Disclaimer: I do not have permission to be writing this.

AN (7/28): Sorry for the rather long delay since my very fast update before. I'm currently sitting in a hot pink camping chair in a small campground near Park City called Rockport. I'm rather hungry, but they are just starting dinner and it is nearly 5:30. Might take a while...so I'll type on my PDA and ignore the faint smell of burnt marshmallow...

AN (7/29)- Right-this chapter is a bit on the unusual side. I've only ever not focused on Jack once before-and that was for a very brief moment. However, I feel this chapter needs to be unique; besides, it wouldn't be long enough if I didn't. If you dislike it, feel free to say so (along with any other complaints) in your review (which I hope you leave-I get discouraged easily).

Chapter 6: Betrayal

"Ye really think tha' will 'elp me from thinkin' abou' those ruddy eyes?" Jack managed to slur out. Barbossa and the newest additions to the Black Pearl's crew had left nearly five hours before, and Jack had not refused any of the fifteen refills that Bootstrap had offered him. Most people would've succumbed to alcohol poisoning by now, but Captain Jack Sparrow was unique. He usually had an average of six bottles of rum at any one sitting. As a young scallywag, he'd slowly built up his tolerance to the effects of the beverage. But sixteen mugs of fine rum really made him drunk.

"Of course it will 'elp, boy," Bootstrap replied with a rather uncharacteristic lewd grin. "Tis 'ow mos' men solve problems. An' ye've ne'er said no before." He grasped the mug in his hand so tight his knuckles seemed white. Chocolate-brown eyes glanced analytically at Jack, trying to decide if he wanted to give Jack another refill.

Jack mused over this for a moment. It was true, of course, that he usually did turn to pleasurable company when he couldn't work things out. It was a magnificent stress reliever. However, Jack couldn't help but think of Meagan. If she ever found out that he'd done that while courting her-well, it wouldn't be good. And it would most likely result in him spilling the milk about him being a pirate. That whole situation would probably result in Jack dancing the hempen jig-a most undesirable situation. This thought process took Jack nearly five minutes, and by the time he'd reached that conclusion, he'd forgotten what he was thinking about.

"Come on, Jack. There is no possible way tha' she'd find out." Bootstrap shifted forward in his chair, setting his mug on a small side table and peering at Jack eagerly.

Jack still made no reply, though it was starting to make much more sense. He stared at Bootstrap blankly, his normally expressive dark brown eyes having just about as much expression as a dead fish's eyes. Suddenly, he blurted out, "Bu' I'm goin' t' ask Meagan t' marry me. If she learned I did this," he trailed off, his left hand making a motion similar to that of a slashing knife.

Bootstrap sighed; alarmed that Jack was being so serious. "She won' find out," he reiterated. Displaying an unusual sudden burst of impatience, he stood and walked out of the door.

It slowly dawned on Jack that his friend had left without saying goodbye. When he'd reached that conclusion, he was starting to become quite perturbed. He was just about to stand up and find Bootstrap to demand a farewell when the door opened again. What Jack saw made him feebly sit down again.

A woman stood in the doorframe of the average-sized room. She had seductive green eyes about the color of a polished emerald. Her lips were painted a dark red, looking moist and very kissable. Her eyes were perfectly accented with expertly applied kohl. She smiled as Jack's eyes scanned down to her bosom, perfectly visible in her low-cut emerald dress. "'Ello, Captain Sparrow. Me name's Joy, an' I 'ear tha' ye need a bi' of company t'night."

Jack didn't say anything-in his inebriated state, he couldn't see the slight harelip Joy had or the scars from smallpox she'd tried to hide by slathering some sort of wax-based make-up on her face. He slowly started grinning, beckoning her forward with his left index finger. She hastily complied; someone had paid her quite well in advance.

A knock on the door made Meagan Kent, the bonny lass of Captain Jack Sparrow, nearly fall off the fine upholstered couch she was sitting on. A quick glance at the slightly dilapidated grandfather clock revealed the time-it was nearly nine. Visitors did not call at such a late hour unless it was truly an emergency.

Sighing softly with a chagrinned look on her face, Meagan put down the romantic novel she had been reading. While her left hand smoothed down her turquoise skirts, her right hand brushed away a few tears in her sea blue eyes. Meagan was grateful Jack couldn't see her now, though he'd probably think it was funny. She'd been rather emotional the past few weeks; and it really was a miracle she hadn't cried in front of Jack yet.

Mincing her steps slightly, Meagan approached the simple oak door. Though she hadn't exactly experienced poverty, being the daughter if the minister meant that almost everything in their home was simple and had to last for a long time. She slowly opened the door, hoping that whoever it was wouldn't notice the slight droplets on her cheeks. Her blue eyes grew puzzled as she saw who was standing there.

The man in the doorframe looked down. "Sorry t' bother ye so late, Miss Kent, bu' Jack is sick an' he wanted me t' fetch you." The man looked up, a look of worry in his brown eyes.

Meagan gasped slightly, her heart suddenly racing. Her left hand was busy twisting at a green ring with a silver band on her thumb-a small memento from Jack. He'd given it to her after they'd shared their first night together. Of course, it was much too large for her ring finger (for she seriously suspected he'd never bought a woman jewelry before) so she wore it on her thumb and made sure she didn't shake her hand too vigorously. Not only was she worried about Jack, but she was worried that her father would find out about her relationship.

Meagan smiled slightly, knowing it was pointless to get mad at the messenger. He seemed nice enough, though he was a bit taller than Jack. "Well, sir, could you please escort me to him?"

The man nodded and tilted his head towards the darkening outdoors. "It would be me pleasure, Miss."

Meagan nodded and stepped outside, not even bothering to ask the man his name.

After walking for nearly thirteen minutes, Meagan finally decided to talk to the man in an attempt to stave off the gnawing worry enfolding her like a swarm of African bees. She'd sensed something was horribly wrong with Jack earlier today, when he'd been very near to tears at the park during the hanging of those pirates. It almost seemed like he'd known them or something, though Jack had refused to answer any questions about it. Feeling a bit odd (for she still did not know Jack's profession), she softly asked, "How do you know Jack?"

The man glanced down at Meagan, a curious expression on his face as though he were trying to make his mind up about something. Finally he answered a moment later, "He's me boss, Miss Kent," in a slightly informative tone of voice.

Meagan didn't reply to that, though she was now giving the man a more critical glance. He was dressed rather oddly for this section of town, and Meagan was wondering if he'd ever washed what appeared to be a tan shirt. It wouldn't have surprised her if the man told her it had once been white. Jack had a similar shirt that always looked clean, but Meagan couldn't help but wonder exactly what Jack did if he had men like the one escorting her as his employees. Sighing softly and forcing out a carefree laugh, she asked, "What exactly do you do? Jack never seems to have the time to answer that."

The man looked east for a moment. Meagan thought this very curious-there wasn't anything on the east side of the town other then the ocean. He glanced back down at her, seemingly with a stronger resolve. "Why, Miss Kent, we be sailors. Jack be the captain of our vessel."

Meagan acknowledged she'd heard by nodding. She smiled slightly-this really explained all the allusions he made about the sea.

The two resumed their silence. Meagan would glance at the man curiously every once in a while. He seemed to be getting tenser and tenser as the moments melted away to oblivion and they neared their destination. She also thought it quite unusual that he hadn't told her his name.

When they reached the tavern, the rather tall man showed Meagan up a flight of slightly worn wooden stairs, stopping at a door. "Jack is in there, Miss Kent. Wants t' see ye alone." He smiled slightly and bowed, quickly leaving the small corridor with numerous doors.

Meagan stared at the door for a second. Perhaps Jack wasn't really sick-perhaps he was going to do something very romantic for her. The thought filled her with a sense of euphoria. Meagan could tell that Jack had something very serious on his mind that he wanted to tell her. She suspected the handsome man would ask for her hand in marriage. This was a very pleasant thought, for Meagan loved Jack much more deeply than even she realized. Yet, as she was reaching for the handle on the door, Meagan couldn't help but feel rather uncertain. It seemed something was warning her not to look inside.

Shrugging the uneasy feeling away, Meagan put her hand on the iron handle. If Jack was truly ill, he would need her help. The next few seconds seemed to take an eternity, in retrospect, as she slowly turned the handle and peered inside. What she saw made her gasp out as her heart literally felt it had broken. She muttered four words, "Jack! How could you?" before her blue eyes filled with tears and she slammed the door shut. Clutching at her chest, she ran blindly into the darkness outside the tavern.

Surprisingly, Jack heard what Meagan said. To him, it sounded like Meagan had screamed. He glanced down at Joy, feeling like he was worth less than the plaque on a pirate's teeth as the door noisily clicked shut. It almost sounded like chains falling to the floor in a prison. He dropped Joy onto the bed, hastily dressing. "Get out," he said in a dangerously low voice to the whore.

Joy's plastered smile faltered. "Alrigh'," she said slowly, grabbing her emerald dress and cotton shift. She quickly stepped into her shift, an indifferent look on her face.

Once Jack finished buttoning his shirt back up, he left the room. He ran down the stairs, stepping into the dark night. Once his eyes had adjusted to the moonless skies, he ran, his dark brown eyes trying to find any sign of Meagan. The search seemed futile, especially because he knew there was no way she would ever forgive him.

Jack finally found Meagan about half an hour later. He'd heard her faint sobs as he entered the park. Slowly sauntering to the park bench she was sitting on, he softly said, "Meagan."

Meagan looked up, her sapphire blue eyes full of sorrow and hatred. She sobbed again, struggling to regain control of her emotions enough to say something. She swallowed hard. "Go away, Jack," she finally managed to say.

Jack shook his head slightly. "I'm sorry," he said lamely, putting his hand on the rough bark of a tree. "I'm so sorry," he reiterated.

Meagan shook her head, her eyes hardening. "I don't care," she said coldly. "I don't even know you, Jack! How could you do something like that with another woman? I thought," a heavy sob tore through her throat, making it so Jack did not know what she thought.

"Meagan-she din' mean anythin' t' me," Jack insisted, clutching the branch on the tree as if it were a life-preserver and he were a drowning man. He didn't know how to handle this situation, and he was having a hard time processing information, due to his very drunk state.

"If she didn't mean anything," Meagan said with her blue eyes full of hatred, "Why did you do that with her? Am I not good enough for a ruddy captain? Do I displease your immense manliness?" She glared contemptibly at Jack for a few moments before looking down at her hands.

It took Jack a while to figure out that Meagan had said something she shouldn't have known. Once that thought registered like molasses, Jack quickly asked, "Who tole you tha' I'm a captain?" He was worried that she knew he was a pirate as well, and his thoughts turned to Barbossa. But Barbossa didn't know he had been courting Meagan.

"He didn't tell me his name," Meagan defensively replied. Her blue eyes filled with more venom. "Jack, you egotistical eunuch! He told me you'd sent for me! Do you get some sort of sadistic pleasure at making the woman who fell in love with you witness that degrading display?"

"Meagan," Jack said quickly, "I din' mean for you t' see tha'. I din' e'en mean t' do tha', bu' William kept givin' me rum. I couldn' resist the alluring call o' alcohol."

Meagan shook her head, her honey blonde hair looking almost like the skin of a ghost in the very pale light. "I don't even know you, Jack Sparrow. You've been lying to me ever since I first saw you." Her sobs had been replaced by unadulterated hatred, and she slowly stood up.

"Meagan, wait! I love you, an' I'm sorry tha' I hurt yer feelin's. I promise tha' I'll never do it again." Jack put his hand out, intending to catch Meagan's arm.

"Don't you dare touch me!" Meagan protested, bringing her open palm up to Jack's face before he could even blink. A resounding smack was clearly heard as his head twisted sideways. "You know nothing of love!"

Jack stood there, wincing as he waited for the large red spot on his cheek to stop hurting. Finally able to control the pain, he looked at Meagan critically. "Meagan, please! If you ever did once love me, try to find it in yer 'eart t' forgive me."

There was no hint of softening in Meagan's furious face. "The Jack Sparrow I fell in love with does not exist. It wouldn't surprise me to learn you were a bloody pirate." She sniffed angrily.

Jack shook his head sadly. "I wasn' lyin', Meagan. I jus' din' tell you the whole truth." His dark brown eyes resembled the eyes of a cow on its way to the slaughterhouse.

Meagan scoffed angrily. "Well, if you can't tell me the 'whole truth' about yourself, how could I ever trust you? I can't love a man who isn't completely honest." She slapped his other cheek with much more force, surprising both herself and Jack.

Jack winced again, slowly turning his head back to look at Meagan. "Please forgive me," he said slowly. "I love you." His voice carried the utmost amount of sincerity his inebriated mind would allow him to muster.

Meagan slowly shook her head, her eyes filling with tears again. "We're finished, Jack." He hands fumbled with something for a moment, and she pressed a warm piece of metal into his hand. "I'm leaving." With that, she turned and started walking away, her skirts seemingly floating above the ground and reacting to each step she quickly made.

"Meagan!" Jack cried after her. She did not even turn to look back, and Jack realized she truly was gone for good. He stared numbly towards where she had disappeared for nearly five minutes, finally losing control and falling to the ground, sobbing.

meggumscat- Merci! And they are a bit evil. Right now they're really just bumbling fools. Thanks for the review, and have a mushy cookie.

Daisy- Let's just say I get distracted easily. If you'd bug me more, I'd write more often! Being unpredictable is always fun! You should try it to a higher extreme!

Alteng- Aye, I know that Henry and Tony aren't their real names, though they could be. Just an allusion to your smashing story! And I think it was Pintel, seeing as Ragetti is rather slow. And, no, Ragetti hasn't lost his eye yet. It will certainly be an interesting chapter when he does.

Jack- Well, I happen to have blue eyes. And it is a lot easier to describe things you actually have.

DragonHunter200- It is always fun to make the audience believe one thing and then another, only to do what they were expecting anyway. Sorry for the long delay. I'll try to update faster. The next chapter will be...interesting.

Rachel Sparrow- Well, I don't know if I'll address that in this book. I might...I'll give that some consideration. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

sunkist3208- You definitely did say they were twins. I remember. And I am sorry I killed your counterparts, but I had to introduce Ragetti and Pintel somehow. I can get you another counterpart...but they'll probably be evil. And I always do need more inspiration. I'm not entirely sure what the next chapter after this one will include. Thanks for all of your support! And you should write more! At least I still update, even though it is so sporadic. This last review was probably your longest yet. I like long reviews. Heck, I just like reviews.