They could tell immediately that Jack Sparrow was hurt badly. He had somehow managed to kill most of The Feared (and scared away the rest) with numerous wounds. He was unconscious with a gun in one hand, a sword in the other. Elizabeth was too shocked to do anything. How could someone so brave and smart like Jack get hurt so horribly? Elizabeth thought. She was close to tears.
Will, being the more composed one, knelt down and carefully felt Jack's pulse.
"It's weak." Will observed.
"What can we do?" Elizabeth asked. But even as she asked the question, she knew they couldn't do a thing. The tears welled up in her eyes and she whirled around, crying quietly. Will turned around too, trying, with no avail, to console her. He, too, felt very strange seeing Jack lying there motionlessly. Will felt a stab of grief and a twinge of guilt. It was all his and Elizabeth's fault. The one time Jack decided to play the hero…
Suddenly, Elizabeth and Will simultaneously felt pressure on their shoulders and looked behind them.
"What are we crying about?" asked Jack Sparrow.
"Jack!" Elizabeth cried, pulling him into a tight hug. Jack winced. Elizabeth pulled away quickly, looking apologetic. This time, it was Will's turn to be shocked. This had to be the best pirate he'd ever seen. Will was absolutely stunned. Jack was so hurt. What gives him the strength to go on? I knew Jack was strong, but…
"Jack, are you okay?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine." He lied. HE took two steps forward, and then had to grab Will for support.
"Oh yeah, Jack. You're perfectly fine." Will agreed sarcastically. "Sit." Will led Jack over to a nearby rock and Will and Elizabeth sat down next to him.
"I'll go get some water to start cleaning you up, Jack." Elizabeth said, rushing towards the cave entrance.
"Jack," Will began. He couldn't contain the questions any longer. "How did you get here?"
"I saw them take you guys, so I followed them." Jack replied simply.
"Wait, you saw them take us?" Will asked. Jack nodded. "That means… what were you doing in Port Royal?"
"Ummm… nothing of importance." Jack lied, not very smoothly. Will looked at him suspiciously. "Okay, okay… I need your help." Jack admitted.
"What could you possibly need our help for?" Will asked, astonished. Elizabeth then came within earshot carrying a bucket of water.
"Found the bucket by the…" Elizabeth trailed off of her explanation for the bucket when she saw Will's astonished and confused face. "What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing!" Jack said, a little too quickly. Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously, but let it go. Then she started to tend to Jack.
What could Jack possibly need our help for? Will thought. HE came all the way to Port Royal for our help? Why couldn't he get help from Gibbs or Marty or somebody? The Black Pearl! He suddenly remembered. Where's the Pearl?
Will was jerked out of his thoughts by a gasp from Elizabeth. "Oh my…" Elizabeth trailed off in a whisper, speechless. Will's eyes widened as he, too, took in the many cuts, bruises, and gashes all over Jack's body.
"Jack," Elizabeth began, wonder and amazement evident in her voice. "How could you possibly fight with all these wounds?!" she asked. Jack grinned.
"Experience."
