Fic: The War Within

Rating: M
Characters: Elizabeth/Jack Elizabeth/Will
Chapter Title: Live with Yourself
Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. Disney does, no money being made off this.
Summary: Captain Elizabeth Swann, Pirate Lord and King. Captain Jack Sparrow, Pirate Lord, lecherous pirate, son of the Keeper of the Code. What will happen on the eve of battle. JE. Reviews welcome.

Author's note: Thanks to all those who have left reviews. I really appreciate it! TJ

"Jackie…"

Jack winced and turned slowly. There stood Captain Teague.

"Um…" Jack tried for nonchalance in both attitude and voice. "Oh, hello… again. To what do I owe this mighty pleasure of your company… again?"

Keeper of the Code, Captain Teague, eyeballed Jack until Jack was forced to drop his eyes.

"Oh," Jack said in a small voice.

Teague turned and walked away. He motioned for Jack to follow him. Jack followed, with his shoulders down, like a little scolded child. Movement caught his eye and he saw the figures of Ragetti and Pintel as they scurried toward his ship.

- 'What are those two up to this time?' Jack wondered. He stopped in his tracks. Jack scrunched his eyes to see them better. 'Hmm…. the tall, thin one looks like he is carrying… a hat? Wait! Wasn't there a hat that was being passed around before…?'

Jack's eyes narrowed. His gaze followed the hurrying figures, watched as the taller one fell down and the short, balding one helped him up. His eyes roved beyond them and saw the Pearl. He looked up toward the deck of the Pearl. He could just make out the hat that belonged to Barbossa, as he stood on the deck. Barbossa was waiting at the other end of the gangplank. Jack made as if to follow them, his foot had taken a single step towards his ship when a cough stopped him, literally, in his tracks.

Jack looked around, his feet still pointed towards his ship. Teague had stopped just a few feet away, beyond Jack and he looked as if he was undoubtedly waiting for Jack. Jack sighed. Teague looked down pointedly at Jack's feet. Jack followed his eyes down to his own feet. He looked up at Teague and back down at his feet. Jack made as if he himself had been unaware that his feet had changed their motion and direction. He looked down at them as if in doubt, a frown marring his countenance and picked up one foot then the other.

"When had they done that?" He said aloud. Teague sighed and coughed again, while he muttered something under his breath. Jack couldn't help himself. "Nasty cough you have mate. You should get something done about that…" his voice peetered off at the look on Teague's face. "Right! Following you we are." Jack quickly made his feet move again, quicker this time, and followed Teague hastily through the doors. Jack started to get nervous as Teague led the way through various rooms and caverns, each room emptier and more silent than the previous one they passed through, until they reached one far removed from the main rooms.

"Oh! I hear voices!" exclaimed Jack loudly, with an apparent grin of relief. Teague raised an eyebrow at him. Jack brought his volume down to a loud petulant whisper. "Well, I do." At Teague's snort, Jack clarified by mouthing at him, "Female ones."

Teague shook his head sadly. He paused in the shadows by the entrance to the room, held his finger up to his lips, and motioned for Jack to quietly come and stand next to him. Jack shook his head. Teague frowned and again, motioned for him to come. Again, Jack shook his head.

At Teague's surly and questioning look, Jack responded quietly, "Thank you for the kind offer of your friendly overtures, but I will - unfortunately - have to hastily and vehemently decline." Jack took one look at the thunderous look in Teague's eyes and muttered, "Hmm… on second thoughts, it's mightily draughty here and standing next to you seems less… hazardous to my health." He exaggeratedly tiptoed to Teague's side.

Jack, hidden in the shadows saw at once that Elizabeth was in the room, along with… Tia Dalma? He surmised that once again, Tia Dalma had many talents. He grinned wickedly - a woman of many talents indeed. He caught Teague's eyes, and froze. He coughed quietly, and hastily composed his facial features into a more sombre countenance. Teague made a quiet harrumph in his direction before turning his attention back to the room before them.

"…To get to know you better." Tia Dalma was in discussion with Elizabeth. Elizabeth had remained seated in a chair. Jack could see that Elizabeth sat very still as the dark skinned woman examined her, turning Elizabeth's head this way and that. "I can see why him want to be the one. Carve out him heart. No more pain."

At this comment, Jack stiffened. Did everyone know what it was he wanted? Jack could feel Teague's eyes upon him. He shrugged and waved his hands ineffectually at the older man, "Yes, yes, it's about living with yourself forever. Now shut it and listen…" Jack felt Teague bristle and Jack thought it best if he, Jack, slightly edged away.

Jack's attention was drawn back by Elizabeth's cry. He could see her head had been flung to one side. Tia Dalma was talking again. "Talk not of Davy Jones! Him a fool. Him corrupted his purpose." Tia Dalma's voice was harsh to Jack's ears and he wanted to dash into the room. He froze as the Obeah woman lifted her head suddenly, as if smelling the air.

Both men drew back further into the shadows. They watched and breathed a silent sigh of relief when the dark skinned woman turned back to Elizabeth.

"I know. You were full of sorrow after Jack went to the Locker. I know what it is that caused you so much sorrow." Jack's ears pricked up. Was Elizabeth's folly discussed prior to his rescue? He jumped slightly when Tia Dalma pounced on Elizabeth, pinning her to her chair. Jack noted that Elizabeth shrank back, looking very pale and small. He heard Tia hiss, "Do it again. Sacrifice witty Jack once more. It will be for the good of all."

"Oi! Damn women! Can't trust any of the lot." Jack grumbled quietly to himself.

The older man laughed quietly. "Looks like Tia Dalma is prepared to get you back from the Locker only to send you back herself. You must have done a number on her mate. Told you never to get on the wrong side of her."

They watched as Tia Dalma walked away, moving out their sight. Teague looked at the woman left. Elizabeth looked devastated. He turned his gaze to Jack. Jack's eyes were unreadable as he watched the young woman bow low with her heavy thoughts. Teague's quiet whisper broke the silence between the men. "She's feeling badly about something she's done." He continued to watch Jack.

Jack gritted his teeth and his reply was curt. "Aye."

Teague quietly assessed Jack. He knew that Elizabeth needed to resolve this, before she could lead these ruffians into battle as Pirate King. Whatever it was this woman had to be guilty about, it involved this pirate before him. He looked at the younger man with dark mysterious eyes; those dark, brooding eyes so reminiscent of his own. "I'll wager you know what that is then."

Jack could feel Teague's eyes on him. There was a short pause before Jack replied, "Aye." Jack most certainly knew what it was that was eating away at Elizabeth Swann. He wasn't entirely sure which action she was most guilty about. Passionately kissing him, or sending him to his death. The former he wasn't complaining about, the latter he had plenty to moan about. Either way she was most certainly guilty.

Teague's eyes searched Jack's, before sighing. "You cannot live in yesterday Jackie."

Silence hung in the air. Jack straightened and went to step forward, but paused momentarily. "If you were me - which you're not - what would you be doing about now?" His eyes remained fastened on Elizabeth. "Aside from admiring the handsomeness and charm that you would be if you were me - which again, unfortunately, you're not."

Teague looked between Jack and Elizabeth. "It's what we do today that counts, not what mistakes we might have made yesterday." His voice was louder as his comment extended to include the young English girl. Captain Teague's eyes connected with Elizabeth Swann's.

Jack nodded and stepped forward, Teague's words reverberating in his mind. He stepped toward the woman who sent him to Davy Jones' Locker, the woman who had kissed him so passionately while her fiancé was seated not but a few feet away; of whom he spent his time in the locker thinking about and almost going crazy; he lifted his eyes and met those of Captain Elizabeth Swann.

Teague nodded once to Elizabeth before turning away.

Reviews welcome! TJ. More chapters to follow.