"Somebody fetch the surgeon!" Jack yelled as he struggled along the sand, with Ruby-Rose groaning with every movement. He saw his father leap over the deck of The Oracle the urgency of an anxious father overtaking the awareness of old age.

"What's going on, Jack were you attacked?"" Caleb demanded as he helped Jack to get aboard the ship, his exasperated son gently laid the sickly pirate along a discarded plank of word and raced to the captain's cabin to find a candle. Grabbing the brass holder he jammed the wax into the hole and lit it with trembling hands – his nerves were completely shot.

He slowly planted the crude beacon of light against Ruby-Rose's arm and slowly pulled the rag away from her hand. The young captain winced and her face crumpled with guilt and shame, Jack comforted her by stroking her face before raising the flame above the injury.

Caleb glanced down in horror as his beautiful girl was now scarred for life, punishment for a profession he wished with all his heart he should have done more to protect her from.

"We were too late Dad, we heard something like a scream on the way to the barracks none of us wanted to believe what we all heard but it happened – She has been marked"

Caleb clasped a hand over the girl's head and whispered words of comfort that only a father would tell, Ruby-Rose glanced at him with her emerald eyes watered and bloodshot with so many tears.

"Why Liv, my Lord you would sink half the British Navy and still would not be satisfied – why do this to yourself?"

"I'm a pirate Dad it's what I do…F-Fl-Fletcher"

"What?"

"I found out my name today, I probably bargained for it with my soul but it was worth it" Ruby-Rose explained her voice raspy, weak barely audible.

Caleb Sparrow said nothing choosing instead to shake his head violently, for he realised that his daughter was suffering more than just a straightforward reprimand. He peered closer at the wound it was a furious red and studying the edges were wet the answer was slowly revealing itself.

"Olivia Fletcher my name is Olivia Rose Fletcher" She croaked, smiling with relief as well as delirium before her eyes closed and the smile faded.

"Christy…Is that your name?" Jack stammered no longer caring his vulnerability was now exposed for all the world to see. Christy Jamieson who had been hard at work repairing the hull for most of the day nodded.

"Wake your surgeon, tell him your captain is gravely ill" As soon as Jack let go of her arm the ruined aristocrat darted for the crew's quarters where she found Dr Adrian Chalmers snoozing in his hammock.

"Ade, Adrian wake up you're wanted!" Christy begged while grabbing hold of the physician's arm a faint grumble was his reply.

"Good God man wake from your slumber your skills are urgently needed" She continued, staring at the ties of the hammock she took out her dagger and cut them away one by one. The dozing doctor fell to the ground with a bump.

"Huh w-hat is the meaning of this? I have gone beyond my duty today and a man is in need of his rest!" Chalmers protested shrugging off the warm blanket.

"…and a captain is in need of her surgeon, Now go get your kit!" Christy retorted

"My resources are almost completely used, or have you forgotten yesterday's fierce battle already? To which captain are you referring to?"

"What do you mean which captain? OURS OF COURSE…Have you been at the gin again?"

"Purely for medicinal purposes and seeing as we have Caleb Sparrow in our company once more my question is justified"

Christy stared at him before picking up his bag and throwing it at him, a sarcastic laugh echoed as she led them to the upper deck.

"A likely story, now get up here now there's work to be done"

Adrian Chalmers a man who went from a highly-established practitioner to a pirate ship's surgeon within three years. The restlessness in his soul came quite suddenly and being a bachelor made the decision quite easy – He had served The Oracle's captain and crew for eleven years now and knew no other way of living.

"Adrian, my daughter…she has been marked but she should not be this ill, help her" Caleb whispered quietly as the doctor went about checking the patient's pulse before studying the injury. After taking a deep breath The Sparrows' guessed it was not a positive assessment.

"It may be too early to tell but by the odd excess in moisture in the scorched area…I'm afraid she bears the symptoms of gangrene.

"Oh God no….Olivia" Jack murmured as he touched her cheek that was now burning with fever.

"How, I have known countless numbers of people branded by the East India Trade company – My own son and I bear the price of our crimes why has this happened to Ruby-Rose?" Caleb enquired his eyes never leaving his daughter as she started breathing more rapidly

"Someone aggravated the infliction; some force broke through the scorched skin allowing infection to grow"

"Self-righteous bastards, if I could avenge her I would in a heartbeat!" Jack seethed, his father glowered at him and jack stepped away to take control of his anger. Grabbing hold of the rigging he squeezed and squeezed until once finally letting it go his whole palm was red with the pressure Gibbs patted him on the back and Jack returned to the group.

"What now?"

"Now the infection must be drained, for the limb to be save there must be immediate action; you must understand this is a high risk procedure her wrist-"

Do what you can, Olivia will not die and she will not lose her hand either" Jack intervened defiantly. He scooped his father's ward under his arms and carried her into her cabin; he was followed by Gibbs, Varens, his father and the surgeon. The joined members of the Black Pearl and The Oracle all stood in silence as an eerie foreboding atmosphere shrouding the area as the door slammed shut.

Candles were lit all around the room and all of Ruby-rose's documents; maps, charters, navigation calculations were all thrown to the floor by one swift swipe of Caleb's hand. His daughter arching her back in agony as the fever gripped her body more aggressively – Her injured arm feeling as heavy as lead, too painful to move an inch. Ana-Maria went about preparing for the difficult task ahead from boiling water under the mess hall's fire to making a many makeshift bandages as she could. Adrian Chalmers stared down at his hands as they trembled slightly, an obvious consequence to his afternoon of drinking he took a deep breath believing it was be his last day of service if the Sparrows found out.

"Deep breath now Captain this is not going to be easy, take courage young Miss" He said soothingly before making a careful incision at the tip of the scorched flesh, pus and blood began to flow but the doctor wrapped her forearms with rope in a bid to ease the pressure.

Caleb towered over his daughter's frail body as he restricted her movement by curling his knee over her abdomen, still with all the weight she still managed to squirm and jerk it was a natural reaction to the torture of her body as she could not stop. Jack took his scarf and tied it over his head at the doctor's request and sat behind his stricken love once Chalmers had removed another strip of diseased skin and discarded it in the bowl next to him Jack heaved the young woman against his chest and held her tightly, partly for the procedure and partly because he had never been so afraid in all his life. For Poseidon's Ruby-Rose, his Ruby-Rose was beginning to wither away.

Through seething teeth and matted hair Olivia Arlington-Fletcher had begun to face her own mortality; the demons of the past and the broken bond of the present that so desperately needed mending.

"J-Jack, forgive me Jack I was too proud…too proud and too vindictive to see sense. Who am I to sink a flagship?" She murmured, her clammy face resting against Jack cheek. He could feel her struggle for breath as her lungs fell in and out with less systematic rhythm, squeezing his eyes shut to stop the tears from falling.

"I must admit it's not one of your best conquests love, but I saw the cargo hold…some booty you stole" Jack answered softly.

"Only the best for the grandest ship in the seven seas" She managed to grin.

"Second-grandest"

"A possibility Jack but nothing more" Ruby-Rose quipped and for a fraction of a second Jack thought he had his beloved pirate princess back, her body rose up to let out a hearty laugh before the pain seized it back and twisted it so badly she cried out.

Jack gripped her hands tightly until the moment had passed and she slipped back down into his embrace. Caleb could no longer disguise his despair as he tried to cough away his anxiety his daughter eventually looked up at him.

"This had to be a new record in the most reckless, most hazardous and most selfish act ever committed by any pirate let alone a captain!"

Ruby-Rose was too weak to defend herself she tried to raise her head but could not for guilt and shame was the only other force behind the tears which were quickly kissed away by Jack. Tasting the salt it was a lot more pleasing and emotionally responsive than tasting that from the ocean.

"What in God's name were you thinking? I told you this unrelenting quest for approval and beating your uncle at whatever game is on the table will get you killed…"Caleb ranted before trailing off turning away from his children as he battled to control himself.

"This is not what I wanted for you, for either of you but fate is quite a nasty piece of work when it wants to be"

At that moment after a long a difficult hour of stripping away the dead tissue and draining the infection, Chalmers had hit the worst of the operating hurdles in the form of the second half of the branded line.

"Jack you may want to hold her down for this, some strong whiskey or rum would not go amiss either" Chalmers said firmly.

Jack Sparrow gazed at Ana-Maria and she nodded in silent reply, bursting out of the cabin she raced into the mess hall and grabbed the nearest bottle of rum: Completely ignoring the numerous calls of concern that rang out from every direction. Passing the rum to Jack he gently placed it over Ruby-Rose's chapped lips, she had difficulty swallowing for she could not stand the stuff but she had little tolerance with whiskey so she had to accept the rum.

Panting and breathing through her nose she clasped Jack's had and kissed it, with fierce determination in her voice she turned to the medic.

"Adrian stop lingering man, just do what must be done" She spluttered

With one final pause the doctor traced the knife over the raging infliction and the invalid screamed again; her voice thundering through the door across the ship and echoing along the cove.

"Stay with me Olivia it won't be too long now love, he's almost finished Chalmers is almost finished" Jack cooed while trying desperately to keep a hold of his nerves, they were failing him now but he was adamant that he would not let her see it.

"We make quite a pair don't we Jacoby? We hide behind the veil of folklore and ridiculous showmanship when in truth we waste as many opportunities as the rest of them" He coughed

"Oh I don't know about that Liv, we may screw up from time to time but we still redeem ourselves when it counts"

"It's nowhere near enough Jack, a chance was there and we let it slip; whether it be status, pride…l-love"

"But I'm here now Olivia I'm here now"

Meanwhile down in the mess hall the mood was sombre and everything was still except for the muffled cries from the captain's cabin and the occasional crackle from the fire. Gibbs who left the Captain's cabin once the blood began to flow stared into his tumbler eyes shooting up to the ceiling whenever Ruby-Rose's screams got louder. Will Turner and Elisabeth Swann sat opposite him stone-faced and shocked over their latest escapade.

"You two should take off, if the soldiers should find you here I doubt your father's influence will help you this time young Elisabeth"

"That-young-woman, the supposed captain of this ship who is she; Jack's wife, lover, mistress? I don't understand Mister Gibbs"

"I'll be guessing that you have never heard about the sinking of H.M.S Intrepid? – The ship she was commanding was not her own yet against all the odds and with a small crew she fought against the British Navy luring the vessel to follow until it smashed against a Bermuda reef." Gibbs explained.

"Ruby-Rose, that girl in there is the great Ruby-Rose? You'll be telling me another wild yarn about turtles and heat strokes now" Will chided

"I'd keep my voice down if I were you for her story is very different…she was shot in the arm ye' see yet managed to steer the ship from the shallow waters – all this and she was no older than twenty"

"Jack, what's the connection with Jack? He seemed very concerned I never thought I would ever see fear in that pirate's eyes but see it I did"

"Ruby-Rose is or a least was a ward to Caleb Sparrow – Jack's father, from what I've heard she refused to leave the Black Pearl, a young stowaway she was"

"Isn't that how most of you people start out – orphans and tearaways" Elisabeth remarked rather snobbishly, it was something so spontaneous that she looked away in horror at herself.

"Aye most of us but Somehow Ruby-Rose is different, she had a spark as a child and it grew into this wild unrelenting flame. From the stories I've gathered nobody was sure what to do with her but now that I've seen things for myself…" Gibbs chuckled, breaking from his story-telling as he took another gulp from his tumbler.

"And what have you seen Mister Gibbs" Will Turner persisted, growing so curious that half his body was leaning into the table.

"That Jack Sparrow and Ruby-Rose are meant to be; of course neither one would ever admit after all a Captain has too much responsibility to just throw it away but ask anyone and they will all say the same"

At last Adrian Chalmers had completed his macabre but necessary work, he took some salted water and started to clean up the stitches, pleased with himself for a job well done. By now his captain was in a stupor of fatigue as Jack carefully lifted her up and carried her over to her bunk where she immediately fell asleep, backing away he stumbled against the table he was astounded how much energy anxiety could steal away. Picking up the rum he took long, impassioned gulps of the alcohol hardly remembering the last time he needed it so badly.

"Must obliged to you Ade, you are a master of you craft" Jack gasped when he finally took the bottle from his lips.

"Glad to be of service Master Sparrow, your lass is not out of the woods yet, just make sure she rests" He assured as he took his kit and walked out of the room leaving Jack and Ana-Maria to keep vigil on the invalid.

"You know me my girl, there are very few things I'm willing to admit; my pride and stubbornness are traits you are already accustomed to but I tell you this…"

Ana-Maria shifted awkwardly and started to bite her lip for it was very uncharacteristic of Jack to be complacent, to admit defeat or any emotion for that matter even if it was gratitude. But despite her reservations she knew that it was the best thing for him that his love for Ruby-Rose was the best thing for him – regardless to whether he was aware of it or not.

"I'm proud to call you a shipmate and prouder still to call you a friend" Jack continued as he offered his hand as a good-will gesture which the Jamaican took after much hesitation. Jack suddenly placed another hand over Ana-Maria's and beamed a smile

"Thank you" He grinned

Eventually Jack joined his father on the upper deck as the old man caught his breath after a whole hour being intoxicated by the stench of blood and sweat; coughing with embarrassment as he tried to shake off the lingering nausea.

"This old body o' mine has been through many battles – I was shot in the leg, put in the stocks and almost got hung a number of times but seeing your daughter all helpless and in pain is a completely different kettle of fish" He wheezed.

Jack looked around him and when he saw that few crew members were present he affectionately patted his father on the back.

"She's going to be fine old man…Made of tough iron is our Ruby-Rose"

Jack heard Will and Elisabeth trundle up the stairs, debating what they were going to say to him rolling his eyes at his father he gazed out at the shoreline and waited.

"H-How is your friend?" Will stammered

"Probably wishing she was a million miles away…she will pull through, the ship's surgeon took away most of the tissue that the brand scorched but she'll still be scarred – You two should leave now"

"My son is right, we are grateful to you both but it will do no good to linger here; no doubt the guards are combing the coastline as we speak" Caleb acceded

"What about you?" Elisabeth persisted

"We'll think of something, we always do…go on get out of 'ere" Jack answered quietly

There was a tense silence until Elisabeth leaned in and kissed the wayward scoundrel on the cheek, he was taken aback at first and gazed at her with a puzzled look on his bearded face.

"I wish you and your friend well Captain Jack Sparrow I really do" She lamented and after a strong handshake by her fiancé they climbed down from The Oracle and headed back to town.

"Take the crew and use The Black Pearl to escape, I'm going to stay with Ruby-Rose…no matter what happens" Jack declared courageously

"You think I'm going to leave my children here after all this, sorry son but I'm not going comply with that"

"What more do you want from me Dad? You told me to redeem myself for her well here I am redeeming, Arlington will love every single one of us dead saving the best till last" Jack retorted while pointing to the direction of the captain's cabin.

"Wait I might have an idea, I saw a large cliff not too far from here it had an archway Captain Sparrow perhaps with a good helmsman we could hide The Pearl under there" Ben Crawley intervened

"Would be a bit dangerous lad, what with the force of the current crashing against the rocks – I won't take such a risk after all the chaos of getting her back in my possession are you mad?"

"No Jack he's right if someone was at the wheel the whole time then it's possible he could fight against the vessel being thrown against the cliff face – it could work" Caleb encouraged

"Sounds like you're in favour of such a madcap plan Dad?"

"Hey isn't that what we do best?" He teased while being rhetorical, a trait he son could not stand.

"Very well, tell the men to finish the repairs I want this boat tidied up and deserted by daybreak" The crew were summoned and were quickly put to work

"Hey Jack!" Caleb called out while watching his boy head back to resume his vigil to Ruby-Rose. The Pirate captain turned to the elderly gentleman and waited expectantly.

"I'm glad you came home to us son, the place wasn't the same without you" Caleb answered with a proud glint in his eyes. Jack briefly smiled at his father, his gold caps shining in the weak light of the torches nodding to him gratefully he then walked into the cabin and shut the door behind him.