Ch. 6: Grand Entrance

Disclaimer: I may have borrowed a few lines from the movie. The song lyric at the beginning is not mine and the characters are not mine. *CRIES*

I won't turn my back on you

Elizabeth opened her eyes. She felt wet sand everywhere. Am I- Cold salt water rushed over her body making her shiver- Dead?

"This truly is a godforsaken place." A voice sputtered next to her. Gibbs had apparently managed to get a mouthful of cold sea water.

"Barbossa!" Will exclaimed angrily from a few feet away, making Elizabeth jump. "You really have doomed us all! There's no one here!"

Elizabeth hurriedly climbed to her feet, looking around frantically. That can't be true! It can't! He has to be here. All she could see in the distance were sand dunes. She moved to Barbossa's side. "He has to be here! We can't have come all this way for nothing!"

"He's here." Barbossa reassured her, where Will could not hear.

"Now we're all trapped here." Will drew his sword and pointed it at Barbossa. "This was part of your plan wasn't it?"

Barbossa rolled his eyes. "Yes that were the plan. I even thought to doom meself in the process."

Elizabeth would have laughed if she weren't anxiously looking around for Jack. "Shouldn't we be looking for him?" She asked Gibbs.

"Where do you propose we start Miss Elizabeth?"

She looked around and then her eyes settled on Tia Dalma who was smirking at her over her shoulder. Her eyes focused on movement behind the obeah woman and then her eyes widened in shock as she began to see black sails on the horizon. Her heart soared. He's here. "There!" She could just see his commanding presence on top of the mast. A thrill of excitement shot through her body. He's really here!

Gibbs looked to where she pointed. "Slap me thrice and hand me to my momma. It's Jack."

Elizabeth raced into the waves before anyone could stop her.

JEJEJEJE

Will moved to go after her, but Barbossa grabbed his forearm in an iron grip. "I'll not have ye killin' a pirate lord, nor will I have ye stealin' my ship. Gibbs will go and retrieve the longboat."

At the mentioning of his name, Gibbs grimaced and began heading into the water mumbling about women and bad luck.

JEJEJEJEJE

She found him staring at the mast forlornly and it nearly broke her heart. Captain Sparrow looked the same as he did aboard the Pearl the last time and yet not. His demeanor seemed more fierce and cold, but no less dashing. "Jack." He turned instantly at her voice. No smile in sight. How will I ever get through to him when he looks at me like that?

Their eyes met and the world seemed to slow to a halt. For one fleeting second she saw his eyes soften and then they were narrowed. "She's not real. She's real. She can't be real. Yes she can. You're in the Locker, mate, no she can't. There's only one way to find out, now isn't there?" He stalked towards her like a predator.

She stood speechless at the look he was giving her and confused at his mumbled monologue. What does he mean only o-

He grabbed her about the waist rather roughly and crushed her against him, slanting his mouth over hers. The first few seconds her brain forgot to function and then: Oh…OH. That's what he means. Then she was twining her arms around his neck and kissing him back with all the passion and regret and pent up rage at herself that she could muster. She whimpered into his brutal mouth and gripped his dreadlocks, pressing herself tight against him. His arms felt like corded steel around her waist as he seemed to cling to her with near desperation. This kiss was nothing like their first. Where he'd been hesitant and confused before, now he was determined and forceful. Although forceful might not be quite the word, she conceded as she nearly moaned when his kiss softened. She opened her eyes and they met his. He shoved her away abruptly. "No. No. She can't be real. She is. She can't be. The real Elizabeth would have slapped me."

She opened her mouth to catch his attention, but Gibbs was climbing over the edge of the ship at that moment.

"Jack!"

"Mister Gibbs!" Jack replied brightly, relieved to have another hallucination or is it real? It is. It is real. Why didn't she slap me? "Sloshed as always I see, good man."

"Aye, cap'n." Mr. Gibbs answered, frowning. Sloshed?

"I thought so. I expect you're able to account for your actions then."

"Sir?" Gibbs asked, confused. Elizabeth worried he would blame Gibbs for not coming for him before, but she hadn't given him much time to consider it before she was shouting for them to go.

"There's been a perpetual and virulent lack of discipline upon my vessel. Why? Why is that sir?" He asked, getting rather loud.

"Sir, you're…you're in Davy Jones' Locker."

Jack looked horrified and then glanced at her. Was it her imagination or did he appear to lick his lip a bit? "I know that. I know where I am. Don't think I don't." He narrowed his eyes at the man. Elizabeth bit her lip. He was avoiding a mutiny even when he thought he was dreaming. Is this what I did to him? I must make sure this never happens again. I must…I must…make sure he kisses me like that again.

"We're rescuing you."

He frowned at her in disbelief. "Just the two of you."

"We have a crew. There." She pointed to the shoreline.

"My crew?" He asked Gibbs.

"Aye, sir. Along with…a few others."

"And Will." Elizabeth added.

She didn't notice Jack's grimace.

JEJEJEJE

"You're supposed to be dead." Jack growled as soon as he stepped from the longboat.

"So're you. And yet…here ye are."

"Jack. This is not the time, nor the place to be arguin' over who be alive or dead." Tia dalma cut in.

"If he would have stayed dead there'd be no need for arguing."

Oh for pity's sake. "Barbossa's part of the crew for now and we've come to rescue you!" Elizabeth spat, annoyed.

Jack closed the distance between them. "That's very kind of you, but it would seem that as I possess a ship and you don't, you're the ones in need of rescuing and I'm not sure as I'm in the mood." That one stings a bit, but I suppose I deserve it.

"Jack, Cutler Beckett has the heart of Davy Jones. He controls the Flying Dutchman."

Elizabeth grabbed onto Jack's arm, secretly relishing being so near to him. Even so, she felt him flinch when she touched him. "He's taking over the seas." He's warm…good. His arm brushed against her breasts as he raised it up. She nearly shivered, her mind still reeling from the kiss he'd given her earlier.

"The song has already been sung. The Brethren Court is called." Tia Dalma interjected.

"That still doesn't answer one question. Why should I sail with any of you? Four of you have tried to kill me in the past. One of you succeeded."

Nearly the entire crew turned and looked at Elizabeth. Will gritted his teeth and shut his eyes.

"Oh she's not told you. Well you'll have loads to talk about while you're here." Elizabeth felt her stomach turn at his wicked grin. "As for you…"

Tia Dalma grinned. "Now…don't tell me ye didn't enjoy it at the time." She twitched his beard and he grinned. Elizabeth felt outraged.

"Fair enough. All right you're in." Elizabeth's anger prevented her from hearing much as he continued down the line. She thought she might rip Tia Dalma's hair from her scalp. Her fists clenched as she watched him go down the line of crew members. Her eyes drifted down his form. He's a bloody sight for sore eyes, though. She didn't even care how the crew felt about what she did. It was just good to see him alive and well.

"…Weigh anchor! All hands! Prepare to make sail." He opened his compass in front of him and slammed it shut with a depressed look.

"Which way ye going, Jack?" Elizabeth smirked at Barbossa's comment then looked at Jack as he grimaced.

JEJEJEJEJEJEJE

"Jack, may I have a word?"

"It's Captain Sparrow and I believe you've just had several." The coldness in his tone made Elizabeth cringe.

"I'm sorry."

"No you're not." He replied, bitterly.

"Will you ever forgive me?"

"No." He answered coldly, beginning to back away.

"But-" You kissed me like you…like you already have.

"No!"

"I'd never turn my back on you again."

"I won't turn my back on you! Not if I don't want it stabbed." He spat in her face, backing away and leaving her standing alone on the deck, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I'm sorry…" She sank to her knees.

"You did kill him, lass."

She looked up at Mr. Gibbs and nodded. "If only I could take it back."

"You were doing right by you. No one should expect more. He'll come around." Barbossa interrupted and patted her on the shoulder. "Now back to work. The both of you."