A/N: So it gets a little better. It's also looking as if Will might very well stab the heart. Jack is upset over something she didn't even say because he's not sure if he can trust her with his heart and it makes him very edgy. Elizabeth is completely confused by his actions and thinks he hates her. Barbossa is merely sitting back and watching the show. For now...

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't want to talk about it.

Chapter 16- Parlay

I understand there's nothing left…- Breaking Benjamin

Jack stormed out on deck in a mindless rage. I'm a bloody fool is what I am. Yes you are, mate. I should have known she was fucking me out of pity. How do you know that now? All she said was I can't…What does that prove? She didn't have to say more. She pities me, but she can't continue. You saw the tears in her eyes. How can you be so sure?"BECAUSE I BLOODY CAN ALL RIGHT?"

"Cap'n?" Gibbs asked, startled from his position on deck. He did not expect to see Captain Sparrow before dawn. The way Elizabeth and Jack look at each other when they thought no one was looking definitely says something about how they really feel. No matter if she left the man for dead or not.

Jack jumped. "What?"

"You can what?"

"You're not making any sense, mate. I haven't said anything."

Gibbs scratched his head. "What in the blue blazes were you shouting about then, sir?"

"I haven't been shouting." He replied.

Gibbs frowned and looked back out to sea. Sometimes he couldn't understand the captain. He had a beautiful, and from the sounds of it, naked, woman in his cabin and he was out here shouting nonsensically instead.

JEJEJEJEJEJEJE

Elizabeth awoke from her fitful dreams alone and still nude with the gray beginnings of dawn shining through the windows. She leapt to her feet and dressed quickly, rushing out on deck. The horizon was still devoid of Navy ships so she breathed a sigh of relief and stepped up to the helm where Jack and Barbossa stood, speaking quietly.

Barbossa did a double take when he saw where she came from, but otherwise said nothing.

"Jack…"

He glanced over his shoulder. "Ah. Sleeping beauty awaketh." His voice was nearly callous.

She frowned. "I need a word with you. Alone."

Jack opened his mouth to protest.

Barbossa rolled his eyes. "I've got the helm, go talk to the lass."

"What is it, Miss Swann?" He asked as they stepped out of earshot of Barbossa.

"Back to Miss Swann now, are we? I had thought we'd be past all that considering you bedded me most thoroughly last night."

"Perhaps I made a mistake."

That one hurt. Tears stung her eyes at his words and she reached up to slap him. HARD, but he was too quick and caught her wrist. "How dare you? You are nothing but a selfish, ruthless-"

The smile he gave her didn't reach his eyes. "Pirate? You forget who I am, darling. And you are no better."

Angry tears rolled down her cheeks. "This is your revenge? Taking my virtue and then running like a scared little child afterwards?"

"Hurts, doesn't it? To be treated like nothing more than a dog?"

Her eyes widened. "We should never have gone back for you. And to think that I-" She choked on a sob.

His eyes narrowed. "You what, Elizabeth? Thought you had the upper hand? Thought that you could string me along like a little pup-"

"Jack!" Barbossa shouted from the helm.

"WHAT!" He exploded.

Elizabeth flinched and they both turned to look at Barbossa. He merely pointed into the distance ahead of them.

Jack looked across the ship and his eyes widened.

Elizabeth spun around quickly, praying her thoughts weren't correct.

Not one ship stood on the horizon, but a veritable fleet of several hundred ships. Her heart sank.

Jack swallowed. "Parlay?"

JEJEJEJEJEJEJE

Elizabeth stared openly at Jack as he and Barbossa rowed to the island that they were expected to parlay upon. Even with the sour look on his face and the ugly things he had said, he still looked as dashing as he did last night, shirtless and undoing the laces on his breeches. Her eyes drifted to his crotch as memories of the night before drifted into her mind. She knew it was her fault. She should never have let him leave the cabin. "Jack, I'm sorry." She blurted without thinking. Barbossa's eyebrows shot up. Jack paused in his rowing and then continued.

She stared at him earnestly; not caring that he wouldn't meet her eyes or that Barbossa was listening attentively. "I can't say that I didn't deserve the punishment you gave me or that I wouldn't mind the punishment again as long as you're talking to me."

Barbossa made a noise that sounded remarkably like a gag. She shot him a look and then turned back to Jack. He didn't look up, but the sour look was replaced with a confused one. It was a start.

JEJEJEJE

When they reached the island, Elizabeth began climbing out and stumbled. She would have gone face first into the hard, wet sand, if Jack hadn't dropped his oar and grabbed her about the waist. So instead of falling forwards, she fell back into his arms sending him back into a sitting position on the boat. "Thank you." She mumbled awkwardly as she reluctantly climbed out of his lap, a blush on her face. Barbossa chuckled a bit. Jack glared at him.

Elizabeth ignored them and looked at the three men that were standing at the other end of the island. She recognized Will instantly. "James is right about Will. He's always doing something rash." She mumbled to the other two men as they set off silently across the island towards Beckett, Davy Jones, and her childhood sweetheart.

JEJEJEJEJE

"You be the cur that lead these wolves to our door?" Barbossa asked when they were in earshot.

"Don't blame Turner. He was merely the tool of your betrayal. If you wish to see its grand architect, look to your left."

Elizabeth and Barbossa turned to Jack. "My hands are clean in this. Figuratively." She watched him bite his finger and literally wanted to do it for him…or bite it off.

"My actions were my own and for my own purpose. Jack had nothing to do with it." Will interjected, meeting Elizabeth's eyes. She raised an eyebrow. Why is he defending Jack?

"Well spoken. Listen to the tool." Jack leapt into the conversation.

"Will, I've been aboard the Dutchman. I understand the burden you bear."

"You know nothing of my burdens." He replied bitterly.

Jack glanced between the two.

"If Turner wasn't acting on your behalf, then how did he come to give me this?" Beckett raised the compass, ignoring the commentary between lovers. "You made a deal with me, Jack. To deliver the pirates and here they are. Don't be bashful. Step up, claim your reward."

"I made no deal with you!"

Elizabeth watched his expression and her eyes widened. He might actually be telling the truth!

Barbossa took this as his opportunity to steal Jack's piece of eight. "Blackguard!" He spat, swiping his sword out and slicing the piece from Jack's hair.

Jack opened his mouth to retort.

"If ye have somethin' to say I may have somethin' to say as well."

"Your debt to me is still to be satisfied. One hundred years in servitude aboard the Dutchman as a start." Davy Jones threw in, interrupting their bickering.

"That debt was paid, mate, with some help." Jack gestured to Elizabeth who grimaced.

"You escaped."

"Technically…I paid the debt and was rescued through no doing of my own."

"This is true. You can't take him. I will not allow it. Jack stays with us." Elizabeth interjected adamantly. "And you can keep the compass."

"Done." Will agreed. He didn't particularly want to be around the man.

"Undone!" Jack disagreed. It was his intention to stab the heart, especially after what happened the night before.

"Done." Beckett supplied.

"I had a plan. You have no right." Jack murmured, giving her an angry look.

"King. And I can't let you follow your plan. I need you alive and well." Elizabeth replied, determinedly locking eyes with him.

Jack's eyes softened a bit and he opened his mouth to speak.

"Well this is curious. The letters of marque were for Jack after all, weren't they, Elizabeth?" Beckett interrupted.

"No. The letters of marque were always intended for Will." She met Will's gaze.

Will did not expect that answer. Perhaps his thoughts that she hadn't betrayed him were correct. Maybe she didn't intend to fall for Jack… He looked away. Still, she didn't want him. Why would he bother with her anymore?

Beckett interrupted the staring contest, annoyed. "Advise your Brethren. You can fight and all of you will die or you can not fight in which case only most of you will die."

Elizabeth stepped into his face, feeling the cold rage she had spoken to Jasmine about. "You murdered my father."

"He chose his own fate."

"Then you have chosen yours. We will fight and you will die."

"So be it." Beckett replied.

She nodded curtly to Will and spun on her heel. The other two pirate captains had no choice, but to follow.

JEJEJEJEJEJE

Jack squinted over at her as they walked to the boat. "M' sensing a bit of hostility betwixt you and your fiancé."

"A bit?" Barbossa muttered.

"He's not my fiancé anymore, Jack." Both men looked at her. "We broke the engagement before we rescued you." A few tears slid down her cheeks. Saying that just made her realize how alone she would be after all was said and done. That is, if she couldn't get Jack to forgive her.

This changes everything. No it doesn't. It doesn't prove anything. She could still love him. Ask her. I won't. She'll know I'm interested. Isn't that what you want? Shut up. "Do you still love him?" You bastard why did you make me ask that? HAHAHAHA

She looked down. "This is not a question you should be asking in front of Barbossa." See…she avoided the question. She loves him. Not necessarily. She could love you and wants to be alone when she finally tells you.

Barbossa's eyebrow rose. "Don't mind me, lass. This is all rather entertaining."

"Will is not my concern. Whether I love him or not, it doesn't matter." That was not an answer. Ask her on the Pearl when you're alone. She may give you a better answer. And if she doesn't? His mind didn't answer.

Instead of probing further he helped her into the longboat. "We'll continue this later." He murmured close to her ear as he climbed in.