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 Fourteen

It had been around a month, four weeks, since Nell left the greviously injured Port Davies. Since then, Nell had become a valued member of the crew, and instead of her helping Ben, like she had been told to do, she was teaching him, so that when she left Ben's cooking wouldn't be all that bad. Nell was, in fact, planning to leave at the next respectable port, if she could. Yes, she liked life on the ship, and it was much better than her maid's duties on land, and she wanted to stay, but she wasn't sure if she was liked by the whole crew. She was a woman, and so attracted wanton men. There was a particular man, Jason, who always seemed to be close to her, trying to gain her attention. Many a time, she had snapped at him and stalked away. Once she had even slapped him across the face.

That was in the past. Now, Jack had taught her how to handle a sword and a pistol. She even carried them around with her. Nell was more prepared than her first days aboard the ship, and she was confident that, should anything happen, she would be able to defend herself until help arrived. Jack knew of Jason and was keeping an eye on him, but Nell was ready if he did try something.

Right now, with the sun directly overhead and bearing down feircly upon the Pearl and her crew, Nell was seated near the bow. Jack had refused to let her join in with the crew; he said it was a man's work, and would only stress her out. So, she had left Ben trying to cook another stew after giving him instructions, and was watching the sea. As she gazed at it, there was a small spray below her and she looked at it, eyebrows knitted together as she tried to figure it out. Then, leaping out of the waves, was a dolphin. It was joined by the rest of the pod, and their leaping and acrobatics lightened Nell's heart and she smiled widely. Sometimes, very rarely, they had got dolphins following the fishing boats at Port Davies, and Nell had only seen them once, before she came to the Caribbean and before her parents died. She had been around nine or ten years old then.

A sound roused her and she turned around, blinking rapidly. Jack was waving her arm comically at her.

"Yes?" She asked politely, standing up.

"We haven't practiced today, love. However, I think ye'd benfit from another opponent; try Regetti." Nell followed his pointed finger to the slim, lanky, one-eyed pirate known as Regetti. He was a young fellow, and always seemed to be around Pintel. Jack waved him over and the lad pulled his black patch back over his eye before making his way over.

"Cap'n?"

"Nell here needs to practice with someone other than me. You'll be her opponent. Try not to be too friendly, but don't give her any injuries." He paused, looking at the rigging. "Try fighting anywhere possible but not too dangerous."

Regetti nodded and drew his sword, smirking mischiveously.

"Come on, poppet!"

Nell was shocked by the sudden start but drew her sword from the scabbard and began circling, her blue eyes narrowed with determination as she looked for somewhere to strike. She was too slow in deciding, for the sword came whistling towards her side and she only just blocked it before launching her own attack. That was blocked and she looked wildly around before shooting past Jack as the sword soared towards her. This caused her to duck into a roll and stand as soon as she could, leaping up onto the rail with her spare hand - her left - grasping the rough rope of the rigging. From there she had the advantage and blocked what blows she could as she climbed higher, towards the black sails. Regetti followed her on the inside of the rigging until they reached the mast. Nell nearly screamed; it was higher than she thought it would be. Still, she had a fight to win.

Regetti had now climbed onto the mast, and Nell followed, keeping on foot right in front of the other and one arm out for balance. The swords clashed and she could feel the eyes of the crew on them as she tried to focus. Eventually, she had Regetti pinned against the mast, his sword falling to the deck and her own pointed at his neck. She slowly removed it, grinning.

"Well done, poppet." Regetti told her before moving to the rigging and scaling down it, leaving Nell to put her sword back in it's scabbard and following. When her feet where finally planted on the deck, Gibbs stepped forwards, Jack beside him.

"Now ye can try against Mr. Gibbs. I was supprised by how fast ye beat Regetti, but Gibbs is more of a challenge. Off ye go." He stepped back once more, leaving her alone with Gibbs in a large circle formed by the crew. They moved around it, keeping their eyes on each over. Then, Nell rushed forwards, her sword swinging forwards to Gibb's chest. He blocked it powerfully and made a strange movement, so she nearly lost her sword. Only just hanging on, she pushed forwards, sword blocked at every movement. Then she was being pushed back, and fell. Her foot caught Gibb's leg and he fell forwards, using his arms to hold himself above her. Nell smirked when she saw Jack (the monkey) leap down from the rigging and clamp his hands over Gibb's eyes. Taking the opportunity, she raised her knee and collided it with Gibb's groin, sending him rolling off her. He lay there, heaving for breath, before he stood once more. Then he continued his assualt until her sword flew from her hands and she was trapped against the rail.

As she stood there, Gibb's eyes grew wide and his jaws parted.

"Cap'n!" He called, urgency in his tone. Jack Sparrow ran over and clenched his jaw, lips peeling back. Jack the monkey sat on Nell's shoulder and he made the same facial expression, letting out a little growl.

"Who is it, Jack?" She asked, running her fingers through Jack's fur to calm him.

"It's Angelica Teach, daughter of the infamous Blackbeard and currently very angry with me."

"Why?"

"I tricked her father when they were both dyin' at the Fountain of Youth. There was a victim needed, ye see, and her father took the chalice with what I told him contained the mermaid's tear. It didn't and Angelica took the other one." He sighed. "Because her father died and she recieve all the years of life he possessed, she tried to kill me when I marroon her on a well-traveled trade route. Can't trust her, but my honest streak shone through. Unfortunately."

Gibbs butted in. "And now she's come for her revenge."