Esperanza had no idea what had happened, the last thing she remembered was looking for her night gown in her chest of clothes. Now as it seemed she was inside the chest amongst a few of her dresses.

How the heck did I get in here? She wondered as a small creaking sound emerged from above her. Someone was opening the trunk; finally someone that could explain to her what was going on.

She tried to speak, but nothing would come out and her throat burned. Her body felt weak as she tried to make her arms reach up for the shadow above her.

She felt to big rough hands grab her and not so gently lift her out of the trunk. Her rescuer needed to work on his lady-handling skills. He set her feet down on the ground and kept her right arm hooked in his. She felt a bony arm hook onto her other arm.

The two men dragged her as they carried low conversation between them, she couldn't understand them since her ears wouldn't stop ringing.

Finally they came to halt.

"Capt'n! Look what fine booty we've found ya down with the other stuff" The fat man to Esperanza's right shouted, like a young child trying to impress his parents, pride soaked his every word.

Her head was still thumping and her vision remained hazy. In front of her, she could only see faint outlines and shadows but nothing that might help her figure out where she was. From the slight rhythmic rocking, she assumed a ship. What kind of ship though? Was she safe? What of her father? Was he all right?

Questions swam in Esperanza's head as a shadow in front of her stirred.

"Well that's interesting…How long has she been down there? We left port almost two days ago" a strong masculine voice in front of her said.

Did she hear that right? Had she been in that chest for almost two days? She felt exhausted and sick, almost numb. She must be dehydrated, she only hoped these men would be intelligent enough to see that, and kind enough to help her.

"Well, we just found her, looks like she became part of the booty by mistake" the fat man continued "So we was thinkin' its not like we can chop her up and split her amongst the crew like the rest of the loot. So followin' in pirate tradition, we decided to give her to you…since you be the capt'n an all"

Jack couldn't respond as he stared at the young girl in front of him, she looked awful. Even in the moonlight he could see how sickly pale her features were. Her body hung limply on the arms of his crew members.

"Capt'n? Are ye listnin'?"

Jack straighten up "Ah a woman, how wonderful. Take her to my quarters along with some rum!" He shouted

The crew answered in a loud roar as the men carrying her continued to follow his orders.

He looked around; they seemed pleased with his decision, he did just as a captain should. They were once again taking to his position. He couldn't bear watching his every move, being careful everyone was happy. He was the bloody captain; he shouldn't have to worry about that. "The rest of you! Back to work or back to sleep!" He shouted and headed to his room.

On the way he stopped Mr. Gibbs "Gibbs, make sure some water is brought to the girl"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The men that were dragging Esperanza set her down on what felt like heaven, well more like threw her down, but still the surface was cushioned and soft, certainly beat the bottom of a clothes chest.

Then she realized, she was on a bed, a stranger's bed.

She tried to turn over so she could look up as her vision was starting to clear. To her surprise it appeared that she was closer to the edge of the bed than she had thought, and by the time she realized she was rolling over the edge, she couldn't catch herself.

"You might not want to do that" She heard as two strong hands caught her and laid her down on the bed, now more gently. This must be a different man.

She laid her head back and opened her eyes to look at the man beside her.

He was tall, with long sideburns that flowed into a short beard around his chiseled jaw line and continued to two small braids that ran along his chin. She moved her eyes up to make eye contact with him. His eyes were dark and looked at her in what seemed a constant squint.

He was so handsome, not in the traditional way, but in a very real way. Esperanza had grown up around pampered and spoiled men who were as big of sissies as their wives.

This man was different, he was not wearing the finest clothes and his hair was a big mess, but Esperanza found him oddly attractive.

He said nothing as he broke his gaze away from her and turned to the bedside table were he started pouring what looked like water into a small cup. He reached up to put the bottle on a shelf close to the ceiling, making the sleeve of his shirt moved down his arm.

That is when Esperanza saw it.

A burn mark in the shape of a capital P.

This man was a pirate

And she was on his ship.

A pirate ship.

If she remembered correctly, this man was the captain.

She had been given to the captain.

She might have been innocent and circumspect, but she wasn't stupid. She knew what happened when a woman was given to the captain. Anna had told her countless tales of these merciless ruffians.

She gasped as realization after realization hit her. She tried to back away but as soon as he saw her move he had set down the cup and grabbed her shoulders to try and keep her still. Even though he was much stronger than her, especially in her body's current weakened condition, she continued fighting against him.

Jack had no idea what was going on, just a few seconds ago, she was fine; now this mystery girl was freaking out. She started maundering with a lot of "please" and "no" thrown in, but nothing that could tell Jack what had spurred such a wild reaction from her, English was obviously not her native tongue.

"Shhhh calm down" he told her in a firm but not loud voice. After a few repetitions, she finally stilled and looked at him square in the eye. He noticed her eyes were already overflowed with tears.

"Please" She began "don't hurt me" she begged in a raspy voice that was almost a whisper. Her accent made her drag out her vowels and almost over pronounce each and every word, but Jack didn't need to understand her words to know what she was saying. She had fear written all over her face.

"Listen to me" he told her slowly, like if he were speaking to a child "I'm not going to hurt you" She seemed to settle down completely after she processed his words and leaned back against the bed.

He let go of her completely and reached for the cup that he had filled with water "You must be thirsty" he handed it to her "Drink"

Esperanza looked down at the cup and then at the man offering it to her. Should she trust him? He had promised not to hurt her but he was a pirate and pirates weren't known for keeping promises. Still, she was parched; even if it was poisoned it would still reduce the burning in her dry throat.

Jack watched as she lifted the cup up to her pale lips and drank, she never broke her gaze from him; as if questioning his trustworthiness. She tasted the water carefully; the expression on her face was that of pure delight, as if it were honey that she was drinking. He could relate, He knew the experience of going days without food or drink and he wouldn't wish it on anyone. But that moment when the first drops of liquid touched your lips was unforgettable.

The water was cool and it felt like heaven as it worked its way down Esperanza's throat. The dryness was quickly disappearing. She closed her eyes as she savored the last few drops from the cup.

She looked up to realize her company had moved to the end of the bed and was drinking from a short fat bottle as he leaned against the tall bedpost. He continued to look at her as if he was trying to read her; to see through her. It made Esperanza feel all too vulnerable. Embarrassed, she put her head down and looked at the cup in her hands, turning it and fingering it.

Jack continued to look at her with curiosity. Her dark brown hair was long and it cascaded around her face and shoulders reaching past them. Her skin was naturally tan, her hands soft and feminine; she without a doubt had come from a life of protection and wealth. She wore a long expensive yellow gown that was embellished in hand sewn flowers. She carried an air of innocence about her; innocence others might easily take advantage of.

The thought angered Jack in a way it shouldn't.

Who was this girl?

"What is your name?" The question was out of his mouth before he realized, breaking the silence as she moved her head up to look at him.

It took her a couple of seconds to realize the question was aimed at her, since there was no one else in the room to whom he could be talking to.

"Esperanza" she answered, surprised at how well her voice had recovered with just one cup of water. Even though the dryness wasn't completely gone, her voice was much clearer and stronger now.

"Well Esperanza" He continued with a sigh, pronouncing her name almost flawlessly "You are going to want to sleep, so feel free."

Her big chocolate-brown eyes flashed some confusion at his words.

"OK let's see here…As you may say…mi casa es su casa...well actually in this case….mi bed es su bed"

His expression brought a friendly smile to her lips that made his heart jump.

Jack started to egress from the room taking a hold of the door handle and opening the door halfway.

"And yours?" Her melodic feminine voice stopped him as she continued "What may I call you?"

"I am Captain Jack Sparrow" He answered, not looking at her

"I did not ask you who you were; I asked what I may call you" She retorted

This time he turned his head, looking behind him. "Out there" He pointed to the outside of the door with the hand that held his drink "You shall call me captain" He swung his arm in a half circle inside the room "In here" He paused "you can call me Jack"

"Jack…" she repeated, nodding her head.

Jack turned towards the door and stepped out of the room. As he exited and begun closing the door he turned back to her and said with a slight grin "Welcome to the Black Pearl Ms. Esperanza" and closed the door behind him.

Esperanza stared at the now shut door for a couple of seconds, expecting for Jack to come back; secretly hoping he would.

He was right, she needed to rest, even if that meant on a stranger's bed.

She slid down the bed and laid her head on the pillow. Not even bothering to cover herself, she closed her eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Outside, Jack walked around the main deck still clutching the rum bottle. He could hear the convivial crew through the doors that led to the crew dining room.

He couldn't remember the last time he joined his men in their frequent late night carousals.

Everything seemed so pointless now.

He was numb.

He thought back at the times where he had something to live for, someone to look after but Elizabeth had made her choice very clear. Even after Jack had set out to imprison Calypso once again in a human body and struck a deal with her that allowed Will to come on land everyday; as long as he was back on the Dutchman by nightfall, Elizabeth still saw nothing in him. She just looked at him like a buddy, probably not even a friend, which did everything out of selfish conceit and felt nothing. He was a joke to her.

It was true that for years he had carried on an egocentric lifestyle, the true lifestyle of a pirate.

But what he had felt for Elizabeth was true, it was real.

So he drank, not to loosen up, but to forget.

Yet the emptiness never left him.

Now, he didn't feel anything for her or anyone else, not even himself.

He felt nothing.

That is, until he saw that friendly smile tonight.

Even for just a few seconds, her smile alone had let him feel again.