Playing with Fire

'Splash.'

Sighing, Isabelle glanced down at the water, dark and frightening even though the lantern at the front lit the way. The boat ride was very quiet, which was strange since she never though Sparrow could be quiet this long. But he was almost deadly silent at the front of the boat, holding the light. Turner was quiet too as he rowed them along, but that wasn't as strange.

Closing her eyes, Isabella tried not to shiver as they finally made their way into the winding stream that lead them through the cave they entered. The atmosphere was almost eerie, as if death was close and ready to pounce on them the moment they let their guard down. It didn't help the moment she opened her eyes, she let out a small scream at the sign of pure white skull.

"Jumpy, love?" chuckled Sparrow. "Don't worry, no ghost is gonna jump out from the walls and try to get ya."

While she sent Sparrow a glare, Isabelle had to silently admit, she didn't like this feeling of death. It only reminded her of when her mother died, the room smelling like a corpse for days after she was gone, even though the maids scrubbed it from top to bottom each day for a week.

"What Code is that Gibbs is to keep to if the worst should happen?" asked Turner, breaking the silence that had fallen around them again.

There was a moment of silence. "Pirate's Code," Sparrow finally answered. "Any man who falls behind is left behind."

"James wouldn't let them leave us behind," spoke up Isabelle finally. He would make sure the crew of the Interceptor waited for her.

"Huh. No heroes amongst thieves, eh?"

"You know, for having such a bleak pirates, you're well on your way to becoming one," stated Sparrow. "Sprung a man from jail, kidnapped the daughter of an important official -"

"Kidnapped - I came on my own!" argued Isabelle.

"- commandeered a ship of the fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga. And, you're completely obsessed with treasure," said Sparrow as he swept a hand around them. Following his hand, Isabelle's eyes went a little wider. Piles of gold coins, a chest full of them, a golden cross, gold jewelery with multicolored jewels embedded in them. Even though she was no stranger to riches, she couldn't help but be a little in awe.

Everyone was forced to look away from the gold as the boat slid into the sand with a 'thump'. Both the men stepped out, and Sparrow held out his hand to her, helping her out. Isabelle winced as her boots sunk into the wet sand, but took her hand back and trudged to the dry part of the sand while Sparrow pulled the boat further in, so it wouldn't float away.

"That's not true," said Turner, sounding somewhat offended as Sparrow moved forward. "I am not obsessed with treasure."

Voices caught their attention, and Sparrow motioned for them to follow him into a cavern. They did so after glancing at each other and shrugging, joining him near the narrow window into another cave that this cavern had provided for them.

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate," said Sparrow in a hushed tone as he nodded at something through the opening. Joining him, Isabelle's eyes went wide at the gathering that was spread out before her.

Pirates. More pirates than she had seen in her entire life. And not just any pirates. They were the pirates that had invaded Port Royal and had kidnapped her brother while she was trying to protect him.

And there he was, right in the middle of them.

Biting her lower lip to stop herself from calling her brothers name, Isabelle looked over Johnathan. His clothes looked like they hadn't been changed or washed the entire trip, he looked like he hadn't seen a bath in the same amount of time, and he also looked tired and hungry. His hands were unbound, probably because they knew he wouldn't run when surrounded, and e was glancing at the person next to him nervously while stroking the head of the monkey that was sitting on his shoulders.

Turning her gaze towards the next person, Isabelle heard Turner breath out that persons name, one that she would have never heard if she hadn't been a mere inch away from him.

It was Elizabeth Swann.

Her own hands bound, Swann was standing tall and proud in a dark red dress that for once, didn't suit her. She looked tired and hungry, the same as Johnathan, but hide it better, even though her nervousness was obvious as she glanced over at the man next to her, who was speaking to the crowd below him with a giant smirk... Something was about to happen, and Isabelle already didn't like it.

"For ten years we've been tested and tried," said the man. He looked exactly like a pirate captain should - disguising and vile with a large hat. Immediately Isabelle disliked him more then any of the others. "And each man jack of you here has proved his mettle a hundred times over and a hundred times again!"

The men cheered and shouted, and all Isabelle couldn't do was let her brain go into overdrive as to how exactly she was going kill these monsters.

"Punished, we were. The lot of us - disproportionate to our crimes! Here it is!" He raised his foot and kicked away the top of the chest that he was standing behind. There was a sudden gleam as hundreds of gold coins shown in the darkness, and the captain smirked as he ran his dirty fingers over them, almost as if he was caressing them. "The cursed treasure of Cortes himself. Every last piece that went astray, we have returned -" He jabbed a finger at Swann's collarbone, where another gold coin rested around her neck. "- save for this."

Suddenly to her right, Turner was scrambling up in an attempt to climb down the slope that would let him slide into the room full of pirate, brushing up against a pile of gold coins. "Jack -"

With a hiss, Sparrow pulled Turner down, and even Isabelle pushed herself a little father down as she heard the coins that Turner disturbed in his scramble fall against stone. "Not yet," Sparrow whispered harshly, looking at the blacksmith with glare that clearly said he was being an idiot. "We wait for the opportune moment."

"And when is that?" snapped Isabelle as quietly as she could.

"When its of greatest profit to him, of course," snarled Turner even as Sparrow started pulling him back towards the boats. Isabelle glanced back at her brother one last time before she followed, trying to formulate a plan as quickly as possible. There was no easy way to sneak into the cavern without being seen. And it would practically be suicide to just walk into view of a room full of pirates. Perhaps she could get rid of her dress and sneak through the water. But how would she get Johnathan's attention and get him out unseen? He was just to close to Barbossa to make it near possible.

"Well, I've got no idea how to get in there," Isabelle finally sighed. "Do you have an plans, Sparrow..." She glanced around. "Sparrow?"

There was no one there anymore. No Sparrow, no Turner. Just her and the boat.

"Bloody hell," Isabelle groaned in an unladylike way. They just left her! She was just as much a part of this rescue mission as they were! Angrily, she kicked a pebble into the water before cursing under her breathe again, this time in Spanish. Now what she was to do? Her plans wouldn't work, and now she was all alone on a place called the Island of Death. Some gentlemen those two were...

Jumping at the sudden roar of anger, Isabelle's hand automatically went to her sword. She wasn't sure what was going on, but one thing was for sure - Barbossa was mad, and it sounded as if his pirates were rallying for something.

A single word ran through her mind. Run.

"Miss Bennett!"

Whirling towards the call of her name, Isabelle straightened as she saw Turner and Swann racing towards her, for some reason drenched and leaving a path of behind them, that almost looked like blood against the dark stone. "We have to leave," Turner urged. "They'll realized Miss Swann is gone."

"Wha - Isabelle, what are you -" started Elizabeth as she started at the dark haired girl in shock.

"Get in the boat, Miss Swann. Miss Bennett, please," Turner begged as he started gathering the oars from the other boats. A good plan, so that the pirates couldn't follow them. "We need to leave now."

Yes, leaving was a good idea.

But...

But she couldn't. Not while knowing her brother was still there.

"I will be staying behind, Mr. Turner," Isabelle spoke as firmly as she could. "Take Miss Swann and leave."

Turner paused in his work. "But Miss Bennett -"

"Do what you want, Turner," snapped Isabelle. "I am not going to abandon my brother though, or leave him with such horrible pirates. So its your choice. Go with Miss Swann and leave me behind, or stay and put her in more danger." She raised her chin in pride. "At least I can defend myself, as you have seen."

"Alright," Turner finally said with nod. "I understand."

Nodding, Isabelle turned to meet the tunnel, to the pirates that held her brother captive, but paused and asked without looking back, "And Mr. Sparrow? What has happened to him?"

"... I knocked him out and left him in a tunnel," admitted Turner quietly. "... Good luck, Miss Bennett."

"Thank you, Mr. Tuner... Tell James that I'm sorry." Isabelle said with a slight choke, keeping one hand on her sword. "But I'll be back, I promise."

"Alright," Isabelle finally heard Turner reply. Then she heard the boat being pushed into the water, and the splash of water as Turner went off with Swann. It wasn't until it was eerily quite again that she realized she was alone. Alone to save her brother. And alone when she meet her possible death.

As the shouts of the pirates started to close in on her, Isabelle wiped away the single tear that had rolled down her cheek and stood tall as a wave of pirates washed into the rooms, all shouting and cursing as they waved their weapons around.

Barbarians. all of them.

As their voices died when they finally noticed her, staring at her as she stood alone on the shore with a calm look on her face, Isabelle cleared her throat to hide her fear.

"Parley. I invoke the act of parley so that I can meet with your leader, the Captain Barbossa."

"So... what business do you have with me, Miss..."

Watching as Barbossa circled her like some kind of vulture, Isabelle held back a shudder. The man had aged badly, smelled horribly, and she wanted to vomit ever time he tried to flash a some twisted version of a smile at her. She could feel the darkness radiating off him, and it wasn't hard to imagine how easily he left Sparrow on an island.

So distract herself from the horrid man, Isabelle glanced to the small boy that stood a ways off. Johnathan was watching the scene with wide eyes while absentmindedly petting the monkey that sat on his shoulders, who gave a shriek when it noticed her gaze. He seemed alright, though looked very tired.

"Bennett," finally answered Isabelle. "You may call me Miss Bennett."

"Ah. Miss Bennett, then. And what is a young lady like you doing on my island, Miss Bennett?" asked Barbossa as he eyed the sword still at her side. He hadn't taken it, perhaps because they both knew it would be foolish to try and escape when trapped in a room full of pirates, all of them with their guns trained on her. "Or maybe the better question is, how did you find my island?"

"By the courtesy of a certain captain that you marooned ten years ago," said Isabelle calmly, even as anger filled Barbossa face with no hesitation. "He brought me here."

"Jack is alive?" Barbossa hissed. He didn't wait for Isabelle to answer him again before he shook his head and started to pace back and forth. "He should have died on that island of starvation or madness. How in blasted hell did he escape?"

This was probably not the best time to mention the story of Sparrow and how he supposedly escaped with sea turtles, so Isabelle kept silent as Barbossa continued to pace.

"Is he here, then?" asked Barbossa after a few moments of silence. "Or did he turn yellow bellied after you paid him?"

"He is still here, somewhere," said Isabelle with a shrug. "I wasn't exactly keeping track of him when he decided to abandon me."

"Ah, that be sounding like him... So, back to the reason you be here, Miss Bennett," Barbossa said with another grin. "Now why did you have my former mate bring you to Isle De Muerta, and why you need my help? Did you come for treasure?"

"I have no need for your silly treasures," said Isabelle with a slight snap. "But if you really must know, my reason because I need you to take me back the ship that brought me here, the Interceptor, which is anchored nearby, along with the boy that you brought with you," she said as she nodded towards Johnathan, who silently gasped behind the captains back. "Besides insuring our safety, that's all I want. And I'm willing to give a handsome reward in return for it."

"The boy?" Barbossa glanced over at Johnathan, who snapped his mouth shut but couldn't hide his large eyes. He jerked his head towards the exit, and one of the pirates lead him out, who was wise enough not to fight it."Now why would you be wanting my cabin boy, Miss Bennett?" he asked after her brother was out hearing.

"If you must know," said Isabelle after a moment of hesitation, "that cabin boy is my brother. Who you kidnapped from my home."

"Kidnap -" Barbossa let his head fall back and cackled, causing Isabelle to flinch at the rough sound. "I think you've got things wrong, missy. I didn't kidnap Johnny boy. He came to me, wanting to join my crew. Even lied about his last name, apparently. All because he wanted to become a pirate."

...What? Isabelle slowly turned to look towards the exit that the pirate had just lead Johnathan out of. He went to Barbossa? She didn't... she didn't understand. Why would her brother do such a thing? Why would he put her through such pain and suffering when she found out he was gone? Why would he do such a thing as run away, and force her to travel so far and long to find him?

Why, why, why?

"It doesn't matter," Isabelle finally said as she turned back to Barbossa with a snap of her head, her loose hair flying around her face. "He is coming with me."

"... Do whatever you want with him," shrugged Barbossa. "Take him, don't take him. Frankly, I don't care. But, he don't go without a price being paid. So," the pirate glanced her over with a grin that made Isabelle want to shudder, "what will you give me for taken you two back to this ship of yours? Mm? What do you have of value to me?"

"Gold," replied Isabelle instantly. "I will give a sack of gold in exchange for both the boys and my safe return."

Barbossa chuckled, and the grin on his face became even wider. "Now why would I be wanting gold when I have all this?" he asked as he waved a hand over the riches in the cave.

"Because my gold isn't cursed," answered Isabelle with her own smirk. "And besides, what kind of real pirate can resist the allure of gold, mm?"

The look on Barbossa's face fell for a long moment before he grunted in reluctant agreement. "Fine. A sack of gold then if I keep to my end of the bargain." He held out his hand. "Do we have an accord, then, Miss Bennett?"

Inwardly grimacing, Isabelle tried to hide the look of disgust before she reached out and quickly shook his hand. She took her hand back and grimaced, wiping it on the skirt of her dress. "An accord," she said shortly as she reached to her side and unclasped the sack of coins. She tossed it towards the captain, who caught it with a quick hand.

Shouts caught their attention, and Isabelle bit back a groan as she saw the other pirates drag Sparrow into the room, who for some reason was clinging to an oar. "I see your men found my guide," she said with a short nod towards them.

"Aye, its seems they have." The angry look came back to Barbossa as his men brought Sparrow forward. "Hello, Jack," he sneered as he slid the gold sack into his jacket.

"Hello." Sparrow seemed to be a little woozy, using the oar to stand up right. "You're looking... well, you look rather... you look bloody awful," finally stated the pirate blandly.

"Says the man that's suppose to be dead," Barbossa shot back without pause.

"Everyone keeps saying that," said Sparrow with a shrug. "I think that I look rather good after ten years of wandering around the seven seas looking for you."

Rolling his eyes, Barbossa said, "Never thought I'd have to see you again, since I'm very sure I left you for dead on an island ten years ago. So how in blazes did you get off that island?"

"When ya marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate." Pausing for a dramatic effect, Sparrow smirked and swept out one of his hands dramatically. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

"Ah," said Barbossa as he stepped forward, almost right in Sparrow's face as he smirked. "Well, I won't be making that mistake again." He glanced at Isabelle before turning towards Sparrow again. "And for what reason would you be bringing a woman with you, eh? Knowing you, the reason is worth much more then gold."

For the briefest second, Sparrow glanced over at her, and from behind Barbossa, Isabelle let her eyes go a fraction wider. She didn't know what the man would say, but she prayed that he wouldn't give out the truth, that Isabelle came not just because Johnathan was her brother, but because their father wouldn't come for them. Or that her high ranking fiance was waiting for her. It wouldn't take much for a smart, or even a dull pirate to understand that they were worth a much larger amount then she just gave them.

But they didn't know that her father would never allow it to be payed, even with his own children's lives hanging in the balance.

"Don't know, don't care," said Sparrow with a shrug. "When your being paid, you don't question your employers too much."

Frowning, Barbossa turned to his men. "Gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow." The crew laughed and chuckled at this. "Kill him," he ordered as he started to walk away. Clicks filled the air, and Isabelle forced herself not to close her eyes, instead biting her lower lip to hold back a cry.

"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?" said Sparrow, strangely calm.

Pausing, Barbossa seemed to be having an internal struggle before he snapped out, "Hold your fire!" Ignoring the sad moans of the crew as they lowered their weapons, he turned back to them, his eyes narrowed. "You know who's blood we need?"

Sparrow grinned. "I know who's blood you need. Which means you can't kill me."

"Yet," shot back Barbossa. Still, he grunted and ordered his crew, "We'll be taking Jack back to the Black Pearl and Miss Bennett and wee little brother back to her ship. Now move!"

As the men started moving around to follow their captain's orders, Sparrow moved a bit closer to Isabelle and whispered, "You made a deal with him, didn't you?"

"Yes."

Sparrow sighed. "You're playing with fire, Miss Bennett. Barbossa is not a man to be trusted - I should know, I've been burned."

"What choice do I have?" answered Isabelle softly. "I have to."

"Bell!" None of the pirates had noticed their young cabin boy making his way to them, and didn't notice as Isabelle fell down to her knees so she could wrap her arms around him and pull him close. "Bell, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he sobbed as he buried his face into her shoulder.

"Oh, Johnathan." Isabelle kissed the top of his head, noticing how it smelled of sea salt now. "Its alright, little brother. I'm here now. You'll be alright now."

Sniffling, Johnathan looked up at her. "I'm so sorry, Bell. I shouldn't have -"

"Shh, we'll talk later," Isabelle chided as they embraced. "Don't worry, I'm taking you home."

Nodding, Johnathan pulled back from her, and frowned in confusion. "Who is that?" he asked slowly as he took in the pirate at her side, who hadn't left with the other and a part of the crew he had be taken by.

Standing, Isabelle gestured towards her guide with a small wave of her hand. "Sparrow, this is my brother, Johnathan Bennett. Johnathan, this is the man that brought me here, Jack - I mean, Captain Jack Sparrow."

Her brother's eyes went wide as Sparrow smirked and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you, Johnny. We've come a long way for you."

After another moment of silence, Johnathan came alive again and rapidly started to ask Sparrow questions. "Are you really Captain Sparrow? Did you actually us to be captain of the Black Pearl, because I've heard rumors and some say you're lying. How did you get off that island? Was it really sea turtles? Can I call you Captain Jack? How did you -"

"Calm down there, kid," chuckled Sparrow. "I can barely understand ya."

"If you can't tell, he loves pirate stories," smiled Isabelle. "Especially ones about you."

"Bell," whined Johnathan, turning pink in the face in embarrassment.

"Now, lets try those questions again," said Sparrow. "Slower, though."

They were shuffled into the boats not much later, after the oars had been found, and placed on the Black Pearl. Sparrow was still answering Johnathan's, and Isabelle didn't mind. It kept both of them busy while she stared down at the railing, deep in thought. She had done what she came to do. Her brother was saved, and safe with her. And soon she would go home and marry James, made make a nice little family and have quiet life. It would be what everyone expected to her to do, and she would with her held high.

But still, the very thought made her heart hurt. Even though she did care for James, Isabelle still couldn't image going on the rest of her life in a sitting, stitching and making small talk with other married ladies. Not after everything she'd been through lately. It felt even duller then it had before. Dull compared to sailing the sea, sword fighting a captain, bargaining with pirates. She didn't want to back to her boring life. Yet she knew there was no choice, and she would accept it with her heavy heart. She just wished she could talk to her mother about this.

"Well, that be a surprise," said Barbossa suddenly.

Looking from the rail with a sharp snap of the head, Isabelle's eyes went wide and let out a shaky breathe. "No..."

Blankly staring out at the empty ocean, Isabelle's hands clutched tightly at the the railing as she tried not to lean too far over the Black Pearl's railing. The place where the Interceptor had anchored was empty, void of the ship that had brought her here and its crew. Suddenly not able to think properly, Isabelle shuddered and let out another shaky breathe, while Johnathan looked up at her and whispered her nickname in worry.

"Well, Miss Bennett, it looks like your ship has gone off on its own," chuckled Barbossa from nearby. "It seems you'll be coming with us, now."

At that Isabelle snapped her head towards the man. "But you made a deal with me! You promised to get me back to my ship!"

"That was when it was actually here, missy," grinned Barbossa. "And it isn't here anymore, it is? That means you'll have to be coming with us to the Black Pearl. Unless you'd rather stay here..." he swept a hand towards the vast ocean, with no land in sight save for the cursed island.

"When you put it that way, it seems I don't have a choice," ground out Isabelle as her grip on the wood railing continued to tighten.

"Don't worry, Miss Bennett. We'll still be getting you back to your ship," Barbossa went on. "After all, we still need to be getting the one with Bootstraps Bill blood. And they be on that same ship, aye, Jack?" he said as he looked towards Sparrow.

"... Aye, they are," Sparrow finally answered.

"Then we be goin' after it."