AWAKENINGS
DISCLAIMERS: Mr. Mouse and his whole crew own all the characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
This is my take on the resurrection of Jack Sparrow in the third Pirates of the Caribbean film. Also, I am a Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann shipper fan; ye be warned.
Chapter 2 : Revelations
Elizabeth Swann did not know how much time had pass, as she laid there with her head on Jack Sparrow's still chest, as she wept, releasing all her pent up grief and guilt. Releasing Jack's hand, she rose up and clenched the front of his dingy white shirt in both her hands and began to shake him.
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, she screamed over and over in her head. Before she realized it, her grief and guilt unexpectedly turned to anger. Anger at Jack and most importantly at herself.
"Wake up you wobbly legged, rum soaked pirate!" she shouted. She didn't care that Will or the others could hear her on the top deck. She half expected someone to run in and see what was occurring, but no one did.
Will must be guarding the door; such a fine gentleman he is. Truly a good man. Why don't I care?
Still holding a fistful of Jack's shirt in her hands, she continued to shout, "Damn you Jack. I'll not have it end this way, I will not, do you hear me!"
She released his shirt and stood up, stomping back and forth, before the bed. "You're Captain bloody Jack Sparrow. You took Nassau without firing a single shot, you constantly slipped beneath the nose of the Royal Navy and the East India Company. You've defeated curses and took back your precious Pearl!"
She leaned down, and snatched one of his braids and yanked on it, hoping for a response, any type of response. She continued to yank harder and harder on the braid.
Give me a grimace, a growl. Give me anything.
"A Kraken, of all things Jack, you're going to let the little matter of a Kraken defeat you." she argued. "I thought you were stronger, braver, much more arrogant than that, to let a Kraken put an end to your glorious pirating life."
She grabbed a fistful of his hair, in both hands. She felt the knots and beads , and rubbed her fingers over them. She had always wanted to know what his hair felt like.
It's coarse, thick, and black, so very, very black. To never see it flowing in the wind, as he races up and down the deck, shouting orders at his crew. Please God, let him come back.
Elizabeth once again fell upon his chest and began to weep in hopelessness. She felt the press of his vest, coat and sash. She even felt the press of his pistol and cutlass.
Too late. I was too late. Will was right, but. I don't want Will to be right.
Deciding that arguing with him had failed, she tried seduction instead. Tracing his lips with her finger, "See here Jack, wouldn't you like to take revenge on me?", she played with the braids in his beard, whispering in a husky voice, her eyes wet with tears. "I am the one who chained you to the mast and left you to your terrible fate."
She ran her fingers up and down his cheeks, gently, like one would a lover, and continued to whisper , "Dear Captain Sparrow, just think of the terrible types of revenge you could take. Imagine my terror and fear at your vengeful presence" Elizabeth's lips were as close to his as one's could be, without touching.
Oh Jack, I would endure any terrible revenge you would seek upon me; if only to know you were still alive. Still in the world, free and unconquered.
When seduction did not work, she tried threats. Snatching his tri-corn hat from his head, "Now Jack, if you don't wake up, right now, I will be compelled to destroy your hat." Looking about the room, she spotted a dagger. Picking it up, she placed the tip to the worn and creased leather.
"See Jack, I will cut it." she paused a moment. "This is not an empty threat. I will do it."
She began to try to saw through the hat, but tough, worn leather was much stronger than it looked. Giving up, she placed the dagger on the table and in a fit of frustration threw the hat to one of the corners of the cabin.
"Alright, I'll sink the Black Pearl." she again threatened, "I'll have Barbossa fire upon the Pearl. I believe he would enjoy that very much."
Stomping up to his still form again, she flung her arms in the air and announced, "I'll leave your sorry self on the Pearl, as it sinks to the bottom."
Bending down, and putting her face next to his, "No, I won't sink the Pearl. I'll hand it over to the East India Company. They'll repaint and rename her. She will be their best ship, carrying spices and silks from around the world. Serving your enemy, the East India Company"
She paused, waiting for a reaction to that threat.
That threat to the Pearl, more than anything else, should wake him up. He would rather see his ship sank o the bottom of the sea, rather than let the East India Company have it. Now wake up; I've had it with your lollygagging .
Despite her threats, there was no reaction. Sitting down next to him, she glanced around his cabin. The cabin seemed to breathe with the essence of Jack Sparrow. Just as the ship, the powers involved left the cabin undamaged, as it was before the Kraken's terrible attack at Davy Jones' command.
On the table were his maps and charts, there was even a half empty bottle of rum. The cabin floor was covered in expensive rugs The cabin was very finely appointed.
No doubt all ill gotten; taken during some grand adventure I can only imagine.
Bowing her head, she tried prayer. "Please God, he is like this because of me. This is all my fault." She clasped her hands together, raising them to her lips, "My fault, all of it. I don't even have the courage to tell the other's that it was me. It was I who left him on the ship. They believe it was a final act of honor and bravery on his part."
I think he would have stayed, even without my trickery. Jack doesn't realize it, but he is brave and honorable.
"Please, I will endure any punishment you see fit. I will gladly take his place, if that is what is required."
Please God, please God, please God, please God.
Elizabeth looked up, perhaps looking for the face or voice of God. But if God was there, he was not listening to Elizabeth Swann.
She closed her eyes, and felt cold. So very cold. Cold not of the flesh, but the soul. She felt broken and tired. She felt alone.
Even though I know Will is waiting for me and he will be there for me, always and forever, it brings me no comfort. When did that happen? When did the thought of Will no longer bring me comfort?
"Why can I not picture a future with Will." She said to no one, but herself. "Why is it, that instead, I cannot picture it without Jack in my future?"
Jack, when did you become my future? Where and when did it all change?
Laying down next to Jack, curling herself around his body, protecting him from anything and everything.
"Oh Jack, you mean so much to me." She sadly whispered to him. "I don't know when it happened, but I cannot deny it."
She placed a hand over his no longer beating heart. "Did it happen on the island? Did it happen on the Black Pearl, looking for Will, or did it happen when I betrayed you? I don't know."
She closed here eyes and burrowed her nose into his chest, pulling him closer.
I would stay like this forever, bound to you in your eternal sleep. I would do this because, because, because…
"I love you Jack." She voice filled with the wonder of self discovery. "Oh my God, I love you."
Silent tears slipped from her tightly closed eyes, as she chanted over and over again, "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you."
I can't bring myself to stop saying it.
She continued to chant, "I love you, I love you, I love you…"
When quite to her surprise, she felt something, something she had given up on hearing, the steady thump, thump of a beating heart.
It cannot be.
Bracing herself on her hands, looking down at Jack, she stared, waiting for something.
Have I gone mad in my grief? If this is madness, let me stay mad.
Unexpectedly, without warning, color seemed to flow back into Jacks face and his chest rose in a deep breath, followed by a chocking cough.
"Jack," Elizabeth sputtered, "can it be?"
His eyes still closed, she gently placed a hand on his cheek. His warming cheek.
"Jack, say something, anything!" Hope flowing into her voice, as surely as the color was flowing back to his face and form.
As she called his name again, Jack's eyes opened. Those shinning dark brown eyes, full of sparkle and mischief.
Those eyes that can swallow a girl whole.
He mumbled something, so low that she could not understand what he had said. Leaning in closer, placing her ear next to his lips.
"What Jack, what did you say?" She remained quiet, while she listen intently. Jack mumbled again.
Elizabeth Swann laughed. Laughed loud and long. Laughed so much that Will and Mr. Gibbs ran into the cabin.
No doubt they think madness had taken me completely.
Both paused at the threshold of the cabin, shocked at how she was curled around Jack's body. Mr. Gibbs crossed himself and muttered, "Blessed mother and child. She's lost her brain and molestin' the Captain's body."
Will approached her, slowly, as if afraid of how she would react to any sharp or quick movement, as others gathered outside the door, including Barbossa.
"Elizabeth," Will began, as if speaking for a child, "it will be alright. Please release Jack's body, sweetheart."
They don't understand.
"Will, Mr. Gibbs, I am alright. Finally, everything will be alright." Elizabeth said, looking at them both. Only Barbossa seemed to understand, tipping his wide hat to her in a salute.
He is a canny old pirate.
"Will, Mr. Gibbs, Jack is alive!"
Seeing the doubt in their eyes, she pulled away from Jack and allowed them to see him. The look of shock on their faces indicated they finally understood.
Mr. Gibbs turned and shouted to everyone outside, "Captain Sparrow is alive, praise be!"
Everyone inside the cabin heard the cheers and yells that exploded outside.
Will looked stunned. "How can it be?"
Barbossa responded, "It matters not, only that he be alive." Which earned him a hard look from Will.
Will did not seemed to be pleased to see the joy shinning from Elizabeth's eyes, or the tears of happiness that now flowed from them.
I think he knows, or at least suspects.
Mr. Gibbs came over and asked, "Has he said anything Ms. Swann?"
Elizabeth laughed, before saying, "Yes, yes he did." She looked back down at Jack, no longer dead, but sleeping.
Thank you to whomever, whatever heard me.
"What did he say?" Mr. Gibbs questioned.
Elizabeth smiled and touched Jack's now warm face, a face full of color and life.
"He said he was thirsty," she began, "and he wanted some rum; that I had better not have burned it all."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Gibbs joined Elizabeth in her laughter.
You can have all the rum you want, my very dear Captain Sparrow.
To Be Continued