Disclaimer: I don't own POTC, so don't sue. Por favor.

AN: I'm back, after my extremely long break from fanfiction and POTC. I'm all refreshed and brimming with new plot lines, so get ready for some serious writing! (not really, but it sounds good) So where did we leave off last time?

Oh yeah.

Small Bed, The Turner's home

"Oh my God." Muttered Aubergine.

"I know." Jack groaned.

"Oh my God!"

"A bit too early to be screamin' darling. But, I like the enthusiasm."

Aubergine, paying no mind to the pirate's mindless banter, scrambled off his lap and made her way to the window. From there she could see distant flashes of light and with each firing of the cannons, the window pane vibrated beneath her fingers.

But it wasn't the cannon fire that caught her attention, it was the small popping noises accompanying the booming. She recognized those as standard semi- automatics. And there was no way they had those in this time period.

Despite the booming of the cannons and the aroused pirate she left on the bed, Aubergine couldn't help but muse over the recent incidents in her life. Getting sent back in time and having the bad guys practically fall right into her lap? What kind of practical joke was this?

"Come back to Jack, sweetheart. We don't need to worry about those cannons. They aren't the Pearl's." Tempted the husky voice.

But it was no use. Aubergine was already dressed.

"I can't, I have to go. I left something very important back at the fort. You stay and rest. I'll be back soon." And with that, she leapt out the window.

The half aroused, Jack just sat and cursed. Then he got up and scrambled to get his clothes on. He couldn't believe he was following her. If she wanted to get killed in the crossfire then he should just let her.

But a nagging voice in his head told him to go after her.

Sighing, Jack blew out the candle and slipped out the window as well.

Behind a small boat, Port Royal Beach

Aubergine couldn't believe it. There was no way.

She blinked once. Then again. And then once more. But the figures before her were still there and still moving. There was a small battle going on around her, but all she could focus on was the ring of thick-necked men shooting off their automatic weapons. They wore dark camo, ski masks, and combat boots, but the most striking thing about them was the small emblem on their left shoulders. It was them.

&&&

Jack walked up on the scene and could immediately tell that this wasn't just an ordinary fight. The fort was firing its cannons at a small band of men further down on the banks. But, as far as he could tell, the cannon fire wasn't doing much good. The small group of men seemed unhurt by the cannon fire

There was also a strange commotion coming from them. It was a constant popping and thudding. Jack knew the sound of firing pistols and what he heard right now sounded was not a pistol firing. But that's what was strange. There were shots coming from them, but no signs of their source.

Even though the army outnumbered the men on the beach, Jack could tell that the Commodore was not going to win this battle.

Behind a small boat, Port Royal Beach

Jack had found Aubergine— behind a rotting boat in the midst of cannon fire and unseen shots. He couldn't believe that she had been stupid enough to risk her life for something she left behind.

He crept up behind her and cautiously tapped her on the arm.

She spun around immediately, and fixed him a surprised look.

&&&

How on Earth? How on Earth did the half drunk pirate find her? It was chaos everywhere, and yet he had found her.

Damn. Maybe her luck was running out.

All she needed to do was get one of those guys by himself and make him talk, but there was the pirate next to her now. How was she supposed to question the man in front of the pirate? Ugh. Her life was so complicated sometimes.

Annoyed, she gave him her meanest look. She hoped he would get lost before she missed her opportunity.

But, stupid man that he was, he didn't leave. Instead, he was edging closer and closer to her.

"Are ye daft woman? What the hell are you doing here? Are you trying to get killed?" His hot whisper brushed against her ear.

"No, I'm not daft. I'm looking for something I lost. And no, I'm not suicidal."

"Well you have an odd way of trying to stay alive! Just— hurry up and find it." He growled.

They were silent after that. Aubergine was watching for the opportunity to strike, and Jack was just watching her.

There was another round of cannon fire and the group of men in dark suits sprang apart to dodge the lead ball. One jumped particularly close to their hiding spot. That's when Aubergine suddenly sprang into action. She leapt up from her crouched position and launched herself at him.

Jack half rose himself, waving his hands about in a frenzied manner, trying to get Aubergine's attention.

"No— come back! Don't do that! Ugh— stupid."

She was a blur of movements and Jack couldn't see what she was doing, but she suddenly appeared with the unconscious man.

"Come on. Help me get him over there."

Jack stared at her but then grabbed a shoulder and together they dragged the man over to a group of big rocks.

Aubergine knelt down next to the man and slapped him a bit. Amazingly enough, the man started to come to. He looked up at the two of them and opened his mouth to yell out a warning. But before he could utter a single sound, Aubergine's hand covered his mouth.

"Not a word. Or else my pirate friend here will start cutting off fingers. Capiche?"

The man glared at Jack, eyeing the cutlass strapped to his side and nodded.

"Good." She turned to Jack then. "Jack, will you go stand guard? Make sure no one comes over here."

&&&

Jack mumbled and grumbled as he made sure no one noticed them. He couldn't believe he was taking orders from her. Unbelievable! Who did the chit think she was? He was the Captain here. The one with the experience. Yet here he was, doing guard duty.

He was still crabby about the indignity of taking orders from a woman when she appeared next to him. He opened his mouth to give her a good set down when she interrupted.

"They left didn't they?" She nodded towards the spot where the band of men stood a while ago.

"Aye."

She swore softly. "I thought so. Help me get him up. We need to go after them soon and we need him."

Jack had had enough of taking her orders. He stood his ground and glared at her. "No. Not until you answer some questions."

Aubergine turned around and raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you want to know?"

"Oh, I don't know. How about why you suddenly had to get to the port where there was a fight going on? One that didn't involve us. Or how about what this 'thing' that you lost is? I don't like risking my neck for nothing."

Jack finished and fixed her with a dangerous look.

"It's not nothing. In fact, it's the very thing that you're after. The document that I mentioned before— I left it here at the fort. I had to come back for it! Why do you think those men were here?" She gave him an imploring look. "Jack, they took it. That's why they left."

Jack noticed that this was the first time she had called him by his name. It sounded nice. But, now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Some one had stolen his map. Bloody hell.

"And what do you propose we do now?" he asked her.

"We go after it. We have one of their guys. He knows where they're going."

&&&

Thirty minutes later, Aubergine and Jack and their captive tumbled onto Will's back porch. The noise must have alerted Will because the door opened moments later. His handsome face was lined with worry.

"Jack! Lola! Where have you two been? Commodore Norrington came by a few minutes ago and demanded to search the house. He was sure that the two of you would be here. In fact, so did we! Where were you?" By now, Will had also noticed the new addition to their party. "And who is that?"

"Will, please, I'll answer all of your questions inside." Aubergine hoped she could piece together a story convincing enough. This was getting complicated.

&&&

Once inside, Will and Elizabeth were once again sitting opposite of Jack and Aubergine. They had tied up their captive in Will's basement and were now sipping tea.

Aubergine cleared her throat. "Will, Elizabeth, I didn't mean to cause you so much trouble. It's just that I had to retrieve something I left at the fort. Something very special to me— my mother's locket! And when I heard the fighting sounds, I knew I had to go tonight! The fight would have distracted everyone— it was my only chance. Please understand. I didn't mean for the Commodore to come and cause you trouble. I-I had no idea that he would suspect you in our disappearance. I'm so sorry."

For added credibility, Aubergine made herself sniffle and cry a bit.

At this, Elizabeth burst into tears. "Oh! No, we're sorry sweetheart! We aren't angry; in fact, we expected a visit from the Commodore sooner or later. We were just so worried about you two!"

Will and Jack looked distinctly uncomfortable at that moment. There were two teary women in the room and they had no clue what to do.

It was Jack that finally broke the silence. "Uh… right. Well, we're off. Thank you Will for your bailing us out of jail, as always. And thank you Elizabeth, for letting us stay. Till next time? Ta."

And with that, Jack stood up and grabbed Aubergine. They were half way to the basement when Will voice rang out.

"Wait! Why don't you stay the night? You can leave in the morning."

Jack opened his mouth to say something, but Will interrupted. "Besides, Norrington will be watching the waters very closely. Even the Pearl won't get by unnoticed."

Jack looked ready to argue, but it was Aubergine who accepted the night's stay. They could leave at dawn.

Rowboat, Water way to the Pearl

"I still don't understand why we had to lie to Will and Elizabeth. I trust them. They would have kept our secret."

"I know, but it's to keep them safe. The less they know, the better. But, what are you going to tell your men? Won't they wonder why there are two new additions?"

"You let me worry about that, and you worry about getting the location of the map."

At that, both Jack and Aubergine looked at the man sitting between them.

"I wonder how you'll get him to talk?"

Aubergine raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You let me worry about that, and you worry about getting us safely to your ship."

Even Jack had to grin at his words being thrown back at him.

Bilges, The Black Pearl

It took all of 7 minutes to get the man (Joe Mallard) to talk. It really was too simple. A few threats, a few punches and he was spilling it all. How they had arrived just that night, getting caught trying to steal a ship, the fight, the bombs…

"Where are they taking the bombs?" demanded Aubergine.

All he could do was tremble and stutter for a few moments, but then:

"T-T-They're going to D.C. first."

The Captain's Quarters, The Black Pearl

He couldn't believe he was taking orders from her again! As soon as they got on the ship, she demanded he put her in a private room to question the man. He wasn't sure why he said yes, but he did.

Something was seriously wrong with him.

He was just getting up to get a bottle of rum when a knock sounded.

"Come in."

Jack turned around with a fresh bottle and saw Aubergine walk in. He nodded at Gibbs, who then closed the door and left.

"Rum?" he offered.

Aubergine declined and watched while Jack sat back down with his feet up. She stood across the table and patiently waited, while Jack stared at her.

After minutes of silence, Aubergine finally spoke. "They're headed for the Americas. Near the Colonies."

His response was merely a nod and another swig from the bottle. Clearly he wasn't in a talkative mood. She wondered if she had offended him somehow?

"May I sit down… Captain Sparrow?" asked Aubergine.

Jack made a sweeping gesture that meant she should sit. But when she sat, he stood.

He made his way over to her, slowly, with calculated steps. He avoided her questioning look, and slowly walked behind her chair.

He bent over her shoulder and carefully tipped his bottle of rum over her shoulder. He watched as a drop of the liquid fell from the mouth of the bottle and onto her creamy skin.

Aubergine didn't dare move an inch.

The room suddenly felt stifling, the candles were too bright, and the Captain was too close…

She wanted to move, but she couldn't. She felt glued to the spot. Aubergine held her breath and waited for his next move.

Little by little, Jack bent his head toward the bared flesh and licked up the drop of rum. But he didn't stop there. He made little circles using his tongue, and dragged it up the smooth column of her neck. He planted a kiss behind her ear, and started to nibble on her ear lobe.

Jack heard Aubergine gasp.

Motivated by her sharp intake of air, he released her ear and blew air on it. He felt her shiver.

Jack leaned in closer and whispered, "We never finished our negotiation."

Hahaha! I make you wait months and months and I leave you with that ending. Surely I'm not that evil you say. Oh, but I am!

Review!

RunawayPirate: haha, I loved the ending of the last chapter! I love cliffies! InTooDepp: Thank You! I love comments like yours! Lady Anarane: Ah… the complexities of the human nature. I enjoy playing around with that in my characters. Mysterious-muse: I think seduction livens things up, don't you:) A Depp Girl: Thanks so much! DinoGirl15: I like Aubergine too. And thank you for the kind review! I love new reviewers! Canuckboi: thank you! Lizlol123: Yes! I've successfully made someone an addict to my story! Thank You! Caribbean-mama: Thanks for the review. It was like a virtual kick in the butt to start writing again.