5

Ok, I've left you all hanging...Here is the chapter we have all been waiting for...And I hope its worth the wait I've put all of you through...Please R&R!

"Half Alive"

Jack awoke, the stars still glowing above him and a slight breeze blowing through the air. He sat up, his eyes heavy from fretful sleep. He looked about him, the moon shining bright enough for him to see the figures lying on either side of him.

Mr. Gibbs snored loudly as he turned over onto his other side, a groan slipping out of his mouth as he found a comfortable position. Jack grinned, thinking of how many adventures and misadventures he had had with Mr. Gibbs over the years. "He's always been there for me."

Then Jack turned his head, the breeze sending over the sweet, perfume-like scent of Elizabeth; she lay beside him, her long, untidy hair covering her face.

Jack bent down and brushed the strands of hair from Elizabeth's face gently with his hand; his rough fingers lightly touching her soft face. He smiled, moving his hand away to gaze at her peaceful expression. "Oh how I love this woman…and I know she could never love me."

He stood, his bare feet sinking in the sand as he walked away. He guessed it was about four in the morning and he knew that soon the sun would be rising and he'd have to deal with another day of misfortune. Although he had promised himself many days ago that he would never tell Elizabeth how he felt, lately the idea had been so tempting that he found himself on the verge of telling her any chance he could. He knew without a doubt that his foolish indecision would get the best of him at some point. His uncertain thoughts were dangerously at a limit; he was at risk of exploding.

He walked along the beach, the surf covering his feet with a cool foamy sensation. He loved the island in the early morning before the sunrise; the water was always calm, the wind was just a slight breeze and he had the whole island to himself.

He found his special spot; a boulder situated on the shore of a secluded lagoon. He loved the quiet, still waters of the lagoon; no crashing waves. He seated himself on the boulder and looked out over the turquoise water that reflected the moonlight. He sighed, taking in the smell of seawater.

Ever since losing the Pearl, he could only look out over the sea from the shore and long to have what he used to call home back. Every fiber of his being told him that he was meant to captain a ship. Ever since he was young, the sea was his life. But lately, he had been doubting his very purpose.

"Maybe losing the Pearl was a sign that I'm meant for something different." he'd say to himself, and then, almost as if planned, Elizabeth's face would appear.

Jack closed his eyes, breathing in deeply; the scent of the sea filling up his lungs. Then, as he breathed in again, a light perfume-like aroma tickled his nose.

"Jack?" said a soft voice.

Jack grinned, opening his eyes to see Elizabeth standing beside him, her long hair lifting in the breeze. "She's so beautiful."

"Jack, what are you doing?"

Jack chuckled. "I couldn't sleep so I came here. I love how…peaceful this lagoon is in the early morning." He looked up and saw Elizabeth's face; worried and weary. "What's wrong, love?"

She bit her lip, and in the moonlight he could tell that her cheeks had grown red. "I…woke up and you weren't there…"

"What!? Was she…worried about me?" he thought to himself. "Well, love…I'm sorry to have worried you."

She smiled slightly, her chin trembling.

"Are you ok, Lizzy?" Jack asked, his heart beginning to pound.

She looked up at him and her eyes met his. He gazed into her brown eyes; the brown he had grown to love and fear at the same time.

"Jack, I had a dream tonight about my birthday."

"Oh?"

"Yes…" she looked away toward the water, her red cheeks darkening. "And I remembered how you said that there was something you had to tell me. What was it?"

Jack held his breath, his heart skipping a beat. He had been waiting for her to remember that; dreading it really. And now she remembered and he had to think quickly.

"It was nothing." he said, much too quickly to make it believable.

Elizabeth sat next to him, her hair brushing against his arm. He grinned at the touch…

"Please, Jack…tell me…"

He looked down at her, his eyes lingering on her face and then he closed them, thinking about what he had been longing to say for the past few days. He knew that without her, he'd never survive like he had before he met her, which terrified him. He didn't like feeling so vulnerable, as if everything he had lived for wasn't enough and his heart would stop beating if she left him. He had the words all practiced but now he seemed to forget them all…every last one of them…

"Jack?"

He grinned, looking down at her. "Sorry, love."

"Are you going to tell me?"

He looked away from her and thought some more; trying to remember the words he had worked so hard to produce. He sighed. "Oh, love, you have no idea how hard this is."

"Help me understand." she smiled, placing her hand on his arm.

He looked down at her hand and he felt the sudden urge to take it in his own; to hold her hand in his and spill every word out that he could possibly remember. "Would that be ok?" he asked himself. He didn't care if it was ok. He moved her hand and held it tightly in his, feeling how preciously soft her skin was.

"I can't…survive without you." he said simply, his voice trembling.

"What?" she asked, looking up into his eyes.

He grinned awkwardly and thought a bit more.

"How do I tell her how much I depend on her?" he wondered, taking a deep breath.

"I'm almost alive but something's missing, something I can't…can't live…without." he stuttered.

Elizabeth turned her head and looked out over the water, her expression impossible to read.

"I need you to save me." he whispered.

She continued to keep her eyes on the water and Jack began to grow nervous. He had to finish…

"I can't really tell you how you've surprised me. You caught me off guard and now I can't help but feel this way…"

He squeezed her hand and she grinned slightly but kept her eyes away from his. He leaned closer to her, his voice a soft whisper.

"I know you don't feel the same way…but someday, you will see that no matter how foolish I've been, I've been the only way I know to be. I can hardly breathe without you…and when I'm near you, your eyes lure me in. I get lost…I…I don't care if I die for this but I need to survive tonight…I…need you to try and save me…"

He took a deep breath and then leaned even closer to her, his lips to her ear and whispered;

"I…I love you…"