A/N: Writing this chapter broke my heart. Hope everyone appreciates it, though.
Someone is GOING to die, and that someone is...
Chapter 21: Requiem
"So there I was, thinking I was dead, floating up towards Heaven, and I decided to shoot before I went. And then I black out. When I wake up, I'm under a boat, someone holding my head above the water," Amy, from her bed on the Black Pearl, looked up at Elizabeth. "I can't thank Will enough for coming back."
"His excuse would be the Pirates' Code; 'any man who falls behind is left behind'." At Amy's confused look, Elizabeth explained. "Nowhere does it mention women being left behind."
Amy laughed, in spite of the pain it caused. The two bullets had cost her the use of her left leg and also come very close to puncturing her right lung, blasting apart several ribs and bruising her lung. She also had a large bruise on her right forehead, where it had bumped repeatedly against Will's shoulder.
But she was alive.
She turned to look at Will, who was asleep. "How's he doing?"
The mirth drained from Elizabeth's face. "The doctor says he had lead lodged in his left knee and his right ankle, and that bruise on your head is from the round that went through his shoulder. You were lucky his arm slowed it down so much. THe cannon round exploded just behind him, and shrapnel tore his back open; he doesn't have Daniel Morgan's 499 scars, but it's close. And there's a bullet in the small of his back, right near his stomach. The doctors can't get it out, and they have..." she faltered, "doubts...that he'll pull through."
Then Will awoke. "Elizabeth..." Amy flinched slightly. His voice was raspy, low. Not good.
"Elizabeth...can you take me a little farther away? Some things...are not meant for...the ears...of others," Will was breathing erratically.
"No need," Amy said quietly. "I just need Elizabeth to help me up." She started to stand, and cursed loudly as her left leg folded under her weight. "Damn it all," she grunted as Elizabeth looped an arm under her shoulders and helped her up and away to Jack's cabin. As they left, Will called, "Bring Jack."
Once Elizabeth returned with the pirate admiral, Will said, "Bolt the door." She obeyed.
Elizabeth stood by her husband's bed, Jack standing next to her. "What is it, Will?"
He looked at her wistfully. "You really are beautiful, you know that?" He reached up, and stroked her cheek. "I never told you it enough."
"Oh, get a hold of yerself, mate," Jack started quickly. "You'll be able to tell her that many more times..." He trailed off at the look Will directed at him.
"Please don't insult me, Jack. I'm not a simpleton, remember?. I know how bad it is, and I know that I'm not going to live, so if you would be so kind, spare me the uplifting and motivational commentary meant to inspire reassurance, please."
Elizabeth shook her head. "You have been around Jack too long."
A look of mild protest came on Jack's face.
"Too long..." A look flashed through Will's eyes, and was gone as quickly as it came. He lolled his head around so as to be looking up at Elizabeth. "You remember the day the Kraken came for the Pearl?"
"Hard to forget. Jack died that day," Elizabeth recalled, avoiding Jack's look, trying not to remember what else happened that day.
"So did you," Will said. "I saw your face, the pain in your eyes when the Pearl went down."
"And?" She could not see his point.
"And I also saw you kiss Jack."
Realization flashed across her face as Jack, for the first time Will could ever remember, paled. "That's why you were so cold to me in the boat, then."
"I was cold because I was in denial of the truth," Will reflected.
"What truth?" Elizabeth had a sinking felling in her stomach, and for the life of her could not see why.
"Elizabeth, I love you. But I don't love you as much as Jack does." Forestalling their rebukes, he pressed a finger to her lips and glared once, briefly, at Jack. "And you love me, but not as much as you love Jack." His hand dropped back to his side, weary. "I was never meant for you, and we both know it. You rushed into marrying me because you thought you couldn't and shouldn't have loved Jack."
He faltered, beginning to fade in presence. "Know this," he said softly, raising his hand one final time to her face. Elizabeth gripped his hand in hers, tears coming down her face in cascades. "I love you, but more than that, I want you to be happy. You know where you belong. As do I." His eyes fluttered. "Goodbye, my love."
His grip faltered, and fell.
And William Turner was gone.
Elizabeth felt his grip loosen, and disappear. "No," she whispered. His hand dropped to his side as it slid from her grip. "No..." She shut her eyes, feeling the tears coming.
Jack quietly leaned forward, and closed Will's eyes.
Elizabeth let the tears come now, and buried her face in Jack's shoulder. Quietly, he wrapped his arms around her tightly, resting his head in the crook of her neck.
Choked sobs came from his shoulder, muffled by the many layers of cloth that resided there. Layers of cloth that were now soaked through with water that was not of any wave. Arms were wrapped tight around his back, almost cutting off his breathing. But he made no move to remove the arms. He simply rocked slightly, holding the woman that he and his best friend had both loved so dearly for so long.
His best friend that, as he pried an arm away and moved the blanket up to cover his face, was lost to them both forever.
A/N: Did I do the right thing?
