Pirates of the Caribbean – A Treasure Worth More Than Silver And Gold
By Princess-Pirate
Email: A new story. Will rescued Jack but finds himself missing the pirate. But an unknown package on his doorstep causes him to get a new outlook on life and what he wants for himself in life.
Disclaimer: All the characters, ships, and places in the Caribbean belong to Walt Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, as well as the dialect in the flashbacks from the movie. I got most of the dialect from the DVD. I don't own any of them (I wish). Some of the new characters are my own creations and therefore I have some ownership over them.
A/N: Please read and let me know what you think. Reviews and ideas on coming chapters are most welcome.
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Chapter 8 – The Sea And Freedom
Jack looked up from the book he had been reading when he heard Will moan in his sleep. He walked over to the bed and was surprised to find a pair of sienna eyes looking at him in confusion.
"Welcome back love" he said as he took Will's hand in his. "I was beginning to wonder when you were going to trade your beauty sleep for my company."
"Jack" Will smiled at him and then winced in pain as he tried to sit up and move.
"Easy love" Jack said "You're still healing. You need to take it easy or you'll tear your stitches and then Miranda will really kill you."
"Where are we?" Will asked as he looked around.
"We're two days out of Port Royale, making for Tortuga. After the Commodore stabbed you me and Miranda thought it best that we leave as soon as possible. She made you as comfortable as possible and then we boarded. I had sent a message to Captain Matthews via Elizabeth and they were ready for us."
"Where's Lilly?" Will was a little panicked because he couldn't see his daughter anywhere.
"She's right here" Jack said as he moved so that Will could see the crib next to the bed. "We left her in the room with you because she wouldn't settle last night with Miranda. But as soon as we put her here she closed her eyes and went to sleep as if nothing had ever happened. She feels safe with you."
"I've been unconscious for two days?" Will asked and Jack nodded.
"Miranda says you were lucky that the dagger missed vital organs. It's mostly muscle and flesh damage but you won't be able to sit up for at least a week. The wound is so that you will tear out the stitches when you sit up. We'll have to make a plan because Lilly is going to start fussing if she's not in your arms."
As if she knew they were talking about her, Lilly let out a sob and Jack quickly made it to the crib to pick her up before she started screaming. "Hello lass" he said as he walked over to the bed. "Look who wants to say hello."
Will gently moved so that he was lying on his uninjured side. He motioned for Jack to put Lilly on the bed next to him and then lie on Lilly's other side. "Hello my big girl" Will said and Lilly smiled as she looked at him.
Jack smiled at Will from the other side of Lilly and cupped his lover's cheek. "I missed you" he said and then leaned over to give Will as kiss.
"Missed you too" Will said and sighed as he rested his head on the pillow.
Jack smiled as he saw his eyes starting to close. "Get some more sleep angel" he said "Me and Lilly will be here when you wake up."
When Miranda checked in on them she smiled as she saw both men fast asleep with Lilly between them. She gently picked the baby up and settled her in her crib. She quietly checked Will's wound and then pulled the blanket up and over them. Turning down the lamps she then headed to her own cabin to retire to bed.
DREAM
Barbossa is ready to slit Will's throat. "Begun by blood?"
Jack pushes through the pirates. "Excuse me."
Barbossa raises the dagger. "By blood un?" He then notices Jack and so does Will.
"Jack!"
Barbossa looks as if he's seen a ghost. "S' not possible."
Jack waltzes forward. "Not probable."
Will looks at Jack. "Where's Elizabeth?"
Jack stopped and looked up at him. "She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really except for Elizabeth who is, in fact, a woman."
Barbossa lost his patience. "Shut up! You're next." He leans in to slit Will's throat again.
Jack looked at him. "You don't want to be doing that, mate" he drawled.
Barbossa sighed and looked up. "No, I really think I do."
Jack shrugged. "Your funeral" he stated.
Barbossa removed the dagger and stood up. "Why don't I want to be doing it?" he asked.
Jack tries to move forward. "Well, because" he pushes Bo' sun's arm off his shoulder "because the HMS Dauntless, pride of the Royal Navy, is floating just offshore. Waiting for you."
Jack continues "Just hear me out, mate. You order your men to row out to the Dauntless. They do what they do best."
All the pirates laugh at his comment.
"Robert's your Uncle, Fannie's your Aunt, there you are with two ships. The makings of your very own fleet. 'Course you'll take the grandest as your flagship, and who's to argue? But what of the Pearl? Name me Captain, I'll sail under your colours, I'll give you ten percent of me plunder and you get to introduce yourself as Commodore Barbossa. Savvy?"
Barbossa looks at Jack and then at Will. "I s'pose in exchange, you want me not to kill the whelp" he snapped.
Jack looked down at Will. "No, no, not at all by all means, kill the whelp. Just not yet. Wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment. For instance?" He picks up a few medallions. "After you've killed Norrington's men?" and he throws them back as he speaks "every last one." Without them seeing he pockets one.
"Like now" Barbossa said as he slid Will's throat and let him fall to the ground.
"Jack!"
"Will!"
DREAM
As one both men sat upright in bed. Then Will groaned in pain and collapsed back against the pillows.
"Will" Jack lit another candle and leaned over Will, the nightmare forgotten. "What's wrong?"
"My stomach hurts" Will said as he tried to curl himself up to escape the pain.
"Easy" Jack said as he got up off the bed and lit a fire in the fireplace. He placed a pot over the flames and poured some water into it. While waiting for it to heat up he sat down on the bed and pulled Will into his arms. "Easy love" he said "Take deep breaths and just concentrate on my voice."
Will continued to whimper in pain but managed to relax a bit in Jack's arms.
Jack got up and took the water from the fire. He dipped a cloth in the water and moved to Will's side. He carefully bathed him, wiping the cooling sweat from his body. He then took another cloth and folded it. Moving to the fire he placed it near enough so that the flames would warm it. When it was warm enough he pulled Will's shirt down and then placed the warm cloth on Will's stomach over the wound.
Will winced a bit but then relaxed back when the heat started to soothe the cramps and muscle spasms.
"That better?" Jack asked and Will nodded, already drifting off.
"Thank you" Will whispered as he patted the bed next to him.
Jack just smiled and pulled him closer, a little spooked about the dream he had earlier but his first priority now was Will. A knock at the door had him looking up and calling to the person to enter.
Miranda peeked around the door. "Everything all right?" she asked.
Jack wanted to say yes but then decided different. "Will sat up and jarred his stomach. I put a warm cloth on to help take the pain away but I think that you should take a look as well, if that's okay?"
Miranda nodded and then sat on the bed on the other side of Will. Her case with supplies was in the room next to the bed, should they need it. She and Jack gently pulled a half asleep Will onto his back. "Easy Will" she soothed as he moaned softly. She removed the cloth and pulled up Will's shirt.
The wound was a little red around the edges but Miranda was glad that the stitches had held. She applied some more of the herb poultice and then re-bandaged the wound.
"Get me some hot water in a cup" she asked Jack and took out some herb from her supplies. When Jack handed her the cup she sprinkled the herbs into it and then she and Jack helped Will to drink it.
"What's that for?" Jack asked as they pulled Will's shirt back down and settled him on the pillows.
"It's to help him relax. It may put him out for a while but it's better to allow his stomach time to heal. He also has a light fever that we need to stop before it gets worse. If he feels any more uncomfortable during the night then come and get me. Infection is the main thing we need to keep an eye on."
Jack nodded and then covered Will with another blanket to make sure that he was warm and comfortable enough. "Good night" he told Miranda after she had checked on Lilly and was walking to the door.
"Good night Jack" she said "Now you get some sleep as well. Will's going to need company tomorrow and someone to keep him still."
Jack nodded and soon both men were lost in the world of dreams.