Down at the docks the next morning, Jack, Will and I discovered the ratherinteresting and unique crew Gibbs had found during the night. They were lined up along the dock, waiting for inspection, I guess. Gibbs seemed proud of what he had accomplished in such a short time.

"Feast your eyes, Captain. All of them faithful hands before the mast. Every man worth his salt, " Gibbs boasted. The four of us walked slowly down the line, Jack had his breakfast, a banana in one hand. We paused at a bald, tough-looking midget. "And crazy to boot."

Will seemed sceptical of the assortment of sailors. "So this is your able-bodied crew?" he said quietly to Jack.

The pirate ignored him, as did I. We continued down the line until we came to an older, slat and peppered bearded man with a blue and gold macaw on his left shoulder. Jack squinted at him. I think he was intrigued by the large tropical bird.

"You, sailor!"

"Cotton, sir," Gibbs said.

"Mr Cotton, do you have the curage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" The Captain asked, his words coming out very fast.

Mr Cotton didn't reply.

"Mr Cotton. Answer, man!" Jack demanded.

Gibbs stepped up. "He's a mute, sir," he explained. "Poor devil had his tongue cut out," Cotton opened his mouth and showed us his stub of a tongue as proof. Will, Jack and I all looked absolutely disgusted. "So he trained the parrot to talk for him. No-one's yet figured how."

Jack took a half-step forward. "Mr Cotton's parrot," he addressed the bird a bit uncertainly. He didn't want to repeat the huge spiel he said before. "Same question.'

"Awk! Wind in your sails! Wind on your sails!" The parrot shouted.

After a pause, Gibbs translated. "Mostly, we figure that means 'yes.'"

"Of course it does," Jack said, not really caring any less and eager to move on. He turned to Will. "Satisfied?"

"Well, you've proved they're mad," the blacksmith commented.

"And what's the benefit for us?" a female voice called from further down the line. Frowning, Jack walked a few metres to the owner of the voice. I could tell he recognized it and was a bit afraid.

The owner of the voice had a wide-brimmed hat pulled over their face. Jack tried to peer under the hat, but failed to identify the individual. He lifted the brim of the hat to reveal a woman's face with dark skin. It was Anamaria. She did NOT look happy. Jack lifted her hat off, letting her long, black hair fall down along her back.

"Anamaria!" he stated in acknowledgement. Her reply was a slap to his face. I held my breath to keep from laughing. Jack's face had been knocked to the side, facing me and Will and reminiscent of last night in Tortuga.

"I suppose you didn't deserve that one either," Will remarked, also remembering the events of last night.

"No, that one I deserved," Jack admitted. Anamaria nodded.

"You stole my boat!" she said, indignant.

"Actually…" Jack began. He was interrupted by another slap. I was impressed. Ana's second slap actually echoed.

"Hell hath no furry like a woman's wrath, eh Captain?" I said with a smirk.

Jack took a moment to recover from the stinging assult to his cheek. "Borrowed! Borrowed with out permission, but with every intention of bringing it back to you."

"But you didn't!"

Jack came up with a quick idea in an attempt to calm the severely agitated woman. "You'll get another one."

Ana pointed an angary finger at Jack in a threating gesture. She really meant business. "I will," she said in a low voice.

Will jumped into the exchange. "A better one."

Jack repeated the suggestion enthusiastically. "A better one!" He was subtlety sucking up to Anamariea in a way that I've seen boys do time and time again when they're in trouble with women.

Will pointed to the end of the dock. "That one."

Jack turned to him. "What one?"

Will nodded towards the Interceptor anchored off shore. Everyone turned to look at it.

"That one?" Jack's tone wasn't happy. Everyone looked at him, waiting to hear what he would say. Jack thought for a moment, and decided why not? He was going to get his Pearl back anyways. "Aye, that one," he said with a pleading smile to Anamariea. She put one finger to her chin in consideration. "What say you?"

"Aye!" the female pirate exclaimed. She was echoed with agreeing "aye's" for the rest of Jack's new crew. The men all ran to the row boats so they could row out to the ship. Ana snatched her hat back from a slightly relieved Jack before she too moved towards the boats. Gibbs stepped up again beside the captain.

"No, no, no, it's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir." I tapped Sparrow's shoulder and pointed to the sky over the town. Dark, monstrous clouds were forming. Clouds like that can only mean one thing, and it didn't take a genius to figure out what.

"It'll be far worse not to have her," Jack said, looking slightly worried. He knew that he would need every able person he could get to make it through the coming storm. Jack and I walked to the rowboats, leaving Will and Gibbs looking at the sky.

When the storm finally did reach us, it was a dozy. Hurricane force winds and gigantic waves thrashed and attempted to beat the Interceptor into submission. The crew were scampering about making sure the ship stayed afloat, but at the same time trying to make sure they weren't swept overboard.

Jack, to all appearances, wasn't fazed by the typhoon in the least. He stood confidently at the helm holding his compass and steering the ship to our destination. He seemed completely in his element. I, on the other hand, wasn't having a good time. It took all my strength and power to keep from being blown or washed away. Normally, I would have helped make sure the ship got to Isla de Meurta, but because of the storm I was completely lost. I had to trust that Jack would be able to find the way, even through nature's furry.

Lightening flashed and a wave washed over the already saturated deck. I couldn't see Gibbs and Will, but I knew they were talking about Jack's compass. Gibbs somehow managed to climb the stairs that led to the helm. "We should drop canvas, sir," he hollered to Jack over the din of the storm.

"She can hold a bit longer," Jack shouted, drawing from his deep well of experience.

Gibbs noticed what a good time Jack seemed to be having. "What's in your head as put you in such a fine mood Capt'n?"

"We're catching up." Jack grinned and more lightening flashed behind him, making a dramatic and exciting effect. I couldn't help but smile to myself.

AN/ Special thanks to Kyrie for her input, vocab, and suggestions for this chapter. Thanks Kizz!