Seven
Three days passed. It had been ten days since Will was found and healed by Calypso's hand. Perhaps Will had gotten better. Possibly, he hadn't. No one knew. There had been no change in Will's condition. Those around him lost hope quickly. Bill found it difficult to read one chapter of a book. Elizabeth couldn't take her duty seriously. Jack's visits were becoming more and more. Wills abandoned reading the Code. Every other word he would glance at his father. He could only watch his father's chest slightly rise and fall with breaths that were near impossible to exist. He only wanted to be there when something got better.
Giving up, Elizabeth dropped the pen. She couldn't do this anymore. She had to sit by Will. Her hand gently caressed Will's cheek. "He's never going to get better. Nothing has changed. He's just as cold and lifeless as he was ten days ago," she whispered.
"It's all my fault," said Wills, completely miserable.
"What did you say?" wondered Elizabeth.
"It's all my fault," repeated Wills. "Daddy is hurt because of me. I made him suffer. If I would have just stayed on the Pearl as I was told and not gone to find the chest, none of this would have happened. Beckett could have been dead by now and we would be home still sleeping late in the morning."
"You're right," noted Elizabeth. She thought about what Wills had just said. The past events circled in her mind. Anger consumed her. She looked at Wills trembling in fury. "How could you Wills?"
"I'm sorry," apologized Wills. "I just wanted to help."
"It's too late for that now!" shouted Elizabeth.
"Darling, what happened, happened. You cannot change the past. I've tried…on more occasion than one," said Bill, calmly rubbing her arms. His mind took a sudden turn as his eyes fell on Will. "Then again, he did switch places so you could escape what he didn't. It should be you laying here not him. My little boy has done nothing to deserve this pain. Nothing."
"Please stop. I feel bad enough," said Wills.
"Not as bad as Will is going to feel when he wakes. If he wakes!" hollered Bill furious.
"Get out Wills! Get away from him!" screamed Elizabeth, protectively moving closer to Will.
"Never come near him again. He doesn't need you. We don't need you," said Bill.
"I'm sorry," pleaded Wills.
"Forget it. You will never earn my forgiveness," Elizabeth told him as she stood.
"Father would never do this to me. If this were me, he would never forgive himself. He would do all in his power to heal me. What makes me different from him?" demanded Wills. "Why are you doing this?"
Elizabeth pointed to Will. "That's why," she said. "Get out. You will not harm him again."
"May I remind you why he is hurt?" asked Wills.
"Because you're mindless," said Elizabeth.
"At least I was willing to sacrifice my soul to World's End forever to bring him back to life, and not agree to return without him for my own selfishness unlike you!" shouted Wills.
Letting out a great scream of fury, Elizabeth smacked her son across the face.
Wills suddenly slid across the wood outside his father's room. The doors were slammed. He stood and went to open them. Locked.
"Fine, I don't need you either! I hate you two!" he hollered.
"Good!"
Trembling, wiped away the blood dripping from his nose. He stood there a moment, gazing at the doors to his father's room. Tears flowed from his eyes. He turned and slowly walked down the hall. At the end, he ran.
Hearing it all Jack and Teague looked at each other. This was not going to help Will. Teague shut his eyes. Jack bounded down the hall in fury. He pounded on the door and was told they didn't care about him and was told to go away. He tried again. This time something hard was thrown against the door. Having enough of this, Jack took his pistol from his belt, shot the lock, kicked the doors open then went in.
"What the bloody hell was that about? You could have killed us," shouted Bill.
"You already killed Wills," Jack told them.
"He deserves death! He did this to Will. It's his fault!" screamed Elizabeth.
"The boy was trying to help his father," said Jack.
"What help he did. He killed his father. Jack, Will died in my arms that night we got him back," said Bill.
"Well he's alive now. Forget the past. I know tensions are unbearable. He still has four more days to wake up. Personally, I'm glad he's not awake. I would hate to be near you two," said Jack.
"Get out Jack," Elizabeth told him.
Jack folded his arms, standing his ground. "Not until I have this to say. It was little whelp that caused William to be in this state. It was also his fault that we received the idea to go back to World's End, and to stay there to find Will's soul, to help him recover, he's kept an eye on him more than we have, and it was by his doing that Will has made it this far. You shouted at Wills for nothing. He was already dying. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he did something. Sometimes I wonder if you two deserve Will. He was never this heartless, even when his heart was locked inside a chest."
"GET OUT!" both screamed at the top of their lungs.
"As you command you majesty," said Jack highly sarcastic with an even more sarcastic bow. He immediately left.
Elizabeth turned to her Will. No one would hurt him again.
Alone in the Court room, Wills sat at the throne, his body hunched over the table, head tucked between his folded arms, asleep. His eyes still held tears, of which were used to cry himself to sleep. His sleeves were darkened in moist places.
Quietly, Elizabeth came beside him. She had a change of heart after sense was knocked into her and her mind processed the words spoken earlier. Seeing her child in his current position, she sighed and pulled a chair closer. Knowing she had done wrong, she sat and gently stroked his hair.
"Wills, wake up darling. It's me. I want to apologize. I'm sorry. Wake up," she called softly. Wills turned his sleepy head, still resting on his arms as he looked at her miserable as ever. She sighed and continued. "You were right Wills. I'm sorry. I want you to come back. Please. Your grandfather also wants you to return. He told me to remind you that Will needs you more than anyone else in this world. Please come back."
"I'm too dangerous. Remember?" reminded Wills sarcastically.
"I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I had controlled all what happened to Will inside of me for weeks. What you said allowed my mind to free my soul of all the things that I have not wanted inside of me. Can I be forgiven?" whispered Elizabeth.
"Too late mum," Wills told her. "You'll never get it and I wish you weren't my mother. You've never understood me. You only liked having me around because I was the only thing that you could have of father. Now that he's back and will survive you have no need for me and now you are trying to throw me from your lives so you may have a chance to start over. Apologizing is merely a cover for what just happened because Jack saw. He told me what he did and I'm sorry you can't see what I did in World's End more than what just happened. Seeing as you've never truly seen me, you most certainly won't see what I do with my fate, or have a single care of how it comes." He looked at her, more tears welling up in his eyes.
Elizabeth grabbed his arm as he began to leave. "Wills…" she began but before she knew what to say to him.
Wills pulled from her reach. He shook his head, disappearing into the sunset's shadows.
That hadn't gone according to plan. Elizabeth shut her eyes. He had too much of his father's stubbornness inside him. His emotions were not easily healed after being affected, as with Will. Seeing shimmering out of the corner of her eye, she turned. Her eyes widened at the sight. Wills wouldn't take his own life. He was much stronger than that. She had seen it many times before. Then again, Will would have the same thoughts if Wills was lying on the bed unconscious and barely alive and the places would have been exchanged as like before. She knew Will had several of these thoughts with the burden he bore long ago. The thought of her loving another tore him apart. Wills had nearly killed his father all because he wanted to help him, and because Will loved him so, he was released.
Elizabeth fell into the chair realizing that had Will not exchanged places, she probably wouldn't have shouted at her son earlier. She wouldn't have watched him recover after having his arm broken in half and healed him from his infectious fever. She would have never seen him again after the debate before Will and his father went aboard the Dutchman weeks ago. Will barely survived Beckett's hands. He was stronger than Wills and had the assistance of his crew. He had more moral strength. Wills was merely a child that had just turned seventeen a few months ago. He never would have survived Beckett. She had just increased the heavy burden that Wills was already bearing.
Taking the black knife in her palm, she hoped Wills no longer had his thoughts of ending his life.
Unsure what to think or do, Elizabeth sat beside her Will on the bed, gazing into his lifeless face. The knife was still tightly in her palm. She considered Wills's words in her mind. What did he mean about his fate and how it would come by? What was he planning? Her son was a Turner. All Turners did rash things, especially after heavy burdens, which usually were too late to take back in the end. She feared her son's life would be taken by his own doing. Wills's emotions were sensitive and he did not often show them with words. How would she explain her son's death to Will? What would he do? Not realizing it, though Bill did, she was crying and trembling. She felt her body being held. Not knowing who, nor caring to know, she continued to cry.
"Are we calm now?" asked Jack cautiously, as he poked his head through the doorway. Bill nodded. Still with caution, Jack entered with a bit of food. He glanced around. "Where's the little…oh, that's right. You two threw him out. Literally if I may add."
"Jack please. End it," said Bill.
Noticing Elizabeth, Jack pointed at her.
Shaking his head, Bill shrugged. He continued to rub her back.
Jack set the plates of food on the table before resuming sitting in his chair beside Will and looking at him, waiting.
Neither noticed Gibbs enter. "How is he?"
"The same as he's been for ten days," replied Bill with a heavy sigh.
"I have faith he'll wake. He's a strong lad. It's not like him to not fight back," said Gibbs. Something else was on his mind, but noticing Elizabeth's current status, he decided it best not to ask about the arguing. He especially thought it best not to ask what would cause Wills to push past them all with a knife in his hand and tears streaming down his face.
Will watched his mother as she laughed. His father was right. Her laughter was pure. Lily giggled in his lap again. He smiled, and turned to the horizon again. His smile faded into the look of lost he often had during their time together. A gentle hand grasped his shoulder.
"I know Will, I know. You'll take to it someday soon," promised Charlotte with a soft smile.
"I don't even know what life is like," reminded Lily.
"I just find it difficult to realize that I'm finally dead after having died twice before and having come back to life, knowing that this time I won't come back," said Will. "I won't be there for my family."
"Your father will and he'll look after them," said Charlotte.
"I wish I could go back and have one more chance. I didn't have much of a life to live after I was saved from World's End," whispered Will. "I just wish I could go back."
"Wot are ye willin' ta do ta redurn to da worl' of da livin'?"
Will turned. His eyes went confused. "Calypso?"
The sea goddess nodded. "Yes Willyum."
"How?" asked Will.
"It be by my powers dat ya soul was granded permission ta go wit'out ferrying. Ya soul knew da way," explained Calypso. "Now, wot are ye willin' ta do ta redurn to da worl' of da livin'?"
"What are you offering?" replied Will immediately. "I'll do anything to get back to my family again."
"Even wit' da pain dat ye will have?"
"Yes."
"Healin' ya wounds be beyon' any pain dat ye have fel' before. It not be a normal pain dat ye be in."
"I don't care. Pain is temporary. Father tells me that every day. I'll heal in time."
"If ye be brough' back by my power, I can provide a way to heal ya, but dat be all I do. Ya family mus' tad care of ya then."
"I know they can take care of me."
"Healing not tad days as ya may tink it will. Healing ya body take mont's and it not be in a mortal way. Ya never be da same again. Ya will live undah a cursed life."
"Did I not for eighteen years?"
"True."
"Calypso please. Give me another chance. You allowed me to come here. Allow me to return. My soul knows where it's going."
"When ya do redurn to ya worl', ya wounds be healed only enough to allow ya body to survive. No mortal man ever feel da pain dat ya will. If ya die again, I not be bringing ya back, even if ya family travel to Worl's End and retrieve ya."
"I'm willing to go through all that."
"Why?"
Will looked at her with eyes of passion and love. "I'm free to be with my wife and son. I'm free to be a father. I did your duty everyday for seventeen years so I could return to that island to have one measly day with my son. Elizabeth was someone that I longed to hold but not be with. I had known her well enough that she was always a part of me. My son, my Wills, I did not know."
"And da price dat I be receiving in redurn?"
"What do you want?"
"Wot be most precious to ya heart?"
"My son. Why? What are you going to do to him? Don't make him take my place as captain. He's too young."
"No, I be having no intention of dat sort."
"What are your intentions?"
"Nod changin' what ya son be put on himsel' long ago."
"And?"
"Ya son, Willyum Turnah, have him own touch of destiny dat him complete befah da end of dis war. Are ya willing to accept dis?"
"Are you willing to tell me what?"
"Den I cannot return ya to ya worl'. Ya must understand dat."
"What about my father?"
"Him in command of him futah now. Undah des terms are ya willing to redurn to ya worl'?"
Will thought a moment before he spoke. "And the war? Are the pirates to fight Beckett and his men on their own as the sea watches and waits for a soul to sacrifice his heart to a chest?"
Calypso smiled. "Predy much."
"I thought so."
"Dere leadah be risin' soon. Da leadah of da pirates be youngah dan you are. Dere leadah be not wot most expectin'. Den again, mos' leadahs are da mos' unexpected."
"Will we win this war? Can you tell me that at least?"
Calypso shook her head. "It not be because I won' tell ya, but because I not be knowin'. Da futah not be in my hands. Da futah of all invol' in dis war be in da hands of a chil'."
"Wills?"
"Seventeen still be a chil'. Do ya wan' ta go o' nod?"
Will nodded with a smile as he nodded. He remembered something. "What about my mother? And my sister. Lily has never been alive. She grew up here, and she'll never grow past nine. She deserves a chance at life too."
"I can't go Will. My place is here. My time was long ago. I have a place inside you?"
Will nodded. "Now that it's returned to me."
"I'm okay here Will. I have mum. It's not that bad," said Lily.
Will sighed and nodded.
"You'll wait for us?" asked Charlotte.
Will nodded. He looked at Calypso. "Will I remember this moment?"
"As a dream."
"Good enough," agreed Will. He was pulled into a tight hug. "Keep an eye on me?"
"Always," replied Charlotte. She let her son go to rest her palm against his cheek. "You know why I didn't want your father with you was because I afraid for you. I didn't want you becoming a pirate and following him for fear that you would be hung. I suppose you were more free like your father than I thought, and turned out to be a good pirate and a great man. I'm proud of you… and your father."
Will leaned into her again. He shut his eyes, listening to her heart beating. "Hold me one more time, so I can always remember," he whispered.
"Your father needs you more Will," Charlotte told him, not letting her arms go around his back. "Go to him. We'll be here. You have a life to live. Now go."
"I won't go anywhere," promised Lily.
"Time canno' stan' still for all da wor' for much longah," said Calypso with urgency.
Will hugged his mother and sister one last time. Not turning back once, he followed Calypso from the green fields, to the edge of an endless cliff that dove into darkness. He felt fear come upon him. Did he want to go back and risk everything? He had already seen enough pain that was undeserved. The mortal world was cruel. He rather liked it here.
"Second t'oughts?" asked Calypso.
"Is it really worth all the pain? Am I doing the right thing?" wondered Will.
Calypso nodded. She bore a true smile that Will had never seen before. This smile was true and sincere. "Willyum, dere be many tings in da worl' dat need ya back. Ya family be takin' care of ya well. Dey want ya back more dan anyting in da worl', even witty Jack be needing ya. Ya outta my hands and intah ya own now. I may check on ya occasionally dough. Dis life be ya last. Remember dat."
"I will," said Will. "Calypso, why are you doing this?"
"Da seas be needing Willyum Turnah. Da worl' be needing Willyum Turnah. Ya son be needing him fathah. I have no control ovah wot Beckett did ta ya. Dis is wot ya deserve. A secon' chance. Ya life be too precious ta waste away."
"Just say it," Will told her with a slight smile.
"I be havin' my own luv back," replied Calypso. She took his face between her palms. "By da way, Davy Jones send him regards."
Will smiled. A sudden immense pain came over him. Images passed before his mind. There was screaming and immense pain…nothing.
Someone breathed in struggled gasps. He felt softness against his cheek, but everything was terribly dark and unclear. Will, it's me. It's daddy. Come back son. Open your eyes. I'm here. You're all right. Will, no. Stay here. You're gonna be all right. Daddy's here. What had just happened? He last remembered Beckett. What was his father doing on the Dutchman? Will, darling, it's me. It's Elizabeth. Come back. We need you. Elizabeth. She was here too. Whelp. Come on. I know you lad. You can fight it. Certainly not said pirate, but you can. Even I need you. Jack? What was Jack doing? Where was he? He had a feeling he was no longer with Beckett, but it hurt so much still.
Will, I know you can hear me. Come on. I need to see your eyes again. It's been weeks. You're all right son. I have you. We have you. You're healing. Beckett can't find you. He doesn't know where Shipwreck Cove is. No one will harm you. You're in the safest place you can be. You're in my arms. You're in your daddy's arms. Open your eyes. Please.
Finding strength, he didn't know existed, Will opened his eyes. Not even halfway open, and the sight blurred, he recognized his father's face. He wanted to hold on. He tried to say something. Pain consuming him, including his strength, in all ways possible, he groaned as his eyes fell shut. Where was he? What was going on? Someone was weakly screaming as before, but it was worse. It was much worse. There were voices shouting desperately around him. The crew perhaps? Sea water! Now! What did they want sea water for? His back. He remembered. Beckett was going to pour more sea water on his back. Calypso told him she would send him back, but she never said she would send him back to the pain. He wanted his mother and sister. He wanted to be with them.
I know Will. I know son. Stay with me. You're going to be all right soon. We're going to take care of you. Hush. It's all right. I'm here Will. I'm here. I have you.
Father. He knew that voice. It was his father. He had to tell him. He had to. It hurt so bad though. He wanted to scream, but somebody already was. Wait. It was him screaming. All this time it was him. Now and with Beckett it was him. He was screaming. The pain was his own being inflicted upon him. Father was right there. He would be all right. Calypso sent him back to his father. He felt arms holding him in a way that only his father did. He heard the steady beat of his father's heart. Everything else was lost. There was still screaming though. He felt no pain, and yet, he couldn't stop. He wanted to open his eyes. He wanted to see his father's face again. He wanted to ask him about Wills. All he wanted was to know if his son was all right. That's all he wanted. Why was it so difficult to ask a simple question? Feeling himself being held tighter and a hand gently on his face, the screaming quieted to whimpering and groans. Just give it to me. I'll give it to him! Give what? What was his father going to give him? Whatever it was, he trusted him. Coolness wetted his throat. It was an icy burn and hurt. Everything was fading.
Let go Will. Let it take you. You'll be all right. I promise.
He promised. Father promised. He never broke his promises. Ever. The world was leaving. He fought to stay. He wanted to see his family. He wanted to see his Wills. Altogether, his mind surrendered to the silent dark again.
None of the four said anything, or made a single sound. What had just happened seemed as clear as a nightmare. Did Will really just wake or was it another dream?
Bill let Will gently fall back onto the bed. He swept the curls from his boy's forehead. Thoughts consumed him. Will was had no strength, and yet, because of the pain he was feeling, was able to scream. It didn't make any sense.
Jack looked as pale as Will did, and bore a haunted look.
Elizabeth leaned over Will's chest, beginning to cry again.
"Well, we know he's all right," noted Gibbs, then added. "Somewhat at least."
Barely an hour later, Gibbs, with Teague following, returned, each carrying a bundle containing medical supplies. The table at the other end of the room was brought to Will's bedside. A clean sheet was placed over the wood and the items laid out.
Elizabeth looked at all of them. Piles of towels. Buckets with steam seeping through the sides of the cloth that covered them. Rags. A box of needles of different sizes and lengths. Thread. Several types of knives. Odd tools that she had no desire to ask what they were used for.
Gibbs returned with two buckets of steaming water. Teague also returned two buckets of normal water. They looked at Bill.
Drawing a deep breath, Bill nodded as he took his vest off and rolled up his sleeves.
"What is going on?" asked Elizabeth with a frightened voice.
"Continuing to heal Will as Calypso stated in her letter. Once Will woke from her power, she no longer has control over his healing. How he heals, is now depended upon us. The seaweed has lost her powers and will rot. We must clean out his wounds, make any adjustment to them as needed, and bandage all those that require it," said Bill as he pulled away the pillows and good blankets from around Will. He tied back his son's hair. Before anything else was done, he turned back to Elizabeth. "I don't think this is appropriate for you to see. I don't want you to see this. You can barely keep your sanity from looking at Will lying here like this. I can see it. Will wouldn't want you to see this. He would want you to find his son so they can be together again. Find Wills. Apologize to him. Tell him to come back. Tell him that his father woke up and needs him now more than ever. Please. Wills is the only one that can truly heal Will."
"I'm not leaving him," said Elizabeth.
"Please luv. Go find little whelp. Said pirate doesn't much want to do this, but it's better than you," admitted Jack.
"None of us want to do this, but we have to," said Teague, lighting the lanterns and chandeliers. "You're mind is much too fragile to remain here as we discover what just happened to young Will."
"I need to know too," pleaded Elizabeth.
"I don't want to know," whispered Bill.
"No one does," added Gibbs.
Elizabeth turned to Will. Her eyes looked upon the seaweed, wondering what mystery lay beneath them. She wanted to know so badly what Beckett did to her Will. She needed to know. Shutting her eyes, she attempted to imagine what was beneath them. Thinking of horrible things, she breathed in gasps and covered her mouth.
"Please, daughter, go," pleaded Bill.
Nodding, Elizabeth wiped her eyes. She kissed Will's forehead then turned to Bill. "Heal him well," she whispered.
"I will. I promise you that. We should be finished early morning, which will give you plenty of time to find Wills. Do me that favor, all right?" was Bill's reply.
Elizabeth nodded. She was given a tight hug, and then gently shooed out by Bill. One step out into the hall and the doors were shut. Something was placed against the doors, as Jack had shot the lock of not long ago. She stood there wondering of the mess that was hidden below the seaweed. Will had woken up. She wondered if he knew he was safe and in the care of his family and closest friends. She wondered why Calypso couldn't do more. She knew only one thing as she sat down. She was going to stay there, as close to Will's side as she was allowed until they allowed her to be at his bedside again. Word would spread to Wills eventually and he would come back whether she approved of it or not.