Something More Than Before
Chapter 16 – What's Done Is Done
All Jack could think about over the next few days was Elizabeth. Everyone on board now knew of the meltdown of Will and Elizabeth's relationship, and that they were no longer together. As a result of this, Elizabeth had not been seen in the three days since their break-up. Not once, and Jack was starting to get worried.
Now, he was feeling a little nervous as he stood in front of the door to Elizabeth's room, knocking ever so quietly. He wasn't there to try and get back together with her, he was scared for her.
When there was no reply, he gently opened the door, and popped his head around the side to look in.
There was Elizabeth, fast asleep, snuggled up, nice and warm, in her bed. She was pale, and didn't look too well, sweat beads on her forehead. Maybe she had a fever or something. He would fetch Tia Dalma to have a look at her.
-----
"You want me to diagnose Elizabeth?" Tia Dalma repeated after Jack had told her.
"I'm worried about her," Jack said honestly. "She looked quite sick in there. Please just take a look at her?"
Tia Dalma sighed. "Alright, I suppose."
Jack smiled, "Thankyou."
Within minutes, they were once again at a sleeping Elizabeth's bedside. Tia Dalma pushed a piece of hair from Elizabeth's face while Jack looked on anxiously.
"Jack, I think you should leave," Tia Dalma said, turning to face him. "She won't be too happy to find you here if she wakes up unexpectedly, no matter how much you love her."
Jack nodded, understanding completely. "I'll be at the wheel."
"OK," Tia Dalma said, turning back to Elizabeth, putting her hand on Elizabeth's forehead as Jack left the room and she heard the door shut.
Elizabeth had a searing temperature; but that might just have been because of the heat of the bed. But that didn't explain her unusual paleness.
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Jack had stayed outside Elizabeth's door, instead of returning to the wheel like he said he would. Then it dawned on him; when did he tell Tia Dalma, or anyone for that matter, that he was in love with Elizabeth?
Not wanting to barge in on Tia Dalma figuring out if Elizabeth was OK, he decided to ask her about it when she returned.
-----
Tia Dalma retracted her hand from Elizabeth's forehead as she began to stir and wake up. Her eyelids fluttered open, and looked up at the shadowy figure next to her. At first, she was filled with panic, but as her eyes began to focus, she saw that it was merely Tia Dalma.
"You gave me a fright," Elizabeth smiled, sitting up in her bed. "What are you doing here?"
"Jack got a bit worried about you," Tia Dalma smiled back at her, "and he asked me to check up on you."
"That was nice of him," Elizabeth yawned tiredly.
Tia Dalma's smile faded. "Are you feeling alright?"
Elizabeth considered then replied, "More than yesterday. I felt awful yesterday."
"What was wrong yesterday?" Tia Dalma asked slowly.
"I had no appetite, really, and I was terribly sick," Elizabeth said, thinking nothing of it.
"Elizabeth," Tia Dalma said cautiously, "I have a question to ask."
"Mmm?" Elizabeth smiled.
"When was the last time you and Jack slept together?"
"The night Will came back, why?" Elizabeth answered, still not knowing where Tia Dalma was headed with her questions.
"Is that the only time?" Tia Dalma asked hopefully.
"No, there were a few other times," Elizabeth giggled reminiscently.
"Elizabeth, this is no laughing matter," Tia Dalma said, her eyes flashing dangerously.
"Why?" Elizabeth asked hastily.
-----
Tia Dalma returned from Elizabeth's room a few minutes later, an anxious Jack approaching her.
"Well? Is she OK?" he asked worriedly.
Tia Dalma sighed, "She's fine."
"Well, what was wrong with her? Why was she so pale and ill-looking?" Jack asked confusedly.
Tia Dalma paused a moment. "It's not my place to tell you that, and I don't think she's ready to tell you either."
Jack nodded, looking at the door from which Tia Dalma had just emerged.
"Give her time," Tia Dalma said encouragingly, seeing the worry remain in Jack's eyes, "she'll tell you when she thinks the time is right."
-----
Elizabeth wiped the last of her tears from her eyes, and blew into a tissue that was left on her bedside cabinet by Tia Dalma.
She wasn't ready for this; she wasn't even over Will yet. She was still in love with Will.
I'm pregnant, Elizabeth thought, not knowing whether she should be happy or not. I'm pregnant with Jack Sparrow's baby.
She pulled the covers under her chin, and tucked her knees upto her chest.
Although she was having his baby, she definitely wasn't ready to see Jack yet. She would tell him when the time was right. A few days or so should do the trick.
She looked towards her door, and saw Jack silhouetted against it. She wished that he would leave her alone. She was going to be in here for another few days at least. He had to bite his lip and put up with it.
She laid down her legs again and placed her head back upon the pillow, waiting for sleep to claim her.
-----
Tia Dalma noticed that Jack still hadn't left Elizabeth's door. She sighed and walked over to him.
"Jack, you standing there, hoping she'll come out soon won't help, you know," she told him.
He looked down at the floor. "I know, I just don't want to leave."
"I know you love her, but –"
Jack's head snapped up, and he looked her right in the eyes. "That reminds me..."
"What?" Tia Dalma asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"...how do you know I love her?" Jack asked her.
"I know everything," she shrugged, before whispering almost inaudibly, "and I can see it in your eyes. I always could."
"Always could?" Jack repeated. "Since when?"
"The first time I saw you together, when you came to my hut holding hands," Tia Dalma smiled. "You always were a doomed man."
"Why didn't you warn me?" he asked.
"The same reason why you didn't warn me," she whispered sadly. "Neither of us could see it coming before it happened."
"Barbossa was right," Jack smiled.
"Yes," Tia Dalma said quietly. "But it's all too late now. What's done is done."
Jack had never known the true meaning of those words before. Until now.
I have to say, I was a bit annoyed at the person who reviewed my last chapter guessing Elizabeth was pregnant (no hard feelings :) and also people who guessed at Tia Dalma (was I that obvious?), but never mind.
Review please!
QueenSerenity818 out.