Hi! Thank you for the reviews , it's so lovely to know that people are reading and enjoying my story!

I hope you like this chapter and please tell me what you think :)

Chapter 23

Scarlett had managed to work loose the knife she'd slotted into her sash and had been steadily sawing at the ropes binding her. Her fear for Jim made her strong and just as he picked up his pistols the ropes snapped and she stumbled forwards, gasping for breath.

Jim's eyes flickered as he saw her free herself and Israel followed the direction of his look.

"Concentrate now, Jimmy. Wouldn't want to mess this up now would ye?" He growled. Jim's breathing was labored and uneven as he adjusted his hold on the guns and swallowed hard. His mind was divided into two warring sections: Survival and Scarlett, he had to focus.

"I don't think you've got the guts." Israel sneered.

Scarlett stood a few paces behind them, her eyes trained on Jim's.

Jim fought hard to control the fear building in him but the prospect of killing a man made it impossible, especially as said man was standing there relaxed as anything with a snide sneer stretched over his face.

"What you waiting for, Jim lad?" Israel crooned, leaning forward. Jim tensed and his hands shook.

"Stay back." He warned and Israel grinned.

"How about..." He mused, scratching his back. Scarlett narrowed her eyes as she saw the outline of a knife through his shirt. "NO!" Israel roared at the same time as Scarlett screamed Jim's name.

There was no time to think, Jim pulled the trigger.

*CRACK

Silence settled with the dust and the three stood in a fearful tableau, then Israel (still alive as ever) began to laugh. Jim looked at the pistols with horror and then at Israel, his breath coming in shallow pants. Scarlett backed away.

"Oh Jim." Israel said quietly. "You forgot to keep yer powder dry." He smiled a menacing smile and Jim slowly turned to look at Scarlett who had her hands over her mouth.

"I'm so sorry." She said in a horrified whisper – it was the only thing he'd asked her to do and she'd been too preoccupied with being scared to do it.

"Dammit Scarlett." Jim growled, too scared and angry to think about hurting her feelings.

"Oh dear, oh dear." Israel laughed. Then he struck, lunging forward with one powerful stride with the intention of stabbing Jim but he found himself outwitted by a lithe dive to one side.

Jim threw back some barrels to block Israel's way and frantically looked for a place to sort the pistols out – it was his only chance.

"Up there!" Scarlett shouted, pointing to the mast and the lookout's post. Jim didn't hesitate but began to climb, his muscles straining to keep up with his fevered determination.

Israel snarled as he saw the boy's intention and ran to the rigging to climb after him but Scarlett threw herself at him, sending them rolling onto the deck.

"I won't – let you – hurt him!" She said through gritted teeth as she struggled to keep him from getting up.

Israel yelled and swiped savagely with the knife at her wounded shoulder and she fell back with a keening cry of pain.

"No!" She screamed, snatching feebly at him as he ran past and began to climb after Jim. She fell back as her surroundings began to swirl and pressed a hand to her wound in a vain attempt to staunch the blood that stained her lily white skin.

Jim had reached the crows nest and was fumbling with the first pistol, he could see Israel climbing, the man's eyes were fixed on his with malice and he was gaining fast. Jim knew he didn't have much time, he reached the powder and blew on it, trying to stay calm. It was a matter of seconds before Israel reached him – he could see the whites of his bloodshot eyes.

"Come on." Jim seethed, and then "Yes!" As he was satisfied the powder was dry. His hands shook as he replaced the top and put the gun back together just as Israel reached him. The pirate drew back his arm, ready to strike, but Jim steadily pointed the gun at his heart.

His hands had stopped shaking and his eyes were cold.

"You make one more move Mr Hands," He said slowly, "And I'll blow your brains out."

Israels face contorted into a twisted grin but his eyes were wary and Jim could see the hand that held the knife trembling.

On deck Scarlett managed to drag herself back so she could see what was happening, her heart jumped as she saw Israel poised to strike but then she saw Jim. He wasn't recognizable, he was stood straight and in command, and his gun was pointed straight at Israel. Scarlett willed him to be okay but at the same time...to see Jim kill...she couldn't think anymore, drifting in and out of consciousness. The hand on her shoulder dropped to her side as she fell backwards in a faint and the wound's red tears spilled over the deck.

"Come now Jim." Israel said in a tight voice. "Let's talk this over like gentlefolk, no need to rush these things." His eyes flashed and his hand tightened on the knife.

"You had your chance to talk." Jim said, trying not to let Israel's words worm their way into his head.

"Aye, I did."

Silence fell, only broken by the call of a gull. Jim's eyes darted to the side and in that instant Israel threw the knife like a dart and Jim almost simultaneously fired the gun, twisting to the side as the knife embedded itself in the mast next to his head.

The thud seemed to echo in Jim's head as he watched the first man he'd ever killed fall in an almost graceful spiral into the rough sea.

It was almost as if he was going to resurface. Jim didn't move, he was shaking violently but watching the waters with frantic intent. Surely it couldn't have been that quick, that simple. One gunshot and a man falls, he doesn't get back up. Jim squeezed his eyes shut and when he opened them there was still no trace of his enemy, no sound at all except his own ragged breathing.

He didn't know what he meant to say but what came out was Scarlett's name, said in a broken and cracked voice.

"Scarlett!" He said louder, balling his hand into a fist and pressing it hard to his mouth. "Scarlett I need you!" He moved his hand to his hair and clutched at it before curling himself into a ball and yelling her name.

Scarlett's eyes opened and she tried to sit up, horrified.

"Jim! JIM! Where are you?" She yelled and heard her name as a distant answer. She got shakily to her feet and staggered a few paces back to see him climbing down the rigging.

"Jim." She murmured. He was sweating and shaking but he reached the deck faster than anyone would have thought was possible, he seemed to stumble forward and Scarlett moved to meet him.

"I killed him." He said, his eyes were glazed and at first he didn't see she was bleeding. It was only when she tried to raise her arms to embrace him and instead fell to her knees with a cry of pain that he could stop replaying the awful moment in his head and look at her properly.

He swore and supported her as best he could, she had lost a lot of blood and was even paler than normal. Hurriedly he took off his shirt and tore it, wrapping the largest piece round her shoulder tightly and then tied it off.

"You're going to be okay." He said fiercely and she leaned into him with distant eyes.

"So are you."