Author's Note: We're drawing towards the end (not quite there but getting there). Still planning the sequel, but should have a trailer written up soon... suppose I'll post it with the final chapter? Not sure. Anyway, enjoy and review... I suppose some of you will be whooping at this chapter...

Chapter Twenty Four: Something Sweet

Jack's eyes were narrowed under his hat as he watched the Heaven. It was fast approaching. Adrenaline was flooding through him, making his heart race. He felt hot, ready to fight, almost wild.

He couldn't wait to get his hands on Tobias. He had promised to kill the man, and now he was going to have to do just that. Normally, Jack was a peaceful man- but he was a pirate, and he had to kill sometimes. This was going to be one of those times. He hoped Carmen would understand.

Behind him, the crew were preparing to fight. Everyone was armed to the teeth. The atmosphere was heavy, and tense. Jack's crew- no, he liked to think of them as his brothers (except Ana-Maria) at times like this- were going to fight alongside him, of course.

A familiar voice at his ear made him start. "I was labouring under the impression that the Black Pearl was the fastest ship in the Caribbean."

Jack turned to see Carmen standing at his shoulder, looking a lot less confident than she sounded. "It used to be, Princess." Her eyes were bright with fear, and he reached out to touch her shoulder. "Hey, it'll be okay, luv."

Her lips trembled. "But what if-?"

"Yer forgettin' one very important thing, Carmen." Jack pulled her into a hug, saying softly into her ear, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?"

She laughed a little, and he assumed he had tickled her. He didn't want to move though. This close, he could breathe in her soft, special scent, and feel her comforting body against his. He was fighting for this. He couldn't afford to lose. He pulled back a little to look into her amber eyes.

"Carmen, go to Will and collect some weapons," he said quietly, seeing her eyes light up at his words. "Then go and hide in me cabin."

Her eyes were dark again. "I will do the first instruction, but not the second. There will be no hiding for me."

Jack rolled his eyes. What was it with women always wanting a slice of the action, as though they were desperate to prove they were equal to men? He sighed. He did not have the time to convince Carmen otherwise, and he decided his days of physically forcing her to do things were over. Instead, he was just going to have to protect her. She had seemed able enough with a sword in the brig, but 'able enough' and 'pirate-type skill' were two very different things. "Alrigh', luv."

She smiled and turned away, pulling out of his arms, but he pulled her back suddenly.

For a moment his eyes held her amber ones steadily, full of fleeting emotions. Then their lips crashed together, their mouths working passionately. She tasted of something sweet. Her arms snaked around his neck and his around her waist; they were melting together.

After what seemed like an eternity, they became detached, Jack very aware of the whole crew staring at them. Carmen's cheeks were scarlet. She nodded at Jack before moving away to find Will.

Jack turned back to the Heaven, his lips tingling. For a moment he had felt whole.

Poor beautiful Carmen. She was in grave danger.

He couldn't let anything happen to her. He just couldn't. He sighed. Sometimes things were so much harder when there was a girl you liked.

Will walked up beside him. "I gave her a pistol and a sword."

"She wants to fight," Jack sighed.

"Then stop her!"

"How? We've gone too far for what I did to her at the start, all threatenin' and the like, Will." Jack glanced at the Heaven then back at Will. "We kissed, Will."

Will grinned. "I knew it! I just knew it!"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Calm down, Will. Anyway, tha's why I've got to look after her during this fight. If it meant putting my own life down for hers, then I would, savvy?"

Will nodded, seeing seriousness in his friend's face. "But... Jack, it won't come to that- will it?"

Next chapter preview: Heart Broken...

Carmen watched him for a moment. He reached a ginger-haired figure she knew was Tobias. For a moment Jack and Tobias just glared at each other. Carmen's breath caught in her throat, but suddenly an arm grabbed her from behind, and she could feel hot breath on her neck.