CHAPTER 9: He Did It.
Elizabeth entered the room the next morning and smiled at what she saw. Katherine was curled up in Jack's arms both resting peacefully. Elizabeth walked to the bed laying a hand on Jack's brow. She smiled again. His fever was down.
Sensing another's presence Katherine stirred and opened her eyes. She blushed when she saw Elizabeth smiling down at her. "Uh . . . it's not what it looks like," she sputtered pointing at Jack's sleeping form, "He did it."
Elizabeth laughed. "Come on, I've got one of my dresses for you to wear and breakfast is being brought up."
Katherine looked down at Jack and before she could stop herself, she placed a kiss on his forehead. Elizabeth chuckled and gestured for Katherine to hurry up. "His fever is down. He'll be just fine while you change."
Katherine smiled back and climbed out of bed taking the dress from Elizabeth and disappearing behind the screen. Elizabeth then ordered her to sit and eat refusing to take no for an answer. After she had eaten breakfast Katherine returned to her chair and that was where she was when Jack opened his eyes almost two hours later.
Jack lay still not sure of where he was. His memory was foggy at best. He turned his head and found Katherine sitting in a chair smiling joyfully at him. The sight of her nearly took Jack's breath away. She wore a dress the color of the sky and her strawberry locks were pulled up into a simple twist. Several unruly strands escaped to glisten in the sunlight that came from the window. She was the most beautiful thing that Jack had ever laid eyes on.
Jack tried to speak but nothing came out. Katherine poured a glass of water and held it to his lips. Jack drank greedily and when the glass was empty he tried again. "Where am I, luv?" he managed his voice hoarse.
"Port Royal," Katherine informed him, "Governor Swann's house to be precise."
Jack started, "What the bloody hell am I doing here?"
"You were shot, Jack," she replied, "Don't you remember?"
Ah. That would explain why he felt so bloody awful and why his shoulder ached. Jack concentrated and found he could remember bits and pieces of the fight with Murdock and getting shot. "How did I get here?"
"Anamaria, Gibbs, and I brought you here. The Governor has been so kind as to allow us to stay here."
"The Governor!" he cried as her words sunk in, "If that bloody man Norrington finds out I'm here he'll hang me for sure."
"He already knows you're here, Jack," she grinned wryly, "He and I have declared a truce of sorts."
There was a knock on the door and Katherine turned to find Will standing in the doorway. "Jack! You're awake."
Jack nodded, "Aye." But the way he was feeling he rather wished he wasn't. "I'm awake, whelp."
Will smiled, "You had us worried, Jack."
Jack grinned like his usual cocky self, "You forget, mate, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"
"Savvy," Will laughed, "Do you think you could eat something?"
Jack nodded, "Aye. Maybe just a little."
Will started walking towards the door, "I'll go tell Elizabeth that you're awake and have something brought up."
Jack turned his dark eyes towards Katherine, "You look lovely, darlin'" Katherine blushed. "A sight for sore eyes." He held out a hand, "C'mere, luv."
Katherine took his hand and sat down on the bed next to him. Jack looked into her eyes frowning to see how tired she looked. "When's the last time you slept?"
Katherine blushed again remembering where she had slept. "I slept a little last night," she told him nervously.
"And before that?" he prodded.
"Not since you were hurt," she admitted.
"She hasn't left your side once, Jack," Elizabeth said coming into the room beaming, "Katherine was quite persistent about it. How are you feeling?"
Jack was too tired to lie, "Like 'ell, luv." He turned puppy dog eyes to Katherine, "Can I have some more water?"
"Of course," Katherine filled the glass and held it to his lips, as he was too weak to hold it.
When the glass had been placed back on the table Jack surprised the women by using his good arm to pull Katherine down onto the bed with him. "You've been neglecting yourself, luv," he chided gently. And she had done it out of concern for him.
"I'll be fine," she insisted, "You're the one I was worried about. Really, Jack, what were you thinking?" Her blues eyes looked into his dark ones, "You should have just given me to them. It would have been better."
"So they could have passed you around like a whore? So you could have been Murdock's slave?" he demanded, "No, Katherine, you deserve far better."
Further argument was prevented with several arrivals. First, Elizabeth's maid brought in some soup for Jack and Katherine and then as Katherine was helping Jack to eat Norrington and Doctor Harris arrived together.
Harris was extremely surprised and pleased to see that his patient was not only awake but able to eat as well. "Good heavens, I've never seen anything like it," he declared, "Eat up, boy," he told Jack, "And then we'll have a look at your wound."
Jack eyed Norrington suspiciously but Norrington remained by the door for the time being. Will stood beside the Commodore watching him carefully. Harris checked the wound and turned towards Katherine with a smile, "Well, Miss Darcy, I would say that your friend is recovering nicely. His fever is almost gone and the wound shows no signs of infection. I think I can safely say that he'll live."
"Thank you so much, Doctor Harris," she said sincerely, "I don't know how to thank you enough."
"No thanks necessary, Miss," he smiled, "That is what I am here for. Now, I will bid you good people a good day. I shall return in two days to check on him."
Elizabeth took his hand, "Thank you, Doctor. Please stop and see my father in his study before you leave."
Norrington walked slowly to the bed once the doctor was gone. Jack tensed and Katherine glared at the Commodore, "Is there something we can do for you, sir? If not then Jack needs to rest."
"I've only come to give a warning to Captain Sparrow," Norrington replied, "Against my better judgment I am not going to arrest you. But, if you cause any trouble while in Port Royal you will be taken straight to the gallows. Understood?"
That seemed fair enough to Jack. "You have yourself a deal, Commodore."
Norrington looked down at Katherine, "My men are keeping a sharp eye for Murdock's ship. He will hang for your father's murder. I promise you."
"I appreciate your help, Commodore," she replied, "I look forward to it."
Norrington bowed and shooting Jack one last glare turned on his heel and left the room. Elizabeth and Will discreetly followed wanting to give Jack and Katherine time to talk and to rest.
Jack leaned forward hissing when his shoulder protested the movement. Katherine put a hand on his good shoulder, "Don't move too much, Jack," she scolded, "Lay back and I'll give you something for the pain."
"I don't need it," Jack huffed.
Katherine ignored him mixing the powder and water and handed the glass to Jack. Jack surrendered; it hurt too badly for him to argue too much and took it, his hands shaking but managed to bring the glass to his lips. He made a face, "It tastes horrible."
"Don't be such a baby, Jack, besides that is how you know that a medicine is going to work."
Jack pouted finishing the glass and after handing it back to her subsided onto the pillows. Jack felt sleep beckoning. He raised heavy eyes to Katherine and again saw the weariness etched onto her beautiful face. "What are you doing all the way over there, luv?" he patted the spot next to him.
Katherine sat next to him and didn't resist when he pulled her against him. "You need to sleep, Katherine," he told her, "And you are not leaving this bed until you do."
Little did Jack know that Katherine had no intentions of arguing, she was exhausted. Katherine snuggled against him. His body felt so right against hers. Hang propriety. Decorum could go to hell. She would just take a little nap. "So do you, Jack," she yawned.
Jack chuckled sleepily. "I don't think that'll be a problem, lass," he said closing his eyes and falling instantly asleep.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
Ooh another chapter! Yay! You guys have been great with the reviews. If you submit a review for this chapter I'll send Jack over to spend some uh quality time with you! The next chapter will be out in a few days. Thanks Again!
Elizabeth entered the room the next morning and smiled at what she saw. Katherine was curled up in Jack's arms both resting peacefully. Elizabeth walked to the bed laying a hand on Jack's brow. She smiled again. His fever was down.
Sensing another's presence Katherine stirred and opened her eyes. She blushed when she saw Elizabeth smiling down at her. "Uh . . . it's not what it looks like," she sputtered pointing at Jack's sleeping form, "He did it."
Elizabeth laughed. "Come on, I've got one of my dresses for you to wear and breakfast is being brought up."
Katherine looked down at Jack and before she could stop herself, she placed a kiss on his forehead. Elizabeth chuckled and gestured for Katherine to hurry up. "His fever is down. He'll be just fine while you change."
Katherine smiled back and climbed out of bed taking the dress from Elizabeth and disappearing behind the screen. Elizabeth then ordered her to sit and eat refusing to take no for an answer. After she had eaten breakfast Katherine returned to her chair and that was where she was when Jack opened his eyes almost two hours later.
Jack lay still not sure of where he was. His memory was foggy at best. He turned his head and found Katherine sitting in a chair smiling joyfully at him. The sight of her nearly took Jack's breath away. She wore a dress the color of the sky and her strawberry locks were pulled up into a simple twist. Several unruly strands escaped to glisten in the sunlight that came from the window. She was the most beautiful thing that Jack had ever laid eyes on.
Jack tried to speak but nothing came out. Katherine poured a glass of water and held it to his lips. Jack drank greedily and when the glass was empty he tried again. "Where am I, luv?" he managed his voice hoarse.
"Port Royal," Katherine informed him, "Governor Swann's house to be precise."
Jack started, "What the bloody hell am I doing here?"
"You were shot, Jack," she replied, "Don't you remember?"
Ah. That would explain why he felt so bloody awful and why his shoulder ached. Jack concentrated and found he could remember bits and pieces of the fight with Murdock and getting shot. "How did I get here?"
"Anamaria, Gibbs, and I brought you here. The Governor has been so kind as to allow us to stay here."
"The Governor!" he cried as her words sunk in, "If that bloody man Norrington finds out I'm here he'll hang me for sure."
"He already knows you're here, Jack," she grinned wryly, "He and I have declared a truce of sorts."
There was a knock on the door and Katherine turned to find Will standing in the doorway. "Jack! You're awake."
Jack nodded, "Aye." But the way he was feeling he rather wished he wasn't. "I'm awake, whelp."
Will smiled, "You had us worried, Jack."
Jack grinned like his usual cocky self, "You forget, mate, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"
"Savvy," Will laughed, "Do you think you could eat something?"
Jack nodded, "Aye. Maybe just a little."
Will started walking towards the door, "I'll go tell Elizabeth that you're awake and have something brought up."
Jack turned his dark eyes towards Katherine, "You look lovely, darlin'" Katherine blushed. "A sight for sore eyes." He held out a hand, "C'mere, luv."
Katherine took his hand and sat down on the bed next to him. Jack looked into her eyes frowning to see how tired she looked. "When's the last time you slept?"
Katherine blushed again remembering where she had slept. "I slept a little last night," she told him nervously.
"And before that?" he prodded.
"Not since you were hurt," she admitted.
"She hasn't left your side once, Jack," Elizabeth said coming into the room beaming, "Katherine was quite persistent about it. How are you feeling?"
Jack was too tired to lie, "Like 'ell, luv." He turned puppy dog eyes to Katherine, "Can I have some more water?"
"Of course," Katherine filled the glass and held it to his lips, as he was too weak to hold it.
When the glass had been placed back on the table Jack surprised the women by using his good arm to pull Katherine down onto the bed with him. "You've been neglecting yourself, luv," he chided gently. And she had done it out of concern for him.
"I'll be fine," she insisted, "You're the one I was worried about. Really, Jack, what were you thinking?" Her blues eyes looked into his dark ones, "You should have just given me to them. It would have been better."
"So they could have passed you around like a whore? So you could have been Murdock's slave?" he demanded, "No, Katherine, you deserve far better."
Further argument was prevented with several arrivals. First, Elizabeth's maid brought in some soup for Jack and Katherine and then as Katherine was helping Jack to eat Norrington and Doctor Harris arrived together.
Harris was extremely surprised and pleased to see that his patient was not only awake but able to eat as well. "Good heavens, I've never seen anything like it," he declared, "Eat up, boy," he told Jack, "And then we'll have a look at your wound."
Jack eyed Norrington suspiciously but Norrington remained by the door for the time being. Will stood beside the Commodore watching him carefully. Harris checked the wound and turned towards Katherine with a smile, "Well, Miss Darcy, I would say that your friend is recovering nicely. His fever is almost gone and the wound shows no signs of infection. I think I can safely say that he'll live."
"Thank you so much, Doctor Harris," she said sincerely, "I don't know how to thank you enough."
"No thanks necessary, Miss," he smiled, "That is what I am here for. Now, I will bid you good people a good day. I shall return in two days to check on him."
Elizabeth took his hand, "Thank you, Doctor. Please stop and see my father in his study before you leave."
Norrington walked slowly to the bed once the doctor was gone. Jack tensed and Katherine glared at the Commodore, "Is there something we can do for you, sir? If not then Jack needs to rest."
"I've only come to give a warning to Captain Sparrow," Norrington replied, "Against my better judgment I am not going to arrest you. But, if you cause any trouble while in Port Royal you will be taken straight to the gallows. Understood?"
That seemed fair enough to Jack. "You have yourself a deal, Commodore."
Norrington looked down at Katherine, "My men are keeping a sharp eye for Murdock's ship. He will hang for your father's murder. I promise you."
"I appreciate your help, Commodore," she replied, "I look forward to it."
Norrington bowed and shooting Jack one last glare turned on his heel and left the room. Elizabeth and Will discreetly followed wanting to give Jack and Katherine time to talk and to rest.
Jack leaned forward hissing when his shoulder protested the movement. Katherine put a hand on his good shoulder, "Don't move too much, Jack," she scolded, "Lay back and I'll give you something for the pain."
"I don't need it," Jack huffed.
Katherine ignored him mixing the powder and water and handed the glass to Jack. Jack surrendered; it hurt too badly for him to argue too much and took it, his hands shaking but managed to bring the glass to his lips. He made a face, "It tastes horrible."
"Don't be such a baby, Jack, besides that is how you know that a medicine is going to work."
Jack pouted finishing the glass and after handing it back to her subsided onto the pillows. Jack felt sleep beckoning. He raised heavy eyes to Katherine and again saw the weariness etched onto her beautiful face. "What are you doing all the way over there, luv?" he patted the spot next to him.
Katherine sat next to him and didn't resist when he pulled her against him. "You need to sleep, Katherine," he told her, "And you are not leaving this bed until you do."
Little did Jack know that Katherine had no intentions of arguing, she was exhausted. Katherine snuggled against him. His body felt so right against hers. Hang propriety. Decorum could go to hell. She would just take a little nap. "So do you, Jack," she yawned.
Jack chuckled sleepily. "I don't think that'll be a problem, lass," he said closing his eyes and falling instantly asleep.
*AUTHOR'S NOTE
Ooh another chapter! Yay! You guys have been great with the reviews. If you submit a review for this chapter I'll send Jack over to spend some uh quality time with you! The next chapter will be out in a few days. Thanks Again!