A/N: I'm getting homework from my classes so everyone will have to be patient with me. School… I like it but I hate homework. Well, I hope you all enjoy this next chapter.

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.

Slayers and Curses

By: Embarr

Chapter 5: The Black Pearl

Morning came sooner than she expected. The sunlight peaking through the clouds pulled her out of a daze that she hadn't realized she was in. The ship was gone, the pirates had retreated back to the waters, and she had no idea how to hunt them down. Buffy's gaze took in the damage around her. The fires had been put out and upturned carts and other debris were being cleared from the area. The injured were being carried off for medical attention and the dead to be buried. There weren't that many dead, thank goodness, but she felt a remorse for those that she was unable to save. There were always deaths, she thought bitterly, no matter what she did.

Her eyes landed on a sole figure in the street at that moment. She rushed over when she recognized it as Will. He was still breathing she realized with relief. Buffy lightly shook his shoulder and he slowly pulled out of unconsciousness. Will's eyes finally opened and Buffy looked down at him with concern.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, fine." Will touched the side of his head gingerly and grimaced. After a moment his eyes widened with panic. "Elizabeth!"

"What?"

"They've taken her!" Buffy froze. Elizabeth was on that ship with the zombie pirates? She watched as Will bolted to his feet. He held a hand out for her and she took it, letting him help her stand. Buffy looked at him carefully and then laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her, worry clouding his eyes.

"Hey, it's going to be all right. We'll find her." Will nodded slowly a grateful smile on his lips. "Now let's go see if we can't figure out where that ship went."

8888888888888888888888888888

"We have to hunt them down; we must save her!" They faced Commodore Norrington and Governor Swann. Norrington seemed to be trying to ignore them but the governor looked at them with stressful eyes.

"And where do you propose we start? If you have any information concerning my daughter, please share it." His gaze was fixed on Will for a moment before it rested on Buffy. His brow raised in surprise as he looked at her. Buffy realized she must be quite a sight. She'd earned her fair share of scrapes and bruises that had healed up quickly, but rips in her shirt and pants still remained from the fight.

"Goodness, what happened to you? And why are you wearing those clothes?" Norrington looked up from the map he was examining to look at Buffy.

"Are you acquainted with this young woman, Governor?"

"Yes, Miss Summers is a maid in my household." The commodore looked her up and down carefully, his eyes momentarily frozen on what he could see of her sword. He frowned at this.

"Do you usually wear men's clothing and carry dangerous weapons, Miss Summers?" Buffy sneered at him.

"Do you usually have a big stick up your…" Will clamped his hand over her mouth and the last word came out an indignant muffle. He gave her an apologetic look then turned back to the commodore as he freed her mouth.

"There must be something we can do."

"That Jack Sparrow," one of the soldiers said, a man named Murtogg. "He talked about the Black Pearl."

"Mentioned it, is more what he did," replied another soldier, Mullroy. Hope flared in Will's eyes.

"Ask him where it is. Make a deal with him, he could lead us to it." Commodore Norrington didn't look up from the map as he replied, indifference in his voice.

"No, the pirates who invaded this fort left Sparrow locked in his cell ergo they are not his allies." Norrington turned to speak with the governor, not noticing the anger rise in Will's eyes. He turned around though when Will embedded his hatchet in the table.

"That's not good enough!" Will's voice was full of his anger and his stare burned into the commodore. Buffy grabbed his shoulder gently but firm enough that he took notice. He seemed to relax slightly, but still remained tense. Commodore Norrington didn't seem concerned by the show of violence and he even sounded bored as he spoke.

"Mr. Turner," Norrington reached for the hatchet but Buffy plucked it up quickly and without effort. He looked warily at her for a moment and she just smirked. He then continued. "You are not a military man, you are not a sailor. You are a blacksmith and this is not the moment for rash actions. Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only man here who cares for Elizabeth." He added the last part in a low tone, staring at Will intensely. Will seemed chastened for a moment before exiting with a look of determination on his face. Buffy caught up with him after one last glare towards Norrington.

"You're planning something, aren't you?" Will didn't answer her as he quickly changed directions. Buffy suddenly realized where they were going and looked at Will with narrowed eyes.

"I hope you know what you're doing." He continued his fast pace, looking straight ahead without replying for a moment. Then, with a calmness that she hadn't known he had he spoke.

"I do." That's all Buffy needed to hear.

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888

When they entered the jail, they found Jack lounging on the floor of his cell. Part of the wall had been blown off nearby in the next cell, but Jack's part of the wall had been left intact. Buffy couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the pirates' bad luck.

"You, Jack."

"Aye?" Jack raised his head to look at Will.

"You are familiar with that ship, the Black Peal?"

"I've heard of it," Jack replied in a bored tone.

"Where does it make berth?"

"Where does it make berth? Have you not heard the stories," Jack replied, his tone surprised. When Will didn't say anything he continued, telling the tale of the Black Pearl as if he'd said it a thousand times. "Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta. It's an island that cannot be found except by those who already know where it is."

"Isle of death?" Jack's gaze slid off of Will and onto Buffy. An amused smile graced his lips as he examined her.

"Those clothes don't rightly suit you, love. You should take them off immediately." Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Pervert." Jack's smile broadened as he raised himself to his elbows. He kept his eyes locked on her.

"You know the island he speaks of?" Buffy pulled away from glaring at Jack to look at Will.

"Sort of. One of my friends came across it in a book once. They suspected it had some… unsavory attributes. We never learned its' location though."

"Where is this island?" Will came up closely to the cell door, peering in through the bars at Jack as he waited for an answer.

"Why ask me?" Sparrow asked indifferent, studying his nails.

"Because you're a pirate."

"And you want to turn pirate yourself, is that it?" Will tensed and slammed the cell door roughly.

"Never." His voice was cold. Buffy had never seen him this intense before, save for the brief moment in the forge. The tension then seemed to slip from him and his movements became awkward.

"They took Miss Swann." Jack seemed amused by this rather than worried.

"Oh, so it's the pretty girl you're worried about, eh? Well, if you're intending to brave all, hasten to her rescue and so win fair lady's heart you'll have to do it alone, mate. I see no profit in it for me."

"How 'bout we don't leave you in here? Profitable enough for you," Buffy stepped closer to the bars, staring down at Jack. He stared up at her through half-lidded eyes, a leisurely grin curling on his lips.

"And how are you going to go about getting me out, eh? The keys run off." Will automatically slipped into business before Buffy could say anything.

"I helped build these cells. These are half pin-barrel hinges," He lifted a bench and put it against the door. "With the right leverage and the proper application of strength the door will lift free." Jack narrowed his eyes at Will. It was as if he were just noticing something he'd missed before.

"What's your name?"

"Will Turner."

"That would be short for William, I imagine. Good, strong name. No doubt named for your father, eh?" His smile had turned sad, Buffy noticed, and Jack's eyes flashed with something Buffy had seen before in her own. Regret.

"Yes." Will gave him a quizzical look but said no more. Jack's eyes closed for a moment as he seemed to contemplate something. Whatever it was, he made up his mind quickly and sprung up from the floor.

"Well Mr. Turner, I've changed me mind. If you spring me from this cell I swear on pain of death I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?" He reached his hand through the bars and after a moments hesitation Will took it in agreement. Mere seconds afterward the cell door was pulled from its' place with ease.

"Hurry, someone will have heard that."

"Not without my effects." Jack grabbed his things from the bench and they were off.

888888888888888888888888888888

Buffy followed closely behind the two men when they came to an abrupt stop underneath a bridge. They carefully looked out of their hiding place and she took the time to survey the area herself. The Dauntless, one of the military ships, was out in the waters while the Interceptor was at port, being loaded with supplies. There were no other ships in sight and Buffy suddenly wondered how they proposed to get a ship with only the three of them. Will seemed to be thinking along the same terms

"We're going to steal the ship? That ship?" Will stared bemusedly out at the waters and a similar expression came over Buffy's face as she looked at Jack for an answer.

"Commandeer, we're going to commandeer that ship. Nautical term," Jack spun around and looked Will carefully in the eye. "One question about your business, boy, or there's no use going. This girl, how far are you willing to go to save her?"

"I'd die for her." Will didn't hesitate in answering. His reply was intense, momentarily igniting his eyes. His words sent a shiver through Buffy and her mind went back to her body falling slowly through the air to her death. When she came back to herself, Jack was studying her and Will's eyes held concern. She shook the gloom off of her and gave them a forced smile. Sparrow took a step closer to her and locked eyes with her.

"And you, dear. How far?"

"I'm not afraid to die."

"What are you afraid of then, eh?" Buffy didn't answer. Her eyes were stone and her face blank. The edges of Jack's mouth curled up into a smirk and he shrugged his shoulders. She should have felt hurt by the indifference of the gesture, except the flicker of worry in his eyes before he had time to turn shattered his mask. For a brief second her own mask melted and she frowned at the strange man in confusion and then her façade was put back together, safe and unmoved as before. Will still looked at her, wary of saying anything. She gave him a small, reassuring smile and although the worry didn't completely slip from his face he let his gaze slip from her. Buffy shook her head while both men focused on the waters.

They had a job to do, Buffy thought, her problems weren't part of it.

A/N: Okay, didn't see that ending coming… heh, again I'm like a reader myself except I get to read the story a little sooner than everyone else. Please review. I enjoy reading fun reviews.