Author's note: Ok here it is as promised! My favourite chapter too! I told
you I would deliver! Oh and to CATZ, sorry but I don't know how to change
it! Tell me how to and I will. Till then have fun!
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Elizabeth screamed from the bathtub as Will burst through the door. She had been working on Augustine's computer, listening to her headphones in her favourite puppy pyjamas when he had suddenly burst in screaming at her. Almost as fast as she had screamed, he had turned and bolted from the room, apologizing profusely as he went. Quickly she put aside the computer and struggled to get out of the tub, chasing after him.
"Will wait!" She said as he stopped and froze. "What's going on?!" Elizabeth could barely understand the string of babbling that followed.
"IhadabaddreamandIthoughtyouwereintroublebutyouweren'tbutyoucouldn'thearmean dIburstthroughthedoorandyouwereinthebathandI'msorry!!!!!!"
"What?" Elizabeth said incredulously. "Slow down!"
"I had a bad dream and I thought you were in trouble. But you weren't, but you couldn't hear me and I burst through the door and you were in the bath and I'm sorry!" He hung his head in shame as he finished, but then looked up again. "Why were you sitting in a bathtub?"
Elizabeth burst out laughing, and Will, clearly thinking that it was inappropriate, just stood and looked at her.
"Why is it Miss Elizabeth, that you always think to laugh at the most inappropriate times? I thought you were in dire peril. You can at least explain to me why instead of finding you fighting for your life in a bedroom, I found you perfectly safe in a bathtub."
Elizabeth fought the desire to laugh at Will's use of the words "dire" and "peril" in the same sentence seriously, and straightened her face.
"It's me who should be sorry, I lied to you before." Elizabeth said, as it was her turn to hang her head in shame. "I don't have a guest bed, that was my bed. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable by staying in the same room as you, what with that whole gentleman thing, so I just figured I'd sleep in the bath for a night until I could convince you to go to headquarters and be looked after there. I'm sorry I should have been upfront about my lodging capacities sooner." Elizabeth couldn't believe she had just said that dorky truth, but there it was none the less.
"You should have told me, I'd prefer sleeping in the bathtub for my entire life than being held from the truth," Will said as he remembered the deception His Elizabeth had put him through.
"No you wouldn't, I didn't get any sleep last night because of that plastic monstrosity," and then seeing the gentlemanly defeat in Will's eyes. "Oh but that's ok because I worked on tearing apart Augustine's computer all night so that we could get you home. That's probably what woke you up, my typing on the computer, sorry about that," Elizabeth said with a sheepish grin as she re-entered the bathroom. "Come on I'll show you what I disturbed your sleep for."
"It was no problem Miss Elizabeth, I just wish you'd let me treat you more appropriately," Will said as he cautiously followed her into the bathroom.
Elizabeth suddenly stopped and turned to face him. "Appropriately? Man don't you realize that the last thing a girl wants is for a guy to treat her appropriately?" she said in a joking manner.
Will's expression changed from one of shame to shock. "Excuse me but you have no right to tell me how to handle a woman! My ways are not your ways, and."
Both parties suddenly realized they had broached a sensitive subject, but it was Elizabeth who was the first to slow things down. "Whoa!" she yelled out to stop him. "um, yeah your right I was way out of line I should probably take things more seriously, I guess I still can't believe that you're actually here, in my bathroom."
"I can't believe that I'm here either, but that doesn't change the fact that for the time being we are roommates as it were, so we should try and treat each other with respect and courtesy."
Elizabeth was moved by his speech, not to mention the fact that he was standing about a foot from her looking hotter than the noonday sun. Then the realization that she was still in her pyjamas, they were still in her bathroom, and that they actually had a purpose in standing there re-dawned on her.
"I agree. So, onto the computer and getting you back to your One and Only." She said wishing he didn't think she was a total freak.
Will couldn't understand this Elizabeth, one minute she was loud and sarcastic, and the next she was quite, reserved and tense. She was unpredictable and he liked that in her, but she was puzzling. The only thing more puzzling than her was the strange machine she called a computer. As he walked over to the bathtub and watched Elizabeth climb in and grab it, he made a mental note to ask whether or not she had learned some of her odd behaviour from the machine she was always dragging along.
Elizabeth's now calm voice spoke to him again so he shoved his thoughts aside for later.
"It'll probably be more comfortable if we set up in the living room, could you just wait here while I change into some normal clothes?"
Comfort was defiantly something he wanted Elizabeth to have, Will figured that if Elizabeth was comfortable it would decrease her tension and thereby the chances of her trying to joke with him again. "Umm certainly, I would never think of,"
"I figured you wouldn't." Elizabeth interrupted as she swiftly turned and walked out of the door.
Left alone, Will looked back at where Elizabeth had tried to sleep, shamed by her refusal of his gentlemanly nature. He decided that the true gentleman would do only what made his host feel comfortable and so scooped up the bedding and hauled it in with him as she called him back.
"What's all that for? Are you cold or something? I could turn up the heat." There she went again trying to make him comfortable! Why couldn't he be allowed to show her that he appreciated her?
"No I just thought that in the event of us spending another night together you would kindly allow me to sleep by the foot of your bed, instead of in the bathtub."
Something in his sentence broke the tension and for once he was finally grateful when she chuckled.
"It would do me great pleasure good sir," she said with a smile. "Now back to the computer," she said motioning him to sit down on the couch next to her.
"Now back to the computer," Elizabeth still couldn't believe what was happening. Will Turner was sitting next to her, conversing like a normal person. He was even interested in her computer babble! Granted he didn't have a clue what was going on, but he was really nice about making sure that Elizabeth felt comfortable. The only problem was, the closer he got, the more uncomfortable she became. Stuff like that tends to happen when you're sitting next to the most incredibly hot guy you've ever met, and he doesn't even know that you think he's good-looking.
"Now what's this here?" Will asked, bringing her attention back to the screen momentarily.
Elizabeth was currently hacking Augustine's computer system, trying to find out whether it was his genius, or someone else's who had brought this miracle to pass; the screen right now was just a bunch of binary code.
"Umm, this is a breakdown of Augustine's hard drive." Elizabeth said in the most basic words she could think of, she was actually routing through his whole system, but hard drive was the simplest she could think of.
"So this man has trapped his ambition on this machine. It's no wonder you find it so dangerous," Will looked at the screen in earnest concern.
Elizabeth on the other hand, fought the desire to chuckle heartily with every fibre of her being, knowing that she would only be making fun of Will. However, she failed when a tiny smirk and a small snort escaped her lips. Will heard and was instantly embarrassed.
"I do not know why I bother to say anything at all, seeing as how everything I do is worthy of mockery from you. Do keep in mind Miss Elizabeth that your strange words have very little meaning to me, I mean how would you like it if you were trapped in my time, and everything I said was complete babble to you?" Elizabeth could see a tiny fire of indignation in his eyes, and, while her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his passion, she knew, once again that she had let her lack of tact offend someone.
"I'm sorry, sometimes I can be a complete loser. I mean I just don't know when to keep my mouth shut. Please accept my apology and allow me to explain so that we can shine light on further misconceptions." Elizabeth said as grandly as she could muster.
"I accept," agreed Will.
"Ok," Elizabeth continued. "Umm, hard drive, it's kind of like." Elizabeth tried for a minute to think of an analogy that Will could understand. She thought of what was relevant to him and struck gold, in a manner of speaking, when she thought of a scene from the movie.
"It's like a cache!" she cried triumphantly.
"Like a Pirates cache?" Will asked tentatively.
"Exactly like a pirates cache," Elizabeth smiled back, doubling the size when she saw the comprehension in Will's eyes. "A person, or, sticking to the analogy, a pirate, stores everything they've collected in the cache, and categorizes it into files, you follow?"
"I think so, what's a file?" Will asked again, becoming more comfortable now that Elizabeth was settling down.
"A file is like. a treasure chest, it holds all the important stuff inside. And each treasure chest can be found by following a binary code, or a map. You understanding this?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think so." Will replied leaning closer to the screen (Elizabeth's heart raced just a little faster seeing as the computer was sitting on her lap.) "So you're following the map in hopes that you can find more out about this camera maker device?"
"Yes, I'm also hoping to trace his pathways in order to find out who else is behind this, Augustine didn't strike me as the computer going type and if he's paying someone to do this I want to know who it is." Elizabeth focused her attention back onto the screen, answering Will's questions as she typed.
"So how do you plan to trace the person behind this?" Will asked curiously as he leaned a bit closer. Now his and her faces were mere centimetres apart.
"Well each computer, or user has a certain code which they like to follow. Like a sailor has a favourite route to a destination."
"So," Will said catching on. "We find out this persons route and we find out how to find this person." He looked at Elizabeth with a smile, as if seeking approval for catching on so quickly.
"And, with any luck we find you a way back home." Elizabeth said putting on a feigned smile. She regretted her statement the moment she said it, as Will did a sort of double take and straightened up immediately.
"Exactly," he said with a voice that was torn between excitement and grief.
"I mean that's why were here," Elizabeth said half-heartedly, she didn't like the idea of Will leaving, especially now that she had found out that his hot gentleman outside reflected an even hotter, kinder, passionate gentleman inside. "I mean if it wasn't for you I'd just be turning this into R&D and some nerdy loser would get all the credit. You're giving me a great opportunity to prove myself."
"Well I'm glad for that." Will said smiling limply.
"Anyway, this shouldn't take much longer," Elizabeth said, changing the subject and focusing back on the monitor screen.
"What are you doing now?" Will asked regaining his curiosity.
"Well, as luck would have it, Augustine, or whoever created this program used a standard program builder." Elizabeth looked up momentarily to see the blank look on Will's face and quickly continued. "This is kind of like investing your treasure, you start with a little, and then you manipulate it and it becomes larger."
"This is fascinating, but how will it help us find him?" Will asked.
"Well see it's a pretty standard program, commercially made, so most people need to register they're computer. And so if we track the registration we can see who owns the computer, and hopefully my hunch is correct and Augustine hired out."
Elizabeth was fully concentrating on the computer now, completely in her element. Will was impressed by her knowledge of this complex machine and wondered at how skilfully she was able to manipulate it. He looked at her again bent over the small screen with such determination in her eyes, and noticed that despite seeming plain she looked quite lovely now that he took time to notice it. He thought that she even looked a bit like. He stopped himself before he could think any further; the memories of His Elizabeth's betrayal to painful for him. He turned his thoughts back to This Elizabeth with whom he had no doubt that she would do the best she could and that it would be sufficient.
Before long Elizabeth discovered the registration number. Will was surprised however, when, instead of a look of triumph, she wore a look of shock on her face.
"What's the matter?" he asked gently.
"I don't know maybe I'm just tired," Elizabeth said her eyes not moving from the screen and a slight edge of tension creeping into her voice. "Would you do me a favour and read out the last four digit code in that registration number?" Will sensed something was amiss but did what he was told none the less.
"Umm, it's oh-four-oh-seven." The tension in Elizabeth's face rose, so Will hurried to continue. "Why, what's going on?" Will asked his question and felt the tension in the room rise immediately and drastically.
Suddenly Elizabeth bolted up from the couch and ran for the kitchen, leaving Will standing there bewildered.
"What is going on Elizabeth?" Will said as a slight tone of tension crept its way into his own voice.
If Elizabeth heard him, she made no sign of it. He watched as she rifled through a few drawers and then rushed back to the computer, wielding a small screwdriver. Will feared that she was going to attack the computer but was surprised when she merely shut it's lid and turned it over on it's back. Now she took the screwdriver and shoved it into a bolt on what looked like a cover plate spinning the device madly so that she could get inside. When she finally was finished she tossed the screwdriver aside and flipped over the cover plate looking frantically for something that Will could only guess at. However, it quickly appeared that she had found it as she almost dropped the computer and then sat there staring blankly at a wall. Will didn't know what was going on, but arrived at the conclusion that something about this registration number had upset her, so, not wanting to see her sad he moved to comfort her.
"Don't worry it will all be right Elizabeth, we'll figure this out," he said as he sat next to her and took her hand lovingly.
It seemed that Elizabeth had other plans. She jerked her hand away so quickly, Will feared he had hurt her.
"Elizabeth what is the matter, did I hurt you?" Elizabeth looked at him as though she had just re-discovered he was there.
Suddenly, she burst up again, crossing to all the windows, shutting and locking them. She ran to the door, opened it swiftly and then shut it with a slam, and then locked it tightly. Will was extremely frightened at the way she moved, almost like a frightened bird in a cage, Then she started mumbling to herself and Will realised that if he did not take drastic action he might lose her to insanity.
"I knew I shouldn't have done this. Why don't they understand that I can't handle direct confrontation," Elizabeth mumbled as Will saw her begin to frantically search through all of the cupboards.
"Elizabeth." Will said trying to regain her attention, fearing now more than he had since His Elizabeth's capture by Barbossa.
It didn't work and as she straightened up and moved to look under the bed, he could hear her mumbling more.
"How am I going to protect Will? How am I going to protect myself?"
Will became increasingly alarmed and moved to intercept Elizabeth before she could make it to the bathroom, hoping that he could snap her out of her state so that she could tell him how to help her. Mustering all the courage that he had, he again tore down the rules of gentlemanly nature and moved to take action.
Elizabeth was panicking at what she had uncovered. How could she have been so stupid to fall for something so simple? She wished she had just turned over the computer like a good girl, but no she had to play house host. Now she didn't know what she was going to do and it was freaking her out. So she had decided to secure her apartment, not realizing that she was completely freaking out her houseguest. So much so that she was entirely shocked when out of the blue (or so she thought) he spun her around, grabbed her, and held her face centimetres from his own.
"Elizabeth! Look at me. What is going on?" he said as he forced her to look into his beautiful, puppy brown eyes.
Elizabeth was surprised at the calming effect it had on her and was able to regain composure long enough to tell him.
"The computer's CIA," she told him softly, as the edge started backing off from her voice.
"What?" was all the response a bewildered Will could muster.
"The last four digits are like an identification tag," Elizabeth explained, delighted that Will was still holding her face. "All members of the CIA use oh-four-oh-seven as the last four digits in any registration number because it acts as an encryption code."
Elizabeth couldn't bear to look Will in the eyes any longer, but his firm hands wouldn't let her escape.
"I didn't know for sure at first but the label on the back of the hard drive face plate confirms it. This was an inside job, we were betrayed." Elizabeth didn't know what to do so she just stood there.
"What does this mean for us," Will asked not letting Elizabeth slip from his gaze. Both of them were finding strength in each other that they did not see before.
"It means that, as of now, you're a secret. They can't know you exist or know that I know you exist. I can't let them have this computer because they won't give it back and then we'll have no way of getting you home." Elizabeth hoped that Will could sense the apology she was sending him.
"Is that all?" he asked calmly.
"No. It also means that if they find out about you, about us, they'll stop at nothing to get you back, and we will both be in great danger. We may even wind up."
But Will didn't let her finish, silencing her with a single finger across her lips. Elizabeth's heart was racing as twice as fast as it was the minute before, only Will's soft voice could calm her.
"Know now, that for the kindness you have shown me, and that which you continue to show me, I will let no harm come to you." Will pulled his finger away from Elizabeth's lips and both stood there, feeling the tension rise.
"Thank you," was all that Elizabeth could muster. She was completely shocked, they were like millimetres apart and it seemed as if each moment that passed brought them infinitely closer.
Elizabeth almost panicked right then, wondering whether it would be inappropriate to fling her arms around Will and never let him go. Slowly, slowly both bodies moved together until both their desires were interrupted as a loud knocking sounded at the door, sending both dreamers out of their skins. They whirled to face the door as another loud knock sounded.
"Hey Will, hope you weren't kidding with that last comment." Elizabeth said as another knock shattered the air.
"I hardly ever kid, Miss Elizabeth," came Will's reply as he unsheathed his sword.
Together they stood; ready to brave whatever threat lie before them. Both of them wishing that the disturbance would have waited just a fraction of a second longer.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Elizabeth screamed from the bathtub as Will burst through the door. She had been working on Augustine's computer, listening to her headphones in her favourite puppy pyjamas when he had suddenly burst in screaming at her. Almost as fast as she had screamed, he had turned and bolted from the room, apologizing profusely as he went. Quickly she put aside the computer and struggled to get out of the tub, chasing after him.
"Will wait!" She said as he stopped and froze. "What's going on?!" Elizabeth could barely understand the string of babbling that followed.
"IhadabaddreamandIthoughtyouwereintroublebutyouweren'tbutyoucouldn'thearmean dIburstthroughthedoorandyouwereinthebathandI'msorry!!!!!!"
"What?" Elizabeth said incredulously. "Slow down!"
"I had a bad dream and I thought you were in trouble. But you weren't, but you couldn't hear me and I burst through the door and you were in the bath and I'm sorry!" He hung his head in shame as he finished, but then looked up again. "Why were you sitting in a bathtub?"
Elizabeth burst out laughing, and Will, clearly thinking that it was inappropriate, just stood and looked at her.
"Why is it Miss Elizabeth, that you always think to laugh at the most inappropriate times? I thought you were in dire peril. You can at least explain to me why instead of finding you fighting for your life in a bedroom, I found you perfectly safe in a bathtub."
Elizabeth fought the desire to laugh at Will's use of the words "dire" and "peril" in the same sentence seriously, and straightened her face.
"It's me who should be sorry, I lied to you before." Elizabeth said, as it was her turn to hang her head in shame. "I don't have a guest bed, that was my bed. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable by staying in the same room as you, what with that whole gentleman thing, so I just figured I'd sleep in the bath for a night until I could convince you to go to headquarters and be looked after there. I'm sorry I should have been upfront about my lodging capacities sooner." Elizabeth couldn't believe she had just said that dorky truth, but there it was none the less.
"You should have told me, I'd prefer sleeping in the bathtub for my entire life than being held from the truth," Will said as he remembered the deception His Elizabeth had put him through.
"No you wouldn't, I didn't get any sleep last night because of that plastic monstrosity," and then seeing the gentlemanly defeat in Will's eyes. "Oh but that's ok because I worked on tearing apart Augustine's computer all night so that we could get you home. That's probably what woke you up, my typing on the computer, sorry about that," Elizabeth said with a sheepish grin as she re-entered the bathroom. "Come on I'll show you what I disturbed your sleep for."
"It was no problem Miss Elizabeth, I just wish you'd let me treat you more appropriately," Will said as he cautiously followed her into the bathroom.
Elizabeth suddenly stopped and turned to face him. "Appropriately? Man don't you realize that the last thing a girl wants is for a guy to treat her appropriately?" she said in a joking manner.
Will's expression changed from one of shame to shock. "Excuse me but you have no right to tell me how to handle a woman! My ways are not your ways, and."
Both parties suddenly realized they had broached a sensitive subject, but it was Elizabeth who was the first to slow things down. "Whoa!" she yelled out to stop him. "um, yeah your right I was way out of line I should probably take things more seriously, I guess I still can't believe that you're actually here, in my bathroom."
"I can't believe that I'm here either, but that doesn't change the fact that for the time being we are roommates as it were, so we should try and treat each other with respect and courtesy."
Elizabeth was moved by his speech, not to mention the fact that he was standing about a foot from her looking hotter than the noonday sun. Then the realization that she was still in her pyjamas, they were still in her bathroom, and that they actually had a purpose in standing there re-dawned on her.
"I agree. So, onto the computer and getting you back to your One and Only." She said wishing he didn't think she was a total freak.
Will couldn't understand this Elizabeth, one minute she was loud and sarcastic, and the next she was quite, reserved and tense. She was unpredictable and he liked that in her, but she was puzzling. The only thing more puzzling than her was the strange machine she called a computer. As he walked over to the bathtub and watched Elizabeth climb in and grab it, he made a mental note to ask whether or not she had learned some of her odd behaviour from the machine she was always dragging along.
Elizabeth's now calm voice spoke to him again so he shoved his thoughts aside for later.
"It'll probably be more comfortable if we set up in the living room, could you just wait here while I change into some normal clothes?"
Comfort was defiantly something he wanted Elizabeth to have, Will figured that if Elizabeth was comfortable it would decrease her tension and thereby the chances of her trying to joke with him again. "Umm certainly, I would never think of,"
"I figured you wouldn't." Elizabeth interrupted as she swiftly turned and walked out of the door.
Left alone, Will looked back at where Elizabeth had tried to sleep, shamed by her refusal of his gentlemanly nature. He decided that the true gentleman would do only what made his host feel comfortable and so scooped up the bedding and hauled it in with him as she called him back.
"What's all that for? Are you cold or something? I could turn up the heat." There she went again trying to make him comfortable! Why couldn't he be allowed to show her that he appreciated her?
"No I just thought that in the event of us spending another night together you would kindly allow me to sleep by the foot of your bed, instead of in the bathtub."
Something in his sentence broke the tension and for once he was finally grateful when she chuckled.
"It would do me great pleasure good sir," she said with a smile. "Now back to the computer," she said motioning him to sit down on the couch next to her.
"Now back to the computer," Elizabeth still couldn't believe what was happening. Will Turner was sitting next to her, conversing like a normal person. He was even interested in her computer babble! Granted he didn't have a clue what was going on, but he was really nice about making sure that Elizabeth felt comfortable. The only problem was, the closer he got, the more uncomfortable she became. Stuff like that tends to happen when you're sitting next to the most incredibly hot guy you've ever met, and he doesn't even know that you think he's good-looking.
"Now what's this here?" Will asked, bringing her attention back to the screen momentarily.
Elizabeth was currently hacking Augustine's computer system, trying to find out whether it was his genius, or someone else's who had brought this miracle to pass; the screen right now was just a bunch of binary code.
"Umm, this is a breakdown of Augustine's hard drive." Elizabeth said in the most basic words she could think of, she was actually routing through his whole system, but hard drive was the simplest she could think of.
"So this man has trapped his ambition on this machine. It's no wonder you find it so dangerous," Will looked at the screen in earnest concern.
Elizabeth on the other hand, fought the desire to chuckle heartily with every fibre of her being, knowing that she would only be making fun of Will. However, she failed when a tiny smirk and a small snort escaped her lips. Will heard and was instantly embarrassed.
"I do not know why I bother to say anything at all, seeing as how everything I do is worthy of mockery from you. Do keep in mind Miss Elizabeth that your strange words have very little meaning to me, I mean how would you like it if you were trapped in my time, and everything I said was complete babble to you?" Elizabeth could see a tiny fire of indignation in his eyes, and, while her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his passion, she knew, once again that she had let her lack of tact offend someone.
"I'm sorry, sometimes I can be a complete loser. I mean I just don't know when to keep my mouth shut. Please accept my apology and allow me to explain so that we can shine light on further misconceptions." Elizabeth said as grandly as she could muster.
"I accept," agreed Will.
"Ok," Elizabeth continued. "Umm, hard drive, it's kind of like." Elizabeth tried for a minute to think of an analogy that Will could understand. She thought of what was relevant to him and struck gold, in a manner of speaking, when she thought of a scene from the movie.
"It's like a cache!" she cried triumphantly.
"Like a Pirates cache?" Will asked tentatively.
"Exactly like a pirates cache," Elizabeth smiled back, doubling the size when she saw the comprehension in Will's eyes. "A person, or, sticking to the analogy, a pirate, stores everything they've collected in the cache, and categorizes it into files, you follow?"
"I think so, what's a file?" Will asked again, becoming more comfortable now that Elizabeth was settling down.
"A file is like. a treasure chest, it holds all the important stuff inside. And each treasure chest can be found by following a binary code, or a map. You understanding this?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think so." Will replied leaning closer to the screen (Elizabeth's heart raced just a little faster seeing as the computer was sitting on her lap.) "So you're following the map in hopes that you can find more out about this camera maker device?"
"Yes, I'm also hoping to trace his pathways in order to find out who else is behind this, Augustine didn't strike me as the computer going type and if he's paying someone to do this I want to know who it is." Elizabeth focused her attention back onto the screen, answering Will's questions as she typed.
"So how do you plan to trace the person behind this?" Will asked curiously as he leaned a bit closer. Now his and her faces were mere centimetres apart.
"Well each computer, or user has a certain code which they like to follow. Like a sailor has a favourite route to a destination."
"So," Will said catching on. "We find out this persons route and we find out how to find this person." He looked at Elizabeth with a smile, as if seeking approval for catching on so quickly.
"And, with any luck we find you a way back home." Elizabeth said putting on a feigned smile. She regretted her statement the moment she said it, as Will did a sort of double take and straightened up immediately.
"Exactly," he said with a voice that was torn between excitement and grief.
"I mean that's why were here," Elizabeth said half-heartedly, she didn't like the idea of Will leaving, especially now that she had found out that his hot gentleman outside reflected an even hotter, kinder, passionate gentleman inside. "I mean if it wasn't for you I'd just be turning this into R&D and some nerdy loser would get all the credit. You're giving me a great opportunity to prove myself."
"Well I'm glad for that." Will said smiling limply.
"Anyway, this shouldn't take much longer," Elizabeth said, changing the subject and focusing back on the monitor screen.
"What are you doing now?" Will asked regaining his curiosity.
"Well, as luck would have it, Augustine, or whoever created this program used a standard program builder." Elizabeth looked up momentarily to see the blank look on Will's face and quickly continued. "This is kind of like investing your treasure, you start with a little, and then you manipulate it and it becomes larger."
"This is fascinating, but how will it help us find him?" Will asked.
"Well see it's a pretty standard program, commercially made, so most people need to register they're computer. And so if we track the registration we can see who owns the computer, and hopefully my hunch is correct and Augustine hired out."
Elizabeth was fully concentrating on the computer now, completely in her element. Will was impressed by her knowledge of this complex machine and wondered at how skilfully she was able to manipulate it. He looked at her again bent over the small screen with such determination in her eyes, and noticed that despite seeming plain she looked quite lovely now that he took time to notice it. He thought that she even looked a bit like. He stopped himself before he could think any further; the memories of His Elizabeth's betrayal to painful for him. He turned his thoughts back to This Elizabeth with whom he had no doubt that she would do the best she could and that it would be sufficient.
Before long Elizabeth discovered the registration number. Will was surprised however, when, instead of a look of triumph, she wore a look of shock on her face.
"What's the matter?" he asked gently.
"I don't know maybe I'm just tired," Elizabeth said her eyes not moving from the screen and a slight edge of tension creeping into her voice. "Would you do me a favour and read out the last four digit code in that registration number?" Will sensed something was amiss but did what he was told none the less.
"Umm, it's oh-four-oh-seven." The tension in Elizabeth's face rose, so Will hurried to continue. "Why, what's going on?" Will asked his question and felt the tension in the room rise immediately and drastically.
Suddenly Elizabeth bolted up from the couch and ran for the kitchen, leaving Will standing there bewildered.
"What is going on Elizabeth?" Will said as a slight tone of tension crept its way into his own voice.
If Elizabeth heard him, she made no sign of it. He watched as she rifled through a few drawers and then rushed back to the computer, wielding a small screwdriver. Will feared that she was going to attack the computer but was surprised when she merely shut it's lid and turned it over on it's back. Now she took the screwdriver and shoved it into a bolt on what looked like a cover plate spinning the device madly so that she could get inside. When she finally was finished she tossed the screwdriver aside and flipped over the cover plate looking frantically for something that Will could only guess at. However, it quickly appeared that she had found it as she almost dropped the computer and then sat there staring blankly at a wall. Will didn't know what was going on, but arrived at the conclusion that something about this registration number had upset her, so, not wanting to see her sad he moved to comfort her.
"Don't worry it will all be right Elizabeth, we'll figure this out," he said as he sat next to her and took her hand lovingly.
It seemed that Elizabeth had other plans. She jerked her hand away so quickly, Will feared he had hurt her.
"Elizabeth what is the matter, did I hurt you?" Elizabeth looked at him as though she had just re-discovered he was there.
Suddenly, she burst up again, crossing to all the windows, shutting and locking them. She ran to the door, opened it swiftly and then shut it with a slam, and then locked it tightly. Will was extremely frightened at the way she moved, almost like a frightened bird in a cage, Then she started mumbling to herself and Will realised that if he did not take drastic action he might lose her to insanity.
"I knew I shouldn't have done this. Why don't they understand that I can't handle direct confrontation," Elizabeth mumbled as Will saw her begin to frantically search through all of the cupboards.
"Elizabeth." Will said trying to regain her attention, fearing now more than he had since His Elizabeth's capture by Barbossa.
It didn't work and as she straightened up and moved to look under the bed, he could hear her mumbling more.
"How am I going to protect Will? How am I going to protect myself?"
Will became increasingly alarmed and moved to intercept Elizabeth before she could make it to the bathroom, hoping that he could snap her out of her state so that she could tell him how to help her. Mustering all the courage that he had, he again tore down the rules of gentlemanly nature and moved to take action.
Elizabeth was panicking at what she had uncovered. How could she have been so stupid to fall for something so simple? She wished she had just turned over the computer like a good girl, but no she had to play house host. Now she didn't know what she was going to do and it was freaking her out. So she had decided to secure her apartment, not realizing that she was completely freaking out her houseguest. So much so that she was entirely shocked when out of the blue (or so she thought) he spun her around, grabbed her, and held her face centimetres from his own.
"Elizabeth! Look at me. What is going on?" he said as he forced her to look into his beautiful, puppy brown eyes.
Elizabeth was surprised at the calming effect it had on her and was able to regain composure long enough to tell him.
"The computer's CIA," she told him softly, as the edge started backing off from her voice.
"What?" was all the response a bewildered Will could muster.
"The last four digits are like an identification tag," Elizabeth explained, delighted that Will was still holding her face. "All members of the CIA use oh-four-oh-seven as the last four digits in any registration number because it acts as an encryption code."
Elizabeth couldn't bear to look Will in the eyes any longer, but his firm hands wouldn't let her escape.
"I didn't know for sure at first but the label on the back of the hard drive face plate confirms it. This was an inside job, we were betrayed." Elizabeth didn't know what to do so she just stood there.
"What does this mean for us," Will asked not letting Elizabeth slip from his gaze. Both of them were finding strength in each other that they did not see before.
"It means that, as of now, you're a secret. They can't know you exist or know that I know you exist. I can't let them have this computer because they won't give it back and then we'll have no way of getting you home." Elizabeth hoped that Will could sense the apology she was sending him.
"Is that all?" he asked calmly.
"No. It also means that if they find out about you, about us, they'll stop at nothing to get you back, and we will both be in great danger. We may even wind up."
But Will didn't let her finish, silencing her with a single finger across her lips. Elizabeth's heart was racing as twice as fast as it was the minute before, only Will's soft voice could calm her.
"Know now, that for the kindness you have shown me, and that which you continue to show me, I will let no harm come to you." Will pulled his finger away from Elizabeth's lips and both stood there, feeling the tension rise.
"Thank you," was all that Elizabeth could muster. She was completely shocked, they were like millimetres apart and it seemed as if each moment that passed brought them infinitely closer.
Elizabeth almost panicked right then, wondering whether it would be inappropriate to fling her arms around Will and never let him go. Slowly, slowly both bodies moved together until both their desires were interrupted as a loud knocking sounded at the door, sending both dreamers out of their skins. They whirled to face the door as another loud knock sounded.
"Hey Will, hope you weren't kidding with that last comment." Elizabeth said as another knock shattered the air.
"I hardly ever kid, Miss Elizabeth," came Will's reply as he unsheathed his sword.
Together they stood; ready to brave whatever threat lie before them. Both of them wishing that the disturbance would have waited just a fraction of a second longer.