Scene 14

Jamie is standing on the deck of the Artemis eye peering through a telescope into the vast Atlantic but there is nothing to see but miles and miles of ocean. Fergus comes and claps a hand to his shoulder sympathy on his face.

"The captain swears the weather is in our favor with the weak wind our smaller boat will keep better pace with the Porpoise. The warship has more and larger sails but this," and he points at the cloudless blue sky, "will not be aiding them. Also, he says if the crew is diminished even more by sickness they may raise fewer sails having fewer hands." This does nothing to comfort Jamie the idea of Claire surrounded by disease and death despite the many times he has seen her thrive in such situations, makes his skin crawl. Life is too fragile even if he did understand the vaccines and germs she always speaks about which he doesn't. Just thinking about her demonstrating the proper way to wash your hands brings longing and despair to him.

"We just got her back Fergus and I've let her be taken." Jamie's voice is drenched in guilt.

"My lord, you had no choice in the matter! She likely saved our crew being pressed into service. They need her right now; she is very valuable to them and will be treated well. By now I am sure they have figured her for British." The two men chuckle at this recalling her improvising a French accent apparently, Claire is a bad liar in any language. "The young officer will be afraid to do a lady from England harm they will release her once they are at port. Stinking red coats," Fergus finishes by spitting over the side of the boat his hatred for the British runs deep and he strokes his hook.

Jamie sighs. "I will find Claire no matter the cost. I may very well be swimming as soon as I can see shore but I cannot forget Young Ian. Go to Jamaica straight away ask for the Scottish woman who commands a boat of pirates with red hair like the devil. I am sure Geilis has not went unnoticed. I will join ye as soon as I can."

"Oui, if it comes to that I will find Ian and bring him to Jared's plantation, you have my word my lord." Fergus who has been looking to get into Jamie's good graces since the confrontation upon leaving France seems over eager to prove himself.

"Fergus if something has happened to Claire," Jamie's voice breaks. "I don't know what I'll do ye ken. I'll likely not go back to Scotland but I'll see that ye and Marsali are set up well. Ye still have the key to my bank box? There are some papers that could prove valuable if used the right way, information some customs officers wouldn't want people to ken and some information for the radical groups I've done some printing for, even some items that pertain to Madame Jeanne. If ye are ever in a bind go through them I trust with yer imagination ye'll find a way to put them to good use."

The two men are silent both lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly the wind picks up and Jamie frowns. He brings the telescope back up to his eye and peers to the horizon he sees a wall of black clouds. "Tell the captain a storm is coming in fast," Jamie order Fergus.

Claire is standing on the deck of the British warship the Porpoise. Its daytime but the clouds are dark and thick overhead and the boat is thrashing in the water. Claire seems not to notice but is murmuring and cussing under her breathe stomping back and forth along the rail in frustration. A gentleman in his thirties stops a way off and observes her. He has sandy blonde hair, blue eyes and appears extremely well groomed for someone who has been living on a boat for weeks. He cautiously approaches her. "Excuse me my lady can I be of service to you?" The man asks.

"Huh?" Claire stops surprised by the interruption the other men on the boat usually run from her as she's been shouting orders left and right for the week she has been aboard. "No, it's just I lost another two sailors today and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed is all."

"Dear heavens what do you mean lost?" The man asks perplexed.

"I am the boat's surgeon. I presume you are the new governor we are delivering to Jamaica. You may be the only person on the ship I have not met. I was told they were keeping you below away from the sick bay."

"The surgeon I see. I had heard there was disease of course but was not aware we were losing men daily. You must think of me as an awful sloth for hiding below. I must admit my servant was adamant I stay stowed away but I thought today I must have some fresh air. I am sorry for the hardships you have been enduring please allow me to be of assistance. I am Lord John Grey and may I ask to whom I have the pleasure of conversing?"

Claire's jaw drops and she stares at the man racking her brain to measure this man up to all she has heard of him from Jamie. She looks around and sees no one looking in their direction, seizing the opportunity she places a hand on the man's arm, "I hope to be a friend to you Lord John Grey but I beg you may we speak in private?" Without waiting for a response, she begins to steer him below deck. Lord John goes along willingly enough though he appears to be trying to assess the situation not completely comfortable taking a strange lady to his cabin alone, he is hoping his servant is still there. Claire begins to bring him up to speed on everything but who she is as they walk.

"We lost two men today, six yesterday and some twenty combined in the two days prior but the newly infected have dropped considerably. The problem is there is little I can do for those who are sick they either have the strength to win over the disease or they don't and either way they are very uncomfortable."

"My dear lady, please do let me know what I can do to be of service and counted as a friend," he says charmingly leading the lady into his cabin but keeping the door open. Before she has a chance to reply Claire stops frozen midstride. She has discovered resting on the new governor's small table a miniature very similar in size to the one she had made of Bree of a young man that could be Bree's brother. The wheels slowly turn in her head and she realizes it is Bree's brother. She looks at John and he is looking back at her though he does not know her at all he realizes what she is staring at yet cannot puzzle the reason for her reaction.

"May I?" she asks indicating the portrait and John nods in consent. She walks to the table lifting it delicately her knees shake and she must sit on the bed as she takes it in. Finally, she has found her voice, "It is one thing to know such a person exists and it's another entirely to see the proof before your eyes. Is this William?" she asks.

"How did you…" he begins, "Yes this is my son, my step son. Are you two acquainted?" He asks his voice becoming increasingly nervous.

"No but he looks very much like his father. His true father," she says giving John a knowing look.

Lord John quickly goes to close the door, "I beg your pardon mistress, are you referring to his father the Eighth Earl of Ellesmere?" he asks and she nods her head no. "I see, well then I think it's time you tell me your name," he demands.

"Claire Fraser, Mrs. James Fraser," she replies finally drawing her eyes away from the image of her husband's bastard child and taking good measure of his friend, his friend that has romantic inclinations towards her husband. If Claire was struck numb from seeing the image of William it was nothing in comparison to the shell-shocked expression on Lord John Greys face. He begins pacing in the tiny cabin, wiping sweat from his hands and looking over at Claire every minute or so until he manages to calm himself.

"Claire? You are Jamie's wife Claire? Please beg my pardon but how are you not dead?" he manages to ask.

"Hmmm well I am glad to see you recognize the name. I wasn't sure how much Jamie might have spoken of me in prison, he did tell me you two were on good terms," she sits again staring at the picture trying to decide what information to trust the man with. "Jamie and I were separated before the Battle on Culloden Moor. He sent me away unsure if I would arrive safely and knowing we'd likely never see each other again. I did manage to escape the battle but had no way of contacting Jamie and no reason to for I was sure he'd died that day; he had meant to." She tells him trying to defend her actions in her telling. John nods that he understands. "When I discovered he was alive I returned to him, we were traveling to the Indies together on a French merchant ship when the young lieutenant of this ship hailed us for medical assistance. I came aboard just to give advice and diagnosis while I was below deck the ship set sail again. I confronted the officer immediately but he would not be persuaded to turn back or slow so Jamie may retrieve me but insists I stay in his service until Jamaica. Apparently upon setting sail Jamie and him exchanged some heated words and now I am afraid they will never return me to him but dump me in the ocean when I am no longer of service. The lieutenant looked scared to death when I found him and I could smell gun powder."

At this Lord John Grey seems amused, "Yes I can imagine your husband's reaction to having his wife pressed into service before his eyes. I am surprised he didn't board with you?"

Claire's face hardens at this slight towards Jamie's character, "I would not let him. I have been exposed to this disease before and should be safe from infection but not Jamie. I had to come help it's my nature to lend my knowledge in healing when possible. I don't know what I would have done if I knew I was going to be kidnapped."

"Rest assured Mrs. Fraser, I must insist it is my duty to see you safely to your husband. Do you know where they are heading?" John Grey asks.

"I am sure now that Jamie will be tracking the Porpoise. He will come for me before going anywhere and I am afraid of what might happen when he does," she says exhaling glad of someone to share her concerns with especially someone who also holds Jamie dear.

"Well I will speak with the crew right away. I assure you no harm will come to you or Jamie if I can be of influence. I will get the word out as soon as possible that you are in my care and your husband is to be sent to the governor's house," he states with confidence. "In the meantime my dear I would very much like to have the chance to know you. Your husband spoke of you little for I believe your memory was something he preferred kept to himself as if a precious treasure. He did mention on more than one occasion your proficiencies in the sciences and the art of healing but I must say he never mentioned your beauty. Why if I did not know you two were married some twenty years ago Id make you for half your age. You truly are a remarkably fine lady." Claire noted a bit of jealous in these remarks.

"Why thank you Sir John. Though as I am to understand my husband may think a woman's beauty is not something that would interest you."

He seems taken back, "Well I am not an artist but can appreciate art." He eyes her contemplating, "If you don't mind my asking your husband said I was a friend and you seem to know about my son."

"What all has Jamie told me?" She asks guessing his line of questioning. "Not much, that you ran Arsmudir prison, that you two became acquainted and by some influence on your part he was in the position to father a child and that you are raising him. I am sure there is much more to that story but I think Jamie realized I didn't want to know anymore at the time. I do plan on spending the rest of my life with him so I am sure we will get to the details at some point."

Lord John was very interested in hearing about their intimate conversations. Perhaps a part of him was realizing he could learn so much more about the man he admires, desires and longs for through this woman. He could tell she had her guard up and knew enough about the situation she would be able to piece together if he were trying to see a life with Jamie through her eyes. Neither of them had a chance to speak more though when the ship began to lean hard to starboard side throwing the two of them against the wall closer to each other than either would like. There was a loud cracking sound like the sound of lighting hitting a tree and wrenching it apart.

"What was that?" Claire ask her ears still ringing.

"I am an Army man, not nautical by nature but if I were to guess I'd wager we just loss our main mast," He answers delicately removing himself from the wall and her body careful not to touch her more than necessary.

"Oh," is her only reply as she once again hears the shouting of crew and stamping of feet above her head.