I hated not knowing what was happening. I didn't want to be left behind, but fighting my corner against James was hard. I just didn't expect to come up against any opposition from Jack. I didn't expect James to see why I should help, as it was hard for him to see past my gender, but Will was my friend and he was in trouble. I expected jack at least to understand.

"Isabel," James snapped. "You are not coming and that's final!"

"But-" I protested.

"No!" he walked away, signalling the end of the conversation. Jack approached me.

"You have to tell him I should come!" I said.

"No," was his blunt reply. I was almost speechless.

"What?" I managed to breathe out the word.

"It's for the best, love," he told me. I shook my head.

"Why does nobody think I can help?"

"I know you could, love," he told me. He took a deep breath, "But I don't want you to come."

"You 'don't want me to'?" I stared at him.

"No, you need to stay where you're safe."
"You sound like James!" I protested loudly. "You don't think I'm capable either!"

"Listen! I promised I'd get you home and I did," he snapped. "Leave this to me. Our story ends here, Isabel, and you can't come with me!"

He walked away. I said nothing. I watched him go and realized that there was a huge possibility I wouldn't see him again. In one sense this was good. It meant he wouldn't have to face the gallows and he would be free. But I would really miss him.

I could have told him that. I could have, but I was too proud. I could have thanked him one last time for his help, but I was still too angry with him; with everyone. This wouldn't be the last time I saw Jack and there wasn't much anyone could do about it.

***

Nobody paid that much attention to me. I got a few nods from sailors, but that was about it. I climbed aboard a dingy with Redcoats who barely gave me a second glance. I kept my head lowered, trying to hide my smile. I wished I'd had time to tell Elizabeth about this, it really was a stroke of genius.

My heart sank as James and Jack climbed aboard the dingy too. If anyone was going to recognise me, it would be one of those two. I kept my head down and avoided eye contact, but I needn't have worried. They were both too preoccupied to notice me. The boat pushed off and I silently congratulated myself.

I had stopped kicking up a fuss long enough to sneak into the store room and steal an excess uniform. I quite liked the tricorn hat, but the wig was a little itchy. It didn't really fit all that well as it had all my hair piled up under it, but the hat kept it in place. I'd never worn trousers and I was seldom without a corset, but once I'd gotten over the initial weirdness of it I actually quite like it.

I pulled my weight with rowing the boat towards the Isla de Meurta which was shrouded in darkness and fog. The moon was out, casting a silvery light over everything. We came to a stop, drifting along with several other dingys just of shore.

"I don't care for the situation," James said. "Any attempt to storm the cave could turn into an ambush."

"Not," Jack contradicted, "If you're the ones doing the ambushing." He put his hand on James's shoulder, "I'll go in there and convince Barbossa to send his men out in their little boats. You and your mates can return to the Dauntless and blast the Jesus out of them with your little cannons, eh? What do you have to loose?"

James looked at Jack with distaste and removed his hand, "Nothing I'd lament being rid of."

Jack hadn't mentioned the curse, but he'd probably lift the curse and then send out Barbossa's men. It was probably wise he hadn't told James about the curse; James would never have believed him, though Jack was insane and Will would have been left to die.

"Now, to be quite honest with you," Jack continued, undeterred, "there's still a slight risk to those aboard the Dauntless, which includes that lovely sister of yours and of course, the future Mrs Commodore."

James sighed and the corners of Jack mouth twisted in a smile. He knew he'd won. Our boat began to row back. It was just Jack going ashore; I could live with that. With any luck I'd be able to change back into my usual clothes without anyone noticing I was missing. We climbed back aboard the Dauntless and another boat was lowered for Jack. He climbed in and began to row towards the Isla de Meurta on his own. He smiled to himself as he went. James watched him go with a growing amount of unease in his eyes.

"Gillette," he called. Gillette came running. I rolled my eyes; he was like James's personal dog! "Make sure Isabel and Miss Swann are locked safely in a cabin, but make sure it's separate ones, I don't want them plotting escape."

"Yes, sir," Gillette dashed off.

Oh dear. I would have to change quickly, but then James turned to us. "Everyone, back in the boats!" he ordered. I cursed inwardly as I was pushed back into the boat by one of the sailors. What was James doing? Why wasn't he sticking to the plan?

As the boat pushed of for the second time I realized it was all down to mistrust. I wanted to say something, speak up in Jack defence, but for obvious reasons, I couldn't. We sat in silence floating offshore. It scared me that we weren't doing what Jack had suggested. He knew Barbossa better than James did.

"What are we doing here?" Mr Murtogg whispered to his friend.

"The pirates come out, unprepared and unawares, we catch `em in the crossfire, send them down to see Old Hob." Mullroy smirked.

Murtogg sighed, "I know why we're here. I mean why aren't we doing what it was, what Mr. Sparrow said we should do, with the cannons and all?"

"Because it was Mr Sparrow who said it," James interrupted them.

"He knows what he's doing!" I snapped.

Every one turned to look at me.