Disclaimer: Must you make me repeatedly admit that I do not own these characters? Seriously. It's bad for my self esteem.

A/N: This is a new idea I had for a fanfic. Please review so I know if it's good idea or not. PLUS, you would seriously make my day if you reviewed this. smiles

Jack Sparrow was in a fright of a mood. Ever since they had found him he was- well different. He wasn't his goofy self, he hadn't mentioned rum yet, and to the crew's surprise and Will's relief, he hadn't hit on Elizabeth once.

All of the crew seemed to be quiet as they paddled in the longboat to the Pearl. Most were fixed on Jack, worried about him. Elizabeth touched his shoulder trying to get him to look at her. "Jack," she whispered "Are you alright?" he turned around to face her. The look in his cold eyes was of deep sorrow. Elizabeth gasped, taken back by how hurt he looked. Not so much physically, but emotionally.

"I'm alright, dearie." He said softly, looking into her eyes now sending shock waves of his pain into her. Or at least that's how Elizabeth felt.

"I…I've never seen you like this." She tried to respond.

"Like what?" he asked, totally oblivious to his state of mind. His eyes drifted off as she talked.

"You're so… stern… and quiet. And your eyes, Jack. That look about you." He shot a glance at her. "Yes that one!" she pointed out. He quickly turned again so she couldn't see his face. As if she was talking to herself and not to him she asked "God forgive me. What have I done to you?"

Jack looked down at his hands and twisted his rings around thinking of something, not reacting to Elizabeth mourning her living Captain. She continued to look at him and Jack could feel it. But he didn't intend on taking notice to it.

The longboat ride that had taken only a few minutes but seemed like forever, finally came to an end. Now onboard the Black Pearl, the rest of the crew mobbed Jack greeting him with smiling faces and pats on the back. The few solemn crew members who had come out of the longboat calmed the rest of the crew down for Jack had no response to their happy greetings. With confused faces, they backed off of him.

Jack ran his fingers along the edge of the ship, around the mast, and then around the wheel. "She's all well in good, Captain." Gibbs assured him. "Every speck of 'er is back to the way it was". Jack nodded to show he understood and then continued to trace the lines of the wood on the wheel. Hesitantly, Gibbs left him to prepare the boat for sailing.

Against the sparkling waters, the sun slowly set before them. Jack looked up from the wheel to the horizon. It was a very reassuring sight that Jack needed to see. Opening the compass and finding their direction, Jack started to turn the wheel. And for the first time in a long time, he smiled.

Fin'

Make my day, please.