"Jack," Elizabeth breathed out sadly. Her voice was but a whisper that the raging storm outside drowned out. She didn't even notice the two officers glance shyly from her back trying to see.

She couldn't take another breath it felt like the corset was tightening around her more, crushing her lungs. Elizabeth drew out a shaky breath and shakily reached out to touch Jack's still form. When Elizabeth was close enough to Jack, she saw the blood at the bottom of the tub and gasped for air from the shock.

Jack blearily opened an eye and then the other when he saw Elizabeth. "Elizabeth! 'Tis always a pleasure for you to be the first person I see when I opened my eyes. I find it to be very good luck, indeed. Elizabeth, are you well? You look a little insipid. By all means, here let my flesh cover yours to warm it up!"

"JACK SPARROW!" Elizabeth yelled and almost punched him, but stopped her herself.

"Whatever is the matter, love?" Jack asked tiredly. He didn't even seem to notice that he was lying in a pool of his own blood from the waist up.

Elizabeth bowed her head down and tried to contain her fury by mentally hurting Jack.

"Ow," Jack said suddenly. He was rubbing his scarf-clad forehead though he didn't appear as if he hit his head.

Elizabeth gasped. Did she do that? "Jack, are you all right? You look tired."

"Are you saying that I should hop into bed with you?" Jack asked teasingly and suggestively.

"Jack," Elizabeth said warningly.

"Concerned for me, Elizabeth? I am deeply touched, though I wish I were to be touched elsewhere by you," Jack kept on teasing.

"Jack, no games," Elizabeth said.

"No foreplay?" Jack asked sadly. "Anything for you, Elizabeth. Mind handing me shirt?"

"What?" Elizabeth asked distractedly.

"My shirt," Jack deadpanned. "Unless you'd prefer me shirtless. Naked perhaps."

"No, no, no," Elizabeth said a little too quickly. She turned away from Jack and noticed the two guards not looking at them. It looked like they just turned their heads when she turned around to retrieve the fallen shirt. She was about to hand it to Jack when she saw him in the candlelight. "Perhaps we should clean you up first."

"Ah, Elizabeth! I thought you'd never be this forward with me. Of course you may wash with me!" Jack said excitedly. He stood up too fast and swayed. He almost slipped inside the tub if it weren't for Elizabeth to slow him down. Though that didn't mean they both fell. "Elizabeth! Are you all right?"

"If you would let go of me, I would be," Elizabeth said lying on top of the shirtless Jack. She noticed how unnaturally cool his skin was.

"You're right Elizabeth. Always right you are. Never doubted you for a second," Jack said as if Elizabeth told him the answer to escape. "We need a bed. A woman like you needs a fine bed, not just any old ordinary bed, but a bed fit your beauty. We'll need the largest bed ever so that we may roll, toss and turn everywhere! Nothing can slow us down! We'll also need layers and layers and layers of the finest silks, flower petals, rum or wine, and mountains and mountains of pillows. Pillows meant to be laid upon and for some comforting positions."

"Jack -" Elizabeth tried to interrupt him. She lost what he started to say the moment he said "bed".

"Now, now, Elizabeth. I know what you're thinking," Jack said. He was still holding her close to his chest.

"You are?" Elizabeth asked incredulously.

"Aye. Candles," was all Jack said.

"Candles?" Elizabeth asked as if he were an idiot.

"Aye. Candles," Jack said again. "But we can't have candles. Too dangerous. Believe me, love, you wouldn't want to have candles around the rum or wood. It is not very safe. Haven't you heard about that? Happened a few years ago in Singapore…"

"Jack," Elizabeth said interrupting his perverse thoughts.

"Aye?"

"Let go of me or I can hand you to Commodore Norrington right now," Elizabeth said warningly.

"Okay, okay," Jack said. He did as she asked and watched her get out of the rub. A few stray thoughts entered his mind as he watched her body.

"Come on, Jack. We need to clean you up for our guests," Elizabeth said. She went out to the door and told one of the passing maids to get her a bowl of water, some towels, and clothes.

"Our guests? As in yours and mines?" Jack asked. He slowly got up from the bloodied tub and knew that his clothes were sullied with his blood. If a stranger were to see him, they would think he would be some sort of deranged lunatic.

"Not quite. More like Will and mine's, but they are far more interested in you," Elizabeth said.

"Who wouldn't be interested in me?" Jack said. He leaned against the wall and knew that there would be a mark there when he would get up.

"Jack," Elizabeth said warningly again. She thanked the maid when she came back with the supplies. "Turn around Jack."

"So what is wrong with a little surprise summons from the locals? I wonder what they want to talk about," Jack took a sharp intake of breath as the cool water touched his skin.

"That's it! They only want to talk about you. By the way they're not local. Not from the Caribbean's anyways with their pale skin and something…" Elizabeth said. She not-to-gently wiped the blood off Jack's back. She tried not to look at the scars as she did so.

"Unearthly? Magical?" Jack tried to finish for her.

"Actually, yeah. There is just something off about them. They kept asking questions of how we came by you and your past. Will told them the oddest story of you being marooned on that island with something about turtles and using hair from your back," Elizabeth said. She wiped the excess water off from his back and started to roll the dressing cloth around his torso.

Jack gave a small laugh, "Good ole' Will."

"Take off your trousers," Elizabeth said, she heard a few snorts behind her. She regretted saying that.

"I would be delighted to, Elizabeth," Jack said. He started to, but stopped himself when he saw the clothing Elizabeth brought into view. "Never mind."

"What is wrong with these? They are Will's," Elizabeth said looking at the clothes. She didn't want to give Jack Will's clothes, but she didn't want him scaring their guests.

"No," Jack said finally. "I think I'll be wearing my own clothes. Thanks anyways Elizabeth," Jack said.

"Well at least change into his shirt," Elizabeth said.

"How do you suppose I do that?" Jack asked slyly.

"Just do it," Elizabeth said. She handed Jack the shirt and waited for him out in the hall.

"You know," Jack said stepping out into the hall and waving towards the two officers. "You've got a bit o' blood on you."

"Where?" Elizabeth asked looking around her dress.

"On your lovely bodice and rump," Jack said pointing.

Elizabeth slapped him across the face before she could stop herself.

"Ow," Jack said and reeled into the wall. "I am not entirely sure what that was for."

"You Jack Sparrow are a complete scoundrel," Elizabeth said angrily. Though she did that she had in fact had blood on herself, exactly where Jack said they were.

"Sticks and stones, love," Jack said and straightened himself when he heard someone clear their throat. Had they made it to the dining room already? "'ello there, dear William."

"Jack," Will said nodding to the older pirate.

"Ah, grub!" Jack said and walked towards the empty seat at the table. He didn't seem to notice or care about the other people at the table as he eyed the maid's bosom who setup his silverware. "I'm not sure we quite have met yet. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

"I – uh…"the maid try to say something, anything to keep the heat from rising to her face as Jack traced her lips with his finger.

"My, that is a lovely name I-uh. Spanish is it? Perhaps Mayan?" Jack asked as if she said something worthwhile to him. Names seem to fly past Jack when he doesn't meet them on more than one occasion. "Ever had pirate in you?"

"Uh…what?" she asked in a shrill voice.

"I said - "

"That will be all, Rosemary," Elizabeth said in a strict voice, dismissing the poor girl.

"Thank you, Miss Swann," Rosemary said bowing and left.

"Jack," Elizabeth said glaring at him.

"What? Mind passing the jam, mate?" Jack asked the Ron, who was across from him.

"Here," Ron said. He watched Jack's movements as if he were some fascinating creature.

"Thanks. What were you saying, Will?" Jack asked.

"I really wasn't saying anything," Will said.

"Of course not," Jack said winking.

"What would you like to drink?" a man asked.

Jack looked at him up and down as if he were measuring him up. "Rum."

"I'm afraid that the lady does not permit rum into her property," he said.

"Sink me! Andrew, my dear," Jack said.

"Sir, my name is Marcus," he said sounding annoyed.

"Jack," Elizabeth and Will said at the same time.

"Now that is my name," Jack said. "Now, Andrew, would you please fetch me some rum? A buccaneer surrounded by these fine noblemen, such as myself, might need to splice the mainbrace."

"The lady does not carry any rum in her house," Marcus said reminding Jack.

"No? Does the lady carry any whiskey?" Jack said making the last word strain out slowly, as if the servant didn't understand.

"No, sir, she does not."

"Grog? Wine? Scotch?"

"Only from her father's private storage."

"Well it will not be private any longer."

"Sir, you must understand – "

"Son, I'm afraid that you might be the one who does not understand my dire need to quench this thirst. Doctor's orders," Jack said.

"Then you will have to make do with what the lady has," Marcus said.

"Son, the lady -"

"Just give Jack the wine that everyone else is having," Will said interrupting them. He smiled sheepishly at their guests.

"Will do," Marcus said and left. He returned a minute later with the wine and served it to Jack.