Dead Men Tell No Tales

Disclaimer: The seas are rough and POTC still belong to Disney.

I Am Yours

I fell asleep with my mind whirling with questions about Barbossa, The Black Pearl, the birth of my son and daughter and everything that had happened to Jem. My dreams were interspersed with my questions and with my random memories of the past days, fighting Norrington and getting injured. My brain began to amuse me with erotic dreams, in which Jem was covering me in hot kisses which made me squirm with myriads of desire and want. I begged her to stop the torment and allow me to have a turn but she would not listen.

I woke myself up with a sudden jerk and yelled out. As I sat up in bed, I felt as if the room was spinning and I was glistening with perspiration. I attempted to push the sweat out of my eyes when I fell backwards and let out a tremendous moan.

As I opened my eyes I saw Elizabeth standing over me and staring. She gave me a broad smile. "You've got to stop wearing yourself out like that, or you'll never get out of that bed." She dipped a cloth into some cool water and placed it on my forehead.

"Beth, I've got to get up," I muttered through the clouds of fever that clogged my brain. "I've got to find Jem."

"Jack I will get Jem for you but first take this medicine."

I made a face and turned my head. "I've got to get up and take care of my ship."

"Jack, there is no use putting your face to the wall. If you refuse to take this, I will not get Jem but I will get William. I will have him hold you down and pour this into you."

"You would too," I mumbled. I then turned and looked at her. "Elizabeth, Luv, if I take that infernal concoction will you help me up? I've got to get up. I need to take care of my love."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Jack, most of your wounds are beginning to heal but these debilitating fevers keep on attacking you. Each one is more devastating than the next. You are unable to roll over let alone get out of bed."

I tried to get up again and I barely managed to lift my head from the pillow before it fell back.

"You rest for a while. Look at you; you're so weak you can't even sit up in your bed. Jem and William are taking care of the ship and we should be limping into some cove soon."

I tried to raise my hand to Elizabeth and I couldn't even do that. "Elizabeth, Elizabeth what has happened to me. I'm so weak I can't move." I spoke softly and I couldn't believe my condition.

"You are going to be that way for some time." Elizabeth pulled up the sheets that had fallen off during my thrashing. "Jem says you ought to be dead, so you should be thankful that you can open your eyes. Please, get some sleep, you'll soon be up again and then I am sure Jem will wish she'd never set eyes on you."

The door opened on silent hinges, and Will entered the room. "How is he today?"

"Still fretting himself into a fever. He wants to see Jem." Elizabeth smiled down at me as she removed the cloth from my head, soaked it and then placed it back. "I'll go get her."

She gave Will a concerned look as she kissed him. "Will, please keep him in bed. He really is very weak and that one wound keeps seeping. It really looks quite nasty."

Will gave her a hug and I saw him wipe a tear from her eye. She looked back over at me and I could tell she was hoping I had not seen that. She lowered her gaze. "I really am worried about him. If this fever keeps up it could cause damage mentally and physically, if you know what I mean."

Will kissed her and smiled. "Well, mentally we will never know and physically… well you yourself said he shouldn't father any more children."

"William," Elizabeth scowled at him.

"I only said what you were thinking." He kissed the tip of her nose and looked over at me. Elizabeth snuggled into Will's body hugging him hard and then left the room.

"Come on Will," I attempted to motion him over. "I've been worse than this. So tell me what your prediction is?"

Will pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. "So you want the prognosis?" Will squinted at me and smiled. "Well, it does not look all that good if..."

"Will! I don't need you to tell me about meself, tell me about me ship, but first help me sit up."

Will stood up and looked at the door. "If Jem sees me doing this she will kill me."

"I'll handle Jem, just help me up." I attempted to sit up and with Will's help I was now somewhat vertical.

"Well, she's got a hole the size of a barn door in her starboard side, lost the top eight feet of the mast and there's three feet of water in the bilge. We are listing heavily to one side."

"Can we sail?" I asked as I attempted to move my legs.

"Just barely," he answered, eyeing me disapprovingly. "Jack, will you please stop fidgeting?"

"What do you mean by barely? Will, I've got to take care of me ship. It is the only thing I have to give to Jem and to Katheryn."

"Jack, stop that kind of talk. You are not going anywhere and you will have plenty of things to give the women in your life."

I rolled my eyes. "Not if you listen to Elizabeth."

Will gave me a shocked look and began to laugh. "Oh, you heard that? Sorry, but I guess if you all counting the women in your life you best not forget Raven."

I looked into Will's smiling eyes, wondering how in the world I could ever forget that noisy creature. "Will, where are we?" I asked as I attempted to swing my legs out of the bed and found myself laying flat on the floor.

"For heaven sakes Jack, stay in bed." Will picked me up off the floor and placed me back onto the bed. "If you don't stop this, Jem will heavily sedate you until you are completely well. It will go against my better judgment, but in your present condition I may have to agree. Look at you, you are one bloody mess."

Will was kind enough to place me back on the pillows so that I was still sitting up and he redressed my wounds. He covered me up once again and gave me more of the medicine. I could feel the pain in my gut and I closed my eyes. "Will, don't worry about Jem, I'm the one who gives the orders around here. Not her. Savvy?"

I opened my eyes and cringed when I saw Jem standing beside the bed. "Err… 'Ello Luv."

"I hope you're not thinking of going on deck. It is rather windy out there and it is also raining. The wet and cold will make you sicker then you already are. If you have to take care of personal business, that, my dear, can also be taken care of right here."

I gave her my smile that usually makes her breathless and weak but this time it didn't work. She lifted my chin with her hand. "Do you understand, Captain?"

I arched my brow. "I love you Jem. Marry me and I swear on pain of death I shall never again do or say anything to harm you and me. I promise I will never leave this bed again." I looked about uneasily and I could tell Will was about to burst out laughing.

I looked up into Jem's beautiful soft eyes. "Are you not going to say anything after all that?"

She bit her lip trying not to smile. "And what would you have me say?"

"That you love me, too. That would be nice for starters, especially given the fact you are holding my chin."

She laughed and then pulled on my goatee. I could see she was not going to let me off the hook quite so easily. She pursed her lips as if in a serious debate. I lowered my eyes to look a bit sheepish and then I glanced up again.

"Very well," she said at last. "For some reason heaven only knows, I do find you…irritating."

I shook my head and opened my eyes wide, looking at her with disbelief.

"Forgive me that was not quite the words I was seeking," Jem gave a slight cough. "I meant irresistible. Aye, that was the word. I find you irresistible."

A slow smile spread across my face. "And?"

"Who said there was an and?"

"Your eyes said it."

"Oh very well then, and I love you." A smile broke full force across her face as she knelt down and pulled me into her arms. When her lips touched mine I was claimed with a passion that stole all the strength from my limbs. She laid me back onto the pillows and looked up at Will.

"We are about a half mile out from the shoreline. It is the closest I could get us without killing us on the rocks. We have gotten this far and we are fortunate that we are still sailing and we have not been sent to Davy Jones."

She leaned her head against my shoulder. "Jack, please, you stay here and rest. Will and I will be going ashore we won't be sailing long if we don't make repairs. When I return I will bring a man of the cloth with me. I will want him to marry us, not to burry you. So you, my pet, stay in bed and don't move." She picked up her head and looked directly into my face. "Do you understand?"

I said nothing I just closed my eyes and went to sleep.

XXXXXXXX

"What the -" a hand clapped over my mouth before I could say anything and this time it wasn't a dream.

"Shhh It's just me. Don't yell or I will kill you."

The first two things that went through my head were JUST WHO ARE YOU and of course you are going to kill me.

I glared up at the dark shape that loomed over me and I could see it was Gillette. "If you wake everyone up, I will slit your neck and then your pirate wrench too." He removed his hand from my mouth.

"What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were dead. Does anyone know you're here?" I tried to move but I was still too weak.

"No," he answered, his body tightening. "I know for a fact your missus and Mister Turner are on land having a couple of drinks and gathering supplies. I was rather surprised when I saw Jem purchasing a mighty fine white silk gown. I'd even go as far as saying it was a wedding dress."

"How did you get here without being seen?"

"Stop asking so many questions Sparrow. I'm the one talking, not you. You killed Norrington and you sank all those ships. You must realize that you cannot go unpunished for that."

"I can't?" I tried to move again and this time Gillette saw the pain in my face. I gave him a slight grin. "I don't suppose you'd change your mind would you?"

Gillette gave me a cruel smile. "Why Jack Sparrow, you are injured and you are unarmed." He yanked the covers down and looked at my bandaged body. He leaned hard on my stomach. I gasped for air but I refused to yell. I was not going to give him the satisfaction.

"It seems odd that you, just a helpless pirate, represent the ruin of everything Norrington and I have worked for. Yes, it would be so easy just to smother you without leaving a single sign that I'd been here." Gillette pushed heavier on my stomach and then spit in my face.

"Death is not a sufficient punishment for you, but time is of the essence, so it will have to do. You robbed and humiliated me. You destroyed me and my comrades in a few mislaid minutes. You took us from being powerful and feared naval men to petty dog catchers. You really do deserve to be hung in front of a crowd. You should have your head shaved and your clothes torn from your body. You should be whipped and tortured until you look like a skinned rabbit and you should be hung upside down in the square for all to taunt and jeer at you."

He turned as if he were looking around for something that he might use to accomplish his black deed.

He made his selection by picking up the blanket that was folded on the bottom of the bed. "I can see you are too weak to offer any resistance and all I have to do is hold this folded blanket over your mouth until you breathe no more. This is way too easy."

I tried to pull my head back seeing that Gillette really did intend on killing me. He had definitely gone off the deep end.

As I attempted to fight him off Jem opened the door, taking great care not to wake me. She thrust a small oil lamp into the room before her and the sight that met her eyes caused a blood curdling scream to erupt from her throat.

Gillette was leaning over me and looked up just in time to see Jem fling the lamp at him and an instant later he felt the impact of her body as she threw herself at him in a desperate attempt to drive him away. Gillette dropped the blanket and half turned to face her, but she was on him before he could do any more than raise his arms to fend her off.

The force of Jem's attack knocked him to the floor, and she tore into him with ferocious energy. Her teeth sank into the hand that tried to push her away while her fingers clawed frantically at his face.

One of Gillette's arms was momentarily caught in the voluminous folds of Jem's new dress and he was unable to throw her off or to effectively stem her assault.

Meanwhile, the lamp that had bounced harmlessly off Gillette had broken, splattering its warm oil all over the floor, and within seconds the room was engulfed in flame.

Suddenly becoming aware of the fire, Jem forgot about Gillette and scrambled to her feet, intent upon rescuing me from the blaze.

Will came bursting through the door and Gillette made his escape under the cover of smoke. The smoke rapidly filled the room so that all Will could see was Jem struggling with me. Will pulled me out of the bed and took me out on the deck. There had been only a small amount of oil in the lamp so, with the help of other crew members the flame was put out quickly.

When it was all over Will found Jem and me on the deck, only a few steps away from the door. She was shaking and holding me close to her chest. I was having a hard time breathing.

"Jem, there is nothing to worry about now." Will placed his hand on her head. "It was only a small fire. I'm sure Jack won't kill you."

"Gillette," Jem managed to say through chattering teeth and hiccups. She was very upset.

"What?" Will turned Jem's face toward him so he could hear her.

"Gillette, he tried to kill Jack. He tried to smoother him the same way Ana Maria killed Pearl. Will, Gillette he is after Jack!"

Will stood up and raised his hands in the air. "Wait a minute, you mean he started the fire? He was going to kill Jack and then burn The Black Pearl?"

Jem shook her head. "The lamp broke when I threw it at him."

"Oh, so you were the one trying to burn down the ship?"

"Will, now is not the time." Jem pulled me closer to her and started rocking back and forth.

"I'm sorry Jem." Will looked up and down the deck and then knelt beside us. "How did he get here?"

"I don't know and I don't care. I just want him dead."

"I'll find him." Will stood up and Jem placed her hand on his arm.

"You can't go after him by yourself, he could be hiding anywhere."

"I will find him," Will insisted. "I'll be back as soon as I can. This is between me and him. I do not need any help. You two just stay hear, and as Jack would say, don't do anything stupid."

XXXXXXXX

Will did not have to go far. He moved in and out of the shadows. The ship was silent and Will's footsteps echoed across the deck. As Will walked we could hear the boards creak. He stopped dead in his tracks when he reached a point of darkness. He moved cautiously as if he had heard something moving. He knew he was being stalked and he was certain that the sounds had come from behind him. Will turned around slowly.

"Gillette, eventually you'll have to face me. You don't have your men behind you; it is just you and me. Come on out."

Then there was a sudden whooshing sound that cut through the dead silence. Gillette had his sword out and he was running in Will's direction.

Will headed toward Gillette and the metal clashed. "En garde you swine," Will smiled at Gillette as he assumed the fencing stance. "Just think what your friends will say when they find out you couldn't even smother a helpless pirate."

Gillette was quick on his feet and he made several good advances on Will. Will parried several quick lunges and Gillette stumbled backwards. "Oh, I really dislike this, are you getting tiered already?" Will laughed as he whipped his sword through the air.

"Not even winded you pirate," Gillette retorted as he rhythmically advanced and retreated, trying to stab Will.

Will leaped on a near by barrel and looked down at Gillette. "How will you ever explain the fact that you were also knocked down and mauled by a woman? You probably won't be able to hold your head up, but I don't think anybody will be listening."

"Fiend, I am going to kill you, once and for all." The words exploded from Gillette's throat as he launched himself at Will. "My friends will never know of what happened tonight because DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES!"

Will flung himself off the barrel and dodged Gillette's thrust. Gillette's sword stuck firmly into the barrel. He attempted to yank it out but it would not budge. As he turned to face Will, Will sliced his arm and gave him an evil grin.

Gillette was in excruciating pain, as he yelled and grabbed his arm. Next he brought his knee up into Will's stomach and made Will double over. He drove his clasped hands on Will's neck in what should have been a stunning blow.

However, Gillette had underestimated Will. Will went to the ground and he did a summersault coming up behind Gillette. Will wrapped his arms around Gillette's neck and he began to squeeze.

Gillette was turning a fine shade of purple. He was squirming and chocking out words to Will. "So is this it. Are you just going to kill me with your own two hands?"

"Err, yes. Pirate," Will said with a grin on his face but it did not last long.

Gillette shoved his elbow into Will's side and he broke lose, turning quickly and pointing a gun at him.

"It's remarkable how fast the tables can turn Turner. You should know by now that the good guys always win." He fired the gun at Will. Jem yelled and stood up to face him. Gillette turned the gun on her.

She swiftly picked up Will's sword and skewered Gillette's arm. The gun dropped to the ground and she kicked it aside. She held the tip of the sword to his throat. Blood was pouring out of his arm. She looked down at Will who was smiling up at her.

"Are you okay?" He waved his hand and she turned to Gillette. "It looks like we beat you again and you missed hitting Will."

"Err…Jem?" Will now stood up and slowly tuned to face Jem. His left hand was clutching his side…his blood-soaked side. "He didn't actually miss me, I'm afraid."

Gillette took his chances and hit the sword out of Jem's hand and with a powerful wrenching movement pulled her into him and placed his knife on her neck. With one fell swoop he raised the knife and brought it down across her neck. As she screamed and the blood started to flow, a silver flash shot out and sent Gillette reeling to the ground.

"I never miss either." I said as I slowly lowered the gun. It took everything out of me to stand up and pull the trigger.

Gillette had no idea what hit him. The bullet went straight into his head and in between his eyes. He swayed slightly and fell to the ground.

I looked at Will with his bloody side and then at my sweet Jem with her rich red blood seeping from her neck and all over her beautiful white wedding dress.

"Well mates, I'd say we are one motley crew. Will, I 'ave to thank you for everything and Jem…Jem you look beautiful." I slowly slid down the wall and I knew I was also losing a lot of blood. I looked down at my stomach and I felt dizzy once again. I smiled up at Jem and before I lost consciousness I said. "Darling, do you think that maybe someday you can tell me why you always wait to the last minute?"

XXXXXXXX

When I finally came to my full senses, I found Jem sleeping in a chair beside my bed. She was curled in a small ball and her chest rose and fell ever so slightly with each breath.

The only light in the room came from the fire place and the low burning candle that flickered across Jem's precious face. Her long dark braid trailed down to the floor only inches from me. Without conscious thought I reached out and touched it. Her hair felt like fine silk in my palm.

As I looked around the room I knew we were no longer on The Pearl. I was lying on an enormous four poster bed with a feather mattress and covers made of silk. I couldn't believe how clean everything looked, even myself.

The room was rather large and it was filled with beautiful French provincial furniture. The slight glow of embers in the fire place told me nobody had attended to it for quite awhile. Above the fireplace was a very large painting and to my surprise it was a portrait of me. I smiled, remembering that Jem was a very good artist and that she always said I was her favorite subject.

Her arm fell from her lap and she jerked awake. Clearing her throat, she rubbed at her eyes. I withdrew my hand from her hair, and it was that motion that drew her attention to me.

"You're awake," she said with a smile.

She left the chair and sat on the mattress next to me. She gently stroked my brow. "Your fever is finally gone."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Fourteen days."

"A full two weeks?" I started to rise, but she stopped me. "Jack, it is the middle of the night. Where are you going?"

"The privy," I said gruffly. "And I suggest you let me."

She blushed then released her hold. "Do you want me to assist you?"

Before I could answer she started to help me. She gave me her shoulder and, using her as a crutch, I slowly rose from the bed. Pain exploded through me and I ground my teeth, forcing myself to ignore it.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Aye and you?"

"Never better," she huffed as she helped me take another step. My legs were weak and she was holding most of my weight.

"Luv," I stopped, as she reached for the door. "Can you please tell me where the bloody hell are we?"

"We are in Port Royal," Jem gave a slight laugh. "This is Elizabeth's house; it was left to her by her father. She and William have graciously invited us to stay. I told them we would stay until you were well enough to sail. The Black Pearl is ready whenever you are. Will fixed her as if she were his own and she is very well hidden."

Jem helped me to the privy and then back to the room. She smiled as she helped me back into the bed. It was strange having her buzz around me, checking my bandages and tucking me in.

"What?" she asked as she caught me staring at her.

"I'm just amazed; I didn't expect you to do so much for me." I said quietly.

"Well isn't that what people do when they care for each other?"

"Jem, you should take yourself to bed, you look exhausted. I'm sure the bed is big enough for the both or us. Hell, this bed is big enough for ten people."

She waved my words away. "Jack, you never tell a girl she looks tired." She yarned and the frowned at me. She looked so adorable I just wanted her to climb in beside me.

"I promise, I will get some rest." She headed for the door and turned back slowly. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, but not for food." I gave her sly smile. "Jem, please climb into the bed and let us talk of our wedding. I promise, I will only talk and I will let you get your rest."

Jem gave me an odd look. "So you do remember?"

"Of course I remember Luv, I have asked you over and over to marry me and I want tomorrow to be our wedding day."

"Jack I'm sorry that will never happen." She walked over to the desk and pulled something out of the drawer. She walked over to me and looked at me unsure, then handed me a sealed piece of parchment.

I tuned it over and studied it. "What is this? Another map, leading to some forbidden treasure? Jem, the only treasure I desire at the moment is you."

"That Captain Sparrow is a document that says everything you own belongs to me. You, my Pet, may have been out of your head, and not remember a thing but you and I are married. William and Elizabeth were our witnesses, along with Katheryn and the rest of the crew. I told you I would return with a priest and I did. He insisted on performing the nuptials since I had paid him in gold and he wasn't about to give it back. We were all a mess, but it seemed rather fitting. Instead of me wearing a beautiful white dress I was wearing bright red."

I looked at her and cringed. "Blood?"

"Yes blood, after all we are pirates, what's a little blood? Also, you were out of bed and we were on The Pearl. Everything was just the way you wanted it."

"Jem, I wouldn't say that is how I wanted it." I reached up and ran my hand across her healing neck.

She took my hand and kissed it and let it go. "It's all right, as you can see I am still alive and so is William."

She now sat down beside me. "Even in you feverish state you managed to say I do at the appropriate spots. The ceremony was brief, what with my neck cut and poor Will being shot. Luckily, Gillette's aim was not as good as yours and Elizabeth was there to take care of us all."

"So I am your husband and you are my…wife?"

"If you will notice we both show off a rather unique and ornate wedding band. Will found them in a small wooden box stashed under the floor boards of your room when he was putting out the fire. He figured you had meant them for us. Please tell me this is true and that they are not cursed?"

"Jem, my pet, these rings are meant for us. They once belonged to my parents. I must say it seems like a life time ago when I placed them in the floor." I looked at my finger and turned the ring several times. I was amazed at the perfect fit.

"You see my dear; after my mother died my father was devastated. He took her ring and his and nailed them in the box. He took me into his room and told me that he was going to forever seal the rings together and when a love as strong as his and my mothers ever came along the rings would find their way to the appropriate finger that lead to the heart. He placed them in the bottom draw of his armoire, and told me never to touch them."

I reached for Jem's left hand and looked at her finger. "Now that, my dear, was his mistake. Nobody tells Jack Sparrow what not to do. I knew they were solid gold with a row of diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies inlaid. They were one of a kind and they deserved a better hiding place. The armoire was not the proper place, so I took it upon myself to find a more suitable one. Obviously I failed."

"No Jack, you did not fail. Can you not see that our love is as strong as, or stronger than, your parents? The rings were meant to be found and we were destined to have them."

"Jem, does this mean you are mine?"

"Jack, I am yours."

I stared at her as I heard the most precious words on earth come out of her mouth. I reached out and pulled her down. She did not struggle she laid beside me and joined me under the covers. She laced her fingers through my hair and then pulled it hard.

"Jack I don't want to hurt you, are you certain you want to do this?"

I cupped her face in my hands and looked at her adorable smile and her dark tender eyes. I traced my fingers over her lips. "Jem at this moment I am sailing, nothing can hurt me."

Jem smiled at me. "Jack, I will give you one last chance. If I stay with you tonight, then you are mine."

"I am yours, I am yours, and you are mine forever."

My thoughts fled my mind as we focused on each other. She was mine and I was hers. We were united in more than just bodies. We were united in our souls and in our hearts. We were united for eternity.

A/N There you have it. Jack and Jem are married. Yes, they went through a lot but true love is worth waiting for. There will be one more installment to this story. I will be posting an Epilogue. Have no fears, I will return with another story in the near future. As always, read and enjoy and feel free to review.

Mom, this one's for you.

TA FOR NOW

LOVELY RAVEN SPARROW