He woke up in the morning to Elizabeth staring at him. She smiled when his eyes opened.
"I'm sorry about last night," She said, sighing. He reached up and ran his finger down her cheek, smiling slightly. She felt cold. She let out a few strained coughs, and he closed his eyes in concern.
"Why were you out there, love?" He asked her, brushing her hair back from her forehead.
"I just felt like... he'd be there. I felt like he was somewhere close."
"What makes you say that?"
"I don't know... I just... I just feel..."
"Guilty?"
"Yes... guilty. I just feel like I'm the reason this happened to him," She said, a tear quickly racing down her cheek. Jack wiped it away, and then kissed the spot where it was, his mustache tickling her cheek. She laughed, and then smiled sadly.
"Don't be, love. Nothing is your fault. This happened to him a long time after we last saw him last. Whatever happened to him happened to him because of his own doing. We're just going to have to pull him back from wherever he's gone to."
"Yeah..."
"Don't feel guilty anymore, love. Apparently, it's bad for your health," he said as she coughed again. He got up carefully from the hammock, trying not to move her so much. He went and picked up his coat from where it was hanging on one of the barrels, and went over and draped it on top of her. She smiled, and grabbed onto his hand, kissing his palm.
"You take such good care of me, Jack," She said in a small voice.
"That's because you're the most important treasure this pirate's ever found, love," He said, leaning down and kissing her on her forehead. The second his lips met her skin he realized how hot she was. The worry on his face was obvious.
"You're burnin' up, Lizzie," He drawled, looking down at her. "Stay here and call up if you need anything, savvy?" He said, smiling at her. She nodded her head, and he quickly tucked his coat around her, and then after one last gaze, made his way up to the deck. Bootstrap Bill met him up there.
"How's your girl?" He asked him, noticing the anguish on Jack's face.
"She's sick... and feeling terribly guilty about what's happening with your son."
"Trust me... I know all about it. But, I don't think that is the cause of what's happened to him."
"As much as I'm glad to hear that, I don't think it's going to change her feelings on the matter."