One More Taste of Freedom
14 a savage beating
Disclaimer: See the previous chapter.
Author's Note: Finally an update! Today I just decided to write this chapter even if it doesn't end up being the perfection I want .. even if it sucks. SO here it is. Thanks for all your reviews and suggestions, its really encouraging and such, especially during the times when I doubt my ability and literacy. One question though, to anyone who knows, how do you make the story go all the way across the page? Mine is all .. to the left .. and it looks weird. Ahem, thanks in advance, and now on with the show!
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A few hours later the battered and beaten William Turner finally slept. It was finally decided that maybe he wasn't so much concussed, as exhausted, and so his napping was allowed. Elizabeth still kept a close eye on him though, checking every so often to make sure he was still breathing. What she didn't notice though, is that Jack was checking too. Of course he'd never let on that he was concerned about anyone but himself - it wasn't his way. Since the poor excuse for a bed was occupied, Jack and Elizabeth were presently sitting on the floor, both leaning against the mattress.
"Jack, what are we going to do?"
Her whispered question came out more panicked than she'd hoped.
"I don't know."
Sparrow meant it, he sounded unsure, and for him, that was new. His uncertainty frightened Elizabeth, as did the bruises that graced the body of her fiancée. They were in a bad spot, perhaps even worse than the previous summer. At least, she admitted to herself, they were all together. Fingers running through her hair, which now fell at her shoulders, she sighed. Rising to her feet she stood hovering over a sleeping Will, a hand was placed on his forehead to check for fever. There was no reason that he should have a fever, but she was an overprotective young lover with no medical knowledge at all, so she thought it best to check.
"He's fine, luv, just sit."
Elizabeth flinched slightly as he added his usual pet name, it seemed to have a different meaning since he'd kissed her. And though she hadn't hated him for it, or even felt guilty, Will's presence changed that. Closing her eyes and saying another silent prayer she withdrew her hand and returned to her spot on the floor. Had she been unfaithful? Should she of even gone with Jack without Will? All these thoughts plagued her now, and she couldn't help but blame herself for the condition Turner was in. After all, he probably would not have been beaten so severely if he had of given up her location.
But he didn't. He was her William, and he was far to loyal to do that. Even in the face of injury and death. She felt the sting of tears behind her eyes again, and this time, Jack noticed.
"It's not your fault." He hesitated for a moment, he was no good at comforting women, "Nothin' you could have done."
She shook her head, still not entirely convinced. "You don't know that." Her voice was shaky. "If I had of been with him when they came to claim us - they wouldn't have to beat my whereabouts out of him."
Eyes widening, she stared at one spot on the floor, allowing the air to dry her tears before they fell. Jack, who felt as if she were blaming him for inviting her, became defensive.
"Excuse me, missy, but I was only doin' you a favor. Didn't have to accept the invite."
She would have normally corrected his assumptions and eased his mind about where she was placing blame, but something in his voice annoyed her.
"And you didn't have to be so damned intriguing." Having not meant for that to come out the way it did, she planned her next words carefully, "You come back into our mundane lives with tales of how wonderful yours is, what did you expect me to do? Stay home and learn to knit?"
Judging by the indignant look on Jack's face, that hadn't come out right either. But before she could withdraw her insult, he'd already stood. His anger was not comical, as it usually was, it was real. But there was something else present there, that she couldn't quite name. Without even dignifying her with an answer, the pirate grabbed the door knob and exited the room.
She opened her mouth to call out to him, to remind him that they were trapped there and wouldn't get past the front door, or maybe to apologize. But he was gone, and since they'd not be allowed to leave, he'd no doubt be back soon. Rising to her feet again she took a seat beside Will, placing her hand lovingly on his cheek, he stirred. Smiling at Elizabeth and yawning, he slowly sat up.
"Welcome back." She returned his smile, her hand resting on his face.
He placed a hand over hers and stared at her for a moment before speaking, seemingly grateful that she was there. That they were together. Glancing around the room his face changed into confusion.
"Where's Jack?"
She let out a heavy sigh to show her irritation at that name, he was, after all, acting like a child in her opinion. Taking her hand back she placed in her lap and shrugged, not wanting to go into much detail.
"I think he got bored with staying with us lubbers." She forced a small laugh, "You know Jack."
Before Will could answer there was a loud crash outside the room, and then the door was thrown open. Jack came flying through the opening and finally landed on the floor just below the window. It was only a split second later that Elizabeth realized the speed at which he'd reentered was because he'd been pushed. Bo'sun followed, Pintel and Ragetti close behind, none of them stopped to speak to Elizabeth and Will, but made their way to Jack instead. Jack was still on the floor, it all happened so fast that he hadn't yet had the chance to get to his feet again.
"Tryin' to escape, eh?" Pintel sneered before nodding to his mates, "Teach `im a lesson, boys."
Within seconds Sparrow was surrounded, he seemed so much smaller in that position. At first Elizabeth wondered what was about to happen, but she didn't have to wait long before discovering just what lesson was going to be taught. The first kick came almost instantly, and it was one so hard that it caused her to flinch. Then more, one after the other, all assaulting the Captain in their own way. Her mind momentarily forgetting that the crew wouldn't kill any of them until they'd served their purpose, Elizabeth shouted.
"Stop it!" She yelled until her throat was raw, in an attempt to make her voice heard over all the others in the room.
Will too tried to hop into action, but it was no use. Judging by the way he was holding his side, Elizabeth guessed he'd been attacked in the same manner, and probably had some broken ribs. Rushing from her position on the bed she shielded her head and began to push all the pirates away, but she was cast aside like a rag doll. In her mind she was doing now all that she would have done had she been present for Will's torture, she had to prove she wasn't useless. From her new spot on the floor where she'd landed she watched in horror as the beating continued. Finally Bo'sun bellowed.
"Enough!"
The shouting subsided and the crowed parted. A gasp was heard and Elizabeth's eyes once again filled with tears when she saw Jack. He had not moved or attempted to fight back, his arms were thrown up in defense, to cover his head. Without hesitation she knelt beside him and spoke softly, praying he'd answer.
"Jack?"
He lowered his arms slowly, though his eyes were still hidden by hair and beads. Boldly, Elizabeth reached down to push an elf-lock out of the way, so that she could look at his face. Coughing, which seemed to cause him a lot of pain, Jack offered her one of his charismatic grins. Though, it was now a pathetic sight that caused one of the tears she was holding back to fall.
"Still think my life is wonderful, luv?"
The name didn't make her flinch this time, it only made her want to kill each and every one of the men who'd participated in this savagery. She made a move to lift him, but could not, and there was no one to help her.
After he'd grown bored of watching the scene Pintel took a step forward and spoke, more to his fellow crewmates than their captives. His face contorted into a wicked smile that Elizabeth would never forget.
"Time to get down to business."