Author's Note: Two chapters in one day? I must have gone mad. But like I said, I wanted to strike while the iron is hot. So here, for those of you who are still miraculously following this story after all this time: enjoy a two for one special.

Chapter 4

As Jack wrapped up his tale, Robin gazed down at the floor. Her hands clenched tight around the rum bottle. Her heart was racing as her mind tried to make sense of this new information. Jack, for once, didn't say anything as he watched her. He let her be, processing.

"So…you sold your soul to Jones," she finally said. "And now…your time is up." Jack nodded silently. He wouldn't meet her eyes. Robin held out her hand. "Show me."

After hesitating a moment, Jack held out his left hand, wrapped in bandages. Slowly, Robin unwrapped it to reveal the damning black spot on his palm. She traced the edges with her fingers, feeling the raised, uneven flesh.

"Does it hurt?" she asked softly. Jack shook his head. Slowly, deliberately, Robin raised his hand and placed a kiss to each of his fingers, and then directly onto the spot itself. Jack gazed at his wife in bewilderment.

"I love you, Jack," Robin said, holding his hand tightly. "No damned black spot is going to change that. And hearing that all this stemmed from you trying to do the right thing, from helping people who couldn't help themselves…it makes me love you even more." She pulled him in close until their foreheads touched. "We'll get you out of this deal."

Jack took a shaky breath, closing his eyes. "I don't deserve you, my darling," he whispered.

"None of that," Robin said, nuzzling him. "It's not about 'deserve,' it's about what we choose. I choose you, all of you. We're in this together, aren't we?"

Her husband let out a watery laugh. "Aye, that we are. Every time, love."

As they sat together, their hands intertwined, a thought crossed Robin's mind. She latched onto it, her eyes snapping open. "Will said he had to trade the compass for Elizabeth's freedom," she said, sitting upright. "But if someone wants it that badly–"

"They'd have to know what it does," Jack continued, his eyes narrowing. "Aye. And there's only one other person out there who'd know that: Beckett."

Robin shuddered. The story Jack had told her had given her enough information to know that Beckett was not a man to be trifled with. "Jack, if he has Elizabeth, then–"

"I know, I know," he interrupted. "I don't want to think about what he might do to her. But if he sent William to find me and bring back the compass, he's got to keep her alive and well, at least for now. We have time to figure something out."

"Is that why we're traveling upriver? To find something that can help us?"

"Not something, love. Someone."

It would take them three days to reach the island Jack had indicated to Mr. Gibbs. Had they cut straight across the open water, they could have been there in half that time, but Jack was adamant: keep as close to land as possible. Will was getting antsy, Robin could tell. She couldn't blame him; the longer they took, the more impatient Beckett would get, increasing his chances of doing something horrible to Elizabeth.

Robin had begged Jack to tell Will about his history with Beckett, at least so the boy knew he understood the urgency of the situation. But Jack, far too used to playing close to the vest, refused. He also argued that revealing his history would likely make the young man more volatile and rash, and that was not something they needed to deal with at the moment.

Remembering Will's penchant for impulsive, stupid decisions, Robin found it hard to argue that particular point. So, for now, Will knew only the bare minimum that he had learned from Beckett: that he and Jack had had dealings in the past, and it had gone badly.

Robin was pleased, however, to see that Will had brushed up on his nautical knowledge. Rather than stand around brooding, he threw himself into the work alongside the crew. He asked questions when he didn't know how to do something, and Gibbs eagerly took the young man under his wing. There were times when he seemed to almost forget the reason he was out here in the first place and he actually smiled, even laughed once or twice.

But it never lasted long. Anytime he caught sight of Jack, Robin, or–God forbid–both of them together, his eyes would darken, along with his mood.

On the day they were due to make their destination, Robin finally asked him about how he and Elizabeth had been doing, before Beckett had shown up and clearly ruined everything.

"We…we were happy," he confessed, securing a tackline as he spoke. "Her father still had some reservations, but he gave his blessing. Because I made her happy." Will gave a small, wistful smile. "We were to be married. It was..it was actually the day of our wedding when…"

Robin put a hand on the boy's shoulder in comfort. "That's awful," she said sympathetically. "We'll get her out of there, Will." Hoping her husband would forgive this slight breach of his confidence, she continued, "Jack may act nonchalant, but he's worried about her, too. He doesn't want Beckett to hurt her, either."

Will scowled, finishing the knot with more force than strictly necessary. "He has a strange way of showing it."

"Didn't you listen when Gibbs told you about Barbossa's mutiny?" Robin snapped, looking up to make sure Jack hadn't heard. Thankfully, he was at the helm, fiddling with the compass. "Jack learned a long time ago: giving too much away can get you killed, or near it. Last time he took someone into his confidence, he ended up marooned and lost the Pearl for ten years. So he's not exactly eager to give away his true feelings on anything."

Will sighed, bowing his head. "I'm…I'm sorry. I know you're right. And I know Jack cares, or he would've sent me back to Port Royal tied up in a sack. Either that or just killed me."

"Now you're getting it, lad."

"Still, it would be easier if I had some proof of that. Just…some outward sign that he's even half as concerned as he should be."

Robin shook her head. "I can tell because I know him better than anyone on this ship, except Mr. Gibbs. You only knew Jack for a few days, and it's been a year since you last saw him."

Will was about to respond when Marty called out from the crow's nest: "Land ho!" Robin and Will looked up to see an island covered in mist off the starboard bow. It would take them a few more hours to get there, and then they would need to row inland a ways.

"What do you think is waiting for us in there?" Will asked apprehensively, eyeing the thick forest.

Robin shrugged. "Jack says someone who can help us lives here. I don't know who it could be, but I trust my husband." The Pearl creaked and groaned, sounding almost reassuring. There were times Robin could swear the ship was alive; given the deal Jack had made with Davy Jones, maybe she was.

At sunset, they dropped anchor and gathered into the longboat. As they rowed upriver, Will finally asked the burning question.

"Why is Jack afraid of the open ocean?"

As Gibbs told Will of the legendary Kraken, Robin watched her husband. Jack's shoulders were tense, and he looked as though he was desperately trying to ignore the conversation behind him. Cautiously, she reached out and took his hand. He squeezed hers in a vice-like grip, and Jack's arm was trembling.

"And the key will spare him that?" Will inquired, disbelief coloring his voice.

"Well, that's the very question Jack wants answered," Gibbs replied. "Bad enough even to visit…her."