i do not own potc

thank you very much for yoyr reveiws wyldcat and untouchanble. Sorry about the spelling i know its terrible!!! hope you enjoy this chapter!

Light was just beginning ease into the murky sky, it cast its cold morning rays into the cabin and onto the bed where Devon watched from. She rolled onto her side to watch Jack, he slept on unaware of her eyes resting on him. A small smile settled on her mouth, the sod didn't even look innocent in his sleep. She lent over to kiss his forehead, he mumbled under his breath and rolled over onto his back breathing out a long breath. Standing Devon pulled on her breaches and picked up her shirt gazing out of the window as she absentmindedly did up the buttons.

"Come back to bed luv," Jack mumbled from the bed and she looked over at him, his eyes were still closed but a mischievous smile played his lips. Devon played with the temptation of sliding back into the warm bed, finding his arms and letting him take her again but she felt it unfair.

"No, get up you ape, Mr Gibbs will be dead at the wheel if we don't get up there and let him get some sleep," Jack opened his eyes still smiling.

"It'll take more than lack of sleep to kill that old swine, he can wait another little while," his hand reached out and snagged her wrist, "Come on luv, don't say no." Devon looked down at him as he batted his heavy eyelashes at her, pleading eyes watching her as her shoulders sagged. She wanted to, and she knew he could charm her quite easily, she smiled and opened her mouth to say ok but the door behind her rattled loudly,

"Jack! Get your lazy ass up here man! First light you say!" she heard a snort, "First light's been and gone." Devon turned back to Jack feeling a little disappointed he still watched her, still smiling, still looking tempting. She sighed and shook her head,

"I'll go out, see that Gibbs gets off, you can go back to sleep." she turned and headed to the door despite Jacks groan of protest.

The night sky was slowly being pushed away, pink and orange pastel blushes powdered the sky, she breathed deep the salty air. She stood next to Mr Gibbs as he watched the sunrise.

"A sight to see lass," he murmured and Devon nodded her silent agreement.

"It's ok Mr Gibbs I'll take over, Jack's just coming," Mr Gibbs eyed her suspiciously,

"Is he now?" Devon despite herself felt a blush creep into her cheeks, she looked down at her feet and at her hands and over the water to avoid his stare.

"So which cabin did you emerge from then?" the smallest smile tickled his lips as he watched her, "Be Jack's I'm suspecting?"

"Go Mr Gibbs, get sleep," she said with a small laugh, "You must be tired." The older man raised his finger in triumph,

"Ahh! Not even going to deny it lass, I'm not a fool, And I can see through you like glass, I can." he grinned, "I'm guessing you had as much sleep as I had." he sauntered off whistling as he went leaving Devon at the helm, her cheeks stained and a small grin on her lips.

Jack heard Mr Gibbs whistling past his door shouting at the crew to change over, it made him smile. Mr Gibbs was tough as old boots, always had been, he'd known the old man for a long time, and never once see him weaken. He had sailed once under the Royal Navy flag answering to Norrington no less, but that life hadn't pleased him and he had quickly turned to piracy, it was a passion for Mr Gibbs as it was for Jack. Rubbing his tired eyes Jack rolled onto his side to stare at the empty side of the bed, Devon played his mind as she often did, but this time he could smile when he thought about her because he knew he had her. He felt himself stir and he groaned contemplating just going out onto the deck butt naked and ravishing her there and then, but in reality his crew wouldn't be best pleased and would probably spoil the moment with their jeers. Sighed he rubbed at his eyes again, he was tired, two nights and little more than a flicker of sleep, it was beginning to wear him. He settled back down, Devon was on deck he could grab another hour at least before she would come moaning for him to get up. He closed his eyes, mind wandering, his thoughts ended up on the Echo. It was a truly magnificent ship, Pale, palest ship he'd ever laid eyes on, she was fast too, he noticed that two years ago, not as fast as his Pearl though, he smiled to himself, the Echo could never out run his Pearl. With that thought his eyes snapped open. With only Devon on deck there was no telling where she was sailing his ship too. He cursed as he pulled himself out of the bed, unenthusiastically pulling on his clothes and trudging his way out onto the deck. She stood at the helm, facing the open ocean a compass cupped in her hand, she offered him no more than a smile as he stood beside her and practically snatched the compass from her hand. He peered at it feeling a touch of embarrassment when it showed that she was still on his course. Devon was staring at him with distaste.

"What crawled up your ass and died?" she commented on his dark face as he handed her the compass back.

"For a moment there I thought you did." his face cracked into a smile.

"I'm not stealing your bloody ship." she snapped rather icily replacing the compass into her pocket. Jack frowned at his mistake but refused to apologise, instead he moved to stand behind her letting his lips trail over her neck, she squirmed as he breathed on her ticklish ear.

"Why don't we go and get some grub, what say you for that luv?" She twisted round to eye him her mouth still set in a thin determined line.

"You don't trust me?" she asked, one perfectly shaped eyebrow rising on her brow, Jack absorbed her with his eyes and he smiled,

"As much as you trust me luv," she turned away, her slender hands curling round the ships wheel. He stood beside her watching as her eyes searched the ocean, he knew she searched in vain for her ship. He could see the longing in her eyes, she wanted her own freedom back, wanted her own wheel beneath her fingers and her own bearings on the compass that nestled in her pocket. He sighed beginning to feel guilt at denying her a chance at finding it again. Guilt. Jack wasn't familiar with that feeling, nothing in his life ever burdened him, even when he'd tricked Devon years ago, he didn't redeem any feeling for it after all her intentions had been on the same line, but now as her watched the sadness in her eyes it bothered him. He understood what it was like to lose a ship, understood how no matter how much you tried, another wheel or anchor would never match your own. The Echo rested in Devon's soul the same as the Pearl rested in his and neither souls would rest until they found their ships.

"Sierra Isle, Captain." Devon jarred his thoughts as she pointed out her mothers tiny island in the distance, Jack squinted against the sun at the protruding volcanic Isle.

"Give me that glass luv," he waggled his fingers at her until she passed him the spy glass, putting it to his eye and peering through it.

"It would seem we've found your Echo." he remarked handing her the glass and watching her quickly bring it to her own eye. Devon's face broke into an overjoyed smile.

"Yes, its my Echo!" she turned to Jack throwing her arms round his neck, "What are the bloody chances!"

The Pearl glided boldly towards the isle, Devon's eyes never leaving her ship in fear it my disappear before her eyes. It was deserted, not a soul on the deck, it didn't worry her, her men worked hard under her orders but given she wasn't there they would be lounging about enjoying their freedom for the moment.

"You coming luv?" Jack called as he lowered himself into the small rowboat, Devon whipped round and danced across the deck, grinning from ear to ear. Her heart felt as though it was going to burst if she didn't get over there soon. Seeing Gerry again, seeing her crew, how she had missed their good natured mocking of her being a female, how she'd missed Gerry's arms around her, his kisses against her skin and lips, how he held her every night after they made love. With that thought she cast Jack a guilty look. He was unaware of her thoughts as she settled herself into the row boat opposite him, his face set in its familiar half confused half determined look, she smiled thoughtfully, she was fond of him, she knew that much, sly, distempered, odd, everything Gerry wasn't. But her and Jack were too fierce for each other, She needed someone like Gerry, a rock, solid and gentle and Jack he needed that too, someone to stick by him. A strong woman who would stand by him on the Pearl, Devon wasn't that, she knew. She was too strong willed and to fiery to stand by anybody, she needed somebody to stand by her. She sighed as she reached the edge of the Echo,

"This is it then Jack," she smiled softly at him.

"Aye," he eyed the edge of the boat as she pulled at a rope to pull herself up.

"No doubt our paths will cross again," her voice was weak, she couldn't help it, she had never have thought it would be so difficult to say good bye to the fool.

"Aye, Off with you luv, go find your Gerry." he waited impatiently as she tried to suss out why had had used Gerry's name so darkly, she had never mentioned her relationship with him with Jack.

"I love him Jack." she said quietly lowering her eyes, feeling it impossible to look in Jack's without feeling guilt and sadness.

"Aye I know," he replied a small grin curving his mouth, her head snapped up and she narrowed her eyes on him, "Not hard to miss the look in your eyes when you mention his name." he grinned flailing hands as he imitated a flouncy loving stare. Devon snorted.

"Your impossible Jack." she heaved herself up onto the rope.

"Improbable." he called up to her as she climbed over the barrier.

Devon landed on the deck with a soft thud, hands feeling suddenly wet and sticky as she pushed herself up and looked at them. Red. Her mouth fell open and she stared about her ship's deck, the rancid smell of death choking in her throat. Her crew lay scattered on the deck, butchered, many missing limbs and heads. Blood ran thick under her feet and she gagged as the Echo caught on a large wave and rolled Tommy's head to the heel of her boot. He stared up at her from blank eyes, his mouth twisted in fear and pain, stings of skin and severed muscle hanging from his neck. Tears welled in Devon's eyes as she fought to take in the scene set before her, her cook, a bloody mess, slit from neck to genitals, entrails clasped in his hands as if he had meant to try and push them back in, Clifford, her watchman and good friend laying face first in a pool of blood, a dagger handle protruding from the back of his scull. She sobbed then, uncontrollable spasms shook her shoulders and she fell to her knees holding her bloodied hands to her mouth, everywhere she looked there was death. Gerry, where was he, her eyes raked the dead to try and find him. Toby, only a young lad, cut across the throat with no mercy. Dimly she could hear Jack calling up to her asking what was wrong, she couldn't answer. Her throat was choked with sorrow.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled reaching out to close Tommy's eyes as he glared at her, but she wavered, couldn't bear the though of touching the severed head. She heard a soft thud as Jack's feet landed on the deck behind her.

"Jesus Christ." he whispered, she felt his arms slide under her armpits and he hauled her to her feet, one hand reaching out and grabbing her cheek to push her eyes from the bloodied mess and into his shoulder.

"My fault." she sobbed burying her face further into his chest, she squeezed her eyes shut trying to clear the scene from her mind, but still she seen the bodies fused onto the back of her eyelids threatening never to leave. Jack still observed the brutal massacre and as she looked up to him his face darkened and he looked away unable to absorb the death any longer.

"Come on luv, we'll go back to the Pearl." he tried gently to turn her by the shoulders but she stayed rigid.

"I cant leave them Jack. I can't." another sob shook her body as she caught sight of her crew once more.

"You cant stay here luv, come on, move." he pushed her firmly this time and she jerked back.

"I need to find Gerry, I can't leave him here like this," she waved a hand over the deck, "I cant leave any of them like this."

Jack rubbed a hand over his face, never in his life had he seen such a brutal murder of a whole crew and he hated to admit it but he didn't think he could handle standing on the deck any longer. His heart broke for Devon as she stared at her crew, her friends and somewhere her love. He couldn't imagine the pain that she felt.

"Looking for someone?" the voice was unmistakable, And Jack and Devon's eyes both raised to meet Tarrogyn, bloodied and grinning and holding Gerry by the back of the neck. Devon rushed forward crying out his name, but Tarrogyn stopped her with a flick of his wrist.

"I would stay where you are my dear or your friend here with join the rest of your crew." he laughed. Jack studied him with solemn eyes.

"This isn't right," he said, "There is no way you could of got here this quick, no way you could have got here before us." his question aroused Tarrogyn to smile,

"Ahh, Jack, still tagging along with my daughter, well I had a little help." his grin widened, "A witch by the name of Shelika, you'll meet her soon enough, after all I still need to give her payment for her gift. Wings of the Wind she called it, no ship will sail faster than mine now," he laughed wagging a finger at Jack, "Not even yours Jack."