DISCLAIMER- Sorry, I don't own PotC :(

Chapter 10- Treasure

Birds were whistling in the trees, the sky was a perfect blue, and the hot rays of the sun were countered by a cool breeze off the ocean. It should have been a beautiful day, but as Will looked at his Captain's forlorn expression, Alexis' dirty and bloody clothes, and then down at his own bound hands, it was impossible to think of anything else. Frustration ran through him as they were forced to comply with Barbossa's men. The high thick grass made it difficult to walk, but to Will's relief, Alexis soon took them along an easier route. Through the trees, a glimpse of the two captain's ships could be seen on the sparkling ocean water.

Slowing down a fraction, Jack sought to get a good view of the ship that once belonged to him. Barbossa turned to sneer at Jack who was avidly trying to move leaves and branches out of his line of view. "Ah yes, The Pearl brings back precious memories, does she not?"

"Of course," Jack replied with a sarcastic smile, "A mutinous crew is a treasured memory."

"Ye need to let it go, Jack," Barbossa said with mock sympathy, "There be no sense in dwelling on the past."

Returning his look of sympathy, Jack retorted, "So says a man who is stilltrying to get rid of me."

Giving him a despising look, Barbossa growled at him menacingly, "No' for much longer!" Frowning in reproof, Jack chose not to reply.

At last Alexis reached the location she was searching for. The small dirt clearing in the bush seemed unremarkable to the unsuspecting eye, but Alexis knew what lay beneath was the cause of all their problems. Three grey boulders sat to one side of the clearing. 'It's here," she told them resolutely keeping her eyes on the ground.

"Nothin' else we need to know?" Barbossa asked her sharply. Alexis shook her head.

"The entrance should be under there," Alexis told him pointing to the largest of the rocks.

"Should be? Forye sake, it better be, girl," he replied narrowing his eyes.

Dropping herself down next to a tree, Alexis leant her back against it. She saw Jack and Will moving over towards her. The rest of his crew were resting on the ground near her, Ragetti and Pintel stayed close by, keeping their eyes on them. Or in Ragatti's case, one eye. Jack still hadn't returned it.

Will gave Alexis a short, reassuring smile on reaching her, and his Captain appeared to be struggling with the cord around his hands, but failing miserably. The look he gave his bindings might have been comical in normal circumstances, but Alexis did not have it in her to laugh.

Giving up trying to loosen the rope, Jack turned his attention to her. Leaning down towards Alexis he said quietly so as not to be overheard, "Is it here?" Alexis nodded back, reading disappointment in his eyes. "Ye can't let 'im take Alex! He'll win!" Jack exclaimed.

"This isn't about winning anymore, Jack," she replied sadly, "He can have the treasure. That's not important anymore."

Lowering himself down next to her and resting his arms on his knees, Jack asked almost hesitantly, "What is important, love?"

Glancing up from the ground, Alexis met Jack's dark eyes. Something had changed in her, she knew. Growing up on the island alone, she always felt that something was missing inside of her. Meeting Jack's crew, Alexis had experienced emotions she never thought she could feel again after the death of her parents. For a brief moment before Barbossa's arrival, she had been happy.

"Alex?" Jack prompted uncertainly.

Giving him a small smile, she finally replied, "You are."

Frowning at first, Jack's face turned from a look of confusion, to satisfaction as he grinned at her, flashing his gold teeth, "I'm important to ye?"

"Of course," Alexis answered, seeming amused by his reaction, "And Will, and the rest of the crew." As Jack began looking disappointed, she sighed and continued, "That's why we have to let Barbossa take it. Then he'll leave us alone."

Both Will and Jack didn't have the heart to tell her that Barbossa was not the kind of pirate that would just let them be after he got what he wanted, but Alexis' mind was made up.

The large boulder had finally given way, rolling over the dirt to reveal a door, almost invisible to the naked eye under the grass and dirt. Pulling it open, Barbossa had pushed Alexis in first saying roughly, "Ladies before gentlemen."

After this, they had travelled deep under ground, any light had all but diminished in the dark tunnel, which was now only lit by torches carried by Barbossa's men. Surprisingly, the pitch black air was quite cool, and Alexis found herself shivering in the cold, her body only use to the burning rays of the Caribbean sun.

At last the tunnel they had been following blind, opened out before them. Their eyes had begun to adjust to the darkness, and although it was still difficult to see, the piles of gold in front of them were not. "It seems ye didn't lead us astray after all, girl," Barbossa commented, his eyes gleaming. His crew filed out, climbing over the mounds, their torches lighting up the medium-sized room. Yellow flashes glittered back at them.

Alexis scanned her parents' treasure, for this too, was the first time she had been near it. Her eyes fell on Jack, who, despite his hands being bound, was still managing to inspect a gold jewelled crown. Will appeared next to her, and nodding towards Jack he said, "Well, you can tell what's important to him." Alexis returned his smile, then began making her way through the large piles of gold coins and artefacts.

Will watched as her back disappeared amongst the glittering gold and then the dark shadows. Ensuring no-one was watching, he walked over to his Captain, who had amazingly still been able to place the crown on his head. "Jack, we need to get out of here," he said to him quietly.

"Ah, dear William," Jack replied with a knowing smile, "All in good time."

"Then you've thought of something?" Will asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Unfortunately, as he opened his mouth to reply, Barbossa's gruff voice rang out in the room. "Gentlemen, have Jack and 'is crew 'elp us take the loot up to the surface."

With that, no more was said between them as they dragged heavy bags of gold back and forth through the dark tunnel.

Author's Note: I am sooo sorry I haven't updated for such a long time! I have had heaps of uni work to do :( I'll try really hard to get the next chapter up quicker than what this one was! And something important happens in the next chappie! ;)'

Daftlilme- Glad that chapter helped explain things a bit better! Thanks for the review!
Tiffany Sparrow- Again, I'm so sorry I took so long to post this! I really have been busy! But I hope this chapter will satisfy you till the next one! A major thing happens in the next chapter ;)'
SpectralLady- Hehehe, I'm happy you liked the thing with the eyeball! Thanks again for your review! Sorry you had to wait so long!
Mystic Moon Maiden- Thankyou so much for your review! I always worry when I'm writing 'emotion' that it might not be coming across properly! Thanks for letting me know it is:) And thanks for the great review!
The future Mrs. Jack Sparrow- Sorry you had to wait! I'm gonna try really hard to get the next one up sooner! Thankyou for the review!