Author's Note: I decided it was about time for an update. I was trying to save this chapter until I had the next one written, but to no luck. Anyway, thank you for your reviews! They keep me going. Remember to leave more for this chapter.

Chapter Eight: Sick Awakening

"Jack! Jack! Jesus Christ, wake up, Jack Sparrow!"

"Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack groaned out automatically, feeling himself coming back to consciousness. He was confused. What was going on? He struggled to focus on liquid brown eyes before him.

"Jesus, Jack, you need to move," Ana said sharply.

Jack pushed himself up off the floor, eyes narrowed against the sunlight. What the hell was going on? Then it hit him hard, so hard the wind was knocked out of him. The Martyr- Carmen! There was a searing pain in the back of his head. He must have been hit there. The last thing he remembered was Carmen's scared face.

"Where's the Martyr gone?" Jack demanded.

"That's the problem, Jack," Ana said, sounding unusually gentle. "It's gone. Edward! Edward, I've found him!" She grabbed Jack around the shoulders, and struggled to help him up.

Another hand grabbed Jack and tugged him up. Jack looked into the vivid green eyes of Edward Poelle, the newest addition to his crew. At first, the pair had despised each other. Now, they were very close. Edward's appearance had changed a lot. He was more tanned, his hair and beard longer and more shaggy. He was still lean but he was much more muscular.

"Morning, Jack," he said grimly.

"Thank you," Jack said. "We need to get back to the Pearl. We need to set sail straight away." He stepped forward shakily, very unsteady on his feet. He needed some rum. "I can walk," he said, simply because he liked to be independant.

So off they set, three people walking in silence, all lost in their own thoughts. Jack supposed Chiltingham had taken his prize last night. Carmen would be on the Martyr now. Jack still couldn't understand why they wanted her. But he knew one thing- he had to save her.

They reached the cave where the Pearl was and hurried onto it. "Set sail for the Martyr!" Jack roared. "We have to catch it!"

"Aye, Captain!" the whole crew shouted in return. Then they were busying about on deck. Seconds later, they had started to move forward.

"Mr Gibbs!" Jack said, heading for the wheel. "Rum me. And don't dare tell me we don't have any."

"'Ere yer are, Cap'n," Gibbs replied, and Jack almost smiled as he felt the cool glass bottle pushed into his hands.

"Thank you." Jack took a long swig, his mind already back on Carmen. He remembered last night, before it had gone so wrong. There was something about Carmen that made her different to everyone he had ever met. Together or not, he would never get over her, and she would always be a part of him.

Jack had been standing at the wheel, clutching it lightly, sipping his rum, for about three minutes, when Edward returned. His shirt was sticking to his body. He looked at Jack through his tangled locks. "Captain, I need to know- will we be able to save Carmen?"

Jack swallowed. Honesty or a white lie? His honest streak won for once. "Aron Chiltingham... well, he's not like you or me, mate. He's going to be hard to beat." His throat was burning. "But I promise you, mate," he continued, the words each a promise on their own, "I swear on the Pearl herself, I will try my best to save Carmen, even if the sacrifice is my own life." He couldn't believe these words were true, but they were.

Edward nodded. "I know." He clapped Jack on the shoulder, nodded, then headed off to help Gibbs.

Jack sighed. He watched Will and Elizabeth. He watched the easy, simple way Will draped his arm around her and tugged her closer, how they kissed so sweetly even during all this fear. Jack's chest panged, but he ignored it. He was Captain Jack Sparrow. He didn't need a woman... but if he didn't, why did he feel like something was missing?

"Why don't you just tell her how you feel?" a voice at his ear said, and he yelped, jumping in shock. He turned to see Ana, looking serious and sark.

"Who, Elizabeth? In case you hadn't noticed, Ana-"

"No, not Elizabeth, you foolish pirate," Ana snapped. "You know very well who I'm talking about. The woman you went fleeing after last night when you thought she was in danger? Remember Miss Carmen?"

Jack growled in his throat to show he wasn't keen on this topic of conversation, but Ana was typically unfazed by him. He said awkwardly, "What do you mean, how I feel?"

Her dark eyes softened a little. "You know fine well. It's obvious to everyone, Jack."

He sighed, then said, "Well why don't you tell dear Edward how you feel about him and get off my back, Ana?" As her eyes flamed, he shook his head. "Ah, I'm not going to lie, Ana. Against Aron Chiltingham we're practically doomed. Even if I can save her, the price might be my own life. And if I don't... there won't be a Princess to tell, will there?"

The Black Pearl was cutting easily through clear blue waves as Ana touched his shoulder. "Then we'll just have to make sure you both live, won't we?"

"Funny how even after nineteen years, I'm still looking after her," Jack said softly.

"Funny how the pair of ye are too stubborn to admit yer should be together," Ana snapped back.

"Well, excuse me, Cupid, luv." Jack sighed. He knew one thing. He had to see Carmen one more time. He had to kiss her one more time. And hopefully Fate would decide what would happen to them. He was too confused to make the decision himself.

"Men," Ana muttered.