Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own PotC, but I do own this story :)

Chapter Two- Hangman's Noose

The cage door slammed shut behind them and the padlock clicked into place. As the old, rusty keys were hung on the brick wall, Norrington turned to face Jack and Paris, pride gleaming in his eyes. "I'm sure you'll remember this as the day Jack Sparrow almost escaped."

"And the day ye locked away an innocent girl," Jack retorted, his deep eyes displaying genuine dislike for the man.

"Innocent?" Norrington replied looking Paris and her scantily clad body up and down, "I think not."

Wanting nothing more than to swipe the smug look off the Commodore's face, Paris began to stand, but Jack reached out and grabbing her waist, forced her back into her previous sitting position on the hard, hay scattered ground. After scowling at him, Paris looked away as if to not see Jack or Norrington would somehow make the nightmare disappear.

Taking a moment longer to press the memory of his victory firmly into his mind, Norrington turned and left, the sound of his footfalls fading as he ascended the steps of the jail.

Jack turned his gaze upon Paris. "I know this looks bad love," he began, "But, if we wait for the opportune moment-"

At last she faced him, anger etched into every word as Paris said, "Looks bad? Sparrow, we are to be hung tomorrow morning!"

Brushing dirt from her emerald dress as she stood, Paris wrapped her hands around the cold, steel bars and leant her head against them. "This is not how it's supposed to end," she told herself softly.

Intrigued, Jack tilted his head to the side, making the beads in his dark hair jingle slightly. His eyes travelled over the back of her figure, before a thought crossed his mind. "Ye still haven't told me ye name yet," he stated matter-of-factly.

Turning back around, she leant her back against the bars. "It's Paris," she answered with slight hesitation. 'Not that it's going to matter very soon.'

"After the city?" Jack inquired.

Biting back sarcasm, Paris replied dryly, "Yeh, after the city."

"Well me dear Paris," Jack said, stressing the vowel, "Might I suggest ye get some sleep love? Tomorrow is, after all, a new day."

Eyeing the strange pirate who was the reason she was in this situation, Paris slid away from the cell bars, and moved over to the wall where she sat across from him. "I hope you have something planned Mr Sparrow, because I'm not too keen on having a rope around my neck," she said with distrust, before adding, "Oh, and might I suggest that you don't come near me while I'm sleeping?"

"Pirate's honour," he smirked.

Closing her eyes, Paris mumbled, "What honour?"

Jack grinned in reply.

The drums rolled as Paris and Jack were led up the stairs to the gallows with their hands fastened firmly behind them. Her stomach was twisting into a thousand knots as Paris stopped her forced march behind the noose. Jack stood across from her, and adding to Paris' frustration, seemed entirely at ease with the whole situation as he grinned his golden teeth smile at her.

"Miss Paris Nightingale is charged with the criminal act of aiding in the escape of a convicted pirate, Mr Jack Sparrow," came a loud voice over the gathering crowd.

"Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow," Paris heard him muttering next to her. She had to tense every muscle in her body not to run at him. 'How the hell can he be so calm?'

As her sentence was read out, and the rest of the traditional routine was completed, Paris was pushed forward above the trapdoor, and the foreboding rope hung loosely around her neck. It was then that the gravity of the situation appeared to register. 'I can't die like this!' her mind screamed.

A lump was in her throat as Paris took a quick glance back at Jack. For the first time she noticed anxiety in his dark eyes, but she also saw that he was scanning the crowd for something, or someone. But it was too late for help.

The trapdoor slid open so quickly, Paris didn't have any time to wonder who Jack might have been looking for. The fall was too fast, and much too short. The rope sprung back, throwing back her head. It wasn't hard enough to break her neck and Paris felt the strength of the noose as it began to squeeze every inch of life out of her. She tried to gasp and suck in the air that surrounded her, but it was useless. Paris felt weak as she struggled to live; the faces of the morbid crowd that watched were all a blur. Her own face felt burning hot, and she knew the fight would soon be over.

Suddenly, Paris felt her body fall again. This time, it connected with something solid; the ground. The rope around her neck loosened, giving her throat enough room to breathe in the life-giving air. It had never felt so good. Wheezing and coughing, Paris saw two men standing over her. 'Please no!' she managed to croak out, fearing they would have to do it again.

Instead, one of the men bent down and cut the rope around her hands and her neck in two swift movements of his sword. Paris' long, wavy hair fell ungracefully over her face, as the man pulled her to her unstable feet. The world was still spinning as the man yanked her hand, saying, "Com' on lass!"

It all seemed too familiar as once more, Paris tore through the crowd with a man she didn't recognize. Shouts over the panicked crowd calling for her to halt were ignored by both Paris and the stranger as he led her towards the port.

Large ships and smaller boats occupied the port and as they drew closer, a huge ship with dark sails came into view. Paris' wished her head would stop pounding as her eyes tried focusing in on the ship that she was obviously being taken to. After boarding the ship, the man finally loosened his grip on her hand.

Paris pressed a hand to her beating heart, leaning forward as she tried hard to get her breath back. "Ye alrigh' love?" a familiar voice asked her.

She knew who it was before glancing up. Jack stood facing her, concern creasing his forehead. Paris opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Jack's face began swimming out of focus. "Jack...-" she breathed before everything went dark..

Author's Note: Just thought I should mention that this story is set after the movie. Hope you enjoyed!

psychotic kitten- Thankyou so much for the review! And you're right, Paris can be quite feisty when she needs to be ;)

The future Mrs. Jack Sparrow- Hehehe, yep! Another one:) I hope you will enjoy this story too and thanks for the review!

Tasteyourlove- Thankyou for the review! Here's the second chapter! I hope you liked it:)