Aftermath
By: L'Morgan
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
*************************
Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The battle has been waged... The lost captain has been recovered, so what else could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 25: When Lightening Strikes
The Doctor and Norrington dragged Jack into a small hidden barn-like alcove created out of the ruins of a building that they were shown to. They were out of breath from dragging the pirate who had quickly gotten heavy once they were on foot.
"We're not going to get out of this James. There is no way. It's too far and now the place is full of your soldiers. It's only a matter of time." The doctor panted as he collapsed on a pile of hay, beside the limp pirate. Norrington leaned against a cart behind them, breathing hard.
He watched as the moonlight showed the pirate tossing his head with a murmur and raising one hand for a moment, but then it collapsed across his stomach. The doctor had watched as well and sighed.
"This is what I get for giving you laudanum. Never again Jack, I swear." He said breathlessly and looked up as Norrington wove his way over to fall on his knees beside the pirate.
"Jack! You have to wake up! Please!" he said, tapping at the man's cheek firmly. The pirate frowned and murmured firmly with a disgruntled sound. The doctor perked up some.
"Try that again -" he said and Norrington did, and this time the one's eyes fluttered briefly open, then closed as he brought both his hands up towards his chest with a vague growl.
Now the doctor turned, feeling quickly at the man's neck for his pulse and then at his chest for his breathing and nodded.
"It's going to take some doing, but maybe," he said as he looked around the area they were in.
Norrington pulled the pirate so he was sitting up more but still resting in the straw and shook him hard with one hand as he slapped at his cheek fairly hard with his other and the pirate protested vaguely, trying to raise a hand to ward off the blows.
"Jack, we don't have all day. Come on you bloody pirate - wake up!" Norrington growled.
The pirate briefly opened his eyes to blink at him as if heavily drugged and confused, and then he let them close again.
The doctor put his hand on Norrington's shoulder as they heard voices coming. Quickly the doctor put his hand over Jack's mouth as the voices got closer, but then passed on - then seemed to come back their way after all.
"We have to get him out of here James." The doctor said with an urgently desperate tone as the voices seemed to be circling around behind them now and Norrington also looked alarmed as he nodded.
He grasped the pirate by his shirt and raised him up some and shook him hard.
"Jackson Meriwether Stuart! If you don't wake up this bloody second I'm going to let the Spanish take you! They're right here - now for god's sake- " he hissed roughly in the mans' face, tryin to 'shock' him awake.
It worked.
The pirate's eyes suddenly flew open and he jerked severely.
The doctor stared at them both, open-mouthed as Norrington let go and the pirate abruptly sat up and Norrington caught him to keep him from falling forward.
"Wher? Where are they? Ah nee' tuh get outta here -" the pirate murmured, trying to get to his knees, severely disoriented and off balance.
"Jack - Jack its' me. Look at me." Norrington commanded and the one did so, his eyes coming clear as he looked around, saw the doctor, and took in their surroundings. The voices came louder now and the doctor suddenly pulled the pirate back against him with a hand over his mouth.
"Shhh - listen" he whispered to the alarmed man, and the pirate stilled. The voices came nearer, but then came a shout from another alleyway over and they all seemed to quickly run off in that direction. The doctor removed his hand from the pirate's mouth and gave a huge sigh of relief. He frowned down at the pirate who seemed to be growing rather heavy against him. He scowled at finding the man's eyes closed again.
"Jack! No! Come on - we need you to stay awake!" he said as he shook him, and the pirate's eyes snapped open with an alarmed intake of breath.
"Where am I? What's goin' on?" Jack asked as he blinked back at the doctor as if surprised to see him.
"You were right. Reynolds told the Governor he is here to take you back to England for questioning. Wants to find out what you know about his missing Lord. Then he said they plan to hang you." The Commodore said and the pirate blinked at him, and then shook his head as if to clear it.
"Well he's gonna have one hell of a bloody time finding their blasted Lord if they be hangin' ME for Christ's sake. How are we getting' out of here?" he asked as he used the doctor's shoulder and Norrington's to rise and staggered severely at first.
The doctor rose, grabbing the pirate's arm as he frowned at him, then at Norrington.
"You are NOT going to tell me that THIS is the missing Lord Stuart himself -" he left off with a nod at Jack and Norrington's face went blank. The doctor turned to Jack who shook off his hand.
"Bloody hell man, do I look like a Lord to you?" he asked as he went to the door and peered out a hole.
"That's not an answer to my question Jack. I saw the flyer weeks ago when you were missing." The doctor intoned gravely and the one looked back at him with a deep frown.
"You really must be related to the Commodore's dear Mr. Gillette. Always askin' questions when we really do have an urgent matter to attend to? First cousins perhaps? Do you mind if I save my neck first and then you can do - whatever it is you plan on doing? Where the bloody hell is my ship?" he demanded, hands fluttering unconsciously.
The Doctor suddenly caught the pirates' right hand and stared at the ring the man wore on his forefinger. His eyes widened.
"Sod' off, you bloody blasted fool, how do you know I didn't kill the man and take if off his cold, dead body?" he demanded gruffly as he yanked his hand away.
"A year ago I would have easily believed that you had done exactly that Jack - 6 weeks ago even I would have believed that. But I've gotten to know you better in the last few weeks here. I know you didn't do that." The doctor answered, still staring at the pirate.
"Norrington, exactly where is this blasted idiot Reynolds?" Jack asked, ignoring the physician and the military man shook his head.
"Up at the fort I assume, with Governor Swan still - why?" he said and the pirate scowled.
"Cause there is no way that man is leaving here alive to report to anyone. I need to find him." He said as he turned back and found both of them staring at him incredulously.
"You can't kill the man in cold blood Jack!" Norrington told him and the pirate scowled back but said nothing as he opened the door a little bit and looked out.
"Oh good, let's go." He said and the other two frowned at him.
"Where do you think you are going?" the doctor demanded in a whisper and the one smiled slyly.
"We're looking for soldiers who have gotten tired of hunting for us and left their nice horsies unwatched, for us to borrow." He said cheerfully, then stepped out, looked, and then skulked along the wall. Norrington and the Doctor exchanged deep frowns, but followed.
He led them through more alleys, down a street, through ruins and upwards until they found a group of three soldiers standing by a wagon that had been tipped over, yielding lots of spilled fruit to which the men were helping themselves. Before either Norrington or the doctor knew what he was doing, the pirate had picked up three sizeable chunks of rubble and thrown them at the men in rapid succession. All three crumpled to the ground and he scurried forward.
"What if you had missed?" Norrington demanded catching up with him.
"I don't miss! I'm Captain Jack Sparrow! And don't you forget it son - I don't care who tells you otherwise!" he whispered back and Norrington shook his head in disbelief.
He watched in surprise as the pirate confiscated a pistol from one of the men, located the three horses, and leapt easily up into the saddle.
"I don't believe you. You can ride?" The doctor observed and the pirate grinned as he easily wheeled the horse around.
"Watch me mate. Kinda happens when you have a little brother that practically eats, drinks, lives and breathes horses. Takes all kinds, savvy?" he asked as if exasperated, then frowned mildly. "Where are we headed anyway?" he asked and Norrington sighed.
"The Pearl is supposed to meet us at the north end of the island at dawn. But we have to get out of here first Jack." He said and the one smiled mischievously.
"No - unless the two of you have gone and done something stupid, I'm the only one they're actually looking for! The two of you can go back to the Governor's mansion! Make sure everyone there is safe. If you see any of my crew, tell them I'll meet them at the ship." He said and abruptly spurred the horse ahead, taking off.
'Jack! You bloody, daft fool! Come back here!" the Doctor reacted with and took off after him. Norrington rolled his eyes and shook his head and hurried to catch up.
The pirate raced the horse through the streets, leaping over small piles of rubble and zigzagging recklessly through ruins, seeming even more determined to outdistance them when he saw they were not headed for the Governor's residence and not caring at what risk it took to do it. As he neared the turn in the road, Jack looked back and then suddenly veered off towards the fort. They both understood now why he'd taken off on his own and tried to send them off to the Governor's.
Jack's horse went thundering up the hillside. He didn't even bother trying to be quiet as he slid off and stormed into the fort, the gun he'd taken from one of the soldiers already drawn from his waist. He entered Norrington's office and stopped. The doctor and Norrington were through the door not more than a moment or two behind him. Both of them suddenly froze at the scene they found before them.
Jack had both of his hands in a midair careless gesture; the gun dangling from one fingertip as he slowly sidled away from the doorway and the others who had come in behind him. He stared intently at Reynolds whose hand rested on Governor Swan's shoulder with the tip of the flintlock pistol resting against the man's grey wig as the Governor sat in a chair in nearly the center of the room. The young William Turner sat there on the couch, also in front of Reynolds, looking a bit bedraggled, but not too hurt at least. Not yet anyway.
"William?" the pirate asked and the younger man scowled.
"I was on my way out of the town when some of the soldiers stopped me." He said unhappily, and Jack nodded with a mild frown.
Reynolds carefully and slowly looked Jack up and down once, twice, then three times, and a slow smile came to his features.
"Well, well, well. I don't really believe it! Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart, in the living flesh! My god, it really IS you isn't it? I did not believe the captain of that ship when he described you! Well, you've certainly been a difficult little bugger to flush out I'll have you know man. I thought sure you'd at least try to find out who was behind that flyer will all that rubbish on it." he said with a dark laugh.
"He? You think Jack is actually this missing Lord Stuart?" Will asked in extreme disbelief.
"No, you stupid idiot, I KNOW he is Lord Stuart. The bloody man sunk my ship even!" Reynolds countered, and Will stared at the pirate as if more than a bit surprised. The pirate glanced at him and gave a helpless shrug, and then went back to studying the intruder...
"Leave Swan here." Jack said simply but sternly, and the man chuckled softly.
"Oh I think not Lord Stuart, I think not. Commodore, gentlemen, over here. " Reynolds said as he waved the other two to come to William's side where they would not be in the path of exit and yet he could keep an eye on them.
Jack considered him with a narrow gaze, one hand rising as if a bit indecisive as with the other he casually tossed the gun he held over onto a chair. "You know, they would have been more than happy to let you have me for questioning as Jack Sparrow mate. You really didn't have to go to all of this bother with the good Governor." He told the man with a soft slur and brief flutter of one hand and the man looked amused.
"No, I have heard the story of your playing the part of guardian angel over this town the last few weeks. I realized there was no way they would just hand you over to me to let me take you back to England for questioning. Last time I was here I mentioned that after we questioned you, I was sure we could arrange to hang you for them. I had no idea you had become quite the town hero." He said, and Jack laughed cheerfully, swaying some as he waltzed around the area between him and the Governor a little bit.
"As if you had any intention of taking me to England. Shame on you sir!" he scolded with a slur, waving a pointed finger at the man and Reynolds laughed.
"Oh you don't know the half of it Jackson! I don't work for the English or the French at the moment. In fact, I am supposed to give you your father's regards when I see you - but whether I just kill you now or later or take you to him and let him deal with you, that's entirely up to my discretion. But I do think it would not be wise to keep you around too long. You'll definitely be easier to handle dead, as I've been warned." he said and Jack frowned at him.
"I don't believe you. Not even my father would do that." He half growled and Reynolds smirked at him.
"Actually, he's paying me quite a handsome fee to find you and dispose of you. The French are also paying a bounty. Of course I only need to prove you're dead to satisfy them. Between the two of them, you're worth a small fortune as soon as you quit breathing, my good man." He said very snidely, and now Jack took a step back with a dark look.
"That's a lie," said the pirate who seemed to be breathing very fast and shallowly with a mildly confused look to his eyes and Reynolds chuckled.
"Oh how your father would love to see the look on your face this very moment.. I will be sure to describe your reaction in detail. Having a bit of problem breathing are we Lord Stuart? That lead bullet of your father's in your lung ever give you any trouble?" he asked.
Doctor Cook frowned deeply at the pirates' reaction. "Jack - you shouldn't just believe this man, what he says doesn't even make sense. Your father is going to spend heaven only knows how much money to hire someone to come kill you?" he asked and Reynolds chuckled lowly as he stared at the pirate.
"Oh Jackson knows very well why his father might wish him ill. King Charles was the one who got this lad so upset he was taking nearly every English ship he laid eyes upon. When James became King, he wanted our dear pirate here to stop taking his ships. Had to bring him in by force actually, didn't they Jackson? Captured you in the Leewards wasn't it? Told Jackson to name his price tag to leave them alone. And of course our dear sweet, magnanimous pirate here - he said he wanted all of his fathers' ownings - then and there. The land, the estate, the titles, the contracts, the companies, - every last shilling. And dear King James up and gave it to him. Ruined his father. Left the man one small estate in Scotland and one aged fishing boat to his name. Took it all this one did - every last shilling. When good King William first came to the throne, it was early in 1689. That first winter when Jackson returned it was November. By then William had been inundated by Jackson's father with stories about him," he said and the pirate still seemed to be breathing hard and looked noticeably pale now even upon casual observation.
"Well, good King William ordered Jackson home anyway. Told him he would not be involved in such a petty family squabble. All William really wanted was the shipping contracts maintained though. Told him to go settle things with his father. Turns out though, perhaps the dear lad was right. His father up and shot him practically as soon as he laid eyes on him. In the chest wasn't it Jackson? Should have killed you man - a shot like that. I don't care if you ended up with the Kings' personal physicians or not - it still should have killed you. From what I've heard though - it does seem to have some sort of residual after effects? You got sick last year and they told you, you had to stay out of the damp weather, didn't they? Well, don't worry lad - it won't be a concern you need worry about anymore. Your father will be delighted to hear of your passing, I daresay." He said with a coldly slithering smoothness.
Doctor Cook crossed to the pirate and with one hand on his hip spun the man to face him.
"A bullet in your lung? Oh, well no, when I asked you if you'd ever had any kind of medical problems with your lungs or breathing, why on earth would you mention being shot in the chest? Much less that the ball is still in there? You told me that scar was from a very minor accident? I suppose it wouldn't even occur to you that one of the problems with your recovery hasn't been just pneumonia from drowning, but that it might have something to do with a hunk of lead still being in your lung?" he asked in a loudly indignant tone. The pirate blinked at him hard twice, then swayed mildly as one hand came up and he looked up and to the side as if considering, then tilted his head.
"I don't really remember its' in there unless I hear it rattlin' around in my ribs man. Now hush." he said very dismissingly as he very firmly pushed the doctor back and aside towards others near the couch and then turned back and considered Reynolds with a small smile.
"Nice tale there lad, but you forget to say that everything I took went directly to my younger brother who was by then struggling to support my mother on an apprentice's salary after her dear husband had 'put her aside', as they say? He manages the contracts just fine it seems here the last few years. But I'll tell you what - I'll take YOU back to England, on my ship even - as my esteemed guest. How's that sound to ye?" he offered, one hand outturned as he sauntered away from the couch.
"You want me to take you back to England, so you can be hung?" Reynolds asked him and the pirate looked deeply amused as he smiled like a cat with a canary in its paws.
"Aye - lets do that, shall we?" he offered again and now the man narrowed his gaze at the pirate.
"You think they won't hang you for some reason." He stated and the pirate shrugged as he swayed.
"No, I know they won't. Not as long as William is King anyway. I'm afraid it's not exactly me who's going to be worrying about keeping his head if you plan on taking me back to England." He said confidently as he spun around with one hand upraised and a very arrogant grin despite his severe sway.
"I don't need to bother taking you anywhere Jackson, you were convicted long ago. It's no crime at all for me to shoot you dead right here and now." He threatened, the gun pointing now at the pirate. Jack half staggered a step and caught himself on the Governor's chair, giving him a very drunken seeming leer and pat on the head as if he were but a child.
Reynolds grew obviously more exasperated. "Good god man, can't you even stand up straight and pay attention when your very life is being threatened?" he asked of him hotly, the gun no more than 12 inches from the pirates' chest now. Not seeming aware of this, Jack leaned towards him to peer at him sloppily, and then he suddenly whirled and staggered some, catching himself on the back of the Governor's chair. He glared at the others in the room suspiciously.
'Threatened? By whom?" he demanded in an astonished tone as he considered them.
Reynolds rolled his eyes in exasperation and used a heavy hand to turn the pirate back towards him.
"ME, you stupid idiot! Aren't I the one here with a gun?" he demanded loudly as he put it back to the Governor's head. Jack backed up a step, hands up near to shoulder level, wrists limp as he cocked his head and made a face as if studying the situation, lips pursed, and then he shook his head some and looked back at Reynolds with an arched eyebrow.
"Looks to me like' it's the Governor you're threatening mate. Right nice of you actually. Although since you're in the mind, see that one right over there? The Commodore? And that other pesky one? I hope you brought more shot man, there's a few more than one of them. Here, want to use my gun?" he said as he abruptly waltzed over, claimed his own weapon by the barrel and handed it to the man so quickly that Reynolds didn't even have time to react.
"There, now you can get rid of at least two of them!" Jack said with a loose grin, clapping his hands together as would a delighted child as he very nearly; fell over and grabbed Reynolds' shoulder to regain his balance. Reynolds blinked at him hard and looked incredulous.
"No, you drunken moron! I'm going to shoot the Governor if you don't come with me! He's my hostage!" he said as he tossed the gun Jack had given him back on the chair. Jack backed away again with a drastic sway and puzzled frown, arching one eyebrow at the man skeptically, one hand poised in the air momentarily.
"So - let me get this straight here mate. You come in here, and take as your hostage the man who wouldn't hear of pardoning me last time - the man who hoped and fully planned to see ME hang that fine morning' - jus' lil' ole me and nobody else - and if I DON"T go with you, THEN you are going to shoot the man for me? This is the brilliant plan?" he asked with a strong slur, circling the man slowly, one hand eloquently tracing through the air until he came to stop at the man's other side and stepped closer to him.
"Shouldn't it be that you WON'T shoot him if I don't go with you? To tell you the truth, just between the two of us, there's a lot more motivation in it for me if you promise to get rid of the bloody bastard, if ye' know what I mean?" he asked with a heavy slur, as he weaved his way back and forth slowly in front of the man now, hands fluttering in beat to each inflection of his tone.
Reynolds frowned deeply at him, and then considered the other three men there. Jack turned to consider them as well, and then waved his hand in casual dismissal. "Ye really got the bad luck of the draw in the way of available hostages man. Why don't you come with me and we'll go see if we can find someone I'd not be falling at yer' feet in praise if ya' shoot em." He suggested as he waltzed staggeringly towards the door a few steps and turned back as if waiting.
"I only need you Stuart. I only need you. Well actually, proof of your death. I couldn't care less about the Governor myself! Do you have any idea how many men the French alone have sent to hunt you down, only never to hear from them again? It's over a dozen!" he said and Jack gave him a very smug smile.
"Oh I know exactly where they are mate - believe me.. Every last one o' the bloody gentlemen. They be sleepin' on the bottom of the deep blue sea is where they be, mate. Would you care to join them? You're not even a Frenchmen - least they were honest hunters," he observed with a careless slur and the intruder chuckled at the pirates' drunken stagger sideways and more away from the others near the couch.
Reynolds laughed mildly as the pirate came to rest against the table with the carafe of brandy on it and winced some as he thudded against it solidly with his hip. "I wasn't crazy enough to try and take you on the water Lord Stuart. That was their mistake. Do I look like a fool? Anyone who's looked at your record knows its suicide to try to take you on the water. Not that I even got the chance before you went and sunk my boat anyway." He said and the pirate seemed to ignore him as he went about the business of opening the carafe and sniffing at the contents
Jack held the bottle up, giving it a skeptical look with one arched eyebrow, then rummaged among the bottles and pulled out a glass and poured it nearly full. He quickly took a large swallow and made a face of dismay as it went down.
"Jackson Stuart! Are you even listening to me? Don't you realize that you are not walking out of this room alive?!" Reynolds demanded angrily and the pirate leaned back against the settee with a raised eyebrow. The man didn't even notice Will slowly reach towards the chair and claim Jack's gun and pass it back to Norrington.
"Yer just a bih upset cause I sunk your ship s'all. Not tha' I blame ye. 'Er, 'ave a drink mate - not bad, considering it be brandy anyway." He offered in a strong slur. He took a step as if to offer the container to the other, then frowned and quickly reached back for the piece of furniture as he swayed unsteadily and set the bottle down with a heavy 'clunk'. "Whoa there -" he breathed and shook his head some as if to clear it.
"Bloody hell Stuart, you're so drunk you can barely stand up! But at least I don't have to worry - you're not on the water here now are you man? Don't have your pretty little cannons now do you Jackson? Shame it is I suppose. Actually I'm surprised it isn't the Spanish who have the highest price on your head. It's their man of war you always manage to sink somehow. Tell me Jackson, honestly, how do you manage to sink a Spanish Galleon Man o' War when you only have what, 16 guns on that ship of yours?" He said and the pirate sighed at him and looked up at the ceiling as if in search of divine solace, then looked back at the man and cocked his head with a gold toned smile, leaning drastically against the settee with one hand in the air.
"Why will no one ever let that lie? It's usually one of the blasted things, not a fleet of them." He said in a slurred, pouting tone and the man laughed at him.
"One here, one there. You know, they did try to send a small fleet of them out after you - 3 of them I think it was. Apparently they couldn't find you before a hurricane got them. Course - their loss is my gain." He said and Jack gave a soft but very evil laugh, one hand parked on his hip.
"Hurricane was it? Ah yes, I remember that hurricane well. A positively spectacular night. One of my very best, if I do say so myself! Who was it that was in charge of that little expedition of theirs? Ah yes, the good Captain Juan Ferdinand Rodriguez. Man 'ad 7 children waiting for him at home and he's ordered out here to chase af'er me, on the water? But I am glad t' hear the man kept his word in telling them about that dastardly hurricane! Good man 'at one was. Worth savin' after all." He slurred purringly with a flip of one hand as he slowly staggered along the wall, drawing the mans' attention farther and farther from the ones left by the couch. Reynolds studied him for a moment, licking his lips nervously as he shifted uneasily. Jack yawned once; swaying drunkenly and then shook his head at the man.
"I don' know mate. Grabbin' a hostage I'd gladly pay ye to rid me of, holin' yerself up in a fort crawlin' with the Kings soldiers, and now you got me, and what are you gonna do with me? I'm sure part of the plan is that ye have t' get me outta here and down t' yer ship. Only now ye' don't have one. Guess we'll have to take mine." he drawled in a strong slur, swaying extremely with a disdainful look and Reynolds scowled at him.
"No I am not taking you on yours, you bloody fool! I swear to God, I do NOT see why anyone would have had even an instant's trouble capturing the likes of you! You have got to be the worst pirate in the entire Caribbean! It's a travesty to even call you such! Take you to your ship? I'd rather swim all the way!" he said hotly, losing patience as he abandoned Governor Swan to cross to the pirate and aim the gun squarely at Jack's chest.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come along now - I haven't got all night you know. Been a bit under the weather here lately. Can we please just go to whichever bloody ship it is that you think we're taking? I'm getting' kind of tired really fast here," the pirate said with a slur, but looking definitely weary now as he caught the eye of the doctor and Commodore Norrington both.
Quickly Reynolds crossed and grabbed him by the arm just above his elbow and propelled him around and towards the doorway now.
"I'd be delighted Lord Stuart - absolutely delighted!" he said in an overly sweet tone and Jack smiled as he swayed severely, one hand raised with a pointed finger.
"Ya know, yer a smart man fer a traitor. Not like some that just insist on doing something - stupid. I do appreciate a man like that. Now ye' know that once we get wherever it is that we're going, I'm rather obliged to try to escape, right?" he asked and Reynolds grinned at him happily as he paused just inside the doorway still.
"But of course Jackson. I wouldn't expect anything less of you. Although to be honest with you man, there's little need for either of us to bother. You are a convicted criminal. With a death sentence already levied against you. I don't need to be taking you anyplace really. Just proof of your death.." He said, raising the gun to point blank level at the pirate's chest. Suddenly a loud shot rang out and the smell of flashed powder. Jack gasped and staggered backwards two steps, eyes wide and with a hand to the center of his chest.
Reynolds collapsed in a heap on the floor. Instantly the doctor rushed forward to kneel by the man on the floor as Jack looked around at the others in shocked alarm.
"My shot" Commodore Norrington said, lowering the gun he held in his hand.
"What took you so bloody long! Don't scare me like that!" the pirate objected loudly as he backed away and into the couch behind him, any signs of him being drunk or off balance suddenly and entirely gone.
"Relax Jack - this man is dead.. But he was about to shoot you in the chest at point blank range!" the doctor informed him dryly and the pirate nodded and seemed quite pale as he stared down at the body and swallowed dryly.
"Yes, I can assure you I was well aware of the fact doctor. Not quite my plan, but better me than the Governor." He managed a bit breathlessly.
Now came the sound of running steps and 3 foot soldiers entered the room. They saw the pirate and instantly aimed their guns at him. Jack looked at them and rolled his eyes and then looked over at Norrington.
"Bloody speed demons you have there Commodore - I'd have been out the window and long gone by now if it were me," The pirate told him. He looked up as Gibbs suddenly arrived, quite out of breath. The pirate looked immensely relieved to see the older sailor.
"Sir, is Mr. Sparrow under arrest for the murder of Mr. Reynolds?" one of the soldiers asked eagerly. Norrington shook his head.
"No, it was I who shot the man. He's had a gun to Governor Swan's head and was using him as a hostage. Gentlemen, please remove the body and then leave us. I shall speak with you in a few moments." He said and they nodded and rose, quickly carrying the body away.
"Captain Sparrow - I just want to thank you. Brilliant performance - positively brilliant! Very convincing! But I absolutely object to your plan of letting him shoot you!" Swan said, the last shaking his finger at the pirate. Jack gave him a very weak smile and then turned as if looking for a way to get away from everyone.
"Jack are you all right?" Gibbs asked as he hurried to the pirate's side and the one shook his head, his breathing growing rapidly faster.
"Sure.. Umm, No -" He asked as he backed away.
"Yer not hurt lad. What's wrong?" Gibbs asked quickly and with concern.
"The bastard was no more than another bounty hunter - only this one was from my father." The pirate breathed shakily and swayed unsteadily.
Gibbs scowled hugely as the doctor crossed to Jack to take him by the arm.
"Wait - give me a second - too much - I'm just a little dizzy -" he breathed softly and the doctor nodded, not letting go of him.
"I'm not surprised you're dizzy. For the love of God, how could you not tell me you have a round of shot lodged in your lungs?" he said and stopped to consider the unsteady man. "Here Jack, I think we'd better have you sit down my friend, real quick like." He said kindly of the now colorless pirate as he tried to guide him towards the couch.
The pirate took three very unsteady steps and then stopped and turned back to the doctor with a vague mumble, shaking his head as he reached for him.
"It's all right - I'm right here." The doctor said very gently, managing to get his hands under the pirates' arms and pulling him closer just before the man's eyes slid closed and his knees suddenly gave way. The doctor seemed rather sympathetic as he caught the suddenly limp form that collapsed into him. He managed to get him the rest of the way to gently lay him down on the couch.
"A blanket for him please?" he said without looking up as he knelt to feel at the man's neck and then at his wrist and gently rested a hand on the one's chest. In a moment it was Will beside them, already spreading a blanket over the downed man.
"What happened? What's wrong with him?" he asked and the doctor sighed as he gently lifted the pirates' legs up onto a decorative pillow that festooned the end of the couch.
"Now don't you go getting as impatient as this one is please? You need to remember that it was only 17 days ago that the 'Rover' went up in flames and this fellow literally drowned in the bay. It's not like there's some kind of magic medicine I can give him that makes him better in just a few days, a week or so. No - I wish there were." He said and Will frowned at him.
"Think back Will - wasn't it one of Jack's pirate friends that said that they' d lost one of their own when the man nearly drowned and 3 weeks afterwards died from it?" he asked and the one's eyes widened and he looked to Gibbs who nodded.
"Aye - man by the name of Nicholas North. Good pirate. Jack knew him better than I did - but no, he was never the sort you'd ever expect a thing like that t' kill." He said unhappily and the doctor nodded.
"Was he much older than Jack?" the blacksmith asked and Gibbs frowned.
"More about the same age." He observed and the blacksmith frowned deeply from him to the pirate lying before him, to the doctor who was feeling the pirate's pulse at his neck.
"That's' not going to happen to Jack - right? It hasn't even been three weeks yet for him." He said and the physician gave him a small smile.
"I have no intention of letting it happen son; I can assure you of that. But - well now, this right here - considering that he was up an entire night - probably didn't sleep much more than half a day after that. He walked all the way from the Governor's residence down to the town - twice even. Then he was up sinking ships at probably the crack of dawn and managed to get up the hill to get here this morning - and then everything tonight? The racing through the streets and all to get up here. all of this from a patient I said should not be leaving the house at all for a while after just his one night's adventures into town? I can tell you that this young man should have been on the floor long before now. I think his anxiety over Reynolds' was all that was keeping him on his feet here tonight. Once that danger was over - then yes, it's going to catch up with him fast." He said and Will gently touched the back of his hand to his friend's forehead.
"He's not running a fever at least?" he asked and the doctor sighed as he felt himself with his entire hand.
"No, in fact he's cool and clammy - that's shock. He's had far too much excitement and activity these last two days, despite how much he might like to think otherwise," He said and the blacksmith frowned at him.
"You want to take him back to the Governor's residence?" he asked and the doctor looked up at Gibbs.
"No, I'd rather he be on his ship when he wakes up this time, if that's all right? Is it possible for him to actually rest when he's on the ship?" he asked and the older sailor smiled very broadly as he nodded.
"Oh it's more than all right Doc, more than all right. We can always lock him in his cabin. I did one other time. He had a concussion and kept doing his best to fall overboard on us, or outta the rigging - although he got a bit upset about that. But yes, he'll do better on the Pearl. Don't suppose you'd maybe be comin' with him? Just t' make sure that other don't happen?" he asked rather hopefully and the man smiled.
"And just what are the chances he'll throw me overboard if he wakes up and I'm there? I don't think Jack is one to be told to stay in bed on the ship any more than he would on land." he observed and the older sailor thought for a moment, and then looked at him.
"Bed?" He asked and the doctor sighed.
"Well - no, not bed really. By tomorrow maybe he'll probably be up again for some time. Just not - not what all he's been up to today would be very nice to see." He said rather ruefully and Gibbs cocked his head at the doctor.
"Ye can swim, right?" he asked and the doctor nodded warily.
Gibbs flashed his broadest smile.
"Well then no worries! We'll just fish ye back out as many times as he throws ye in!" he said and the Doctor half chuckled with a reproving look at the man.
"Oh, how very reassuring" he said dryly and Commodore Norrington really did have to keep himself from laughing at the man's tone.
~ * * ~
AnaMaria sat in the chair beside the large bed in the dimly lit cabin, watching the man in the bed just sleep peacefully. She chewed on her lip as she stared. A Lord. Jack Sparrow was really some kind of English lord. He hadn't been acting any different, aside from being sick - but he also didn't know that she had overheard him. She sighed heavily to herself. It really kind of hurt that in all these years he'd never even hinted that he had another name of any kind, much less being some kind of Lord.
Ever since the doctor had found out about the round still being embedded in Jack's chest, he'd actually been doing a lot better. She had to admit that the pirate had worried here when they had brought him aboard, unconscious, and it had taken him over 35 hours to wake up. By then the fever had come back on him as well. Not enough to make him delirious, just enough to make him feel miserable. He hadn't even resisted the doctor's order that he stay in bed until it was past. In fact, all he had done those 3 days was sleep nearly constantly.
She really had hated it when the doctor came and made him lie on his side and cough on purpose. She'd thought he was long past that stage awhile back. Turned out you just had to get him started and he'd do it long enough to make you worry. But whatever was coming out of him seemed to be good to get out.
The doctor had ordered that his cabin be heated well before sundown and the windows open in daytime. At first she had thought the man really was pushing it - dictating exactly what the Captain would be given to eat - confiscating his pipe and tobacco and insisting he drink his various concoctions of fruit juices, herbs and Lord only knows what else he put in them.
But now it had been the 3 weeks that Gibbs had seemed to be worried about. Okay, so it was 3 weeks and one day as of tonight.
She heard the door open quietly and looked over to find no less than he doctor himself. Instead of being surprised or rebuking her, the man smiled at her easily.
"If you need to do something -" she started as she half rose and he quickly waved her back down.
"No, just came to check on him before I turn in for the night. No nightmares or coughing?" he asked and looked pleased when she shook her head.
She watched as he carefully sat on the side of the bed and took out a little bell shaped piece that was connected to a hollow tube. He held the tube to one ear; then very gently set the bell piece against the sleeping man's chest. He saw her wary look and motioned for her to come near, and then kneel. He put the tube end by her ear and moved the bell piece to the middle of his chest. Her eyebrows widened as she heard the steady full beating of his heart.
"Here's what I listen for" he said and moved it to his right side and a bit down and she heard a sound almost like wind moving though trees. Then he moved it to the left side and now the leaves were more rustling and crackling. He let her listen, and then moved it up more and there was a place where instead of wind it was barely a whisper. She gave him an alarmed look.
"My guess is that that's where the round is in his lung. He has scar tissue in there and that area doesn't quite work the way it did before," he told her and she frowned at him.
"Can you take it out for him?" she asked and he shook his head.
"No, to even try would almost certainly kill him. You've seen honey comb beehives, right?" he asked and she nodded.
"Well, that's kind of what a lung is like, only the little spaces all kind of open and squeeze closed and open and squeeze closed - or so we think. When there's that phlegm in him - it makes that crackling sound like rustling leaves as it kind of sticks while its' moving. Where he was shot, well those spaces were just mostly destroyed and that's why you don't hear much there. It really should have killed him. The amount of crackles that he has is what I'm watching.. But he's doing very well now. You should have heard him when you two first got back. He was nothing but crackles and quiet places here and there." He said as he laid the instrument aside and drew the blankets up over the man and close around his neck and ear even.
"You think he'll be alright now?" she asked and he smiled gladly.
"Oh, I'd bet money on him now. He's always going to have that quiet area where the ball is.. And some crackling around that area overall - he can't help that. He's lucky to be alive to have it. But when he gets sick - if he's coughing at all, would you please tell whoever takes care of him about that round in his lung? It makes a big difference in how you approach trying to get him well." He said with a sincere look and she sighed and nodded.
"Usually nobody takes care of him. Just Gibbs and me. He'll stop and get a doctor for one of the boys, but not for himself, and he never wants us to." She told him and he sighed.
"I wish you had a ship's doctor - to tell you the truth. Is there a reason he won't have one?" he asked and she half shrugged.
"Last one he got to be good friends with. Told the man to stay below when we got into a ruckus - and he didn't. Ended up getting shot through the head tryin' to go help somebody topside. Jack was real upset about it - and even more so when we lost all 4 of the boys who'd been in the infirmary as his patients at the start of that day. Too bad really - that one did good with Jack. Bossy enough to keep him in bed some days - smart enough to know when to pretend he didn't see him up doing whatever on others. Not at all to stuffy to sit there and play cards with him. Whoever had the losing hand had to drink the glass of juice sittin' there between them. That man learned to cheat at cards really quick like" she told him and he chuckled. She gave him a rather shy look.
"You remind me of him. A lot. Ye just don't have his accent. Especially that day you was on the wharf yelling up at Jack about sneaking off on you. He looked at me and he said 'who the bloody hell IS this man, Duncan's brother?' Gibbs laughed and said no, but you'd think he was related, wouldn't ye? You're in trouble now Captain." She said and he smiled broadly, then froze as the pirate beside him stirred mildly, then settled back into the blankets with an incoherent half mumble.
"Well, I'd better turn in - this one is up at the crack of dawn, I swear," he said of Jack and she smiled shyly and nodded, waiting for him to invite her to leave with him. To her surprise he didn't suggest it at all and was quickly gone.
She moved up to sit in his place on the bed instead and just sat quietly, one hand resting lightly on the pirates back. Within a short time he began breathing harder, faster, then shifted, a dark scowl on his features even as he half moaned and tossed his head.
"Shhh Jack - it's just a dream," she soothed with a hand on his chest. To her surprise he caught her hand tightly in his own.
"No Ana - no - don' leave -" he moaned in an upset tone and she frowned.
"Jack - wake up - I'm right here." She called, unwilling to be the cause of his nightmares. She pat his cheek and he startled with a soft gasp - eyes frantic at first until he realized it was her.
"Oh thank god," he reacted with quickly and she frowned at him.
"What's wrong Jack? Ye know I'm not goin' anywhere, don't ye?" she asked and he refused to look at her.
"Look at me Sparrow," she said firmly, lifting his chin, and was struck by the deep uncertainty she saw in his eyes.
"Jack, what's wrong? You can tell me," she soothed and he gave a very shaky sigh.
"I - I . Well - I keep dreamin'.." He said and left off and she considered him.
"If it's just a dream Jack -" she said and he looked even more upset at her words.
"It's not" he whispered and she frowned down at him with concern. She felt him shiver even under all the layers of blankets.
She surprised him by laying down beside him, propping her head up one elbow as with her other hand she gently toyed with the braids of his hair.
"Ye don't have to tell me Jack - just relax," she said as she scooted closer, wanting only to reassure and calm him now. His breathing slowed and he seemed so still that she was sure he'd gone back to sleep, when instead he sighed shallowly.
"I keep dreaming - that I tell you about my family - where I came from - and ye get really mad at me for not tellin' ye before," he nearly whispered. Her heart leapt, but she kept her smooth, light stroking at an even and steady rate for him.
"Can it be that bad?" she asked and he sighed and nodded. She smiled mildly down at him.
"Want me to tell ye what I guess then?" she asked and he opened his eyes to consider her almost fearfully. It just totally and completely undid her to see him care so much what she thought.
"Here's what I think Jack Sparrow," she said and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Well, for one, I'm pretty sure that's not yer name from birth - at least not the Sparrow part. But if you were gonna pick another one to use, I'm glad you didn't decide to be Jack Smith - or Smithy, if ye prefer." She said and caught a small ghost of his smile.
"Stuart... Jackson Stuart" he whispered and she only nodded, still gently toying with his hair.
"And I know yer not from around here. Just by how ye are. Ye know too much - about all kinds of things. Smart things - history, maps, figurin' - documents, all kind of stuff. So my guess is ye must be from a family that had money to send you to some fancy school someplace. Someplace where they say things like 'savvy' maybe?" she observed and he nodded just a little bit as with one finger he absently toyed with her hair on the pillow beside him.
"Jack - my guess is that there's a good reason you're out here instead of there. Usually is. And yer surely not the only man in the Caribbean who walked out of 1 place and ended up here instead. I'm just glad yer here, instead of there.. Even if you are the 'daftest' pirate this side of heaven." She said, punctuating her words with a soft kiss to his forehead, then his cheek, then his nose, and the last to his lips, but not lingering too long.
Before he could react to her kisses, she drew him into a hug and laid down with an arm over him.
"I figure you'll tell me when you're ready," she said softly as she closed her eyes, still very gently stroking the dark locks.
She felt him finally relax and snuggle into her arms closer - and then he started to tell her a long and involved story in an almost whispered voice. The telling took hours and caused her only to bring him closer when it came to the difficult parts along the way. It was half way to morning when he finally left off just about the time he was telling her about commandeering her boat to get to Port Royal. She looked down to find he'd fallen asleep, mid sentence even.
With a gentle touch she dried his cheeks, then nestled against his hair and closed her eyes. She marveled at the fact that he was only half daft, at the fact that he had managed to trust her - or anyone ever at all. She marveled at the fact that he was alive even - and she was very, very glad he was sleeping exactly where he belonged on such a night.
*********************************
Only the epilogue now left for this tale....
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
*************************
Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. The battle has been waged... The lost captain has been recovered, so what else could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 25: When Lightening Strikes
The Doctor and Norrington dragged Jack into a small hidden barn-like alcove created out of the ruins of a building that they were shown to. They were out of breath from dragging the pirate who had quickly gotten heavy once they were on foot.
"We're not going to get out of this James. There is no way. It's too far and now the place is full of your soldiers. It's only a matter of time." The doctor panted as he collapsed on a pile of hay, beside the limp pirate. Norrington leaned against a cart behind them, breathing hard.
He watched as the moonlight showed the pirate tossing his head with a murmur and raising one hand for a moment, but then it collapsed across his stomach. The doctor had watched as well and sighed.
"This is what I get for giving you laudanum. Never again Jack, I swear." He said breathlessly and looked up as Norrington wove his way over to fall on his knees beside the pirate.
"Jack! You have to wake up! Please!" he said, tapping at the man's cheek firmly. The pirate frowned and murmured firmly with a disgruntled sound. The doctor perked up some.
"Try that again -" he said and Norrington did, and this time the one's eyes fluttered briefly open, then closed as he brought both his hands up towards his chest with a vague growl.
Now the doctor turned, feeling quickly at the man's neck for his pulse and then at his chest for his breathing and nodded.
"It's going to take some doing, but maybe," he said as he looked around the area they were in.
Norrington pulled the pirate so he was sitting up more but still resting in the straw and shook him hard with one hand as he slapped at his cheek fairly hard with his other and the pirate protested vaguely, trying to raise a hand to ward off the blows.
"Jack, we don't have all day. Come on you bloody pirate - wake up!" Norrington growled.
The pirate briefly opened his eyes to blink at him as if heavily drugged and confused, and then he let them close again.
The doctor put his hand on Norrington's shoulder as they heard voices coming. Quickly the doctor put his hand over Jack's mouth as the voices got closer, but then passed on - then seemed to come back their way after all.
"We have to get him out of here James." The doctor said with an urgently desperate tone as the voices seemed to be circling around behind them now and Norrington also looked alarmed as he nodded.
He grasped the pirate by his shirt and raised him up some and shook him hard.
"Jackson Meriwether Stuart! If you don't wake up this bloody second I'm going to let the Spanish take you! They're right here - now for god's sake- " he hissed roughly in the mans' face, tryin to 'shock' him awake.
It worked.
The pirate's eyes suddenly flew open and he jerked severely.
The doctor stared at them both, open-mouthed as Norrington let go and the pirate abruptly sat up and Norrington caught him to keep him from falling forward.
"Wher? Where are they? Ah nee' tuh get outta here -" the pirate murmured, trying to get to his knees, severely disoriented and off balance.
"Jack - Jack its' me. Look at me." Norrington commanded and the one did so, his eyes coming clear as he looked around, saw the doctor, and took in their surroundings. The voices came louder now and the doctor suddenly pulled the pirate back against him with a hand over his mouth.
"Shhh - listen" he whispered to the alarmed man, and the pirate stilled. The voices came nearer, but then came a shout from another alleyway over and they all seemed to quickly run off in that direction. The doctor removed his hand from the pirate's mouth and gave a huge sigh of relief. He frowned down at the pirate who seemed to be growing rather heavy against him. He scowled at finding the man's eyes closed again.
"Jack! No! Come on - we need you to stay awake!" he said as he shook him, and the pirate's eyes snapped open with an alarmed intake of breath.
"Where am I? What's goin' on?" Jack asked as he blinked back at the doctor as if surprised to see him.
"You were right. Reynolds told the Governor he is here to take you back to England for questioning. Wants to find out what you know about his missing Lord. Then he said they plan to hang you." The Commodore said and the pirate blinked at him, and then shook his head as if to clear it.
"Well he's gonna have one hell of a bloody time finding their blasted Lord if they be hangin' ME for Christ's sake. How are we getting' out of here?" he asked as he used the doctor's shoulder and Norrington's to rise and staggered severely at first.
The doctor rose, grabbing the pirate's arm as he frowned at him, then at Norrington.
"You are NOT going to tell me that THIS is the missing Lord Stuart himself -" he left off with a nod at Jack and Norrington's face went blank. The doctor turned to Jack who shook off his hand.
"Bloody hell man, do I look like a Lord to you?" he asked as he went to the door and peered out a hole.
"That's not an answer to my question Jack. I saw the flyer weeks ago when you were missing." The doctor intoned gravely and the one looked back at him with a deep frown.
"You really must be related to the Commodore's dear Mr. Gillette. Always askin' questions when we really do have an urgent matter to attend to? First cousins perhaps? Do you mind if I save my neck first and then you can do - whatever it is you plan on doing? Where the bloody hell is my ship?" he demanded, hands fluttering unconsciously.
The Doctor suddenly caught the pirates' right hand and stared at the ring the man wore on his forefinger. His eyes widened.
"Sod' off, you bloody blasted fool, how do you know I didn't kill the man and take if off his cold, dead body?" he demanded gruffly as he yanked his hand away.
"A year ago I would have easily believed that you had done exactly that Jack - 6 weeks ago even I would have believed that. But I've gotten to know you better in the last few weeks here. I know you didn't do that." The doctor answered, still staring at the pirate.
"Norrington, exactly where is this blasted idiot Reynolds?" Jack asked, ignoring the physician and the military man shook his head.
"Up at the fort I assume, with Governor Swan still - why?" he said and the pirate scowled.
"Cause there is no way that man is leaving here alive to report to anyone. I need to find him." He said as he turned back and found both of them staring at him incredulously.
"You can't kill the man in cold blood Jack!" Norrington told him and the pirate scowled back but said nothing as he opened the door a little bit and looked out.
"Oh good, let's go." He said and the other two frowned at him.
"Where do you think you are going?" the doctor demanded in a whisper and the one smiled slyly.
"We're looking for soldiers who have gotten tired of hunting for us and left their nice horsies unwatched, for us to borrow." He said cheerfully, then stepped out, looked, and then skulked along the wall. Norrington and the Doctor exchanged deep frowns, but followed.
He led them through more alleys, down a street, through ruins and upwards until they found a group of three soldiers standing by a wagon that had been tipped over, yielding lots of spilled fruit to which the men were helping themselves. Before either Norrington or the doctor knew what he was doing, the pirate had picked up three sizeable chunks of rubble and thrown them at the men in rapid succession. All three crumpled to the ground and he scurried forward.
"What if you had missed?" Norrington demanded catching up with him.
"I don't miss! I'm Captain Jack Sparrow! And don't you forget it son - I don't care who tells you otherwise!" he whispered back and Norrington shook his head in disbelief.
He watched in surprise as the pirate confiscated a pistol from one of the men, located the three horses, and leapt easily up into the saddle.
"I don't believe you. You can ride?" The doctor observed and the pirate grinned as he easily wheeled the horse around.
"Watch me mate. Kinda happens when you have a little brother that practically eats, drinks, lives and breathes horses. Takes all kinds, savvy?" he asked as if exasperated, then frowned mildly. "Where are we headed anyway?" he asked and Norrington sighed.
"The Pearl is supposed to meet us at the north end of the island at dawn. But we have to get out of here first Jack." He said and the one smiled mischievously.
"No - unless the two of you have gone and done something stupid, I'm the only one they're actually looking for! The two of you can go back to the Governor's mansion! Make sure everyone there is safe. If you see any of my crew, tell them I'll meet them at the ship." He said and abruptly spurred the horse ahead, taking off.
'Jack! You bloody, daft fool! Come back here!" the Doctor reacted with and took off after him. Norrington rolled his eyes and shook his head and hurried to catch up.
The pirate raced the horse through the streets, leaping over small piles of rubble and zigzagging recklessly through ruins, seeming even more determined to outdistance them when he saw they were not headed for the Governor's residence and not caring at what risk it took to do it. As he neared the turn in the road, Jack looked back and then suddenly veered off towards the fort. They both understood now why he'd taken off on his own and tried to send them off to the Governor's.
Jack's horse went thundering up the hillside. He didn't even bother trying to be quiet as he slid off and stormed into the fort, the gun he'd taken from one of the soldiers already drawn from his waist. He entered Norrington's office and stopped. The doctor and Norrington were through the door not more than a moment or two behind him. Both of them suddenly froze at the scene they found before them.
Jack had both of his hands in a midair careless gesture; the gun dangling from one fingertip as he slowly sidled away from the doorway and the others who had come in behind him. He stared intently at Reynolds whose hand rested on Governor Swan's shoulder with the tip of the flintlock pistol resting against the man's grey wig as the Governor sat in a chair in nearly the center of the room. The young William Turner sat there on the couch, also in front of Reynolds, looking a bit bedraggled, but not too hurt at least. Not yet anyway.
"William?" the pirate asked and the younger man scowled.
"I was on my way out of the town when some of the soldiers stopped me." He said unhappily, and Jack nodded with a mild frown.
Reynolds carefully and slowly looked Jack up and down once, twice, then three times, and a slow smile came to his features.
"Well, well, well. I don't really believe it! Lord Jackson Meriwether Stuart, in the living flesh! My god, it really IS you isn't it? I did not believe the captain of that ship when he described you! Well, you've certainly been a difficult little bugger to flush out I'll have you know man. I thought sure you'd at least try to find out who was behind that flyer will all that rubbish on it." he said with a dark laugh.
"He? You think Jack is actually this missing Lord Stuart?" Will asked in extreme disbelief.
"No, you stupid idiot, I KNOW he is Lord Stuart. The bloody man sunk my ship even!" Reynolds countered, and Will stared at the pirate as if more than a bit surprised. The pirate glanced at him and gave a helpless shrug, and then went back to studying the intruder...
"Leave Swan here." Jack said simply but sternly, and the man chuckled softly.
"Oh I think not Lord Stuart, I think not. Commodore, gentlemen, over here. " Reynolds said as he waved the other two to come to William's side where they would not be in the path of exit and yet he could keep an eye on them.
Jack considered him with a narrow gaze, one hand rising as if a bit indecisive as with the other he casually tossed the gun he held over onto a chair. "You know, they would have been more than happy to let you have me for questioning as Jack Sparrow mate. You really didn't have to go to all of this bother with the good Governor." He told the man with a soft slur and brief flutter of one hand and the man looked amused.
"No, I have heard the story of your playing the part of guardian angel over this town the last few weeks. I realized there was no way they would just hand you over to me to let me take you back to England for questioning. Last time I was here I mentioned that after we questioned you, I was sure we could arrange to hang you for them. I had no idea you had become quite the town hero." He said, and Jack laughed cheerfully, swaying some as he waltzed around the area between him and the Governor a little bit.
"As if you had any intention of taking me to England. Shame on you sir!" he scolded with a slur, waving a pointed finger at the man and Reynolds laughed.
"Oh you don't know the half of it Jackson! I don't work for the English or the French at the moment. In fact, I am supposed to give you your father's regards when I see you - but whether I just kill you now or later or take you to him and let him deal with you, that's entirely up to my discretion. But I do think it would not be wise to keep you around too long. You'll definitely be easier to handle dead, as I've been warned." he said and Jack frowned at him.
"I don't believe you. Not even my father would do that." He half growled and Reynolds smirked at him.
"Actually, he's paying me quite a handsome fee to find you and dispose of you. The French are also paying a bounty. Of course I only need to prove you're dead to satisfy them. Between the two of them, you're worth a small fortune as soon as you quit breathing, my good man." He said very snidely, and now Jack took a step back with a dark look.
"That's a lie," said the pirate who seemed to be breathing very fast and shallowly with a mildly confused look to his eyes and Reynolds chuckled.
"Oh how your father would love to see the look on your face this very moment.. I will be sure to describe your reaction in detail. Having a bit of problem breathing are we Lord Stuart? That lead bullet of your father's in your lung ever give you any trouble?" he asked.
Doctor Cook frowned deeply at the pirates' reaction. "Jack - you shouldn't just believe this man, what he says doesn't even make sense. Your father is going to spend heaven only knows how much money to hire someone to come kill you?" he asked and Reynolds chuckled lowly as he stared at the pirate.
"Oh Jackson knows very well why his father might wish him ill. King Charles was the one who got this lad so upset he was taking nearly every English ship he laid eyes upon. When James became King, he wanted our dear pirate here to stop taking his ships. Had to bring him in by force actually, didn't they Jackson? Captured you in the Leewards wasn't it? Told Jackson to name his price tag to leave them alone. And of course our dear sweet, magnanimous pirate here - he said he wanted all of his fathers' ownings - then and there. The land, the estate, the titles, the contracts, the companies, - every last shilling. And dear King James up and gave it to him. Ruined his father. Left the man one small estate in Scotland and one aged fishing boat to his name. Took it all this one did - every last shilling. When good King William first came to the throne, it was early in 1689. That first winter when Jackson returned it was November. By then William had been inundated by Jackson's father with stories about him," he said and the pirate still seemed to be breathing hard and looked noticeably pale now even upon casual observation.
"Well, good King William ordered Jackson home anyway. Told him he would not be involved in such a petty family squabble. All William really wanted was the shipping contracts maintained though. Told him to go settle things with his father. Turns out though, perhaps the dear lad was right. His father up and shot him practically as soon as he laid eyes on him. In the chest wasn't it Jackson? Should have killed you man - a shot like that. I don't care if you ended up with the Kings' personal physicians or not - it still should have killed you. From what I've heard though - it does seem to have some sort of residual after effects? You got sick last year and they told you, you had to stay out of the damp weather, didn't they? Well, don't worry lad - it won't be a concern you need worry about anymore. Your father will be delighted to hear of your passing, I daresay." He said with a coldly slithering smoothness.
Doctor Cook crossed to the pirate and with one hand on his hip spun the man to face him.
"A bullet in your lung? Oh, well no, when I asked you if you'd ever had any kind of medical problems with your lungs or breathing, why on earth would you mention being shot in the chest? Much less that the ball is still in there? You told me that scar was from a very minor accident? I suppose it wouldn't even occur to you that one of the problems with your recovery hasn't been just pneumonia from drowning, but that it might have something to do with a hunk of lead still being in your lung?" he asked in a loudly indignant tone. The pirate blinked at him hard twice, then swayed mildly as one hand came up and he looked up and to the side as if considering, then tilted his head.
"I don't really remember its' in there unless I hear it rattlin' around in my ribs man. Now hush." he said very dismissingly as he very firmly pushed the doctor back and aside towards others near the couch and then turned back and considered Reynolds with a small smile.
"Nice tale there lad, but you forget to say that everything I took went directly to my younger brother who was by then struggling to support my mother on an apprentice's salary after her dear husband had 'put her aside', as they say? He manages the contracts just fine it seems here the last few years. But I'll tell you what - I'll take YOU back to England, on my ship even - as my esteemed guest. How's that sound to ye?" he offered, one hand outturned as he sauntered away from the couch.
"You want me to take you back to England, so you can be hung?" Reynolds asked him and the pirate looked deeply amused as he smiled like a cat with a canary in its paws.
"Aye - lets do that, shall we?" he offered again and now the man narrowed his gaze at the pirate.
"You think they won't hang you for some reason." He stated and the pirate shrugged as he swayed.
"No, I know they won't. Not as long as William is King anyway. I'm afraid it's not exactly me who's going to be worrying about keeping his head if you plan on taking me back to England." He said confidently as he spun around with one hand upraised and a very arrogant grin despite his severe sway.
"I don't need to bother taking you anywhere Jackson, you were convicted long ago. It's no crime at all for me to shoot you dead right here and now." He threatened, the gun pointing now at the pirate. Jack half staggered a step and caught himself on the Governor's chair, giving him a very drunken seeming leer and pat on the head as if he were but a child.
Reynolds grew obviously more exasperated. "Good god man, can't you even stand up straight and pay attention when your very life is being threatened?" he asked of him hotly, the gun no more than 12 inches from the pirates' chest now. Not seeming aware of this, Jack leaned towards him to peer at him sloppily, and then he suddenly whirled and staggered some, catching himself on the back of the Governor's chair. He glared at the others in the room suspiciously.
'Threatened? By whom?" he demanded in an astonished tone as he considered them.
Reynolds rolled his eyes in exasperation and used a heavy hand to turn the pirate back towards him.
"ME, you stupid idiot! Aren't I the one here with a gun?" he demanded loudly as he put it back to the Governor's head. Jack backed up a step, hands up near to shoulder level, wrists limp as he cocked his head and made a face as if studying the situation, lips pursed, and then he shook his head some and looked back at Reynolds with an arched eyebrow.
"Looks to me like' it's the Governor you're threatening mate. Right nice of you actually. Although since you're in the mind, see that one right over there? The Commodore? And that other pesky one? I hope you brought more shot man, there's a few more than one of them. Here, want to use my gun?" he said as he abruptly waltzed over, claimed his own weapon by the barrel and handed it to the man so quickly that Reynolds didn't even have time to react.
"There, now you can get rid of at least two of them!" Jack said with a loose grin, clapping his hands together as would a delighted child as he very nearly; fell over and grabbed Reynolds' shoulder to regain his balance. Reynolds blinked at him hard and looked incredulous.
"No, you drunken moron! I'm going to shoot the Governor if you don't come with me! He's my hostage!" he said as he tossed the gun Jack had given him back on the chair. Jack backed away again with a drastic sway and puzzled frown, arching one eyebrow at the man skeptically, one hand poised in the air momentarily.
"So - let me get this straight here mate. You come in here, and take as your hostage the man who wouldn't hear of pardoning me last time - the man who hoped and fully planned to see ME hang that fine morning' - jus' lil' ole me and nobody else - and if I DON"T go with you, THEN you are going to shoot the man for me? This is the brilliant plan?" he asked with a strong slur, circling the man slowly, one hand eloquently tracing through the air until he came to stop at the man's other side and stepped closer to him.
"Shouldn't it be that you WON'T shoot him if I don't go with you? To tell you the truth, just between the two of us, there's a lot more motivation in it for me if you promise to get rid of the bloody bastard, if ye' know what I mean?" he asked with a heavy slur, as he weaved his way back and forth slowly in front of the man now, hands fluttering in beat to each inflection of his tone.
Reynolds frowned deeply at him, and then considered the other three men there. Jack turned to consider them as well, and then waved his hand in casual dismissal. "Ye really got the bad luck of the draw in the way of available hostages man. Why don't you come with me and we'll go see if we can find someone I'd not be falling at yer' feet in praise if ya' shoot em." He suggested as he waltzed staggeringly towards the door a few steps and turned back as if waiting.
"I only need you Stuart. I only need you. Well actually, proof of your death. I couldn't care less about the Governor myself! Do you have any idea how many men the French alone have sent to hunt you down, only never to hear from them again? It's over a dozen!" he said and Jack gave him a very smug smile.
"Oh I know exactly where they are mate - believe me.. Every last one o' the bloody gentlemen. They be sleepin' on the bottom of the deep blue sea is where they be, mate. Would you care to join them? You're not even a Frenchmen - least they were honest hunters," he observed with a careless slur and the intruder chuckled at the pirates' drunken stagger sideways and more away from the others near the couch.
Reynolds laughed mildly as the pirate came to rest against the table with the carafe of brandy on it and winced some as he thudded against it solidly with his hip. "I wasn't crazy enough to try and take you on the water Lord Stuart. That was their mistake. Do I look like a fool? Anyone who's looked at your record knows its suicide to try to take you on the water. Not that I even got the chance before you went and sunk my boat anyway." He said and the pirate seemed to ignore him as he went about the business of opening the carafe and sniffing at the contents
Jack held the bottle up, giving it a skeptical look with one arched eyebrow, then rummaged among the bottles and pulled out a glass and poured it nearly full. He quickly took a large swallow and made a face of dismay as it went down.
"Jackson Stuart! Are you even listening to me? Don't you realize that you are not walking out of this room alive?!" Reynolds demanded angrily and the pirate leaned back against the settee with a raised eyebrow. The man didn't even notice Will slowly reach towards the chair and claim Jack's gun and pass it back to Norrington.
"Yer just a bih upset cause I sunk your ship s'all. Not tha' I blame ye. 'Er, 'ave a drink mate - not bad, considering it be brandy anyway." He offered in a strong slur. He took a step as if to offer the container to the other, then frowned and quickly reached back for the piece of furniture as he swayed unsteadily and set the bottle down with a heavy 'clunk'. "Whoa there -" he breathed and shook his head some as if to clear it.
"Bloody hell Stuart, you're so drunk you can barely stand up! But at least I don't have to worry - you're not on the water here now are you man? Don't have your pretty little cannons now do you Jackson? Shame it is I suppose. Actually I'm surprised it isn't the Spanish who have the highest price on your head. It's their man of war you always manage to sink somehow. Tell me Jackson, honestly, how do you manage to sink a Spanish Galleon Man o' War when you only have what, 16 guns on that ship of yours?" He said and the pirate sighed at him and looked up at the ceiling as if in search of divine solace, then looked back at the man and cocked his head with a gold toned smile, leaning drastically against the settee with one hand in the air.
"Why will no one ever let that lie? It's usually one of the blasted things, not a fleet of them." He said in a slurred, pouting tone and the man laughed at him.
"One here, one there. You know, they did try to send a small fleet of them out after you - 3 of them I think it was. Apparently they couldn't find you before a hurricane got them. Course - their loss is my gain." He said and Jack gave a soft but very evil laugh, one hand parked on his hip.
"Hurricane was it? Ah yes, I remember that hurricane well. A positively spectacular night. One of my very best, if I do say so myself! Who was it that was in charge of that little expedition of theirs? Ah yes, the good Captain Juan Ferdinand Rodriguez. Man 'ad 7 children waiting for him at home and he's ordered out here to chase af'er me, on the water? But I am glad t' hear the man kept his word in telling them about that dastardly hurricane! Good man 'at one was. Worth savin' after all." He slurred purringly with a flip of one hand as he slowly staggered along the wall, drawing the mans' attention farther and farther from the ones left by the couch. Reynolds studied him for a moment, licking his lips nervously as he shifted uneasily. Jack yawned once; swaying drunkenly and then shook his head at the man.
"I don' know mate. Grabbin' a hostage I'd gladly pay ye to rid me of, holin' yerself up in a fort crawlin' with the Kings soldiers, and now you got me, and what are you gonna do with me? I'm sure part of the plan is that ye have t' get me outta here and down t' yer ship. Only now ye' don't have one. Guess we'll have to take mine." he drawled in a strong slur, swaying extremely with a disdainful look and Reynolds scowled at him.
"No I am not taking you on yours, you bloody fool! I swear to God, I do NOT see why anyone would have had even an instant's trouble capturing the likes of you! You have got to be the worst pirate in the entire Caribbean! It's a travesty to even call you such! Take you to your ship? I'd rather swim all the way!" he said hotly, losing patience as he abandoned Governor Swan to cross to the pirate and aim the gun squarely at Jack's chest.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come along now - I haven't got all night you know. Been a bit under the weather here lately. Can we please just go to whichever bloody ship it is that you think we're taking? I'm getting' kind of tired really fast here," the pirate said with a slur, but looking definitely weary now as he caught the eye of the doctor and Commodore Norrington both.
Quickly Reynolds crossed and grabbed him by the arm just above his elbow and propelled him around and towards the doorway now.
"I'd be delighted Lord Stuart - absolutely delighted!" he said in an overly sweet tone and Jack smiled as he swayed severely, one hand raised with a pointed finger.
"Ya know, yer a smart man fer a traitor. Not like some that just insist on doing something - stupid. I do appreciate a man like that. Now ye' know that once we get wherever it is that we're going, I'm rather obliged to try to escape, right?" he asked and Reynolds grinned at him happily as he paused just inside the doorway still.
"But of course Jackson. I wouldn't expect anything less of you. Although to be honest with you man, there's little need for either of us to bother. You are a convicted criminal. With a death sentence already levied against you. I don't need to be taking you anyplace really. Just proof of your death.." He said, raising the gun to point blank level at the pirate's chest. Suddenly a loud shot rang out and the smell of flashed powder. Jack gasped and staggered backwards two steps, eyes wide and with a hand to the center of his chest.
Reynolds collapsed in a heap on the floor. Instantly the doctor rushed forward to kneel by the man on the floor as Jack looked around at the others in shocked alarm.
"My shot" Commodore Norrington said, lowering the gun he held in his hand.
"What took you so bloody long! Don't scare me like that!" the pirate objected loudly as he backed away and into the couch behind him, any signs of him being drunk or off balance suddenly and entirely gone.
"Relax Jack - this man is dead.. But he was about to shoot you in the chest at point blank range!" the doctor informed him dryly and the pirate nodded and seemed quite pale as he stared down at the body and swallowed dryly.
"Yes, I can assure you I was well aware of the fact doctor. Not quite my plan, but better me than the Governor." He managed a bit breathlessly.
Now came the sound of running steps and 3 foot soldiers entered the room. They saw the pirate and instantly aimed their guns at him. Jack looked at them and rolled his eyes and then looked over at Norrington.
"Bloody speed demons you have there Commodore - I'd have been out the window and long gone by now if it were me," The pirate told him. He looked up as Gibbs suddenly arrived, quite out of breath. The pirate looked immensely relieved to see the older sailor.
"Sir, is Mr. Sparrow under arrest for the murder of Mr. Reynolds?" one of the soldiers asked eagerly. Norrington shook his head.
"No, it was I who shot the man. He's had a gun to Governor Swan's head and was using him as a hostage. Gentlemen, please remove the body and then leave us. I shall speak with you in a few moments." He said and they nodded and rose, quickly carrying the body away.
"Captain Sparrow - I just want to thank you. Brilliant performance - positively brilliant! Very convincing! But I absolutely object to your plan of letting him shoot you!" Swan said, the last shaking his finger at the pirate. Jack gave him a very weak smile and then turned as if looking for a way to get away from everyone.
"Jack are you all right?" Gibbs asked as he hurried to the pirate's side and the one shook his head, his breathing growing rapidly faster.
"Sure.. Umm, No -" He asked as he backed away.
"Yer not hurt lad. What's wrong?" Gibbs asked quickly and with concern.
"The bastard was no more than another bounty hunter - only this one was from my father." The pirate breathed shakily and swayed unsteadily.
Gibbs scowled hugely as the doctor crossed to Jack to take him by the arm.
"Wait - give me a second - too much - I'm just a little dizzy -" he breathed softly and the doctor nodded, not letting go of him.
"I'm not surprised you're dizzy. For the love of God, how could you not tell me you have a round of shot lodged in your lungs?" he said and stopped to consider the unsteady man. "Here Jack, I think we'd better have you sit down my friend, real quick like." He said kindly of the now colorless pirate as he tried to guide him towards the couch.
The pirate took three very unsteady steps and then stopped and turned back to the doctor with a vague mumble, shaking his head as he reached for him.
"It's all right - I'm right here." The doctor said very gently, managing to get his hands under the pirates' arms and pulling him closer just before the man's eyes slid closed and his knees suddenly gave way. The doctor seemed rather sympathetic as he caught the suddenly limp form that collapsed into him. He managed to get him the rest of the way to gently lay him down on the couch.
"A blanket for him please?" he said without looking up as he knelt to feel at the man's neck and then at his wrist and gently rested a hand on the one's chest. In a moment it was Will beside them, already spreading a blanket over the downed man.
"What happened? What's wrong with him?" he asked and the doctor sighed as he gently lifted the pirates' legs up onto a decorative pillow that festooned the end of the couch.
"Now don't you go getting as impatient as this one is please? You need to remember that it was only 17 days ago that the 'Rover' went up in flames and this fellow literally drowned in the bay. It's not like there's some kind of magic medicine I can give him that makes him better in just a few days, a week or so. No - I wish there were." He said and Will frowned at him.
"Think back Will - wasn't it one of Jack's pirate friends that said that they' d lost one of their own when the man nearly drowned and 3 weeks afterwards died from it?" he asked and the one's eyes widened and he looked to Gibbs who nodded.
"Aye - man by the name of Nicholas North. Good pirate. Jack knew him better than I did - but no, he was never the sort you'd ever expect a thing like that t' kill." He said unhappily and the doctor nodded.
"Was he much older than Jack?" the blacksmith asked and Gibbs frowned.
"More about the same age." He observed and the blacksmith frowned deeply from him to the pirate lying before him, to the doctor who was feeling the pirate's pulse at his neck.
"That's' not going to happen to Jack - right? It hasn't even been three weeks yet for him." He said and the physician gave him a small smile.
"I have no intention of letting it happen son; I can assure you of that. But - well now, this right here - considering that he was up an entire night - probably didn't sleep much more than half a day after that. He walked all the way from the Governor's residence down to the town - twice even. Then he was up sinking ships at probably the crack of dawn and managed to get up the hill to get here this morning - and then everything tonight? The racing through the streets and all to get up here. all of this from a patient I said should not be leaving the house at all for a while after just his one night's adventures into town? I can tell you that this young man should have been on the floor long before now. I think his anxiety over Reynolds' was all that was keeping him on his feet here tonight. Once that danger was over - then yes, it's going to catch up with him fast." He said and Will gently touched the back of his hand to his friend's forehead.
"He's not running a fever at least?" he asked and the doctor sighed as he felt himself with his entire hand.
"No, in fact he's cool and clammy - that's shock. He's had far too much excitement and activity these last two days, despite how much he might like to think otherwise," He said and the blacksmith frowned at him.
"You want to take him back to the Governor's residence?" he asked and the doctor looked up at Gibbs.
"No, I'd rather he be on his ship when he wakes up this time, if that's all right? Is it possible for him to actually rest when he's on the ship?" he asked and the older sailor smiled very broadly as he nodded.
"Oh it's more than all right Doc, more than all right. We can always lock him in his cabin. I did one other time. He had a concussion and kept doing his best to fall overboard on us, or outta the rigging - although he got a bit upset about that. But yes, he'll do better on the Pearl. Don't suppose you'd maybe be comin' with him? Just t' make sure that other don't happen?" he asked rather hopefully and the man smiled.
"And just what are the chances he'll throw me overboard if he wakes up and I'm there? I don't think Jack is one to be told to stay in bed on the ship any more than he would on land." he observed and the older sailor thought for a moment, and then looked at him.
"Bed?" He asked and the doctor sighed.
"Well - no, not bed really. By tomorrow maybe he'll probably be up again for some time. Just not - not what all he's been up to today would be very nice to see." He said rather ruefully and Gibbs cocked his head at the doctor.
"Ye can swim, right?" he asked and the doctor nodded warily.
Gibbs flashed his broadest smile.
"Well then no worries! We'll just fish ye back out as many times as he throws ye in!" he said and the Doctor half chuckled with a reproving look at the man.
"Oh, how very reassuring" he said dryly and Commodore Norrington really did have to keep himself from laughing at the man's tone.
~ * * ~
AnaMaria sat in the chair beside the large bed in the dimly lit cabin, watching the man in the bed just sleep peacefully. She chewed on her lip as she stared. A Lord. Jack Sparrow was really some kind of English lord. He hadn't been acting any different, aside from being sick - but he also didn't know that she had overheard him. She sighed heavily to herself. It really kind of hurt that in all these years he'd never even hinted that he had another name of any kind, much less being some kind of Lord.
Ever since the doctor had found out about the round still being embedded in Jack's chest, he'd actually been doing a lot better. She had to admit that the pirate had worried here when they had brought him aboard, unconscious, and it had taken him over 35 hours to wake up. By then the fever had come back on him as well. Not enough to make him delirious, just enough to make him feel miserable. He hadn't even resisted the doctor's order that he stay in bed until it was past. In fact, all he had done those 3 days was sleep nearly constantly.
She really had hated it when the doctor came and made him lie on his side and cough on purpose. She'd thought he was long past that stage awhile back. Turned out you just had to get him started and he'd do it long enough to make you worry. But whatever was coming out of him seemed to be good to get out.
The doctor had ordered that his cabin be heated well before sundown and the windows open in daytime. At first she had thought the man really was pushing it - dictating exactly what the Captain would be given to eat - confiscating his pipe and tobacco and insisting he drink his various concoctions of fruit juices, herbs and Lord only knows what else he put in them.
But now it had been the 3 weeks that Gibbs had seemed to be worried about. Okay, so it was 3 weeks and one day as of tonight.
She heard the door open quietly and looked over to find no less than he doctor himself. Instead of being surprised or rebuking her, the man smiled at her easily.
"If you need to do something -" she started as she half rose and he quickly waved her back down.
"No, just came to check on him before I turn in for the night. No nightmares or coughing?" he asked and looked pleased when she shook her head.
She watched as he carefully sat on the side of the bed and took out a little bell shaped piece that was connected to a hollow tube. He held the tube to one ear; then very gently set the bell piece against the sleeping man's chest. He saw her wary look and motioned for her to come near, and then kneel. He put the tube end by her ear and moved the bell piece to the middle of his chest. Her eyebrows widened as she heard the steady full beating of his heart.
"Here's what I listen for" he said and moved it to his right side and a bit down and she heard a sound almost like wind moving though trees. Then he moved it to the left side and now the leaves were more rustling and crackling. He let her listen, and then moved it up more and there was a place where instead of wind it was barely a whisper. She gave him an alarmed look.
"My guess is that that's where the round is in his lung. He has scar tissue in there and that area doesn't quite work the way it did before," he told her and she frowned at him.
"Can you take it out for him?" she asked and he shook his head.
"No, to even try would almost certainly kill him. You've seen honey comb beehives, right?" he asked and she nodded.
"Well, that's kind of what a lung is like, only the little spaces all kind of open and squeeze closed and open and squeeze closed - or so we think. When there's that phlegm in him - it makes that crackling sound like rustling leaves as it kind of sticks while its' moving. Where he was shot, well those spaces were just mostly destroyed and that's why you don't hear much there. It really should have killed him. The amount of crackles that he has is what I'm watching.. But he's doing very well now. You should have heard him when you two first got back. He was nothing but crackles and quiet places here and there." He said as he laid the instrument aside and drew the blankets up over the man and close around his neck and ear even.
"You think he'll be alright now?" she asked and he smiled gladly.
"Oh, I'd bet money on him now. He's always going to have that quiet area where the ball is.. And some crackling around that area overall - he can't help that. He's lucky to be alive to have it. But when he gets sick - if he's coughing at all, would you please tell whoever takes care of him about that round in his lung? It makes a big difference in how you approach trying to get him well." He said with a sincere look and she sighed and nodded.
"Usually nobody takes care of him. Just Gibbs and me. He'll stop and get a doctor for one of the boys, but not for himself, and he never wants us to." She told him and he sighed.
"I wish you had a ship's doctor - to tell you the truth. Is there a reason he won't have one?" he asked and she half shrugged.
"Last one he got to be good friends with. Told the man to stay below when we got into a ruckus - and he didn't. Ended up getting shot through the head tryin' to go help somebody topside. Jack was real upset about it - and even more so when we lost all 4 of the boys who'd been in the infirmary as his patients at the start of that day. Too bad really - that one did good with Jack. Bossy enough to keep him in bed some days - smart enough to know when to pretend he didn't see him up doing whatever on others. Not at all to stuffy to sit there and play cards with him. Whoever had the losing hand had to drink the glass of juice sittin' there between them. That man learned to cheat at cards really quick like" she told him and he chuckled. She gave him a rather shy look.
"You remind me of him. A lot. Ye just don't have his accent. Especially that day you was on the wharf yelling up at Jack about sneaking off on you. He looked at me and he said 'who the bloody hell IS this man, Duncan's brother?' Gibbs laughed and said no, but you'd think he was related, wouldn't ye? You're in trouble now Captain." She said and he smiled broadly, then froze as the pirate beside him stirred mildly, then settled back into the blankets with an incoherent half mumble.
"Well, I'd better turn in - this one is up at the crack of dawn, I swear," he said of Jack and she smiled shyly and nodded, waiting for him to invite her to leave with him. To her surprise he didn't suggest it at all and was quickly gone.
She moved up to sit in his place on the bed instead and just sat quietly, one hand resting lightly on the pirates back. Within a short time he began breathing harder, faster, then shifted, a dark scowl on his features even as he half moaned and tossed his head.
"Shhh Jack - it's just a dream," she soothed with a hand on his chest. To her surprise he caught her hand tightly in his own.
"No Ana - no - don' leave -" he moaned in an upset tone and she frowned.
"Jack - wake up - I'm right here." She called, unwilling to be the cause of his nightmares. She pat his cheek and he startled with a soft gasp - eyes frantic at first until he realized it was her.
"Oh thank god," he reacted with quickly and she frowned at him.
"What's wrong Jack? Ye know I'm not goin' anywhere, don't ye?" she asked and he refused to look at her.
"Look at me Sparrow," she said firmly, lifting his chin, and was struck by the deep uncertainty she saw in his eyes.
"Jack, what's wrong? You can tell me," she soothed and he gave a very shaky sigh.
"I - I . Well - I keep dreamin'.." He said and left off and she considered him.
"If it's just a dream Jack -" she said and he looked even more upset at her words.
"It's not" he whispered and she frowned down at him with concern. She felt him shiver even under all the layers of blankets.
She surprised him by laying down beside him, propping her head up one elbow as with her other hand she gently toyed with the braids of his hair.
"Ye don't have to tell me Jack - just relax," she said as she scooted closer, wanting only to reassure and calm him now. His breathing slowed and he seemed so still that she was sure he'd gone back to sleep, when instead he sighed shallowly.
"I keep dreaming - that I tell you about my family - where I came from - and ye get really mad at me for not tellin' ye before," he nearly whispered. Her heart leapt, but she kept her smooth, light stroking at an even and steady rate for him.
"Can it be that bad?" she asked and he sighed and nodded. She smiled mildly down at him.
"Want me to tell ye what I guess then?" she asked and he opened his eyes to consider her almost fearfully. It just totally and completely undid her to see him care so much what she thought.
"Here's what I think Jack Sparrow," she said and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"Well, for one, I'm pretty sure that's not yer name from birth - at least not the Sparrow part. But if you were gonna pick another one to use, I'm glad you didn't decide to be Jack Smith - or Smithy, if ye prefer." She said and caught a small ghost of his smile.
"Stuart... Jackson Stuart" he whispered and she only nodded, still gently toying with his hair.
"And I know yer not from around here. Just by how ye are. Ye know too much - about all kinds of things. Smart things - history, maps, figurin' - documents, all kind of stuff. So my guess is ye must be from a family that had money to send you to some fancy school someplace. Someplace where they say things like 'savvy' maybe?" she observed and he nodded just a little bit as with one finger he absently toyed with her hair on the pillow beside him.
"Jack - my guess is that there's a good reason you're out here instead of there. Usually is. And yer surely not the only man in the Caribbean who walked out of 1 place and ended up here instead. I'm just glad yer here, instead of there.. Even if you are the 'daftest' pirate this side of heaven." She said, punctuating her words with a soft kiss to his forehead, then his cheek, then his nose, and the last to his lips, but not lingering too long.
Before he could react to her kisses, she drew him into a hug and laid down with an arm over him.
"I figure you'll tell me when you're ready," she said softly as she closed her eyes, still very gently stroking the dark locks.
She felt him finally relax and snuggle into her arms closer - and then he started to tell her a long and involved story in an almost whispered voice. The telling took hours and caused her only to bring him closer when it came to the difficult parts along the way. It was half way to morning when he finally left off just about the time he was telling her about commandeering her boat to get to Port Royal. She looked down to find he'd fallen asleep, mid sentence even.
With a gentle touch she dried his cheeks, then nestled against his hair and closed her eyes. She marveled at the fact that he was only half daft, at the fact that he had managed to trust her - or anyone ever at all. She marveled at the fact that he was alive even - and she was very, very glad he was sleeping exactly where he belonged on such a night.
*********************************
Only the epilogue now left for this tale....