The Crystal Ship

Jack scooped Tori up in his arms and rushed for the captain's quarters. Will held the door open and ripped the blankets off the bed for Jack to lay her down. Will turned to the crew watching anxiously from the doorway. "I need boiling water, clean cloths and alcohol. Will ordered . The crew stood frozen, staring blankly at the lad. "Booze? Whiskey? Rum?... Now!" He cried, snapping the crew to attention. They ran into each other as they hurried to obey. Jack slit Tori's bloody shirt to reveal the wound. Jack touched the skin gently and she flinched. He and Will exchanged looks of fear mixed with dying hope. Gibbs, Nick and Aaron raced back into the cabin carrying the pot of hot water, a basket of freshly laundered sheets and a bottle of whiskey.

"Good thinking lad." Jack complimented, seizing the whiskey bottle and proceeding to down the contents. Will snatched the bottle away furiously. "Not for you, for her." He admonished angrily. He wiped the mouth of the bottle on his shirttail and poured the fiery liquid on a clean rag, applying the disinfectant to Tori's side. Her face contorted as she tried not to show her pain. Will tore a sheet in long strips, Jack lifted the barely conscious girl by her arms and Will wrapped the strips around her waist to stop the blood flow. The musket ball was lodged deeply in her side, and the wound was immediately covered with blood again.

"That has to come out, and I don't think I can do it." Will confessed quietly aside to Jack.

Jack nodded, and looked Will directly in the eye, "There's a little place I know coming up, or we can wait 'till Port Royal. Your call."

Will glanced over at the ashen faced lass and stared without seeing. "I think," He replied finally, very quietly, "We had better save who we can first. Lead the way Jack."
Jack rested his grimy hand on Will's shoulder, and looked at his torn face. Without a word, he left, and indicated for the remaining crew to follow.

Will pulled up a stool next to Tori's bed.

"I don't even know if Elizabeth is still alive." He justified to himself… But this delay may cost Elizabeth her life. If only he had rescued her from Barbossa sooner, if he had saved her in the first place, if he had never even met her….

He rested his head in his hand with his eyes closed. Then he opened them and looked through his fingers. Tori 's hand rested on his arm. "Go to Port Royal." She said. "I'm alright, just a little scrape." She smiled valiantly.

Will drew back her shirt and looked at the bloody bandage.

"She loves you Will. She chose you. Go to her."

Will looked down at Tori slipping in and out of consciousness. He bent over and gently kissed her. "Thank you." He said quietly. Jack noiselessly crept into the room and stood behind the meditative lad.

"Has she said anything then?"

"No," Will lied quickly.

"Are we…"

"Stopping off before Port Royal."

Jack nodded.

"Right. On deck." Jack put his arm on Will's shoulder and with a last glance, they went above.