Author Notes -

Okay, I know that you all are ready to murder me but seriously I have really good reason for the delay.

Here it is and I swear this is the truth -

I had to have emergency dental surgery on Thursday of last week to remove my wisdom teeth because one of them got an infection underneath of it when it broke the skin and went back down. So, I've been on really really strong anti-biotics since a two weeks on Monday trying to fight the infection inside my mouth. Then, it gets better, the surgeon prescribed too strong of a pain-killer for my weight and I had an allergic reaction to Hydrocodone Friday afternoon (when I was home alone, no less). So, we call and I get put on a lesser narcotic and all is well and good in my world ... yeah right. Sunday, I was rinsing my mouth with salt water the way the surgeon said and all the sudden, all hell breaks out in my mouth and I end up crying as I spit out the stuff. So, my mom looks in my mouth and low and behold, there are some extra holes in my mouth ... holes aren't good. My mom called the surgeon who was on call and he said that he'd see me before school on Monday. I have dry sockets. Lucky, lucky me. Aside from all the dental stuff, I had a heck of a lot of work to make up from missing two days of school.

Well, enough about me. Thanks are at the end this time. On with the chapter!!

-A-

Last Time -

Jack cracked Rion swiftly across the mouth. "Watch your tongue or you won't be using it ever again," he hissed, fire blazing in his eyes. "Christy .... I think that you should leave now, love."

I nodded and left silently, feeling the heat of Rion's stare upon my back the entire way.

-A-

Beyond the Horizon

Chapter 13 - The Queen's Long Lost Daughter?

After I had left the cabin, I decided to get that cup of tea that I had been craving for the past two days ... I still felt miserable but somehow gratified. I HAD afterall, just helped to stop a mutiny or at the very least I had saved my own skin from a potential harm.

I didn't linger in the galley, however. I still felt nervous about everything ... especially the crew. This all together struck me as odd, I was typically quite comfortable with the crew, not to an excessive amount but enough to rely on them in case of a problem. Then I reminded myself that this was not the same crew nor should I trust them. The only people on the ship that I could trust completely were Jack, of course, Colin and Gibbs.

Once I had gotten the water boiled and my tea made, I decided that it was probably safe to return to the cabin ... after all, Jack and Colin had more than likely persuaded Rion to tell them all that they needed to know and then taken him down to the brig.

I always counted myself lucky for not spending time in the brig when I first came to the Pearl and that was because there was a permanent leak that Jack could never patch and there was absolutely no privacy - not that that would matter to a man, of course.

As I walked down the hall slowly, trying not to spill my tea all over the place, I actually planned what I was going to do for the remainder of the afternoon. It sounds odd, I know, but all I really wanted was to change into regular clothes, undo my hair, drink my tea and crawl into bed to sleep.

For me, fate is a fickle friend and it just so happened that the time I chose to walk back to the cabin was the time that Jack and Colin chose to take Rion to the brig.

I moved over to the side, making room so that the three could pass ... Colin had one arm of Rion's and Jack had the other ... so that they looked like a three headed person.

Gathering my pride, I gazed evenly into Rion's eyes as he approached with the entourage and I saw pure fire glaring back at me.

"See you in Hell, seniorita," he muttered in rapid Spanish.

"That's where you're wrong, Rion. You'll have to keep yourself company down there," I retorted. As I spoke, I took in the full of his face. His eye was rapidly swelling and his lip was bleeding. I knew that Jack wouldn't have used force unless it was absolutely necessary and I felt no pity for the man .... I only wish that I could have had a hand in the blackened eye.

"Whoring yourself out will only get you two places, the captain's bed and Satan's doorway."

"I am quite comfortable with my bed. I know who sleeps in it and that person is not you."

"That may -"

"Enough. Move!" Jack ordered gruffly, jerking him roughly. "Get some sleep, darling," he said softer to me.

Nodding, I smiled at him and Colin, threw one last glare at Rion and continued back to the cabin.

-A-

The remainder of the afternoon went as planned. I slept and slept and slept some more. Deep down, I was hoping that I could sleep this illness off but so far, I was unsuccessful. But also, deep down, I knew what was the illness was but I was too scared to admit it. I had seen several grown men suffer and some die from the disease and I wasn't about to admit that I might be risking death myself. For having a large amount of time spent on curing the illness, the fact that I could be getting it terrified me ... I could not afford to be sick.

I drifted on and off through dreamless sleep, awaking at random times, when sometimes the cabin was empty and others when Jack was busy with work of his own.

It had to be early evening when I woke and stayed up. I glanced out the window and saw that the sun was beginning to go down, the very top of the sky was faintly tinged in red.

I pushed myself into a sitting position and watched Jack. He most likely knew that I was awake but I liked just watching him. He was not like anyone else. The way that he moved had always intrigued me and always would and the amount of gesticulation he allotted almost every word fascinated me. There was so much more to the man than anyone gave him credit for and that was why I loved him.

"Best pirate I've ever seen," I murmured.

Jack looked up at me. "What?"

"Best pirate I've ever seen," I repeated, smiling slightly.

"Aye. I am," Jack replied, knowing that I was stroking his ego just a bit.

I smirked. "How do you know I was talking about you, Captain Sparrow? I could have been talking about Will."

Jack grinned devilishly. "Oh yes, young Mr. Turner is a far better pirate than the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow on any day."

"But of course," I led. I may not have been feeling well but it was fun to lead him on. Although this time, I wasn't entirely sure who was doing the leading ... that was the problem with the man's logic. Sometimes you knew exactly who was in charge of the situation, who had the upper hand so to speak and then he would turn the tables on everything. "And better in the sack, as well."

He snorted slightly. "That's one that I would have to get a second opinion on ... for I have never romped with young William."

Smirking, I said, "Oh, you must try it sometime, Captain. 'Tis simply divine."

Jack coughed deliberately. "Aye, I'll keep that in mind. Put it on my to do list, shall I, love? Right after conquering the world and making the queen of bloody England think that I'm her long lost daughter which she didn't know that she had."

"Well, you could pass for a royal, you know ... just make your voice a bit higher and there we go, Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt," I said, struggling to restrain my laughter.

"Oh, shall I get you some tea, darling? You look wonderfully smashing, Your Majesty. Can I help you take a go in the privy? Is there anything that I can help you with? Help you get that foot out of your arse?" Jack asked in a high voice as he swaggered over to me.

"Oh but of course. Let me go get the army of maids and we'll have ourselves a de-footing party. Should be positively wonderful, don't you agree, Jacklyn?" I managed to say before bursting into side-splitting laughter.

Jack was at the bed now and he cupped my face gently in his hands. "Oh, absolutely smashing. But we have a slight problem when you start talking as if I were a woman ... can't go stripping Jack of his favourite body part and get away with it, love."

I nodded, looking as serious as I could manage. "I'll keep that in mind, Jack."

Jack stroked his beard slowly, gazing at me. "You know ... you looked quite nice in that get-up earlier. Maybe when you feel better..."

Thinking how much he thought ahead, I smiled. "We'll think about it. I felt like quite the harlot, I'll tell you that."

"Ey, love, there's nothing wrong with a good harlot," Jack cried as if he had been personally wronged. "Specially when someone as charming as you is dressed up like one."

"Nice try ... how about you give it another go when I feel better, okay?"

"How are you feeling? Any better?"

I shrugged and turned my attention elsewhere.

Jack caught my attempt of diversion and moved one hand from my face down to my hand where he played with the soft skin at the underside of my wrist ... one of my tickle zone ... until I had looked back at him. "How are you feeling?" he persisted.

Chewing on my lip, I contemplated telling him the truth or not but then I realised that after all that we had been through, he already knew, more than likely. "No ... not exactly. I'll be fine, though. Its nothing majour, just a chill, more than likely."

He frowned and I knew that we both knew what had I more than likely had caught. "I'm sorry, Christy. For bringing you back to this," he said gently, running a hand down my face gently.

I looked over at him and smiled. "Jack, don't apologize. You didn't make this choice for me. I did. You asked me to come but I would have come if you had only told me that the men were sick. Besides, do you think I'd miss this? Think of all the different roles I've gotten to play. I've been the captain's lover, still am that, though, I've been a doctor, a wonderful actress, if I do say so myself and I've been here. This may not have been perfect but life never is. I'm still speaking to you, aren't I? You have nothing to apologize for."

Jack shook his head. "If I hadn't asked you to or hadn't told you that people were sick ... then you wouldn't be risking this. You're sick, love. You, of all people, should know it."

I responded with a similar shake of my head. "Do you think that I couldn't tell that something was wrong the moment that I saw you? Believe it or not, I can tell some things like that. I have some shread of sense in my mind."

He smirked at me slightly, no doubt unsurprised by my stubbornness ... but he should know better by now. "Well, whether or not you admit that you need it, you should probably stay a-bed for a few days."

I frowned deeply. I truly hated being bed-ridden. I hated it when I got knocked out, I hated it after I had given birth and I truly hated it now. "But -"

"Don't wanna hear it, young miss. You're to stay a-bed until Colin or myself give you permission to move," Jack said in his formal captain voice.

I scowled angrily at him ... even though I knew it was for the best. "But-"

Jack laid a finger on my lips and said, "Not another word, love. Trust me on this one. Besides, have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Didn't think so. So, now that that's settled, I have duties to attend to. I'll be back later, love."

"What am I supposed to do while you're gone?" I protested.

"Have you ever heard the phrase 'keep the bed warm?' Or even better 'bed rest?' Try one of those on for size," he said sauvely as he got off the bed, kissed me quickly and strode away, whistling.

"Jack Sparrow! You're seriously impossible!" I cried out after him but my outburst only earned me an impish smile and a tip of the hat before he left.

I listened for a while, hearing him bellow orders to the crew as he walked. 'Yes, that was,' I knew without seeing, 'That was Jack in his element.' Deciding that MAYBE he had a point and bed-rest might do me some good, I grudgingly sunk back into the pillows and slowly I drifted off.

-A-

Author Thanks -

RMB - LOL. I love reading your reviews. I think its great that you find some much to make commentary on . As for the too many places comment in reference to the galley, there are a lot of places that one could hide but in the same respect, too many obstacles. The necklace was given to Christy shortly after Jack saved her ... I made a slight discrepency on the exact timing ... but it did happen after Madagascar. As for Colin ... read the description that I'm putting with my note. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you ever feel like filming the scene, just make sure I get a copy, other than that, no problem. Thanks again!

CaptainTish - Thanks! And as for school, trust me, I've been focusing on making up for lost time. Finals are the bane of every student's existance. Hope you liked the chapter!

TriGemini - Thanks! Quite tense ... gotta love tension! All I can say is that you are close ... but I can't give out any more secrets. Hope you liked the chapter!

The lady of the shadows - Thanks! I appreciate the complements and its always great to get a new reader. Hope you liked the chapter!

Moulin-Rouge-Pirate - Thanks! Hope you liked the chapter!

jisAtsU siLENcE - Thanks! I can't tell you, mate. Even though I might like to ... Hope you liked the chapter!

jinxd n cursed - Thanks as always mate! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

-A-

Author Notes -

Okay, well, I realised that I never truly gave Colin a full description in What's in a Name. So, here we go.

Colin - Slightly older than Christina (so late 20's), Scottish, light brown hair, blue eyes, slightly taller than Jack, thin but muscley, heavy accent

Soooo ... I hope that does him justice. Anywho, next chapter should be posted around next Thursday ... an early present for people.

Well, I must be off now.

Mange Klemmar

CrazyCanoeingGIT