Chapter Nine: A Visitor with an Unexpected Proposition

The days progressed slowly, as we sailed for the Halls of Jubilation. Every once in a while, I could see Jack, from my perch among the riggings, casting looks over his shoulder. This unnerved me so much I started watching the horizon behind us with as much interest, and dread. One day, eight days after returning to the Pearl I caught Jack's eye and he waved me down off of the mast. I nodded, waving so he knew I understood him. With little delay I slid down the ropes meeting him on deck.

"You wanted to see me Captain?"

He nodded. "I would be much appreciated if you would start spending time below-decks in the galley." My expression must have alarmed him, because he quickly shrugged off the worry evident in his tone and smiled briefly. "Just for my peace of mind, you understand Chloe?" I nodded.

"Aye." I put a hand on his arm when he would have retreated. "What is it Jack?"

He shook his head. "Please don't ask me that Chloe." His eyes implored me to leave well enough alone, but I had never been good at heeding that sort of thing.

"Jack..." I approached him hesitantly and wrapped my arms around his neck, tensed and waiting for his arms to encircle my waist. They finally did and he hugged me awkwardly. "What's troubling you, Jack?"

He frowned into my hair and I tightened my grip. Why wasn't he telling me? What could be so bad that he would keep things from me? Granted, we hadn't done more than kiss, and by rights, I shouldn't expect him to be all open and forthright with me, but sue me; I did. I pulled away and cupped his cheeks in my hand. "Jack, please tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing, love." I eyed him and knew almost immediately he was lying. In a swift move, I grabbed his braided hair and tugged him into my embrace. My lips were hot and urgent on his, and his arms wrapped around my waist, squeezing like a drowning man in the middle of a storm-tossed sea.

"Don't ever lie to me again, savvy?" I asked, pulling back just enough to see his eyes. He frowned, obviously thinking things over. His hands clenched and unclenched at my back, fisting in my shirt. I sighed. "I'm not trying to be the annoying ass woman that bugs you at every turn...but I am here to tell you, I can handle most anything you throw at me. I survived high school, the parent from Hades, a father who stole money out of my piggy bank and being beaten and brutalized by smelly ugly pirates. There's not much that can shock me, Jack."

Jack sighed. "You really want to hear?"

"If it'll make you feel better."

There was a long pause where we both studied one another. He must have read the determination in my eyes, because he sighed and wrapped his arms around my body and hauling me closer to him. "I took something beside you off of Renfield's boat." My brows scrunched together. Didn't he know I already knew...? "I took a map."

"A map?" I parroted. Apparently he DIDN'T know.

Jack nodded his eyes solemn and sad. "Aye. I took a map that leads to the biggest treasure trove in all of pirate history." He shook his head. "It was rash of me, but I took it with the expressed purpose of revenge. Only I didn't think further ahead than that."

I frowned. Just what was he getting at? I mean...this didn't sound anything like the story he'd told to Ana and Gibbs...Jack had at least been excited then, not stony and depressing. "Jack, what are you saying?"

"Renfield's chasing us."

My eyes drifted to our stern and I squeaked in surprise and horror. There, two to three hundred leagues from where we stood was the outline of a ship, one that hadn't been there that morning. I must have jumped in fright, because Jack's arms wound around me again. "I won't let 'im touch you again, lass. I swear. His ship may be fast, but the Pearl is the fastest ship in the Caribbean, savvy?" I gulped and nodded, turning my eyes back to his when I felt a tug on the fat braid that hung down the middle of my back. "I mean it Chloe."

"I know, Jack." He looked at me and I felt the need to elaborate. "I trust you, to take care of..."

"CAPTAIN!" Ana shouted from the crow's nest. "SAIL HO!"

"I know Ana!" He shouted back. She shook her head fervently and I frowned. What the...

"NOT THOSE SAILS!" She pointed off the starboard bow. These were much closer. "THOSE SAILS." Jack's eyes widened.

"GOOD GRAVY!" I yelped. "That's the Dauntless!"

Jack was no longer by my side, but scrambling up the stairs to the helm. His voice carried over the wind, shouting orders to his crew. The last thing we needed at this moment was a run in with you know who...

Thirty minutes later...the Pearl was boarded. Not a single shot fired, since the Commodore had run up the flag of truce, asking for a parley when the two ships were close enough to hear his shouts. Jack relented only because the Commodore's crew outnumbered us fifteen to one. Not very good odds, even if you factored in Captain Jack I-can-weasel-my- way-out-of-anything-'cause-I'm-a lucky-son-of-a-gun Sparrow.

Jack and the Commodore were eyeing one another. I edged my way through the crowd of pirates and smirked when I caught the tail end of Jack's words. "...so glad you thought to spare me ship, mate. Though a bit out of character, is it not? Not that I'm complainin'!" He grinned, and shifted his weight, donning the façade of a drunkard.

"I knew it." I whispered. A few pirates turned and looked at me funny. I shrugged. Ever since I had seen the movies I wondered if the whole drunkenness was an act to make people underestimate him. And as I watched the commodore roll his eyes and shove Jack's arms off of his shoulder, I could see that it worked rather well.

"Indeed." Good Lord, that man needs a new line. I mean, honestly!

Jack grinned. "So what brings you aboard my Pearl, eh, Commadore?"

The commodore straightened. "I need your help."

Both Jack and I goggled. He was asking for help? – Willingly? Our eyes met and we both quirked a brow. That was interesting.

The commodore grew impatient, tapping his foot on the deck. Finally he threw up his hands and groaned loudly. "AREN'T you even going to ask what I need your help with?"

Jack grinned. "If it's about girl troubles...I'm afraid you're hopeless, mate."

I couldn't help it. Jack's expression was deadpan, and the commodore looked like he was going to explode. I really couldn't resist. I bent over at the waist and laughed – loudly. Both men's heads swiveled my way and regarded me with varying expressions. Jack was amused, and the commodore was...something less than that.

"I see you still employ the rudest brigands in the whole ocean..." He commented dryly.

"Aye, Chloe's a pistol." He grinned and winked at me. I grinned back.

Commodore Norrington and I stared at one another. "You're a girl!" He exclaimed. I rolled my eyes.

"Observant one, he is." I muttered to Zhao who grinned and shook his head. Jack eyed me curiously and I did a slight curtsy, just to tick the commodore off. "Why yes I am." I replied in a sugary sweet voice that would have made anyone want to hurl. The commodore eyed me for a long moment before turning back to Jack.

"Yes. I do need your help."

Jack nodded. "Established that already, we did, James old boy," He chuckled, toying with the braids on his chin. I smirked and rolled my eyes when the commodore's fists clenched. Honestly, this man was more than predictable.

"I would appreciate it if you would not refer to me so informally, Sparrow." He ground out, squeezing the fabric of his jacket between his fists. It was blatantly obvious that Jack was getting on his nerve. I grinned. Good. "Now, as to my purpose for being here..."

"'Bout time we got to that, mate." Jack mumbled, smiling disarmingly as the Commodore shot him a glare.

"Yes, well, I came to ask your assistance in the capture of a certain pirate."

Jack rolled his eyes. "I don' turn in me mates, commodore...now if that be all..."

"Marcus Renfield." My face paled and every eye of the Pearl's crew shot to mine. I shrugged and tried my best to look nonchalant, but the half- healed scars between my shoulder blades throbbed. I looked at Jack and found his eyes on me. With a sigh he turned back around.

"And just why would I be doin' that?" Jack asked, keeping his eyes blank of the anger I could see curling his fingers into tight fists, the knuckles white with rage.

The commodore shot me a slight look then sighed. "He's taken Elizabeth."

My eyes widened. "What?" I blurted. I felt extremely upset by this news, not as a person who happened to like Elizabeth in the movie... (Don't shoot me please, she is a moron for not sleeping with the Captain when she had a chance, but...oh never mind!). There was no way I would wish what happened to me; what would probably happen to her, on even my worst enemy. Hell, I'd even want to spare Lucifer that kind of pain...almost.

Jack was just as shocked. "What? When? How?"

The commodore rubbed his hands over his eyes and sighed deeply. "About three days ago. His ship slipped past our defenses and when we woke, Mrs. Turner was missing from her father's house."

"Where' Will?" I asked, moving to stand beside Jack, making Anamaria roll her eyes and Gibbs mutter under his breath.

The commodore sighed again. "Will...Will is in a bad way."

"How 'bad'?" Jack and I demanded together.

He sat sharply on the railing. "He's been shot."