The Pearl drifted slowly in the direction that the compass continued to point every time Bootstrap would hold it. He looked resolutely towards the way his son should be, worrying about what he was doing and what his fate was, and if he'd be able to save him.
Jack was sitting on the deck underneath the stairs, the wind blowing through the hole going all the way through his cabin. He was lost in thought about his love, pulling on the braids in his beard absentmindedly. He looked up, the glaze leaving his eyes.
"Keep an eye out, men, and call me if anything... happens," He said, and then went below deck to check on Elizabeth.
Once he had gotten down there he approached her slowly. He saw her rustling around, just as he had over a year ago in that lonely cell. Once again, she was calling out his name. Sweat was beaded on her forehead and the shirt he had her wearing was damp and sticking to her skin. She looked pale.
"Bugger..." He said, kicking himself for letting her go out in the rain. He needed to keep a closer eye on her.
"Jack..." She said, reaching out in his direction. He grabbed her hand, and kissed it lightly, caressing her knuckles.
"Don't leave me..." She whispered, not knowing that he had returned to her. He leaned forward and with his own shirt he wiped away the sweat on her face.
"Never. Not ever," He said, kneeling down by the hammock, keeping her hand in his. She seemed to sense his presence, for a smile graced her lips, thoughts of him in her head. He smiled at her beauty, and wondered how he could have ever gotten so lucky as to have gotten someone like her.
Elizabeth woke up from a tortured sleep a few hours later, and saw Captain Jack Sparrow, still with a firm hold on her had, sitting on the floor next to their hammock. He noticed she was awake, and pulled himself up, obviously sore from sitting in such a way. He smiled a strained smile.
"How do you feel?" He asked, reaching up and running a hand through her hair.
"Actually? Not very well," She said, upset. "How are we doing out there?" She asked, motioning to above deck.
"Same as before, but without any more attacking ships. Hopefully we won't have another one of those until we meet up with Davvy Jones. And by then you'll be well, so all'll be right," he said, smiling confidently.
"Jack, I'm positive you'll fit up here with me," She said, her eyes pleading with him.
"I didn't want to move you when I came in..." He said.
"Well, I can move over myself now, so get up here," She said, scooting over and looking like she was having a slightly hard time. She accomplished it, and then Jack delicately got onto the hammock, wrapping his arms around her immediately. She laid her head on his chest and settled down, listening to his calming heart beat, a thing she loved to do as often as she could.
"You still feel warm," He said, pressing his cheek to her forehead.
"It'll blow over soon..." She trailed off, sighing.
"I do hope so," he whispered, "I hate seeing you like this, my love."
"I need to get back into shape so I can help out when we finally get to Will," She said.
"Don't worry about that, Elizabeth. You'll be fine by then." He said, wishing and hoping that it would be true.