Disclaimer: I own nothing of Disney's!
Author's Note: A big hearty thank you to Anyanka of the Ocean, Sarah, Jack Fan, firehottie, LuckySparrow, Pirate Gyrl, CaptainDuckula, scoobygang-alumni, Cicci Green, Deathly Nightshade, The DuTchess of Doom, Katie, Sentinel Sparrow, LadyQuinn, and last but not least, Leanan Sidhe. I love seeing familiar faces…you all are the best. Hope you enjoy this dramatic installment.
The sun was slowly peering over the horizon when Terrence grabbed the helm of The Dancing Horizon in a vice-like grip. Her breathing was irregular, but she didn't want to admit that to herself just yet. Might as well go stubbornly along like nothing bad was happening…for as long as she could get away with it, at least.
Jack should have gotten up about the same time she had, but he was passed out. Literally. Terrence couldn't shake him awake. After their wild escapades last night (ones she could only fuzzily remember) he was physically worn to the seams.
She decided to let him sleep and face his cranky complaints later.
Her tangled black hair began to escape the restraints of the navy bandanna as the wind picked up. Her skin felt cold…chilled. Something was coming. Or she was going towards something. Either way, there was an unspeakable feeling crushing down on her.
"I'm worried about you, Cap'n."
Glancing up, Terrence found Brookes gazing awkwardly down on her.
"For the last time…" Terrence replied in annoyance, "There's absolutely no…noth…n…"
She fainted.
Terrence groggily shook herself awake as she was pulled from dark unconsciousness. A cool cloth was pressed to her forehead, and she was lying on her bed. She was alone.
How long had she been out? Not long, she reckoned, as she peered out the open window and glanced at the noon-day sun. The chills still had hold of her, and she groaned, pressing herself back against the soft, soothing covers.
The door creaked open, and Terrence couldn't bring herself to open her eyes. Fainting was so embarrassing. It made her feel small and weak…the epitome of the common, sensitive female.
"Jack?" she whispered.
"No, not Jack," Brookes murmured hesitantly, "He's still asleep as far as I know."
"At noon?"
Brookes smiled, sitting down next to her on the bed, "I don't know what ye did to him last night, Cap'n…"
Groaning, she rolled over, stretching. "I can hardly remember, me boy. 'Tis a shame that I can't."
"Were you drinkin'?"
"No." Terrence pursed her lips, "At least, I don't think so."
This brought on an air of silence that seemed to extend infinitely. Terrence couldn't help but notice the strange way Brookes kept looking at her.
"What's going through your head?" she asked quietly, sitting up so she could see eye-to-eye with him.
"Captain…I think you should know somethin'…"
She raised her eyebrows, motioning with her hand to continue.
"The crew has been a lil' worried about your present state of health…"
"Well, they shouldn't be, Brookes. After all, we know what the key can do to a person…I swear on pain of death that I will not harm anyone aboard…unless Jack does somethin' incredibly stupid and I have to flog him for it…"
Brookes put up his hand to silence her run-on sentence.
"Being the doctor aboard, Terrence, I had no choice but to look you over while you were unconscious."
Terrence narrowed her eyes in frustration. "I didn't agree to that…nor did I get a choice in the matter to succumb to such an act. I told ye time and time again, I'm fine, savvy? I didn't need to be examined, poked, prodded…"
"You did," he replied quietly, "I found out somethin' ye may need to know."
Terrence halted in her vocal punishments. "What?"
"You're wit' child, Terrence."
She let out a bark of laughter. "That's not possible, ma…" But she stopped, gripping the sheets. Oh God. Oh God oh God oh God oh God…
"You and Captain Sparrow."
Terrence was numb. No. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be. But it made so much sense…the sickness, the fatigue, the lack of, well, a certain monthly visitor. How had she NOT noticed its fucking absence!
It wasn't just the key.
It was a baby.
"How…" Terrence croaked, feeling sicker with each passing moment, "How far along…"
"A month, maybe more." Brookes whispered, "Terrence, I…"
"Get out. Please."
He stared at her with unhidden sympathy before quietly shutting the door behind him.
That was it. Her whole future had been suddenly ruined in one lust-filled, passionate moment. How was an entire crew of men going to follow orders from a cranky, pudgy pregnant woman?
Jack.
What if he found out? He couldn't…he would leave her. No, he was too noble to do something like that. He would stay, but hate himself for getting stuck in the situation. How would he react? Jack Sparrow wouldn't be happy, that was probable, but…
"It could all be a mistake," she muttered to herself in panic, "Yes, a mistake. Brookes could be bloody wrong!"
Yet in her gut, she knew he had to be right. Jack couldn't know. Not now, anyway. She couldn't let this newfound information get in the way of their mission. Finding Malvado was the first priority, despite any…kinks she found in her plans.
After all, saving the world was more important than a few dizzy spells, right?
Terrence began to pace, clutching her stomach subconsciously. She was thinking about the young Turner lad, little ol' whats-his-face. She imagined one of those actually belonging to HER.
"Gawds!" she cried in anguish. It would need cleaning, feeding, constant attention…and that was just the beginning. As a captain that just couldn't be tied down to anyone, could she give part of herself up?
Would Terrence Gallagher, a pirate, be a good mother?