had left in her body. Perhaps it had been minutes or hours Devon couldn't tell but with light beginning to peek through the cracks in the hull she guessed it was morning. The storm however still raged outside, angrily slapping waves against the hull spilling more water into the brig, If Devon hadn't been so bloody cold and tired she would have probably been worried at the increasing depth of water, her eyes were stinging with salt and finally she felt sleep overpower her.

Groggy and frozen to the core Devon slipped in and out of a unsettled sleep, the storm hadn't eased and as the cracks in the hull darkened Devon accepted that she was probably going to have another night in the cell, she wondered if she would even still be living by the morning. She stood stiffly to try and encourage some circulation in her limbs, she couldn't feel them let alone walk on them and landed on her hands and knees after attempting one step. The ship rocked violently to one side and Devon slipped and rolled with it in the water, her face completely submerged for a moment. Coughing and spluttering she heaved herself back into the corner and resumed her original position. She accepted now that no one was coming down to feed her or even check on her, every inch of her was wet and finally Devon cried at her misery.

"Lass!" she heard a voice calling her and it took every inch of her strength to lift her head. Mr Gibbs looked through the bars horrified.

"I think there is a leak," she croaked feeling as if every cell in her body had been drained of life.

"You hold on there lass and I'll get the captain," off he scurried sloshing through the water to the steps. Devon was struggling to keep her eyes open as Jack finally appeared at the cell door, he was breathing hard and was as wet as she was. He lent against the bars and wiped the drips from his eyes.

"You still with us luv?" he panted lifting the keys from the hook on the opposite wall. Devon nodded and made an attempt to stand, it didn't amount to much, her limbs were too cold and stiff to actually do anything really. Jack pulled the cell door open and came in hauling her to her feet, he turned to Mr Gibbs.

"See that some one is down here, I want to know where the hell this water is coming from." Mr Gibbs hurried off as Jack scooped Devon up and staggered towards the steps. Dimly aware of what was going on she let her head flop against Jack's chest finally feeling as thought there was a possibility she might feel warmth again.

XXXX

Devon's eye's flickered open, she was warm. The feeling overjoyed her and she glanced about. She was in Jack's cabin in his bed heaped with blankets. It was still dark out side and she could still hear the rain pattering against the window.

"Feel better lass?" Mr Gibbs reached out of the shadows and put a hand on her burning forehead. "Didn't realise the brig was in such a state." he stood and offered her a jug of water. She smiled and accepted feeling her belly grumble. Jack burst in the door slamming it behind him, his face was dark with anger and his clothes drenched, pools of water gathered at his feet as he stood hand on hips glaring at the door.

"Finally," he muttered wiping his face and turning to Mr Gibbs. "That has to be the worst its ever been, would you not say mate," Mr Gibbs nodded and stepped towards him with a blanket.

"Aye sir, it's been a while since I've seen the water's this angry, something isn't pleasing her Capt'n" he threw Jack the blanket, "Settling is it?" Jack dried his face with the blanket and nodded.

"Aye wind's down at least." he turned to Devon as she propped herself up. "How you faring luv?" Nodding she offered him a smile.

"Still alive I guess," she pulled the blankets tighter round her naked body shivering at the cold draft that blew over her as Mr Gibbs left.

"Big storm," Jack went on taking his shirt off, "All anchors down and we were still getting blown off course, I had to just sail it, try and keep us going the right way." he sniffed and thought for a moment, "With any luck it's sunk Tarrogyn's ship or at least blown him way off our ass,"

"My father will ride the storm same as you," Devon admitted, "The Echo is heavy in the water she'll be easier to guide in strong winds," Jack grunted pulling a bottle of rum from a trunk by the window. He planted himself at the foot of the bed and drank hungrily. She studied his profile, he looked tired.

"Nothin' we can do for now," he said at last setting the bottle down and rubbing his face, "The crew are dead on their feet, we'll need to wait till morning before moving," Devon shifted uneasily at intruding in the captains bed, he needed rest she could see now his eye's drooping.

"I'll get on to my own cabin," she said pulling the blanket round her and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Jack shook his head.

"Stay at peace luv, I need your strength back for morning, lost three men and two already below deck with fever. I need you working on deck for me tomorrow." he glanced over her seeking her approval. Devon chewed on her lower lip and nodded at last, she didn't like the thought of working for him, it made her part of his crew and part of a team. Even if the intentions of killing the captain had been washed clean away while she's contemplated her life in the brig, the thought of getting her hands on the Pearl hadn't. Jack was looking over at her and she couldn't meet his eyes after thinking such a thought. Devon picked the dirt from her finger nails absentmindedly.

"How do you know so much of my father and the key?" she ventured stealing one quick glance at him, he was rubbing his eyes and squeezing water from his dreadlocks.

"All ways known him, he's like a rash, gets everywhere. It was a well spread story when he got himself a hold of that trinket. That's when I made my decision to go and get the map." he smiled at the thought fingers curling in there subconscious manor.

"You took the map just to spite him?"

"Aye that's about right luv," he flashed her one of his more dazzling smiles, "The sierra treasure is little more than a myth some say, but if it falls true then it's a vast treasure, more than any pirate could ask for," Devon raised her eyebrows, and absorbed the long silence. Feeling a draft on her shoulders she reached down and picket up another blanket from the floor Jack watching her all the while.

"Do you have any idea what that is on your back?" he asked reaching out and brushing his fingers across her shoulder blades, Devon jerked back feeling herself shiver at his touch. She thought little of the tattoo that had invaded her back for her whole life, it was nothing but gracefully scripted words over three long lines that stretched across her back and shoulders.

"It was from my mother, a gift," she said pulling the blanket across her shoulders feeling as though Jack's eyes burned her skin as he looked intently at it. "I don't remember much of what she said, I was very young, A gift in her Spanish tongue, I cant read it."

"You remember your mother?" Devon snapped her head up to look at the captain his dark eyes boring into her like coals from a burning fire.

"A little, what's my mother got to do with anything?" Jack looked away and stared down at his hands,

"The gift you speak of, do you know what it is?" Devon scowled.

"That is the gift, words of love," Jack eyes her sceptically.

"You've never had someone translate them?"

"No, I don't need to, my father told me that they meant only love and praise to be carried with me, my mother knew she was dying she wanted her love for me imprinted so it would never leave me," a feeling of uneasiness settled around Devon shoulders at Jack's interest at the tattoo.

"Turn round," he ordered, she looked up at him hastily, "I'll tell you what it says," Devon narrowed her eyes on him suspiciously, something about his voice bothered her,

"Come on luv I wont bite," he put a hand on her shoulder and turned her round lifting the blanket off her shoulders.

"You can read Spanish?" she asked feeling his fingers brush lightly across her back.

"Aye, fluent," his voice trailed off as he read the script in her back pulling back abruptly.

"What? What does it say?" Devon asked quickly twisting round to try and see the script herself, Jack breathed out looking almost annoyed.

"Jack what does it say?" she persisted tugging on his hand trying to get his attention, he turned and looked down at her as if remembering she was there.

"Aye like your father said," he muttered standing up and turning away, "All about love,"

Devon stared at him confused, not understanding the sudden change of his mood,

"Tell me what it says." she said he voice hardening as she watched him pull off his boots, he flung them to the side and met her gaze opening his mouth to say something and thinking better of it, he looked away refusing to meet her eyes.

"It just says that's she loves you, nonsense like that." he waved a hand in the air signalling his dismissal for the conversation, "Get some rest." his voice hard and tired. Devon sank back into the bed feeling completely bewildered by the whole episode. It was true that Jack's mood swung to and froe like a pendulum but something wasn't right. She watching him for a moment sitting at the table bent over a map his face set grimly, too tired to think anymore she let her eyelids drift closed.

XXXX

I wonder if the tattoo has anything to do with anything, Hope you folks like it please let me know, for every reveiw i get i'll give you one word of what it says on her back! luv you all xxx