Broken Glass

By Cursed Pearl

Chapter 2 – Ellie

Disclaimer: I do not own the people or the ship that I obviously do not own, as they are fictional and belong to the people that created them. :-P

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Jack and Ellie

Authors Note: I'm beginning to take longer to post up each of my chapters. Most of it's due to all this schoolwork I have to do (rolls eyes). But I shouldn't take too long to post up new chapters. No longer than a week, I should think. Anyway, here's the next chapter!

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There had been chaos amongst the crew when Jack had delivered the news that they were, once again, cursed. However, after the initial shock had died down there was little worry amongst half of them to learn that they didn't have someone they cared about who was at risk. The other half, however, were irate and distressed that their loved ones were in danger, many of them demanding the man who took the pendant to show himself.

Kursar had stood amongst the crew, as shocked as the rest at the circumstances of the curse. He could remember his Captain's words, 'The man who took it has to give his life to have it lifted.' No pirate wants to be cursed. But no pirate wanted to die either. Especially in a godforsaken, ruddy cave. No. He wanted to die in battle, at sea. He didn't want to give his life. He wasn't that weak.

Jack threw the pendant and it slammed to the deck in the middle of them, 'Claim it!' He eyed the crew, furiously. None of them had ever seen their captain this angry. He glared at each of them, not letting his eyes rest on any particular man, 'Worthless coward.' He turned from them and stormed towards his cabin, slamming the door shut behind him.

Anamaria and Gibbs shared worried looks before she walked out from the crew and lifted the pendant. She pushed it into her pocket. 'Weigh anchor!' Gibbs bellowed.

~~~~~~~~

Jack grumbled, pacing his quarters furiously. He'd kill the man who brought this curse upon them. A knock on the cabin door startled him. He stormed over to the door and flung it open. Thomas Wroth stood before him, looking slightly nervous. 'What is it?!' Jack snapped, irritated at being disturbed.

'Eh…sorry for disturbin' ye, Capt'n,' Wroth began, before clearing his throat and straightening himself, 'But it's important.'

Jack eyed him for a moment before he stepped back, allowing the crewmember to enter his quarters. He slammed the door shut behind him and walked over to the desk, 'Better be worth it, Wroth.' He motioned for him to sit on the other side. Before Wroth could sit, Jack spoke, 'Why'd ye take it?'

'I didn't take it,' Thomas immediately responded, 'I just…I have a request…'

Jack frowned and motioned for him to continue.

'It's me wife, Capt'n,' he continued, 'Ye say the only place she's safe is 'ere. I want t' bring 'er aboard.'

Jack stared at him for a moment. His angry expression suddenly mixed with one of sympathy. He could understand why he'd want to keep his wife safe. God knows if he were in the same position with Ellie…

Jack's eyes widened and he abruptly stood, his chair falling to the floor behind him, 'God…'

'Captain?' Wroth immediately stood, looking worried.

'Aye,' Jack nodded, waving his hand dismissively, 'Aye, aye. We'll pick 'er up.' He stormed past him, flinging the door open, and walked onto the deck, hurriedly searching for Anamaria. He spotted her at the front of the ship. He hurried over to her, almost in a job, 'Ana!'

Anamaria flipped around, surprised to see Jack hurrying towards her, 'Captain?'

'Ye know where Ellie's stayin', don't ye?' he spoke, 'Ye'd be able to show me?'

'Aye,' she nodded, frowning, 'But, why…'

'The curse, I have t' get here back on this ship,' he spoke hurriedly, he turned and addressed the crew, 'Hoist the sails!'

'Storms brewin', Captain,' Gibbs appeared beside him.

Jack waved his hand, dismissively once again, and headed towards the helm, 'Should arrive in England by tomorrow night.'

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'Ye sure about this, Captain?' Ana watched Jack pace his cabin, 'Maybe I should talk t' 'er? She might be more willing to listen t' me, the two of ye didn't part on the best of terms.'

'No,' Jack shook his head, 'I'll talk to her.'

'Jack, this is gonna be hard for 'er t' take. She either comes back t' the Pearl or we leave 'er for dead?'

'Aye, meaning she'll be comin' back,' Jack sat down in his chair, lifting his legs up to lean on his desk.

'How can you be sure…'

'Well I'm not gonna leave her in England if she's gonna die,' Jack's eyes narrowed. He reached for his lonely bottle of rum that was resting at the side of the table. He lifted it to his lips and downed the rest of the liquid. 

'Ye…' A firm knock on the door interrupted her.

'Aye?' Jack took his legs off the desk and sat up straighter.

George Davis pushed the door open, 'Sails spotted on the horizon, Capt'n. Yer needed on deck.'

Jack pushed himself out of his chair and made his way over, 'Just what we need,' he muttered. He stalked behind Davis up to the helm, where Gibbs was looking through the spyglass at the ship. 

'Looks like a merchant, Capt'n,' he handed the spyglass to Jack.

Jack peered through it at the small ship. He placed the glass down on the stand and nodded, 'Lets see what's being delivered,' he smirked and took to helm, turning it in pursuit of the merchant ship.

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Jack grew more and more nervous as they approached England's coast. He gripped the helm, drumming his fingers restlessly against the wood. Only another twenty, twenty-five minutes until they would dock and he'd be seeing Ellie again. He wasn't really sure if he should be pleased about that. He didn't really know how she'd respond to seeing him again. It might've been best if they had never seen each other again, not bring up the pain of the past. It wasn't really an option in this case, though.

Within the next half hour, the ship had been sailed into a cave next to the shore. Anamaria approached the Captain, 'Ready t' go then?'

Jack nodded, hiding his nervousness, 'Aye.' He walked past her and made her way over to the side of the ship, where the rowboat was being lowered. 'Ye remember exactly which house it was?'

'Aye, Jack,' Ana rolled her eyes, following him, then added sarcastically, 'I'm sure she'll be delighted to see ye.'

'Yer vote of confidence means a lot to me, luv.'

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'That's it,' Ana pointed at the white house before them.

'Ye sure?' Jack eyed it, it was huge.

'Aye, 'course I'm sure!' she responded, affronted, 'Ye think I'd forget a house like that?'

Jack ignored her and walked forward, making his way through the gates. Ana hurried after him, 'Jack, maybe ye should get a message t' let 'er know yer coming.'

'There's not time for that,' he snapped as they reached the door. He reached up and gave it a firm knock. A few moments later, the door open and a butler stood before them. He eyed them uncertainly, 'Can I help you?'

'Uh…aye…yes. Yes, I'm looking for Miss Elizabeth Swann,' Jack stammered, slightly, trying to appear gentlemanly.

'There's no one here by that name, Sir,' the butler spoke.

'Uh…are you sure?' Jack looked pointedly at Ana, 'I was told that this is where she was staying…'

'Geoffrey, who is it?' a tired looking woman walked down the steps, pulling her robe tightly around her.

'Ma'am, just someone….'

'I'm looking for Miss Elizabeth,' Jack interrupted him, addressing the woman, 'She came here eight months ago…?'

The woman nodded, 'Yes, that's correct Mr…?'

'Spa…Selton. Jack Selton,' Jack held his hand out. She shook it after a moments hesitation. He indicated to Ana, 'My friend, Anamaria.'

The woman just nodded to her and turned back to Jack, 'Elizabeth is a friend of yours?'

'Yeah,' he nodded.

She smiled and nodded, 'She's told me much about you, Mr Sparrow.' He looked slightly flustered. She smirked and nodded, 'I'm Jayne Swann. Her cousin.'

'Is she here?'

'No,' Jayne stepped closer and pointed to a small house opposite them, 'She may be asleep. It is rather late.'

'Uh, yeah. Sorry about that Miss Swann,' Jack mumbled an apology, his eyes remaining on the small house she had indicated. He turned back to her and grinned, nodding to her, 'Thank ye, much appreciated.' He turned and made his way from the house, Ana close on his heels.

'Jack, I really think that I…'

'I know what ye think, Ana,' Jack interrupted, hurrying towards the house, 'But we don't have enough time for thinkin'.' He speeded into a jog until he reached the door. He reached up and knocked.

'Jack…'

'Shh,' he held his hand up, 'Now, go back t'…' The door pulled open, stopped him. A tired looking Elizabeth stood there. Jack looked at her for a moment, suddenly overwhelmed at seeing her again. Ellie. Her eyes widened, then her brow furrowed as she looked at the two of them in confusion.

'Jack? What…what're you doing here?'

'Ellie…' Jack began.

'Why are you here?' her eyes turned cold, she grasped the sides of her robe and pulled it tighter around herself, 'It's past midnight.'

'Uh, yeah. I know,' he stammered, then grinned drunkenly, his hands suddenly being used to back up his words, 'But what did ye expect, luv. Pirate ship couldn't just dock and not be seen in the middle of the day, could she?'

'Why are you here?' she repeated her question.

'Elizabeth, maybe we could talk inside?' Ana suddenly spoke up, looking about the streets outside, cautiously.

Elizabeth looked uncertain, eyeing Jack suspiciously. After a few more seconds of hesitation she pulled the door back further and allowed them to enter the house. They hurried inside and she closed the door behind them. She turned and walked into the living room, 'You'll have to excuse the fact I have no drinks to offer to you. I don't have running water and I've already used up the water I had collected yesterday.'

'Nice house,' Jack looked around, running his hands over the walls, reminding her of the time he had come for her after Will and Jack's deaths.

'Is there a reason for your visit?' She looked pointedly at him, 'Or did you just wish to torment me more than you have already done so?'

He tried to remain impassive to her comment, but both women in the room saw the flash of upset pass over his features. 'Sit down, Ellie.'

'It's Mrs Turner,' she corrected, 'And I chose to stand, Captain Sparrow.'

Jack turned to look at her for the first time since they entered the house. The coldness in his eyes mirrored hers. Ana shifted, uncomfortably and looked around the room, approaching a few framed pictures on the fireplace.

'We're cursed,' Jack spoke, bluntly, 'An' it's gonna kill ye if ye don't come back.'

She stared at him for a moment, her expression flashed with different emotions. Her expression clouded with confusion and questioning. Jack sighed and walked over, grasping her arm he pulled her down onto the couch, sitting in front of her. 'It's all down to this,' he reached into his pocket and frowned, fumbling around for a moment. The pendant suddenly appeared in front of him. He looked up, seeing Anamaria holding it out to him. 'Thanks,' he took it and handed it to Ellie. 

Elizabeth took it and eyed it in her hand for a moment. It seemed rather simple, nothing out of ordinary or special about the piece of gold. She looked over at Jack, 'The curse?'

'The Pearl's cursed,' Jack spoke again, 'Anyone that someone on the crew cares 'bout is at risk. Three people have already died 'cause of it, but if yer on the Pearl yer protected from it. It can't kill ye when ye're on the ship.'  

She straightened, handing the pendant back to him and stood up, 'I'd rather die than go back with you.'

Jack looked at her for a moment, before he stood up, speaking behind her into her ear, 'Ye know what. Maybe ye're not at risk. I might've just been foolin'meself when I thought I cared about ye.'

His words stung and were harsh in her ear. She turned to look at him, not hiding the hurt in her eyes. She saw his eyes soften and realised that he did care for her. Which would do more harm than good in this case. She turned from him. She felt him tense behind her before he turned and stormed out the room. The door slammed hard behind him. 

Elizabeth looked at the door for a moment, before her eyes turned to Ana, who was watching her, expressionlessly.

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There we go. Thanks for the reviews, everyone! The next chapter will be up soon!