Usual disclaimers. blah!
I didn't think I'd get anything typed this weekend... but I've got two little chapters for you.
***
Catherine snuggled against Jack, her head on his shoulder. She knew it was him although she had not opened her eyes. Feeling a kiss on her forehead she slowly opened her eyes.
"How do you feel love?"
She frowned, wondering for a moment why she hurt so much before remembering that she had been shot. "My chest hurts," she whispered. "How..."
"Ssshhh!" he whispered. "You're gonna be fine - just lie still."
Only when he knew she was sleeping again did he nod to Little Feather who had been loitering nearby. Quietly he came and sat next to him.
"I am sorry Crazy Bird. I did not think that the French would shoot her..."
Jack shook his head, beads softly jangling. "It's alright mate. Guess they thought it kinder than leaving her with a bunch of savages... you weren't to know." He sighed. "An' from what Red Cloud tells me, if you hadn't moved then the bullet would have hit her heart..." His arms tightened about her in a subconscious response to his words.
"Running Elk says she will be fine..."
"It will take time Little Feather - I'd been hoping t' head home soon, back to th' Pearl, but now she will need a month or more to recover." He stroked a hair from across her face. "She's had worse injuries, hell - the worst one I was responsible for!"
"What?" Little Feather looked at him shocked.
"It was before we were married, th' Pearl attacked a ship an' we didn't know she was on it. Cannon ball hit near her an' she was nearly skewered by a bit of wood... it was so bad Cotton had t' cauterise it."
Little Feather frowned, unsure of the words that he used.
"Cauterise - to stop th' bleedin' with a hot knife." Jack sighed. "She's got a terrible scar on her back, but at least she's alive... look, like this!" He peeled back his shirt, revealing where he had received a similar wound. "So I don't blame you, alright? Now get some sleep... Kitty will live an' that's all that matters to me!" He carefully lay down, keeping Catherine across him as she slept and wrapping several blankets around them. "Good night Little Feather!"
***
When Catherine woke the next day she found herself still wrapped in blankets on top of Jack. He had been holding her, playing with her hair whilst she slept. Her chest hurt like hell, even breathing was painful. "Jack..."
A voice answered from next to her ear. "Mmmnn, nice t' see you awake. Can I stop being a pillow yet - my arm's gone to sleep!" Guiltily she tried to move, gasping in pain. "It's alright," he smiled. "Let me help!" He rolled sideways so that she lay on the ground next to him before struggling to his feet. After stretching, and a number of loud clicks, he crouched down beside her, placing the back of his hand on her forehead. "Still no temperature... good!" he smiled. He rolled a blanket into a pillow for her, raising her head and wrapping another blanket around her. "But we still need t' keep yer warm!"
"What happened?" she frowned. "And how did you get here?"
"What do you remember?"
"I remember Isaac trying to reach me, but I shut my eyes..." She looked at him sadly.
"He was a sadistic bastard luv, don't let his mannered veneer fool you! Trust me - I've seen his nice side!" Jack interrupted. "How do you think I got that cut you so lovingly tended down the mine, eh? If he was kind to you it was because he wanted something... probably you if his attempted rescue was anything to go by!" He stroked her cheek, not having the heart to tell her how sadistic and cruel Isaac Blanche truly had been to the captives in the mine, not wanting to distress her . He may have called them animals, but most animals were treated better than the men in the deep shaft. Beatings were a form of entertainment to him, and he often withheld food and water until enough trucks had been filled with coal.
She frowned. "I don't remember anything after shutting my eyes... apart from swearing at you... I think?"
Jack sighed. "One of the French bastards had a long rifle. He... he shot as Little Feather turned... if he hadn't... you'd... you'd..." He swallowed, shutting his eyes for a moment as he tried to say the words. "You'd be... dead." His voice trailed to a whisper, his horror of the words clear in his eyes.
"Hey!" She smiled, reaching across to touch his hand before tracing the scars on his own chest. "Don't you know it takes more than that to kill a Sparrow!"
He squeezed her hand. "But not much more... that was too bloody close Kitty!" He held a finger and thumb before her, measuring an inch. "This close!"
She nodded. "Am I back in the brig?" Her eyes, downcast, signalled her acceptance of defeat.
Jack smiled, shaking his head. "No, I gave m' word on that Kitty... I'll not break it however much I might want to." He reached down and kissed her. "You rest... I've got to see Little Feather - he was talking about how best to get you back to the village..."
"But..."
"Kitty, rest! The sooner we get you better the sooner we can return to th' Pearl... alright?"
"Aye Captain!" She poked her tongue out at him.
Oran smiled as he walked past. "Technically Kitty, he isn't the Captain - you are!"
"Wha...." Jack whirled round to face him.
"Crew voted her Captain when you disappeared. Until they re-vote, she is still Captain!"
"But..."
Jack's face was such a picture that Catherine started to laugh again. "No! Go away! Stop making me laugh! It hurts!" She winced before smiling, taking pity on Jack. "Can't I just hand it back to him?" she asked.
"No..." Jack sulked. "Not until the crew vote!"
"Perhaps I should make you m' cabin boy," she teased.
His eyes narrowed as if thinking of a witty response, but none came. "Captain," he bowed, a slight smirk on his lips as he went in search of Little Feather.
Catherine smiled up at Oran. "Why do I get the feeling that I'll pay for that later?" she laughed, still wincing as her chest hurt.
He shrugged. "Probably because you will... but at least he'll let you get better first!"
***
Jack walked across to where Little Feather was readying the horses. "We should leave soon Crazy Bird. It will not do to be caught near here by the French!"
Jack nodded. "How..."
"I will carry her in front of me - it will be safer and less bumpy than a travois. You can ride on your own - we will not be going fast." Jack looked unsure. "It is a long way to the sea of the east... and even longer walking so you'd best start learning now!"
Jack raised one eyebrow, but walked across to Catherine. "Come on luv, let's get you back to th' village." He reached down to pick her up.
"I can walk!"
"Can you?" He frowned. "Are you sure?"
"No," she admitted. "But I can try!"
Jack offered her his hand, helping her get to her feet, alarmed when she suddenly paled and swayed wildly. "Kitty!"
"Wow!" she gasped. "That hurt!" Wincing she smiled. "Well, they say that if it hurts you're still alive! Don't they?" Gingerly she allowed him to help her across to where Little Feather waited, sitting on his horse.
Jack gently handed her up to him. "Don't drop her!" he warned.
Little Feather smiled. "I'd be more worried about yourself!" He pointed to a spare horse.
Watching how the others mounted, Jack managed to gain his mounts back with some degree of grace. Little Feather rode next to him, the horses companionably matching stride. He frowned, surprised to see that Catherine soon fell asleep in Little Feather's arms.
"Don't worry," Little Feather told him. "It is the herbs that Running Elk gave her - they will keep her sleepy until we get back to the village." He cast a critical eye over Jack's riding. "No, hold your reins like this... and straighten your back - look ahead!"
***
Jack had nearly figured out how to guide his horse by the time the reached the village the following day and had almost found his balance. In a way it reminded him of being on his beloved Black Pearl - swaying with the movement, but the Pearl was more predictable and didn't decide to stop and eat grass without warning. He slid off gratefully, deciding to walk the last few yards to Lofty Eagle's cabin before taking the still sleeping Catherine from Little Feather. He carried her inside, laying her gently down on the furs.
"She'll sleep a while yet," Little Feather said. "Come and get some food while you can..." he suggested.
Jack followed him from the cabin, snaring a jug of the local brew en-route. For a moment he considered asking Little Feather what it was made off, but seeing some of the things that they ate he decided that he'd rather not know. He smiled to himself, thinking longingly of the rum he'd drink when he got home. However good the local brew was, nothing could beat a nice bottle of rum!
Once he had eaten though he went back and sat next to his wife, cradling the jug whilst waiting for her to wake. Although Little Feather had assured him that she would sleep for a few more hours, he did not want her waking alone, knowing her contrary nature would probably cause her to wake early... and she did.
"Jack?"
He jumped, having nearly dozed off. "I'm 'ere... don't worry!" He leaned across so that he was in her view. "Feelin' better?"
"I still feel like shit," she smiled. "But I could do with my pillow back..." He snuggled down next to her, wrapping his arm carefully around her. "I'd actually like a lot more, but I don't think I'm up to it!"
He laughed. "I don't think so either luv!" He kissed her. "Maybe later, eh?"
She snuggled closer against him, burrowing her head into his shoulder. "Mmmnn, later - I'll hold you to that!"
***
I didn't think I'd get anything typed this weekend... but I've got two little chapters for you.
***
Catherine snuggled against Jack, her head on his shoulder. She knew it was him although she had not opened her eyes. Feeling a kiss on her forehead she slowly opened her eyes.
"How do you feel love?"
She frowned, wondering for a moment why she hurt so much before remembering that she had been shot. "My chest hurts," she whispered. "How..."
"Ssshhh!" he whispered. "You're gonna be fine - just lie still."
Only when he knew she was sleeping again did he nod to Little Feather who had been loitering nearby. Quietly he came and sat next to him.
"I am sorry Crazy Bird. I did not think that the French would shoot her..."
Jack shook his head, beads softly jangling. "It's alright mate. Guess they thought it kinder than leaving her with a bunch of savages... you weren't to know." He sighed. "An' from what Red Cloud tells me, if you hadn't moved then the bullet would have hit her heart..." His arms tightened about her in a subconscious response to his words.
"Running Elk says she will be fine..."
"It will take time Little Feather - I'd been hoping t' head home soon, back to th' Pearl, but now she will need a month or more to recover." He stroked a hair from across her face. "She's had worse injuries, hell - the worst one I was responsible for!"
"What?" Little Feather looked at him shocked.
"It was before we were married, th' Pearl attacked a ship an' we didn't know she was on it. Cannon ball hit near her an' she was nearly skewered by a bit of wood... it was so bad Cotton had t' cauterise it."
Little Feather frowned, unsure of the words that he used.
"Cauterise - to stop th' bleedin' with a hot knife." Jack sighed. "She's got a terrible scar on her back, but at least she's alive... look, like this!" He peeled back his shirt, revealing where he had received a similar wound. "So I don't blame you, alright? Now get some sleep... Kitty will live an' that's all that matters to me!" He carefully lay down, keeping Catherine across him as she slept and wrapping several blankets around them. "Good night Little Feather!"
***
When Catherine woke the next day she found herself still wrapped in blankets on top of Jack. He had been holding her, playing with her hair whilst she slept. Her chest hurt like hell, even breathing was painful. "Jack..."
A voice answered from next to her ear. "Mmmnn, nice t' see you awake. Can I stop being a pillow yet - my arm's gone to sleep!" Guiltily she tried to move, gasping in pain. "It's alright," he smiled. "Let me help!" He rolled sideways so that she lay on the ground next to him before struggling to his feet. After stretching, and a number of loud clicks, he crouched down beside her, placing the back of his hand on her forehead. "Still no temperature... good!" he smiled. He rolled a blanket into a pillow for her, raising her head and wrapping another blanket around her. "But we still need t' keep yer warm!"
"What happened?" she frowned. "And how did you get here?"
"What do you remember?"
"I remember Isaac trying to reach me, but I shut my eyes..." She looked at him sadly.
"He was a sadistic bastard luv, don't let his mannered veneer fool you! Trust me - I've seen his nice side!" Jack interrupted. "How do you think I got that cut you so lovingly tended down the mine, eh? If he was kind to you it was because he wanted something... probably you if his attempted rescue was anything to go by!" He stroked her cheek, not having the heart to tell her how sadistic and cruel Isaac Blanche truly had been to the captives in the mine, not wanting to distress her . He may have called them animals, but most animals were treated better than the men in the deep shaft. Beatings were a form of entertainment to him, and he often withheld food and water until enough trucks had been filled with coal.
She frowned. "I don't remember anything after shutting my eyes... apart from swearing at you... I think?"
Jack sighed. "One of the French bastards had a long rifle. He... he shot as Little Feather turned... if he hadn't... you'd... you'd..." He swallowed, shutting his eyes for a moment as he tried to say the words. "You'd be... dead." His voice trailed to a whisper, his horror of the words clear in his eyes.
"Hey!" She smiled, reaching across to touch his hand before tracing the scars on his own chest. "Don't you know it takes more than that to kill a Sparrow!"
He squeezed her hand. "But not much more... that was too bloody close Kitty!" He held a finger and thumb before her, measuring an inch. "This close!"
She nodded. "Am I back in the brig?" Her eyes, downcast, signalled her acceptance of defeat.
Jack smiled, shaking his head. "No, I gave m' word on that Kitty... I'll not break it however much I might want to." He reached down and kissed her. "You rest... I've got to see Little Feather - he was talking about how best to get you back to the village..."
"But..."
"Kitty, rest! The sooner we get you better the sooner we can return to th' Pearl... alright?"
"Aye Captain!" She poked her tongue out at him.
Oran smiled as he walked past. "Technically Kitty, he isn't the Captain - you are!"
"Wha...." Jack whirled round to face him.
"Crew voted her Captain when you disappeared. Until they re-vote, she is still Captain!"
"But..."
Jack's face was such a picture that Catherine started to laugh again. "No! Go away! Stop making me laugh! It hurts!" She winced before smiling, taking pity on Jack. "Can't I just hand it back to him?" she asked.
"No..." Jack sulked. "Not until the crew vote!"
"Perhaps I should make you m' cabin boy," she teased.
His eyes narrowed as if thinking of a witty response, but none came. "Captain," he bowed, a slight smirk on his lips as he went in search of Little Feather.
Catherine smiled up at Oran. "Why do I get the feeling that I'll pay for that later?" she laughed, still wincing as her chest hurt.
He shrugged. "Probably because you will... but at least he'll let you get better first!"
***
Jack walked across to where Little Feather was readying the horses. "We should leave soon Crazy Bird. It will not do to be caught near here by the French!"
Jack nodded. "How..."
"I will carry her in front of me - it will be safer and less bumpy than a travois. You can ride on your own - we will not be going fast." Jack looked unsure. "It is a long way to the sea of the east... and even longer walking so you'd best start learning now!"
Jack raised one eyebrow, but walked across to Catherine. "Come on luv, let's get you back to th' village." He reached down to pick her up.
"I can walk!"
"Can you?" He frowned. "Are you sure?"
"No," she admitted. "But I can try!"
Jack offered her his hand, helping her get to her feet, alarmed when she suddenly paled and swayed wildly. "Kitty!"
"Wow!" she gasped. "That hurt!" Wincing she smiled. "Well, they say that if it hurts you're still alive! Don't they?" Gingerly she allowed him to help her across to where Little Feather waited, sitting on his horse.
Jack gently handed her up to him. "Don't drop her!" he warned.
Little Feather smiled. "I'd be more worried about yourself!" He pointed to a spare horse.
Watching how the others mounted, Jack managed to gain his mounts back with some degree of grace. Little Feather rode next to him, the horses companionably matching stride. He frowned, surprised to see that Catherine soon fell asleep in Little Feather's arms.
"Don't worry," Little Feather told him. "It is the herbs that Running Elk gave her - they will keep her sleepy until we get back to the village." He cast a critical eye over Jack's riding. "No, hold your reins like this... and straighten your back - look ahead!"
***
Jack had nearly figured out how to guide his horse by the time the reached the village the following day and had almost found his balance. In a way it reminded him of being on his beloved Black Pearl - swaying with the movement, but the Pearl was more predictable and didn't decide to stop and eat grass without warning. He slid off gratefully, deciding to walk the last few yards to Lofty Eagle's cabin before taking the still sleeping Catherine from Little Feather. He carried her inside, laying her gently down on the furs.
"She'll sleep a while yet," Little Feather said. "Come and get some food while you can..." he suggested.
Jack followed him from the cabin, snaring a jug of the local brew en-route. For a moment he considered asking Little Feather what it was made off, but seeing some of the things that they ate he decided that he'd rather not know. He smiled to himself, thinking longingly of the rum he'd drink when he got home. However good the local brew was, nothing could beat a nice bottle of rum!
Once he had eaten though he went back and sat next to his wife, cradling the jug whilst waiting for her to wake. Although Little Feather had assured him that she would sleep for a few more hours, he did not want her waking alone, knowing her contrary nature would probably cause her to wake early... and she did.
"Jack?"
He jumped, having nearly dozed off. "I'm 'ere... don't worry!" He leaned across so that he was in her view. "Feelin' better?"
"I still feel like shit," she smiled. "But I could do with my pillow back..." He snuggled down next to her, wrapping his arm carefully around her. "I'd actually like a lot more, but I don't think I'm up to it!"
He laughed. "I don't think so either luv!" He kissed her. "Maybe later, eh?"
She snuggled closer against him, burrowing her head into his shoulder. "Mmmnn, later - I'll hold you to that!"
***