A/N Wow!! An amazingly quick update, or what? Thank you so much for the nice reviews, this chapter is for you! It's a bit longer then usual, hope you don't mind ^_^ Anyway comments are greatly appreciated, whether they be good or bad. Now on with the chapter…

Chapter Twenty Three

And that was Jack's story. The gold in the caves, the beautiful lustrous material which Rudolph had passed off as a myth, was actually there. I had found a single piece, the piece the navy had left behind. Whether they did it on purpose, to taunt Jack and his comrades, or whether it was a genuine mistake, we shall never know. Jack had come to the Caribbean looking for Roberto and the navy, looking for a chance of revenge against the man who had taken his gold. Instead, he found me. Just like the navy had taken Jack's gold, Jack took Roberto's gold; myself. Jack related the story pretty quickly, and silence fell between us in the pub. Most of the men had stopped to listen anyway.

"Well, you got what you wanted." I said, softly. "Why did you come back?"

He smiled. "For you."

I shook my head. "No. No, because Jack Sparrow there's always a but in your reasoning, an ulterior motive beneath all that. Why have you really come back?" Jack reached out and took my hand. Somehow he had changed. The last time I had graced the Pearl, he had been so cold, and uncaring, and then that one night when we were attacked, he showed a different side to his nature. Fifteen years with the spirit sucking essence of Roberto, and my own self worth had deteriorated drastically. There was no way, in my comprehension, this man could have returned for me.

"For you." He insisted. "Harping still has my gold, I never got that back. But every shilling he took, I have taken back. I made one mistake though, I should ne'er have given you back."

"Oh, you gave me back did you?" I said, indignantly. "I seem to remember you running off and leaving me." Yes, I was still bitter about that. After all those years. . .

"I'll slow you down, we'd ne'er get away. Please, Jack." I begged.

He gripped my hand. "I can't leave yer."

I laughed, softly. "You're not going to die 'cause of me, Jack."

He stood up as the shouts got nearer. "We'll meet again." He said, gently dropping my hand by my side. He leant forward and his face brushed against mine.

"Goodbye Jack." I said, firmly.

He looked at me reluctantly, and hurt. "Bye Dora Sanchez."

Did I push him away that night?

"Look, we've already been through this, yeah, I left yer, but I came back."

"Fifteen years later." I said, with a smile.

He grinned. "Be thankful it wasn't thirty." He said, taking a gulp of rum.

I didn't respond, the load was still too much to take in. I had never expected to see him again.

"What if I asked yer to come wit' me?"

"What?" I demanded. He had caught me completely off guard with his question. I had been reminiscing about that night, and then. . .

"You 'eard."

"Are you asking me to leave my husband, and my son?"

He nodded. "Aye, tha's about it."

I laughed, softly. "And what makes you think you're more attractive to me then my husband?"

"I don't think, I know." He grinned. Jack's ego could wrap itself around the world, and there would still be enough spare to match Roberto's.

"Just give me my son back, Jack." I sighed. "I don't have time for your foolish games."

"You think I'm playing?" He asked, feigning a hurt expression. He grabbed hold of me, and forced his salt worn lips hard on to mine. His rough hands clasping my soft make-uped cheeks. His fiery hot touch was something I had not experienced for many years. When he finally let me go, I urged for more, and had to control my impulses. I pretended to be affronted but he saw straight through my disguise.

"Jack. . ."I began, but his finger touched my lip. Then for a second I saw alarm in his eyes, he was looking past me to the staircase. My head turned quickly, I was expecting to see Roberto standing there with his gun ready to shoot Jack. But instead all I saw was the horrified expression of my hurt son.

"Bobbie!" I screamed, and made to go after him as he ran from the tavern. But Jack caught hold of my arm and pulled me back.

"Meet me by the docks at ten tomorrow night, if yer not there, I'll take it as a no." He said, before letting me go.

I took one last look at him before chasing after my son. Bobbie had disappeared from sight by the time I reached the tavern door. I looked round but there was no sign of my lad. Reluctantly, I headed back to the manor. I was worried about Bobbie, but my thoughts were filled with Jack. My closed eyes could picture the sleek body of the Pearl, the roaring spray of the sea, and Jack's grinning face. My hand closed around nothingness. I hadn't worn my necklace for years now.

I got home to the angry form of Roberto. My first thought was that Bobbie had told him, but no, Bobbie was no where in sight, and one look at Miss Lacey's worried face was enough to show Bobbie had not yet returned home.

He threw the note at me. I stared at it for a moment and closed my eyes. "How dare you." He breathed.

He grabbed me, and pulled me roughly towards him. "How dare you!"" He yelled, slapping my face.

"I don't know what you're referring to, darling." I gasped. I always believed it was best to play dumb with Roberto, he would soothe his anger during the explanation.

Miss Lacey ran from the room, as I held a cold hand to my cheek, which stung from Roberto's touch. What a different feeling from the tingle I felt when Jack touched me.

"You've seen him, I can see it in your eyes."

I blinked and turned away. He twisted my head so our eyes met. I looked at him with a terrified expression. "Please Roberto, we have to find Bobbie."

"What?" He exclaimed. "He wasn't with Sparrow."

I shook my head. "It was a false alarm. Believe me when I say Bobbie is the most important thing in my life, and I would not risk his safety for anyone." I said, stepping away from him. "Have you heard nothing?"

He shook his head, his hand on his forehead as though it was aching his mind all this worry and searching. But Roberto had no compassion in his body, and I would not expect him to understand.

The search continued long into the day, and my heart sank when he failed to return home. It reached dinner time, and still there was no sign of him. I could not eat, and nor could Roberto. The servants had not stopped all day and many were exhausted. Miss Lacey asked if her maids may be excused until the morning. But the men were to keep searching.

I went up to my bedchamber and stared from the open window. Dark began to settle on the town and I had but a day to decide. My decision was tearing me apart inside, should I choose Roberto and Bobbie, my darling son, or the adventurous Jack Sparrow? I began thinking of pros and cons for each eventuality, but since Bobbie was the only thing tying me to Roberto it was evident that such a method was fruitless to aid my decision. Jack or Bobbie?

I sat on my bed and stared out into nothingness, just sitting and thinking for over an hour, as to whom I should stay with. Bobbie still hadn't returned home, and it chilled my heart to think of him outside in the world alone. Surely I should be with him to comfort him and care for him. It was my duty. Ah, exactly, my duty. And doing one's duty is a very different matter from following one's heart. Was I staying with Bobbie because it was what I wanted or because it was the right thing to do?

I paced my room, anxiously waiting for a solution to present itself to me. None did. And Bobbie failed to return.

I spent the night, as ever, in a fit of restlessness. I noted the empty place beside me, and reasoned that Roberto was too angry to share my bed, and nor would I wish him too.

The next morning seemed to pass too quickly for my liking, and before I knew it afternoon donned. I sat in the parlour, staring anxiously out of the glass windows and onto the beautiful grounds that stretched out yonder. The maids bustled in and out quietly, but in their attempt at sneaking round on tiptoes, and speaking in whispers, make more noise then other. I had a splitting headache, and every second closer to nightfall, chilled my insides.

I was still sitting there when a commotion in the hallway caught my attention. I jumped up instantly, throwing my book to the side. I ran out into the hallway, and shrieked at the sight of my unconscious son in the hands of Jarvis.

"Upstairs." I panted, as he walked towards the staircase. I grabbed Miss Lacey's shoulder. "Send a runner for the doctor."

She nodded, and left, whilst I followed Jarvis upstairs. A thought struck me, and I paused on the top step. "And someone fetch Roberto, he'll be down at the stables."

My son was set down on his bed, his clothes were damp with the morning fog that the sea had brought with it. Standing at a distance, I watched as Jarvis lay him on his back, and covered him with the feather quilt. I could not face going near him, after all it was my doing that brought him to such a state. Firstly, Jack had taken him to get to me, and to get at Roberto, and then after watching us kiss, he had fled the pub and stubbornly refused to return. But wait, no, it was not his fault, and I should not call him stubborn. The poor child had been through so much.

Jarvis bobbed his head, and walked towards the door, but in alarm I grabbed his sleeve.

"You're not leaving me!" I panted. "You have to help Bobbie."

"The doctor will be here soon, Mistress. Of course, if you want me to stay, but I should have thought you would desire to be on your own with our young master." Jarvis said, in his drawling voice. I almost felt he looked down on me, as a foolish creature that his master had married.

"You thought wrong. And it certainly isn't your place to make presumptions." I said, harshly, and rather stupidly. But the thought of having to explain to Bobbie why I was kissing another man scared me so much that even Jarvis's company was better then nothing.

The doctor was not long, and the noise of wheels on gravel announced his arrival. I ran onto the balcony and watched as he alighted from the carriage. Roberto was beside him as they entered the house. My feet took me flying down the staircase to greet them, and in my flurried state, I threw my arms around Roberto's neck. He stared at me in surprise, and shuffled backwards. The doctor turned his head away in embarrassment.

"Please help my son." I said, softly, pleadingly.

"I shall do the best I can for yourself and the commodore."

"The best?" Roberto frowned. The best was not good enough for him.

"This way." I said, heading towards the stairs, the doctor followed and Roberto came behind him.

He was first in the room, where Jarvis stood hovering by the door. Bobbie was stirring in his sleep, groaning fitfully. The doctor knelt by his side and touched his head. "He has a temperature."

Roberto pushed forward, leaving me at the back, out of the way. In some ways I was scared what Bobbie's return to consciousness would mean.

"Where was he found?" Roberto asked, coldly.

I shrugged. "One of the fishermen found him, alerted our men, and Jarvis went to get him."

"What was he doing out there alone?" He asked.

I shook my head, and stared down at the creased rug that carpeted the floor. His eyes did not leave my burning face. He walked up to me and grabbed my chin. "What was he doing out there alone?"

"I do not know." I said, urgently. After all he didn't have to run away after seeing Jack and I, he could easily have come home.

There was a choke from the bed, and I craned to see my son. The doctor stood up. He walked over to us with a grim expression.

"I'm sure he's going to be fine, but I don't recommended he leaves that bed for a couple of weeks. Being out in the cold he has caught a fever, and I fear for his life if it gets any worse."

I gasped as the shock hit me. Roberto nodded to show his understanding.

"How long 'til he wakes up?" He asked, clearing his throat.

The man pondered for a few moments. "He'll be awake soon I should imagine. But do not excite him, he must have rest." He insisted.

I nodded. "Thank you so much."

He smiled and touched my hand, much to Roberto's annoyance. "He'll be okay, please do not worry yourself too much."

Jarvis showed the doctor out of the house, and I heard his carriage leave the drive way, and the clop of horses hooves as they got further away.

"I'm going to see the Connell's."

"You're going gambling." I replied, airily.

He scowled. "And you?"

"I shall stay here, with Bobbie." I said, setting myself down on a chair by his bedside.

He turned and left the room.

The clock chimed from the hallway, reminding me that I had but five hours to make a decision. The aching, churning began inside me, a similar pain to learning I had only five hours left to live. Alas time is something that waits for no one.

A/N So, we reach the end of another chapter. Who will Dora choose?