Disclaimer: Pirates give me the warm and fuzzies.

It was brutal. Squirrel bit her lip, forcing herself to watch the cards, to try and remember the order her cards were in, and the order the slaver's cards were in, but the game was moving too fast, even for her. She was convinced that the slaver was cheating. Just like Jack said.

"You're not doing so well now, are ye, missy?" The slaver laughed. Squirrel fought back a shudder of revulsion. What on earth had possessed her to gamble away her own life, as well as Jack's? She shuddered, and lost the next three cards.

"Looks like I'll be winning this match." The slaver laughed unpleasantly, and grinned at Jack. "Where's Lady Luck when you need her, eh, Sparrah?"

Jack grinned right back, completely unconcerned. "She's right in front of you, bastard."

Squirrel blushed a light shade of pink, but smiled. "You know I don't believe in luck, Jack." She said softly, continuing to play.

"And I told you to stop puttin' yourself down, luv." Jack grinned.

The game ended soon afterwards. Ever since she was young, loaded dice or marked cards could not trick Squirrel Grey. She always knew the outcomes of every game of chance. Jack put his arm around Squirrel and kissed her on the cheek as they walked away.

"And you say you have no luck of your own." He smiled. "You're my Lady Luck, Miss Grey."

"Lady Luck, huh?" Squirrel smiled, bright red. "I like the sound of that…"

Ella's face is blank and unreadable. Squirrel finds herself standing next to her as Jack is lashed to a triangle of wood, and a crewmember picks up the cat o' nine tails and tests it on the air.

"I'm not going to watch this." Ana mutters, shutting her eyes and gritting her teeth. "I've seen too much of it already."

Ella's expression does not change. "As have we both, Miss Maria. But sometimes, such things are unavoidable." Squirrel stares, unable to take her eyes off the open lacerations on Jack's back. Ella's eyes flicker.

"Do it." She says, her voice flat.

The crewman draws back his arm, then whips it forward. The tails of the cat score Jack's back deeply, ripping into flesh and sending up spurts of blood. Jack cries out in pain, but he does not struggle against his bonds, nor try to get out of the way.

Squirrel nearly throws up. Ella watches from out of the corner of her eye, gauging the grey-cloaked girl's reaction.

"Again." She says, biting off the word. Jack cries out again, and blood drips onto the deck. Squirrel stifles a scream of her own. Ella waves a hand, and two crewmen come up, silently, behind Squirrel.

"Again."

"Stop it!" Squirrel tries to step froward, but the strong arms of Ella's crewmen hold her back. She struggles nevertheless. "Captain Ella! Please! Stop this! Please!"

"Again." Ella says, ignoring Squirrel. Ana's face takes on an expression of disgust, but she does not open her eyes. Jack cries out, but this time, his cry is drowned out by Squirrel's scream. Ella looks at Squirrel out of the corner of her eye. The grey-cloaked woman is crying, struggling weakly.

The crewman with the cat o' nine tails brings back his arm, ready to strike again. Ella straightens her shoulders.

"NO! STOP IT!"

Ella turns around, irritated. "Oh, for pity's sake, girl! We can do this all today, or the rest of the lashes could be dragged out over a period of days! What do you want?"

"Parley." Squirrel sobs. "Parley."

Ella stares at the girl, then places a finger to her lips, considering. Ana opens her eyes and turns to stare. The pirate captain narrows her eyes, and a slight smile plays about her lips. Finally, she nods.

"Take her below." She orders the two men restraining Squirrel. The men obey silently.

Jack lifts his head, trying to break out of his bonds. "Ella! Don't you dare! I agreed to this! Don't you hurt her! I swear, I'll kill you if you even…"
"Barnaby!" Ella punches one hand into the palm of the other. Ella's new First Mate steps forward and hits Jack on the back of the neck with an open hand. Jack slumps, unconscious, held up only by the leather straps on his wrists.

"Anamaria?" Ella turns to face her old friend. "I think you'd better bring him below."

The Negro woman meets Ella's grin with a scowl. "I'm through taking orders from you, bitch."

Ella shrugs, and smiles. "Suit yourself." She turns and heads below-decks.

Anamaria mutters murderously under her breath, then crosses the deck and begins untying the leather bonds. Jack slumps to the deck, and groans.

"Here." Barnaby appears at Ana's side. "Let us help." He and two other crewmembers carry an empty stretcher between them. He and Ana carefully lift Jack's bleeding body onto the white canvas.
"Thankye." Ana says, surprised and somewhat stunned that she would receive help from one of Ella's crew. Barnaby nods.

"Not a problem, ma'am."

A/N: -whistles through her teeth all innocent-like-