The next morning, Kat strolled along the deck of the Black Pearl, squinting in the bright sunlight. She hadn't seen Jack since last night when she had told him about her mother and her life. He hadn't woken her when he got up and now she didn't know where he was. Kat looked towards the helm and saw that Jack was absent from the wheel. Without really knowing why, she made her way over to it and put her hands on the smooth wood. She stared out towards the rolling blue waves of the sea, a pirate's paradise. She imagined her mother standing at the helm of the Lagoon, sailing towards the horizon to escape the trials of motherhood. Maybe she shouldn't have told Jack so much last night. She had never told anyone her secrets before.

Jack came back up on deck and saw Kat by the helm, her hands gingerly touching the spokes of the wheel. She wasn't aware that anyone was watching her and as Jack quietly approached her, he wondered what she was thinking. Kat turned at the sound of his boot on the wood and let go of the helm immediately. The expression on her face was like one of a child being caught stealing biscuits. Jack grinned at her and her eyes flashed up at him defiantly as if he was laughing at her.

"Want to steer with me for a bit, luv?" he asked her, his eyes warm and affectionate. Kat was surprised at this, but she remembered how he had listened to her last night and stayed with her until she fell asleep. He didn't sound flirtatious when he said it and he looked quite serious. He was looking at her slightly nervously, as if she would reject him. So she nodded, feeling her heart start to pound and not knowing why.

Kat stood close to the wheel and Jack brought her hands to the spokes slowly. As he touched her hand he felt her shiver at his touch. But she didn't move away. Jack stood behind her and looked over her left shoulder. They looked like a good couple for height – Jack was slightly taller but only by an inch or two. They both stared out at the horizon, a chilly breeze blowing Kat's dark hair over her shoulder. The long sleeves of Jack's white shirt rippled and he brought his arms around Kat's waist and held her close to him to keep them both warm. For a moment he worried that she might swing round and slap him, but she didn't.

Jack had held a lot of women in arms, but he knew that none of them were like Kat. She hadn't fallen for his charm and she didn't treat him like he was anything special. When he first met her she determined to stay independent and on her own, although she had nowhere to go. He could see that she didn't trust easily and was a proud person. That's what made last night so special – he had seen a vulnerability that lay underneath her tough act and he had wanted to give her all the care and protection he had in him. Kat was strong and he knew she'd keep fighting, whatever was thrown her way. Jack suddenly felt a rush of feelings surface that he had never experienced before. Then Kat turned her face towards him, so close their noses were almost touching. Jack looked as if to kiss her, but then he let go of her waist and walked away.

Kat watched him go, her eyes wide. What had just happened there? She felt a fluttery feeling in her stomach, a feeling she had never had before. She suddenly turned back to the wheel, tightening her grip on the spokes. Stop it, she scolded herself. She wasn't falling for Jack Sparrow, of course she wasn't. He's a pirate – he doesn't care about women, he just gets them into bed. But if he doesn't care, then why did he comfort her last night and hold her like that just now? She shook her head, feeling confused and panicky at the emotions she was having. Did Jack see them as more than just friends or not? Why did he walk away so abruptly? Kat was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Anamaria coming over to her.

"So…I saw ye with Jack just now!" Anamaria was smiling broadly at her. "Ye looked so nice and intimate together. I'm happy for ye, Kat – but just watch he doesn't mess ye about."

"What do mean?" Kat stared at her. "Jack and I aren't together. You…you saw us?"

"I was up in the crow's nest." Ana frowned in incomprehension. "So…if ye're not together then why were ye standing with him at the helm like that?"

"I…I don't know. Jack came up and asked if I wanted to steer with him. I just couldn't say no."

"Why not? He asked ye something worse that night he got drunk and ye slapped him so hard he nearly fell over. What's changed since then?"

"Last night I dreamt about my mother. I think I saw how she was killed." Kat didn't mind telling Anamaria about it. "I woke up really upset and Jack came and sat with me. I ended up telling him everything – things I've never told anyone."

Anamaria shrugged. "And your point is?"

"Doesn't it mean that we have some sort of bond?" Kat persisted. "And then when he held me at the helm he was so gentle; it wasn't like he tried to grope me or something!"

"That's a first!" Ana's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "It seems like ye've fallen for him."

"I haven't! I was just caught up in the moment. We're still just friends." Kat insisted, although she knew she wasn't convincing herself.

"Well, if ye want it to stay that way, make sure it does. I'm not saying I don't believe ye, I've just never known Jack to really fall for a lass. But perhaps you've seen something in him that I haven't."

"Before I came," Kat began awkwardly, "did you and Jack ever have a thing together?"

"I think he may have had a thing for me after he got his ship back, but I didn't really let anything come of it. I didn't want him to just bed me and then move on to some wench because then how could I carry on being a part of his crew? I'd hate him and things would be awkward…"

"Didn't you ever have any feelings for him?" Kat asked her, hoping that she'd be able to relate to how she felt.

"Jack's a great guy. But he seems more like a brother to me, if that. Believe me Kat - I don't want a man in my life at the moment. If I do get a guy one day, it won't be Jack. He's made for you." She grinned at Kat teasingly.

"Don't say that!" Kat exclaimed. "Jack's not made for anyone – he's his own man. He'd hate to be tied down to one woman and I'm not ready to give up my independence for anyone."

"In that case, ye'll just have to hope it blows over. But ye can't fight yer feelings for too long." Ana smiled at her and left.

InToDepp – Thank you so much again! So there is a softer side to Katrina, but is there one to Jack?

Aluna – Hi, I know what you mean! Jack is 'dashingly sexy' – spot on girl! Thanx 4 the review!

Karibbean – Thanks so much and I am going to review your story today, I promise!

amanda-gurl – Hi, thanks for reviewing! As for those pics, they're on a site called Oh Johnny . net.You scroll down until it says 'Oh Johnny! has the first shot of Jack from POTC2/3 - please read HERE'. Then you click on 'here' and on that page it has photos from the set. I hope that helps, I didn't want to put a link on case it's not allowed!

kerrcarri – Hiya! I've read the plot for the sequel and I was so excited I practically screamed out loud! I went all crazy, emailing it to all my friends. Just to think they could be filming right this SECOND! That somewhere in the Caribbean right now Johnny is playing Jack, sailing around or saying lines… Anyway sorry for the shortness of the chapter – this one is even shorter I think, but don't worry they're about to get longer! I will go and read your story now!

Chloe04 – Thanks for reviewing! I would love to see Jack in love in the next film!