Disclaimer: I still don't own any characters from Pirates of the Caribbean. I do have one of those lifesize Legolas cutouts from FYE though.

Chapter 3 The Devil's Snare

I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I hate Pirates. I'm going to die. Despite the taste of fear filling her mouth Jessica gazed around in hate at the men surrounding her. God she hated pirates

A shudder rippled through her as she remembered the filthy hands constraining her body a few minutes ago. His hand clamped over her mouth and the rancid smell of decay filled her nostrils. "Doesn't feel so small now does it?' his husky voice had murmured in her ear.

With his arms binding her body it was impossible to reach her dagger. That was probably his idea. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw another pirate swagger into the alley. She had a chance of escaping the blond-haired pirate alone, but knew she couldn't hope to fight off two.

She glared when the new pirate said, "That's not on mate." What, he can't have me all to himself? The men continued fighting over her. Although she was growing frightened at their increasingly dangerous tones.

In the time it took her to blink the new pirate had his pistol to the other man's head and told him to hand her over. She gasped in relief when the pirate released his hold on her face. She breathed quickly, desperate for clean air in her lungs.

She recoiled as the new pirate reached out for her. He wouldn't get her that easily. Now he was giving her some bullshit about not wanting to hurt her. Of course I can't stay in the alley, I have to get in your bed right? Disgusting jerks.

Now she found herself in the uncomfortable position of a sword at her neck and several more pointing in her direction. She observed the man with his cutlass on the throat of her previous captor. The wrinkles that creased his sun worn face deepened around his dull blue eyes. Jessica stared, she had never seen eyes like that.

Then she heard the dull-eyed pirates' words.

"Ye can replace your jaw now luv" the pirate beside her murmured in her ear. The hint of an amused, but pleased smile crossed his face. This pirate was not just any pirate, he was the pirate. She had the luck to be assaulted by the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow. She tried to turn her head and get a good look at the infamous pirate. However, a poke from the cutlass under her chin brought Jessica back to the present situation.

" It's been a long time Jack"

"Aye Sharp, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder." Jack said, looking up hopefully.

"Oh aye, but then you'd be talkin' about a human heart. Mine hardened t' stone a long time ago. Probably about th' same time ye stole me boat."

"Borrowed. Borrowed without-" but Jack's words were muffled by a gag in his mouth.

"Sorry Jack, but I can't be havin' ye talkin' yer way out o' this one. We'd best gag your woman too, lest she go screaming all over the place"

"But I'm not-" Jessica only managed three words before she found her mouth filled with a disgusting old rag. A wave of nausea coursed through her body as the taste of putrid sweat filled her mouth. In another minute she was robbed of her sight as well when a blindfold was placed over her eyes. She felt the rough hands of a pirate throw her over his shoulder. It amazes me that men who spend their lives surrounded by water could still manage to smell this terrible.

While she assumed they were trying to be quiet, the men were certainly making a lot of noise, clanging and marching about. Somebody has to hear us with the noise this lot is making. The Navy will be alerted and they'll come to rescue me. The thought calmed Jessica immensely and she waited patiently for the Navy to arrive.

It was a source of great discouragement for her when she felt her backside being plopped down on boards of wood. After their gags were removed she heard the sound of a lock clicking.

"Welcome to The Devil's Snare, the most terrifying ship in the Spanish Main. Ye'll be dealt with when we're safely out to sea. Until then..."

Jessica felt her heart sinking with the sound of each retreating step. She was doomed. There was nothing else for it. All because of two bastard pirates she didn't have anything to do with. Suddenly she felt a finger brush the top of her palm. She rocketed forward so hard she smashed her head against the iron bars of her cage. She lay on the floor and moaned. It was like her head had been ripped in two.

"Shhh calm down lass. Jack's just gonna get these ropes off yer wrist."

She would have fought him off if she could think straight, but the pounding in her head clouded everything. She barely noticed as her bonds were loosened and finally removed. Hands felt along the back of her body until they reached her blindfold and it too was removed.

She would have been grateful for sight if the world wasn't so blurry.

"Now if you'll just untie me bonds, Ol' Jack'll look at that head of yours."

"Like hell" she muttered before curling up in a corner of the cage. She closed her eyes and the darkness claimed her.

Jack rested with his back against the iron bars of the brig. He was in a bad mood. When someone removed your bonds, it was just plain courtesy to remove theirs as well. He'd even offered to look at her head! Hmph, that injury wasn't the only thing wrong with that girl's head.

Granted, she was in this position because of one of his crew, but that wasn't his fault. If she thought she could get out of this without his help she was damn wrong. He hoped her head got infected, that would show her. Now about this blindfold...

Oh my head. Jessica lay with her eyes closed, still fighting through the last remnants of sleep. What on earth had she done last night? Her head was throbbing, and all the muscles in her body ached. It felt like she had fallen asleep on the floor. The moving floor... Jessica snapped her eyes open and found another pair of eyes staring back at her.

"Hello luv' "

She moaned as all the memories from last night came rushing back.

"Good morning to you too. Now, I believe we got off on the wrong foot yesterday. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. I know ye aren't too partial t' me right now. However I also know that there is blood caked in your hair. So I believe it would be in th' best interests of both of us if you untied these ropes here."

Jessica's hand shot up to her head. Sure enough, she could feel the dried blood in her hair. As her fingers crept carefully along her scalp they came into contact with a particularly sensitive area. She jerked her hand back, gasping in surprise at the pain.

The injury was too tender for her to investigate with her own hands, but she'd be damned if she set that man free.

"Considering our current location, and the lack of materials at our disposal, I doubt there's very much you could do for my head. Not that you would do anything. I am pleased to inform you that I trust you about as far as I can throw you. This is mainly because you are a conniving pirate bastard. So the chances of me removing your bonds while we are locked together in this very confined space are slim to none." There, that should show him.

The smile did indeed vanish from the pirate's face, it was replaced by a mask of cold anger. "Lass I'm yer only hope of gettin' off this blasted boat alive. With my hands tied behind my back our chances are considerably lessened. Unless you can think of any possible way that you could escape this mess alone, I suggest you free me and we can get started."

The panic was beginning again. She didn't have any idea how to escape. She knew her situation was hopeless. However, that didn't mean that the pirate would be any help to her. Besides, what was he planning to do against an entire ship in the middle of the ocean. No, his chances were as poor as her own. No good could come from releasing him. She would just have to wait it out and see if an opportunity presented itself. She curled up again, facing the corner of her minute cell. If he was so brilliant he didn't need her help.

That wretched woman, Jack couldn't believe her. She was just plain stupid for not realizing the obvious and admitting that he was right. Why did she have this huge grudge against him. He certainly hadn't done anything to deserve it. It was true that if he hadn't borrowed Sharp's boat they wouldn't be in this mess. However, she was involved only because he was saving her from Roche.

He looked at her sleeping form in the corner. She didn't look all that bad when her eyes and mouth were closed. However, he could still envision those bright brown eyes which couldn't seem to look at him without glaring. Her chestnut brown hair tumbled down in curls around her face. The face could almost be pretty if her lip wasn't always curled in distaste. No, he decided, awake there wasn't much to her.

Jessica finally opened her eyes again at the sound of the door being opened. An especially dirty pirate was bringing in a tray with bread and water. "How are ye farin' this mornin'? Captain says we're almost far enough out to run yer hides off the plank. Of course for a hide this pretty, some exceptions could be made." He ran a grubby finger along Jessica's face. She shuddered and jerked away from his touch. "Maybe tonight then eh?" he smiled and returned above deck.

Jessica looked over at her sleeping cellmate. Now that he wasn't awake she had an opportunity to get a better look at the infamous pirate. His hair was an atrocious mass of braids with beads woven in. His mustache was not that of a gentleman and his clothing was typical of his trade. No, she decided, there wasn't much to him.

Yes I know we are all astounded at Jessica's stupidity, but she has her reasons.I want to thank all of my absolutely wonderful reviewers. You have no idea how much those reviews meant to me. You are fabulous. Consider yourselves hugged a thousand million times.

Casablancas- Yes I realize now that I did mean poppet. Thanks, it will be fixed.