As always I only wish I owned Jack and POC, but sadly the mouse just isn't willing to share. The is just for fun.

Sorry about the cliffhanger last chapter. Hope you like this one as well. I know Jack is a bit OOC but he is conflicted. More of the old Jack in future chapters when they start to flirt and fight again.

Swearing Jack turned back towards Cutler. Pulling his own pistol from his belt and aiming it at Cutler. "Goodbye Cutler" Jack snarled.

Cutler stopped screaming and looked straight at Jack and smiled. "Goodbye"

Jack pulled the trigger and shot Cutler between the eyes.

Jack was at Wolfe's side an instant later; she looked into his eyes for a brief moment, said his name and collapsed. He caught her lifted her into his arms and headed for the Pearl.

"Mr. Gibbs, get the Pearl underway, and take her straight in to the wharf." Jack commanded.

"Aye Captain." Gibbs responded and started to bark orders for the crew. "Cut those boarding lines… Bring out the sweeps… Make fast the main sail…"

There were a few seconds of stunned silence as the crew realized that Wolfe had been shot. Then every man rushed to his posts.

"Anamaria, you're with me." Jack told her as he passed her on the way to his cabin. "And get Cotton to come."

Cotton was the closest thing the Pearl had to a ships doctor.

Jack walked into his cabin and sat on the bed holding Wolfe in his arms. The two made a good pair as Jack was by now almost as white as Wolfe. He sat rocking her back and forth; barely aware of what was going on around him.

"Jack you have to let her go" Anamaria voice cut though the fog he was in.

"I can't let her go, that shot was not meant for her, it was meant for me." Was all Jack could think, a panicked look washing across his face. "NO" he held all the tighter to him. "Just get us in to Nassau so a doctor can see her"

"Jack, please"

"NO. She's not gone; I will not let her go"

"I know she's not Jack, but you have to let the doctor see her. Put her on the bed." Anamaria told him gently realizing he must have thought she had been telling him Wolfe was dead.

"Doctor?" Jack looked around saw a tall grey hair man standing in the doorway.

"Yes, Captain McDougall sent his ships surgeon over from the Enchantress. You have to put her down on the bed so he can look at her arm." Anamarie gently urged him.

"Captain if you will let me, I'll see to your brave lady" The Enchantresses Surgeon gently told him as he came into to room.

Reluctantly Jack stood and carefully laid Wolfe down on his bed, stepping back so the doctor could see to her. Stonewall who had been watching from the doorway came into the room and taking Jack by the arm he led him over to his desk and handed him a bottle of rum "Captain, me thinks that you be needing a drop or two of rum right about now."

Jack fell into his chair and took a long drink from the bottle. He wasn't sure what he should do, Jack had never been in this position before. Someone he cared about had taken a shot meant for him. This was new to Jack, no one had ever cared enough to do something like that, no one had ever shed their own blood for him, put their own live in danger for him. Sure Elizabeth and Will had rescued him from hanging in Port Royal years ago and later gone to the Locker to get him, but then they had had their own reasons for doing that and had even later tried to kill him. Wolfe on the other hand had stepped in front of a shot meant for him for no other reason other than to save his life. It was her blood which covered his shirt and his hands. He wasn't sure he liked how he was feeling. Caring about someone hurt like hell. Made you do things you wouldn't do otherwise. All the time he had been talking to Cutler he had been aware Wolfe was standing behind him, he had been more concerned about her than himself, and it had made him venerable, and Jack did not like being venerable. He had been afraid Cutler would use Wolfe to get at him, and in the end that is just what happened. Jack's past had been what had gotten Wolfe hurt. That's why he had never got involved with a woman, being a pirate's woman was not an easy life. Too many enemies, too much time away at sea. He had seen what it had done to Bess and his mother and sworn he would never do that to any woman. "How in hell did I get here? I don't need this, I swore I never would do this" he thought "Hell, I haven't even kissed her. Why in hell does she matter so much to me?"

Jack jumped up out of his chair, fully intending to storm out and leave, go into Nassau and find a bar, a woman, something. After all he was Captain Jack Sparrow. Jack Sparrow depended on no one, cared about no one, needed no one. Jack Sparrow stuck to the Pirate Code. Those who fall behind are left behind. But what if it was Wolfe who fell behind? Would be able to leave her? "Damn it Women" Jack thought "I did not ask for you to come into my life. I don't want to care about anyone. I don't like feeling this. I don't want this." He was leaving. Then he looked over at his bed and watched the doctor working on Wolfe's arm, slowly he sank back into his chair and took another long swing from the bottle. He knew he wasn't going anywhere.

Just then the doctor did something and Wolfe cried out. Jack jumped up and stood over the doctor. "Damn it, what the hell are you doing to her." He bellowed.

"She's going to be fine Captain; I was just fixing the bandage. Her arm is going to hurt like hell for a while" The doctor told Jack, trying to calm him.

"She is going to be fine," he repeated "shot went right through her arm. Lost some blood but as long as it don't get infected she'll be good as new in a couple of week, but she won't be using it for a while. Your brave lady will be just fine."

"Then why in hell isn't she awake?" Jack asked standing toe to toe to the doctor. "Don't lie to me. Why is she so pale?"

"Captain Sparrow you and your lady just fought a long battle for your ship, that plus the blood loss and the shock from the wound will have her sleeping till at least tomorrow." The doctors explained. "She be exhausted. We've got the bleeding stopped and it missed the bone. All she needs now is rest. I'll stop by in the morning to see how she be doing. She really is going to be fine Captain"

Jack heaved a sigh of relief "Then we'll be at Miss Bess's"

"Good, I'll come by there in the morning."

The Pearl had come along side the dock by this time and the crew were busy making her fast. "Gibbs" Jack called "Have someone get a wagon or carriage to take us to Bess's."

"I already did, sent Pintel as soon as we were along side the dock. He should be here straight away." Gibb told him from the doorway. "And I sent Ragetti to tell Miss Bess what had happened and that we be on our way."

A noise could be heard outside, Gibbs turned to see what it was. Turning back he informed the Jack "Pintel be here with a carriage."

Without saying another word Jack picked up Wolfe and carried her off the Pearl.

Bess was flying out the door before the carriage had stopped in front of her house, a concerned look on her face. She climbs up and inspected Wolfe and the bandaged arm.

"That be the last time I buy new clothes for either of you. Look at the state ye be in" She scolded. Satisfied that it was not life threading she told Jack "Take her up to her room, Jessie and Lynn are waiting and will make her comfortable."

Stepping down out of the Carriage holding Wolfe close Jack walked passed her into the house, still pale as a ghost and wearing a very un-Jack like look of concern and fear on his face.

"Stonewall, what did the doctor say?" Bess asked turning to the big man who had ridden on the back of the carriage.

"She be fine. Shot went right though the arm, she lost a fare amount of blood, but she'll be fine. As long as it don't get infected everything will be fine. He be coming in the morning to check on her. Said she be in a whole lot of pain for awhile and not be using the arm for a few weeks. He said she could have a drop or two of rum for the pain." Stonewall told her. "Course that means it be hell for the rest of us, till she be back to herself. Ye know what Wolfe is like when she be sick or injured. Lord if that child isn't going to shorten my life with the trouble she gets into. Scared me right good this time. Her acting all like she be fine, all the while bleeding from the shot."

"I know what you mean, not sure how I got to be this old with them two in my life" Bess agreed. "I wonder if Jack knows just what he is in for. She just hates having anyone to do for her on a good day, when she be sick it's all the worse. And if she can't use that arm for a while she'll make us all wish we was in the Locker"

"An't that the truth. That child be worse than an angry tiger shark when she's sick."

Stonewall smiled for the first time since he realized Wolfe was hurt. "Perhaps we should just leave the Captain to deal with her, and stay out of the way."

"Never knew you to be a cruel man Stonewall." Bess laughed "But my boy looked almost worse that Samantha, might want to be a little kind him for a day or two. He an't used to this."

"That be true, he took it hard. Heard her cry out when I took her arm, and when he realize that she'd been shot he just turned back and shot the bilge rat right between the eyes, then picked her up carried her to his cabin. Other than roar at the doctor he hasn't said all that much since." He explained "Don't think the Captain is to used to caring about someone, it has knocked the wind right out of him."

"True and it's about time he learned. But I wish it hadn't taken my girl getting shot to do it." Bess said as she and Stonewall made their way into the house.

Lynn meet them just inside the door "Miss Bess, he won't leave so we can make Miss Samantha comfortable. He threaten to keelhaul both of us if we didn't leave them be" Lynn cried. "He be just sitting there holding her. I just don't know what to do?"

Sighing Bess headed for the stairs.

She found Jack was sitting on the edge of Wolfe's bed cradling her to him. It broke Bess's heart to see the confused fearful look on his face.

"Jack, love, you need to put Wolfe down and let the girls make her comfortable." Bess whispered as she stroked his head. "She's going to be fine, just needs some rest."

"Can't… Don't know what…. Cutler shot at me Bess….. meant for me …. That shot was meant for me, Bess. Not her…. My past…. It be my past with Beckett that got her shot…my sins. ….. I don't understand…. Shot was meant for me." Jack mumbled as he rocked Wolfe back and forth in his arms.

"I know love, this all be new to you, isn't it? Caring for someone isn't easy is it, love?" Putting a comforting hand on his shoulder "But you need to let me and the girls make her comfortable. Go clean yourself up and grab yourself a glass of rum. Then you can come back sit with her for a spell."

"But what if something…" Jack couldn't finish. So many things were going through his head. When he looked at Wolfe all he saw was the shot heading straight for him. Then blood, Wolfe's blood. All he knew was he should be the one lying there not Wolfe.

It was late afternoon when Jack settled himself back into the chair beside Wolfe's bed; the drapes had been drawn to keep out the late day sun, so the room was dark and cool. Wolfe had been bathed and her hair brushed, and she was wearing once again the blue silk gown she had had on the night before, with the white of the bandage on her arm standing out. Which only served to remind Jack just how fast his life was changing, in 48 hours he had rowed all over Nassau harbor chasing Wolfe, panicked when he thought she's left the Pearl, got in trouble with Bess for crawling into to bed with Wolfe, fought a sea battle, been shot at by an old enemy and seen a woman who was becoming important to him take the shot that had been meant for him. At this rate he would be back in the Locker before he even stole a kiss from her.

Bess had somehow managed to get him to not only change into clean clothes but take another bath. "Lord above what is it with women in his life and bathes and clean clothes. Men never worried about such things" He thought. "And what the hell happened to Captain Jack Sparrow. I'm acting more like the whelp than me self."

Sitting watching Wolfe sleep he remembered asking Will when they first met "One question about your business, boy, or there's no use going: This girl... how far are you willing to go to save her?" to which Will had replied "I'd die for her." At the time Jack had thought Will a love sick fool, but sitting in the dark beside Wolfe's bed he was beginning to understand why the whelp had leap into one foolhardy adventure after another for his Elizabeth.

"No I'll bloody not turn into the Whelp." Jack thought as he jumped up out of the chair and started for the door. "I should be on the Pearl heading for the horizon. I'll leave her here for Bess to play nurse maid to. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow and I ……." Then just at the door he looked back at the bed. "Damn it" Turning he went back to the chair and sat down. Whether he liked it or not Wolfe was one the pirate the code just would never apply to. If she fell behind, Jack knew he would not be able to leave her.

Bess found him sleeping in the chair a few hours later. Going to the bed she checked the bandage on Samantha's arm was happy to not see any sign of bleeding. Leaning down she brushed a light kiss on her forehead, "no sign of a fever, another good sign." She thought.

Turning to leave she saw Jack's eyes on her.

"How is she?" he asked in a low voice.

"Fine love, she is just sleeping. No sign of a fever and the wound seems to have stopped bleeding. Thou she's bound to wake in a foul mood. Our Samantha is not a good patient. So be warned." Bess whispered "How are you doing?"

"Not sure? Not used to this. Having someone take a shot meant for me?"

"I know love."

"What do you do when you want something, something that you don't want?" Jack sighed. "When you find yourself doing, thinking things, you never did or thought."

Smiling Bess put a hand on Jack's shoulder "Oh love, it's never easy to care about someone. And apart from your mother and I you've not allow yourself to care for a very long time"

"But that's just it Bess, I swore I never would. It's no life for a woman to be tied to a Pirate. Look what it did to you and Mother."

"We made that choice Jack. And I think your Mother would agree with me when I say the good more than made up for the bad." She told him. "You only remember the bad. But there were good times too. Your Mother loved your Father something fierce, just as I loved Barrett. Neither of us would have traded the time we had with them."

"But you both spent your life waiting for them to come home. You never knew if the last time they sailed off would be the last you saw of them. I'll not do that to a woman." He snarled under his breath, his eyes never leaving Wolfe. "I'll not do that to her"

"But Jack Samantha isn't any woman, she is a pirate herself. She has been sailing on pirate ships almost as long as you have. It is in her blood as much as it is in your blood."

"And just look what it got her. She almost died." Jack growled. "I told her to stay on the damn Pearl. Told her to look after me ship. Next thing I know her sword is swinging by my head clashing with some fool attacker."

"Then it was a good thing she was there isn't" Bess said smiling down at him.

"It's not funny Bess. Boarding an enemy ship is dangerous; it is no place for a woman. She had no business there…… That shot was not meant for her."

"I know"

"She is lying in that bed because of my past Bess. My past. Cutler was after me. His shot was meant for me."

"But he's gone now; he can't hurt either of you anymore."

"Cutler wasn't my only enemy Bess. There are others out there that hate me just as much, and I'll not give them another target.'

"So what, you'll never let anyone into your life"

"Worked well so far. The only rules that really matter are: What a man can do and what a man can't do. Bess, you taught me that." Jack muttered "And I can get on the Pearl and sail as far away from Wolfe as possible. What I can't do is cause her get hurt again."

"You know she'll just get on some other ship. Can you really sail off and leave her behind Jack? Not knowing if she be in trouble or not?" Bess asked "Samantha has her own enemies Jack, those who want to hurt her and those she cares about just as much as yours. Sailing off with out her is no guarantee she will be safe."

"But it won't be because of me. I'll not be the cause."

"Can you really stop what you're feeling and just sail off without her?"

"Damn I don't know what I'm feeling" Jack tells Bess as he absent mindedly opens his compass. Looking down he sees the needle swing around to point at Wolfe. Standing he throws it across the room. "Hell I haven't even kissed her. How do I know what the damn thing is telling me? Maybe it's not Wolfe I want but something she has?"

"Well maybe that's something you should find out before you sail off into the sunset." Bess scolded him "Maybe it's time to stop running away Jack. You've only ever run from a fight. Maybe it is time to stop and fight for someone"

"I do not run away"

"Yes you do"

"I do not"

"Do to"

"Do not, slander and calumny! I have only ever embraced that oldest and noblest of pirate traditions."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself, laddie. But it don't keep you warm when a cold nor'easter blows through. It gets mighty lonely on them dark cold nights."

Despite what he told Bess, deep down inside Jack knew he wasn't going to sail off without Wolfe. At least not until she told him to.