The Call of the sea.
By Latanya
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the Pirates of the Caribbean or NUMA but I do own Pearl, her yacht "The Black Pearl II" and anything else that I made up. Also, the infection in Pearl's blood is similar to Rossriver Fever and Dengue Fever – DF has been known to kill, which it has quite recently in the area that I live in. Both are mosquito born viruses and basically, Dengue is what's wrong with Pearl.
Chapter Five: Dedicated assistant.
Doctor Andrew Peters glanced over at the strange man who refused to be moved from the woman's bedside. He turned back to the blood samples from Pearl and shook his head. It didn't look good if it was left alone but he knew he could fix the problem easily enough.
"Jack?" Her eyelids fluttered open. "Where am I?"
He squeezed her hand gently, "You're on the HMS Greyhound luv, in the care of the capable doctor Peters. How are you feeling?"
"Savvy."
Getting up, Andrew walked over to her and pulled up another chair, "Ms Turner, my name is Doctor Andrew Peters and you're aboard the HMS Greyhound. I took some blood samples while you were unconscious and from what I can tell, you have a serious infection in your blood, which is affecting your body enough to cause some damage to your lungs. That is why you've been having trouble breathing, which in turn causes you to faint and to feel dizzy."
With Jack's help, Pearl sat up, "What can you do to treat it doctor? You can treat it can't you?"
"Yes, I can but I'm curious as to where you might have gotten the infection from. Have you been to any remote places in the last month or so?" Andrew asked her.
Thinking for a moment, she replied, "I was in the Amazon area only two weeks before I headed out here to the Caribbean. So yes, a month ago roughly."
"That would explain it then. From what I know of these kinds of infections, you've likely picked it up from some insect that bit you." He smiled in relief; she'd be fine soon enough.
She frowned, "Wait, do you mean to tell me that I have something wrong with me that is similar to Dengue Fever? I've had Dengue before when I was diving on a wreck in the Torres Straight but I didn't think to compare the symptoms of the two."
Jack laughed, hugging her as best he could, "You know what he means? You've had similar before? That's good news isn't it Pearl? You know you can fight it. We'll be able to go back to the site when you're better."
Shaking his head, the doctor stated, "Ms Turner won't be fit enough to do anything to vigorous for at least a month. It's important that she be allowed to recover before she starts to push herself back into her work. The Admiral contacted a friend on his who works for NUMA in America and he found out from that friend all about her illustrious past and then he told me. You're quite the daredevil Ms Turner."
"Not really doctor Peters. Rather, I'm an adrenalin junkie who refuses to know when to stop. Where is this Admiral Greg James? I would like to meet him so I can say thank you in person." She held onto Jack's hand while resting her eyes on the Englishman.
He stood up and walked over to a phone, "Can I speak to the Admiral please lieutenant? Yes, Admiral James, it's Andrew. She's awake now and would like to meet you. Pardon? Of course! I'll tell you when you get down here. Yes sir." Andrew put the phone back and turned around to face Jack and Pearl. "The Admiral will be down shortly."
Nodding, Pearl turned to Jack and asked him if her yacht was all right. When he frowned, she looked startled and turned to Andrew, "Is my yacht all right? Nothing has happened to her has it?"
"Your yacht, the Black Pearl II, is safe and sound Ms Turner. There's no reason to be worried about the yacht, the Admiral has given orders to make sure she's kept exactly as you left her." The doctor replied to her.
"I'm sorry Pearly my lass, I haven't left your side since we came onboard two days ago. Actually, I'm surprised that doctor Peters isn't annoyed out of his mind with me." Jack kissed her hand gently. "Are you sure that your feeling okay?"
"I feel savvy Jack and don't worry, we'll go back to the site when I'm better." She smiled at him and the doctor glanced away in time to notice the Admiral standing in the doorway.
The Admiral nodded to Andrew before turning to look at the woman who was lying on the bed, "Welcome to the HMS Greyhound Ms Turner. I'm Admiral Greg James."
Grinning at him, Pearl held out her other hand, "It's nice to meet you Admiral. The good doctor here was just telling me that you know someone at NUMA in America who knows me. Tell me, who is it?"
"Shaun Howard." He told her, walking over to shake her hand.
"Ah, good old Shaun. He's a good man Shaun is, fun to work with when you're working on a modern site but not so good when you start dealing with the ships I specialize in." She rolled her eyes.
Jack eyed the Admiral cautiously, not sure if he wanted to kill the man for looking so alike to Commodore Norrington or shake his hand for allowing the doctor to save Pearl's life. Catching sight of the enmity in the disguised pirates' eyes, the archaeologist frowned thoughtfully at the Admiral James before shaking her head in confusion.
"Jack me love, would you be able to go back to the Black Pearl II and find me some clothes to wear?" Turning to him, Pearl pleaded with her eyes. "They're in the draws opposite my bed."
He stood up, holding her hand still, "Are you sure you want me to leave you? I mean, if the good doctor would allow it, wouldn't you be more comfortable in your own bed?"
Andrew studied the woman's expression of thoughtfulness before he answered, "I would rather she remained here where I can care for her properly. However, if you think you would feel more at home back on your yacht, I am sure I can left you back there in a few days once I am sure the infection has been treated… and it shouldn't take too long to treat since, as you mentioned, you've had Dengue Fever which is quite similar. Your body will be used to the infection and therefore know which antibodies to produce."
"If that's the case, why did this infection hit her so badly?" Greg James asked.
Taking a deep breath, the doctor smiled at the three of them, returning the intense gazes of each. "I have a theory on this. Because she's had Dengue Fever, Pearl was susceptible to the more virulent and slightly different strains of it that one can find in the Amazon rainforest area. And because her immune system had already encountered a similar infection, it fought back but not with the right antibodies."
Confused, Pearl replied, "I've got my doctorate but not in medical science, so please doctor Peters, explain to me again why I reacted so severely to this infection."
"Because your body was trying it's best to reject the infection but your immune system was fighting with the wrong or I should say, weaker antibodies."
"The antibodies weren't working against the infection because they were for Dengue Fever, not what I had… have… whatever." She shook her head.
Jack scratched his beard – or what he had left of it after Pearl had shaved it off when she'd 'tidied' up his hair – and frowned, "So why will it take her at least a month to fully recover? If, as you say, it's going to be easy to treat."
Adding on, the Admiral mentioned, "Why didn't she realize that it was similar to Dengue Fever? And I thought Dengue was only something you could get in Australia…."
"Mr Smith, Doctor Turner," Andrew smiled faintly, "Was struck by a serious infection which is still in her system. At the moment, the drip that is linked to her body is feeding in antibiotics to help her immune system fight it off. Because of how debilitating the infection has been and also because I am not yet sure if it has caused any damage, she will not be able to easily do much beyond walk around. As for your question Admiral, Ms Turner wasn't able to link the two together for once it struck, she lost some mental capacities."
"Great. Absolutely great." The pirate muttered, looking away. "For some reason, I think I'd rather be back in that accursed cave right now."
Placing his hand on the Admiral's arm, Andrew inclined his head towards the door, "There is something else I need to talk to you about Sir, that does not concern Ms Turner and Mr Smith. I hope they will excuse us for a few moments while we talk."
"Go ahead doctor! I need to talk to my assistant as it is." She flashed both of them smiles before turning to study Jack. "Yes, I do need to talk to you Mr Smith."
Walking out of the room, doctor Andrew Peters drew Admiral Greg James off to one side down the corridor where they could talk without being interrupted by anyone. Staring at Jack's dark brown eyes, Pearl felt a slight blush creep onto her cheeks when he returned her gaze intently, a small smile playing on his lips. They remained like that for a few minutes before Pearl picked up his hand in hers and whispered her thanks to him.
"Aye? What was that you just said Miss Pearl?" He raised an eyebrow, grinning.
"I said thank you Captain Jack Sparrow for not leaving my side while I've been sick. You really are a good man and I'm glad I accidentally woke you up from whatever kind of slumber you were in. Now, having said that to you, it's your turn to tell me what's bothering you so much about the good Admiral James? And don't try telling me nothing's wrong! I saw the look in your face when he entered." Pearl's eyes narrowed suspiciously at him, the green glittering with amusement.
He licked his lips, thinking of how he might get out of this situation without revealing anything serious, "Well, it's just that I don't like navy men like him… you know what I mean, you've heard the stories of me all your life because you're a Turner. Pearly lass, you may have dressed me in fancy modern clothes and cut my hair and made me speak like you do but I'm still a pirate and I fear… nay, worry is the word, about my life when I'm around military forces."
"Jack. Dear Jack. Didn't I tell you that no one believes in your kind of pirate anymore and that hanging isn't what will happen if you get caught pillaging? Do not fear or worry for your life here. Now, tell me the truth."
"What!" He cried out, unsure of how she caught him out in his lie. "How'd you figure I wasn't telling the truth? Well I was, just, not the whole truth."
Pearl smiled, gripping his hand harder, "I'm a woman Jack, and I know these things. Besides, I've slept with my share of men in order to get the truth about this or that from them… generally they were rivals searching for the same site."
"Really?"
"Really. And no, I am not a wanton whore if that is what you're thinking Mr Sparrow. A woman needs to survive and if she has it, she should use it to get what she wants." She shrugged dismissively.
The man started to say something about "we'll have to investigate this way of getting truth from people when we get back to the Pearl…" just as the doctor and Admiral walked back into the room. The Admiral took one look at Pearl's flushed face and Jack's wicked grin before turning to the doctor and arching an eyebrow.
"Really Mr Smith, do you think that is appropriate behavior?" Greg asked, striking Jack again at his similarity to Commodore Norrington. "You should have more respect for your employer."
She defended him with a glare, "Mr Smith was simply making jokes about a conversation I had with a rival archaeologist earlier this year when he met me. It's something that always makes me laugh and when one is not particularly healthy, laughter is one of the best cures."
"I'll give you that Ms Turner, laughter is a powerful healer. Now, if you'll be so nice as to allow me to give you some pills to take, I'd like everyone to leave you alone to sleep. Sleep being another powerful healer, even more so then laughter." The doctor walked over to his desk and retrieved some tablets he had put there while he was waiting for her to wake up.
"Jack, will you go and get those clothes for me from the yacht? I'd really like to be in my own comfortable clothing rather then these." Pearl gave him a meaningful look.
Nodding, Jack kissed her chastely on the lips before bowing to the doctor and Admiral. Glancing over his shoulder as he left, the one-time pirate captain could see the Admiral shaking Pearl's hand and telling her that he was glad that she was recovering well. Muttering curses under his breath, Jack found his way – though getting lost several times and having to ask for directions – to the deck where he could see the Black Pearl II. Climbing down to the yacht, he went inside to Pearl's room and stood there studying the room while trying to remember where she had said her clothes were to be found.
"Ah yes! In the draws over there." He cried, clapping his hands joyfully. "Now let's see what we can find her ladyship to wear in bed. Nothing I'd like to have her wear because she's on a strange ship filled with strange men and who knows what could happen. Wouldn't like to have anyone flirting with one of my beloved Turners."
Going through the draws, Jack found some underwear similar to what she'd worn swimming and several pairs of loose cotton pants and matching shirts. Shrugging, he figured they'd do well enough for her and searched for a few other items. Remembering the strange things he seen her use while dressing, Jack found those and added them to the pile he'd started on the bed. Upon seeing a bag hanging on the back of a chair, he shoved everything inside and grabbed her hairbrush on his way out.
Pearl curled up in bed, feeling drowsy from the medication the doctor had given her. The Admiral had only just left her and she was wondering where Jack was. 'He probably found my underwear draw and is playing with my clothes.' She thought to herself with a smile, feeling herself slowly drifting off to sleep again.
When he walked back in, the doctor was nowhere to be found and Pearl was fast asleep again. Putting the bag down beside the bed, Jack leant over and kissed her forehead gently, wishing her a good sleep. Sitting down on his chair beside her, he rested his head on his arms beside the bed and was soon fast asleep also where he dreamt about a time when he would be free to sail on the Black Pearl again, his crew with him and… and Pearl by his side as his wife and his first mate.
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I know it's kind of short but I wanted to leave it there. Question for you all, is it just me or is Jack really worried that Admiral James is Norrington reborn and that he's going to steal Pearl away? Anywayz, read and review because I love you all.
