'Cause everyone's singing, we just wanna be heard,

Disappearing everyday without so much as a word somehow...

Wanna grab a hold to that little songbird,

Take 'em for a ride, to the top of the world right now...

"Teague." It was Elizabeth, shaking my shoulder. "Wake up."

I opened my eyes and immediately realized that I had slept 'til morning. I sat up in bed, horrified, and turned to Jackie. Elizabeth shushed me and took my shoulder again. "He's still asleep," she whispered. "But by a bit. There's coffee downstairs. I'll look after him."

I looked sadly down at Jackie. He laid there, on the bed, so still. I wanted to stay there so badly. Elizabeth rubbed my back gingerly. "Don't worry," she whispered. "I'll be here if something happens."

I blinked hard and nodded. I had been there all night; besides, everyone needed time with him, just to say their goodbyes. I got up, put my belts back on, and headed downstairs.

I entered the kitchen. The fire was burning low. Gibbs was sitting at the table, but he did not greet me or even picked up his head. After taking a cup of coffee, I took a seat across from him and watched the steam rise up into the air. I didn't feel thirsty; I couldn't feel anything.

Then, Gibbs spoke. "You know, Cap'n, he'd always tell me about he felt like ye didn't care about him."

"I know." I said, my jaw aching. "I didn't show it all that much."

Another pause.

"Well..." he said, "do ye, ye know...regret it?"

I snorted. "What do you think?" My voice was thick, and my hands began to tremble. "It's too late to start caring now, Mister Gibbs. He's too far gone."

The last part was one of the most difficult things I had ever willed myself to say. We stayed there in silence for another few moments. Then, I spoke again.

"Do you think it's too late?" I whispered. Gibbs's eyes grew wide, and his mouth dropped open. I contorted my eyebrows. Then, another voice-a voice I hadn't heard in years-drawled behind me, "Aye, it'd be too late for all of that now, ain't it, Captain Teague?"

Hector Barbossa. The man that stole my son's ship, the Black Pearl. The bastard! I whipped out my gun, stood up, and pointed it to his face. He remained unperturbed, however, and stood as still as a statue with his arms crossed against his chest.

"You." My finger was the trigger. "Get out my house. You stole my son's ship, and now look what's happened to him!"

He smiled and snickered. "Still have that stick up your arse, don't ye?"

"What do you want here?" I ignored the fact that he had just insulted the Keeper of the Code.

"Me? I was only here to give ye my sympathies and to say how much of a loss it is that ye son has token for the worse, but by the way ye have your pistol shoved in me face makes me unable to. So, I shall just go on my merry way, shall I?" He turned around to leave.

The hostile feeling I just felt melted away, and I felt numb again. I sighed and lowered my gun. "Thank you, Barbossa."

He turned around quickly, looking rather surprised. I sat back down in my seat. "Sit for awhile. Your crew won't mind, would they?"

He did not answer me, but he remained rooted in his spot. "How is the little sparrow doing?" he asked.

"As you could imagine," I said dully. "Did you want to come and see him?"

Before an answer was spoken, Elizabeth came flying down the stairs. He hair was flying everywhere. "Teague, what's-?" She paused as she saw Barbossa and gasped.

I held up my hand. "It's all right, Elizabeth. He's here for Jack. Go back upstairs."

"No, it's fine," said Barbossa. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "And how is the Missus Turner faring? I heard that you fell ill as well."

She stared at him, pulling her hand away. "I'm quite all right now, Captain Barbossa. I'm fine." She looked at me and Gibbs, pink in the face. "Excuse me, but I need to look after Jack," she said, then hurried upstairs.

"You must excuse her," I said. "She's still quite jumpy after her ailment."

Barbossa nodded. "I understand."

Just then, we all heard a loud gasp come from upstairs, in Jackie's room. We all paused, listening. The only thing I could hear was the sound of my racing heartbeat in my ears. Elizabeth came down the stairs yet again, looking like she was in a great hurry. She seemed very excited about something, and my heartbeat became even more faster.

"Jack! He woke up!" she screeched, grinning. "He woke up and spoke to me!"

We all gasped. Gibbs then stood up and made the sign of the cross across himself, muttering, "Mary, Mother of God," once again.

I shook my head in disbelief. "Don't be silly, Bess. Jackie's dying."

"No! No, I wasn't imagining this, Teague!" she said excitedly, bobbling up and down in her spot. "I saw it with my own eyes!"

"But Jackie-" I tried to say, but she interrupted, "Come upstairs with me, and you'll see!"

Gibbs and I eyed one another, but Barbossa was already following Elizabeth upstairs. We nodded our heads and hurried behind them.

When we entered the room, Jackie was groaning. His eyes were open halfway. Adrenaline burst into my veins, and I pushed myself in front of everyone. I reestablished my seat and cupped his face with my hands. "Jackie? Jackie, are you awake? Are you all right? What do you need?"

He groaned again, then slurred, "Dad..."

"Yes," I said quietly; I couldn't help but to smile. "It's Dad, Jackie. And Elizabeth's here, and Gibbs...even-"

Barbossa, Elizabeth and Gibbs quickly ran their fingers across their throats, signing me to not say Barbossa's name.

Jackie slurred again. "Asthore..."

"He's asleep in the other room, Jack," said Elizabeth. "Do you want me to go get him for you?"

He sighed and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, he nodded. Elizabeth rushed out of the room, and a moment later, she came back in, carrying a sleepy-eyed Will. "Here's Will, Jack," she said loudly. "He's been waiting for you to get better."

Jackie smiled a little bit and stretched him right arm a bit. Elizabeth laid Will next to him, and Jack enclosed him in a limp one-armed hug. "Asthore."

Will's eyes were shining as he said, "Uncle Jack, are you all better now? I want to play with you."

"Maybe later. I'm still tried," yawned Jackie, and he smiled again. He closed his eyes and pulled Will closer to him. "My Asthore."

o0o0o0o0o0o

Later on that day, I sat by the window in Jackie's room. He had fallen back asleep after Barbossa left. His chest moved slowly up and down to the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway. He looked so peaceful. I turned back to the window and watch the sunset. Just like the night before, the whole entire sky was an kaleidoscope of pinks, reds, oranges, yellows and violets. I smiled and watched for a few more moments before slowly turning back to Jackie. Then, I got up and sat by his bedside.

"Jackie," I whispered. I laid my right hand on his left cheek and caressed it gently. "Can you wake up for a minute, boy?"

He groaned and opened his eyes. I did not say anything for a few moments, but I stared into his eyes. Even though they were dull, they shined like they used to do in the sunset. Then, I whispered, "I love you, Jackie."

He looked at me like I had gone insane for a few moments. But, he closed his eyes and drooped his head to the left. "Thanks, Dad."

I smiled and let go of his cheek. I sat back in my seat by the window and continued to stare at the sunset. It was melting away now, beyond the cliffs and hills and the horizons the surrounded Shipwreck Cove. I blinked back the stinging feeling in my eyes. Even though I had just said what he'd been wanting to hear from me for the longest time, I knew it would not make much of a difference. Jackie did not have that much time left. He would soon eventually die-days, weeks, months, or even a year if he was lucky-but saying what I've been meaning to say gave me glitter a hope, some comfort. At least he would die knowing that I cared for him. And I smiled, despite myself. Watching as the sun went down, I thought,

My, I have never seen a finer sunset in my whole life...

o0o0o0o0o0o

To the top of the world, to the top of the world,

to the top of the world, to the top of the world,

to the top of the world, to the top of the world,

to the top of the world, to the top of the world...