Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize, including, but not limited to, PotC, Johnny Depp, Jack, Elizabeth, the Black Pearl, the island, the sea, yadda yadda. . . I do, however, own Epsilon and Ronan.

To Ainariel-Helyanwe: Nooooo! Need reviews! Don't stop! *sigh* I got this out as fast as I could. Really, I did.

To Ash Night: Thank you for making me soooo happy! Hehe. . .really bad eggs. . . I like!

To dizzy izzy: Oh, the suspense! ^_^ I love your review, and I can't wait to see what you think of this chapter.

To Dawnie-7: Awww. I hope you find this chapter. And yay! Someone did pick up on that! ^_~ Please tell me your theory! I'm so curious!

To Cagalli: You're back! Huzzah! ^_^ And I updated soon anyways. Hehe. . .cliffie. . .mwah-hah!

To all my reviewers: I loved your reviews so much I had to start writing as soon as I read them. See? They do have positive effects. Well, besides making me really happy and all. ^_^ I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

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Epsilon resurfaced, sputtering angrily. That had not been her fault. But soon her anger was replaced with another emotion: fear. The girl looked at the low-riding sun. Night was coming, and when night came, the water got colder. And when the water got colder, the fish came to the surface. Epsilon's eyes widened, and she swam after the Pearl, calling for Jack and Ronan in between hurried breaths.

Below deck, both Jack and Ronan had heard the frightened scream, and the pair charged up the stairs to the deck. After a confused pause, most of the crew followed.

Ronan cried, searching the area with large eyes.

Both pirates rushed to the rail upon hearing the shouts coming from the water. Jack cursed under his breath. How on earth had she fallen overboard? Drop the anchor! The girl could swim well, yes, but she would never keep up with his ship.

Epsilon called out again, then stopped dead in the water. There was. . .something. Something in the water. She ducked under, scanning as best as she could in the rapidly approaching dark. A large splash not far off indicated that the Pearl had dropped its anchor, and Epsilon swam for her life. She knew what lay in the water. The ship was coming closer, but she froze again, letting out a terrified scream when a sharp fin cut the water before her.

On board the Pearl, Ronan and Jack rushed about frantically, searching for a body in the water.

Epsilon saw it coming, and surged out of the water just as it scraped below her. She turned to face it. Swimming away was no use now. It was faster than she. Epsilon tried to collect her thoughts through her panic. She had seen her family kill them before, but how had they done it? The massive fish rushed at her again, but she managed to dodge to the side and grip its dorsal fin, gulping air before she went under.

Ronan noticed the thrashing water not far off and called Jack over. Squinting, the pirate captain could make out a human body; at first he knew not what it struggled with. But then there was no mistaking the shark that leapt out of the water.

Epsilon cried out in pain as the beast's skin tore her stomach, her calves, her arms. It would have torn her hands too, were they not tearing back at the shark's gills. The young woman was terrified and so had done the only thing she could think of. And save for the skinning of her own body, it was working quite well. The area became filled with the thick red liquid - both the animal's and her own. After a while, her lungs began to burn, but she fought still. If she resurfaced she would die anyway. She might as well die fighting. And finally, the beast fell away. Epsilon rushed to the surface, gasping for air as she broke the water. But there was no time to rest. She was covered in blood, and more sharks dwelled in the water. The girl used what was left of her energy to reach the Pearl which had, thankfully, stopped.

Jack saw her swim toward the ship and noted with growing concern the dark trail she left behind.

She lifted her head tiredly and tread water near the hull. A rope was tossed down to her, and as she grabbed hold, she realized that Jack had said her name. Her real name, not any of the others he had come to know her by. Just as she was thinking that she would never make it through the long climb, the rope moved on its own, and she was borne upward. Epsilon landed with a wet thud on the wooden floor, and just barely managed to stand.

What happened? Jack demanded.

the girl shuddered. In the water. I killed it.

Ronan murmured her name softly as her legs began to shake. She was so tired. And she hurt. The cuts on her skin were shallow, but there were so many of them. She sighed and had resigned herself to collapse on deck when Jack neared her. Frightened adrenaline began pumping once more, and she walked quickly but unsteadily to her rope bed, not heeding Jack's request to let someone care for her wounds. The girl collapsed into the thick coil and fell asleep at once. Ronan stayed near her for a while, but left when she halfway awoke and tiredly requested that he do so.

Late that night, dark clouds rolled in, greedily filling the air with their harsh noises. When the rain began coming down hard, Jack woke with a start. Giselle stirred slightly beside him, but did not wake. He got up without rousing her - a feat that was not that difficult because he had not been sleeping close beside her. Jack pulled on some clothing before going outside, whereupon he was hit with a cold blast. The captain shuddered slightly, but walked to the bed where Epsilon lay.

She slept unmoving, and had he not been able to make out the slight rise and fall of her chest, Jack might have thought her dead. Leaning closer in the harsh rain, he noted that she was terribly pale and that her lips were faintly tinted purple. That was not good. Coming to a quick decision, Jack picked Epsilon up and carried her below deck to the barracks. Few men stirred when he entered, and Jack headed quietly for Ronan's bed.

The young man started awake when Jack whispered his name. Ronan, I need ye t' do somethin' for me.

Ronan blinked in confusion.

Jack looked down at the sleeping bundle in his arms. Sleep with



At this, the entire crew woke up.

Not like that, Jack reconciled quickly. She needs t' be warm and off the deck. Noting the shifting that was going on around him, he added, And if anyone but Ronan touches er. . . The threat hung unfinished in the air, and the shifting stopped.

Jack lifted Epsilon higher and Ronan pulled her into his bed. The young woman whined a little in her sleep as fabric rubbed against her wounds, but settled easily into Ronan's arms. Ronan would have sworn that something had surfaced in Jack's eyes as Epsilon sighed and fell deeper into her slumber, but maybe it was just the dark.

As Jack swept out of the room, Ronan gently stroked the hair of the one in his arms. He was fairly sure that he was the first to touch her in a long while, even though she was not consciously aware of it.

That night, one slept deeply, one slept lightly, and one did not find sleep until it took him unwillingly, his confused thoughts lost to the raging waves of the sea.

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Please review! You've seen the effect they have. Lots of reviews = quicker chappies! Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! Btw, if I get enough reviews for this chappie, then I'll post the next chapter sooner than it's supposed to be up. (I already have it typed. ^_~)