Aaaah! Freaky Fish People!

By: SilverstartheWaterbender

Silverstar: Here's Chapter 3! I just got like 100 e-mails saying that my readers have put me and my story on their alert lists. You guys are so sweet!

Nahiti: Being a Jack fangirl myself, I concur. Thanks for reviewing!

GigglesforJohnnyDepp: Thanks for reviewing!

Snuffles-sweeteie: Glad you like them! Thanks for reviewing!

Sparrowsvixen: Although I didn't review, I read all three of your stories and they ROCK! It's so easy to picture Mary or myself in them. Keep up the good work! Thanks for reviewing!

Manson: Thanks for reviewing!

Nadireth: Thanks for reviewing!

Myri78: Yes, a sixteen-year-old kissing someone in his thirties may seem a bit…bleh. But yeah, people like it, and I like it. Thanks for reviewing!

Illandrial: Sure, you could beta them! Thanks for reviewing!

Cat18: Thanks for reviewing!

X5-452-54: Thanks for reviewing!

spirochick39: I try to make them as good a couple as I can. Thanks for reviewing!

Little Miss Vampirate: Thanks for reviewing!

PIRATEical ELF of Mirkwood: Thanks for reviewing!

Miwbastet: Thanks for reviewing!

hikishianara: They're such flirts. Thanks for reviewing!

HoodiesRsoft: Thanks for reviewing!

WolfbainKohaku: Yeah, but people love my stories. I feel rushed sometimes. Thanks for reviewing!

ImGoodWhenImBad-MizzTorrie: Thanks for reviewing!

Wolfen-Ways: OF COURSE TOBY'S COMING BACK! Otherwise, the story wouldn't really make sense. Not to mention the fact that he's an important part of the overall plot. Thanks for reviewing!

Toadette23: Thanks for reviewing!

budgiebird12: Aww, that's so nice of you to say so! Thanks for reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own POTC.

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Chapter Three: Welcome Back, Bootstrap

(Mary's POV)

About twenty minutes before sunrise, I walked on deck and leaned against the railing. I knew I should try to sleep, but I was more likely to breathe underwater than sleep. I was back, Jack still loved me, and yet another adventure was on its way!

"Hold on," I reminded myself. "This time you have to deal with Jones, Beckett, and the freaked-out version of Jack. Not to mention Jack and Lizzie…no, no, no! Don't think about that! Jack loves me, and he's not gonna die!"

But once the images started, they couldn't stop. Jack and Lizzie flirting on the Pearl…Lizzie kissing Jack as she handcuffed him to the mast…Jack smiling as she walked away…the Kraken's tentacles reaching…its mouth open wide…

I felt tears begin to fall. Jack's betrayal…Jack's death…which hurt the most?

"Mary? You all right?"

I turned to see Jack. When he saw my tears, his eyes widened. "Mary, what happened? Did someone say something to you? If they did…" He clutched his pistol.

I sighed. "No, Jack. It's just…I saw something."

"With your ability? What was it?"

I shook my head.

I felt Jack's arms around my waist. "Well whatever it was, we can overcome it, right luv?"

I smiled. "Maybe."

Jack gently kissed me. When we broke apart, he asked, "Better?"

I nodded. "So, why are you here?"

"You don't know?"

I closed my eyes and waved my hands in a mystical, exaggerated motion. "Hmmmm…something to do with rum?"

"Aye. Just getting some more."

I sighed. "Don't you think you've had too much rum?"

"Pirate."

"Point taken."

We trooped down to the crew's quarters. I covered my ears. "With that bloody snoring it's a wonder the Royal Navy isn't swooping down on us right now."

"No argument there. As you were, gents." We continued on to the storage hold. Jack shone his lantern on the place where the rum was kept.

"Ugh!" I groaned. One of the empty holes had bugs crawling all over it.

Jack pulled the lantern away in disgust. He spotted a bottle near the bottom. "Ah." He picked it up, frowned, and tipped it slightly. Sand came pouring out.

I stared at it. "How long has that bottle been down here?" "Cue Bootstrap in five…four…"

"Time's run out, Jack."

"Hm. My timing's off."

The bottle fell from Jack's hand, crashing into a million pieces. Slowly, Jack walked over to the source of the voice and lifted the lantern. The pale, watery shape of Bootstrap Bill Turner was revealed.

"Bootstrap…Bill Turner?" Jack whispered uncertainly.

Bootstrap raised his head. "You look good, Jack." Water poured out of his mouth and something scuttled across his arm. Jack's mouth opened, but no sound came out. Bootstrap looked at me. "Who's this?"

"Mary Anderson. Nice to meet you, Mr. Turner."

Bootstrap snorted. "Call me Bootstrap."

Jack finally found his voice. "Is this a dream?"

"No."

"I thought not. If it was, there'd be rum." Bootstrap handed Jack a bottle of rum.

Jack looked at me hopefully. I shook my head. "Not a dream." Jack frowned.

"You got the Pearl back, I see," Bootstrap said casually.

"I had some help retrieving the Pearl, by the way…your son."

"William?" Bootstrap said disbelievingly. "He ended up a pirate after all…"

"Hey, don't worry," I said. "While he is an admittedly good pirate, his sense of honor and morals often get in the way of his work." Bootstrap looked a bit happier. "So, why in the world has your corpse decided to join us for a late-night drink?"

"He sent me," Bootstrap answered. Jack looked as confused as ever. "Davy Jones."

"Oh. So it's you then," Jack said after a moment. "He shanghaied you into service, eh?"

"Actually," I told him, "he chose it. Remember, back then, he couldn't die, and he was sent to the bottom of the ocean with a cannon strapped to his boots."

Bootstrap showed as much surprise as an undead guy could have. "How did you know…?"

"You'll get used to it," Jack answered dryly.

"I'm sorry for the part I played in the mutiny against you, Jack." Bootstrap grabbed some sort of crab. "I stood up for you. Everything went wrong after that…" Bootstrap took a bite out of the crab. I tried not to show my disgust. I don't think it worked.

"They strapped me to a cannon," Bootstrap continued. "I ended up at the bottom of the ocean…the weight of the water crushing down on me…unable to move…unable to die, Jack."

"Now that's a bummer," I said solemnly. "Can't get much worse than that, can it?"

"And I thought that even the tiniest hope of escaping this fate, I would take it. I would trade anything for it." Jack handed him the rum bottle.

"It's funny what a man will do to forestall his final judgment," Jack agreed.

"You made a deal with him too, Jack," Bootstrap reminded him, standing up. "He raised the Pearl from the depths for you…thirteen years you've been her captain."

Jack tried to buy some more time. "Technically …"

"Jack," Bootstrap interrupted. "You won't be able to talk yourself out of this. The terms what applied to me apply to you as well. One soul, bound to crew one hundred years upon his ship."

"I revise my earlier statement; that's much worse."

"Yes, but the Flying Dutchman already has a captain, so there's really…"

"Jack," I sighed. "I don't think you grasp what Bootstrap's trying to tell you. This is serious, so I think you should act like it!" I didn't mean to sound so rough, but my own fear was overtaking me.

The look in Jack's eyes told me he understood. "I know, luv. All I'm saying is that the only job I'm qualified for is…"

"Then it's the Locker for you!" Bootstrap interrupted. "Jones' terrible Leviathan will find you…and drag the Pearl back to the depths and you along with it!"

Jack was silent for a moment before asking, "Any idea when Jones might release said terrible beastie?"

Bootstrap stared at him. "I already told you, Jack…you're time is up." He pressed his hand against Jack's. "It comes now, drawn with ravenous hunger to the man what bears…the Black Spot." Before he left, Bootstrap looked at me. "You best watch yourself," he warned. "Jones is not found of your type."

I blinked. "My type?" Bootstrap looked at me. Suddenly, I remembered Tia's story. "Women," I breathed. Bootstrap nodded. I frowned. "That is so sexist! The guy has a few love issues and he –"

I was interrupted by a frightened noise from Jack. He was staring at his hand in terror. He looked up at me, and then at Bootstrap. But Bootstrap was gone.

"Jack?" I whispered softly.

It was like my voice broke a spell. Jack raced up the stairs. "ON DECK, ALL HANDS! MAKE FAST THE BUNT GASKET! ON DECK! SCURRY! SCURRY! I WANT MOVEMENT! MOVEMENT I WANT MOVEMENT!"

"GET MOVING, YOU DOPES!" I shouted. "NAP TIME'S OVER! LET'S MOVE!"

Jack continued shouting orders as the confused and panicked crew tried to get ready. Jack and I raced up on deck. "KEEP RUNNING!" Jack yelled. "RUN AS IF THE DEVIL HIMSELF AND ITSELF IS UPON US!"

"Which he is," I whispered so Jack couldn't hear. Jack ducked behind the mast.

"Do we have a heading?" Gibbs asked.

"AH! Uh…run! Land!" Gibbs and I exchanged a glance as Jack ran behind a barrel. He peered over it and yelped again.

"A port location would be useful!" I told him.

"I didn't say port. I said land. Any land!" The monkey swooped in, grabbed Jack's hat, and tossed it into the ocean.

"NO! NOT THE HAT!" I shouted. Half the crew peered over the edge of the ship. "Jack's hat!" Gibbs gasped. "Bring her about!"

"No, no!" Jack argued. "Leave it!" We all stared at him. That hat, along with the Pearl, was Jack's most prized possession. "Run!" Jack repeated, and darted off.

"Back to your stations, the lot of ye!" Gibbs shouted. He looked at me. "What's wrong with him?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I asked. "He's freaking out!" He rushed over to wear Jack was hiding under the stairs. "Jack?" I asked mildly. "You sure you don't wanna go get the hat?"

"Run," Jack repeated again.

"For the love of mother and child, Jack, what's coming after us?" Gibbs asked.

"…Nothing." Jack replied, and ducked inside his cabin.

I looked at Gibbs. "I'll go talk to him." I knocked on the door. No answer. "Jack, it's me. Open up."

Suddenly, the door opened and Jack pulled me inside. He locked the door, and then wrapped his arms around me, whimpering in fear. I could barely believe it; Captain Jack Sparrow had been reduced to a quivering mess!

"Jack," I said softly. "I know you're scared, and I am too…but we can't lose ourselves in front of the crew. What will they think when they see their fearless captain cowering in fear?"

Jack was silent for a moment before answering, "You're right, luv. I'm sorry."

I kissed his cheek. "Don't be. It's not your fault."

Jack buried his head in my shoulder. I tried comforting him, but whenever I closed my eyes, I saw the Kraken's mouth open wide and heard its roar. I brushed away my tears.

How can I help Jack if I couldn't even help myself?

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Silverstar: And so it begins. R&R!