A/N: I've been staying exceptionally busy! Do not worry, dear readers, I have not abandoned A Little Too Much Rum. It's just been slow going.

Wasn't "Dead Man's Chest" amazing? I loved Jack. "I've got a jar of diii-iirrrt, I've got a jar of diii-iirttt! Guess what's inside it!"

PaL


"Congratulations, Miss Blake," Jack said with a mocking grin, "If you think I'm not fit for Captain for the time being, then you are takin' me place."

There was still a small part of her that wondered if he was joking or not. "Jack…you haven't even taught me everything I need to know in order to captain a ship! All hell will break loose…I…"

"You act like you aren't goin' to get any help in the matter," Jack replied in a frustrated tone, "I'll be here. So will Anamaria and Gibbs. If you be needin' assistance, just ask for help. Christ, you look like you're going to faint." He began to massage his shoulder as he stared at her in concern.

Wiping her hair away from her eyes, she let out a shaky sigh and sat down in defeat.

"There there, me gel," he patted her back and flashed her his gold teeth, "I need some time to rest like ye said. Give me a couple o' days and I'll take over where you left off."

"Alright. Now get back in bed, Jack." She pointed sternly to the rumpled sheets.

"Aye, Cap'n." He winked at her. "Will you be joinin' me? Perhaps to celebrate this new rank o' yers?"

"I'm afraid not, darl…" she paused at 'darling', wondering if she should be using such terms of endearments for him now. Now it seemed so...stuffy. A day ago Jack would have cared less and perhaps was even tickled by them.

He pulled off the most powerful pout he could muster before sinking back into the pillows and covers. "Could ye send in Anamaria and Gibbs, pet?" he questioned with a weak smile, "I'm going to tell 'em the news."

Belle stared at him, his sudden out-of-character weariness worrying her. Of course, being dashed in the head by a large object could do that to a person. Or in this case, make the insane Jack Sparrow act strangely sane.

Nodding slowly, she hurriedly opened the cabin door and called for them. Belle smiled at them awkwardly as they filed in past her. Giving them privacy, she shut the door and allowed them to talk without her standing silently in the corner, overhearing every word.


Belle stood at the Pearl's side, watching the choppy waves dance about. It was an overcast day, the lack of bright sunlight causing her foul mood to grow intolerably. She gripped the railing, taking in deep breaths of salty air, wanting to rid herself of every thought despairing her.

Immediately after sending Anamaria and Gibbs into Jack's cabin, she heard raised voices in the midst of a barely contained argument. Mr. Cotton passed by the closed door and stared at it for a moment or two, before casting a curious glance towards Belle. After a raise of his eyebrows, he continued walking, obviously not wanting any part of the tiff going on.

"Storm on the horizon!" Mr. Cotton's parrot squawked.

"You have got that right," Belle muttered, putting her face in her hands. Sneaking up to the door, she instantly placed her ear against it, attempting to listen to the bickering inside.

"I believe this is a valuable step…" Jack began.

"You're daft, Jack!" Gibbs cried, "This is the result of your impaired judgment…" Belle could practically hear a heart attack waiting to happen.

Knowing the fact that none of the crew believed she could take on the challenge of Captain didn't exactly leave her with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Well, she'd show them, right?

The door was thrown open and with brutal force, sent Belle flying to the floor. Anamaria was less than amused to find her eavesdropping.

"Most would cut off yer ear for eavesdroppin', Miss Blake. Shows a blatant disrespect for the Captain and first mates, it does."

"Pirate," she answered quickly, concealing her growing smile by shoving past her, "How is he?"

"He's fine…it's YOU we're worried about."

"What do you mean by 'who'?"

"Me. Joshamee. The crew."

"Oh." She peered from the doorway at a sleeping Jack and added, "You shouldn't excite him with your quarrels, Ana. It's not good for his receded health."

"He has to be put in the right mindset," Ana argued, walking towards the helm.

Following her, Belle said, "What does he need to be convinced of?"

"That naming YOU captain is the biggest mistake he could ever make in these present conditions!"

She knew it was coming, but it hurt to hear those words all the same. "Ana…" Belle began wearily, "I…"

Anamaria cut her off. "He's grown very fond o' you. All it takes is a pretty gel to distract him from his duties. Now on top o' that, he has amnesia. The last thing we need is to go gallivantin' off to find this Rising Sun for you."

Belle gripped the railing and took in a steady breath. If she gave up now, her time spent on the Pearl would have all been for nothing.

"If me being captain is what Jack wants," Belle suddenly spat, whirling around to face Anamaria, "Then that is what he most certainly will get. Got it?"

"Dammit, gel! You don't…"

"The Rising Sun means everything to me now," she continued harshly, ignoring Anamaria's cruel remark to her, "Don't you dare act like Jack's illness is only affectin' you. You know full well how I feel about the Captain, so seein' him like this is painful. He doesn't know me at all and yet here I am with a smile on my face, waiting to carry out his orders."

This caused Anamaria to dwell in silence.

"So don't complain to me how this is difficult. All I want is to find MY ship and finish what I started." Belle grabbed her floppy hat off of the nearest peg and plopped it onto her head, hoping its thick brim would conceal the trembling of her bottom lip and allow her to maintain some sort of dignity.

Without another word, she confidently walked up to the helm and took it from a worried Gibbs. Nodding to her, he shouted, "Crew! Durin' Jack's recovery, Miss Blake will be givin' the orders."

This caused an unsatisfied rumble to spread throughout the crew.

"That wasn't something to be discussed or taken into consideration," Belle suddenly bellowed, "That was to be processed as a direct order from Captain Sparrow. So if any of you gits want to argue, speak with me immediately."

The crew stared at her, blinking at her brazen attitude.

"We must make the repairs we can," Belle ordered, gripping the helm as if Jack's courageous stature and boldness would seep into her through the rough wood, "The storm has made her mark. As we accomplish this, we will explore around Ridgeway Cove. I am looking for my ship, gentlemen, and I am not leaving without it."

"Your ship?" Gibbs grumbled.

"It was my father's. The Rising Sun."

"And how do ye know that it's around here?" Anamaria asked with raised eyebrows, her long black hair whipping around her face in the unforgiving winds.

Belle instantly grew cold as memories of her dream from the night before plagued her.

"Take her below."

"Don't hurt her!"

"The mark will make her remember."

She struggled, her feet scuffing the rug. Except it wasn't a rug. It was a map. The book of maps she had bought for Jack spread across the floor, opened and gleaming.

The fuzzy forms clenching her arms stopped her in front of a sizzling hot brand. Looking down, she began to be engulfed by sticky hot sands. The ink lines of the map faded into real beach and ocean. She was directly on top of Ridgeway Cove.

Being thrown back to reality, Belle stared at the awaiting crew.

"Just call it a hunch."


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