Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, I am making no money from this.
AN: I'm getting this up a little sooner than I think I should because I've been told to by my beta, DemonicLittleGirl. So, here it is.
Dedicated to JackFan2, who is a dear sweet lady. (I read that story you didn't want me to, and I cried. It was so sweet and heart felt. Sorry I couldn't review at the time. I promise to do it later.)
Thank you to every one who reviewed, they mean the world to me, they really do.
Chapter 3
- - -
After nearly three days the Black Pearl sailed into Port Royal harbour, docking without confrontation. Navy officers met the pirates and escorted them to a tavern where they were fed and given drink. Groves updated the crew on their Captain's condition although little had changed save for Jack's nightmares.
"Our Jack's a strong one, he'll pull through no bother." One of the crew said, raising his drink in the name of Jack Sparrow.
"Aye, Jack's a stubborn sod, but that fall was hard on him." Gibbs muttered, although the tavern was silent now, so everyone could hear the elder sailor. "Our Jack isn't one to give up, but the sea is a cruel mistress. She take ye when she's ready, no when you're ready." Groves watched as the pirates' moods changed in a matter of seconds.
"Miss AnaMaria told us about your Captain's battle. Do any of you know what happened to the Mermaid?" Groves asked, wondering if the ship was wrecked or had sunk.
"Probably at the bottom of the ocean. Davey Jones' locker is the best place for that brute of a ship. She's caused a lot of good men to lose their lives." Came the reply from a pirate in the corner.
"It's no the ship that's at fault, it's the stupid Captain that's to blame. It's his fault that his ship went down." Groves noticed that opinions were divided when it came to the fate of the Mermaid's Song.
"It's Red-Eyes fault the ships went down and it's Red-Eyes fault that the Captain's near death." The pirate slammed his mug of ale against the table, adding emphasis on his argument.
"Aye, ye can blame Red-Eyes, it's a stupid man that takes another Captain's First Mate, but what about that wench? She was the real cause o' all this." The dwarf pirate said, Groves could remember him being caller Marty. Groves had heard from AnaMaria about the whore in Tortuga, it had been yet another hint at the relationship between the legend and the feisty pirate female. Of course, the First Mate of the Black Pearl had not openly admitted to having anything more than what would be for them a working relationship with the pirate Captain, but even James had seen it.
"Ana won't be the same if Jack dies." Someone muttered, sobering the entire night. All the pirates were contemplating what would in fact happen to themselves, the Black Pearl and the First Mate of the ship should the worst happen to Jack Sparrow. Groves and the few Navy men looked around; noticing how depressing the entire night had turned.
"Tell us about your Captain." Groves said, hoping to hear more tales of Jack Sparrow and lighten the mood in the tavern.
"What ye want to know, sonny?" Gibbs asked, sitting with his mug of ale.
"Anything, everything." Groves said, sparking a light in the elder sailor's eyes. The pirate smiled at the Navy man, reminding Groves of the pirate he had known before Port Royal.
"Well, did ye ever hear about Jack's first escape from the Spanish Fleet?"
- - -
The darkness was gripping, the fog and screams ripping through her soul like desperate claws, itching to scratch her, leave their marks, brand her as theirs. It smelt like death, the air thick and heavy around her.
"Jack?" The sound rang loud in the abyss that surrounded her, echoing far into the distance until she couldn't hear it anymore. She was scared, for the first time in a long while, AnaMaria was scared. She didn't know what to do, where to turn, what to look for.
Look for Jack, a voice sounded in her head. It's the best place to start, isn't it?
It was true. Find Jack, find comfort. Wasn't that what Jack was? A comfort? Didn't being near him give her a sense of calmness that she couldn't find elsewhere? Didn't being with him soothe her restless soul and help her find her meaning? Wasn't he her meaning?
Questions circled her mind, questions that only one person had the answer to. Jack. She had to find Jack, had to tell him, had to ask him. She wanted to tell him that he couldn't leave her. She wanted to tell him that he was stupidly heroic. She wanted to tell him that she needed him. She wanted to tell him that she loved him.
So find him. Walk to him. You can do it, can't you? The voice was back.
I can, she thought, I can find him. I can bring him back. Ana made her feet move. Casting aside the heavy air and invisible hands that fought to hold her back. Finding Jack was all that mattered, making him stay with her was all that counted, keeping him close to her was all that was needed.
Jack. Just Jack.
But in the darkness there was no light, in the darkness there was no forward or backward. She couldn't find her way, not without him. How was she supposed to save him? How was she supposed to keep him when he didn't know she wanted to keep him? How could he fight to stay with her if he didn't know he was needed, if he didn't know he was wanted?
You should have told him, the voice chastised. There were plenty of chances. You could've told him how much he meant to you. But you wouldn't swallow your pride. You wouldn't admit that you needed someone. Look where that's got you. All alone in the dark. He'll be gone because you were too proud to admit what you felt. To scared to take the leap. What's life without chances, isn't that how he lives? You've wasted your chance, and you only get one chance. He's gone now…and he's never coming back!
- - -
Ana bolted up in the bed, sweat streaking her head, collecting on her forehead and soaking her hair and shirt. She glanced over at the other side of the room, where Jack lay in the bed he had been in since they arrived. The only thing that assured her that he was in fact still alive was the steadily, although laboured, rise and fall of his chest. Ana sighed, climbing out of her cot and walking over to where Jack lay. There were a few candles scattered around the room, one sitting on the table beside Jack that gave his face a glow, making the bruises on his face more prominent. Ana carefully ran a hand over Jack's cheek, smiling at the feel of his skin. He was still warm, but not too warm.
"You had better get up, Jack." She whispered to the room, hoping that some how Jack could hear her. "I need you to get better." Ana sniffed, hoping to stop herself from crying, but it was a waste. Laying her head on Jack's chest, she let the tears cascade down her face and into the white cotton sheet that covered Jack's body.
- - -
"I'm worried about Ana." Elizabeth sat on the edge of her bed, her husband behind her dressing for bed. "Jack's ailments will take their toll on Ana, and she feels guilty over Jack being in this condition." Elizabeth went on.
"There's nothing we can do about that." Will reasoned, following Elizabeth into bed. "We can only pray that Jack gets well soon." Elizabeth sighed, it had been three days since Jack had arrived, unconscious and bruised. He was still unconscious, but the bruising was less. In the time that Jack had been there, Will and Elizabeth had both been to the small Church in town three times a day, praying that mercy was taken for their friend and he healed soon.
"We'll have to buy him new clothes." Elizabeth said, yawning slightly. "The doctor said his old ones were ruined. Perhaps I could tear Ana away from Jack long enough to get her some clothes too." Will wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close to his body.
"Yes, perhaps." Elizabeth sighed in his embrace, "Good night my love." Will murmured into her hair.
"Good night dearest William." The couple fell asleep in each other's arms, blissfully unaware of what was happening at the Fort.
- - -
Blackness, everywhere around was blackness. No light, no sound, no movement. It was like there was nothing, like it was all dead. Could it be? Could he be?
Jack walked, and walked. Finding nothing but blackness. Why couldn't he find anything? Why was there nothing to be found? The last thing he remembered was the Mermaid's Song sinking. The ship taking too much damage and being caught in the sudden storm. Ana, he remembered hearing her. She had been calling to him, trying to reach him from where she stood. The ship had sunk; Red Eyes went down with it. Was he dead? Did that thieving kidnapper die? He hoped so.
But, then, if Red Eyes died, could Ana have died? Was she still on the ship when it went down? Was she able to swim to the Pearl or land? Was she well enough to swim? Ana. If she had died then there would really be no point in going back. The Pearl wouldn't be the same. Pirating wouldn't be the same. He wouldn't be the same.
Ana, he had to find Ana. Had to get to her. Had to tell her.
- - -
Chocolate eyes fluttered open, the light causing a small scowl to appear on the sea battered face. Eyes scanned the room they were in, the smell of medicinal liquids and fresh fabric reaching flared nostrils. It was a medic's room of some sort. Perhaps one of those medical establishments.
Trying to move he realised there was a weight on his chest, and a pain in his side. Ribs, they were broken, and unwelcome pain if he ever had one. But the weight, that was most welcome. Lying with her head over his chest, tears still rolling down her face as she slept, was AnaMaria. Smiling slightly he raised a hand, noticing the bandaging around the wrist. He brushed her hair back slightly, removing the odisian locks from the woman's face. Her eyes began to open and focus, slowly she lifted her head, turning to the body below hers.
"Jack?" The sound was not what he would have expected from the feisty woman he knew, it was soft and hesitant. As if she was unsure if he were real, she slowly extended a hand, brushing it across his face. Jack closed his eyes and sighed at the feel of her hand, so soft, which was strange for a sailor's hand.
"Luv," Jack croaked out, his throat raw and sore, "where are we?" She smiled down at him, the tears starting again.
"Port Royal. The Commodore brought you here to rest, ye need to get your strength back." She was still whispering, as if the moment of serenity would be shattered if she was too loud. "We thought we'd lost you for a while there." Her hand stopped on his cheek, her thumb stroking the skin delicately.
Jack smiled, "Wild horses couldn't drag me away, luv, wild horses."
- - -
Ana forced Jack to sleep through the night, the pirate female staying by his side the whole time. She had started to smile again, watching Jack sleep, his eyes moving around under closed lids. This time she knew it was just sleep, he was mumbling, smiling, the occasional frown etching across his forehead. Ana was carefully run her fingers through his matted hair, mindful of the wound on the back of his head, beside his ear.
"Yer no half bad like this, Jack." She said, smiling as a little smirk pulled at his lips. She wondered mildly if he could hear her, biting her lip. "I'm leaving the Pearl, Jack." She said, testing his reaction. When he did nothing Ana smiled, leaning down to kiss his head lightly.
"I love you, Captain Jack Sparrow."
- - -
AN: He didn't die!
Please review, I hope you enjoyed.