Norrington woke up to the sound of Ruby refilling his water glass. He opened his eyes and looked up at her, and she smiled. "You're awake," she said.

Norrington put his hand over his eyes and didn't respond. He felt feverish. His head was throbbing almost audibly, and his throat felt as if he had tried to swallow his own sword. He was annoyed with the illness, but grudgingly glad that he had been home in bed when the worst of it hit. He pushed himself upright and drank the water Ruby had poured for him.

"Henrietta's making you some soup," Ruby said. "I'll bring it up in a little while."

He nodded and set the glass back on the table, then leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes.

Ruby frowned in mild concern. "You look miserable."

"I am miserable."

Ruby studied his face for a moment. "Maybe I should send for a doctor," she said. "You do have a fever."

Norrington looked over at her with a pained expression. "Please don't," he said. "I'm miserable, but I'm not dying."

Ruby sighed, but didn't argue. "Do you want some more tea?"

"If you don't mind."

Ruby smiled and reached over to squeeze his hand. "Of course I don't mind," she said. "I need something to do with myself."

He returned the smile, and then Ruby left. Norrington closed his eyes and tried not to think about how bad he felt. To distract himself, he wondered how his lieutenants were managing at the fort, though he knew they could manage just fine. There would be reports to write, explaining the demise of the four ships that had burned, which Groves would accuse him of avoiding on purpose. The Governor's kidnapping would have to be explained, as well. Norrington hadn't yet decided how much of the truth he wanted to tell. It might be dangerous to include Lord Beckett in the official reports, though it might be just as dangerous not to. There was also the issue of Norrington's own capture, and his being rescued by Will Turner and Jack Sparrow, which would likely be even more complicated to explain.

He wouldn't think about it now, he decided. His head hurt badly enough already.

Norrington heard footsteps at the door and was surprised that Ruby had returned so quickly. He turned to greet her, but to his horror he saw Jack Sparrow standing in the doorway, grinning broadly. Norrington suddenly wondered just how feverish he was, both fearing and hoping that the pirate's appearance was just a figment of his imagination.

"Long time no see, eh?" Jack said, moving into the room. He turned in a circle as he looked around the room. "Quite the place you've got here. It suits you, if you don't mind my saying so. I do believe I'd have been a Commodore myself if I'd known there was riches to be had from such a profession." He stopped at the foot of the bed and frowned at Norrington. "You know, mate, as much as I didn't know what to expect to find upon coming here, I must say it certainly wasn't this. I don't believe I've ever seen you like this before."

"Sick in bed, you mean?" Norrington glanced towards the door, wondering where Ruby was and thinking that maybe he should have let her send for a doctor.

"No," Jack replied. "I meant, without your wig. Though now that you mention it, you don't look particularly well." The pirate took a step back from the bed. "It's nothing catching, is it?"

"If you leave now, you won't have to find out."

Jack frowned, and just studied the Commodore for a moment. "I don't mean to alarm you, mate, but as I see it, you couldn't have picked a more inconvenient time to be taken ill, as your current ailment seems to have rendered you effectively incapacitated."

"In the future I'll be sure to consult you before catching a cold," Norrington muttered. He didn't even bother to wonder at what Jack was trying to suggest. "Now get out of my house."

Before Jack could reply, Ruby walked in, carrying a tray that held a cup of tea and a bowl of soup. She frowned when she saw the pirate. "Jack, what are you doing up here?" she asked, confirming that Jack really was there.

"You told me this is where I'd find the Commodore," Jack replied.

Norrington looked over at Ruby. "You let him in?"

"Of course not." Ruby set the tray down on the table, then crossed her arms and looked at Jack while she continued, "I told him you were ill, that you were upstairs in bed, and that he shouldn't bother you."

Jack acted like he was thinking really hard. "Oh," he finally said. "Perhaps you did. However it seems I only remembered the upstairs part."

Norrington sighed and closed his eyes. "Ruby, would you please find my pistol and kindly shoot one of us?"

"She can't do that, I'm afraid," Jack said, "seeing as I'm the one with information, and you're the one who needs it."

"Sparrow, I don't feel nearly well enough to play your little games. Unless someone is in immediate danger, I'd rather postpone this conversation to sometime when my head is not splitting." Norrington opened his eyes and looked over at Jack. "Is anyone going to be killed, kidnapped, or attacked?"

Jack hesitated.

"Then I don't care." Norrington looked away from Sparrow to indicate that he was finished with the conversation, and glanced over at the tray Ruby had brought. "Ruby, if you'd be so kind, I could really use that cup of tea now."

Ruby set the tray in front of Norrington. He smiled his thanks and sipped the tea, which was hot, but not painfully so.

"You should have some soup, too," Ruby told him, then she turned to face Jack. "Come on," she said. "You shouldn't even be here."

Jack started to argue, but Ruby took his arm and propelled him out of the room, ignoring both the pirate's protests and Norrington's instruction to make sure Jack didn't steal anything. When they reached the front door, Ruby let go of Jack and frowned at him. "What's the matter with you?" she demanded.

Jack made a show of brushing off his arm and straightening his coat, all the while shooting dirty looks at Ruby. "Try to offer a bit of timely warning, and this is the thanks I get," Jack muttered.

"What warning? Tell me, and if I think it's important, I'll let the Commodore know."

Jack stopped his pouting and tossed an anxious glance up the stairs towards Norrington's room. "So he really is, you know, ill?"

Ruby sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why would I make that up?"

"Have you sent for a doctor?"

Ruby just frowned, confused by the pirate's behavior. This was strange, even for Jack.

"Because I need him alive. And healthy, preferably."

"What's going on?" Ruby asked, growing concerned. "Tell me what's going on. Are you in some kind of trouble?"

Jack laughed nervously. "No more than usual. But the Commodore may be in for some stormy waters." Jack paused, narrowing his eyes slightly, and studied Ruby's face for a moment. "Do you, by chance, remember a map?"

"The one you sold to us, and then tried to steal? Yes, I remember."

"Although I disagree with your assessment of the incidents in question, now is hardly the time for a debate over semantics and connotation. That map, love, has shown me that our mutual acquaintance, the ever-present Lord Cutler Beckett, has not gone to England as he claimed, but has instead set a course which takes him directly towards this fine little port town. That is, he is headed this way."

"What does he want?"

"That remains to be seen, my dear, but I doubt he's planning to hold a tea party in the Commodore's honor, if you understand my meaning."

Ruby looked up towards the stairs for a moment, thinking of all the terrible things Beckett might have in mind. "How far out is he?"

"Hard to say, but I'd guess he'll be here before the week has ended."

Ruby stared at Jack for a moment, dreading the sound of his warning, but then she opened the front door, assured him that she'd pass along the message, and then sent the pirate out of the Commodore's house. When she turned around, she saw Norrington standing at the top of the stairs, watching her with a concerned frown.

"What are you doing?" Ruby asked, starting up the stairs to meet him.

"I heard you talking about the map," he said, leaning slightly on the railing. "And Lord Beckett."

"Yes," Ruby said, "Jack thinks Beckett's heading this way. About a week out."

Norrington nodded and stared down at the door, frowning slightly. Then he closed his eyes and put his hand to his head.

"You look pale," Ruby said. She gently took his arm, fearing he might faint. "You should get back to bed."

He sat down where he was, on the top stair, using the railing for support.

"Commodore?" Ruby sat down next to him, studying his face.

"James," he corrected her. "Please, call me James."

"How do you feel?"

"Not well enough to stand up, apparently," he muttered. "I'm running a fever and I've just had a pirate in my house. How do you think I feel?"

Ruby just sighed.

"I'm sorry," Norrington said, regretting the harsh words. "I'm not myself." He rested his head against the railing. "I'm beginning to wonder if you'll ever see me at my best." He coughed. "Sparrow," he muttered, irritably. "And Beckett. Dear God." He coughed again.

Ruby stepped quickly to the Commodore's room and returned with the glass of water. Norrington leaned back against the stair rails as he drank it, and Ruby just watched him. "Don't worry about Beckett," she said, when he lowered the glass. "Please, don't. There's nothing you can do now. Not while you're so sick, and not until Beckett arrives, anyway."

"No, I don't suppose there is," Norrington agreed, grudgingly. "I'll send a note to Lieutenant Groves, but then it's just waiting to see if Beckett actually shows up." He sighed. "Surely in a week's time I'll be back on my feet. And if I'm not, I hope you'll be merciful enough to put me out of my misery."

"It's not going to come to that," Ruby said. "If you aren't feeling better in a few days, I'm getting a doctor whether you like it or not."

Norrington smiled slightly down at the stairs in front of him for a moment, then lifted his eyes to look at Ruby. "Thank you," he said. "I do mean it."

Ruby smiled back. "You were so kind to open your house to me," she replied. "It's the least I can do to look after you while you're sick." She took the glass from him. "You'd better get back to bed."

"Yes," Norrington agreed. "Before Henrietta scolds us both."

Yay, Jack! And yay Norrington/Ruby fluff! (for those of you who like that sort of thing.) Leave me a review. :)