Title: Sense of Demand

Rating: R

Summary: A year after Calypso's rage, Elizabeth had been working on a project to make the cove a better place. Jack had been looting and pirating in the Caribbean Sea, his father's words still ringing in his ears.

Chapter Twelve

"Then I guthanks, Jack." Will said, his eyes staring coldly at him. Jack stayed still. The whelp never intimidated him before and he was not going to start now. "If you ever need a favor let me know."

"No thanks." Jack's voice was clipped. There was something that would always come between him and Will.

And she was sitting close to Will. Very close. Jack's eyes narrowed as Will laid his hand on Elizabeth's knee.

"The offer still stands. You saved my wife. She is the most important person in my life."

"After life."

There was silence in the cabin. Elizabeth's eyes flicked back and forth between the two men.

"Regardless." Will said. "Can I trust you to take her to safety?"

"You feel the need to ask." Jack sounded incredulously, his hands clenching into fists.

"Well-"

Elizabeth cut in. "Jack is my friend Will. Of course he will be with me on the journey." Jack lowered his head, looking down at the floor. "As far as safety goes, I can take care of myself."

Will looked at his wife and his features softened. "I know." His arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her closer. "I have to leave soon."

Elizabeth nodded, then reached out and hugged him. After a couple of seconds of not letting him go, Jack started to feel uncomfortable and left.

"Why does everything have to involve the eunich?" Jack asked himself, grabbing the flask from right off Gibbs' belt and taking a deep swallow.

"Anything the matter, Cap'n?" Gibbs asked, eyeing with sadness at Jack emptying his beloved trinket.

"No." Jack stretched, getting the kinks out of his back. "Just letting the beloved union of marriage happen in me bunk." Frustrate, he hurled the empty flask into the sea.

"Ah- but!" Gibbs mourned. Jack was already gone.

It was only three minutes, but it was a long three minutes. Will walked out of the cabin and in the blink of an eye was gone. Almost automatically Jack was moving towards the room. He walked in, expecting to come across a broken Elizabeth. But she was fine. She looked up, smiled, and kissed him.

"This is a surprising turn of events." Jack said, still reeling.

"I just told Will that I loved him. I will meet him every ten years." Elizabeth laughed at Jack's sudden frown. "But that I will do whatever I want in the meantime."

Jack reached down, capturing her lips. When they parted, Jack took a deep breath. "Doesn't mean you have to do anything right now."

Elizabeth laughed. "I only wanted to give you one kiss." She stood, hands on her hips. "You stole the other."

Jack gently placed his hands and hers. "I'm about to steal another."

(J) (E)(J)(E)

Jack stared at the sea. Worry etched on his face. The Pearl rolled on the waves underneath him. The wind blew on his hot face.

"What are you doing?" Elizabeth asked, coming up behind him.

"Thinking."

Elizabeth laughed, only a little. "That is never a good sign."

"No." Jack sighed and turned to Elizabeth. "It's not."

THE END