Hello! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and your grammatical help. Because there are two authors, I can't hope to promise more then a chapter every two weeks. But please enjoy! -Luna

Carver, the pirate who opened the chest and yelled, was Jack's least favorite man on board- a good thing, because the feeling was mutual. Carver had wanted that gold, and could care less about the girl, who he picked up by the scruff of the neck and sent hurtling across the deck. Jack could see the girl now, and hissed in anger. Carver had had no need to throw her. Only Jack and the captain were watching the girl- Jack felt a strange fascination and slid closer towards her.

She hadn't said a word. She looked like she was about six years old- but she was not happy as a child should be. Her hair should have been thick and dark, but it was dull and stringy. She face was drawn and ghostly pale, with sunken eyes and lips almost blue with cold. She was wearing a tunic top, but it was so large it hung to her knees. Her arms were dangerously skinny, Jack felt like if he wanted to, he could easily snap one. Her cheeks were hollow, and her ankle bones stuck out dangerously. And she was rigid with terror. Jack kneeled next to her- her eyes flickered to him. They were gray, like the sea before a storm.

The crew finished ripping the chest apart- nothing of value. Carver bellowed in rage and turned to her girl. He seemed to blame her for not being made out of gold. She scrambled away from him, and he raised his huge booted foot to kick her in the gut. Somehow, Jack knew that the blow must not hit. Instantly, he shifted his weight so that the blow hit him instead- full in the chest. Pain exploded behind his rib cage and he gagged, but the girl cowering behind him was unharmed.

"CARVER!" Anger filled the captain's words. Carver flinched- he realized who he kicked. Not that he cared if Jack was injured, but he knew the captain did, and he would now probably want Carver's head on a silver plate. The young girl opened her eyes, wondering why the blow had not landed on her. Even though Jack was in immense pain, he was happy. The blow had landed on him, not the girl that could well be as frail as a porcelain doll.

"You lazy crew go and tie this brute to the mast, and Bruiser, I believe your whip needs some exercise. Use Carver's back." Carver struggled like caught fish as the crew dragged him to the mast to be tied their for his "punishment." Captain Sparrow then looked at his son, firm, but with a hint of pride at deflecting the blow.

"Jack, get up. It's time for your punishment- don't think I haven't forgotton. I have the perfect idea. You, my son, need to learn responsiblty." Jack averted his eyes. The captain looked at the girl with a mischievous smiled and he said, "Jack from now on this girl will be your responsibility." Jack's head shot up. "And you WILL take good care of her, understand?"

"Yes sir" Jack said quickly, not even wanting to think of the consequences if he failed to take good care of the fragile girl. The captain nodded then left.

When Jack looked over he realized that the girl was crying softly, and having grown up on a pirate ship, Jack had no idea on how to calm her. So he did the only thing he could think of- he knelt down next to her again.

"Don't worry girl, your in safe now, you've been adopted by the Pirates of the Black Pearl, and we will go through hell to keep you safe." Jack pulled the girl gently to her feet as he led her to a place to sleep. Hor he was tired and figured she probably was too. As she fell asleep, Jack couldn't help but feel protective over the girl who looked so innocent in her sleep. Sleep, he noticed, was the only time she actually looked peaceful. And I'm her care taker now. though Jack as he slipped quietly into slumber. She's mine.