"Cass...would you like-"

"No." I snapped, walking briskly to the end of the dock where Jack was standing.

I had no pleasure in talking to Will at the moment when all he wanted to talk about was what we had overheard last night; I didn't want to talk about what Jack had said about me, not even what he said about this 'leverage' he spoke of; I just wanted to think things over for myself for the time being.

So I took my place by Jack's left shoulder with Gibbs while Will sighed and took his by Jack's right. Along the edge of the dock were men who had all signed up to help us the crew the ship to find the Black Pearl.

"Feast your eyes, Captain. All of them, faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt." Gibbs said as we walked down the line of sailors, looking at them. "And crazy to boot." He added as we stopped in front a dwarfed sized man.

"So this is your able-bodied crew?" Will asked Jack, who showed no sign of answering. Jack just studied the men in front of us then randomly picked one out and started asking the poor old man questions.

"You, sailor!" He said, walking to the man who had a parrot on his shoulder.

"Cotton, sir." Gibbs told us, indicating that was the man's name.

I studied the man further while Jack and Will were busy looking at Gibbs while he spoke. There was something about him that made him seem familiar, but...I couldn't place my finger on it.

"Mr. Cotton," Jack started, facing him again. "do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?"

Cotton eyes went to from Jack to Gibbs who suddenly looked uncomfortable when Jack started to get angry. "He's a mute, sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out."

Cotton opened his mouth at these words and showed us his tongue, which was indeed, cut out. I cringed and stepped back a few feet which caused Cotton's gaze to travel to me and our eyes locked for a spilt second.

I instantly recognized him.

"No..." I whispered out, taking a step towards him, but had a hand grab my arm.

"Cass, what's wrong?" Will asked, and I shook off his hand.

"Nothing, let go of me." I snapped; he looked hurt as he put his arms back down to his side. I sighed. "I'll tell you later." I whispered, making him bright up a bit.

We returned to real world to find Jack, Gibbs, and Cotton staring at us. I stared back unemotionally.

"You may continue."

Gibbs nodded and went back to his little speech. "Well, he had his tongue cut out, so he trained the parrot to talk for him." Our gaze travled to the bird on his shoulder who just stood there and didn't take any notice of us. "No one's yet figured how."

Jack bit his lip and looked at the ground for a moment. I can't image him ever being in a more awkward situation than this one.

"Mr. Cotton's...parrot." Jack suddenly said, looking up to find the bird looking at him. "Same question."

The parrot squawked. "Wind in your sails; wind in your sails."

No one said anything; Will and I shared a look then Gibbs spoke up. "We figure that means 'yes'."

Jack looked semi-impressed. "Of course it does." He said before turning to Will and I. "Satisfied?"

Will looked down the row of men. "Well, you've proved they're mad."

"And what's the benefit for us?" A voice suddenly called out from the down the line.

It had came from a sailor that had his hat covering up their face. Jack raised an eyebrow and walked toward him and sighed when he reached him; he slowly raised his hand to the hat and took it off letting pitch black hair fall from the woman's head.

"Anamaria." Jack said right before getting slapped by the lady who had been pretending to be a man. I laughed and Jack shot a glare at me.

Will looked amused. "I guess you didn't deserve that one, either?"

"No." Jack said. "That one I deserved." He stood back up to face the woman who was glaring at him.

"You stole my boat!" She accused and Jack looked uncomfortable.

"Actually-" She slapped him again making me going into another fit of hysterical laughing. Jack shot me another glare and looked back at Anamaria. "...borrowed. Borrowed without permission. But with every intention of bringing it back to you!"

"But you didn't!"

"You'll get another one!" Jack offered and she raised her forefinger.

"I will." She threatened and Jack cringed a little bit.

"A better one." Will suddenly said and Jack nodded.

"A better one." He agreed.

Will pointed to the Interceptor. "That one."

"What one?" Jack asked, looking to where Will was pointing. "That one?" He turned to Will and clinched his fist as though ready to throw a punch at him but then remembered Anamaria was watching so he turned back to her. "Aye, that one."

"And if you don't, you may break Jack's kneecaps with a oar." I said and glared some more as Anamaria smirked.

Jack took a deep breath and turned back to her. "What say you?"

"AYE!" She and everyone else cried out except for the parrot who yelled: "Anchor's away!"

They started to make their way to ship and Gibbs made toward us quickly. "No, no, no, no, no, it's frightful bad luck to bring one woman aboard, sir. Let alone two."

"It'd be worse not have her." Jack replied and he and Gibbs went to the ship. I started to follow but Will grabbed my arm.

"Can you tell me now what happened back there with Cotton and you?" He looked frantic and I bit my lip.

"Do you remember..." I started, looking up at him. "Who I said brought me to Port Royal when I escaped from the orphanage?"

He nodded but didn't seem to make the connection.

"Do you remember me telling you what the punishment was for being caught was?"

His eyes widened.

"The ability to no longer speak..."