I fiddled with my locket, listening to Gibbs interrogate the candidates that Jack would be selling to Davy Jones.

Jack. Just his name made my throat burn, my heart melt, my anger simmer, my brain go fuzzy. I was so mad and upset and confused I had just decided to not think about it. It wasn't working too well.

"I've always wanted to sail the sea," One man stated. He seemed a bit too sentimental to be a pirate, a little too kind. "Always. Forever."

"Sooner than you think," Gibbs said patiently. "Sign the roster."

The newest addition to our crew nodded his thanks and scribbled his signature onto the dirty parchment. I unsheathed my sword and studied it, wanting something to do.

"I know what I want. I know what I want." Jack chanted, shaking his compass. He opened it, a hopeful expression on his face, but his eyes hardened and he slammed it shut in frustration. He sent me a glance, but when he saw me looking, he stuck out his tongue.

"Something wrong, Jackie?" I asked dryly. He glared at me with such hatred that I had to look away. Who knew one fight could turn into such a crossfire.

"I'm drunk for a month, me wife ran off with the dog, and I don't give a rat's ass whether I live or die!" Another pirate announced to Gibbs. I stifled a laugh.

"Ye'll do," Gibbs said, amusement etched into his tones. I took his bottle of rum and drank from it, not caring where it had been or that he was staring dangers at me.

"How're we doin'?" Jack asked after pocketing his stupid navigational tool.

"Including those four?" I asked. "Four." Jack rolled his eyes and sat back again.

Another dirty man walked up to us. I studied him without interest, until I met his eyes.

Oh, no...

"What's your story?" Gibbs asked him.

"My story," He drawled, that familiar deep monotone unnerving me beyond belief. I glanced nervously back at Jack, who was staring off into space with that oh-shit-I-know-that-voice expression.

Gibbs motioned for him to continue. "My story is the same as your story, just one chapter behind." Gibbs frowned and leaned forward. "I chased a man across the seven seas...and it cost me my career, my commission...and my life." He took the bottle Gibbs and I had been 'sharing' and took a long drink.

Jack stood and grabbed a palm frond off of a nearby plant. He attempted to make his escape, tottering across the room behind the leaves.

"Commodore?" Gibbs asked in disbelief.

"No, not anymore, weren't you listening?" James Norrington asked. "I nearly had all of you off of Tripoli. And I would've, too, if not for that hurricane!"

Gibbs gasped. "You didn't try to sail through it?"

I shrugged. "Your fault! Where we're going, you won't be able to handle it if you make rotten, drunk decisions..."

His gaze snapped to me. "Oh, yes?" His voice was murderous. "You haven't said where you're going. Somewhere nice?" At his last words, he flipped the table and Gibbs and I jumped back frantically, worry evident in our faces. The whole bar descended into a apprehensive silence and everyone turned to watch.

"So, am I worthy to crew under Captain, Jack, Sparrow?" He pulled out his pistol and aimed at Jack's head. I squealed and jumped forward, my sword drawn. I remembered my anger at Jack at the last minute and hesitated. Jack glanced at me, hurt reflected in his beautiful chocolate eyes.

"Or should I just kill you now?" He cocked the gun.

Jack darted behind a column. The gun followed. Jack leaned back around the wooden beam and smiled. "You're hired!" He did a sort of curtsy.

"Sorry," Norrington smirked with a bit too much glee for my liking. "Old habits and all that."

I tensed, prepared to jump forward and do...something.

Just as he was about to fire, the new crew members shot forward and grabbed his arm, redirecting the bullet. "That's our captain you're threatening!" One yelled.

The bullet ricocheted off of a frying pan, swinging innocently from the ceiling, and flew by my ear and into someone's mug. Hardened clay shattered everywhere and the cup's owner punched the man behind him, thinking it was him.

A loud bar fight gradually ensued, and Jack popped up beside us. "Time to go?" He suggested.

I nodded, and shot for the exit. Jack was following behind with Gibbs, stealing hats and trying them on, then placing it on another's head once realizing that it didn't suit him.

He stopped a group of men about to toss an inebriated pirate off a banister. Jack took the hat from the wriggling victim and replaced it with an equally dirty and rough looking one. "Carry on!" He told them, and they continued as if they had never been stopped. I would've normally thought it cute, but I was still pissed.

I got to the Pearl leagues ahead of them, and climbed on, heading for the below decks. I had stuff to do; laundry to wash, pistols to steal (I didn't have one, I was going to nick one from a crew member) and knives to polish. I had purchased a set of small but elegant throwing knives that I planed on learning to use. I wanted to be skilled in more than fencing.

I gathered the necessary supplies and headed back to my cabin.

I grudgingly dipped my two shirts (I owned three) and my only other pair of pants into the seawater, mumbling incoherent things under my breath. I rarely complain around other people, so when I'm alone I like to pout and whine under my breath.

After I deemed the clothing wet enough I wrung them until they were damp and laid them out flat on the floor, as I had nothing to hang them on. After they dried I would change, then add my existing outfit to the tub of black water...actually, I'd better change the water, too.

My first mission complete, I pulled on my baldric and decided that I would have some fun. I grinned and grabbed my small tin of kohl and rubbed it across my cheeks, so I would 'blend' into the darkness. Then I slipped out of the room and to the sleeping quarters of the crew.

Only three members were contently snoring away. I rummaged silently through a few chests, pretending I was invading an ancient temple in the Amazon, stealing gold and riches from the mummy's final resting place...

I swiped the spider webs aside and glanced around. The mummy lay peacefully in his crumbling coffin behind me, though once I opened the Chest of Pistolina who knows what might happen...I took a deep breath, and pushed the buttons in in the correct order.

I first pushed my thumb onto a blue and pink stained diamond. A grating sound could be heard but nothing more. This button, I had heard, represented riches.

Next, was the circle: Half black, half yellow. Represents night.

The third: An X, with a dot in between each of the prongs. This button is supposed to be a warning, hence the X: Stop now, before the mummy wakes.

I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves, and pushed in the final shape: A square, cut in half from corner to corner, one half black and one yellow, like the second button. Represents hope. I can hope for mercy...

The lid to the engraved wooden chest swung open of its own accord. I glanced behind me. The mummy had not stirred.

I turned my eyes to the treasure. There it was: The gun of Pistolina. It was black, save for the inlaid gold and the spill of rubies around the mouth of the pistol. I greedily reached down for it, and it was soon in my grasp.

As soon as my fingers closed around the barrel, there was a loud rumbling and gravelly noise. I jumped up and slowly turned, to see a decaying hand emerge from under the lid of the coffin...

I ran for my life. The temple was collapsing overhead, and I dodged falling debris. Gold tumbled down from the walls; I was tempted to grab some, but the roar of the mummy behind me dissuaded me in an instant.

I cleared the entrance just as the ancient temple fell, scattering dust and grime everywhere. I coughed and continued running. The mummy, as he was of the living dead, could still very well be after me...

I ran as long and hard as I could. Finally, when it seemed my lungs would collapse, I fell to the ground and examined the gun, panting heavily and needing water.

I loaded the gun with ammo I had brought along, and cocked it happily. Once again, a mission completed by the great explorer and conquerer, Adeena Mari Cole!

I fired the gun at the target I had drawn in the wall with my kohl. The lead ball imbedded itself into the center, and I grinned, blowing the smoke off the point of the gun. Sweet weapon. I think I would refer to it as Pistolina, the name is too good to not use regularly.

I tucked Pistolina into my belt and tried out the knives. The first throw missed the target by about five feet, nearly stabbing the dresser. I would most definitely need practice, but I would carry them just in case.

"Adeena?" A familiar feminine voice asked from my open door.

"Elizabeth?" I asked incredulously. I whirled around and there she was in the doorway, beautiful as ever, dressed in pirate clothes. She smiled shyly.

I ran to her and enveloped her in a hug. "It's been forever!" I squealed. "Where on earth have you been?"

She smiled and hugged me back. As she did, I was surprised to feel the bulk of a sword under her shirt, but I said nothing. Will must've been teaching her. "Here and there," She responded with an enigmatic smile. I grinned at her.

I welcomed her into my quarters, and we spent quite a long while catching up. I eventually apologized for the fiasco that her wedding had become.

"Yes, I am more than a bit disappointed," She said with a frown. "But Will and I have a mission to accomplish." She pulled out a little leather book and handed it to me.

I opened it after giving her a questioning glance and quickly ran my eyes over it. My head shot up after reading a certain pirate's name.

"These are for Jack," I said incredulously. "Letters of Marque."

She nodded. "Will was supposed to trade them for the compass." She took them back and tucked them back into her shirt. "But I'm afraid I may have stolen them from Beckett."

I nodded, but my brain was racing. The compass. What does Beckett was with a compass that points to whatever you want most in this world? "Jack is never going to accept these."

She sighed. "I know. I also know where the compass points, now." At my quizzical face she pulled it out from inside her coat. "Jack gave it to me, to borrow, so we can rescue Will."

I bounced a bit on the bed, as we had sat down on it to talk. "To rescue Will?" I asked slowly. Why on earth...

She smiled softly, no doubt thinking about her one true love. "Yes. Apparently there is a chest, Davy Jones's chest, and finding this will save Will."

I bobbed my head again. So Jack was using her to get the chest. The chest must not be what Jack wants most...what does Jack want? Certainly not me... His cruel words from our fight echoed in my mind, but I pushed the depressing thoughts away. "Do we have a heading?" I asked suddenly.

She nodded. "Yes."

I rubbed the back of my neck. I was itching to ask her something, but also extremely embarrassed.

She noticed my disturbance and took my hand. "What is it?"

I hesitated, then caved. "Erm, how was Jack, well, was he acting, uh, strange?"

She grinned with amusement. "Stranger than usual, you mean?"

I gave her a weak smile. "Yes."

She thought for a moment. "He seemed a bit...on edge, but he's the most hunted pirate in the Caribbean, that must count for something." She broke out into a teasing smile. "By the way, when will you get married?"

I started. "Married?"

She rolled her eyes. "You and Jack are obviously in love."

I bit my lower lip unhappily. "Maybe..."

"Maybe?" She asked, her brow furrowed. "What is that supposed to...oh. I see. You two are nurturing a disagreement."

I felt my anger bubble. "He won't say it!" It burst out of my mouth on its own accord, and I couldn't seem to stop the words from spilling out. "I love him, I think he loves me, but neither of us will just say it! He doesn't tell me about his plans, I don't get to help him with said plans, he's just such a, such a pirate!" I cursed in Korean.

Elizabeth looked surprised at my outburst. "Maybe...you should go to him. Maybe you need to say it first. I think he's scared to tell you, Adeena, because he's only ever been with prostitutes and whores. Now he's got someone to love him back."

"You think?" I whispered.

She smiled and shrugged. "I'm no expert."

I sighed and picked at the sheet. "I'll try. I miss him."

She sighed as well. "And I miss Will..."

We were silent for a moment. "Well," I said, "Let's not mope around. You need a cabin."

She smiled and we stood. "I could sleep with the crew?" She offered halfheartedly. "I've been sleeping with the crew of the Coincidence."

She had told me about her adventure to get here. I grinned. "No, you can have that extra cabin. Come on, I'll tell Gibbs, who can tell Jack!" I said bitterly.

She smirked knowingly. "We're going straight to Jack, whether you like it or not."

I glared at her, but obeyed.

We emerged from below decks and into the night. Jack was at the helm, looking extremely handsome. Well, to my eyes.

Elizabeth and I hopped up the stairs and stood before him. "Jack," I asked.

"Captain Jack..." He muttered. When he raised his head from his normal compass, he saw it was me. "Oh, you. Definitely Captain Jack in that case."

I felt the sting of tears in my eyes but didn't flinch away. "Can Elizabeth have the other cabin?" I asked quietly, my voice strained.

He nodded and strutted down the stairs, Cotton taking the wheel. We followed. "Of course she can." He talked rather stiffly.

"Jack, can we please talk?" I asked in desperation.

He shook his head. "No." He said rudely.

With that, he walked into his cabin and shut the door.

I stood just outside, fuming. "That, that..." I searched for the correct word to describe how I felt about Jack.

Elizabeth smiled sadly. I think she sensed that I wanted to be alone. "I'm sorry, Adeena." She said quietly. "I'm going to retire for the night, if you don't mind."

I shook my head and slid down his wall, next to his doors, my head in my hands. "Don't let me stop you."

I heard her footsteps as she walked away, and I silently cried into my knees.

What had I gotten myself into?

***