Elizabeth was so cold. It was getting dark and she was wearing practically half of a dress. The hem that used to be at her ankles, was now at her knees. The dress also had a plunging neckline and did not cover her arms. She searched for a jacket desperately. Maybe "Wayne" left one on the ship. Frantically, she searched for one. The Sea Dog wasn't very big, and it didn't have many items on board. Even the captain's quarters consisted only of a hammock, a chair, and crates of stale or rotten food.

Giving up, she sat on a ledge by the helm. Jack was gripping the steering device, staring out into space. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, just thinking or daydreaming. She'd noticed earlier in the day that he'd taken out his compass and looked at the heading, but then he's mumbled something and seemed a little upset. Breaking the silence, she asked, "Why doesn't your compass work?" He blinked a couple times, his train of thought ended, "My compass works fine." She felt a deja vu.
"Then why do we have to pick up a crew in Tortuga? Why can't we just sail to the Fountain ourselves?"
"Because if Collins and the Company find us, we won't be able to defend ourselves alone. We need more people."
"Oh."
"My compass does work. It just doesn't point to the Fountain for me..." The look on his face showed that he regretted saying that. Probably because he knew she would ask this question:
"Where does it point? What do you want most in this world?"
He said nothing.
"Do you not know what you want?"
"I know what I want."
"Then...what's the problem?"
"I can't...claim it as my own...it's not mine to have."
Elizabeth was confused now, "Are you sure?"
"Positive." He was trying to hide the sadness on his face, but she could see it.
"Jack...I think you're giving up too easy."
He turned and looked at her like she was insane.
"Don't look at me like that. All hope is not lost. Fight for what you want. Ignore whoever is keeping it from you. What's that thing you and Gibbs always say?"
Jack thought for a moment, "Rum's good?"
"No...oh, I remember. 'Take what you can. Give nothing back.' You're a pirate. Nothing should stop you."
Once again, he said nothing.
"What does the compass point at, Jack?" She was getting anxious. What could possibly make the fearsome, clever, devious pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow... surrender?
"What...what would it point at for you, Elizabeth?" He did not look at her now.
"I asked you first."
"I asked you second."
"I don't know." She honestly didn't. It was nice that Jack knew exactly what he wanted.
"Shouldn't it point at Will?" The smile on his face disappeared.
Now it was her turn to be silent.
"Don't get me wrong, love," he looked back at her, "I know what it's like to thing you want one thing, then find out it isn't so."
"It's not that I don't want him, Jack."
"He's just not what you want most."
Again, she was silent. Why did he have to make so much sense?
"Elizabeth, I have known you for quite a while. There's been good times and bad times...mostly bad ones...I say this without bitterness. Don't take it the wrong way...but you shouldn't settle with the mediocre, Lizzie. You deserve better than that."

A lump formed in her throat. She shivered unconsciously, the cold overcame her. Her arms were already across her chest, and now she started rubbing her forearms, trying to keep warm. Suddenly, she felt something cover her, the cold air vanished. Jack's jacket was now draped over her shoulders. At first, she held it close to her, clinging to it's warmth, but then she remembered, "Your wound is irritated by the cold, remember? Take the jacket back." She began to remove it, but he grabbed her shoulders, holding her back, "Keep it for now. I'm feeling better. Besides, you're turning blue." Looking down at her hands, she saw that he was indeed right.

He started walking down the steps and said, "Wouldn't want you to freeze to death. Poor Will would be devastated." She grinned and pointed out, "You know, for a pirate who denies being a good man, you never cease to prove otherwise." He stopped dead in his tracks, turned to face her, opened his mouth to speak...and nothing came out. He turned back around and started to walk off again. She giggled silently and heard him mumble, "Bloody Lizzie...always making me feel stupid...good man...pirate..."

Jack's hand gripped the helm. He could see Tortuga ahead of him. He could already smell the rum, see the smoke, hear the shouting. Good Ol' Tortuga. He'd once told Will, "If every town in the world were like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted." He chuckled to himself. Then, he heard a soft moan. Looking around, he saw Elizabeth emerge from the captain's quarters.

She stretched her arms and scratched her head. Her hair was a mess. Wiping her eyes, she let out a yawn and started walking up to steps to where he was. Right now, she seemed perfect to him. This was what he wanted, but could never have. She yawned again, pointing, then asked, "Is that Tortuga?"
"Aye."
"What are we going to do when we get there?" She stretched again.
"Find Gibbs. He can always find a crew for me."
"Great. More pirates." She said this sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Make sure you keep my jacket on you. Keep it tight on you, wrap it around or something. The pirates here aren't 'good men' like I am." He'd made quotation marks with his fingers when he said "good men".
"I'll need to get clothes when we arrive."
"That would be a good idea. I know a couple pf girls who could get you a dress."
She grunted and said, "I'm sure you do, Jack, but I can't wear a dress and wield a sword at the same time."
"Sure you can."
"No I can't. I'll get some men's clothes."
He sighed and replied, "Men's clothes do not flatter you at all."
"You've said that before, and it still has no effect on me."
He just shook his head and sighed again.
"Thank you for...carrying me into the captain's quarter's last night." She was struggling for words. Was she ashamed?
"S'alright...but I must admit, you're heavier than you look!"
She smiled at him.

Gibbs had not had a drink all morning, and it made him sad just thinking about it. Ever since Jack had left, he'd been enjoying the pleasurable company of Scarlet and Giselle, two of Jack's former lady friends, but now he was alone in Tortuga. He'd accidentally lost Jack the Pearl...and Jack had been pretty mad about it.

He walked into the saloon to have his morning drink. When he walked in, the pirates inside welcomed him with greetings like "Ahoy Gibbs!", "Whatcha up to, mate?", and "Where's my money?" He strolled up to the bar, with a smile on his face. Life was good in Tortuga. "Gimme the usual, Pete!" he called to the bartender. Pete walked over with Gibbs' drink and set it on the counter beside him. "You know, Pete, if every town in the world were like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted. That's what Jack and me always say."
"Aye, Gibbs."
"Heard anything on Jack lately?" He took a sip of rum.
"As a matter of fact, a few men came in here saying that he was on Curdy a few days ago."
"Curdy?" He took another sip of rum. 'Isn't that the island we left Miss Elizabeth and Will on?'
"You alright, mate?"
"I'm not sure." He was now chugging his rum, 'Why would Jack be there?'
"Hey, speak of the devil, it's Jack! Who's the other lad?"

Gibbs turned around. Aye, it was Jack...and the "lad" was Elizabeth. She was disguised as a man, once again. Jack locked eyes with Gibbs, nodded his head, and walked over, Elizabeth followed behind. They sat on the two barstools beside him. He and Jack smacked fists.
"Jack, how've you been?"
"Just fine, mate. Lost anyone's ship lately?"
"Uh...no...I noticed that you have somewhat of a limp."
"Had a little accident."
Gibbs chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief, taking a drink, "Jack, you have any more accidents and you're gonna fall apart...and how are you Mrs. Turner?"
Elizabeth smiled at him and replied, "Alright...um, could you call me Elizabeth?"
He raised an eyebrow, then turned back to Jack, "What can I do for you?"
"I'm going after the Fountain of Youth." He motioned to the map in his pocket.
"You need a crew?"
"That's where you come in." Jack turned to the bartender, "Get me a drink, Pete."
Gibbs took a sip of his own and asked, "Don't see why you need a crew. You can sail a ship with just the two o' you. Plus, you've already got the guide and the compass."
"It seems we have a little problem. Two problems actually."
"What?"
"Well, say someone thought they had taken care of everything and then said someone found out in fact that the problem has come back to haunt him and said someone also finds himself in a situation where he may have the map but still not know the way. And all the time, said person must risk life and limb to save his said life and limbs."
Once again, Jack made no sense. "Uh, what?"
Elizabeth cleared it up for him. "The Company is after Jack and me for information. They want to know where the pirate lords are, about Calypso, and Will."
"I see. What's the other problem?"
"The compass doesn't point to the Fountain for either of us."
"Really?"
"I don't even know where it points for me, and Jack's points to something else."
"Where does it point, Jack?"
Jack cleared his throat and waved his hand-he would not say.

Elizabeth started coughing really hard. "Can I have a pot or something?" she asked with urgency. Pete handed her a bucket and she threw up in it.
"You alright, Miss Elizabeth?" Gibbs asked her.
"I think the smell of the rum is getting to me, making me sick. I'm going to get some fresh air...well, try anyway." She grabbed the pot and walked outside. Gibbs turned back to Jack, he saw his eyes follow her out the door.
"Where does it point for you, Jack?"
"Nowhere, completely nowhere." He just wouldn't say anything.
"Jack..."
"Can we use you to point us in the right direction?" He changed the subject.
"If you tell me where the compass points."
"Ugh...never mind then."
"Jack...you can trust me, mate."
"Last time I trusted you with something, Barbossa ended up with it."
"Jack..."
"...her. It points to her." He motioned out the door.
"Ah, Jack. You're in love."
"Jack's eye widened in confusion and anger, "What?" he was almost shouting.
"You love her."
"I do not! Are you going to help us or not?" he was shouting now.
"Sorry, I can't."
Jack slammed his fist on the counter, "Why not?" he was still shouting.
"The compass always points to rum for me, Jack. There's never enough to satisfy me."
"Bugger. Bloody hell, who can we use, then?"
This one had even Gibbs stumped...but not for long, "Barbossa."
"Are you mad?" Jack exclaimed.
"Yes, but Barbossa wants the Fountain. It's his number one priority right now. T'was why he stole the Pearl from you."
"He didn't steal it from me, you lost it."
"We need to find Barbossa."

Elizabeth laid in the hammock, once again, in the captain's quarters on the Sea Dog. They had their new crew. They'd even managed to find Cotton and his parrot. Now they had to go find Barbossa. She heard Jack walk in, "You alright, love?"
"Sure, I think it's stupid to try and find Barbossa."
"We need him to find the Fountain. You want to live with Will forever, don't you?"
Did she? "Yes..." Really?
"Well then-"
"I still think it's stupid."
"I honestly don't care, love. Get some rest." He patted her boot a few times and sat on the chair by the hammock where she was lying. He shoved the side of the hammock and it started to swing. She desperately wanted him to join her on there, but she stopped herself. "Jack," she asked, "will you tell me where the compass points to for you...one day?"
"Sure...maybe...one day."
The last thing Elizabeth saw was his warm smile before her world went black.

When Jack awoke, Elizabeth's hammock was empty. It was still night, he could see the moonlight through the gaps in the ship's wooden walls. He stood up and walked outside the cabin to try and locate her. He pushed open the door and there stood Collins with a gun pointed at Elizabeth's throat...