A/N Thanks for all the reviews, sorry I haven't updated for a while. Here is the next chapter. Please review!! ^_^

Chapter Fourteen.

I screamed as I tumbled from the side of the ship, hurtling down towards the crashing waves below. As I fell through the water, the impact sent a pain through every part of my body, and I struggled to resurface, gasping for breathe.

My screams had been heard, something Barbossa hadn't banked on, and Jack and others came running to see what was happening. They peered over the side just as my head disappeared beneath the waves. I swam upwards and grabbed a mouthful of breath, but wasted it by shouting for Jack. I was really scared as the bobbing waves pulled me back under. I never had been much of a swimmer. . . but as a child I blatantly refused to let Roberto beat me in anything. I struggled once more to the surface, my eyes tightly shut, my stomach churning from fear and all the salty water I had swallowed.

He didn't hesitate for a second, he dived straight into the water, and splashed down beside me. He pulled me up to the surface and held me there so I wouldn't slip under again. My heart stopped thumping wildly, and I started to relax. He held me close, and as the crew threw down a rope we were swung back onto the grand ship.

"What . . . what happened?" He gasped, as we stood up on the deck, soaking wet.

I stared past him to a scowling Barbossa. "I. . .I slipped." I said, softly.

He looked at me through pierced eyes, almost disbelievingly. "Well, next time you can drown." He said, walking off.

"I didn't ask you to save me!" I shouted after him.

"Then why did you shout for me?" He called back.

I sighed. "Because I had no one else to call for." I shivered in my wet clothes, even though the sun was high in the clear sky, and it was a warm morning. It wasn't from cold I shivered. I was weak, I couldn't speak against Barbossa, like an abused child I could not go against my abuser. It was our little secret, and that way it would stay. Besides Jack was stressed enough as it was, and I dared not add to his troubles.

It was then I saw the telescope, Jack had left it beside the wheel, which a tall grubby man was now steering. If I could just get close enough. . .I inched my way towards it, still shivering, but determined. I had to know. My little fingers reached out and closed around the metal, I snatched it away, and the man didn't even notice. Maybe Jack was right, I was a good little thief.

I extended it, marvelling at it's beauty, no wonder Jack was so protective of it. However I could not help the bitter 'wonder where he nicked it from?' thought from entering my head. I would never be able to adjust myself to the ways of a pirate. If I stole something I was borrowing, and certainly on this ship I had to look after myself, as no one else would. I put it to my eye, and stared out across the sea. It took me a few moments to understand the workings, and after being almost blinded by the sun, I turned direction and looked across to the horizon. At first I couldn't see anything but the sea.

My heart sank, there was nothing out there for me. No one was coming to save me. I dropped the telescope to my eyes, and sadly shook my head. And then my sharp eyes caught a distant blur and I lifted the telescope instantly to my eyes, and focused on the shape. It was a ship, definitely a ship. And it bore a navy flag.

My first thought was that it was Roberto coming to save me. But after the first shcok of seeing the ship, I began to think rationally. It was probably just a navy crew returning from England, taking more officers to the Caribbean. Or a brave battle ship, returning after a deadly head on battle with the scum of the Earth. Either way, they weren't looking for me, and wouldn't be bothered with a ship over their horizon, which they could hardly see.

I looked up at the flagpole. Jack was no idiot. He was flying neutral colours. If there was any attacking to be done, he was the one who would do it. Flying a pirate flag would just be a target, a sure fire sign of saying 'I'm here!'.

"Oy!" A shout from behind me. "That's not yers!" The grubby man who had been steering snatched the telescope from my hands.

I smiled. "Sorry."

He scowled at me. "We are coming into port into days, I'll suggest to the cap'n tha' we leave yer there."

"In the middle of nowhere?"

"Aye!" He laughed. "Yer more trouble then ye worth, missy."

"It's Miss Harping to you, scum." I said, passionately. He just walked away laughing. So Jack was just going to abandon me, eh? Well, we'd see about that. I shook my head softly. It would be a shame to hang such a clever man, if he directed his talent in more legitimate quarters he could stop world hunger, free the black slaves that worked picking cotton, and tea. He could rule the sea, and protect the honest merchant sailors from any form of attack. If he just channelled his expertise in a more legal direction, he could work wonders. And such was my high opinion of his abilities, that I thought it would be a pity to see him hang. But I'd decided that at soon as we docked I'd turn him in. If he was going to abandon me, I'd leave him first.

And now as I'm sitting in my cell, I look back on the decisions I formed in those moments. Oh if only I knew then, what I know now. . .