۞
Mr. Gibbs joined Will to sit with Jack that night. They were all encouraged that Jack had awakened for a short time, and that he was coherent, and was now getting restful sleep. Elizabeth finally was so tired that Will convinced her to retire to her and Will's cabin to get some rest - she had tried to get Will to join her, but he refused to leave the captain. She then felt a bit guilty to leave Jack - she felt that she had so much to make up to him - but Will and Gibbs urged her to go to bed... Jack would be fine under their watch, and Will would send for her should there be any change. Will had it in mind that he would let his wife sleep, regardless; Elizabeth was worn out. She was more shaken than she let on by Jack's plea for Will not to leave his side...to help him fight off death if it should try to take him again. The terrible guilt that she still carried wrenched at her heart, and she felt it take a strange, uncomfortable turn in her chest... was this pain what Jack felt so often? Deep down, she wished that Will could always creep into Jack's heart ... he knew that there was much more hidden there, but they would have to try to understand Jack with what they had.
Will stretched his long legs out and propped his feet up on the edge of Jack's bunk and napped, while Gibbs kept watch and read one of Jack's books by candlelight. Gibbs was one of the rare seamen who was also literate; he had learned to read while in the Royal Navy, and he was also good with sums, so he had become the Pearl's first mate and quartermaster, pulling double duty since the quartermaster Jack had hired became enamored with a tavern wench, and had left the Pearl. Gibbs found the quiet company restful, and he kept watch over both Jack and Will, sipping rum and slowly turning pages. Jack slept peacefully.
Jack had a better night, waking only occasionally, and no longer needing the bucket to vomit into. The bloody sea water had ravaged his throat and stomach, and he could not take in anything except sips of water, but asked for rum to ease the throbbing pain that his head was presenting him with. Gibbs finally relented and, with Will's consent, watered down a very small amount of rum in a cup in hopes that it would relieve Jack's pain, and not cause the bloody vomiting, again. Jack's fever also lessened, but was still present, so Gibbs would occasionally bathe his captain with cool water to help keep the fever at bay. He did not question any of the wounds over Jack's body - just knowing that Calypso had visited Jack and the Turners and informed them of the things that Will had made the crew privy to was all that he wanted to know. Thoughts of the terrible beastie made Joshamee shudder and cross himself..
When Elizabeth returned to the captain's cabin at dawn, she was more than happily surprised to see Jack awake, and propped up a bit on several pillows. Will, Jack and Gibbs were apparently sharing a joke; Will was laughing loudly, Jack was laughing weakly in his curious silent way, and Gibbs was grinning and waving his arms to emphasize the punch line of his joke. They looked at Elizabeth and promptly stopped laughing, wide-eyed and biting their lips.
"Mornin', Izzy," Jack rasped, his voice barely audible. Elizabeth ignored the fact that they must have been sharing a very raucous joke, and she smiled widely, almost laughing, perching herself on the edge of the bunk and very carefully kissing him lightly, as the captain slowly turned his uninjured cheek toward her. "Jack! Good morning! And how are you feeling this morning?" She was mindful of his injuries and careful not to cause pain... it was still evident that he was hurting.
"… I feel like bloody hell, but I think I'm better," he paused, glancing at the other two men, then whispered hoarsely, "So much more better, in fact, that it occurs to me that y' are sittin' on me bed, an' I am completely naked under these blankets. If it were not fer your husband… me cousin… sittin' within hittin' distance o' me, I would ask ye t' join me in some friskiness, love…" Jack's pained smile was playful, and his tired eyes had a touch of their old sparkle.
"Friskiness, indeed, Captain Sparrow. If it weren't for the fact that I took great pains to stitch you up, I would slap you, you naughty boy, and cause reason to stitch you up, again." Elizabeth grinned, as sat in Will's lap and kissed him, long and lovingly.
"Izzy! You stitched up me head?" Jack croaked, incredulously.
"Aye, that she did, Cap'n", smiled Gibbs, "an' she did a fine job, too! Not only is she a fine sailor, she be a fine doctor, too."
Will and Elizabeth were not listening for a moment, as they were quietly nestled in each other's arms, their eyes closed. Gibbs cleared his throat and said, "Why don't I nip off t' th' galley and see about some coffee, eh?"
Jack laid in silence and watched the pair, sinking deeply into the pillows, and sighing. He was already exhausted, again. "Th' two o' ye can retire to your cabin, if ye wish", he whispered, "I'm told that William hasn't left me side since night befo' last… ye need t' get some proper rest. I'll be fine. Gibbs can sit wif me," Jack would have said more, but his damaged throat finally failed him. He coughed weakly, and spit up a small amount of blood.
Will poured another cup of water and gently raised it to Jack's lips, "Here, cousin… now, shut it. Not another word. " Jack pouted...
Jack slowly got better as the days went on. The Turners knew that he was recovering as soon as he started making a nuisance of himself. He would fuss, weakly, when Elizabeth would bring a bowl of broth and attempt to spoon feed him; the captain would scowl and clench his mouth shut until she let him attempt to take the spoon and feed himself. He was quite without real strength, and still in pain from his various mysterious injuries. His attempts to feed himself generally ended up with him dropping the spoon, or spilling the warm broth on himself. Will suspected that there were more injuries inflicted internally by the Kraken that could not be seen, but Jack was silent about them - he would only clench his jaw or turn pale if he moved or was handled a bad way.
Jack would then sigh and finally allowed Will and Elizabeth to take care of him. His famous pride was definitely stinging, but his stomach was recovering, and the rumble of hunger took precedence, which pleased the Turners greatly. Jack abhored being fed like a child, with wee sips from a spoon, but he eventually seemed to secretly enjoy the attention, once he was feeling more like himself. He did not like being spoon fed, but enjoyed the company of the young couple tremendously, and was glad that they didn't mind if he fell asleep during their conversations or when they read to him.
Will finally felt that he could leave Jack's side now and then, at Jack's insistance, and get some rest and fresh air, himself. Will would subversively attempt to get Jack to eat more solid food as his body would allow, considering how ill Jack had been; Will was concerned about Jack's gauntness, and the dark circles under his eyes that were not his customary kohl, but Jack reassured him that he was going to be fine. Will would walk into the captain's cabin from the galley, purposely eating a banana in front of Jack, offering to share, hoping to interest the captain; it was working - it was Jack's favorite, and soon, he was eating some solid food, again. The captain was still pale, giving his dark skin a gray look, and was still given to being overtaken with dreadful, crippling cold spells. Will and Elizabeth both wondered if Jack might not be able to be rid of this side effect of his bout with the Beast.
Jack had much trouble sitting up for a long time without double vision overtaking him.. Knowing how hard he had been hit by the mast, and how hard he hit the deck, Jack was simply thankful that he was doing as well as he was. He had been hit in the head a lot in his lifetime, he pondered randomly.
"… mebbe hard heads runs in th' family, young William. I know that you can be hard headed in a differ'nt way."
"… aye, but at least I can walk in a straight line. And you can be pretty damned stubborn, too, so the pot's calling the kettle black."
"…point well taken, Will."
The Pearl was slowed only slightly by the damaged mizzen on her long journey back to the Caribbean, and they made several ports of call along the way. Elizabeth, especially, enjoyed these embarkations, exploring the bustling ports, and visiting the marketplaces. Now that Jack was slowly getting better, she felt that she could go ashore stealthily with Mr. Gibbs. The Pearl's crew had helped themselves to a great deal of swag in Singapore, and the ship's ledger held a healthy balance, so she could be well stocked with good food and supplies for the long voyage across the Atlantic. With Jack's condition being what it was, presently, raiding other ships might not be advisable for the time being. Jack still asked Elizabeth to keep a keen ear as to what kind of ships were around the ports that they visited, and find out what types of cargo they carried.
Elizabeth helped Mr. Gibbs choose provisions, along with Mr. Ragetti. By now, they were sailing around of the coast of Africa, and were able to fit out the Pearl with a new mizzen mast during one of their stops.
Will assisted Jack in charting their course - even in his condition, Jack would not let anyone, including Gibbs, who was already taking on more responsibilities than anyone besides the captain, take this task. Having been a cartographer's apprentice, Jack had a peculiar love of sea charts, he had whole cabinet full of them. Charts were one of the most valuable possessions that a ship's captain could have, and the captain's cabinet was a library of maps, all neatly rolled and ready. Will had become an excellent navigator during the journey to World's End to find Jack and in his ensuing time as the captain of the Flying Dutchman, but Jack always felt that one never had enough in refining one's "reconciliatory navigational skills".
Will studied the charts that were spread out on the large mahogany table in Jack's cabin, and Jack quizzed him from his bunk. Jack was finally able to struggle into some clean clothing with some help, so Will would occasionally help him over to the table so that the captain could sit in a chair with a pillow at his back, and show him some of the finer points of making a quick escape using the charts and the Pearl's unrivaled speed... one of the dark ship's most famous attributes.
The pair would quite often fall into quiet conversation, but now Will could understand his cousin more when he would choose to not talk about some things. He knew when to not press Jack. But he could tell that Jack wanted to talk, finally having someone to trust, but wasn't quite ready. It was during one of their conversations, Jack idly asked Will if Elizabeth had mentioned any news of other ships in the area, and Will looked at him with worry in his eyes. "Jack, you're not in any condition to raid any ships right now... we can't take the risk."
Jack looked at Will with the odd gleam that they had so frequently since The Locker, tilted his head to one side, and replied, hoarsely, "It's not about raidin', William. We're off th' coast of Africa. If we encounter any slave ships, I will free their cargo, strand th' crew on land, an' blast th' bloody bejesus outta th' ship and send it straight t' hell, savvy?" Contempt crept into his voice, and Jack's dark eyes pierced Will's like black icicles, "I hate slavers, " he spat, with hoarse venom in his voice.
Will looked back into his cousin's eyes, now with deep understanding. He paused, then said, "I agree. I hate slavers, too, Jack," Will said quietly, but with great conviction and even more contempt, "If we encounter them, we will utterly destroy them."
Jack pondered his cousin's response later. He and Will understood each other. He knew that Will was aware of how and why Jack had lost the Wicked Wench; the captain, however, had absolutely no idea how much Will despised slavery, now, for an entirely different reason.