Author's note: Guys, I adore your reviews. They make me all giddy and excited. Thank you SO MUCH! You're keeping this story going. Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes in here, a bit rushed at the moment.

She turned her eyes downward, away from him. He could tell from her face that this was something she didn't want to relive. He felt like he needed to give her a reason, so she wouldn't be reliving something that caused her pain for nothing.

"I have to know to properly plan the revenge," Jack said, his hand coming to rest at the back of her neck. This earned him a smile from her.

"Just... anonymous faces... sea life. You know. His crew. They... I was alone when they found me. Will and I... we haven't been on good terms for a while now... since-"

"So where was he when they found you?" Jack said, cutting her off before she mentioned the kiss. She sighed and shook her head. He massaged the back of her neck gently, coaxing her along.

"The ones... who were there... they told me Will was with them. That he told them... where I was," She said, her voice cracking.

"Oh, I doubt that, love. He wouldn't do that," Jack said quickly, trying to reassure her. She nodded her head.

"I don't know... I never will, I guess..." She trailed off, sighing. She sighed a lot, like she was completely and utterly tired of the world. It hurt him every time she did so. He didn't want her zest for life to be gone.

"Elizabeth... I need you to tell me what you think are the most significant damages to your body. I need to know so I can help you," Jack said, looking into her eyes as she looked up at him.

"Well... there's my forehead," She said, reaching up and touching it lightly. Jack grabbed her hand.

"I've been working on that, I think it's getting better," He said.

"My leg... courtesy of my own sword..." She said, her voice sorrowful. She shut her eyes tightly at the memory.

"I saw that, my next project... anything else?"

"Well... nothing else completely significant... my nose may be broken, but it's not bothering me, so I'm starting to think it's probably not. The only other thing that's really... really bothering me is..."

"Is?"

"My back. It's what was hurting earlier... I don't think I should be lying on it." Jack stared at her.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He asked, brushing the strands of hair away from her face.

"I didn't want to bother you with it," She said, looking away.

"What else to I have to do, love?" He said, smiling sadly. "If it's bothering you, I have to fix it. Lower or upper back?"

"Upper... it's two slashes."

"Alright, well, Lizzie... you're gonna have to... uh... you're going to need to..." He couldn't find the words. With any other woman, it would have been easy. It would have flowed right out and moved things right along. With her, it was different. Maybe it was the fact that she was actually looking him in the eye. She smiled sweetly.

"Take off my shirt?" She asked. "I understand, Jack. Just, uh... turn around for a second, I'll wrap it around me." He nodded his head quickly and turned away. It nagged at him, knowing what he could see if he just looked over his shoulder. He distracted himself by ripping another strip off of his shirt to clean her wounds with. He reached over, not turning his head, and dipped the strip in the water, missing the tub on the first few tries.

"Okay," She said, and he turned around. He was faced with Elizabeth's bare back. Any naughty thoughts that were in his head immediately left when he saw what had been done to it.

"I'm going to kill them," He said through gritted teeth. He scooted himself and the tub closer to her. He started by wiping off the blood that had dried and dripped down the part of her back that was untouched. Then, he moved up to the deep slashes that took up the entire length of her back.

"This may sting, love," He said, frowning. She nodded her head. He, as gently as he could, got out all the dirt and sand that had gotten into the wounds, and continued to clean them. When he finished, Elizabeth was shaking. He told her she could put her shirt back on, and she did so. He gently turned her around towards him, and he was met with her tear stained face. It broke his heart, knowing that it was all his fault that she was hurt in the first place. He hated having to hurt her again.

"I'm sorry, my love, I'm sorry," He whispered, brushing back her hair. He leaned against the nearest wall and swept his legs aside. "Lean on me," he said. She scooted over and laid down on top of him, nuzzling her face into his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and let them rest on her stomach, and she placed her hands on top of his. After a moment, she drifted off to sleep. Jack stayed awake all night, guarding the most important treasure he had found in his entire life.