Disclaimer: I don't own POTC.
Chapter 32: That Man Sincerely Loves You
She pulled back, astonished to hear a woman's voice calling her so urgently. "Ana?" she asked, still holding Jack but turning her head.
Ana Maria was standing right next to them. Jack looked a bit more than peeved about the interruption, but Ana Maria made no attempt to apologize. "Camille, it's your father. We've already called the doctor, but I don't think he's going to make it till morning."
Camille released Jack, and he did the same, letting the anger drain from his face. He knew how important this was for her. He was about to ask her whether he should stay or not, but she looked at him. "This is something I've got to do alone. I'll send for you as soon as I can, I promise," she said before scurrying out of the inn behind Ana Maria.
"What's wrong with him, I thought for sure he was recovering!" Camille demanded as the two women climbed into the coach that Ana Maria had taken.
"It seemed like he was. But just a few hours ago he began coughing and vomiting up blood again, and a lot of it. Annie and I sat up with him, and we called on the doctor but he can't possibly make it into the Port before morning," Ana Maria explained.
"And he's really doing that badly?" Camille said, still not realizing the situation.
Ana nodded. "He's lost so much blood, but we're still praying for him. The children and Will haven't woken up yet, and we thought it would be best if he spent the rest of the night with you."
Camille nodded. It seemed like hours until the coach pulled up to her front gate. She got out, almost tripping down the steps. She hurried up the path and into her house, up the steps and into her father's room, slowing down so as not to startle him.
She knocked gently on the doorframe. Annie was sitting up by the bed, and she got up, her arms open wide. "Oh, child," she said softly, embracing Camille.
"How's he doing, Annie?" she asked, looking down at her father. His eyes were closed and he looked very peaceful, but she could see the large shadows under his eyes as well.
Annie just shook her head. "He's gone from bad to worse. I've tried hot water bottle after hot water bottle, but nothin' is relievin' the pressure he feels in his chest," she said, wiping away a tear.
"You've done your best, Annie. Please, you and Ana Maria, try and get some rest before the doctor arrives," Camille said softly, patting Annie on the back. As she left the room, Camille approached her father and sat on the edge of the bed, pushing his tousled hair away from his sweaty forehead.
Dorian blinked. "C-camille?" he said, forcing a weak smile to come across his bloodstained lips. "I…thought I heard…your voice," he said, breathing heavily.
"Shh, it's all right Father. How're you feeling?" she asked, trying to keep her tone optimistic.
"Oh, I'm fine," he said, trying to keep his head up. He coughed a little at the end of the sentence.
"Is your chest feeling any better? Ana Maria told me it's been hurting and causing you a great deal of pain."
"Now, don't you worry about me, darling. The doctor will be here soon, and I'll be all right. I just need some-" he finished by hacking, going into another coughing fit. He coughed so hard that he was sitting up straight by the time he was through, with Camille supporting most of his weight. He just looked at her sadly. "I've never felt so…so useless, Camille. You don't need this; you don't need to lose another parent…" he said, getting tears in his eyes.
"Oh hush Father, don't speak like that," she said, helping him lay back down. "You don't need to worry about me, I've got the most wonderful people in the entire world to help me through this. Now I want you to rest, is that clear?"
He took a deep, labored breath. "Camille…"
"Yes, Father?" she said, leaning closer.
"I want you to know…" he began, his words starting to slur together. "…that your pirate friend and I have much more in common…than you might think," he wheezed.
"You mean Jack?"
Dorian nodded. "Yes, Jack. Camille, it's no…secret that I favor Mr. Turner over the rest," he coughed, "…but in all my years I've never…(wheeze) seen anyone care for you the way Captain Sparrow does."
"What?" she said, dumbfounded by her father's dying words. "You think that Jack cares for me?"
"Darling, he's a cold-hearted pirate and I've never feared for you more than when…(cough)…he kidnapped you. But…but I've seen the way he's been looking at you…lately. Something in him has changed," he trailed off coughing, and it took quite a bit of time for him to calm down.
Camille was quite confused by now with all this talk of Jack from her father. She was exhausted, and the rum was starting to get to her head. But she forced herself to focus. "Father, what are you trying to tell me?"
"I am telling you that that man loves you, my dear, he genuinely…sincerely…loves you. And I've never been happier for you…" he said, letting his eyes close and laying his head back.
Her eyes widened. "Father?" she said, shaking him gently. "Father, no, please!" she begged. She laid her head down on his chest, letting herself sob for a few short moments, even though she really didn't feel anything yet. It was too soon, and the realization would hit her in a few days. And right then, her father's words about Jack meant absolutely nothing as she exited the room and descended the staircase.