And then, Jack breathed his last.
JUST KIDDING! - "Sorry mate, I couldn't resist."
I mean you'd think I was killing your mother here or something. Anywho, another chapter for you all. Glad you like it so far even though your favorite person isn't faring so well at the moment.
Oh and hmm. Captainsparrowfiestylass (by the way, that's a real pain in the ass to type out - ha ha), you are right about that branding thing. I just decided that was a little too complicated to get all into, so for the purpose of my stories, everyone gets one. Kind of like your right of passage I guess.
**************************************************************************** **************
As their third day in Port Lucaya ended and fourth night began, Julianne found herself alone with Jack in the doctor's office again. But unlike all the other times, on this night, she watched over him with a kind of renewed faith, if faith was something she had believed in. Something had happened to her that day. Something that the Commodore, no, that her cousin had said to her. Or maybe, it was what he hadn't said.
After years of trying to reshape what he considered her abysmal life choices, years of trying to change the very fiber of who she was, he had finally given up. No, she corrected her thoughts again, he hadn't given up, he had understood. And for whatever reason, that had been all she had needed to refocus her energy.
Now, standing beside the bed table where Jack lay, she gently ran a finger across his skin. Tracing the familiar lines of old scars, and discovering the existence of new ones that she would have to get used to. Get used to them when he woke up, that's how she thought about it now.
Her quiet contemplation was soon interrupted though as Jack began to wildly thrash about. His arms and legs flailing, he mumbled incoherently. Julianne thought she heard "Jules" amongst his ramblings but quickly put wondering about it out of her mind as she struggled to keep him from falling off the bed table.
"DOCTOR", she screamed loud enough for the whole household to hear.
Momentarily the doctor appeared in the doorway and quickly rushed to her aid.
"What's happening to him", she asked, her voice dripping with concern.
"His fever is breaking, he's at his worst. There's nothing we can do for him now, he either has to beat it, or the alternative. The hallucinations will be intense, they will make it harder for him. We'll just have to wait for the outcome", the doctor finished, cringing a little at the angry outburst he expected from Julianne. None came.
"Alright", she nodded determinedly. "Well if there's nothing we can do, no sense in you stayin if ye've got things to do."
"Are you sure?"
Julianne nodded.
"Well I do have other patients to attend to this morning, and I want to check up on some of your crew. I'll be back to see how he's doing in a bit."
Another nod and the doctor was gone. Turning her attention back to Jack, who had calmed down again but still twitched nervously, Julianne leaned down and whispered softly to him.
"This is it luv. Ye've got to fight this. I know ye can do it. Yer Captain Jack Sparrow", she finished with a small smile.
Pulling her chair over to the bed, she sat down next to him and held is hand tightly.
***
This was it, and Jack knew it without having to he told. His dreams and nightmares had carried him far and wide, and now he found himself at the end of the line. There was no longer a younger version of him around to guide, there was only Jack. The Commodore had just been pulled aboard and Jack has listened to his message from Julianne. When he heard Norrington's warning to hurry for fear of what Julianne might be subjected to, he remained calm and collected. Staring out at Red Cay, he ordered a rowboat be prepared for him.
"Just one boat Cap'n?" Gibbs had asked in confusion.
Jack nodded.
"Who will you be takin", Anamaria asked next.
Jack did not answer.
"Ye don't mean to go alone", she continued, slightly shocked.
"If ye don't hear from us by mornin, get yerselves out o' 'ere", he ordered in response.
Both she and Gibbs opened their mouths for further protest, but were silenced by his raised hand.
"I don't want any arguments. Just do as I say", he commanded, then strode to the rowboat and got in.
"Well, one things for sure", Gibbs muttered to Ana under his breath.
"What's that?"
"If Redford doesn't do him in, Juli sure as hell will when she finds out he went alone."
"Aye", Ana agreed before walking across the deck to her own cabin.
Jack rowed hard for the island. Upon reaching the beach, he pulled the small boat ashore and took a moment to gain his bearings, then slowly started for the main gate. On his way, he unconsciously fingered the black skeleton key in one of his deepest pockets. Creeping silently along the large, stone wall, Jack removed his hand from his pocket and gripped the hilt of his sword.
From where he stood, having stopped still, he could see the outline of two large figures guarding the gate. *Two at the gate, two at the door*, he thought to himself, though he didn't need the reminder. He knew the route he needed to take, he remembered where to go. Moving forward again, he edged his way along, back pressed against the wall. The distance between he and the men grew shorter and shorter and soon Jack was within reach of them without their knowing.
He had to act quickly, killing them swiftly and silently. It would be hard to do by himself, but he would wait until the opportunity presented itself. The wait was not long. The man furthest from Jack seemed to be suffering from a cold or similar ailment. Coughing occasionally, he eventually became overwhelmed by a fit that sent him bending forward clutching his sides. It was in that moment that Jack made his move. Grabbing the other man from behind with a hand over his mouth and abruptly slit his throat. He let the man slip from his grip, then promptly stabbed the coughing pirate who also fell dead to the ground.
*So far so good* he thought in relief as he reached down and grabbed the ring of keys off the first man's belt. As soundlessly as possible, he slid key after key into the gate's lock until he found the one that produced the desired click. Sliding the heavy iron open carefully, he opened the gate just far enough to slip inside, then turned to face the two guards at the door. Fortunately, the way that the light from the fortress shone, Jack remained unseen. Taking into account the way the shadows cast across the yard, he strayed from the path and approached the guards from the side, much as he had the first two.
In an ideal world, one of these guards would also have a cold and Jack could employ his earlier tactic. Unfortunately though, this was a nightmare, not a fairy tale, so Jack stood and waited a minute before deciding what to do. In the end, he figured he ought to just get things over with, and that's exactly what he did.
Sneaking up behind the man he was closer to, Jack raised his sword and plunged the point right into the base of his neck. The man gasped as he crumpled but thankfully did not cry out. Immediately Jack tore his sword free and proceeded to stab it through the other guard who was coming at him, still slightly shocked. This time the victim did yell, but Jack was quick to retract his sword and decapitate the noisy man.
*Jack four, bastards zero* he smirked to himself as he pulled the heavy wooden doors to the fortress open a crack. Looking up and down both hallways, he found them empty. Preparing to step inside, he stopped himself in time tot urn around and grab the sword off of one of the fallen pirates behind him.
Jack entered the hall, quietly slipping inside the door and remaining alert for any signs of approaching pirates. Now it was decision time: right or left? He stood there for a second looking back and forth between his two choices. As it turned out, he was eventually forced into choosing left at the sound of voices echoing down the right.
*Here goes nothing* he thought grimly as he began to creep his way down the hall. He made it a good distance before his first problem arose. In order to continue down the path he was on, he would have to pass in front of one of the archways that led into the fort's great hall. It was apparent from the noise level that the hall was occupied by not many, but more than one person. Peering warily around the corner, he could see that there were about ten men inside and more filling up. From the looks of things, they were all getting ready for Bloodshed's big production. Knowing it was only a matter of minutes before Julianne was brought into the room, Jack crossed his fingers that none of Bloodshed's crew recognized him as he sauntered naturally passed the archway as though he were just another crew member.
"That you Gums?" a voice called to him after he had passed.
Having thought he had made it by successfully, Jack stopped dead in his tracks and grunted in reply.
"Where're ye headed? Cap'n wants us all 'ere when he lets the lass have it."
"Can't very well let her have it if he don't send someone to be gettin here", Jack growled back in a low voice.
"Oh, aye", the other pirate laughed then turned back into the hall.
After breathing a sigh of relief, Jack continued on his way. The direction of the hall began to shift with the building's shape and before he knew it, Jack turned a corner to find himself face to face with another of Bloodshed's crew.
"What the", the pirate exclaimed, but was cut short by Jack's blade.
Hearing oncoming footsteps, Jack grabbed the man and dragged his body back around the corner where he waited. When the sound of the steps was only inches away, he swung his blade wide and it connected with someone's shoulder. Stepping into view Jack killed the man swiftly before hurrying away. He was no longer sneaking along quietly, but was now sprinting down the corridor frantically searching for any indication as to where they might be keeping Julianne.
Turning another corner his questions were answered as he ran head on into two men guarding a cell. Shocked himself, Jack quickly regained his focus and attacked them both before either had time to react. The first went down without a fight, but the second was able to draw his sword in the meantime. He slashed low at Jack's calf, sending a searing pan up his leg exactly as it had happened in reality just days earlier. Ignoring the pain, Jack turned on his attacked and chopped him down ruthlessly. Ripping the keys from the man's side, he quickly began to thrust them into the cell door and threw it open when he found the right one.
"My hero", Julianne mused both sarcastically and affectionately as he made his way to her.
"Ye alright", he asked as he set to work on the irons that still bound her to the wall.
She nodded as the first one clicked open but stopped short, her eyes growing wide. "Behind you", she hissed at him before he could unlock the other one.
Spinning around fast, he found Bloodshed in front of him, pistol drawn and aimed at his head. Next to Bloodshed a guard stepped forward and seized Julianne's arm, dragging her forward. As he pulled her past Redford he arm shot out in his direction. Having pulled the dagger from her boot when Jack freed her from the wall, she now thrust it into Bloodshed's side. Stumbling forward his pistol fired, shooting a bullet into the ground. While he was down Jack took the opportunity to slice his neck neatly.
He turned back to Julianne just in time to see her duck out of the path of the sword of the man who had grabbed her. Her dagger still in Redford's side, she had no weapon, and was now facing two more men who had come to aid their companion. Blades swung in her direction from all sides and there was no way she could avoid them for long. She leaned left, a sword barely missing her and instantly was forced right again. They over took her quickly, three blades bearing down on her at once.
"JULES!" a voice echoed throughout the whole of the fortress. It was Jack's voice, tearing through the night as he threw himself between she and them.
"JULES!"
***
"JULES!" Jack screamed at the top of his lungs as he thrashed wildly around on the bed table.
Grabbing his arms, Julianne threw her full weight on top of him to hold him in place and keep him from falling. Jack continued to scream, calling her name loudly.
"Jack, Jack calm down", she demanded, knowing he could not hear her. "DOCTOR TOCKS", she called eventually when Jack did not calm after a few minutes."
"NO, JULES NO", Jack yelled louder. "JULES!"
In that instant, Jack's eyes flew open and he sat upright swiftly, knocking Julianne backwards. She yelped slightly, grabbing onto the table sides to keep herself from falling, and pulled herself back up to face Jack.
"Shh luv. I'm right 'ere", she said soothingly, taking one of his hands in hers and putting her other to his face. "It's alright. I'm alright. It's ova", she assured him.
**************************************************************************** *************
Well, Happy Frickin Thanksgiving! Your precious Captain is alive and well, ok, maybe not completely well yet. But anyway, I'm home for the holidays so updates will be sketchy for a few days until I head back to school. And I hope you all don't decide to abandon me now that you know Jack is ok. That's all for now, stay tuned for more.
Ta! ~Angie~
JUST KIDDING! - "Sorry mate, I couldn't resist."
I mean you'd think I was killing your mother here or something. Anywho, another chapter for you all. Glad you like it so far even though your favorite person isn't faring so well at the moment.
Oh and hmm. Captainsparrowfiestylass (by the way, that's a real pain in the ass to type out - ha ha), you are right about that branding thing. I just decided that was a little too complicated to get all into, so for the purpose of my stories, everyone gets one. Kind of like your right of passage I guess.
**************************************************************************** **************
As their third day in Port Lucaya ended and fourth night began, Julianne found herself alone with Jack in the doctor's office again. But unlike all the other times, on this night, she watched over him with a kind of renewed faith, if faith was something she had believed in. Something had happened to her that day. Something that the Commodore, no, that her cousin had said to her. Or maybe, it was what he hadn't said.
After years of trying to reshape what he considered her abysmal life choices, years of trying to change the very fiber of who she was, he had finally given up. No, she corrected her thoughts again, he hadn't given up, he had understood. And for whatever reason, that had been all she had needed to refocus her energy.
Now, standing beside the bed table where Jack lay, she gently ran a finger across his skin. Tracing the familiar lines of old scars, and discovering the existence of new ones that she would have to get used to. Get used to them when he woke up, that's how she thought about it now.
Her quiet contemplation was soon interrupted though as Jack began to wildly thrash about. His arms and legs flailing, he mumbled incoherently. Julianne thought she heard "Jules" amongst his ramblings but quickly put wondering about it out of her mind as she struggled to keep him from falling off the bed table.
"DOCTOR", she screamed loud enough for the whole household to hear.
Momentarily the doctor appeared in the doorway and quickly rushed to her aid.
"What's happening to him", she asked, her voice dripping with concern.
"His fever is breaking, he's at his worst. There's nothing we can do for him now, he either has to beat it, or the alternative. The hallucinations will be intense, they will make it harder for him. We'll just have to wait for the outcome", the doctor finished, cringing a little at the angry outburst he expected from Julianne. None came.
"Alright", she nodded determinedly. "Well if there's nothing we can do, no sense in you stayin if ye've got things to do."
"Are you sure?"
Julianne nodded.
"Well I do have other patients to attend to this morning, and I want to check up on some of your crew. I'll be back to see how he's doing in a bit."
Another nod and the doctor was gone. Turning her attention back to Jack, who had calmed down again but still twitched nervously, Julianne leaned down and whispered softly to him.
"This is it luv. Ye've got to fight this. I know ye can do it. Yer Captain Jack Sparrow", she finished with a small smile.
Pulling her chair over to the bed, she sat down next to him and held is hand tightly.
***
This was it, and Jack knew it without having to he told. His dreams and nightmares had carried him far and wide, and now he found himself at the end of the line. There was no longer a younger version of him around to guide, there was only Jack. The Commodore had just been pulled aboard and Jack has listened to his message from Julianne. When he heard Norrington's warning to hurry for fear of what Julianne might be subjected to, he remained calm and collected. Staring out at Red Cay, he ordered a rowboat be prepared for him.
"Just one boat Cap'n?" Gibbs had asked in confusion.
Jack nodded.
"Who will you be takin", Anamaria asked next.
Jack did not answer.
"Ye don't mean to go alone", she continued, slightly shocked.
"If ye don't hear from us by mornin, get yerselves out o' 'ere", he ordered in response.
Both she and Gibbs opened their mouths for further protest, but were silenced by his raised hand.
"I don't want any arguments. Just do as I say", he commanded, then strode to the rowboat and got in.
"Well, one things for sure", Gibbs muttered to Ana under his breath.
"What's that?"
"If Redford doesn't do him in, Juli sure as hell will when she finds out he went alone."
"Aye", Ana agreed before walking across the deck to her own cabin.
Jack rowed hard for the island. Upon reaching the beach, he pulled the small boat ashore and took a moment to gain his bearings, then slowly started for the main gate. On his way, he unconsciously fingered the black skeleton key in one of his deepest pockets. Creeping silently along the large, stone wall, Jack removed his hand from his pocket and gripped the hilt of his sword.
From where he stood, having stopped still, he could see the outline of two large figures guarding the gate. *Two at the gate, two at the door*, he thought to himself, though he didn't need the reminder. He knew the route he needed to take, he remembered where to go. Moving forward again, he edged his way along, back pressed against the wall. The distance between he and the men grew shorter and shorter and soon Jack was within reach of them without their knowing.
He had to act quickly, killing them swiftly and silently. It would be hard to do by himself, but he would wait until the opportunity presented itself. The wait was not long. The man furthest from Jack seemed to be suffering from a cold or similar ailment. Coughing occasionally, he eventually became overwhelmed by a fit that sent him bending forward clutching his sides. It was in that moment that Jack made his move. Grabbing the other man from behind with a hand over his mouth and abruptly slit his throat. He let the man slip from his grip, then promptly stabbed the coughing pirate who also fell dead to the ground.
*So far so good* he thought in relief as he reached down and grabbed the ring of keys off the first man's belt. As soundlessly as possible, he slid key after key into the gate's lock until he found the one that produced the desired click. Sliding the heavy iron open carefully, he opened the gate just far enough to slip inside, then turned to face the two guards at the door. Fortunately, the way that the light from the fortress shone, Jack remained unseen. Taking into account the way the shadows cast across the yard, he strayed from the path and approached the guards from the side, much as he had the first two.
In an ideal world, one of these guards would also have a cold and Jack could employ his earlier tactic. Unfortunately though, this was a nightmare, not a fairy tale, so Jack stood and waited a minute before deciding what to do. In the end, he figured he ought to just get things over with, and that's exactly what he did.
Sneaking up behind the man he was closer to, Jack raised his sword and plunged the point right into the base of his neck. The man gasped as he crumpled but thankfully did not cry out. Immediately Jack tore his sword free and proceeded to stab it through the other guard who was coming at him, still slightly shocked. This time the victim did yell, but Jack was quick to retract his sword and decapitate the noisy man.
*Jack four, bastards zero* he smirked to himself as he pulled the heavy wooden doors to the fortress open a crack. Looking up and down both hallways, he found them empty. Preparing to step inside, he stopped himself in time tot urn around and grab the sword off of one of the fallen pirates behind him.
Jack entered the hall, quietly slipping inside the door and remaining alert for any signs of approaching pirates. Now it was decision time: right or left? He stood there for a second looking back and forth between his two choices. As it turned out, he was eventually forced into choosing left at the sound of voices echoing down the right.
*Here goes nothing* he thought grimly as he began to creep his way down the hall. He made it a good distance before his first problem arose. In order to continue down the path he was on, he would have to pass in front of one of the archways that led into the fort's great hall. It was apparent from the noise level that the hall was occupied by not many, but more than one person. Peering warily around the corner, he could see that there were about ten men inside and more filling up. From the looks of things, they were all getting ready for Bloodshed's big production. Knowing it was only a matter of minutes before Julianne was brought into the room, Jack crossed his fingers that none of Bloodshed's crew recognized him as he sauntered naturally passed the archway as though he were just another crew member.
"That you Gums?" a voice called to him after he had passed.
Having thought he had made it by successfully, Jack stopped dead in his tracks and grunted in reply.
"Where're ye headed? Cap'n wants us all 'ere when he lets the lass have it."
"Can't very well let her have it if he don't send someone to be gettin here", Jack growled back in a low voice.
"Oh, aye", the other pirate laughed then turned back into the hall.
After breathing a sigh of relief, Jack continued on his way. The direction of the hall began to shift with the building's shape and before he knew it, Jack turned a corner to find himself face to face with another of Bloodshed's crew.
"What the", the pirate exclaimed, but was cut short by Jack's blade.
Hearing oncoming footsteps, Jack grabbed the man and dragged his body back around the corner where he waited. When the sound of the steps was only inches away, he swung his blade wide and it connected with someone's shoulder. Stepping into view Jack killed the man swiftly before hurrying away. He was no longer sneaking along quietly, but was now sprinting down the corridor frantically searching for any indication as to where they might be keeping Julianne.
Turning another corner his questions were answered as he ran head on into two men guarding a cell. Shocked himself, Jack quickly regained his focus and attacked them both before either had time to react. The first went down without a fight, but the second was able to draw his sword in the meantime. He slashed low at Jack's calf, sending a searing pan up his leg exactly as it had happened in reality just days earlier. Ignoring the pain, Jack turned on his attacked and chopped him down ruthlessly. Ripping the keys from the man's side, he quickly began to thrust them into the cell door and threw it open when he found the right one.
"My hero", Julianne mused both sarcastically and affectionately as he made his way to her.
"Ye alright", he asked as he set to work on the irons that still bound her to the wall.
She nodded as the first one clicked open but stopped short, her eyes growing wide. "Behind you", she hissed at him before he could unlock the other one.
Spinning around fast, he found Bloodshed in front of him, pistol drawn and aimed at his head. Next to Bloodshed a guard stepped forward and seized Julianne's arm, dragging her forward. As he pulled her past Redford he arm shot out in his direction. Having pulled the dagger from her boot when Jack freed her from the wall, she now thrust it into Bloodshed's side. Stumbling forward his pistol fired, shooting a bullet into the ground. While he was down Jack took the opportunity to slice his neck neatly.
He turned back to Julianne just in time to see her duck out of the path of the sword of the man who had grabbed her. Her dagger still in Redford's side, she had no weapon, and was now facing two more men who had come to aid their companion. Blades swung in her direction from all sides and there was no way she could avoid them for long. She leaned left, a sword barely missing her and instantly was forced right again. They over took her quickly, three blades bearing down on her at once.
"JULES!" a voice echoed throughout the whole of the fortress. It was Jack's voice, tearing through the night as he threw himself between she and them.
"JULES!"
***
"JULES!" Jack screamed at the top of his lungs as he thrashed wildly around on the bed table.
Grabbing his arms, Julianne threw her full weight on top of him to hold him in place and keep him from falling. Jack continued to scream, calling her name loudly.
"Jack, Jack calm down", she demanded, knowing he could not hear her. "DOCTOR TOCKS", she called eventually when Jack did not calm after a few minutes."
"NO, JULES NO", Jack yelled louder. "JULES!"
In that instant, Jack's eyes flew open and he sat upright swiftly, knocking Julianne backwards. She yelped slightly, grabbing onto the table sides to keep herself from falling, and pulled herself back up to face Jack.
"Shh luv. I'm right 'ere", she said soothingly, taking one of his hands in hers and putting her other to his face. "It's alright. I'm alright. It's ova", she assured him.
**************************************************************************** *************
Well, Happy Frickin Thanksgiving! Your precious Captain is alive and well, ok, maybe not completely well yet. But anyway, I'm home for the holidays so updates will be sketchy for a few days until I head back to school. And I hope you all don't decide to abandon me now that you know Jack is ok. That's all for now, stay tuned for more.
Ta! ~Angie~