Disclaimer: Don't own POTC.
Yay! I'm updating! Yes,I know I don't do it often enough. I'll try harder from now on. Enjoy chapter 13.
Chapter 13: Stranded...Yet Again
Elizabeth came up sputtering. She heard four splashes nearby and then the others came up as well.
"Curse ye fer breathin!" Gibbs shouted up at Morse. Morse and his crew just laughed.
"Come here, Elizabeth," said Will.
"I can swim on my own," she said rather defiantly. She knew Will wanted to help her swim.
"Jus' come grab onto me an' Will," Jack said.
She looked at the two of them, then gave in. She was tired after all. She held onto the two of them and kicked her legs. They did the rest, and Ana Maria and Gibbs swam along beside them.
They reached shore after a while. The sun was now setting. They all climbed out of the water, gasping for breath. Will took Elizabeth's hand and sat down with her in the sand. Ana Maria collapsed on her back. Jack sat down a little ways away and began taking off his boots and other accessories. Gibbs sat down next to him. No one spoke for a few minutes.
"That's the third time I've watched my ship sail away...different man this time, though," said Jack. He looked over at all the others. His stomach seemed to shrivel. It was his fault they were here. He had led Will, Elizabeth, Ana Maria, and Gibbs to be trapped on this Godforsaken island, and Elizabeth was pregnant as well. He had led his crew to be working for a ruthless pirate for who knows how long – maybe forever. He had lost everything. He had even lost the Black Pearl. He put his hands on his face and let out a low groan. Then he fell back and lay down in the sand. He felt very sick all of a sudden.
"You alright, Jack?" Gibbs asked him. Jack didn't answer.
"Jack," said Elizabeth softly. Jack still did not respond. He stood up suddenly and began to walk away from them.
"Jack?" said Elizabeth again. He walked until he was out of sight.
"He'll be alright," said Ana Maria, looking where Jack had just disappeared.
"Do you think so?" Elizabeth asked
"I don't really care," said Will bitterly.
"Will, I know you're angry, but-"
"But what?" said Will. "I couldn't care less what happens to Jack. It's his fault we're here. His fault we're stuck on this island." Will stood up and turned away from Elizabeth, trying to calm himself – he wanted to hit something. Elizabeth stood up and put a hand on his arm.
"Will, we can't give up hope," she said, "we can get off this island. And…it's not really Jack's fault. You can't blame him for all of this."
"If we had never met him-" Will began angrily.
"Then we might not be alive right now," she said, cutting him off. Will was quiet. "He saved our lives, and this time we chose to save his. We chose to, Will. It's partly our fault we're here. Jack warned us."
Will looked at her. She was right. It wasn't all Jack's fault. He had warned them, he had even yelled at them not to help him, so that they wouldn't put themselves in any danger. Will took Elizabeth's hands and smiled.
"Jack's right. You are omniscient aren't you?"
"It's a woman thing," she said. They kissed softly. Will's hand moved to Elizabeth's stomach, feeling where their child was now growing. Elizabeth put her hand on his.
"We're going to get off this island," said Will seriously. "We're going to. That's all there is to it."
"Of course we're going to," said Gibbs. He and Ana Maria had decided to let Will and Elizabeth talk in peace until now. "We've got Captain Jack Sparrow with us," Gibbs finished.
"Should we go and find him?" Elizabeth asked.
"No," said Ana Maria, "I think it's best we leave him alone for a bit."
Gibbs looked confused, but decided to follow Ana Maria's judgment.
After a short while, Elizabeth was shivering in Will's arms. Ana Maria was shivering as well. They all had wet clothes, and now that the sun had almost set, they were not properly dry at all. They heard footsteps and turned to see Jack sauntering toward them.
"C'mere," he said. "I've made a fire."
They sighed with relief and hurried on their feet to follow Jack. He had made a fairly large fire on the other side of the island.
"How did you make a fire so easily?" Will asked.
"Special cloth," said Jack. "Certain kinds of material make sparks when you strike them with a rock." He held up a small piece of black cloth for Will to see.
"Brilliant, Cap'n," said Gibbs, who sat down gratefully in front of the fire next to Ana Maria.
"You all ought to get some sleep," said Jack. "I'll watch the fire." Will noticed he seemed to be trying to avoid everyone's eye.
"Are you sure?" asked Elizabeth.
"Aye," Jack answered, still gazing into the flames. "Go on, sleep."
Elizabeth scooted over to where Jack was in the sand. She leaned in and kissed him swiftly on the cheek.
"Thanks, Jack," she said, smiling. Jack finally looked at her, faintly surprised. She moved back to the other side of the fire and lay down in the sand. Will looked a little put out at the kiss Jack had received, but just the same he smiled briefly at Jack before lying down and closing his eyes. Jack was puzzled.
"Night, Cap'n," said Gibbs, laying down in the sand. "Wake me if ye need someone else watchin' the fire."
Jack looked at Ana Maria. She smiled at him.
"Don't expect a kiss from me, Cap'n," she said. Then she too lay down and closed her eyes. Jack sat there, even more puzzled. After all he'd done to these people, they were being nice to him. He puzzled on this until he couldn't keep his kohl-linedeyes open. He then lay back and fell asleep as well.
Review PLEASE. And, also, in your reviews, please let me know something: I am American, so I don't know just how offensive the word 'bloody' is. If it's in my stories, will it offend anyone? Tell me please. If it is too offensive I could change the rating or something...