A/N: Ah, the smell of the ocean (or my sink, you choose!) This chapter was for Wolfinson, a loyal reviewer, because it seemed as if I were neglecting this fic! I hope you enjoy reading!


Yo, Ho, Ho, and a Bottle of Rum!

Chapter Eight

Listen Closely


Danny stumbled as he pushed through the trap door, hauling himself up. As he tried to stand in his frenzy, his feet slipped out from under him and he went sprawling back onto the ground. He shook his head and groaned. That really did hurt, you know. He began to stand up when a hand was placed in front of his face. He followed up the hand, to an arm, to a shoulder, then a face. William.

"Need a hand?" the brown-haired male asked.

"Thanks," Danny murmured, taking the enemy pirate's hand. William helped him up to his feet before Danny pulled away and began to run towards the door that led down to the galley.

"What's the hurry?" William called. Danny paused only for a second to look back at the male before replying, "A life's on the line." Then the boy opened the door with the silver key still in his pocket and vanished into the darkness of the room. It took Will a couple of seconds before the words finally registered. "A life..." he repeated before he jolted into a run towards the galley as well.

"Turk, you gotta help Kio!" Danny found himself shouting. Turk was sitting on a chair near the gimbal. He seemed to be asleep and was awakened by Danny's voice, jumping up to his feet at attention. Danny rushed up to the still dazed-looking adult.

"What are you-" Turk started, now aware of it only being Danny. But the younger boy cut him off before he could even finish

"Kio! She's hurt!" Danny exclaimed frantically. "On her shoulder...A gash...from the other pirates...she...she...she's gonna bleed to death!" His stammering caught the ear of a certain pirate that had been coming up behind him now. William froze on the steps at the sound of the words 'from the other pirates.' Someone on the Black Pearl was going to be the cause of this girl's death.

Danny didn't have time for this! And Kio's time was running out! He grabbed hold of Turk's hand while the adult was still busy trying to figure out what was going on. "Come on! Kio needs-!" Danny cut himself short as he gazed upon the pirate he'd just left behind on deck. Will stood there on the steps, also trying to figure this out.

Immediately Turk's expression grew hard. "What are you doing here?" he questioned.

"Waiting for Jack," Will said simply.

Danny looked from male to male, then finally exclaimed. "We don't have time for this!" He pointed at William, "You need to get out of here," he turned his attention to Turk, "and you need to help Kio!" He threw his arms in the air in frustration before shouting out again, "We don't have time for this!"

"Fine, let's go," Turk murmured and he and Danny rushed up the steps. But as Turk passed Will, the two adults shared a glare. Danny wasn't aware of it. The only thing that he was aware of was the fact that one of his only friends on this ship was going to be totaled if she didn't get help quick!

Will followed the two out and all three males landed in the sleeping quarters. Either Turk didn't acknowledge Will's presence or he just didn't care if he was there or not. Danny figured it was a bit of both.

Inside the sleeping quarters, with William close behind, Danny found that the candle lamp that had been on before had fallen over and the flame had become extinguished. The only thing that they were aware of was Kio's dark silhouette. Immediately Danny rushed towards her, crouching down automatically to the right of her. He was afraid of what her posture was telling him: she was slumped against the wall with absolutely no kind of movement. She no longer even clutched the wound on her shoulder. He couldn't even tell if she was breathing. She was just lying there. "Kio?" he asked.

At the sound of his voice, Kio slowly opened her eyes. She looked at him and tried to smile, but failed. Danny smiled instead. Yes, there was still time to save her.

Right?

Turk told Danny to move to one side and give Kio some space. Danny stood and merely watched as Turk examined the wound on Kio's shoulder, much to Kio's discomfort. Somewhere between the time when Danny spoke to Kio and the time Turk spoke to Danny, Will had picked up the extinguished lamp and had relit the flame. He now held it over Kio and Turk to give Turk a little bit of light to work with. Turk still did not acknowledge him, only grunted out an incoherent 'thank you' to which Will answered promptly with an 'any time.'

Danny watched with impatience and anxiety over them when Turk finally said, "Looks bad. I don't think there's much we can do..."

"What?" Danny exclaimed. His exclamation was louder than he might have wanted. From the distance he could hear one of the crewmates turned on his hammock, the beams holding it up creaking. And from the other side a small groan from another crewmate. Danny stayed silent for a little bit, then said, "What do you mean? you're just gonna let her die?"

"She has lost too much blood, I'm afraid," Turk said. He whispered something to Kio and the girl nodded feebly. He helped her to sit up properly and then he ripped the sleeve of her long-sleeved silk shirt. She made a small pained noise at the force, but kept her nerve. Then Turk began to use the sleeve to wrapped around the wound. It would do for now. Kio seemed to weak to do anything but watch.

"There has to be something," Danny insisted. "We can't let her die." He chewed his lower lip nervously. He couldn't just give up on Kio. He wondered...he wondered if maybe she really didn't have a chance.

Danny shook his head of the thoughts. No! He couldn't think like that! Where there's a will, there's a way, right?

"What about that gem Jack keeps going on about?" William suggested, putting the lamp down as Turk checked Kio's pulse and other vital signs. At the sound of the word 'gem' the ghost stopped and just sat there for awhile. Kio gazed at William, as if trying to recall who he was.

"You're from the Black Pearl?" she asked. William nodded.

"I don't know the whole story, but Jack was telling me that the gem had a type of power. Can it help?" he asked. Turk crossed his arms.

"Well..." he started hesitantly.

"What?" Danny asked apprehensively.

"It could help..." Turk said. "It does have the power to heal. But it may do no good should it not be able to heal something like the loss of much blood."

"But is there a chance?" William pressed.

"Yes," Turk replied.

"Then we've got to get it!" Danny said. Turk shook his head.

"There's no way you can."

"Why not?"

"StoneHeart is not called by that name for just any reason." At this Turk looked at Kio as the girl shifted slightly with a look of pity and sympathy.

"It doesn't matter," Danny said. "Just tell me where it is." And now Turk turned to Danny with the same expression he'd given to Kio.

"I do not see why you are so determined..."

"Because she's my friend."

Turk nodded understandingly. "Good answer." He looked at Will. "You'd better take care of the boy. You're going to help him." It was not a suggestion, it was a command. Danny began to object, but Turk silence him. "No, you'll need all the help you can get. And this boy looks experienced." Danny contemplated this in silence before nodding.

"So what's the plan?" William asked.

"Listen closely, you two..."


E/N: I noticed that in the last chapter I put 'glowing green eyes dim' I should have put 'blue eyes' seeing as he's in human form! And now to up-date 'Am I Evil Too?'!

--Airamé Phantom