Chapter 1

Amelia looked at Jim as he was going down to meet his mother, Sarah. She sighed and turned around and found herself standing face to face with Doctor Delbert Doppler.

"Hello, Captain," he said. "If you will allow me, I will help you get to a doctor," he said, watching Amelia holding her side, every now and again grimacing. She thought about it, and nodded her head, thought a bit reluctantly. Doppler nodded in satisfaction, and lifted her into his arms and walked down off of the ship.

A while later, at the nearby doctor's office, the physician could only shake his head in wonder. "How may I ask, did you manage," the doctor informed her, a bit shortly, "to have three broken ribs?" The doctor frowned down at Amelia, who frowned back.

The doctor then sighed, and looked over at Doctor Doppler, saying, "The Captain will have to take it easy for a while. I'd say about six months restrictions. But, never fear, she will recover just fine."

"Excuse me, but did you say six months?" Amelia exploded angry.

"Yes, Captain. That's exactly what I said," the doc replied sternly. "Six months of rest and relaxation. And that means no adventures, no trips, no running about, and most importantly… no yelling. Am I clear, Captain?" Amelia glared at him, but finally nodded, fuming.

Delbert took Amelia to his home outside the town of Benbow. "I have a room upstairs that I hardly ever use," he informed her kindly. "You may use that, if you like, Captain."

She did not answer immediately. She looked around everywhere. The parts of the house that look used were cluttered and untidy. "Really, Doctor…I would expect a fellow of your reputation to keep a bit tidier household. Do you think I might impose upon you for a broom, and a dustrag?" she asked, arching an eyebrow his way.

"Sorry, Captain, but I'm afraid not. No cleaning the house---however much it might need it. I'll not have you risk injuring yourself doing me a favor," he told her. "Now…let me show you your room, and I'll let you settle in."

Amelia frowned, but followed him up the stairs to what would be her room. When she saw it, she whistled softly. The room was big and had a wonderful design.

"Sleep well, Captain," Doppler said and closed the door gently. Amelia acquainted herself with her new surroundings. She then took of her uniform and unpacked a blue silk nightdress from her bag, and suddenly felt exhausted. She gladly pulled back the covers,and went for the bed. She sighed of pure happiness when she laid down. Nobody had ever done something like this for her before, and in fact, she found she actually liked it.

That night, she dreamt about pirates and in her dreams she saw Mr. Arrow fighting against a pirate. The pirate shot him and she knew he had died. "NO!" she yelled in her dream. "Not Arrow! Please not him!" she thought. Then she woke up suddenly, to find Delbert kneeling next to her, trying to wake her up.

"Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing to worry about, Doctor. I just had a bad dream," she said and sat up in the bed.

"Here, perhaps this will make you feel better," the doctor said and placed a tray on her bed.

"Breakfast in bed? Why, I never had that before. How thoughtful of you, Doctor," she said, rather pleased.

Doppler frowned. "Not even at home, with your parents?" he asked.

"Doctor, my parents…they were killed by pirates when I was only fifteen," Amelia said quickly, hiding her pain. "It was none too long after that, I joined the Academy, and eventually became a Captain. I was so angry over my father and mother's deaths, that I dispatched nearly fifty of the scum, in under twenty minutes."

Delbert gasped, clearly astonished, then whistled softly.

"That was the same thing nearly every sailor did when they heard a mere fifteen year old girl had accomplished more than any of them had done, "Amelia laughed.

Amelia began to eat. When she had finished, the doctor asked, "Is there anything you like to do in your spare time? A hobby or something?"

"I have always liked to draw," she said. "Though I hardly have any time for it anymore…what with being a Captain and all."

The Doc began to think, then grinned. "When you're ready, Captain, I'll leave to let you dress. I'll be back later with some work for you," he said.

Amelia got to her feet, and put on some clothes from her bag. After a while, the doctor returned with a set of drawing pencils and an easel.

"You look rather nice, Captain. I can't say I've ever seen you in anything other than your Captain's uniform, you know," he said.

"Well, yes. But one can't go about in a Captain's uniform while ashore, Doctor," Amelia said.

"Why should that matter?" Delbert said, shaking his head, smiling. "Oh, here's something for you to do. Feel free to draw as much as you like."

Amelia smiled, and took up the pencils in her hand. "Very well. Thank you, Doctor," she said, and she began to draw. She drew many pictures of things she remembered from the trip to Treasure Planet.

"Oh, I say…you're rather good, Captain. Can you draw something from another's perspective?" he asked.

"I suppose. Let me give it a try," she replied. She then looked at him and began to draw a picture of the Doctor carrying her after her accident to B.E.N.´s house.

"Why, that's wonderful! A rather good likeness, I'd say," he said watching.

"Thank you, Doctor," she observed.