The Aftermath-Chapter 7
It stirred something deep inside Cole when she awoke early the next morning to Jack sleeping soundly at her side. He looked peaceful, and for a moment she thought he might be dead, but the sight of his rising chest quelled her worries. Cole leaned down to kiss his cheek then she rose from the bed to dress.
Once Cole had everything in place, she left the room to find Doc. He was in the sickroom tending to a man with a broken finger. "'Ello Cole. 'Ow's the Cap' n?"
"He's still sleeping," Cole replied.
"That's good. 'E needs 'is rest. I've got some salve ye can spread on 'is wound," the doctor told her. He indicated to the counter on his right careful to keep the man's finger in place. "It's in that green bowl there."
"Thanks Doc," Cole bowed slightly and went to retrieve the bowl of what looked like paste.
"Put some on ev'ry couple hours or so. Should 'elp with scarring and infection," the doc explained.
Cole nodded and exited the room. The horrible smell of the paste invaded her nostrils as she carried the bowl to the captain's cabin. Cole toed the door open gently when she reached Jack's room. She set the bowl on the cabinet then went to open the porthole for some fresh air and sunlight. There was quite a breeze, but once again, it was a dismal day.
Cole sat upon the bed at Jack's side with her legs crossed then she lowered the sheet to his waist. Removing the bandage from his chest, Cole discovered his wound had become an angry red and seemed to have spread.
Concerned, she stirred the salve then plopped a lump of the stinky stuff on Jack's chest.
He bolted upright with a surprised yelp, then slowly sank back onto the pillows in pain. "Are you trying to kill me love?" he murmured.
"Nay Captain. You've done well enough on your own," Cole said gently and smiled, glad that he was awake. She continued to spread the foul ointment.
"That stings," Jack hissed even though the internal throbbing resulting from his injury hurt much worse.
"Quit being such a child," Cole teased.
"Humph. This is coming from the lass who nearly died from scrubbing a deck. I didn't see you leaping into the abyss late at night, fighting off sharks and dodging lightning," Jack answered stubbornly.
"You forget. I'm not Captain Jack Sparrow, mate," Cole grinned at him. She finished with the salve then wound one of the fresh bandages the doctor had left behind around his injured flesh.
"What a horrible smell. I hope the doctor isn't trying to kill me," Jack pondered.
"I assure you he's not. I watched him work on you last night," Cole guaranteed him. "All of your men were here holding you down. Gibbs held a piece of leather in your mouth. Joel branded you to stop the bleeding after the doctor pulled the wood loose," Cole smiled through tears at the thought of everyone working together to save their captain.
"Don't cry," Jack murmured raising his hand to thumb away a tear. He groaned quietly with the effort.
"I'm not," she said with a sniffle. "You should be very proud of your crew. They're good men."
"Yes, they are. And what of you? Your wine jug and pants saved my life on more than one occasion to be sure," he said. This, for some reason, caused more tears to roll down Cole's cheeks. Her shoulders shook.
"Come 'ere love," Jack coaxed her into lying across the part of his stomach. He placed a hand on her head, and she turned her face to kiss the flesh near his navel.
"I'm so glad you're alive," Cole whispered against his smooth skin.
"Me too, love. How'd Stench make out?"
"He's fine as far as I know." Cole wiped her face on her sleeve and leaned on her arm on his stomach, so she could look at him while they spoke. "I have yet to go see him. What happened out there Jack?"
"I don't remember everything. Stench was floating on a piece of debris that had washed overboard when I found him. He was fine but much too tired to swim back to the ship. I wrapped the rope about him and grabbed onto him. Then I gave the rope a mighty tug to indicate the crew should pull us in. We were nearly back when a wave pushed me away from Stench into a ragged edge of the debris he was floating on.
The wood would have pierced my heart I fear were it not for your device. The jugs stopped the wood from lodging itself deeper into my flesh. I'd been hurled from Stench and the rope, and I began passing in and out of consciousness. I remember vaguely coughing up water on the deck as well as getting branded. The rest is a haze," he finished the story with a sigh. "I woke up to pain and a horrible stench, but this beautiful women dressed as a boy before me makes it all worth my while," Jack whispered with a grin. "Perhaps that beautiful woman dressed as a boy might have a kiss for the wounded?" he suggested.
Cole didn't answer as she bent down and kissed Jack softly on the lips. She did not linger there. She rose from the bed feeling Jack's eyes on her as she moved to the cabinet. Her untouched food from the night before was there. She retrieved it and brought it to the bed. She also poured Jack a glass of water then sat once again at his side. She helped him drink from the mug, and he did so gratefully. He could still taste the saltwater he'd choked on the night before. Cole replaced the mug on the night table once Jack had drained it of its contents.
"Are you hungry?" Cole wondered.
"Yes, but I don't think food will satisfy me," Jack's voice sounded raw as he said this.
"It will have to do for now," Cole replied, fascinated with the lustful look in Jack's eyes. She broke off some bread and popped it into his mouth.
"You are truly evil. How can you deny an injured man?" Jack mumbled through a mouth full of bread.
"Because he's injured. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to speak with your mouthful?" Cole sounded irritated and Jack was pretty sure she was just as frustrated as he was.
"No," he answered with a grin after she shoved more bread in his mouth.
Once Jack had finished eating and drifted back to sleep, Cole went to take a stretch on the deck. Once again, clouds blocked the sky from view. The men were all looking glum as she made her way to the lookout. A couple of the crewmembers asked about Jack, and Cole told them he was doing well.
"Stephen!" Cole yelled to the man on the lookout.
"Cole? Hold on, I be right down," Stench replied.
Cole noticed how slowly Stench made his way to where she stood. He steered her over o a private corner. "How be the captain lass?"
"He'll be fine I think. He's in pain, but he looks good," she answered. "How are you Stephen? "
"I'll be fine lass. That Jack Sparrow, he be a great man coming out there to rescue me. I wasn't sure I was going to make it. I got a bad feeling about this hunt for Autumn. I'm hopin' I'll be feeling better once we reach Port Royal later on this evening. It'll be good to be on land if only fer a day or two." Stench decided.
Cole had forgotten they would be stopping hopefully before the nonexistent sun went down. Cole would be meeting Jack's friends Will and Elizabeth. More importantly, she might get her chance for a hot bath. She sighed.
"I'm sure Port Royal will cheer everyone up," Cole muttered more to herself than to Stench.
Stench nodded. "Well lassie. I must get back to work now. You keep yerself safe."
"I will Stephen. You do the same," Cole advised.
Stephen winked at her and climbed back up to his post. Cole went back to the cabin to take a short nap.
