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. A/U Story

Title from a song by Our Lady Peace

Chapter 5: World On A String

"I didn't need you dead," he wasn't going to give into what she wanted, he wasn't capable of what she wanted of him. "Regardless of all that's happened, you were the closest I've come to a friend in a while Maddie. You know that I don't have friends." She saw he wouldn't let her in, he wanted it dropped before both of them regretted what they would say next.

"No regrets, nothing in return, a pirate and I'm not any better. I hate you Jack, really I do." She was beyond furious, he changed but not as much as she hoped. "I should have stayed for the slaughter." She wanted to be anywhere but his cabin.

She was stupid and knew it with every fiber of her being, it didn't mean she had to give into that stupidity and she wouldn't. He saw her turn to leave and for some reason unknown to him he stopped her slapping his hand on the door and preventing her from leaving. Both were not getting anywhere, both would always fight and she wasn't going to get away from it.

"I don't want you dead."

"You don't want me either, you just want what I have and that's it."

"Love, you have always known what you were getting into." She wouldn't deny it but she refused to turn around. "I won't change, I'm not what you think I should be. I'm a scallywag, scoundrel and rogue. You know exactly where my stance is on what you want of me."

"It doesn't mean I have to like it Jack." She tried to open the door again and sighed when he refused to let her go. "Jack, please let me leave." Her voice was strange, he didn't want to let her go but knew forcing her there if she wanted to let out emotions he had to.

He released the door and watched her go. He didn't give chase and instead sighed going back to the maps on his desk.

She went to the railing of the ship taking in everything including the lousy confrontation she just finished with Jack. She was so furious with him she was certain she would do something violent and not in the kinky way he would hope for. Reacting on instinct she turned to the movement behind her and froze her fist inches from Will's face, his concern gave her reason to pause and filter through the many thoughts going through her head.

"Are you alright?"

"Hell no." she was shaking she was so angry. "I'll live though, I'm used to it Will." She crossed her arms staring across the vast ocean, she knew the port wasn't too far because the crew seemed restless.

"How can you love someone who hates the thought of any kind of emotional attatchment?"

"Emotion? Ha, he is a cold black hearted bastard Will and he isn't going to let anyone or thing in." he was taken back by the cruel sound in her voice, she sounded beyond repair emotionally and worst case scenario homicidal.

He wondered if it would be wise to try and comfort her, Elizabeth was watching at a distance and seemed troubled. Her gentle nod toward her husband indicated she thought it alright for him to be there, she understood one thing about Maddison after seeing her lead to the brig. She was infatuated with Jack and it was a lost cause.

She shook her head laughing softly before realizing she sounded like a mad woman. "I love him so much it hurts and know he won't do anything. Nothing comes from loving someone who can't love back and yet I'm still dimwitted enough to stay. I let him order me around like some personal wench and still fight back, I am a walking contradiction. Ever been that before Will?"

"No."

"I know I've lost my sanity, it comes with being with that man for longer than any willing sane person would chose to." He smiled slightly, amusement was in her voice and she sounded less like she would kill someone.

He wasn't sure if he dared or not but he brought it up anyway. "There are ways of getting things out of Jack if you have the right leverage." She arched a brow at that, Will wasn't a whelp anymore like Jack was fond of calling him.

He was a man and had his own share of schemes. She even dared to think that Jack may have rubbed off on him during the time they knew each other. He went back to his duties leaving Maddison to work his words out on her own, it may have been just the thing she needed.

Jack remained glaring at the things before him, his anger festering until he again whipped a bottle across his room. His voices were louder than ever, the woman he brought back into his life to make him miserable was on just as unpleasant as he was. Neither seemed able to get what they wanted, she had truly become much like her surname a raging tempest. He lay his head down on his desk in brief surrender before swearing and standing.

"Why do I insist on punishing myself with women?" he started toward his door and paused, he opened the compass in his hand before snapping it shut violently and putting it back in his pocket. "Bloody thing, still doesn't work." Shaking his head he left.

Outside he could see clouds coming in, but the storm would hit during their stay in port. They wouldn't be riding the waves in it this time. He scanned the ship deck for signs of wild golden curls and a fury driven speech at some random mate of hers. He listed Anna-Maria, Will and Elizabeth the most likely ones she would go to.

He found none of them speaking with her, his surprise was mild at best though because he had been admittedly hiding in his cabin for an hour or so after their blow out. Jack walked across the deck searching for the women that vexed his life and existence. He finally found her at the back of the ship staring out across the water and leaning on the railing.

He admitted she was pretty, her hair flowing in ringlets to her waist, blowing light with the growing wind. She had always been pretty and wild. That was why he found an attraction to her to begin with, he remembered the day they met and the first of many small battles. They always remained on good terms and then the day she got emotional and confess he left her behind. It was just as well because her safety was at stake the longer she followed him into his Davy Jones mess.

Here he was starting all over again, only this time the past was a major blockade in his way and it was his fault she felt the fury and hurt she did. "Guilt is an ugly thing." He cringed wishing he had some peace of mind just for an hour, most of all he missed the silence he once had.

"Maddison?"

"No pet names this time, it would seem I hit on a sore subject." Her voice was full of spite and sarcasm.

It wasn't lost on him and only irritated him slightly. "You are the most stubborn, untamable, spiteful, bitter and irritating woman I have ever met love. Can't you just for a little while forget?"

"No I can't Jack." She turned her gaze hard like the coming storm. "I won't."

He gave up, his hands swung in the air and he turned to leave her to vent. She moved swiftly across the deck and caught his wrist forcing him to spin and meet her gaze.

"You can bury your head all you want Jack. Someday you will have to face that dirty little secret you keep hidden, even you don't have an off switch." She released him and moved back to her previous position.

He raised his hands in a gesture that indicated strangling her would be in his best interest before lowering his hands with great reluctance. No matter what he knew that she often was right and he didn't want to think that this time she was still going to be right.

He was never so happy to see Garnet port, a small pirate friendly town that was way out of the way of most law enforcement. He needed some time away from her, he had brought her into his sanctuary and now for an obvious reason had some regrets. He was the first off the ship the minute they docked and he fled to the nearest tavern for what might have remained of any sanity he had left and several drinks.

She watched him as he fled her eyes following him until she saw nothing of his distant form. Shaking her head she turned to face her new found ally in torturing Jack, at least in her opinion. Will seemed unsure of how to react to the pair, Elizabeth kept her distance due to the fact she found both frightening at present.

Anna-Maria just lingered at her side used to the pair having their issues. "Ye know lass, he is goin' to be one hurtin' man in the mornin'." She smiled slightly, it wouldn't have been the first time she had somehow driven the rum soaked pirate into a deep binge that would actually give him a headache.

"He isn't that angry yet Anna, he'll come back swearing because I got into his head. I just wish I got somewhere else too." She sighed patting her friend on the shoulder before going into Port with the Turners following.

Maddison opted for sticking on the ship for a little bit to see if Jack did come back like she suspected he would.

He refused to give in, he wasn't going to go back there and fight again. He had a lot of fight left but neither would get anywhere with the other. Sometimes he had to wonder who was more stubborn, he at present felt it was her and was very sure she felt he was the problem.

"I hate her."

"No you don't, otherwise you wouldn't have cared what happened to her."

"I don't care."

He glanced up seeing a girl watching him with soft red hair, deep brown eyes and a flirtatious smile. She was flaunting her merchandise; he did notice but instead smiled slightly before waving her off. Jack Sparrow was in no mood for any women at the moment, including those that he usually was with.

He felt a presence watching him and turned, he jumped slightly before suspiciously eyeing the Turner's at his table. Both nodded in greeting but neither spoke, Will had hoped their presence might spark a sudden urge in Jack to go find Maddison. It did the reverse; Jack instead left the table and went after the girl he had dismissed a few minutes ago.

"That went incredibly well." Elizabeth eyed Will her sarcasm thick.

Will just shrugged seeing Jack had vanished but the woman he had went to was still working the room. "Maybe it did." He indicated his discovery seeing her smile slightly.

"You're going to her willingly mate. I thought you hated her?"

"I do hateher which is exactly why I'm going back to the ship. I'm going to drop her into the ocean and pray something eats her."

"Now would be a time you miss the kraken."

"Shut up!"

Arguing with himself obviously didn't solve half the problems he had; he wanted to go to that island and her along was not making his mission easier. Perhaps he could convince her into believing he cared; he considered that for a long moment. It could work and it would give him his peace of mind and what she wanted most. He was a pirate acting was second nature to him.

"Maddison isn't easily fooled mate."

He nearly growled at that before finding himself glancing up at the Black Pearl and glance across for her, the thorn in his side that never seemed to make life easier for him. His gaze settled on her watching out across the town, clearly she was waiting for him to come back and he could already gather she was probably full of herself because he did come back.

He jumped aware she was walking across the docks toward him; he hadn't realized he stood there so long. She paused head tilt in an inquiring fashion, her eyes watching him intently. He could see the mixed emotions there, at present her eyes were dark probably much like he figured his own were. Neither was over their anger issues.

"Didn't find what you wanted in Garnet?"

He did all he could not to hiss through his teeth. "Didn't stay to find out." He snapped seeing that telltale smile that indicated all he was doing was greatly amusing her. "I truly despise you right now woman, you are the curse of my existence and you accuse me of being the black hearted bastard, you're not much better." He saw it coming but didn't react fast enough.

SMACK

Catching his cheek he glanced skyward miserably, she didn't hit him often but when she did it hurt like hell itself. "One of these days I will learn to tie your hands behind you before I shoot off my mouth." She didn't smile at that, just had her hand loose at her side ready for another strike if he continued to be the jerk he knew he was being.

"One of these days I might knock your teeth down your throat."

"Aye, you might succeed." He dodged, this was a familiar battle of wits and her violent side was showing. "Love, stop with the slapping or you're not going to like me." She glared resisting the urge to do so just to make herself feel better.

"Why do you constantly do this, you put yourself through hell and all I try to do is keep you safe. I don't ask for anything in return and you shouldn't expect me to give you something I don't give. I'm not an emotional sort; I hate the word and many others. I could list them all but I think each of them might just make your wrath worse." She allowed her smoldering gaze to linger with his before clasping her hands into fists.

"Beat him senseless." She squelched that idea seeing he was just daring her to try, he wouldn't take her punching him out lightly and the brig wouldn't be her only problem when he was done. He never did hesitate to make her know who was in charge, he was captain and under his grace now. She left Tortuga therefore making herself vulnerable; she was in his territory now.

"Right here Maddie." He indicated his chin, all she did was resisted the urge to scream.

It was exactly what he wanted.

"I might Jack, I've never been afraid of you." He arched a brow a smug expression on his face.

Both turned to a sharp bang sound in the distance, it wasn't much different then Tortuga. The town was a little more presentable and less dangerous but it was still pirate friendly and with it troublesome for those that were honest. Shaking her head she returned to her confrontation with Jack, he just stared out into the town body language indicating he was alert for any signs of a threat.

She resisted the urge to ease his clear discomfort and issues; he wouldn't take kindly to it in his current mood and would turn it around on her. She crossed her arms hoping she found a way to avoid lashing out at him.

"I need to get the crew, find the Turners and Anna." He left before she could question, his strangely alarmed tone had her on full alert though.

One thing she learned a long time ago was to trust his instincts. She ran into town in the general direction Jack had come from, it was by dumb luck she managed to find them. Both of them were leaving the tavern and luckily Anna-Maria had caught up with the couple. Elizabeth being the first to notice she was out of breath scanned the area for trouble before making the others aware.

"Ship." She managed before turning back the way she had come from followed by the three others.

They were on the ship readying with the rest of the crew that seemed to be making their way steadily back to the Pearl. The one person lacking was Jack and that didn't ease her mind at all. She knew very well that Becket was evil and he would buy anyone to help him, she also had a very good idea and feeling he wouldn't hesitate in his treason like ways. Her instincts were screaming at her to get on the ship, her heart had other ideas and much like she hated to quote him, she did something stupid going down the dock in the direction Ragetti indicated he had last seen Jack.

"Jack where are you?" she whispered glancing in between crates seeing shadows further down the docks and everything told her not to go investigate.

She heard shuffling in the crates off to her right and by instinct caught the arm of the individual swinging them into the open before on into the nearest crate. Royal Navy she knew wasn't better than EITC. She moved about the shadows of the cargo on the docks before smacking into exactly who she was searching for.

He spazed in a fashion only Jack could before realizing who it was. "Are you bloody crazy Maddie, they're looking for you too." She shrugged indicating silence before she again swung someone into a crate, this time the uniform made her recoil. "EITC, Navy and probably others." He muttered lifting anything useful from the unconscious form before both eyed each other each uncomfortable by what they were seeing.

"Everyone is on the ship, I just came looking for the one in charge." She went back the way she had come, Jack following after her and both more cautious than before.

It wasn't long before they were leaving Port; luckily the pair had made it back to the ship in one piece and unnoticed. She went about her work ignoring Jack, their issues were still clear and she didn't make it any less tense going to look for him like the lovesick puppy she thought she was. Shaking her head she tried to push all her dark thoughts aside and focused on her work with her friends.

A few hours things were calm and no sign of any threat had been in the waters. She relaxed and slowly walked across the ship talking softly with Elizabeth about her misadventure to look for Jack. Both of them discussed their fears and their mild alarm at the navy and EITC being so far out of their usual patrol waters, Elizabeth even sharing her loathing for Lord Becket among other things that were a concern for her.

She was interrupted by a call from the helm; Jack appeared to be ready to share a less than pleasant conversation from what she could see. She rethought that momentarily sensing something off about the way he was acting since returning to the ship, she didn't try to pretend she knew what he was up to but there was something in his eyes that gave away whatever it was.

"Time to show what a real pirate you are."

"She will be the end of you Jack, Maddison isn't that stupid."

He ignored all the voices he could hear including his own which was trying to talk him out of what he was going to do. He knew what was true in their little fights and what wasn't, he just hoped he could play the part enough that she believed it. He needed peace and it would be the only way he would get any of it.

Jack saw her conversation end the minute her eyes landed on him, he smiled slightly seeing Elizabeth about bolt for someplace other than where he was heading. Stopping in front of Maddison he saw her tilt her head trying to read into him, he could feel it like some sort of actual thing crawling on him.

"What are you up to Jack?"

He hated that tone, she used it every single time she suspected his intentions were not in her favor. She had some sort of sixth sense when he was scheming. "We're having a serious conversation, without the yelling match and in my cabin. Now." He left her glaring at his back, it wouldn't hurt to tick her off one more time.

He would have to swallow his pride for the present moment for all their sakes and his remaining sanity. He just hoped he was as good an actor as he thought he was. He flinched hearing his door slam, naturally she made her point know as well.

"Back in Garnet you did exactly what I didn't want you to do."

"So what, I'm still a glutton for punishment and misery. It's still all tied into you Jack and it won't…

"Quiet love," she grit her teeth having a sudden urge to smack him. "It got yours truly thinking…about everything." she quirked her brow, he was naturally skipping around the point he was trying to make.

He seemed more uncomfortable though which stopped her from commenting on him getting to the point. "Alright Jack, you have my attention please continue." He smiled slightly, so far it was going well.

"You wouldn't leave me behind, you wouldn't use me as fish bait and for some reason no matter how I push you away…you refuse to be put aside." She rolled her eyes, sometimes his speeches were tiring and the most irritating thing about him. "You always tell me to get my head out of the sand, to stop hiding and to stop using my defenses," he paused watching her closely, he couldn't tell if she was believing him or not.

"You do have a point?"

"What if I did stop, what if I somehow for the sake of argument say you might be right?"

Maddison's next comment froze on her tongue, her eyes shifted a bit wider before she tilt her head the opposite way. Her eyes examined him closely, studying him so intently he almost felt uncomfortable. She was trying to find the crack in his scheme, slowly looking for some fault and to see through the lie he was holding strong too.

"He's trying to say he may have feelings." She had to think over his words carefully, this was the one thing she had been angry over for four years and was trying to fight from him. He was deciding to push those issues aside and allow himself to feel something, to stop being the prick he had been.

Maddison's little happy bubble popped immediately before her gaze hardened. "Jack?" he indicated curiosity. "You hate every word involved with feeling."

"I didn't say a one of them, just implied them."

She smiled then, she slowly walked up coming closer to him then she had offered since smacking him. He could see she was feeling him out, he returned her gaze with what he hoped was a convincing sort of conviction.

"Use a word then pirate."

"WHAT!"

"Yeah use one, convince her mate."

He didn't move a muscle, she had caught him at least she thought she did and he very nearly gave himself away. He would have to somehow use a word tied into emotion, one that he would have to admit whether he liked it or not. Maddison wasn't as easily convinced as he hoped.

"I care Maddison and it's why I come back. I unfortunately had way to much time to think about it all." She saw him make no sign of recoil or flinch as he spoke.

Maddison was very nearly convinced, she just wasn't entirely sure if she could allow herself to hope again.

"I wish I could believe you Jack, unfortunately I know exactly how very, very good an actor you really are. You seem almost convincing but everything that's happened is contrary to what you are." He hadn't expected that, no matter how convincing he was she still wasn't going to surrender.

"What can I do to convince you Maddie?" he was almost ready to drop his charade and give into his annoyance.

She caught him off guard when she reached into his pocket and gently pulled out a familiar object. She waved it lightly in between them indicating what he needed to do. She stopped waving it and held the compass watching him eye it with a certain amount of frustration as well as doubt.

"I learned from the best, you."

"Aye and now you listen to me." He muttered sourly before eyeing the object with considerable loathing.

"It's the answer to my problem and yours." She watched him take it eyeing it before meeting her softened gaze, he could see the sympathy there and he knew she wouldn't back down.

He had to go through with it, the compass could be manipulated but it was very difficult and he had only ever seen Maddison accomplish it. He himself never got it to do what he wanted unless he fought with it.

"She's cruel mate, this isn't the same Maddison you had before."

"Open it." She whispered her eyes steady with his doubtful expression.

"You won't let me off easy will you love." She smiled softly at that shaking her head. "You always were stubborn to the end." He did consider opening it, he knew exactly what the thing would do and he wasn't going to have any of it. "If you doubt me enough to drag the compass into this, it would seem it isn't what you wanted." He slipped it back into his pocket, he had turned her own tricks on her.

Sometimes it was wise to never challenge the master at his own game. She didn't stop herself before she reached out grasping at his wrist. Jack paused turning watching her briefly for some sign of his plan working.

"You are the master of manipulation, I won't be the mistress." She turned to leave not seeing him clench his jaw or close his eyes in frustration.