Ok, u ppl know the drill. I don't own POTC or Jack Sparrow –shame- but Raven is mine!

And no, she's not me or anything. Actually, I based her on my best friend who, coincidentally has 'raven' black hair -.- and sorry bout the entire finger thing. I kinda based that on my hand, which I managed to bust the other weak. But nothing near as bad as poor Raven. Ok, um, right. One other thing. Im not sure how many of u realize that even 1 finger treated like that –as in, in the way Jack had to treat Raven's fingers, cuz he really had no choice- and she shoulda been out like light regardless as to whether or not she had had alcohol. Well, maybe two fingers… But still, u get the gist. So, just so u know; keep that in mind. It's kinda important. Anything else…..nope. Btw, thanx for the reviews! I love u Tatevique Eye!

Chapter 2

Run In

Raven slept throughout the course of four days. Jack and Anna-Maria took turns watching over her. She broke out in a fever after the first day, but it dwindled and disappeared after the third day. She was rarely lucid enough to do more then ask for water. But on the fourth day, Raven opened her eyes to face a world that she had never known.

She sat up, examining her surroundings. She was lying in a clean bed that sat in the corner of a small and cramped, albeit neat, room aboard what could only be a ship. The room was filled with the bed, a beautiful mahogany chest of drawers a plain oak desk and a tiny burro on which stood a basin and a towel. The walls were paneled in a deep wood –which had undoubtedly been furnished only recently, due to its perfect state- and a gorgeous pattern of pale beige flowers, painted directly onto the wall after the paneling ended. The small portal was covered with a thin white lace covering that had the intricate pattern of swans. All in all, it was a beautiful room.

Raven pushed herself up with her left hand, which was still thankfully in working order. She paused, feeling somewhat light headed. The liquor had long since worn away, but she hadn't eaten for many days. Slowly, she got off of the bed and hobbled over to the burro. With her good hand, she splashed her face with water, trying to clean away the grime of too much sleep. She grab bed the towel next and whipped her face off. When she was finished, she folded the towel and made to set it back down when she saw the embroidery on the corner. Her heart stopped at the small stitches that said Royal Navy of Britain. She was on a ship of the fleet, filled with soldiers. She was back where she did not want to be.

Heart beating like a crazed drummer, she ran out of the room and up the stairs to the deck with every intention of throwing herself over board, when she ran headlong into a man. She didn't have time to see what he looked like before she was flat on her back and coughing her life away. She had been severely winded by her connection with the sailor and she couldn't get her breath back. The man was in front of her now. She couldn't concentrate on his face because tears were coming into her eyes. The man said something and pulled out a handkerchief which he held just under her mouth. Gently, he helped her up and onto the deck. The powerful scent of the salt air hit her hard and her breath caught, sending the coughs away. The man pulled the handkerchief away and looked at it.

Jack looked at his handkerchief. It was covered in blood. Raven had coughed blood. He frowned. This was not good at all. Jack looked back at the girl, who was watching him. He smiled to hide his sudden discomfort.

"Sleep well?"

Raven nodded, her eyes meeting his gaze. She had a gaze that completely hid all her emotions. It was neither brazen, nor timid, threatening nor passive. Her gaze was impossibly green and neutral. But her facial expression said what her eyes did not. She was confused, but not scared. At least not any more.

"Sir," she said questioningly.

"Ay," Jack said, trying not to smirk at the respectful title.

"Are we on a ship of the fleet?"

Jack's jaw slacked off somewhat. Then he understood why she thought this. He grinned, suppressing a roar of laughter which would have probably offended Raven.

"Lass, the towels, they're pilfered."

Raven's face eased up as she finally understood a bit better.

"So, this is a pirate ship?"

Jack nodded.

"Would ye like us ta leave ye off at the next town?" Jack asked again, wondering if her reaction to the question would be different now that she was sober. But again, Raven seemed desperate to stay away from land.

"No," Raven exclaimed. Quickly, she collected herself and spoke again.

"Like I've already said before Captain, I'd much prefer to stay on board the Black Pearl and serve as a crew member."

Jack frowned, but nodded just the same. She was definitely on the run.

"Ay lass. So, how's yer 'and?"

Raven glanced down at her encased hand. She raised it up to show to Jack, who took it gently by the wrist so that he didn't jostle it too much. Raven bit her lip lightly.

"It hurts some when I move, so I haven't bothered to try. Besides that, I think it is fine."

Jack nodded. There wasn't much to say really. He wanted to ask her what she was running from, but he also felt that a question like that would be too prying for someone he had just met. Jack decided to give her time.

The ship sailed unchallenged for the rest of the day, most of which Raven spent in bed. At about noon, Raven awoke again and went up on deck where she took a seat on a crate and took comfort from the sea air. As she watched the sea, Raven began to notice that there was something else on the horizon other then the two islands that they were about to pass through. Eventually, it became known to Raven, jack and the entire crew that it was a ship.

Jack kept his eye on the ship. When there were maybe 2 leagues between the ship and the Pearl, Tom, who was scouting from the crow's nest, hollered down that it was a ship of the fleet. Jack frowned. He wasn't worried. It was a small ship and probably couldn't carry more then 20 men. His ship could hold up to 40, even though most of the cabins had been used for storage, since their trade required that they carry stolen goods. But, all technicalities removed, Jack had 32 men on board, no counting Gibbs and Raven, neither of whom could fight.

"Jack," a voice hissed in his ear. Jack spun around, one hand on his sword, having been thoroughly startled. When he saw it was Raven, he relaxed, only to tense again at the terrified expression on her face. She was muttering under her breath and from the little amount of French he knew, Jack could tell she was mingling curses and prayers.

"Jack," she said again, too scared to remember her formalities.

"They're here for me. They're guarding this pass, they know I'm out here, on the ocean and they want me. Please, I'm begging you, don't hand me over."

Jack looked at her pleading eyes. He glanced back out to the ship, which would be close enough to see her in a matter of minutes. He had time for only one question before he could make his decision.

"Lass, did someone r'lated to the Navy do that to ye?"

Raven nodded hurriedly. Jack watched her face for half a second, and then decided that he was going to hide her. He called Anna Maria up to man the wheel. Gently, Jack took Raven by the arm and steered her down to one of the smallest store rooms filled with weapons. This was the last place they'd look for her. There was the least amount of hiding space, but he had no intention of letting them get this far into the ship. Without a word, Jack pushed Raven behind a bound pile of bows. He shoved a sack of arrows and swords towards her on either side, closing her into the small corner. If it came to that, they would hopefully over-look the tiny room.

Jack hurried back on deck, where he saw that the other ship was now a matter of meters away from the Pearl. And standing by the bulwarks was Jack's least favorite soldier of the Navy.

"Commodore Norrington, to what do I owe the honor?" Jack said, waving his hands towards the small ship.

"The disappearance of a young French lady. She fell over board and now the fleet is attempting to find her. She has a very high social standing and I have given orders to search every ship in all the major passages and straights. Funny how I chose the same one that you would chose. Now, I'm afraid I'll have to have your ship searched." As he spoke, his crew had come alongside and positioned a gangway between the two ships.

"Sorry, Commodore," Jack said, moving to cut off the sailors who had begun to try and board the Pearl.

"'Fraid I can' let ye do that'," Jack was playing it cool, his tones more slurred then normal to hide his discomfort and the fact the his hand was positioned on his pistol, ready to draw and begin shooting.

"Mister Sparrow," the Commodore said as he drew and cocked his pistol, aiming it right at Jack's head.

"I don't think you have a choice. No, step aside or I will pull the trigger. And trust me when I tell you I will take great pleasure in doing so."

Jack would have said something that would have probably landed him at the bottom of the ocean, but right about then, an arrow ran right through the Commodore's hat sending it to the deck where the arrow pinned it down. Everyone turned to see who had shot the arrow. And everyone received a shock.

Standing at the helm holding a bow taller then she was, Raven drew another arrow from the quiver that she had attached to her back. She strung it onto the bow, holding it with her thumb, the only digit in her hand that was still in working condition.

"Commodore," she called down, her voice was cold and hard.

"That," she drew the arrow back, aiming at his chest now. "was a warning shot. So, unless you wish to have this arrow flagging around in your dead skull, I strongly advise you get back on your ship and sail away and never mention anything about this."

From the corner of his eye, Jack saw a sailor draw a gun and begin to take aim at Raven. Raven saw his motions too. Instantly, she repositioned herself and loosed the arrow which knocked the pistol right out of the sailor's hand and onto the deck where it went off, putting a bullet harmlessly into the bulwarks of the navel ship. In another smooth motion, she drew another arrow and re-strung it, aiming again at Commodore Norrington, who was gaping like a fish out of water at Raven.

"Well Commodore?"

"Miss Charron, I must ask why you are will to fight to stay on this pirate ship when I am perfectly willing to personally escort u back to Port Royale. After you were removed from the Angel by Mister Lanyard, we were all very worried about your well-being. Particularly when we found him several days later, dead in the life boat and you not with him."

Raven's expression slackened into one of shock.

"What…what do you mean Lanyard…took me off the ship?" Raven's grip on the arrow loosened so that it was aiming harmlessly at the deck.

"Well, he took a life boat and brought you with him. We found him with a knife in his chest so we assumed you had escaped. Thus, all of the passages are to be…"

Raven broke him off, the arrow once again notched and aimed at the Commodore's head.

"Well that's where you are wrong, Commodore. What ever Lanyard was doing alone at sea has nothing to do with me, I can assure you. Now, leave this ship."

The Commodore flinched as Raven pulled the arrow back even tighter. He took a step back, but he kept talking.

"But Miss Charron, your Mr. Anderson would much like to have you back. If he were to know that I left you here, in the hands of a pirate, particularly one as vulgar as Mr. Sparrow, it would be most unpleasant for me and many others."

"First off, Mr. Sparrow has been very hospitable to me thus far. He has not abused me in any way and nor has his crew. And secondly, I don't much care what happens to you or Frederic. That is no longer my concern. I have made a choice and it is my choice to make. I am staying on this ship so long as I am permitted. And you," Raven tugged a little harder on the bow that was sure to snatch the arrow out of her hand. "are leaving."

Norrington nodded nervously and climbed back aboard his ship. When the plank had been lifted, he hollered over to Raven.

"And what am I to tell Mr. Anderson?" He was pulling at straws now, trying desperately to get Raven onto his ship and back to this…Anderson. Funny, Jack thought. The name rang a bell in his head. But he ignored it as Raven threw her answer, full of contempt, into the wind to Norrington.

"You may tell him exactly this: I have no desire to be rescued and I do not advice he attempt to do so. If, however he fails to heed my warning, I will gladly kill him. Do tell him that for me Commodore. I don't much feel like doing so myself."

Norrington nodded, but he was defeated. He could have easily ordered an attack, but Mrs. Charron was important. He had received special orders to keep her absolutely safe. And she seemed too defiant to pluck away from the ship. He decided he'd risk the consequences and let her stay with Sparrow. For now.

When the small navel ship had left the pirate ship behind them, Raven dropped to the ground, the bow falling with her and the arrow clattering to the ground. She stared down at her hands, but she didn't seem to see them. It was as though she were staring through a portal that let her see through space and time. Jack knelt down beside her.

"Raven?" he asked, his voice not giving away any emotion.

Raven continued to watch her hands, but she answered him anyways.

"Sparrow, he'll be back."

The statement shocked Jack, but he simply nodded. It was logical. And this was, after all, Commodore Norrington. He was almost stubborn enough to be in Jack's own league. Jack took the bow and the arrow from Raven's limp hands took the quiver away from her as well. Putting them to the side, he pulled her up and steered her back to her room.

"Lass, ye need to rest. Ye've been through a lot, even though I thank ye for saving my arse. He woulda blown a hole through my head fer sure."

Raven smiled weakly and allowed Jack to steer her into her cabin, where she lay down again to get some more sleep.

I KNOW! It's short. But I have this story in my head and it just wont be mixed…damn head…has to think for itself….oh well. Click ze reeveew boottone and geeve mee a reeveew pleezuh. Thank u dahlings. :P forgot to take my medication. im so corny. -.-