I do not own potc

Devon stood on the deck staring down at Jack through narrowed eyes.

After getting aboard again, she had headed straight for her cabin, the urge to sleep over powering her, yet as much as she tried, her mind would not let her rest. There would only be a few hours of darkness left and knowing that Devon had finally got up to seek refuge and sleep in Jack's bed. His bed had been empty. And now staring at him face down on the deck of his ship surrounded in empty rum bottles she guessed he had missed his rum more than she imagined and more than what was good for him. She poked him in the ribs with her toe.

"Jack?" he stirred, grumbling under his breath.

"Jack?" she poked him again, harder.

"Another minute luv," he slurred heavily. Devon kicked his ribs roughly.

"Jack, you fool, get up."

"It's down there luv." he rolled onto his back, his eyes still closed.

"What? What's down there?" she kicked him again to get an answer. He grunted,

"The rum." he cracked one eye open and promtly shut it again, "It ran away." his hand waved in the general direction of the stern of the ship and Devon glanced over at the half empty bottle that had obviously rolled away from him in the gentle sway of the ship. She scowled.

"Get up."

"I am, I am up." he opened his eyes and after a minute of trying to focus them he found her face.

"There you are, hold still luv,"

"I am still." she replied flatly. Jack chuckled and picked himself up slowly, staggering three steps to the right as he straightened. His eyes widened and he glanced wildly about him.

"These waves are getting mighty big, is there a storm?" his eyes flew to the crysle clear sky and his hands flailed out to try and steady himself. Devon rolled her eyes and went to his aid, sliping an arm round his waist to let him gather his feet below him.

"Your drunk Jack, come on."

"I am not drunk!" he scoffed pulling away to stare wide eyed down at her. She couldn't help but laugh.

"Of course your not ," she paused, "LOOK JACK A CANNON!" she pointed wildly out into the empty ocean. He fell to the deck insantly and she doubled over laughing.

"You gullible fool!" "You just stand there and laugh darling, I'll stay just here," his eyes drooped closed and she kicked him again.

"Get up."

"Make your bloody mine up! I was happy where I was untill you came poking about with me." he put on a sheepish face, "I'm a wounded soldier," as if to prove it he pulled open the new shirt and showed her the freshly slitched up wounds over his chest. A button rolled passed her feet and Jack watched it go, his face saddening.

"Never could keep me buttons on," he pulled himself up and staggered on towards his cabin.

"You coming luv?" he grinned, "Cant promise I'll be up to much tonight but I can always try." Devon smiled gently as she watched him amble into his cabin, hands sroking at the air and feet clumping on the deck. She sighed and followed him in. It would seem he wasn't for much at all, already face first on his bed, sleeping like a baby, she smiled and curled herself against him, it suited her just fine.

XXXXX

Devon opened her eyes and squinted against the sun that streamed through the windows. The sun was already high and she took a rough guess that Mr Gibbs had taken control of the ship for the moment, Jack was still fast asleep beside her, his arm curled round her waist in a protective embrace. She smiled and nuzzled down into his chest, enjoying the warmth and safeness that penetrated her body. Devon let her mind wander, risking a thought about Gerry, it saddened her instantly and she quickly forced him from her mind. The Echo, she sighed, she knew what she had to do and her saddness deepened.

To her side her pirate stirred, mumbling something or other about the Pearls wheel, she frowned wondering if the blasted ship was the only thing he ever thought about.

"Are you awake?" she whispered pulling the covers tighter round her arms. Jack opened his eyes for a small moment.

"Aye." he rolled over onto his back and rubbed his tired eyes, "Are you?"

"It would appear so." she frowned again and he glanced over at her, risking a small grin.

"Just checking luv," his arm wrapped round her waist again and his eyes drooped closed, the stubble on his cheek rubbing against her shoulder as he sighed deeply.

"We need to go back to the Echo Jack." she said thoughtfuly gazing up at the ceiling, he dragged his eyes open for a moment to nod at her,

"Aye,"

"We should get up."

"Aye." his voice was already drifting as sleep found him again. Devon smiled and tugged a braid from his face, her fingers gently brushing over a small bruise on his temple, he grumbled again.

"You grumpy old man," she chukled as his eyes opened again.

"Not grumpy luv and I'm definatly not an old man," he rolled away and stretched groaning loudly as he did so. "What you doing in here anyway?" Devon took the comment lightly and laughed.

"I saved your sorry drunk ass from freezing to death on the deck last night." Jack frowned struggling to remember his previous drunk stupour the night before. He shrugged lightly and grinned.

"Missed me rum." Devon eyed him before throwing her legs over the side of the bed and standing. He watched her silently as she brushed the creases from her clothing.

"Come on Jack, get up." she wearily pulled on her boots and stood impatiently waiting for him to rise. His brow furrowed and he winced as he slowly sat up. Devon had forgotton about his injuries and felt suddenly sorry for him, she smiled gently.

"Are you sore Jack?" he glanced over as he flexed an arm as if checking it still worked, Devon took a step towards him, "It's only me Jack, you can tell me." Jack had yet to complain about his injured arm, chest and leg, she knew he wouldn't say anything but he was hurt.

"Aye." he finaly admitted bowing his head to rub his temples. She sat down on the bed next to him.

"S'ok Jack, you stay here then, I'll go up on deck, set bearings for the Echo." she surprised both of them by kissing his shoulder as she left, Jack smiled or winced he wasn't quite sure. The pain in his left leg wasn't too bad compared to the pain in his chest every time he breathed. Pulling open the shirt he peered at the angry stitched wound across his right side, scored his ribs Gibbs had said. Is arm also throbbed, a hot burning pain where Damche had drew he sword over his bisep. They were just a few of the scrapes he received although the worst, it was the smaller ones that irrited him the most, too small to stitch, they iched as they healed and burst back open if he moved too quickly. Jack let out an irritated sigh. He despised feeling like this, sore, tired, having to let his first mate man the ship because of his weakness. Grunting with the effort of standing he gathered his effects and went towards the door. Far too much rum last night, his head was swimming, a dull ache was beginning to penetrate his brain. His left leg below him buckled as a sharp stab of agony gripped the torn muscle in his thy. For the first time in his life Jack's hand hesitated on the door knob, the first time in his life he felt almost beat. And for the first time he could not face the wheel of his ship.

Instead he turned to his trunk and fished out a bottle of rum, a little wouldn't harm him, just enough to take the edge off the pain and quell the throb in his head.

It was the sharp smash that jarred Jack awake, he eased his forhead from the table and looked blearily down at the empty rum bottle that had broken on the floor. A frown settled on his forehead and he tried with great effort to guide his unsteady hand to his eyes.

"Bloody hell." he muttered as the ache in his head returned with avengance. Staggering to the door he went on deck and faced the sun with almost bitter contemptment. It was merciless, searing his eyeballs and bringing an instant sweat onto his forehead. He turned to go back inside to the safety of his cabin.

"Mary mother of God, Jack." Mr Gibbs ambled forward holding his hands out as if he meant to embrace the captain, Jack grumbled under his breath before swinging round to meet Gibbs greeting. "You look near dead!"

"Well much to the annoyance of a select few, I'm not," he squinted up on the helm at Devon as she stood by the wheel, he staggered back giving away his presense to her, She narrowed her eyes on him.

"Jack Sparrow are you drunk again?" she scolded. Jack held out his hands a sheepish grin finding his lips. He nodded.

"No." his answer didn't quite work with the nod. From the wheel devon sighed vigorously and proceeded to ignore him. Setting her face against the wind and clasping her hands over the wheel she hauled it west towards Sierra. Jack wrinkled his nose below her and turned to Gibbs.

"Never could keep a woman happy mate," the older man laughed heartily and pulled out his drinking flask,

"Happens to the best of us Jack." he swigged heavily on the flask and offered it to Jack whio peered at it with stinking eyes before shaking his head.. Mr Gibbs frowned and remained pensive for a moment, watching the deck around him with thoughtful eyes, he turned back to his captain who had been edging closer to his cabin door.

"The lass set bearings for the Sierra Isle, she going to fetch her ship?" Jack sighed at his attempt to get away and turned to squint at Gibbs.

"It would appear so." he turned away again praying his first mate would leave him be.

"Heard that Norrington has a new ship, The Sea Skipper, just as-"

"Tell you what." Jack interrupted swaying forward and raising a finger at Gibbs, "You keep talking and I'll just nip in here," he turned the finger to the door of his cabin, "I swear I'm still listening ," his voice trailed off as he disappeared into his cabin to seek a slumber that he craved.