Chapter 3: In Store

Jack woke with a jolt, confused. He gazed blearily at his surroundings, then bit his lip at the realization that he, once again, was having a bit of a problem with his memory.

"Thank God you're awake," he heard Elizabeth's voice as she came into his field of vision, "can you hear me? You've slept for almost two days. Have a little water Jack, your lips are very dry," she nodded towards him, offering a cup to him.

She was standing there right in front of him with that Spanish, southern air and attitude about her although she was so blatantly English in her self confidence. She was sitting down next to him to help him with the cup and he didn't understand it. As far as he could remember he was dropped, abandoned, at Shipwreck Cove with his bottle of rum and when that was empty he had made his way to the inn, which thankfully was in the same place as it was twenty years back. After that, he might've seen her in his dreams, but was it true?

Elizabeth gave him one of her troubled half smiles, pleased he had sipped some from the cup. She looked like an angel, attentive enough to ease him back on the pillow. But how far from an angel she really was, Jack knew most. Elizabeth, angelic. That'd be right. He closed his eyes and moaned. If he sleeps some more he'll maybe find himself back on the Pearl. Even with the vision gone, he would've taken that option. The Pearl or Elizabeth. Either would've made him happy, but there was no chance for that happening.

"Jack, what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked frantically, her heart beating as heavily as it had been for the last couple of days, hoping he would not go back to sleep this time. She was sure whatever was going on with him, it went deeper than a bad hangover. She was guessing he was under the weather, that's what Gordon thought too. "Are you ill?"

Jack opened his eyes, then squinted. The vision was still sitting there next to him. He put his hand on hers just to see if she was real. "I don't know."

"Tell me what happened!" She urged him nervously.

"Not in the mood darlin."

"Do you have any idea how you're father would be feeling right now? If my little boy was like this I'd want to know as much as possible so I can help!"

"My father would've bat an eyelid if I died."

"Why would you say that?"

"I was a sickly child, yet he was always at sea."

Elizabeth looked at him confused, "sure, like a pirate? Your father's very worried. He's been here twice a day since we brought you here."

"Huh?" He grunted, panicked. Could it be that Elizabeth and Teague took him here from the inn and put him to bed? It was demanding to think against the headache and the muscle stiffness in his neck. Of course he had come here to steal that book with the pirate codes. Captain Teague always knew a lot more than he let on, the books would have a tad bit about the fountain of youth in them too. Not that he in fact gave a sod. Not now, not so far from Elizabeth and the Pearl. He hated how weak he had become too. Those two have seen it as well, the two people he still cared about.

"Jack!" Elizabeth put a hand on his shoulder seeing him stare into the distance. "Talk to me," she said softly, having seen something in those eyes she had never seen before, not even at World's End. Anguish.

Jack tightened his grip on her hand and gave a small gasp. "Do you think you can help me outside?" He sat shakily, "I don't imagine you'd be delighted with your pretty covers sicked on."

tbc