Hello! This chapter is split between Scarlett and Jim, I hope you like it! Please review with your thoughts and criticisms :D Enjoy and thanks for reading!

Chapter 12

"She's coming, just wait a little longer." Jim pleaded forcefully and the captain let out a sigh of frustration.

"No Jim, it's been long enough. If we delay any longer it would be extremely foolish. Forget her, that's an order." He snapped. Doctor Livesy looked sympathetically at the boy but dared not intervene, and besides he thought the captain was probably right, after all the girl had been raised by villains.

Jim shook his head, adamant that she had not betrayed him.

Scarlett, meanwhile, was glaring. She had been glaring since the pirates had reached the island and Israel had all but dragged her ashore. Her glare was so fearsome that she had been left alone so far, albeit still with her hands tied, her mind was going in tiresome circles centering around Jim – he would think she'd betrayed him, after all they'd said to each other and felt for each other...he would think that she had lied, about this, about everything. It was almost too much to bear when she thought of all she could have had and all she had lost. It was this and not the thought of what would become of her that caused her lips to tremble and her eyes to occasionally fill with tears, not the pain of her bound arms or her bruises, not her pride or shame, not fear or sadness for herself, only for him.

Silver was looking at her, she realized with a flash of anger, he was used to her glare and therefore immune to it but she tried anyway, narrowing her intense eyes and sending waves of anger and hatred. He looked like he at least got the picture as his mouth tightened and he turned abruptly away. As he did so Scarlett couldn't help but notice the buttons on his coat that she herself had sewn on for him back when she had first lived at the inn, she had been charmed by his wit and intelligence straight away, she remembered, and he was a far cry from her terrifying Father. As she'd grown up she had seen through the facade slightly but had never truly grasped the extent of his cruelty, she had known he wouldn't let her leave as she had tried on several occasions - more for boredom and annoyance at the men than anything else - and she had been made to regret it, but still this was nothing in comparison with her abusive Father...nothing at all.

In choosing Jim, even though it was the right thing to do, even though she loved him, she was losing yet another Father and just like last time she could not find a way to stop it hurting.

Jim had been silent for a long time and the captain and his men assumed he had given up on Scarlett and let him grieve as it was quite obvious he was in love with her. They had been talking through the best course of action for hours and had decided to simply leave and return in a years time, by then the pirates should have succumbed to one of the many diseases that riddled the jungle and they would be free to seize the treasure. The captain was surprised that Jim had not objected to this plan, only asked that they would wait til morning, as it was effectively Scarlett's death sentence along with the pirates, but the boy had raised no objection and so the plan was to leave in the morning of the next day. Meantime they would sleep in the Captain's cabin just in case.

Once the men were happy with the plan it was unbelievably late and their eyes were closing of their own accord.

"Gentlemen get some rest. Big day ahead of us." The captain commanded and there was an audible sigh of relief as they slumped back in their chairs and fell, almost immediately, asleep.

Jim too closed his eyes and settled back in his chair like the others but he was far from asleep and had no intention of becoming so. He waited calmly for the room to fall silent save for the heavy sleep breathing of the men and stealthily opened one eye, glancing round at his sleeping comrades. Gathering his wits Jim slowly and quietly stood up and waited for a second to see if anyone stirred, when it became apparent that they were out like so many lights Jim made his way silently to the door and slipped the bolt out, he slipped through the door and shut it behind him with as little noise as possible. Still there was silence from the room he had left and so he made his way to the deck, his brow set resolutely and his heart pounding.

Jim;s breath caught in his throat as he saw several figures sprawled across the deck but as he crept closer he saw 6 or so pirates passed out drunk, bottles still clasped in their grubby hands. Fighting back a smile at the simplicity of it all Jim walked quickly and quietly to the rowboats and lowered one over the side slowly, there was no reaction from the pirates and no sound from the captain's quarters so Jim hopped over the side and climbed into the boat, lowering himself down with effort. When he was on the sea he cut the rope binding him to the ship and grabbed the oars, determinedly rowing with strong, swift, silent strokes.

The pirates were drunk, very drunk and Scarlett couldn't quite believe they were still alive after the amount of rum they'd consumed, and as far as they were concerned the night was still young. She had her back to a broad tree and was watching their antics and drunken, imbecilic capers with disgust. As the night went on however they began to fall over and once they did they found it very difficult to get up, soon there was a drunken heap of snoring pirates on the floor and Scarlet couldn't quite believe her luck. However she was right not to believe it for as she tried to reach a sharp rock to free herself Tom (who was excruciatingly sober) stopped her with a firm hand on her own.

"Damn it." Scarlett muttered and he smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry Lottie, you know Long John would kill me." He apologized and Scarlett nodded resignedly, it was true.

"I know, Tom." She said quietly and he looked at her guiltily.

"I can loosen the rope though, that looks like it hurts." He said, gesturing to her bound hands. Scarlett looked at him eagerly,

"Thank you, they've been hurting for a while." She said and he frowned as he worked the rope a bit looser and looked at her earnestly.

"Better?" He asked and she gave her hands an experimental wiggle, still not enough to get free but definitely less painful.

"Maybe a little more..." She teased persuasively and he laughed.

"No chance." He grinned and they laughed quietly.

"Why are you with them, Tom? You're not like them." She asked suddenly and he stopped smiling.

"Well why are you? You're not like them either." He countered and Lottie rolled her eyes.

"Um maybe because I'm tied up and can't leave?" She answered sarcastically but Tom didn't laugh.

"And you think I'm not? Maybe not literally but I can't leave now, I've come too far – they'd kill me." He explained, grimacing.

"Oh. Sorry I hadn't thought." Scarlett said quietly and he gave her a crooked smile. "Well do you want me to paint you yellow? We can pretend you've got yellow fever – I bet they'd leave you behind!" She suggested and he laughed freely then covered his mouth, still chuckling.

"You're ridiculous." He chortled and Scarlett nodded, grinning impishly.

"Maybe that's why everyone loves me." She joked and he nudged her.

"Ah the modesty." He said and she stuck her tongue out at him.

Jim had reached the island and didn't even bother to hide his boat, just ran into the trees. Eventually he heard laughter and stopped running, walking with admirable stealth until he came to a clearing where he saw the pirates had camped.

In the distance he could hear talking and laughing and made his way to the sound quietly, as he neared his heart gave a wrench – that was Scarlett's laugh, he'd know it a mile away. He kept moving towards the sound, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and then his worst fears were confirmed.

She was leaning against a tree, her hands in her lap, with Tom beside her and they were both laughing, sharing some joke in the midst of the pirate's camp. She seemed so carefree, she always did when she laughed. The sight and sound of it sent pain coursing through Jim as he stood with his back to a tree, how could she? Anger replaced his pain very quickly and he steeled himself to turn away, walking quickly away into the undergrowth.

He had not seen the rope around her hands, could not hear her thoughts which were of him, he failed to see the strain behind her smile and he was not there to witness the rapidity with which she burst into tears after Tom had fallen asleep.