Underneath the Church in Ludernway was a maze of winding tunnels. Some of the hollows had not been walked through since they had been dug out hundreds of years ago. For someone to venture into them without knowing their every turn and curve would be a foolish suicide. For this reason, they were very rarely disturbed, left to slowly decompose and collapse over time.

The dirt walls almost whispered to themselves in excitement over their visitors. The pitch black enveloped the crew of pirates, the two ladies and the unconscious alter boy that proceeded with confidence. The only one being confident, the drunken Captain who swayed in the lead, the alter boy slung over his shoulder. The others who followed felt a growing fear and claustrophobia as their fingers grazed along the walls on either side of them. They spoke as they traveled, having to rely on recognizing the speaker's voice and style of speech to discern who it was.

"Jus' try an' walk in a straight line. Nothin' to it."

"If Jack can walk in a straight line, I'd say I could without battin' an eye."

"How nice fer ye, Joshamee."

"So you think that this tunnel was used by the priests to smuggle whores up to the church?"

"I don't think, I know it fer a fact, lass... Bleedin' hell, what are they feedin' these alter boys?"

"Maybe they're trying to fatten him up for some bizarre practice they're planning."

"It's a Church, Liz, not a cult."

"Ouch!"

"What?"

"Ye stepped on me foot!"

"Who stepped on who's foot?"

"Someone stepped on my foot an' I bloody can't tell ye who because I can't see bloody anyone!"

"An' ya know why, Jack? 'Cause y'took us into the bloody catacombs, ya did."

"It's the only way t'get away from the Brides!"

"Where do we go from here? Left or right?"

"Left...No! Right!... Wait, I think it may be left..."

"Jack!"

"I'm only jokin', lass! It's right... I think."

"Jack!" more voices cried out now.

"It's right! I'm sure of it. Yer all so serious!"

"Having a dozen undead women after you will do that to people."

"How far to the shore?"

"We're about half way."

"How did you know about this anyway, Jack?"

"As I was tellin' Christina, this church had the pleasure of me careful shepherding a good fifteen years ago."

"You pastored the Church? Wha' were they deluded?"

"For yer information, whoever said that an' I have the sneakin' suspicion it was Ana, I was the perfect role model for the attenders."

Sniggering sounded and Jack glared over his back into the darkness. Over their heads, the sound of the Brides' searching thundered and silence befell them for most of the rest of the walk.

"I think this is it," Jack told those behind him as the faintest hint of sunlight appeared before them. A few minutes later, the escapees emerged into the sun, squinting like dazzled moles who had accidentally burrowed to the surface at the sudden brightness surrounding them.

"Now I get why ye were so stubborn about where we were t'anchor," Ana Maria nodded, seeing the Black Pearl just off shore from where they stood. Jack started towards the row boats, the alter boy still hanging limp over his shoulder, and the others followed. It wasn't long before they were pulling up along side the Pearl and preparing to make sail.

"Here," Jack grunted, flopping Ross over Mr Gibbs shoulder and rotating his own to get the circulation going again, "Put him in me cabin. Christina an' Elizabeth can tend to him."

"Aye, Cap'n," Mr Gibbs nodded and obeyed, taking the boy below decks as Jack swaggered quickly to the helm.

XxXxX

Ross' head felt like it was made of burning led. His eyes refused to open and blood roared in his ears. He registered that he was laying down. His first instinct was to get up and continue sweeping, assuming that the pirate who had knocked him out had left him on the stone floor of the church. But he couldn't move, too consumed by the throbbing pain in his head.

"I think he's coming to."

Ross tensed at the smooth, soft sound of a woman's voice. He did not recognise it as his mother's or sister's, nor anyone else in Ludernway. His brow creased in confusion.

"Should we get Jack?"

Another woman. This one's voice sounded more clipped and formal. Fighting against the roaring haze in his mind, he tried to place the voice as someone he knew, anyone he knew, just for some sort of familiarity with his surroundings.

"No, he's busy. We can take care of it."

"Yes, you're right, Chris. We're regular doctors."

Sarcasm dripped from the statement and Ross felt any comfort he might have savored slip away.

"You don't need to be a doctor to tend to a simple head wound."

Simple head wound? Ross begged to differ. His head screamed for professional medical assistance and the two women were obviously in no shape or form to give it. He tried again to pull his eyelids up, resulting in a blurry slit of light appearing in his vision.

"I learned basic biology, that helps right?"

No! Ross' mind cried, willing his mouth to carry the protest out of his lips but with no such luck. He battled to open his eyes again, this time able to make out a hazy outline of the room he was in. Room? Was he not in the Church? He fought against panic as the very ground beneath him seemed to rock.

"I suppose. It's not like he needs major surgery or anything. Just something cold on the lump."

Ross felt slightly relieved that these women were not going to attempt to fix him with any sharp objects. He heard a stirring beside him, footsteps leading away and a door open and close. A hand brushed over his forehead gently, but brought no comfort at all without the knowledge of who it belonged to. He had a shameful realization and quickly acted on it.

Dear Heavenly Father, he prayed silently, Please deliver me from whatever hell this is. Keep me safe, I pray-

"Will this do?"

The other woman was back.

"Yes. Bring it here."

A few seconds later, Ross felt a soothing cold at the site of the throbbing in his head. He tried his eyes again, this time able to blink a few times and get a clearer view of the objects around him. Green eyes peered down into his and honey brown eyes watched intently from a little further away.

"Hi, Ross."

Ross tried to mutter something close to a confused greeting but found himself incapable. The kind face above him, that he recognized as belonging to the lady with the pirate in the Church, smiled warmly.

"Where am I?" he finally managed to croak out.

"The Black Pearl," the lady above him answered simply.

"It's a pirate ship," the woman with honey eyes elaborated with a smile.

Ross frowned drowsily, "A pirate ship?"

"Don't worry. It's safe," the woman looking down at him grinned as she stroked his dark, curly hair soothingly.

"To a point, anyway," the other woman mused. The woman with green eyes sent her a sharp look and she widened her eyes, "Well, it's still a pirate ship, isn't it?"

"I'm Christina," the woman with her hand on Ross' brow introduced herself simply.

"And I'm Elizabeth," the other woman added.

Ross only stared blankly at them. Christina cleared her throat, "And we've gathered, correct us if we're wrong, that your name is Ross."

Ross nodded in hesitant confirmation.

"You should get some sleep," Elizabeth decided, standing from her seat and walking towards the door.

Christina nodded in agreement and followed after her. At the door, she paused, "Give a yell if you need anything, won't you?"

The door closed and Ross was left by himself in the strange room.

XxXxX

Jack sauntered down the hall in the dark, finally content with letting Ana Maria take over the helm. She had been overjoyed, as per usual when the rare opportunity arised that Jack would give her full control of the Pearl's steering, and sworn to stay there until morning light showed itself. Jack predicted her enthusiasm would dim within two hours and she'd fall asleep out on deck for the night. Not that he minded. They were far enough away from Ludernway now that the Brides wouldn't have a hope of catching up before morning; undead or not.

He continued down the hall, remembering that Christina had mentioned she was going to sleep in Ana Maria's cabin as it was going to be unoccupied for the night. He had been elated at the thought as it meant he had his quarters to himself for once. Peace was always treasured in Jack Sparrow's books. The very little he got of it was as delicate as life itself. Reaching the door to his quarters, he turned the handle and stepped inside.

He almost jumped right out of his boats when he registered there was someone else already inside, rummaging through his book case.

"Bleedin' hell!" he yelped, trying to see in the dim light who the person was, "Oh. Ye still in here, lad?"

The alter boy stared at him, mid rummaging and wide eyed at being caught doing it. He abruptly dropped the compass and map in his hands, "Sorry, sir."

Jack smirked and flicked the air, "S'alright. Long as ye didn't find me journals."

Ross filed through some paperwork before holding up a couple of black, leather bound notebooks, "Do you mean these?"

Jack's eyes widened and he quickly snatched them away, holding them safely behind his back, "Aye, those."

"Sorry, sir."

"... It's Captain and s'alright," Jack said slowly and a little less convincingly, "'Spose yer plannin' on sleepin' in here t'night, then?"

Ross looked around, scratching his head, "To tell the truth, sir, I'm still trying to figure out how I got here and why I'm not sleeping in my own bed."

"Oh, right," Jack nodded, brushing the subject off with his hand as he yawned, "Surely unimportant details like that can wait 'till morning?"

"... I suppose so, sir."

"Good lad."

The two stood still for a moment, unspeaking.

"So will ye be taking the bed or the floor, then?" Jack asked finally.

"I don't mind at all, sir. It's up to you," Ross answered quickly, seeming to not want to anger his kidnapper in any way.

Jack smirked, "That's the problem with you alter boys. Always too polite fer yer own good. The floor fer you it is."

Ross nodded acceptingly as Jack threw him a blanket and some sort of sad excuse for a pillow.

"We'll be needin' ta find ye some different clothes, lad," Jack commented, motioning at Ross' alter boy attire as he pulled off his own boots, hat and vest. Ross looked down at his robes, seeing nothing wrong and frowned back at the pirate who was currently climbing into bed. Jack blew out the lantern, leaving Ross standing in the inky darkness.

"'Night, son."

Ross stumbled his way to the side of the bed where he blindly laid out the blanket and set down the pillow. He scrambled to the floor, trying in vain to find a comfortable position before giving in and laying still.

His eyes didn't close, unable to sleep. He stared into the darkness for what seemed an eternity before soft snores were heard above him on the bed. The snores grew louder with time and Ross knew he would not be getting much sleep that night.

XxXxX

Christina awoke pleasantly in the mid morning in Ana Maria's cabin. Her sleep had been a deep and peaceful one, leaving her fully refreshed and energized as she left the room and headed for the upper decks to see who else was awake. Using her hand as a shield as she stepped out into the sun, she spied Jack and the new addition to the Pearl at the helm. Ana Maria stood near by, scowling. Christina, amused by the sight, headed in the general direction.

"What's Jack doing?" she whispered to the seething Ana Maria.

"Teachin' the whelp ta steer the Pearl," Ana Maria replied.

"Oh," Christina nodded, not having to ask why that was such a bad thing. Ana Maria prided herself on being the only person allowed at the helm of the Pearl other then the Captain himself. For Jack to be teaching a sixteen year old boy who had been on her decks for less than twenty four hours how to steer her was to be asking for a harsh slap from the woman. They both watched as Ross took a feeble hold of the odd looking wheel and turned it under Jack's guidance.

"This is ridiculous," Ana Maria growled before turning on her heel and storming off below decks. Christina hid a smile at the dark pirate's temper and continued to the helm.

"'Mornin', luv," Jack greeted without looking up from the helm in Ross' hands.

"Good morning," Christina returned. She motioned to the alter boy, "Have you even given him breakfast yet?"

Jack paused at the thought but shook his head, "The lad ain't hungry."

Christina rolled her eyes before turning to Ross, "Are you hungry?"

Ross shot a hesitant look at the Captain before returning her gaze and nodding, "A little, miss."

Christina gave Jack a triumphant look as she took the boy's arm and led him away from the helm. The pirate smirked and followed after them, yet to have breakfast himself.

XxXxX

"He's fitting in well enough, isn't he?" Will whispered to Elizabeth, giving a subtle jerk of his head towards the young man across the table from him, trying to converse with and understand the language of the pirates he found himself mingling with.

"I'd say so. I feel for him though," his wife replied lamentingly. Will frowned, looking at Ross again who gestured passionately as he spoke, however shy he seemed to be feeling.

"What ever for?"

"He's an alter boy, Will. He's going to leave this ship with a completely different mind set then the one he came with. He'll be bitter and cynical of people and his faith will be torn up in shreds, never to be revived again," Elizabeth replied through a mouthful of apple.

"Oh," Will offered, realizing his wife may be right and starting to feel the on set of sympathy for the alter boy.

If only they knew the truth.

Had they been sitting a few seats closer to their topic of conversation, they would've been getting the same fervor filled teaching that the crew were receiving presently.

"The Holy Trinity seems to be the concept that most people find the hardest to grasp. But really, if you open your mind to accept the unlikely and unfathomable, it's not complicated at all. God is three in the same. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit-"

"Tha's the part where I get lost," Mr Gibbs mused.

"God's understanding is above our own. It's likely that you won't understand everything there is to know about Him. But that's where faith comes in, you see..."

Christina smiled, watching the young man share his beliefs with fluid speech that contradicted with his quiet nature. Jack watched, blank faced and lost, unsure of whether the boy was actually sharing something he had known his whole life or, more likely he thought, the boy was a master liar and was making the elaborate tale up as he went along. Ross' audience was transfixed, none the less, with his teaching.

"...so, in conclusion, God sent His son to die to bridge the gap between Him and humanity cause by sin. We all have the same choice to make, whether we know it or not, to accept His love or to refuse it and be damned to Hell."

The dramatic end left the listeners spellbound and numb until Jack cleared his throat, "Well, thankye kindly fer that sermon, lad, but now we must be gettin' to work if we're wanting t'make port by nightfall."

"Where are we going?" Christina asked eagerly.

"Only yer most favourite place in the world, luv," Jack replied secretly as he stood and the crew began to disperse.

Christina's brow creased in thought, "Paris?"

Jack's eyes widened in horror, "Nay, lass! Tortuga!"

"That's not my most favourite place in the world," Christina told him defiantly.

"It should be so that rules out yer actual opinion on the matter," Jack replied over his shoulder as he left.

Christina rolled her eyes as she sat at the now almost empty table.

"What's a Tortuga?"

Christina's eyes shot up to meet the inquisitive blue eyes of the alter boy across from her.

"Oh dear," she muttered.

An' that, me dear readers, is the second addition t'the second story of me first POTC tale... it does make sense. I think. This one isn't as long as it looks as it's mostly dialogue so don't have a fit or 'nything. Thankye fer all the reviews t'chapter one an' 27 of the las' one. I'll try me best t'reply t'them all now...

The Flying Breadstick: Good t'hear yer havin' a good holiday, luv. Aye, I'm tryin' me best t'make Jack an' Chris t'sound like a couple without havin' t'go through all the borin' stuff of makin' it official. Ha. An' ye may be right, Ross will be very changed within the next five chapters. I've got some funny scenes planned. I've always fancied the thought of havin' an alter boy on the Pearl an' this was me chance so I'm goin' ta run like the wind with it. As fer Jack gettin' tha' tattoo... I'm still tryin' ta stir up an idea where it can happen without it bein' completely an' utterly absurd. Maybe, he can drink himself t'unconciousness one night in the presence of several conniving prostitutes who have somethin' against him an' when he wakes up, he has a bunny on his ankle or somethin'. I don't know. An' assume away, lass! Ha.

chaos spirit: It is amazin' wha' ye find, I couldn't agree more. Ye have givin' me an' idea of bringin' more of the Lord's people into me story. Hmmm, maybe the whole crew will be converted an' they can sail the seven seas with no need fer food, water or human weakness', jus' singin' Kumbaya fer the rest of their lives... or maybe not...

WickedwhiteWench: Ha, love the name, lass. Classic. Thankye fer poppin' in.

Holly Rox: Thankye kindly, lass. Hope this was soon enough fer yer.

MizuiroHiei: I really love the name Jaime fer some reason. One of me favourites. Let me know when ye get yer own fanfic on the site so I can read it, aye? Oh, an' send me the drawin' of Christina, I'd like t'see the person I'm writin' about. Singin' is good. An' anythin' Jack Sparrow is doubly... no TRIPLY good so go ahead with the collage, luv. I, personally, have never finished a whole glass of rum (shock horror) but I shall try me best ta babble like a drunken git after doin' the said. Ye'll be there? Fantastic. See ye then, lass.

Queen.Bowie.Jack.Sparrow.Lover: Aye, K, anythin' higher is too corrupt fer me mind ta comprehend... I wish anyway. There may be the insinuation of somethin' steamy but I shan't go into detail... because I will fail terribly an' I don't want tha'. Ha. Thankye fer the review.

crystalvoicedcamelotlady: Glad ye enjoyed the first story an' hope ye like this one jus' as much!

jennifer123: Ye did review the first story quite a whiles back, I recall... Glad ye liked the first chapter an' the different point of view. A married couple, eh? I'm glad ta hear it 'cause I really am tryin' t'get across tha' Jack an' Chris are... involved. Hope this wasn't too long.

Capt'n Raven Most feared pirate of the sea: Thankye fer the review. I hope this one is as good as the first one. There's a few changes but I think it's still got the same feel an' all.

wayunlucky13: Don't fret fer a second, lass. The story is jus' beginning.

TheSiriusSparrow: The sad part is not tha' the first story is finished but tha' the second is jus' beginning, luv. Ye'll have t'endure a whole 'nother story of me rantin' an' ravin'.

GothHippie13 : Sorry tha' ye didn't appreciate the sleepin' together thing an' I'm sorry t'hear about why. It's not goin' ta be a regular occurrence, trust me.

Miss Elisa Tenant: Thankye fer yer kind review, luv. I'm pleased ye liked the first story! An' I agree tha' Jack can't always be good as he is after all a pirate by occupation but he can't always be evil either as no one would like the git. Ha. I tried me best in tha' aspect an' I'm glad ye noticed. I was considerin' havin' Christina go an' visit her parents but then I changed me mind as it would take too much time an' be too much awkward writin' fer me. I prefer the story t'stay as light as humanly possible. (bows) I always appreciate bein' told tha' the characters are in character. Thankye again.

janfl: Ha, ha, ha, ha. Glad ye caught on eventually, luv. Classic.