"Nathan, I want you to keep this safe."
"Mom, what is it?"
"It's a pirate map."
"What?"
"Nathan, do as you're told."
"Yes ma'am…but why me?"
"You're sisters fascination with pirates would grow even larger if she ever knew about this."
"Where did you find it?"
"That's not important."
"Does father know?"
"No. And I don't want him to. This is between you and me. I want you to keep this close to your heart as if it was me or your sister or your father. Nathan, your life depends on keeping this secret."
"Yes mother, I will keep it safe."
*****
Jack sighed again and he took a drink of his rum. The burning sensation brought no satisfaction to him. Nor did the fact that Gwyneth was in a hospital. The only thing that would make him feel better was if he could be with Gwen right now. But the doctors weren't fond of pirates.
When he came into the bar, he sat down even more depressed. Beverly had come up to him, on the verge of tears, telling him that he shot her husband and the father of her baby. Jack shuddered at the fact that any woman would sleep with a man who didn't have his soul. But the fact that Beverly was miserable made him forget that fact.
"Find yerself a new lover, ye has always been good at that." Jack said. Although the woman who he had once cared for and loved was crying before him, he didn't care. The man she loved had injured the woman he cared for. Antonio had it coming anyways. He had killed the Governor and Nathan for no other reason other than a map. Yes, Antonio did deserve to be killed. Jack wouldn't be swayed from that.
He looked up when the bell over the door jingled. In walked Elizabeth. Her bruised eye was looking better and her little bruises on her cheeks were fading. They all should be gone by the time they reached Port Royal.
She came and sat down next to Jack. Her eyes telling him she wanted to hear how he was doing.
"How's Gwen?"
"Gwen is doing…well she's not dead."
Jack's head dropped.
"But the doctors here are taking very good care of her. She'll be fine, I'm sure of it."
"So why are you here?"
She paused, "I figured you needed some company…"
"And the reason Will didn't come instead…?"
She smiled, "Because I missed you and wanted to talk to you."
He snorted, "More like you wanted to get some stuff outta me."
"You'll never know."
Jack smiled for the first time in hours and said, "Well Lizzy, what'd you wanna know?"
"Will told me that this isn't the first time you've done something for Gwyneth…"
"He told you about our little…break in?"
She nodded.
"Well yea…"
"And I can understand that you would save anybody in that position…"
"But?"
"But…"
"Oh! I'm supposed to fill in the blank…"
Elizabeth smiled but said nothing. Jack sighed, "She's a wonderful person, Lizzy."
"Of course she is. Everyone thought that…even my brother."
"So that's what's buggin' you. Look Lizzy, I didn't go after her because of her money or her…helplessness?"
"Money didn't really come to mind Jack. It was the fact that she came on board your ship totally emotionally helpless. Yes, helpless. And though she won't admit it to anyone, she misses him and aches for him."
"If she won't admit it to anyone then how do you know?"
Elizabeth smirked, that mouth of his! "Because I'm a woman and have felt the same thing."
Jack paused, "You don't think she's interested in me, do you? You think she's just latching on t'the nearest available man!"
"Jack, I didn't say that."
"Yes, but you implied it luv."
"It's just that she's not someone who would…"
"Fall in love with a pirate?"
"No. Be on a pirate ship. Jack, you're from two different societies."
"Don't you think I know that? I wasn't expectin' on purposin' a pirate marriage and then whiskin' her away to the nearest danger I could find…"
"Then what were you thinking of doing?"
"Caring for her. Like a man who cares for her should do."
Elizabeth was silent, Jack reached out and touched her elbow, "Lizzy…I have a feelin' both of us fought back the feelin's for as long as we could…but as some people might say, you gotta follow yer heart'."
"You? Follow you're heart? What logic is in that?"
Jack sat back and smiled, "It's a fool who looks for logic in the human heart, luv."
******
Will watched as Jack carefully lifted Gwyneth from the deck. Her five foot two inch frame looked lifeless and weak as Jack held her as if he was carrying Brenda when she was a babe. Will and Elizabeth followed Jack as he went down the gangplank with Gwyneth in his arms.
She was moaning from the pain as tears came steadily down her cheeks. The tears running into her long, golden hair that already had dried sweat and splattered blood in it. Will held Elizabeth and wondered what the look on Jack's face was right now. He was carrying someone he had grown to care for. This could've been prevented… Will thought. Jack's probably thinking the same thing. Good thing he won't beat himself up over it.
Jack kept telling Gwyneth to stay with him. To tell him everything she knew of Will and Elizabeth. He needed to keep her conscious and if hearing boring facts about the two people they both knew was going to do it, Jack would endure it.
I wonder what he's feeling. Will though as he and Elizabeth trailed behind Jack. I wonder if he's worried about how she's going to end up. A week isn't that long true, but in that week they've probably gotten to know each other better than I've known her or Elizabeth has known Jack. And a lot of things can happen in a week, obviously more for Jack and Gwyneth that for me.
Will saw Jack bend his over a couple of times and kiss her temple. This was probably the first time he had seen Jack act so sweet towards a woman. Suddenly, a thought came to Will, "Jack- what about Brenda!?"
"I told Ana to get her and bring her to me."
At the hospital, Jack was forced to leave. He couldn't come into the room Gwyneth was being put in. He started yelling and cussing and cursing the doctors. Will thought he was going to burst, so Elizabeth went with the semi-conscious Gwyneth while Will pushed Jack outside.
Breathing hard he said, "Will, they won't let me in."
"Yes, I was here too."
Jack smirked, "If I wasn't so mad at them, I would challenge you to a duel."
"Whatever helps you let out your energy."
Jack eyed his friend, "I'm not going to fight you now."
Will shrugged.
"Will, I need you to get me in there."
"Jack, this isn't Port Royal where you can tell someone your name is Mr. Smith. There's people everywhere. Someone will see you."
"Well then what do you suggest I do? I can't just wait around while the thing I caused to happens gets worse or better."
"Jack, this isn't your fault."
"Prove it mate."
Will put both hands on Jack's shoulders, "Jack, there's no way you could've prevented this. Even if you did locked her up in her cabin, she would find a way out. Trust me."
Will knew that Jack wouldn't respond. But by not responding, he was accepting it. That, Will was glad for. "Now, I will come and see you in an hour or before if something happens, and I will tell you everything. Okay?"
"We have an accord." Jack said sticking out his hand. Will smiled and shook it. Good ol' Jack.
*****
As Jack and Elizabeth sat and talked in the bar, Ana Maria and Brenda came in. She rushed up and sat on her father's lap. Elizabeth gave him a questioning look.
"Brenda luv, I'd like to you meet Elizabeth Turner. Uncle Will's wife."
Brenda gave her a look, "Welcome t'the family."
Elizabeth smiled, "Jack! She's adorable!"
"Thanks."
"She looks exactly like you."
"Yer pretty."
She smiled, "Thank you Brenda."
"How long you've been Uncle Will's wife?"
"About seven months."
"Wow."
"Captain, the crew wants to know what you want us to do…" Ana cut in.
Jack looked up at her, "Wait. We're not leaving until Gwyneth is okay. We have to take them all to Port Royal….tell them while we're here to explore the island and have fun. We just had a victory, they deserve a break."
"Aye," She said and left.
A minute later Will burst in and Jack stood up, still holding his daughter, "What is it, lad?"
"Gwyneth has requested your presence," He said with a big smile.
"What are you doing in here?" A man asked Jack.
"Doctor Benson, Ms. Johnson has requested to see him,"
"But he's a…he's…"
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow and I won't hurt a bone on her body or let an unkind word come out of my mouth, savvy? Now let me see 'er."
Will smiled and looked at the doctor, "Fine. But she needs her strength, which means she needs her rest."
"Aye," Jack said and pushed through him to go through the door. Jack stood in the room and looked at the woman before him. She was under a blanket and looked as pale as a ghost. Her full lips were now chapped, her bright eyes now hidden by her eyes lids, and her full, golden curls were now flat against the pillow she was resting her head against.
She turned when the door shut behind Jack and smiled, "Jack…"
"Gwen you look…"
"Dead?" she put out.
He shook his head, "Alive."
"No thanks to me…"
Jack walked over and sat in the chair that was sitting next to her. "How so luv?"
"You told me not to stay out there. But I didn't listen. As usual. I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not listening to you when I should've. We both knew Antonio was after me since I gave him the wrong map…but I wanted to help so bad."
"It's fine Gwen…you're okay. That's all that matters."
She closed her eyes and smiled. She put her hand on Jack's which was rested beside her and he held it tightly. "I didn't think you'd still be here."
"Why not?"
She opened her eyes, thinking she wouldn't need to explain herself, but the look on Jack's face told her that she did. "Why, you're Captain Jack Sparrow. The man who defeated a crew of undead pirates, you vanished from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Company. You sacked Nassau Port without even firing a shot. Why would you stay in Point Fortin, a small port in Trinidad?
"Because I have to get someone home."
Home. She thought, home. I haven't been home in so long. It would be so nice to climb into my own bed and feel the warmth underneath the covers. She sighed.
"You miss it?"
She nodded.
"Well as soon as yer well enough to at least walk, the Pearl will be on its way."
"Sounds fine…that'll be in a couple of days…that's fine, right?"
"As long as yer healthy."
"Thank you Jack."
He smiled, "Let me guess, for saving you twice?"
"And everything else. You could've left me on that ship and not thought another thing about it. But you didn't. You agreed to take me on your ship."
"What's wrong luv? Yer goin' a little deep here."
She shrugged and adjusted herself in the bed, "Spending hours just staring at a ceiling really makes a person wonder."
"Well I think you should get some sleep," he said getting up, not really wanting to leave but hearing the weariness in her voice.
"Wait, I bought something for you!"
"For me?" He sat back down, "You didn't have to do that!"
"I wanted to…it's on the desk over there."
He got up and walked over to the wooden desk. On top of it lay a book. Small and thin. He picked it up and turned to her, "Gwen I think I have to tell you something…"
"Jack I have to tell you something too…I heard you the day Brenda asked about reading. I didn't mean to stay up there as long as I did…"
He paused, let it roll off yer shoulder… "Pirates don't really make it a point to read."
"That's why I bought you the book. I'll teach you."
He smiled, a little embarrassed.
"C'mon, it'll be fun." So Jack sat down, seeing that teaching him brought some sort of life and joy into her eyes. Jack needed to see that. So he opened the book and began the long and tedious process of reading.