Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

A/N: I'm sorry to all of you who thought Ashlyn proved herself a little too quickly. Personally, I've seen too many stories where the OC arrives and wins and rubs it in Jack's face or the OC arrives and loses and as a penalty, the OC has to kiss Jack. I didn't want Ashlyn to lose, but I didn't want her to win either, so I had them at a draw. Besides, it's more interesting that way and builds up the sexual tension.

A/N: Screw it. I can't wait till tomorrow to post this chapter. I've already written up to chapter 8 and I'm currently working on chapter 9 since I'm bored out of my mind. Jesus Christ.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Bag

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Chapter 6: If the Worst Should Happen

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When I awoke the next morning, I was alone in bed. I raised my eyebrow; I didn't take Jack as a morning person. I sure as hell wasn't. I rolled out of the tangle of sheets and landed on my face.

"Ow. Motherfucker." I mumbled into the carpet. I sat up and rubbed my face. My hair was probably a rat's nest and I would bet twenty bucks I had dark circles the size of tennis balls beneath my eyes. I knew what would wake me up. But it wasn't here. I turned to Poppins who was snoring lightly. I rolled my eyes. Go figure.

"Hey," I shook the bag,

"Whaaaaaaaaaaat?" Poppins whined.

"Shut up. I want my iPod."

"You shouldn't bring stuff like that here." It grumbled. I shrugged.

"They're all illiterate except for Anna-Maria and Jack so it's all good," I pointed out. Consenting to my pseudo-logic, I actually didn't know if it was just those two, it popped my iPod video into existence. "Sweeeeeeet," I crowed, putting on the ear-buds. I turned it on to Les Miserables. I switched to Lovely Ladies. By the time I was dressed, in a new shirt not the ripped one, it had gone to Fantine's Arrest when Valjean intervened. I sighed happily. Valjean's voice was one of the best. Slinging the Poppins bag over my shoulder I went on deck. We had entered a lagoon filled with mist. A ship's graveyard. I felt a chill go down my spine and put my iPod away.

"Dead men tell no tales" I heard the parrot croak. I made my way over to Will and Mr. Gibbs who was leaning against the rail, looking out with the rest of the crew.

"Puts a chill in the bones how many honest sailors have been claimed by this passage." Gibbs nodded at the wreckage. Will was watching Jack who closed his compass at Cotton's 'what the hell?' stare.

"How is it that Jack came by that compass?" Will asked as we followed Mr. Gibbs to the rigging.

"Not a lot's known about Jack Sparrow before he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of the Isla de Muerta. That was before I met him, back when he was Captain of the Black Pearl." He took a drink from his small leather flask.

"What?" I smacked my forehead as tubby choked at bit. Way to go Gibbs, way to go. "He failed to mention that." I looked at Will to see the trust he had in Jack fractured.

"Well, he plays things closer to the vest now. And a hard-learned lesson it was. See three days out on the venture the first mate comes to him and says everything's an equal share. That should mean the location of the treasure, too, so Jack gives up the bearings. That night there was a mutiny." Will's head snapped back around to meet Gibbs' gaze, "They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die but not before he'd gone mad with the heat."

"Ah." Will nodded with dawning comprehension, "So that's the reason for all the…" and he did his rendition of Jack. I rolled my eyes.

"Reason's got nothing to do with it." Mr. Gibbs crouched down and Will and I followed suit, "Now Will, when a man is marooned he is a given a pistol with a single shot – one shot. Well it won't do much good hunting or to be rescued. But after three weeks of a starvin' belly and thirst, that pistol will start to look real friendly." He placed his two fingers against his temple, "But Jack – he escaped the island, and he still has that one shot. Oh, but he won't use it, though, save for one man. His mutinous first mate."

"Barbossa." Will finished.

"Aye."

"How did Jack get off the island?" Oh this was going to be good.

"Well, I'll tell ye." He began, starting to gesture to prove his points. I'd laugh if I found out he was secretly Italian. "He waded out into the shallows and there he waited three days and three nights till all manner of sea creature 'came and acclimated to his presence. And on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed 'em together and made a raft." He finished proudly. I rolled my eyes and snorted.

"He roped a couple of sea turtles?" Will looked quite serious.

"Aye, sea turtles."

"And I'm the queen of a tropical island of pygmies," I replied dryly. The midget turned around,

"All hail the queen!" and returned to work.

"What did he use for rope?" Will asked, ignoring what just happened.

"Human hair…" Came Jack's voice from behind us, "From my back." I wrinkled my nose. "Let go of the anchor!"

"Aye! Let go of the anchor, sir!" the crew chorused before rushing off to follow orders.

"Young Mr. Turner and I are to go ashore." And he turned. I stood and grabbed his arm,

"I'm coming with you," He raised an eyebrow,

"Love,"

"Don't 'love' me," I snapped, "I'm coming with you," and I stalked back over to Will.

"Captain!" Gibbs stopped behind Jack, "What if the worst should happen?"

"Keep to the code." Jack replied with no hesitancy.

"Aye, the code." Gibbs nodded sagely. Will grabbed on to my arm,

"Sorry," He murmured. I held his hand and gave a friendly squeeze. He was afraid.

"It's alright." I whispered. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jack pull Gibbs a bit closer to him,

"If the worst does happen." Jack said quietly, "I want Miss Woods to be on this ship, locked in my cabin." And he walked away.

"Aye sir." Gibbs answered softly before turning to look at me; I whipped around, not willing to watch Jack fade in the mist.

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Will and I sat close together in the small rowboat as Jack rowed us into the cave. Will looked around as he held up the lantern, clearly curious. I had decided to keep quiet through this part. He started a bit when the light illuminated a half rotten corpse.

"What Code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" His voice was a little high and I gave his arm a comforting squeeze.

"Pirate's Code." Jack replied, "Any man that falls behind…is left behind.

"No heroes amongst thieves, eh?" he asked, glancing back at Jack.

"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one." There was grim amusement in his voice, "Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga…" We looked over the edge to see a glimmer in the water. Gold. "And you're completely obsessed with treasure." We pulled up to a small shore.

"That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure." He snapped defensively. I rolled my eyes, but kept my mouth shut.

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." Jack answered looking down at Will. We climbed up, joining Jack to look down at the gathering.

"Gentlemen, the time has come! Our salvation is nigh! Our torment is near at end." A smile spread across my lips. I loved Geoffrey Rush. He was an excellent actor and the way he played Barbossa was awesome.

"Elizabeth," Will breathed. I snorted and the two shot a look at me. Barbossa and his crew went on with their miniature self pity speech.

"Jack!" I rolled my eyes when Will gave a start only to be pulled back my Jack. My eyes widened when he upset some of the treasure causing plates and a goblet and coins to jangle on the way down. I ducked out of view when the monkey looked over at us.

"Not yet." He yanked him down a little further. "We wait for the opportune moment." Jack breathed.

"881 we found but despaired of ever finding the last." We heard Barbossa shout. Will and I followed Jack back down.

"When's that?" Will snapped, "When it's of greatest profit to you?"

"May I ask you something?" Jack turned around, eyes a bit wide, "Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?" He got obnoxiously close to Will's face and I saw Will's refusal to cringe, "Do us a favor – I know it's difficult for you," it sounded like he was talking to a child, "but please stay here and try not to do anything stupid." I smirked and held Will back as Jack made his way over. I put a finger to my lips when he looked at me, albeit a little hurt.

"Wait for the opportune moment," I whispered and he nodded numbly. We stood around for a minute or so before he pulled me over to set Barbossa's crew oars in our boat. Picking up one of ours, he slunk over to where Jack was,

"No!" I hissed. The wooden oar made contact with Jack's thick skull.

"Sorry, Jack." He said with fierce determination, "I'm not going to be your leverage." He threw me the oar and I set it on the ground next to Jack before running after him. He whipped around,

"No," he murmured, "Stay in the boat. We need to make a fast get away."

"And what about Jack?" I growled, "At least help me get him in the boat." He shook his head,

"Elizabeth needs me," I glared before pulling him down into a kiss.

"That may be the last time I'll be able to do that," I breathed. He gave me a sad smile before running off to save his bonnie lass. I dropped to my knees and took a deep shuddering breath before placing my head in my hands.

"Hey," Poppins whispered, "Get back in the boat," I nodded dumbly and sat in the boat, waiting for Will and Elizabeth. Thoughts of Jack had wandered away from my mind as I sat in a numb silence. They came back, dripping wet,

"Who's she?" Elizabeth demanded. I nearly expected her to slap Will across the face,

"A friend," he replied shortly. He nodded and I stepped out, pushing the boat off the shore before hopping in. Will rowed us back to the Interceptor and all the while, Elizabeth kept shooting the two of us suspicious glances. Will and I avoided eye contact as I emptied the oars over the die. Elizabeth kept silent. We boarded the Interceptor. I went up first and grabbed Elizabeth, unceremoniously dumping her on deck. It wasn't that hard, seeing what a little waif she was.

"Not more pirates." She shook head in disbelief.

"Welcome aboard, Miss Elizabeth." Gibbs smiled, stepping up.

"Mr. Gibbs?" I swear, that girl's eyeballs were going to pop out of her skull. I rolled my eyes.

"Hey, boy, where be Jack?" I helped Will on deck and we made eye contact.

"Jack? Jack Sparrow?" Elizabeth rounded on Will.

"He fell behind," I said quietly as he led the annoying girl away. The crew was abashed, looking at each other with great sorrow.

"Keep to the code." Gibbs finally shouted.

"Weigh anchor! Hoist the sails! Make quickly, divvies." Anna-Maria barked, quickly stepping into her role as first mate. I headed below, almost imagining Jack's hand on my waist, leaning in to whisper a What's wrong pet?

I made the mistake of thinking I made it right before he sat down with Elizabeth and I walked in.

"What sort of a man trades a man's life for a ship?" her royal majesty snapped, trying to bandage her hand. Will's eyes went a little wide when he saw me and I whipped around, hiding behind some barrels.

"Pirate." Will explained, "Here. Let me." And with all the tenderness of a lover, he began to gently wrap her hand. I felt a small stab of what I hoped wasn't heart break. Will had been a one time thing. A fleeting experience. A few laughs for the morning. Then I suddenly wished that Jack was here.

"Thank you." She said delicately. I nearly gagged. How much more romantic could it get?

"You said you gave Barbossa my name as yours." I snorted softly. "Why?"

"I don't know." I heard the sound of fabric rearranging itself. She had shrugged. In all her girly-ness she pulled her hand away. I peeked up over the barrel.

"I'm sorry." Will smiled albeit a little sadly, "Blacksmith's hands - I know they're rough." Psh, I didn't complain about rough hands when he-

"No…I mean yes, they are but… but don't stop." I had said that last part too a few nights ago. I smirked. Wonder what sweet Elizabeth would think if she found that out.

"Elizabeth." His hand cupped her cheek and traveled south. I rolled my eyes. If this got any sappier, I'd puke so I turned away and went up on deck so I wouldn't have to hear anymore.

"You okay kiddo?" Poppins asked softly,

"Yeah," I smiled though my brow creased, "I'm okay,"

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Oh ho, done with chapter 6. We're so close, so close to finishing. Ah, yes, if you're curious about future POTC fics, take a look at my profile.

Also, I noticed that this story is on 19 people's alert list and yet only two or three of them review regularly. Hmmm…

Much thanks.