Hi everyone! I'm back! Well at least until school work (and other things) get piled up, then school stuff takes priority. Just know that I will try to update as soon as I finish a chapter (I don't know how long that will take). Otherwise, please enjoy the chapter and give constructive criticism.
Also, I will be posting three new stories and a new chapter for Archangel's Fallen sometime in the near future. So Please take a look if you are interested. THANKS! -Kendal
Even with the little sun light that was coming into the room, Sara thought it was too bright. It didn't help that she had a huge hangover from all the partying. Groaning, Sara pulled her sheets over her head and tried to go back to sleep. She was in between sleep and consciousness, when the door suddenly burst open.
"SARA!"
Shanks jumped and landed on top of the bed, much to Sara's annoyance. Sara tried not to move, hoping that Shanks would be so drunk that he would think she was not there. It didn't work.
"Sara! Wake up!" yelled Shanks and he promptly ripped the covers off of Sara.
He was not going to stop, especially now that he was poking her in the ribs. Sara smacked his hand away and pulled the covers over her head. To which Shanks once again pulled at the covers; however this time he tossed the covers out of her reach. He promptly resumed poking her in the side. Sara growled and grabbed his hand in an attempt to get him to stop annoying her.
"Shanks," growled Sara.
"Yes?" said Shanks with a very goofy grin.
"GET Out!" yelled Sara, almost furious at him.
For a moment, she accidentally lost control of her powers; sending a small healing wave into Shanks' arm she was holding. Shanks blinked for a moment, looking between their hands and Sara. In his drunken state, it had not occurred to him that she would have this type of reaction. His grin fell and he gave her a hard look.
Damn, he had that knowing look and Sara could fell her heart break. He had felt her lose control.
"Shanks…." Whispered Sara, she felt terrible for lose control and even yelling at him.
However before Sara could say anything, someone cleared their throat. The pair turned to find Beckman standing at the door, his arms crossed over his chest
"Captain, you're needed on the main deck."
Shanks left the bed and Sara let his hand slip from hers. He didn't look at her as he left the room. Beckman watched his captain leave the room. He had seen and heard most of what had happened. It was strange. The only time he could remember seeing his captain sober up that quickly was when Shanks was sparing with Hawkeye.
"Ben, I didn't mean to do that to him." Sara's voice broke him from his musings, "I lost control for a moment. I think he thought I was trying to regrow his arm."
Beckman gave Sara a look. His knowledge of the Ferrin was what he had read in books and heard from tales and rumors. He had assumed that the stories about the Witches regrowing limbs were just that: stories with almost no real truth.
"You can regrow his arm?"
"Yes but not without great cost." The air hung heavy with unspoken words. "When a Ferrin heals with their power, it drains the Ferrin's energy. Regrowing an arm or even a finger drains a healer's energy faster and too much energy drained, the healer never recovers."
"In short, you regrow his arm; you'll die," commented Beckman.
Sara smiled at his frankness but, he hit the nail on the head, so to speak. It would kill her if she were to use her powers to regrow Shanks' arm. Bidding Beckman farewell because he was needed on deck, Sara prepared for her day.
Life on the ship had not come easy for Sara. She was used to being basically being self-employed and on her own time. Now she had to get up before dawn, if she did not have a hangover from all the partying. Though Sara did not mind all the work she had because it was something she was use to. It was definitely less work than having to put up with Mrs. Jasine and her perfectionism. Sara shuddered at the thought of that woman. However it was Doc Rowland that had taken some getting use to.
Doc Rowland usually was grouchy but today was very different. When Sara walked into the medical bay, he beckoned her over to his desk.
"What did ya do, girl?"
"What do you mean?" asked Sara
"The Captain looked pissed at our meetin'. Fist mate said it was an accident but that ya tried to use yar witch powers on him," said Rowland, "Ya know that he don't like ya usein' them power o' yours."
Sara looked at the floor. She felt even more terrible and wished she had not gotten mad at Shanks this morning.
"I know," replied Sara softly, "I didn't mean to lose my control."
The chair creaked softly as Rowland stood up. He put a hand on the young woman's shoulder.
"Give him a couple more hours. He's been stressed lately. Now get back to bloody work! I ain't got time to wait on ya!"
And the Rowland that she knew and loved was back. The rest of the day went slowly, most of the time Sara listened to Rowland complain about something. Occasionally, she would have to dodge or catch the odd medical supplies.
"Why the hell do ya have that gauze?" asked Rowland when he caught sight of Sara holding some gauze that he had thrown.
Sara shrugged. "It fell."
Rowland raised an eyebrow, but he said nothing and went back to reading a medical book. Two hours passed before anyone came to check on the two. The whole ship knew that Doc Rowland was not exactly the best company.
There was a knock on the door and someone cleared their throat. The two medics looked to see Yasopp leaning against the door frame.
"We're close to land. So be ready." With that, he left.
"Hey girl," said Rowland, "Ya better go get ready. Don't screw it up."
"What?"
"Are ya that thick girl?" growled Rowland, "I seen how ya two look at each other. Ya and the Captain need to work this out, but ya need to be prepared. Ain't any good if ya just become a blubbering mess."
Sara smiled and hugged the old doctor. Then she rushed out of the room before he could throw something at her.
"Crazy Girl!"
Sara laughed all the way to her room.
On Land
Most of the crew was unloading food and barrels of rum. Leaving Beckman to oversee the unloading, Shanks wandered off to a clearing in the woods. There were so many emotions going through his mind. Frustration, confusion, anger and worry. Being the captain of a ship was more difficult than he made it look. Adding other feelings into the mix and there was all sorts of trouble.
He sighed out loud. He knew Sara had not intentionally meant to try to regrow his arm. He had known it the moment she had whispered his name. Lifting his face to the sky, he took another deep breath and exhaled. The whole situation was extremely frustrating. He did not want to lose Sara, through accident or intention.
Sara kept glancing at the place where Shanks had disappeared into the forest and back to the crew, who were still working.
"Would you just go and talk to him," said a voice causing Sara to jump. Looking around, she found Yasopp standing beside the crate she was sitting on.
"Don't scare me like that," hissed Sara but Yasopp paid it no mind. He pulled her off the crate and shoved her towards the forest causing Sara to stumble a little bit.
"'Talk to the Captain'. That's the message from both Rowland and Beckman." With that he walked away.
Guess she was going to have to 'man-up' so to speak. Sighing, Sara set off towards the forest.
The forest path was a little difficult to traverse in the low light, but Sara was thankful that her eyes adjusted quickly. That's when she noticed Shanks coming down the trail. Luckily, he had not seen her yet, or at least that is what she thought.
"Shanks!" yelled Sara as she darted up the path.
However, Sara was wrong about one thing, Shanks had seen her coming up the path. Part of him was relieved to see her. He had so much to say.
"Sa—"
Before Shanks could finish the first word, Sara had practically tackled him and buried her face in his chest.
"I'm sorry. It was an accident!"
"I know." Blue eyes met his dark brown ones.
"What?"
"I know it was an accident. You wouldn't break a promise." Shanks smiled down at his witch.
Blinking, Sara had a flash back to five nights prior, when Shanks had accepted her into his crew. She looked down at her hands on his chest.
"I didn't promise," she whispered as Shanks just stared at her. Then she spoke a little louder, "I never promised you."
His expression was priceless when he realized that she was right. Sara almost had to brace herself against Shanks to keep from doubling over with laughter.
"EHHHH?!" was all he could say.
"You kissed me before I could say anything," Sara pointed out, "but I swore that I would never use my powers on you unless I absolutely had to."
Her words calmed him down. How could he have completely forgotten that, Shanks wondered. He chalked it up to stress and booze and buried his face into Sara's hair.
"So am I forgiven?" asked Sara cutting though the silence.
"Hmmm," was all Shanks' only reply.
Sara smiled and all seemed right in the world but the moment was shattered by the sound of a pistol clicking.
