Disclaimer: I tried to lure Jack into my house with rum, but Disney got in my way, so he's not mine.
AN: Wow, over 200 reviews? You guys and gals totally rock my world! Wave to the nice people, Jack. (a bound and gagged Jack hops around) Uh, never mind. (shoves Jack back into his space under the bed so the Disney lawyers don't find him). Anyway, Jack the nursemaid…doesn't that sound like fun? I know I'd like Jack to take care of me when I'm sick or hurt! Enjoy the chapter and please review to let me know how I'm doing with everything. Thanks!
Chapter 16: A Pirate Caregiver:
From his position at the helm, Mr. Gibbs did his best not to let out a stream of curses. Jack had ordered him to find a safe place to hide out for a while, namely so that Rose could have peace and quiet so that she could recover faster. He knew that most of the crew wanted a real doctor to look at the poor woman, but they couldn't risk being recognized as pirates.
'After all, how many common or noble women walk into a doctor's office with a gunshot wound?' he thought, shaking his head.
In fact, they would have to dress Rose up in a gown as either a commoner or noble woman, if they were to take her to a doctor in a town. If they carried her into the physician's house dressed in breeches, they would easily be found out as pirates and hanged. No, it was much better for them if they just found a quiet cove to hide out until Rose was back on her feet.
'And who knows when that would be?' Gibbs thought to himself with a sigh. 'The poor lass probably didn't know what hit her!'
Gibbs couldn't help but wince at the memory of Rose getting flung back by the impacted of the bullet hitting her shoulder. The sight of the blood spurting out in countless droplets and hitting the black wood of the deck still gave him terrifying dreams at night. It was heartbreaking for him, since he thought of the lass as something like a niece or daughter, and now she lay near death's door.
'But if there's anyone who can get her away from Davy Jones' Locker, it's Jack.'
Gibbs smiled. Indeed, if there was anyone who knew of a way to cheat death, it would be Captain Jack Sparrow!
Four days into Rose's healing, and they had finally come upon a safe place to hide out. Jack couldn't hold back a yawn as he felt the motion of the ship change, going from a rigorous swaying movement to a gentle glide as they left the rough waters of the sea for the calmer ones of a bay or cove.
'I'll feel better knowing that we aren't going to come across any unwanted encounters with the Royal Navy, other pirates, or aggressive merchants who have a vendetta against pirates!' Jack thought as he stretched his limbs.
He let out a contented sigh as his muscles relaxed and settled into a more comfortable position. Even though he wouldn't tell the crew, Jack was beginning to worry a little bit about Rose not waking up. True, she did have to heal from the wound, but if she didn't wake up soon, it would be considered a bad sign. Given the choice between forcing her awake and letting her do so under her own power, it was better that Rose wake up on her own; if he forced her body to do something it wasn't prepared for, the consequences could be fatal for her.
Sighing, Jack let his eyes rest on Rose's still form, her body wrapped in blankets to keep her warm and her blood flowing. Ivory lay in her traditional spot at Rose's right elbow, her head resting on top of her paws as she slept. Most of the time, the feline lay curled up on the bed, her eyes half-closed and her ears perked up in case a rodent of some sort tried to approach the bed; so far, she had gotten two or three of the little buggers before they could try anything harmful to Rose. Since Rose wasn't there to be proud of her, Jack was happy to do so in her place.
'Not to mention that I've had to feed the little thing,' Jack thought with a smile.
To keep himself busy while keeping an eye on Rose, he had taken to caring for the cat as well, leaving out food and water for Ivory to help herself to. He'd even given her baths after she'd made her kills, though he left the dead carcasses for the crewmen to dispose of. Best of all was, by taking care of Ivory, Jack was taking care of Rose indirectly as well as directly. It made him feel content, knowing that he was watching over her in more ways than one.
'Especially since she saved my life,' he thought with a wince.
If there was one thing that Jack Sparrow couldn't stand, it was the fact that he owed this woman his life. Life debts were just something no pirate was comfortable with. Being shot was something that Jack could easily deal with, as it had already happened twice before and he had come out relatively alright; he had the two scars on his chest to prove it, too. Taking a third bullet wasn't something he'd have minded, and it made him feel terrible that Rose was currently (and would later be) in a great deal of pain.
The thought of Rose's lovely face filled with torment and suffering tore through Jack's chest. If she were awake right now, he would gladly throw himself down on his knees and beg for her forgiveness. She had been right about that merchant ship and its captain, and he hadn't listened to her. His arrogance had gotten her hurt, and now he had at least two things he owed her: his life, and a very big apology.
'The apology will definitely have to be more than just a few words asking for forgiveness,' Jack decided. 'It would have to be something in the form of whatever the lass desires, preferably during the next time we end up in a town and need to restock on food or supplies.' Jack winced. 'A really big something, like jewelry or a few expensive things to decorate her cabin with….'
At that moment, a soft 'meow' came from the bed, startling Jack out of his thoughts and causing him to chuckle.
"Awake, are you, my little lady?" Jack whispered to the cat as she blinked up at him with bright green eyes. "Care for something to eat?"
Ivory merely gave him a look that stated that, yes, of course she was hungry! Jack gave another soft chuckle before moving toward the door to summon a crewman to fetch both of them a fine meal.
That evening, Jack found himself woken up in his chair as someone shook his shoulder. Glancing up to his right, he spotted Gibbs' worried face, his first mate gazing down at him in the oncoming darkness.
"Cap'n, we've managed to find a small island with a well-sheltered cove," the older man declared in a soft voice so as not to wake Rose. "The men explored it and found it to be deserted…no one living here except animals and birds."
"Very good, Mr. Gibbs," Jack replied as he rubbed his stiff neck. Gibbs gave him quick concerned look before looking at the chair he was currently sitting on. "No worries, mate, this is a fine and comfortable chair, perfect for sleeping in." He patted the arms of the chair and smiled.
The chair he had been sleeping on for the past several days was, indeed, quite comfortable. Most would have imagined him dozing in a simple wooden chair, but this was anything but that, as he refused to have something so plain and uncomfortable in his cabin to sit in while he read his books. Jack had managed to 'procure' it during one of his more successful shopping runs through Tortuga, which had occurred right after he'd gotten the Pearl back from Barbossa.
It was the sort of chair that invited someone to sit it in, the brown material covering it capable of hiding all manner of stains that managed to come from spilled ink, food, and, of course, rum. It was made from good, solid mahogany, and had survived the rough handling of its owner with little trouble. The fabric of the cushioned seat, back, and arms were of the softest cotton that he could ever imagine, imported directly from the Colonies. Unlike leather, the cotton wouldn't stick to his skin in the hot, humid temperatures of the Caribbean, and had the ability to 'breathe,' allowing air to dry it quickly so that it wasn't always soaked or covered in sweat.
'Definitely worth the two small bags of swag I traded for it,' Jack thought with an inward smirk. 'The man didn't know what hit him until it was too late. By then, the sale was done and there was no way of getting it back!'
"Well, sir, we've managed to tuck the Pearl safely away, so the men are heading down to their supper and then to their hammocks," Gibbs softly informed him. "I'll send Cotton in here later with something to eat." Slowly, his eyes drifted towards Rose. "Still sleeping, is she? Think she'll wake up soon?"
"Oh, aye, no worries about that," Jack said, waving off his friend's concern even though it mirrored his own. "Off to dinner and bed with you, Gibbs, you look half asleep on your feet!"
Gibbs merely saluted him before heading out, quietly shutting the door behind him. Meanwhile, Jack sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
I drifted in and out between blissful sleep and painful awareness, though my eyes never opened once. My shoulder burned like mad whenever the peaceful slumber edged away, but I was too tired to fully rouse myself and ask for something to help stop it. Occasionally, I could hear people talking softly in whispers, as though they were afraid to make too much noise, so I couldn't understand what they were saying. I merely let the chatter fill my head until I once again fell back into a darkness which light could not pierce.
Today, the light shone into my eyes, dragging me out of the dark and towards full wakefulness. Both of my eyelids felt heavy, but I managed to open them, fluttering my lashes as I did so. I could feel dull aches and pains all over my body, signaling that I had been unconscious for quite some time, probably for several days. I slowly looked around, my eyes adjusting to the light of the cabin and realized that I was in Jack's room. Smiling, I took a deep breath and began to slowly stretch myself out. As I did so, however, a cramp bit into my leg, and I whimpered, shutting my eyes against the pain.
Something beside the bed shifted. "Luv?" questioned a familiar voice, one which I welcomed. "Luv, are you awake?"
I licked my lips and opened them, my eyes slowly opening once more. There in a comfortable-looking chair sat Jack, his chocolate-brown eyes full of concern and hope. I gave him a small smile as I managed to relax the pain out of my leg, but winced as my dry lips cracked and bled. Jack quickly went into action and grabbed a cup and pitcher; before I knew it, Jack was helping me to sit up as cool water was running down my throat. I immediately felt a bit better, and once the cup was empty, I licked the last drop of water from my lips as Jack settled me back down upon the bed.
"So here we are once again, luv," Jack said, smirking.
A smile tugged at my lips. "Yes, indeed," I whispered back, my vocal cords tender from several days of non-usage. "For a pirate captain, you're awfully good at taking care of patients."
"Well, my dear," he replied, setting the empty cup aside when it was clear I didn't want anymore. "If all patients were as lovely and noble-minded as you are, I doubt there's a man out there who wouldn't suddenly turn doctor in order to take care of you and your glorious self."
I could feel my cheeks heating up. "Thank you, Jack," I whispered.
Suddenly, a rather sad look came into his eyes. "It's me who should be thanking you, Rose," he said as he reached out and felt my forehead for a fever. "You saved my life, and I can promise you that I won't forget it."
Something warm was suddenly lying on top of my right knee, and when I looked, I could see my darling little cat gazing up at me, her green eyes scolding me for leaving her unattended for so long.
"Oh, my poor kitten," I cooed as Ivory approached, nudging my right hand in a plea to be petted. "I suppose I have to make it all up to you, hmm?"
From his seat beside me, Jack snorted. "I doubt it, seeing as I've been feeding the darn thing every day," he muttered, glaring at the cat that was currently purring under my fingers. "But I suppose nothing could take the place of her true owner."
Before I could say a word, Jack got up from his chair and approached the door, swinging it open and glancing around the deck. "Gibbs!" he roared. "I need lunch for two people and one fur-ridden creature!"
"What do you mean lunch for two people?" Gibbs' voice called back.
"Well, Rose's been sleeping for nearly five days, Gibbs, of course she's gonna be hungry!" Jack retorted before closing the door with a smile. I quirked an eyebrow at him, and he merely put a finger to his lips. "Wait for it, luv," he said with a grin.
A moment later, I could hear shouts and cheering, almost as though there were a party going on out on the deck. Confused as to what was happening, I waited for Gibbs to come in with our awaited meal. As Jack closed the door behind him, Gibbs entered the room with our food, grinning cheerfully as he set the covered tray down on Jack's desk.
"It's good to see you awake, Rosie," Gibbs declared, beaming like a mad man. "We've all been downright worried about you not waking up."
"So I see," I replied with a tired smile, my eyes going towards the closed door.
"We've weighed anchor in a cove so that you can take your time resting up and healing," Gibbs informed me. "Since Captain Sparrow's officially the ship's doctor, he'll be taking care of you and all while the rest of us see to some chores and repairs that we can't get done at sea." He gave me a small salute. "Rest easy, Rose." Then, he was gone, quietly shutting the door behind him to cut off the loud cheers coming from the crew.
"Alright, then, luv," Jack said, clapping his hands together and rubbing them. "Time to eat!"
He helped to prop me up on a stack of comfortable feather pillows, careful not to jar my wounded left shoulder. I smiled at him in gratitude and allowed him to put Ivory down on the floor so that he could lay the tray across my lap. Once I was comfortably settled, I watched as Jack examined the food that Gibbs had brought, inhaling the aromas that steamed out from under the metal cover he lifted up.
"Well, looks like Gibbs prepared a good thick soup for you," Jack declared, smiling at me as he left the large bowl on the tray and set his own covered meal aside.
When I raised my hand to lift the spoon, though, I realized that there was no way I would be able to feed myself. Sighing, I pouted and lay the eating utensil down upon the tray. Jack chuckled as he pulled his chair right up to the bed, a ringed hand reaching for the bowl and spoon. I watched as he took up a bit of the broth and held it up to my lips, his eyes incredibly focused and intense on his task.
Deciding to be obedient, I puckered my lips and blew on the soup to cool it.
As wrong as it was to do so, Jack couldn't help but become entranced as he watched Rose pucker her lips to cool her soup before eating it. When her mouth opened, he quickly, but gently, put the spoon past her lips and removed it after she had swallowed. They repeated this procedure until the liquid part of the soup was gone and only the soft vegetables remained.
Careful so as not to burn her tongue, Jack carefully mashed the pieces up in order to make them easier for Rose to eat. She made quick work of those, too, and seemed disappointed when the bowl was empty. Deciding to feel gracious just this once, Jack picked up the tray and bowl and set it aside and to see what Gibbs had given him for his meal. It appeared to be a very nice roast with mashed potatoes, all covered in gravy. The roast would be far too heavy for Rose to eat, but the potatoes…those might help in getting her full and have a bit more energy. Swiping the plate in place of the bowl, and including his fork and knife with her soup spoon, Jack returned to his chair beside Rose, watching with amusement as her expression hovered between a wince and a pout.
"Please don't tease me by eating that when you know I can't have any," she said, turning her eyes away. "Knowing you, you'll probably force me to eat nothing but soup for several days before I can have decent food again."
Jack chuckled before holding up her spoon. "Oh, ye of little faith," he chided her as he handed her the spoon. "If you can manage it under your own power, you can have as much of my mashed potatoes as you like."
Warmth stirred in his chest as Rose beamed happily at him, her spoon inching towards his plate. Watching her carefully, Jack stood ready to rescue his bedsheets from any dropped food as Rose delicately took up half a spoonful of potatoes, slowly bringing it to her lips where she daintily nibbled her prize, savoring each bite. Once it was gone, she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Alright, I think that's enough," she said, opening her eyes and holding the utensil out for him to take. "I'm too weak to do much more than that."
He couldn't hold back a pleased smile. "Very good," he praised her as he accepted her eating tool. "You know when to stop and how much you can handle eating. I'm proud of you."
Rose blushed. "Thank you for taking care of me, Jack," she said softly. "I trust the other men, of course, but given the choice, I'd rather have you help me when I'm hung over or," she looked at her shoulder, "like this."
Jack shook his head, once again gaining her attention. "Since I've been through countless hangovers and have been shot more than once, I can understand what you're going through," he said, smiling at her surprised expression. "What, you think that, in my entire career as a pirate, I've never been shot?"
Her surprise turned into soft laughter, which Jack found quite nice to listen to. It was like listening to a streambed, the water sounding happy as it trickled over rocks as it filled the air with its bubbling sound. He found that he would like to listen to it more often.
"Well, I suppose that I shouldn't be surprised, but you are the invincible Captain Jack Sparrow," she teased as she emphasized his name and title. "But I guess that every pirate has had his encounter with a pistol."
Now it was his turn to laugh. "Oh, I'm invincible, alright," he said, grinning broadly. "After all, I survived two gunshot wounds and am still able to sit here and tend to a lovely flower such as you."
Rose pressed her right hand to her cheek. "Oh, for goodness sakes, Jack, stop making me blush like that!" she said, her smile betraying her amusement and undermining her scolding of him.
"But you look so much like your namesake when you're all flushed," Jack happily replied, sticking a forkful of roast and potatoes into his mouth, quickly chewing the tender meat and swallowing it. "You look much like a pink rose in full bloom."
"Jack, stop it!" she squealed, keeping her hand to her face as she playfully glared at him. "Now you're being horrid." She turned her lips out into a full pout, which quickly drew his attentions.
'Oh, bugger,' he thought, focusing on her lips. 'Calm down, Jack old boy.' He quickly shoved another forkful of food into his mouth so that he could focus on chewing instead of Rose's lovely…red…inviting…lips…
"Jack?" Her hand was waving in front of his face to gain his attention. "Jack, can you hear me?"
He swallowed and glanced up at her. "What?" he asked, genuinely confused.
"I said that I'm tired, but that I'd like to use the privy before going back to sleep," she replied.
"Oh, right!" he said, setting aside his now empty plate, though when he'd finished his food was beyond him.
Once Rose had relieved her self, Jack helped her brush out the huge amount of knots that had accumulated during her long rest. After she was satisfied, he helped her get back into bed, gently tucking her in and putting Ivory (who had been busy prowling the floor) at her elbow. As she drifted off to sleep, Jack let his eyes linger on her just a moment longer before returning to his chair, propping his feet up and putting his hat over his eyes for a little nap.
AN: Kind of mushy, but I love mushy. Please review and let me know your opinions!