It was all over before it had even begun. The sharks disappeared once more into the water and they did not resurface.  “They’re gone?” Elizabeth dared to ask. 

 Jack nodded.  “It appears so.”

 They didn’t dare move, all three staring into the sea in various states of confusion.

 Elizabeth was the first to tear her gaze away from the water and look out further to sea.  What she saw there amazed her.  “Ship,” she said quietly.

 “What?” Jack asked, not sure if he heard the word right.

 “Ship!” she shouted, pointing.  They had been so distracted by the sharks and their subsequent disappearance that they hadn’t noticed the ship appearing on the horizon.  “Do you recognize it?”

 Jack shook his head.  “Not yet. It’s still too far away.”  But it did explain the sudden disappearance of the sharks.

 “Do we row away from it or toward it?” Elizabeth asked, recognizing that the ship might be a cause for alarm, that it could be even more dangerous than the sharks-infested waters they were floating in.

 “Toward it,” Jack said quietly.

 “Are you crazy?” Gibbs asked, the words coming out in a rush.  “That could very well be a navy ship or some sort of merchant ship that would be very pleased at hauling in a catch such as us.”

 “It’s not a navy ship,” Jack said, squinting at it.  “Merchant ship it could be, but this close to Shipwreck Cove?  I’d guess they’re some of our brethren.”

 Elizabeth turned to look at Gibbs and saw him shrug.  She knew what he was thinking.  What Jack says goes.

 “We do have an injured member of our party.”  Jack turned to look at Elizabeth and then down at the dog, his eyes strangely lit with compassion.

 “You surprise me time and time again, Jack.”

 “Am I truly that horrible?”  The tone of his voice was clearly offended.

 “That’s not what I meant,” she snapped back.  “It’s just...well…you’re a pirate.  Remember the code?  Anyone who falls behind…”

 “…stays behind, “ he finished for her.  “But he didn’t fall behind.  He’s still with us. And he deserves to get medical attention.”  With that, he plunged his oars back into the water and started to move them in the direction of the quickly approaching ship. 

 Gibbs sighed.  He couldn’t wait to get off this raft and have time away from the other two and their incessant bickering.

 Elizabeth shrugged, realizing the conversation was over. 

 They all rowed together, each lost in their own thoughts, each incredibly worried as they got closer to the as yet unknown ship.

As they neared the ship, they could start to hear the commotion on it, start to hear the roar going up as those on watch noticed the trio on the raft.  “Men overboard!” the shouts started and more people came to the railing to look out at them.

 They were close enough now that they could see the faces on the ship, all rough men with dirt smeared on faces, hands, and clothes.

 “Definitely not navy,” Jack muttered.

 “I think I recognize a couple of ‘em,” Gibbs responded with.

 “Excellent.”  Jack said, a satisfied grin on his face.

 “O’ course, that could be from me days as a merchant sailor.”

 Jack winced.  Bugger.  He had forgotten that Gibbs had not been born into the life of a pirate and had, indeed, spent many years as a good honest sailor before bad times and even worse luck had overtaken the man and sent him into an entirely different “career.”

 “What the bleedin’ hell are ye all starin’ at?”  The voice, harsh and strident, came from somewhere over the railing.  The trio down below could not see the speaker, but Elizabeth saw Jack’s shoulders tense up as soon as he heard it.

 “Jack?”  Elizabeth’s voice was pitched low, knowing damn well that Jack knew the speaker.  This definitely wasn’t looking good for them.

 “Men overboard, Captain.”  One of the men who was staring over the railing said in way of explanation.

 The captain’s head appeared over the railing, to join the men in eying the trio on the raft.

Gibbs’ face broke out in a huge grin.  “Anamaria! Why it’s good to see ye, girl.”

“That’s captain to ye, Mr. Gibbs.”  The words were spoken with a clear smile behind them, a fondness she felt for the old pirate obvious.

Jack, however, turned away from her, cursing softly. 

“Jack Sparrow!”  Anamaria’s voice called sharply down to him.

“That’s Captain Jack…”  He turned around to squint up at the woman on the ship.

“Oh aye, I’m most sorry, Captain.  I didn’t see yer little ship there, mate!”  The sarcasm was evident and the men on the ship laughed wholeheartedly at the words.

“No time for this, love,” Jack called up to her.  “We have an injured party on my…ship.  He needs medical attention right away.  Send down a sling to carry him up.”

“Mr. Gibbs looks fine to me,” Anamaria said.  Even from this distance she could tell the former first mate of the Pearl was hale and hearty.

“Not him.  Him.”  He pointed to Elizabeth and Anamaria seemed to notice the woman for the first time.

“Elizabeth?” she questioned and watched the woman, who looked far too frail to have been venturing out with Jack and Gibbs, nod.  Anamaria was confused for a moment, trying to figure out what other “he” Jack was referring to when she finally saw the creature cradled in Elizabeth’s arms.  “A dog?  We ain’t takin’ no dog on board this ship.”

Jack saw the frantic look in Elizabeth’s eyes and knew there was no way they could leave the dog behind to become shark food.  He closed his eyes briefly before saying some rather fateful words.  “Then we continue on our own way.”

“No…Jack…are ye crazy?” Gibbs asked.  “This is our chance to get on a real ship, get to sleep on a hammock, get passage somewhere.  And yer goin’ to throw it all away fer a dog.”

Elizabeth frowned at him.

“Aye, Jack!  Are ye daft?  We’re headin’ to Shipwreck Cove.  We can drop ye off there!”  Anamaria threw a line down to the trio.  Gibbs grabbed it and the men above helped pull the raft tight up against the ship.

“Not without the dog,” he growled back at her. 

Elizabeth watched as Anamaria threw up her arms and walked away from the rail, quickly disappearing out of her view.  She saw their chances for rescue disappear with her.  And even worse, she saw the chances for Sammy’s survival disappearing.  They had wasted too much time here and they likely wouldn’t make it to the Cove before dark now.  Sammy couldn’t possibly live that long.  The only thing she could do was beg and hope that the captain of this particular ship would take pity on her plight.

“Anamaria!” she called and suddenly stood up in the middle of the raft.  It rocked precariously, threatening to toss them all into the water.  Jack and Gibbs managed to keep it steady.

“What the bleedin’ hell are you doing?” Jack spoke sharply and was rewarded with an equally sharp look from the woman in question.

“I’m saving our bleedin’ necks.”  There was little for him to say to that and so he shrugged, waiting for what would happen next.

“Have it your way,” he muttered under his breath.  Elizabeth pretended not to hear him.

Anamaria appeared over the rail, looking down at the raft once more.  She said nothing, however, and so Elizabeth was forced to continue without having any idea if she would really listen to her or not.  “Anamaria, I have been nearly alone for many years, living on an island far from humanity.  There was no one to talk to, no one to play with, and then Sammy, this wonderful dog appeared out of nowhere to ease my burden of loneliness.  He has been with me for nearly three years, my faithful companion and helpmate.  And now, when I finally have the chance to leave this island, to return to the land of humanity, my beloved companion was injured, attacked by sharks.  He will die without quick medical attention.”  She cradled him tightly to her chest.  “He only needs to be stitched up, have his wound cauterized and disinfected.  After that, you can toss him and I back on this raft and we will continue on our journey.  I only ask…no, beg…that you take pity on us and aid my companion.”

It was a fine, pretty speech.  Jack was impressed at the simple emotions of it and he reached up to grasp her hand and squeeze it lightly.  Elizabeth looked down at him, surprised, and squeezed his hand back before moving it back to help support her burden.

“Aye,” Anamaria said quietly.  The one word spoke volumes about the pirate woman’s compassion.  “The dog comes up.  We’ll take care of him, Miss Elizabeth.  And I’ll not return ye to yer raft.”  She turned away and, as she did so, raised one hand.  The men moved into motion.

A sling was tossed down to them and Elizabeth placed Sammy gently in it.  The men, aware of the precious burden, lifted the dog slowly up onto the deck of the ship.  Elizabeth followed quickly, scrambling up the ladder that had been tossed down.  She disappeared from the rail, following after her beloved pet.

Gibbs went next, climbing up after her, and Jack watched as the men who knew him clapped him on the back and took him off with them, no doubt to pursue the wonderful pursuits of rum and storytelling, something Jack was looking very much forward to.

Jack stood and reached for the ladder, surprised to see it suddenly pulled from his reach.  He glanced upwards and gave a questioning look to the men above him.

“Sorry, Mr. Sparrow.  The cap’n said ye weren’t allowed on her ship yet.  Ye can hang onto that rope and ye’ll continue to be pulled alongside us.” 

Jack cursed under his breath.  Leave it to Anamaria to let him be pulled into the Cove on a raft.  He had once stolen her boat and while, clearly, she had done well for herself since, she still seemed to have a sore spot for that little incident.

Sighing, he sat down on the raft, gripping the rope that was keeping him tied to the ship.  It was bound to be a long afternoon without even the company of Elizabeth and Gibbs.  This was just typical.  He had been a good man, yet again, insisting that they all be allowed on, including Elizabeth’s dog.  And how did he get repaid?  By being left behind on the raft.  Granted, Elizabeth didn’t know yet.  No doubt she was off with the surgeon discussing the dog’s treatment and chances for survival.  He wondered what she would think when she discovered Jack was still on the raft.