Chapter 21: Oh s not now!

The sea seemed to go on for miles and I was getting absolutely shattered. Jack, however, looked unusually perky and seemed to be enjoying his swim as though it was a casual walk through a forest or something.

He turned and smiled at me just to make it ten times worse. I had a stitch in my side.

Ten minutes later

The sea just went on forever

Fifeteen minutes later

The stitch was getting worse and the island seemed just as far away as it had when I was on the boat this morning.

Thirty minutes later

The pain in my chest was unbearable and my face was brick red with heat. We had to be there soon!

Forty minutes later

"Jack I refuse to go any further!"

He stopped swimming and glanced back at me grinning again but this time I blushed remembering that kiss.

We paused for a few moments and once I caught my breath we were back to our front crawl and breast stroke. Swim, swim, swim. And then finally, finally FINALLY we reached the beach and stumbled hot and panting onto the white sands of Jamaica. I fell face first into the powdery ground and relaxed every muscle in my body at long last. And I was pleased to note that Jack did the same, he was humane after all.

I blacked out for a few moments, maybe minutes…perhaps an hour. Well anyway the next thing I knew Jack was waking me up gently and indicating that it was time to move on.

I stood up and felt my face cracking…it was completely covered in sand. Great. Jack sniggered and suddenly, just like that, I forgot about the shy feelings due to the kiss. I picked up a handful of sand, slung it in his direction and started off at a fast pace towards the forest surrounding the beach.

"RIGHT!" shouted Jack, "that's it!!" and he sped after me with a handful of sand ready to chuck at me. I screeched loudly and ran light footed into the trees to loose myself in their midst before Jack caught up with me.

"Where did yea go?"

"I'm hiding!! You can't find me!" I felt like a child again…only…I couldn't remember what happened when I was a child.

I felt something hard dig into my back. Jack had caught up with me. I put my hands in the air mocking capture and turned around grinning…

My face fell at once for it was not Jack who stood behind me but the pristine washed, bright red, neatly ironed jackets of a dozen King's Royal Navy and they all had the sharp pointed end of their sword pointing my way.

"Pirate," stated the one who's blade had been sticking in my side.

"Uhhh…," I stuttered glancing down at my clothing. There was no way of covering up my distinctive pirate clothing or the sword hanging limply by my side which was unfortunately too far away for me to grab. So I swallowed nervously hoping beyond hope that Jack had gotten away.

"What?! Your not…." Came a familiar voice from behind me somewhere in the trees.

"Not who?" came another voice in the trees. I strained to listen but my own capturer was busy talking to me.

"You are under arrest," another leapt forwards and seized my cutlass and pistol that was tucked 'safely' into my socks. I groaned and looked to the sky as if it would suddenly help me in the time of need but the cold heavy weight of steel clasp itself around my wrists. A harsh tug twigged me into walking in between the men all of whom looked ecstatic at their capture. Soon the bushes rustled beside us and another load of red coats appeared with Jack in tow.

He grimaced at me but said nothing. We walked for some five minutes until we came out into a clearing where a wagon and horses were waiting. We were chained to the back of the wagon and dragged along rather harshly while the rest of them jumped on board all chatting about how they were going to be rewarded for the capture of the Sparrow and the Magpie.

The cart got faster and my feet could barely keep up with it and soon I was stumbling and tripping everywhere so much so that Jack had to put an arm out to steady me. Everything was going wrong, loosing the Pearl, getting shipwrecked, swimming for nearly a whole day and now being captured. I felt sick the bone with it all. All I wanted more than anything else in the world was to be rid of the curse bestowed upon me and Jack and be warm and safe upon the Black Pearl with him and the crew. Anamaria could shout all she wanted, Gibbs could complain as much as he liked about women being a bad curse for a ship and there could be as many chores as there could be for me to do but anything, anything could be better than this.

What fate would be waiting for me around the corner? If I escaped being hung by the red coats was there any reason why I should bother going on or was there always going to be something around the corner ready to prance on me putting my life into danger again? Hope was giving out on me and my feet began to refuse to run. I slowed down into a hopeless walk but the cart continued to speed on so much so that I lost footing and was being dragged along the ground, dust, mud and grit being poured into my skin.

My hope was dead and the sky turned a stormy grey.

But then a pair of strong hands bent down and lifted me up again and I saw a concerned face of my captain, my closest friend, the man I loved. And the flame inside me was relit.

A/N: Hey guys sorry this chappy is a bit scatty and very very late indeed! Like I said once I will finish this story as I have the perfect ending for it all written out in my head! Its just that when I write something else seemes to happen all the time!

By the way this whole 'Jack and Anna' thing is supposed to be slow moving because I'm trying to get across the feelings that someone would get if they fell in love with their closest friend. Unfortunately it kind of happened to me so I know exactly how Annie is feeling only of course Jack repays her love. :-)