Chapter 18 - We're Losing Her
Two days later, Jack woke up. He yawned, stretched and gazed up at Isabella. She was asleep and his baby daughter was still sleeping in her mother's arms. Isabella still looked terribly weak and it seemed her breathing was shallower than normal. Jack slowly got up and carefully shook Isabella awake.

"Izzy? Wake up sweetie." Isabella's green eyes fluttered open and Jack could see how dull and cloudy they looked.

"Jack? What is it?" Isabella whispered. Then, she started to cough. Her coughing shook her body violently and baby Angel woke up and whimpered, trying to figure out what was wrong.

"I'm getting Ana." Jack said. "You look terrible."

"Jack, no." Isabella whispered. "Don't. I'm okay, really." She started coughing again and Jack saw a tiny drop of blood appear at the corner of his wife's mouth. Without another word, Jack left the cabin in search of Anamaria. Up on deck, Jack found her coiling rope on the stairs leading up to the helm.

"Ana, I need you in my cabin. Now." Jack said as he approached.

"What's the matter, cap'n?"

"Never mind questions now, I'll tell you as we walk." Ana dropped her rope and followed Jack towards his cabin. In the hallway, Jack spoke again.

"Isabella's sick, I can see it." Jack began. "She's pale, there's no light in her eyes, and she's coughing blood."

"Blood?" Ana asked, shocked.

"Aye, blood." The two pirates turned a corner and heard a shrill cry coming from Jack's cabin. Both Anamaria and Jack sprinted for the cabin and flew through the French doors. Inside, they found Isabella unconscious on the floor and baby Angel screaming and crying uncontrollably on the floor next to her mother. Anamaria raced forward and scooped up the baby into her arms while Jack flew to Isabella's side.

"She's unconscious but still breathing." Jack informed Ana.

"Hopefully we can reach Aruba soon." Anamaria said. Jack nodded. Suddenly, there was a loud cry from the deck.

"LAND AHOY!" Jack and Anamaria looked at each other, then Ana raced to the main deck, Angel still in her arms.

"Gibbs! Is it Aruba?" Ana asked as she ran up the stairs to the helm.

"Aye. What are ye doin' with Angel?"

"Long story. We have to get to Aruba and fast. Hoist all sails. I want this ship sailing at maximum speed!" Gibbs didn't ask any questions. He called out the orders and in moments, all sails were unfurled and caught the wind. Ana felt the ship pick up a great deal of speed and raced back down to Jack's cabin.

"We've spotted Aruba." Anamaria informed Jack when she entered the cabin. Jack was supporting Isabella's upper body on his lap and had been wiping her face with a cool, damp cloth.

"We picked up speed?"

"Aye. We're sailing at max speed." Anamaria placed Angel in her cradle and went to Jack. "As soon as we make landfall, I'll rush to the nearest doctor."

"Thanks Ana." Jack replied. He leaned forward and kissed her briefly on the lips.

Ten minutes later, the Black Pearl docked at Aruba. True to her word, Anamaria raced ashore and sought out the local doctor. She and the doctor flew back to the Pearl and into Jack's cabin.

"What seems to be the trouble?" the doctor inquired, studying Jack with the unconscious Isabella still on his lap.

"She's terribly sick, sir." Jack replied.

"Any history of illness?"

"No, sir."

"She 'ad a baby two days ago." Anamaria put in. The doctor nodded.

"Well, what has she been doing since she gave birth?"

"She's been confined t' the couch." Jack replied. "She's been very pale an' weak an' 'as barely eaten or slept."

"And recently?"

"Well, I woke 'er up this morning an' 'er eyes were dull an' cloudy. Then when she talked, she started coughin' terribly an' then I noticed blood at the corner of 'er mouth. I raced t' get me first mate who got you, an' when we returned, she was unconscious an' me daughter was cryin' at 'er side."

"How is the child?"

"She's fine." Ana replied. "I've been nursin' an' carin' fer her since the birth." The doctor nodded again.

"Well, I think I need to get her to the hospital here on shore." Jack and Anamaria both nodded and helped carry Isabella to the hospital. On their way down the gangplank, Kristen called to Anamaria.

"Ana! What's happening?"

"Never you mind right now, Kristen." Ana replied. "Just go an' take care of Angel. I'll explain everything when Jack an' I get back." Kristen tried to get more information out of Anamaria, but the pirate wouldn't listen, so Kristen gave up and went to care for Angel.

At the hospital, Jack and Ana sat in the waiting room. Actually, Ana was the one sitting, Jack was pacing nervously across the floor.

"Jack, stop pacing." Ana said. "It's not helping." Jack growled in his throat, but stopped. At that moment, the door flew open and there stood Roxanne. Her hair was wild and she was out of breath.

"Jack!" Roxanne panted, collapsing on a bamboo chair. "I 'eard from Kristen that somethin' was wrong with my sister an' that she's here."

"Ye 'eard right." was Jack's only reply.

"Well, what's the matter?"

"We don't know yet." Ana replied. "The doctor's examining her now."

"I knew I shouldn't' 'ave left you guys." Roxanne said. "I knew I should've stayed to 'elp with the baby."

"The baby's fine, Roxanne." Ana informed her friend. "Ye 'ave a beautiful niece."

"What's 'er name?"

"Angel."

"Beautiful." At that moment, the doctor walked out into the waiting room. Jack, Anamaria and Roxanne all crowded towards the doctor.

"How is she?" Jack inquired. The doctor hesitated for a moment, then sighed.

"We're losing her."

Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in forever and a day it seems! I've never been busier with school. I guess that's what happens when you're a junior in high school! Anyways, I worked really hard on this chapter, so please R&R! Thanks! - Depp's Girl