The Map

A/N: Much apologies for prolonged absence, explanation at end. Hope you enjoy this….

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Beads of sweat slid down De Mornay's face although it had nothing to do with the overhead sun beating down and all to do with the expanse of sand that lay between him and the grass ahead.

"Keeping moving!"

He stumbled forwards as someone rammed a sword hilt into his back to make him move.

De Mornay hissed between his teeth and began to slow process of feeling the sand in front of him with the long plank taken from one of the rowing boats. He knew it wasn't really good enough to discover where the treacherous quicksand lay; but it was all he had. There had been no more time for him to discuss with Beaumont anything else. They had been forced to crawl on their knees to the waters edge for the quick service held over the dead pirate. He snorted contemptuously as he remembered and began to inch forward slowly, using the stick to prod the depths of the sand.

It was ridiculous in his mind to waste time and energy over a man who was dead and well on his way to hell. He knew that before they found the treasure Sparrow would be saying prayers for more of his crew and that thought alone buoyed him along as he inched his way slowly over the sand.

Several times his stick had found quicksand and only the rope tied around his waist had prevented him from sinking, but after a few hours they reached the safety of the grass banks that lead into the thick foliage at the base of the mountains.

He slumped beside Beaumont, having to use both hands to wipe his face as they were tied together. He looked out over the meandering footprints of the crew as they had weaved their way behind him.

Someone stopped beside them casting a shadow over them. They both looked up, surprised to see Nell stood holding two cups of water out to them.

"Ah look. A ministering angel sent just for us." Drawled Beaumont as he took the cup; both hands stretching up for it.

De Mornay looked up at her, his eyes squinting in the brightness of the sun. He took the cup silently and drank it down in one long draught.

"NELL!" a shout from behind them brought both their heads up again as they saw Jack Sparrow advancing on them angrily.

"You're for it now lass." Laughed De Mornay "Don't matter how warm you get him you can't disobey direct orders and expect to get away with it."

"If our lives weren't semi-dependant on your survival I'd let you die of thirst." She said coldly and backed off as Jack reached her. He gripped her upper arm and growled as he used his foot to send the now empty cups from their hands, bruising their hands with the forc his his kick. He didn't even look down at them; his black angry eyes were boring into Nell.

"And here was me thinking I was Captain here!" Angry sarcasm dripped from between his clenched teeth. "Did you not hear what I said back at the shoreline?"

"We all need to drink Jack." She said defiantly, unable to meet his eyes against the glare of the sun behind his head and because of the fury she knew she would see there.

"That's not what I asked you!" he said and none of his usual drunken slur was present. He dragged her away from the crouching prisoners and out of ear shot.

She looked up at him and saw just how angry with her he was. An answering bolt of anger went through her.

"They have to drink Jack! You'll kill them and then what good will it do us? He lost far too much fluid walking across that sand and it had to be replaced quickly."

"Ah! The Saint Nell is with us." He laughed but it wasn't humorous, it was hard and made her wince "An angel of mercy or perhaps the ship's doctor now?" his black eyes glistening angrily at her.

"I'm not crew!" she spat back "and I never will be."

"Too damn right you're not!" he shot back his fingers holding her arms firmly "If you'd been crew you'd be laying on your back with a shot through your head now for mutiny."

Nell paled at his words and tried to shake his hands off her but his grip was firm.

"I cannot have anyone completely ignoring my orders, not even you missy." He said his voice softening slightly when he saw the effect his words had on her.

Nell shook her head, her eyes still held by his.

"I couldn't let you kill them Jack." She said quietly "Without them this whole thing will bemuchmuch harder. They know this island; at least they might be able to…."

"Aye that they might; if they thought my threats would be carried out." He interrupted and abruptly let herto sto step back from her "Did you really think I'd let them die of thirst?" his words were softer now but no slur to them. "Do you honestly think they truly had no idea that quicksand was there?" he cocked his head to one side and one hand lifted as if to touch her but thought better of it and went to his chin instead.

Nell blinked at him and closed her eyes briefly as she remembered with stark clarity as Jones sank beneath the surface, the life already drained from his body.

" kno know every pitfall on this island and if they think they have the upper hand over us they'll use it like they did with the quicksand. They'll pick off as many of my crew as they can. And one of the ways I have to control them is to threaten them. If I thought for one minute they were of no use to us they'd be joining Jones now. Savvy?"

Nell took only seconds to realise her mistake and it showed in her face immediately.

"I was going to let them drink Nell, but when I was ready and when I knew it would serve to keep them under. Being that I am the Captain here and not you that is." His voice was low but she could clearly hear his disappointment in her "Although you have just single-handedly ripped the authority right from under my feet with them."

"I didn't think…" she raised a hand and rubbed at her forehead "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Aye. So am I." he said quietly "Don't do that again Nell." and turning away from her he walked back down to where the crew were sitting on the banks drinking their water, trying to make it look as if they hadn't just spent five minutes straining to hear what was said and done.

Jack was silent as he joined them but then said something that made them all laugh with ribald humour and a few sly glances were sent her way that made Nell flush to the roots of her hair without even knowing why. She had no idea what Jack had said but she figured he'd gained face somehow.

She felt bad, really bad, but what made her feel worse, wasn't so much what she'd done but that she had let him down somehow, that he had been disappointed in her.

Norrington and Elizabeth came forward slowly.

"Not wise Nell." Norrington said quietly.

Nell sighed heavily and shook her head wearily. She should have known that he would let them drink when it would serve him without doing them lasting harm.

"No. I just found that out. I honestly thought…"

Elizabeth looked at Nell strangely and shrugged her slim shoulders "I thought you knew him better than that."

Her words stung Nell for some reason and she felt a little resentment kindling towards Elizabeth.

"It's been a tiring and trying day." Norrington said kindly and offered Nell his arm "I think perhaps a rest in the shade of these trees would suit very well."

Nell took his arm gratefully and let him lead her to a flatter surface, Elizabeth beside them. She sank down gratefully and sighed again as she looked out at the fog bank that surrounded the island.

"I just want to..." she stopped, what had she been going to say? Wanted to go home? Where was home? She had no home other than the Pearl and that was only temporary. She had nothing beside what she stood up in and not for the first time a sense of fatigue and helplessness washed over her.

"Want to what?" asked Elizabeth softly and Nell heard the pity in her voice. She stiffened her back slightly, one thing she did not need was pity. She had got herself into this mess the moment she had stepped outside the convent walls. If she was to survive in this world then she'd have to stop moping about what couldn't be changed.

"Sleep I think." She said finally "Sleep without the constant rocking of the waves underneath me." She looked at Elizabeth firmly and gave her a small grin.

"That may be harder than you expect." Norrington chuckled and she found herself grinning back at him.

"I'm so tired I don't think anything will keep me awake tonight." She replied with a laugh. "Are we setting up camp here tonight?" she asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth pointed to where several of the crew were already setting the start of a fire safely away from the overhead trees but not on the sand.

Nell saw several of the crew taking pistols and swords disappearing into tnderndergrowth in search of fresh meat for the fire. She frowned as she remembered Jack's words about what else may lay in wait on this island.

"Will they be safe enough?" she asked

"They know enough to keep their eyes sharp." Norrington replied and got up brushing the grass from his rear. He had seen Bryant heading towards the trees with several of the crew and he didn't want to loose the only one he could truly trust in.

His training and natural manners had him half bowing to the two seated women.

"Ladies please excuse me." He smiled at them and moved off to join Bryant.

"Nell."

Something in Elizabeth's voice made her turn to the other woman.

"Nell. Is there something between you and Jack?"

Nell felt her mouth drop before she quickly recovered herself. She looked out over the shimmering sands towards the now receding tide. Her face was perfectly composed.

"At this moment I'd say several feet of sand and grass." She answered casually.

"That's not what I meant." Came the sharp reply.

"I know it wasn't." Nell replied "Why do you ask?"

"Jack is…."

Nell sighed and looked at Elizabeth, her eyes narrowed and some of the backbone she was growing since meeting Jack showed.

"Yes I know. He's your friend. Well you have nothing to fear from me. I shan't be shoving him down the next ravine we come across. Although I can't say the temptation to do so won't be very strong."

"That wasn't what I meant either." Elizabeth smiled softly at her. Her brown eyes were watchful as she looked at Nell. "Jack isn't your average pirate."

"There is an average?" Nell let the bitterness show slightly "And here was me thinking they were all of nefarious and dubious character."

"He's a good man." Elizabeth ignored her words "Underneath all the cocky swagger and drunken manner; he's a good man with a good heart."

"You forgot to mention under all the dirt." Nell said quietly but Elizabeth set her lips and shrugged slim shoulderforefore looking back out to sea.

"Well he didn't kill us on sight." Nell said softly "And he has promised to see us alright once this nightmare is over."

"He will see you are alright but …." She faded out.

"But what?" Nell looked at her closely "What are you trying to say?"

"I like you Nell. But you've lead a sheltered life in the convent and I wouldn't like to see you get hurt."

"Hurt?" Nell knew she didn't sound very intelligent but she was genuinely confused with the direction the conversation was going.

"Jack is a pirate. First and foremost a pirate and I think you would do well to remember that. I've seen the way he looks at you. He's a good man but he's still a man."

Nell laughed but it was short and stiff.

"You are concerned with my virtue." She said and brought her knees up to her chin, her arms going around them as she looked back out to sea.

"He's an attractive man…"

"Under all the dirt." Nell added, deliberately keeping her tone light as she fought the wave of embarrassment and annoyance covering her.

"You're laughing at me." Elizabeth said and sounded slightly aggrd.
d.

"No." Nell shook her head and looked sideways at her "You mean well. I can see that, but you have no need to worry for me."

"You could settle in Port Royal, marry respectfully, live happily..." she let the sentence hang.

"If I don't fall for the charms of Jack Sparrow you mean?" Nell didn't know whether to be annoyed with Elizabeth for approaching a subject that was highly personal and none of her business; or pleased that she seemed to care enough for Nell to even broach the subject.

"I know it's rude and indeed none of my business but I do care for you Nell and I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Thank you Elizabeth." Nell smiled at her, letting the annoyance drop away from her, she did after all mean well and Elizabeth had been brought up a lady.

Her thoughts went to Lady Clarence on board the Pearl, who had quite happily accepted a pirate into her bed when she was still legally married. Lady Clarence was far more of a snob than Elizabeth appeared to be but her pursuit of love had lead her to places that "good society" would be appa abo about and she wasn't letting it bother her at all. But then there was a good deal of difference between Lady Clarence and Elizabeth who had never known an unhappy marriage and indeed there was an even bigger difference between Lady Clarence and Nell.

Lady Clarence had fallen in love with Hock and to all intents and purposes he with her. Neas uas under no false pretences about Jack. She neither loved him, nor he h
S
She swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat at the thought of loving Jack. She knew that was something that she just couldn't afford to do, with or without the prospect of a respectable marriage. She knew that Elizabeth was warning her that Jack could ruin her. What respectable man would want the leftovers of a pirate?

Nell frowned as her thoughts ran. Marriage was something she had never considered. Not even when she had first left the convent. Escape had been all that she had ever wanted. Freedom from the confines of the convent and the rigid rules. But did she want marriage now? Elizabeth sighed beside her and waved as she saw Will beckoning her over to him.

"I'm here if you want to talk at all." Elizabeth said as she stood.

Nell nodded and watched as she moved to join Will. He slung his arm around her waist and kissed her lovingly on her forehead. She looked back out across the sea towards the fog bank that hid the Black Pearl from view and a longing filled her. But it wasn't for marriage. No. She didn't want marriage. She wanted to explore herself first, explore the world she lived in and if Jack kept his side of the bargain up with the treasure she would be independently wealthy enough to do just that. Her time on the Pearl had shown her that there was far more to the world than stone walls and endless prayers and now she had a chance to see it. She wouldn't give it up for the confines of a rigid marriage, for she was sure that Elizabeth had married the only man that would let his wife on adventures like this.

Her eyes strayed to where Jack was stood on the edge of the grassy bank looking out at the fog bank that surrounded the island and hid the Pearl from his view. His back was straight and the wind blew his long braided hair about. His hat was perched on his head, higs bgs braced apart and even though he was stationary he was still swaying slightly. His head turned sharply and he looked back at her, almost as if he had known she was watching him.

Colour filled her cheeks and she hastily averted her gaze and got to her feet. She moved towards the camp fire in search of Hock and something to do.

The conversation with Elizabeth had un-nerved her slightly and she wanted to block all thoughts of Jack and love and marriage from her mind and there was nothing like hard work to do just that.

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The rest of the evening was spent uneventfully around the fire. The meal was the tastiest Nell had eaten in a long time. The men had managed to find several wild fowl which they had shot, plucked and cooked over the fire. Along with the fruit that they had been able to find on some of the closer trees, it had been a good meal. Nell had noticed that the only rations Beaumont and De Mornay had giv given was some bread and more water. If it was hard for them to eat that while the rest of the camp ate heartily she couldn't tell as they allowed nothing to show on their faces except for contempt.

Nell had kept her eyes away from Jack when Timms had given them their rations, just hoping that he wouldn't make some passing remark about her earlier actions. But he made no comment to her at all and she relaxed again.

After the meal they made camp early and Nell was glad to lie down on her blanket and wrap herself in it. The grassy bank wasn't particularly comfortable but she'd slept on harder and she was certain that after the day's events sleep would come easily.

Several hours later Nell was still awake and staring up into the clear starry sky. She felt safe with the occasional grunts and snores from the crew around her and she knew that Jack had two men on watch at all times, so it wasn't insecurity that kept her awake. A big yawn caught her and she lifted one hand lazily to cover her mouth before resting her head on her hand and staring up at the stars.

"Do you know any constellations?" came a low slur that was instantly recognisable.

She looked across at where Jack had bedded down a couple of feet away from her.

His eyes were glinting in the embers of the camp fire, dancing flames casting shadows across his face.

"I thought I was the only one that was awake." She said quietly, careful not to rouse Timms or Dwent who was sleeping on her other side.

"Tis the rocking." He said quietly and moved to lie on his front so he could look at her better. She lifted herself onto her elbows and stared at him.

"What?"

"The motion of the waves." He lifted one hand and made the movements of waves "Rocks us to sleep like babes in our mother's arms." He grinned at her.

"James mentioned earlier that I might find it harder to sleep that I thought but I thought he wasing.ing."

"Ah the Commodore knows." Jack rested his chin on his folded arms "Mind you, he's not true sea born… look he sleeps like a babe." He indicated with his head towards where the Commodore and Bryant were sleeping side by side. He was sound asleep with his mouth slightly open.

"I'm not true sea born either." She remarked still looking at the Commodore. His face was relaxed in sleep making him look younger.

"Then why aren't you asleep?" he asked lazily.

Nell looked back up at the stars and shrugged.

"Not used to sleeping outside I suppose."

Jack raised an eyebrow but let it go and instead rose gracefully to his feet. He nodded towards the guard and then dragged his blanket towards her.

He kicked at Timms till the man grunted strongly and rolled over still asleep, leaving more room between Nell and him. He lay his blanket next to Nell and settled himself down on his back, leaning back on his elbows.

"What are you doing?" she asked, amazed at how Timms had moved and not stirred.

"Well, seeing as neither of us can sleep without the sea beneath us lets put the time to good use." He lifted his eyebrows at her, a wicked smirk on his lips.

"I beg your pardon?" Nell blinked at him not believing that he could possible be serious.

"Well… now let's see." He lifted his arm and for one moment Nell thought he was going to put it around her but then he straightened it and wits fis finger traced a line through the sky.

"See that one?" he stared straight up at the sky and belatedly Nell realised he was pointing to the stars.

Feeling foolish and for some reason slightly disappointed she lay back and shook her head.
o. So. Show me again."

"There, the stars shaped like a swan… see that bright one is the head…"

Nell let his voice wash over her as he pointed out constellation after constellation. Some of them she could see straight away but others completely mystified her making Jack laugh and announce that it was just as well Compasses had been invented or she'd always be lost.

She fell asleep listening to his low smooth voice, unaware of how he crept closer to her. She was also unaware when he traced his finger down her nose, smiling when he saw she was fast asleep.

"I'm not that boring surely?" he asked aloud and a low grunt came from the sleeping Timms that made him grin.

He lay down ant hit his arm press into hers and was smugly gratified when she turned in her sleep and scooted closer to him. Closing his eyes he turned on his side and draped his arm around her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Nell woke she was alone, all the other crew members had risen and were packing up the camp.

When she realised she was the last to wake she jumped up guiltily. She saw Hock kicking sand onto the remains of the fire.

"Why didn't someone wake me?" she asked him stretching and then bending to pick up her blankets.

"Figured you needed it." He grinned at her "You were still awake when I took second watch."

Nell blushed slightly knowing that he must have seen Jack next to her talking to her, but he had turned away.

"What can I do?" she asked him tying the string around her blanket.

"Tis all done lass. Capt'n'll be back soon and thenget get onwards."

She looked around her and realised that half the crew, incng Wng Will and Elizabeth were no longer there.

"Where is everyone?"

"Searching out the next camp site and probably beating the next bit of information out of Beaumont." He spat her guardian's name with bitter hatred.

"How long do you think this will take?" she asked helping him to put out the last dying embers with sand.

He grunted and stepped back his hands going to his hips. He looked towards the island and shrugged.

"I've no idea." He admitted "But it don't matter really." He looked back at her "Aign't got much else to do with me time."

He indicated with his head towards a pile of bananas.

"Better eat miss, they'll be back soon and the Capt'n will want to move on quick."

Nell did as he told her and took a banana moving to sit by the pile of blankets and other provisions that had been divided into even loads for carrying.

She had finished the banana and was burying the skin when a rustling in the trees behind her made her look back into them. Hock was further away with a few of the others making sure they had everything.

She frowned and got to her feet watching the trees moving high above the ground as if someone was up there.

A rustling caught her attention closer to the ground and she blinked taking a few steps backwards as she caught a glimpse of someone dressed in brown move through trees and then disappear completely.

She had to be seeing things. There was no way on earth sad sad seen what she thought she'd seen.

She looked back at where Hock and the remaining crew members were laughing at something one of them had said.

She shook her head slightly and stepped forwards towards the trees, her eyes searching for something amongst the leaves.

"Suppose you aign't never seen a rainforest afore." came a voice from beside her.

She turned sharply, jumping slightly. But it was only Timms stood beside her looking at the trees.

"If ye watch closely enough, ye may see a monkey or two." He said ignoring the fact he had startled her "Or a parrot. Pretty things them be, and ye can train up right good."

"Monkeys?" asked Nell laughing. She had seen a monkey in the trees. It had to have been a monkey and not the monk she had first thought it to be. What a fool she was. Although, she thought, that was what only a few hours sleep did to you; made you see things.

"Aye, ye can train 'em but they aign't so easy as parrots. Or so I been told, I aign't never 'ad so much as a cat let alone a bird or a monkey." He laughed.

A noise made them turn around and they saw Jack and a few others returning through the trees.

"We found a nice place about an hours walk up from here, should do us for the rest of our stay here; may it be short and sweet." Jack called to them and laughing made his way to the provisions.

After a few minutes they had all the stuff and Nell was carrying a few blankets strapped to her back; they set off into the trees.

At first Nell was aware only of the trees and bushes and other plants around her, but as she walked she soon became aware of the creatures that were there too. Especially when Timms or Dwent who were walking with her would point them out.

She had never seen so many beautiful animals, from tiny lizards to long snakes, small bugs to big spiders. She wasn't keen on the spiders or the snakes but Timms told her that as long as she didn't bother then they wouldn't bother her and it certainly seemed that way as they climbed their way through the slowly rising jungle.

The heat was getting worse as they left the coastline and headed in land and Nell was soon finding it hard to breath; sweat poured down her back and not for the first time she wished she could tie her hair up aware from her face.

They stopped after awhile for a drink and Nell was grateful to let the blankets down and sink down on top of them.

"Hot luv?" came Jack's voice as he stopped behind her. He reached forwards and before she realised what he was doing he had taken her hair and swiftly plaited it into one long plait.

"Should have warned you to tie it back, sorry luv." He slurred slightly and eyed his work carefully, pleased with the results.

"Thank you." She said already the back of her neck felt better.

"Not far from where we'll camp there's a nicep pep pool that you can bathe in." he said quietly.

Nell twisted and looked up at him.

"Will it be safe?"

He looked down at her and something in his eyes made her skin tingle.

"Aye, it'll be perfectly safe. Elizabeth is at this moment enjoying it with young William."

She looked away and tensed slightly as his fingers brushed the back of her neck. She looked over at the others but they were not looking in their direction.

His fingers brushed back and forth over her skin and Nell felt a shiver ripple down her spine.

He leant forward and his mouth was hot on her ear.

"I'll wash your back for you if you like." He said softly and Nell let out a gasp at the sudden mental image that swam into her mind. He stood up and without looking back crossed to get a drink from the canteen Hock had.

She watched him, aware of the blush covering her face at the thoughts he'd put into her mind. She shifted slightly suddenly aware that the thought of him washing her back was very much appealing to her.

Elizabeth's words came into her mind and Nell could almost feel the devil perching himself on her shoulder as a grin crossed her lips. She was suddenly feeling that she didn't much care for worrying about it anymore.

Something was happening to her since she had set foot on the island. Things were slotting into place in her mind and her conversation with Elizabeth had solidified a lot of her thoughts.

She had come to the conclusion that she was going to hell a long time ago for the things she had done and now she had reached the decision that she might as well make it worth her while.

She had no intentions of marrying so it would never be discovered that she had found her ruin at the hands of a pirate.

It could be something that she took to her grave, that she had given herself, willingly, to Captain Jack Sparrow.

Anticipation, trepidation and a twinge of conscience filled her.

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A/N: Okay I'm going to leave it there for several reasons; firstly any intimate scenes will only be posted on aff.net and only alluded to on ff.net. Secondly, it'll make it easier for posting if I stop it here (I hope); and thirdly…. I'll run out of typing time!

I would love to respond to everyone who has reviewed so far but I really am pressed for time, so a really big thank you for taking the time to make me feel good about this s.
.

I'm sorry for the delay, some of you who have been following my other story know why. But for those of you who only read this one, I'm very happily pregnant (four months now), but the first three months were not happy, due to sickness and extreme tiredness (I'm talking in bed and fast asleep at 7.30pm every night!) and I found typing, writing or even thinking about my stories just too much.

But I'm back again now, the sickness has gone. Yay me! The tiredness is nothing I can't cope with now and hopefully, updates will proceed with some regularity.

Okay, someone asked me what the *~*~*~*~*~* was all about, I'm sorry I can't remember who you are. It's supposed to show a break in scene or a period of time has passed. Sorry to confuse.

So thank you for keeping me me despite my long absence. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

Have a great day wherever you are.