So we're getting there, slowly but surely, we're getting to the action. I
know there are a few of you waiting to see Jack kick some ass (all fingers
point to jackfan2), and I promise that if you just hang in there you just
might get your wish. In the meantime, sit tight while the block thickens.
Sorry it's so short, but of course, school comes first. And as always -
ENJOY!
**************************************************************************** *
Julianne woke the next morning to find herself alone. Looking out her window she could tell that she had slept much later then she intended. It had been a horrible night, one filled with nightmares of the past that she had awoken to several times to find herself gasping for breath and covered in sweat. Each time, the commotion she made had been enough to also wake Jack, who had tried his best to pacify her throughout the night.
Dragging herself out of bed and throwing on some clothes, she was pleased that they were already on their way, and made a mental note to thank Jack for being so assertive. She grabbed a fresh bottle of rum, then headed outside. Satisfied with seeing Dipst at the helm, she made her way to the galley and had a quick bite for breakfast. When she was finished, she decided it would be a good idea to see how Elizabeth was doing. Knocking lightly on the door to their cabin, Julianne was greeted by an exhausted looking Will.
"How ye doin luv", she asked him.
He shrugged, "I'm managing."
"And Elizabeth?"
"She's a wreck. Honestly Juli, I don't know what else to do for her", he answered. "You think you could try and talk to her?"
Julianne nodded and stepped inside.
"Thanks", Will said before closing the door behind him and going to get himself something to eat.
Inside the cabin, Julianne found Elizabeth curled up in a ball in bed. Sitting down next to her, the captain gently slid the younger woman's mess of hair out of her eyes.
"Luv, ye've got to get yerself together."
"How can I?" Elizabeth managed through sobs.
Leaning down, Julianne pulled Elizabeth up so that her head rested in her lap. "I know it's hard. Trust me, I know what's it like worryin about the safety of someone ye love. But like Jack and I already told ye. Worryin about Gabby isn't gonna change anything, or stop anything from happening. All it's gonna do is make ye sick. So as much as it goes against yer betta judgment, yer gonna 'ave to calm down and trust me n' Jack to take care o' things. And you'll 'ave yer baby girl back safe and sound in no time."
In response, Elizabeth only wrapped her free arm around Julianne's waist and sniffled.
"Shh. It's alright luv. It's gonna be alright."
After a few more minutes of clutching the older woman tightly, Elizabeth pulled herself upright and rubbed her eyes.
"Go on an get yerself something to eat alright", Julianne suggested, and Elizabeth nodded that she would oblige.
"Good, then I expect to see ye out on deck and ready to work in no more than half an hour", Julianne now barked at her jokingly, causing Elizabeth to crack a small smile. "Now that's what I like to see", Julianne commented standing up.
Running a hand over Elizabeth's head one last time, she leaned down and kissed her on the top of the forehead. "Everything's gonna be just fine. I promise", she whispered to her before turning for the door. Just as the captain was about to step back out into the sunlight, she heard Elizabeth call "Thanks", to her and turned to shoot her one last reassuring smile.
***
Whether it was her talk with Julianne, or something in Elizabeth finally just gave in, for the remainder of their trip for Red Cay her spirits lifted greatly. Walking out onto the deck two nights after her chat with the captain, Elizabeth looked around in confusion as she realized the ship had come to a stop. Scanning the deck for some indication of what was going on, she saw Jack and Julianne in some kind of heated discussion up on the quarter deck. Walking towards them, she noticed Will, Anamaria, Dipst, and Gibbs all standing quietly nearby as Jack flailed his arms wildly as he yelled at Juli.
"THIS IS RIDICULOUS. ABSOLUTLEY NOT!"
"Look, you know as well as I that one of us 'as to go in there and make sure John and Gabby are alright. No sense in puttin everyone else in harms way for nothin."
"WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE YOU?"
"Because he's got no reason to keep you alive."
"Oh, and he does for you", Jack continued indignantly.
"I can give him something you can't", she replied matter-of-factly.
It took him a few seconds to register what she meant. "So help me God Jules, if he so much as lays a finger on you."
"He won't. But it's a card I can play if I have to. Now enough arguing. You know this is the only way. And yer gonna stay 'ere and wait until I figure out what's going on. Yer betta at playin things by ear and I'm gonna need ya to do that."
Jack opened his mouth to argue but snapped it shut when he could think of nothing further to argue.
"Fine. Go then. But if I don't 'ear anythin within an hour I'm comin in after ye and I don't care if ye don't like it", he finished in irritation after a minute.
"Fine", she shot back in the same snotty voice, then got up and headed for her cabin, leaving Jack grumbling to himself. No one else was sure exactly what to say to him. All pretty much saw Julianne's point, but none were too keen on the idea either, and figured how Jack probably felt.
Julianne was only alone in her cabin for a few minutes. Grabbing her pistol and sword, she equipped herself and reached down to make sure her dagger was still in her boot. Reaching into a desk drawer, she pulled out a small box. Opening it, she picked through the contents and produced a silver hairpin which she slid under her hat and bandana just in case.
Going over herself once more just to be sure she hadn't missed anything important, she heard the click of a door closing behind her. Turning around, she found Jack standing there, hands behind his back, watching her. She gave him a skeptical look, expecting him to continue their argument from earlier, but he did not. Walking over to where she stood, he gazed at her critically.
When she did not crack under his stare, or say a word, he sighed and took her softly by the shoulders.
"I hate this ye know", he whispered, still looking her in the eyes.
She nodded, then moved in close to him. "I know babe. I'm not exactly crazy bout it either."
"Then why won't ye."
"Jack", she cut him off before he could finish.
"I know", he conceded before she could lecture him further. Pulling her tight against him, he hugged her close. "Just don't do anything stupid alright."
"You must 'ave me confused with you", she laughed lightly.
"I'm serious", he snapped back, obviously not amused.
"Alright, alright. I'll be careful, I promise", she replied in a baby voice, kissing him on the tip of his nose.
Still, the look he wore was grim despite her efforts to lighten the moment. He wanted to say more to her, tell her just how much he cared about her, how much it would destroy him if she didn't come back alive. But as usual in these types of situations, words failed him. Watching him, Julianne waited for his response. Part of her wanting to hear those words, and part of her reading it all in his eyes.
"What 'ave we been tellin Elizabeth all week. Worryin ain't gonna change anything."
"Lot o' crap that is. Just a bit o' feel goodism for the lass."
"Mmm hmm."
Jack sighed again, his gaze avoiding hers. "Go on, ye betta get goin", he began again looking back at her.
Sliding a hand behind his neck, she pulled his face to meet her and they kissed each other softly for a few moments.
"I'll see you soon", she assured him breaking their contact.
He nodded. Letting her out of his grip, Julianne raised her hand to graze his face once last time before turning for the door.
"Jules", he said stopping her just before she exited.
"Hmm luv?"'
"I love you."
"I love you too Jack", she answered, then stepped outside closing the door behind her.
**************************************************************************** *
Julianne woke the next morning to find herself alone. Looking out her window she could tell that she had slept much later then she intended. It had been a horrible night, one filled with nightmares of the past that she had awoken to several times to find herself gasping for breath and covered in sweat. Each time, the commotion she made had been enough to also wake Jack, who had tried his best to pacify her throughout the night.
Dragging herself out of bed and throwing on some clothes, she was pleased that they were already on their way, and made a mental note to thank Jack for being so assertive. She grabbed a fresh bottle of rum, then headed outside. Satisfied with seeing Dipst at the helm, she made her way to the galley and had a quick bite for breakfast. When she was finished, she decided it would be a good idea to see how Elizabeth was doing. Knocking lightly on the door to their cabin, Julianne was greeted by an exhausted looking Will.
"How ye doin luv", she asked him.
He shrugged, "I'm managing."
"And Elizabeth?"
"She's a wreck. Honestly Juli, I don't know what else to do for her", he answered. "You think you could try and talk to her?"
Julianne nodded and stepped inside.
"Thanks", Will said before closing the door behind him and going to get himself something to eat.
Inside the cabin, Julianne found Elizabeth curled up in a ball in bed. Sitting down next to her, the captain gently slid the younger woman's mess of hair out of her eyes.
"Luv, ye've got to get yerself together."
"How can I?" Elizabeth managed through sobs.
Leaning down, Julianne pulled Elizabeth up so that her head rested in her lap. "I know it's hard. Trust me, I know what's it like worryin about the safety of someone ye love. But like Jack and I already told ye. Worryin about Gabby isn't gonna change anything, or stop anything from happening. All it's gonna do is make ye sick. So as much as it goes against yer betta judgment, yer gonna 'ave to calm down and trust me n' Jack to take care o' things. And you'll 'ave yer baby girl back safe and sound in no time."
In response, Elizabeth only wrapped her free arm around Julianne's waist and sniffled.
"Shh. It's alright luv. It's gonna be alright."
After a few more minutes of clutching the older woman tightly, Elizabeth pulled herself upright and rubbed her eyes.
"Go on an get yerself something to eat alright", Julianne suggested, and Elizabeth nodded that she would oblige.
"Good, then I expect to see ye out on deck and ready to work in no more than half an hour", Julianne now barked at her jokingly, causing Elizabeth to crack a small smile. "Now that's what I like to see", Julianne commented standing up.
Running a hand over Elizabeth's head one last time, she leaned down and kissed her on the top of the forehead. "Everything's gonna be just fine. I promise", she whispered to her before turning for the door. Just as the captain was about to step back out into the sunlight, she heard Elizabeth call "Thanks", to her and turned to shoot her one last reassuring smile.
***
Whether it was her talk with Julianne, or something in Elizabeth finally just gave in, for the remainder of their trip for Red Cay her spirits lifted greatly. Walking out onto the deck two nights after her chat with the captain, Elizabeth looked around in confusion as she realized the ship had come to a stop. Scanning the deck for some indication of what was going on, she saw Jack and Julianne in some kind of heated discussion up on the quarter deck. Walking towards them, she noticed Will, Anamaria, Dipst, and Gibbs all standing quietly nearby as Jack flailed his arms wildly as he yelled at Juli.
"THIS IS RIDICULOUS. ABSOLUTLEY NOT!"
"Look, you know as well as I that one of us 'as to go in there and make sure John and Gabby are alright. No sense in puttin everyone else in harms way for nothin."
"WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE YOU?"
"Because he's got no reason to keep you alive."
"Oh, and he does for you", Jack continued indignantly.
"I can give him something you can't", she replied matter-of-factly.
It took him a few seconds to register what she meant. "So help me God Jules, if he so much as lays a finger on you."
"He won't. But it's a card I can play if I have to. Now enough arguing. You know this is the only way. And yer gonna stay 'ere and wait until I figure out what's going on. Yer betta at playin things by ear and I'm gonna need ya to do that."
Jack opened his mouth to argue but snapped it shut when he could think of nothing further to argue.
"Fine. Go then. But if I don't 'ear anythin within an hour I'm comin in after ye and I don't care if ye don't like it", he finished in irritation after a minute.
"Fine", she shot back in the same snotty voice, then got up and headed for her cabin, leaving Jack grumbling to himself. No one else was sure exactly what to say to him. All pretty much saw Julianne's point, but none were too keen on the idea either, and figured how Jack probably felt.
Julianne was only alone in her cabin for a few minutes. Grabbing her pistol and sword, she equipped herself and reached down to make sure her dagger was still in her boot. Reaching into a desk drawer, she pulled out a small box. Opening it, she picked through the contents and produced a silver hairpin which she slid under her hat and bandana just in case.
Going over herself once more just to be sure she hadn't missed anything important, she heard the click of a door closing behind her. Turning around, she found Jack standing there, hands behind his back, watching her. She gave him a skeptical look, expecting him to continue their argument from earlier, but he did not. Walking over to where she stood, he gazed at her critically.
When she did not crack under his stare, or say a word, he sighed and took her softly by the shoulders.
"I hate this ye know", he whispered, still looking her in the eyes.
She nodded, then moved in close to him. "I know babe. I'm not exactly crazy bout it either."
"Then why won't ye."
"Jack", she cut him off before he could finish.
"I know", he conceded before she could lecture him further. Pulling her tight against him, he hugged her close. "Just don't do anything stupid alright."
"You must 'ave me confused with you", she laughed lightly.
"I'm serious", he snapped back, obviously not amused.
"Alright, alright. I'll be careful, I promise", she replied in a baby voice, kissing him on the tip of his nose.
Still, the look he wore was grim despite her efforts to lighten the moment. He wanted to say more to her, tell her just how much he cared about her, how much it would destroy him if she didn't come back alive. But as usual in these types of situations, words failed him. Watching him, Julianne waited for his response. Part of her wanting to hear those words, and part of her reading it all in his eyes.
"What 'ave we been tellin Elizabeth all week. Worryin ain't gonna change anything."
"Lot o' crap that is. Just a bit o' feel goodism for the lass."
"Mmm hmm."
Jack sighed again, his gaze avoiding hers. "Go on, ye betta get goin", he began again looking back at her.
Sliding a hand behind his neck, she pulled his face to meet her and they kissed each other softly for a few moments.
"I'll see you soon", she assured him breaking their contact.
He nodded. Letting her out of his grip, Julianne raised her hand to graze his face once last time before turning for the door.
"Jules", he said stopping her just before she exited.
"Hmm luv?"'
"I love you."
"I love you too Jack", she answered, then stepped outside closing the door behind her.