A/N: Once again Jack has kept me up way past my bedtime ;o) That naughty pirate. But none-the-less, his efforts have not gone unnoticed as I have another chapter for everyone to read!

Cal...Thank you as always for the in-depth review. I promise that you will definitely get more of Ana's backstory in the prequel ;o) very soon. How's that Jack punching bag holding up? I hope it's a sturdy one ;o)

C'lyn...Thanks for the review mate...good to have you back on board!

Kenn..."Thanks very much" for the review. Perhaps later, we will see a bit more of where Jack came from, but for the moment, I'm going to leave you hanging on that one :o) I was actually a tiny bit worried that Jack came off as too tender. Don't want that to happen ("No! No! Not good!") I can't see my favorite pirate being too gentle with anyone.

And now for Chapter 13...Drink up me 'earties. Yo ho!

Chapter Thirteen

When Jack entered his cabin much later, and for the final time that evening, he was happy to see his first mate resting soundly in his bed. He was careful not to wake her, shutting the door quietly and then slipping off his boots before crossing the room to sit beside her. She stirred only slightly as his weight shifted the mattress, but continued to sleep.

At first, Jack couldn't help but to stare at her, taking in her beauty. Very softly, he stroked her hair with his fingertips, not wanting to disturb her rest, but also not wanting to be caught in his small act of intimacy. She looked so amazingly innocent lying there with her eyes closed that for a brief second Jack found himself struggling to see the strong spirited girl that he knew so well as his partner.

She stirred again and the spell was broken. She opened her eyes and stared up at him sitting there. His hand quickly fell from her hair and she blinked several times before asking, "What are you doing here?" in her sleep induced state.

Jack pretended as if he had just entered the room, "Time to get one final look at that arm before I go to bed."

"Ugh," Anamaria sighed.

There was a knock at the door and Jack stood to answer it. He wondered briefly who it might be before coming to the conclusion that at this late hour, it could only be Decker.

"How's she doing?" the doctor asked when Jack had opened the door to him.

"She's alright," Jack said, allowing the man to gain entrance and then peering out into the hallway before quickly shutting the door back. "As good as can be expected, I suppose."

Decker had already moved to the bed and seated himself in a chair beside Anamaria. "How do you feel?"

"What kind of a question is that?" she asked.

Decker let out a small laugh.

"Bloody awful! That's how I feel," she answered.

The doctor slowly began to unwind the bandages as Jack moved to stand awkwardly over the two. Decker glanced up at Jack and then continued his business. As he got to the last bandage, he looked up again to see his captain's pained expression and commented, "I can't work if you're going to stand there looking like that."

Jack raised his eyebrows and then apologized, "Sorry." He attempted to busy himself elsewhere in the room, but continued to listen to the doctor's conversation with his first mate.

"I wish this looked a little better," Decker said.

"It's only been a couple of hours," she replied, trying hard to read the doctor's face, but failing.

"I know," he paused, studying her arm carefully before reaching for the vial, "but it should look better than this." He began rubbing the ointment into her damaged skin and Jack winced as he heard her draw in a sharp breath and the disfigurement he had seen earlier came flooding back to his memory. He was glad that he was at his desk, pretending, to study a map so that neither of them could see his discomfort.

The doctor and his patient fell quiet as the treatment regimen continued and Jack found himself slightly grateful for their silence.

When Decker had finished rewrapping the girl's arm, he questioned Jack, "Are you planning on staying with her tonight, Captain?"

Jack looked up from his maps to meet the doctor's gaze, "I suppose I can."

Decker was washing his hands in a clean basin of water and Jack couldn't help but notice how quickly the liquid turned bright red. "Someone should stay here with her. Make sure she doesn't need anything during the night."

Jack stood, "I can do that."

"I didn't think it would be a problem Captain," he said, now drying his hands on a towel. Had the comment come from another crewmember, Jack may have wondered at the meaning behind it, but with Decker, he knew the man had not meant it in reference to any specific incident. "She should be alright to sleep through the night. I can come by in the morning and change the bandages out again."

"I would appreciate it, Decker, if you would address me as well as the Captain," Anamaria interrupted. "It is my health we're speaking about here and I don't like be left out of the conversation."

"I'm sorry," Decker apologized sincerely, turning to address both pirates. Jack had joined them by moving near the bed and the doctor hesitated before continuing. "I don't like the looks of your wound already. If you have any problems during the night I want to be informed immediately."

Jack studied Decker carefully, "Thank you for your help. I'll stay with her tonight."

The doctor nodded, shaking his captain's hand, "Of course."

Anamaria made no effort to say goodnight to the man and Jack let him out of the cabin without another word. When he rejoined her, he noticed that her face had fallen. She had not been happy through her latest experience, but he had seen hope in her eyes. Now, there was nothing.

"This isn't going to end well, is it?" she asked.

Jack sat down beside her before gently answering, "I don't know."

"Then I want to ask you a favor," she said, determination all of a sudden sounding in her voice.

"What's that?" he asked. He still felt extremely guilty, but it was more than that alone that caused him to know he would do almost anything for her at this point.

"I want you to set a course for St. Croix," she answered.

Jack's eyes studied hers carefully. "Your home?" he finally asked.

Anamaria lowered her eyes, "It hasn't been my home for a long time, Jack." Then raising her eyes to meet his again, "The sea is my home now."

"I'm sorry, but I don't understand." He had no problem sailing to wherever she felt she needed to go at this point, but he at least wanted to understand her desire to go there.

She reached for his hand with hers and finding it, squeezed his fingers gently, "There is someone there who can help me."

Jack nodded, although he still didn't understand fully. "I will do whatever I can to help."

Anamaria continued to hold his hand, searching his eyes with her own before proceeding with her tale.

"When I was a little girl, I caught a fever. I was extremely sick for days, even floating in and out of consciousness at times. My mother took me to visit the local doctor, but he knew of nothing that would help my condition. Then one of my parent's friends told my mother of a woman in town who could help me. My mother was skeptical at first, but after I had been sick for a week with no signs of improvement, she conceded to taking me to see her. I was so sick that I have no memories of going to visit the woman. I only know the story because of what my mother and brother told me about that day."

Jack was listening quietly and with great interest to his first mate's story. He had heard of stories like this during some of his travels and he was very curious to see where her tale was going.

"The woman lived on the outskirts of town all by herself. She was an older woman, but still very capable. My mother said that she healed me that day. She brought me home and an hour later I was fine, completely normal and playing outside with my brother.

I don't know what that woman did that day, but I do know that if there is anyone who can help me now, she is the one."

"A witch doctor," Jack whispered, more to himself before realizing that he had actually said it aloud.

Anamaria nodded. "Do you think I'm crazy Jack?"

"No, not at all," he answered, shaking his head. "I've 'eard stories like yours before. If you want me to take you to this woman I will."

"I do," she confirmed, softly.

Jack stood quickly and moved to his desk to check his map. "Gibbs is at the helm tonight." He put a finger on the map to trace their path, "We're actually sailing in the opposite direction, but the sails are up and we should be able to get turned around and headed that way tonight." He looked up to see her studying him and moved back across the room to the door. "If the wind is good to us, we can reach the island by tomorrow night."

"Thank you, Jack," she said, watching him open the door and leave the room swiftly. He had become a man on a mission.

Minutes later he was back in the cabin. "Gibbs is turning the ship around as we speak," he said in a tone indicating he was rather proud of himself.

"Thank you, Jack," she said, this time loud enough for him to hear her.

The captain waved his hands, dismissing her statement, as he moved to sit beside her on the bed. "You," he started off, "need to get some rest."

"Where are you going to sleep?" she asked. She knew that with her injury it would be impossible for him to join her and she found herself regretting it immensely.

"I think that window seat will do fine," he answered, staring across the room in its direction. "Just shout if you need anythin'," he added, squeezing her hand and finally lowering his lips to meet hers in a kiss that was all too brief. "You're going to be jus' fine," he whispered.

Anamaria nodded. Standing, he picked up a blanket that rested at the foot of his bed and then reached for the extra pillow.

"Goodnight," he said.

"Goodnight," she whispered.

Jack blew out the remaining candles that lit the room as he made his way to his makeshift bed for the evening. The window seat was hard and awkward feeling to his body and no matter how he tried to make himself comfortable, he failed. He knew that he was in for a long night of little to no sleep.

Anamaria, on the other hand, fell asleep easily and almost instantly began to dream. In her dream, she and Jack were together on an island and The Pearl was waiting for them at sea. They were exploring the island and having a good time together when a bird appeared, descending on them. It wasn't an exotic bird, but instead a raven whose black feathers glistened against the bright light of the sun. The bird seemed to taunt them, flying close and then fluttering away just as it came into reach.

She and Jack began to chase the bird, trying to catch it as it dove and swooped around them. But no matter how hard they tried, they were unable to capture it. Even after she found a beautiful birdcage sitting under a large palm tree and they tried to lure the bird inside, it continued to taunt them, letting them think they had caught it and then flying away at the last second, only to return a moment later.

They chased the bird for what seemed like hours, but as the sun began to set decided to give up and return to The Pearl. But the bird followed them, and as they returned to their home at sea, it stayed with them. It seemed that the bird had been anxious to be with them, but only if it could remain free and able to make it's own choice.

Anamaria did not understand the dream although she felt that it must have some meaning to it, but suddenly found herself awake and in a cold sweat. Her arm was throbbing tremendously and she felt nauseated. She lay there for a moment, hoping the feeling would pass, but it did not.

"Jack?" she whispered, unable to mask the pain in her voice.

Jack, who had still been unsuccessful in his attempts to sleep, was at her side immediately. "What is it? Are you alright?"

"The pain," she began, fighting the tears, "it's tremendous. Something isn't right."

Jack felt helpless sitting at her side.

"Rum. At least bring me some rum," she managed.

Jack hurried to the cabinet that held his precious stash and brought her a bottle. He would have to be sure to get more at their next stop. He was almost out again. For now, he only hoped that he would have enough to dull her pain until they were able to arrive in St. Croix.

Anamaria consumed the entire bottle in less than ten minutes and then looked to Jack with a fire in her eyes for more. Without a word said, he crossed the room to bring her another bottle and watched as she drank it even more quickly than the first. As she looked to him again, he shook his head.

"Talk to me first," he insisted. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know," she choked out, her tongue feeling thick from the sensation of the liquor she had consumed. "It just hurts."

"Worse than before?" Jack was becoming seriously concerned.

"Yes, worse than before," she answered quietly.

Remembering what the doctor had told him earlier, he stood, but Anamaria read his mind. Despite the pain it caused her, she reached for him quickly with her good arm and caught his hand.

"Don't," she said, her eyes pleading with his own.

"But…"

She cut him off, "There's nothing Decker can do now. If he sees me in this condition, he'll want to take it off and that can't happen. I can't live without my arm Jack. I won't."

"It's better than the alternative," he said softly, turning again to go.

"The old woman can help me, Jack. She can heal my arm. I know she can," Anamaria insisted, still gripping his hand.

"What if she's not there anymore Anamaria? Have you thought of that? I imagine it was a bloody long time ago that your mother took you to visit."

"She will be," she stated simply.

"Anamaria…" he started.

"Please Jack," she begged.

The Captain was torn. He wanted what was best for her, but at the moment he was struggling to see what that could be. If he called for Decker, chances were that she would prove right. The doctor would be anxious to remove the appendage to prevent gangrene from eating away at her healthy skin. However, even after that was done, there was still a good chance of infection and even possibly death from it. In the best-case scenario, she would be able to function, but poorly on a pirate ship, something she had excelled at her entire life. But what if they waited? What if the old woman could heal her? Within weeks, she could be restored, almost fully, to her old self. Jack realized there was a good chance that the old woman may not be there, but Anamaria had seemed so sure of herself. How could he doubt her?

Taking one last look into her deep eyes, he realized that ultimately the decision had already been made. He could not go against her will in a situation as delicate as this one. Although he knew that she would never hold her decision against him if the wrong one had been made, he knew he would never be able to live with himself, but that was something he would have to deal with later on.

"Ok," he said, nodding slowly. "Ok." He sat down on the bed beside her and gently began to stroke her hair. "I only hope that I have made the right decision," he whispered.

Anamaria managed a small smile, "You have. You'll see."

Jack could only pray that she was right.

"Jack?" she whispered.

"Yes," he answered quietly, still running his fingers loosely through her hair.

"How much rum is left?" she asked.

"Two bottles," the pirate answered.

"That's all?" She was shocked, knowing what a large quantity the captain usually kept on hand.

"Mmhmm," he mumbled. "I suggest you save it for the next few hours if you want to make the best of it."

She moaned partly in pain and partly in desperation, but in hurt Jack to hear her.

"Is there anythin' else I can do for you?" he asked.

"Just don't leave me. Whatever happens, please stay by my side." She reached for his hand, threading her fingers through his own.

"I'm right 'ere," Jack said, "right 'ere."