Chapter Thirty Seven

Thank you all for your reviews again! I can't believe how many I have managed to get between the stories that I have got in the works at the moment!, it really does mean a lot! Please keep them coming as I really want to break 200 reviews on this story, even if I need to start reviewing myself, believe me I'd do it!! Now that I finally have movement back in my right wrist so can type more than five words a minute I can get these chapters posted a lot quicker, and regularly update all of my stories, which is what I prefer to do, but I will only do so if I get lots and lots of reviews!!

My heartfelt thanks and eternal gratitude to my truly magnificent beta reader JackFan2, claps and whistles ;-)

Chapter Thirty Seven

Jack slept for hours, his body finally giving into exhaustion, it was the first time that his mind had totally shut down for what felt like forever. He smiled in his sleep, yet before long the smile turned into a grimace as the images flicked through his memories of more tragic times, so much pain and sorrow haunted his sleep. He sat up with a start, and with a deep feeling in his stomach that his mission may have started too late. He got to his feet ignoring the discomfort of his injuries and headed straight back to the Pearl, satisfied that he had rested long enough to please his only female crew member enough to ensure he wasn't slapped for a few hours.

Scott Orchid carefully made his way across deck, he had been laying low for most of the day, desperate to try and help the two girls, but unwilling to pay with his life to do so. It seemed as though Harry wasn't going to move far enough from them to let him get near them, but finally the older man left his perch watching his daughters to go and get drunk. Scott edged slowly along, and squatted down next to the younger girl; he gently placed a hand over her mouth and shook her awake. When she opened confused, pain glazed eyes to look at him, he raised a finger to his lips warning her to remain silent. When she nodded to signal that she understood, he removed his hands and set about untying the ropes that bound her. As soon as she felt the pressure on her hands give, she crawled across to her sister, and finally caught sight of the small rise and fall of the older girl's chest. Julia sighed in relief, yet her joy was short lived as she caught sight of the immense amount of blood that had spilt from her sister.

"Oh Christ" se cursed, unusually for her. "What do we do?" she asked the first mate of the ship. He turned concerned eyes on her, he could help the girl, but then Harry would know that it was him, he was torn between doing what was right by them and what was right by him. He sighed deeply, glancing from side to side to see if anyone was coming, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Ana sighed to herself, just as she thought that she was getting through to her insufferable Captain, he totally spun it around on her. It seemed like light years ago that they had shared such a tender moment at the helm, yet since he had returned from his cabin he had spoken barely a word to her. She tutted once more, yet he offered no reaction, finally she gave up and walked away. When she was gone, Jack allowed his shoulder's to slump; he just needed time to think alone. In his head he knew that chances were he was already too late to save both Julia and Victoria, if Harry had ever even caught up with them, yet his heart was telling him that his head was wrong. The Birch family stirred up every possible emotion in him, just the name Birch made his heart feel with love and joy, yet at the same time feel as though a bullet had ripped through the life sustaining muscle. He rubbed his hand over his face, suddenly feeling very old and very tried despite his recent rest, it would only be another day's sail and they would reach the 'White Knight', and Jack would almost certainly spring his adversaries trap. Oh yes, Jack knew it was a trap. He knew full well that he was on a fool's errand, and Harry's sole plan had been to get the younger man to come running after him and his hostages, and Jack was doing just that. The difference is that Harry was grossly underestimating him, yes Harry Birch had never come across a truly angry Captain Jack Sparrow, and he didn't know what he had let himself in for.

Julia crawled across the deck in desperation; she was blinded by her tears, her heart breaking at the dire condition of her sister. All she wanted was to hold the older woman, and make her well again. Was every body on this god forsaken ship heartless? The young first mate has been her last and only hope of helping her sister, yet he had walked off without so much as a backward glance. She bit back on the sob that threatened to choke her, as she desperately pushed down on the gaping wound in her sister's abdomen, yet her pressure did nothing the stem the flow. Despite the little impact she was having in the battle to save her sister's life she persevered and stayed like that for some time, not moving an inch. It wasn't until she saw another set of hands rest next to hers on the bunched up cloth that she was using to soak up the blood, she turned her gaze upwards and was met by a strong steel blue pair of eyes. The rough calloused sailor's hands pushing down to staunch the flow with a man's strength.

"I thought that you'd gone" she whispered to the first mate.

"No I just went to get these" Scott replied, gesturing behind him to the bottle of rum and cloths that he had brought back with him. She smiled, although it was a weak attempt and didn't light up her eyes, she was truly grateful for his help.

"Thank you" she told him through her tears. He nodded once in acknowledgement, and then set about his task doing everything he could to save the young woman that he had become rather fond of over the last few days.

Harry Birch whistled to himself, he knew that it was only a matter of a day or so and his revenge would be his, his plan was unfolding nicely and soon Jack Sparrow would be exactly where he deserved to be- rotting in hell.

End Chapter Thirty Seven