Author's Ramble #5: Wow! Its hard to believe I'm up to Chapter 5 already. My fingers cry for relief, but my brain tells them to keep going! Damn will power! Anyway, to the great happiness of many, Dean will be back to her old self this chapter (much to Jack's dismay). Is Jack so thick that he hasn't figured out her identity yet! Guess you'll just have to find out! (evil grin) Dean has no plans of letting up on him again anytime soon. Again thank you for all the support. I'm glad you are all enjoying my first PotC fic. Without farther adieu, here is Chapter 5. Enjoy!

"Will you forget about me?"She looked up him, sincerity and sorrow filling her eyes.

"Never." He smiled down at her. "You're one of my best friends. Why would I forget you?"

"Will you come back for me some day."

Jack looked at her for a moment, slightly perplexed by her statement. His countenance softened when he saw how serious she was. "When I become a great sailor, I'll come back for you."

"Promise me."

He laughed, "I promise."

Jack woke with a start, nearly falling from his hammock as he bolted upright. Regaining his balance, he fell back against his pillow in thought. What an odd dream...

"Time to get up, Sparrow!" Dean now familiar, commanding voice ordered as a wet cloth was hurled at his head. Jack sat up and looked at her in defiance. Her eyes narrowed in response to his rebellion. "Don't think I would want you awake, you slimy sea dog! The Captain wishes to have a word with you."

Jack tossed the rag aside and rose from his hammock, stretching away any pains in his back that had developed in his sleep. He strode lazily toward the door, but was stopped by Dean's arm as she extended it into his path.

"We are going to need that," she pointed out, nodding in the direction of the rag that lay abandoned on the worn oak floor boards.

A bit confused, Sparrow retrieved the cloth and followed Dean up to the Captain's chambers. Intoxicating scents of roses and spices filled his nose as they entered. Morel sat behind his desk, quill racing back and forth across the page before him. Incents burned in a gold platted bowl beside his ink.

"Bon soir, Captain Sparrow," the aged Captain greeted, setting his quill in the ink bottle. "I trust Miss Dean has been treating you well?"

"Well, actually," Jack began, but, upon having a pistol shoved into his lower back, he decided to change his words. "Yes, quite well."

"Good, good. In that case, shall we get down to business?" Morel rose from his plush armchair and strode around the desk to face him. "You have been with us for a weeks, and I have finally decided what to do with you." He paused. "I was going to maroon you, but you had not tried to kill me."

"Quite right!" Jack agreed, relieved that he wouldn't end up on another island.

"Then, I was just going to have Dean kill you, but you hadn't taken anything from me."

"Pity," Dean muttered, replacing her pistol at her side. "I would have enjoyed that."

Morel chuckled. "Quite a fiery one, isn't she?"

"So it would seem," Jack agreed, still awaiting his decided fate.

"I found her hiding in the brig of a ship we had attack about ten years ago."

"Fifteen, sir," she corrected.

"Ah, yes. Thank you. That scrawny, thirteen year old girl reminded be so much of my own daughter, Rebecca. I took her under my wing, and put her on the account. The men took to her overtime. A damn good pirate, she is. I remember her first attack-"

"Sparrow's fate, sir?" Dean interrupted, crimson rising in her cheeks.

"Oh, yes! Well, Mr. Sparrow, I have decided that you will be leaving us at Tortuga. Until that time you are to work the decks."

"Thank you, sir," Jack replied, bringing his hands together in a praying gesture. "Thank you."

"Dean," Morel exclaimed. He started spouting off orders in French to his first mate as Jack attempted to catch a few words here and there.

"Aye, sir!" She clicked her heels to attention and marched to the door. "Let's go, Sparrow!"

Jack made one more gesture of thanks toward the Captain before following suit and exiting. On deck, the moon was already hanging high amongst the stars like the glass orb of a lit lamp, burning brightly over head. Crew member were lighting lanterns along the masts while others were dancing in the middle of the deck to the joyous sounds of a fiddle.

Dean was already joining in the festivities as Jack approached the group. She kicked her feet out in time and swung around arm-in-arm with a large, burly sailor twice her size. The man threw her petite frame into the air, to the crew great delight, and caught her inches from the ground Another crew member lead her now in a mock waltz. She laughed with delight as they twirled about. Jack watched her with great interest. What a puzzling woman! She had so many different sides to her that it was hard to keep track.

Jack decided enjoy himself as well, taking his turn to dance with her. Dean ceased to laugh as her took her hand, placing the other on her lower back. She glared at him as the other men laughed at her discomfort.

"Loosen up, love," Jack exclaimed, smiling seductively as his hand began to travel downward. "Try to enjoy yourself!"

As his hand grabbed hold of her rear, Constance pushed back suddenly, knocking Jack off balance. Before he could react, twenty pistols were aimed at his head while several swords threatened to cut off his hands and slit his throat.

"Becoming a eunuch will be the least of your worries if you try that again, Sparrow!" Dean spat, fury burning in her eyes as she turned and disappeared below deck.