𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐖 washed up on a bright beach, spitting and gasping for breath. they rose and studied their bleak surroundings.

"this truly is a godforsaken place," gibbs breathed, staring at the desolate hills of sand.

"i don't see jack," elizabeth said despairingly. "i don't see anyone."

bella looked around at the bare landscape silently.

"he's here," barbossa told them. "davy jones never once gave up that what he took."

"it doesn't matter," will snapped. "we're trapped here by your doing, no different than jack."

tia dalma slowly turned around, petting a small crab. "witty jack is closer than you think," she smiled.

in the distance, the mast of a ship appeared over the top of a sand dune. it became more visible, and the crew realized it was the black pearl. the ship splashed down into the water, and a man approached the shore.

"slap me thrice and hand me to me momma!" gibbs said in shock. "it's jack!"

jack walked up on the beach toward them. bella broke into a wide smile, feeling a rush of happiness as she followed the crew across the sand to greet him.

"it's the captain!" pintel exclaimed.

"a sight for sore eyes!" gibbs praised. "jack!"

jack's face was stern and his tone was harsh. "mr. gibbs!" he shouted.

"aye, captain," gibbs responded, a bit taken aback.

"i thought so," jack continued. "i expect you can account for your actions, then?"

"sir?" asked gibbs, looking lost. bella narrowed her eyes. this wasn't the jack she remembered.

"there has been a perpetual and virulent lack of discipline aboard my vessel!" jack said angrily. "why is that, sir?"

gibbs squinted at him. "you . . . you're in davy jones' locker, captain."

jack shook his head slightly. "i know that. i know where i am, and don't think i don't."

"jack sparrow," barbossa stepped forward.

"ah, hector! it's been too long," jack smiled. "hasn't it?"

"aye. isla de muerta, remember?" replied barbossa. "you shot me."

"no i didn't," jack shrugged. he moved past barbossa. "tia dalma, out and about, eh? you lend an agreeable sense of macabre to any delirium."

bella stood behind will, who crossed his arms and said: "he thinks we're a hallucination."

jack turned around to him. "william, tell me something. have you come because you need my help to rescue a certain distressing damsel? or rather, damsel in distress? either one."

"no," answered will.

"then you wouldn't be here. so you can't be here. Q.E.D, you're not really here!!"

"jack," elizabeth spoke. "this is real, we're here."

jack looked at her in confusion for a moment. then, he scuttled back over to gibbs.

"the locker, you say?" he muttered.

"aye," confirmed gibbs.

"we've come to rescue you," bella pushed out from behind will, speaking to jack.

their eyes met, and she forgot how to breathe for a moment. you see, brown eyes are just brown eyes — until you love someone with brown eyes.

but by the same token, jack lost his thoughts and forgot the world for a moment. he had never realized how easy it was to fall into the ocean of her eyes. so blue, he was drowning. the same blue of the sea which he had loved more than anything - until her.

then, he snapped back into place and remembered who had left him to the kraken in the first place.

"have you, now?" he said, staring back at her harshly. "that's very kind of you. but seeing as i possess a ship and you don't, it seems as though you're the ones in need of rescuing, and i'm not sure as i'm in the mood."

"i see my ship," barbossa replied smugly, pointing out at the ship in the water. "right there."

jack peered out at the water. "can't spot it," he said. "must be a tiny little thing hiding somewhere behind the pearl."

". . . jack . . ." bella started, but will cut her off.

"cutler beckett has the heart of davy jones. he controls the flying dutchman."

"he's taking over the seas," added elizabeth.

"the song has already been sung," tia dalma said. "the brethren court is called."

"leave you people alone for a minute and look what's happened, everything's gone to port," jack answered in surprise.

"aye, jack," gibbs nodded. "the world needs you back something fierce."

"and you need a crew," will stated firmly.

jack spun around. "why should i sail with any of you? four of you have tried to kill me in the past, one of you succeeded."

he gestured towards bella, and everyone turned to her in shock.

she glanced around at the crew guiltily.

a self-assured grin crossed jack's face. "oh, she's not told you? you'll have loads to talk about while you're here." he looked to tia. "as for you..."

"now, don't tell me you didn't enjoy it at the time," she said seductively, reaching out to caress his face.

bella rolled her eyes angrily.

"all right, fair enough, you're in," he smiled, moving down the line. "don't need you, you scare me. gibbs, you can come. marty. cotton. cotton's parrot, i'm a little iffy, but at least i'll have someone to talk to." he came face to face with tai huang. "who are you?"

"tai huang," he answered. "these are my men."

"where do your allegiances lie?"

"with the highest bidder."

"i have a ship," bartered jack.

"that makes you the highest bidder," tai huang replied.

"good man," jack nodded. "weigh anchor, all hands, prepare to make sail!" he shouted, then flipped open his compass.

jack glanced down at the compass, briefly up to bella, then back down at it.

bella could tell from his expression that the bearing wasn't what he'd expected. she stood beside barbossa, who tapped the navigational charts.

"jack . . ." he said smugly. "which way you going, jack?"

a/n

surprise double update !!

ik you were all really excited for these chapters :)

enjoy, sarah