Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N thanks for reviews! Enjoy…

Jack picked Anamaria up off the ground, gently placing her on the bed. As much as he tried to divert his eyes away from her face, he found himself staring at her new disfigurement, horrified by what he saw. He could still hear the screams of his traumatized son, the cries for his mother and for someone to make everything okay again. He could only imagine the struggle Elizabeth was having, trying to calm the little lad down. Jack could only imagine because he couldn't bring himself to leave Anamaria alone in the state she was in.

He couldn't for the life of him work out what had happened. That morning she had been fine, her face perfectly normal and flawless, except for a tiny scar above her lip and right eye. Before the raid she had been fine, no signs of burns, dry skin, boils or spots. How on earth in the space of two to three hours had they got there, appearing as though they had been along the left side of her skin for ever? She hadn't complained of feeling ill before, surely she would have told him if she had? Jack didn't believe Anamaria would knowingly put her son in danger if she thought that there was the slightest chance that she wouldn't be able to protect him if she needed to. Yet she had been keen to find Elizabeth. Had he missed the signs?

Jack sighed sitting down on the bed next to her. His eyes trailed over her body, wondering if there was anything nasty lurking beneath her clothing. Surely it couldn't be any worse then what was on her face. Could it? With slightly shaking hands Jack pushed up Anamaria's sleeve. All clear. Next the opposite side. Nothing there either. He continued to search most of her body- all decent parts- and found nothing. All that was left was her breasts and pelvic area. But since no where other then her face had these… things… he figured they wouldn't either. Just as he was getting up to go in search of someone to help, Ana's arm caught Jack's eye. The sleeves were still pushed up from before, and the skin was beginning to go red and raw. Jack stood, watching in amazement as her chocolate coloured skin began to burn, shrivel and then warts and boils began to appear.

That certainly hadn't been there before.

Jack began to step backwards, just as his son had done a few hours before. This defiantly wasn't normal. Someone didn't just burn with nothing to be burnt on, and warts didn't pop up so quickly and look so… so… ugly. His eyes stayed on Anamaria's arm. Almost daring it to get worse, or disappear again.

"I'll be right back Ana… don't go anywhere." Although Anamaria was out cold, Jack found it more comforting to talk to her as if she were awake. Slowly walking backwards until he reached the door, Jack finally took his eyes off the woman and walk out into the cool air. He wasn't sure how long he had been sat in that cabin but the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon, sending out bright streaks of red, orange and pink along the sky. Jack lent against the door, the door that had been re-attached to its hinges only moments after him knocking it down, taking deep breaths, trying to recover his composure. Only when he was sure of himself once again did he walk off in search of his doctor…

"What do you mean he's dead? How can he be dead?" Jacks eyes were wide at the thought of one of his most trusted crew members having being killed. Especially at a time where he needed him most.

"Jack is ye forgettin' that nice little battle we had earlier today? One of 'em killed 'im. Right through the heart it looked like. Poor fellow." Jack scratched his head, trying to think of a plan…

"Right well, where's Jason? He was his helper and…" Jack paused when he saw the look on Gibbs's face. "Don't tell me, he's dead too. Great just great…"

Meanwhile down in the brig the 'prisoners' from the other ship were talking quietly amongst themselves. The topic that seemed popular amongst them was about the cry they had heard earlier. Most hadn't realized a child was aboard a pirate ship, let alone a child that actually belong to the captain. Most were sceptical about why the child would be crying out, or even why he was at sea. It was quite obvious that they didn't approve.

Barry and Davis were down in the brig, mopping up a leak from the earlier battle, quietly talking amongst themselves. Unknown to them, one of the passengers from the Star line, the ship they had blown up earlier, was listening in. He could hear them talk about a female crew member- a female on a pirate ship, well at least it explained the child- and how she had been found unconscious. He heard about the rumour she had been struck down by one of the opposite ships crew members, and another that she had simply fainted. The rumour the two men talked about next made his eyes grow. He had heard the stories that the Black Pearl was cursed, and but he had also heard the story of how the curse had been lifted. Surly it couldn't be cursed yet again?

As the men continued to talk, the man drifted into deep thought. He looked over at his wife, who slept with her head resting against the wood. He wondered what would be done with them, where they would be left. Would it be somewhere that they could easily get home? Or would they never reach that land again? Suddenly his ears began to twitch, beginning to listen into the conversation again. The ship was in desperate need of a doctor. He was a doctor. Maybe, just maybe, he could bargain with the captain. Find a way to get him and his lady home safely again. The man stayed silent, until he saw the two pirates making way to leave. Plucking up the courage, he finally spoke.

"Err… excuse me… yes you. Err I couldn't help but overhear that you were in need of medical assistance." The two men glowered at the passenger, annoyed that he had listened into their private conversation, yet intrigued into what he had to say. "Well you see, I, I err…"

"Yeah spit it out mate we aint got all day."

"Well, I'm a doctor. I was wondering if I could assist in anyway in return for…" the look from Barry shut the man up quickly. His eyes gave away that he was frightened along with the shaking in his voice.

"I'll speak with the captain." With that the two pirates left, leaving the man, who had begun to shake. His wife looked at him quizzically.

Jack sat and listened to Barry as he explained about the man in the brig. Thomas was curled up on his fathers lap, finally having calmed down and worn himself out. Elizabeth was sat with Anamaria, Jack not comfortable with her being left completely alone, a niggle inside him worrying about her getting worse.

Once Barry had said all he had to say he left Jack to his thoughts. This man said he was a doctor, but why would he want to help pirates? Especially ones that had taken them prisoner. What was in it for him?

Sighing Jack looked down at his son. His eyes had peeped open, sadness visible in them.

"Mammy?" One simple word reduced Jacks insides to jelly. What was he supposed to tell this little boy? He wasn't even two years old yet he faced losing his mother, either that or becoming frightened of her for a rather long time. Jack wasn't sure which would be worse.

"Mammy's not very well mate." Thomas's eyes looked up to his father, questioning him, willing him to tell him what he wanted to hear. "Come on; let's go find you a place to sleep tonight hey?" He shook his head, his little hands clinging onto Jacks clothing. Jack could see how tired his son was, but he also knew there wasn't much chance of putting him down somewhere whilst he was still awake. Gently he began to rock him, as he had seen Anamaria do. He felt clueless. What if she died? What would he do then? Not only would he have lost his lover and first mate, but his son would lose his mam and he would be left, holding the baby, without a clue as to what to do with him. He couldn't take care of him on his own; he wasn't any good at that. Look at him now. Clumsily rocking the toddler, not knowing what to say that could bring any comfort to such a small person. How on earth would he cope?

It was then that Jack made his decision.

Even if everyone else had faith in him to take care of the child alone, he didn't. And if there was a way he could help Anamaria, or at least find out what was wrong with her, then he should take it. He'd be an idiot not to.

Jack waited until Thomas was asleep once again before carefully standing up and walking to Will and Elizabeth's room. Thomas's cot had been placed in there, ready for him, Jack knowing it wouldn't be appropriate for the child to sleep in his own room, not far from his ill mother. It was the middle of the night, and although Elizabeth had previously been asleep, she happily took the child and placed him down, telling Jack she would come and get him if they needed him. Jack walked away, heading down into the brig. There he stood outside the cell of the man who claimed to be a doctor.

"You. Get up."

A/N ok, there didn't seem to be much of a point to that chapter, but it was more imprtant then just a filler... so yeah... anyway please review! ) Thank you! Captianme