Elizabeth knew that coming back to life was probably a draining experience, but eventually she couldn't wait any longer to corner Jack for a heart-to-heart. After he had slept for twelve hours straight, she went and banged on the cabin door. "Jack? Are you up yet? I want to talk."

He answered the door looking rumpled and sleepy. When he saw who it was, he held out his arms to her with a smile. "'Ello, Judas, give us a hug!"

Elizabeth's jaw dropped. "Jack," she whispered. "Jack I-" But tears were choking off all her words and she couldn't get any further.

"Don't get me wrong, love," he explained a little more gently, "I have no real problem with what you did. But why the kiss? It would have been easier - on the both of us - without it."

She didn't think she was quite ready to accept a hug yet, so she waited until he had lowered his hands before stepping closer. She finally brought herself to touch him, one shaking hand to his collar, and said, "I'm never going to forgive myself."

Jack looked down at her, serious. "Shhh. Lizzie. Nothing to forgive."

"I'm a coward. I sacrificed you - my friend, who risked your life for me, more than once - I sacrificed you for myself. To survive. It's disgusting, Jack. I am disg-" Her breath hitched so hard she couldn't finish the word.

"Shhh," Jack soothed again. "You did the right thing, but... Elizabeth, look at me... come on, I'm up here... 'at a girl. Elizabeth, you made the right decision. But - yes, there's a but." He put his hand under her chin to prevent her looking away. "I'm just a teensy bit, you know, disappointed, that's all. Because I thought you knew I had already decided to stay behind. I thought you were giving me a goodbye kiss in appreciation for me noble sacrifice." He laughed a little. "And then it turned out that after all that talk about being a good man…you still didn't trust me."

He was going to stay on his own? Even without the handcuffs? In that case it wouldn't have been her fault. "Jack...if only I could believe you."

"Do you really think that Will Turner with his terminal case of honesty could have left me there if I'd shouted for help? I was quiet on purpose, love. I meant to stay. I'm telling the truth."

"Jack - honestly?"

Jack had not expected to feel so wonderful for being able to lift that weight from her. "Yeah," he breathed, making perfect eye contact, willing her to believe. "Honestly."

"Oh, Jack, Jack..." she threw her arms around him and hung on, listening to his heartbeat. After a bit he extricated himself self-consciously.

"All right, all right," he said gruffly. "Enough o'that. Last thing I need to see today's the wrong end of Will Turner's sword, and that's where you're heading me. All right, let go."

He pried her off and she fled, still fighting tears.

A nasty laugh sounded from behind him. "Nothing funny about that talk, Barbossa," Jack said wearily.

"Oh, no?" Barbossa emerged from the cabin, sour after a night spent poring over charts while Jack snored contentedly. "Jack Sparrow, you lie like other men breathe. So you were going to stay behind of your own free will, eh? Selflessly give your life to the monster?"

Jack broke into a grin and turned around. "Well, I was considering it," he defended. "Off and on."

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The trip out was actually less messy than the trip in. It helped that for the hours when their real captain caught up on some much-needed sleep, they were commanded by Jack, who was an exceedingly creative problem-solver and able to rally the crew in ways that even Barbossa was not.

Instead of feeding people to the doggy-headed monster, Jack fed it Jack the monkey. Instead of trying to steer normally using a compass and the wind and the rudder, Jack devised a system whereby he stood at the bow and shouted "Good" or "Bad," and the crew either continued what they were doing or reversed it. It was strange to turn the wheel one way and have the ship go another, but it was working. Soon, the Gates loomed.

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"Elizabeth, what's the matter? We're almost out of here. Cheer up." Will plopped down next to her and watched the clouds. The weather was beautiful and Elizabeth was on a ship with all her favorite pirates, and yet she seemed unhappy.

"I told you, we stirred up the water," she reminded him sharply. She had already told the story of Jack's botched rescue at least three or four times. "Barbossa thinks it extremely likely that the wrong people will take notice of our passing."

"The wrong people," Will repeated. "He thinks Davy Jones?"

"I don't know what he thinks. How would I know - he never talks to me anymore!" There - she'd said it.

Will tried hard to look sympathetic, but his amusement showed on his face despite his very best efforts. Elizabeth decided that if he was already making fun of her, then she might as well continue. "Nobody pays me any attention! I could bleed to death for all they would notice. I don't even get to eat in the cabin anymore - Jack's always in there telling some story that would probably be funny, if only I were allowed to listen! He follows the captain around like a lovesick puppy..."

Will laughed. "Yes and Barbossa treats him like one. They're adorable, in a way. Although I might like them better if they would both stop trying to get me killed."

A voice from behind them: "If I were tryin to get you killed, boy, you'd be dead a hundred times over."

Elizabeth and Will jumped to their feet. "Sorry?" Will hazarded.

"I'm not." Elizabeth crossed her arms. "Why don't you tell me when you predict giving me the time of day again."

Barbossa and Jack had not, in fact, been in the cabin telling stories. They had been strategizing, bouncing implausible ideas off one another and trying to reassure each other that the voyage home would work out. It was a largely depressing and stressful project, and Elizabeth hassling them for it was the last thing Barbossa needed.

But before the captain could snap at her, Jack deflected his temper by doing something stupid. "I could give you plenty more than the time of day, love," Jack offered. "But I don't think young William here would-"

"Jack, if you can't be serious, get below!" Barbossa bellowed. "He is coming for us - probably soon! We have to be prepared."

Jack reflexively checked his palm, but it was clean.

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Warning or not, there was no way to be "prepared" for the arrival of the Dutchman. When it erupted from the sea to block their path, Barbossa ordered an anchor dropped just in time to avoid a collision.

Barbossa stepped to the rail with a frown. If there was anything worse than morbid, brooding Davy Jones, it was Davy Jones feeling frisky and reckless. Jones made the first overture. "Well, well! Greetings, Captain. Can't say I expected to see you this side of the divide again. You're quite the traveler."

"Thank ye, Davy Jones. Now, may I have your permission to sail my ship back into the lands of the living?"

"Well that depends on who you've brought with you, now, doesn't it?"

"This might require a bit o'discussion," Barbossa suggested. "Will ye care to come aboard?" He held out his spyglass invitingly. At a gesture from Jones he opened it, and within seconds the Dutchman's captain had crossed over.

Jones noticed that the crew was grouped in a terrified huddle at the far end of the ship. "Quite a brave bunch of followers you've got there."

Barbossa shrugged and went for it. "I've found that when I try to lead men to their deaths, it's the ones with spine who cause me the most problems. Now. We're bringing home Jack Sparrow and Will Turner – and we're prepared to make you a handsome offer if you let us through."

"J-" Jones took a staggering step backwards. "Now, I don't believe I heard you properly."

"I believe you did." Terrified though he was, Barbossa kept his tone firm and knowing.

"Then let's hear what kind of offer you think could make up for the life of Jack Sparrow." He spat the name with a hatred that made Barbossa wince almost visibly.

"First, these be our demands. We're takin Jack and also Will Turner with us. You'll release Turner's father from the vows he made you. And most importantly…you'll raise us the Pearl again. This time, with no strings attached for Jack's soul or mine."

After a moment of silence, Jones answered: "That is an impressive list of terms, Captain. Now, might I ask again what you have to offer me in exchange?"

"Nothing, yet – that's why we need the Pearl. If you get us our ship back, the first thing we'll do with her is go after the heart they stole from you. I know all about where it is and how it's guarded."

There was a long silence. "You've had dealings with this man? This Beckett, who keeps it now?"

"Dealings, mate?" Jack approached them. "You have no idea."

"He's said he'll destroy me if anyone interferes with him – and I believe it." Jones plurrped thoughtfully. "Perhaps that's what you're after? It wouldn't be hard to frighten him into stabbing the heart for you."

"Ridiculous," Barbossa dismissed. "So long as you've got Turner's father, he'll never participate in a plan that endangers your ship. If Turner doesn't participate, neither will Elizabeth. I need her for my plan. And Jack doesn't know where the heart is without me. So as long as you've got a hold over Will Turner, you can count on this whole ship." When pressed, he could lie almost as well as Jack.

Jones considered. "And if ye fail?"

"Then the punishment is yours to decide."

Jones spelled out what he wanted after barely a moment's thought. "Death to Sparrow," he began. "And for you, Barbossa, I'll raise up a certain stone chest with which I believe you are intimately familiar. You can spend eternity thinking of what you've lost. Bootstrap Bill goes back where I found him. The rest of ye will serve on my crew forever – except, of course, for…the lady."

He crossed the ship to where the crew stood huddled in terror and they all melted away, leaving Elizabeth standing alone. Jones reached out to her with his regular hand, but it had shrimp scuttling across it and she drew back with a disgusted gasp. "You, girl, will be in hell without the love of your man." Of course she couldn't tell, but he was paying her a high complement and offering her a real favor. "So I'll help you: your heart will sit in a chest beside mine, and you'll live forever at my side, closest companions, heartless, the both of us, until the end of time."

He seemed to be quite taken with the idea, so Barbossa was quick to remind him: "That's only if we fail, remember. Now, Davy Jones, do we have a deal or not?"

Jones took one last look at Elizabeth, then turned his attention to Barbossa. His pincher shot out, grabbed a generous section of the pirate's arm, and tore it open. "All right, we have a deal. And we'll sign in blood – yours!"

Barbossa heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes at the childish gesture. He rolled up his sleeve and carelessly dabbed up a handful of blood. He grabbed Jones's claw back and scrawled his name on it. "Happy?"

Although he was annoyed that he hadn't managed to intimidate this impossible old pirate, Jones drew himself up and snapped, "Quite." He looked out over the sea and with a gesture stirred up the waves. "Now, you said you wanted the Pearl?"

The crew saw her beloved black sails on the horizon within minutes. "My men have already made some repairs," Jones warned. "I didn't think she'd be sailing above the water again."

When she got close they could see that she sported great patches of the marine muck that graced the Dutchman. The crew would have a devil of a time getting it off, but Barbossa was confident they would manage. With Jack Sparrow egging them on, there was nothing people wouldn't do for that ship.

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The was one more teeny little wrinkle that took place before the Black Pearl was fully in their possession. "I warn you all to be careful," Jones said, "Because I swear to you now: for no reason will I ever again allow any of you to cross back into the land of the living. The next time you float in those seas, you are never coming out."

"If that's so then we too have one more condition," Barbossa answered right away. "Once we get your heart back for you, we are quits. Ye will not send the Kraken after us. Ye will not persecute us in any way."

"Aye," Jones agreed. "Last time pays for all, Barbossa. I need that heart. All of us – even bloody Jack Sparrow – are quits once I have it. Oh…and there's one more thing."

"What?"

"I'm afraid I don't trust you…So one of you will stay on the Flying Dutchman with me until the heart is safe in my hand."

Will resisted his urge to step towards Elizabeth, and just looked at Barbossa expectantly to see how he handled it.

Jack's eyes, too, shot to Barbossa. "Well obviously-" he said.

"Not safe," Barbossa agreed, "I know. Someone with a head on their shoulders might…"

Jack only winced.

"I don't blame you," Barbossa sighed. "Well. It would be a risk but I think…"

"But that's all we have to…"

Barbossa looked away. "Oh, all right," he said irritably. "You're right. Fine."

"You have my word if it helps. I'm sorry, mate." Jack really did look sorry.

Elizabeth and Will were staring incredulously. "What was that all about?" Elizabeth demanded.

Barbossa did not look very happy. "He needs a hostage, and it'll be me. You people had better-"

But Davy Jones clumped on over to them. "Ah, no it won't." He pointed with his claw. "I want her."

"Fine," Elizabeth said immediately.

Jack turned on an insincere smile. "Would you excuse us?" He dragged Elizabeth off to the side. "You might be in over your head a bit, love. I'm not sure it's wise to send you off to face Davy Jones with naught but the force of your…er…personality." He forced his eyes up from her chest to look her in the face.

"I have great faith in the power of my personality, Jack." Elizabeth glanced over at Jones. "I know the stories. I'll be able to handle him. The question is: without me, can you handle Will? And more importantly, what about Norrington and Beckett?"

"Nobody needs to handle me," Will said icily. He and Barbossa had decided not to be left out of the planning. "I'm just concerned that Jones won't start handling you, that's all."

She shrugged. "I'm sure he's thinking of the same thing. That's the whole idea, isn't it? I didn't go to charm school for nothing." She glanced towards Barbossa and added, "I've managed him, haven't I?"

"You'll want to be careful, miss," Barbossa warned. "You may have found a soft spot in a pirate who's said to be heartless…. But Davy Jones, he really is."

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" She arched her eyebrows at him. "You've accused me of tormenting you nearly every day, Captain. Tell me... is it really your heart where you feel the ache?"

Will made a sort of scandalized gasping noise but they all ignored him. "I don't need him to fall in love with me," Elizabeth reminded them, "I just need to fascinate him enough that he prefers me to live rather than die. I can't imagine it will be difficult."

Although amused (and convinced), Barbossa felt he had to get back some of his own. He told the others, "I agree - we should send her," and then looked Elizabeth in the eye and asked in a voice dripping with syrupy innocence, "But perhaps she'd like to kiss me goodbye before she goes?"

Elizabeth tried with all her might to keep a straight face when he tapped himself on the cheek, but she didn't even come close. Fortunately, she was rescued from her blushing and stammering when Jack (of all people) insisted that they get down to business.

"It's settled then," he said decisively. "Don't worry about Norrington - I doubt he's feeling plucky enough these days to cause us a problem. And as for Beckett…" Jack's face lit up with a malice that looked awful on him. "I certainly won't have a problem taking care of him."

Elizabeth nodded and stepped back. "Then just let me say goodbye to him."

"Who, Beckett?"

She rolled her eyes and reached out for Will. "It's going to be fine," she assured him with authority. "If you bring the heart – and I know you will – I think Jones will play straight with us."

"You think," Will echoed unhappily. He sighed. "I know it's the only way. I don't like it, but... but I have faith in you. And you won't be alone – find my father. You'll recognize him by-"

"I'll recognize him by asking whether or not his name is Bootstrap Bill," she laughed, projecting a confidence she did not really feel. "Don't worry about me."

She took a step towards the fearsome squid-man, only to be stopped by a bloody arm around her waist. "Just one second there if you please." It was Barbossa. He dragged Elizabeth back a pace and stepped in front of her. "Before we hand over this pretty little thing to which we have all become attached, we need to be clear on a few points. She will not be killed. She will not be worked as a part of your crew."

"Agreed," Jones answered promptly.

"She will not be starved nor beaten. Ye will not lock her up unless it becomes necessary."

"Agreed."

"And finally," Barbossa said calmly, "She will not be mistreated by you or by any of the crew."

The tentacles writhed. "Understood, and agreed." He held out his hand and Barbossa shook it. "You will have excellent weather. Go on and bring me that heart...and the heads of those two men who helped take it from me."

He beckoned for Elizabeth to follow him and she did. Because she knew everyone was watching her, she kept her head high and did not look back.

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TBC. I couldn't resist giving Elizabeth a chance to butt heads with Davy Jones. I still can't decide whether he's a meanspirited asshole, or just a jaded guy who really thinks he does people a favor. I guess we'll see once Elizabeth is alone with him.