InTooDepp: Glad you thought that was sweet, keep reading and find out what happens next!

Mrs. Cpt Jack Sparrow: Now that I think of it, my story DOES have everything…huh, I didn't plan it to be that way…oh well. Everything works out for the good.

Lizlol123: I'm sure everyone wants t know what happens next.

So, here ya go everyone, Chapter 9!

It had been a week since Jack had been shot, and he was slowly recovering. The crew started to worry about their captain; things didn't look too good for dear old Jack. True he was recovering, but very slowly. Most people would be able to walk around some by now, but not Jack.

Diego would visit him often, being as she didn't have jobs to do on the ship like the other pirates. She would tend to Jack's every need; fluff his pillows when they needed fluffing, help him eat when he was hungry, and talking with him when he was lonely. In one of their conversations, Jack had told Diego that the sailors they had attacked were the same sailors who had taken Ana Maria away.

"I didn't see Ana Maria on the ship." Jack had said. "No doubt now that she's dead."

This of course was true; Jack didn't see Ana Maria on the ship, for all he knew she was dead, and that's what he convinced himself into thinking.

It wasn't until two more weeks later that Jack could sit up by himself. They had stopped a few days ago in a small town like Tortuga and had a doctor come look at Jack.

"I'd say he's got about three more weeks." The doctor said after examining the sleeping Jack. Gibbs, who was in the room with Diego, looked to the ground. Diego's lower lip trembled slightly, but she let no tears fall.

"The bullet that hit his chest nicked a tiny part of his heart." The doctor continued. "He's lost a lot of blood, the bullet he got in his shoulder cracked part of his shoulder bone."

"What can you do?" Diego asked, tears welling up in her eyes. Gibbs looked up at the doctor. The doctor was silent for a long time, fiddling with some tools he had in his hand.

"Not too much." He said after a while. "I could get his shoulder in a sling, and…oh never mind."

"No, what?" Gibbs said, glancing over at Jack for a few seconds.

"Well, there is a surgery I can perform on Jack's heart, to close it up and stop the bleeding…but it's never been done before, and the slightest mistake could kill him immediately."

Diego once again bit her lower lip. Gibbs looked over at her and put his hand on her shoulder.

"What do you think?" Gibbs asked her. Diego looked over at Gibbs.

"We should ask Jack." She said.

The Doctor looked at the two of them for a while. When Gibbs didn't say anything, the doctor said, "Talk about it tonight, then tell me your decision tomorrow." He said packing up his things. "You know where to find me."

The two nodded and watched the doctor leave. Gibbs lifted his hand off of Diego's shoulder. "I'm gonna get something ter eat, you commin?" He asked. Diego shook her head. "No, I'll wait till Jack gets up." She replied. Gibbs nodded and left Jack's quarters.

Diego sighed and sat down in a chair that faced Jack, waiting and watching until he would wake up.

A few hours later Jack's eyes fluttered open. He struggled a bit and finally got himself to sit up, his back leaning against the headboard. Diego heard him moved and looked up from examining her hands for what seemed like the billionth time.

"Good morning star shine." Diego teased. Jack smiled weakly at her. "We had the doctor look at you a few hours ago…" She started.
"What'd he say?" Jack asked.

"Your shoulder bone is cracked, but he can put that in a sling. And your heart has been opened up a tad bit from the bullet. He can do surgery on it but it's never been done before and the slightest mistake could kill you." She said rather quickly.

"Is that it?" Jack asked like it was no big deal.

Diego shook her head. "No, he also said that you…have three weeks tops." She said slowly, a tiny tear leaking out of the corner of her eye. Jack noticed the tear and motioned for her to come over to him. Diego got off the chair and got on her knees by his bedside.

"Now what are you cryin about luv? I ain't gone yet." He said wiping the tear from her face with his finger. Diego smiled slightly and nuzzled her face against his hand.

"I know, but just the thought of it…" She couldn't find the words to finish her sentence. "You're the only person that I've met who actually treated me like a human being. You changed me Jack, to the girl I should have grown up to be. You showed me what it's like to be a free person…and now your…your…" Her last words got all choked up, a few more tears streaming down her dark face.

Jack lovingly wiped away every tear that she shed. "I'll be alrigh luv, I always get better, this time shouldn't be any different." He said, though he didn't believe much of what he had just said himself.

"Oh Jack." She said holding his hand. "I sure hope so." She managed to choke out.

"Tell that doctor that I want that surgery." He said. Diego bit her lower lip once more and nodded. "Okay, I'll tell him first thing tomorrow."

Jack shook his head. "No, I want it tonight." A series of more tears streamed down Diego's cheeks.

"All-alright." She choked. "I-I'll be r-right b-back." She stood up and kissed Jack's hand. She gently let go of his hand and left the room, leaving Jack alone. Jack watched her leave and sighed once she was gone. "I sure hope I'm doing the right thing."

Ten minutes later, Diego came back into the room with the doctor. "Diego here tells me you want this surgery done tonight." He said looking a bit shocked.

"That's right." Jack said looking at the doctor. The doctor nodded and walked over to Jack, opening up his suitcase full of equipment. Diego followed close behind the doctor. "Anything I can do?" She asked. Before the doctor could say anything, Jack spoke up. "No, I don't want her in here." He said.

"Jack I'll be fine…"

"No." Jack said sternly. Diego sighed and left the room in tears. As she walked out she bumped into Gibbs. Diego looked up to Gibbs' face.

"I saw you walking with the doctor, did Jack want the operation?"

Diego nodded. "Y-yes. And he w-wont let me b-be in there to w–watch or any-anything." Gibbs patted Diego's back. "It's probably for the best Diego. He just doesn't want you to see him in pain."

Diego gave Gibbs a bear hug, burying her face in his shirt, letting out all the tears she had been holding in for so long. Gibbs patted her back, trying to re-assure her that everything would be okay.