Hahaha! For the first time in what seems like forever, I don't have a paper that's due or a football game to go to. I can finally update! Yay!
Wow, I never expected to get this many reviews. I'm in shock! You people make me feel so incredibly special.
And to anyone who was wondering, yeah, my family and I are all fine. Things have just been a bit chaotic down here since Katrina. Hopefully things are starting to calm down now, so life can return to normal.
Smithy – Aww, glad you like Miguel. He's a nice guy. Or at least I wanted him to be.
Numen – Sorry it took so long, but hopefully it will be good enough to make up for the wait.
l.j. davies – Glad you're so into this. Here's chapter 14 for you.
Marie Crosby – Ha! I've come up with a couple of good lines now! I'm special! Hope you like this chapter. Maybe there'll be another good line in this one.
Sanquinedarkness666 – Yes, I should hope you know what happens considering you typed this for me. By the way, I'm going to be putting up a Power Rangers one-shot so keep an eye out for it and review. Kyle begged me to write something so that got me started. Too bad he hasn't actually read it…
Silverpaw – Glad it was satisfying and I hope this one is too. All I can tell you is that I'll do my best in regards to getting the sequel up. It may take a while, but I'll honestly try.
Dancin – The best story ever? Wow! Thanks! Hope you like this chapter too and that the rest of this story is good too. Keep reviewing. It makes me happy! Happy, happy, happy!
Madame Opera Ghost – Hopefully things will be all cleared up, and if they aren't, just ask me. Hope you like!
Daphnebandweenie – So, did Andrew do a "hand check" on you and Daniel on the band bus? He did to me and Wendy… EWWW. I mean, I dated him. I don't go for the girls. Guys are WAY too hot! You have to keep an eye out for my one-shot too. Hopefully you'll like it.
Williz – Difibulator at the ready! And thank you for poxing the hurricanes. So far it seems to have worked. Hope you like chapter 14.
SpufFan – A challenge? What kind of challenge? Cause sorry, I can't do pure romance, sex stuff. Bleh! But yeah, let me hear it. And while everyone's waiting, here's the next chapter.
MagRowan – Glad you can appreciate the friendship between two guys and not just try to turn it into some gay thing. Some people can't. And I'm super glad you felt sad that he died. Means he wasn't a complete waste. Have fun with chapter 14!
Lord-of-the-Ruler – Bloody pulps are good. Haha! Sorry. I'm a little strange sometimes.
Hawkstra – Frozen solid? Sounds nice at the moment. Heat and humidity are not all it's sometimes cracked up to be. Sorry about the cliffie, but here's the next part.
Trinilee Greenleaf – Oooooh, it's your birthday soon? Happy early birthday! And good luck with getting Tommy. If you get him, you'll have to send me a picture… And here's that shiny new chapter I promised. Sorry it's a little late. I felt a little bad about killing Paul, but I felt like I had to. Oh well, it worked. Thanks for your prayers. They make me feel loved. I'll post the next chapter for you as soon as humanly possible (although honestly, some of my friends would contest the part about me being human).
WARNING - Okay, one other thing before we start this chapter. No matter what you read, there is no slash content in this story. If you look, you could probably put some in this chapter and maybe one or two others, but it's NOT meant that way.
Now that that's cleared up… Onto the story!
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BlackSword
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Chapter 14
It couldn't be true; there was no possible way. Jack stared at Blacksword; it couldn't be true. He wouldn't let it.
His caramel eyes flickered back to Will. The younger man looked miserable, but he forced a grin when he noticed Jack watching him.
Will was breathing hard as sharp spokes of agony shot through him. He wanted this to be over. He would not allow himself to die before he knew Jack would be okay, but it was becoming more and more difficult.
Jack pulled his sword back from his sheath. This had to end.
"Ah, Jack, I almost feel sorry for you. It must be discouraging, knowing that every friend you'll ever make is going to die because of you. First Bootstrap, now this little whelp."
Will started in surprise at the mention of his father. Blacksword had never before given any indication he had heard of his father.
"It wasn't my fault," Jack said angrily. "And Will is not going to die, no matter what you say."
Will's mind bean spinning, although at first it was merely in helpless circles. There was something there, he just couldn't quite grasp it.
For the first time that day, Jack attacked Blacksword before the other was ready. He was mad, his chest throbbed, and he was scared, putting him in a bad mood.
Black Andrew fell backwards, landing hard on his back close to the cannons.
Cannons? Suddenly Will gasped as his mind instantly snapped the pieces together.
Staggering forward, he grabbed hold of Jack, pulling him backwards. He pushed his friend into the rail of the Assassin. "Jack…"
"Will, what-"
"You promised you'd… look after my family, if anything happened to me. Did you… mean it?"
The pirate's voice was soft. "You know I did. But Will, why-"
Will interrupted, "Then you'd better keep your promise. I'll be waiting for you in hell if you don't." Before Jack could react, Will drew back and smashed his fist into the other's face, knocking him back and over the rail of the Assassin.
Jack had the strange feeling of free falling before he hit the water.
Will turned back to Blacksword, trembling heavily. He had an idea, but he was unwilling to risk Jack's life. Plus, if he was right, if Jack stayed aboard the Assassin, he would wind up dead like the rest of them.
"What's wrong? Have you finally realized you can't defeat me?" Blacksword taunted.
"No, I just… don't want him to get hurt," Will managed. He tightened his hand on the hilt of the sword. His injuries protested sharply, but he ignored it.
A sharp laugh escaped the pirate's lips.
The laugh stopped as Black Andrew caught sight of the wry smile on Will's face. "What?"
"You have no idea."
Stepping forward, Black Andrew raised his sword even with Will's throat. "No matter what, if you're dead, I don't have to worry."
"That remains to be seen." Flicking his wrist, Will knocked aside Black Andrew's sword.
"You seem awfully confident. I'll have to fix that." He was in no way intimidated by the shivering man in front of him. He raised his sword again.
Before Blacksword attacked, Will spun around and limped away. The cannon fire had long since ceased, but that was not what he was relying on. Eyes spotting what he needed, he darted forward, dropping to his knees and spinning around to face the other. His hand slipped behind him, taking hold of something Black Andrew couldn't see.
"You're dead boy."
"I know. So are you. You just don't realize it."
Face darkening, Blacksword continued to advance. "Watch what you say, boy."
Will grinned and, faster than he had thought possible for an injured man, pulled his hand from behind his back and launched what he was holding at the other.
The chain shot smashed into the pirate's leg, and a sharp crack indicated that the bone had snapped. Black Andrew staggered but shifted his weight to his other leg to avoid collapsing. The chain between the two small cannonballs wrapped tightly around his leg. Blacksword looked down then looked back up, his face mirroring your exasperation. "Is that it?"
The grin on Will's face only grew despite the pain it caused. "That's it," he confirmed. He didn't even try to move; he had used everything he had in him and there was nothing left. His strength had given out; it had taken all of his energy to take the chain shot and break Blacksword's leg.
Anger flashed through Black Andrew's face. "You little… whelp. I'm going to kill you, slowly. You will feel pain like never before."
"You've said all that before; besides, I'm all set to die." His smile didn't fade, "Do you know why it's called hell? Because I'll be there waiting for you, and I'll make your eternity miserable."
He drew his sword and pointed it at the young blacksmith. "I'm going to repeat myself, you're dead." He stepped forward, keeping his weight to his good leg. There was no way Will could escape from him; the boy was at his mercy.
"And allow me to reiterate myself, so… are… you."
Jack hit the water and bobbed back up, sputtering. His shock was indescribable. "That little bastard, he… Will, I'm going to kill you". He felt his fear and sorrow as it tried to force itself to the surface.
His eyes quickly scanned the side of the Assassin, searching for a way up. "Damn it Will. What were you thinking?" He was more scared than he could admit. To go through all this, only to lose his friend now… it was unthinkable.
"Ah, shit," he hissed as he realized there was no way for him to get up. "Not good."
"Captain?" a voice suddenly asked. "What are you doing in the water?"
Turning, Jack looked in surprise at Miguel and Jackie. The two were in a small lifeboat and both were staring at him as he continued to tread water.
Sighing, Jack swam over to the boat and hauled himself out of the water. He flopped down in the boat, dripping water everywhere. "It's a long story," he said shortly. It was also clear he was frustrated by it, whatever it was.
"Captain Sparrow, where's my dad? I saw him, so where is he?"
"Uh," Jack hesitated, unsure of what to say. He had never felt quite so awkward. "Wait, how did you find out?"
Looking exasperated, Jackie said, "I already told you, I saw him. Where is he?"
Another deep sigh slipped from Jack; he pointed over to the Assassin. "Will's on-"
At that moment a sharp explosion ripped through the air. The waves nearly capsized the small boat, but it was only after that that horror stopped Jack's heart. The Assassin was gone, leaving behind only it's burning debris.
"-that ship," Jack finished numbly, staring at what had once been the Assassin. He almost couldn't breathe, he couldn't think. "No," he managed hoarsely.
Miguel had a similar look of horror on his face. "Captain, I'm sure he… wasn't on there."
Jackie was silent; his dark brown eyes huge. He seemed numb, or frozen to the spot. The boy didn't even blink.
'He knew,' Jack thought to himself in anguish. "He knew the Assassin was set to explode. That's why he got me off. Damn it, why didn't he jump ship as well?"
Lost in thought as he was, he almost didn't hear the sounds of sputtering as someone's head broke the surface. Jack spun and his eyes narrowed as they fell upon the man.
Without a second thought, Jack dove off the small boat. "Captain, what-?" Miguel began, then he spotted the other.
A second later, another explosion filled the relative silence. The resulting waves pushed Jack under but he swam quickly back to the surface. He glanced uneasily back to where the Hornet Dragon had been, and was only partially surprised to find it gone as well.
He felt slightly guilty for causing the death of all those Japanese men, but it was nothing like the all encompassing grief and guilt of knowing Will had been aboard the Assassin.
Swimming slowly up to Blacksword, Jack didn't bother to hide his bitter hatred. Blood ran down his face, mixing with the water. Fortunately, in Jack's mind, the other pirate had not escaped the explosion unharmed.
Black Andrew was pale as he struggled to keep afloat and his leg throbbed. The chain shot still wrapped around his leg was slowly dragging him under.
Blacksword barely even glanced up at Jack, though he knew the pirate was furious. It took all of his energy to keep his head above water and there was no way for him to keep the pain from his green eyes.
"Looks like you powers have failed you," Jack said coldly. His anger towards this man was barely controlled.
"Pluto can be a deceiver. All he wanted was an innocent soul; I wanted you. When I refrained from killing both Turners to achieve my ends - in other words, killing you - he grew frustrated with me. Now, he has taken what he wanted for himself and all but abandoned me."
Jack's eyes hardened cruelly, "You didn't get anything you didn't deserve. In fact, by my book, you deserve a lot worse."
No answer came because he was pulled under, then a few seconds later, he managed to drag himself back to the surface.
"I should kill you," Jack said, hatred beginning to get the better of him. No matter how much he enjoyed seeing this man suffer and struggle, he would enjoy seeing him dead better.
"Go ahead, but let it be known that if you do, you'll have destroyed what your friend risked his life to set up."
Blinking, Jack asked, "What the hell do you mean?"
"Your friend set up this death for me. He wanted to see me drown, slowly. If you kill me, you'll ruin that."
As he continued to tread water, Jack considered it. What Black Andrew said was true, but…
"Although, it is poetic justice, I suppose. He set me up to drown, and then the same fate became his. And wasn't it the sea that claimed his father?"
Jack stared at Blacksword, mind thinking a hundred things at once. Why hadn't he realized that? If Blacksword had survived the blast, what stopped Will from doing the same? And if Will had survived, then he would be in the water, and if he was in the water, with his broken shoulder…
"I did my final job," Blacksword said with a grin. "By now, he's dead." As he finished, he lost the struggle to stay above the water and slipped below the surface and sank to the depths of the sea.
Jack didn't bother to listen or watch as Black Andrew slowly drowned. He dove under the water, eyes searching the clear water desperately for any sign of his best friend. Finally, he spotted the young blacksmith. The other man was unconscious and slowly going deeper into the depths.
Condemning thoughts rolled through Jack as he swam towards his friend. He had kept Elizabeth from drowning when he had first met her; he had recently kept their son from drowning, now if only his luck would hold out.
His lungs began to burn from lack of oxygen, but he couldn't surface. He had to get to Will, now. Reaching out, he grabbed hold of his friend. Turning upwards, he began to swim towards the surface. He thought he felt a chill radiating from Will's skin, but he refused to accept that.
When his head finally broke the surface, he gasped desperately trying to fill his body's need for oxygen. He felt almost dizzy. If he had been underwater much longer, he would have drowned.
Jack realized that both Miguel and Jackie were staring at him in concern from the lifeboat. With a sigh, the pirate swam over to the side, heaved Will into it, and then hauled himself in. He flopped down inside the boat, breathing heavily and dripping water everywhere.
"Captain Sparrow?" Jackie asked, eyeing his unconscious father. "Is my dad okay?"
Warily, Jack nodded, "Yeah. He'll be fine."
"Uh, Captain?" Miguel began uncertainly, using Spanish to cover what he was saying. "I wouldn't say that."
Alarmed, Jack looked over at the other. Miguel was kneeling over Will's unconscious body.
Miguel continued, still in Spanish to avoid worrying the eight-year-old, "He's not breathing. His heart's not even beating anymore,"
"What?" Jack shrieked. In less than a second, he was off his back and on his knees beside Will. Miguel backed away and sat back next to Jackie, who still didn't know what was going on. The Spaniard gently put an arm around the boy and pulled him close against him.
The little boy stared in absolute horror at his unresponsive father. He was completely numb, even though he didn't know exactly what was going on.
Miguel held the child tightly; fearful of what would happen to both the boy and his captain when Will died. The Spaniard was dismayed to find himself thinking of when Will died instead of if.
Rocking back so he was resting on his heels, Jack began to panic anew. He couldn't scream the hundreds of things he was thinking for fear of alarming Jackie. Will's skin was just as cold as it had been in the water. 'Oh God… why? This can't… be happening.'
Hands on the young blacksmith's chest, Jack's mind spun, desperately trying to think of something, anything, that could help his friend at the moment.
Finally his consciousness latched onto a thought that had lain buried for a while. He had once heard of a way to get air into a body that wasn't breathing but… he wasn't sure if he could do it.
He didn't have a choice; it was the only possible way he could think of to help his young friend. Will was not going to like this- at least he wouldn't if he knew it was happening.
Bracing himself, the pirate captain leaned over Will. He took a deep breath and- steeling his resolve- he sealed his mouth over Will's and exhaled. The young man's chest rose as the air forced his lungs to expand.
For a split second, he was unsure of what to do about the blacksmith's heart, but he had an idea. He pushed down hard on his sternum, twice, while attempting to replicate the beating of the other man's heart.
Breaking the contact, he took another deep breath and again filled the young man's lungs. Somewhere in the back of his mind he realized that if this had been anyone else- except maybe a beautiful woman- he wouldn't be doing this.
Jack was scared; Will was still cold and completely unresponsive. Again and again, he alternated between breathing for Will and pushing hard on his abdomen for his heart. He simply would not give up; he could not give up. The pirate cared too much about the young blacksmith to let him go.
"Captain… he's dead. Just give it up," Miguel said quietly. He still spoke in his native tongue to keep from alarming Jackie. "There's nothing you can do."
Jack ignored the pirate. He couldn't just give up. Will simply couldn't be dead. It wasn't possible. He continued to take deep breaths, breathe into Will, and press hard against the other's chest. It was slightly unnerving to feel his friend's ribs shift under his hands, the same way it was disturbing to feel the broken bone in his friend's shoulder.
The pirate captain felt tears begin to well up in his eyes. "Will…" He wouldn't give up. He couldn't give up. Taking another deep breath, he again exhaled into his friend. It was something he was unaccustomed to, and he had been dead serious when he had realized that he would never be doing this for anyone else- especially another guy.
Suddenly, Will's body spasmed and he started coughing up lungfuls of water. Jack flinched away from his friend in surprise, but was instantly there again the moment the shock wore off.
For a second, Will's dark brown eyes had fluttered open. They met Jack's for a split second and a small smile flickered across his face before unconsciousness claimed him, again.
Jack finally started crying, but it was in pure relief instead of sadness. He couldn't stop his body as it quivered uncontrollably.
The pirate became suddenly aware of a small body holding onto him. He glanced over and saw Jackie holding him tightly and crying hard against him.
"Thank you," the child managed in between sobs.
"For what?"
The boy looked up in surprise. "You saved my dad's life."
"I almost cost him his life."
"But you didn't."
"No," Jack almost smiled as the boy said that. "I didn't."
With a slight grin, Jackie hugged the pirate fiercely. "Thank you," he whispered again. Then he gently released him. "Captain Sparrow," he said uncertainly as he scooted back to Miguel, "I'm glad you're my dad's best friend."
Once the boy had returned to Miguel, Jack looked down once more at Will. His friend's unmoving form lay dripping water and blood onto the bottom of the small boat.
On impulse, Jack pulled Will onto his lap, cradling the younger man against him. He couldn't control the soft shuddering that racked his body. The pure adrenaline that rushed through his veins was finally starting to wear off as his fear of losing his best friend died down.
He gently placed his hand on Will's chest so he could feel the beating of his friend's heart. Every couple of beats the young blacksmith's heart would skip once or twice. Despite the fact that no one was posing an immediate threat to Will's life, Jack still couldn't control the slight fear of Will's heart stopping again.
Jack's caramel brown eyes remained fixed on Will; he couldn't help it. A few weeks ago, he had thought he would never see his friend again. That he was now here, Will was alive and in his arms… he had never dreamed of it. Slowly, his body's shuddering subsided.
His right arm started to fall asleep, but he couldn't move it. It was supporting Will and holding the younger man against his body.
With a soft sigh, he lowered his head, letting it rest on Will's. Once again, it was comforting to be able to hear the blacksmith's breathing- labored and uneven as it was- because it told him that Will was still alive.
Despite all that he had done, Jack knew that there was still a very large chance that Will would die. The facts scared him but there was nothing he could do. If he couldn't find somewhere to take Will where it would be easier to deal with his wounds then the young man would surely die.
He became aware of a soft shivering. As he became aware again he realized Will was shuddering convulsively. Alarm flashed through his awareness. His head snapped up and he looked to Miguel. He was surprised to find Jackie asleep against the Spaniard.
"Miguel," he hissed. "Miguel!"
The man looked up. "Captain? What's wrong?" His dark eyes were full of concern.
"Will, he…" Jack hesitated, unsure of how to describe what was wrong.
The pirate obviously understood though, because he turned his attention to Will. After a second, he asked, "Is there anything else wrong that you see?"
"Other than the actual injuries?" Jack asked almost sarcastically. Miguel glared in exasperation. "What do I need to look for?"
There was a pause in which Miguel thought for a second. "Just tell me anything."
Jack let his fingers run along Will's skin. "Well he's… almost cold. Not quite, but… he's not warm."
"Is his skin clammy?"
"Yes."
Concern filled Miguel's face. "It would be much easier if I could see for myself, but I don't want to wake up Jackie."
The fear on Miguel's face worried Jack. So did Will. The way Will was shivering and the fact that his skin was cool and clammy, it scared him. Something was wrong and he knew it, he just didn't know quite what.
"What do you think is wrong?" Jack asked quietly.
Miguel's eyes were focused on Will. 'I'm not sure, at least not now. Just tell me if you notice anything else."
Slowly nodding, Jack turned his attention back to Will. By this time, his right arm was completely numb. Supporting Will constantly had made him lose all feeling in his arm. He was unwilling to let Will go. Since the young blacksmith's heart had already stopped once, he was unwilling to risk I stopping a second time without him knowing.
Jack couldn't repress the shudder that shot through him. He knew for a fact that if he couldn't find someplace safe to take Will, it was all over. 'How the hell am I supposed to get us out of this? We're stuck in a life boat with next to no chance of being found.'
He groaned; he didn't enjoy being responsible for Will and Jackie's lives in the way he was. 'Damn it, if we don't get found soon, we're all going to die.' It was one thing to trust his own life to luck, but something else entirely to trust another's to luck.
Once again, his attention was drawn to Will's shuddering body. 'Come on, Will,' he thought. 'You've got to hang in there. Please don't give up.'
TBC
And now I've stuck them in a rowboat. Well now you know why I had to introduce the Japanese pirates. Couldn't blow up Jack's pride and joy could I? Though there's no telling what shape he'll be getting it back in. IF he gets it back. Mwahahaha!
Okay, I'm done now.