Chapter 3 - I Hold My Hands Out To You

A/N: Enjoy, I hope you all like this chapter, the next one will be full of action and romance hehe. Please review this chapter hehe thanks, and thank you to those of you who have already reviewed, it’s much appreciated. Again, I own nothing except for the poems.

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Elizabeth leaned over the railing of the ship and watched as Captain Barbossa steered it onto land. She felt herself beginning to panic for a moment as thoughts of this possibly being another goose chase, wondering if she’d ever find Jack, of what she was going to say to him when she came face to face with him, entered her mind.

The guilt kicks in

Like a punch to the face

Everything floods back in a rush

Shame wells up within

Will I ever see your beautiful face again?

I tried to tell myself that this was wrong

But how can something so wrong feel so right?

I really miss your flirtasous behavior

How you kept me on my toes day and night

Even though I had the love of another

I never felt quite right

We just connect

We go together

As you once said to me

We are two peas in a pod

One and the same

I really miss your drunken sense of humor

Every minute I feel even more alone

Without you beside me

I feel lost

We never had any closure

I think about you over and over

Elizabeth silently prayed that Jack was okay. She felt herself growing worried at the thought that he could be lying on this island injured. More thoughts rushed into her head of what was going to happen when they found him...what would she do then? Who would she choose? Will or Jack? What would her father say? Her thoughts shifted slightly as she wondered where her father was at that moment. As the ship hit the sandy shore, her thoughts were placed aside as she raced over to the other side of the ship where Gibbs was lowering a lifeboat for them to get out on.

She climbed into the boat and waited as everyone else got in as well except for Mr Cotton and his parrot who stood in Gibbs place and slowly lowered the boat to the ground.

“So how’s we gonna go ‘bout all this?” Ragetti asked no one in particular.

Captain Barbossa was the first to speak up. “Ye are going to split up so we can comb this island for Jack.” His tone left no room for arguments as everyone remained silent until the boat touched ground.

Elizabeth stood up and calmly walked out of the boat and onto the beach. She scanned the island, noting how small it seemed to be and how dense the area was with trees and shrubs scattered around. She slowly turned as Barbossa began shouting out orders.

“Pintel, Ragetti!” He yelled out as said pirates turned around and saluted him, awaiting orders. “Ye will comb the left side of this here island.” He turned to Will and Gibbs as Pintel and Ragetti began walking away. “Mr Turner, yer with Miss Swann on the other side of the island. Gibbs, yer with me, we’ll take on the front side of this place.” He said as he walked up to Elizabeth. “I believe ye could use a sword.” He smirked at her as he pulled out an extra sword from his belt and handed it to her. Still smirking, he turned and took off for the forest of trees and shrubs alongside Gibbs.

Elizabeth stared down at the sword in her hand before sliding it into her belt as she turned and followed Will into the dense forest-like area. She batted away tree branches and various plants in her way as she stayed behind Will.

“Well look what we have here.” A voice behind her whispered in her ear. Elizabeth was about to turn around when a sword was aimed at her neck and two hands wrapped themselves tightly around her middle. She let out a whimper and was about to scream when the sword was pushed even farther towards her throat as her captor began dragging her away from Will who hadn’t even noticed she was no longer by his side.

Will kept on walking, thinking Elizabeth was behind him the whole time as he continued his search for the pirate he was going to strangle himself once he got his hands on him.

He turned around to ask Elizabeth the one question that had been on his mind since he had seen her and Jack kissing on the ship, when he saw that she wasn’t anywhere near him.

Will felt like kicking himself for not noticing that she was gone as he began calling out her name.

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“Let me go!” Elizabeth hissed at the pirate who was currently dragging her into some sort of clearing. She struggled in his grasp despite having a sword at her throat.

“Ello lass, yer a pretty little thing ain’t ya?” Another pirate smirked at her as he walked up towards her. He reached out a hand and smiled at his friend as he ran his hand across her face.

Elizabeth lips curled in disgust as she attempted to knee him, her leg inches from kicking him as he quickly covered himself. “She’s a feisty one.” He smirked as he reached one hand back and slapped her. His hand connected with her face, a sharp pain shooting through her as she let out a loud scream.

The other pirate who held her captive with his sword, spoke up. “Tis been a while since we’ve had the pleasure of female company on this wretched island.” At hearing this, Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide with fear as the other man standing in front of her nodded his head and began loosening the strings on her shirt.

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Jack staggered along the island in search of more rum since he only had one bottle left. He grumbled to himself as he walked. “Why is the bloody rum always gone!” He shook his head as he walked in no particular direction.

His thoughts drifted as they usually did to one Miss Elizabeth Swann and of course rum. He had no idea how long he had been stranded on this godforsaken island but each day he woke up from his makeshift bed with thoughts of the governors daughter in his mind. True, she had been the one who sent him to his death saying she wouldn’t be sorry as he called her a pirate, but he could not find it in himself to truly stay mad at her.

Jack’s thoughts went back to when he had escaped the kraken. He had faced it with his sword drawn and uttered what he thought were to be his last words “Ello beastie.” as he charged the nasty sea creature and somehow managed to shred through it’s insides with his sword and escape out into the sea. He had swam away from the pearl which went down with the dead creature and surfaced to find part of the wood from the ship floating on the water. Quickly he had grabbed said floating wood and laid against it, closing his eyes. He had drifted to sleep and awoke laying on his stomach on a sandy shore.

Ever since then he had searched the island, desperate for any sign of rum but found only a few bottles here and there most likely from previous shipwrecked inhabitants.

He had also at that time realized that his compass was gone and flash backed to the kiss he had shared with Elizabeth. In an instant he knew she had it with her, she had slipped it into her pocket. He was definitely right about her, whether she believed it or not, she truly was a pirate at heart.

After what felt like forever but was probably only a couple of days later he figured he’d be stuck on the island forever and that he’d never see anyone again save for a few rouge pirates that had gotten stranded on the island.

Now, Jack staggered around on his last bottle of rum.. He froze in his tracks however when the sound of voices could be heard.

A very familiar female voice shouted at someone to stop and a loud slap was heard followed by more screaming. Jack downed a few more gulps of the rum in his hand before tossing it onto the ground and running in the direction of the voices he had heard.

As he got closer, he squatted down in a nearby bush and parted it’s leaves, peeking through it. His eyes grew wide at the site before him and he blinked a few times to make sure he wasn’t suffering from a rum induced hallucination. There a few feet in front of him stood two unfamiliar looking pirates and one Elizabeth Swann who was struggling to get away from them.

Another loud scream issued from her as one of the pirates raised his hand to strike her again. Jack, without a moments hesitation, jumped up, unsheathed his trusty cutlass from his sash around his waist and ran towards her. In an instant, his sword came up to the pirate who was poised to strike Elizabeth. “Let go of the lass.” He said calmly as he tightened the grip he had on his sword, pushing it further towards the neck of the other pirate.

“Let her go Edwards!” The pirate practically yelled at his companion.

Elizabeth stopped struggling against the other pirate, a look of complete shock took over as she froze at the site of the one man she never thought she’d see again.

The pirate holding her with a sword at her neck, withdrew his weapon and stepped away from her. Jack smirked and pushed the other pirate out of his way. “Now go, before I change me mind and decide to just kill the both of ye.”

Both pirates looked at each other for a moment before taking off in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, Jack and Elizabeth stared at each other for what felt like hours but was really only minutes.

Elizabeth still couldn’t believe it was Jack who stood before her, the man she had condemned to death and had been searching for ever since. Slowly, she redid the ties on her shirt and glanced down at the compass that hung on her own sash. She saw the needle pointing straight ahead, at Jack.

Jack blinked a few more times, trying to decide whether this really was reality or not. His eyes traveled down to his compass when Elizabeth had glanced at it and he saw the needle pointing to him. “Ye know, that’s called stealing...Lizzie.” He finally spoke to her with a hint of playfulness in his tone.

Elizabeth’s eyes began watering up at hearing his voice and how he had used the nickname he had given her. She shook her head. “Borrowing, it’s called borrowing, Jack.” She corrected him with an amused smile flashing across her face. She tried to hold back her tears as she took a step towards him. Her hand came up and she gently touched his face as she finally began to realize that it really was him standing before her. She let out a choked sob and grasped him in a tight hug.

Jack grinned and hugged her back, enjoying the feel of her being in his arms as he ran his hands lightly up and down her back, trying to comfort her. “Don’t cry.” He said to her as she let out another sob.

“Jack this is all my fault. I’m so sorry.” She said to him as she breathed in his spicy scent.

Jack shook his head as he ran one hand through her golden brown locks, entwining his fingers in her hair as he spoke. “Lizzie, don’t blame yerself, you did what you had to do. Now dry those tears eh?” As he finished speaking, the sound of someone clearing their throat came from behind him.

Both Jack and Elizabeth let go of each other like lighting struck and Jack turned around to see a very angry looking Will Turner standing behind him.

“Well it seems you found him,” Will said in an irritated voice as he gestured towards Jack.

Elizabeth nodded her head and remained silent, unsure of what to say or do in the current situation.

“Don’t suppose Elizabeth here told you of her deal she made with Davy, did she Jack?” He continued speaking as he looked over at the pirate, trying to decide if he should just strangle the man here and now.

Jack looked from Will to Elizabeth before responding. “No mate, I’m afraid she hasn’t mentioned a word of old fishface.”

“She made a deal that has freed you from your debt and my father from an eternity aboard his ship.”

“Did she now? How did ye come to such a deal?” He turned to look at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth sighed, she didn’t want to tell Jack just yet about what she had done but it seemed Will wasn’t about to wait around. “I...I made a deal like Will said. I told Davy that I would find his heart since I know where it is. But that of course came with a price. I told him that I wanted you freed of your debt and for Will’s father to be freed of servitude even if I couldn’t get the heart back in time.”

A look of realization swept over Jack’s face as he realized what was going on. “Ye didn’t...”

“I said if I didn’t come back with his heart, then I would serve out an eternity aboard his ship.” She interrupted him as she held her hand up for Jack to see. A black spot similar to the one Jack used to have, stood out on her lightly tanned skin. “I did it so that either way, you and Will’s father will be free.”

As Jack grabbed her hand to examine the spot on her palm, Will added. “He gave her three days in which to find the heart and bring it back to him. If she doesn’t have it on the third day, which is now in two days, he’ll be back to claim her as one of his crew.”

“Lizzie how could ye do this? Who even has the heart?” He asked her as he let go of her hand.

Elizabeth responded softly. “The Commodore has it but he most likely gave it to Beckett. We have to go to Port Royal and get it back.”

Jack opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Will. “Let’s get back to the ship before we waste anymore time.” His tone held bitterness in it as he shot a glare in Jack’s direction before walking away from them.

Both Jack and Elizabeth followed behind, both silent and unsure of what to say as they walked back towards the ship.

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“What are ye doing here? I killed you!” Jack scowled at seeing Barbossa walking onto the ship followed by Gibbs. He reached for his sword and pointed it at the other pirate.

Elizabeth put her hand onto Jack’s arm and gently lowered his cutlass down. “Jack, he was the one who helped us find you. Tia sent him with us.”

Jack stared at Elizabeth in disbelief before looking back over at Barbossa. “So Tia bought ye back from the dead did she? And ye voluntarily went with me crew to help find me?”

Barbossa smirked and replied. “Aye, Tia can be a very persuasive and very crafty woman.”

Jack shook his head in disbelief and responded. “Well then I shall relieve ye of captaining this ship now that I am back.”

“Tis good to see ye alive and in one piece Jack.” Gibbs interrupted their conversation as he walked up to Jack and shook his hand in a friendly manner.

“I suppose ye can, I could use the break until we find my ship.” Barbossa finally replied.

Jack smiled at his old friend before looking over at Barbossa. “Yer ship? Ye mean my ship, the Black Pearl...have ye even figured out how we are to get it back?”

Elizabeth cut in at that moment and replied. “I have an idea but we need the heart first.”

“Aye, with the thump thump, old fishface will have no choice but to return me ship.” Jack said, understanding exactly what Elizabeth meant.

“I hate to interrupt but we best get going cap’n before Miss Swann’s time is up.” Gibbs reminded him.

Jack nodded and looked around at his crew. “All hands on deck!” He yelled. “We set sail for Port Royal.” He commanded the crew before turning around to face Elizabeth.

“For very important purposes, I must ask. Do ye have any rum aboard this ship?” Jack asked her.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow and replied. “Perhaps, I’ll take a look.” She smirked as she walked off in the opposite direction to look for said rum.

Barbossa watched the two and shook his head in amusement before walking off in the other direction, passing Will who was walking towards Jack, his hand clenched into a fist.

He walked up to the Captain and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Now what?” Jack turned around to find Will standing behind him once again. “Oh, ‘ello Wi...”

He was abruptly cut off as Will drew his fist back and punched Jack right in the eye, unable to hold back his anger at the pirate any longer.

Jack was thrown completely off balance by the blow and fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Elizabeth heard the noise and turned around, letting out a loud gasp at the scene that had just unfolded, and ran to Jack’s side. She helped the dazed Captain back up to his feet before glaring over at Will. “What was that for?” She yelled at him.

“That was for going after my bride to be!” Will snapped..

Jack winced in pain as he felt around his now swelling eye with his hand. “Listen mate, I can explain that.”

“Oh I’m so sure you can Jack. So tell me, did you just happen to trip and end up connecting lips with my fiancé!”

Jack was about to reply when Elizabeth spoke up first. “It wasn't his fault Will! It was mine!”

Will stared at Elizabeth in anger, wondering why she was standing up for Jack. “Oh, and how is this your fault Elizabeth? How is it that you just happened to kiss him?”

“What happened to you just asking about it rather than attacking Jack and yelling at the both of us!” She yelled as she returned Will’s heated stare coming in her direction.

“What say we all sit down with some good ol’ rum and have a talk?” Jack cut in hastily, not wanting to fight if he could help it.

Will clenched both fists in anger before turning without saying another word and storming off in the opposite direction.

Jack and Elizabeth watched him go before Jack turned to Elizabeth. “So I take it me idea’s a no?”

Elizabeth nodded her head, her brown eyes glistening with tears as she turned away from Jack and walked away to her room.

Jack was left standing by himself and he let out a sigh as his first mate came up towards him.

“Sir, me thinks you should have a little something to drink to calm ye nerves before ye go seeking out the lass.”

Jack thought for a moment before nodding his head in agreement. “Aye, a good drink would be nice. Where be the rum anyway? Lizzie was looking for it when all this happened.”

“In your new cabin sir.” Gibbs replied as he led the way to Jack’s quarters, opening the door for the captain and standing aside to let him enter the room. He smirked as he watched Jack’s eyes widen at the various bottles of rum that stood off to one side of his room. Quietly, he made his way towards the rest of the crew, leaving Jack alone with the rum.

Jack immediately grabbed one of the bottles and took the cork out of it. He lifted it to his nose and inhaled it before putting it to his lips and drinking it down. The liquid burned nicely as it flowed down his throat, causing him to forget the pain coming from his eye.

After chugging the amber liquid down his throat, he turned around and stumbled out of the room. He walked aimlessly around the ship, stopping suddenly at seeing the door to the only other room aboard the ship, open and revealing a very upset looking Elizabeth.

He slowly pushed the door open even wider and walked inside, not bothering to close it behind himself.

Elizabeth’s quiet sobs came to a halt as she stared up at Jack, her eyes red and puffy from all her crying. “Jack, what are you doing in here?” She asked him.

“Wonderin’ what’s going on.” He slurred somewhat as the alcohol in his system decided to take a full effect on him at that moment.

“Going on...” Elizabeth trailed off, not sure what he meant by that when her eyes fell onto his still swollen left eye. She let out a slight gasp before standing up and grabbing the glass of ice water that stood on her night stand next to the bed. She cupped the top of the glass and let the water pour out in between her fingers before setting it back down. She went to the chair that stood beside Jack and ripped part of the bottom of the dress that hung over the chair.

Jack watched her as he sat down on her bed, wondering what she was doing. His already drunk mind having forgot what he was saying to her beforehand. He watched as she poured the ice into the cloth and wrapped it into a few knots before turning to him.

“I’m sorry Jack...I was soo busy thinking about everything that had happened with Will that I completely forgot about your eye.” She apologized as she lifted the ice bag over his eye and pressed it towards him.

Jack flinched and closed his eyes, ignoring the pain that shot through his injured eye as he allowed Elizabeth to tend to it.

After a few moments of pressing the bag of ice onto his eye, Jack batted it away and opened his eyes. He grabbed onto her arm and pulled her down, trying to get her to sit next to him. She realized this and sat down like he wanted her to.

Jack ran one hand over her face, wiping at her tear stained cheeks as he began to speak in a concerned yet slurred filled voice. “Lizzie, we need to talk about what happened..”

“I know.” She replied, enjoying the feel of his hand on her face.

He slowly dropped his hand away from her and was going to continue speaking when another voice interrupted him.

“So nothings going on between you two huh?” Will stood in the doorway, his face red with anger as he stared at them.

Jack got up and was about to speak when he felt himself becoming lightheaded from moving too fast. “Bugger.” He managed to utter before collapsing to the floor in a heap.

Elizabeth gasped and kneeled down, trying to pick Jack up off of the floor. “Help me Will.” She looked over at her fiancé.

Will gritted his teeth in annoyance at the drunken captain before walking into the room and grabbing one side of Jack, helping Elizabeth to pick him up.

Both of them headed in silence to Jack’s cabin.

As they walked inside the room, they drug Jack over to his bed and laid him down on it. He stirred for a moment but otherwise remained asleep.

Elizabeth looked over at Will and spoke. “Thank you for helping me Will...I’m sorry.” She said to him.

Will nodded his head and turned away from her, his eyes full of mixed emotions as he walked out of Jack’s cabin.

Elizabeth sighed in confusion before glancing once more at Jack as she also turned and headed out of his room, walking towards her own room.

She wondered what she was suppose to do as she glanced down at the compass that she still carried with her since Jack hadn’t asked for it back yet. The arrow pointed towards his cabin and she let out another sigh as she made it into her own room and laid down on her bed.

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A/N: In the next chapter they end up in Port Royal where things really begin to heat up.