A/N: As always, thank you for the reviews, even though the chapter was a bit short! I'm sorry for that, this one will, hopefully, make up for it! Also, I am so, so, so, so sorry for the wait! A month! Ah! It's unforgivable! I can't promise the next one will come any sooner, but I thank you so very much for your patience. It means a lot to me.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It all belongs to Disney.

Chapter 37:

The sound of knuckles knocking hard against the wood of the door went straight to his head, make it throb very painfully. Gritting his teeth, he opened bleary eyes and glanced around for a moment before shutting them again, muffling a moan against the pillows. His eyes burned something awful, and all he wanted to do was slip back into sleep, to get away from feeling so pressured and sore. Besides, the longer he slept, the faster he got to Elizabeth... He'd rather be up at the wheel, but with the condition he was in, no one would allow it.

Settling more into the blankets, he relaxed, feeling a bit better as the weight of sleep pulled at him. He was about to give into it, but then there was knocking again, loud and impatient knocking followed by an urgent and familiar voice.

Jack wanted to strangle Gibbs. His usually helpful first mate was being rather unhelpful in this instance.

"Captain? Captain, ye need t' come out on deck!" Joshamee said through the door, then seemed to pause before the door knob turned and he stepped inside, peering at his old friend somewhat hesitantly. "Or, seeing as ye're a bit...bed-ridden I will just bring the matter to you instead of making you go to the matter, if ye catch me meaning." He studied his captain, who was glaring at him through half-lidded eyes, and wondered just how he would take to this...problem.

Perhaps not so well.

Ducking out, he went and then came back, another person trailing slowly behind somewhat wearily.

Jack struggled to sit up a bit more with his good arm, then simply stopped and stared when the stranger came in and Gibbs bowed out.

"It can't be!" Eyes widened in alarm, and quickly he glanced at his hand before relaxing, though he felt ridiculous, laying uselessly in bed when he was around... Thankfully the headache had diminished, but he was sure a single, quick move would bring it back and with full force. "Why are ye here, mate? It's only been a little less than two months." He wiggled his fingers. "You can leave. I've no time for...surprise visits, and even if I did...the missus is indisposed, as it were." He sighed, the thought of Elizabeth suddenly bringing worry... He hoped she was alright.

Will smiled faintly.

"I know well of your predicament, Jack." he said softly, taking measured, cautious steps towards the place where the pirate lay. Wounded and confused, though he struggled to hide it, black eyes studied the boy's exhausted profile. He was unarmed and defenseless, and vulnerable too...it wasn't really a feeling that he liked. "I saw it, saw flashes of the future, of emotions in each heartbeat that you give, in each heartbeat that she gives." Will shook his head. "A great battle approaches, Sparrow, a battle between two immortals. Except, one shall fall."

"What does that mean?" Jack asked, rubbing at his forehead. He was still tired, it was a bit hard to think, to focus... "What do you mean you can see the future?" The eunuch was quite fortunate, getting all the luck. Think how useful seeing the future could be to someone...and that use just so happened to be given to a mere blacksmith, a boy who's only purpose was to ferry the dead from this world to the next.

What a waste.

"I can catch mere glimpses of what will happen. Every person who sails on the sea, I can hear them, feel them. You and Elizabeth, your spirits are the strongest of them all, hearts beating out an entwined message... I saw it, pieces of it, saw what will come to pass." Brown eyes, eyes so childish and naive and yet grave with ancient wisdom, became suddenly distant. "A great battle in the middle of a terrible storm, three ships locked in a fight to the death." He sighed softly and shook his head. "During then, an immortal will fall." He looked to Jack. "Hector or I, one of us will be killed. If he gets that bullet, Jack...he does not need to shoot the heart to kill me, not for this. I'm immortal, if a golden bullet gets lodged into my chest...my heart will simply stop beating. And if that happens..." he trailed off, knowing that his companion would understand well what he meant.

"Then I'd be given over to Mr. Death. Just wonderful, mate." the pirate said with a sarcastic cheerfulness in his voice. "So, not only must I get me wife back, but I must make sure you don't die as well. Splendid, William, just splendid." He rubbed one hand over his mouth and chin. "How about you just avoid us, ey? I've got everything under control..."

Will snorted. "Jack, you're wounded. I don't think you're even capable to have anything under control."

"If you think that, then what could I possibly do for you? 'M stuck in bed, mate, I can't really protect ye. Hell, I can't even protect Elizabeth! It would be better if ye'd just stay out of it, ye know. Go yer merry little way, mingle with the dead and all that an' just leave us be."

"Even if I did, you'd still have to free me afterward."

"I'll get to that when it comes. As I said, I've got everything under control." There was a sigh, and then a few moments of tense silence before Will spoke.

"I've gathered, from being around you so much, that procrastinating doesn't really work." Jack glared. "If you'd have tried to fix the whole problem about your debt years ago, I wouldn't be in this mess. I wouldn't be dead, and I'm quite sure Elizabeth wouldn't be in danger." In fact, Elizabeth and him would have been married a long time ago, instead of being dragged into this mess. They'd have been happy...but not now. She'd experienced something different, something better, and he was sure she wouldn't choose him over the pirate now if she had the choice. If she were to chose, she'd chose Jack, and that was that.

"Aye aye, and she would be married to you, is that it? To my shallow and unhonest regret, mate, the past is what it is. The past. I'm not about to go wishing when everything is just peachy now. I've got a beautiful wife, a wee Sparrow on the way, me ship..."

"And Hector?" Will asked, pushing back the annoyance he felt at Jack's former words.

"A mere setback. William, tell me something." The man addressed raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest while waiting for the question. "Who am I?"

He should have known.

"That's not the point. The point is, you'll need me there to fight, otherwise you might as well just leave Elizabeth for dead. That is why I must stay around you." He sighed, swiping one hand across his worn, haggard face. "You need to go fetch the Chest. That way you'll kill two birds with one stone."

Jack stared at Will incredulously, then frowned after a moment. "Sorry, I thought I just heard you tell me to forget rescuing me wife to find that blood thump-thump of yours and dig it out of the ground." With a toss of his head he sat up, then rubbed at his ear with the heel of his palm. "Should have me ears checked..."

"Cut the sarcasticness, Sparrow, and actually be reasonable for once. This battle is a perfect time to both kill Barbossa and free me. With those both done, you'll have nothing more to worry about! You'll be able to focus on your wife and child instead of on hurrying to find some way to release me from this...prison I'm in before you're taken from you family forever."

The pirate sighed, then turned, his legs dangling over the side of the bed. "How can you ask me to do this, to leave my wife to herself and risk my child and her just because of what you want? She could be dead, or dying, or being wounded by that bastard right now, and even now I'm helpless to assist her. To find that missing organ of yours would mean giving up on her all together, and I just won't do that, mate, I'm sorry."

Will looked at Jack for a long moment, then sat down beside him. "You really do love her, don't you." he whispered, not having thought that Jack was really capable of such a thing until then.

"More than anything, mate." Nodding slowly, the undead captain closed his eyes, becoming deathly still. His companion said nothing, watching curiously but without saying anything before he reached for the glass of water at the side of his bed. Holding it tightly, he sipped at it, relieved by the way it cooled his throat as he continued to study the person beside him. What was he doing? He'd thought that he'd be persuaded and begged a bit more after his refusal, but instead Will was still and silent as the grave, which made him feel that there was something that he didn't know.

"Elizabeth is not alone." Jack blinked at the suddeness of the voice and looked over, seeing Turner stare back with an intensity. "A man stowed away with her, is there with her, comforting her and helping her plan out a way to escape."

"Lester!" A grin broke out on the pirate's lips before he could stop it. "Thank goodness he's with her. He could come in handy." Immediately he felt more at ease, though he was still worried... His friend could only do so much, but at least she wasn't lonely and afraid. If she had Lester with her, she was better off than he originally thought.

Besides, she was smart. Lizzie would think up of something witty to do, he was sure of it. After all, she was a Sparrow.

"So you could afford to make a days trip to this island and grab the heart. She won't die tonight, Jack, nor tomorrow, not on my watch. It's not her time yet. I would feel it if it was, trust me."

A sigh. "Let me think about it for a moment, William." Jack said quietly. "This is a lot ye're asking from me, especially with the current situation that we're all in."

"I know." Will got to his feet, looked his companion over, then shook his head. "Go ahead and think. I'm going to go talk to my father. If you want me, I'll be on the Dutchman, where I belong." Then he crossed the room and went out the door, shutting it silently behind him.

Jack stared after Will, then groaned, cursing the good man that seemed to keep up residence inside him. He knew Elizabeth would be able to fend on her own for now, and the eunuch was right, freeing him would kill two birds with one stone, but that didn't make him feel any less at ease for leaving his wife, for not pursuing her when he didn't know how she was and if she was alright. She wouldn't die, he knew that much, but was she hurt? Suffering? Was their baby alright? He didn't know what Barbossa would try and do to her...he was different from the man he used to be. Such promises of eternal power went straight to his head. There was no reasoning with him, not anymore.

"This is all your fault, Lizziebeth." Getting up, the pirate slowly ambled to the door, where he gingerly pulled on his coat, careful not to cause himself anymore pain. "For years no one has cared if I've done the right thing or not, I know I never did. Yet it seems only your faith in me could make a difference, persuade me to be who I'm not..." He sighed, then took one last look around the room before shaking his head. "And to think I fell in love with you anyways, despite that."

With that, he went out on deck, his answer to Will already decided in his mind.

"Do you think you could do that?" Elizabeth glanced over at Lester, worrying her lower lip with her teeth. Since Barbossa had stormed off and locked the door behind him, they'd succeeded and thinking up a plan. They both knew that it was a really desperate idea, and that it probably wouldn't work, but it was worth trying. Perhaps, if it did work, she could delay Hector long enough to let Jack catch up. She knew he was coming for her, but he was also wounded...the only thing she could do to help him now was keep herself safe, and try to do as much as she could to stall the man whom was keeping her captive.

"Aye." he said, glancing around the room for a moment. "All we need is t' have that door open, and I'll slip out and go downstairs, see if I can't find any for ye." She nodded in agreement. This would be the easiest part. The rest of it would be worse.

"So I'll somehow have to make a distraction. Are you ready?" There was a pause, and then a nervous sigh. "I am."

Lester took off the hat he'd found and slipped off the coat, going to put them back before he slipped over towards the door. "Aye, Missus Sparrow, I'm ready."

Getting up from the bed, Elizabeth ran her fingers through her hair, then worriedly brushed her palm against her stomach before she walked towards the door. She placed her hand on the cool wood for a moment to pull herself together, making sure her voice wouldn't shake before she pounded on the door to catch someones attention.

"What is it?" came a deep, husky voice. Someone hit the door back, causing Elizabeth to jump a little. "Lit'le wench. What ye need?"

"I request to see Captain Barbossa."

The laughter that followed her request made her eyes narrow in annoyance. Angry now, she pounded her fist hard on the door and was pleased when the laughter stopped.

"Sorry, missy, but-"

"I mean it! I am pregnant and, above that, am alone! He sticks me in here and locks me in here without bothering to keep me entertained? If I cannot come out, then tell him to come to me. I have a proposition for him to consider." she stormed, beginning to become more annoyed now, and not just because she was trying to act like it. Her moods were swinging again and, above that, she missed Jack terribly.

There was a brief moment of silence, and then she heard what sounded like a heavy sigh. "Aye, I'll go get him then." came the hesitant reply, and then footsteps resounded down the hall before disappearing. She smiled, then turned triumphantly to where Lester should have been standing, eyes glittering.

"Now all I have to do is persuade him." she said, then sighed, rubbing at her temples to ward off a headache that was beginning to form. How would she do that? There was perhaps only one way she could think of that would make him do what she wanted, and she felt sick even considering such a possibility.

Or maybe, maybe he would just...like the proposition she had for him and do it anyways, without any persuasion at all!

But, probably not.

"Don't worry, Elizabeth. You'll do just fine, I'm sure." A small smile twitched at the corner of her mouth, but she quickly dropped it, jumping away from the door when someone fumbled with the knob, and then swung it open.

"What is so important that ye needed me t' come t' ye, missy?" Barbossa growled, though his eyes were considerably more gentle than the annoyance sketched across his face. "Better be worth me time, this proposition. Go on, then, let me hear it."

"Well," her voice was shaken, so she stopped to clear her throat, then flashed him a steady smile, "I was thinking that you and I got off onto the wrong start. If I'm here with you, might I not enjoy myself? I'm pregnant, Hector, I won't be running, or swimming, anywhere. I wouldn't risk Jack's baby for anything."

"Ye're asking me for the freedom t' roam about deck?"

She shook her head. "Not that, not unless you'd let me. I was thinking, rather, a...trip back into time, as it were. A feast, a maroon dress, a cursed medallion?"

He chuckled. "The night ending with ye're knife stabbed into me heart? Aye, aye, Elizabeth, I remember." He ran his fingers through his beard, then smiled. "Ye'll be wanting a dinner with me then?" Suddenly his facial expression turned suspicious. "Why? Why the sudden change 'o heart from earlier?"

"Do I have to remind you, again, that I'm pregnant? Haven't you ever heard of mood swings?" Of course, that was a lie. She'd really meant everything she'd said then, but in order to get him to agree (which she desperately hoped he would) meant she'd have to cover up her behavior from before. "Besides, a good meal other than what those goons of yours give me would be nice." She had to make sure that she played the part right, though, which meant keeping a hint of her former attitude.

"Well, I reckon ye be right, missy." His fingers flexed at his side, as if he wanted to reach out and touch her, but he resisted. He wouldn't force her to do anything that she didn't want to do, but he wanted this dinner with her. Now that she'd suggested it he really thought it was a good idea, and so didn't want to do anything that would make her change her mind. "I think I'll take ye up on that little offer of yers, Missus Sparrow." The bright smile that crossed her face pleased him, and he returned that smile before he spun around and walked towards the door. "Ye make walk around deck if ye wish, get some fresh air, but try nothing funny." he warned her, walking out of the room without looking back.

Sighing, Elizabeth straightened out her shirt then followed after him, going out onto deck. The breeze that greeted her made her rush over to the railing, gripping it with one hand as she shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. Her other hand fluttered to rest on her barely pregnant stomach as she stood there, gently rubbing circles with her thumb while thinking to herself, pleased that her and Lester's plan had worked...so far. The only thing left to do was keep Barbossa distracted enough during the dinner so that Lester could do his part of the job. If that worked then they would be very lucky indeed.

"The captain requests that you wear this." came the rough voice of one of the crew members about a half hour later, shoving a black, cotton dress into Elizabeth's arms. She took it without question and then unfolded it, looking it over with a grim distaste in her eyes. "He also requests that you join him in his quarters after you put it on."

"Tell him that I shall be there straight away." she told the man without shifting her eyes from the dress, thoughts of ghost stories and skeletons chasing each other through her mind. What a night that had been, the night her perspective of the world had undoubtedly shifted from comfortable and safe to full of things she had never even imagined, except in old stories and legends... Perhaps not all of them had been made up as she'd been led to believe.

Crossing the deck, she slipped into a guest room and, after checking to make sure that Lester was not in there, stripped of her clothes. The cool fabric of the dress was pulled on over her head, and then she ran her fingers through her hair, combing it out quickly before she straightened out the dress, smoothing it over with the palms of her hands. It still fit, but the pregnant swell of her stomach could be seen; she found the whole feeling of being with child very strange, and yet somehow it was also very exhilarating. Even if she'd never seen the child, or knew of which sex it was, she loved it with all her heart.

"Alright then, little one. Wish mommy luck." she whispered softly, then turned her attention ahead of her. Leaving the room after a moment of hesitation, she walked quietly down the hall, and with every step loathed what was ahead. There was so many ways that she could falter, in which he could see through the lies she'd spun to please and distract him. If he realized what she was really up to, it would be over. She'd not be able to help Jack anymore. She'd be useless, watched constantly...maybe even punished. It was always a guess with Hector. He was just as unpredictable as Jack. In certain ways, at least, not all.

Ignoring her nervousness, Elizabeth stepped into Barbossa's quarters, shutting the door quietly behind her. She was greeted to a dimmed setting; a few candles flickered with life in select places, a table was set out in the middle of the room with a feast upon it, and there stood her captor, his dark eyes roaming up and down her body without any shame or secrecy. She bit her lip, then walked over and stared up at him, folding her arms around her stomach protectively.

"Ye look stunning." he commented in a gruff voice, looking her over once more. "I believe I like this dress better than the last one, missy. Now, come and sit down. 'M guessin' ye're probably hungry." She walked around him without saying anything, pulling out a chair to sit down in it.

There was food, a feast, and a lot of it. Glancing at the wine, she was tempted, but merely reached for a glass of water instead. Sipping it, she entertained herself with that, all the while thinking to herself. Lester would be somewhere in the room, and he would have what she'd requested now, otherwise he'd have found her on deck and said that he'd had little luck. She was thankful it hadn't come to that.

"This is wonderful." she said after a moment, having slowly looked around the room to try and locate her companion's location. Having had little luck, she looked to Hector with a smile. "Thank you." Setting the water down, she reached for an apple, then turned it around in her hands before she glanced up at him suspiciously.

Chuckling, he shook his head at her. "'Tis not poisoned." She laughed softly, bringing the fruit up to smell it before she took a bite. He would not poison her, she knew that. It would be too easy of a death, and besides...he still had a purpose for her. Why would he lie about such a thing, only to kill her by use of an apple? It seemed too far fetched, and therefore not real.

Suddenly, Elizabeth felt a light tap on her shoulder. She continued to eat without flinching or being startled, knowing exactly who it was. Putting her apple down, she looked over, noticing that Barbossa's wine glass was right in front of him. Gritting her teeth, she reached for a napkin and wiped at her mouth, thinking before she came to only one conclusion, one thing that would work perfectly to distract him.

Meeting his eyes, she stared at him for a moment, and then with a pretend surge of passion leaned over and grabbed his face, pulling him to her and kissing him as hard as she possibly could without getting sick. He started, surprised, but then kissed her back, twining his fingers into her hair and moving lips against hers. They kissed for a long moment, as long as she could stand, just to make sure that Lester got done what he needed to. She wouldn't be using this diversion again.

Gasping, she finally pulled back, eyes wide as she stared at him, cheeks reddening in a blush of embarrassment. It worked out quite well, actually, what she had done...though she was only blushing because she knew Lester had seen them. She'd have to explain later, make sure that he didn't breathe a word about it to Jack. How would she explain the kiss she'd shared with the man that he absolutely hated?

"I'm sorry! I-I don't know what came over me." she whimpered, adverting her eyes, still blushing. Another tap on her shoulder and she reached for her water with trembling fingers, biting back a pleased, inward smile.

Hector stared at her for a long moment, stunned. She'd actually kissed him! Him, and without being pressed into it! He grinned, wondering if she'd do so again...but he wouldn't ask, and he certainly wouldn't make her feel like she had to. That kiss was a good sign, it meant that she couldn't resist him, that she felt something for him - desire, maybe? - even if she was married to someone else.

She'd make a good pirate yet.

Reaching for his wine, he swirled it around abstractedly before he took a sip, still studying her face. The wine tasted sweeter than normal, but then he chuckled, thinking that maybe her kiss had made everything more brighter, more wonderful than before.

A few moments later the wine glass slipped from his hand and he slumped down onto the table, falling into darkness.

Elizabeth stood up from the table and jumped away from him, rubbing at her mouth disgustedly with the back of her hand. Yet, triumph overtook disgust and soon she was giggling. It had worked! Drugging him had worked! She'd not thought- Oh, but it had!

"Is he really out?" she wondered. A coat was taken off from a peg on the wall and then slipped on and buttoned; she watched for a moment before sighing when he seemed to ignore her, going over to check the body instead. Arms folded over her chest, a gloomy feeling creeping over her soul. "It was the only way." she told him, looking away from him. "He would have seen his wine move from the liquid of the drug if I'd not distracted him."

"Hey, it's none of my business, Missus Elizabeth." Lester murmured, seeming distracted. He checked Barbossa's pulse, then smiled to himself. Sluggish. Yes, the drug had worked.

"Lester." she whispered sadly, feeling terrible now.

"Seems as if even an immortal can't withstand certain things. Won't kill 'im, but he'll be out fer a while, long enough for us to stall fer Jack."

Frowning, Elizabeth went over and snagged his face, holding it tightly between her hands. "It was the only way." she whispered. "And I hated it, every moment of it... You have to believe me. I love Jack, I wouldn't have married him and decided to carry his child if I didn't. Just, don't tell him. Please don't tell him. He'd feel so bad, I'd hate to upset him after everything else that's been happening to us."

Lester looked at her, then sighed, shaking his head before he pulled away.

"Like I said. It's none of my business." It wasn't. If she thought it had been the best way to distract Barbossa, then that was fine. It was over and done with. He was just glad Jack hadn't been there to see that...it wasn't an innocent kiss in the slightest. "Now, we've the body...but there are a bunch of crew members outside. How are we going to do this, then?"

Pushing away her guilt and unease at realizing that Lester didn't exactly trust her, she looked to Hector, suddenly realizing that they hadn't thought this far.

"I will think of something." she said after a moment, then sat back down in the chair, rubbing at her forehead while thinking.

"The drug will keep him out for a few hours. It depends. It might be that he is affected, but because he is immortal it won't last as long as it would with a normal human."

A sigh. "I've spent a lot of time around a very lucky man. I'm sure I'll think of something. Some of his luck and ideas had to rub off on me."

She could only hope.