A/N: Ever feel like you're constantly thirsty and the world isn't quite stable under your feet? That's how I've felt since the beginning of this week, so please excuse any horrible mistakes in this chapter. Sorry it took so long!

Chapter 9: Cursed Gold

They tried to leave without her. Jack and Will soon found out, however, that if there is one thing in life that you must never do it is try to stop a slayer. Now as they slowly made there way to the opening of a cave, both men sent Buffy pitiful glances as if they were two children badly scorned. She almost expected one of them to pout any second. The image brought a laugh to her throat, which she let out softly. Will looked at her in sheer confusion while Jack merely grimaced, turning his full attention to maneuvering through the cave mouth. Buffy settled down, letting her humor dwindle to a small smile on her lips. The moment of laughter had helped clear some of the gloominess from her mind that this place seemed to radiate in waves. She took that moment to look around at her surroundings. Everything was cast in shadow, save for the slight flickering of light from their torch. Her eyes were drawn down to the water where she saw glimmering. Buffy could only stare for a moment in fascination at the pieces of gold lying at the bottom. Did the pirates have so much gold that they didn't care if some of it dropped down there? She glanced up to find Will staring down into the water as well, equally if not more amazed at the sight.

"Both obsessed with treasure, I see. Not far off from being pirates yourselves." Jack's smug comment caused Will's head to snap back to glare at the man. Buffy just ignored it, knowing that it was meant to provoke Will. Instead, she continued to stare lazily down into the water until she felt a bump, signaling their arrival at the end of their boat ride. They carefully moved onto land and then continued their journey into the depths of the island cave. Buffy followed behind the two men for a few seconds before slipping by them and quickening her pace. She was just as silent as before, but she heard a hiss from one of them despite this.

"Buffy," it was Will. "What are you doing?"

"Going ahead, what does it look like," she answered in an equally hushed voice.

"I cannot let you put yourself in such danger." Buffy resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead putting her energy into giving the young blacksmith a steady, serious gaze.

"I came to help, Will. I'm not going to hide behind you guys like a damsel in distress while you fight the baddies. I'm going to circle around, try to take them from both sides. Watch for me." With that she quickly slipped off, not letting them get out any further protests. She left Will looking defeated and Jack fighting down mirth.

"It can't be helped, lad. Her breed isn't used to standing still." Will's gaze shifted from where Buffy disappeared to the smug pirate. He grimaced.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Sorry, not my place to tell. Shall we?" Jack gestured to the remainder of the pathway. Will didn't move, so Jack sauntered ahead. The blacksmith's soft footfalls soon followed the pirate.

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There was one thing she found helpful from her dreams now that she was here. She actually knew her way around. Most of the nightmares were full of blood and gore, and the disturbing presence of the entity, but some she just found herself in the caves. She would use these dreams to fully study her surroundings and wander around a few times. When she found the hidden passage off to her left, just like in her dreams, she was delighted that it was actually accurate. Buffy had to admit, if grudgingly, that the unknown deity trying to pull her strings was at least somewhat helpful. It was strange though. The PTB's usually left her alone, only giving orders. This time it was different. Even though they never answered her questions, the fact that they gave her those useful dreams made it seem as if they actually cared. But what was she thinking? What would be the point of them looking out for her if she was only a tool like she was to the PTB?

Light shone up ahead, and she slowed her pace. This was the end of the passage, which meant she was now on the other side of the cave's center. It also meant there was no time for her to brood. Buffy shook her head softly and moved forward. She crouched at where she remembered a jutting piece of rock would block her from the room's occupants and peeked over the edge. Her eyes widened for a moment at the collection of pirates below her. The room was filled with several men that she'd chopped down with her own sword, all now quite alive. If she'd been anyone else this would have come as a great shock to her, but bodies coming back to life wasn't a new experience for her. In the very center of the room stood Elizabeth and who she presumed to be Captain Barbossa. Elizabeth looked relatively unharmed, which relieved her for the time being. If they hadn't killed her by now though, that may not be a good thing.

"Was your father William Turner?" It was the captain. He now grasped Elizabeth's arms roughly, shaking her. For the first time Buffy noticed a fresh cut on the other girl's hand. Elizabeth sent back a retort then and the man shoved her down, causing her to disappear behind the chest and piles of gold. It also took her further away from the pirates.

This was her chance. Buffy leapt from her hiding spot, catapulting herself onto the nearest dingy pirate. He went down without a fight and she was on the next man before he had time to resurrect. She managed to get through a third pirate before the rest of them caught on and attacked her at once. By this time, she was darting arms and swords more than fighting. Buffy hurried towards the chest of gold. She had to get to it for some reason. Even if she didn't know what to do next she had to reach it. It felt as if she were moving through sand in the last few feet between her and the cursed gold. She could hear the pirates shouting and could see the captain standing near the chest with his sword out but she ignored them. When her hand finally grasped the side of the chest, things seemed to go still and for that split second she realized she hadn't seen Will or Jack at all. In the next second, everything went dark.

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Jack rubbed the back of his head, a groan escaping from his lips simultaneously. Had he gotten into the rum again? The sight of rock walls and ceiling instead of the ship told him otherwise. He let his hand fall limp to his side as he rested his head back on the ground for a moment. It touched wood instead of rock and he grasped whatever it was in confusion. When the sight of a boat oar swam in front of him, the realization of what happened came rushing to him.

Thick-headed boy, he thought blearily. Jack pushed himself up with the aid of the oar. He then made his way unsteadily forward, trying to clear his head. When he caught up to that boy he was going to…

"You're supposed to be dead!" The voice sounded surprised, and slightly familiar. Jack's eyes finally focused in on the two pirates in front of him. He then looked down at himself, feeling his chest for any embedded swords or bullet wounds. Any sane man would have bolted by now, but he was still coming to his senses after that blow to the head.

"Am I not?" He was fully intact apparently. He wouldn't be if he stayed here though. Jack turned back towards where he'd come from, but found his escape blocked. He turned around once more, discovering the same to be said for any ways out. He had to think of something fast if he wanted to get out of this. His sluggish brain slowly came to a word that he should use. What was that word again?

"Palulay? Palu-li-la-la-lulu, parlili? parsnip, parsley, par - partner, partner?

"Parley," suggested the pirate, Raggeti.

"Parley! That's the one! Parley! Parley!"

"Parley?" The other pirate, Pintel seemed to growl deep in his throat. "Down the depths whatever man that thought up parley!"

"That would be the French." Jack silently sent up a thanks to said Frenchman. Pirates were dirty scum (he should know, he was one of them) but at least they had parley.

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Will and Elizabeth had made it back to the ship safely. Now that they were below deck, Elizabeth's hand bandaged and the story of the medallion revealed, another pressing issue arose.

"What? Miss Summers came with you?"

"Yes, and…" Will hesitated. He hadn't regretted leaving Jack behind. The man had planned to use him after all. He hadn't planned to leave Buffy though. The thought that she was still in there with the pirates made him wince. Why did she have to go ahead on her own?

"Will, where is she?" Elizabeth's eyes were blank, but Will knew she was currently bracing herself for the worst. He sighed, letting his head hang in his guilt.

"I'm afraid she was left behind as well." The sound of Elizabeth's chair scraping signaled her sudden bolt from her seat. Will looked up at her, worry in his eyes.

"We must go back for her!" Elizabeth turned towards the door but was halted by the hand gripping her arm. She looked back to the intense eyes of Will.

"I can't lose you again." Elizabeth set a hand lightly atop his hand that held her. He looked down at it in slight surprise and then back up at her.

"You can't lose a friend either. Please Will." He just stared at her for a moment, his gaze blank. His head slowly nodded after a moment, bringing a smile to Elizabeth's lips.

"Let's tell the crew then."

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"How the blazes did you get off that island?"

"When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate." Jack allowed his lips to curl further into his trademark grin as he leaned into the oar he still held like a cane. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

He watched carefully as annoyance flickered in Barbossa's eyes. Causing annoyance in his enemies was always enjoyable. It was like dueling, only the weapon was words. This type of provoking, however, was a double-edged sword. If he didn't plan things carefully, he'd be cut. That's why he didn't flinch when Barbossa ordered the crew to kill him. Jack merely raised his head to the turned back of his previous first mate, speaking strongly to him in confidence.

"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?" Barbossa stilled and then turned to him.

"Hold your fire!" The pirates all lowered their weapons, though reluctantly. A glint passed through Jack's eyes as he saw his plan unfold before him.

"You know whose blood we need." Jack's grin grew larger.

"I know whose blood you need."

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"So you expect to leave me standing on some beach with nothing but a name and your word it's the one I need and watch you sail away in my ship?" They were now on the Black Pearl. Jack had been rushed onto it, with little chance to look around. Everything between the cave and the captain's cabin was a blur and now he stood here, negotiating for what should be his. He didn't let his impatience show though. After all, he had the advantage.

"No. I expect to leave you standing on some beach with absolutely no name at all, watching me sail away on my ship and then I'll shout the name back to you. Savvy?" He could see the wheels working in the other man's head. Was he agreeing though or trying to find he's own form of leverage? He didn't have any though, right? Jack's confidence slipped as he saw Barbossa smile slightly.

"I'm afraid that agreement would put me at quite a disadvantage, Jack. Would you actually leave me and my crew on a beach somewhere while we have a guest?"

"What," Jack asked dumbly. Hadn't the boy and his lass gotten away? He couldn't possibly be referring to… His thoughts were cut off as Barbossa's smile grew.

"It's the strangest thing, Jack. Some fiery beauty came springing out of the shadows at us, didn't even know she was there 'til she attacked three of my men. Are you familiar with such a woman?" There was no doubt now of who he was referring to. Buffy had been captured. He wouldn't have believed it was possible with that woman's fighting spirit but there could be no one else. Jack kept his expression unchanged though, biting into an apple he'd picked up from the table as a sign of indifference. He let the conversation hang for a long moment as he deliberately chewed slowly and swallowed.

"Are you trying to bargain with some woman's life, Barbossa?"

"So I'm wrong to presume you know her? I find it hardly a coincidence that you both showed up at the same time on an island that can't be found."

"Aye, I know her. Quite the beauty, but far too fearsome for my tastes." Jack carelessly examined his dirty nails. Inside he felt himself tense, a foreign sensation coiling up in his stomach.

"Then you wouldn't mind if I let my crew have their way with her." Jack let himself smirk, although he couldn't ignore the coils tightening. A light laugh escaped his lips as he let his eyes wander the room.

"I'd like to see you try, mate. That woman puts up quite a fight."

"I'm sure she won't be putting up any objections any time soon," Barbossa replied with a chuckle. Jack's eyes snapped back to the man, which only seemed to please him more. "She's been unconscious since she touched the cursed gold, and probably won't wake for a while by the looks of it."

The coiled feelings snapped inside Jack and he visibly tensed before he could catch himself. It was the reaction Barbossa had been pursuing, which was obvious by the smug look on the other man's face. Jack didn't care at this point, the feelings overwhelming his senses. He stepped towards Barbossa, hand gripping his forgotten apple tightly and turning his knuckles white. This only seemed to humor the man as he chuckled once more.

"Do you plan to attack me, Jack? It won't do you any good." Jack didn't take another step, but kept his gaze on the man before him. Barbossa was right after all. Even if he did attack, he couldn't kill him unless the curse was lifted. The other pirate just stared back at him, smile unwavering. They were interrupted by the entrance of one of the crew members though, and after a few more seconds both turned their heads to look at him.

"Captain, the Interceptor is approaching." Jack's head snapped back to Barbossa. The man's grin turned blacker in a split second as his yellow eyes gleamed with a sick victory.

"Well it seems I may not need you or the woman after all. Put him in the brig." Barbossa then walked out of the room. Jack was approached by two of the crew members then, who he went blindly with down to the brig. His previous energy had suddenly drained from him, replaced by another emotion just as foreign as the first. The Black Pearl was out of reach now, he realized, all because he faltered on a woman. And now the boy seemed to have grown a hero's countenance and was coming back to rescue another damsel once again. Jack grimaced at the thought, also reacting to the rough shove one of his captors gave him as he threw him into his cell. He snorted in annoyance towards the general area of the man, but didn't bother to look up. His eyes instead stayed on the floor, where they wandered until they landed on a small boot clad foot.

Jack immediately recognized it and let his gaze travel up the body to the familiar face. There Buffy was, just as Barbossa claimed. Her body lay in an uncomfortable looking position, showing that she must have just been dumped there without a thought. Jack swiftly moved to Buffy's side and pulled her gently into a sitting position against the side of the ship. He shook her gently and called her name, but she didn't stir. Jack tried again, his shakes becoming rough as he continued. This didn't do anything except cause her head to droop limply in front of her. She was at least breathing, he saw, but this sleep was unnatural. Jack moved next to her and allowed her limp figure to fall half-way into his lap. The movement caused strands of her loose hair to fall in her face and he brushed them away gently with his calloused hand. He was surprised to find that this produced a faint smile on Buffy's lips, but any other reaction he'd hoped for didn't come. Jack settled his head back with a sigh.

"Right mess we've gotten ourselves into, aye?" There was no answer, but he hadn't been expecting one. He closed his eyes, listening to the pounding of feet above him without caring much about what they meant anymore. What was the use? He was in a cage with a sleeping lioness, both of them powerless in the current situation.

A smile crept onto his lips suddenly and his hand unconsciously went to stroke Buffy's hair. He'd finally managed to pin point the feeling that had streamed into him after the announcement of the Interceptor approaching. It made him almost laugh, with the sudden realization that at that point when the threats were diverted off of Buffy he had felt relief.

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Buffy felt as if her head were filled with cotton as she opened her eyes to a dark world. She knew immediately that it wasn't the real world when the sound of nothing nearly deafened her ears with its familiarity. A light sprung up before her and she winced in the sudden brightness. As her eyes gradually adjusted to the change, she made out the familiar shape of a figure that she'd seen every night for the past week or so.

"Why are you doing this?" The being didn't move. Buffy felt frustration boil up inside of her, causing her eyes to sting with the threat of tears. She pushed them back however, not enjoying the thought of letting this person see her cry.

"Why did you bring me here at a time like this?" This caused a reaction in the figure, as the raised there head a bit in acknowledgment to the question.

"It would have been difficult to contact you before you reached the island," it said, slowly and calmly. The voice sounded distinctly feminine now, and it washed over Buffy in a way that made something tighten in her chest. It sounded familiar. "It is a strong focal point of magic, which allowed me to complete this link between us. Up until you touched the chest, our link was incomplete and I could only send you dreams as a guide."

"Link? Why am I here? Who are you?" The figure moved its hands slowly and purposely towards their hood and Buffy felt herself tense in an unconscious anticipation. The fine fabric of the hood fell down in a rippling wave across the figures shoulders and back. Buffy's eyes followed this movement for a moment before she got back her senses and looked back up at the now revealed face. She froze at the sight of it and suddenly felt the twinge in her chest explode into slight trembles along her body. She opened her mouth but nothing came out and she closed it again to clear her throat and try again. This time a sound came out, hardly worthy of being her voice. It wavered and sounded only slightly over a whisper.

"Dawn?"

A/N: And this is when the commercial break cuts in and you all boo at me as you throw rotten vegetables for such a terrible cliffhanger. I won't care though 'cause I'm tired and my throat hurts. Please feel free to review. I'll be here sleeping with an umbrella over my head…