Chapter 5 - Sticks and Stones

Jack was feeling faint, most of his body weight was being supported by the thin girl next to him. He cautiously towed one of the nails to see if they would fall over and move out of the way. Some of them did and some of them were stuck to the floor.

Elizabeth saw what he was doing and looked around. "Here Jack, lean against the wall." She said and when he was secure she started the move all the loose nails. "There must be enough for Crane and his men to have gotten through."

Jack looked at her and smiled. "Yeah, but they didn't have any real injuries did they?" He asked and clutched his side, wincing in pain.

"Be careful Jack, I need you."

The pirate smiled and looked at Elizabeth whose eyes told him that she was serious. His eyes softened and he straightened up, leaning on her to try to walk.

"Take your time Jack."

Then the two started the long journey acoss the floor to the other end where they weren't sure what would be waiting for them. Half way across the floor they felt a chill in the air and saw a light. Elizabeth didn't notice the pain in her feet anymore as she saw the opening. There was hope after all.

"Jack look!"

The pirate rose his head, he was past the feelings of faintness and wieghtlessness, now he was sick to his stomach. The light hurt his eyes and he shut his mouth at the feeling of nausea.

Elizabeth looked at the man next to her and her heart went out to him. All the things that had happened to him in his lifetime should have killed many times over, but for some reason his life continued. For that she was gratefull, she needed him right now, and if he had died she would be alone. Died. Will. Tears came to her eyes but she forced them away, she needed to be strong, Jack was right, he wouldn't want her life to end like this.

Jack saw the pain in her eyes and knew it wasn't from the nails scraping against her feet, but from something unforseen in her mind and heart.

When they reached the opening they both shivered. It was cold and the clouds above them were promising rain, or snow.

Elizabeth helped Jack to the ground and he sat, closing his eyes.

"Jack, were are we?"

Regaining his equilibrium, the feeling of nausia and weightlessness passed and he looked up at her.

"Far away from the Caribbean I take it." He said and closed his eyes again.

"I'm going to look around, will you be alright here by yourself?"

The captain looked at her and nodded, his headache felt like it was splitting his whole body in two. He just wanted to sleep.

Elizabeth watched him as he fell asleep then went in search for some kind of shelter. Soon she felt the spray of the ocean and emerged from the trees to find a beach, shells littered it and she went over to them. Picking up the larger ones and the conch shells she cleaned them out so she could use them to catch the rain that was sure to come. Her arms full of shells, she went back to Jack who was still asleep and counted two-hundred steps straight ahead and started to clear out an area so she could start to build a shelter. In the back of her mind she remembered Jack and hoped he would live through the night. It was getting colder and by the time she had broken some tree branches and got them all in a pile it was almost pitch black. Going back to the middle of the clearing she started to walk toward Jack.

Getting to the cave she sat next to her compainion and thought of what it would be like if Will had lived. Maybe it would have been harder, having to take care of two grown men. She shook her head. She would rater Will be alive but that would most likely mean Jack would have died. How could she have possibly chosen one over the other? How could she have chosen who lived and who died?

Clearing her head of such thoughts, she cuddled next to her pirate and pulled his cold body to hers.

--

He was tired, but he just woke up. A soft breeze was tickling his face and he was very comfortable indeed. Opening his eyes he realized it wasn't a breeze, but Elizabeth's breath. Smiling slightly he sat up, removing his head from the crook of her neck. She was cold and so was he. Looking around he noticed the land, and he himself was dry. It hadn't rained. Jack wasn't sure if that was a blessing or a curse. Moving slightly he looked at his hands. He was going to get an infection if he didn't have one already.

"Elizabeth."

She shifted at the tone of his voice but didn't wake up.

"Lizzy love."

Her eyes opened slowly and she looked at Jack and smiled. "Oh Jack! You're alright! I was afraid you would die in your sleep, you slept so long yesterday."

"Come now love tell me, what did you find yesterday while you were on your little hunt?"

Rubbing her eyes she looked around. "I found a beach. Oh! I was starting on making a small hut but it got too dark."

"Let's go to the beach love, I gotta clean out these wounds."

Elizabeth's eyes got big and she looked at him. "Oh Jack, I should have took care of that right away. I'm sorry. I'll take you there right away."

Jack smiled at her distress. "Don't worry about it too much love, I'll be alright. I am Captain Jack Sparrow am I not?"

"No."

He stopped in his tracks but didn't miss the smile on Elizabeth's face. "Oh? Who am I then?"

"You're Jack Sparrow, creater of trouble and mischief."

He smiled at her and the rest of the short journey was made in silence.

TBC

Okay, there out! Yay! This was going to be a much longer chapter but half way through writing it my little one year old brother turned the computer off and I lost it. I also work tonight. Hopefully you'll get more later. Sorry about the wait!