Author's Note
Hi, this is a prucan pirate fic. There will most likely be dialogue in various languages (including: French, German and occasional others), the translations for these will always be at the bottom of each chapter. Please note that this fic is rated M for a reason. Also, I love suggestion for pairings or even ideas for plot. There will also be mentions of other pairings.
Please favorite,follow and review ! It is always greatly appreciated !(Really you have no idea how happy reviews make me)
Enjoy,
ThePirateChick484
Chapter Two
Matthew woke with a start. Panic squeezed his chest as he tried to get his bearings. His eyes darted around the semi-dark room, his breathing difficult, his heart pounding erratically, until his gaze finally landed on the familiar equipment of the medical bay.
Trying to shake his momentary confusion, Matthew levered himself off the medical bed. He needed to hold on to the edge for a moment as his legs shook with remnants of his dream. God, he hated this, hated everything about this weakness.
As a doctor, he knew that the dreams and their lingering effects were from the trauma he'd suffered at the hands of the slave traders who'd abducted him almost two years ago, but as a man, he was fast learning that knowing why one reacted to something had no bearing on how one could control it.
Shakily, he moved away from the support of the bed and took a step toward his desk.
"Matthew," Kiku's voice called as he entered the room.
"Can I be of assistance?"
"Nah, just the same ol' same ol'," he said, trying not to wince as the dismissive words escaped his mouth. Kiku was the one person on the ship who knew exactly what was going on in his head. It seemed downright impossible to hide anything from him.
He was the most skilled empath that Matthew had ever met, and he'd met plenty on his travels. Kiku seemed to be able to guess what went on in Matthew's head just by reading his emotions.
Despite Matthew's off-handed manner, Kiku seemed to accept his explanation. It was, after all, the same problem he'd been dealing with since joining the crew. Strange how he'd lived months of terror at the hands of his abductors, yet it was now, surrounded by people willing to protect him, that he would fall apart.
Kiku walked farther into the room and settled his small frame against one of the benches.
"We have located the medications for the wounded. It is stored by the local government in a warehouse not far from Cape Town.
"The captain is organizing a team to retrieve the supply, but he wants to know if you are able to assist with the distribution and possibly treat some villagers." Matthew began nodding even before Kiku finished speaking.
"Of course. How long before we leave?"
"Sixteen hours. Until then, I recommend that you try to get more sleep. You will be able to function more effectively if you are well rested."
"And see, I thought I was the ship's doctor," Matthew said softly, he smiled at Kiku and then moved back to the medical bed he'd recently vacated.
"But you don't have to tell me twice."
"Shit, shit, shit." Elizaveta wrestled with roping as the small boat seemed to lurchon the waves.
"It's to wavy out here!" she shouted.
"This is going to hurt."
Matthew tightened his grip on the side of the small boat that bobbed violently in the stormy water. He'd never liked traveling in small crafts and he hated rocking waters even more. This was exactly what he tried to avoid.
The boat lurched sickeningly in the water, Matthew closed his eyes. Then as suddenly as the waves had come they were gone and the water was still.
Matthew tried really hard to appear unaffected, but considering that his lunch had lodged at the back of his throat, he was pretty sure he had failed.
"Okay, time to disembark," Elizaveta announced cheerfully. The captain rose beside him, glanced at Matthew briefly, and then followed his wife out of the boat. Matthew got out of the small boat and trudging through the water stepped onto the sandy beach.
He turned around, realizing he had left his equipment in the boat, he grabbed his medical bag, only to find Gilbert standing there in the in the water as the other boat being used for the trip came to a halt in the water. Gilbert took the bag from Matthew, a big smile on his face and the bag slung over his shoulder.
"I've got this," he said confidently.
"You save your strength for your patients, doc. I'll look after the equipment."
"Y-you don't have to do that. I'm strong I can carry it," he said, trying to avert his eyes from Gilbert's bright crimson ones. He blushed, because compared to Gilbert, although he truly did have some muscle on him, he was not quite as strong. Still Gilbert didn't return his equipment.
So instead he went to follow Elizaveta onto the beach with Gilbert following. A large hand grabbed his arm before he could take another step.
"Matthew, I go first. You follow," Gilbert said with all the arrogance. Matthew rounded on him, ready to explain, very loudly, about how he was perfectly capable of holding his own thank you very much.
He was a full grown, confident, human male and a doctor. No way would he ever walk one step behind him, even if he was slightly shorter and weaker. He was just about to open his mouth when Gilbert laughed quietly and brought a finger up to Matthew's pink lips to keep them shut.
"I'm armed and expected to protect you, Matthew. You only stay behind so that I can keep you safe."
Matthew took a deep breath and, not trusting his voice, nodded once in understanding and then stood back to let them past.
He'd always been a non-confrontational type of person. Even on the slave traders' ship, he had usually managed to avoid major conflict and still provide medical assistance to the people who'd needed his help, but something about Gilbert raised all sorts of unfamiliar emotions.
On this mission, it was Gilbert's job to protect him while he worked with his patients.
Gilbert grabbed his hand and rubbed a thumb over the back of it as he pulled Matthew across the beach towards the thick foliage ahead. He tried not to react to his simple caress but found it impossible to hide his shiver, even in the overpowering humidity of this swampy place.
He thought he heard another quiet chuckle and he would've said something, but the hand enfolding his tightened and led him into the dense foliage.
They seemed to wander in circles for hours. How anyone found their way in this swampy, foul-smelling, waterlogged place was simply beyond him. With so much decay and humidity, it was a perfect breeding ground for some very nasty viruses. No wonder they were crying out for medical assistance (which was another reason Matthew had come other than for supplies).
"Damn," Gilbert whispered when he heard something loud and quite gruesome in the distance.
"Get down, stay low." Matthew's eyes widened at his words, but he did as Gilbert said. It also helped that he practically threw himself over Matthew, so he had little choice in the matter. Matthew tried to take a deep breath but almost choked on the cloying thickness of the putrid air this close to the ground.
Desperately trying to control his gag reflex, Matthew squirmed against the hard body surrounding him.
"Shh. It's going to be okay," Gilbert said close to his ear. Matthew wanted to tell him that he wasn't panicking.
He wanted to explain that he was gagging on the foul air. He wanted to push Gilbert's warm arms away and make Gilbert listen, but his grip tightened and Matthew found himself surrounded by hard muscles, he melted into Gilbert's warmth instead. Every muscle in his body betrayed his righteous tirade and relaxed against Gilbert's tight body.
Matthew had no idea how long Gilbert held him like that, but too soon he straightened.
"Elizaveta has things under control," he said as his body relaxed. Gilbert kept his arm around Matthew's waist, tightly pinning him to his side as they traversed the last of the swamp. Finally, daylight peeked through the thick curtain of foliage, and they stepped into a small, dry clearing.
The village that appeared in front of them looked appalling. The few natives who stood talking to Elizaveta looked gaunt, ill, and horrendously underweight. Tears welled in Matthew's eyes when he spotted a group of children lying listlessly in the shade of a crude mud building.
Forcing people to live in such horrific conditions was despicable, but to deny them the medical aid they so desperately needed seemed beyond unthinkable. The government here had a lot to answer for. He moved toward the children, desperate now to offer as much assistance as he could.
A strong arm held him back.
"Mattie, you don't go anywhere here without me. Is that understood?"
Again, Matthew was going to round on him and very loudly put his foot down at Gilbert's somewhat chauvinistic behavior, but Matthew caught his eye a moment before he could hide the concern etched into his features.
Matthew nodded carefully.
"Okay," he said as his hand reached to smooth the lines from Gilbert's brow instinctively.
"I will stay close to you."
Gilbert exhaled heavily, almost like he'd been holding his breath in anticipation of Matthew denying him the chance to protect the Canadian. Matthew grabbed him in a brief hug and then turned toward the children once again, confident that Gilbert would follow him.
As Matthew approached the children, one of the adults who'd been talking to Elizaveta broke away from the group and stalked toward them. He yelled something in his native tongue and made threatening gestures. Gilbert pushed Matthew behind him and raised his weapon.
The irate male planted himself between them and the children and continued to scream what sounded like abuse. Elizaveta hurried across the soft ground toward them and began yelling back at the irate man. It took several minutes and a number of seemingly vulgar hand gestures before Elizaveta stepped back and spoke to her and Matthew.
"He says they are not to be helped. That they areā¦" She hesitated, obviously trying to find an accurate translation for the word.
"He says that they are lost. That we are not to interfere."
"That's ridiculous," Matthew sputtered.
"Apparently that criterion doesn't apply to adults," Elizaveta said in disgust as she turned back to the man and began arguing again. Elizaveta was obviously fluent in their language, but it was one that Matthew had never heard before.
The conversation sounded gruff and angry, so Matthew was surprised when Sarah turned back to him with a smile.
"We can treat the children, as well."
"How did you manage that?" Matthew asked bewildered. The entire scene had looked very aggressive and to have such an outcome had seemed just about impossible.
"I just threatened him a little bitty bit," Elizaveta grinned.
"It's for the greater good anyways."
Matthew stepped forward and hugged Elizaveta quickly.
"Thank you," he whispered, a wealth of emotion leaking into two words.
Gilbert watched as Matthew worked tirelessly to treat the children, and then the adults of the village. With Elizaveta's help, he'd even managed to pass on enough information for a few of the villagers to be able to continue the treatments after they left.
After that they trekked back to the beach, hopped into the boat and went back to the ship. They ate their evening meal and Matthew excused himself for the boisterous group, just as soft spoken as always. Gilbert was filled with admiration for the small blonde Canadian.
Seeing Matthew become extremely bold while he had treated those children had made his heart flutter in his chest in an odd sort of way. The smaller man was usually reserved and very soft spoken but when it came to his work he sounded like an army general, firmly giving directions and working extremely hard.
As the night wore on Gilbert decided to go check on Matthew. He knocked on the cabin that Matthew shared with Kiku and the Japanese man opened the door.
"Gilbert, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"Matthew isn't here?" Gilbert asked.
"No, sorry. Maybe he is at medical bay." Kiku said.
"Oh, okay thanks, Goodnight." Gilbert said and then jogged off.
Sure enough once he reached the small room dedicated to treating the injured and sick, Gilbert found Matthew slumped in a chair with a half wrapped ball of gauze hanging limply in his hand. His glasses had slid down his nose a little.
Gilbert smiled. He approached quietly, making sure not to wake Matthew and scooped the man into his arms. To his surprise, Matthew was even lighter than he had anticipated, but his half open shirt revealed that he had a well-built lean body. He lay Matthew down on one of the medical beds gently and turned in for the night.
