Yet again, usual disclaimers apply throughout this tale. If you recognise it, it probably belongs to the Mouse – else it is mine!

Chapter 13 – On the Black Pearl

Over the next few days, Catherine remained unconscious, drifting in a shadowy world of dark dreams filled with noise and pain. Then the fever came, and she fought for her life, dragged deeper into the suffocating darkness with her memories filled with shadowy 'things' that frightened her. And hands – although they might be only in her mind, they seemed real enough. Sometimes cruel, sometimes soothing, always there were hands. Some part of her mind registered that she had been hurt, and that this might all be a dream, but she could not wake, trapped in the suffocating darkness with her memories.

Jack held her hand as she twisted on his bunk, lying now on her back since the worst of the bleeding had stopped. She cried aloud with the pain. He was grateful that the ties restrained her and prevented her from causing further damage to the wound. He mopped her brow again, trying desperately to keep her cool. Occasionally she would cry out and sometimes mutter words that he could catch - usually Papa, Theo or Greg but once she had muttered his name, and since then he had been by her side. He held her hand, his touch seemed to calm her, and now he was the only one she cried for.

"Captain?" Jack looked up, surprised to see Joshamee standing in the doorway of the side cabin, a bowl of food in his hands.

"Eh?" he blinked. He was shocked to realise that he had not eaten that day and that it was already mid afternoon.

"Captain, what course?" Joshamee handed the bowl to him. He had never seen Jack like this before and he did not know what to make of it. He knew that the two of them had been together, intimate like, both on board and on the island, but was there more? He did not know, and Jack was not talking. He did know however that they could not sit in the small bay for much longer and that they would have to find a safer harbour soon.

Jack looked up, dazed. "Tortuga, I 'spose. We'll have t' ransom Roseridge and Tortuga is as safe as any place to sit." Joshamee nodded, turning. "I nearly killed her, Gibbs!" he added.

The quartermaster stopped, turning to look back at him. "Mistress Kitty is stronger than she looks Jack, she'll pull through!" Joshamee assured him, surprised to see him wipe away her tears as she writhed in pain. "Are you keeping her?" he asked in shock, stunned by his captain's actions. Despite his feelings about women on board he was quite fond of Catherine. She certainly made a good fish stew and fish stew was one of his favourites.

"No, Gibbs. I gave m' word an' I'll not break it. She has family that will be wantin' t' know she is safe..." Jack sighed.

"Family?" Joshamee queried, surprised as Catherine had not mentioned anything to him whilst she had been on board previously.

Jack looked up, smiling wryly. "Her brother is Lieutenant Groves," he said quietly. "An' I think he'll take it a bit personal like if I decide t' keep his sister..."

"Groves!" Joshamee gasped. "And Jimmy?" he ventured, almost too afraid to ask.

"Norrington's nephew..." he snorted. "I can sure pick 'em, eh, Gibbs!" He looked at his quartermaster seriously. "An' that information goes no further... savvy?"

"Aye, Captain," Joshamee assured him. He looked at Catherine on the bunk as she started to mutter again. His ears caught the word "dead" before he realised Jack was speaking to him still.

"Out!" Jack ordered, undoing the ties urgently. He too had caught that word, guessing from previous experience what was about to happen, and his fears were confirmed when she started to shake violently. "Get out!" he shouted at Joshamee as he held the thrashing woman in his arms, relieved to see him obey and shut the cabin doors behind him. Her treatment by Bailie was not something Jack wanted known about by anyone, especially the crew, and it had not been the first time that this particular memory had haunted her. Careful of her back he held her tightly. "It's a dream Kitty, it's not real," he urged as she started to struggle against him, her terror clear on her face. He jumped as she started to scream again, frantically muffling her desperate cries with his hand. Damn Bailie, he cursed vowing that if he ever found him he would kill the man.

Although she struggled wildly, her strength was no match for his and Jack held her with ease. He was grateful when a few minutes later she sagged, collapsing in his arms, her actions having left her exhausted. Gently Jack lay her back down, re-fixing the ties to hold her secure for a moment so that he could eat. He sat there worriedly looking at her, willing her back to health and praying that she would pull through. He looked at the unopened bottle of rum beside him, surprised that he had not touched a drop whilst he had been so preoccupied with nursing Catherine. As he sat watching her whilst he ate, he was even more surprised to realise that he did not want it.

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James took his time aboard the Black Pearl reasonably well, everything considered. He was dreadfully worried about Catherine of course, but Ned let him play with the macaw whenever he could and Joshamee even let him steer the ship once, with a little help. He saw very little of Jack, though, who smiled distractedly at him the few times he encountered him on deck, for the captain only left his cabin when absolutely necessary. Everyone was afraid Catherine would die, James knew this, although nobody would say so.

The Black Pearl anchored at last in the harbour at Tortuga. Some of the crew went ashore and James went with them, getting another taste of pirate life. If any comments were made about the absence of their captain in the town, or the young boy in their company, no replies were given. A letter was sent to Port Royal advising the Roseridge family of their hostage.

They waited.

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Year 1 - November

It was just over a week when Catherine regained consciousness, eyes fluttering slowly open. She stared at the bulkhead above her, trying to piece together where she was. It looked familiar, for a moment she thought that she was still dreaming. Someone was holding her hand, but she could not see. Groaning she tried to roll over, surprised to find herself restrained by ties.

"Kitty!" The owner of the hand came into view – Jack! He looked terrible, as if he had not slept in days. "Kitty! Thank 'eaven yer awake! We… I…" For a moment, for the first time in his life, Jack Sparrow was speechless. "I thought I'd killed yer…" His voice shuddered, his eyes showing his fear as he leaned down and quickly kissed her. "I'll be back… don't move!"

Catherine tried to reach for the ties, surprised to find that she did not even have the strength to move. She tried again, but was barely able to raise her head. What was wrong with her? What was this terrible weakness? Determinedly she tried again.

Jack dashed from the cabin. "Cotton! Kitty's awake!" Ned Cotton followed him, immediately handing the macaw to James and indicating that he should stay for a moment.

Catherine was trying to sit up, having finally managed to release the ties, but Ned's hands on her shoulders indicated that he wanted her to lie down. He placed his hand on her forehead. Her temperature was still a little high, but the fever had definitely broken and she was genuinely lucid. He gestured to her to roll over, and was not surprised that she needed Jack's help for that. She was very weak and the wound was still causing her a great deal of pain. Finally, it had stopped seeping and was healing over, the cauterised flesh leaving a nasty scar. He gave the thumbs up to Jack and mimed eating.

"Do yer think yer can manage some more of Cotton's wondrous broth Kitty?" Jack asked, relieved when she nodded and smiled weakly. Ned smiled broadly and headed for the galley.

"Wha…" she tried to say, but Jack interrupted her.

"We attacked the Gallian as she passed through th' Windward Passage. Didn't know you were on board, luv. Stupid bastard fired so we fired back." He traced the line of what would be a scar on her back. "Cotton had t' cauterise it – there'll be a bad scar." Sighing, he gently wrapped his arms about her, murmuring as he held her. "I thought we were going t' lose yer!" He shushed her as she tried to speak again, holding her to him. "I nearly killed yer," he whispered.

"James?" she asked desperately. "Where is James?"

"Jimmy is safe an' will want to see yer – he is fine, just worried…" Jack assured her, unsurprised that her first thoughts were for her charge. "I'll get him sent in..."

James was relieved to see Catherine awake and sitting up in bed. Ned's macaw sat on his shoulder and squawked delightedly. "Wind in yer sails! Wind in yer sails!" But both were ushered out though when Ned returned with a bowl of his infamous broth.

"I'll see to that." Jack took the bowl from him, shutting the doors firmly and clicking the lock. He feared an invasion of crew members for he knew he was not the only person on board that cared for Catherine. Although it had taken her near death for him to admit it to himself he realised wryly.

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