Lil bit of a mushy chapter ahead, but y'know. Never mind. Enjoy!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter 11 – Like You

Jack could not believe he was hearing this. Lizzie couldn't be dying...she couldn't...there was no other way to put it...she just couldn't be.

"N-n-no, yer not, Lizzie," he said, stammering on his unsure words, and he didn't know who he was trying to convince more; her or him. "Ye can't be, 'cause that'd mean that ye'd be leavin' the crew, the Pearl..." he put emphasis on the last word, "and me."

"I'm sorry, Jack," Elizabeth said, tears still staining her once lively face.

Jack looked at her in shock. "Don't be sorry, Lizzie! It's not yer fault! It never will be either!"

Elizabeth was surprised at the passion with which he said that. What she'd meant was that she was sorry that she had to tell him...she didn't want him upset...wait. Was he even upset? Or was this merely another Captain Jack Sparrow façade to try and win over her affections?

Those thoughts vanished from her mind as she locked her eyes with his and she saw...overwhelming sadness; the kind of sadness she'd not come to expect from someone like Jack.

But who was someone like Jack? Deceitful? Lustful? And it pained her to think this one...using?

No, someone like Jack was...courageous, brave, charming and caring. Caring? Did she really think he cared...about her? She was being stupid, wasn't she? Somehow she couldn't quite convince herself. The look in his eyes told her that she was everything he cared about most in the world right now.

He finally took her cold hand in his again.

"Jack..." she whispered. He didn't take his eyes off their touching hands. "I'm scared."

He looked up at her, sympathy filling every one of his features. He caressed her cheek softly. "Don't be scared, love, everyone on board will take care of ye."

Her voice was pleading with him as she spoke softly, "I don't want them to take care of me, though, Jack, and I don't want to die."

"Nobody wants to die, love," Jack said calmly. He knew all about that, didn't he?

"Will you come and sit beside me?" Elizabeth whispered, her voice cracking. Her eyes were begging him not to refuse, and so he didn't.

He moved around to the other side of the bed, where there was a full side empty and cold. He sat down on it, and she tried to lift herself up to sit beside him. Seeing her struggle, Jack kindly offered her his hand with a warm smile, and she took it gratefully as he pulled her up.

She breathed a deep sigh, closed her eyes and rested her head against his shoulder.

He went to wrap his arm around her, and he did...briefly. But he suddenly recoiled at the thought of what he was doing, and also how cold she was.

"It's OK, Jack, you can hold me if you want to," Elizabeth smiled, a trace of amusement in her voice.

Jack was surprised by this. "No, it's not OK...yer ill...it would be –"

"It would be fine," Elizabeth assured him.

Jack considered a moment, then took his coat off, and draped it around Elizabeth. She looked at him in confusion.

"Yer too cold," Jack explained. She smiled at him thankfully, and put her arms through the sleeves of the coat, pulling it tight around her, burying her head into the collar.

"What are ye doin'?" Jack asked, looking down at her questioningly.

Elizabeth laid her head back on the top of his arm and felt his arm come around her back again.

"It smells like you," Elizabeth said dreamily. "It's nice. Comforts me."

Jack chuckled a little bit. "So, yer sayin' my smell comforts ye?"

"No, I'm not saying that at all..." Elizabeth corrected him. "I'm saying that you comfort me."

Elizabeth noticed that Jack's other hand was on his knee closest to her. She took a deep breath and apprehensively reached out for it, taking it in hers. He didn't look at her with question in his eyes this time; he just turned his hand over so he was clutching her hand too.

She sat for a few minutes, marvelling in the sight of their hands holding. Even though he'd held her hand a few times before while she was in here, this time it really sunk in for her that Jack Sparrow was holding her hand. It was a giddying feeling it gave her.

"Jack," she said slowly, "can you promise a couple of things?"

"Of course," he mumbled, also staring at their hands.

"First thing," Elizabeth smiled, "I don't want anyone to know that I'm dying. Please, Jack, I'm begging you not to tell anyone."

"I won't, love," Jack whispered, "not unless ye change yer mind."

"And second thing; stay with me tonight," Elizabeth whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jack squeezed her hand gently, causing her to let out a small gasp (he smiled), as he told her softly, "I won't leave, I promise."

She looked up at him with teary eyes and mouthed 'Thank you' to him. He gave her a comforting little squeeze and she nestled her head into the top of his arm again. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

He studied her sleeping face for a moment, before gently lowering them both back to lie down. He stayed on top of the covers, just in case anybody barged in, which he'd be very annoyed at too.

Her grip on his arm tightened even though she was unconscious, and he gently kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Lizzie," he whispered, his own sudden drowsiness, caused no doubt by overwhelming worry, finally overcoming him. "Sleep tight."

And that's what they did.

--

Jack woke up first the next morning, and was surprised to find Elizabeth's head nestled into the side of his chest, and her arm, which he noticed with a smile, still wore his coat, draped over his waist. She seemed to be very peaceful and content.

He seemed to be quite a way up the bed, and he snuggled further down. She moaned in apparent annoyance at being stirred, but did not wake up.

All in all, this was a pretty beautiful moment...but not quite as beautiful as it should have been. And then Jack remembered that Lizzie was dying...

...which, had she not, this would have been the wonderful moment he had expected it would be, and also surprisingly awkward, because then Elizabeth would ask him what the hell he was doing lying on her bed.

Jack couldn't help but smile at the thought of that situation.

Awww, poor Jack, always lookin' on the bright side :(

Review please!

ThePirate'sBride out.