Disclaimer: I do not own the Pirates of the Caribbean, nor do I own…my socks. Dirt poor, remember? That's me. Practically a hobo, only with enough luck to find an available computer.

A/N: Thanks so much to all my reviewers! But there's one I want to thank especially this time, because she's been so kind to me.

LEXAPOWER! Thank you so much for reviewing my story in the past. You gave me very helpful advice, and for that I am eternally grateful, because without your input, this story wouldn't be half as good as it is now. I realize you did stop reviewing but it was for personal reasons and I respect that. But even though you stopped reading, you did recommend this story to another reader, and that is such a great thing. I doubt anyone else has done that for me this whole time. And even though I miss your reviews, I understand why you did what you did. So thanks for all your help!

On with the story!

Chapter 15, Hear You Me

Captain Jack Sparrow

I sat there just holding her in my arms as I tried to refrain from bawling like a baby. I wasn't a child; I was Captain Jack Sparrow. I would not cry. Not over a woman. Not today, not tomorrow, never; a woman was merely a curse sent to earth to terrorize men because God thought we had it too good. I was not going to cry…even though I'd just admitted to her and the rest of my crew that I loved her.

I lifted up my head and looked into the eyes of Will. He was staring at her face, his eyebrows raised, and his mouth slightly open like he'd seen a ghost. He didn't look to me like he was breathing. Glancing around at the others in the room, I saw the tears in their eyes. Ragetti was praying again, and for once, I didn't feel like making a sarcastic comment. Pintel was staring at the body in my arms with wide eyes. Barbossa had removed his hat and tilted down his head so that his eyes fell on a dead insect on the cold floor. Even Gibbs, who'd always believed that women were bad luck, had tears pouring down his face. He wouldn't meet my gaze.

Then I saw Tia Dalma. She wasn't crying pitifully like most women would in such a circumstance, and neither was she lost in her thoughts. She was smiling from ear to ear, her bluish teeth displaying complete and utter confidence. She was not looking at Elizabeth, but directly at me. I looked curiously at this woman, this strange person who could see the future and wondered if maybe, just maybe…

My gaze fell on Elizabeth's closed eyes.

No. There was no way. It was over. Fate had won.

There's no one in town I know

You gave us someplace to go

I never said, "Thank you," for that

Thought I might get one more chance

What would you think of me now?

So lucky, so strong, so proud.

I never said, "Thank you," for that

Now I'll never have a chance

"Oi," I heard a voice say near me; my head shot up to find the source. It was Ragetti. "Would you mind tellin' us why you be so bloody cheerful? Whatever you're on, I want some." He was speaking to Tia Dalma. I found myself wanting rum.

"I am 'appy because I know t'ings you don't, yes." She grinned even wider and moved closer to Elizabeth, her gnarly hands reaching out and touching Elizabeth's pale face. I pulled Elizabeth away; something was obviously wrong with Tia Dalma. She looked up at me quizzically.

"Why pull her away, Jack? Nothing I could do to make it worse, ye know."

"Aye, but there's also nothing you can do to make it better."

"Don' be so sure about that, Jack. Don' be so sure." With that, her smile faded and she stood, the feathers and torn fabric of her skirt flowing about her as she bent over and picked up the bowl she'd thrown aside before. Placing it on the table, she turned, glanced once more at the lot of us, her eyes lingering on Elizabeth, and slowly left through the curtain to another room.

I pulled Elizabeth closer to me, crushing her to my body. I saw Will stiffen. I pressed my cheek against her neck; it was still warm, as though any moment she'd awaken and tell me to get my filthy hands off her. I smiled into her neck and laughed loudly.

"Oi. He's gone mad, 'e 'as!" Pintel blurted out. Then I heard Gibbs.

"Jack…it's one thing to grieve, mate, but another thing to--"

"Shush, man! Can't you see he's in pain? Why, any moment now, he could 'ave a nervous breakdown, and you're tellin' him he should be singin' hallelujahs that she's dead! Play ring-around-the-rosie! Doin' jumpin' jacks--" Ragetti began, but he was interrupted by Gibbs..

"I said no such thing. I just don't want 'im to go looney's all!"

"Well you're going about it the wrong way! Sooner than you think, he'll be pushin' up daisies along with her!"

This angered me so that I nearly picked up the beetle crawling next to me on the floor and hurled it at all of them. Then I realized that one beetle really wouldn't cause that much pain…

"She's not dead, mates. She's…only sleeping." I tried to stay calm. They all quieted down, but Gibbs stood up and made his way over to me.

"Jack…" he said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Don't do this now, eh? Just take a bit o' rum and you'll feel better. A bit o' rum's all ye need."

I shrugged his hand off. I was not in the mood for this now. As much as I wished it would, I knew rum couldn't take it away. It would just make me have a deluded fantasy that Elizabeth would wake up and beg me to forgive her for dying and leaving me alone. Who was she, anyway, to just die? After all, she was needed. I needed her. I looked down into her face again and wished to see her blush scarlet. But I knew she wouldn't ever do that again.

May angels lead you in

Hear you me, my friends

On sleepless roads the sleepless go

May angels lead you in…

What would you think of me now?

So lucky, so strong, so proud.

I never said, "Thank you," for that

And now I'll never have a chance

May angels lead you in

Hear you me, my friends

On sleepless roads the sleepless go

May angels lead you in…

Suddenly, I couldn't take it anymore. I could feel their eyes boring into the shape of me holding Elizabeth in the dim light. But I was Captain Jack Sparrow. I would handle this. Alone.

I stood up, careful to place Elizabeth's body gently on the floor. Gibbs watched as I smoothed my clothes; he cleared his throat. It was clear he wanted to know what I was doing.

"Oh. Think I'll take your advice, mate. Bit o' rum will do me good." I reached out to Tia Dalma's table and picked up the half-empty bottle of rum, smiled at the crew, nodded, and walked out onto Tia Dalma's porch.

It was dark outside, and quiet, except for the occasional chirping of crickets. Lucky bastards. All they had to do was chirp and eat. I took a sip of rum and felt it trickle down my throat. I looked up and noticed the stars were shining dimly through the black clouds. Elizabeth and I had spent a night like this one on that godforsaken island, so long ago.

I put the bottle of rum to my lips and the scent filled my nostrils. A thought crossed my mind and I held the bottle back to look at it. So many years I'd based my life on this crap. Finding rum, drinking rum, getting drunk, and not remembering anything at all. I thought about how many times Lizzie had said it was a vile drink. In a burst of anger, I hurled the bottle into the creek and watched it sink into the blackness.

And if you were with me tonight

I'd sing to you just one more time

A song for a heart so big

God couldn't let it live

May angels lead you in

Hear you me, my friends

On sleepless roads the sleepless go

May angels lead you in…

May angels lead you in

Hear you me, my friends

On sleepless roads the sleepless go

May angels lead you in…

It wasn't long after that that I heard someone coming. I turned slightly to see who it was and saw that it was Tia Dalma. Sighing, not really feeling talky-talky, I turned back to the creek and watched a few frogs fighting over a lily-pad. Lucky bastards. All they had to do was croak and eat. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Jack…" she whispered. I wouldn't have paid attention if it weren't for the strange tone of her voice. I turned to face her and noticed that her face was once again happy and smiling. Made me sick. Wanted rum back.

"What do you want, woman? Can't you see I'm--"

"Hush. There is somet'ing you must know. But if I tell ye, ye can never let it pass from ye lips that it was said, Jack Sparrow."

"Captain," I groaned. "What's so important?"

"It's Elizabeth." My ears perked up. "She is not dead, Jack. She is as alive as you er me!" she said excitedly, as though she'd just told a rather naughty secret. I rolled my eyes.

"Don't start this now. I'm not in the mood for you mumbo-jumbo."

"It isn't 'mumbo-jumbo!' I don't lie, not abou' this, Jack. Not abou' this. She's alive. I didn' think it would work, but it did! She could wake up anytime…it would just take a little effort on your part."

"Stop!" I shouted angrily. "What are you talking about? What didn't you think would work? Tell me, woman!"

"You were there, Jack. You saw. Feng is a demon. How do you get rid of a demon? You exercise it, Jack." She grinned again, that annoying, happy grin.

"I didn't hear you 'exercise' anything! All I saw was you pour spoiled gravy down her throat! Lot of good that did her!" I turned away from her and looked out at the water. I tried to ignore her voice.

"Jack! Ye should know better than anyone that to remove a demon, you have to have a piece of it!"

"Where did you get this 'piece' from?" I asked, still not believing it.

"From 'er. He had possessed 'er, even bitten 'er. The poison was there. It was inside of 'er. Still is. But it won't be long before she wakes up now, Jack. Won't take long at all if ye 'elp 'er. You'll see. You'll see."

I decided to humor her. I knew it wasn't a very bright thing to do, but it was better than pretending I was deaf.

"And…if what you say is true…why not tell everyone? Why only me?"

"Because…you 'ave to be the one to wake 'er up, Jack. Only you can do it."

I laughed. She looked at me strangely again. Better than that bloody smile.

"Go and get dear William to do it. He's her bloody fiancé, if you haven't noticed!" I yelled, wanting to shoot something. I began to look for that damned monkey. Lucky bastard. All he had to do was…be dead. Pissed me off.

"And does that make you jealous, Jack? That she's engaged to another man? A man who can give 'er a home, a family?"

No point in trying to hide it, was there?
"Yes. It bloody well makes me jealous. Not that it matters now. She's not coming back."

"That…my friend…is where you are wrong. Which is not unusual if I recall, Jack."

"Thank you. I needed that," I said sarcastically.

She paused a moment, as though letting everything that had just been said sink in.

"So, would ye like to know how?"

"How to what?" I asked, looking back out at the water.

"How to bring her back. I know how to do it. Would you like to know, Jack?"

I stared out at the stars again. I remembered that island, being marooned on it. I remembered how I'd never wanted to leave it. I remembered wishing I could be there, with Elizabeth, right then.

"Yes." I said, before I could stop myself.

"It would take a lot of work, Jack. Ye'd have to want it. Really, really want it. Ye'd have to want to do anythin' for 'er. Would ye do that, Jack? Would ye do anythin' for 'er?" She sounded more and more eager with each passing second. I realized I did too.

"Would ye, Jack?" she asked again, her voice softer.

I blinked and remembered when Elizabeth kissed me, and even liked the thought of her chaining me to a ship to die. I wanted her alive even when a sane person would have hated her. I knew then that I would, without question, do anything for Elizabeth.

I nodded my head.

"Do you love her, Jack? Really love her?"

I nodded again.

"Good," she said, putting her hand on my shoulder. "Because for her to live, you have to die."

End Chapter

Yeah. The ending of this chapter surprised me too. Mwahaha. But don't worry, it's not over! I know you're sad. I know you're all dying to see it end! But alas! The end comes soon…Review if you read this. Review if you want to read another chapter. Review if you're happy and you know it and really wanna show it cuz…you're cool.