Chapter 16 – A Sudden Stop

It had been over a full day now since Romi was shot, and still she did not awaken. Jack didn't sleep for fear that something may happen to her. He hadn't even seen Celeste, who was being taken care of by Angela. Will had come by to see Jack and told him that Celeste was worried about her mommy and that she wanted to see her. Jack told him that he didn't want Celeste to see her this way.

They were now about eleven days from reaching Fantasma. Jack decided that he would have Diego and the traitorous crew, walk the plank within the next two days. He just didn't have the strength to get it done right now, and besides he didn't want to leave Romi.

Jack placed his hand on her stomach and hoped that the baby was alright. He lay down and put a protective arm over her and without realizing it, fell asleep. When he awoke he saw it was now night time. He glanced at Romi and she was staring up at the ceiling. Jack felt a knot at his throat when he saw that she wasn't blinking. "Romi?"

She turned her head slowly to look at him and he sighed a breath of relief. He was overcome with joy and began kissing her face all over, but stopped when she made a groaning sound. "Sorry luv, forgot that ye're hurt."

"What happened?" Her mind suddenly raced back to what happened, remembering that Diego had turned the gun on her. She placed her hand on her stomach and closed her eyes. She was praying that her baby was fine.

"Diego is locked up in the cell below, tomorrow he's walkin' the plank, so ye don't need to be worryin' 'bout that scum any longer."

"How long have I been unconscious?" She asked, she still had her eyes closed.

"Almost 2 days. And Will is the one that bandaged ye'r arm."

Romi opened her eyes and looked down to her wound, it hurt tremendously but her arm itself felt numb. She did manage to wiggle her fingers though and was relieved that her arm wasn't paralyzed.

"Where's Celeste?"

"She's wit' Angela."

Romi nodded her head. "Ye hungry luv?" She nodded her head yet again. "I'll get Sal to bring ye something." He stood up and went to open the door, looked around and grabbed the first person he saw. "Mr. Smith, have Sal bring two plates of food to me room."

"Aye Captain." He rushed to the kitchen to relay the order.

Jack saw Will standing at the helm and called him over. "Will! Romi's awake!" Will looked over at Jack with a huge smile. "Anamaria! Come take the helm please!" As soon as she appeared, Will ran over to Jack's room and walked in. "Romi, I'm so happy that you're going to be alright."

"Thank you Will, Jack told me that you're the one that bandaged me up."

"Aye, that was me, course I know if I had been in you're situation, you would have done the same for me."

Angela suddenly burst through the door. "I thought I heard Jack say that you were awake."

Romi smiled upon seeing her friend. "Thanks for coming Angie."

"Of course. Celeste is dying to see you."

"Yes please bring her in later."

"Well she's asleep now, it's well past 11:00."

Romi looked out the window and gave a frown. "Oh."

Angela smiled, "I will be sure to bring her in first thing in the morning."

"Thanks Angie."

Sal appeared with 2 heaping plates of food and set them down on the table in the room. He looked over at Romi. "Glad ta see ye're goin' ta be fine Mrs. Sparrow."

"Thank you Sal. And thank you for dinner, it smells wonderful."

Sal nodded and left the room.

Will grabbed Angela by the hand. "Well we'll be heading back now and let you two eat. If there's anything you need just let us know."

Jack placed a hand on his friend's shoulder in gratitude before they left the room. Once Will and Angela left the room, Jack returned to the bed with one of the plates of food and tenderly began to feed Romi.

"Jack I have another hand free, you don't have to feed me like a child."

Jack smiled and shook his head. "Really woman, even when ye've been seriously injured ye still cannot let me help. Now ye're gonna sit there and enjoy the fact that I'm tryin' to take care of ye."

Romi cocked an eyebrow at him but decided to just let it go and let him take care of her, even though she hated feeling helpless.

After Jack finished feeding her, he began to eat his own food. After maybe two bites the Black Pearl began to shudder and suddenly it struck something hard. Jack was thrown onto the floor and his food went with him. "What the blazes is going on?!" The Pearl was not moving. Romi looked at him with a questioning look. He opened the door just in time to hear Will call out. "Land ho!"

The crew was running about frantically and Jack made his way to the side of the ship and saw that they indeed hit land. Will came up beside him. "Jack, it came out of nowhere, noone saw it coming."

Jack looked back at the island. There was a good amount of fog running through the land. He turned quickly. "Come with me Will to the quarters."

"Aye." Will was right behind Jack.

When they got to the quarters they searched the map and according to their coordinates, were not supposed to be anywhere near land.

"Jack, could it be this island is Fantasma? I know these are not the correct coordinates, but truly we don't really know where it is to begin with since it doesn't even appear on the map."

Jack looked up at Will with a furrowed brow. "We won't know till mornin' anyway Will. Won't do us any good to go out in that fog."

"I agree."

"Right then. Keep lookouts all over the ship till mornin' and when day breaks we'll search this island."

"Aye Jack. What about Diego and the others?"

Jack forgot about them with all the commotion going on. "We'll have to take care of them in the mornin' as well. We won't be able to have them walk them the plank but when we disembark the Pearl, they'll come with us. Have the crew get their pistols ready."

Will understood what they were to do with Diego and the mutinous crew. "Aye Jack."

Both men left the quarters. Will to carry out his captain's orders and Jack to see that the Pearl was in order.

Meanwhile in the cell below deck, Diego had picked the lock with a small knife he had hidden in his boot. The guard that was watching had left when they hit the island to see what was going on. They left the cell and were on their way up the stairs when they heard footsteps. They ran back down and hid behind the wall at then bottom of the stairs. It was the guard returning to his post and as soon as he reached the bottom, Diego jumped out and slit his throat with the knife.

He picked up the pistol that belonged to the guard and removed his sword. He gave the sword to one of the men and with the pistol in his hand they began to ascend the stairs once again.

Once they reached the top Diego looked about to see if anyone was nearby. Once he saw the coast was clear he came out onto the deck with his men right behind him. He heard someone approaching and they quickly hid. He saw who was coming and it was Angela. He jumped out and placed his arm around her neck and placed the pistol at her temple, but not before she had let out a scream. The deck was suddenly filled with pirates, Jack among them and his eyes widened at seeing Diego free, Will then ran out and saw was what going on, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Angie!"

SO MUCH GOING ON!!! WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WHEN I SEE SOME MORE REVIEWS!!! ;-)