NIGHT FEVER

Disclaimer. As Chapter 1.

NIGHT FEVER

Chapter Fourteen

Elizabeth was feeling restless. The previous evening she was certain that she had heard Jack telling her that he was on his way home, and, she wondered if, finally, the stress of the last few months had claimed her sanity.

She had already cleaned the cottage and done her laundry and was now sitting at the table scanning the room for something to do to keep her occupied. A fierce kick in her swollen stomach reminded her that it was now late in the afternoon and she hadn't eaten since her breakfast of porridge. She had been to busy but, obviously, her baby was hungry. As she rose from her chair, she spotted a long cobweb in the corner of the bedroom behind her bed that she had missed earlier. She decided to put some stew on to heat and deal with the cobweb while she waited for it.

Elizabeth put the stew pan to heat and received another kick for her trouble. "Alright, sweetheart." She crooned at her active bump. "We'll eat in a few more minutes." She knew from experience that as soon as she had eaten, the kicking and wriggling would stop for a while.

She picked up her duster and walked to the bedroom, manoeuvred the chair into the corner and climbed onto it. 'Not the easiest move in the world' she thought as she struggled to lift her knee high enough due to her expanding stomach. Reaching up she leaned forward to remove the offending cobweb. As she stretched up to reach it, the room started to spin crazily and the frighteningly familiar dizziness struck her, throwing her off balance. Frantically, she tried to clutch at something to save herself from falling, but succeeded only in twisting around so that as she fell, she hit her head and went down face first, landing on the corner of the wooden framed bed on her stomach.

Unconscious now, she slipped from the bed to the floor and lay there, still and silent, as what was left of the day moved past and darkness fell.

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It was dark as The Black Pearl slipped into Tortuga harbour. Jack had never been so pleased to see his home port. The trip had been a disaster and he couldn't hide his relief that they were finally back.

"Tis a lovely sight, Jack!" said Mr Gibbs.

"I'll not disagree wit' that!" replied Jack. "There wer' moments I thought we'd nev'r see it again. Although why t' crack in t' rudder wasn't seen durin' the repairs I can't understand. Then t' have t' repair it three bloody times was a joke! An' whoev'r heard of a storm that fierce at this time o' year?"

"Well, Jack. Tis t' be expected that we would run across some sort o' trouble after t' fire. I can't wait t' get t' one o' the Taverns. I've posted a skel'ton crew on watch an' told t' rest they have 48 hour shore leave. Tis a drink I need! Ye comin' Jack?"

Jack pondered for a moment. "Aye. Why not? We certainly deserve one…or two an' Lizzie isn't expecting' me. Imagin' the surprise she'll get when I climb int' bed beside 'er."

Both men laughed and, slapping each other on the back in good humour, made for the boats.

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Elizabeth stirred and moaned. Fading in and out of consciousness she was aware of three things. It was dark, her head hurt and she had a terrible cramping in her stomach. She knew that she should know why these facts were important, but her thoughts refused to form anything vaguely familiar and she didn't know where she was or why she was here. Lifting a hand to the side of her head, she felt the stickiness of blood and a lump the size of a large egg.

Another pain clamped across her abdomen, taking her breath and making her sick. She struggled to sit up and as she finally managed it, her head swam and a flood of dampness flowed from her.

This act suddenly swept all confusion from her mind and clarity briefly returned.

"Oh God! Please…no! Not the baby! Please! No!" she cried, sobbing from shock and pain as she was hit by another fierce pain, harder and more painful than the last. Sweat broke out on her brow and she screamed. "Jack! Help me! Dear God! Somebody please help me!"

She felt as if she was floating. Connected to her body only by the incredible, punishing pain that was crushing her, crushing her baby and trying to kill them both.

"Jack!" she cried. "Jack! I'm sorry! Where are you? Help me, Jack!"

She knew that she was losing consciousness again. She felt dreadfully sick, her head was spinning and she knew that the baby was dying. Suddenly, as if her body was betraying her, a wave of excruciating pain, that stopped any conscious thought, carried her away on a mind-numbing tide of molten lava. It consumed her. The last thing she was aware of was her body pushing out a wet, limp form, before, thankfully, she slipped back into the welcome blackness.

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Jack was in fine spirits as he approached the cottage. He couldn't wait to surprise Lizzie. He knew she would have worried about him and he expected her to be ecstatic at his safe return. He grinned. Over five months was a long time to be away. He was looking forward to their reunion.

He noticed that there was no light in the cottage and his grin widened. 'Already in bed!' he thought. He walked stealthily up the path and silently opened the door. He entered the room and wrinkled his nose at the smell of burnt food in the air. 'Oh Lizzie. I've missed ye so much!'

Knowing the cottage well, he walked through the darkness to the bed and gently sat on the side. Reaching out, he went to touch Lizzie and was perplexed when his hand found the bed empty. 'Where the hell is she at this time o' night?' he thought and reached for the candle that was always kept on the cabinet.

He began to acknowledge an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach as he hurried to light the candle.

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NOW PLEASE GO REVIEW!!!

I actually managed to type and get this posted for you – I will try my hardest to get the next chapter posted too but then I have to do some work!