Hey Ya'll! Chapter three is up! This is a chapter that tells what is going to happen to poor Stephen....I really do like him ya know, its just that it had to be done.

I would like to thank everyone of my reviewers, I love you all ;).

Special to STC for reviewing 'Gone'. I started to think that no one liked it....so thank you for your review.

Enjoy

It had not taken long for the news of Dr. Matura's illness to spread throughout the ship as everyone had seen him being carried out of the captain's cabin. Rumors started to spread that he was put under a spell by a witch doctor on the island that he explored or extracted some deadly tropical disease.

"Damned by what the man really loves, goin' on those queer places and dealin' with those mysterious creatures and all. I'm surprised that this didn't happen earlier," was murmured below the decks. Jack, of course, had heard this, but didn't rebut it. He was too busy pacing anxiously in his cabin to care.

Back and forth, back and forth, his footsteps seemed to never end. 'Jack this is not your fault, you must remember that. It was that damned bug's fault. Why does Stephen have to hide these things from me? Did he not want me to worry? Doesn't he know that he just made me worry even worse?' Jack asked himself. He shook his head and sighed.

He paused from his continuous pacing and rubbed his sweating forehead. Not only was Jack not allowed to see Stephen now, but he knew that something was going to have to be done. He didn't know what, but he was pretty sure that it wasn't going to be good and waiting for Higgins to tell him just made matters worse.

Jack looked into a mirror at his reflection and muttered, "You never were one for waiting now were you."

There was a knock at the door and Jack instantly jerked his head to look at the door. "Come in!" he cried.

Jack's heart sank when Higgins walked in. His expression was one of grave sorrow and Jack knew that this couldn't be good.

"What is it Higgins? Is Stephen alright?" Jack asked anxiously.

Higgins sighed and replied, "The doctor is doing fine, sir, but not sure if he will stay that way."

Jack's heart sank even further at this. "Why? What is going on?"

"Sir, I have tried everything, but nothing seems to be working," Mr. Higgins seemed to apologize. "The only way to save the doctors life is to amputate his arm."

"What?" Jack asked breathlessly, "Cut his arm off?"

"Yes sir. It is either his arm or his life sir."

"How can this be?"

"Well, you see sir; the best way I can figure it is that the bug's poison is concentrated in one area, his arm. This poison his slow moving and has only managed to infect the lower part of his arm, if we wait any longer it would spread throughout the rest of his body until it is too late."

Jack was silent, slowly taking this in. He broke the silence by asking, "How much will need to be taken off? I mean, Dr. Maturin's arms are his most important tools, I cannot imagine how hard he would take this. Does he even know?"

"To answer you first question sir, it depends on how far the poison is tomorrow, as that is when it will need to be done," Mr. Higgins looked down at his feet and then back at the captain. "I know that the doctor will have a hard time after it is done. The two things he loves require him to have both of his arms. I did not tell him yet though. You see sir, I think that you should."

"Me?"

"Yes, sir, he trusts you more than me," Higgins gave a small smile, "He would probably tell me that I don't know what I am doing....."

"I see," Jack sighed. "When should I tell him?"

"Tonight, sir, as I already said, I am going to have to operate tomorrow."

"Take me to him."

Jack walked silently towards Stephen's hammock, he wasn't even sure if he was awake. He looked over at Stephen and saw that he was shining with sweat that ran don his forehead and onto his closed eyelashes. Jack slowly sat down in a stool next to him. Stephen, hearing this, opened his eyes and gave a small smile at Jack.

"Hello joy," his voice cracked.

"Hello Stephen," Jack said softly. "How are you feeling?"

Stephen smiled weakly, "I am doing better, though I can't say as much for my arm."

Jack glanced down and saw that Stephen's arm looked horrible. The purple had spread a little and the bite was now leaking with puss. "Stephen, why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you about what, dear?"

"Your arm," Jack stated looking softly into Stephen's eyes. "You know you shouldn't hide these things from me."

"I know, love," Stephen sighed. "I guess I just didn't want you to worry."

"Well, by not telling me, you made me worry worse. Do you know that?"

"Yes and I am sorry for it. I promise that I will never do it again," Stephen smiled, holding out his good hand.

Jack took it and squeezed it gently. "I will hold you for your word."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Stephen squeezed back and took his hand back. All fell silent between the two and Jack began to think that Stephen had fallen asleep until he started to talk again.

"I know that my arm is going to be amputated," Stephen whispered. "I know that was what you were going to tell me," he said seeing Jack's expression.

"How did you know?" Jack asked, totally aghast.

Stephen smirked and remarked, "Just because I am now a patient does not mean that I am not a doctor anymore."

Silence fell again until Stephen said one more thing. "Do not worry, my dear. I'll be fine."

Jack smiled and whispered, "I know."

Stephen smiled back and held out his wounded hand, as for Jack to touch it. Jack looked at Stephen in shock, but Stephen just shook his head, as if to say that he could touch it. Jack put his hand on Stephen's dying one gently and shivered at how cold it was. Jack looked down at his friend once more to see that he was asleep.

Jack put his friend's arm by his side and began to tiptoe off. "I know," Jack repeated to himself and he quietly made his way to his cabin.

TBC....