James curses silently at Sparrow's ridiculously roundabout reasoning, but bends his mind to thinking of how to answer. He wants to know... simply because he wants to know. He always wants to know why and how, especially with Jack Sparrow, who is so maddeningly difficult to figure out. How to articulate that, though... To say I want to see if it points to me is not an option, not at all. It's absurd and most of all, it suggests that he wants the needle to point to him. Which of course he does. But that isn't the point.

He draws in a deep breath and brings his eyes up to meet Jack's. 'Because,' he begins, not entirely sure what he's going to say, 'I would like to know why it is you need me here, now. Why we're having this conversation in the first place.'

He is struck by a sudden epiphany and he snaps up a finger, looking at a point somewhere next to Sparrow's head. 'For the same reason you want me to call you Jack, I expect, whatever that may be.'

James doesn't know if that will work. It's the truth, by all accounts, but it is perhaps not quite the sort of truth Sparrow seeks. He can do no better, however, at least not at the moment, and he hopes that the other man will recognise that.