Thanks to the readers and reviewers… and thanks to Fiddler for finally opening so I can get some work done. (wait a minute…)

Wood and canvas creaked in the misty darkness that heralded the dawn, the illuminated fog even harder to penetrate than pure night. Several pairs of eyes strained to see over the port bow, where dim, vaguely human noises occasionally drifted over the sound of surf. Eventually, as the last misty remnants of the storm began to lift, one brave voice called out.

"Ship ahoy."

"Is it her?"

"Aye, Cap'n. Even in the dim I'd know the cut of those sails. Looks like she's puttin' a boat over." Ana tried not to sound too pathetic as she added, "After last night, they're probably afraid of gettin' too close."

Captain Turner gave her half a smile and nodded thoughtfully as he looked out across the broad bay toward the Black Pearl. "No use wasting time. Get my dinghy over and I'll meet them on the beach." He turned to Ana. "You have the ship."

"Aye." Her frown gave him pause.

"What?"

"Yer goin' alone?"

Turner nodded as he stepped closer, speaking quietly. "Truth be told, Ana, I'm still only sure of you and me. Keep an eye on things here, and I'll be back as soon as I know what's going on."

Anamaria shook her head. "I can't say I'm likin' the feel of this."

He grinned ruefully, blue-green eyes flashing. "Me either."

Half an hour later, Gibbs and Bootstrap stood on a stretch of sandy beach between tall spires of rock that had sheltered the Pearl through the storm.

"We weren't that far off after all, Joshamee. Ana found a spot for the Esperance just down the coast, not quite as roomy, but any port in a storm…"

"Aye."

Bootstrap sighed as he brushed some sand from his drying breeches. "But let's get down to it. I see another day and a half before we reach Sun Bay. We'll need to decide who's making the delivery."

"How far's the estate?"

Turner squinted thoughtfully as he pictured the maps that he and Jack had studied together. "I'm thinking a few hours ride, if we can get horses. We'll lose a lot of time if we have to walk."

Gibbs nodded emphatically. "Didn't the Governor arrange for any, then?"

"No. He left the actual delivery to our… expertise. That way no one knew where we'd be." The captain shook his head. "I'm hoping that's still true." There was a quiet pause filled with the gentle sounds of surf and seabirds. It was Gibbs that broke the peace, with a long, weary exhalation.

"So ye still think that Masterson is the one that tipped the ambush?"

Bootstrap nodded. "Says he slept through it."

Another shrug. "Might've."

"I don't know, Joshamee…" The captain of the Esperance looked frustrated. "It just doesn't feel right. He doesn't feel right."

"So ye don't trust 'im."

"I don't."

Gibbs bent to absently pick up a shell that was poking through the sand, turned it over a few times in his hands. "Well, I'll tell you, Bootstrap. That's good enough for me."

Turner looked at the old pirate and laughed. "Really."

"Aye." Gibbs grinned at him. "Captain's privilege."

The captain, still unaccustomed as he was to the title, let alone any privilege that went with it, raised his eyebrows. "Ah."

"Will you be wanting to make the delivery, then?"

"I don't know…" He sighed. "I imagine we should stay with the ships."

"True…"

"But who goes inland, then?" The two stood and considered, although they both knew who they had in mind. Bootstrap shook his head. "It could be dangerous."

"He's a strong lad, Bill. And a good hand with a sword. Better'n Jack, although I'd never say it to his face."

Turner's concerned smile held no small pride in his son. "I'm more worried that he'll want to take her along."

"He'll want to take her along?"

"Alright, she'll want to go…"

"Aye." They stared at the sea for a while, waiting for answers. "Yer in charge, Bill. If you give the orders, she'll listen."

"But - you're her captain."

"No. I'm just holding the ship." The abrupt innocence in the old pirate's expression made Bootstrap laugh in spite of himself.

"Fine. You'd throw me to her mercy."

"Better you than me."

Turner took a breath and blew it out. "Alright. It's Will, then. He'll need this." Reaching into his sash, he pulled out a folded map. "This is where he'll have to go." He stared thoughtfully at the paper for a long moment. Joshamee gave him a knowing look.

"He'll be fine, Bill. He's got a level head."

"Aye." Shaking his head, Bootstrap handed over the paper. "I can't help feeling like we're sailing into a trap."

"They took their chance."

"I don't know… I just can't lose the feeling that there's something else." He narrowed his eyes in concern, and for a moment looked just like his son. "I wish Jack were here."

"You 'n me both, friend." They stepped back toward the boats.

"You still have the gems?"

"Close to me heart, if you get my drift."

Bootstrap laughed as they waded out and climbed aboard their respective craft. "That I do, Joshamee. We'll take the lead out of the bay."

"Aye, Captain." Gibbs shook his head. "I'm still surprised that Ana brought ye that close."

"I should have warned her. She's a fast ship, but she's a greased pig on weather. It's the way that keel was set…" He shook his head with a carpenter's sigh. "It was the how she skated on the waves that took Ana by surprise."

The older pirate chuckled. "She must've been surprised, to lose track of her bearing."

"That she was." Bootstrap frowned. "I didn't expect her to take it so to heart."

Gibbs eyes widened in surprise. "Listen, Bill. If you're thinking of keepin' her on, even part of the time, you should know that Ana's got a temper - and she always aims at herself first."

Turner nodded, his frown softening. "I'll keep that in mind." He lifted the oars to the water, and stopped. "Josh?"

"Aye, Bill."

"Tell Will…" he shook his head, shrugged.

Gibbs smiled. "I'll tell 'im."

Elizabeth stood by, wide-eyed, as Mr. Gibbs relayed the orders to Will.

"Alone? He wants him to go alone?" The anger in her voice did nothing to hide her fears for his safety.

"One man can do things more stealthy. Yer father thinks you're the man for the job, and so do I."

Will nodded, a slight frown furrowing his brow as he studied the map of Sun Bay and the estate several miles off. "And I'm just to… ah… borrow a horse?"

"Aye. Takin' all possible care, of course."

"Of course."

"Will -" He turned, distracted, and saw the torment in his wife's eyes.

"Darling. I'll be fine." He wrapped an arm around her and leaned his forehead against hers. "I'm just dropping off a package. Nothing more."

"But they tried to kill us."

"And failed."

"We don't know that yet." The air seemed to thicken as she voiced the concern they had all been pushing away, and her dark eyes shimmered with tears. "We don't even know if Jack's alive or not… and now you're going alone, and I won't know if…"

"Elizabeth." His voice was gentle. "I believe he's alive. And I've learned a thing or two from the man about staying alive myself." His smile reached her, finally, and she shook her head as she whispered.

"I wish I were going with you."

"I know. Just be here when I get back. Alright?" He leaned to kiss her after she nodded, and Gibbs watched with an approval. If the boy could handle Miss Elizabeth, he could handle anything. "And we've still got almost two days before I leave." She smiled, but a few tears broke free. Will held her tightly against his shoulder as he looked back to Gibbs. "Is there a name? Someone I should meet at the estate?"

Gibbs ran his hands back through silvered hair. "Sorry to say, no. Yer goin' to have to figure that out once you get there, on your lonesome."

The boy's eyebrows raised slightly over wide eyes as he looked at Gibbs, but he kept his tone light, mindful of the woman at his side. "Ah. Well." He shrugged manfully. "How hard can it be?"

Two days later they reached Sun Bay on the southern coast of Crab Island, a huge scoop taken out of the coast that had a relatively narrow opening into the sea. The late afternoon sun was abruptly shadowed as the Esperance slipped into the bay, the Pearl following a safe distance behind. The wind dropped as quickly as the light, and the ships found themselves crawling ever more slowly closer to the shore.

"Should we ship out oars, Cap'n, or stay where we are?"

Bootstrap stood at the helm, staring up at the sails that fluttered weakly, like sheets on a clothesline. "No, Ana. Drop anchor. I think we'll be fine harboring here for the night. Make fast the sails." He turned abruptly to look behind them, toward the opening of the bay. Ana turned to look with him.

"What're ye thinkin'?"

The captain frowned. "I'm not sure. Did Will leave yet?"

"Aye." She turned and pointed out over the bow. "There."

Bootstrap followed her gaze until he saw the far off dinghy, the strong rowing of the blacksmith's arms making good time toward shore. "Is he alone?"

Anamaria nodded. "Makes sense to keep the boat on his side, if he's got to get away in a hurry." She glanced at the captain's face, regretting her choice of words, but Bootstrap didn't seem to hear her. His intense expression relaxed for a moment when Will reached shore and dragged the dinghy into the shelter of some mangrove trees. After tying it off, he waved back at the ships before disappearing into the heavy growth and the quickly falling dusk.

"Well, that's well and done."

Bootstrap said nothing but frowned again, looking back toward the Pearl, which had moored farther from shore than the Esperance, and was currently blocking his view of the entrance to the bay. As their positions shifted a moment later, he saw another, smaller ship behind the Pearl. Followed by a second. Bloody hell. "Ana-"

Abruptly a booming noise echoed across the water. Yells from the Pearl followed behind, and Turner swore again when he saw how close the splash was to their comrade ship.

"Cannons?"

"Aye."

"Those aren't her guns."

"I didn't think so. Man the oars. Get me within range." He was waiting for her to relay the order when the familiar guns of the Black Pearl began to return fire. Ana hadn't moved, her face a study in conflict.

"Listen, Bootstrap, Jack told me he was keepin' the Pearl between you and trouble."

He spun on her, shocked anger on his face. "Are you disobeying an order?"

Ana stood firm, her eyes flashing. "I'm doin' what Jack Sparrow wanted. Seems that reason was good enough for some –"

"I don't give a damn what Jack-"

A loud crack made them both look back toward the fighting. The Pearl was rocking slightly on the water. Slowly, like a tree in a crowded wood -and even in the falling darkness - they could see the top half of her foremast falling slowly toward them. Ropes snapped in twanging disharmony as the familiar silhouette was broken, and William released a sound of animal fury.

"We are not going to let them-"

"Captain!" William turned to where one of his men stood pointing a sword toward the quarterdeck. "Masterson!"

"Where?"

"There, sir. And he's got a dark lantern."

William leapt toward the higher deck, his sword drawn. He was aware, now that he was watching, of a dim light that flashed out toward where the fighting was, and saw a far off light answering. With incredible economy of movement he was next to the man, grabbing an arm and pulling him to face him, sword at his throat.

"Having a chat with someone, Masterson?" The sailor looked with defiance at the captain, throwing down the lantern so oil and flame splashed across the deck. Several of the crew ran to contain it, and Masterson laughed as they struggled with the tongues of fire. Bootstrap grabbed him by the back of his collar and held the shorter man up on his toes.

"What did you tell them, traitor?"

"I don't have to tell you anything."

"No, you could simply die."

The man's eyes widened for a moment, as if he had underestimated the captain. "Nothing."

"Why don't I believe you." William's voice lowered dangerously. "What did you tell them about the Sun and Moon?" The point of his sword was resting on Masterson's throat, and the taut expression on his face made the gunner look frightened for the first time. "What did you tell them about Will?"

"…not enough."

Something in the man's eyes made William believe him. "You better pray that's the truth. Who's trying to steal them?"

The smaller man tried to struggle free, but succeeded only in pinking his throat with the point of William's sword. He could feel the slow, warm drip of blood mixing with sweat on his chest. "Why should I tell you. It makes no difference."

"Porque le mataré lentamente." The man's eyes widened. "Ah. So it is Spain, then."

"We have bowed to the French dogs for too long. It's time we took our place."

"And is it the crown that thinks this, or just a scurvy band of rebels?"

"The rebellion will outlive the crown, believe me."

Bootstrap shook his head. "And so you sneak around like rats. Traitor."

"I'm not afraid of you."

William looked out at the wounded Pearl and back to Masterson. "Pity." Without another word he threw the man overboard.

Across the bay the Pearl's cannons sang out again and again, drowning out his cries, until one of the smaller ships jerked backwards, foundered, and slowly drifted down into the bay. William clenched a fist in victory.

"I knew Gibbs wouldn't stand for it."

More cannon fire was heard, and William saw the two remaining ships turn tail, leaving the bay under oars. A loud cracking and a sudden list to starboard showed where the Pearl hit one of them, while the other slipped through the opening of the bay like a shadow in the night. He dropped back to the lower deck and called out orders. "Man the oars! Let's see that all hands are safe!" Ana stood staring at him, not knowing what to expect. He stepped close to her, looking down at her wide eyes. "If that's alright with you."

"Listen, Cap'n –"

"No, Ana. You were right. It was the plan all along, and I'm glad you kept me to it. Jack'd be proud." He dropped a hand on her shoulder as he looked toward the Pearl, which was slowly getting closer. "Ready the boats. Let's see how bad it is over there."