Jack's foot slipped and he nearly fell over backwards, but an arm jerked him back upright.

"Easy, Jack." Will warned.

"I hate stairs." The injured man grumbled.

"Relax, there's only a few left." The other man reassured him. "Come on."

The two men finally got to the top, without any more difficulties. They headed down the hallway until William turned them right, into a large dining hall. Sure enough, the extra large table had been set. It was covered in all sorts of foods, from cooked beef to potatoes.

Jack settled down besides Angelica, Will beside Elizabeth on the other side of the table.

As they began to eat, the Dutchman's former captain spoke up. "What do you plan on doing once you're healed, Jack? I don't think going back out in the Pearl anytime soon's a good idea."

"I know that." He responded with a sigh. "I don't know what to do, mate. But I do have to go to Shipwreck Cove sometime soon."

"Why's that?" He asked.

"'Cause the Keeper's dead. And bein' the heir, I have to make it official or whatever." He explained. "I can't an' won't leave that spot open."

"But it's not safe to go there." Elizabeth reminded him. "The Royal Navy knows where it is."

"I have to try." Jack told her stubbornly. "No one lives forever, they'll probably catch me eventually anyways. Might as well risk it, eh?"

"But you'd live longer if you didn't go." Will pointed out.

The injured captain gave a bitter chuckle. "Live longer? Aye, it does sound nice, but I've given up on livin' for eternity, mate."

*X*

The doctor had left a couple of minutes ago. Jack had been left alone in his room to rest for the night. His wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, the two musket shots removed from his torso. Will had also supplied him with a clean pair of clothes. Black trousers and a white shirt along with a brown vest. He'd kept his belt and hat as well as his bandana. His boot was switched out with a new matching pair, one having a custom cut block of wood to keep the end of his peg leg from shifting around.

He sat with his back against the bed's headboard, wide awake. After a good meal and being so exhausted, one would think he'd sleep easily. But, no, he just couldn't. His effects sat on the nightstand, his peg leg on the floor with his boots. He held his compass in his hand, lid open. As he predicted, the red needle pointed towards Angelica's room. He gave a faint smirk and closed the lid, setting the compass beside his other effects.

Jack sighed, lying down completely on his back. He began to doze off as his mind began thinking things over and remembering things. But this night, that wasn't all. Nightmares came, and these ones were as real as a fake thing could get.

The soldiers approached quickly and Jack drew his weapons. He fired his pistol and the first of the group of soldiers crashed to the ground, dead. He knew that he could never have time to reload it and tossed the flintlock aside in the sand. The second of the group of soldiers reached him and their swords clashed. Their swords locked and he managed to slip his own free, slashing the man's leg and then stabbing him through the chest. A gunshot rang out and pain seared through his back. He let out a shout of pain as he whirled around to face the group of soldiers.

He spotted Angelica hiding behind the dinghy out the corner of his eye. She clearly didn't obey his order. Women.

He grabbed the sword of the dead soldier and threw it like an axe. It connected with the stomach of another Navy man, who tumbled to the ground before becoming motionless. With his own weapon, he locked blades with another man and they dueled for a few moments before he broke through his defenses and stabbed him straight in between the shoulder blades from the back.

Jack barely spotted a dagger flying towards him and couldn't react before it plunged into the peg leg, damaging the wood. He pulled the knife free, hearing the wood splinter a tiny bit. He threw the knife back and watched it as it hit home in a soldier's neck. He gave a momentary smirk of satisfaction before it faded. There was one man left, and he had his musket locked onto him.

"Don't fire that, mate!" He called to him.

Of course, the man didn't listen to him. He heard the shot and spotted the tiny version of a cannonball flying straight at his face. It was as if everything had gone slow motion for a few moments. He couldn't move either. He could only watch, doom in his stomach, as it came flying at him.

Just before it would have hit and killed him, he was pitched into endless blackness.

"No!" Jack screamed, eyes snapping open and arm flying through the air.

He felt it connect with something and heard a gasp of pain as well as surprise. It went quiet except for the sound of his heavy breathing slowing. He propped himself up on an elbow to see what had just happened. His eyes swept over the form of Angelica, who held her jaw and frowned at him. She sat next to the bed, though was now half lying on it after the punch she'd unintentionally received.

"Jack?" She spoke up, breaking the silence. "Are you alright?"

"Are ye?" He asked in return. "'M sorry 'bout that."

"I am fine." The Spanish woman responded.

"What are ye doin' in 'ere, love?" He questioned.

She didn't meet his gaze as she answered. "You were screaming. I was worried, Jack."

"I'm fine. It was jus' a nightmare." He assured her. Then he swallowed, muttering,"A bad one."

"Yes, that was obvious." She told him, watching him.

Jack's breathing finally settled down and he sighed quietly. He felt Angelica's eyes on him and met her gaze. She began getting to her feet and heading towards the door to go back to her own room.

"Wait." He called to her.

She turned around. "What?"

"Ye can stay if ye want." He told her.

The look in her eyes showed that she knew that he was asking her if she could stay with him. She nodded, walking back over to him. She climbed in the other side of the bed and gently kissed his cheek. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jack." She promised.

He gave a small smile, before closing his eyes. "Good."

Jack was close to dozing off again, when he heard her whisper his name. He grumbled something inaudible.

"I love you." Angelica told him.

He sounded more Englishman than pirate when he answered. "I love you too, Angelica."

A/N: First part of 'Pirates' Life' is complete! Look for 'Pirates' Life: Moving On', which will probably be out later today or tomorrow! Just telling you now, it will be Rated M.