Author's Note: Ah, see, another chapter. As you may guess from the title, the plan fails. :-) Remember to leave me a review! I love you all and you inspire me to keep this one going.

Chapter Eleven: The Plan Foiled

Jack glanced at Will as they went back down the stairs. They were silent, a warm and comfortable silence that could only be found between friends so close they could have been siblings.

In the brig, Lainey was standing up beside the place where Edward was bound. Her eyes lit up as they re-entered, and Jack's stomach jolted. This he found strange.

"Nice conversation?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Then the strangest thing happened. Lainey gave Jack a look that was pure seduction; eyes dark and meaningful, gazing at him from below thick lashes. He swallowed, his heart racing. She walked slowly towards him, and his breathing quickened. He glanced at Will, who looked equally confused. Lainey stopped when she and Jack were touching.

She smiled.

Then she drew his sword in one movement. Shocked and betrayed though he felt, Jack couldn't help noting her skill... she would be good if she were trained up and not so clumsy with the movements. She flew to Edward, spinning behind the post, cutting through the ropes binding his hands cleanly.

"Will!" gasped Jack, shocked.

Will had drawn his sword, moving towards Edward, but Lainey spun around, looking surprised at herself, blocking his sword with a loud clang. Will didn't try to attack her again; he just stood, for a moment his confused brown eyes locked with her own burning amber ones. Behind Lainey, Edward had grabbed his own sword from the pile of his effects on the floor. Jack moved forward swiftly, but it was Will who engaged him.

Lainey faced Jack, silent, clutching his sword. He glared back. She was going to attack him, he could tell from the way she was tensed.

There was a sword hung on the wall behind him. He grinned, turned and unhooked it, facing her with renewed passion. Then their swords met loudly. He smiled. This was going to be easy. He had no intention of hurting her, but he needed to stop her, and he wanted to make sure she had no inclination to betray him again.

"Put it down," he growled, dangerously.

The ghost of a smile flickered about her red lips. "Are you going to make me?"

Beside them, Will and Poelle were fighting quickly, furiously. Will was skilled, but so was Edward, and they were a blur to watch. Jack stared as Edward suddenly kicked Will in the mouth hard. Will fell to floor, nursing his bloody lip, his sword on the ground beside him.

"Run, Lainey, now!" Poelle cried.

Jack reached out to grab her as she ran, but she was too quick. Poelle bundled her up the stairs ahead of him, sprinting. Jack looked at Will.

"Are yer alrigh'?" he asked, pulling him up.

"Aye." Will wiped the blood, sighing. "They aren't going to get very far."

"I know. We'd best go and make sure they don' do anything... stupid." Jack and Will walked up the stairs swiftly, Jack's heart racing.

On the deck, Carmen and Poelle were surrounded by pirates. Both had their swords held defensively, but they seemed to realise this was never going to work.

"Drop yer weapons, savvy?" Jack growled.

Both Carmen and Edward looked at him then, Edward's eyes burning with hatred, Carmen's filled with an emotion he couldn't read. Then they both tossed their swords to the deck. Jack grinned.

"Yer must have realised that it was no good. This is the Black Pearl..." The crew cheered. "And I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Will, Tobias, take Mr Poelle here back down to the brig and tie him back up, please. Everyone else back to work."

Everyone began to disperse. Will and Tobias grabbed Edward, who didn't fight, but stared at Carmen, who stared fearfully back. Then her amber eyes fell on Jack.

Jack walked up to her. He was angry, it was true. He was very angry. But he was more hurt, more betrayed.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.

He blinked. How could he explain it to her, the care he felt for her? He just shook his head, then set his expression to his darkest, making her take a step back.