Walking through Tortuga with Captain Jack Sparrow, Rose felt a lot safer than earlier when she had come alone. Everybody made way for him, clearly knowing who he was and not particularly eager to meet him. Or perhaps that was because of the smell.

The boy waited patiently beside the dinghy, and Rose paid him the agreed price while Jack leaned back comfortably in the bow of the small vessel, resting his head on his clasped hands.

She frowned when she joined him in the boat. "Aren't you going to man the oars?"

"Why?" He closed his eyes and looked for all the world like a pirate taking a nap.

"Because you're the sailor? Because you're stronger? Because I have blisters in my hands from rowing before?"

"Nah. You can do it." He smiled wickedly, the sun reflecting in one of his gold teeth.

"Bastard," she muttered under her breath and grabbed the oar handles. The fact that he opened his eyes to look at her in a rather intimate way when she rowed did not make her any less annoyed. She realized that her low neckline revealed an embarrassing expanse of her chest when she had to bend forward over the oars, and Jack Sparrow clearly enjoyed the view.

"Your dress is nice," he complimented and swallowed some more rum. She felt like grabbing the bottle and hit him on the head with it.

The sun stood high and very soon it became unbearably hot in the open boat, making her jealous of the captain's triangular hat. When they finally arrived beside the Dutchman, Rose was soaked in perspiration, her palms were raw and she was ready to strangle the infuriating man in front of her.

Bill Turner lowered a rope ladder, and again Sparrow grinned wickedly.

"After you, Miss Dawson."

She felt him eyeing her exposed legs as she gingerly climbed the ladder on her impractical shoes, and when Bill reached out a strong hand to help her the last way she breathed out in relief.

Jack Sparrow nimbly followed, the rum bottle clasped protectively under one arm, and swung himself over the railing. He greeted Mr Turner with a smile and handshake.

"Bootstrap!"

"Jack."

Then he caught sight of the captain. "Eunuch! How fares the soul gathering business?"

"Well, good up until now," he said. "And would you quit calling me eunuch? Ask my wife if you don't believe me."

"Ah, the fair Elizabeth. Give her my regards the next time you see her." He grinned evilly, clearly aware of her predicament.

"I shall." Captain Turner glared darkly at him.

"So, tell me about this Calypso issue. How come you have her heart?"

The two Turners promptly filled him in on how Rose had drowned with the diamond in her pocket and been pulled back in time to end up here.

"And this is where we need you. You and the other Pirate Lords summoned Calypso before, when you bound her in human form. You know how it's done."

"Aye, I know how it's done," Jack Sparrow conceded.

"Great. Then, when you've called the goddess forth, Rose will give her this." The Captain held up the blue diamond. "And in exchange, Calypso must take Rose back to the future where she belongs, so she can enter the afterlife in peace."

Rose frowned. She still did not want to die. Perhaps the sea goddess could be persuaded to drop her off somewhere else? She would have to think more about that.

Jack Sparrow leaned forward, peering closely at the sparkling stone. "What a pretty little trinket." He touched it gingerly, as one might do with something explosive and dangerous. Then he suddenly straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest. "What makes you think I want to do it? What's in it for me?"

Of course... Obviously he would want something for his troubles, pirate as he was. Probably something valuable, at that, Rose figured.

"I have some silver," Captain Turner said.

"Silver." Sparrow grinned, again flashing his shiny teeth. "I prefer gold."

Rose silently counted up the things she owned, but the result was meagre; her dress and underwear, a pair of high-heeled shoes and a too large men's coat. And the Heart of the Ocean, but apparently that belonged to Calypso.

Then she remembered. "My earrings!" She had almost forgotten she still wore those. They were elegant and probably quite expensive, two gold chains with a smooth white pearl hanging from each. Rose was rather fond of the pair, having been given them by her father when she turned sixteen. He had died not long after, leaving his wife and daughter to deal with his many depts, one of which probably had been created by his buying those earrings. Not that it mattered anymore.

With a sigh she removed the pair and held them out to the pirate.

He picked one up and examined it speculatively.

"They will do." He quickly stowed away the jewels in a hidden pocket inside his shirt.

"So you will help me?" Rose could hardly believe he had changed his mind so easily.

"Can you do it now?" asked the captain.

"Aye, and no. The items used for summoning should be no problem to gather, neither to find a proper location. But..."

"But?"

"I need a ship," He mumbled, looking embarrassed. "Preferably one with black sails."

"You lost her again?" Captain Turner shook his head.

"I might have." He looked away.

"Lost what?" asked Rose.

"The Black Pearl. His ship."

"My ship." He nodded and pulled another deep draught from his bottle.

"So you're basically a captain without a ship?" Rose wondered.

Jack Sparrow gave her a hard glare. A sensitive topic, apparently. Rose stowed away the knowledge for later use.

"Well, I can't help you get the Pearl back, I'm not allowed to use the Dutchman against living men. Have you no other ship?"

"I'm afraid not." He shrugged, his expression morose.

The men silently pondered over the problem for some time, while Rose leaned her elbows on the railing and peered into the dark water. A seagull swooped down and landed a little way off, turning its eye towards her. It was peaceful out here in the bay, a pleasant change after walking through the loud and bustling town before.

"Maybe he could borrow the Barnacle?" Bill Turner said.

"No." The captain frowned.

"But..."

"I said no!"

"Well then, gentlemen, I won't be taking up your precious time any longer." Jack walked to the railing. "If you're tired of the dead guys, you could come with me," he suggested to Rose in a loud whisper, winking in a very vulgar way. She gave him her best haughty glare, conveying how much above him she was in class and manners.

"Stop," said Captain Turner. His frown had deepened and he sounded reluctant as he added: "I know a boat."

"Great!" Jack rubbed his hands in a businesslike manner. "So, what are we waiting for?"

Within minutes the crew efficiently had weighed the anchor and set sail, and the ship was on her way again.

Rose went forward in the ship, trying to distance herself from Jack Sparrow as much as possible. She did not trust the pirate one bit, he was too forward and the way he looked at her made her uncomfortable. It was also rather suspicious he had agreed to help her so readily, after he had been so reluctant back in the brothel. It was only after she had mentioned the Heart of the Ocean he changed his mind and came with her.

What if he intended to trick them all, take Rose's earrings and the Heart, dump her somewhere and just leave the scene? Possibly after taking advantage of her and stealing her clothes for good measure.

The problem was, she had no alternative but to go with him. What else could she do? She was trapped in this strange world, where she knew nobody and had no useful skills to earn her a living. If the way the men had looked at her in Tortuga was anything to go by, she would not be safer running away even if she could.

A sharp point protruded from the Dutchman's bow, and behind it Rose found a shelflike space where she crawled up to sit. The ship was running at a high speed now, and up here the wind beat her face, blowing back her loose, copper curls. Closing her eyes, Rose imagined standing in the prow of another ship, feeling the warm, firm body of a young man behind her.

Hot tears wetted her lashes as she slowly extended her arms. I'm flying! She had felt so alive, nearly bursting with happiness as she finally let go of all that was right and proper and followed her heart. Followed him.

Rose angrily rubbed the tears from her eyes. What a spoiled little girl she had been, miserable because she was supposed to marry Caledon Hockley and afraid to lose her freedom. Now, only days later, she felt old. She would have happily married Cal twice over if it could have given Jack his life back, if she could be alive again. Anything was better than this. To be stuck alone in this horrible world, with horribly dirty towns, forced to trust these horrible men and...

"Don't be sad, miss. We'll sort it out." Bill's kind voice behind her made Rose jump.

"Thank you," she murmured, trying to hide her face.

He patted her arm awkwardly. She felt oddly moved by his clumsy attempt at comforting her. He was such a sweet man, and reminded her a little of her own late father. Not too bright, but Father had not been either.

Bill pulled out a thick money pouch and the Heart of the Ocean and pressed the items into her hand.

"Will wanted me to give you these discreetly, and he said to keep them away from Jack Sparrow. That man can be unreliable around valuables."

"I bet he can. Will – is that the captain?"

"Aye, miss, I thought he had introduced himself. But he's often a bit thoughtless, is my boy." He smiled proudly.

"Oh, I didn't know he was your son."

"Aye, he is."

"Will and Bill." She could not hold back a grin.

"We are both named William," he explained needlessly.

When the older man had left, Rose felt a little better. There was at least one good man in this world, and his son seemed nice as well. If only he had not been so obsessed with sending her to the afterlife.

A foul smell announced that Rose's quiet space was once again being invaded. She missed the spacious Titanic with its many hiding places.

"What do you want?" She was thankful the pirate stood downwind.

"Just some pleasant conversation with a beautiful lady." He bowed in a way probably intended to be elegant, but in his drunken state it looked awkward and wobbly. "So, you come from the future."

Rose nodded, wishing he would go away.

"What will happen to me?"

"You?" She looked at him in surprise. "No idea. You die, I assume."

"But I'm famous," he scowled. "Surely Captain Jack Sparrow must be mentioned in the history books of your time?"

"Not that I remember, no..."

"You're probably just uneducated," he scoffed.

Rose shook her head and turned away, not deigning his comment worthy of a reply. Uneducated? That, from a pirate.

Jack leaned leisurely against the railing next to her. After a while, she could not resist peeking at him from the corner of her eye. The pirate was regarding the horizon, his eyes narrowed in the bright light. She wondered what he was thinking of. Perhaps he was honing his plan to trick her?

He reminded her of a cat, graceful and lean, constantly ready to pounce even when seemingly relaxed as now. His antics did not fool her, Jack Sparrow clearly was a dangerous man. How would she cope being alone with him? If only Bill or someone else on the Dutchman could have gone with her.

The pirate turned his gaze to her, a small smile slowly forming under his mustache. 

Rose found it very hard to look away. She realized her metaphor was wrong; Jack Sparrow was no cat, he was a lion, and right now she felt like a gazelle. Trapped.

"How did you lose your boat?" she asked, refusing to let any weakness show.

His smile instantly disappeared. "My ship was stolen by a mutinous cur named Hector Barbossa." He said the name like a curse word. Then his gaze softened and became deeply sad. "I had just gotten her back, too."

"You seem fond of her."

"She is the love of my life." He sounded completely sincere.

"I'm sure you'll find a way to reclaim her." She tried to look sympathetic, but was secretly amused by his infatuation. There must be hundreds of other ships he could lay his hands on, pirate as he was. What was so special about this Black Pearl?

She had no time to ask though, because now the lookout cried from the mast. "Land ho!"

First Rose could only see a few strands of white smoke trailing over the horizon, but as the Dutchman came closer she soon discovered the quaint fishing village they originated from. The ship followed the coast some way further until it halted near a lonely house, built on a naked cliff, overlooking the open sea. Tied to a stone pier outside the house was a pretty little fishing boat.

Captain Turner walked up to Rose and Jack. "The owner of the boat lives over there, but as you know I can't go ashore. Tell her I sent you, and she'll let you use it. Or so I hope."

"She?" Jack peered at the captain suspiciously. "You don't mean...?"

He was interrupted by a loud crack as the front door of the house was thrown open and a woman in a gray dress with a white apron tied around her waist hurried out. She shadowed her eyes with her hand, and then let out a shrill, happy yelp. She promptly ran to the pier and dived elegantly into the water, swimming out to them with speedy strokes.

"It would seem your wife would rather you tell her in person," said Jack smugly.

Rose looked at the approaching young woman with curiosity. So this was the captain's wife, the one he could only visit every ten years. She was immensely beautiful, with dark eyes and hair, and there was a fierceness in her expression that Rose rather envied. This woman seemed not afraid of anything.

As Mrs Turner began to climb the rope ladder, Jack Sparrow's eyes went wide. "Oh! I almost forgot." He urgently scurried away, hugging his bottle. "Be right back. I'll just hide the rum!"

A/N:

Why was Jack Sparrow so easily swayed to help a strange woman from the future? And will Elizabeth lend her boat to him? Most importantly: will she burn his rum again? The suspense is killing you, I'm sure!

Thank you who read, voted and commented so far. ♡♡♡ I always get insecure when beginning a new story, so your feedback means much at this stage.

I shall also take the opportunity and mention that English is not my first language, so if you spot mistakes that could be why!

Image Credits:

Screenshot from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.