A/N: I must apologize again for the extreme lateness. Turns out I needed more time to adjust to my new schedule! Happy Reading, and please. review! Your comments are greatly appreciated!

Jack slowly woke into consciousness. His body's temperature was unusually high, as if he was under the sun's burning heat. The humidity of the atmosphere was too much for him, so he made a move to rise. A sudden pain shooted up his right side, almost like a person ripping his skin into two. Jack tried not to scream, but he could not hold in the agonizing pain. He lied back down slowly and reached to his side. He felt blood against his dry fingers.

"Jack please, don't strain yourself too much."

Her voice was so familiar and soothing, but yet so faint. Although the overbearing pain was prominent, he could feel that his senses were slowly coming back. He could hear and smell the ocean and feel warm sand underneath his bare back. An Island? That was odd, seeing as the last thing he remembered was Elizabeth falling on top of the deck of the Pearl.

A gentle hand suddenly touched Jack's stomach, almost causing him to shiver. He opened his eyes slightly and grinned. "Having fun are we?" he said softly. Elizabeth laughed at Jack's comment. Even when he is so much pain he always has to think in that manner. Years of being a pirate I suppose. She thought. Her smile slowly faded as she gently took the soiled rag off of Jack's abdomen. The good news that it was a clean wound, meaning that no major nerves or organs were injured. The bad news is that Jack had lost too much blood then she would have liked, causing him to have a high fever.

Jack spoke. "How bad is it then Lizzie?"

Elizabeth sighed. "Well, the bleeding has slowed quite a bit, but I'm afraid that I have to clean it somehow. It could infectious." She began to brainstorm.

Jack rebuked. "Love I've had many wounds and cuts in my life, never cleaned them, never got…infected…as you say."

"Do you by any chance have some rum?" Elizabeth asked, ignoring what Jack had pointed out.

Jack's eyebrows knitted in thought. "I believe I have a small flask somewhere in me jacket. Perhaps a good swig would help me feel better, eh?"

Elizabeth pulled Jack's coat from beside him and found a small, full bottle of rum tucked away. She held it near Jack's face and looked at it. "This isn't for drinking Jack." Jack slowly raised one eyebrow in confusion. He watched Elizabeth rip a new piece of cloth and pour a small amount of rum into it.

"Why are you wasting the only rum I've got?!" Jack asked worriedly. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and gently placed the rum soaked cloth on Jack's wound.

Jack quickly breathed in and yelled.

"Bloody hell Elizabeth, what are you doing to me!?" He tried to pull Elizabeth hands away from his side. Elizabeth laughed.

"Jack, the alcohol from this rum is cleaning the wound. That's why it's stinging so much." Jack breathed harshly through his teeth, making a loud sound. For some reason, he didn't find the strength to tear Elizabeth hands of his abdomen, making him helpless to this bitter burning sensation he was now first experiencing.

It seemed hours before Elizabeth took the rag from Jack's side and bandaged it up again. He sighed with heavy relief. "Don't you ever do that again to me Lizzie, or I'll kill ye." Jack finally opened his eyes fully, slightly watering from the sudden wind that hit his face. I'm sure of it. Some blasted spit of land…but how?

Elizabeth looked at Jack's expression and knew what he was going to question. "If you're going to ask how we arrived here, I have no idea. Opened my eyes and was nearly blinded by the sun. I got up, and all I saw was the sea," she paused and sighed, looking out into the tide, "I looked around and the first thing I saw was you, lying unconscious, blood staining your clothes rapidly."

Jack looked at her with sad eyes.

Elizabeth rubbed her arm slightly and pulled her knees closer to her chest. "How are we to find the chest now?"

Jack leaned his head back and breathed in deeply. "And of the crew?"

"We're the only ones here Jack…," she smiled, "just like last time all those years ago."

Jack let out a small grin as memories flooded back into his mind. He then tilted his head towards Elizabeth and stared at her for a good length of time, suddenly realizing how much she has changed. It had nearly been 7 years since they were on an island together alone last. Not only has she become even more beautiful as a pirate, but her strength and courage was clearly exposed.

Elizabeth continued to watch the ebb and flow of the tides. She then realized something. "Jack, we're not going to be as fortunate as last time. Things have changed immensely. I am now the foremost enemy of the crown and the East India Trading Company, and secondly, I'm almost sure that you haven't been marooned on this island before," she looked at Jack, "not to forget that you can't even walk."

There was a long silence between them.

"Curious isn't it." Jack spoke louder.

"What is?"

"Beckett's son had a clear shot as to slicing me in two with his cutlass, but chose to only cut deeply into my side."

Elizabeth raised one eyebrow. "That is true, almost like he was planning to kill you later, and on a much larger scale I suppose."

"Waiting for his opportune moment I imagine."

Elizabeth slowly got up and surveyed the island as much as she could. "There's so much to do," she shouted, shielding her eyes from the sun. "We've got to find food, clean water…" she looked down and Jack and spoke softer, "but first I need to find wood and start a fire."

Jack closed his eyes and gave a quick wave to Elizabeth, trying to shoo her away. Elizabeth noticed this and gave him an evil glare. She held herself back from hurting Jack right then and there and stomped off into the nearby woods.

A/N again: I know that not much happend in this particular chapter. More "Quality time" (as it were) bettwen Jack and Lizzie. But don't worry, adventure is just around the corner...