Here is another chapter and I apologise for the delay, I've been slightly ill and in the middle of revision. I hate exams. They're next week's problem.

OK, first of all, as ever I don't own anything.

Second of all, I don't normally put up individual replies to reviews, mostly 'cause it annoys me in other people's stories, I mean I can see how it's a polite thing to do, and I am pathetically grateful to all reviewers, but you still have to scroll past. And yes I have noticed the amount of nonsense I have at the beginning of my stories but that's for me. Anyway, point is that someone - Yakkorat - put up some points that I wanted to answer.

First of all, you're completely right about the paragraphs about the whipping not being long enough or horrible enough. I thought that as soon as I read over them, and I'll get round to changing them at some point. Its on my To Do list which at present could be used as an alternative to wall paper ..

Secondly, you said that Jack wouldn't beg Norrington for a drink of water because Stenson hadn't broken him. That is true, but remember Jack is ill and hasn't had more than some rainwater for, well I can't quite remember but it was a long time anyway. He isn't begging Norrington because he thinks that is what he should do, but because he thinks that's what Norrington wants to hear and he's ready to do anything for the drink.

Anyway thanks for the review. I don't actually know if you liked the story or not, so I don't know if you're reading this. If you're not then this is a colossal waste of time. What a depressing thought. Think I'll go make some coffee instead ..

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They laid Will down on Jack's bed since it was the biggest and all the medical supplies they had were still in his cabin.

Jack turned to Elizabeth, "I'll need fresh water, bandages an' a needle an' thread. And some rum."

"Rum?" Elizabeth looked shocked. "Captain Sparrow, you are not treating my fiancé after you've been drinking."

Jack looked at her. "No, the rum is to clean the wound, and the needle. And for Will to drink if he wakes up."

"Oh." She looked abashed and turned away.

"And" she turned back "It's Jack, luv."

She half smiled and gathered the stuff he needed. Jack checked on Will. Still unconscious. Good. He pulled the bandages off the wound, and cleaned it with the water and rum Elizabeth had brought. He asked Elizabeth to pass the needle and noticed how pale she was.

"Ye can't faint now lass. I need you. And, more to the point, Will needs you."

She nodded and swallowed. "Jack, are you sure you know what you're doing?"

He smiled "This isn't the first gunshot wound I've treated. Not by a long way. Important skill for a pirate that, and one that people often forget. Have to be handy with your sewin' for bodies and canvas."

She nodded again and passed the needle and thread. She watched him work in silence. It took a lot less time than she had expected but it still seemed to last forever. She had never considered herself particularly squeamish, but watching the needle pierce Will's skin sent a cold shudder down her spine. When Jack was finished, he cleaned the wound once again, and bandaged it neatly. He then took a long swig from the rum bottle. He then offered it to her, and with very little hesitation she took it. It tasted rather less vile than she remembered, seeming to warm her rather than burn her.

"Thank you." She said, not knowing whether she meant for the rum, or for knowing about bullet holes.

He regarded her, with as grave an expression as she had ever seen on his face. "You're welcome."

"What now?"

"Well, he could wake up at any time. He'll be weak from the blood loss. Need feeding up, no doubt. Can ye cook stuff like broth and porridge?"

"I think so."

"That's what he'll need then. Not what he'll want, I imagine, but what he'll need. Also, lots of liquids."

Elizabeth was fascinated. "How do you know this stuff?"

"Sailed with a doctor once. Some scandal or something had made him turn pirate. Useful fellow to have aboard a ship. I used to listen to him talk and watch him treat people. He fell overboard during a battle one day, and that was the end of him. Shame. A good man, really. I take it you'll be staying by dear William's bedside?"

"What?" Elizabeth was startled by the sudden question. Jack repeated it. "Oh, yes. Of course I will be."

"Then you won't mind if I go up on deck. Need some fresh air. Call me if there's any change. Keep checking his temperature, watch if he seems to be getting warm. Or cold. And if he wakes up, don't let him go poking in the bandages or he'll tear the stitches and I'll have to put them in again. Savvy?"

Elizabeth nodded. Jack left. She was slightly surprised at him leaving Will alone, but he had been looking somewhat pale himself. He probably didn't like acting as a doctor, even if he did know how. That had been another odd thing, hearing about someone from Jack's past even though he hadn't given a name for the doctor, or said when and where he had known him. But Jack hardly ever volunteered information about himself. At least believable information. She had seen his scars on that island, the first time, but he had never told the stories that accompanied them. Will had told her that Jack even avoided questions about Bill Turner. He would tell Will what his father had been like, but not what he had been to Jack, despite the fact that they had obviously known each other well. She wondered what Jack had on his mind to make him act so uncharacteristically, and had half a mind to go after him, but a soft moan from Will quickly made her forget all about it.

She leaned forwards, and held his hand between hers. "Will?" she said softly.

He turned his head, but kept his eyes shut.

"Will?" she said again a little louder this time.

"Elizabeth." He said, opening his eyes and smiling up at her. "You're alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Her voice was teasing. "You're the one who didn't move out of the way."

He laughed a little and winced. "Ow. Don't make me laugh please love."

Her heart skipped a beat at the endearment. "I'm sorry." She said, instantly penitent.

Will's hand moved down to his side, and he gently probed the bandages. Immediately, Elizabeth grabbed his hand.

"Don't do that. Jack said you had to leave it alone."

Will looked startled. "Jack said?"

"Apparently medicine is one of the lesser-known pirate skills. Anyway, he patched you up."

"Oh." Will lay still for a moment, thinking. "I fell in the water." He said at last.

"Yes, you did." Jack's voice came from the doorway. "Bloody stupid thing to do if you ask me."

"I didn't mean to." Will said automatically. "Anyway, I was trying to piece together what happened. I remember falling in the water and I remember waking up on the beach, but what happened in between?"

"Other pirates left, I jumped in and pulled you out." He walked into the room and sat on a table, knees pulled up to his chest, fingers laced together on top of his knees and his chin resting on his fingers. "It seemed the only thing to do." He added, a little obscurely, swaying backwards and forwards slightly.

There was a pause, Elizabeth and Will both waiting as it seemed as though Jack had wanted to add something, but the moment passed and the pirate captain remained staring into space.

Suddenly he jumped to his feet and asked "Ow do ye feel anyway, whelp?"

Will considered for a few moments. "Fine. Except I've been shot."

Jack gave him a slightly odd look. "Does it hurt?"

Glancing sideways at Elizabeth, Will answered, "No ."

Jack had been staring intently into his eyes, and nodded at something he had seen there. "Right." He produced the rum bottle, apparently out of nowhere. "Take a swig."

Will hesitated. Jack rolled his eyes and poured a little rum into a mug "Drink it." He ordered. "It's for the pain. Not too much mind"

Will grinned, but took the proffered mug. "I never thought I'd hear Jack Sparrow preaching temperance."

"Only for eunuchs with bullet wounds." Jack replied, a smirk apparent on his face.

He watched Will drink the rum, then checked the younger man's temperature. Apparently satisfied he returned to his perch on the table and watched Elizabeth fuss round Will, adjusting his sheets and fluffing up his pillows. Presently, she halted and simply sat on the chair beside the bed, staring into Will's eyes and clutching his hand.

Out of the blue, Jack said. "I'm sorry."

The young lovers turned to look at him. He remained staring at nothing visible. "What?" Elizabeth asked puzzled.

"I'm sorry." Jack repeated. He looked at them in turn, his face devoid of any expression. "It was one of my crew that shot Will."

"You're sure?" Will asked at the same time as Elizabeth said;

"That doesn't make it your fault, Jack."

Jack seemed to have no trouble understanding the two of them talking at once because he answered. "Yes. Recognised them working on the ship." And to Elizabeth "My crew, my responsibility, luv."

"I didn't recognise him." Will said. "So presumably it was one of the new ones, who didn't know me."

Jack leapt to his feet "That doesn't make it any better!" He said angrily. "There was no need for it. There's never any need to kill people randomly, and no-one goes around killing - trying to kill - friends of mine!"

Elizabeth watched Jack rage, fascinated. She had never seen him truly angry before. His dark eyes seemed full of flames as he paced up and down, shouting.

"Its easy enough to take what you want without killing anybody, so why go out of yer way to kill?" He demanded of no-one in particular. He swore viciously, grabbed the mug and threw it hard against the wall. It shattered and little pieces of enamel showered down onto the cabin floor. "Bloody Pirates!" He yelled, and stormed out of the door.

Will and Elizabeth watched him go, shocked and confused.

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OK, first of all I know little of medicine and even less about medicine back then so if anyone wants to correct any mistakes there then I will be overjoyed and will eventually get round to changing the chapter.

This chapter has been written on five cups of coffee and is therefore dedicated to Kenco . Heeheeheeheeheeehehehehehehaaaaarghhhhh.

Also, please review.