/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter Thirteen

It was the pain that awoke me. Slowly opening my eyes, I felt a sharp pain sear through my face, I abruptly closed my eyes. Opening them again at a squint, I slowly looked around me. I definitely wasn't at Tia Dalma's hut anymore.

Trying to move, I found that I couldn't. I was tied up on a bed. Trying not to let the fear overtake me, I looked around the room. It looked familiar, but I couldn't place where it would be.

The sound of boots against wood caught my attention. Turning my head slightly, I gasped when I saw who it was. Bootstrap Bill.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Elizabeth," he said soothingly going over to the window to open the curtains. It was a wonder that he put them up when the window was so small.

"Where's Will?" I asked, stopping my struggles. It would be hopeless to try to escape.

"Don't worry, Will's fine. Don't be any more stressed than you need to be," Bootstrap Bill exclaimed.

I didn't know how that could be when I was hit on the side of the head, abducted and waking up in a strange place tied in a bed. I don't think anybody could be calm after all of that. Despite my rash thoughts, I said nothing. I really didn't want to have an argument with the notorious Bootstrap Bill Turner, no matter how kind he was.

Bootstrap Bill came over and sat on the edge of the bed and began untying the chords on my wrists. Rubbing my wrists, I began to sit up when a dizzying sensation over came me. Groaning, I fell back on the bed, my hand flying to my head. Underneath my fingers I could feel the huge lump where I had been hit.

"I would recommend that you don't move around too much, or I'm afraid you'll become dizzy and sick," Bootstrap Bill said.

"I've come to that conclusion," I growled.

Bootstrap Bill merely chuckled. "I can see why my son fell in love with you, Elizabeth. You have a spunk that he wouldn't have found in any other person."

"I just hope that's not the only reason he loves me," I said.

Bootstrap Bill shook his head, still chuckling. "Will loves you for who you are, Elizabeth, as a whole. Don't ever let anybody tell you any different."

I smiled. "You're so full of wisdom, Bootstrap. I can see why Will loves you so much and looks up to you."

Bootstrap Bill's face darkened. "I've been a fool for so many years. I should never have left Will and his mother alone in London. Will needed me there with him, not out in the seven seas, risking my life every day."

"Oh, please don't say that," I said, my heart filling with sympathy. "If you weren't a good father, Will wouldn't have turned out the way he was. He wouldn't have the respect for you that he does now."

"That was all his mother's doing. She was the one who taught him compassion, modesty…love," Bootstrap Bill stated. "I have done nothing to better him as a good man of society."

I covered his hand with my own. "I think you'll find that's not the case. Will looks up to you and he's forever comparing himself to you, wondering if he'll ever be as good as his father. You'll see that before the end."

Bootstrap Bill looked at me and was about to answer when the door opened softly. Will's face peeked around the corner, a worried expression on his face. He was obviously concerned about my health and wanted to see if there was anything he could do.

Bootstrap Bill stood and smiled down at his son. "Everything's alright, son. She'll live to see another day, I promise you."

Will sighed with relief. "I've been so worried, I thought that she was going to—well, you know."

I struggled to sit up. "I have two ears and a mouth. I can hear every word that you two are saying and I have the mind to speak up and see that you're not talking about me to my death."

Will laughed heartily, a true laugh that I hadn't heard in many months. Striding over to me, he sat on the edge of the bed and kissed me gently on the lips. Pulling away, he looked deep into my eyes.

"I thought I had lost you. I would never have forgiven myself if I had," Will exclaimed, a twinkle shining in his eyes.

"Oh, Will, you could never lose me," I breathed, drinking him in with my eyes. I was so glad to see him happy again that I never wanted the moment to end.

"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone. You know where to find me, Will," Bootstrap Bill said before disappearing from the room.

I sighed with happiness, letting my head rest against Will's shoulder. "I thought you were dead. I heard a shout and I came to look for you and you were lying so still…"

Will smiled. "Well, I'm alive now, there's no need to fear."

"For now, at least," I said. "Will, where are we?"

"I'm not sure I should tell you that right now," Will said, his eyes full of concern. "You've not recovered yet."

I gave him a look. "Now, Will, you know how I don't like being in the dark. Please tell me, I promise you I won't faint away."

Will sighed. "We're in the Black Pearl."

"What?" I asked in shock. "The Black Pearl? But how can that be, the Black Pearl sank."

"Don't ask me how he did it, but my father somehow struck a deal with Davy Jones to get the Black Pearl raised again," Will stated.

"And what was the price for raising it again?" I asked skeptically. "Surely Davy Jones didn't do all of this for free."

"My father didn't tell me what the price was, but we're here now and we're on our way back to Port Royal," Will said.

"Port Royal?" I exclaimed. "But what about the rest of the crew? We can't just leave them there at Tia Dalma's. What about Jack, all that work searching for him and we're just going to leave him? He's your friend, Will, and friends don't leave each other behind."

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth," Will said, "but it's all for the best."

"All for the best?" I said haughtily. "If it was all for the best, then why did your father hit us on the side of our heads and spirit us away?"

"How did you know that?" Will asked.

I shrugged. "It seems the only logical conclusion. If we're the only three people on the Black Pearl, then it was most likely him that did it. Why are you keeping all of this from me, Will?"

"I think you need to rest, Elizabeth," Will said, gently pushing me back down against the bed. "You've had a long night and an equally rough morning. I'll tell you more when my father allows it and when you get better. You need your energy."

"I always need my energy, but whenever I have the energy to do anything, I'm not allowed to help out!" I exclaimed.

Will laughed. "You never seem to give up, do you?"

I folded my arms across my chest. "If I did, nothing would get done around here."

Will shook his head, still chuckling. "So it would seem. But please, Elizabeth, get some rest. You'll be grateful that I made you when you do."

"Do I have to?" I complained, not wanting to fall asleep and waste precious moments being with Will.

"Yes, that's an order." Will brushed the hair out of my eyes. "I promise I'll be here when you wake up."

"If you insist," I said, and closing my eyes, I fell asleep, dreaming and knowing nothing more.

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Author's Note: A little bit longer and not much action, but I'm going somewhere with this, I promise. Thanks to everybody who reviewed the last chapter, I really appreciate it. I hope everybody continues to enjoy the story and I'll update when I can. Don't forget to review, it makes the writer happy!