AN: Ah ha! It didn't take me nearly as long as it normally does for me to update! Yay! I'm so happy! Anyway, I hope you like it. The only other bit of news would be that Secret Window rocks!!!!!!!!!
Ashes to Ashes
Chapter 10: Rescues, Or. . .Will stood silently in front of the wooden door that sat in front of him. He had already tried the handle, and found that it was locked. But what else could he have expected? The only window that was in the room proved to be no help as well. They had discovered that the room that they were being held in was two stories above the ground, too high for an injured man and woman to jump from.
He sighed slightly, his fingers reaching out and touching the hinges on the door. Without something to pry the hinge open, he wouldn't be able to break the door off. Alexi Templeton had put them somewhere where there was no chance of them getting out.
"Anything?" Elizabeth asked.
"No. I can't use this. There's no way we can get out this way."
"Then I guess we will just have to wait for Jack to save us."
"Or we can attack the next person to come in here."
"They would kill us before we got the chance, Will. We'll just have to wait."
"I guess we will," Will replied, resigning himself to that fact.
* * * * * *
Ashleigh stared at Jack, and then at Michael, her eyes tracing both of their faces and the expressions evident on them. Both men waited impatiently for her answer. Both men waited for her to say that she would stay with them. For a moment, Ashleigh's heart was torn two ways.
One side told her that she had a duty to her family, that she should do as her brother, the second prominent male figure in her home, told her. The other half told her to stay with her captain, a man that had shown her kindness when she needed it. A man who, somehow, she had grown to care about. Her heart ached for a moment until she turned her gaze to meet Jack's.
His gaze held the promise of adventure, the promise of a life lived on risk and passion alone. Her brother's gaze she knew, even without looking, held a life lived in the captivity of her home where she knew she would be forced to stay until her father found her someone suitable to marry. A place where she would never be able to be herself. She knew she would never be able to accept that, not after feeling the adventure and the touch of a pirate.
"I cannot go back home now, Michael," she said softly. "I have come all this way and I need to see this through."
Michael's back grew rigid as he stared down at her for a moment and then turned his heated gaze to Jack. Jack stared back at him, his gaze meeting Michael's unflinchingly. "Then there is only one thing left to do."
"Get off me ship?" Jack asked, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"No," Michael answered, smirking. "I will stay with my sister to make sure that her innocence stays intact."
Jack opened his mouth to say something that Ashleigh was sure she would regret later when she stopped him, turning her back on her brother. "That should be fine, should it not Captain? Elizabeth knows my brother, and it will be good for her to see another familiar face besides my own."
Jack's brow furrowed slightly until her realized that her brother probably did not know that Will and Elizabeth knew him. He stared down at her for a moment, his eyes trailing down her cheeks, past her thin, pale neck, to the place right between the two open flaps of her shirt. His eyes hesitated there for a moment as he imagined running his fingers over her smooth skin again as he had done the night before, and then met her gaze again. "Aye, love, it should be."
"Very good then. I shall inform the Commodore at once," Michael replied, turning on his heel and walking out of the cabin, closing the door behind him.
Ashleigh let out the breath that she had been holding and then turned to follow her brother. Jack stopped her when she had made it half-way, touching her briefly on the hip. Her eyes closed for a moment as the thought of his hands touching her bare skin again sent a thrill through her body. Goosebumps ran across her skin as she felt him lean into her, his warm breath hitting her cheek.
"And what do I get out of this whole arrangement, eh, love?" he whispered.
Ashleigh found it almost too hard to talk as Jack's fingers found their way to the rim of her breeches. She knew he was doing this on purpose, knew what he was trying to get from her. But she also knew that she couldn't give into him, not if she wanted him to live.
"Jack," she whispered, trying to tell her body to move away from him, but with little success. "You know we can't. . . do anything now. If my brother finds out, he'll kill you."
"To a well-organized mind, death is the next great adventure," he replied, kissing her lightly on the ear.
His fingers worked magic on her skin as usual, digging into the flesh of her abdomen. Without thinking, Ashleigh turned quickly in his arms, catching his lips with hers. Her body pressed up against his, their hips meeting. Her hands wrapped around his neck, entangling themselves in his long, unruly hair.
Jack's arms wrapped tightly around her waist, making sure that she couldn't escape from him again. He walked forward slowly, causing her to step back. Her back slammed into the thick wood of the door, her head snapping back. Jack's fingers fumbled for a moment until finally throwing a small latch on the door.
He pulled at her quickly, leading her toward the bed. "Jack," she whispered, "Jack, my brother. . ."
"Wha' 'bout 'im?" he muttered against her neck.
"If he finds us. . ."
"Door's locked, love."
"But he'll start to wonder. . ."
Jack claimed her lips again, pushing her down onto the bed, and followed her down, refusing to let go of her lips. His hands instantly found her waist. . .
A sudden loud banging filled the room, causing Jack to sit up. "Bloody hell," he muttered.
"Jack Sparrow!" a loud feminine voice called out through the door. "Sparrow get yer bloody ass out here!"
"AnaMaria," Ashleigh whispered, her eyes widening.
Jack stood up slowly, a frown adorning his tanned face. He turned away quickly, making his way to the door. He paused, his hand on the latch, and turned around; making sure that Ashleigh had had time to move. His eyes caught hold of hers as she sat down in the chair at his desk.
With a sigh, he threw the latch and opened the door slowly, preparing himself for the worst.
"Are you bloody daft?" AnaMaria said, her dark eyes flashing. "Allowing men like that ta stay on a pirate ship? I think the rum 'as gone to yer 'ead!"
"S'only one, love."
"Only one?" AnaMaria cried, pushing him backward. "And yet by allowing one officer to stay on the ship, you give the rest of the bloody navy permission as well."
"What do you mean?" Ashleigh asked quickly.
"Did you honestly believe that Norrington would allow one bloody officer to stay on a pirate ship alone?"
"Yer not sayin'. . ." Jack started.
"The Commodore isn't staying on as well?" Ashleigh finished.
AnaMaria looked at her as if she were crazy. "No, but he's makin' that insufferable Ross stay on as well. Along with a few of their marines. For God's sake, Jack, did you not think of that?"
"I was hoping they would be daft to the issue," he replied quietly, his eyes narrowing. "Well, we'll just have to make the best of the situation."
"And what would that be?"
"Well, we now have a few more men to fight Templeton's crew," Jack replied. "I know of her crew. They may not be as well known as mine, but they are still famous for their cruelty."
"Jack?" Ashleigh whispered.
Jack turned around quickly to see the frightened look on her face. He knew instantly what she was worried about. "Don't worry love. She won't harm them. She only wants me."
Ashleigh merely looked down; worry still lingering in her eyes.
* * * * * *
No one was quite sure how it had happened. No one was quite sure how the events had taken place. The only thing anyone really knew was that the switch had taken place quickly, in what seemed to be only a matter of seconds.
* * * * * *
It had taken Jack and his crew several days to make it to the favorite island of Alexi Templeton and her crew. They had waited for two full nights until Jack was sure that his plan was perfect.
Norrington, despite any misgivings that he held, agreed to leave Michael and a few of his crew on the Black Pearl. He had warned, though, that he would not be far away and if anything happened to any subjects to the crown, he would seek retribution. Jack had merely smiled.
Despite their wishes, Jack had forced the marines to wear pirate attire, telling them that they would stand out like sore thumbs if they wore their uniforms and no one would give them information as to the whereabouts of Will and Elizabeth. Michael agreed only when Ashleigh had asked him to.
They had departed from the Black Pearl, Gibbs and a few other pirates staying to keep watch. It had taken several hours for them to find someone who could help them, or rather someone who was drunk enough to give them answers to their questions.
From that, they had discovered that Will and Elizabeth were being held in an inn located on the outskirts of town called the Black Pony. Where in the inn, the drunk had no idea. Jack had thanked the man by buying him another round of drinks, hoping to keep the man busy until they had finished their rescue mission.
Jack, Ashleigh, Michael, and AnaMaria had made their way to the outskirts of the town, hoping that none of Templeton's crew would see and recognize Jack. Minutes later, they had reached the inn, none of them sure as to what they would find when they entered, not even sure as to how they would find where Will and Elizabeth were kept.
Once they had entered the inn, however, they found it to be empty save for a small group of people playing cards. With little more than a glance at the inn keeper, they had made their way up the stairs to the second floor. Jack had stopped abruptly, causing Michael to slam into his back, and then pointed down the hall toward the lone pirate standing outside of a room.
Telling them to remain where they were, Jack had walked casually down the hall, scanning each of the doors quickly, as if searching for the room he had rented. Before the guard could recognize him, Jack slammed his fist into the man's stomach, and then as the man doubled over, he had forced the man's face to meet his knee.
AnaMaria was at his side moments later, helping him to lower the now unconscious man to the wooden floor with as little noise as possible. Michael followed her, Ashleigh coming up after him. Knowing that the door would be locked, Jack had searched the man for a key that would open the door.
He had glanced up at AnaMaria, shaking his head slowly. Ashleigh had opened her mouth to ask what they would do when Jack slammed his shoulder into the wood, causing the door to splinter and burst open (AN: Hey, I never said it was a strong door!). Will and Elizabeth had ducked to avoid the small wooden chips that had flown at them.
Relief and excitement had entered their eyes as they had caught sight of the two pirates in the doorway. They had walked quickly to Jack and AnaMaria, greeting them hurriedly. Seconds later, a shrill cry had echoed in the hallway, causing Jack and the others to turn around.
The image that greeted their eyes was of Ashleigh held in Templeton's arms, a dagger pointed at her throat.
* * * * * *
"It looks like I caught myself a sparrow," Templeton said, a cruel smirk crossing her face.
Jack pushed his way to the front of the group, his eyes burning with anger and worry. "Let 'er go, Templeton, it's me you want."
"Oh, in't this sweet. Jack Sparrow actually risks his life for someone other than himself. Do you actually worry about this lass here? Did you actually worry about those two fools who call you their friend? What would you do if I killed her now?" she asked, pressing the dagger's tip into Ashleigh's neck.
Ashleigh winced slightly as a thin trail of blood trickled down her throat. The anger in Jack's eyes flashed again as he pulled out his pistol, aiming it directly at Templeton's head. Templeton ducked behind Ashleigh, shielding herself with Ashleigh's body.
"Go ahead and shoot, Sparrow, but you'll have to shoot through the lass here."
Jack's thumb played over the hammer of his pistol, cocking it and un-cocking it, deciding what to do. He longed to put a bullet through Templeton's brain, but he knew that he would never be able to sacrifice Ashleigh in the process. And what was worse, Templeton seemed to know it as well.
Slowly, he dropped his arm, lowering the weapon to his side. Templeton gave a cruel laugh. "Yer growin' soft in yer old age, Sparrow," she said, backing up slowly.
"No, Ashleigh!" Michael called out, attempting to go after them.
Jack stopped him, his eyes following Templeton and Ashleigh as they walked slowly down the wooden stairs. When he could hear the inn door open and close, Jack bolted down the hallway, anger still pounding in his veins. He jumped the last few steps, hearing the pounding footsteps of the others following him.
He burst through the inn door, his sword un-sheathed. Jack could see Templeton running down the darkened street, pulling Ashleigh along with her. Templeton knew that Jack would never shoot someone in the back; therefore, she knew that she held the higher ground.
Their footsteps pounded on the dirty ground, echoing in the emptying streets. Jack's eyes continued to follow Templeton's progress as she wove her way through the dark buildings. He could still hear the people behind him, could still hear their footsteps as they made their way through the maze of bars and inns, following Jack as he ran after his prey.
He watched as she ran through the few people still standing about, but still staying completely aware of his surroundings. Suddenly, Templeton stopped, her feet mere inches away from the edge of a steep cliff. She whirled around, once again pulling Ashleigh in front of her and holding the dagger at her throat.
"Don't come a step closer, Sparrow, or I will kill the girl. I'm sure you would not want that," she called out, taking another step back toward the cliff.
Jack stopped in his tracks, his sword raised high. He watched again as Templeton took another step, dragging Ashleigh along with her. When her foot hit the edge of the cliff, Jack called out, "Let her go, Templeton!"
Templeton merely laughed, and then threw herself backward, falling back off of the cliff, still clutching Ashleigh tightly. "No!" Jack cried, lunging at the falling forms of the women, the sword falling from his hand. He landed roughly on the dirt ground, scratching the small bit of flesh that showed through his shirt. His hand reached down into the empty air as if reaching out a hand to catch Ashleigh before she fell too far. Instead, his eyes caught sight of them as they fell, Ashleigh's eyes staring up into his until she hit the crashing waves.
Hands grabbed hold of his shoulders, pulling him roughly to his feet. He struggled to make his way back to the edge, wanting to see if somehow Ashleigh had survived her fall. Instead, the hands held him tightly, keeping him from going near the edge. "Easy, Captain," a voice said in his ear.
"Let me go AnaMaria!" he growled out.
"No, Captain, it's too late," AnaMaria said. "She's gone."
* * * * * *
AN: Up next, Chapter 11: . . . Losses and Gains
Is Ashleigh really gone? Will Jack ever find out? What will he do now that he has Will and Elizabeth back, but lost someone he had started to care about?
Dawnie-7: Yeah. I liked that part too. Ashleigh should be able to stand up for herself. Just because she lives in a world where men rule, doesn't mean she can't handle her own problems.
NazgulGirl: Aww! The bunnies sound so cute! Can I have one?
DaydreamBeliever14: Thank you!