AN: I'm not sure that my updates will be quite as frequent now that school has started. It'll probably be every 4 or 5 days instead of every 2 or 3 (I think that is still pretty frequent...lol)

Okay, this chapter is even shorter than my last one, but it is definitely a lot to chew on...

Chapter Twelve

Elizabeth walked into Young James' room, he was sound asleep. So oblivious to everything that had just happened. She wished she could be innocent and sleeping peacefully like him. Away from all the terror that had just happened...

She stroked the hair out of his eyes; everything had happened so quickly...she had hardly processed it herself.

When she tried to run it through her mind it was all a blur. The commodore had stepped out to cross the road...a 2 horsed carriage came whizzing by, hitting the commodore... Elizabeth screamed, running to his side...the carriage skidded in the mud as man jumped out. There was yelling and screaming and rain and wind and mud. It truly was no more than a blur of fear.

"Mrs. Norrington." Elizabeth turned around quickly to see one of her maids. "The doctor needs to see you."

She walked slowly out of the room, wiping her hands on her apron. It was Doctor Wheeler, a younger man, for a doctor in the 1700? Century at least. He spoke calmly, but there was a sense of pain in his voice.

"His wounds are severe, besides bad gashes and scraps he has a few broken ribs, a concussion...it all looks treatable on the outside...but...."

Elizabeth stood stock still, "But what?" she asked, wringing her fingers in her hand...toying with her wedding ring.

The doctor obviously didn't want to speak. "I don't know for sure, but there is evidence of very serious, untreatable internal bleeding and injuries...particularly in the respiratory area. In short...I can't be sure...since the...I can only judge by evidence,"

"Just tell me what is WRONG with my husband!" Elizabeth demanded, keeping her voice down, but still gruff and firm.

"My medical experiences can predict it would be a miracle if he lasted the night." Dr. Wheeler bite his lip as he watched Elizabeth's eyes water.

"Are you sure?" She trembled.

"I...I can't be...but...I'm sorry..." he said, patting her on the shoulder.

"May I see him?" She asked.

"Yes, he was conscious for a while and in a great deal of pain, but he fell back asleep, be careful with him... and good luck." The doctor excused himself and walked swiftly by, leaving Elizabeth in the moment. Putting her hand slowly to her mouth she stifled a cry as the maids did there best to comfort her.

&

It was dark except for a single candle that sat on the bedside table. Elizabeth walked slowly over towards a chair seated by the bed. She sat down in it, trying to keep from screaming at the top of her lungs. What would she tell her father? Her son? She put her head in her hands and would have started crying but she noticed the Commodore's eyes opening slowly.

"JAMES!" She moved in towards him, kneeling besides the bed, "Oh James, I am so, so sorry! Please forgive me! Oh I am..."

"No," He stopped her, lifting his bruised hand up, "I'm sorry Elizabeth, for holding you against your will, all I ask is for a cleared conscience..."

"What are you saying James?" Elizabeth asked on the verge of tears. The doctors words where still in her denial.

"Forgive me." He said, catching his breath. He spoke slowly, barely getting his words out, "Forgive me for everything that I bestowed upon you. Forgive me..."

"Yes! Yes, James! But why are you talking like this?!" Elizabeth's thoughts moved back and forth through her brain, all at once, tangling her mind and causing her to become dizzy.

"Thank you for...despite your wishes, making me happy,"

"But I was happy, too! I was..." Elizabeth cried longingly, pleading for nothing more than a look of recognition.

The commodore gave her just that, he smiled, and then slowly, went limp.

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