The Flying Breadstick – Thank you so much for your review! The good thing about reviewing my story is you don't have to shut up . . . I'll read the entire thing no matter how long it is. That could either be considered dedicated, or really pathetic . . . By the way, I love the name.

cornishxxxpixie- I'm so sorry about getting behind reading your fanfic – everything's suddenly really hectic, but it will level out hopefully sometime soon. I've read your fic up to, like, chapter 10 or eleven, and it's really amazing . . . Faye rocks! I tried to review, and it said the server was busy or something like that. Oh, by the way, thanks so much for the reviews!

jackslittlefriend- Hey – please don't hurt me! (Lol) Anyhow, your 'flying clothes' aren't in this chapter – I know, pout. But I might work out something for you later in the story . . .

A/N – I'm not sure how steady I can upload chapters . . . I just found out my grandfather has a cancerous tumor in his brain, and they've given him a year or so to live. . He's going to have a surgery sometime soon, but he's already had kidney cancer and lung cancer and we're not sure what's going to happen. And if that's not enough, he's still got small tumors on one of his lungs, and the one kidney he has isn't healthy.

But I'm thinking positive at the moment, and I've just noticed how soap opera-ish my life is.

Chapter five: A Change in Course

Alex stepped off of the Interceptor and onto the port, surprised to find she had sea legs. She took a few steps and then turned and stood still; she wanted to make sure she wasn't the only one. Will walked down the gang plank, looking rather wobbly, worse than Alex even. Jack, though, with his permanent sea legs had no trouble at all, and gave them both a rather rude look, to which neither of them commented on.

'Follow me, 'n watch the lady,' Jack said, aimed at Will. 'Lettin' 'er out o' yer sight in a place like this wouldn't be smart, 'specially not at night.'

Will gave a distant nod, obviously not paying attention, and Jack sighed. 'Guess I'll 'ave t' watch 'er meself,' he muttered under his breath with a slight look of reluctance. Suddenly, he felt a warm stream of air envelope his ear.

'I can watch myself, thanks,' came Alex's voice, soft yet dangerous and right next to his ear. He turned his head to meet her gaze, surprised by how close they had suddenly become in those few short moments.

'Really – I'll leave yeh t' it, then,' he replied, his tone just as quiet. She gave him a curt smile and crossed her arms over her chest.

'Where are we headed?' she asked.

'Back up, missy, I'm not here t' kiss yeh,' Jack muttered.

'I wouldn't let you, anyhow,' she retorted. 'Have you smelt your breath?'

'Follow me,' he growled. 'Eunuch, pay attention 'n get movin'!' Will snapped back to reality as Jack pushed past Alex, nearly knocking her over, and Will caught her just in time.

'You know, you're not as tall as you used to be,' Will joked as they reluctantly followed Jack.

'You just grew, that's all,' she stated. 'I haven't grown in a while. Elizabeth's even taller than me . . . oh, sorry Will.'

'It's alright,' Will muttered, forcing the pained expression off his face. 'What'd you do to Jack anyhow? He seemed grumpier than usual.'

'Oh, well I. . . I refused to kiss him,' Alex blushed. 'We were joking, we didn't mean it, but I don't think he's ever had a woman turn him down before. He's rather vein, isn't he? 'It's Captain Jack Sparrow',' she mimicked, laughed gently.

'He's a pirate.'

'True, he's used to getting his way,' she muttered, glancing around. Rum was thick in the air, and she was very tempted. 'You know, I have to excuse myself.'

'Why?'

'Lady things,' she lied, watching Will's cheeks burn with color.

'Right, go on then. I'll cover for you.'

She easily slipped away, and into the nearest tavern. There were fights all over, but she ignored them and headed for the bar, ordering herself a round. When her tankard came, she took it and slipped away to the back of the room, away from the bustle. Thoughts swam through her head as she sipped the strong liquid. Why did Jack care if she drank or not? The man seemed like he was never sober. She grinned devilishly when she imagined the look on his face when he found her after tonight – hopefully she'd be sober enough to see it. Already she could tell Tortugan rum was stronger than what she was used to. She frowned when she realized she would hurt Will with what she was up to – she had lied to him to go off and do something she was sure he wouldn't like.

Suddenly, Jack burst into the room, his face contorted with rage, and . . . amusement? You've got to be kidding, Alex thought, rolling her eyes. The pirate captain's gaze fell on her, and he stormed over, sitting down at her table with a thump.

'What do yeh think yeh're doin', missy?' he asked.

'Exactly what it looks like – I'm drinking,' she replied curtly, taking a long drunk from the contents of the heavy, grimy glass.

'I left yer friend with one o' me friends, but I didn't tell 'im yeh lied t' 'im,' Jack stated, watching her reaction. 'What's a lass as perfect as yeh sittin' 'ere drinkin' fer?'

'Perfect?' she asked in shock. 'Me? No, I'm not perfect, Jack. Not at all.'

'Really?'

'A perfect lady's someone like Elizabeth, not me. I don't wear dresses, I'm a goddamn drunk, and I've had sex with more men than I can count, partly because I don't remember them all,' she stated, counting off the reasons on her fingers. 'Where did you get the idea I was perfect?'

'Well, yeh're certainly not bad lookin' if yeh got all them men all over yeh, yeh live in Port Royal, yeh've got friends like Miss Swann and Mr. Turner, 'n yeh're not a pirate.'

'I'm on the verge,' she grinned.

'I guess yeh are now, true,' he stated. 'Don't yeh think yeh deserve better 'an this?'

'Not really. I get what I deserve.'

'Let me 'ave a sip.'

'What?'

'Let me 'ave a sip,' he repeated. She handed him her glass and he tipped it to his mouth, and then handed it back without complaint. 'Finish that up 'n then we'll go find the rest o' our group.'

'Why are you doing this for me?' she asked, slightly confused. 'I thought you were a pirate.'

'I am a pirate, love, no one's taken that away yet. What do yeh mean, 'why're yeh doin' this?' What am I doin'?'

'You're being pretty polite; I guess is what I meant.'

'We're a crew, aren't we?' he questioned. 'Now I 'ave a question fer yeh – how'd yeh know what I was after, 'n who I'd need?'

'I hear things,' she stated. 'You'd be surprised how much you can get out of a man if you put enough into it . . . in a nonsexual way, mind you. Sailors, tars mostly, give tales on how they hunted down the Pearl, which is bull, but provide facts. They think it's all a joke, though.'

'Yeh're a smart lass. Yeh risk a lot, but yeh're smart.'

'Thank you. . You're not so slow yourself. But why can't I be alone 'round here? I've had to take care of myself for a long while, Jack.'

'Men 'round these parts aren't t' kind t' women, 'specially drunk ones. Yeh've never been raped, have yeh?' he asked in a quiet voice. She pondered over her question. She had heard of women tell tales of rape, how gruesome it was, and how destroying.

'No, I've never been raped. Even drunk Port Royal men are courteous in bed – at least, the ones I've been with,' she replied.

'Many women 'round 'ere end up dead 'coz o' rape. I need yeh on me crew, Alex. Yeh know 'ow t' sail, 'n I'm not sure what kind o' crew we're gonna pick up. That's why I'm watchin' yeh.'

'Because of your Pearl,' she growled. 'And I thought you actually cared to some extent.' She sat her glass down on the table heavily, and stood. His mouth was open slightly; like he had something to say but was so confused by her anger he had forgotten it. 'Show me where Will is, Sparrow.'

He stood and she followed him, cringing at the stink he was leading her into. Will smiled when he saw her, and she bowed her head. He's gonna find out, she thought worriedly. My breath's got rum on it.

'I needed a drink,' she confessed as she approached him, feeling like there was a weight lifted off her chest and yet made her feel guilty all at the same time. 'I'm sorry for lying to you, Will. I didn't want you to be disappointed in me, but I didn't help things.'

He offered her a small smile and brought her to his chest, smoothing her hair. She closed her eyes. He was like a big brother to her . . . what if she lost him during this adventure? He was the only family she had left. . .

'I want you to stop drinking,' he muttered. 'I know it's a lot to ask, and it's not my place to ask, but it's what I want. You don't have to listen to me if you don't want to.'

'I need to stop,' she admitted, 'but . . . But I don't know if I can.'

'I can help you, if you'd like.'

'Thank you, Will, but you've got enough to worry about,' she muttered.

'I want to help. It's not too much – I'm not going to loose you, too,' he stated, meeting her gaze. She diverted her gaze, and embraced him again.

'I'm so sorry I've done this to you,' she whispered, and he felt the dampness of her tears on his shoulder. He rubbed her back soothingly, but after awhile, Jack cleared his throat. For the first time, Alex noticed the older man Jack had been talking to.

'Gibbs!'

'Miss O'Conner – my, it's been a long time!' Gibbs grinned, and Jack raised an eyebrow.

'Yeh know 'er?'

'Aye, I know her. I used t' sail with 'er and 'er father, Benjamin. How is he?'

'I'm afraid he passed about a month ago,' Alex stated solemnly. 'His heart failed him.'

'I'm sorry t' hear that. He was a good man, a very good man. You look so much like both yer parents, Alex, 'specially yer mother. D'you 'ave a man yet?'

'I told you then I wouldn't find one, and I'll tell you the same today. No one wants a woman like me,' she stated, a slight grin on her lips. 'At least not permanently.'

Gibbs smiled at first, and then caught her drift, and his eyes went wide. 'Alex, yer not . . . ?'

'No, no, I'm just a drunk.'

'Oh.'

'But she won't be for long,' Will muttered, and Alex rolled her eyes, smiling.

'You're in for a long, tough job, my boy.'