The first thing Michelle was aware of was a slight throbbing in her left shoulder. She cracked opened one eye, but quickly shut it at the amount of light around her. Slowly, she tried to open both her eyes, this time successfully preventing any sun blinding. It didn't take her long to realize that she was lying down in her bed. She stretched her limbs under the covers, but quickly stopped when the throbbing in her shoulder turned in to thousands of needles poking her muscle. She stifled a little cry of pain, and lay as still as possible to ease the pain. When it finally subsided, she decided to try and sit up. Using her right arm, she slowly pushed herself up so her back was leaning against the headrest. At that moment, her doorknob started to turn. Michelle's heartbeat raced, but she was soon relieved to see Will standing in the doorframe. "Will, you scared me," she said.
"Not as much as you did me," he replied. "You're lucky that the bullet didn't go in too far. The doctor said your shoulder will be as good as new in no time, though you'll have a scar once the wound has completely healed."
"Great, now I'll have a battle scar to brag about," she joked. Many of times she had witnessed similar souvenirs from fights on other pirates, accompanied by the story of how they came to be. "But when did I see a doctor? And what are you doing here?"
"To answer your first question, the doctor at the fort took out the bullet while you were still knocked out, which saved you a lot of pain." Michelle reached up and felt bandages circling her shoulder as proof of this. "As for your second question," he continued, "I'm here to check and see if you had waken up yet. Elizabeth and Robert are here too. We've been waiting for you to get up."
"I feel so special now," she remarked with a grin. "Let's not keep them in suspense any longer. Tell them that I have awaken."
Will left the room and soon came back with Elizabeth and Robert in tow. Elizabeth rushed over to Michelle and gave her a big hug. "I'm so glad you're okay!" she cried with relief.
"Ow, Elizabeth, you're on my shoulder," Michelle said from beneath her.
"I'm so sorry!" Elizabeth quickly got up. "I just got a little excited."
"It's alright," Michelle reassured her. "I'm glad to know that you care so much." She looked over and saw Robert standing awkwardly in the corner of the room. "Will, Elizabeth, can I talk to Robert alone please?" she asked the two.
"Of course," Elizabeth said, pulling Will out of the room and closing the door behind them. Robert shifted nervously where he was standing before walking closer to Michelle and saying, "Look, Michelle, I'm really sorry about what happened. I didn't mean to shoot you."
"I know," she replied simply.
"And I'm also sorry about the way I've been acting over the past few weeks. It was wrong of me to hide Sparrow, I mean Jack, and lie to you about it, only to make you marry me. I feel so horrible about the whole thing. I just couldn't bear the idea of losing you to someone else."
"It's fine," Michelle said. "I forgive you."
Relief washed over his face. "I'm so glad to hear it. Now, I was hoping that we could put this whole mess behind us and return to the way we were before you were kidnapped."
Michelle looked up at him sadly. "Look Robert, you're a really nice guy. But I don't see a romantic relationship happening between us again. I'm sorry."
Robert looked disappointed at hearing this, but he quickly covered it up with a small smile and said, "It's alright. Maybe we can just be friends then."
"I'd like that," Michelle replied with her own reassuring smile.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're doing fine, but I must be running along. I'll try to come visit later." He walked to the door and opened it, but turned around instead of going through it. "Goodbye," he called.
"Bye," Michelle replied. Robert walked out the door and closed it. Hardly two seconds later, the door reopened to let in Elizabeth and Will.
"Robert just left," Will told her, sitting down at the corner of her bed. "He looked pretty down. What happened?"
"I broke it off with him," Michelle informed the two.
"And you were absolutely right to," Elizabeth replied. "The way he treated you was just awful! I would have never guessed it from him."
"He was just feeling a little jealous, that's all. He didn't want to hurt me," Michelle told her, defending Robert's dignity.
"It's all over now though," Will assured his wife. "She won't be harmed by him anymore. And if he does," he said, turning to Michelle, "he'll have me to answer to." He cracked his knuckles to emphasize the point.
Michelle laughed. "Thanks."
"Now Michelle, the doctor said you need lots of rest to allow your shoulder to heal. We'll leave so you can get some sleep," Elizabeth told her.
"But I'm not tired," Michelle whined as Will got up off the bed.
"You heard the woman," he said. "And don't use your shoulder a lot or else it won't heal properly."
"Yes dad," she replied in a mocking tone. "I would show you guys out, but unfortunately I'm being forced to stay in bed."
"Don't worry, we know the way out," Elizabeth said with a laugh. "Bye. We'll see you later."
"Can't wait," Michelle responded. The two of them exited the room and closed the door behind them. When Michelle was sure that they had left, she got up and walked down to her kitchen. She took out a glass and filled it with water, drinking the whole thing in one gulp. After wiping her mouth on her arm, she walked over to her cabinets and searched for something to eat. She sifted through a bunch of rotten fruit until she finally came across a decent looking orange. Once she had finished eating that, she felt light headed, and decided that sleep was in her best interest. She made her way back down to her bedroom and fell asleep.
-----
After three days of doing nothing but eat and sleep, Michelle decided that it was time for her to get out of the house and start working again. While Elizabeth opposed to this plan, the doctor said her arm was healed enough for her to move about. Since the doctor said it was fine, Elizabeth finally gave in. The next day, she went to the dress shop and told her boss she was sorry about being gone for so long. Her boss had heard all about Michelle's kidnap and shooting, so she told her it was all right and she could start working then. Michelle thanked the woman and stood behind the counter. In no time, she was back to her old self and working just as well as she had before she left. It seemed like her life was returning back to normal.
When she was leaving work, she bumped in to Robert on the street. "Hey," he said, surprised to see her. "I didn't know you were working again."
"Just started again today," she said proudly. "I'm so glad to be out of my house! It's great to be walking around again."
"I'm glad to hear it," he replied. "Now that you're up and about, how would you like to go out with me later?"
"You mean like a date?" Michelle asked.
"If you want to look at it that way, then yes, a date."
Michelle sighed. "Robert, I told you already, I just want to be friends with you. I'm not going to change my mind."
She stared to walk away, but Robert called out, "But I love you."
Michelle inwardly groaned and turned around to face him. "I'm sorry Robert, but it won't work out again between us. Just accept it and move on to some other girl that deserves you."
She turned back around and walked away, so she didn't hear him whisper, "But it's you I want."
-----
The next day at the shop, Michelle was working when Robert waked in with a bunch of flowers in his hand. "Hey Robert, what are you doing here? And what are the flowers for?"
"These are for you, Michelle," he said, presenting them to her. "They're a token of my appreciation for you."
"Robert, if you're trying to win me over, it's not going to work," Michelle replied, taking the flowers and setting them down on the counter.
"But why not? There has to be something I can do to convince you to try us again," Robert pleaded.
"Robert, for the last time, it's not going to work," Michelle yelled out in frustration. "I'm taking a break," she called out to the manager. She hurried past Robert and walked out of the shop. Robert was not giving up that easily, much to her dismay, and followed her out.
"Why can't it work?" he asked Michelle when he caught up to her. "It did before."
"Because," she said, stopping to look at him, "I don't love you. There, are you happy, I said it. I don't love you."
"But you can learn to love me again," Robert tried to reason with her.
"I can't," she replied, starting to get irritated at him.
"And why not?" he asked.
"Because I love Jack." Michelle gasped and put her hand up to her mouth. "Oh no, I love Jack," she whispered between her fingers. "Wait a minute, I love Jack. I love Jack. I love him!" she yelled out happily. "Robert, I'm so sorry, but I have to go." She walked away with a little hop in her step and a smile on her face. She made her way over to the Turner's house and started knocking on the door.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" said a voice from within. Michelle stopped pounding on the door right before the door opened and Elizabeth replaced it. "Michelle! What happened?" she asked, noticing the large smile on her face.
"I just realized that I love Jack," Michelle replied. "Isn't it great?"
Elizabeth gave her an odd look. "That's wonderful Michelle, but tell me, what are you going to do about it?"
Michelle's smile faded. "I hadn't thought about that," she told Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sighed. "Come inside," she told Michelle. She walked in and made a beeline to the sitting room and sat down on one of the couches, lost in thought.
"I've got it!" Michelle yelled once Elizabeth sat down, causing her to jump.
"Tell me then," Elizabeth said.
"Now that I know this, I can't stay here. I need to go find him and see if he feels the same."
"And what if he does?" Elizabeth asked.
"Then, I'd stay with him and leave Port Royal," Michelle informed her sadly.
Elizabeth sat there without speaking, but then reached over and gave Michelle a hug. "I know this is what you want, and if that means leaving, then so be it. You'll visit though, won't you?"
"Of course I will," Michelle replied, breaking the hug. "But there is a chance that he won't want to be with me any more."
"I highly doubt that," Elizabeth reassured her. Just then, the door opened and Will walked in to see the two women close to tears.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Michelle has wonderful news," she said, motioning for her to tell Will.
"I love Jack," she told him, a smile creeping on her face. "I'm going to go find him and tell him. If he feels the same way, then I'm going to stay with him."
"I couldn't be any happier for you," he said, walking over and giving her a hug too. "When do you leave?"
"I don't know," Michelle replied, going back in to thinking mode. "As soon as possible, I guess."
"Well, why don't I go down to the docks and see if there's a ship leaving for Tortuga. He'll be there, I'll wager," Will proposed.
"And I'll go over to your house and help you pack," Elizabeth offered.
Michelle's eyes started to fill with tears. "You guys are the best," she told them.
"We know," said Will, causing her to laugh. "Now, let's get moving! We don't want him to leave without you." Elizabeth grabbed William, and the three of them went down to Michelle's house while Will headed down to the docks. When the three of them reached Michelle's house, the two women started to pack up some clothes in Michelle's bag while William played with a pair of Michelle's shoes on the floor.
"Mommy needs those now," Elizabeth said to him, taking the shoes and putting them in the bag. He got bored and started to roam around the room, inspecting all the pieces of furniture. Once all the clothes were packed, Michelle got down on her hands and knees and lifted the loose floorboard under her rug. She took out the small chest and opened it to make sure all of her jewels were in there. Elizabeth looked in and said, "Wow! Those are beautiful."
"What can I say, piracy pays well." Michelle took the chest and stuffed it in between all the dresses that now filled her bag. She closed it up and lifted it off the bed. "Let's go," Michelle said, heading for the door. Elizabeth picked William up and followed. The three made it down to the docks where Will was waiting.
"You're lucky Michelle, there's a boat leaving today who said they would drop you off. Don't worry about paying," Will said when he saw Michelle reach down for her purse, "I already did."
"Thank you," she said, giving him a hug. "I'm going to miss you guys so much."
"Make sure you visit," Elizabeth said, putting William down and giving Michelle a hug. "If you don't I'm going to have to hunt you down."
"I promise." Michelle parted from her friend and bent down to give William a hug. "You be good to your parents while I'm gone," she told him.
"Okay," he replied, giving her a big hug.
Michelle bent back up and took her bag. "Well, this is it. If I don't come back in a week, feel free to sell my house. You can keep the money."
"We will," Will said, giving her one more hug. "Tell Jack to treat you well, or else."
"I don't think we have to worry about that." Elizabeth smiled at her friend and gave her another hug.
"Well, here it goes." Michelle walked over to the ship and turned around before walking up the gangplank. "Bye!" she yelled, waving frantically. Elizabeth and Will echoed, smiling as she turned around to board the ship. Soon after she had gotten on, the ship started to move, and Michelle was carried away from Port Royal.
-----
The ship had made good time; it docked in Tortuga two nights after it had set off. While the Black Pearl could make the trip quicker, it was still fast for normal standards. Michelle thanked the captain for giving her a ride and walked on to the dock. Right away, she spotted the Pearl anchored not far away. She ran over to the ship with bag in hand. When she finally made it, she carefully stepped up the gangplank and walked over to Jack's cabin. She opened to door, only to be met by an empty room. Figuring that he was in a bar, she set her bag down and walked back out. Once she was in the city, she walked to the nearest pub, which was Christina's. She opened the door and smiled. Jack was there. He was sitting alone and slouched down with his back to her, rum in his hand. She started to walk towards him, but stopped when a woman came and began talking to him. Her happiness started to melt away at the sight of him with another woman. Michelle moved in a little closer so she could hear.
"Hey Jack," the woman said in a seductive voice. "What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"Wallowing," he replied flatly and gulped down some of his drink.
"How about I fix that and give you some company, hmm?" she offered, leaning in to accentuate the fact that her dress was very low cut.
"I don't think so, I'm not in the mood."
The woman had a shocked looked on her face. Not in the mood? When was Jack Sparrow not in the mood, especially when he was drinking? "Well, is there anything else I can get you?" she inquired once she got over the shock of his previous statement.
"Is there anything you've got that can mend a broken 'eart?" he asked her.
The woman stared at him. What had gotten in to Jack Sparrow? "No, sorry," she said before walking off. He was obviously not going to be of any use to her. He didn't acknowledge the fact that she was gone; he just took another drink of his rum.
Thinking this the perfect moment, Michelle walked up behind him and said, "I think I have something that can fix that."
Jack looked up and turned his head. When he saw Michelle, a light seemed to appear in his eyes and a smile formed on his face. He stood up, and before he could say anything, she stuck her hand out. "Hello Jack Sparrow, I'm Michelle Davis."
Jack looked quizzically at her and raised an eyebrow. "Not Michelle Bennett?"
"Nope," she said, a smile playing across her face.
"Well, Miss Davis, it's CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow, but I'll let it pass this time." He filled the gap between them and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. Her hands moved to around his neck while his took their place around her waist. It took everything Michelle had not to melt in to a puddle right there. She had forgotten how great kissing him was. When they broke apart, Michelle had a smile on her face. She leaned back in for another kiss, which Jack was more than happy to receive. Michelle was so happy; she didn't think it could get any better. Once they came back for air, Jack leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Michelle, I love you."
Michelle's heart skipped so many beats that she thought she would have a heart attack. He loved her. "I love you too Jack," she said, a smile on both of their faces. They kissed again, happy to finally be with the one they loved.
[A/N: The end! Awww, I really liked this ending. It's so sweet! Now that this story's over, I'm going to start another fanfic. I have some of one written, but unfortunately, it's saved on my computer, which is in storage, so you won't be getting it for a while. But I will start another fic, a you/jack fic, to be precise. It should be out soon, so look for it. Now, on to the review responses!
Depprulz: Thanks.
TriGemini: Well, through all that has happened, they're finally together. Thank you for sticking with me all this time!
Piper8188: She did tell him to leave her there so it would stall the navy so he can run away, and if he did throw her over his shoulder, he would be slowed down. But they did end up together, so it's all good.
XPUNKROCKGODDESSX: I'm glad you like it, but now, it really is the end.
Mer2y: I'm glad I'm in California, because if I was in Georgia, you'd be smacking me until I'm unconscious. It's been forever since I updated. Sorry! I hope Georgia is nice and I'll talk to you on IM.
xTheAngelOfDarkenessx: I'm glad you like the story! Also, I didn't really picture this to be a movie, since the main character is an OC. Johnny Depp is very yummy! I always find pictures of him and save them on my computer. Also, the only reason I had chapter 1 of False Identity for a chapter 12 was that I needed to have the author's note, but fanfiction doesn't allow a chapter with just an author's note. So, I decided to use that chapter to fill up space. Sorry for the confusion, this one is meant to be the chapter 12, not the last one.
Well, that's my last review response for this story! R/R and tell me what you thought of my ending! Also, I know that 15 people have me on author alert, and I sure didn't get fifteen reviews! So if I am on your alert, please review and tell me what you thought of my whole story. You can be honest, I just want to know what you think of it. Now, go review! And thank you Stina for beta-ing. You're my hero.
Also, TODAY IS JOHNNY DEPP'S BIRTHDAY! Happy birthday Johnny! I love you!]