Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean but if you don't recognize it I probably created it.

Chapter 8

Just follow me

Annie's feet stumbled over the soft sand, turning and looking over her shoulder at the Blue Horizon as it headed into the distance.

"I'm a fool," she muttered to herself.

She looked at the island. A great many charred trees were scattered around, courtesy of Elizabeth's signal six years before. Annie started to walk round the island. It really wasn't that big. It took her less than an hour to slowly walk around the entire island. She wandered off in search of the cache of rum that her father had told her about. She gently knocked on each tree she came to, eventually finding the hollow one. Then three large paces. There wasn't any grass on that patch. A few jumps and she managed to put her foot through the rotten wood. "Damn," she said, "Bloody seawater. Rots everything."

She pulled her foot out of the trapdoor. She found the handle and gave it a tug. The rotten wood broke and she fell backwards with the handle still in her hand. She looked at the handle in her hand and groaned. She hauled herself up and began to rip away the rotten wood. When the hole was big enough, she lowered herself down. In the cache, she found a few bottles of rum leftover from her father's last trip there that Elizabeth had not burnt. She pulled herself back onto the sand and walked back to the beach. She dropped down, kicked off her boots and pulled the cork out of a bottle. She took a swig and began to feel better already. The rum was just what she needed to forget her father, the Turners and Daniel. Daniel. She never wanted to see him again. Her mind slipped back to the previous night. She screwed her eyes up and shook her head, trying to forget. She took another gulp of rum and another and another. She soon finished the bottle and moved onto the next, slowly falling into a drunken stupor and passing out just before midnight.

In her dreams, she returned to her Gramps' house. Her mother, beautiful and strong, stood in the doorway with warm and welcoming arms ready to hold her. "Mam?" said Annie, "Mam?"

"Annie, come on Annie," said Susan, "It's time to come in. Your adventures can wait."

Annie ran to her mother but the dream changed. She was sat on the floor beside her mother's bed, hearing her mother cough and holding her hand. The door creaked and opened. Curt came in and looked down at her. "Annie, come on," he said.

"But I have to stay with Mam," she found herself staying. This wasn't a dream, it was a memory. The door opened and Jack stepped in. Annie didn't recognize him. "Oh, Susie," said Jack, hurrying over to her. "Jack?" said Susan, "You're back?"

"Susie, I'm so sorry," said Jack, "I had no idea you were dying."

"Mam's dying?" said Annie, "No, she's not. She's just a little sick."

"Annie?" said Jack, "Oh, my little Annie."

"Dad?" asked Annie. Jack nodded. Annie got up and went up to Jack, putting her arms around her. For the first time in weeks she saw her mother's face. Susan Sparrow was ghostly pale. Annie turned away from her mother and hid her face in Jack's coat, smelling the salt from the sea air in it. "Annie, Jack," croaked Susan. Annie turned back to her mother. "Jack, I need you to take care of Annie, give her this when she's ready," she continued, placing one hand in Jacks, secretly concealing a gold locket, "Annie, take care of your dad and gramps for me." Her hand slid from Jack's and she stopped breathing. "Mam?" said Annie, "Mam, wake up." Annie gently shook Susan. "Mam!" she cried. Jack's hands closed round her arms and pulled her away.

"Leave her, Annie," said Jack, "She's gone to a better place. She's gone to be with God."

"But why her?" cried Annie, "Why didn't He take Gramps or you or me?"

"He takes the best ones first," said Jack, quietly, "Your mam's obviously got a special place in heaven to go to. And He felt she should come now." Annie felt darkness creeping in and her dream ended.

As she awoke the next morning, the first thing she felt was her head pounding. Once again she swore never to do it again. She couldn't open her eyes. The sun was far too bright for her. She thought about her memory, the day her mother had died. How her father had justified her death by talking about God. Annie didn't have much faith in God anymore. It just seemed He was trying to make her life as difficult as possible. But then she felt a shiver run down her spine. She quickly opened her eyes and looked north. There were black sails on the horizon. The Black Pearl!! It was coming in quickly! She looked up to the sky. "I still ain't forgiven you," she said. She stood up, stumbling. She found two dry pieces of wood and started to make a fire. The fire began smoke. Annie looked at the Pearl and willed the crew to see the smoke. They did and the Pearl changed direction and headed for the island. She waded out into the ocean and recognized old Curt Sparrow's face. "Gramps!" she cried, "Gramps! Over here!" She waved her hands wildly.

"Annie!" called Curt, "What happened? Why are you out here?"

"This ain't time for questions," yelled Annie, "Get me out of here!"

Curt and Jonathon shook their heads as their granddaughter was pulled aboard. She was soaked from the waist down after wading into the sea. She had barley acknowledged the crew when she was pulled into the captain's quarters by her grandfathers. "Alright, Annie," said Curt, "Explain."

"Well, me and Will found me dad," she said, "But we got caught by Danny." Jonathon sighed and rubbed his temples with his hands. "So I made a deal with Danny," continued Annie, "I give him what he wanted, a guide to the temple, dad's blood and…something else, and he let dad, the crew and the Turners go."

"So how did you end up on the island?" asked Curt, "And how were you planning to escape Danny?"

"Danny took what he wanted and sent me overboard," said Annie, "I was too trusting."

"You're like your dad," said Jonathon.

"I know," said Annie.

"And it's not a good thing," added Curt. Annie looked up at her grandfather. A retired pirate, he bore many scars just like Annie and Jack did but they did not hide the hate he had for Jack. As far as he and Jonathon were concerned, Jack cared for no one but himself and wasn't worth bothering about. But to Annie, he was the greatest person she had ever known. Sure, he hadn't been there when she was growing up but that was the life of a pirate's child. Annie had been inspired by her mother's tales of Jack. "I know you hate dad for all his mistakes," she said, "But he's still a Sparrow." She rolled up her sleeve, so her tattoo was visible. Curt's hand trailed to his sleeve and he slowly pulled it up. He looked down and saw an identical tattoo, a sparrow flying over the ocean with the sun setting in the background. He looked back up at Annie, her brown eyes were piercing. "Where are they headed?" asked Curt. Annie's cheeky smile spread up one side of her face, just like Jacks did when he was planning something. "Sails ho!" cried a voice. Annie hurried out of the captain's quarters and to the end of the ship. Jonathon and Curt followed. "Grandpa, give me your telescope," said Annie. Jonathon handed his telescope to her and Annie looked through it. It was a navy ship, a proud man stood at the front, Norrington. "Norrington," she snarled.

"Who?" asked Curt.

"Admiral Norrington," said Annie, "Let's just say we ain't exactly best mates. He's coming up with a bone in her teeth. We won't be able to get away."

"What do we do?" asked Curt.

"What are you asking me for?" said Jonathon, "I'm a landlord, not a pirate! You're a pirate."

"I'm the bloody pirate here," said Annie, "And I suggest we wait here."

The Hunter was now fully repaired. Norrington had planned to take the Black Pearl by force but found it waiting for him, Annie stood by the helm. He and two sailors climbed aboard. Annie remained where she was. "Miss Sparrow, are you going to come quietly?" asked the Admiral, rhetorically. "No," said Annie, "I'm going to make a deal with you."

"Let me get this straight," said Admiral Norrington, "You will offer us assistance to rescue the Turners and capture the crew of the Blue Horizon."

"And rescue my dad," interrupted Annie.

"And if we rescue your father, leave him and your grandfathers alone," said Norrington, "you will come quietly and take your punishment?"

"Aye," said Annie, "Do we have an accord?" She extended her hand. Norrington looked at it. "I don't bite," said Annie.

"How can I trust you?" he said.

"Me handshakes as good as a contract," said Annie, "And like a contract, waste too much time and it'll disappear. As will the Turner's chances of survival." She slowly began to withdraw her hand. Norrington quickly took it and shook her hand. "Good," said Annie, "Now, let's get Barbossa."

"I'm not comfortable with this situation," said Norrington. Annie rolled her eyes as she rowed. He'd been complaining ever since they had left the ships. "It wouldn't kill you to give me a hand," said Annie. This wasn't where she'd like to be, stuck in a rowing boat with Norrington. They had arrived at Isla de Meurta after a few hours and it had been agreed that Annie and Norrington should go ashore. They arrived at the shore and Norrington left Annie to pull the boat up. Norrington walked into the cave, Annie just behind him. The water was knee-deep and ice cold but Annie still waded through. "There's nothing here," said Norrington. Annie's eyes took in a gap in the abandoned loot. A gap where something had been lying for years but recently moved. "That's the problem. They've been and gone," said Annie, "Get back to the boat. I'll be along in a minute." Norrington left, wondering what she was planning.

After Norrington had gone, Annie looked towards the sky. "Ok, you owe me," said Annie, "Wherever you are, whoever you are, you owe me. I've put up with everything you've thrown at me. Mam, Dad, having to put up with Norrington. All I'm trying to do is save my dad. Sure he's a pirate but he's a good man. He's made mistakes but that's what you made him. Now come on, give me a hand." There was the sound of stone grinding against stone. Annie looked at the stone chest nearby. The lid had slid off revealing the gold treasure. Annie climbed up to it and looked at the gold. She looked up at the sky. "Ahh! Good plan," she said.

"Where to now, Miss Sparrow?" asked Norrington as he pushed the boat out.

"Just follow me, Admiral," said Annie, "Just follow me."

A/n: Yes, Annie did what you think she did.

'Coming up with a bone in her teeth' means coming up really fast.