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 Fifteen

Jack's head shot around and he started to push her to the steps that lead to under the main deck, where the crew slept.

"Get down below, Nell. Go to the brig and stay there. Ye'll be safe there."

Nell pouted unhappily, wanting to shake her head. But she didn't. She didn't want to die. But what if Jack did?

"What about you?"

"I have to stay on deck. I need to order the crew and fight. I'm not putting ye under that... pressure. Battle is dangerous, and Angelica even more so. She'd come after ye if she knew ye were here." He pushed her again and whipped around, running back up the steps. She heard the sound of swords being unsheathed, and Jack's gruff voice ordering the crew to ready the cannons before she raised a hand to Jack the monkey. He nibbled lightly on the tip of her middle finger, and she found it comforted her.

Sucking in a steadying breath, she began to walk to the brig. Once there, she sat on the floor, back against the wall as Jack came to sit on her lap. There, he curled into a loose ball like a cat would do as she scratched behind one ear. This seemed to comfort the monkey and it worked in turn for her, keeping her calm as she awaited the battle.

It seemed to be a long time before she heard the cannons being fired. Luckily for her, none came towards the brig. Jack the monkey had clambered onto her head and was playing with a strand on her hair, which gladly distracted her. She didn't want to think of the danger Gibbs, Ben, or Pintel and Regetti were going through. Especially Jack, with Angelica going after him. Would he be okay? Anger, grief and rage could all combine to make a powerful opponent in battle, and it would also make them fearless. No doubt Angelica Teach would have all there emotions running through her veins as she mounted an attack to try and avenge her deceased father. Nell knew that would be what she would feel like if something like that had happened to her.

It seemed even longer until the sounds died down. That had to mean that the battle was over, right? Standing, she let Jack nibble on her finger as she moved around the ship until she reached the steps. There, she could hear the sound of swords clashing and the occaisonal shot of a pistol. She couldn't stay here. She had to help. Jack could be in danger, or he could be dead. She had to make sure, no matter what. Adrenaline pushed through her blood, setting her alight and gifting her energy for the battle she was about to join and risk her life in.

Rushing out, she was glad not to be wearing a dress as she joined the battle, stopping in shock as she watched Jack. He was busy fighting one man while another stalked up behind him, a pistol pointed at his head. Drawing her own pistol, she cocked it, took aim, and shot at the pirate's hand. He yelped, the sound of the pistol rung through the air and Jack paused, looking at her. He yelled something angrily, but had to go back to his own fight. The man Nell had shot ran towards her and their swords connected, his blood splattering on the deck, shining bright scarlet like rubies in the sun.

They moved around the ship, fighting strongly. Well, Nell was fighting strong; she was fresh into the battle while her opponent was not and also had a strong injury to his hand. However, he was a seasoned pirate and figher, which made him strong and hard to beat. At one point, a second man joined the fight against her. He too, like his crewmate, wasn't fresh to the battle and bore many wounds from fights against the crew of the Black Pearl. His face was marred with scars but also with fresh bruises and cuts. Every now and again he had to stop and wipe blood from his eyes. Nell hit the first man with the blunt end of her sword and, while they were both distracted (by the hit and by blood in the eyes), she let out a strong kick and her foot hit the man's groin. This was a much harder kick that the one she gave Gibbs, and he fell to the floor, moaning loudly in his pain.

The other man had since recovered and was slicing his sword through the air towards her. She ducked down out of the way, swiping her own around in a semi-circle, slicing through his legs. As he too dropped to the floor, she stood and moved away so they could neither of them could attack her once more.

Yells and the sounds of battle echoed in her ear, joined by the sound of the sea and her own heartbeat. A louder yell, gruff and strong, was clearer to her, and she turned around to see a pistol being aimed at her. Before she could react, Jack was flying before her as the pistol was shot. A pain to the back of her head and the sound of glass smashing, mingled with the sound of pain, Jack the monkey's enraged yowling and Jack's voice to her left, was the last thing she heard as she fell to the deck, blackness swamping over her as her eyes closed.