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Hey guys, sorry it took so long to update! I had the WORST case of writer's block with this chapter! I hope it's good! I made up a Port…but just read the story and find out! Please review!!! Thanks!!!

The Storm

The morning came swiftly, but Jack could only think of the previous night, and the dream that he had had…and of Lilliana. He was filled with uneasiness at her words and couldn't understand their meaning at all.

"Why would she think I loved…her?" Jack said to himself, looking down from the helm at Elizabeth, finding himself gazing with longing for her. "Stop it man! Pull it together…you do not want her, you only want that blasted key and chest!"

But something within Jack knew that wasn't true, but he wouldn't act on such desires…not with his own life on the line. So he turned away and looked out at the horizon and the morning sun above the distinctive line. He loved the morning, it let him know that there was hope for his life and his soul that he knew was at risk.

"Cap'n?"

"Yes, Mr. Gibbs?" he whirled around and grinned.

"The crew and I be wondering where you're taking us…if you don't mind me askin'?"

"To wherever the chest is hidden of course, why do you doubt my sense of direction?" he asked, a curious look on his face.

"Well…umm…Cap'n…I'm not sure how to answer that…"

Jack smiled at his success in intimidation, chuckling slightly. "That's because you should not doubt it Mr. Gibbs. Now, get back to work my good man and do not bother me again!"

"What's got you so on edge, Jack?" Mr. Gibbs asked, looking at him with a friendly curiosity.

"Nothing, nothing at all…I am not 'on edge', as you say."

"If you say so, Jack…but if you need to talk, you know I'll be there for you old friend!" he smiled.

Jack was tempted to take Mr. Gibbs into his cabin and explain everything that had been happening within himself, but knew better than to get him involved in his overwhelming emotional battles. It was something he had to deal with on his own, no matter how hard it might end up being.

He just stood at the helm, gazing out over the turquoise water and breathing in the misty air. He caught himself scanning the deck for Elizabeth, but he would quickly look elsewhere, scared of what he may have done if he had continued looking at her.

As the day dragged on, clouds began to cover them with shade and the wind grew faster every minute. Jack soon had to instruct the crew to fold the sails for fear of blowing off course and the storm that was bound to come. But no storm could match the one going on within himself.

All he could think about was the dream and Lilliana's words. They disturbed him with their uncertain force, gripping his heart tightly, never letting his heart rest from the pounding. He didn't know what to do with himself. Drinking made the confusion worse; only clouding his mind from good judgment.

"Jack!"

Jack shook his head, ridding himself of his dreadful thoughts and looked for the source of the scream. As he looked about the deck, he saw Elizabeth pulling violently at the lines, the crew attending to the cargo and cannons down below. The wind had picked up to a dangerous speed and had begun to pull the sails out of their folds.

"Jack!" she screamed again, her voice cracking with fear and dread. "Jack, help!"

He looked around him, the clouds had turned to an eerie black and the water rocked the Black Pearl from side to side in quick movements.

"I'm coming, Lizzy!" he exclaimed, bounding down the stairs two at a time, going to her side.

"The storm is bad, Jack!" she shouted over the wind, her hair blowing about her face, hiding her eyes.

"Don't fear, love, we'll make it through!" Jack yelled back, grabbing for the line and helping her pull it. He looked beside him and saw how hard she was working, as if she actually cared about the Pearl. "She only wishes to survive this storm to get back to her William! She doesn't care about my ship!" he thought.

He began to frown at his sudden burst of jealousy, knowing how foolish his thoughts sounded. "Why does it bother me that she cares for William?"

They tightened the lines and the sails folded back, and Jack looked at Elizabeth, seeing her weariness.

"Lizzy, if you'd like to rest, my cabin is open to you while the storm pounds on us!"

"Thank you, Jack, but I couldn't possibly…"

"Go inside the cabin, Elizabeth!" Jack interrupted, his eyes widening at the words he spoke.

"But…"

"Please, William would want you to be safe inside the cabin rather than outside! Go!"

Elizabeth just stared at him, her eyebrows arching in surprise at his authority, but she wouldn't move. Jack rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm, half dragging her down into his cabin.

"There now, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" he grinned at her shock.

"How could you?" she asked, turning to face him with a furious fire in her eyes.

"Well, you very well weren't going to come down here on your own, so I took the situation into my own hands." he laughed as he walked to the door, closing it behind him, locking Elizabeth inside.

The storm calmed within a few hours and the crew worked hard to repair any damage that could be fixed on the sea. Jack paced back and forth in front of the cabin door, humming nervously to himself. He didn't know why, but he feared to walk in. Was it fear of the young woman inside? He didn't know…

He turned and faced the door with a frown forming on his lips and grasped the door's handle. He pushed and slowly opened the door, light spilling through the widening crack.

"Jack!" she screamed, running to the door and to him.

"Yes…umm…love?"

"Don't you ever do that to me again!" she exclaimed, slapping him on the arm.

Jack rubbed his arm with a smirk. "I had to, Lizzy!"

"Oh really?"

He laughed at the stubborn look on her delicate face. "Yes, really!" he replied. "I'd rather you be safe in my cabin then out there with all the lines and such."

"You wanted me to come down here?"

"Umm…yes, or else I'd have to answer to your dear William if anything bad had happened to you!" he said quickly, scared of what she may have been thinking.

"Right…" she said, watching him as she walked about the cabin. "So, since the storm has calmed, may I go back above deck?"

"Well, it is still raining out there, but the wind has ceased. If you'd like to, then go."

"You don't want me to?"

Jack looked up, eyes wide. "What do I say now?" he thought to himself. What did he want? Did he want to tell her to stay…with him?

But he didn't have to say a word; Mr. Gibbs walked in, a fearful look on his face.

"Cap'n, we must dock as soon as possible! There is considerable damage that we cannot fix while at sea, Sir!"

"Right then…Port Langosta is not far out of our way!" Jack declared, looking down at a map on the table.

"Whatever our way may be…" Mr. Gibbs mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, Cap'n! Port Langosta it is!"

Mr. Gibbs closed the door and left Elizabeth and Jack in uncomfortable silence. Jack sat at the table and looked down at the map, figuring the time it would take them to get to Port Langosta. Elizabeth looked at him, then walked out the door, leaving Jack alone…"Finally!"