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

As per normal, thank you to all my readers and reviewers! I can't tell you how much reading your reviews mean to me…but I'll try. Let's just say that I'm in college and I actually squealed when I read some of them : ) I'm really getting into writing this story, finding that it's becoming more filled with action and humor. So please enjoy : )

The next morning, Elizabeth rose to find a sky that blended with the sea in an unattractive gray color. She dressed and went about her morning chores aboard the Pearl before going to check on her two patients. She went down to see Will and found him reading a book in the dim light of a lantern suspended from the rafters.

"Good morning." She said with a smile. Will looked up, returned her smile and put down his book.

"'Morning."

"Where'd you get that?" Elizabeth asked, leaning against one of the sturdy beams that made up the Pearl's brig.

"Master Gibbs, believe it or not."

"Mr. Gibbs?" Elizabeth repeated, believing it. Will nodded.

"Said if I knew what was good for me that I'd stay put today."

Elizabeth laughed.

"He's a wise man. How're you feeling?"

"Still tired and a bit achy." Will admitted.

"Fever gone?" Elizabeth asked, coming over and laying the back of her hand across Will's cheek. Will reached up, took it and pulled it towards his lips for a kiss.

"Well?" Will asked, releasing his grip on Elizabeth's hand.

"You're still a tad warm but nothing to be concerned about."

"Ah." Will said, nodding. "How's Jack today?"

"I haven't been in to see him yet. I was heading there next."

"Aye. You'd better get up there then."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes but nodded her head.

"Wish me luck. The old devil is an ornery as a bear."

Will laughed at the level of Elizabeth's distaste for Jack.

"Good luck, Elizabeth. You know that Jack appreciates it. As do I."

"Don't want to hear it, Will." Elizabeth called as she walked towards the stairs. She heard Will laugh again as she felt a faint mist on her face when she reached the top of the stairs. She made her way carefully across the slick deck to Jack's cabin. She knocked, against her better judgement, and then cautiously entered the cabin. Jack, like Will, was still in bed.

"Good morning." Elizabeth said cheerfully, trying to make the best out of the situation.

"A good morning it is not." Jack greeted her. Elizabeth's smile fell.

"Well, if you want to ruin the ambiance right away." Elizabeth muttered.

"Love, the only ambiance here is how the empty rum bottle matches my thirst. They desperately want to rendezvous but said bottle is incapable of upholding its end of the bargain."

"How are you feeling?" Elizabeth asked, ignoring his request for rum so early in the day.

"Did you not catch that, Lizzie? My rum bottle is empty." Jack looked right at her from his position, which, in Elizabeth's opinion, looked terribly uncomfortable.

"Do you ever do anything besides drink rum?" Elizabeth asked.

"My first love is the sea, Elizabeth, and my second love is my full bottle. Full of rum." Jack quickly tacked on that last bit, thinking about where Elizabeth could've taken that.

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing that Barbossa stranded you on an island full of the vile drink." Elizabeth shot back.

"That's got nothing to do with it. Why, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, mate, and I would've gotten off that island with or without the rum."

"And I suppose the only difference is that you would've been off the island 3 days sooner without the rum."

"Precisely. I'm glad we've all reached the understanding that I love rum, so if you would be so kind." Jack held up the empty bottle and shook it. Elizabeth didn't even bother asking where he had gotten an actual bottle, seeing as she had left him with just a drinking pouch yesterday. Unbeknown to her, Master Gibbs had paid a visit to each of her patients that day-delivering a book and, of course, a bottle of rum. Elizabeth threw up her hands in frustration.

"You're impossible, Jack!" she exclaimed.

"That's a bit bold, mate. It's all a matter of knowing how to get what you want. Take me, for example. I wanted the Pearl back so I used the young Mr. Turner's blood to get it back. Now you, you want me to tell you how I'm feeling this forsaken morning, then you should take advantage that I am lacking, and wanting, rum. Savvy?" Jack looked convincingly at Elizabeth. Elizabeth scoured, snatched the outstretched bottle and turned on her heel.

"Don't slam the door!" Jack called after her. Elizabeth went down into the brig and filled the bottle half full. She stomped back upstairs and re-entered Jack's cabin without knocking.

"Here." she said, handing over the bottle.

"Many thanks, Love." Jack said, taking a big swig. "Ah, that's like music to the ears."

"Now, how are you feeling?" Elizabeth asked and Jack sighed.

"I'll live, if that's what you're worried about." Jack said and Elizabeth raised her eyebrow.

"Jack." she said, in a warning tone.

"Let's just say that it's a good thing I'm not steering the ship, Deary."

Elizabeth went up to Jack and did the same thing she had with Will, only Jack didn't try to kiss her hand.

"You're still warm." Elizabeth noted, sitting on the edge of Jack's bed.

"You're not going to make me use that rag thingy again, are you?" Jack hoped with all his heart she would say no.

"No. But I do want you to rest. Doctors orders." Elizabeth rose to leave.

"You're not a doctor." Jack couldn't resist pointing out.

"No, but you're sick and I'm not. That makes me more of a doctor than you right now. Now rest, Jack. I mean it-stay put."

Elizabeth left before Jack could respond. Jack took a lonely swig of rum, watching Elizabeth leave.

"Yes, doctor." he mumbled before rolling over and letting the rocking of the ship lull him to sleep, all the while clutching his precious bottle of rum.

Such a long chapter merits even a short review. Please?