A/N: Hmmmmmm my readers seem to be dropping the ball, eh? For a while there were only two reviews...tsk tsk *shakes head* you should be ashamed of yourselves. *Sighs dramatically* oh well it seems I'm underappreciated. I might just stop writing altogether. Lol. Just kidding, I assure you. I'm enjoying writing this fic, regardless whether I get reviews or not. But they are an added bonus *cough* HINT! *cough*. However I will now shower my few reviewers with praise.

Random Character: *Grins* I am proud of you; you found it again all by yourself, it's amazing! *Glomps* I'm glad you liked Storm's little rant at Gibbs, I thought about throwing in a punch somewhere but that's more your style. Lmao. I should review your fic again, considering you've reviewed every one of my chapters. *Thinks*. I will at some point I promise. Anyway, keep reading!

Dreamgirl21147: YAY you reviewed again! For a long time you were the only other one besides Random Character who, let's face it, reviews everything whether she's supposed to or not. Aren't Finn and Sam great? I absolutely love writing them in! Hope you like the rest of the story! Keep reviewing, I'm sure it's good karma.

Jen/Draca: That was a close one, I was afraid I was going to be mad at you for not reviewing. *Thinks* Of course it wasn't your fault considering you've been in Thunder Bay. *Shrugs* meh, whatever. Yep it's another cliffie *sticks out tongue* it's the best way to end a chapter cuz it keeps readers interested. Anyway, keep up the reviews! They always make me happy.

To those of you who are reading this fic and are not reviewing (you know who you are *glares*) I curse you! The only way out of this curse is to review! Right now! Do it! Before it's too late, Mwahahahahaha.

Disclaimer: Is this really bloody necessary? *Sighs* I suppose it is.ok I don't own potc, either read the damn fic or sod off. I'm sure most people don't read this stupid thing anyway. If you do read this and you've taken offense to the previous statements then; get a freakin' life!

And now what you've all been waiting for (reviewers and non-reviewers): The rest of the story.

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Storm slept fitfully, her dreams filled with images of her brother. His ship, burning, his crew fighting desperately against their assailants, so many of them dying, either by sword or by fire. James' face, filled with sorrow and horror at the terrible events around him. Storm could only look on helplessly as he-and what little remained of his crew-was taken prisoner. She cried out, and turned her own damaged ship towards the Vengeance-a privateer vessel- hoping to rescue them.

The captain was stopped when a hand, gentle but firm, descended on her shoulder.

"No, Cap'n," said Faye gently, "we've been 'it too 'ard. We'd never make it out of 'ere alive."

Storm shrugged off her friends hand and whirled angrily on Faye, taking out her fear and anger on her first-mate, "Are you a cap'n? Is that your brother out there? It is not your place to tell me what to do!"

Faye, always understanding, took the tirade calmly, "I'm not tellin' ye to do anythin', I'm merely askin' ye to do what ye have to fer yer crew. I may not be a cap'n, but I'm yer friend, Storm, and yer first-mate. Ye chose me to advise ye, and that's what I'm doin'."

Her friend's words hit Storm like a slap in the face. She nodded dumbly, ashamed, and almost mechanically changed their course. Away from her brother's ship.

Storm cast one last glance behind her and immediately wished that she hadn't. The image of her brother's ship burning and sinking, bodies floating in the water beside it, would haunt her forever.

She awoke from the nightmare in a cold sweat, her whole body shaking. But that's just it, thought the woman bitterly, it's not a nightmare, it really happened and now here I am on someone else's ship, with James god-knows- where, hoping to find him before he's hung.

The female pirate groaned, she needed some fresh air, badly. She rolled out of bed, pulled on a pair of breeches and a simple white tunic and slipped quietly out of her cabin.

It was still several hours before dawn and the ship was quiet, even the few members of the crew that were on deck were stealing a bit of sleep. No one paid Storm any mind as she padded over to the rail and took a deep breath of the sea air. Almost immediately, she began to feel better as her head cleared.

Storm sighed, the uneasiness the nightmare had left her with was receding and she was beginning to relax. She didn't want to back to bed though, not just yet. The ship was so silent and still at this time, it felt as if she was the only person in the world. It was very calming, Storm didn't want to abandon the feeling so quickly.

Unfortunately, it turned out that she wasn't the only one up.

"Couldn't sleep, eh?"

Storm winced inwardly, she definitely didn't feel up to dealing with Sparrow.

"No, Jack." She replied wearily.

"Neither could I." Jack moved to stand beside her at the rail and looked out over the water.

"And what could possibly be keeping the great Captain Jack Sparrow awake?" asked Storm sarcastically.

Jack ignored her tone, "you," he said evenly.

"Me?"

"You."

Storm rolled her eyes, "What? Are you wondering how you can get me into bed again? Or how to turn this little reunion of ours into some kind of profit for you?"

"Oh come now, Captain O'Connor, I may be a pirate but I'm not that despicable."

"Do you want to make a bet?" said Storm wryly.

Jack cast her an odd look, as though he had just realized something, "You really are angry with me, aren't you?"

Storm gazed at him in disbelief, "You just noticed..?"

"No no no no, I knew you were mad but you see, most women just slap me and refuse to talk to me for a while. They get it out of their systems quickly." Storm opened her mouth to say something but Jack held up a hand, "Yes, luv, I know yer not like most women and I don't argue with that. However, I've dealt with angry women before but they, it seems were only a little miffed. You, on the other hand, seem to be blinded with rage. From what I understand, you currently hate me. Why?"

"I've already told ye."

"I know, luv, because I left you. I admit, for longer than I meant to but you knew that risk when you met me. I'm a pirate, therefore my behaviour goes without sayin', luv." He paused, gauging her reaction. "What I want to know," he continued quietly, "is what else it is about me that's bothering you, 'cause I can feel it's important."

Storm turned away from the sea and leaned against the rail, her arms crossed over her chest. For a moment she merely stared at Jack, studying him.

"Alright," she said at last, "I'll tell ye. For yer right, Jacky, it's not just that ye left me; yer a pirate, I could almost forgive ye for it. But there's somethin' else, and it's weighed on me mind ever since that night."

She took a breath, trying to keep calm.

"Why didn't ye take me with ye?" Storm asked quietly.

Jack cocked his head slightly, "What?"

"I don't mind that ye left-I always kinda figgered that you'd leave someday-
and I don't mind that ye have a woman in every bloody port, that goes with the pirate territory. And I can almost forgive ye for forgettin' about me, after all ye went through. But what bothers me is that ye didn't bring me along to Isla de Muerta, when ye promised me that ye'd share yer adventures with me. Ye vowed that ye'd treat me as an equal in everythin', ye always said I was probably stronger and smarter than most of yer crew.

So why, Jack? Did ye change yer mind about me? Was it all a lie just to get me into yer bed? Did ye just see me as another wench, not as Storm O'Connor, yer strong and savvy lass? Or was it 'to protect me'? Ye thought like Gibbs; that I was a weak idiot and I'd be bad luck to yer Pearl? Why? Why did ye leave me behind?"

Jack looked taken aback, he hadn't been expecting this. He studied her face, as always Storm hid her emotions well, though her eyes told stories of their own. He met her gaze and was amazed at what he saw. Not anger, just hurt. Jack had genuinely hurt her, and badly too.

He suddenly wished he could answer her question.

"I don't know," Jack whispered.

"Ye don't know?" Storm stared at him incredulously, "Ye mean ye just got drunk one night and decided it would be a good idea to leave without a word?"

"/Got/ drunk..?"

"Oh yes, how silly of me," Storm sighed emphatically. She sat down heavily on a barrel. To Jack she looked almost.defeated, not the usual image she projected.

Jack gazed at her sympathetically, "Were ye hopin' fer somethin' more, Storm?"

She fiddled absently with her rings, looking in every direction except his. "I don't know. I always hoped that.." She searched for words, "well, that ye'd have some sort of reason.then maybe things could be different.but maybe that's too much to ask."

For a while neither pirate spoke, each lost in regret. Storm's tunic was slightly big for her, it was very loose and ripped. When a light breeze pushed it off one of her shoulders, she didn't bother to put it back.

Jack noticed something on her bare shoulder, a mark, a scar he realized. He reached out and touched it. Storm jerked at his touch and clutched his hand instinctively.

"Ye've got a scar," he explained and winced inwardly. That was stupid, he berated himself, I'm sure she's bloody well-aware that she has a scar. It's not exactly hard to miss if it's right there on your shoulder.

The woman shrugged, "I know, it goes all the way down my back."

Jack raised his eyebrows, "That must have hurt."

She nodded, "Oh it was quite the battle but I gave him worse." Storm smiled faintly at the recollection.

"I've got more than that," she added, and pulled up her pant leg. On her calf was a mass of jagged viscious scars. I was obvious that the flesh had been badly ripped up.

Jack whistled softly, "How did that happen?"

"Got pushed onto some rocks. Hit me head too, I don't remember everythin' exactly. I seem to remember some kind of argument.." Storm shook her head, "It's all fuzzy now."

Jack grinned, "Welcome to my life."

Storm couldn't help but chuckle. "You scallywag," she pushed him playfully. Jack pushed her back. The female pirate raised an eyebrow, "So it's a fight ye want eh?"

Before Jack had a chance to react, Storm pounced on him, tickling him unmercifully. The hapless pirate doubled up with laughter and nearly collapsed before he managed to squeeze Storm's sides.

She yelped and sprang away for a moment, releasing him briefly. She recovered from the attack quickly, however, and seconds later Storm had succeeded in pinning Jack to the deck.

For a moment, they could only pant from exertion and didn't move from their position, Jack on the floorboards, and Storm sitting on his chest. It wasn't a long moment, but, briefly it was like old times, when they had still been friends..and lovers.

It ended quickly. Storm rolled off of Jack and brushed herself off absently. Jack struggled to his feet a bit drunkenly (everything he did was done drunkenly). They were both a little ruffled and unsure of what had just happened.

"I believe I'll just go try to catch a bit more sleep," Storm said starting to back away.

She turned to leave, then stopped, as though remembering something. She turned back to Jack and without any warning, decked him.

Just like that.

And then she was gone.

Leaving a very befuddled Jack.

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A/N: Well here it is, at last. Kinda broke my promise about once a week, eh? Ah well, take it or leave it. Next week: A visit with Will and Elizabeth! Won't that be fun?

Oh don't forget the curse about not reviewing..I'm not sure what will happen to you if you don't but you can be certain it will be bad. So REVIEW..just in case. Catch ya later, mateys!