Jack had woken up around midday after Angelica had cried herself to sleep in his arms the night before. Now it was late in the afternoon as they made their way through the forest. The group was quiet, except for his own curses as he occasionally tripped. He'd decided that he wanted to try walking on his own and, so far, it wasn't working out well. He was at the back of the pack.

As they he reached the top of a hill, he stumbled over his wooden leg and tumbled all the way to the bottom, past the others. "Bloody hill…" He glanced at his other leg, which burned with pain. He tried to get back up, but the leg wouldn't support his weight and the wooden one slid from underneath him. He ended up lying flat on his back, muttering angrily. "This is stupid…"

"You alright, Jack?" Will asked as he and the others reached him.

"Me legs won't work." The injured pirate captain responded, his voice half-joking. He sat up after a moment. "Wish this bloody stupid wooden thing had a knee."

"It's alright…" He started, trailing off, embarrassed, as he looked at Angelica. "Uh, sorry I never asked, but...what's your name?"

"Angelica." She answered.

"...Angelica can help you." The Dutchman's former captain finished.

"I don't need help, I need-" Jack realized that the other man was right, sighing. "Fine, I need help." He reached his hand out to Angelica. "Help me up, love."

She hid a smirk at his realization, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet. She grabbed his shoulders to steady him as he nearly collapsed again. Their eyes locked and they saw deep into each other. He could tell that she was genuinely worried and really cared for him, though if he remembered the previous night- which he did- it was obvious. In his eyes, she saw that he wasn't just hurting from his wounds, but from the recent events. She could tell that he was holding it together by a thin thread. His impatience, pain, grief, and regret were clear to her.

They stood there like that for a few moments, until Will shook Jack's shoulder.

"We need to get moving." The man told them.

The injured man's head snapped to look at him. "Aye, mate." He glanced back at her for a moment. "Let's go."

Jack put his arm around the back of Angelica's neck and she put a hand on his waist. They began to follow Elizabeth and Will as they continued through the forest.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked the injured pirate.

He knew immediately that he hadn't just seen her feelings, but she'd seen his. He sighed, shaking his head. "Not really."

She nodded in understanding. "How do you do it, Jack? How do you stand it all?"

He chuckled bitterly. "Barely am, love. The longer it sticks with me, the worse it gets. Dyin' inside, y'know. Dunno what to do anymore either. Everythin' I've tried's only made it worse. The bloody memories jus' won't go away. Bein' stranded at sea didn't help a bloody thing, should've waited 'till we got to Port Royal to try to escape. At least they had food on the ship. We have nothin' and me bein' practically unable to walk doesn't help…"

"We have each other." Angelica spoke up after he'd finally finished ranting.

Jack turned his head to look at her, giving a pathetic attempt at a smirk.

*X*

Through the tiredness and darkness of his eyes, Angelica saw a light deeper inside of him. She made out what seemed to be devotion and tender affection. He loved her. He'd said it, she knew, but she also knew that he was good at lying when he wanted to. But, for a fact, he wasn't lying now. He really cared for her. It was clear.

She managed to give him a small smile of her own.
*X*

A gunshot sounded nearby and the whole group froze. William glanced back at the others to make sure they were alright. He seemed to take a deep breath.
"Ye think it's jus' a hunter, mate?" Jack asked, curious, hoping it wasn't soldiers.
"I hope so." The younger man responded. "Let's wait for a minute and see if we hear any more shots."

They fell silent, listening. Another gunshot sounded, closer than before. There was a screech so human that a chill went up the injured pirate's spine and he slightly shuddered. A quick glance at Angelica revealed a horrified look on her face.

He tapped her lightly to get her attention, softly reminding her,"Calm down, we don't know what it bloody is yet."

She nodded, composing herself and took a deep breath.
Another gunshot and a similar shriek, followed by what sounded like flapping. Birds. Someone has hunting birds. God, they sounded human though.
"See? What did I tell ye?" Jack told her, relieved himself that it wasn't a human that was being killed. "Jus' some hunter, eh?"

She slapped his arm lightly and he burst out laughing, having known that she was scared at first.

"It's not funny, Jack." She snapped, rolling her eyes.

"I-it's not that." He finally got himself under control, but still couldn't help smirking. "It was your reaction."

"Still, not funny." She responded.

"Keep tellin' yourself that." He told her, before calling up to the other couple. "Oi, William! S'pose we find said hunter an' have him tell us where the nearest town is."

After a moment, the younger man called back,"What do we have to bargain with if he says no?"
Jack took a second to think about that one. "We have me compass, I can give it to him if I have to. Best we got."

The Dutchman's former captain nodded. "Alright then, Jack. We'll talk to him."

"Are you sure that this is a good idea?" Elizabeth asked, clearly doubtful.

"Of course." Jack lied, as he and Angelica made their way over to them.

Angelica gave him a knowing glance. "You're not."

"As long as none o' us get killed, love, it'll all be fine." He replied.

Will lead them towards the sound of the gunshots. Though the closer they got, the more cautious he became, constantly looking before bursting out into the open. A sound just like thunder sounded and as they broke into the next clearing, they saw a man holding a rifle and standing over a now-dead doe.

Jack froze, staring at the man who stood there. It was Joshamee Gibbs.

"Mr. Gibbs!" He called from across the clearing.

The man looked up at him in surprise. "By God, Jack!"

"Didn't know ye liked huntin'." The injured captain commented. Then he asked,"What are ye doin' 'ere, mate? Where's the Pearl?"

"The Pearl's fine. She's docked over by the town." The older man assured him. "And I'm 'ere because the only way to survive 's to try to blend in."

"Where's the town?" Will piped up. "We need to get Jack some treatment."

Jack rolled his eyes at the last part, but Angelica gave him a glare.

"'S that way." Gibbs pointed back over his shoulder.

"Where are we anyway?" Elizabeth asked, none of them having wondered yet.

"Jamaica." The First Mate of the Pearl answered. "The nearest town's not far from 'ere and Port Royal 'bout twenty miles east."

"If we caught a ride, could we get to Port Royal by tonight?" Will questioned.

"I reckon not long af'er the sun sets, aye." Gibbs answered, nodding.

"Good." The latter's wife commented. "Then that's what we'll do."

"Sounds like a plan." Jack nodded. "Jus' hope that the bloody soldiers don't see us. I've had 'nough of 'em."

"Yes, you have." Angelica agreed, glancing at his bruised, bloodied torso.

"Then let's get goin'." Gibbs gave a small smile to the others, grabbing the doe and resting it upon his shoulders. He steadied it with one hand, the other holding his musket at his side.

"Do ye want help carryin' anythin', mate?" The injured pirate captain offered, gesturing to the musket. "That deer would be easier to handle with both o' your hands, y'know."

The man raised his eyebrows in a you're-right movement and handed the gun over to him. He took it in his free hand, the other still around the back of Angelica's neck. Gibbs held the doe now with both hands, now seeming more confident with it not falling off.

"Shall we go then?" Will asked impatiently.

"Aye, let's go." Jack answered, nodding in agreement.