Chapter Twenty: Nightmares

Two Weeks Later…

Alex was standing on the bow of the Pearl staring out at the endless ocean before her. She placed a hand on her slightly swollen belly and sighed in contentment as Will came to stand behind her. He covered her hand with his own. "How are you feeling?" he asked into her ear before he tenderly kissed her.

Alex turned in his arms to look at him, "Good actually, it all seems very real now. The baby I mean."

Will smiled down at her, "There is something else on your mind."

"You know me so well." Alex sighed and looked away, "I am just nervous about becoming immortal, the future, all of it really."

"We have each other." Will said letting her go.

"At the forefront Will, what if our child does not wish to be immortal? It is a possibility. My sister didn't." Alex now had tears in her eyes.

Will was thoughtful for a minute. That possibility never even entered his mind. It was then that he realized why Addy had encouraged his and Alex's relationship. He thought he should be mad at being used like that, but he wasn't. For one he had Alex now and two, he would do the same for his child.

Will grabbed Alex then and let her cry into his shoulder for a moment as he searched for comforting words. "I can't see into the future Alex and I can't promise anything. But I know that no matter what I have to do to convince our children, they will always be with us."

"I love you Will." Alex said kissing him. She felt much better now that she spoke her mind to Will. She laughed at the look on his face then as she suggestively pulled him even closer. He commented only a couple of days ago about the emotional rollercoaster she was on. It seemed to be a source of endless entertainment for both him and her father.

On the quarter deck Jack commented on Alex, "Me Lexie is troubled."

"Is that your intuitive since of the female species, Jack." Addy said looking up from where she was tying a line. Jack nodded as Addy looked at her daughter, laughing she approached Jack, "She seems fine now."

"Bloody hell, women and there emotions. I almost pity Will." Jack said sympathetically.

"Excuse me. Am I included in that statement?" Addy said poking his side.

"Come now love, do you not remember the hell you put me through when you were carrying our children. I still remember when your were pregnant with Alex and made me sleep on the couch." Jack said

Addy laughed, "That was your own fault Jack. I specifically told you the smell of rum made me ill."

"Aye love you did, I just thought it was a trick to keep me from drinking." Jack said as he pulled Addy to him. Before he could kiss her Gibb's interrupted them./

"Captain it appears a storm is brewing." Gibbs said pointing to the clouds that were nearing.

"Gibbs, do you think I have become blind? Perhaps you think that I have finally went off the deep end as it were?"

"No captain, just wondering if we should hold back?" Gibbs said sheepishly.

Addy and Jack looked thoughtfully at the storm for a moment. "Something tells me Gibbs, that no matter how many times we try to approach the island, that storm will always be there." Jack looked down at Addy and noticed the tears in her eyes. They would have to relive this one last time.

&&&&&

Alex was sleeping peacefully in Will's arms as the ship rocked violently. Though he was loath to leave her, he thought he should help on deck. Carefully he removed himself from the bed and headed out of the cabin. He was instantly drenched in the heavy downpour. This was insane.

Will was headed to the helm and stopped for a moment to help Gibbs with a line. Once that was done he headed straight for the helm, where he knew Jack would be. It took several minutes to get close enough for Jack to hear him over the howling of the wind and rain.

"Have you lost your mind Jack?" Will yelled. Jack looked at him for a moment but continued. Will stepped up to the helm and took a hold of the wheel. "Jack perhaps we can brave hurricanes when everyone will live through them!" Will said, trying to control his anger at the foolishness of the situation.

"Get back to Alex!" Jack said offering no explanation.

"Not until you turn back!" Will said evenly.

Jack sighed, "Get to her now! This storm will always be here! She must live through it!" Will was confused now. He stood there trying to understand what Jack was saying. Jack shoved him. "GO!"

Will turned to follow orders when a bolt of lightning hit the main mast.

&&&&&

Alex awoke with a start. She was sweating and cold. It felt as if she was still in her dream, the ship was rocking violently, the wood creaking with the force of the wind and rain. Alex quickly looked around the cabin for Will, he wasn't there. Somewhere in her mind a small voice was telling her to stay put, that he would return. But she ignored it. She needed to know what was happening.

Alex opened the door to her cabin and was instantly lashed with the stinging rain. She squinted her eyes to see into the darkness. She could barely see her own hand in front of her face. Carefully Alex made her way along the ship. She needed to make it to the helm. Alex tried to see that far, but she couldn't. She grabbed on tightly to the main mast as the ship rocked violently.

As she stepped away from the mast, there was an intense blinding flash, and the ear splitting sound of thunder. Alex turned and looked up at the mast. The sound of wood splitting slowly penetrated her thoughts.

"ALEX" she heard Will's shout from somewhere in front of her.

Alex watched the mast begin to fall toward her, complete terror held her still. She could not move or even scream. It seemed as if in that moment time slowed to nearly a stand still. Suddenly, out of no where, strong arms encircled her and shoved her out of the way. She hit the wet deck hard, at nearly the same time as the mast.

It took Alex a few moments to clear her head. The storm seemed to be lessening now, it was as if it's soul purpose was to break the mast. Slowly Alex stood, and shook her head. The rain was barley a sprinkle know as the stars began to shine in the sky. Alex looked back toward where the mast had fallen and lost nearly all her senses.

"Will!" Alex whispered running over to him. "Will" she yelled then when it seemed as if he was not responding. She didn't notice her father take a hold of her and pass her into her mothers arms.

"Shh baby, it will be alright." Addy cooed to her daughter. Alex fought to keep her consciousness, but fainted in her mothers arms.

Addy yelled for Gibbs as she could no longer hold up her unconscious daughter. Gibbs was instantly there picking Alex up and without comment carried her to Jacks cabin.

"My god Jack." Addy cried looking at Will. The mast had fallen on his legs, no doubt shattering them.

Jack was slapping Will in the face to get him to return to consciousness. No doubt the pain made him pass out.

"Get it off him!" Addy shouted at the crew who immediately set to work trying to get the heavy mast off Will. After several minutes they finally had it removed.

"Come on mate. I know your alive." Jack said slapping Will's face again.

"I wish I wasn't!" Will moaned, coming too. "Alex!" Will said trying to move.

"Bloody hell don't move!" Jack said, "She is fine, she is unconscious in me cabin as we speak." Jack said.

"Jack he will need surgery." Addy said looking at the damage done to Will's legs. She had a look in her eyes that spoke volumes to Jack. She wasn't sure if there was anything salvageable left. Will seemed to drift back into unconsciousness. Jack shouted orders to the crew. They carefully moved Will to his cabin as Jack took the helm continuing his course to the fountain.

Addy approached, "Jack Alex is awake, I let her go see Will." Jack only nodded to her. He hoped against hope that his daughter was strong enough for what lay ahead.

&&&&&

Alex opened the door to the cabin calling out to Will. He was sleeping now and the crew had his legs bandaged up and covered with a blanket.

"I am here." Will said trying to keep the pain from sounding in his voice. Alex stood there for a moment unsure of what to do, before she walked over and knelt by the bed, placing a kiss on his forehead.

It was Will who broke the silence. "I don't think my legs can be fixed Alex." Will said looking away from her, "I can't even feel them anymore."

Alex sobbed for a moment, "I don't care Will, You are alive and that is all that matters."

"I shouldn't be Alex." Will said pushing some of her hair behind her ear.

"Don't talk like that!" Alex yelled standing up.

"Give me the key Alex." Will said evenly. Alex looked at him seeing his thought. It was insane, she would never allow it. She walked over to him and slapped him hard across the face, "Your heart belongs to me now Turner, and you can have it back when it is in your chest." she yelled and stormed out of the cabin.

Once on deck, Alex bumped into her father. "Lexie dear, why do you have that murderous look in yer eye?" Jack asked steadying her by the shoulders.

"Knock him out so he doesn't do anything stupid while we are on the island daddy, please!" Alex said storming off in the direction of the long boat.

Jack shrugged his shoulders and walked into Will's cabin. He pulled out his gun and smiled at Will before hitting him over the head with it. "Sorry mate, daughters orders." Jack said as he turned and left the cabin.

Alex was still angry when she reached the island and the fountain. She did not try to hide her emotions when she spoke, "Show yourself."

Moments latter there was an eerie laugh from behind her, Alex spun around. "Young Sparrow has a temper." The lady said.

"I have completed my task though it seemed to cost my husband his legs! Am I finished?" Alex said she fell then unceremoniously into the mud and started to cry.

"Calm yourself Sparrow, or rather Turner it is now. All will be well." The lady approached her then, and a sudden feeling of calm washed over her.

"I don't understand." Alex mumbled though her tears had stopped.

"Ask your father child, I am not cruel. Certain things needed to happen and they have. All will be well." Alex vision blurred for a moment and she began to see something through the fog.

Alex saw will in his cabin, the way that she had left him, only now where the horrible scar on his chest should have been There was nothing. She watched with baited breath as he began to wake up. He sat up then, feeling his chest. When he moved his legs the vision stopped. Alex looked at the lady, "Is this true?"

The lady smiled at her. "Return now child and worry not over the child you carry, as it was there before you drank, his tasks are complete as well." The lady vanished then.

"Wait!" Alex yelled.

"It won't do any good darling, Her soul purpose is to confuse people." Jack said walking up to her. Alex laughed then took off at a dead run for the long boat. Jack racing to keep up with her.

Once aboard the Pearl again, nothing would stop Alex from racing into Will's cabin. Will barely had time to react to her throwing herself into his arms. "What happened?" Will asked still in a daze over his heart beating in his chest.

Alex placed her hand over his heart and laughed joyfully at feeling the steady beat. "Oh Will! Can you walk" she said as Jack stepped into the room.

"I think so, but this head ache.." Will stopped looking up at Jack "What did you do that for?"

Addy stepped around Jack and into the room then, "What? what did he do?" Addy and Alex asked at the same time.

"I knocked him out with me pistol so he wouldn't do anything stupid." Jack said as if it was the most logical thing anyone could do.

"I didn't mean literally. Besides dad there are pills for that, or even chloroform." Alex said, placing a gentle kiss on the knot on Will's head.

Jack shrugged, "My way was much more better, quicker too." Jack said as even Will couldn't argue with him.