I awoke roughly a day later by coughing blood once more. My sides racked as I sat up slowly, causing my sides to ache worse than normal. Jack was rubbing my right side while laying down when suddenly my stomach lurched. I struggled to stand. "Alex?"
I didn't respond. I finally gained my footing and found my way out onto the deck and to the rail. By the time Jack had arrived, I was throwing up into the ocean. Exausted, I leaned back on him, knowing he was there. I burried my head into his chest as he held me. "How long have I been asleep?"
His hands ran the length of my back as he responded. "About a day. We're almost to Tia Dalma's." His lips decended onto my forehead. "I hate that you have to go through this."
"No...Not your..." I couldn't finish. The coughs had come back, interupting our conversation.
Jack's hand came to cover my mouth. I held onto it, spitting up blood by the second. When he pulled his hand back, it was red. "I'm sorry."
His grin was my response as he cleaned his hand. "It's fine darling. Why don't you go change into clean clothes while we get ready to leave?"
"Alright." I didn't have the energy to fight. After a quick kiss, I stumbled back into his cabin and found a shirt laid out for me. Smiling weakly, I changed into it, the fabric cool against my flaming skin.
When I went back out onto the deck, Jack was sitting on one of the benches in the longboat, a blanket laid out next to him. Elizabeth smiled at me, which I returned tiredly. I was tired of sympathetic looks. I sat next to my pirate, who helped me turn so I was leaning on his side, the blanket draped losely around me. I felt myself losing to the pull of sleep as Jack's arm came around my turned waist and held onto me.
When I awoke, I heard a thickly accented voice and Jack's. I stirred lightly in his arms, opening my eyes to see Jack deep in conversation. "Do you have the antidote or not?"
"I need payment."
I was about to speak when Will spoke and handed her a odd looking chain. "Here."
After observing it a breif moment, she laid it on the table on her way to the storeroom. "Fair enough..."
Jack noticed for the first time that I was awake. "Hello love." My response was a moan as I burried my head into his right arm. He laughed. "We're getting the antidote." I nodded as he spoke again, his head closer to mine. "We're going to arrive at Tortuga, where we're going to meet Barbossa and company, around mid afternoon tomorrow. If this antidote works, darling, then I might not have to give up the Pearl. Convincing Barbossa to give it up, however, will be tooth and nails. I love you." He whispered the last part so that the crew wouldn't have anything to hold against him. I just laughed as I nodded in agreement.
"I know. Me too."
Tia Dalma came back into the main room, a small vile in her hand. She thrust it at Jack, who took it and did what he knew to do. He drew his cutlass and explained when he saw my reaction. "Your body might not accept things in your stomach just yet." I nodded as he proceeded.
With my right hand in his, he drew the cutlass across it, causing blood to roll down my hand and onto his. My left hand snaked around his right upper arm and held tightly as a small portion of the liquid was poured into the cut. It stung and Jack saw, kissing the back of my hand as the pain subsided. "You can drink some until it's gone." A nod was all he got as I once again blacked out in his arms.
I awoke in the cabin to see Will sitting next to the bed, no doubt he was watching me for Jack. "Alex?"
I squinted as I woke. The antidote seemed to have an effect on my headache, and my muscles only hurt slightly when I moved. I was beginning to think that the coughing up blood was over when I was hit with another wave of hacks. After I'd wiped off the blood with an old rag provided by Will, I dared to speak. "Where's Jack?"
"Ah darling. You're awake." I nodded as he took his place next to me, pulling me close. A nod of the head towards Will convinced him to leave. "How are you?" His hands stroked my hair behind my ears as he looked into my eyes. "No redness I see."
I smiled slightly as he spoke. "Just the coughing is left."
"Ah yes. That's going to pass over time. Here. Drink a little." I took the vile and did as I was told.
It burned going down, perhaps due to the blood in my throat and mouth. "We're almost there aren't we?"
"Yep. And you're staying in here..."
"Fine." I crossed my arms as I lay my back against him. "Can I at least go onto the deck for a few moments? I haven't been out in a long time... Well that is." He laughed as he helped me off the bed. Before I could get out the door, he spun me around in his embrace.
"Be careful savvy?"
I nodded as his lips found mine in a hungry kiss. I grinned and pulled back, going out to the rail. I stood there as Jack went to check on things with Gibbs. It dawned on me as I closed my eyes and let the sun's warmness bathe me. Beckett would bring back up reinforcement in case Jack tried something. I was running to the stairs to the helm when I was caught in Jack's arms. "Jack! Beckett will bring back up..." I was interupted by a cannon shot as the water from the missed weapon splashed into the water.
"I know love. Now go. Into my cabin." With a quick, rushed and rough kiss, I was ushered into his cabin.
I plopped down onto his bed, hating the feelings I was experiancing. I felt lonely in the large cabin alone. I was helpless in the eyes of the crew, with me being sick alot and all. A gunshot echoed through my ears, bringing me out of my trance. I could only think of Jack and what my life would be without him as I heard him yelling out various commands; Nothing. Minutes had passed and I heard yells of victory as I heard Jack yell out in pain. Before I could move, coughs that I couldn't control overtook me. I disregarded the blood on my hands and wiped them lazily on my pants. Immediatly, I went out to see Jack sitting on the deck cross-legged, clutching his left arm in pain. "Jack!" I sat next to him, my hand on his right arm, which was holding his other arm.
"I'm fine darling." I saw the bullett sitting about 3 feet away. It must've hit him but didn't go through.
"No you're not... You're bleeding!" He removed his arm and wrapped it around me, pulling me so that my head was on his shoulder. "Let me wrap it."
"If you'll stop worrying..." I helped him up, struggling myself. He stopped me halfway between the stairs and our current location. "You've been coughing, haven't you? Did you get water?"
"Jack you're hurt and you want me to take care of myself? I'm fine..." Before he could protest, I sat him on the steps and went to get bandaging materials.
When I returned, I sat just below him on the left so I could matience his arm. As I worked, he lectured me. "Dear, you have to protect yourself. I'll live I promise." I looked up as I finished.
He was staring at me with soft eyes. It wasn't often he was like this with me. And I didn't mind. His left arm pulled me up beside him, his face not showing pain although I knew it hurt him. He smiled at me, showing his gold teeth as he decended upon my neck and ear once more, shifting so we were facing each other. My neck arched as he worked with his lips on my neck. Grinning, I kissed the back of his neck, causing him to growl in his throat. "Does the Captain approve?"
Jack grinned. "Of course." He met my lips this time, knowing we didn't have much time. "You know, Barbossa was pretty angry when he saw you running around."
"Was he now?" I cocked my head to the side, our lips only hovering.
"Yes. Very. And I can't say that I minded..." He caught my lips again as he moved his arms around my back, holding me closer than before.
I closed my eyes, enjoying this. I knew that things would get worse before they got better.