Disclaimer: don't own POTC...

A/N: sorry again, but this 1's kinda short. don't worry, next chappie is HUGE!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Jack! Wake up!"

With a yell of surprise, Jack tumbled out of his chair, nearly landing in the smoldering embers of last night's fire. He glared up at Will, standing above him with a overstuffed rucksack in each hand. "Geez, whelp; there's no need t'scare a man like tha'! I could've had a heart attack or summat!"

Will chucked the sack at Jack's feet. "Whatever, Jack; now let's get moving. If we're going to save Elizabeth, then there's no time to waste. Grab the bag and get your crew together and let's get the hell outta here!"

With that, Will flung his sachel over his shoulder and headed at a swift pace out of the smithy, slamming the door behind him. For a second, Jack sat on the floor, shell-shocked. Then with a muttered profanity, he snatched up the rough burlap bag and ran after Will, arms flailing in his typical Jack manner.

Jack charged out of the blacksmith's shop letting the door slam behind him in a most undignified manner. Not that Jack had much dignity in the first place.

Wil was leaning nonchalantly against the side of the exterior dorframe, quietly observing Jack making a fool of himself.

Jack whirled around several times before noticing Will's scrutiniy. "Make me make a fool of meself, will ye Will?" Jack muttered darkly. " 'twill be consequences..."

Will sighed exasperatedly. "What?" asked Jack. That boy sure could be infuriating sometimes. As Will moved to lock the door behind Jack so his livelihood would be safe in their absence, Jack barred his way.

"Aren't you fergettin' something, Will?" said Jack, waggling an eyebrow suggestively.

"No," replied Will shortly. "Now lets's get a move on before we lose our chances of catching the guy who did this to Elizabeth."

Jack lost his patience and hauled off and whacked Will on the back of his head. "Tha's me point, boy! We can't very well get 'liz's soul back wifout th'lady herself!"

Will smacked himself in the forehead. "Good grief! I'm such a - !"

He reopened the door, dashed inside, and reemerged with the said above cradled in his arms. Jack nodded with satisfaction. "Right, I think we've got ev'rythin'..." He glanced around. "Yep. Want me t'close up, fer ye Will, seein' as yer otherwise occupied?"

Will indicated the set of keys he had dropped when he had reentered the smithy to get Elizabeth. "Yeah, thanks."

Jack locked the door and they set off stealthily down the road. With Elizabeth in her current state, it would straight to the gallows for both of them. And with Jack being the only one in the vinicty who knew exactly what was going on, they DEFINITELY couldn't have that. (That, and the small fact neither of them wanted to die just yet.)

----------------------------------------------------

A/N: PLEASE REVIEW! I'M DYING HERE! I NEED ENCOURAGEMENT, BEFORE I AM KILLED BY CHARLES DICKENS GREAT EXPECTATIONS!1