Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind.

Title from a song by Say Anything

Chapter 2: A Walk Through Hell

Glancing up at the couple talking with his crewmen he wondered why he just stared around hoping to see her. First thing he would do is run, he was not going to on the end of her wrath and especially after he taught her a great deal about fighting, which already added to what she knew. She would be dangerous to anyone, especially him.

"Capt'n?" Jack turned his attention to Gibbs; he knew exactly what he was asking just not out loud so the Turner's could share their opinions.

"Aye Gibbs, I don't see much to worry about."

Gibbs nodded watching Jack move over to a table by himself and deeper in the shadows, he knew that the man was hiding and for once he didn't blame Captain Jack Sparrow. "Women are bad luck." There was no doubt about that, especially if the one in mind come after him and throttled him within an inch of his existence.

She stopped staring up at the most familiar place in all of Tortuga, his main stop and what he defined as part of his freedom. She would watch him flaunt, flirt and wander off. He was always back there on the ship at her side and telling his tall tales. She felt her lips turn into a slight smile; he was a very talented story teller and used his silver tongue well. He had her actually believing she was the reason he always returned, she knew it was his ship though. Unfortunately the closeness that come slowly with them eventually erased all those things she knew were true.

Maddison had let her heart win over common sense; she was still paying the price for the stupidity of her mistake and the truth of who he really was. For some reason though she waited, hoped and searched. Eventually she got scarred, fought for her life and made herself a permanent resident of Tortuga. Now that she was part of his world it was time for her to wake him up, his perfect freedom was about to be interrupted by the woman scorned and not even his first mate could protect him this time.

Jack watched people come and go, shipmates leave with women and yet Gibbs and the Turners always remained close. He didn't feel any need for alarm and was starting to settle into a calm state, blond wild curls caught his sight and made the brief relief disappear so fast he sunk lower in his seat.

"Bugger." He watched the figure seeing she was just another of the Tortuga wenches and closed his eyes breathing in relief. "Mate your hiding from a girl." He waved his hand trying to get the madness and voices to bugger off.

Few new it but while he was in Davy Jones's locker he had gone further round the bend, even he admitted he was a tad more insane than before. It didn't matter though because that had been the only change, most just ignored it and he often tried. (Usually failing.)

"So what, she will do worse than Lizzie did." Again his hand dismissed the voices like some sort of irritating insect. Slowly he sipped at his rum eyeing the commotion only Tortuga could have, dark eyes scanning the entrance and he froze. He winced hearing his mug hit the table and felt a sudden urge to crawl under said table. "Pride mate, she's a girl." "Easy for you to say, your voices." Making a face he slowly slid himself deeper into the shadows and ducked down further hoping she wouldn't notice.

Just because he didn't want to be noticed didn't mean he wasn't looking, it had been four years and in that time he had often wondered just how pirate world savvy she was. Her hair was still waist length untamable curls held back by a blue bandanna, she still had the fondness for the rich blue shirts, black corset and trousers, the black boots still carried the hidden handle of a dagger with a sapphire gem in the end. Her sword at her side and body language indicated she was looking for something or someone, he knew that look and the stance. He was the someone; making another face at the idea he sunk further in the darkness of the shadows hoping she would bypass him.

Maddison scanned each and every inch of the tavern, eyes moving across each face and closely at those ones shadowed. Her determination interrupted only by the fact she had to duck a brief fight on the stairs and watched the pair fall into a table below. The bang made her roll her eyes before she started her way down the stairs.

"If you're here and hiding it's going to be worse." She murmured a few less than kind words as she looked.

She saw no sign of him anywhere, she again found herself interrupted only this time it wasn't what she expected. "I owe ye one Maddison and it isn't goin to be pleasant." Her brow quirked in confusion, she got into so many fights all the idiots were starting to look alike. "You gave me this nice cut and now I'm going ta do more tha jus bruise yer pre'y lil' neck."

"Ah so that's why my throat hurt." She ducked the first swing reaching into her boot and slashed his arm for a second time; he caught the wound glaring daggers at her. "Don't push me, I'm pissed off." She warned startled when he decided against his wound and went to smack her.

He also had a nice grip on her armed hand and from what she gathered it would hurt.

CRACK

She wasn't wrong, it hurt like hell but it didn't stop her from retaliating and sending him down gripping his most precious assets with a groan, it also got him a nice crooked nose and lost teeth. Being familiar with the chaos a fight cost she quickly went for the stairs and outside onto the porch of the 'Faithful Bride' to examine her wound.

Jack watched in fascination when she recovered so quickly from such a savage blow, he was fuming that she was smacked around but he wouldn't have gotten there fast enough. He smirked when the guy went down for the count and then noticed her flee the tavern. He knew well that it would cause another familiar fight and one that would be a good idea to leave behind.

Gibbs and the Turners followed the crafty Jack from the fighting and outside to the porch. A quick scan of the area indicated a brief reprieve from her but not for long. He walked behind the others listening to Elizabeth comment on her great recovering and how wonderful of a fighter the strange girl had been

"I know from personal experience Lizzie."

"Tell the Turner's that then Jack, see how they feel after you're done?"

Again he moved his hands in annoyance before halting. "Bugger"

Gently she touched her mouth finding blood and sighed tenderly brushing it aside, her face would bruise but it wasn't anything Molly hadn't seen before. She was there with each and every scar Maddison had earned and was usually there to pick her up and clean her up. Swearing she briefly touched her cheek again before glancing back the way she had come.

"I wish I had found him before that." Slowly she walked down the stairs and leaned against them.

Contemplating the lecture and argument she would have with Molly, Maddison murmured less than pleasantly before turning to go back to the 'Ladies Pride' she knew that there would be work and she was in really no mood to go drink herself into another comma so soon after the previous night.

She froze hearing a familiar voice before blue eyes met all too familiar dark ones. "Jack!"

"Not good mate." For once he ignored the understatement and tried his hardest to look surprised and less like he wanted to run for his life. "Maddie, great to see you love."

CRACK

Catching his cheek he felt like he received a blow that would cause whiplash. "Oiy." He remembered her strength well as well as her terrific aim. "Can we," he dodged her foot knowing what she was aiming to do. "Talk about this?"

Her fury was getting the better of her, he hadn't changed and was still trying to talk his way out of whatever he gotten into. He was the same old Captain Jack Sparrow. Dark hair dreadlocks and trinkets galore, white shirt, gray trousers, dark gray coat and weapons all in their proper order. He had not changed at all, still a swaggering rum soaked pirate and red bandanna. Still the miserable pirate that left her behind.

"Too late for that Jack." She spat her eyes he noted were not a soft blue but a sea raging blue and she was definitely angry.

She didn't notice his changes but he did hers, his dark eyes immediately went to her face and he noted her scarred eye. She had hardened alright but for a price he never really intended her to have to pay. Maddison Tempest had changed and from what he could see it wasn't for the best, he had been more than stupid and now he could see his mistake looking him in the eye.

"Love what happened to you?" She froze in her anger driven tirade noticing his dark eyes were studying her.

"My scars." Her hands instantly went around herself the idea that she lost even a remote chance he would want her back. Gently she reached up tracing the familiar lines and shrugged. "I was outfought briefly." She didn't understand the strange look he was giving her; it wasn't the same Jack she knew from before.

Jack had changed. "Is he still alive?" he lifted a hand to reach out to her but she backed off.

"Decidedly not."

He smiled slightly at her sour tone before turning serious again and tilting his head to the side. After four years she had changes even he wouldn't have expected, the next thing was actually getting her to talk to him after what he had done. He was aware of three individuals watching the exchange, the Turner's seemingly the most curious and Gibbs eyeing him sympathetically. He knew her capabilities from her time on the ship and with the crew.

He withdrew all appendages knowing that in her case they might be ripped off. "Can we talk alone love?" her eyes fell to Gibbs and the unfamiliar couple behind him. "Gibbs, Lizzie, Will go amuse yourselves."

"Go to hell Jack Sparrow." She ignored him and stormed off to the 'Ladies Pride' she wasn't going to melt and Molly was in for an ear full.