Chapter Eighteen: Rescue of the Most Unexpected Nature and the Case of the Missing Wig

I think Rennfield knew how wounded we were. In fact it wouldn't have surprised me a lick if he admitted to watching our little episode from the bushes. And just the thought of that was enough to grip Jack's hand tighter. He glanced down at me and gave my fingers a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm so glad we could all be together again." Rennfield murmured in a sickeningly sweet voice. I shot Jack a look.

"Can I hurt him?" I asked in a soundless whisper. Jack shook his head. "Just a little bit?" I pressed. In answer Jack squeezed my hand tighter. "I have a knife in my back pocket..." I continued, yelping a little when Jack squeezed my hand so hard that my bones ground together.

"Let me guess, you're lusting after my treasure, Jack." Jack shook his head, his step faltering a little and he leaned heavily on me. And, as I was not the most stable pillar of strength to begin with, we almost toppled off into the grass.

"Well, mate, I'm hurt. One would think you'd know me by this time." Jack replied once we had righted ourselves. Rennfield continued walking, seemingly oblivious to our state of duress. The bastard was wearing us down. I narrowed my eyes at his back and bit my lip in order to stave off unconsciousness. I'd be damned if I allowed this ass the pleasure of knowing he'd broken me – twice. I growled low in my throat and would have reached for the dagger if Rennfield's words stilled my action.

"Oh, but I do know ye, Jack." He said. "Better than ye think." And he whirled around, bashing Jack upside the head with the butt of his pistol. I screamed loudly, ignoring the other pirates and falling beside him. "You always were too trusting." He chuckled.

"You bastard." I growled.

"Well, he never asked for a parley." He said shrugging his shoulders. "Shall we?" He asked. I shook my head and he laughed. "No need to worry about Sparrow, my lads will assist him." Said burly men shoved me aside and lifted the limp captain so he was draped between their tree trunk arms.

"Who says you'll keep him alive if I obey?" I asked distrustingly.

"Who says I'll keep him alive if you don't?" Rennefield retorted. Having no other choice I fell into step beside Rennfield behind the two pirates dragging Jack.

"Why are you such an asshole?" I wondered aloud. He glared at me before shrugging lightly.

"Runs in the family I guess."

I stared at him. Did Rennfield just try to make a funny? I shook my head. Weird. "Mm hmm." I looked over my shoulder to make sure his evil henchmen weren't trying anything funny on my pirate captain.

It was time to start formulating a plan. From the way Jack's head lolled back and forth I knew he wouldn't be much of a help. And at this point and time I was finding it difficult to stand upright much less walk. Rennfield's smile kept getting more and more smug and I wanted to smack it off of his face, but couldn't drum up the energy. What we needed was a miracle.

Just then a plethora of screams echoed around us in the brush and the crew of the Pearl rushed forward, lead by none other than Will Turner. I goggled. Will Turner? WTF, I thought I told him to stay with Elizabeth. Then, right after him came a woman dressed in breeches that was most definitely not Anamaria. Elizabeth Swann? I pressed a hand to my head.

This was all too much, really.

Rennfield gave a cry of alarm before dashing off into the trees. Many of the crew followed after him while the rest dealt with the two burly men clinging to Jack like he was their source of power.

Gibbs trotted over to my side and patted me on the back. "Are you all right, missy?" I nodded and looked over at Jack, who was now free of his pirate-growths and was being looked over by Elizabeth Swann.

"What are they doing here?" I asked in an incredulous voice.

"They're stubborn people, Chloe." Gibbs said wisely. I rolled my eyes. I hadn't noticed, Gibbs. Goodness. I nodded slightly and headed over to where the pair was standing, Will's arm around Elizabeth's waist.

"Top o' the mornin' to ye." I said in a horribly bad Irish accent. So sue me, I'm Scandinavian, what do you want from me?

"Oh, hello, Chloe." Elizabeth greeted me with a flippant air that had my mouth dropping.

"'Oh, hello, Chloe'?" I asked. "What are you doing here? I told you this was no place for you." Will glowered at me, and Elizabeth soothed him with a hand on his arm.

"We had to come help." She explained. I huffed out a breath.

"Who just saved your arse?" Will growled. I rolled my eyes.

"Don't get so cocky." I told him. "I was in the process of thinking of a probable escape plan." He stared at me for a moment and I sighed. "All right, all right. I'm glad to see you guys." Elizabeth smiled brightly and hugged me. "But I really hope the crew doesn't kill Rennfield. I wanted to do it."

"There will be no killing." A new voice said from behind me. I whirled around and stared. Would the shocks never end?

"Commodore?" I shifted my gaze a little. "Anamaria?"

"Indeed." The commodore said. His eyes narrowed when I refused to take my eyes off of him. "Is something amiss, Miss Chloe?" I covered my mouth with my hand and swallowed a cackle.

"I had no idea you were so…young." I managed before I burst out into fits of giggles. The commodore was walking around in the nude…his head was missing the hairpiece that had always reminded me of a spray-painted bit of road-kill.

"I convinced him he looked more dashing without it." Anamaria chuckled patting his arm as I continued to howl with laughter.

"Dashing?" I choked. "Commodore?" That made me laugh even harder. "Whoo…" I wiped my eyes and smiled demurely at the dark look Commodore Norrington was sending my way. "Boy, that hard tack is dangerous stuff. I wouldn't recommend eating too much of it."

"If we could, Miss Chloe." Commodore Norrington grumbled. "I'd like to catch Rennfield sometime this century."

"Har har har, I'm a funny commodore." I grumbled walking over to where Jack lay face down in the leaves. "Jack?" I shook his shoulder lightly and he groaned.

"Chloe?" He blinked up at me when I turned him over to look into his eyes. He raised a hand and patted my cheek, before it fell back to rest on his forehead. "Where's me hat?"