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.

Author's Note: Once again, thank you all so so so very much for your reviews and kind words. Its been extremely helpful with everything. Right now in RL, my hubby is getting ready for his first deployment to Iraq so I'm so utterly stressed out. In between taking care of our kids and getting loose ends tied up before he leaves, i really don't have much time to post and I apologize ahead of time for making you guys wait. (And I don't want to hear anything about soldiers and the war. Thats not why I told anyone this.) Anyways, everyone take care and have a good week and don't forget to go watch POTC3! Its out Friday! Yay! Lol Read and Review!!! - Rachel

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Chapter 10

"You always push it one step too far, don't you?"

Jack sighed heavily as he thought of how Rachel had slammed her bedroom door in his face and the pain and anger that glowed in her eyes when tried to talk to her after their sparring on the deck. Despite the short time they had known each other and all that had developed, Jack had found himself falling for her. It was more than lust or greed, but an ache and a craving for all she was. Never in his life had he felt such a yearning for one single woman and having to listen to that one woman cry in the darkness across the hall was almost more than he could stand. He was the cause for those tears but he knew his decision he made was for the best. But as he listened to her in the silence of the house, his heart took control of him.

Padding quietly across the hall, he rapped softly on Rachel's door and whispered it was him. When no response came, he pushed the door gently and stepped inside. His eyes took in the moonlit room then settled on Rachel who laid with her back towards him.

"Rachel, luv, are you alright?" He knew it was a stupid question, then again he felt like a stupid school boy with a crush. Rachel turned and almost smiled at the mere sight of him.

"Go away, Sparrow..." She whispered. Jack went around to where she was and sat on the edge of the bed, staring into her eyes.

"Rachel, I had to.." He tried to explain but Rachel placed a soft finger on his lips.

"I threatened your authority and your pride and that was wrong. You had to do what you did to not only prove to your crew and me but also to your self that you are captain and what you say is law aboard your ship." She had somehow managed to bring a genuine smile to the pirate captain's lips as she explained the majority of what he was thinking.

"Yer forgiven then." he whispered as he leaned towards her in hope for a kiss. Instead he found himself pushed backwards off the bed and on the floor with a defeated look on his face.

"Jack Sparrow, you always push it one step too far, don't you?" she retorted as she climbed out of bed and tied her hair up into a bun out of annoyance as loose locks fell over her eyes.

"What is that?" Jack pointed to the back of her neck.

"Thats my birth mark." she said, placing a hand over it absent-absentmindedly "My great-grand father said I was born a pirate because of it."

Jack rose from the floor and stood behind her, tracing the mark with his finger. Rachel shivered from his touch, her skin set on fire from each stroke. She leaned back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist. He froze, his thoughts suddenly lost as she pressed herself into thew warmth of his body.

"Rachel.." he mumbled as he trailed hot kisses along her neck.

She grinned as he lifted her into his arms and pressed his lips full against hers. It wasn't until she was on her bed beneath him that she realized Jack was clad in only his breeches and that she was the one who had pushed it too far.

"Jack, no. Stop." she pushed him away and got off the bed again. "I can't.." she wrapped her arms around her chest and looked out over the balcony, her eyes gazing at the moon lit ocean. When she turned back around, Jack was gone.

xx xx

Jack cursed under his breath as he made his way through the streets of Tortuga. As he scowled at himself, two women stepped out in front of him.

"Well well. Look 'ew it is, Giselle." the fiery red haired woman elbowed the blond beside her.

"Jack Sparrow.. Its been a while." the blond slurred.

"Ladies, I am in no mood for the services of any woman tonight." Jack pushed his way between them and continued on his way.

"What? Has Jack Sparrow lost the taste for women?" Giselle teased, laughing at the thought of Jack losing his lust for life.

"Maybe he's found 'imself a fresh young cabin boy." Scarlet cackled.

Jack stopped mid step, bunched his fists together, and turned around to face the two women. Both whores stopped and backed up a step as Jack's fierce glared pierced them.

"I said. I am in no mood for the services of any woman tonight because the one woman I do want won't let me have her! Is that not clear enough to you, ladies, or do I need to further explain myself to two whores who open their legs for less gold than an orphan begs for?"

Scarlet and Giselle stood silently shocked at Jack's rash flogging of words before sulking back towards the Faithful Bride. With a heavy sigh, Jack followed them into the Bride and hollered out for all members of his crew. Marty, Pintel, Regetti, and Cotton stood before him, slightly swaying from the rum they had been consuming.

"I want every member of the Pearl on deck and ready to leave. I don't care what whore they are with or how much they've drank. If they aren't there in half an hour then they can find another employer."

The men 'ayed' and scattered throughout the tavern and its many rooms, dragging men half clad out of the arms of the cheap women and towards the door. Jack yelled out to Mr. Gibbs when he reached the dock and told him to get the ship ready to sail.

"Jack, whats the rush?" Mr. Gibbs questioned as his captain climbed over onto the deck of his beloved ship.

"We have an unexpected journey to make, Mr. Gibbs."

"Where to Captain?" he asked as Jack turned around to face Gibbs before retreating into his cabin.

"Tia Dalma." he uttered then closed the door behind him.

'Mother's love... What bad luck has befallen Jack Sparrow this time?...' Gibbs thought as he gazed out over Tortuga and tried to imagine what his captain had gotten himself into this time.

xx xx

Roger Cutlass smiled evilly as he watched the Black Pearl set sail away from Tortuga. His spies had provided him with more than enough information as to who the woman was and just how much she had already affected Jack Sparrow.

"Do we raised the red, Captain?" his helm's man asked.

"Steady now, Roberts. We'll give the lass time to make acquaintances. It'll be even more sweet to see the pain in her eyes when I take her for myself." The captain chuckled.

"Hurry back, Sparrow. We have much to catch up on, you and I." Cutlass whispered into the night.