Hello all. Here is the fourth chapter, Jack's heroic rescue and escape. Read and review please.

The docks:

"…and then they made me their chief." Jack proudly finished.

The three men turned towards a loud splash at the bottom of the fort, as Tallulah began to sink towards the ocean's floor.

The Battlements:

"Tallulah!" The Commodore yelled in panic, after Elizabeth's sister fell from the platform.

James started to yank off his coat, in a move to jump after her, but was stopped when Gillette hurried up behind him and said in warning, "The rocks! Sir, it's a miracle she missed them."

A tearful Elizabeth, Governor Swann, the Commodore and his men, all raced to the stone steps, to save Tallulah.

The docks:

Jack casually looked to the navy men, "Will you be saving her then?" he calmly asked.

Mullroy replied unhelpfully, "I can't swim," whereas Murtogg just stared at Jack and shook his head worriedly.

Jack sarcastically stated, "Pride of the King's navy you are," as he pulled off his beloved hat and hurriedly stuffed it into Mullroy's hands. "Do not lose these," he added whilst he yanked off his effects and coat. Pulling himself up on a rope, Jack gracefully dived off the ship's railing, swiftly into the ocean, and swam to Tallulah's rescue.

In the water:

Tallulah's lifeless body slowly sunk. The gold pirate medallion came free from her bodice and sent a strange, unnatural pulse through the water.

Jack powerfully swam towards Tallulah; he grabbed her limp body and dragged her towards the surface, only to be pulled under again by the weight of her dress. Jack ripped off the cream and blue fabric and released it; it sank back to the depths. He wound a strong arm around Tallulah's waist as he towed her, with difficulty, to the edge of the pontoon.

The docks:

Jack threw Miss Swann over his shoulder and tried to haul himself out of the water.

Murtogg saw his unsuccessful attempt and ran to lift her onto the wood, "Oh, I got her."

He laid her lifeless form onto the planks.

Mullroy glanced at Murtogg worriedly as he exclaimed, "She's not breathing!"

Both men knew she was Tallulah Swann, the Governor's daughter; this was very bad news.

Jack shoved Mullroy aside, "Move!" and pulled out a knife, he ran the blade smoothly down the laces of the corset and ripped it off the unconscious, wet girl; chucking it at Murtogg. The effects were instant. Tallulah spat out a mouthful of seawater, and gasped for some much needed air.

"Never would've thought of that." Mullroy gingerly admitted.

"Clearly you've never been to Singapore." Jack answered gruffly.

Tallulah regained her sight and consciousness after a few lung fills of air; the oxygen sluggishly working it's way to her brain. She saw a very wet, very handsome man leaning over her, blocking out the burning sun.

Oh, wow! Who is that? Why is he wet? Wait, why am I wet? What the hell happened? Tallulah thought.

She took in the mysterious man's strong jaw covered in a messy beard, his thick and scruffy moustache and high cheekbones. Jack's lips looked unnaturally soft, and were a dusky pink. His tanned and dirty face was beautiful, in a manly, rugged way. She inspected the beads and jewels, intertwined into his damp mess of dreadlocked hair, and his red, faded, bandana wrapped around his forehead. The feature that caught most of her attention was Jack's eyes, outlined in black kohl, intensifying his beauty. They were like melted, dark chocolate, as endless and as deep as the ocean, and as warm as the sun. Tallulah never wanted to look away from those magnetic eyes.

She felt her heart flutter, as she saw Jack looking her over.

Christ! She's damn beautiful. Jack thought.

Jack was blissfully blown away when he saw the young girl's face. Her features melded together faultlessly, making her striking, stunning and angelic. Her smooth nose curved perfectly to meet the most exquisite lips, rose coloured and shapely, somehow elegant. Her skin was flawless, not a blemish in sight, with a scattering of adorable freckles over her nose. Jack hurriedly took in Tallulah's flaxen hair, drying quickly in the Caribbean heat and devoured her slender physique with his eyes, every line and curve in the ideal place. However the feature that caught most of Jack's attention were Tallulah's eyes. They reminded Jack of the swirls and waves of the sea; they were as endless and as deep as the ocean, and expressed everything Jack loved about sailing … freedom. Jack never wanted to look away from those alluring, captivating eyes.

A gold glint, next to Tallulah's arm, caught his attention. Recognising the shiny medallion, Jack picked it up. With a seriously concerned look adorning his face, he huskily asked the intriguing girl, "Where did you get that?"

Norrington and his men scrambled up the pontoon, to Tallulah's rescue. The Commodore unsheathed his new, intimidating sword and held it to Jack's throat, "On your feet," he ordered, authority dripping from his words.

Jack cautiously stood straight, which allowed Governor Swann and a hysterical Elizabeth to pull Tallulah to her feet.

"Are you alright?" her father asked.

Tallulah assured him, "Yes, I'm fine," glancing back at the damp, unruly Jack, wanting a look at his body to see if it did the Captain's face justice. It did.

Her slight, coveted form was on show, the wet fabric of her under-dress clinging to her every curve; the Governor pulled his coat around Tallulah's shoulders, shielding her from Jack's wondering gaze. Pondering at how she managed to become undressed, he glanced at Murtogg, who was still holding her blue corset, from when Jack chucked it at him. Seeing this, Murtogg threw the corset to the floor as if it had burned him and pointed an accusing finger at Jack.

Appalled, Weatherby Swann ordered, "Shoot him!"

"Father!" The twins complained in unison, equally displeased with their father's decision.

Tallulah asked passionately, "Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?"

Elizabeth then tenderly added, "James?" whist she placed her hand on his upper-arm.

Norrington stood down, and signalled his men to follow. Jack bowed his head to the sisters and clasped his hands, in thanks.

"I believe thanks are in order," Norrington said formally, as he civilly offered his hand to shake Jack's. He seemed reluctant at first, but then cautiously put his hand in James'. The Commodore then forcefully pulled Jack's hand towards him and ripped back his cuff to reveal the letter 'P' branded on his forearm. "Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we, Pirate?" James accused.

The twins shared looks of excitement and exhilaration; they'd always had an interest and a soft spot for pirates.

The Governor squeaked, "Hang him!" His daughters' muffled protests ignored.

"Keep your guns on him, men. Gillette, fetch some irons." The new Commodore commanded. He then pushed Jack's sleeve further up his arm, exposing an indigo tattoo, a sunset over the sea and a sparrow in flight. The twins leaned forward to get a better look. "Well, well? Jack Sparrow isn't it?" James inquired, as he flung Jack's hand back.

"Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir." He corrected politely.

Tallulah, recognising the name, gasped in shock, as did Lizzie. Upon hearing this, Jack turned to the beautiful, young sisters and smiled in appreciation, making Tallulah giggle flirtatiously. The Governor watched in confusion and horror.

Norrington mocked, "Well, I don't see your ship, Captain?" as he pretended to look for the pirate's boat.

Jack turned his attention back to the commodore and explained, "I'm in the market, as it were."

Murtogg then put forth, "He said he'd come to commandeer one."

"Told ya he was telling the truth." Mullroy added, "These are his, sir" and held Jack's effects to the commodore.

James picked up Jack's treasured pistol and announced, "No additional shots or powder" then opened his precious compass, "A compass that doesn't point north" then he half unsheathed Jack's sword, "and I half expected it to be made of wood … you are, without doubt, the worst pirated I've ever heard of."

Jack then slyly and cleverly pointed out, "But you have heard of me." Elizabeth and Tallulah both stifled laughs, and covered their smiles.

At Jack's comment, the Commodore grabbed him and forcefully pushed/dragged him down the pontoon.

Throwing off her father's coat, revealing her perfect figure, Tallulah ran after the two men, shouting, "Commodore, I really must protest."

"Carefully, Lieutenant." Norrington warned as Tallulah strutted towards them and put herself between Jack and the Commodore.

"Pirate or not, this man saved my life." she insisted rather throatily, from the water she had swallowed.

"One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." James explained in awe.

"Though it seems enough to condemn him." Jack added sceptically, from behind Tallulah.

"Indeed." Norrington seriously agreed.

As Gillette walked away from Jack, after successfully clapping him in irons, Jack threw the chain around Tallulah's neck, trapping her against his body. Muttering, "Finally."

Governor Swann yelled in panic, "No, don't shoot!"

Jack's lips brushed Tallulah's soft ear and satin neck, as he commented, "I knew you'd warm up to me … Commodore Norrington, my effects, please, and my hat … Commodore!"

As James turned to grab Jack's effects, Jack tenderly murmured in Tallulah's ear "Lulu. It is Tallulah, isn't it?

"It's Miss Swann!" Tallulah confirmed, trying to cover up her exhilaration from the pirate's rough touch and warm, liquid voice.

"Miss Swann, if you'd be so kind." Jack said as Norrington handed Tallulah Jack's effects. "Come, come, dear. We don't have all day." As James gave her the effects, Jack immediately snatched his gun up, and held it to Miss Swan's head. Jack put his defined, ring-clad, hand on her shoulder and swivelled her to face him. "Now if you'd be very kind." Jack ordered seductively, cheekily smiling, revealing his several gold teeth. Tallulah's heart fluctuated rapidly as she took the Captain's loved hat, moved her hand up the little space Jack allowed between their bodies, and placed the hat roughly on his head. She then turbulently wrapped Jack's sword strap around his back, in an intimate hug. Jack smiled suggestively at the onlookers over Tallulah's shoulder, earning some sighs of frustration from Norrington and the Governor, and a small smile from Lizzie.

As Tallulah pulled Jack's strap as tightly as she could, Jack grunted, "Easy on the goods, darlin'."

"You're despicable." Tallulah tried. She had intended to come across disgusted, but instead a smile crept across her rosy lips, making her eyes light up; distracting Jack for a minute as he stared into their impossibility. He was completely taken with the effortlessly beautiful girl. Her warm body in his arms was driving him crazy. Their faces, lips, only inches apart.

Coming around, he related, "Sticks and stones, love. I saved your life, you save mine. Were square." He reluctantly spun her around once again, so her back was pressed to his chest. Jack turned to the men and gruffly acknowledged them, "Gentlemen." He whispered, "Milady" in Lulu's ear, whilst brushing his lips softly to her neck.

"You will always remember this as the day that you almost caught Captain … Jack … Sparrow!" Jack confidently called as he forcefully, but gently, shoved Tallulah forward, into her father's and the Commodore's awaiting arms.

Thinking quickly, Jack grabbed a crane rope and kicked the leaver, it yanked him high into the air, and then dangerously swung him around.

"Now, will you shoot him?" Governor Swann asked the Commodore.

Norrington yelled, "Open fire!" as Elizabeth and Tallulah cowered into his shoulders at the sound of the gunshots. Jack, rather elegantly, leaped onto a beam.

"On his heals" James shouted at his men. Jack used his chains, to slide down a taught rope, leading to the ground, and then took off, running to his escape.

"Gillette, Mr. Sparrow has a dawn appointment with the gallows. I would hate for him to miss it." Commodore said before sending him off in search.

Thanks for reading. Criticism is welcome and I hope you enjoyed it.

Lots of love, Evangeline xxx