Usual disclaimers – pah!
You've got a bit of a treat, two chapters in one day. This has been the first time I've been able to log in for a few days, so I thought I'd get them in while I could – enjoy!
Chapter 35
'Land ho!' Will scanned the horizon and a shiver of excitement ran down his spine. He felt his first command had gone well, and was very pleased with himself at the time they'd made. 'Even Jack will be impressed,' he thought to himself, before remembering the reason for their haste to Freetown in the first place. 'Oh God, I hope he and Maddy are all right.' Will chewed his bottom lip, his euphoria gone. He took the spyglass of Thomas Davies that Esme had given him as a gift and looked towards his new home port, silently willing it to get closer.
**********
Maddy winced as she removed the dressing, gagging at the smell. It was worse than the first one she had changed. She peered hesitantly at it and turned green at the sight of the blood and pus. Wincing at the sight, she held it away, trying to regain control of herself. She took a deep breath and looked more closely, praying the splinter would be there, but it wasn't. Maddy put the dressing into the slop bucket, to take down and burn on the fire in the galley, she wasn't about to pollute the sea with it, not this close to shore. Maddy felt Jack's head and flinched at the extreme heat radiating from it, then wrung a rag out in a bucket of water and placed it across his head. Jack moaned softly and moved his head, making Maddy's eyes widen in hope. 'Jack? Jack, it's all right darling, I'm here.' She watched him carefully for an age, but there were no more movements from him. 'Still,' she thought, 'At least he responded, which is more than he's done since we left Nassau.' Maddy called to whoever had knocked the door to enter, and smiled at the sight of Elizabeth bringing in a bowl of food and some ale.
'Thank you Elizabeth, I need this.' Maddy tucked into the stew, grateful for being in port, so the food was at least fresh and edible. 'He moved earlier, he moaned and moved his head.' Maddy tried to keep her voice neutral, but couldn't help a tremor of excitement creeping in.
'Really? Oh that's wonderful.' Elizabeth looked at Jack and beamed. 'Maybe the worst is over?'
'I really hope so. I don't think he's got the strength to fight much longer.' Maddy suddenly lost her appetite and pushed the bowl away from her, but finished off the mug of ale.
'Two ships have been spotted out at sea, making for here, Eb thinks it's probably Will.' Elizabeth replaced the rag on Jack's head, with another, cooler one, wanting desperately for her husband to be with her and their friends.
'Yes, they were going to make for home as soon as they could anyway, this just hastened their journey.' Maddy moved to the bunk and sat on the edge, taking Jack's hand in hers, feeling how clammy it was.
'Well, I'll take my leave, I want to wait at the dock for Will's return. We'll drop by when he docks, all right?' Maddy nodded her agreement, then watched Elizabeth walk out of the door, then climbed into the bunk with Jack, and softly sang him songs.
**********
'NO!' Maddy shot up, not realising she had been asleep, but then she looked over at Jack who was thrashing about, crying out, his face contorted with fear.
'Jack? Shhh, it's all right Jack, shhh.' Maddy stroked and soothed him until he was calm again. Maddy took the dressing off, horrified at the sight of the amount of pus there was and wondered whether to clean the wound out, but decided against it, as the healer hadn't said anything about it. Maddy poured some more lotion onto a dressing and fixed it in place over the wound. Jack felt hot and clammy and his hair was wringing wet, Maddy lifted him and trickled some more water into his mouth, then kissed his lips before stripping him of his breeches and covering him with another blanket. Maddy gulped as she looked at his pallid face. 'Oh Jack, please pull through, I'd hate for our last words to be harsh ones.' She climbed in beside him and wrapped her body around his, feeling the sweat soaking through her shirt.
**********
'Elizabeth!' Will waved excitedly at his wife on the quayside, as he neared her in the rowing boat, a grin splitting his face, enjoying the look of surprise on her face.
'Will? Will, are both these ships ours?' Elizabeth couldn't believe her eyes. 'What are you doing with two ships William Turner?'
'It's a long story. What has happened with Maddy and Jack, have you heard?' The smile disappeared from both their faces, and he climbed ashore and held his wife tightly, before kissing her.
'Yes I have Will...' Elizabeth's eyes filled up. 'Jack has been shot, he's very ill.' Her lips quivered as she tried to control herself, not wanting to cry in public.
'SHOT?! Where? How?' Will went towards the boat again, to make for The Pearl, anchored across the bay from his own ships. Elizabeth climbed in alongside him and filled him in on what had happened, well, what everyone *thought* had happened. 'I knew that Kelly was trouble, and so did Jack. Why the hell did he go with him?' Will looked towards The Black Pearl, a frown creasing his brow. 'Is he really bad, Lizzie?' Will winced at his wife's confirming nod, suddenly fearing to see Jack.
'Why do we have two ships Will? Just the bare bones would've been fine for now.' Elizabeth couldn't help feeling concerned, despite her fears for Jack.
'There was a business concern going, Jack offered to be a shareholder in order that I could afford to buy the business.' Will grimaced as he remembered how little he trusted Jack not to meddle. 'He can bloody well take over now, as far as I'm concerned,' Will thought to himself. He grabbed a rope at the side of The Pearl and hauled himself up, Elizabeth doing the same alongside him. 'Eb!' Will strode across the deck to the big first mate of the ship. 'Eb, how is he? What can I do?'
'Nothing Will. The healer's already been to see him, it's in the hands of fate now, fate an' Maddy.' Eb shook his head sadly. 'We're losin' men Will, they're deserting, saying it's an unlucky ship. I haven' told Maddy, don't need her worryin' about anythin' else.'
Will sighed in exasperation, cursing sailors and their damned superstitions. 'How many men have you lost Eb?'
'Bout half, with a few more showin' signs of being jittery. I've tried everything I can think of to keep 'em on board, but they sneak off when I'm asleep, or ashore. If ever anyone wanted to attack The Pearl, now'd be the time to do it, cos I don't have enough men to defend her.' Eb shoved his hands in his pockets with a resigned air.
'Well, my ships don't have much in the way of armoury, but I'll position them across The Pearl, so no one can touch her.' Will saw the look of relief on Eb's face and was pleased that he was able to do something to help his friend.
'Thanks Will, it's a weight off my mind, I have to admit.' Eb led the way to Jack's cabin and knocked on the door. 'Maddy, Elizabeth and Will are here,' he called softly through the thick, oak door.
The door opened and a bleary eyed Maddy peered at them. 'Will, you've arrived safely then?' Maddy stood aside to allow him and Elizabeth in to the cabin. Will crossed to the bunk and stared down at his friend and mentor.
'Oh God Maddy, do you know who did this?' Will never thought he'd see Jack looking like this.
'No Will, we believe it may have been someone with a grudge against Kelly, but we may never know.' Maddy smiled at Will who had put his arm around her shoulder, cradling her against him, not seeing his wife's look of dismay.
'Did the healer say how long it would take before he got better? He *will* get better?' Will really didn't want Maddy to answer his last question.
'No, he just said to apply the poultice and look for the splinter or whatever it is that's poisoning him. I'm so worried Will, he's barely got any strength left, he's got no flesh on him at the best of times, but he's just skin and bones now.' Maddy shuddered, choking back a sob, Will held her tightly, feeling completely helpless.
'Come on Will, we'd better leave Maddy in peace, she looks like she needs to rest.' Maddy smiled gratefully at Elizabeth, her smile tempered by the knowledge that it wasn't just concern for Maddy's well being that Elizabeth was worried about.
'You know where we are if you need anything, anything at all, all right Maddy?' Will looked deep into Maddy's eyes, hiding the stirrings within him.
'Yes Will, thank you, both of you.' Maddy smiled again at Elizabeth, whose returning smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
Maddy lay on the bunk after the Turners had left, wishing she could transport Jack into the 21st century and the medical facilities available there. She chuckled to herself, in spite of her worry, at the thought of what the 21st century would make of Jack Sparrow, or indeed, what Jack Sparrow would make of the 21st century. 'You'd probably fit right in, knowing you,' she smiled, snuggling carefully against Jack's body, hoping he would have a peaceful rest. But it wasn't to be. Jack tossed and turned, thrashing his arms about and crying out loud. Maddy tried her hardest to soothe him, but in the end had to send for Mr. Cotton to come and look at him.
'I don't know what to do, Mr. Cotton, he just can't rest. Should I take the poultice off?' Mr. Cotton shook his head, scratching his chin with a perplexed look on his face. He pointed at the bottle of potion, then pointed towards the shore, willing Maddy to understand him.
'We should fetch the healer again?' Mr. Cotton beamed and nodded frantically as Maddy ran across the cabin and called to Eb. 'Eb, fetch the healer again, this doesn't seem right to us.' Maddy wrung her hands as she watched the first mate stride back up to the deck, yelling as he went for Tom to watch the ship. Maddy frowned, looking about her, before climbing the stairs herself. Eb had already disappeared over the side of the ship, leaving Tom, Daniel and Moyles on the deck.
'Where is everyone Tom?' Maddy's stomach lurched at the panic in Tom's eyes. 'Tom?'
Tom breathed deeply, 'They've mostly deserted us Maddy, there's only a skeleton crew left now.' He shrugged apologetically, then watched as Will's ships made their way across the bay, towards The Pearl, anything to avoid the look on Maddy's face.
'Deserted?' Maddy's voice was a barely audible whisper. 'Deserted Jack, after all he's done for them?' Her voice got louder with each word, until it was a shriek. 'The bloody bastards!' She spat, looking around for someone or something to take her anger out on. 'If I ever come across any of those vermin again, I'll personally run them through.' Maddy turned and stormed back below, the sound of her steps on the stairs reverberating across the deck.
'She'll have to get behind me in the queue,' Daniel's jaw jutted out in determination.
'An' you'll have ter get behind t'Cap'n, lad.' Tom smiled down at the boy, glad that he'd stayed loyal to his stricken captain.
You've got a bit of a treat, two chapters in one day. This has been the first time I've been able to log in for a few days, so I thought I'd get them in while I could – enjoy!
Chapter 35
'Land ho!' Will scanned the horizon and a shiver of excitement ran down his spine. He felt his first command had gone well, and was very pleased with himself at the time they'd made. 'Even Jack will be impressed,' he thought to himself, before remembering the reason for their haste to Freetown in the first place. 'Oh God, I hope he and Maddy are all right.' Will chewed his bottom lip, his euphoria gone. He took the spyglass of Thomas Davies that Esme had given him as a gift and looked towards his new home port, silently willing it to get closer.
**********
Maddy winced as she removed the dressing, gagging at the smell. It was worse than the first one she had changed. She peered hesitantly at it and turned green at the sight of the blood and pus. Wincing at the sight, she held it away, trying to regain control of herself. She took a deep breath and looked more closely, praying the splinter would be there, but it wasn't. Maddy put the dressing into the slop bucket, to take down and burn on the fire in the galley, she wasn't about to pollute the sea with it, not this close to shore. Maddy felt Jack's head and flinched at the extreme heat radiating from it, then wrung a rag out in a bucket of water and placed it across his head. Jack moaned softly and moved his head, making Maddy's eyes widen in hope. 'Jack? Jack, it's all right darling, I'm here.' She watched him carefully for an age, but there were no more movements from him. 'Still,' she thought, 'At least he responded, which is more than he's done since we left Nassau.' Maddy called to whoever had knocked the door to enter, and smiled at the sight of Elizabeth bringing in a bowl of food and some ale.
'Thank you Elizabeth, I need this.' Maddy tucked into the stew, grateful for being in port, so the food was at least fresh and edible. 'He moved earlier, he moaned and moved his head.' Maddy tried to keep her voice neutral, but couldn't help a tremor of excitement creeping in.
'Really? Oh that's wonderful.' Elizabeth looked at Jack and beamed. 'Maybe the worst is over?'
'I really hope so. I don't think he's got the strength to fight much longer.' Maddy suddenly lost her appetite and pushed the bowl away from her, but finished off the mug of ale.
'Two ships have been spotted out at sea, making for here, Eb thinks it's probably Will.' Elizabeth replaced the rag on Jack's head, with another, cooler one, wanting desperately for her husband to be with her and their friends.
'Yes, they were going to make for home as soon as they could anyway, this just hastened their journey.' Maddy moved to the bunk and sat on the edge, taking Jack's hand in hers, feeling how clammy it was.
'Well, I'll take my leave, I want to wait at the dock for Will's return. We'll drop by when he docks, all right?' Maddy nodded her agreement, then watched Elizabeth walk out of the door, then climbed into the bunk with Jack, and softly sang him songs.
**********
'NO!' Maddy shot up, not realising she had been asleep, but then she looked over at Jack who was thrashing about, crying out, his face contorted with fear.
'Jack? Shhh, it's all right Jack, shhh.' Maddy stroked and soothed him until he was calm again. Maddy took the dressing off, horrified at the sight of the amount of pus there was and wondered whether to clean the wound out, but decided against it, as the healer hadn't said anything about it. Maddy poured some more lotion onto a dressing and fixed it in place over the wound. Jack felt hot and clammy and his hair was wringing wet, Maddy lifted him and trickled some more water into his mouth, then kissed his lips before stripping him of his breeches and covering him with another blanket. Maddy gulped as she looked at his pallid face. 'Oh Jack, please pull through, I'd hate for our last words to be harsh ones.' She climbed in beside him and wrapped her body around his, feeling the sweat soaking through her shirt.
**********
'Elizabeth!' Will waved excitedly at his wife on the quayside, as he neared her in the rowing boat, a grin splitting his face, enjoying the look of surprise on her face.
'Will? Will, are both these ships ours?' Elizabeth couldn't believe her eyes. 'What are you doing with two ships William Turner?'
'It's a long story. What has happened with Maddy and Jack, have you heard?' The smile disappeared from both their faces, and he climbed ashore and held his wife tightly, before kissing her.
'Yes I have Will...' Elizabeth's eyes filled up. 'Jack has been shot, he's very ill.' Her lips quivered as she tried to control herself, not wanting to cry in public.
'SHOT?! Where? How?' Will went towards the boat again, to make for The Pearl, anchored across the bay from his own ships. Elizabeth climbed in alongside him and filled him in on what had happened, well, what everyone *thought* had happened. 'I knew that Kelly was trouble, and so did Jack. Why the hell did he go with him?' Will looked towards The Black Pearl, a frown creasing his brow. 'Is he really bad, Lizzie?' Will winced at his wife's confirming nod, suddenly fearing to see Jack.
'Why do we have two ships Will? Just the bare bones would've been fine for now.' Elizabeth couldn't help feeling concerned, despite her fears for Jack.
'There was a business concern going, Jack offered to be a shareholder in order that I could afford to buy the business.' Will grimaced as he remembered how little he trusted Jack not to meddle. 'He can bloody well take over now, as far as I'm concerned,' Will thought to himself. He grabbed a rope at the side of The Pearl and hauled himself up, Elizabeth doing the same alongside him. 'Eb!' Will strode across the deck to the big first mate of the ship. 'Eb, how is he? What can I do?'
'Nothing Will. The healer's already been to see him, it's in the hands of fate now, fate an' Maddy.' Eb shook his head sadly. 'We're losin' men Will, they're deserting, saying it's an unlucky ship. I haven' told Maddy, don't need her worryin' about anythin' else.'
Will sighed in exasperation, cursing sailors and their damned superstitions. 'How many men have you lost Eb?'
'Bout half, with a few more showin' signs of being jittery. I've tried everything I can think of to keep 'em on board, but they sneak off when I'm asleep, or ashore. If ever anyone wanted to attack The Pearl, now'd be the time to do it, cos I don't have enough men to defend her.' Eb shoved his hands in his pockets with a resigned air.
'Well, my ships don't have much in the way of armoury, but I'll position them across The Pearl, so no one can touch her.' Will saw the look of relief on Eb's face and was pleased that he was able to do something to help his friend.
'Thanks Will, it's a weight off my mind, I have to admit.' Eb led the way to Jack's cabin and knocked on the door. 'Maddy, Elizabeth and Will are here,' he called softly through the thick, oak door.
The door opened and a bleary eyed Maddy peered at them. 'Will, you've arrived safely then?' Maddy stood aside to allow him and Elizabeth in to the cabin. Will crossed to the bunk and stared down at his friend and mentor.
'Oh God Maddy, do you know who did this?' Will never thought he'd see Jack looking like this.
'No Will, we believe it may have been someone with a grudge against Kelly, but we may never know.' Maddy smiled at Will who had put his arm around her shoulder, cradling her against him, not seeing his wife's look of dismay.
'Did the healer say how long it would take before he got better? He *will* get better?' Will really didn't want Maddy to answer his last question.
'No, he just said to apply the poultice and look for the splinter or whatever it is that's poisoning him. I'm so worried Will, he's barely got any strength left, he's got no flesh on him at the best of times, but he's just skin and bones now.' Maddy shuddered, choking back a sob, Will held her tightly, feeling completely helpless.
'Come on Will, we'd better leave Maddy in peace, she looks like she needs to rest.' Maddy smiled gratefully at Elizabeth, her smile tempered by the knowledge that it wasn't just concern for Maddy's well being that Elizabeth was worried about.
'You know where we are if you need anything, anything at all, all right Maddy?' Will looked deep into Maddy's eyes, hiding the stirrings within him.
'Yes Will, thank you, both of you.' Maddy smiled again at Elizabeth, whose returning smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
Maddy lay on the bunk after the Turners had left, wishing she could transport Jack into the 21st century and the medical facilities available there. She chuckled to herself, in spite of her worry, at the thought of what the 21st century would make of Jack Sparrow, or indeed, what Jack Sparrow would make of the 21st century. 'You'd probably fit right in, knowing you,' she smiled, snuggling carefully against Jack's body, hoping he would have a peaceful rest. But it wasn't to be. Jack tossed and turned, thrashing his arms about and crying out loud. Maddy tried her hardest to soothe him, but in the end had to send for Mr. Cotton to come and look at him.
'I don't know what to do, Mr. Cotton, he just can't rest. Should I take the poultice off?' Mr. Cotton shook his head, scratching his chin with a perplexed look on his face. He pointed at the bottle of potion, then pointed towards the shore, willing Maddy to understand him.
'We should fetch the healer again?' Mr. Cotton beamed and nodded frantically as Maddy ran across the cabin and called to Eb. 'Eb, fetch the healer again, this doesn't seem right to us.' Maddy wrung her hands as she watched the first mate stride back up to the deck, yelling as he went for Tom to watch the ship. Maddy frowned, looking about her, before climbing the stairs herself. Eb had already disappeared over the side of the ship, leaving Tom, Daniel and Moyles on the deck.
'Where is everyone Tom?' Maddy's stomach lurched at the panic in Tom's eyes. 'Tom?'
Tom breathed deeply, 'They've mostly deserted us Maddy, there's only a skeleton crew left now.' He shrugged apologetically, then watched as Will's ships made their way across the bay, towards The Pearl, anything to avoid the look on Maddy's face.
'Deserted?' Maddy's voice was a barely audible whisper. 'Deserted Jack, after all he's done for them?' Her voice got louder with each word, until it was a shriek. 'The bloody bastards!' She spat, looking around for someone or something to take her anger out on. 'If I ever come across any of those vermin again, I'll personally run them through.' Maddy turned and stormed back below, the sound of her steps on the stairs reverberating across the deck.
'She'll have to get behind me in the queue,' Daniel's jaw jutted out in determination.
'An' you'll have ter get behind t'Cap'n, lad.' Tom smiled down at the boy, glad that he'd stayed loyal to his stricken captain.