A/N: Here's the next one…

New Beginnings: Chapter 13

The life that Jack Sparrow had grown accustomed to was gone. He was treated like an animal in his cell. It was unfair, even for a convicted criminal. But Jack hadn't been convicted yet…that's his trouble. He was awaiting his "fair" trial.

He demanded to see Dani everyday and everyday he was denied. He wanted to make sure she was okay. Who knows what Beckett was doing to her? He had broken his promise.

And what Beckett was doing to her was making her his slave. She lived in his home. She slept in his bed. She wore what he told her to wear and she cooked what he wanted for supper. Dani was his slave in all aspects of her life. And to keep her from running away when he was out, she was chained down on a leash.

When Beckett would leave for the day, she was left in the sitting room to knit or sew. On this particular day, she got a visitor. Something that hadn't happened since she came back to Port Royal.

She had been living this way for five weeks. The only person she had seen in that time was Beckett. So when James Norrington walked in, she wanted to hug him.

Commodore Norrington had spent a long time trying to make a decision. How it would help others and how it would affect his own life. His decision was reaffirmed when he saw Danielle.

He saw the bruises on her arms and one very long slash down her right arm. It ended in a very clear "P" brand on her wrist. Beckett had gone too far.

"Danielle…"

"Commodore Norrington," she addressed him as she stood.

"Please call me James," he told his feet. He couldn't meet her eyes. He was ashamed that this was how she was living. It was his fault. The light that had once been in her eyes was gone and was replaced with dullness. "This," he paused and pulled something out of his pocket, "is for you." The object was a gun.

"Just want me to put myself out of my misery?" She asked. He searched her eyes and couldn't tell if she was joking or not.

"No, I want you to be able to defend yourself."

"Jack's execution is next Thursday."

"I know."

"I'm not going to make it, James. Tell him I love him, James."

"Of course," he told her. He bowed and kissed her hand, a slight smile on his face. He knew something. She tucked the gun into her knitting and he left.

Beckett returned home shortly thereafter. And he was in the mood.

He didn't greet her; he just pressed his thin, chapped lips to hers. She used what strength she had left and pushed him away.

"I am not a whore."

"That's right. You're worse than a whore. You're a pirate. And you're damn lucky I haven't hanged you already, much like that of your dearly beloved."

He backed her up next to the shelf with her knitting and she grabbed the gun. It was to his temple instantly.

"You will let me go."

"Or you'll kill me like you killed your husband?"

"Do you want to find out?"

"What do you want?"

"Full pardon. For Jack Sparrow."

"What about yourself?"

"I'm willing to…"

"No, she isn't," a voice called from outside the room. Will entered the room, followed by Norrington. Both men were pointing their guns in the direction of Beckett. "Beckett, we're going need you to sign these…" Will said as he placed the papers on the table.

"You know," he said as he signed the first page, "this is treason against England."

"And keeping a known pirate is one's home, from the law, isn't?" Norrington asked. "Cruel and unusual punishment."

"Cruel and unusual punishment is not a crime. It is only creativity," Beckett replied.

Will took Dani's arm and helped her out of the room. Norrington picked up the papers, his gun still aimed at Beckett.

"Traitor," Beckett called him.

"No." Norrington replied. "Pirate."

Beckett had signed pardon papers for the entire crew, Jack and Dani. Now they just had to get to the jail and then to the ship.

"What makes you think that Beckett won't repeal the pardons?" Dani asked Norrington as they hurried to the jail.

"Because we are going straight to the man in charge."

"Surely you don't mean Governor Swann?"

"No. The King."

"What? The King? He won't have anything to do with us."

"Well, he's already sent an army to collect Beckett and arrest him."

"What for?"

"Stealing from the King."

"He didn't steal from the King, did he?" Dani asked in disbelief.

"Not money or other property. A girl."

"What?"

"His daughter ran off with Beckett and then died of small pox out on the sea. The King finally caught up with him."

"You've got to be joking. This is working out too well. This isn't real. I must be dreaming."

"Dani, you aren't dreaming," Will assured her.

"They are re-instating Governor Swann as governor," Norrington informed her.

Dani was so confused. Things were actually going well for her. Too well though. She was suspicious that this was all a lie. Maybe they executed Jack early and they were taking her to his remains. 'Oh, please, don't let that be it,' she thought to herself.

She was led to the jail. The one guard that could read read over the papers carefully and then he explained them to the rest. A collective groan came from the lot of them and they led the three of them down the hall.

The crew was glad to see them. Very glad. They all shook Will and Norrington's hands and kissed Dani on the cheek. All were looking past the bruises and the gauntness of her face. She would be better soon.

Jack was humming to himself when Dani walked all the way down to his cell. He was alone and away from everyone else. He'd been eating because the plate was sitting on the floor and he'd been drinking because she could smell the rum. Or so she thought. Jack did always smell like rum.

Once again he thought Dani wasn't real. He stared at her; he was afraid to look away. If he looked away, maybe she wouldn't be there when he looked back. He wanted to touch her. Taste her. But apparitions were nigh untouchable.

But then she spoke. "Jack, aren't you going to say anything?"

"You aren't real."

"Why do you always think that?"

"Because I haven't had enough rum. I see things when I'm sober."

"Well, when that guard comes down here and unlocks the door, we'll just have to get you some rum to fix that," she smiled. The first smile in three weeks. She motioned for the guard to hurry and he did as she asked.

Dani stepped into the cell and took Jack's hand. He stood and ran his hand up and down the long scar on her arm and stopped at the brand.

"Pirate," he told her before her kissed her.

"And proud of it," she answered when they broke apart.

"Now, I don't mean to break up this happy reunion, Jack, but don't ye think we ought best be getting ourselves out of here?" Gibbs asked.

"Right," Jack answered, picking his hat up off the hook on the wall and taking his gun and sword. "I had to have my effects," he told Dani as she tapped her foot on the floor.

Outside, Norrington was giving them orders. "My ship is just at the south side of Port Royal."

"Where's Elizabeth?" Dani asked Will as they quickly walked to the dock.

"At the pub next to Norrington's ship."

"You've put a lot of thought into this escape, Mr. Turner," Jack told him.

"I learned from the best," Will smiled.

Their destination was England. They would see the king and then they would be able to sail freely to wherever they wanted. Things were finally going for them.

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Please read and review. The ending to this chapter sucked, I know. What did everyone think? Be honest…tell me the truth…