Ch 10

It is so hot. So unbearably hot. Why is it so very humid and hot out today?! This ridiculous, frilly fan does little to keep me cool. Then there is Commodore Norrington here and his incessant chatting. I really should be paying attention

Yes, surely I should be paying attention. Look at the way he is looking at me! I have seen those lovesick puppy eyes before, though I can't quite place where…

And this corset, ugh. Why did I allow father to coax me into such a death trap. I can hardly breathe! Wait… I can't breathe!

"I can't breathe…" Elizabeth uttered, body rocking forward toward the dangerous drop, tumbling over the edge of the high fort wall, body limp as a doll. The lace of her dress fluttered softy in the breeze as she made the long fall towards the water and sharp rocks below. Norrington noticed her rather hasty departure much too late. He looked over the edge just in time to see the foamy splash of her body upon impact with the water, narrowly missing the deadly rocks. He yelled her name. It was a pointless action. She was already far beneath the surface.

Something was not right. It all seemed too familiar. Elizabeth's eyes shot open, taking in the watery prison surrounding her. She felt as if she weighed a ton, her fancy dress nothing more than a weight now, a burden. She laughed, bubbles floating out of her mouth. She so often felt her life was drab, was a burden even with her high status in society and all the perks that came with it. The dress seemed to embody that.

She watched the bubbles in fascination as they sailed above her, crystal orbs on an upward journey towards the surface. Something or someone broke the watery barrier between her and the outside air, a dark shape cutting down into her liquid realm, creating bubbles of its own. She was not sure of what the dark shape was; in fact she didn't even really register it.

Panic clutched at her chest as she remembered that she could not breathe, certainly not underwater. She tried to swim towards the surface but her body would not move. She screamed, expelling the last of her air. Or wasn't it the last of her air? She knew she couldn't breathe yet she always seemed to have air to release. She knew she was at the point that she should lose consciousness yet she never blacked out, only stayed awake through the torturous feeling.

The corset seemed to get tighter and tighter with every inch she sank, her feet finally hitting the sandy sea bottom. Her eyes scanned the surrounding area again, certain that there was some means by which for her to escape. She couldn't live this way. She knew she could not live out the rest of her days unable to breathe, unable to be free from this watery cage. The thought that death would be a much better alternative to her current position scared her even more. Regardless, she was unable to die. She found herself caught between life and death in a breathless state. She had a thought that her life above on dry land and breathing fine had been worse than what she now endured. If she did not say that her life as a governor's daughter had been worse she would have to say just about the same. Both ways of living, unable to breathe in life giving air or the fresh air of freedom, were terrible. Being unable to breathe was being unable to breathe no matter which way one looked at it.

The dark shape was close now, undoubtedly headed straight for her. The light slanting in at odd angles from above hid the figures identity but she was certain that it was human. Yes, the harder she looked the more obvious it was that there were a pair of arms sweeping down through the water to reach her. Only humans, only people had arms, didn't they? And the way the figure moved toward her, elegantly, she thought, in such a terrible place. Why would a person brave the watery grave where one could not die?

A flash of gold caught her eye. She glanced down, a golden skull looking back at her. A medallion?THE medallion?! Why do I have the medallion on my neck?! Her heart starting to pump faster, though she wondered how when it must have been several minutes since she took in a breath to fuel its action. I have seen this medallion before but I thought I lost it or put it somewhere else.

She glanced at the shape, now clear as day. It was a man; a man with long hair tied in a strange, exotic fashion. Trinkets glinted in the mass of dark hair as the sunlight hit them just right. A quick sweep of his clothes and she realized that he was not dressed like people she was used to seeing in the bustling town of Port Royal.

The man's arms reached out towards her and all she could do was watch in silent fascination as he grabbed her about the waist. He is here to save me? Who is he, she asked herself. He seems familiar, strangely so.

At that moment the man pulled his face away from her, his arms still grasping her by the waist. He seemed to want to look at her and she was eagerly awaiting the chance to do the like. What she saw startled her, more air escaping her lungs in a stream of bubbles, though her lungs felt as depleted of air as they could get. Dark brown eyes looked at her worriedly, dark eyes seeming even deeper brown by the black smudges that surrounded them. There was no recognition in his eyes. Then why is he saving me, she asked herself. Slowly, the man swam them both upward. His arm held tight to her waist while the other stroked to reach the surface. Despite the circumstances she found she was taken aback by his handsome features. She found herself staring at his profile as they slowly rose. His high cheekbones seemed so familiar…

She had not been paying attention and quite suddenly they broke the surface of the vile water. Desperate for air, wanting to relieve the constant ache in her chest from not being able to do so, she opened her mouth. Still, she found she could not breathe. She closed her mouth right away when, startled, she felt them sinking again. The man who held her started to choke, struggling to keep both of their heads above the water. She tried and tried to help him, told her limbs to move and swim but there was no response.

Strangely, she felt she could trust the man who submerged them again. That feeling did nothing but intensify, oddly enough, when the man ripped her dresses first layer off, letting it sink below them. She did not know his intent but was completely content to let him lead, though in the back of her mind she was sure such a thing as a random man ripping her dress from her body, even the first layer, was vey indecent.

As if by magic, the loss of the dress allowed them to stay above the water's surface. Elizabeth tried again to breathe… to no avail. The man seemed totally engrossed in swimming, dedicating all of his energy on pulling them towards the docks that seemed so far away. Elizabeth concentrated on the flexing of the muscles in his arm as he pulled them along. She marveled that he was able to swim with them both.

They finally reached the dock. Her mystery savior hoisted her up over his shoulder with ease, grasping the rings of the ladder with one hand to climb and holding her with the other. He placed her gently on the wet wood boards of the dock, leaning over her. The water dripping off his hair sent strange sensations through her when it landed on her neck and trickled downward.

His eyes were concerned and concentrated as he looked at her. He must be able to tell that I cannot breathe, she thought frantically, hoping and praying that this man could somehow save her from her torturous fate. He seemed to want to free her, reaching a hand, clad in rings and cloth, into his belt, producing a knife. Without so much as a pause, he brought it to her exposed corset, slicing through the bindings. It popped open, her lungs finally free to expand.

Eager to breathe, she tried to fill her lungs… but still nothing happened. And again, the mystery man seemed to know just what to do. He leaned down over her until their lips met in a kiss that set her insides on fire…

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elizabeth gasped, coughing violently. "Thank God."

Elizabeth blinked a few times, gulping down as much air as possible. She never knew that such a thoughtless, effortless task as breathing could feel so good. She tried to sit up but a strong hand stopped her. "Jack," she whispered weakly, looking up into his face.

He smiled. "Aye. You gave me a real scare there missy."

She glanced around, attempting to sit up again and this time being allowed the movement, Jack's hand hovering behind her back in case she was to topple over. They were up by the helm. Jack sat on the deck by her side. Periodically, he sent a calculating glance at the wheel.

"What happened?"

Jack winced as if in pain. "You passed out and stopped breathing for a while. It seems such an activity has become something of a habit with you. This is about the third time you know."

Elizabeth gasped inwardly. That dream had seemed so real. It looked as if it was even more real than she thought it may have been. As it turned out, she really wasn't breathing. It was not just a dream after all. A slight blush crept up her neck as she remembered how her dream had ended. "Just how did I start breathing again?"

Jack smiled impishly at her, slowly standing to his feet and offering her his hand. "Mouth to mouth love." To her widened eyes he chuckled. "I know I know, amazing n' it. Normally such an activity with yours truly would cause less breathing. You should know. You've experienced it firsthand," His eyes darkened. "many times, to my pleasure, but certainly not enough times to satisfy me."

Elizabeth glowered at him, ignoring his hand and standing herself. Jack turned with barely concealed eagerness back to the wheel. "I will have you know we are slightly off course after your little spell."

"You did not have to help me," Elizabeth growled.

"Not help you, a damsel in distress?" He made a strange noise deep in his throat, as if he was offended.

"I could not have been out long enough to have us be blown off course that much."

Jack peered with exaggeration at the sea, as if calculating just how off course they were. "Yes love, we were blown off course that much. It takes but a moment, a strong gust of wind."

Elizabeth stepped up close to him, her voice dropping low, speaking around clenched teeth. "Like I said, you did not have to help me."

Jack eyed her. "Yes, I did." His eyes and voice held none of their previous humor and teasing. Elizabeth immediately softened.

"Will you tell me something?"

Jack eyed her warily. "I suppose it depends on what ye want to know."

"Tell me about the day we met." Elizabeth was pleased to see him rendered speechless for a moment or two, eyes trailing the waves behind her as he corrected their course.

"Well… er, Lizzie, you were there luv."

"Yes but tell me your side of the story." He was silent. "Unless you have forgotten," she added hastily, feeling a bit foolish for expecting him to hold on to such a memory.

"Forget?" He locked eyes with her. "How could I ever forget?" His voice made her shiver. She had never heard him speak in such a way, a mix of seriousness and hurt, shock and tenderness. He spoke with conviction, his voice octaves deeper than its normal tone. "How could I ever forget the day I met you?"

Elizabeth suddenly felt very weak again, grabbing onto the base the wheel was on. She felt she needed to offer him some sort of explanation for surely these strong feelings he was emitting would do her in. "It's just that, well, while I was blacked out I had a… it was a dream of sorts I suppose… and it was of the day… well a part of the day we met… at least I think that is what it was. It was not anything that I remembered but before I woke I was on a dock and you were looking down at me. I remember seeing that, seeing you that day." Her voice softened. "You were the first thing I saw when I came around."

She looked up into his face. He was watching her with warm curiosity, seeming to have no intent on interrupting.

Encouraged, she continued. "In the dream I was back on the fort wall with James." Jack made a sour face at the mention of Norrington's name. Still, he lifted a hand to his head, making a small sweeping motion away from his hat. Elizabeth smiled at the small gesture of respect for a passed on comrade. "I could not breathe and so I tumbled forward and off the high cliff."

Jack smiled softly. "Aye, I remember seeing you fall into the water." He paused, cocking his head to the side. "Rather I heard you fall. By the time I turned you were nothing but a bunch of ripples and foam. Interrupted a good story telling session with those two nut job soldiers you did."

"Well excuse me. I rather think it was impossible to avoid." Still, she smiled at him. "Obviously I could not remember anything after falling because I had passed out. But in this dream I had when I fainted a moment ago I…"

She stopped, suddenly feeling very exposed, exposed and silly. Jack made no comment on her unwillingness to go on. Instead he started speaking. "I dove in the water after you. Neither of the red coated, supposed pride of the king's navy could swim." Elizabeth noticed Jack's eyes get distant and she unconsciously leaned forward. "There are no more beautiful waters than those of the Caribbean, let me tell you. The water was crystal clear. I could see you quickly sinking and despite my well honed skills in swimming I could not seem to reach you fast enough. It was the bloody dress you wore I imagine."

Elizabeth fixed him with a curious look. "You were beautiful, make no mistake about that darli'n but here we have yet another example of a time where it would have been better to have had you in no dress at all." He seemed to consider his own statement. "'Course then there's the issue of me being highly distracted from the task of saving 'yer life, having my mind be very much occupied with activities of a much different nature."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest but he hastily continued. "By the time I did reach you and started the long swim towards the surface, I knew the dress had to come off… or at least the first layer.

"I got us both back to the dock where those two useless soldiers took you from me, pointlessly telling me you weren't breathing."

"You knew right away it was the corset," Elizabeth stated in disbelief, leaning back and expelling a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Aye."

Elizabeth laughed softly. "I saw all of that in my dream only this time I was awake, awake and unable to breathe. It was terrifying. I could not stand to think that that was to be my fate. Then you came along. You rescued me from that place, put breath back into my lungs." She was startled again by how much her previous life related to that situation.

Jack seemed to be thinking on the same track, seeing something in her eyes that told him she was speaking of something more than just his saving her from drowning in the water."You were always able to breathe Lizzie, you just hadn't been given the room to do it."

Elizabeth nodded, half stunned. "Jack Sparrow, I don't think I have ever properly thanked you for saving my life. You have done it a frightening number of times but I never thanked you for the first time, the time you truly saved my life."

Jack said nothing, just held her gaze, eyes dark and understanding. "You gave me my freedom," she whispered.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. He wanted to kiss her and at the same time look at her, simply savor the moment. The silent exchange between them, the wordless understanding, was unlike anything that he had ever experienced with anyone before.

As if fate was intervening, Cotton came up the stairs to the helm. He looked sheepish, as if afraid to intrude. A thought struck him. "Cotton, would you mind taking over the helm?"

The mute smiled, a knowing gleam in his eye.

Jack grabbed Elizabeth by the hand, wordlessly leading her toward the steps. Her hands were cold as ice and he heard her gasp at the contact. They walked to the captain's cabin and no one stopped them to question. No one even seemed to notice.

He opened the door and pulled her inside. They were enveloped in darkness. Elizabeth laughed nervously. "Jack, what are we…"

"Shhh," Jack cut her off reassuringly. He pulled her farther back into the room where a row of windows sat, moonlight pooling in from outside. He placed her in a beam, the white light illuminating her face in soft light.

She stared up at him, eyes trusting but curious. He smiled at her softly. "You need to relax some love."

"But Jack, so much has happened and…"

"No more of that." He stepped into her, hand cradling the back of her head, his hips touching hers. "Relax."

He felt her stiffen at first, reluctant, but as he expected it only took her a moment to surrender to him. Her body sagged into him, almost to the point it would seem she could collapse but he was there to hold her up. His free hand grabbed her icy cold fingers in his own. He ran his thumb soothingly over her knuckles, the thumb buried in her hair cradling her head running over her neck to the same rhythm. She sighed, the sound shaky but still a sign of more relaxing.

"That's a good girl," he cooed, bringing his lips to her forehead. She surprised him when she tilted her face up, lips eagerly and desperately finding his. He answered just as desperately, glad she wanted this and giving him an invitation, his body pressing into hers, forcing her against the window. For a brief, funny moment Jack worried that they might crash through the fragile glass. He stopped thinking completely when Elizabeth ran a hand down his chest which was still very much bare.

He felt her tremble against him and he knew it was not his doing. He pulled away, not surprised to see tears adorning her face. He didn't need to ask to know why she hurt. He would be a fool not to know because he felt it too. Somewhere along the line, her pain had become his own. He didn't try and stop her, strangely didn't feel he needed to. Most times when she cried he wanted to stop it. Other times, he left her alone to cry it out. Now he knew without a shadow of a doubt that she needed him there and needed to cry.

He hovered uncertainly, mask in one illusionary hand, desperate need to release in the other. Elizabeth was looking at him, tears flowing and face contorted as she cried but her eyes were still waiting, hoping for something, looking for something from him.

He found the words wouldn't come so he brought his lips down on hers roughly, hoping to translate to her how he felt without words. It was a new concept to him, to speak without words, mixed with a concept he was highly skilled and educated in. He had kissed her passionately as he could, hoping to tell her how much she meant to him but now he was translating pain, loss, fear. He was kissing her as he had never kissed anyone else before.

She matched his kiss move for move, her pain matching his own. Though no tears ran down his own face to mix with hers as he deepened the kiss, his body trembled in response to hers with the same emotional strain.

Elizabeth pulled away, gasping. Jack was content just to look at her, each tear glistening in the moonlight, the wet trail they left on the planes of her face easy to see. He was breathing heavy himself, body still shaking.

Elizabeth put a hand over his heart and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. His hand rubbed soothingly over the small of her back.

"Thank you," she muttered into the crook of his neck.

He buried his face into her hair, letting his mind wander into the dark, troubling thoughts that he always tried so hard to ignore. Elizabeth was right, as he so often found her to be. He needed to think about the bad things, be emotional every once and a while. He didn't like it yet it had to be done.

He felt Elizabeth's fingers ghost over his wound and he tensed, gritting his teeth. She felt his reaction and pulled away, hand still in place. "Does it still hurt much?"

Jack shrugged. "The wraps help," he offered.

She sighed. "I just hope it helps enough."

"You did fine." He ran his hand through her hair, an idea coming to him. "I told you my side of when I first saw you now I have a tiny question that has been nagging at me for some time now." Elizabeth parted her lips, wanting to speak but awaiting his question. "You seemed to be awfully interested in piracy and even meself before we even met."

He kissed her neck, lips brushing her skin softly as he whispered. "Tell me, am I everything the stories made me out to be? Is the real Jack as wonderful as the Legendary Jack Sparrow or were you, are you, sorely disappointed."

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment and, while Jack had posed the question in more of a joking fashion, he was glad that she was thinking. He wanted her honest response. He was startled at how much he wanted to hear what she thought. He kept his face buried in her neck simply breathing her in.

"Treasure is beautiful in all of its glimmering glory but is it not what you can use it for that makes man crave it, makes pirates steal it?" He pulled away from her and she leaned back to look at him. "All of the legends, all of the wonderful things you have done, brave and daring, selfish and selfless, all of them are but parts that have made you into the amazing man, the good man you are. The legends are the gold and jewels and you are the priceless result of them all."

Jack felt as if he was the one that couldn't breathe now. Elizabeth brought her hand to his face, tracing the outline of his lips and cheekbones. "The millions of tales spun cannot do you justice, Captain. They will never add up to the amount your worth."

He cupped her face in both of his hands, eyes searching hers. All he saw was honesty and… something stronger than anything else he had ever seen. Something he wasn't sure that he could name but knew it was a mirror of a look that shone in his own when in her presence. "Do you really feel that way Lizzie?"

She kissed him softly, smiling against his lips. "Yes Jack. I think that is the very thing that has made life on an island impossible to bear."

He raised an eyebrow in question. She lowered her eyes to the floor for a moment before looking at him again.

"I… think I love you."