Jack jerked awake when the door to his little cell opened. It was Capt. Askew, alone. Much as he didn't want to admit it, even just to himself, Jack felt more than a little nervous. He remembered what it was like being stuck at the mercy of this man before, and it had become quickly clear back then that the former Naval Captain was rather lacking in the quality of mercy. Jack wasn't tied up this time but he didn't feel like he'd be much use in a fight right now.

He really hadn't been last time either. Askew had beaten him so badly that he was barely able to stand when he'd finally convinced the man to untie him so he could hand over the map. He'd been given that map two years before with the instructions to carry it close to his heart. He'd done just that, and was thankful he'd done so. Not only did it give him something with which to bargain, it also had taken up residence in the pocket sewn into his shirt. It had made for a wonderful excuse to need to be untied. Askew had been cocky, hadn't seen Jack as a threat at the time. After all, the man was surrounded by his crew and the ship was out in the ocean.

Noticing how Capt. Askew closed the heavy door behind himself, Jack knew the man was not going to make the same mistake twice. There was no ocean to escape to, at least not within a few feet like before. Even if he did happen to get past the Captain, Jack would still need to make it out of the building.

As he struggled to sit up, the throbbing in the back of his shoulder intensified and he could feel a small trickle of blood escape the newly reopened wound. He wondered if it was close enough to the scar that the new and old damage connected.

"Jack," Askew began as he circled around Sparrow. "I'd really like nothing better than to kill you right now. Yes, I think that would suit me just fine."

"Well why don't you get on with it then. I've a pressing engagement I need to attend to," Jack said. Surely there was some way the Captain could make money off Jack Sparrow, and just as surely, he wasn't foolish enough to waste that opportunity. He knew no matter how badly Askew wanted to kill him, the man would restrain himself, at least for now. Despite being a Pirate for as long as Jack, Capt. Askew still carried with him the intense discipline he'd learned in the Navy. Jack knew he was safe from being killed for the moment. Safe from being injured was, unfortunately, another matter.

"And what pressing engagement could you possibly have, Mr. Sparrow?"

"CAPTAIN, and, if you really must know, your darling mother and I are to..."

CRACK!

Jack found himself on the receiving end of a vicious blow to the cheek. Dragging himself back into a seated position, Jack noted that Askew did not take kindly to jokes about his mother.

"You know what I think Jack?" Askew asked as he resumed his pacing, his tone eerily flat.

"I'm just surprised that YOU do," Jack said quietly. He prepared himself for another hit that never came. He did, however, notice that Askew was aware he had been expecting it, had seen him tense up.

"I think you are in a hurry to return to the Isle de Muerta to stash more treasure."

Now that was a surprise to Jack. "Where have you been for the past year, mate?" he asked seriously.

"The Orient mostly," Askew answered honestly.

"Ah, well I suppose the stories have not yet met all shores then. The Isle de Muerta is now under the control of the British Navy. I should imagine by now they've confiscated everything."

"I don't believe you, Jack. And I think that the map to get there is still on the Pearl. Now I want you to tell me where she's gone."

"Like I told you before, I'm not her Captain so I don't know where she is, savvy?" Jack all but snapped. He was feeling worse and just wanted Askew to leave him be for a little longer.

Jack had been wrong about one thing – Askew didn't retain all the control he appeared to. Capt. Askew suddenly lunged for Jack and pinned him to the ground, knee digging painfully into his chest.

"I want that God damned map! Where is it!?!" he yelled in Jack's face. While the man had shown almost no emotion before, he was now totally flying off the handle, and nearly seething with rage.

Jack forced a grin on his face. "There is no map, there never was."

Askew backhanded Jack again and succeeded in driving him into unconsciousness. Sighing in irritation, he stood and gave Jack's limp body a final hard kick before pulling out his pistol, intent on doing away with Jack once and for all. If the map was aboard the Black Pearl then he would get it himself. And if not, if Jack was telling the truth and there really was no map, then he'd at least make sure he got whatever booty she had at the time before sinking her. Yes, he'd do away with the ship right after he did away with her sometimes Captain, he thought as he aimed his pistol at Jack's chest. .....................................................................................

Tbc...