Thanks much to my reviewers!
Chaucer: I'm happy it's not a Jack/Stephen too! And there will be more, even if I could just end it. LOL--thanks for you time.
ScifiRogue: So glad you like it! Hope you got my e-mail...
Thestral Dea: I promoise I will finish it!
Eldarwen999: If I told you my plans, then what would there be for you to read? LOL I'm not sure if this is what you're asking, but it will not be turning into slash.
Chapter Four: Squalls
The next wave of patients—those who hadn't sought my attentions immediately and decided they had better—kept me distracted for two days. I saw nothing of Jack, only heard his heavy step on deck. He sent Killick for updates in my department.
Repairs were extensive and each shift worked has hard and long as the last. But Jack worked them all—if not supervising, with a hammer in hand. The other officers, who chewed their evening meal in uncharacteristic quiet, therefore excused his absence at his own table for dinner. I of course did not and slipped away unnoticed to follow Killick.
Shadows consumed the deck, as the only brightness in the sky was far off along the horizon. The Surprise was sitting in the middle of an angry tempest, soon to burst. I watched from a threshold as Killick scanned the quarterdeck for the Captain and approached. More eavesdropping...
"Which dinner has been served, sir."
"Thank you, Killick. But this storm will not wait for me to eat. We must be ready."
"Captain, you have not eaten since breakfast." Killick said more quietly, quickly.
"I'll take supper in my cabin at two bells." Jack sprang up the ropes; I darted below to intercept Killick as he passed.
"May I have a word, Killick?" The steward look surprised at this strange request but mumbled his consent. Alone in Jack's cabin, I noted the full tray from this morning. Still staring at it, I began:
"Killick, has the Captain...had a lack of appetite in the past few days?"
"He will eat when he is hungry enough, I imagine." I sighed.
"Something is not right and I think you know what it is. Now, as his steward you are not inclined to tell me of your personal conversations, but as his physician, anything you could tell me would be most obliging."
"The Captain was scratched up from battle, Doctor, but he's recovered by now. It's as you say, sir. Nothing that isn't personal needs reportin' to you." Killick left me before I could reproach him. His answers were unsurprising; he could not let it appear as though he couldn't take care of his captain.
Two bells came and went, then three. By the time the first watch was over, I watched the last of the steam escape Jack's dinner, left on his desk. Rain dropped on the panes of the windows, reminding me of the storm that was sure to punish us for a few hours at least.
"Mr. Allen," I heard him call in the fluctuating winds, "We must tie down the fore topsail—do not wait longer."
"So you're not coming in," I accused, to no one. "I'll come to you."
The decks were chaotic. Officers were divided into groups for repairs or preparation for the storm. Bonden was changing our course every few minutes. Jack was far aloft, tying down sails like an able seaman. Mowett hoarsely yelled up at him:
"Sir, should we be clearing the decks—due to the swells?" Even with the great height, Jack's soaked, loose hair could be seen shaking his denial.
"Keep on with your repairs, Mr. Mowett, until the first big one arrives." Mowett saluted. Madness, I thought to myself. If I could see Jack's hair well enough, I could also see him working with only one arm, the other motionless at his side. Flashback to his cabin: I hadn't surprised him when I had touched his shoulder. I had caused pain.
I returned below, naturally unable to get Jack's attention. It was obvious when the swells had begun sweeping the deck, for the first round of wounded had been knocked off their feet. One of them was Barrett Bonden—a most unusual visitor to my berth.
"Bonden—who's at the helm?" I joked with him, examining his left arm, which ailed him. The coxswain grinned.
"The Captain, sir. Steering his ship far better than me." My face sank, even to hear my oldest friend praised so by his crew. He would be out there forever, now. I cleared my throat.
"Well, Bonden. That's a clean break you have there. You'll have to rest it for about a week, I should think." The good coxswain smiled again and sighed. If only all my patients were so accepting of my treatment...