Jack watched as Esther came closer and closer, until it was time to send some of the crew out in the row boats to find the idle while the others watched the ship. Gibbs came up to him with a grim look on his face.

"Bring the girl,' he said softly, and Jack closed his eyes and nodded. Turning to the brigg, he went down without saying a word to Em as he came to her, and opened the cell door.

"Have you come to talk to me again?" she asked softly with a sad smirk. Jack didn't answer, but kneeled down to her level. "Are you going to hurt me, Jack?"

He tossed her a black blindfold. "Put this on," he said darkly, and then waited until he could bind her hands and lead her to one of the boats. As they rowed to the shore he gribbed her good hand with his, thankful that no one saw and knew by sunrise she'd be executed. Already he had plans running through his mind on how they'd escape. He realized how sad it was that he had to flee from his own crew, but when he thought of Em's hand in his, he knew it was what he had to do, captain or no.

"We make camp once we reach the shore," said Jack. "We'll take turns keeping watch. I'll talk to the prisoner and try one last time to force any information out of her. If she doesn't speak by dawn, she'll be executed, savvy?"

"Aye," said Gibbs with a smile. Jack knew he was thinking that he had gotten his touch back, and maybe it was better that way. In the morning he woul see it was not so.

When jack stepped into the tent where Em was being held, there was a man guarding it.

"I can take it from here, mate," he told the guard, and the man nodded and stepped away. Jack stepped into the tent and found Em sitting there, hands bound behind her back, sitting crosslegged and slumped over a little, her hands twitching every so often. Her eyes were still blindfolded, and Jack gently slid the blindfold down and looked her in the eyes. She smiled at him.

"I was wondering if I'd see you tonight, Jack," she said softly.

"I'm going to get us out of here," said Jack. "I know how."

"The tent's guarded, Jack," she said, nodding to the door.

"Not anymore. I got the man to leave. We'll be out of here as soon as I say it's clear."

"Alright," she said with a nod. "Be careful. Don't want anything bad to happen to that pretty face." He smiled and placed a hand on her cheek.

"I've done enough to this face, luv," he said softly. He stood up and left the tent to wait for everyone, except for the two watchers to be asleep.

When the time came, he slipped back into her tent to find her asleep. He cut off the bonds from her wrists, and she woke up with a start. He placed a hand over her mouth, and signalled her to follow him silently. She did, and they slipped away from camp and into the woods, running as quietly as they could, successful in not being discovered.

They ran through the forest, the moonlight barely even lighting the way, and they reached a clearing after a half hour or so of running. They could hear water running, and Em laughed a they stepped out of the trees and came upon a large waterfall with a laked under it which flowed out into a stream.

It was so beautiful there, a great releif from all the bad things they to see for too long. "Whoa!" muttered Jack as he looked around.

"Now there's a sight you don't see everyday," said Em, leaning her head on his shoulder. "It's... amazing."

"Let's stop here then," he said softly. "Just till sunrise. Then we'll have to leave again."

"There's some caves behind that waterfall," she said, pointing to it. "We can hide in there for the night."

"Lead the way then. You seem to know this place better than me, mate." She smiled and led him over the slippery rocks up to the water fall, and they stepped through it, Em flinching in pain as the pressure hit her burnt back, and Jack stepped through behind her, asking her if she was alright.

"I'm fine," she answered, taking a breath. "It just hurts sometimes."

"Sit down then," said Jack. "It's safe now." She lowered herself to the stone floor, and looked at the waterfall which was in reach of her fingertips.

"Never thought I'd be sharing an adventure with the famous Jack Sparrow," she said, looking at him.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," he corrected her, and she giggled.

"Right. I forgot." He smirked and looked at the waterfall. "You didn't have to do that you know."

"Do what?"

"Give up being captain of the Black Pearl for me. I know that killing me would've been easier."

"If you were in my shoes, luv, you would've just as soon executed your own mother."

"I know, but most pirates wouldn't give up a ship for someone they cared about."

"Pirates like me," he said, turning to her. "They would give it up, for someone they loved." He gave a sad smile. "There will be other ships, luv. But for now, I'd rather have this than a ship."

"This?" she asked.

"A conversation, mate. One where we aren't in tears, savvy?" She giggled and nodded.

"Yeah, that does sound a little more appealing." She reached over and touched the waterfall with her fingers, and pulled back quickly, forcing drops of water to splatter in Jack's face. "Sorry!" she said, but he merely smirked.

"It's been almost a year since I last had a bath, mate," he teased. "Probably needed it, savvy?" She snickered a little and nodded.

"I guess so," she muttered. She flinched in pain, and shifted a little, in a way that let him know it was her back that was bothering her.

"You should get some rest, luv, give your back time to heal."

"It hurts something terrible, Jack," she said softly in a sad tone.

"I'm sorry," he said, feeling a pang of guilt. He crawled over to her and pulled her into his lap, cradling her as though she were his little child. She fell asleep in his arms, and he eventually dozed after an hour or so.

Light up, Light up

As if you have a choice

Even if you cannot hear my voice

I'll be right beside you, dear