A/N: Sorry about the fact that I haven't updated in like...forever. School's started, so that's been hindering my ability to update. Hopefully you'll all enjoy this chappie. Read and review, please, and remember...I don't own POTC or Disney or the Characters or anything.

James lay back, closing his eyes. Ginny laughed.

"So we're trying to save Jack Sparrow, hmm?" she asked. He nodded. "Well, Australia may be too far south," she said. He frowned.

"I'm just stopping there to find Elizabeth and William," James said. She sighed.

"James, you've changed my life completely. I'm so very glad we found each other," Ginny took his hand in hers. "We just seem to get along, we seem to fit. Oh James, my heart belongs to you," she whispered. His own heart began to pound. She leaned forward to kiss him, but the windows were blown out, and there appeared Davy Jones.

"So, the thing ye truly want has finally become clear has it?" he questioned. "Well, a woman is never worth all the trouble she puts ye through, so let me make it easy on ye. Bring me Sparrow from the depths, or I'll capture her and ye will never see ye precious little miss again." Suddenly, James saw a compass…a familiar compass…Jack's compass, pointing in several different directions. It spun wildly, pointing all over. It spun quickly, the stopped on Ginny, who was bound and gagged. Davy Jones laughed. "Ye have three days," he cackled evilly.

James' eyes opened wide. He looked around. He wasn't in his own cabin…he was lying next to Ginny! He nearly bolted upright, but ignored it and lay there, watching her sleep, trying to avoid awakening her. Suddenly, he gasped. Surely he couldn't stay there. The ideas his crew would get, he couldn't bare it. He slipped out of the bed and tiptoed across the room and out the door. He sat on the deck, completely unable to sleep. How could he have put her in such a compromising situation? He wasn't going to allow himself to ravish her, he still had some control. He hoped.

He fell asleep on a barrel, his head resting on the rail. The day began long before he finally awoke, and he was only awoken by Simon poking him in the shoulder.

"Captain, are you alive?" he asked. James laughed.

"Yes Simon, I am quite alive," he sat up. "It's morning already then?" he questioned. Simon sat on his knees and nodded.

"Yes. Captain, where are we going?" he wondered. James stretched.

"To be honest, Simon, I'm not even sure anymore. I'm trying to find some people, but it's proving rather difficult. The world is a large place, Simon, larger than you can imagine. And to find three people in the large world that this is…it feels impossible, and now, I can't just give up…I'm attached now."

"What do you mean, sir?" Simon questioned. James just sighed.

"To protect people I care about, I have to hurt other people, which I'm not proud of at all. If I could save everyone and give myself, oh how I would, but I cannot. And now I must find a way for Elizabeth and William to trust me again. They won't, for I stole something so very important to their survival, and I used it so very selfishly, and I know now that I'm going to have to pay for my crime," James rubbed his forehead. Simon sighed.

"You can't have done something all that awful, sir, and if you care about people, perhaps you should let them take care of themselves," Simon shrugged. "I mean, anytime Miss Ginny did something to take care of me, in the end, it upset me." James merely sighed.

"Where are we?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. Simon stood.

"Well, according to Camron, we're passing through a large chunk of islands. He says we passed by India last night. He wanted to tell you, but he couldn't find you," Simon ranted. James bit his lip.

"Simon, I'll be back," he said, making his way to find Camron at the wheel. "Camron," he said. The man nodded.

"Captain…have an enjoyable night?" he asked, his eyes twinkling. James rolled his eyes.

"I'll pretend you never said that," he growled. "Anyway…I believe there's been a change in our plans. We're no longer sailing for Australia."

"Sir?"

"We're going to try and go north. Do what you need to…try and get me northward."

"How far, sir?" Camron asked. James frowned.

"Taiwan?" he guessed.

When word spread that their course had changed, all were curious. Ginny wasn't sure why his path had changed, but she had to wonder how it would effect his finding of the pirate girl. Ginny often wondered why he felt so indebted to them. If they were all pirates, they would understand his need to pillage, his need to steal the item for himself. Camron had decided to navigate up tight passageways between islands. James sighed as he watched the isles float by in the distance. He prayed that he had made the correct decision. He knew they could be no more than a day behind what was left of the crew of the Pearl, and he hoped cutting through the isles would cut them closer .He sat high upon the deck, looking out for any sign of a ship. As his mind drifted in and out of awareness, Ginny approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. He snapped to attention. She leaned on the rail on her back.

"Why the change in course?" she asked. He sighed.

"Australia seemed far too south," he said. Ginny bit her lip.

"James, why must you find them? Leave them behind," she pleaded. James shook his head.

"I've tried," he frowned, "but they follow me, they chase me. No matter how I attempt to escape them, I cannot, so I feel I must join them, I feel I must repay my debt, and if that means my death, so be it," James looked up. Ginny shook her head.

"No! I…Simon needs you. James, if you'll be in danger, please, don't go after them!" she implored.

"I wish it were that easy. I must do it. I must…to protect you. If I don't take care of unfinished business…you could be in danger. Don't ask me how or why, just please, let me protect you," he sighed. The woman opened her mouth to object, but then narrowed her eyes.

"What's that?" she pointed. James spun. Out in the distance was a ship, flying no colors. James' heart leapt.

"Full speed ahead; follow that ship!" Oh, how he prayed his luck would prevail. "Run up a flag of truce—do it damnit!" he yelled. The crew rushed about, while Ginny looked out, groaning. They gained upon the ship, but faces were still unclear. James bit his lip, praying. Could he save his reputation and Ginevra Shields?