A PIRATES TREASURE

Disclaimer:- POTC belongs to the Disney Corporation along with it's characters. I have no claim to any of their work and make no money out of my stories. I have introduced some characters that belong to me to fit with the story.

A Pirates Treasure

Chapter 14

The Black Pearl was making her approach into Tortuga Harbour. As they had suspected, the wind had stayed against them and it had been a constant battle to get the ship back to port. The Pearl had lost sight of The Empress during the second day although they knew that she would be following them into harbour in the coming days.

Elizabeth was still unconscious but was now, to everyone's relief, stable. Jack, Cotton and Hui Cheng, the truly gifted Chinese man from The Empress were nursing her, supposedly taking turns on a rota system but, of course, Jack refused to leave her, sleeping in a chair at his desk when he could no longer stay awake. The smell of death had finally drifted away to be replaced by the pungent odour of the liniment produced from the depths of the medicine chest to heal Elizabeth's many wounds.

Already, Jack mused, there had been a marked improvement in her appearance. Although, still gaunt and white, the deathly pallor had left her features and her wounds had ceased to fester, becoming now a healthy pink colour and losing the tattered remains of unhealthy skin. Jack knew that it would take many months of recovery for her to heal completely, but he now knew that she would, in time, be the fit, vital, beautiful woman he had fallen in love with. He also knew how hard her fight had been and was amazed at the depth of character she had shown and her stubbornness in refusing to give up. He was immensely proud of her. Hell, he was immensely proud of ALL of them, Hui Cheng, Cotton, Gibbs and the crew of The Black Pearl. He was certain that without them they would be pulling into harbour to bury Elizabeth and himself, for without their commitment and help there would have been no chance of saving her.

He also knew that he owed a huge debt of gratitude to Hui Cheng, who had, quite literally, saved Elizabeth's life. Jack had, with Tai Huang translating, tried to convey his thanks and offer payment to him, but felt that he had somehow insulted the little man by offering. Cotton was enthralled with the contents of the medicine chest and had spent hours with both of the Chinese men learning all that he could. How they managed it precisely Jack didn't know as one man couldn't speak, and one spoke only Chinese, but somehow a great friendship had started between the two men.

Although Elizabeth was now out of danger, Jack was becoming increasingly desperate for her to regain consciousness. There was much that he didn't understand about the whole incident and needed to ask her. Why had he heard her so clearly? Had it really happened or had his overactive imagination once again been playing tricks on him? He had an urgent need to understand what had happened and was still suffering from the after-effects of it all. He had spent hours sitting at his desk feigning sleep, thinking about his own actions, of how close he had come to plunging from the highest point of his beloved Pearl and what that would have done to Elizabeth. His inability to cope with the thought of losing her and what he had almost put her through had shaken him to his very core. He wasn't proud of his actions and it would take some time for him to come to terms with it all.

His main concern was to see her awake, to know, finally, that she had no lasting damage and to tell her how much she meant to him. Then, and only then would he be able to relax in the knowledge that she was safe and work on healing both of them.

Jack and Hui Cheng had spoken and had decided on a course of action regarding Elizabeth's treatment once they gained Tortuga. She was to be transferred from the ship to her house and Jack was to continue nursing her. Until she regained consciousness, Cotton was to stay with them, with Tai Huang and Hui Cheng staying on The Pearl until The Empress docked.

Jack knew that they were now tied up in Tortuga as he could feel the ship at ease in the water and hear the many sounds of the busy pirate port penetrating the hull. He stood up, stretched and walked to the bed. Bending, he brushed some strands of hair from Elizabeth's face and put his lips close to her ear.

"We're home, luv." he whispered tenderly. "Won't b' long now an' we'll have ye tucked up in yer own bed." He moved just enough to place a gentle kiss on her forehead and straightened, looking down at her face. Was there a glimmer of movement or was it wishful thinking, he wondered?

There was a quiet knock on the door and Gibbs entered.

"We've got a cart organised t' take Miss Elizabeth home, Jack, an' a couple of t' crew 'ave built 'er a stretcher. We managed t' get tied up at the dock rather than out in't harbour so we cou'd move 'er off down the gangplank rather than have to move 'er by boat."

"Good! Well done Mr Gibbs. Bring the stretcher in an' we'll be sortin' everythin'." Jack replied.

Once more there was a flurry of activity in the cabin as Elizabeth was made ready for the journey and medications were gathered. As they emerged onto the deck, carrying Elizabeth in the makeshift stretcher, Jack was moved to see every member of his crew, hardened Pirates all, lined up on the deck to show their support for their Pirate King.

Gibbs leaned close to Jack and whispered, "Their idea, not mine!"

Jack felt a lump in his throat and coughed discreetly, to clear it. "Thank them, Mr Gibbs and break out the rum when we've left."

Jack was relieved when everyone but himself and Cotton left the house. It had taken about an hour to get there, get Elizabeth upstairs and settled in her bed. Hui Cheng had left more medicine and liniment for her and would be making up further supplies over the next day or so.

It was so quiet. With Elizabeth still unconscious and Cotton unable to make a sound, Jack felt the atmosphere in the house close in on him. He was sitting next to the bed watching Elizabeth, having sent Cotton to the market for supplies. Secretly he had hoped that the act of moving her would have woken her up but there had been no sign of her waking, no movement at all. Jack was beginning to wonder if she would ever wake, would ever open her eyes and look at him. He leant forward and took her hand in his, tenderly rubbing his thumb over and over again across her palm. It was the first time they had been alone since Gibbs had left them together after Elizabeth's discovery to fetch some rum. Jack felt that there was so much he needed to say, so much he had to tell her but the words were difficult to say and, at the end of the day, he was unsure if she could hear him.

Finally, hesitantly, feeling foolish, he managed to start.

"Lizzie, luv. I don't know if ye can hear me, darlin. I pray that ye can. Please, Lizzie…'m so afraid…so desperately afraid that yer won't wake up. 'm sorry, darlin' that ye felt ye had t' stow away on t' Pearl…why…why did ye do it, luv? Why? I know it's me own fault…and…I'll nev'r forgive m'self. Please come back t' me, Lizzie. Please…I can't live with m'self…can't live without ye…"

Tears started to flow down Jack's face as he started to voice his fears, to put into words the new nightmares he had created. He took her hand to his lips and kissed it before leaning forward, his elbows on the bed, head bowed, resting her hand on his forehead.

"Lizzie, please let m' kno' ye can hear me…" he said brokenly. 'm love ye so much. 'm didn't realise how much til' I almost lost ye…it's all my fault…so sorry…I'll nev'r let ye down again, darlin'."

At this, Jack broke down completely. Bitter sobs racked his body, tears flowed freely from his eyes and he couldn't get any words past the aching void in his throat and chest. He vowed to himself that if only she would recover, he would never let her down again, would always put her first in his life. If she was never to wake, he would spend every day caring for her, making sure that she was looked after and was loved.

He crept onto the bed and lay, full length beside her, cradling her to him. Slowly, his tears ceased and a strange calmness stole over him.

When Cotton returned from the market and checked on them, he was asleep, holding Elizabeth in his arms. Cotton quietly closed the door and left him to rest.

Oh…how sweet!

I love it when Jack shows his vulnerable side!

Now, you know how it works…please review!

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. I love reading them and it really helps to motivate me into writing more!