-1I don't own Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, I only borrow
the characters and do as I and you please with them!

Rating: M may be lower but I rated higher just to be safe.

Paring: Jack and Stephen Means male on male no like no read!

Summary: The doc might not live longer then 2 days after he's been shot, but
he doesn't want Jack to know. Well Jack over hears a conversation between
Stephen and Higgins talking about what's wrong with him and how long he has
left. What will Jack do now that Stephen might not make it to the next week
alive? Will he tell Stephen how much he really loves him or keep it a
secret, because he doesn't want to get hurt if Stephen doesn't make it!

Outcomes

Chapter 1: Stephen's pov

I know that I won't last much longer in this condition. I look to my right
and see Higgins looking over some of my medical books. Good to think my life
was to be put into his hands! I would rather do it myself! Well he is a good
man, but he can't hold down his own fear about not being able to do these
things. It matters not I suppose because we both know I won't last much
longer. I was about to ask him something when I noticed Jack here as well. I
know how much we care for each other and I don't want him to worry about me
when there's nothing that can be done.

"Higgins will you be able to get it out of him?!" I hear Jack demand of him.
I sigh and turn to look at Higgins as he looks at me, then to Jack. I know
he knows how hopeless the situation is too. I love Jack regardless of if he
loves me back or not and I don't want him to worry about me. "Of course
he'll be able to do it Jack." I say before Higgins can tell him how serious
the situation has became. Jack nodded, puts a hand on my shoulder and
squeezes it before he leaves the room.

After Jack and everyone else left Higgins turned and looked at me.
"I never figured you as an optimist when it came to medical work." He said
to me.
"I'm not, I know the likely hood of me making it to the end of the week is
almost zero. I just didn't want to worry others." I say to him and turn my
head the other way as he goes back to the books. After a few minutes he
seems no longer to be able to look at the pictures. He looks at me and seems
to be considering asking me something. I hate not knowing so I ask him what.
He shrugged his shoulders a little.

"Just something you said." He replies. Again I ask him what and again I get
the shrugged shoulders.
"Well you said you didn't want to worry the others about you not, well,
making it and all and I couldn't help but wonder if it was that or the fact
that you didn't want to worry Jack about it." He said. Well I never said he
was a stupid man so I just shrug my own shoulders but have to stop half way
through due to the pain.
"What do you want me to tell him?" He asks me then looks away when I turn
to him.
"Not about how you feel but about your life span." He amends quickly. I
sigh and ask him how long he thinks I have left.

"Two days. Three at most." He says with confidence he didn't have before.
Then he looks down and mutters an apology. I sigh again, there's nothing
like knowing how long you have left to live that takes all the fun right out
of living what's left of your life.
"Tell Jack that I have 5 days before things start to go down hill and that
you'll start your work in two maybe three days." I say quietly, "that way
you don't get in trouble, it'll simply be another bout of bad luck." Higgins
nods and leaves the room.

Jack's pov:

Higgins didn't see me behind the door as he left the room. I hadn't meant to
eavesdrop, I simply had leaned against the wall to try and clear my head for
a minute when I heard them talking. I can't believe that Stephen is willing
to die so easily! I cant believe he would lie to me so easily! Even if only
to keep me from worrying, which I would have done no matter what. I don't
know what to do. For once in my life I'm truly scared and I have no idea
what to do to make things better.

I care far to deeply just to let him die like that, but then again, I don't
understand why he would give up unless it truly was a hopeless case. Never
the less I want him to live and I want him to know. To know that I like him
a lot, maybe even love him. Ok so I do love him but how do I tell that to
him. I'm not so sure I could take it if I tell him and then he dies. What
should I do? I wish Stephen was here to tell me what to do. Well I guess
that would defeat the purpose of needing his help seeing as he would know.
I sigh and go to my cabin and stare at the chair where the man of my dreams
and affection should be seated playing some sort of tune with me.

I know I never want those little moments we have together to end. That was
when an idea struck me. If I tell Stephen how I feel then maybe it will
change his mind about not wanting Higgins to do something. Maybe, just Maybe
he might just live we could be together. I get up and walk to his door. When
I see him just laying there so pale and unmoving I know I have to make him
see that he should live regardless of how I feel for him or him for me. I
don' want to spent an entire lifetime without him.

"Stephen we have to talk." I said when he finally noticed me on the room.
"Ok, what about? "He rasped back to me.
"How I feel about you."...

-
Well what do you think? My first fic with this movie and this paring so be
nice. Again if you only want to flame me because you don't like man on man
then save it because you shouldn't have even read the fic. Anywho to those
who do like this paring do you want me to go on? Well if you do then review!
When you review you get as follows:
Another chapter
And Santa shaped cookies!

Lol ! But really you came this far now all you have to do is click the
purple button!