Chapter 6- Doomed

"By now you know that I'd come for you, no one but you" -Nickelback

All right, finally an update. Sorry for the long wait and I want to thank you all for the reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter. R&R.

Disclaimer: Don't own, but one can wish.

The next morning found the Pearl to be sailing in fair weather, the sun warming the backs of the crew and a good wind filling the sails. Jack stood at the helm breathing in the air and trying not to think of a certain distressing damsel, who had currently stepped from below clad in full pirate regalia. There was no possible way he noticed her presence and he certainly did not watch the way her clothes tightened when she stretched, revealing her delectable curves. A wisp of a girl, my ass…a bloody goddess. Nor did he turn away when she acknowledged his presence before going to the starboard rail to gaze into the azure waters.

Barbossa was on deck soon afterwards and made a beeline right for the beautiful pirate lass causing Jack to frown. He couldn't hear what was being said, but had a feeling it had something to do with why Barbossa was in her room last night. "Probably swiving her behind me back."

"What's that, sir?" Gibbs asked, stepping to his side.

"Nothing of importance." He replied bitterly, not taking his eyes off of the two standing on the main deck. "We've about a day before reaching our destination. Have the guns been cleaned and readied properly?"

"Aye Cap'n."

"Good."

Barbossa reached out and spun Elizabeth to face him, catching Gibbs's eye. He looked to his scowling captain. "What's that, then?"

"I don't know, but I intend to find out."

Elizabeth awoke in her bed not feeling any more rested than if she had slept fifteen minutes rather than four hours. With a sigh, she climbed to her feet and began to get dressed. Being angry with Jack and fending off Barbossa was really taking a toll on her patience and her sleeping habits.

Walking out on deck, she smiled to herself. At least it's a lovely day for sailing even if I am tired…and my shoulders sore…she thought as she stretched. Feeling eyes on her, she glanced up at the helm and quickly looked away when she realized it was Jack, but when she looked back he was no longer looking. Instead of pursuing the matter from last night, she decided it would be best if she watched the waves for a bit to cool her heels a little more, but her wave gazing was short-lived, for she felt another's presence at her side.

"Come for your information, I presume?"

He chuckled. "Mornin' to you too, my liege."

"I don't believe we've a need for pleasantries, Barbossa. I don't take kindly to threats on my person."

"Ye think that was a threat?"

"Aye and you had better watch yourself. Every man that has dealings with me ends up dying or on the crew of the damned."

Barbossa grabbed her wrist and spun her to face him, inches away. "Is that a threat, missy?"

"What if it were?"

"Do not forget, I am a captain as well and the code says nothin' about the king bein' immune to punishment, dearie. Perhaps I'd have ye tied up in me cabin."

"You wouldn't dare." She spat. "And Captain Sparrow would never allow that on his ship."

"Oh? He's likely to think I'm beddin' ye."

"And you'd like that wouldn't you?"

"I rather think you would as well, dearie…even if ye do prefer Captain Sparrow."

Her eyes widened in disgust. "Blackguard!" She hissed, reaching up to slap him across the face, but he caught her wrist and narrowed his eyes. She quickly wrenched her arm free not liking the look in his eye and hurried back out into the sunlight.

Glancing up, she began making her way to the helm and the one man that might be able to calm her down.

"Having a lover's tiff?" Jack questioned snidely as she approached.

She paled and stared at her feet. "I wouldn't call it that."

"Then what would you call it? A whore's dalliance?"

"How dare you!"

"I? How dare I? How dare I? What gives you the right to toy with a man's feelings?"

"He has no feelings!"

"But William does! James Norrington does!" I bloody do!

Tears stung the backs of her eyes. "Well they're not here are they?"

He glowered and turned away. "I can't see that I blame them."

"Why do you care? From what you said last night, I'm nothing."

"You still haven't told me what I wanted, my liege." Barbossa interrupted, striding up to them.

"James wanted to warn me about Beckett gathering his men and that we need to turn around. Now stop bloody bothering me!" She replied, storming down the steps and helping Gibbs with the sail he was patching.

Barbossa waved her off dismissively and walked to the railing, mumbling to himself. Jack just stared after her with an indistinguishable face. "Bloody fool." He muttered as he gave the helm to Cotton and went to his cabin.

Gibbs stopped what he was doing and followed Sparrow.

"Go away, Gibbs."

"Don't you think you were a bit hard on the lass, Cap'n?"

He sighed. "The truth hurts, Mr. Gibbs. It's time she learns that."

"She already has, don't you think?" The older man replied.

Jack met his gaze. "I can't trust her."

Gibbs stared him down. "No reason to hurt the girl."

Jack sighed again. "If you're going to badger me with a life's lesson, Mr. Gibbs, then I suggest you leave. I've done what I had to do and I won't do more than that."

"Aye." Mr. Gibbs replied and left the cabin with a sigh.

A while later, a knock sounded at the door to Elizabeth's cabin and she raised her weary head with a sniffle. "It's open."

"Elizabeth?" Captain Sparrow asked softly.

"Come to take me to the brig?"

"Of course not, darling. I-"

BOOM!

"What was that?"

He jumped up to run out, but paused and turned around to caress her chin. "We will continue this."

She watched him leave, touching her chin.

JEJEJEJEJEJE

The Boom was cannon fire and the assailant was Lord Cutler Beckett's prized possession ahead of schedule. "Oh no…" Elizabeth muttered.

"Well, well, well…if it isn't Jack Sparrow and his crew of miscreants." A snide voice spoke out across the decks silencing the other men. "About time you showed yourself."

Elizabeth scanned the other ship and soon found the particular menace himself. He wore an eyepatch over what appeared to be a face full of burned scar tissue and a look of pure hatred towards the swaggering pirate captain. Said pirate captain was not swayed. "It's Captain Sparrow, you mangy pile of cow manure."

Elizabeth's brow rose. Not one of his better insults…

"Yes…well…not for long. It just so happens that I have a fleet of navy ships at my beck and call as it were." He gestured at an array of ships lining the horizon. "Your odds don't look very good, Captain."

Jack studied the ships in the distance with nonchalance. "Hmm…well it is a most intriguing and dangerous predicament isn't it?" He replied conversationally.

This confused Beckett. He was expecting him to surrender instantly. Elizabeth thought him a fool for thinking it would be easy to take down a pirate lord. "I suppose you'll be surrendering now. Guards, prepare to board."

"Hold on a tic, Cutler." Jack replied, raising a finger. "I think you underestimate my boldness for foolhardiness and you are making a grave blunder. Underestimating a dishonest person only brings trouble especially when they're being honest."

Beckett frowned. "What are you blathering on about?"

Jack stepped to the side a bit. "What do you see upon my horizon?"

The other man squinted past the Pearl and into the distance. "Nothing."

The pirates all turned and looked. Elizabeth's shoulders dropped. Where are they? There was no motley fleet of pirates on the horizon waiting for their signal.