Can and Can't

Jack didn't see Miss for a long time after that. Of course, time was realtive. No one really knew how much time they had been at World's End. What they thought were days and months could have been minutes and hours, and vice versa. Most stopped trying to guess time in the manner they had when they were outside World's End. With no sun or moon, with no way of knowing, it seemed useless. So what seemed like a long time to Jack Sparrow, might have only been hours.

In the bar at the time, which most considered night, Jack held his rum, but drank not a drop. Something wasn't right. Something was a miss. As if reading his thoughts, Timothy answered Jack's question.

"It's James," he said matter of factly.

"Wot's James," asked Jack.

"He went through the door." Jack looked at him. Timothy sighed. "If you aren't found and your number is up, you officially, well, go on. There was nothing left for James. No one was coming to find him."

"You mean that door at the back of the cave?"

"This is just a place to wait, Jack. The people who come here have died before their time. If they are found, they get a second go around. But if their time comes while they are here, they have to go on. Miss can't stop it."

With this, Jack got up and walked out of the bar. He had some questions for Miss and was finally going to ask them. He saw her standing facing the way he came in to the cave when he first arrived.

"Hey," he yelled as he approached her. She turned to him. "I need to ask somethings bout this place you've locked me in, darling."

"In a moment, Captain Jack Sparrow." Just then he heard what sounded like a baby cry. A small girl in raggedy clothes walked towards them holding a crying bundle in her hands. The girl stopped walking at the sight of Miss and Jack waiting for her.

"It's ok, Katie," Miss said with a kind smile. The girl continued to walk forward and stopped in front of Miss.

"How did you know my name," she said in small voice.

Miss knelt to the girl's level. "Katie, I know a lot of things. You've been a very good sister to Thomas. You carried him all the way here, even though he is heavy for you, isn't he?" Katie let some tears escape her eyes as she nodded. Miss, lightly took Thomas out of Katie's protective, but tired arms. Miss cradled Thomas in her arms to calm him down, which he did almost imediately.

"You smell like bread," Katie said suddenly. "Thomas and I like bread."

Jack watched as all this went on, confused. Then Miss turned to him. "Captain Jack Sparrow, hold Thomas a moment." Not knowing what was going on, Jack suddenly had a baby in his arms. Jack wasn't a big fan of babies. They smelled weird and looked weird. He hoped he didn't look like a baby when he was a baby. Miss knelt back down to Katie. "Now, Katie, I know you are tired, but you and Thomas need to go through that door down there," Miss pointed to the door at the back of the cave.

"But," Katie protested, "I've walked so far already. I don't know if I can do it."

"I know,but I will walk behind you until you go through the door, nothing will harm you." Jack was starting to feel very out of place in this scene.

"I'm scared," Katie said looking to both Miss and Jack.

Miss was the only one to speak, "I know things are scary, but all that is waiting for you and Thomas are good things." Then Miss took her thumbs and drew what can only be explained as an invisible x on Katie's head. She stood back up and leaned over the baby in Jack's arms and did the same. After that She took the baby and gave it back to Katie. "Captain, please wait here. We can talk in a moment." And without another word, Katie, carrying the baby, walked towards the door with Miss behind them. Jack stood an watched the solemn procession, admiring how brave Katie was, never looking behind her, even as the door drew closer. It was then that Miss moved to the side of Katie, placing her hand on the lock of the door. The door sprung open to reveal bright light. The light did not escape from the room behind the door, so there was no need to cover your eyes when looking at it. Katie and Thomas continued over the threshold and when Miss was certain they had made it acrossed safely, the door shut, and she locked it. Miss turned back and walked slowly to meet Jack. She looked tired from the task she just completed, thought to most it looked easy.

"Children are always so scared, yet so brave," she said when she reached Jack. He wasn't sure what to say, it was probably one of few times in his life when he didn't know what to say. Miss continued, "James, am I correct? You want to know about Mr. James?"

"No," Jack said. "I want to know how long I am to wait. Or will me number come up before I am found?"

"Walk with me, Captain Jack Sparrow. I need a walk."