Three Favors

By: Kimmie-Sama

Favor One

"What did he say?"

A woman answered him. "I am defiantly sure he said...'Land'."

Jack felt like his eyeballs were being pushed from his skull by the throbbing of his brain. The bright sun above did not hamper this grievous sensation so he attempted to find refuge in placing his face in the palms of his hands. Pulling back for some air, Jack Sparrow gazed up to the crows nest where the shortest of his crew Marty was pointing northwest. It took all of his willpower to turn in the direction of the short one's arm was raised.

On either side of him people stood, one on his right was the loyal carouser Gibbs and to his left was the reason for the aching in his head. Elizabeth. Both held their gaze where Jack turned, reaching to his belt for the spyglass he normally carried. Finding nothing where it should be, Jack grumbled to himself as he turned his body sharply and gripped the smaller telescope on Joshamee's waist.

The older man looked surprised as Jack swung his vision back, shifting his body as he extended the tool. As he looked through the glass he pressed his lids against the metal, thinking the pressure might help with the banging sound in his ears. "We can't possibly be so close to the mainland already!" Gibbs spoke, hand almost reaching towards his captain to take the spyglass away.

"No we cannot as so we are not, Mister Gibbs!" Jack sounded like he was yelling, to him at least. But judging by the looks from the woman next to him, he was coming out more slurred then he wanted. "An island by the looks of it..." He paused as his words came out lower then before. "What is that ship doin' so close to it?"

Instead of its rightful owner taking it from Jack's grasp, the woman named Elizabeth instead took the spyglass and held it up. It took her only a few moments to gather what she needed before tossing the equipment back to Gibbs. "Best to leave them be... they are no threat to us."

Before the two men could retort, the girl walked briskly away as if she suddenly remembered she had somewhere to be. Jack watched her with his aching eyes, it was her bloody fault for his pain at the moment. In theory anyway. The past four days at sea had been uneventful, rather slow and painstakingly boring. Elizabeth had done her part as a new crewmember and in a odd sense Jack felt instantly attuned with her ways on the ship.

But the reality was that the woman who had been vexing him for the past few months was on his boat and within arms reach about eighty percent of the time. It was weighing on his chest, hard. Causing him to drink a little more rum then usual, almost all of the time. It cost him a fair share of his special reserve, staying up late hours with no sleep and made his sanity a little more impaired.

What has she done to you Jackie? "Nothin' but loathing.." Words left his mouth low, with none to hear it. As Gibbs placed the spyglass to his own eye, Jack leaned forward to places his hand on the rail and thought.

"Cap'n! Did you see the colors..?"

With no real interest in the ship anymore, Jack seemed a bit too annoyed as he took another look over at the island and ship. His eyes hurt to much to narrow, so he grabbed the glass from Gibbs once more and slowly brought it up. It took only a moment to spy the flag in the distance, its black and white coloring now clear as day as the wind picked up around it. The sudden realization of who's flag it was and the fact that he was this close... made Jack forget about the splitting headache he had.

"What the bloody hell is Barbossa doin' this far northwards?"

"Not sure Cap'n..." Gibbs had already taken the spyglass from Jack's hands, placing it back on his belt. "But I reckon if we want to avoid a confrontation, we better bring a spring upon her cable and smarty at that."

"Aye, make it so." With a hurried turn of heel Jack could hear Gibbs shouting out orders to the other crewmembers. It didn't take long for him to find the one person he needed to speak to, but as she attempted to hurry past him on the main deck he raised his hand to grip the top of her arm.

Her eyes flashed into his, glaring in the oh so Lizzie way he secretly loved. Yet she didn't seem as surprised of his behavior then he thought she should. After all he just pulled her swiftly towards him, inching his face towards her as his eyes erratically looked over hers. In his own deep down perverse way Jack almost enjoyed the look of hindrance in her copper toned eyes.

Teeth bared like a cat ready to pounce she hissed. "Jack Sparrow let my arm go this instant."

"Due time, first I have a favor to call in." Her eyes softened, she had not expected his reaction. Behind his eyes Jack could feel the headache still drumming against his skull, but it slowed as he felt the cool breeze from his ship shifting in a different direction. The sudden movement of the Black Pearl made Elizabeth lean in closer, but her own muscles made sure not to touch the Captain.

Lowering her voice as she saw in the corners of her eyes the other crewmembers scramble about, Elizabeth responded. "Fine. Then tell me what it is and I will hold up to our bargain."

Her heartbeat increased as he held tightly onto her, he could feel the steady pulse as if it was right against his fingertips and not through the linen of her shirt. "All I ask for the first favor is information."

"What information could I possibly have for you?"

"The information regarding a certain pirate that we both have a mutual relationship with. The pirate who's current vessel is anchored just off that island."

Eyes flashed an emotion Jack couldn't put his finger on. Maybe it was a mix of anger and, was that worry? It came and went quickly but her heart kept a steady pace. "I know nothing more about him and his current actions then you do, Jack." She was lying through her teeth and Jack knew it.

'Told yeh she was trouble.'

'Belay that favor to somethin' a bit more.. enjoyable!'

'Bloody strumpet thinks we're doltish, she does!'

'Skin as soft as silk...'

Moments passed as he argued with himself, his eyes still all the while staring into hers. Something seemed to suddenly change in her demeanor, her eyes narrowed softly, her body becoming loose in his grip. It was something he had seen before, moments before his own demise. Hauntingly alluring, Jack let his hand move from her arm and gently found it against her wrist but not in a rough way as moments before. "Fine, Lizzie." He whispered his words, knowing that the few inches that kept them apart was closing.

Was she trying to seduce him again? Or was this real? The familiar sent of her came to his senses as he could feel her breath against his lips.

"Jack!!"

Knowing when to ruin a perfectly good moment, Gibbs practically leapt down the stairs to the main deck. Turning his gaze regrettably away from the golden goddess Jack glared at the boatswain. "Mate yeh better have some good news for me."

Gibbs stood a little dumbfounded as he gazed back and forth between the two. Jack felt Elizabeth quickly move away and it took everything in his power not to grip her arm once again to keep her close. Finally after shaking off the delirium Gibbs yelled quickly. "He's on the chase!"

In full swing the trio rushed back up the quarterdeck. Jack needed to lean off the side of the ship to see behind them, where the island was growing smaller but to his displeasure the ship was not. But something was amiss, it didn't feel like a real chase... "He's followin' us." Jack spat, his eyes narrowed as he looked then up to his sails. "Blast it.. we're against the wind!"

Gibbs was at his Captain's side. "The Pearl can outrun any ship, Jack."

"Aye but the decrepit scoundrel knows the direction now..." Pacing across the deck Jack placed a hand to his face. Turning abruptly, the Captain pointed to the woman nearby. "..yeh led him here, didn't you 'lizabeth?"

"I did not!" Her voice was lovely yet loud in his ears. "As much as you'd like to believe otherwise I am not lying to you!"

"Sorry if my trust is hard to regain from a sanguinary wench such as yourself."

The words hurt him as much as they did her... because it was the truth. Deep down he felt like he couldn't trust the woman after what she did but then as he saw her face darken, Jack felt sorry for the words he used. Hair flew in the air as she turned to rush away, her face hidden as she did. Maybe it was wrong of him to make her feel this way, but with the situation at hand what else could be believe?

"What can we do then..?" Gibbs voice brought Jack away from the thoughts of her flashing smile at the large meeting table a few days ago.

Pulling at the compass at his hip, Jack took a quick peak. As the red arrow swirled and wavered it paused at the same two points. Almost as if the directions were fighting with each other, claiming dominance of his psyche. As the point went back and forth Jack looked at the two directions it was pointing to.

The first was the ocean, in its vast open sea was an area not visible yet but Jack knew its ending point. Out there was Aqua de Vida, his one chance to find his path to immortality. Perhaps it was a fools wish but Jack had a gut feeling it was waiting for him, beckoning him to come wash in its pools.

The other was pointed directly towards the bow of the ship and as his eyes danced up to look, he saw the form of his Elizabeth... looking directly back at him.

"Keep the current course. If the winds come to our aide then Barbossa won't catch up anytime soon."

Rum was needed. And lots of it.

--

The lines of the map seemed to be all drawn together in a jumbled mess, like an old fishing net that had balled together with the tide. It was fine just a few hours ago, when Jack first took a seat at the table with the charts to outline the course for the hundredth time. But now it seemed disfigured and blurred. For the life of him he did not know why, except the once filled bottle in his hand gave him a slight inkling.

Exhausted but awake, Jack lumbered from his sitting position and headed to exit his cabin, with every intent on finding himself more rum from the cargo below. Sure he had already drank more the past four days then he usually does in a fortnight, but there was reason behind it. Reasons, actually.

One, that malicious Barbossa and his pesky arrogance when it came to following Jack's own plans around like they were his own. The trailing ship that had came from the island had been easy enough to loose once the wind gave the Pearl the needed sail. Yet Jack knew exactly what would happen, the once cursed captain would do all in his power to keep following until he too was at the shorelines to find Jack's Fountain.

Two, that pesky lady named Elizabeth. Her own actions for this voyage was still in the dark to him, there had to be more to her excuse that she had no where to go. She was still a rather well known aristocrat to Port Royal, as well as her homeland of England. She could go back there to restore the once noble family she had come from and become the lady she had been raised to be.

Stiffing a chuckle, Jack knew better then that. Lizzie was far gone from being a lady. She gave up those rights when she took on the venture to find William. The chuckle vanished as Jack pondered on the whelp. On the darkest of moments Jack wondered what would have happened if he allowed that boy to die, but it quickly would be pushed from his thoughts as he saw a vision of a broken Elizabeth, crying into her fists.

The ship swayed as they do in the waters, making Jack move with it. Night had passed slow, leaving the early morning still pitch black. Jack had to guess he had another hour or so till sunrise, so he had better rush below to find the one true thing on board that would give him comfort till he had to face the day.

But someone came atop the stairs as he turned to head down them. A blurred vision he had but it was clear none the less. He had seen her face so much in the past few months, playing across his eyes that it was no confusion of who it was that was blocking his way. Her face seemed tired and to much of his dismay Jack saw the redness in her cheeks that could only come from drinking, or crying.

He had seen her do both to know what had caused it. "'Lizabeth. I do hope your not... angry with me." Was he saying this right? Jack was not one to give apologies, without real meaning behind them. As much as he hated to say it to her before, he couldn't ever fully trust the girl who haunted him.

Confusion took her face but she still smiled. "No, not anymore Jack. I know I deserve.." She trailed off as her lungs took a deep breath of the salty air. "..more then just a few choice slanders."

"Lets just leave that where it was said then, savvy?" Jack forgot about the rum below. His focus now was on her and the red cheeks that seemed to still glisten with the trail of old tears. "Now what brings you out and about this fine evenin'... eh, mornin'?"

If it had been another time or place, Elizabeth would have given her shy bashful nod that any lady would know to give. Instead, the ex-pirate king simply let out a sound like laughter, but lasted as long as a sigh. "Woke a few hours ago, actually. Thought the day could start early..."

Even in his drunken stupor Jack knew something was amiss in the way she spoke. Elizabeth was a hard worker but no where that dedicated. Besides, there was not very much you could do aboard a ship this size by yourself. The only other one awake was whoever was at the helm... Jack had not even bothered to see who it was.

Not really expecting himself to be so bold, Jack raised his hand to pull some of her hair that had been blown in her face by the breeze. Skin froze under his touch, but just in movement. It seemed her skin was on fire next to his and his own heat left a trail down her cheek as he moved the hand away. Suddenly the rum in his system was no longer an issue to see, his eyes bared into her copper.

If he kept doing this, he would go mad.... madder. Jack had his limitations on how much he could hold back. He wanted her, had for over a year now, but even as much as that lust for her grew he didn't want her. Complications seemed to follow her around with every turn, so pushing her away would be the best option for him. He shouldn't have even allowed her on his Pearl.

The quiet sounds of the creaking ship was all that passed by. Elizabeth seemed to various times open her mouth to speak but like Jack, knew not what to say. Instead he let his middle finger trail down her small jaw, the ever so soft skin burned against his rough fingertip. The breeze seemed to want her hair in her face, but to his surprise Elizabeth pulled it back before he could.

The gap was closing again. It was almost natural how they flowed towards each other. Jack twisted his hand to run the sensitive skin of the top of his fingers against the burning heat of her cheek. Like so long ago, he felt the glimmer of craving her. With no words to guide him and only her own movements, Jack interpreted that she was feeling the same. Lips inched closer, hers just the slightest bit open as if ready to take on his.

Nothing came to stop them this time. Except Jack's own uncertainty.

Paused only a half an inch from her lips, Jack saw her eyes were no longer on him but closed behind fluttering lids. This close he could make out the beauty of Elizabeth Swann... he still hated to even mention Tuner's name in the same sentence as hers. Smooth skin tanned from the days in the sun glowed in the faint moonlight and rising dawn felt so perfect under his own touch. Inside his mind he struggled with the feelings he was having.

'Do it Jackie, no need to let a perfect moment waste away..'

'Is that a shackle behind her back?'

'You'd better hurry it up mate, she looks impatient.'

"I'd die for her."

That was unexpected... to hear the whelps own words mingled with his. Especially the words that were true, he had done exactly that. It just made the decision that much easier. Pushing away, Jack found that walking was easier all of a sudden. Not looking back as he walked back towards his cabin, Jack didn't notice her following hurriedly behind him. "Jack..!" Her voice was above a whisper so he could hear but still hushed.

Opening the doors quickly Jack turned to face her. "Forget the favors, lass... next port we come to your jumpin' ship."

"Please, don't." Hands came to his arms and to his full surprise Jack saw the hues of chestnut fill with the salty solution that dared to fall. "If you need information for me to stay... I will give it." Jack must have quirked his brow, because she saw this as a opened debate now. "Barbossa knew where I was going... I told him I planned on joining you and your crew. I gave him the coordinates you assigned before we left Shipwreck Cove."

It wasn't anger that filled him, but a level of disbelief. Elizabeth was never one to be so careless when it came to divulging information to others. "Tell me then, why did you?"

"There are certain... things he is doing for me in return." Elizabeth sighed deeply, her emotions seemed racked with a level of guilt that Jack had seen once before, when she had learned of her fathers demise.

A part of him thought of what things Barbossa could offer Elizabeth in return for her information. He was defiantly not her type in a man, besides that seemed too far off the map to even consider. She had nothing owed to him, except maybe the fact he was the one who wed her and the incompetent Will.

Her shame and guilt looked heavy on her lovely face. Jack forced himself to grow angry, to pull his arms away and walk into his cabin. "Due to my humaneness nature towards yerself, I will not toss you in the brig, Lizzie. But my word stands firm. Next port, you are gone."

"But you still have two favors left."

Her retort make him physically shake his head and blink in shock. "And why pray-tell do you think I want to use those favors?" His eyes looked her over as she took a step closer. "Don't force me to take back what I said about the brig, love."

Elizabeth stopped where she was and took in a deep breath, as if gaining strength. "One thing I can promise you is that this was not a ill-intent stab towards you Jack. Barbossa assured me that he just needed the coordinates nothing more."

"You honestly trust that bilge-sucking prevaricator?" It was anger now that he held towards her. Closing the gap again, he silently wished it was for reasons other then what he felt now. Moments ago he could taste her smell, feel her heat and hear her lingering laugh. Now he actually felt like doing what he should and give her payback for what she did to him.

It was a crime what could vex a man, because the tears that pooled from her eyes as she stared up at him made him crumble. "There was no other choice. I had given my word."

'Lies, lies, lies.'

'Poor doll has some real issues.'

'Told ye she had some secrets.'

Pushing his brows together to dim the annoying insanity from his mind, Jack rolled his head in defeat. Elizabeth had not done this to harm him but she had. How much he was still not sure of, it all depended upon how quickly his Pearl could make it to his destination before Barbossa did.

His index and thumb rubbed his eyes, massaging them as he thought deeply on what to do next with Lizzie. After what she did, she deserved to be marooned on an island. Dropping her at a port would be the more humane thing to do but would loose precious time to make for the end destination. All he could do for now was keep her aboard. "Fine then Lizzie. Two favors left."

She wrapped her arms around him so quickly Jack took a moment to swagger backwards with her holding on all the while. Her small form against his was in short terms, perfect. It was nice to feel something besides a hard bed and wooden chair against him for once, and greedily Jack took it up. Wrapping his own arms around her he found yet another case of deja vu come back as he thought of the day they met.

Of course that was him in shackles yet again... why did that seem to follow their relationship everywhere?

"Thank you, so much Jack." Her words were muffled just the lightest by his hair blocking his ears, but he could hear the meaning behind every syllable.

Voices were still echoing in the back of his deranged mind but Jack found they seemed more distant then before. He was more focused on Lizzie, his dear girl that he held against him. It was odd how angry he was before seemed to vanish on the second he pulled back and looked into her eyes.

In the same motion of the sea his head tilted just so and he almost finished what he had started just a few minutes ago... but held back. No need to ruin this morning even more then it had already been. Elizabeth obviously had her reasons and he would find them out in due time, even if it made him use another one of his favors. Deep down he wanted to save them for something a bit more dastardly.

As the breaking dawn came from the horizon, the two held each other in a small loose embrace in the threshold of his cabin door. Elizabeth's tears had vanished and Jack wondered quietly if the ones she brought on were all a folly to make him buckle in her sadness. He wouldn't have put it past her. Her small smile trailed up the corners of her lips slowly, as if savoring the fact she could.

The kiss, was sudden.

Jack wasn't sure how to react for the first split second. Soft lips ran against his own pulling him in. Not only did the lips caress him but he felt hands, slipping underneath his hair to rest on the back of his neck. The sheer thrill of the motions and touches made Jack Sparrow for once, completely still.

But quickly he gained in on the embrace, pulling her frame closer with one hand on the lower part of her back. The taste of her lips sent another chill down his spine as he remembered the one kiss from a year or so back. This one seemed different. Less rushed, more passionate.

The voices in Jack Sparrow's mind were now completely gone.

A/N:

Thanks to the few reviews I have gotten so far! Please, keep them coming, reviews make me more prone to continue. :)

Has anyone else watched Dead Man's Chest with the writer's commentary on? Its fantastic the little insight you get behind a lot of the Sparrabeth scenes. Its actually what inspired me to write this story... so please watch it if you can! Its great! :)

Chapter Three is in the works!