Author's Note: A short chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, keep them coming. I love you all!

Chapter Twelve: Reunited

Carmen cried out in pain. Pussy was holding her down against the deck by her hair, and it hurt so much she felt tears burning her eyes. But she was trying to concentrate on the other things going on. Jack was looking sheepish, looking hard at the deck as Will stepped forward.

"My father is dead!" he shouted.

Chiltingham laughed. "That's true, boy. But his soul isn't, and it just so happens to belong to me." He grinned widely. "Would you like to meet him?"

Will pulled out his pistol suddenly and shot him. Carmen's heart leapt as the bullet hit the Captain in the chest. Chiltingham had an expression of shock on his features. Was he going to die? Carmen was praying it was so, but the Captain laughed suddenly.

"I can't die," he told Will. He looked at Jack. "Spared them that slice of information, did you, Jack Sparrow?"

Jack didn't reply, and Carmen knew he hadn't. Perhaps it had been for their own good- or perhaps Jack had just been being a dishonest pirate. The tears in her eyes spilled free.

"Perhaps meeting your father is best saved for later, Mr Turner," the Captain said. He turned to Pussy. "Give the lovely Miss Regalia to Sparrow, would you?"

Pussy growled. Clearly she was not pleased at giving up her hold on Carmen, nor was she impressed by the Captain calling Carmen 'lovely'. She stood up, pulling Carmen up by her hair, causing her to whimper. Then she shoved her forward. Carmen lost her balance and felt the world tip, but then she was in Jack's arms.

"Jack," she whispered, and she knew he was a good man as she felt the warmth of his embrace. She had missed him so much during her stay on this ship.

"Can't leave you alone for five minutes, can I, Princess?" he whispered into her ear.

Her thoughts were on Mar. She remembered her anguished screaming and sobbed into Jack's coat, taking in his wonderful scent. Jack held her tightly.

"You look mad, Jack Sparrow," Chiltingham chuckled, and Carmen heard him walking forward until he was standing right behind her.

"I'm going to kill you," Jack said in his most angry, cold tone. He pushed Carmen behind him.

"Funny," the Captain said, taking a step forward. "That's what she said..." Their noses were practically touching now. "That's what she said... right after... she... kissed... me..."

Carmen's cheeks were scarlet even though Jack couldn't see her. She felt the eyes of Will, Elizabeth, Edward and Ana boring into her and closed her eyes. She had let her friends down. She had let down Jack Sparrow.

Jack's fist was balled so tightly that his knuckles were white. Chiltingham laughed in his face. "Throw Jack Sparrow and Carmen overboard!" he shouted at his crew. He lowered his voice to talk to Jack, "See if you can save your friends when you're on that island. If the stories are true, you must be getting sick of getting marooned."

Marooned? Carmen looked up, horrified. Jack's fingers curled around her own in a comforting way.

"It's not so bad," Jack shrugged. "At least the company's good."

"Hmm." Chiltingham said nothing more, only stepped back and waved a hand. Carmen shrieked as two pirates grabbed her suddenly. She saw Edward's horrified face, heard Elizabeth shout Jack's name, then hit the water hard.

She started to sink like a stone, too tired to resist it. But then Jack's hands lifted her gently. They broke the surface and looked at each other. Carmen was crying. Jack just looked grim. Carmen supposed he was probably mad about her kissing Chiltingham, but that was quite alright, because she was mad about it too.

They swam to the island, Jack's arm supporting her all the way. Carmen stumbled onto the sand finally, and fell down, panting. Jack remained standing, staring at the Martyr, shrinking away into the distance.

"Now what?" Carmen asked, her voice choked with emotion.

For once, Captain Jack Sparrow had nothing to say.