I Will Protect You

Chapter 10 - With Me

The sun was falling into the sea when the Pearl sailed into Tortuga's harbor. All the men were eager to get off and Jack looked around the town uninterested. Anamaria sat on the side of the ship, letting her feet dangle off the side. Elizabeth was still below.

"Alright mates, go have yourselves a good time."

At his words, Jack's crew practically jumped off the Pearl and headed into town.

"Jack is it necessary that I go?" Elizabeth asked coming up.

The pirate looked at her and shook his head. "I guess not love, but you can only stay if Ana is with you."

Anamaria looked up from her spot on the ship and shrugged. "Aye, I'll stay here with the girl, don't forget all the stuff she needs."

Jack nodded and headed for town with Gibbs. "Elizabeth," He said and she faced him. "I'll be right back love, I'll look for William, ask about him, get your things and be back."

Liz nodded, she knew Jack didn't want to leave her alone, not after her neck getting cut but she figured she was safer on a ship with Ana.

"I'll be fine Jack."

He nodded and looked at Anamaria. She nodded and he left.

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"Is there something going on between you and Jack?"

Elizabeth looked at the pirate, caught off guard. "What?"

"You heard what I said. Is there something going on between you and Jack?"

"No. He's my friend, that's it."

Anamaria looked thoughtful. "A lot of women are Jack's friend Elizabeth. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to be with one tonight."

"He promised me he would find Will."

Ana shrugged, "Again, he promises a lot of things."

Elizabeth didn't want the conversation to continue so she headed up to the wheel. Absently she wondered what it would be like to have Jack's strong body pressing against hers as he kissed her.

Shuddering at the thought, although in a good way, Elizabeth noticed the pirate ship heading into the harbor and stopping next to them.

A moment later Anamaria noticed the intruding ship and ran up to Elizabeth. "We have to go! Hurry!"

Elizabeth ran, just behind Ana and stopped when no less than a dozen pirates stood on the deck of the Black Pearl.

"Anamaria, how nice to see you again."

"Go to Hell."

Elizabeth was getting a little frightened at the idea of twelve grown pirate men against her and Anamaria.

"Already been there." The pirate said and looked Elizabeth up and down. "Well what do we have here? A pretty lass such as yourself shouldn't be alone on a big pirate ship with out some kind of protection."

Anamaria stood and watched silently as the men approached Elizabeth. "What's your name girly?"

"Hannah."

The pirate then pulled out a gun and pointed it at Ana. "Your real name."

'How did he know I was lying?' Elizabeth thought to herself. The pirate's finger started to squeeze the trigger, Anamaria looked scared. "Alright. Elizabeth, my name is Elizabeth."

"That's more like it. Elizabeth what?"

"Swann."

The pirates all smiled with pleasure. They would get rewarded heavily for her. The captain, or whoever seemed to be incharage acted like he was going to put down his gun away from Ana's temple but an extra pair of boots on the deck made him stop.

"What in bloody hell do you think you are doing mate?"

Elizabeth felt relieved at Jack's presence. Soon that feeling was gone. Two of the other pirates took a hold of Jack and didn't let go, while the leader walked toward Elizabeth.

"Sampson I swear, if you so much as touch her hair I will," but the pirate stoped, so did everyone else. A gun went off. Anamaria was dead.

"You will what Jack? Another comment from you and this beautiful little girl will get her head blown of too, not before I'm done with her of cource."

Elizabeth wasn't even paying attention, Anamaria's lifeless body was bringing tears to her eyes and she wept silently to herself. "You bastard."

Jack cringed at Elizabeth's words, he knew better not to cross this one, but she obviously didn't.

"What darling?"

"I said 'YOU BASTARD!" Elizabeth screamed and punched the pirate in the face. Jack then took the liberty of freeing himself from his captors and pulling out his own pistol shot the leader then the two behind him.

Elizabeth had ran over to Anamaria but it was hopeless. She was really gone.

Coming back to reality she noticed Jack having a little difficulty with the rest of the pirates and she pulled out Ana's gun. Closing one eye she pointed it at a pirate that was standing off on the side, as if waiting for his turn at the famous captain. Before she pulled the trigger she remembered Will's words. "Keep both eyes open."

The shot ran out and hit her target. He fell to the grownd and while his shipmates were wondering what had happened she shot another and Jack dealt with the others. Soon it was just Jack and Elizabeth alive on the Pearl and she saw him fall to the ground, he was extremely fatigued.

"Jack! Jack, are you alright?"

The pirate captain looked up at her and took her arm, pulling her down next to him. "She's gone. That bastard killed one of my crew."

Elizabeth wiped Jack's face that was sweaty and had a few spots of blood on it. "She was a good pirate Jack, and a good friend to me."

Jack brushed his hair from his face and nodded. "Aye, that she was luv." He stopped and smiled. "I'm so stupid. I should have known better than to leave the two of you here alone."

"It's not your fault they wanted to come and fight Jack."

The pirate shook his head, refusing to believe her. Elizabeth sat back and finally rested her head on Jack's shoulder, she needed his presence, the death around them was defening.

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Later that same night Jack was standing in his cabin watching the sun set through the window. They had given Anamaria's body to the sea and it welcomed her. It had never been easy for Jack to lose a member of his crew, but to watch it happen right in front of him was terrible. He never wanted that again.

Then there was Elizabeth, she shouldn't have even been there. She should be at her home in Port Royal. Rubbing his hands together Jack was about to leave his cabin but there was a knock at the door instead.

"Come."

The door opened and Elizabeth walked in, her eyes to the floor. "Jack, I'm sorry about what happened today."

The pirate couldn't say anything, the way her face looked it was almost as if she blamed herself. "Come now luv, it's not your fault. These things are almost expected to happen." He said and she started to cry. "Please don't cry Elizabeth."

But she couldn't help it, the day was going on like one long nightmare and she just wanted to wake up. Feeling Jack's arms around her helped and she sighed into him. She was so tired she just wanted to sleep. Closing her eyes and breathing in Jack's scent, which was pleasently surprizing, she collapsed in his arms.

Jack picked her up and layed her in his bed before getting in himself and wrapping his arms around her. She was shivering slightly so he pressed his body against hers. The wind was howling outside as he closed his eyes.

His nightmares plagued his sleep.

TBC