Disclaimer: Sadly, I must say that all characters and objects pertaining to the movie Pirates of the Caribbean are property of Disney and not my own. Even though I would love to own Jack Sparrow, sadly I don't. All other characters and objects are of my own creation.

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Chapter 9

"Or is it you can't handle a woman who can rise to your challenge?"

Henry Morgan descended the steps of the jail, a broad smile on his face as he thought of the fun he was about to have. It had been years since he had the opportunity to extract information from someone and he was looking forward to this opportunity.

"Well now. What have we here?" he mocked as he stood before a cell holding two weary looking men. The younger kept his eyes downcast at the ground, his fear making the air about almost tangible. The older man kept his eyes focused on the wall behind Morgan, not giving any evidence of fear or even that he acknowledged his presence. "William Holt. It has been a while. How are you?" William's eyes moved to meet Morgan's then spat on his boots in disgust.

"I have nothing to say to you, Morgan." An evil grin grew on Morgan's lips and called for the guards.

"Be so kind as to remove this prisoner." he ordered to the guards. "I do fear I must warn you, Holt. I am in a rather determined mood and though your employer is fierce, his does not compare to the fury of hell I have."

William spat one last time at Morgan as the guard struggled to drag him down the small corridor to the room Morgan had them prepare for him, screaming back at Thomas that he'll kill him if he says anything.

"Oh don't worry, young Thomas. You will soon be joining my company." Morgan chuckled almost evilly as he turned to join the guards and prisoner. Within minutes, screams and pleas echoed through out the jail as Morgan took his time extracting what he needed to know. Thomas Andrews whithered in uncontrollable tears as he listened to his crew mate's blood curtailing shrills and curled up in the fetal position with his hands over his ears to try and block out the horror that was happening just down the hall.

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"Sir, what do you wish to do with this one? He's still breathing." the young soldier inquired. Morgan turned back to examine Thomas one last time.

"Get him the attention he needs. Take the other and hang him as he is at the docks. Let every pirate know what will happen if they intend Jack Sparrow harm."

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"Jack, I just want to know what is really going on. I know you're hiding something and I want to know what it is." Rachel sat on the stairs leading to the helm, watching Jack as he paced back and forth on the deck of his ship, the mixture of rum and anticipation making the wait unbearable and adding Rachel's curiosity into the mix was causing his temper to grow.

"Don't start, wench." Jack snapped. Rachel's brow raised at the tone in his voice, a spark of anger in her eyes.

"Don't start what, Jack Sparrow? I know this is about me, the whole crew is saying it. You obviously were concerned enough to stick me here with strange men guarding me. And with Gibbs volunteering to watch over me as well.. I may not be from this time, Jack Sparrow, but even I know that is not normal." Rachel stood up before Jack as he turned to her, his eyes locked onto hers.

"I hope this isn't a bad time." Both Rachel and Jack turned to see Morgan climbing aboard the Pearl. "Sorry to intrude, miss, but Jack and I have some business to attend to."

"No apologies needed, Morgan. Jack was just saying how he would like me to join the two of you, being that this does have to do with my safety in Tortuga. Isn't that right, Jack?" She smarted off. Jack raised his hands and acted as if he were going to choke her from behind.

"Keep it up, lass. Jack has a few demons he still needs to pay for." Morgan chuckled and patted Rachel's shoulder. With that encouragement, she turned and gave Jack a victorious smirk.

"Morgan, don't go makin' things worse by givin' her a smart mouth. Now what did ya find?" Jack protested, almost whining like a spoiled child would. Morgan's grin faded slightly as Jack jumped straight to business.

"Not enough, I'm afraid." Morgan followed Jack and Rachel into the captain's cabin and continued once the door was firmly shut. "You may already know this but Holt was a member of my own crew before I.. changed professions. He was always the worst of the bad eggs. But he proved to be useful in giving information."

"You had yer fun didn't ya?"

"Ah yes. Just like old times." he grinned again. "Holt and Andrews were originally spying on a French merchant who tried to double cross Cutlass in a rather expensive business deal. When they volunteered for your crew, Andrews wanted to go honest, as it were. But when you found this lovely lady, Holt had started to try and turn your crew against you and Andrews tried his best to protest the plot. Obviously thats how the whole mess was foiled."

"Then if he only wanted to harm me, why did they want to sink the Pearl?" Rachel asked.

"Cutlass has a grudge against me, luv. Of all things I love, he knew where to hit the hardest." Jack explained.

"Theres more. The last message sent to Cutlass was about you, Ms. Rachel. They say you are the oracle Cutlass has been searching for and from what I gathered, he won't stop until he has you." Morgan watched as Rachel took in everything she had heard.

"So what are we going to do?" She looked at both men in the room for answers.

"We are doing nothing. You are going to stay in Tortuga like I told ya before."

"Jack Sparrow, don't order me around!" Rachel warned. Jack couldn't help but grin at her.

"Ms. Rachel, I'll have two of my men watching you and your home until Jack says otherwise. No harm will come to you will my men stand your guard. Unfortunately, I have to return to my duties in Port Royal before people above me suspect I've been tempted back into piracy. Try not to kill Sparrow yet, lass. He may be a drunk but he can be useful at times." Morgan teased, placing a polite kiss on her hand before leaving the two alone in Jack's cabin.

"Please don't make me stay on shore alone, Jack." she begged. "I don't have a good feeling about any of this. If he'll stop at nothing to find me, I don't want to be here when he does."

"So you'd be willing to risk my ship and me crew?"

"Thats not what I meant, and you know it!" Rachel shrieked in defense For a moment, they stubbornly stood their ground before Jack turned away to find some rum.

"But that is exactly what you will do if I give in to ya."

"Please, Jack. I'll do anything you ask. Just please don't make me stay on shore alone." Rachel begged one last time.

"Rachel, you will stay here. If I catch ya anywhere near the docks at any point in time when yer not in me company, you'll regret it, savvy?" For a brief moment, Jack paused to help give his words sink in. Rachel walked up behind him, running her hands slowly up his back towards his shoulder.

"And if you try to stop me, Jack Sparrow, I'll do Cutlass the favor and run you through myself." she hissed in his ear then pulled back from him and left the cabin without another word.

"Bloody woman..." Jack groaned as he marched after her. "Gibbs, sword now! Rachel get back on this deck!" he ordered.

"I'm not playing games with you anymore, Captain." Rachel warned him, glaring as she climbed back over the railing and stood on deck with her arms crossed.

"Who said anything about playing?" he hissed, throwing the sword Gibbs had retrieved for him at Rachel. With one hand she caught the sword by the hilt and tested it weight in her hands.

"What are you trying to prove, Jack? That because you're a man that you can order me around? Or is it you can't handle a woman who can rise to your challenge?"

Rachel focused her eyes on Jack as he began to slowly circle her with his own sword drawn. Without warning, Jack swung his sword in hopes to disarm her, only to catch the flat end of the blade on his upper arm.

"Bloody hell!" He yelped involuntarily. Through gritted teeth, he swung again, their swords clashing together and shrieking as they disconnected.

"Oh please. Don't tell me the great Captain Jack Sparrow can't take on a woman." Rachel jeered, smirking at the anger that had built up behind his eyes.

But in a flash, Jack lunged at her with an intensity she never expected. She swung vigorously in an attempt to block his every move but her arm was starting to feel the weight of the blade. With every ounce of strength she could muster, she swung one last time but Jack easily disarmed her and knocked her off her feet. Jack knelt down, blade to her throat and glared at her.

"If you ever threaten me again, I will be the one doing Cutlass a favor and I'll turn you over to him myself. Is that clear enough for you now, Ms. McKree?"

Rachel nodded as she fought to restrain the tears that threatened to escape. Jack withdrew his sword from beneath her chin and stomped off to his cabin, slamming the door so hard the deck shook. Gibbs ran to Rachel's side as she sat up, cradling her right arm. When he tried to help her stand, she pushed him away and stood slowly on her own.

"Mr. Gibbs, I think I'm ready to go home now.."

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