Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean.

I finally feel that this is catching some winds in its sails. And that's mostly due to you, my faithful readers. So, as always, thanks are in order. So thank you! Please enjoy this chapter and I hope to have another one up soon!

Elizabeth put the black iron pot onto the stove, which was really a piece of metal suspended over an enclosed fire pit. She chopped up what she could-a few pieces of chicken, some carrots and shelled a few peas and dumped it all into the boiling water. She added what few spices she could find and then waited for it to thicken a little bit. While she was stirring it, absent-mindedly staring at the wall in front of her, Mr. Gibbs came down to the kitchen.

"Miss Elizabeth." he greeted her. Elizabeth whirled around, putting a hand to her chest.

"Mr. Gibbs, you scared me!" she gasped.

"Sorry, missy. Just looking for some rum to refill me pouch." He waved an empty pouch in Elizabeth's face for her to see.

"There's a bottle in the cupboard." Elizabeth said, pointing. Mr. Gibbs went over and took out the bottle.

"Thanks, lassie. What brings ye down here?" he asked, carefully filling his pouch. When it was filled, he offered Elizabeth a swig from the bottle but she shook her head. Mr. Gibbs shrugged and then took a gulp himself before re-corking it and slamming it back into the drawer.

"Making some soup for Will and Jack." She said, turning back to stir the bubbling pot.

"Soup, eh? I bet the Cap'n can't remember the last time he had soup, made by a woman, much less."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elizabeth hadn't meant to sound offensive, but that's how it came out. Mr. Gibbs let out a guffaw.

"No injustice intended, Miss Elizabeth. But ye have to understand, Jack's been own his lonesome since he was just a wee lad. He's used to looking out for himself. In fact, this is the first time I've ever seen Jack take to his quarters."

"Surely Jack's been sick before." Elizabeth responded. Someone with Jack's level of personal hygiene had to fall ill more than once in his life time.

"Aye, Jack's been under the weather before. But he didn't go to bed like any sensible person would. Instead, he would stand on the bridge of the Pearl and follow wherever the voices in his head would lead him. We had to be mighty careful when Jack was steering the ship. Almost caused us to run aground a couple of times."

"Really?" Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. Jack was one of the best seamen she knew.

"Aye." Mr. Gibbs took a swig of rum. "But hasn't happened in years, now. I suppose we're lucky to have you around now to keep the Cap'n in line. And in bed." Mr. Gibbs added before leaving Elizabeth and her pot of soup.

Their conversation filled Elizabeth's mind as she dished up two healthy portions of soup and a roll apiece. She decided to take Will's his first as he was closer. Will ate almost the whole bowl, much to Elizabeth's relief. It looked as if the worst was over for young Mr. Turner. Almost as soon as Elizabeth took the bowl from his hands, Will fell asleep. Elizabeth placed a soft kiss on his temple and then went to take some supper to Jack.

Elizabeth entered Jack's cabin quietly, in case he was still sleeping, in which case she made a mental not to make sure his pistol was out of range. But Jack wasn't asleep. In fact, he was lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Most surprisingly, Jack had left the rag in its place; Elizabeth was quite pleased. Jack turned when he heard the door open and then went back to staring at the ceiling.

"Hello, Jack." Elizabeth said.

"So did you come to pay me a visit?" Jack asked, picking up his compass from beside him, holding it up so he could see it and open it.

"I brought you something to eat." Elizabeth offered the bowl out to Jack. Jack propped himself up on his elbows and looked at the bowl and sniffed.

"What is it?" he asked, his nose wrinkling a little.

"It's soup, Jack."

"Is there rum in it?" Jack asked what, in his opinion, was the million dollar question. Elizabeth knew where this was headed so she cut straight to the chase.

"No but if you eat it all, I'll get you some more rum."

"We have a deal." Jack said, taking the bowl and spoon from Elizabeth's hands. He tentatively took his first bite.

"Well?" Elizabeth asked. Jack swallowed and flexed his tongue in that way that only Jack Sparrow can.

"It's interesting, Lizzie."

"I'm sorry I'm not much of a cook. And there's not much to work with here."

Jack took another bite and then looked at Elizabeth.

"I've had much worse, Love, believe me."

Elizabeth smiled.

"Like really bad eggs?" she asked.

"Really bad eggs and no rum." Jack responded, putting a smile on Elizabeth's face. Jack, true to his word, finished off the bowl of soup and then demanded his rum. Elizabeth fetched it for him and, like Will, after a swig of rum to wash everything down, Jack fell asleep almost instantly. Elizabeth rewet the rag and positioned it, pushing up Jack's bandana as far as she dared and left it there, closing the door behind her, hoping that Captain Jack would be feeling somewhat better in the morning.

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