Greetings all! It has been ages since I had the opportunity to update, and I apologize for keeping you waiting. Life has taken a turn for the better, as my Mother moved to our town and I have been very busy helping her settle in. This is the next to last chapter of this story...the final chapter and epilogue are being written, but since it is going to be longer, I thought it would be best to go ahead and post something to let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the planet!

As always, I do not own any characters from POTC and am not making any profit from the writing of this story.


Chapter 22: The Best Laid Plans….

2:00 a.m.

Despite the hustle and bustle of the rest of Vegas, this particular corner of the warehouse district was eerily quiet beneath the orange-ish glow of the few street lamps that remained intact---it was almost as if the buildings themselves were holding their collective breaths. The guards at the entrances were certainly feeling the tension; it was obvious to the watchers that by every movement of their nervous pacing and in their low voiced conversations that something was about to go down---something big and ugly.

Lowering his high powered binoculars, Max swiftly and quietly withdrew the way he came through the tall weeds and made his way back to where the remainder of the small group waited impatiently, crouched behind an abandoned car. He nodded at Bethany, who took a moment to cast a small, soundproof bubble around the group before he gave his report. "There are 5 men guarding the perimeter---2 by the main entrance, 1 by the offices and two patrolling the loading docks. They're nervous and armed with enough hardware to put a serious hurt on you." His serious expression lightened for a moment as he glanced at each of their faces. "I don't think any of you need any more piercings at this point, so try not to make a target of yourself while I take them out, all right?"

Misty smirked. "What, are you kidding? This showgirl's body is insured by Lloyd's of London, and I'm pretty sure getting shot while attempting to rescue damsels in distress from supernatural phenomenon isn't covered under my policy. Trust me, until you give me the o.k., I'm keeping my head down and my ass covered for a change."

Max chuckled and reached out to tug on a long curl fondly. "It wasn't you I was worried about, Priestess….it's Brunhilde here that I'm afraid will go haring off without waiting for backup."

Bethany only stuck her tongue out and scowled at him, the action a momentary break in the tension the small group was experiencing. "You best be worrying about your own carcass there, Max….there'd be broken hearted ladies all over Vegas if something were to happen to Lady Gueneviere's favorite knight. Besides, I don't think they could find another man with a big enough head to fit your helm, pretty boy."

Max winced and grinned ruefully, shaking his head before glancing down at his watch. Getting serious again, he turned his attention to Jack, who was absently stroking the butt of the pistol where it rested in his sash as he stared toward the warehouse. "It's about that time, Jack….you ready?"

There was just a hint of hunger in his voice as the young pirate replied, smiling faintly as he did so. "Aye, lad, not just ready but eager. There are certain skills that a pirate like meself needs to work at in order to keep sharp, and it's been a while since I used my sword….the metal one, that is." The pirate grinned at the women's amused snorts, his teeth gleaming in the faint light as he and Max exchange knowing looks before he turned his gaze back on the women. "You minxes stay put til Max gives you the signal to heave to. I 'd hate to have to come in and rescue the pair of you from Barbossa's clutches as well. Not that Captain Jack Sparrow isn't up to the task, mind you, but I'd like to save a bit of me energy for a reunion with a certain lady artist I know." He started to turn away, but suddenly found himself engulfed in a warm hug from Bethany.

"You better come back, you mangy scallywag, cause if you don't …" Her words trailed off as she released him, trying hard not to cry. Jack didn't say anything, only leaned back and cocked his head to once side, giving her his famous raised eyebrow "Sparrow Stare" which caused her to grin tremulously despite her sadness. He straightened and laid one arm across his chest, his be-ringed fist balled tightly.

"I swear, on pain of death, that I will do my everything in my power as Captain of the Black Pearl to return both meself and me lady to you safe and sound, or I'll never touch another drop of rum in this life or the next,. which is a fate worse than death in my opinion. Satisfied, luv?"

He chuckled and grabbed her hand before it made contact with his face, gallantly planted a kiss on it. "Be well." he said softly, patting Bethany's cheek and nodding to the priestess, who returned the salute with a grin.. With that, he nudged Max and the two men crept back into the tall weeds and made their way toward the warehouse. As they reached the edge of the vacant field, Jack reached over and stopped Max with a hand.

"I intent to make them pay, Max, in blood…..one drop for every severed hair from Jo's head and for every second she's been forced to spend in their company." His voice was cold and deadly, as was the expression in his eyes reflected in the faint light. "I need you three to get Jo to safety and keep her there while I handle the rest. Whatever happens, I want her as far away from here as possible. I'll have your word on it then?"

Max nodded somberly, then sighed, the faintest flicker of a smile crossing his face as he met Jack's intense gaze with one of his own. "You damn well better make it quick and make it back in one piece, Sparrow… I hear that you sea dogs can hold your liquor pretty well, and I want to put that theory to the test. Not everyday a man gets the chance to try and drink a real pirate under the table, hey?"

"A man after me own heart, you are, Max….can't think of a better man to get pissed with than a knight o' the bloody round table. Tell you what, I'll even spring for the first bottle, what say you to that?"

"Make it a keg and you're on, pirate." Max reached out and smacked Jack on the shoulder, grinning as the smaller man grimaced, his gold teeth gleaming.

"Right then….I'm off to rescue the aforementioned damsel in distress, so you take care of our friends with the guns once I've gone inside. And if something…bad…should happen …" he hesitated, growing serious once more…. "tell Jo not to cry for me, will you? Never could stand a crying woman." He made a grimace of distaste "No woman's pretty when their face gets all blotchy and their nose is runnin'." With that he rose to his feet and stepped out of the high grass, whistling a jaunty sea chanty as he walked toward the open chain link metal gates.

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Michael had grudgingly left the limousine to watch for Jack's arrival, leaving Jo alone with the leering pirate. Moments later Barbossa, tired of simply petting Jo, had suddenly without warning pulled her up and laid her back first across his lap. He roughly squeezed her breast that was enticingly displayed by the gown's low neck and was rewarded by a squeal of fury and a sharp blow to the chin by her bound wrists that would have floored a lesser man. Rather than being angered, he appeared amused by her struggles, his rough bark of laughter startling Jo into silence. Striking as quick as a cobra, he bent over and planted a loud smacking kiss on her unwilling mouth before leaning back to observe her.

"Fucking bastard." Jo muttered, trying not to gag as she wiped her mouth on her sleeve and glared at him.

"I readily admit to being the fatherless son of a whore, missy, but I'm not a fucking bastard, at least not at the moment---a situation which I hope to remedy quite soon in fact. We're just waiting for our mutual friend to show up before we move on to tonight's featured entertainment, my sweet."

"And I bet you're just dying to tell me what that is, so go ahead….knock yourself out." Jo did her best to cover her exposed chest with her arms as she waited expectantly for his response. Barbossa merely chuckled and pinched her thigh through the dress, causing her to yelp with pain and kick at him ineffectually with her bare feet.

"Why, I thought a smart lass like yourself would have figured it out by now, my dove. Sure, and it's true that I could have simply left you in your home with your pretty little throat slit and me dagger in your heart and been done with it, but then again, I'm a thrifty man and it seemed like a waste of such talent and beauty. So I says to meself, "self," Barbossa grinned, revealing his stained and rotting teeth to his helpless prisoner "what could I do to that clever as a fox, scurvy former captain o' mine that would truly pay him back for putting a bullet in me and stealing my ship and me treasure?" And then it came to me like a bolt from the blue—the perfect plan for revenge." He ran his rough hand down her cheek, and smirked as Jo shuddered. "Like meself, Jack has a physical tie to this plane, and he is bound to you as I am to Michael. Likewise, he can't be physically hurt unless harm comes to you. That's why there was no sense in killing you outright, missy….if you die, Jack dies, and I want him to suffer at my hands for a time before Old Hob gets his due."

"So that's what this is all about? You intend to torture me for God knows how long to get revenge on Jack for something that happened almost 400 years ago?"

"Nothing quite so gruesome as that, m'dear…I was actually summoned here by Michael, whose fondest desire is to see you broken at his feet. Finding me old shipmate alive and well here was just an added bonus. See, the plan is to chain our Sparrow to a wall in a room along with a pistol with one shot. Then I get the pleasure of bedding your bound and naked body repeatedly in front of him until he goes completely mad and kills either himself or you. Just the thought of it is making me randy as a goat---aye, 'tis been much too long since I've known the pleasure of sweet release between a woman's thighs. The best part is that much as he'd like to, it wouldn't do him any good to shoot me. Either scenario will be highly entertaining for me and for Michael as well I'm sure, although gentleman that I am I'd rather Jack take the coward's way out and swallow the bullet himself. I'm just curious to see how long he'll hold out…a few days I'm hoping.".

His words made her insides turn to Jell-o, but she somehow managed to keep her voice and her limbs from trembling. "What makes you think Jack would be willing to walk right into your trap? He's too smart to fall for your tricks."

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong, Josie girl. He's a man of honor, Jack is, and even if he weren't, the geas bond between your souls wouldn't let him rest til you were safe. And knowing the lad as long as I have, well, let's just say he gets a mite testy when others try to lay their hands on ladies he has a fondness for, be they of wood or warm flesh." Barbossa slid his rough hand along her thigh as she struggled not to heave, her stomach and her head both awhirl. He laughed heartily as she swatted at his hands and managed to roll off his lap onto the floor with a thump.

"Eager to begin, are ye? Well, I was going to wait til your lover arrived, but since you asked me so sweetly.." Barbossa looked up swiftly as the door opened and Michael stuck his head in, smirking at Jo's submissive position.

"He's here."

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