Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: I have answered some of your questions at the bottom. Enjoy.

The Way the Wind Blows

By: MJ

Chapter Four

I Don't Bite

Without a window, neither Elizabeth nor Jack knew how many days they had been at sea. They just slept when they were tired, and found barrels of food for when they were hungry, and that was all that they knew. Elizabeth wondered how they were going to be able to find Will when they were on a ship they couldn't control, but every time she asked Jack, he simply answered, "Ye've got ter trust me, luv."

Elizabeth was waking up from another sleeping session, but when she turned to ask Jack what he had found to eat, only barrels and crates welcomed her. Jack was gone.

She straightened up, wiping her eyes. She blinked a few times, before she realized where she was. "Spa—Captain Sparrow?" She hesitantly called into the darkness. She heard him snort a bit away from her.

"What, luv?"

"I just wanted to make sure you hadn't… oh, I don't know."

"Ye weren't scared, were ye?"

"No! Of course not," she said back, crossing her arms over her chest. She saw him appear over a bunch of boxes. He staggered over to their corner and sat back down.

"Ye were scared I left ya. Gee thanks, luv, good ter feel appreciated."

She was just about to retort when the ship shook. She was thrown forward again, landing right next to Jack. He placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "Come on now, luv, I know I'm handsome, but there's no need to throw yerself at me." He said. She opened her mouth to reply when the ship shook again, this time she was thrown in the opposite direction. "I don't bite, luv. Promise."

"It's not you, Sparrow—there's something going on with this ship!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth that a cannon ball came flying through the side of the ship. She guarded her face from the splintering wood, and looked at Jack with an "I told you so" look.

"It's time we make our presence known, luv," Jack said quietly, sounding much more serious than moments before. "Before this ship goes under."

As soon as they reached the top deck, pirates soon surrounded them. Guns were cocked and pointed at Elizabeth and Jack's heads, and they couldn't so much as move.

"Who're ye?" One spat, smiling at Elizabeth, revealing his lack of dental hygiene almost immediately. She groaned and looked at Jack for help.

"I'm Cap'n Jack Sparrow," Jack said proudly, moving one of the hands he held in the air to grab Elizabeth around the shoulders. "An' this be my wench, savvy?"

"Hold on, now, Sparrow--" Elizabeth started, about to protest the entire situation. He turned his head and hissed into her ear.

"Unless ye want to be one of their wenches, it be best if'n ye shut yer mouth," Jack turned and smiled at the folk. "And I invoke the right of parley."

"Parley?"

"Parley, gents. We get ter see yer Cap'n."

Meanwhile, On the Pearl

"Pretty bird… Birdie… Oh, look at the Swann, Rigetti! How loverly an' graceful it is!" Pintel chortled as he came down the stairs, once more only carrying Will's supply of hardtack for the day. It was a small piece; small enough to fit in the palm of his hand, with some breathing room. In his other hand was a shiny green apple—a treat, Will presumed, that he'd only receive if he complied with their incessant questions. He groaned and shifted his weight again, curling into a small ball as he tried to fall back asleep.

"Nope, purdy bird—we need ye awake," Rigetti said, throwing the bucket of water that he was carrying on Will. He cried out; the sea water they had filled it with causing some major pain on the small cuts he suffered on his wrists from the shackles they used to take him down to the brig.

"Idiot!" Pintel screamed, slapping Rigetti upside the head. "Tha' was fer his drinkin'." Rigetti chuckled, dropping the bucket.

"Oops."

Will was shivering now, glaring at the two from his corner. He couldn't move; he was afraid to cause any more insult to injury. They smiled at him, and it made him want to vomit.

"When did ye get tha' medallion?"

"Ten years ago," Will answered quietly. Pintel slammed on the bars, causing Will to start. He looked at him.

"Louder, whelp."

"I said ten years ago," Will said, only slightly louder; although not more than a mutter. They seemed pleased enough.

"Cap'n is sure to give us somefink for this! We be gettin' all the infermation he needs!"

"I know," Pintel stated, aggravated. He opened the cell and set the food down. "Eat up, whelp. We need yer strength."

"Naw. Just yer blood."

"Quiet, you!" Pintel yelled, elbowing Rigetti. They walked up the stairs and out of the brig. Although the food was so tempting, Will didn't feel like moving. Their laughter rang in his ears; haunting him. He leaned against the bars and tried to sleep, but Barbossa's voice rang in his ears.

That's why we're not killin' ye… Yet.

"But it's not me…" He whispered pathetically to himself, before he let go of all strands he held to the conscious world and fell asleep.

Back to Jack on The Isabella

"Jack Sparrow—is that you?" A man's voice called to Jack and Elizabeth as they were escorted from The Isabella onto The Bloody Mary. The owner to said voice appeared moments later in front of them. He was tall, and had only a simple bandana around his head, covering up his short blonde hair. He was scarred all over his face, some from the sun, and others from battle. But the most prominent thing was his left leg—which wasn't there anymore, and was replaced with a simple peg leg. He looked to be a stereotypical pirate, but when he smiled, he flashed brilliantly white teeth.

"One-Legged Lenny!" Jack cried, as if they were long-time friends who had just lost touch.

"It's Captain Elliot of The Bloody Mary, now, Jack. An old rum-runner's ship I commandeered after you marooned me," he said, turning slightly angry. Jack flashed him his signature grin.

"Only after ye tried ter poison me. Doc'ter me ass—ye didn't save me—ye tried ter kill me!" Jack said, although he, unlike Lenny, showed absolutely no sign of anger in his voice. "If'n it makes ye feel better, I was later mutinied."

"It does, Jack, that honestly does make me feel better," Lenny said, before he glanced at Elizabeth. "Who's she?"

"Elizabeth… my wench."

"Ah, Jack Sparrow's finally settling down?" Elizabeth snorted at that comment, folding her arms over her chest. "Guess not."

"She's a wee bit testy. Didn't quite expect t' almost be blown up by yer cannons, Lenny… Elliot. Cap'n Elliot," Jack corrected himself, watching Lenny's face change as he spoke of the pet name the crew had for him when he was the doctor on the Pearl. Jack snaked his arm around Elizabeth's waist and pulled her close. He smiled. "Bought her at one of 'em… Auction-things. Too pretty to let 'er just go by. The only reason I'm keepin' her," he looked to Elizabeth this time, "is t' get me money's worth."

Elizabeth groaned, but turned it into a cough as Jack poked her side. She frowned, but didn't make any further negative connotations to what Jack was saying.

"Ah, well, since she's yours, and I have a heart," Lenny said, looking around at his crew. To his suspicions, they were, indeed, eyeing Elizabeth lustfully. "I won't make you both stay with the crew. You can sleep in my room until we dock in Tortuga. I'm assuming that's where you intended on going?"

"Yes," Jack nodded, grinning. "Ye haven't changed a bit. But I'm still gonna make the girl try all me food before me."

"That won't be necessary, Jack. We'll be in Tortuga by tomorrow morning. You can surely hold off until then?"

"Of course, mate. But where'll ye be stayin' if me an' the girl got yer room?"

"I'm minding the helm tonight. Burns!" Lenny called, and a young boy walked up to him.

"Yes'm?" He asked.

"Show these two to my quarters," Lenny said, turning away and firing more orders to other crewmembers.

"Yes'm. Follow me, please."

They followed the little boy down a hatch, and through a hallway, before they came to the last door. He took out a key from his pocket, and unlocked it. He opened the door for them, and once both Jack and Elizabeth were inside, he handed them the key and walked back out. The door shut with a 'click' behind him, and then it was silent. As the small footsteps grew more and more distant, Elizabeth wretched herself free from Jack's grip.

"Get off of me," she hissed, moving away from him and deeper into the dimly lit room. Jack smiled at her, moving around the room. He kept his eyes on her, though. She rolled her eyes, and sat down on the bed. "You're sleeping on the floor, you know."

"No, I'm not, luv. Remember, I can always send you out to the pirates, if that'd be what ye'd like."

"You can't keep using that line on me, Jack. One of these times I'm going to find something to say back, and you'll be--" he cut her off by placing a finger to her lips.

"Jus' be quiet, please?" Jack asked, before he walked away and looked at the bookshelves. He finally found what he was looking for; a small bottle of rum was stashed away behind a rather large book. It had "Atlas" on it's spine, but it was just tossed aside. Just as he uncorked it, there were voices outside the door.

"C'mon, now—move ovah! I want a peek of the girl."

"Naw, give me a moment more—I fink she's undressing!"

"What would she be changing into, ya dope! D'ya think ya could pick this lock?"

Elizabeth looked nervously over to Jack who shrugged. "Wha' d'ye expect me t'do? Disagree with them?" He went over to the door and kicked it. They heard a few painful cries, but the voices persisted.

"Move out o' the way, ye blasted pirate! Tha' girl is the purdiest thing any o' us have seen in a while!"

"Yeah!" His friend agreed. "Ye get ter see her all the time—give us a peek." Jack quirked a brow, searching for the peephole they must've been looking through. Upon finding it, he bent downwards, and smiled.

"Ye'll be doin' nothing o' the sort," he said, placing his pistol's barrel into the hole. He cocked it, and grinned. "Savvy?"

They quickly darted away, muttering something about Jack being a "possessive bastard", before their voices disappeared. Jack turned back to Elizabeth with an expectant look on his face.

"Thank you," she muttered, taking off her boots. She placed Will's dagger under the mattress as soon as Jack turned his back to her, taking the cork out of his rum bottle and taking a rather large gulp. She scoffed and turned her back to him. She burrowed under the thick comforter, and blew out the nearest candle. Closing her eyes, she slipped into a light slumber.

The Next Morning

"LAND HO!"

The call made Elizabeth start, and she blinked, adjusting her eyesight to the sudden flood of light. She glanced around the room, and jumped when she realized that Jack Sparrow had, indeed, climbed into bed with her. A sickening feeling occurred in her stomach as she realized his arm had been around her waist, that and he wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Pig," she muttered bitterly, putting on her boots. She grabbed her dagger out from underneath the mattress, and slipped it back into her boot. She sat in an arm chair, staring at the door. It seemed to take an infinity for Jack to become known in the conscious world, but in reality it was only about a half hour after Elizabeth graced said world with her own presence.

"Wha—where are we?"

"They just spotted Tortuga, Sparrow."

"Captain… Captain…" Jack stressed, shutting his eyes as if she had smacked him 'round the face. He opened them and glared at her. "Well… What're ye waiting for? Go on up to the deck!"

She glared at him, and didn't say anything. He grinned.

"Oh. Tha's right… Ye can't. Ye need me."

"Grow up," Elizabeth spat. She folded her arms over her chest. Jack rolled his eyes and put on his own boots. He put on his shirt, and tied his sash around his waist. He made sure he had all of his 'effects' on him, before he grinned at her.

"Let's go, luv. The town awaits."

Tortuga had a presence, or so Jack had told her in the longboat to the town, and Elizabeth noticed as soon as they stepped onto the shore. She could smell the town before they had even gotten into said town. She heard wily screams from women, and hearty shouts from men, all cheering each other on. As they came closer into the town, she saw what she had just heard, and felt like vomiting. Jack's arm was still wrapped around her waist, and it almost put her over the edge.

"Ah… The Faithful Bride," Jack said, rather loudly, in fact, and he quickly dropped Elizabeth's waist. He moved towards the tavern and looked back at Elizabeth. "Well, aren't you coming?"

"To do what—get drunk?" She almost laughed. He shrugged.

"No… We be finding ourselves a crew," he said, quite sincerely. She merely shrugged and walked into the tavern with him. He paused, and turned around to her. He went into his pouch and grabbed about three shillings. "Go buy three pints of rum."

"What—oh, fine." She dropped it as he walked away. She rolled her eyes and walked towards the bar. "Three pints of rum, please," she asked the rather fat, greasy man behind the counter. He shrugged and walked away. She drummed her fingers on the wooden bar, turning to look around at her surroundings.

"So," a female voice said, and Elizabeth turned and saw a rather scantily clad woman sit down in the bar stool next to her.

"Ye be Jack Sparrow's newest wench," another voice said, and a blonde woman with even less clothes on sat down at the bar on Elizabeth's other side. Elizabeth frowned.

"I'm not his wench."

"Oh, don't flatter yerself, dearie," the woman on her left said, a blonde with way too much kohl around her eyes.

"Yeah," the brunette on her right agreed, "Jack Sparrow doesn't love anyone."

"In fact, he's really not even that good in bed," the blonde said. The brunette's jaw dropped.

"Are you kidding—Oh!" She must've just realized what the girl meant to say. She quickly recovered. "Yeah. Lasted only about thirty seconds… We get paid by the hour."

Elizabeth soon realized who they were—two tavern wenches from Jack's previous extravaganzas in Tortuga. She smiled, and replied saucily, "Don't worry ladies, I already know that you're lying." She winked, and turned back around, noticing the bartender had returned with her pints of rum. She turned to the girls, "Nice meeting you both. And don't worry, I won't tell Jack you were speaking so harshly about him."

With two "hmph"s, the girls walked away. Elizabeth walked towards the back of the tavern, where she expected Jack to be. She found him, but the wenches found him first. She winced as they both painfully slapped Jack and walked away. She grinned and sat down across from him at the small table he had claimed. She set down a glass of rum in front of him, and took one in her own.

"Who's the third pint for?"

"A friend o' mine tha's coming later," he grinned, winking at her.

"Oh, one of those girls?" She smiled as Jack frowned.

"No. A… Mister Gibbs, I believe. Anyway… Here's to--"

"William," she said, lifting her glass. He smiled.

"To William." They raised their glasses, and Jack took a hearty chug of the fiery amber liquid, while Elizabeth merely sipped hers. After about a half hour, Jack had devoured both his tankard, and the one they were saving for his "friend". Elizabeth hadn't even finished hers.

"Jack," she said, watching him for a moment. "I know you didn't suddenly change your mind when I grabbed the keys—did you know my parents?"

"Aye… I did. An' yer brother, too," he said, leaning forward and taking her tankard. "Ye goin' ter finish this?" At her head shake, he downed the rest of it. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and looked at her. "Yer father an' brother were pirates, I'm t' assume ye know that much."

"Yes, I helped my brother escape from prison."

"Aye. Only t'be shot by a guard, I heard. How'd ye escape?"

"We had already parted ways when he was shot. William told me about it later after his mother told him."

"Aye. So ye knew about yer brother—but not yer parents?"

"No. My parents were dead when my brother and I were sent to Port Royal."

"No… No they weren't."

"But they were! My brother--"

"Yer brother lied to ye."

"He wouldn't!" Elizabeth protested, slamming her hand down on the table. "My brother would never lie to me—he loved me!"
"He loved ye enough to lie to ye because he knew ye couldn't handle the truth," Jack said, leaning back in his chair. "An' the truth is yer mother was dead an' yer father didn't know how t' raise children."

"So we were sent to Port Royal?"

"Aye. An' yer father came wif me on the Pearl. When yer brother was sixteen, he came an' found us… Two years later both yer brother and father were dead."

Elizabeth's jaw dropped, but she quickly regained composure. It was a lot to take; she had always known her brother was a pirate—but her father being the one who had taken him away? And her father was alive when they were sent? All these years…All these lies…

"How… How did my father die?"

"I dunno, luv. I was mutinied before he died." Jack said, somewhat bitterly. He looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Mister Gibbs!"

"Jack!" An old, fat man called. Elizabeth turned and sighed.

Jack rifled through his pockets. "Get Mister Gibbs a pint o' rum, lass."

She took the shilling and walked towards the bar, still in slight shock of what she had just heard. Jack had to be lying—why would her father simply abandon her? Why was her mother dead… Who made Jacob chose to be a pirate? Surely her father wouldn't have—he was merely sixteen! She rubbed her arm, feeling slightly sick of the situation.

"A pint of rum, please."

Back at the Table

"So, Jack, what's this about?" Gibbs asked, looking at the old pirate captain wearily. "An' who's the girl?"

"I'm going to take back th' Pearl," Jack said, ignoring the question about Elizabeth for a moment. He frowned as Gibbs laughed at him.

"Ye know, Cap'n Barbossa is rather found o' his ship… I highly doubt tha' he's just going to let you waltz on his ship an' take 'er back," Gibbs said. "He's not a fan of fools, nor reckoning with 'em, Jack. An' if ye think ye are just goin' be able to take th' Pearl, ye're more of a fool than I thought."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Let's just say it's a matter of leverage."

"Leverage?"

"Tha' girl is Jacob Swann's last living relative—his daughter," Jack leaned in and whispered. "Savvy?"

Gibbs smiled. "So ye need a ship?"

"An' a crew," Jack said, smiling.

"Well, Cap'n, I'm sure there's a few souls on this island tha' are jus' as crazy as ye are," Gibbs said as Elizabeth returned with Gibb's rum. She handed the tankard to the man, before pulling up a chair. Jack searched the three of his tankards for some more rum. Gibbs handed him his flask, and Jack poured some in two tankards, and handed it back to Gibbs. He handed a tankard to Elizabeth.

"Take wha'cha can," Jack said, raising his glass. Elizabeth followed.

"Give nothin' back!" Gibbs finished, raising his glass. The tankards made a tinkling noise as the banged them against each others, the rum sloshing onto the table. Once more, Jack and Gibbs drank their rum quickly, in large gulps, while Elizabeth merely sipped hers.

"A room, please," Jack said, a few hours later, to the barkeep. He smiled at Jack—who had fashioned his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders in an effort to keep standing—and handed him a key. Jack, in return, handed him a few miscellaneous coins, and he winked. Elizabeth led him up the stairs, into the 'inn' part of the Faithful Bride. "We're in room…" He read the number on the key, "One-oh… Is that an eight of a three?" He shoved the key in Elizabeth's face. She pushed his hand away.

"Three," she muttered, coming to the room. She took the key off of Jack and opened the door and groaned. There was, yet again, only one bed. She shrugged off Jack's shoulder, and moved towards the bed, exhausted. She pulled off her boots and climbed right in.

Jack grinned at her, "Goin' ter bed so early, Lizzie?" He smirked, leaning against the far wall. "Ah, well, may as well join ye." He walked towards the bed, swaying slightly as he was still under the influence of the liquor. He took off his boots and shirt and crawled into bed right beside her. She remained quiet, her back turned to him, and he remained just as quiet, his back to her.

As soon as his snores were heard—although they were fake, yet she did not realize this—she began to slowly go over the events Jack had told her about in her mind. Her father abandoned her, and turned her brother into a pirate. The more she thought about it, the more upset she got. Tears streamed down her face at the thought of Will in the hands of such horrible pirates, probably locked up in the brig, she imagined. All because of her… She bit her lip to keep from sobbing out loud.

Sparrow moved beside her, but she just inched as far away from the man as possible, nearly falling off the edge while doing so. However, when his arm wove it's way around her thin waist and pulled her closer, she realized he wasn't asleep anymore. She turned to him to find him very much awake. She smirked, and he smirked, but hers held a different meaning.

Needless to say, Captain Jack Sparrow spent the night on the floor with a very thin sheet, and no pillow. He grumbled to himself as he heard her faint snoring.

"Somebody's got their knickers in a twist."

End Chapter

For the record: The line-break wasn't fuctioning on my computer. No matter how many times I clicked the damn button, it didn't work. So. Whatev. I'm over it.

Question and Answer time, luvs.

Why isn't Jack flirting with Elizabeth?
In the last chapter, when they were getting on board the ship--you know, when they were climbing up the ship to get inside--Jack grabbed Elizabeth's ass. I just didn't put it so bluntly in the story. In this chapter, they share a bed. Twice. -shrugs- He always was, just... less noticeable, perhaps?

Is there going to be a Jack/Elizabeth/Will love triangle?
No. Sorry. That was the one thing I absolutely hated about the second movie. Jack's one and only love is the sea, but that won't stop him from flirting. Elizabeth, however, will be more capable of turning him down.

Is Norrington still into Elizabeth?
No. That's why I added on Annette. She's Norrington's sister who's mad about Will. So... It's generally the same story line, you know?

Also. I didn't realize I called Will a "bonny lass". Oopsie on my part there, as I had been copying and pasting stuff from the script--found it online--because if I watch the movie again, my head's going to asplode. I love it and all, but enough's enough... When I know /exactly/ what's going to happen next and how, I need to find better hobbies. :)

Thanks for reading, and I hoped I cleared a few things up. :)