Author's Note: An update! Thanks everyone for the reviews and please do keep them coming. Things start to go wrong in this chapter...

Chapter Fifteen: Direction

When Carmen awoke the next morning, she felt more refreshed than she had done in a long time. It was a warm, pleasant morning, and the sand beneath her was comfortable. She yawned, blinking, finding herself quite alone. She supposed Jack had gone off to do his own thing.

She sat up, and found that her fingers were curled around something solid in her pocket. Confused, she raised them to he eyes, and saw that she was clutching a large rock on a cord. She must have pulled it from Pussy's neck during their fight. She would examine it later, but for now she wanted to find a spring or something to bathe in.

Pocketing her treasure, she rose and headed off across the island, feeling strangely bright and cheerful, something she knew would probably not last. She and Jack were going to have to think of a way off this island, otherwise they'd be stuck here forever, and their friends would be doomed. Just like Mar.

Finally she found what she wanted; a pool of what appeared to be cool, clean water. Smiling to herself, she slipped off her robe and nightgown and, now naked, lowered herself into the water, sighing in relief at the feeling. Lainey Poelle probably wouldn't have minded going without a bath for a few days, but Carmen did. She had become used to being clean. She ducked beneath the water, rubbing the sweat and dirt from her hair, then resurfacing with a smile. Feeling a lot better, she swam back to the shore and picked up her clothes, dipping them in the water too, rubbing and squeezing them.

"Carmen!" Jack's voice rang out, close by, though she couldn't see him. He was calling for her. Oh dear, now what? She couldn't stand to have Jack see her like this. She didn't know what he would do, how he would feel, and she suspected that she might be a little too tempted to give into his charms. Now wasn't the time.

She heard his footsteps, and knew she wouldn't have time to hide. Sighing, she lowered herself, so that only her head and shoulders were visible above the water. Of course, it was clear, so he could probably still see everything. She was crimson as he stepped through the trees, carrying his hat, boots, coat and waistcoat.

"Oh, there yer are, luv," he said. Unlike Carmen, he didn't appear to be in a very good mood.

"What's the matter?" Carmen asked, almost forgetting herself and rising to comfort him. She caught herself just in time, and remained in the water.

Jack didn't answer. Instead he raised his eyebrows. "Would yer like me to turn around, luv? Don't trust me, eh?" He definately sounded bitter. There was certainly something wrong with him. She opened her mouth to reply, but he turned on his heel and stormed away.

She was stunned. What was bothering him? She was determined to find out. Climbing out of the water, she pulled on her clothes again, and bent down to collect the rock. Then she followed him. "Jack!" she shouted.

He was back on the beach, sitting as he had been last night, eyes narrowed towards the horizon. His face was dark and serious. He didn't look up as she stomped over to him.

"What's wrong with you?" she demanded.

He smiled without humour, his gold teeth flashing. He raised his finger and pointed at the horizon. "Bloody Norrington's coming, luv."

So that was what was wrong with him. He was jealous. Carmen followed his gaze, and saw that there were indeed two ships on the horizon- the Black Pearl and some Navy vessel she hadn't seen before. They were going to be okay! She smiled in joy, then remembered Jack's mood.

"Jack-" she began, sitting beside him. She didn't really know what she was going to say.

"Don't." He put his face in his hands and just sat there, looking more desperate than she had ever seen him.

She didn't know what to do. Her good mood was gone now, and there was only a funny pain in her chest. She swallowed, determined not to cry. She raised the rock to her eyes, and studied it for a minute, glad to have something to concentrate on other than the hopeless figure of Jack Sparrow.

It was red, with white marks on it. It was truly beautiful, yet raw, simply a lump without a shape. She pulled the cord over her head, liking it around her throat. She caught Jack's eyes on her, looking at her with a funny expression.

"Where did you get that?" he asked.

"Why?" she asked suspiciously, her fingers around it protectively.

"It belongs to Chiltingham," Jack shrugged. "Don't ask me for details, I don't know. I just know it's his Heartstone."

"Heartstone," she repeated, edging her fingers along it. There was something romantic about that name, something pretty. Then she raised her amber eyes to Jack's face. He was looking back to his ship. "Jack- what are we going to do?"

"How should I know? I'm just a dirty pirate." His mood was definately starting to perplex and irritate Carmen.

"Captain Sparrow," she huffed, "I know that you know very well you're far more than that." She was starting to dry, her clothes and skin feeling much warmer. She glared at him. "Tell me what you know."

He glared back at her. "Excuse me, Your Highness, yer seem to be forgetting that you don't rule me!"

This was rapidly sinking back into another heated argument. Carmen felt despair washing over her, unable to quite grasp why he was being like this. If he was so jealous, wouldn't he be trying to win her around instead of pushing her away? She would never understand men. "We're talking about our friends, Jack! I want to help them!"

"As though bloody Norrington'll let you! Yer'll be locked up in his bloody cabin, wearing a frilly dress and fanning yourself!"

"You're an idiot, Jack Sparrow!" she snapped, cheeks flaming.

He wasn't angry anymore. He looked at her with a cold gaze, and said quietly, "Yer know what I think, luv? I think I liked you a lot more when you were Lainey Poelle."

His words cut through her, and for a moment when she was numb with shock. She fought down tears, determined not to let him see her cry. Inside, though, she was breaking. She opened her mouth, but he cut across her.

"Yer wanted to know what'll happen to your 'friends'. They'll most likely be taken to Morta, where Chiltingham can perform a ceremony that'll make their souls his for eternity. I'm sure you'll spare them plenty of thought as you eat dinner in your beautiful palace!"

She had simply had enough of him. Without another word, she rose and stalked off, feeling tears roll down her cheeks. She prayed he would come after her, hold her, apologise, and tell her he loved her. But there were no footsteps behind her.

xXx

Jack knew he had been a fool. But it was too late to change it now. He watched as marines ran off the Veran smartly, even in this baking heat, watched as Norrington stepped down proudly. For a moment, they exchanged a glance, but then Norrington looked away.

Jack couldn't understand his own mood. He was desperate to have Carmen by his side, but he knew that he couldn't. It was too unfair. So he had pushed her away.

He watched as she came through the trees, escorted by the marines. It was plain from her face she had been crying. Norrington actually ran forward to meet her, then stopped suddenly, awkwardly, before her, as though he wasn't quite sure what to do next. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. Then they kissed.

Jack couldn't tear his eyes away. He was surprised he wasn't feeling anything, only a very welcome numbness. Perhaps it was time for him to just give up on Carmen. There was no point chasing what you couldn't have.

Norrington slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Jack remembered doing the exact same thing, and a sudden wave of emotions washed over him. She was just doing this to hurt him, and he knew he certainly deserved it. He had acted stupidly, and this was revenge. And God, was it working.

After they broke apart, he could hear her persuading him to go after Chiltingham. He was clearly caving in easily. Jack almost grinned. Deep down, Carmen was quite the little pirate. Not that it looked like he was going to have a chance to tell her.

"Jack!" called a familiar voice, and Gibbs came running down off the Pearl. Jack forced a smile at the sight of him, grinning happily, and looked up to see his remaining crew of miscreants standing on the deck.

"Mr Gibbs," Jack said, inclining his head. "Rum me."

To his delight, Gibbs handed him a bottle, which he took a long drink from him. He felt it warm his breaking heart. James Norrington came storming over, apparently to shout at Jack for drinking, but Jack held up a hand to him. He couldn't even look at his love rival. Love rival? Perhaps he had finally cracked.

"Do we have a bearing, Cap'n?" Gibbs asked.

"A bearing?" Jack asked, then he remembered. "Aye! In order to save our lost friends from a fate worse than death at the hands of Captain Chiltingham, we must travel to Morta." He looked impressively at Norrington, who snorted.

"Mr Sparrow," he said coldly. "Morta does not exist."

"That's Captain," Jack retorted, glaring at him, a sudden urge to hit him washing over him as he remembered the passionate scene only a few moments ago. "And Morta is as real as Aron Chiltingham, mate- who, before yer open your mouth, is as real as I am, mate. Ask the lovely Miss Carmen, she recently kis-"

"That'll do, Jack," Gibbs said suddenly, as Norrington's hand moved suddenly towards his sword. Without saying another word, he had suddenly grabbed Jack and started pushing him towards the Pearl. Jack was too surprised to resist. He needed to sit and think.

Before he even had time to register his surroundings, Jack found himself being pushed into his cabin. He dropped his hat, coat and waistcoat and looked at Gibbs.

"What did you do tha' for?" he asked.

"Yer sound less angry than I expected yer might, Cap'n," Gibbs replied, inclining his head. "But yer were goin' ter end up havin' a fight with the Commodore. Was better ter get yer outta there." He nodded sagely.

Jack opened his mouth to argue, then sighed. "You're probably right." He sat down.

"Cap'n," Gibbs began quietly, then stopped. "I won' ask, shall I?"

Jack looked back at him, and for a moment felt an understanding between him and Gibbs he had never felt before. "Aye, Mr Gibbs. Best not to."

"Cap'n, I believe ye when yer say that Morta exists, aye? But... we need a bearing."

Jack clucked his tongue. He hadn't thought of this. Then he had an idea. Raising a finger, he reached into his pocket with his spare hand, producing his compass. With a confident grin at Gibbs, he snapped it open and watched as the arrow spun around. Finally it was still, and Jack stared at it, eyes darkening. Without another word to Gibbs, he rose and stalked out of his cabin, following the arrow towards the Veran. He raised his eyes, and saw it was pointing at Carmen, who was standing on the deck with Norrington. It followed her as she walked a little along.

"Bugger," he muttered, not liking what this meant. He snapped it shut and placed it in his pocket again, his black-outlined eyes on Carmen, who glanced at him suddenly, her smile fading. She blinked, then looked away.

Bloody wonderful.