The Captain wasn't sure how long he sat beside his first mate, just watching his face in the flickering candlelight and willing him to take another breath. Why wasn't he waking up? Charles had removed the bullet. It was sitting in a small dish on the bench. The problem should have been solved. It should have been simple. So why did he still look as though he were on Davy Jones doorstep?
The Pirate Captain had never felt so helpless, so useless.
"Come on, Number Two..." His voice was thick and something hot welled up in the corners of his eyes as he brushed the damp hair from his first mate's face. "You...you'll be alright. You've got to be. I need you, lad. We're a team, you and I...like ham and cheese. You can't have cheese without the ham. Because the cheese just...just wouldn't know what to do!" He let out one anguished sob as a tear slipped down to the tip of his nose.
The Captain may have been a less than successful pirate but he had always considered himself a good captain. Sure he had had his bad moments like their recent adventure with Queen Victoria and the whole bit with the babies. But over all his crew seemed to genuinely like him, there had never been a mutiny and no matter what their latest adventure was they always pulled through. He wasn't the type of captain who whipped out the cat-o-nine tails every time someone talked back and he had never keelhauled anyone. But this...perhaps this was worse.
Number Two stirred, his head slightly shifting on the folded blanket.
The Captain held his breath.
This was the first time the Pirate with the Scarf had moved on his own for hours. He made a soft moan and a moment later his eyes slowly flickered open. It seemed to take a moment for them to focus properly. "Captain?" His voice was barely a whisper, as if it took effort to talk.
The Captain took his hand. "I'm right here, lad."
A weak smile touched the corners of the first mate's mouth. "I'm so glad you're alright. I thought for sure they had us both."
The words were like a knife in the Captain's stomach and he barely kept himself from choking. He was so happy to see his friend awake but he was unable to believe that of all he had been through the first thing his first mate did was worry about was his captain. It made him feel like sea slime.
The Pirate with the Scarf seemed to come to a little more as he took in the familiar room and the gentle rocking of the boat. He touched the bandage around his waist, trying to piece together all that must have happened. "How long have I been out?"
"Long enough to make everyone sick as a sea slug worrying over you." The Captain said quietly.
Number Two tried to sit up but had barely moved before he let out a pained cry and grabbed his side, quickly sinking back to the table.
The Captain winced in sympathy. He wanted to do something to help, to ease his friend's pain but frankly he was almost afraid to touch him. "I'm sorry, lad!"
The first mate lay there, breathing hard, his face pinched tightly. "It's not...your fault." He said between pained breaths. "I shouldn't have moved...so quickly."
"But it is my fault, Number Two." The Captain whispered.
The first mate turned his head toward the Captain. "You didn't mean for this to happen."
"You could have been killed! At first I..." The Captain's voice dropped even lower. "...I thought you had been." He stared at his boots for a long moment. "What kind of Captain let's this sort of thing happen?"
The Pirate with the Scarf managed a small smile. "Captain, listen to me. Were pirates. Things happen. You do your best and that's what counts. Besides, do you think Black Bellamy or Cutlass Liz would be sitting here worrying about a wounded crewman?"
"I...I suppose not."
"They would have tossed me overboard by now. In fact they wouldn't have bothered bringing me back to the ship."
The Captain seemed to mull that over for a moment but it didn't completely console him. "But, Number Two, the whole silly thing was my idea. If I had listened to you...this wouldn't have happened."
The Pirate with the Scarf managed a weak smile. "Well, what did you learn?"
The Captain looked up, puzzled by the young man's playful tone. "Next time...I'll-I'll give your advice closer consideration.." He said, sounding like a scolded child.
"Can I hold you to that, Captain?" He tried a small laugh but it quickly turned into a pained gasp and his whole body tensed. He decided laughing was a very bad idea.
The Captain leaped to his feet, one helpful thing he could do finally coming to him. "I'll get Chuck."
Even through the pain the Pirate with the Scarf managed a puzzled frown. "Darwin?"
Charles wrung his hands, nervously considering the forecastle door. It had been nearly three hours since his uncomfortable encounter with the Captain and Darwin had stayed above deck ever since. But he knew he had to go back down there to check on the Pirate with the Scarf. He needed to change his bandage, see if he was developing an infection, maybe try and get some water down him. He really had waited too long already but frankly he was a little afraid that the if the Captain saw him again he just might make good on his threat and throw him overboard.
After what the Pirate with Gout had said to him earlier Charles had got to thinking. The Pirate with the Scarf was not just a friend and adviser to the Captain. The more he thought about it the more he saw how important the man was to the whole crew. From the start Darwin could see that he was the smartest of the group. He saw things in people and situations that the others would completely miss. After all he had known right off that Charles interest in Polly was more than simple scientific curiosity. But it was more than just his intelligence that added to this group of misfits. He always seemed to be looking out for everyone. Now, Charles wasn't too observant when it came to people, his focus was usually on the academic. But even he had seen that when someone was down, either litteraly during a battle or just emotionally, the Pirate with the Scarf was always the first to notice and offer either a hand or a comforting word.
Just then the door flew open with a 'bang', revealing a very distressed Pirate Captain. "Charles!"
"I'm coming!" Darwin's heart sank. Why had he waited so long? He didn't want to be pessimistic but by the desperate look on the Captain's face something serious had just happened. Had his fever gone up? Had he started bleeding again? Oh dear, what if he had stopped breathing? He hurried down the few steps to the lower deck. He reached the table and blinked in surprise. "You're awake!"
The Pirate with the Scarf tried to smile but it ended up looking like a pained grimace. "Unfortunately."
Charles touched the first mate's forehead with the back of his hand. He couldn't be certain but he didn't feel as hot as he had earlier. "How do you feel?"
The Pirate with the Scarf shifted his weight slightly, then gritted his teeth and let out a small pained grunt, clearly wishing he hadn't tried to move. "Like a shark took a bite out of me."
The Captain waved a hand airily. He seemed to become less concerned and more like his usual chipper self the longer Number Two was awake. "Oh, that was just Chuck."
Both Charles and Number Two gave the Captain an odd look.
The Captain didn't notice. He just picked the lead ball from the dish on the bench. "Actually he took this out of you."
The Pirate with the Scarf regarded Darwin with surprise. "I didn't know you were a doctor."
Charles looked a bit uncomfortable. "I'm not...really."
"Well, you are now, Chuck!". The Captain gave him a brisk slap in the back that nearly knocked him over. "You know we always needed a ships doctor."
Charles chose to ignore that comment and began to carefully unwrap Number Two's bandage.
The Captain's face tightened as the last of the cloth was removed and he could see the four inch pink line held together by several precise stitches.
Darwin frowned. The wound was far too red for his liking. "If we had some antibiotics and painkillers I would be a lot happier."
"We do." The first mate offered. "There's a green box of medical supplies in the hold."
Darwin's jaw dropped open and he turned to the Captain. "You had medical supplies here and you didn't tell me?!"
The Captain looked a little bewildered at the sudden outburst. "You mean that box with all the little bottles? I didn't think it was important."
Charles gaped at the luxuriant bearded pirate in complete disbelief. "You...you didn't think that...". He threw his head back, smacking his forehead with his hand. "ARGH!"
The Captain raised his eyebrows, looking quite impressed. "That's the first good 'arr' I've heard out of you, Chuck.". He wagged a finger at the little scientist. " Have you been practicing behind our backs?"
Charles completely ignored the comment, trying not to say something he might later regret. He stalked out of the room and returned moments later lugging a heavy box chock full of vials and bottles. He set it down and began rummaging through it. "Morphine, penicillin, rubbing alcohol...good."
A short time later he had the first mate's wound thoroughly cleaned and bandaged, had given him as much antibiotics as he dared and a dose of painkillers. Number Two seemed to grow even more alert and had even downed a small glass of water.
There was a creak as the door opened and several sets of footsteps could be heard tiptoeing down the stairs. The Albino Pirate was the first to peek his head into the room. "Can we come in now? You guys have been down here forever."
Before Charles could protest the Captain waved an expansive hand. "Everything's alright now, lads! Come on in."
The entire crew flooded in and quickly surrounded the table, eager to see if their friend was alright.
"Glad to see ya didn't give up, lad". The Pirate with Gout said.
"So when will you be up for a game of squid toss?"
Charles waved both hands emphatically. "No! No games! Not for him. Not for weeks!"
There was a chorus of disappointed 'aww's.
"Listen to this little fellow." The Captain insisted. "He is our ship's doctor, you know."
Charles tried to protest the new title but was drown out by a rousing cheer. It seemed there was no arguing this new position.
"Polly wanted to see you." The Pirate who likes Sunsets and Kittens set the scruffy dodo down on the table where she nuzzled at the first mate's shoulder.
He reached a hand up to pet her. "Well hello there girl."
"So you're not going to die, now, right?" The Albino Prate asked still looking very worried.
The scarf wearing pirate smiled gently. "It's definitely not on my immediate 'to do' list."
"And we can think good 'ol Chuck, here for that.". The Captain threw an arm around Charles's shoulders and pulled him into a side hug.
"Just glad I could help." Then something occurred to him. He may not be able to climb a mast or hold a cutlass but he finally had something to contribute. Something important. He stood up a little taller and smiled.
"Sorry about that whole throwing you to the sharks comment earlier." The Captain said with a little wave of his hand.
"It's alright. I knew you didn't mean it."
The Pirate Captain stared down at the little scientist for a long moment than conspicuously changed the subject. "You know, lads, we're running low on ham."
Darwin's eyes widened. He held up one tentative finger. "Captain? You didn't mean it...did you?"
The Captain turned to the rest of the crew leaving Charles standing there looking very worried. "Yes. Yes I think a shopping trip is in order."
"C-Captain!"