A/N: Apologies for the lack of updates, guys. I got caught up in a Hunger Games fanfiction I started and with the finals of the end of the school year. Summer vacation has just begun on Friday, June 7th, and I'll try (no promises) update more often again. Thanks for sticking around.

Chapter 8:

When Jack came back to the world, all he felt was a burning sensation in his back. Completely oblivious to what had happened recently, he attempted to get up. However, the pain grew and he collapsed, weakly gasping. Then it hit him- how he'd been whipped so many times and watched Angelica receive the same cruel treatment. He remembered the wolves fighting against the guards, one particular brown one- Trenton- connecting to his mind. He remembered the wolves taking him to the Pearl along with Angelica. He even remembered the stinging pain as rum was poured onto his back to clean the bloody welts. His eyes snapped open. The Pearl; We're going to Shipwreck!

He slowly lifted his upper body up from the bed. His right arm shook weakly because of the wound from the musket and the wolf bite. The ship lurched and he was thrown off of the bed and onto the floor. Unfortunately, he landed on his back. As he lay there groaning, a soft creak came from the door.

"Jack?" A voice came and he looked up sharply, seeing William Turner.

"Oi, William, ye couldn't help me up, could ye, mate?" He asked, his voice slightly hoarse from lack of use. He had to wonder how long he'd been unconscious. "The bloody Pearl lurched and I was thrown down 'ere."

He nodded, making his way towards the fallen pirate. "Are you alright?"

"Not quite." The injured Jack answered, clearing his throat. "But I reckon I will be soon enough."

"Let's hope so." Will told him, holding down a hand.

The pirate took the other man's hand and allowed him to pull him up, grunting painfully. "So, what ye be doin' 'ere on the Pearl?"

"We had to see if you were alright after what happened the other day." He told him. "And Elizabeth insisted that if you were going to Shipwreck Cove that she be there for anything to do with the Brethren Court."

The other day? How long have I been out for then?

"I'm lucky it wasn't a cat-o-nine tails that they used on me." Jack sighed. "I'd definitely be dead if it was."

"Now that you mention it, I'm surprised that they didn't use one." Will admitted. "But if they did, why kill someone they're trying to get information out of?"

"Because I'm still wanted either way, whether I would've told them or not." He pointed out, slipping on a white shirt from the wardrobe. "If I'd not gotten away, I'm sure they would've bloody killed me."

"Ah, right." The latter remembered. He watched as the pirate captain put on a waistcoat vest and boots, strapped a baldric around his waist, sheathed a sword within it, snatched a couple of pistols, and pulled on his coat. Confused, he asked,"Where are you going?"

"Where do ye think?" Jack asked back, donning his hat in reply and giving his trademark smirk.

"You're going out on deck." William stated slowly, the realization dawning on him. More urgently, he continued,"Jack, you need to rest."

"Reckon everythin'll be alright as long as I don't fall overboard, mate." The more experienced pirate replied easily, stretching one more time to wake up his body.

"You're sure that this is a good idea?" He asked.

"No." Jack responded, his voice as certain as if he had said the opposite.

The Black Pearl's captain walked past the blacksmith, pushed open the door, and emerged out on deck.

*X*

"Yes, but-" Elizabeth cut herself off, staring past Angelica. "What is he doing out here?"

Angelica turned, confused, to see who the Pirate King was talking about. Her confusion quickly turned to unsurprise and disapproval upon seeing who it was. Jack Sparrow, in the injured state he was, had brought it upon himself to come out on deck. Somehow, he still managed to keep a smirk on his face. She watched as he made his way towards the helm, where they were. He climbed up the stairs to the quarterdeck, coming up to them.

"It feels great to be back out 'ere, doesn't it?" The pirate captain asked.

"Not the reason for why we're here." Elizabeth answered.

"Aye, well, it was inevitable." He told her, gripping the railing and looking out over the water. "I once believed that it was possible to live forever. Now I see that it's not, with or without immortality. The curses are always broken. Barbossa. Jones. We saw what 'appened to them. Even the Fountain's power will wear off or somethin' eventually. Believe me, livin' forever isn't possible."

Somehow, Angelica had a feeling that he was right about the Fountain's powers. Sure, now she couldn't be harmed, but something was bound to go haywire and cause the powers to fade away. When you know Jack Sparrow, nothing is to ever go your way for the rest of your life. She'd found that out when he had left her during their younger years.

"Shouldn't you be resting, Jack?" She asked him.

"Aye, probably." He replied. "But after so much restin', ye need to move 'round a bit. I'm tired of bloody sittin' in one place."

"You will never heal if you do not rest." Angelica pointed out.

"Oh, I'll rest soon enough." Jack assured her. "Just not now."

*X*

He turned and began heading down to the main deck, but stopped when he heard her call after him.

"Where are you going?"

"To get somethin' to numb this pain."

Rum. He was going to get rum. He passed by William on the way to the stairs that went below deck. The man looked confused on who to follow. He decided against following him and went up to greet his wife and Angelica at the helm instead.

A/N: I apologize for this being a short chapter. I know what I want this story to turn out to be, it's all up in my head, but I still have some sort of writer's block against it. I also have my other stories to work on as well. Anyhow, stay tuned for the next chapter.