Disclaimer: Sob…Jack and Will still do not belong to me.

Desire

I paced back and forth on the deck of me ship hating meself for allowing an animal into my heart. I had bought Mandy's inert body back to the ship. AnaMaria could see the pain in me eyes as she took the beloved mutt from me arms. She asked Gibbs to take her below and then she appraised my condition. She noticed the odd angle of me arm and I could see the worry in her face.

"Jack, I mean Captain, I can see clearly that your arm is broken. If it is left untreated the heat in your arm could lead to infection, making you severely ill. Please if you might let me take care of you."

"Well we got the time, lets have it."

With this I followed her to her quarters. She pulled out of her belongings a small knife and a shirt. She tore the garment into strips to make bandages. Then she took a deep breath and knelt down next to me and carefully picked up me left arm. She was moving slowly and gently as she began wrapping my arm as tightly as she dared.

I did flinch as she wrapped and I jumped up moving away from her giving out a hoarse cry of pain. I pulled my left arm close to me side trying to protect it.

"Jack,pleaseit will be alright." She pleaded.

"Aye, well it bloody hurts! Luv." Was the only retort I could come back with.

Carefully she reclaimed my arm and finished tending to it. For the most part I remained silent as she worked on me. Aside from the occasional flinch and me tight jaw I closed me eyes and just bore the pain.

"This is all I can do for you, Captain," she said as she placed me arm near me side.

"Thank ye, Luv." I stood up and approached her. I grasped her waist with me good arm and pulled her into the most passionate kiss she had ever experienced. She stroked me hair and then before anything else could happen I heard William's outcry.

"Jack!" Will shouted.

"I have placed Elizabeth in your quarters. Blood is pouring from her like a bloody river. She needs a doctor. I tracked the blood source and it comes from a bullet in her chest. It has missed her heart but with the quantity of blood she is loosing I fear it is life threatening."

I could tell he was trying to stay calm but he was failing miserable. Her hurried up to me and grasped me arm and literally yanked me to go with him.

"Please Jack, don't let her die! I know you have been near to death yourself. Please, please don't let Elizabeth go there."

I winced and glared at Will when he grabbed me. I could see the look of horror in his eyes when he realized what he had done. He quickly let go and backed off.

I was going to threaten him but I knew due to our peculiar friendship and the love for this woman he just wanted me help.

"Jack, I am sorry, really but please…"

Will tried not to sound to harsh but he felt it was his duty as Elizabeth's long time friend to take care of her. I knew Will trusted me; he would not put her life into my hands if he did not.

I nodded at him, "That's a fine goal lad, but what makes you think I can help her?"

Will looked at me cynically and said. "Because your Captain Jack Sparrow?"

I asked AnaMaria to gather me up some supplies.

"Please bring me several bottles of rum, some warm water and any form of bandages and medicinal herbs.

I went directly to Elizabeth.

She lay on the bed with a damp cloth over her wound. My god there was blood everywhere. I had to stem the flow of blood. Gripping her dress I tore it off her body and used it to firmly hold over the wound. The material turned red almost immediately.

With the ripping off of Elizabeth's garment Will, became enraged and went for his sword.

"Lad I don't think ya want ta be doing that? You asked for me help and I am. Savvy?"

AnaMaria bought me the things I requested and then I asked her and William to leave. I stole a glance at Will's face. He hadn't moved since I tore off Elizabeth's dress.

"I'll need all me wits about me lad. I can't have that with an audience."

"Jack, what will happen…"

I did not let Will finish his sentence. "Will, I am Captain Jack Sparrow, I will save your bonnie lass. So please take your leave so I can do what I have to do."

I handed Will a bottle of rum and AnaMaria led him from the cabin, leaving me alone with the gorgeous and ill-treated Miss. Swann.

I lost all track of time. I finally emerged from the cabin. All gathered at the door were, William, AnaMaria and Gibbs. They were waiting for any type of information and their faces all looked grave.

I turned toward Will and broke the silence.

"I've managed to stop the bleeding, removed the bullet and clean her up. The rest is up to her. She has a bad fever. She is in a very bad way. William you may go see her but don't stay long. She is still unconscious."

Will moved for the door and opened it slowly. This time I grabbed his arm.

"At the moment my friend it is only her will power that is keeping her with us. If that should fail there is not much I can do."

"Thank you, Jack."

Will went in and found Elizabeth lying on the bed. She was covered with clean sheets and she had white bandages wrapped tightly around her upper body. She looked so innocent; she looked so young.

Will sat with her and watched her rest. She would shudder and whimper softly. From where he sat he could tell she was shivering all over. Was this due to the fever or was this due to nightmares. He placed an old blanket that was draped over the chair on top of her, in hopes to comfort her.

Judging the placement of the moon through the cabins window Will was surprised at how many hours had gone by. Stifling a yarn he realized how tired he was. Will searched me out and asked if I would watch over Elizabeth in his leave. It came to no surprise that he fell asleep only minutes after I agreed.

I sat quietly watching her sleep, knowing she was fighting her demons. She was going to have to square with them in due time. I used common sense to know there was something wrong between Elizabeth and the Whelp. The question was what? Knowing Mr. Turner, I was sure that they had done nothing more than share a kiss. I am sure it was a passionate embrace but it really wasn't my place to query.

I sat down in the darkened corner of me cabin and closed my eyes. I meself fell asleep not realizing how dog-tired I was.

Elizabeth woke suddenly and sat up gasping. She looked about as the moonlight cast strange shadows across the room and she could see a silhouette in the corner. She had no idea where she was or what was going on about her.

The last memory she could recall was being on the British ship and it was under siege by pirates. Captain Thornway, captain of the Jamaican Queen, had ordered her to go below and hide. She remembered running down to the quarterdeck. She heard the shooting of guns and cannons. The sounds of running footsteps and the yelling of men. Then she remembered the pain. There was a vicious pirate standing in front of her. She remembered the pain of the bullet passing through her breast.

"My God" she spoke softly to herself. "Where am I…where is Kat? No, I need my precious Katheryn. I cannot go on without her. Where is my baby?"

Elizabeth slowly rose and creeping her way across the room she searched for some sort of weapon. She found a dagger on the desk and made her way to the figure asleep in the corner.

I was in the midst of a foggy dream. In me dream I could hear a dog barking. It seemed to be warning me of danger. I stirred and called out to Mandy. As I opened my eyes, I grabbed her wrist with my tanned hand. I made her drop the knife and she went to scream. I covered her mouth and in a soft deep voice I whispered.

"Don't scream. It's Jack, I ain't going to hurt you, savvy?"

"Jack? Jack! Is it really you?"

She melted into me arms and I carefully went and lowered her back on the bed. I sat on the bed beside her and she flinched away from me, and I received a disapproving look. I quickly moved but then to me surprise she summoned me back to sit next to her. She laid her head against me should and closed her eyes. I sat there while she breathed deep and slow. She shivered slightly and I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. She cuddled up against me and I could tell she was enjoying the feel of my warm, firm body. She felt safe.

"Miss Swann", I asked in a low husky whisper. "You must tell me why I found you on The Jamaican Queen. You must also enlighten me to why you and said, Mr. Turner are not with one another."

She slowly moved away from me. I gave a slight moan knowing Elizabeth and I had lost our intimate moment. I pulled her close again, but the same feeling of warmth that I had felt was gone.

"Jack" she said, "I don't think that would be such a good idea. I just want your company for a little while, till I fall asleep. I need sleep Jack. Please stay, please stay Jack."

"All right Luv, just till you fall asleep, but.."

The rest of me words did not present themselves. I was cut off when her soft lips pressed against mine. She moved closer to me and laid her head in me lap, while closing her dark brown eyes. I kissed her ever so softly on the back of her neck so as not to scare her. She shifted her body on me lap. Every nerve in my body was on fire. I meself was filled with desire for this woman. I knew I could not let this go any further.

When she was asleep I snuck out of the room to inform William of Elizabeth's condition. I turned and walked out of his cabin and almost shoving a crewmember aside declared,

"I'll take the wheel and bring me some rum, lots of rum."

AnaMaria kept watching me from the corner of her eye. She knew there was something terrible wrong.

Gibbs approached AnaMaria. "I've been afraid this might happen. The Captain has been through a lot and I fear he will get too drunk to steer the ship."

AnaMaria took the hint.

"Ello, Captain Jack Sparrow" she said in a soft whisperer into my ear. I jumped slightly. I hadn't seen her approach. I was so lost in thought. My feelings for Miss. Swan confused me. She was me best friends girl. I would rightly be doing an injustice to Mr. Turner if I were to take his fair lass. I was also consumed with the death of me beloved Mandy. It took me a moment to respond to AnaMaria.

Letting her right arm drape around my shoulder she slowly let her left hand travel down me chest. Then her right hand found her way through me hair and she was touching the various beads and trinkets I had in it.

"Aye Luv, perfect timing." I nuzzled the back of her neck. I was actually feeling rather good about this.

"Jack. Captain. I want you to get as drunk as you want, I want everything to go back to normal."

"Do I need ter get drunk to have you settling down beside me tonight? Ya see Miss Swann is in my bunk."

"Well you are far too drunk to stand to attention tonight." AnaMaria commented, as she leaned against me.

"I want to take you down below and ravish you, Captain. Do we have an accord?"

"We have an accord, that is an offer I can not pass up missy. I accept the consequences of your actions." I replied with a devilish smile.

"Gibbs's take over the helm. I have some pressing business I must attend to."

I smiled a toothy grin at Gibbs as I leaned on AnaMaria and followed her to her quarters.

When we arrived the room was dark. AnaMaria lit a single candle. Before I started to remove my clothing, I noticed there was something lying on the floor in the pale-silver light that came through the window. The light strangely illuminated one small section of the room.

Curled up on a rug and the moonlight was my precious Mandy. I felt a lump come to me throat as I said her name. I could not believe me eyes. I was glad the room was dark for I knew I had tears in me eyes. I looked at AnaMaria and then back at Mandy.

"Is she D E A D?…"

"No Jack, she is quit alive."

AnaMaria walked over to the dog, sat down next to her and stroked her head.

"You see Captain, there was a deep wound in her stomach. Gibbs removed the bullet and cleaned it as well as he could. She had given a good battle and we could not let her die. I know you felt you watched her die. She may be weak physically but she has a will of her own. Her business on this earth is not finished yet. Like I told you Jack, you will profit with her. She saved your life just as she saved mine. We feel she eventually will get better and her brightness will return.

I will leave the two of you alone now. I must attend to my duties. Please Jack get some rest and I will see you in the morning."

After AnaMaria left I got down on the floor and soaked the warmth and the smell of my sweet, gentle dog into my body. I could not believe my friend was still with me. I held her in me arms and rocked back and forth with her. I was gentle swaying with the Black Pearl and the swells of the sea. I looked into her eyes and repeated something I had told her the first day we met.

"Ya know, I asked ya if ya thought it was wise to be owned by a pirate. You certainly are worth your salt and gold and you lass will never be thrown from my ship."

I picked myself up off the hard floor and climbed onto the bed. I tossed and turned for a while and just could not relax. When I was about to give up, Mandy joined me on the bed. She put her elegant head and forepaws on me chest. Aye, we have arrived at a very special place.

We laid there together in silence, our hearts beating as one. She was holding me heart between her paws.

When you watch somebody you care for about to die something breaks inside ya. I knew there was more than friendship between Mandy and me. She did provide meaning and purpose to me life. She was certainly a fine treasure.

"Friend let this be the day Captain Jack Sparrow welcomes Amanda into his life."

Mandy whined softly as if agreeing. We both fell asleep and everything was savvy.

A/N: I know this is a long chapter but there was so much I had to get in. As you can see I could not kill the sweet dog. I mean Jack had just named her and she is a diamond in the rough. Please keep reading and send reviews.