Dawn came just as Jack walked down the dock. It was hard to miss a ship as beautiful as the Red Lust. Jack thought she might even be comparable to the Pearl. The ship was small, built for speed, easy to maneuver in a tough spot. The sails were a strange gray, and they flew the pirate flag high. Its Jolly Roger was, as the reputation stated, scarlet red. Unique, as much of a telltale trademark as the Pearl's black sails. There wasn't much space for cannons, but it was known around the sea that it wasn't the ship's cannons that were deadly. It was the crew. Though the ship had changed hands several times over the years—this Captain Hayes fellow obviously being the newest—the crew remained loyal to the ship and each new leader, and they were a dangerous bunch of men.

With any luck, if he'd timed it correctly, a majority of the crew would be asleep at the inn. He could sneak past the guards. After all, he knew how to be sneaky. Carefully, Jack crept aboard the vessel. No guards? That's odd.

He turned to face the helm and nearly jumped out of his skin. Hayes, along with half a dozen men, stood before him.

"Uh oh," he said, making strange faces at the predicament he was in. He turned the other way. "Not good."

There were half a dozen more men the other way as well.

"Surprised, Sparrow," said Hayes, who was still cloaked, "to see that we've caught you trying to steal my ship?"

Jack's mouth formed a few shapes before he finally said, "First, I prefer the term commandeer. Second, what makes you think I was going to take it? One man cannot commandeer a ship, let alone steer it out of port." Arms held in a shrug innocently, he appealed to the crewman as he spoke.

"I've heard the story of you successfully 'commandeering' a ship with the aid of only one other man," Hayes mocked the term. "Not many would be surprised to hear you've attempted alone." He turned to a young man with sandy blonde hair. The man didn't look rough enough to be a part of the original crew. Maybe Hayes had added this one. Why? "James, show Sparrow your gun for me. He looks like he wants to see it."

"Gladly, Captain." James pulled his pistol from the waistband of his trousers and aimed it at Jack.

Jack threw his hands up. "Whoa, whoa, I call..." He hesitated, searching his mind. "What's the bloody word..."

Evidently, Hayes was ignoring him. "Whenever you like, James. We'll want to have Liam mop the deck after it's done, before the blood soaks into the wood."

"Parlay!" Jack yelled suddenly. He snapped his fingers and pointed at Hayes excitedly. "Parlay!"

The captain's head snapped to him sharply. "Very well. The man has called Parlay and in honoring the code he cannot be harmed until he has spoken with the captain." He eyed James. "Put the gun away for now."

James obeyed, looking extremely displeased. Hayes walked forward until he was a few steps from Jack.

"You are on my ship uninvited," he said, "under suspicion of trying to commandeer it, as you put it. What is it you wish to negotiate?"

"I wish to negotiate," said Jack, "not being shot!"

All Jack could see of Hayes were his eyes. They were a clear blue-green, like glass almost.

"In exchange for what?" Hayes asked.

For a moment, Jack was caught off guard. "I'll get off your ship and you'll never have to lay eyes on me again."

Underneath the cloth mask, Hayes smiled. "I've got a better idea. We aren't going to kill you, and in exchange you are going to lead us to the Fountain of Youth." He leaned forward, holding himself high despite being shorter than Jack. His eyes watched the other man. "Savvy?"

"Oy, you're not allowed to say 'savvy', I'm the only one that says 'savvy'—"

"You have the map on you, I assume?" Hayes stepped back.

Immediately, Jack adopted an innocent expression. "The Fountain of Youth is a myth—"

"Don't play dumb, Jack. It's all over the Caribbean that there's a map."

"How do you know I've got it?" asked Jack slyly, admitting there was a map but not betraying anything else.

"Saw it in your coat last night. You really should conceal it better. I hope you didn't spill any rum on it." The crew chortled. Hayes locked eyes with him again. "I suppose I can make it a little more worth your while. You show us the way to the Fountain, and we'll give you what you want."

Jack waited, even though a part of him knew exactly what the other captain was about to say.

"We'll help you get back the Black Pearl."

Jack didn't say anything, just let it sink in.

"Do we have an accord?" Hayes stuck out his hand. It was gloved.

As the crew watched, Jack shook it.

"Good," said Hayes. "James!"

The young man appeared at his side in an instant. "Yes, Captain?"

"Escort Jack Sparrow to his quarters." He turned away. "Make sure he stays there until we're a good distance from Tortuga."

"Aye aye, Captain."

At Jack's indignant look, Hayes said to him, "Be thankful I said quarters and not brig."

"Why are you so eager to please the captain?" asked Jack.

He sat on the rough bed, eying the young man as he leaned against the door.

"He is my Captain," James replied simply.

"Still, you're very protective of him, aren't you?"

Jack received the same answer, though this time with a smile.

"Does the rest of the crew share your sentiment?"

James' smile was soft, which Jack thought was odd. "I overheard them talking once," he said. "They all thought Daniel is the best captain this ship has ever had. They couldn't be more right." James blinked and looked at the other man, who was staring at him. "What?"

"You called him Daniel, Jimmy," said Jack, giving him a nickname for James. "My understanding is that men don't do that if they're just part of the crew."

James narrowed his eyes, but before he could respond the door opened. The large man Jack recognized as the one to retrieve Hayes from the tavern muttered something too low for Jack to hear.

"We're far enough away from Tortuga," said James to him. "The captain wants to see you in his quarters." He went to turn away and stopped. "Oh," he added. "Don't call me Jimmy."

A/N: for more chapters, click the review button below.