Thanks to all my reveiewers. I have too amny to count. Which is a good thing. So here's a double chap for you. enjoy.

Chapter 22

Oh great, help. Mari thought irritably then realized maybe it wasn't such a bad thing. Especially since Dodger was only a few feet away from her and his fingers outstretched for her throat. She darted sideways toward the door as it was blasted open and Jack stepped in, careful not to step on Orion.

"There you are love. Orion was having kittens when you weren't around." Jack said swaying slightly drunkenly. Oh great, he's half drunk. Mari though shaking her head. Then she jumped to the side as Dodger came swinging at her.
"You worthless wench! You have become tame! Calling for help like that." Dodger shouted. The 'tame' comment infuriated her and she charged at Dodger, playing right into his trap. He grabbed her by the throat and squeezed tightly, almost crushing. She gasped for breath and lashed out at him trying to get free. Finally she did, but on his terms. He threw her twenty feet and she crashed into a wall of iron and metal. Horseshoes and the like. She staggered t he feet gasping for breath.

When Jack saw Mari flying he came back to his senses and the monster inside of him roared with insane fury. He aimed his gun and shot at Dodger but he dodged the bullet and Mari ducked in the nick of time.

"Oh, you got yourself a real pirate man didn't you Mari?" Dodger asked grinning as he made his way towards Jack, who was backing up as he tried to reload his gun.

"He's my captain, although he'd make a better boyfriend than a slug like you!' Mari shouted. Dodger froze and turned sharply, glaring at her.

"What'd you call me girly?" he growled.

"I didn't call you anything; I just said your name, right slug?" Mari said, moving along the wall as he advanced slowly. But at the last comment he charged at her and managed to once again grab her throat. Jack cocked and aimed his gun. Dodger turned and threw Mari at Jack just as he fired two shots, one after the other.

Blood splattered the walls and Mari and jacks clothing as she slammed into him and they crashed into the wall. Dodger stopped and staggered backwards. He looked astounded then fell face forwards, dead as a doornail. Jack sat up and Mari rolled off of him, and lay limp beside him.

"Some fight huh love?' jack said shaking his head and looking down at her. She didn't say anything or move. Jack looked closer, blood was coming from her side, and she had been hit.

"Mari! Mari wake up!" Jack ordered. Orion flapped over and landed next to them, still slightly stunned but otherwise ok. He shrieked worriedly, as he saw Mari.
"She's alright; you're just trying to trick us aren't you?" Jack asked, poking her. She didn't respond. Please, please be ok and don't kill me for what I'm about to do. Jack thought. Tentatively he reached down and rubbed her backside, she didn't move. He was wincing, expecting her to turn and punch him in the face. But nothing happened. Jack began shaking her, praying that she would wake up. As he rolled her over she saw red whelp marks around her neck where Dodgers fingers had strangled her. He realized that it wasn't the bullet she was faint from, it was lack of oxygen. He stood up quickly, looking around for something he could fan her with. He didn't see anything; he darted outside and bumped into a woman.

"Sorry," he began then saw it was Scarlet, a woman he had come to know. She was carrying a fan. He took it from her and ran back inside and began franticly fanning Mari. Scarlet followed in a huff. She snatched the fan and smacked him so hard he fell back onto Mari. No sooner had she left and Jack landed on her than she gasped and sat bolt upright. Jack rolled off and looked at her, relived. Mari was breathing heavily and gasping for air. Then after she had enough air to function and think she realized a slight pain in her side. She looked down and saw one of the bullets that Jack had fired must have grazed her side. Orion screeched happily and landed on her lap.

"You old feather wad, you could have got yourself killed. Just like the trigger happy pirate behind me huh?" Mari said.

"Glad your back to normal love. Now do you mind me asking who that fine gentleman was?" jack asked as his heart rate returned to normal and the monster inside his chest clamed down and purred with relief at her safety.

"I suppose you expect I owe you something?" Mari said, although she was more tempted to hurt Jack for butting in she knew that wouldn't be fair because, as much as she hated to admit it, she had needed his help.

"Well, yes I suppose." Jack said. Mari sighed and stroked Orion's feathers softly.

"He was my first and last boyfriend. He gave Orion to me, and things had gone good for a while." Mari said her voice trailing off.

"For a while love?" Jack asked.

"Things turned bad for some reason. Certain thing happened, and after that I went back to the sea. Ever since I've always tried to avoid Tortuga when he's going to be around, this fight was the reason why."

"So he beat you?" Mari shrugged.

"It doesn't matter; it's in the past, which is something I'm trying to forget. I learned my lesson so why should it matter?"

"Ah, I see. What do you mean by lessons learned?"

"Just things I learned aren't worth worrying about and are better off hiding from and keeping locked up."

There was a sudden noise outside and a woman walked in. Mari stared at her in shock; it was the woman Dodger had left her for. The woman saw Dodgers lifeless body and screamed.

"Time to go I think." Jack said and Mari nodded. They slid past the woman but she said.

"Marieah you bloody murdering pirate! The woman shouted and tried to slap her, but she dodged it.

"Oh please, it's nothing more than your sad excuse for a boyfriend deserved. Besides the fact he was trying to kill me!" Mari snapped.

"Jack! Mari! We need to go! We ran into some uh... complications at the bar." Elizabeth said, half hoisting a bloodied and battered Will. Jack and Mari ran after her and Mari helped her support Will.

"What the heck happened?" Mari asked, as thee original crew, and two new boys joined them and they all headed back to the Pearl.

Ok, so what will happen next? REad on to find out.