Title: Isla de Vida

Author Name: Dimenticato-poco-angelo

Author E-mail: General

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Pirates of the Caribbean

Summary: Catharine only wanted to know where her compass would take her. She didn't bet on Captain Jack Sparrow being the one to take her there and she didn't bet on her old master showing up and she didn't bet on finding a father or a family. Catharine betted on everything except that.

DISCLAIMER: I own Catharine, Travis, the Goodwin's and anything else you do not recognize. All else belongs to Jerry Bruckheimer and whoever else owns whatever they own.

A/N: No worries, remember not everything is as it seems.

Chapter Three: The Bet

The odds get even
You name the game
The odds get even
The stakes are the same
You bet your life...

--Rush 'You Bet your Life'

Catharine crouched behind a barrel on the dock and waited for the coast to be clear before she darted forward to the Black Pearl. Stealthily she crawled up the plank that led from the dock to the ship. She jumped lightly on board and moved quickly toward the stairs that led to the lower deck. Before descending she listened closely for any sign of movement. Once below deck Catharine hunted for a comfortable spot to hide in until Jack had set sail. She found a small place between two barrels of rum and sat down, pulling herself into a small ball. Catharine figured she could wait the few hours left until dawn. She settled down and began to wait.

An hour had past when she heard movement above deck. She held her breath as they descended the stairs.

"Catharine," Gibbs called out, "Captain Jack knows you're down here. Now you can come out on your own lass or I can drag you." Reluctantly Catharine removed herself from between the two barrels and made her way toward Gibbs. He took hold of her upper left arm and led her up to where Jack stood by the wheel.

"Now Catharine," Jack began, "I know the life of a pirate may look glamorous now, but in a few days time you'll grow bored and begin to complain. Not to mention Gibbs here believes women, well in your case girls, to be terrible bad luck. So unfortunately, for you that is, I will not be able to allow you to remain as a stowaway." He ended his speech by promptly shutting his compass. Catharine had not heard a word he had said as she was focused mainly on the compass he held.

"Where did you get that?" she asked him. A bit shocked by her question Jack quickly put his compass away.

"That's none of your concern." He slurred, "Your concern right now should be on where to hide from our good Mr. Norrington. He's not at all very fond of lawbreakers like us." Catharine reached into the small satchel tied around her waist and brought out her own compass which was identical to Jack's.

"I have one too. That's why I was asking." She told him simply, "I meant no offense Captain Sparrow." Jack's eyes went wide as he took in the compass. He walked closer until he could stare down at the small girl.

"Now, where ever did you get that?" he asked.

"It was my mother's. It's the only thing I've got. So," Catharine began knowing that she had the Captain's full attention now, "would you allow me to be a passenger on your ship or perhaps even a lowly member of the crew?" she asked trying her best to keep the hopefulness from her voice. Jack leaned back as he thought and raised his right arm, his fingers motioning as if to go backward like a fan, while his left arm crossed his chest. He swayed on his feet, head back eyes wider than usual, with his brows furrowed a little, mouth barely parted, and then as if coming to a conclusion he brought his head down, looked Catharine straight in the eye, and brought his hand down to point at her slightly as he said, "No" He whipped his wrist back, turned sharply, and began to saunter toward the wheel.

Catharine stared open mouthed at him and tried to protest, but failed miserably as no words escaped her parted lips.

"Let's go lass." Gibbs said and began to drag her off the ship once again.

"No, no wait. You can't. Please I'll do anything if you let me stay on board. I'll wager anything." She said in a last desperate attempt. Her last words caught Jack's ear and he turned back to face her.

"Anything, luv? Are you sure of that?" He asked.

"Quite sure." She replied nodding her head curtly. He smiled slyly and she could see the wheels turning in his head.

"What about that compass you're so fond of? Would you wager that in a bet to stay on board?" Catharine looked at him hard before she spoke.

"It was my mother's. I shan't part with it so easily. There will have to be more to the deal than that."

"I shall agree to take you anywhere you wish to go. If, that is, you win" He told her.

"Anywhere?"

"Yes, luv, anywhere."

"Shall we flip a gold piece for it then?" she asked using her free arm to pull a piece of gold from her satchel. Jack quirked an eyebrow. She held up the coin for him to see and Gibbs released her arm.

"This is the first side and this is the second side," she twirled it for him to see, "I'm going to flip it into the air and if it lands on the first side I win and if it lands on the second side you lose."

"Would you like to repeat that for me luv? A little bit slower this time, perhaps." He suggested.

"First side I win second side you win."

"That's what I thought you said. And what are the rules of the game and conditions of the winner?"

"What do you mean rules? It's simple, we flip a coin."

"But what if it hits something? We'll have to flip again." He protested.

"Fine," she told him irritated, "If I win you take me wherever I want to go and I keep my mother's compass. You win, I stay in Port Royal and lead a simplistic and boring life and you get to keep my mother's compass."

"Sounds fair enough. Go ahead and flip then." Catharine put the coin on top of her thumb, bent her knees slightly, and flicked the coin high into the air with as much force as she could muster. She smiled as she watched it, but her smile faded as it bounced off the mast and soared into the ocean. She turned and watched as a small man ran across the deck and jumped over the side of the ship and into the water after the coin. She turned to Jack.

"What was that about?"

"Pirate," he stated simply, "We need a new bet now luv." Catharine thought for a short period of time before smirking evilly at him.

"I bet I could drink more rum than you." Jack smirked back at her.

A slightly drunk and an extremely irritated Captain Jack Sparrow stood banging on Will Turner's door as the sun crept into the sky that morning. Bleary eyed and yawning Will answered the door.

"Get your things together you're coming with me." Jack told him fiercely. Will looked at him quizzically.

"Why?" he asked.

"Catharine." Jack responded simply. Will continued standing there, "Well she's going to need a companion to keep her company and you're the only man I know who's girly enough to do it." Will rolled his eyes, but disappeared back into the small shop nonetheless. A few minutes later he returned with a small burlap sack over his right shoulder and a sword at his hip plus an extra for Catharine. She had not been half bad from what he saw of her fighting Jack.

"I hope you know what you're doing Jack." Will said as he locked the door behind him.

"So do I."