Disclaimer: Alas I still do not own Captain Jack but I do own the memories of a fine dog.

Worthy Of Loving

I stood at the helm and my gaze settled on the horizon. My hands rested on the wheel and I was feeling good about this assault. I yelled at the crew to make ready the guns.

"Remember, you scabrous dogs. Don't shoot, unless they attack us."

William climbed the rigging and announced he could see a flag on the ship and it was an English flag. It did indeed appear to be a merchant ship.

"Follow me orders and don't fire. Get ready your pistols." I yelled.

I spun the wheel round as far as I could go to the port side and I drew The Pearl level with the unknown ship. I saw several men running around on the deck with a stricken look of panic. It was a large, beautiful ship. As I maneuvered The Pearl closer to her, I heard yells from its crew. Then to my surprise the sound of cannons filled the air. They were not the familiar guns from the Black Pearl. The Pearl shivered beneath me. She had been hit. They were blowing holes in me ship.

"Bloody Hell, they are firing on us. Fire Back!!"

Another canon ball hit me ship and as I turned to give orders the deck was exploding around me. Wood and fragments were flying everywhere. The cannon ball had just missed me and the tremendous force of the impact slammed me hard against the deck.

Gibbs saw me go down and he came to give me a hand. When he did I flinched and cursed the bloody English. I could tell me left arm was broken. The pain was excruciating but I was not going to let on in front of me first mate. If me crew saw that I was injured it could be detrimental for all of us.

"Gibbs, we got to fight with everything we got. I don't want to loose me entire crew and I don't want me ship lying in ruins. We must get them to surrender. Savvy?"

Will yelled out above the roar of the cannons.

"Jack it appears that the English flag that had been hanging on the mast has been replaced. In it's leave, they have hung a sizeable ashen flag with a black skull and crossbones."

Bloody Hell, they have tricked us. Nobody pulls actions of this sort on Captain Jack Sparrow. This goes against the Pirate Code. If I had known it was a buccaneer ship I would have left her alone. I felt this was a calculated trap for The Pearl and meself. Everyone knows me precious ship. She is the only ship with black sails. Of course I am the one who instigated the raid and I was now feeling very uneasy.

"Men make your selves effective. Let's come to blows with them and send them down to Davey Jones' locker. We have more weapons then they, aye? Let us use them all. Run out the guns. Fire all!"

We were in the midst of a brutal battle. Both ships were firing on each other. I continued to command rounds of cannon fire. The main mast of the unknown ship was blown away and I ordered my men to board her.

Some of me crew members started swinging across with a chilling battle cry, while the others threw the grappling hooks and waited for the planks to be put across.

Once the crew was on board, the sound of clashing metal and echoes of voices carried over the deck. All the men had their swords exposed and the occasional pistol was out. The enemy was out numbered by us and was defenseless.

When the last plank was put down I meself went over and my trusted friend Mr. Turner followed.

"Search the hulls, plunder anything of worth and value. Take the prisoners and lock'em in the cells." I yelled over the fury of the battle.

My crew had outlasted the opposing pirates. I had expected them to fight with such vengeance and they did me proud. With a few men down, they were more than happy to loot what they could from this fine vessel. It appeared the ship was indeed an English ship already commandeered by pirates.

I went down into the hull to see if I could find anything of great measurement for meself. I did indeed; find a treasure of great worth. To my shock and my dismay, I found Miss. Elizabeth Swann. She was laying in a cold, dank, murky corner. She was curled up in a fetus position and she looked lifeless.

I felt a lump in my throat as I approached her.

"Elizabeth, Luv, my god! What are you doing here?" There came no answer.

I stared at the beauty in front of me. I remembered the way her body had felt against mine as we pressed our drunken selves together, many months ago. We had been open and honest with one another. I knew she had lost herself in my deep brown eyes and I most certainly lost meself in hers. My thoughts wandered for a moment, bringing a golden smile across me face. Until abruptly, I was bought back to reality when I realized I was not alone with Miss Swann.

I looked away from where Elizabeth lye to see my opponent lunge at me. The form was large and looming and was moving at a brisk velocity. The pirate clutched my arms and I tried to wrestle free. The pain in me left arm almost caused me to yell out. But no, I am Captain Jack Sparrow, I do not cry. I pulled out of his clenches and waking up the pain in me arm I gathered all the restless harbingers of violence and bloodshed, knowing to me and I ran my sword through the fierce, violent, pirate. As I tuned, there was someone else there. Yes, it was another buccaneer, but this one stood with his gun pointed at me chest.

"Aye, I see you're a coward and you choose to kill me, Captain Jack Sparrow, with your pistol, instead of your blade."

I could tell my words were falling on deaf ears, I shut me eyes waiting for the shot I knew was about to come. While me eyes were closed someone collided into me and knocked me over just as the gun went off. I went down hard and then I heard another shot. Whatever had hit me rolled off and I leaped back to me feet. I inspected myself and I was covered with deep, dark, rich blood. I felt an odd tingling sensation in me head and I felt I was going to loose consciousness. I slumped to the floorboards and at the side of me, I heard a soft whimper and felt the warm lungful of air coming from me mate. She turned her head and her poignant eyes pierced into mine. I saw Luv; she pulled herself to me and pressed her body firmly against mine. She was bleeding profusely from her stomach. Her deep brown eyes were looking into mine and then they closed.

"Ye alrigh' Luv?" I pulled meself to me knees and knelt beside her. I stroked her head.

"You'll be fine…don't worry, your with Old Jack."

I held the retriever's head in both me hands and with her face close to mine our noses almost touching, I whispered to her. "Now you listen to me, Luv. I want to know things about you, where you came from, why you're with me."

She took a deep sigh and blood seeped out of her mouth. She had taken the bullet that was meant for me. She opened her eyes and then closed them again slowly. Her breathing became shallow.

"Amanda", I whispered even softer. "Yes, that will be your name. Come on stay with me. You are my Amanda…my Mandy…you are "Worthy Of Loving."

I looked into her face and fought back tears. She showed me one last weak glimmer in her soulful eyes as her blonde lashes fell. Her breathing stopped and she went limp.

"No you can't die! You can't!!!" I was yelling this to meself and me words echoed through me head.

"NO YOU CAN'T DIE!!!!"

I closed me eyes in anger and in grief. Then I heard the low voice of William, asking me of my well being. I have no idea how long he had been there, or what he had seen, but I could tell he was hesitant and was not quite sure of what actions he should take.

I wiped the dust and grime from me face and eyes. I knew Will was watching me and it certainly was not a bead of moisture on me check. I saw young Mister Turner, standing over the pirate that had intended to kill me. The young whelp, once again saved me life and had put a bullet through my assailants head. He had shot the pirate who had taken my Mandy.

I could barely get to me feet and my left arm was screaming with pain. I looked at William and winced. I knew he could tell I was injured, physically and mentally. I succumbed to the pain and rose off the floor.

"I'm fine Will, Once again I am in debt to you, my Whelp."

I raised me good arm and pointed to Elizabeth. Her inert body was still crumpled in the corner. A small groan came from her lips and her eyes fluttered.

"Mr. Turner, I fear you do know more than you are letting on? Do you know why Miss Swann is here?"

Will looked upon Elizabeth innocently. "I promise you Jack, that I know no more than you do."

"Give me a hand if you please, we must take her back to the Pearl. We will talk. If I find out you have been keeping secrets there will be hell to pay."

Will picked up Elizabeth's limp body leaving a trail of blood where she laid. As I stood there watching Miss Swann in William's arms and Mandy lying in a pool of blood, I heard the victorious screams from me crew.

I heard Gibbs yelling "They have striked the bloody flag. They have surrendered." I knew the crew would be in high spirits. There would be a large party tonight and a lot of rum.

I went over to Mandy; I picked up her blood soaked body. "I love ye Mandy. Always will. I'll take care of you and The Black Pearl.

I felt a tear run down me face. No, I am Captain Jack Sparrow and I don't cry.

As I hugged the warm body against me chest, I could feel the emotion welling up inside me. I whispered into her soft golden ear.

"Friend, this is the day you will always remember as the day Jack Sparrow did cry."

A/N My Golden Retriever's name was Amanda. The name does mean "Worthy Of Loving" She was one of the smartest and sweetest dogs I have ever owned, and yes she was very worthy of my love. Of course all dogs are. Savvy?