Chapter Thirteen: Switch-a-Roo

I grinned a little as the Pearl drew nearer to Renfield's ship and I could see the pirates scurrying about above decks, as if preparing to repel boarders. My grin turned sly and I crossed my arms over my chest. I had a better plan than rushing over there, half-cocked and getting more of Jack's pirates killed.

"Run up the flag." I stated, staring at the ship as we gained on them with every passing moment.

"The Jolly Roger?" One of the pirates asked, coming to stand beside me. With relish, I shook my head.

"No. The white one." He looked at me like I was mad. "Do it." I commanded, and he backed away from the venom in my tone, going off, shouting orders to the other pirates. The flag had been raised just as we pulled even with the other pirate ship. Renfield eyed the white flag for a long moment before motioning for his crew to drop anchor. The Pearl did the same, and along with Anamaria, Gibbs and the Commodore, I walked across the gangplank.

"Long time no see, Renny baby." I said mockingly.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, angry. "And what on earth do you want?"

I rolled my eyes. "Well I would die for a bath right about now, but seeing as that's not a possibility, I'd like my captain back, please."

He laughed. "And you think I'm going to hand him over, just like that?" He looked over his shoulder at his crew and laughed some more, silently urging them to join in. They did, raucously and my eyes narrowed. "I don't think so, Miss Chloe." He grinned.

"I wouldn't expect that kind of altruism from someone like you, Renfield." I spat, crossing my arms in front of my chest, before nodding to Gibbs, who produced the map from his vest pocket again, holding it out so that the captain could see what it was, my brows wiggled. "What I'm offering, Renny, is a straight up trade. This piece of paper, for my boozing superior." He looked at hard at me and I grinned. "Oh...what? Don't you trust me?"

"Not as far as I can throw you." He muttered, turning to look at Gibbs. "Mr. Gibbs, I'm surprised at you...taking orders from a woman? Has she become the new captain of the Pearl? Or demoted you to her lap-dog?" Gibbs took a step forward and glared menacingly. I touched his arm soothingly and looked straight at Renfield.

"Give us what we're after, or we'll take this elsewhere..." I warned, waving the map in Renfield's face. He snarled and turned to his first mate ordering him to fetch Sparrow. I grinned at Anamaria whose hand was clasped on the Commodore's arm. My eyebrows rose at the sight and she immediately loosened her hold. My eyes drifted back to the first mate as he reemerged from the bowels of the ship, carting an unconscious heap with him. My stomach leapt into my throat at the sight of blood, and I struggled not to cry out as Jack's bruised and battered face rolled towards mine when the large man dumped him on deck. I brought my gaze back to Renfield and glared at the amusement that was written there.

"I've acted on faith, Miss Chloe...I'd like you to do the same." He nodded to the crumpled paper in my hand and I looked down at it.

"You'll get your blasted map, Renfield." I growled. "But first, there is one more condition." He rolled his eyes and cocked a hip, waiting for this 'condition.' "Once we have given you the map, and are safely back on the Pearl, you must give your word that you will not fire on us."

"Now why would I want to be doing that?" He asked, unknowingly parroting Barbossa. I ground my teeth.

"If you don't I swear this map goes into the ocean and the only thing that will be able to use it are the fish!" I declared, storming over to the railing. Renfield gave a sharp cry and I turned back. "Do we have an accord?" I demanded hoarsely, my eyes darting from Renfield's arrogant face to the prone body of Captain Jack Sparrow. Renfield narrowed his eyes and nodded swiftly.

"Aye, an accord." He announced, holding his hand out for the map. I placed it into his hand before dropping next to Jack, and rubbing his shoulder.

"He needs medical attention." The Commodore declared after kneeling on Jack's other side, and performing a cursory once over of the man. My eyes stung as I helped the Commodore lift his heavy body, both of us hissing at his dead weight. Gibbs and Anamaria fell in step behind us, both of them having placed their hands discretely on their pistols, should any of Renfield's men try anything.

We made it aboard the Pearl without incident, and I was now stationed below decks, on Jack's bedside. His shirt had been removed to a painful- looking pallet of bruises all up and down both sides of his trunk. I took his hand in mine, caressing the swollen fingers, it looked as thought Renfield had broken his hand in several places. I frowned. There wasn't much to do about broken bones in this time, if I recalled my history teacher correctly. With my free hand I dipped a cloth in the bowl of cool water at my side, and then mopped his forehead with it. If we were lucky, Jack would not grow feverish. My gaze traveled to his arm, wrapped shoulder to wrist in white bandages, and I frowned. But still, it would be best if Sparrow stayed out of the Free-Bird plans, and recuperated aboard the Pearl, whilst I shot Renfield in his big fat head.

"Chloe?" The roughened voice was such a shock to me in the silence of his cabin, I dropped his hand, only to snatch it up again and stared at his face as his eyes fluttered open. His dark eyes were clouded with pain and fatigue, but to me, I didn't think I'd ever seen anything so beautiful.

"I'm here, darling." I whispered, leaning closer to brush some hair from his forehead. He tried to smile, but it must have pained him too much, because his lips went lax almost immediately.

"I'm dreaming..." He murmured, reaching his hand out to caress my cheek, only to wince and lower it before it had reached it's destination. "Why do I hurt?" He asked, curiously, lifting his head a tiny bit from the pillow to look at his prone body.

"Renfield hurt you, baby." I whispered, undone by his pain-hazed ramblings. "But you're safe now, you're aboard the Pearl." He smiled tiredly and closed his eyes again.

"He's awake." The statement came from the door and I looked up to see Anamaria standing there. I nodded wordlessly and she came in, seated herself on the other side of the mattress. "Jack? Can you hear me? It's Ana." She whispered. He coughed a little.

"Aye, Ana, I can hear you, there's no need to shout, I'm right next to ye." He said quietly, keeping his eyes closed and swallowing. "What I wouldn't do for some rum right about now?" One eye slid open and peered at me cagily. I smiled, if he was asking for liquor, I could hazard a guess that he would be just fine.

"Not now, maybe when you're better." I declared, making him pout at me. That is one powerful weapon, let me tell you! I turned away and busied myself with straightening the bandages.

"Chloe?" I turned back and looked at Ana. "James says we ought to be turning around and heading for the Halls if we're planning on getting there before that...that...pirate." She stated, at length.

"James?" I asked curiously, enjoying the slight flush that traveled up her neck at my reproof. She shook her head.

"The Commodore says we should get underway."

I nodded. Jack looked at both of us in confusion, actually a lot more alert than he was five seconds ago. "The Halls of Jubilation?" He asked, struggling to sit up. I helped him sit, and then wedged as many pillows as I could find behind him to keep him upright, as he had not the strength to do so himself.

"Aye." Anamaria answered for me. Jack's eyes swiveled to mine and I played with my hair, before bringing my gaze fearlessly to his.

"Why are you here?" Jack asked at length. "I told Norrington to keep you away." I shook my head.

"And if you weren't flat on your back I'd pummel your sorry ass." I grunted, re-wetting the cloth and placing it to his forehead. He pushed my hand away and glared to the best of his limited ability. Both of his eyes were ringed in black circles, and I had trouble taking his anger seriously, since he looked like an oversized, disgruntled raccoon. "And I had every right to come after you."

"Just how did you get me off of that boat?" He demanded.

"Ship." I corrected, smiling.

"Chloe." He warned. I rolled my eyes.

"We traded him. The map for all our lives." His eyes widened.

"You did...what? Why in heaven's name would you do a stupid thing like that?" I was growing tired of his attitude and so, after filling the washcloth with cold water a third time I placed it over his head and squeezed. The cold water dumped on his head and he yelped. "What in bloody hell was that for?" I shrugged.

"I felt like it." I muttered plopping the washcloth back in the bowl. Anamaria grinned at me and I smiled back, before she turned and gave the two of us some privacy.

"Do you realize, Chloe, that he could have killed you?" He asked running his good hand through his wet tangle of hair. I shook my head.

"Not while I held something of value to him." I contradicted, reaching out and wiping a drop of water from his cheek, my thumb getting scrapped by the stubble raised on it.

"Damn it, Chloe. I didn't want you to come after me!" Jack thundered and I rolled my eyes.

"So I was just supposed to let you...what? Die?" I shook my head. "I'm sorry Captain Sparrow, but that didn't sit well with me." He groaned and raised a hand to rub his face. I sighed. "Jack, I'm smarter than it appears you think I am." He raised a brow sardonically and if he weren't in pain, I would have loved to slug him.

"Oh? And how's that?"

I rolled my eyes, sighing in exasperation. "Jack, I have a plan to give Renfield a boot in the ass."

He perked up. "Oh? And how is that?" I leaned closer and started to explain what had happened up until that point.

"Okay, after I knew you were captured, I came up with a preliminary plan, told the Commodore to send for the crew of the Pearl; I knew they'd come to help rescue you. Gibbs had the map, and I made a copy of it. Elizabeth got her father to pardon you and the crew temporarily, and the Commodore told Gillette to have the fleet follow us, only after we'd gone out of sight. After all, it wouldn't do to have the Royal Navy turn up in the middle of our negotiations, now would it? So, then we set out after Renfield. Once we had caught up to him, we set up a parley between us."

"You didn't go there alone did you?" He demanded; I put a finger to his lips.

"Do you want to hear this or not, Sparrow?" He settled into a sullen silence, but still listened avidly as I continued to give him the four-one- one of what was going on. "Anyway so, we did the trade and he let us go." Jack's brow was furrowed and I patted his hand consolingly. "It'll all make sense in a minute. Now that the fleet has caught up with us, we will take the round-about way of getting to the Halls of Jubilation, the fleet staying anchored on the other side of the island, while the Pearl's crew goes in and does what they do best." He cocked an eyebrow and I rolled my eyes. "Stealing, Captain Sparrow. Stealing. And while the crew is creating a diversion, I will sneak in, kill Renfield and that'll be the end of it." I grinned triumphantly, the smile fading when he continued to stare at me like I had lost my marbles.

"It'll never work, Chloe." He stated.

I bristled. "And how would you know, Sparrow?"

"Because I'd never let you in there on your own to take on that vile piece of work." He shook his head. "No ma'am this plan does not go ahead unless you add one detail to it."

I groaned and looked at him already fearing what it would be, and half-certain I already knew what that 'one detail' would be. "What is that?" I asked.

"I'm going with you." I goggled at him.

"Absolutely not, Jack Sparrow." I declared. "Look at you, you'll fall on your face before you've taken three steps. The last thing we all need is to keep looking out for you." I shook my head and crossed my arms. "You aren't going and that's final."

"I don't go, you don't go, love." I growled but saw in his eyes that he was completely serious. With a huff of a breath I turned and stalked away. I could hear his laughter and I nearly turned back. "I'll see you on deck, darling." He called after me.

"Not if I don't see you in hell first, Sparrow." I growled, completely and utterly pissed off at the sexy swashbuckler.