Disclaimer: If I owned POTC, you would all BOW TO ME!

Squirrel stands silently, letting the crew tie her hands to the wooden frame. Her face is blank, unreadable. Her blouse is on backwards. Ella's fashion advice. Her back needs to be bare so the cat o' nine tails only tears the skin. Turn the blouse backwards, so the buttons are on the back, and you preserve your modesty, as well as your shirt. Though naught much can be done for your skin, Ella had said, trying to smile. And failing.

"You don't have to do this, Miss Grey." Ella says, her voice barely carrying over the hiss of the sea.

Squirrel bows her head, concentrating on the wood grains of the planks in front of her. "I made a deal. I gave my word."

Squirrel hears footsteps. She sees the cat o' nine tails being picked up out of the corner of her eye.

Is there a sigh from Ella? It's hard to tell. The breeze is rough now. Good sailing weather. The sails billow and the timbers of the Salted Slaver creak. Squirrel can sense the eyes of the crew on her. Disapproving? Admiring? Hard to tell. She can't see any of them, any of their faces.

"Do it." Squirrel says softly to the man behind her. She doesn't sound anything like Ella.

"One last chance, Miss Grey." Ella says, almost warningly. "I could cut you down right now."

Squirrel says nothing. She focuses on the wood grain, her eyes tracing the flowing patterns back and forth.

"You're not tensing up?" The man with the whip asks, incredulous.

Squirrel shakes her head. "Whether I tense or not, it won't change the fact that the cat's c-coming down." She can't hide the tremble in her voice.

Why are you doing this? Ella's voice echoes in Squirrel's head.

Because I love him.

You'd do this? You'd risk death… because you love him?

Squirrel shuts her eyes, preparing herself for the pain. Because I love him.

The lash is raised.

Someone gasps.

Squirrel squeezes her eyes shut tight.

The man waits for Ella's order.

"STOP!"

Squirrel feels the metal ends of the cat's tails bounce harmlessly across her bare back. She tries to look up over her shoulder at Ella. "Why?"

Ella laughs. "Take her down, Barnaby."

Squirrel feels the bonds on her wrists being undone, and someone drapes her cloak around her shoulders. Squirrel wraps the cloak around her, then turns to face Ella, feeling somehow cheated.

"Why did you tell him to stop?"

Ella laughs again. "Number one, you can tell Captain Sparrow he has my congratulations. Number two, you can tell him his debt is paid in full. And number three…"

"Why, Ella?" Squirrel says, angry now. "Did you tell him to stop just because I'm a woman? Was it because you think I can't take the pain? Why?"

Ella swaggers over. "Turn around, Miss Grey." Ella smiles warmly. "Turn around."

Squirrel turned around.

The Black Pearl is moored not too far off the port bow. Three rowboats can be seen in the water, and in the closest of the three is clearly…

"Jack?" Squirrel stares, then turns to face Ella. "I don't understand."

Ella inclines her head. "You know when we first met I said I didn't believe you?" Ella grins. "Well, now I do." She places a hand on Squirrel's shoulder. "True love's a rare enough thing these days. Treasure it more than silver and gold." She smiles.

Squirrel stares, still confused.

Ella grins again. "Consider your stories payment enough, Miss Grey." She holds out her hand. "And your friendship? Can I count that part of it too?"

Squirrel blinks, then smiles and shakes Ella's hand. "Of course… But I still don't understand, Ella."

Ella throws back her head and laughs. "I know. I'm a difficult person to figure out. Just ask Anamaria some time."

Jack's shouts can be clearly heard over the hiss of the sea and the creaking of the ships. Ella grins at the colourfulness of some of the threats.

"I think you'd better go, Miss Grey." Ella says gently. She seems on the verge of saying something else, but gives up and smiles. "Just… just take care. Take care of… of yourselves."

"Al… right." Squirrel says. She gives up trying to guess the meaning behind Ella's words. "Good luck in the East Indies."

"Thanks." Ella grins. "Good luck in the West Indies. For all of you."

Squirrel smiles, then climbs to the edge of the railing. She waves to Jack, then leaps overboard. Ella hears the splash, then Jack's cry of alarm, followed by another splash. She laughs.

"Come on, men!" She turns to the crew. "Next stop, Brazil! We need to stock up for the long voyage ahead!"

"Aye Captain, aye!"

Ella turns and watches as Jack and Squirrel emerge from the ocean, sopping wet. She's laughing, and he's concerned and confused. Anamaria and Mister Gibbs help haul the pair of them back into the rowboat.

"Actions and words." Ella says softly, to herself, smiling her smug secretive smile. "I wonder, Miss Grey, what the future holds for you and Jack?"

"Captain?" Barnaby appears at Ella's side. "Shall we make way?"

"Why not?" Ella grins.

As Barnaby ambles off, he can swear that Ella is singing under her breath.

"Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho…"

A/N: This is the official end of the Shortshots storyline. However, that does not mean it's the end of the shortshots. Thanks for reading and/or reviewing. Love you all.