OK, so the last chapter was a cliff hanger. Don't hate me, I know not what I do.

Cast of thousands: If you don't who does?

Me: Nobody, that's kinda the point. I think. Anyway, least I'm updating quickly, right?

Cast of thousands: The trick is to be good, not just prompt.

Me: I'm not talking to you anymore. I mean typing. I mean .. Oh forget it. Anyway, guess what? I still don't own Pirates of the Caribbean. As ever, thank you for all reviews. I have 73! Why, that's nearly 74!

Cast of thousands: Stop getting caught up in advanced mathematics and write the damn story. You left Will getting shot and falling off a cliff remember? He won't stand that for long.

Me: What are you talking about? Anyway ..

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Jack came out of his depressed trance at the sound of a shot. He moved quickly to the edge and looked over. He saw Will, standing on the edge of the ledge, saw him fall slowly backwards.

"I said, don't do anything stupid." He muttered anguished. The pirate on the ledge started walking back the way he'd came. By that time, Jack was already preparing to dive. He measured it carefully, so that he would hit the water a little way away from where Will had, he couldn't risk landing on the boy. It was a long way down, and hitting the water was quite sore. He went straight under and started looking for Will.

The weight of the sword and gun the lad carried pulled him down, and Jack found him sinking rapidly. He pulled the sword belt off him and started swimming upwards with him. He was aware of the blood in the water and hoped fervently that there were no sharks nearby. They broke the surface; Jack breathed in deeply. He anxiously checked Will.

"Still breathing," he thought "that's good. Need to get him to dry land though." He looked around. The Black Pearl was obviously about to depart. It didn't look like they had been spotted though, whoever had attacked Will seemed to have vanished. Good also. He began swimming - dragging Will along behind him - around the island to the beach on the other side of the cliff, away from the Pearl. Best not to push any luck he might have.

As soon as they landed on the beach, Jack began frantically searching Will for the wound. Blood was soaking through Will's shirt. "You'll be alright, you'll be alright." Jack chanted under his breath, knowing full well that his friend couldn't hear him. Pulling Will's shirt up, he discovered the bullet gash in his side. It was deep, and bleeding profusely, but it wouldn't be fatal. Jack breathed a sigh of relief and, tearing a piece of his own shirt off to use as a bandage, worked to stop the bleeding. Once that was done he wrapped Will up in both his, and the blacksmith's coats, remembering that he had always been told that keeping the patient warm was important.

"Having some rum to clean the wound and a fire would be better though." He said aloud. "And dry clothes." He didn't however, want to leave Will alone to either go back to the Interceptor II or to go and gather wood for a fire. He sighed.

"Just have to make do for the moment." He shook his head, and put his hand on Will's briefly. "What were you thinking of lad?"

He was startled when Will answered. "Elizabeth. Couldn't let her get caught." Jack took his hand away immediately.

"How do you feel?"

" Fine." He was obviously lying, but Jack nodded anyway.

"Where's Elizabeth?" Will asked suddenly. Jack suddenly realised that he'd forgotten all about her.

"I don't know. I didn't see her." Catching Will's look of alarm he added. "She'll be alright."

"We need to find her."

"Heard that before. You're not going anywhere, you'll start bleeding again. Need to put stitches in but," he made a frustrated gesture "all the stuff's back in the boat." Seeing Will was about to try and sit up, he put a restraining hand on his shoulders. "I'll go look for her in a minute. But I'll make a fire for you first. You need to stay warm, savvy?"

Will nodded, weakly. Jack, feeling a lot more confident now that Will was awake, quickly found some driftwood and lit a small fire. While he was looking for wood, he checked to see if the Black Pearl had indeed left. For once he was glad to see it sailing off without him. "Bastards are going to pay." He muttered. He realised that there apparently were worse things than someone stealing his ship; trying to kill his friend was one of them.

Seeing that Will was comfortable and not about to drift off again, Jack left him to find Elizabeth. It took about twenty minutes; she was on the other side of the island looking for them.

"Jack!" she cried on seeing him. "I was so worried. Is Will alright?"

Jack hesitated for a moment. She turned pale. He quickly reassured her.

"No, no, he's fine. Well, he's been shot, but apart from that he's fine."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "He's been shot."

Jack nodded. "Its not too serious. Just a graze really, I stopped the bleeding. But it needs seeing to, and I don't want to carry him back to the Interceptor II on my own. So, hurry, hurry."

Elizabeth immediately started running, and Jack quickly ran after her and showed her the right way to go. They soon arrived back at the beach, Will was right where Jack had left him. Jack was slightly concerned to see that he was unconscious again, but reflected that it was probably just as well since carrying him gently would be difficult.

Jack grabbed two long branches that he had found earlier while looking for firewood and kept to one side, and using them and the coats fashioned a stretcher. Elizabeth watched, fascinated. Seeing her interest, Jack said.

"Gibbs taught me how to do that. Think he learnt it in the navy." He finished. "Come on, give me a hand moving him on to it." They both, as gently as possible, lifted Will, and placed him on the stretcher. Jack checked his wound. It was still bleeding, but only very slightly. He adjusted the makeshift bandage. Elizabeth was talking softly to Will. Jack refrained from pointing out that the whelp couldn't hear her, and did his best not to listen himself.

"Best we were moving, luv." He said gently. They took one end of the stretcher each and started walking back to the ship. It seemed a very long way, and Will seemed to get heavier with each step, but neither of them said a word, each busy with their own thoughts.

Elizabeth was remembering every moment she had ever spent with Will, wondering if she'd always treated him as well as he deserved. She wondered if he truly knew what he meant to her, if he knew how much she loved him. She also wondered if Jack knew what he was talking about. If Will should die .. She could not bear it.

Jack thought; "It's my fault. I should have left him - and Elizabeth - back at the ship. No, more than that, I should have made them go back to Port Royal immediately. Shouldn't have even let them rescue me in the first place. What would Bill say if he knew I let his son get shot? He'd hate me . and so will Elizabeth. And Will, when he wakes up. If he wakes up. When he wakes up. And so they should. It's all my fault.

Both of them were relieved when they arrived back at the ship.

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Ah, another chapter finished. Lots of angst and probably much more to come. By the way anyone looking for any kind of ending anytime soon stand by to be disappointed. I know where this is going, but not when.

Cast of thousands: Or why.

Me: Indeed. But review it anyway ... go on ...