Disclaimer: I'd blame the communists but they'd probably share it with me if they owned it. But pirates aren't communists... so...
A/N: And no-one called me a bitch. w00t!
Jack trudges through the dark forest, the fight behind him forgotten. He looks down at the girl in his arms.
Pirate's Code. Whoever falls behind… is left behind. Jack squeezes his eyes shut tight. But I can't leave her behind. Not Squirrel. Jack draws one of his hands over her face, feeling the softness of her skin, and shuts the girl's eyelids. With her eyes closed, she looks like she's sleeping.
"I'll be waiting, Captain." She said with a smile. Why didn't I give it to her while I still had the chance? Why didn't I do anything? What was I scared of? I told her I didn't want to lose her… but I have…
The foliage ahead of Jack parts. A pirate climbs through, carrying a torch and a pistol. He wears a red-and-white bandana, a clean-shaven face, and a smirk.
"I knew you'd run away from the fight." Smith says, planting the torch in the sand. "So I thought I'd wait for you here." The pirate raises his pistol. "Ready for the duel, Sparrow?"
Jack says nothing.
"Come now, Sparrow." Smith smiles amicably, lowering his pistol. "It's not a duel unless you draw your own…" Smith suddenly recognises the bundle in Jack's arms. He stares, horrified. "King's Glory… Miss Grey?"
"It's what you wanted, isn't it, Smith?" Jack says softly, barely keeping his sorrow and rage in control. "You wanted revenge for what I did to your daughter." Jack looks down into Squirrel's peaceful face. "But did I kill her? Did I kill Bella?"
Smith stares at the grey-cloaked form, shaking his head. He slowly raises his eyes and meet's Jack's sullen gaze. "I… I never meant this, Sparrow."
Jack swallows, fighting tears, and shouts at Smith, his voice trembling. "You never meant it? Is that why you gave Squirrel a poison with no antidote? Is that why you threatened her in Port Royal not once, but twice?" Jack shakes his head, disgusted. "Yet you have the balls to call yourself a gentleman and claim you didn't mean it."
Smith lowers his eyes. "Squirrel…" Smith takes a deep breath. "The more I fought you, Sparrow, the more I found out about Miss Grey." Smith risks a look up into Jack's eyes. "The more I found out about Miss Grey, the more I found myself comparing her to my daughter. She and Bella…"
Jack says nothing. His kohl is running in rivers down his face, and he is not ashamed.
"If Bella were here…" Smith shakes his head, taking a step backwards. "If had been Bella that died…" Smith stares down at his hands, then his face hardens.
"Get out of here, Sparrow." He says, voice and face emotionless. "The duel is over." With his free hand, Smith pulls a tin whistle from his belt and places it in his mouth. He blows three long blasts. Back in the clearing, the sound of fighting abates. Smith's crew are throwing down their weapons and screaming for parley.
Smith looks down again. "You won, Captain Sparrow."
Jack stares at Smith. "But at what cost?" He says softly. Smith bows his head and shuts his eyes.
Jack pushes past the silent pirate, Squirrel still in his arms, and makes his way back to the Black Pearl. Smith waits until he can no longer hear Jack Sparrow's footsteps disturbing the undergrowth, then looks at the pistol in his hand.
"I'm so sorry, Bella." He whispers. "But Father was wrong." He shuts his eyes, squeezing tears out of them. "Father was dead wrong."
Jack lifts his head, hearing the sound of a shot close by. He half-turns, looking back the way he came. Silently, Jack realises what happened. He looks down, at the calm face of Squirrel, and shakes his head.
"So much death… I wanted to be the one that saved you, Squirrel." Jack whispers huskily. "But now I'll have to bury you… I'm sorry, luv. I'm so sorry…"
A/N: Last chapter coming up next, complete with saccharine ending and the obligatory dance number.