Hey ya'll! this chapter is longer!

Thanks for all the reviews! I loved the skit AloneDreaming. It was funny!

Enjoy!

Jack entered Stephen's old cabin and looked around at all the things he had kept in there. He was amazed by all the creatures and plants that were kept in jars. On his friend's desk, there was a book that had, somehow, remained open. He stepped closer to see what might be in it. A smile graced his face when he saw that it was Stephen's note pad that he brought with him whenever he went looking for animals and such. He picked it up and flipped through the pages and stopped when he found a drawing of a peculiar cat. He shook his head and chuckled as the memory of how they had come across this cat played in his mind.

"Stephen, do I really have to do this? I'm getting hot." Jack was whining because Stephen had made him promise to come along with him to go find 'specimens that could change the world of natural history' as Stephen had put it and now Jack was begining to regret agreeing.

Stephen looked behind him to find Jack lagging a good ways behind him. "Yes, you have to do this. You promised, remember. Think of it as repaying a debt."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there were many opportunities that I had to pass up because of them being circumstantial to the Royal Navy. If you are so hot, I guess we can stop for a little break, I am getting hungry myself."

Stephen looked around and saw a big willow tree and smiled. He had always had a kind of fondness of willows and this one was particularly beautiful. He setup their picnic and set out all of the food when Jack reached him panting very heavily.

Stephen, although very amused at his friend's breathing, held out some water that he poured into a glass and said, "Here brother, one would think that you had never been out hiking before from the way you are breathing."

Jack gave a small smile and drank with deep, quick gulps. "Thank you my dear," he panted, "I needed that. I dare say that it is as hot as Hell right now."

Stephen gave a small amused sigh and stated, "I told you not to wear anything too heavy. Maybe you should take your jacket off."

"Of course not," Jack exclaimed with a taken aback look, "I would think it a shame to after Killick went through all that trouble getting it ready!"

Stephen shook his head and gave a chuckle. "You have too much pride for your own good. Now here, eat."

Jack and Stephen ate with the utmost joy of the feeling of being replenished once again. They sat awhile before even the thought of returning to their original task had swept across either of their minds for sometime until they heard a far off cracking mewing sound that sounded like a bird.

"What was that? I have never heard a bird's call like that before," Jack cried.

Stephen, who had sprung to his feet, had already disappeared heading down the road they had just travel and was now looking around a bush not but ten feet away, with notebook and pencil in hand.

Jack began to pack up their belongings until he felt a peculiar weight upon his head. His eyes widened as he felt claws going into his hair and the hop of what ever it was on his head. Not many things scared Jack, but this was certainly scary.

"Stephen," he yelped in terror, "there's something on my head! Get it off!" Jack had now started to run around and waved his arms wildly in an ill attempt to get the thing off his head as its claws dug even deeper.

"Hold still!" Stephen yelled with amusement in his voice. "Hold still!" this time he laughed it out.

"I don't see what's so amusing! Get it off!" Jack hissed.

Stephen was now approaching slowly and was cooing to what ever it was as he did so. He brought his hands out to get it and held it against his chest like a child. Jack heard it purring and saw that Stephen was actually petting its head. Jack approached with a side ways look and was filled with fury at the sight of it being a small, stressed looking cat. Its face only had one eye to show and its tuffs of orange, matted fur was not very appealing. It gave another crackling mew and jumped out of Stephen's arms and rubbed up against Jack's leg.

Stephen was turning red and shaking with laughter at this sight and the fact that Jacks hair was now array compared to his usually perfect hair.

"Oh go right ahead. Of course you find this amusing. This ugly brute didn't jump on your head!" Jack yelled.

Stephen fell to the ground and was rolling with mirth that brought tears of joy to his eyes. Jack stood there staring at him and now had a huge and still spreading smile on his face. Soon he was also shaking with laughter and couldn't hold it in anymore.

The two friends lay on the ground, playing with their one and only discovery of the day. Stephen held out a branch from the willow tree and whipped it around for the cat to chase.

"What should we name it?" Jack asked thoughtfully.

"It landed on your head, you should name it," Stephen chuckled.

"Okay," Jack mused, "How about...Manic. That should be a fitting name."

Stephen smiled and replied, "Yes, I believe that name would be perfect."

The memory faded and Jack laughed heartily at it. He put the book down and walked out of the cabin. He realized that he had just smiled his first, true smile since Stephen's death. He looked down and licked his lips and lifted his head once more.

"Land ho!" a voice cried. Jack looked up and saw the port. From the looks of it, they would port after the sun went down.

The Molly had long since reached port and the men where out and about to wondering the shops, and no doubt, the pubs. Julian had stayed behind, at Captain Conner's request, to wait for him to get changed and go out to dinner with him.

Anthony walked out of his cabin and walked towards the bored figure that sat before him. He rested a hand on Julian's shoulder and asked, "Are you ready to go?"

Julian looked up at the captain and answered, "Of course. Where are we off to?"

"Oh, well, I thought we could figure that out while we were walking. I want to go to the Hospital first though. Dr. Helm requested that you should visit there, just in case. You know he knows alomst nothing of your condition, really."

"Do I have to?" Julian whined.

"Yes, you have to. It's just a quick check-up for that bump on your head." Anthony paused and said, "Well, come on, the sooner we get there the sooner we can leave!"

After the hospital visit, the two men sat at a table at a local restaurant and sat chatting between bites of their food.

Julian rubbed his head and breathed painfully. "Is my bump really that big?"

"What?" Anthony asked through a mouthful of food.

"My bump."

"Oh, well, it's not that big. It took me awhile to see where it was," Anthony said thoughtfully.

"It hurts like...like..., well I'm not sure what it hurts like, but it does," Stephen stammered.

"I know, I know. I have had rather bad bruises and bumps myself you know."

"Well of course you have. You are a captain of the Royal Navy for God's sakes!" Julian exclaimed. "I wouldn't be surprised if you have been shot a good couple of times."

"Yes, well I guess that goes without saying." Anthony smiled.

There was a short pause in which both ate non-stop.

"When do you go see the Admiral?" Julian asked.

"Tomorrow, why?" Anthony asked, momentarily distracted from the food in front of him.

"Just wondering," Julian said airily. He sighed and looked down at his empty plate. "Can I go out tomorrow? I mean I didn't really get to today."

Anthony leaned back and sighed. "Julian, I'll be out for a long time tomorrow with Navy affairs to deal with, so I dare say you wouldn't want to stay with me. The only thing is, is that I don't want you to be alone. If you could find someone then I will say yes, but if you don't I'll be obliged to say no.

Julian smiled and replied happily, "Thank you so much Anthony! I'll find someone to take me, you'll see!"

On the ship, Julian was becoming excited. He could tell tomorrow would be an eventful day.

I couldn't think of anything for Julian and the Captain to do, so I just made up stuff....hope it wasn't too bad.