As I promised . . .
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A FEW LIES, PAIN AND A DECISION
Elizabeth, Will and Johnny entered the Swann mansion just as Norrington was being shown into the governor's study.
"Caitlyn's here?" the governor cried as Elizabeth sprinted in.
"We can't find her- Mrs. Turner," Norrington greeted her.
"Father," Liz ignore the commodore. "Caitlyn was here. Jack picked her up on the Pearl after her ship sank. But he took her back out to sea."
"He what?" the commodore and the governor demanded at the same time.
"One of Norrington's men attacked Sunni and Elizabeth and accused Sunni of helping Jack Sparrow of escaping," Will explained.
"Why would Jack Sparrow escape when he has permission to be here?"
"Because through some twist of events," Elizabeth continued, "he was accused of raping Sunni."
"He what?" the governor demanded again.
"The doctor that we had Sunni checked at told some soldiers that she was pregnant and one thing led to another."
"Wait just a minute, none of this is making any sense. Why did Mr. Sparrow take Caitlyn for the second time?"
"The man who attacked her injured her. He was afraid that the rest of the soldiers would believe what the one did, and injure her as well. He was trying to save her."
Norrington snorted. "That's preposterous."
"Where did the rumor of Sunni being with child originate?" the governor asked.
Will and Elizabeth simply looked at each other.
As soon as land was drifting out of sight, Jack hurried back to the cabin, where numerous of his crewmen were gathered around. Sunni was on the bed, breathing in and out in deep breaths to control the pain. Her forehead glistened in sweat.
"What has been given to her for the pain?" Jack asked Anamaria, who was standing near the door when he entered.
"She won't take any alcohol. Says she don't wanna hurt her child."
Jack nodded and finally ordered, "Out, ye scallywags! Back to work." He hoped his voice came out as steady as he tried to force it. "Gibbs, did ye clean the wound?"
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs nodded, standing up from beside the bed. "I believe th' bleedin' has stopped as well. There's not too much damage."
Jack nodded. "All right, then. Go get me some more hot rags. And some juice."
And like that, they were alone in their quarters together. Jack didn't say anything, he simply lifted the bandage on Sunni's shoulder to examine her wound. When he was finished inspecting that, he lifted her arm to see how her forearm was faring. The sleeve was in the way, so he simply ripped the fabric off, and then used that to tie a bandage around the wound.
"Fer Christ's sake, Jack," Sunni mumbled. "Say somethin'."
That shred Jack's last ounce of control. He took a deep, trembling breath and then looked into her eyes. He shook his head, and took a hold of her hand and kissed it. "God, luv, I was so scared."
Sunni shook her head. "Hey. It's just a cut. I'll be fine."
"Doll, are you in any pain?"
"I think I'm going numb. I've been sliced with a knife before, Jack. I'm gonna be all right."
Jack stood and picked up a cold cloth. "Where did those fencin' skills come from?" He pressed the cloth to her swollen cheek.
"Long practiced skill," she winced.
"Obviously."
"I'm gonna be fine," she assured him, catching his hand in hers.
"But ye were much too close to not being fine," he breathed.
"Ye saved me," Sunni said, the tears finally falling. "I about. . . that soldier about. . ."
"I ain't lettin' nothin' happen to you," Jack pressed his forehead to hers. "I will protect you with my life. After all, I'm-"
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Sunni said, imitating his cocky tone, smiling up at his deep brown eyes.
Gibbs knocked on the door before entering with the provisions. "Ye need assistance, Cap'n?"
"Nah. Tell Anamaria to set course for Tortuga. We'll see a doctor there."
"Ye wanna see another doctor?" Sunni asked.
"I want to make sure that nice little romp didn't hurt our son."
"You've decided it's a boy, then?" Sunni laughed, despite the pain, catching Jack's hand. "An' what if it's a girl?"
Jack hovered over her, a hand running up and down Sunni's side. "As long as she's as beautiful as you," he smiled suggestively down at her.
Sunni laughed again, ignoring the burn in her cheek. "You have an insatiable lust, Jack."
"You're my wife, luv," he leaned down and kissed her deeply and gently for a long time.
"Are you satisfied that I'm not goin' ta die on ye?" she asked when they parted.
Jack paused and nodded. "You'll have ta stay in that bed for a while. I want ye at full strength before ye get on your feet.
"No arguments," Sunni yawned as Jack pulled a bottle of rum from his desk. He dumped a little on a clean cloth and pressed it to his wife's cheek to clean her cuts.
"That bastard had some nasty rings," he murmured.
"I think you and Will delivered his justice," she countered.
"Nah, I wanted ta spit on his dead body."
"Once a pirate. . ." she closed her eyes with a smile.
Jack slid into bed next to Sunni on her good side. "We didn't get near enough sleep last night. Let's take a nap an' forget about this whole day."
"So does all of this mean I can stay on the Pearl with you?"
Jack sighed. "No. All of this means that I'm never letting you leave my sight again."
Sunni rolled onto her good side and faced Jack. She smiled. "I would love that."
Jack put an arm around her and rubbed the small of her back, a spot, he had found, relaxed her like none other. It made her eventually forget the pain and drift asleep.
The doctor at Tortuga was a young man who was starkly out of place in the drunken port town. He was clear-eyed, and didn't stumble around, wore respectable clothes, and appeared to be knowledgeable.
"If ye don't mind me asking, mate," Sunni said as he listened to her heart. "What in th' 'ell are ye doin' in a town like this?"
The man smiled and felt her stomach. "Fell in love with a barmaid at a local hotel," he answered. "Besides, this town was in need of a good doctor. I do get the most interesting injuries, though. If ye don't mind me asking, what in the hell are ye doing on a ship like that?" he nodded to the Pearl outside the window.
"Fell in love with a pirate," she answered.
"An' I guess that's where this little one comes in," the man laid her down and listened to her stomach with a cold stethoscope. "And I'm guessing also, that you're going to be living on the seas for the next six months."
"Will that be a problem?" Sunni asked fearfully.
"Nah," he shook his head. "Might make your morning sickness worse, an' you'll have ta be careful that you eat right, but ye should be fine. I would recommend, however, that you come ashore for the last month of your pregnancy so that a doctor can be around to watch over you. I wouldn't typically even order that, but your small frame does leave room for some complications." The doctor moved to the door. "I'm going to go get Jack."
Sunni sighed with relief. She could stay with Jack. Just the night before, Jack had changed her bandages and given her a back massage. He was catering to her every need. She loved the way feeling close to him made her feel. She knew she would never be able to stay on land away from him.
"Your wife is going to be fine," the young doctor told Jack as they re-entered the room. "She's very healthy and the baby has a strong heartbeat. It seems to be growing at a normal rate-"
"It? You don't know the sex?" Jack asked disappointed.
"You need to find a tarot card reader to find that one out," the doctor laughed. "But I think Sunni will be perfectly fine to stay on the Pearl with you and the crew. Just as long, of course, that you keep her safe."
Jack gave him a Look.
"Well, I know the reputation of the Pearl," the man shrugged. "She can go about her routine, doing her chores until they get too strenuous. She should be eating right and staying fairly active. I told her it would be best for her to come ashore during the last few weeks, but only as a precaution."
"Won't be a problem," Jack nodded. "Th' men get a month off per year."
"Normally, I would say it would be fine for her to give birth at sea, but her small size bothers me a little. Oh, and just in case, do you have someone on board who can deliver a baby?"
"Aye," Sunni answered. "Mr. Gibbs can."
"Luv, he's good with stitches and bandages, but I don't know about deliverin' a-"
"He delivered Elizabeth. He was a doctor on the ship when my parents were coming to Port Royal for the first time."
"He what?" Jack asked, flabbergasted.
"Wonderful," the doctor continued. "I cleaned her wounds. The one on her shoulder is definitely troubling, but it looks like it's healing. I don't want her moving it a whole lot until it's completely healed. The cuts on her arms and cheeks will be fine in a few days, and that'll be ten shillings."
Jack grumbled as he pulled the gold pieces from his pocket and handed them over to the man.
"Doc," Sunni asked, jumping down from the examining table, "will you please tell Jack that I ain't made of glass and I'm not going to break if I steer the ship once in a while or pick up a sword?"
"You just need to use common sense," the doctor shrugged. "Her normal activities should be safe enough until she swells as big as a watermelon. Then, she may have trouble getting around, and there might be a few complications."
"Like what?" Jack demanded.
"Her legs may become too weak to carry her, or she may be just fine. It's hard to predict."
"I will be fine," Sunni threw her arm around Jack's waist. "C'mon, pirate. Ye have a new crew member."
