A/N: I know some of the people that read this are probably waiting for my PotC chapter to come out.... ::looks sheepish:: Yeah.... Umm... I'm heading out of town this week for Thanksgiving and I'll try to work on it. Really I will! Hopefully I'll have it done by the time I come back (Thursday). So yeah... Anyway, look for some Master and Commander stuff from me b/c I finally saw it and became a fan! I adore Stephen and I'm working through the first book and I'll be on the second before long... So for now, it's going to be mostly movie verse so that I don't risk getting people OOC. You know how much I can't stand that....

Decisions

WARNING: FIRST MASTER AND COMMANDER FIC!!

A/N: I own it not!

Higgins had left the small cabin again, leaving Stephen to his thoughts. He was supposed to be resting, he knew, and his body was. It was his mind that remained restless even if it was fogged by fever that seemed to be raging through his body. The Irishman let a small groan escape his lips when he was sure no ones was in the room.

Jack had been in and out of the room, never saying anything to the injured doctor. He seemed to be staying less and less time, and Stephen was sure that he'd heard they'd spotted their phantom ship. He had no idea what they would do without a decent doctor to help the wounded.

"Stephen?"

Stephen's eyes opened at the sound of the soft whisper. He hadn't heard the captain's entrance but was only slightly startled by his sudden appearance. What caught him off his guard was the whisper, not the fact he was there. He forced a shadow of a smile to his pale lips and mouthed a "hello" to his dearest friend, unable to manage any more.

Jack sighed as he took a seat next to the wounded doctor, reaching for the cloth that had been used to ease the heat of the fever. "We found her," he said at last, watching for Stephen's reaction.

"I'm pleased for you," Stephen answered in the barest of whispers, his voice cracking from the strain.

The ship's captain nodded as he placed the cloth back in the basin. "I've finally decided what needs to be done."

"You'll do what is right, my dear."

Jack nodded, forcing a smile to his own lips. "Thank you for your faith in my, my friend. I don't deserve it at the moment." He turned to look upwards toward the deck. "I'll be back shortly. Rest."

Stephen watched him go, eyes fixated on the place Jack had left unoccupied. He was sure that Jack would go after the phantom. Subject to the requirements of the service. It ripped him apart, but he knew that whatever Jack did, it would be right. Somehow. That in mind he closed his eyes to take the captain's orders to heart.

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Stephen Maturin's eyes opened slowly as he woke. The swaying he felt was not that of the ship, but of being carried. He looked up to where Jack walked next to him. "Tell me this wasn't on my account," he said weakly.

"No, not at all. I just needed to stretch my legs."