Full Summary: When Jack has no choice but to pose as a Navy officer in order to get his precious Black Pearl fixed from a sea battle against another crew of pirates, he ends up finding help in one of the most unlikely of places.

Chapter Four

The next day, Nell watched the Siren set off until it was nothing but a small speck on the horizon. She didn't even know why she was watching the ship disappear; she'd never see Mr. Smith again, unless he pulled in here once more. But why should he? There were many ports in the Caribbean. Besides, he would have to get back to wherever he was stationed. If he had told her, maybe she could have sent letters to him; it would have been nice to stay in touch with him - he had become a great friend.

Thinking about duties that he may have left her thinking of duties she herself had to do. Clean the house, cook. Go to market every Thursday. Slowly, she raised her hand and touched her new necklace before heading back to the house. The sooner she was done, the sooner she could rest.

She groaned and stood straight, one had pressing against her lower back. Why did cleaning have to hurt so much? Why had the other maids made her do this? Surely someone smaller would be able to clean it better, like Katie. Nell knew she had been neglecting her duties lately; she was too busy thinking about Mr. Smith. She missed him, if she was truthful to herself. She missed seeing his beautiful ship on the horizon, she missed seeing him down on the docks. She missed talking to him, the way he spoke. She missed his strange manner.

She missed him.

And she shouldn't miss him. Nothing could happen; he was a military man, a sailor. She was naught but a humble maid for the Admiral. They could not, by law, get married. Why was she thinking this way? She didn't love him. He was a friend, nothing more.

A friend she would never see again.

A friend she would never hear again.

A friend she should not be thinking off.

Bending over again, she continued to clean, trying to clean the spot behind the drawers that were too heavy to move. A clatter made her jump and she looked around to see a fellow maid, Mary, weeping.

She rushed over, holding her friend against her.

"Hush, Mary. Whatever is the matter?" Mary was a sensative girl, the youngest maid in the household. She was experiance; she had grown up here, but she was still only fourteen.

"It's the Admiral." She sniffed, hugging the older woman back. Nell felt her take a steadying breath but waited her to to say things on her own.

"He... He's ill, Nell. Terribley ill. He might die."