"Enjoying yourself, love?" Jack asked me as he passed on his way to the wheel.

"Yes," I replied, "actually I am."

And I was telling the truth. Life aboard the Interceptor was not as hard to cope with as I had fist feared. I did as much as I knew how and Jack helped me when I didn't have a clue what I was doing, which, if I'm honest, was quite a lot of the time. But the work was enjoyable and it was a lovely day to be spending outdoors.

"When will we be in Tortuga?" I called over to Jack.

"Should be by nightfall," he replied and I smiled at the good news.

"Good." I said. "Where do we go from there?"

"We pick up a crew and head to the Isla de Meurta; we could have your Elizabeth back within the week."

I nodded. There was a pause.

"Isabel," he said slowly, with the air of someone who deciding the best way to phrase an awkward question.

"Yes?"

"Where did you get that medallion?"

I looked away, letting my hair fall over my face to hide my discomfort. I had been expecting that question to come up, but I had hoped I could avoid it as long as possible. I kept quiet, hoping he would let it pass or think I hadn't heard him, but he saw through me.

"Isabel, love?"

"I can't tell you." I sighed.

"Can't or don't want to?"

"Both, so please drop it." I said.

"If I guess, will you tell me?" he asked. He took my silence as a 'yes'. "You stole it."

I wasn't a question, it was a statement. And he was spot on. My jaw dropped. He ducked down and lifted my hair way form my face to study my expression. He tilted my face to his and laughed. I didn't care for being laughed at. I felt a flush creep up the back of my neck.

"And you stole it from William," his voice was low, but I glanced around to check Will wasn't anywhere near.

"How did you know that?" I whispered. He smiled.

"Lucky guess," he gave a carefree shrug with his blatant lie. I sighed. His smile widened, "and I'm going to make another one; Elizabeth now has it."

I didn't say anything. I didn't have to; he knew from my expression that he was right. He nodded and started to walk away.

"How did you know all that?" I called after him as he breezed past. "And if you say it was a 'lucky guess' I'll punch you."

This amused him, "That's not very ladylike, but I bet you punch like a girl!"

"Jack!" I glowered at him.

"Not telling, you'll have to hope your guesses are a lucky as mine." His eyes danced with laughter. I desperately wanted to outsmart him.

"That's why they took Elizabeth as their only hostage." I was surprised to find that I already knew the answer. His smile faltered.

"Yes," he said, "very good, love."

I chewed on my bottom lip. We had stolen the medallion from Will, did that mean he was associated with them. I mumbled something about having to leave, although I wasn't sure where I would go. I couldn't exactly leave the ship. In a daze I began to slowly walk away from Jack. Was this my fault? If I had hung onto the medallion a little longer , would she still be with us?

"Isabel," Jack's voice made me turn even before I realised I'd heard it. "It's not you're fault, love. If she hadn't had that medallion she probably wouldn't be alive. They'd have shot her immediately," he assured me. I nodded. "And I won't tell William if that's what you want."

"Please don't. We did it for the right reasons, we thought-"

He held up a hand, cutting my explanation shut. "Save your breath, love, I don't need to hear reasons, I'm sure yours are better than any of mine."

"Can you tell me why?"

"No." he said, "I'm afraid you just going to have to trust me."

"Alright," I nodded. If he could keep my secret I would have to trust him.

***

My heart jumped straight into my mouth when I saw Will talking to Jack. Would he tell? I walked over feeling ill.

No, he hadn't said anything. Will was just boring Jack, for unfathomable reasons, with his life story; "After my mother died I came out here, looking for my father, William Turner," he said. That was the only bit that caught my attention. I knew what Will was doing now; he wanted to know how Jack had known his father's name.

"Is that so?" Jack appeared uninterested.

"In the jail, it was only after you learnt my name that you agreed to help us, as that's what I wanted I didn't press the matter. I am not a simpleton, Jack." Will scowled. Unbeknown to him, Jack had raised his eyebrows disbelievingly at me when he had declared himself as "not a simpleton". I bit back a laugh. Jack winked, Will continued, "You knew my father?"

Jack lowered his eyes, deep in thought. "I knew him," he eventually sighed, "Probably one of the only ones who knew him as William Turner, everyone else just called him Bill, or Bootstrap Bill."

"Bootstrap?" Will repeated, looking just as confused as I felt.

"Good man," Jack nodded, "Good pirate. I swear you look just like him."

I gasped. Will was outraged.

"My father was not a pirate!" he said, "He was a merchant sailor, a good respectable man who obeyed the law."

Jack chuckled, "He was a bloody pirate and a scallywag."

"That's not true!" he drew his sword "My father was not a pirate."

Jack didn't even have to turn round to know Will had his sword out. "Put it away lad, there's no use you getting beat again."

Again? What did that mean? Had Will and Jack fought before? Evidently I was right and it wasn't Mr Brown who had stopped Jack in the blacksmith's.

"You didn't beat me; you ignored the rules of a fair fight. I'd have killed you!" Will's voice quivered with rage.

"Well, then, that's no reason for me to fight fair now, is it?" said Jack. I felt him pull on my arm with one hand as I saw him grab the wheel with his other. He pulled me down to the deck and turned the wheel sharply. The boat turned sharply and the boom swung around and hit Will in the chest. His sword flew out of his hand and landed on the deck with a clatter as the boom he was now clinging to carried him out over the sea. He dangled above the foaming waves. Jack stood up and I followed suit, my eyes flickering warily between Will and Jack. For the first time since we had recruited Jack's help I was fearful of him.

"Jack, what are you doing?" I asked as he picked up Will's sword and pointed it at him. It was a stupid question, as it seemed pretty apparent that he was in the middle of threatening Will. I suppose it was for that reason that he ignored me.

"So long as you're just hanging there, pay attention, the only rules that matter are these; what a man can do and what a man can't do. For instance you can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man, or you can't, but pirate's in your blood boy and you're going to have to square with that one day. Now me, I could let you drown, but I can't bring this bloody big ship into Tortuga all by me onesie, savvy?"

I didn't point out that I was here too; I was busy trying to figure out what to do about Will. I couldn't fight Jack, I wasn't anywhere near strong or skilful enough, but I couldn't let Will drown!

"So," Jack spun the wheel again. This time I knew what was coming and ducked. Will landed on his back. Jack stood beside him, the sword at Will's throat, "Can you sail under the command of a pirate," he flipped the sword so that the hilt was facing Will, "Or can you not?"

"Tortuga?" Will grabbed the sword.

"Tortuga," Jack nodded.