Very big thank you to my beta jackfan2!

Chapter 8 - Reflections

In the back of the cave, after over an hour of trying, Will and Elizabeth finally managed to make a small fire. They didn't dare to make it much bigger, afraid that it would give them away, but at least they now had some warmth and light. Once that task was completed, together they managed to carry a still unconscious Jack to be nearer to the fire's heat. The couples concern for their friend grew as the pirate showed no sign of life even while he was being moved.

Then the blacksmith and his fiancé succumbed to the strain of the recent events and lay down to rest in one another's arms. Will knew one of them should remain on watch, but the deep, bone-weary fatigue was more than even he could deny.  Just as the last remnants of sleep claimed him he sent a silent prayer to God that they would at least have a few hours peace to regain their strength.

A couple of hour's later Elizabeth awoke.  The stony ground left her stiff and sore and she could not stifle a small groan as she rubbed at her aching muscles.  While both men slept, she looked first to her fiancé and a small smile lightened her mood.  The handsome face of her soon to be husband, while relaxed in slumber made her decide he was cutest when he was asleep, although she would never admit that to him. Giving a small shake of her head, she decided that he probably wouldn't appreciate being thought of as 'cute'. Male pride and all that lot. Looking away her eyes went to the pirate captain laying on the other side of the fire, and her smile disappeared.

As the fire danced along his angular features, she could tell, for the first time how awful he looked.  Long ago she'd admitted to herself that she found him rather… attractive, but not now. The hollow's of his cheeks were deeper than usual, probably due to poor nutrition during his captivity. The color of his skin, normally sun-kissed a deep golden tan, was now a pale and mottled gray hue. It shocked her to see the normally buoyant, spry man in such a state.  Lost in her thoughts she shook her head in dismay. They had to take care that Jack recovered fully and become his unique self again very soon. Her heart lurched painfully to see him in a state like this.

As her eyes appraised his sleeping form she noticed the odd angle of his arm and a frown of worry creased her face. When he had insisted on carrying her earlier, she could feel the tense set of his body and hear his occasional grunts. At that time she knew he was in pain but stubbornly he continued on. There in the light of the cave she could see clearly the reason; his arm.  It hand an unhealthy yellowish blue color, riddled with occasional red lines. Even given the fact that she was no doctor, she knew it was unnatural.

Carefully, so as not to wake the pirate, she reached out to gently touch the afflicted arm. Worrying her lip with her teeth, she nervously felt the limb and was both startled and shocked at how hot it was. Without a doubt, she knew the arm was broken and probably more than once. Left untreated, the heat in the arm could lead to infection, thus making him severely ill.

Working furiously through her memories, she struggled to recall what she knew about broken bones and their treatment. Mentally drifting back, she remembered how fascinated she'd been as a young girl, when a servant in her father's house had broken his leg after falling from a horse. A small light of triumph came to her eyes as she did indeed remember what the doctor had done then.

Taking the small bag they had brought along, she removed an extra shirt and a small knife. Tearing the garment at the edges she began cutting it into strips to use for bandages. Suddenly, her hands stilled. What if the pirate were to wake while she tended him?  This was obviously going to cause him some discomfort and pain. Looking at Jack's sleeping form, she recalled how the servant had screamed when the doctor had tried to save his leg. Momentarily, she considered waking Will, but quickly discarded the idea. With a sigh, she realized he'd probably be of no use anyway. No, she shook here head and continued tearing the material; she had enough to deal with in caring for the wounded pirate, without the added headache of a fainting blacksmith.


Taking a deep breath of determination she knelt down next to the pirate and carefully picked up his left arm. Slowly, gently, she began wrapping it as tightly as she dared, but not to tight.  Smooth pieces of wood for a splint would be best, but nothing like that was available so this would have to suffice. Holding her breath she realized the only response she got from the pirate captain was a soft muttering and an occasional flinch. Fortunate for her, however, he continued to sleep relatively peacefully.

Just when she thought she might finish without incident, Jack woke with a hoarse cry and jumped lithely to his feet. The movement was quicker than Elizabeth thought possible of the injured pirate, as too was the lightning fast draw of the sword by his good hand. While finding Jack's effect's so near his cell at the time of his rescue had been deemed providential at the time, Elizabeth now wished it hadn't been so. Fear squeezed her heart as she glanced quickly from the lethal blade now pointed dangerously at her heart to the eyes of one very scared, undoubtedly unattached pirate wavering it at her.

"Jack!" she heard Will yell in disbelief. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him get quickly to his feet.

"JACK!" Will shouted, this time much louder.

The only response from the pirate was to take another step closer to her, his left arm drawn protectively close to his side.

"Jack?" Elizabeth hardly recognized her own voice. Fear gripped her heart as she stared into the hollow eyes of the man whom she considered a friend. Clearly he was not seeing her and it startled her to come to the conclusion that she was afraid of him.  Jack Sparrow, her own friend, who now stood brandishing sword at her, an animalistic light in his eyes. She had to reach him, she had to try before Will did something incredibly stupid…"Jack, please…"

The sword seemed to lower just a bit.

"Jack?" she continued, "It's me, Elizabeth, remember? The rum burner?" On his numerous visits over the years, he'd given her that nickname. She only hoped and prayed this would stir a spark of memory in him..

A groan of alarm filled the cavern and the sword clattered noisily to the ground as Jack folded in on himself and lowered his body wearily to follow suite.  Shame and self-deprecation mottled his already tortured face and he bowed his head in shame. Without hesitation Elizabeth sat down next to him, carefully stroking his hair.

"Jack?" she spoke quietly. "It's alright.

Will took a seat on the other side of the pirate, still a bit shaken.

"I'm s' sorry, luv." Jack whispered. "I didn' recognize ye. I…God, I could 'ave killed ye."

Elizabeth smiled at him. "But you didn't, Jack, I'm fine. Besides, it's my fault. Perhaps I should have woken you. So don't beat yourself up about it," she said carefully. Gently she reclaimed his left arm and finished tending it. The pirate made no sound to indicate his discomfort.  For the most part, he remained silent and impassive while she worked. However, in an attempt to discern how he fared she glanced briefly at his face. Aside from the occasional flinch and the tight set of his jaw, he only closed his eyes and bore the pain in continued silence.

"This is all I can do for you, Jack," she said as she gently placed his arm near his side. Gold and white mingled in a weak grin and she felt that reward turn her heart deeply. That was the Jack Sparrow she knew.

"Thank ye, luv."

"You're very welcome, Jack." She smiled back gently.

Then the three of them suddenly looked up. The previous ordeal in the cave has taken their attention away from what was happening outside. They heard something. The sound grows louder and they realize it is the sound of footsteps coming their way. Will and Elizabeth shared a look of panic then he stood quietly and moved towards the entrance of the cave.

Moving away from the back of the cave and into the deeper shadows, Will doesn't see the intruder until it is too late. With a startled gasp he is suddenly standing eye to eye with a dirty looking eye-patched pirate, who had his pistol pointed directly at Will's chest.

My kingdom for a sword, thought Will sarcastically.

"'Ello, matey," the pirate grinned, showing a lovely collection of dirty, rotting teeth. "Ye 'ave something that's ours."

Will raised an eyebrow. Suddenly he hated everything about this pirate, especially the cliché like teeth and the even more cliché like eye patch.

"I don't think so," he replied, but no sooner do the words leave his mouth than he realizes he has no weapon. No matter. He'd defend his friend and the woman he loves with his last dying breath.

The pirate's face darkened. "I really think ye 'ave."

"I don't think so either," replied Jack right up to the intruder. "And, I'm afraid that makes two against one. Now, do you really like those odds, mate?" So silent was Jack's approach that neither the other pirate nor Will heard until he was upon them.

With a snarl, the eye-patched pirate turned to face the one he'd come to retrieve and his snarl changed to a single, wide-eyed stare of surprise. The well-known, nearly fabled pistol of Captain Jack Sparrow was now pointed directly at the others head. Without hesitation, Jack squeezed the trigger and the interloper was dead before his body crumpled lifelessly to the floor of the cave. Sightless eyes stare blankly at the ceiling.

"Tha' was not the smartest one of the lot," Jack replied laconically and returned the pistol to his sash.

Of the couple, Will was the first one to find his voice. "You could have shot me."

Jack shook his head. "Don't make the mistake o' thinking that I cannot shoot, mate. Carrying a pistol with only one shot means that I'd better be able to hit what I aim at.  A pirate's life rarely contains second chances, son."

"Someone would have heard that," Elizabeth whispered.. That drew the attention of both men and they turned to look at her.

"Ye're right luv. 'Bout time to leave this hole. I think I remember some other places on this rock where we can hide."

While Jack stood guard, Will and Elizabeth quickly gathered their stuff together.

"Jack? I think this belongs to you," Will approached his friend and with a smile he extended a familiar tri-cornered hat to the pirate.

"How on earth did ye get that?" he questions, his voice a mere whisper as he takes the proffered item.

"Long story that will have to wait for another time. For now, let's keep going, savvy?"

Jack responded with his trademark white and gold grin and Will smiled back. It was more than he dared hoped for and far better than the blacksmith could have dreamed.  Moreover, that one reaction in and of itself was a glimpse, a glimmer of the pirate's former self, the man he knew before..

Carefully they moved along the walls of the cave to finally come to the opening. Eyes darting alertly to their surroundings as they make their way further out they are more cautious to be sure that nobody saw them or followed. Without the cover of darkness, this journey would be infinitely more dangerous.

Half an hour later, after covering much terrain, Will and Elizabeth have no idea how to get back to their first hiding place. While it was mildly disconcerting, they suspected that that was probably for the best, as it meant there was less probability that they could be tracked by the other half of the island's inhabitants.

Through most of the trek, Jack remains silent, but seems to walk a little bit straighter than he had been before. Also, the couple noticed with some relief that his eyes seem to be a little more focused as well.

A mere fifteen minutes later Jack cametocame to a stop. Taking in the area, Elizabeth realized with a start that they have again come to a cave, although this one was further away from the sea than the last one was.

"I think that's good enough for today, mate." Jack replied, somewhat out of breath.

Will and Elizabeth exchanged concerned looks. Jack suddenly looks very tired and they notice a slick sheen of perspiration on his still pale face. Confirming their fears, he drops heavily to the ground, obviously worn out.. They both noticed, as well, that over the last few minutes of their travel that the captain had started to limp more and more. It really was time that they got him back to his Pearl where he could heal and rest.

"Will?" Will turns his attention back on his friend.

"Yes, Jack?"

"I'm going to give ye m' sword. Take good care of 'er, mate" Dumbfounded, Will stared at the pirate as he held out his sword to him. Finding the cutlass suddenly forced into his hands, out of habit within his trade, he immediately appraised its craftsmanship and found it to be one of good quality.

"Jack?" he asked confusion evident in his voice and his face. "I don't understand. Why do you want me to take your sword?"

Jack sighed. "Do I really 'ave to spell it out fer ye, mate? May I remind ye that I almost killed yer bonnie lass with it?" The shame of his earlier actions clearly echoed in in his voice.

Will shook his head in disbelief. "Jack! That was not your fault! Here, take it back!" He spoke thrusting the sword back to its' rightful owner. In response,  Jack only stepped back refusing to even touch the weapon at all.

"Will?" Elizabeth intoned. "Take it. If it makes Jack feel better…"

"She's right," Jack agreed, "it does, mate. At the moment, I don't trust m' self very much."

Still uncertain, Will gazed carefully at the pirate, his friend. Searching for some sign that this was indeed the right thing to do. It all seemed wrong, but in the end, with a sigh of resignation, he hung Jack's cutlass on his belt. The pirate nearly sagged in relief.

"How will you defend yourself then? What if more of those men come around?"

Jack just shrugged, refusing or unable to answer.

"He still has his pistol," Elizabeth answered. "And he certainly has proven he can handle that one."

Will sighed. So much for female logic. A sound brought him back and he looked up. As if in response to Elizabeth's statement he found he now possessed, not only his cutlass, but Jack's pistol as well.

"No way, Captain Sparrow. You are going to keep your pistol with you." Will shook his head stubbornly.

"No," insisted the pirate, shaking his had right back. "wha' if I shoot ye with it? I'd ne'er forgive m'self!"

"You saved my life with that damn thing!"

"Keep it William Turner." And with that the discussion was closed. Jack turned away from Will completely dismissing him and any replies to the contrary. With a last sigh of exhaustion he finally lay down and within seconds was fast asleep.

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I don't know yet how long the next chapter will take since I have a stupid exam to make first.

I can't believe that I'm only 1 review away to hit the 100! Thank you all so much for your support!

Pendragginink - you surely have some nice views on Jack. I think he would do a lot brilliant/insane stuff to make him more legendary. I must say that I'm kinda obsessed with the idea of a 'legendary Captain Jack Sparrow' ;)

Omala Moola - Johnny is the cutest thing when he's reaction so shy!

CrAzY Pidwigeon - I figure you are more of a Harry Potter fan then ;) I'm honored that I'm your first PotC fic!

Otherhawk - Thank you! There are a lot more problems on its way *evil grin*

ChibiYugiYasha - I think Orlando wasn't at the Oscars cause this lad is way too busy with all the movies that he's making at the moment. Indeed YAY for Troy!

Hanna - How was your French test? I hope you did fine! French was my worst subject at high school, but I somehow managed to do it not that bad on the moments when needed ;)

Sess9 - LOL. If you have read this chapter you'll know what happens next :P

Morph - Believe me, Jack Sparrow has better be prepared cause I still have lots of stuff planned for him

Jackfan2 - I don't have enough words to thank you. So just… thank you very very much!

Rissa of the Saiya-Jin - hmmmm… why do I have to odd feeling that if Disney would ask for volunteers to hug Jack half the female world will come their way? ;)

Lykosdraco - I can't believe you reviewed every singly chapter so far! WOW! And your reviews really made me laugh! Rock on!

Anaticulapraecantrix - Well… the Pearl will come back into the stories… somewhere soon

Little Iris - I'll do my very best. I enjoy writing this fic very much, I only don't always have time _

Elven-Star-Of-Gold - Thanks for reading!

FireShenshi2 -  You are lucky that the next chapter is finished so quickly after your review! :)