An Accord

Three days. Three days of almost constant downpour. Three days of being stranded inside the eye of the storm. Three days she was unconscious. Three days of Hell.

Water continued to hit the windowpane as Abigail wiped Elizabeth's brow. Her fever had cooled down slightly but she was still burning up. Abigail's fingertips brushed back her patient's hair away from her face, applying the cold compress to her forehead once more. Where is he?

"Any progress?" Jack pushed open the door, holding several glass jars in his hands. They had been stranded in the pub for three days and it was the first time anyone of them had left the room above the stairs.

"Not since you left. Her eyes fluttered open for a few minutes, just like they have before, but besides that, I'm afraid I have no good news to tell you…"

"What? What's the matter?" Jack asked, hastily placing the bottles on the table and kneeling next to Elizabeth's bedside.

"I don't wish to alarm you, but in the condition she came in and the severe fever she has contracted, I fear her body does not have the strength to carry on much longer."

Jack had visited her house several times before, mostly to see her sister, Anne. During this time, Abigail had watched him with interest. Once, while visiting late at night, Jack accidently climbed in through her window instead of her sister's. Abigail blushed at the thought. Jack had quickly realized his mistake, begged her for forgiveness and left the way he came. She silently wondered if the he had made the connection yet.

The young girl fidgeted with the coverlet before finally daring to look up into Jack's eyes. Nothing but pain, and regret filled his eyes. "Mr. Sparrow?" He turned, not meeting her eyes. "How do you two know each other?"

"You could say she 'fell into my life', as it were.." Jack's back was to her as he gazed out the window on the on going storm.

"Have you be friends long?"

"Ye might say that, although, I'm not sure 'friends' is what I'd call it."

"Were you lovers?"

Jack looked at the young girl with wide eyes. He did not expect that coming from a sweet innocent girl like Abigail.

Jack's astonishment turned into a coy smile. "Now what would you know about that?" Abigail blushed. "No, actually. Though you can't blame a man for trying!"

"I just wondered…" Abigail explained, fumbling with the towel in her hands. She had never spent so much time alone with a man, a handsome one at that.

"You just wondered." Jack teased her, until she became flushed and uneasy. He just began to laugh. "We did come close though. If not for her whelp of a fiancé, I'm sure our adventures on the Pearl would have been quite," Jack's eyes shifted to the uncomfortable girl and decided to change his adjective. "interesting."

"Did she marry him then?"

Silence flooded over them. Jack turned his back to her again, watching the droplets of rain fall down the windowpane.

"I take it that she did."

"She did what was right by her. No one can ask for more than that." His arms crossed across his chest, leaning his body ever so slightly on the wall next to him.

Abigail sensed that she should not push the subject any further. She did not wish to upset him. Instead, she picked up the rag once more and drenched it in water, dabbing it all over Elizabeth's skin.

"The doctor said those might help. Didn't want to risk the weather and come out himself." Jack called from the window, causing Abigail to smile.

"What exactly are we supposed to do with them?" Abigail questioned, picking up a large decanter of waxy yellow liquid

Jack glanced over at the bottle in her hands. "The doctor said that's to rub on her chest to help clear her lungs of anything she might have gotten in the storm. And that there," He pointed to a small brown canister. "is Echinacea tea.* It's to help with the fever." He moved to pick it up with his hand and broke the string around it with a loud snap. "Perhaps you could brew some." Abigail looked down at Elizabeth, wetting her forehead once more. "Don't worry. I'll take care of her." Jack said with a soft smile, his eyes drifting over Elizabeth's unconscious form.

As the door closed, Jack remained where he was. His eyes flitted over her faced, wrinkled in worry, all the way down to her limp wrists. Taking the bottle in his hands, Jack sat gingerly on the mattress, afraid of hurting her more. His hand hesitantly reached for her own, caressing the back of her hand with the pad of his thumb. So much had happened since he last saw her, yet she was still exactly he remembered her.

"You're fine Lizzie. I'm not leaving you. Not again." Jack cocked his head to the side and brushed forehead with the back of his hand. It had been years. Years since the battle, Jones, the heart, all of it, yet here they were. Fate had thrust them together once more.

A small whimper escaped her as she shifted in her sleep. Jack's heart soared with the hope that maybe, just this once, she would awake while he was here. To hear her voice again…

Noticing that she was still undisturbed, Jack unscrewed the lid of the jar and scooped some of the thick oil onto his finger. Gently, he rubbed into her skin, massaging the flesh along her upper arms, shoulders, and neckline. Suddenly, he froze.

There, in the inconspicuous corner of Elizabeth's mouth. A smile.

"Lizzie? Can you hear me?" He questioned, trying not to get his hopes up.

"I'm not sure about this 'Lizzie' person, but I can assure you, Captain Sparrow, that I can hear you loud and clear." Her eyes creeped open to find Jack sitting at her bedside, her hand clutching his for dear life. "What happened?" Her soft smile turned serious as she locked eyes with his dangerously dark ones.

"There was a storm…well, still is really. Look." Jack motioned to the window on the far side of the bedroom, although to his surprise, the rain had stopped.

"I think you're imagining things, Captain Sparrow…" Elizabeth teased in a whisper, trying to sit up.

"Ah, ah, ah." Jack warned. "Not yet. Doctor's orders." Jack eased her back down.

"And is this something else the doctor's ordered?" Elizabeth motioned to the oil on her skin and the jar in Jack's hand, "or is this something you came up with all by yourself." She narrowed her eyes at him seductively, but she could not keep up the joke, her mouth crinkling up into a weak smile.

Jack matched her glare, and then pointed a finger at her when her composure finally broke. "Very funny…" He closed the jar and placed it on the table, rubbing his hands together to get rid of the excess oil.

"So, you were speaking of some imaginary storm?" Elizabeth hinted.

"Ah, yes. " Jack stood up, pacing the room in order to put some space between them. "The infamous and inconceivable storm we were battling not a quarter of an hour ago. Dastardly, that was. Destroyed a forth of Tortuga, or so says the rumblings."

"And what else are the rumblings saying?" Her eyes light up with a glow that Jack realized he had missed the most over the years.

"That one, Missus Turner, was seen trudging through said storm with an unforeseen purpose or destination." Jack examined his rings, avoiding her eyes.

"My purpose and destination were one and the same." Elizabeth sighed with a faint smile. " You."

Jack's face twisted up in confusion. "I'm sorry, I must have heard you incorrectly. What did you say?"

"Yes, Jack. You." Elizabeth managed to meet his eyes, noticing a strange, hopeful glint in them that she couldn't quite place.

"And may I inquire as to the reason for this sudden need to see me? Or can I guess…" Jack prowled towards her, leaning down to her face, with a very suggestive look in his eyes.

"Uh!" Elizabeth cried in mock disgust, causing Jack to chuckle. "How about me simply needing passage to give a message, to my husband!"

The smirk wiped off of his face. "So you think of me, is it? Your dutiful lackey waiting on your beck and call to do 'Her Majesty's' bidding…" Jack spat, his forcefulness taking even himself by surprise.

Elizabeth was taken aback by Jack's reaction, flinching slightly at his words. "No, I just thought…"

"Well, you thought wrong. I'm afraid you will have to find someone else." His voice was cold like steel.

Elizabeth's face shown with hurt. All the fun and games was over. It had been years since they parted their ways. Who was she to expect everything to be the same as it once was?

"Fine." She spat, anger taking over the hurt she felt inside. "I'm sure there are better captains on this island than you." Elizabeth was hurt that Jack seemed to have forgotten her completely while she still cared for him. "Some of them with a compass that actually works the way they're supposed to!"

Forcing her legs into motion, she stood from the bed, rather unsteadily. Her eyes glared at Jack, daring him to stop her.

"What is she doing?"

An alarmed young woman stood blocking the door, holding a steaming cup of tea in her hand.

"Well…"Jack grimaced, "There was a little misunderstanding, that's all."

"Misunderstanding!" Elizabeth screamed incredulously. "Misunderstand my ass!"

Abigail looked between them with wide eyes.

"Trust me. There is no way I could do that. Your ass and I would like to come to a little bit of an understanding, if you know what I mean…"

Fury lit up Elizabeth's face as she reached for the nearest thing she could find, throwing the bottle of oil at him. Glass shattered everywhere as it hit the wall.

"Now really, woman!" Jack matched her tone. "It was just a joke!"

"You are infuriating! I ought to…"

"Go ahead! Do your worst! I'd like to see you try!"

Elizabeth started across the room in her rage, limping on her tired legs. His eyes mocked her, daring her to strike him. When she was about to reach him, suddenly, her knees went out.

"Whoa…" Strong arms caught her before she could fall, placing her upright. Jack's face was inches from her own.

"I…I…"

"I know." He simply said, gently leading her back into bed where she quickly fell back asleep.

Abigail continued to stare after Jack.

"What?" He asked, noticing her curious look.

"You two fight like an old married couple." She stated with a smile.

Jack grinned at the statement. "Don't tell Turner that. He might have me head."

And with that, he was off to fetch the doctor now that the storm had finally ceased and the world was at peace once more.

"Excuse me, Madam." Jack cleared his throat, trying to obtain the clerks attention.

"Yes?" A young woman in all white met him at the counter.

"Is the Doctor in?"

The girl's face crumpled. "No, I'm afraid he has gone into town to help those injured from the storm. Can I have a message?"

Jack looked around at the shelves full of cures for maladies and ailments. "Tell him he owes Jack Sparrow something fierce," Jack groaned, " and get me another bottle of the disgusting oil." Jack waved his hands toward the shelves behind her.

Placing a two-pence on the counter, Jack took the jar from the clerk's hands and left the shop.

On his way back to the pub, Jack accessed the remains of the storm. The cobblestone beneath his feet had broken, almost causing Jack to trip. Most of the remaining buildings roofs had either been destroyed or blown off completely. He was currently on the luckier side of town. The southern half, down by the docks was still extremely flooded, and barely any buildings were left. Perhaps it was a good thing that the Pearl was still safe and sound inside a bottle.

He was only half a block away when he heard something in an alleyway.

"Throw him the brig until he's sober, throw him in the brig until his sober." A tuneless voice sang. Jack squinted into the darkness, looking for the source of the noise.

"Oh, it's you."

A balding head poked out from behind a large rotting crate. "Hmm?" Greenwald's eyes were weary and unfocused, his knees barely keeping him up. "What did I miss?"

Jack narrowed his eyes at the man. "And they say I have too much to drink…" Jack muttered under his breath. "How did you get here?" Jack questioned, his eyes darting from the sea of debris and the man before him.

"Don't actually know…" Greenwald pulled at his trousers, examining their wet state. Jack's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Wait a minute…yer that man from the pub! The prick who said I was balding!"

"Well, I'd hate to break it to you, mate, but," Jack sauntered towards him until he was invading the man's personal space, "ye are!" Smiling at his own brilliance, Jack turned on his heel to leave.

"You never did get yer ship back."

Jack head turned to see Greenwald dangling The Pearl in his hands. "So you forgot about the storm but not a lousy bet, eh?"

Greenwald looked down at he ship in his hands, and then back up at Jack in confusion. "What storm?"

"Look, how about you just hand over the Pearl and we forget everything that has happened." Jack growled, ignoring the man's idiocy.

"No. We made a deal. But if you're willing to back out on it…" Greenwald's fingers slipped slightly.

"No! Not good!" Jack said, rushing over to catch 'his girl'. Greenwald, however, snatched the ship just in time, stealing it from Jack's fingertips.

"Now, how about that deal?" Greenwald taunted.

"What exactly did you have in mind?"

When they arrived back at the pub, it was once again up and bustling. So many people had lost their homes or families, that just about everyone needed a drink.

As Jack passed the entrance, he recognized the redhead from the night before. She noticed his gaze and winked at him, leaving another customer to seat Jack instead.

"Hello, stranger."

Jack smirked at Greenwald as he placed his arm around the girl's shoulder. Greenwald did not seem to be impressed. "I pick the girl, remember? As ye said, this girl's too easy! She wouldn't give anybody a challenge."

Marian gasped and stepped out of Jack's embrace, smacking him across his jaw line. Holding his cheek, Jack pouted like a little boy. "Darling! I didn't say that, I swear!" Jack called back to her frantically.

"Forget the wench," Greenwald pulled Jack roughly by his coat, "You've got other ladies to worry about." Don't I ever… Jack glanced up the stairs. What should he do? Here he was, trying to get his ship back, while Lizzie was upstairs probably dying…

Before Jack could make a break for it, Greenwald wheeled him toward the dark corner he had sat in the night before. Without even asking, two mugs of rum were placed on their tables. Jack looked up to see who had done it, but they must have gotten lost in the crowd. Nursing his bottle, Jack looked at the massive crowd about him, looking to see if he could spot any past shipmates or 'lady friends' of the like.

"Are you going to hurry up?" Jack glanced up the staircase and at the bottle of oil. "I do have a life, ye know?" Jack spat. How much longer did he have to stay with disgusting man? And Lizzie thought I had bad hygiene…

"Not without this ye don't!" Greenwald held up the Pearl, shaking it tauntingly in Jack's face. Greenwald searched the crowd once more, Jack sticking his tongue out at him. Jack eyes darted back to Greenwald, before he took his rum and quickly escaped into the crowd to refill his mug.

"Here ye are sir!" A familiar face. "Jack?"

"Abigail! What the hell are you doing down here?" Jack glared at her appearance from the other side of the bar. "Aren't you a little young to be …ye know…whoring yourself out?"

"Jack!" Abigail yelled over the crowd in embarrassment. She then grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. "I am not 'whoring myself out'!" She spat in disgust. "The inn owner found us upstairs and I had to make something up! This is the best I came up with."

"This!" Jack motioned to her bright red lipstick and lacy yellow corset. "Is the best you could come up with!"

Abigail gave him a desperate look and shrugged her shoulders. "What else was I supposed to do?"

"Where's Lizzie?"

"Oh, well she…"

"Ah, Sparrow, thought you could escape me did ya?" Greenwald interrupted, slapping Jack on the back, causing him to spill his rum. Jack growled in defense under his breath. Greenwald's breathe smelled like rotten eggs and raw meat as he whispered into Jack's ear. "No, this whore doesn't count either…"

Jack's blood began to boil. This sweet, innocent young girl… "I've found my pick." Jack's eyebrows raised in mock interest. Watch her have two heads or something… Oh well. Just think of it this way. One more conquest, another good time, that's all.

Jack looked in the direction that Greenwald had pointed. There was a beautiful woman in a red dress trimmed in black and gold lace. Her back was to them, so he could not make out her face, but Jack noticed the way the fabric glided over her thin body down to her ankles.

She was mingling with musicians in the middle of the tavern. When the shortest one made to grab her from behind, she twisted his arm and pressed him against one of the pillars, holding what seemed to be a kitchen knife against his side. "Deal. I like 'em with a little spunk…"

Jack smirked as he sauntered across the room towards her. On his way, he passed the short guitarist who was now rubbing his 'injured' ribs. "Nice try, mate. Let a real man show you how it's done."

Jack came up behind her and talked in a low voice so that no one else could hear him. "Hello Darling. Care to have one of the most erotic nights of your life?" Jack heard the girl chuckle and then shook her head. "So what will it be? A drink, dancing, walk in the moonlight, or should we just go someplace more private now?"

"I'm flattered, Captain Sparrow, but I'm afraid my husband might feel otherwise."

Jack froze. "Ello, Lizzie…"

Elizabeth turned to face him with a triumphant smile. "Surprised to see me?"

Jack glanced up and down her scarlet dress. "You have no idea, love." Elizabeth pushed his shoulder to prompt his eyes back up to her face, her eyebrows raised. Looking into her face, Jack noticed her chalky skin and the dark circles under her eyes. "Why aren't you upstairs? Toiling away on your sick bed and all?"

Elizabeth heaved a heavy sigh at Jack's concern. "Sick beds don't actually agree with me, nor does toiling. I hated being trapped up in that room, as I'm sure you of all people would understand."

"Aye." Jack nodded, knowingly, before glancing back at Greenwald in the corner. Jack grimaced. "Listen, love, I don't do this often, but…" Jack face twisted in disgust. "I need your help."

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. "Jack, are you seriously asking me for help after you refused to help me?"

Jack gave her a guilty smile. "If you do this for me, I swear, on pain of death, that I will take you to your dear William and your bloody ever after, just please help?"

"And what exactly would I be doing?" Elizabeth eyed him suspiciously.

Jack's eyes went wide. "Let's just say you're helping a dear old friend get his ship back and we will hash out the details later, savvy?" He held out his hand for her to shake. "Do we have an accord?" Elizabeth shifted her head from side to side, noticing the desperation in Jack's eyes. "Fine."

Jack's smile widened as he draped an arm around her waist. Elizabeth looked down at where he placed his hand and tried to swipe it away. Jack, however, caught her hand in his own and whispered into ear. "We made a deal, remember?"

Elizabeth's face contorted in rage. What had she just gotten herself into?

*It is an oil called Bergamot that can be rubbed on to open up your sinuses

*Echinacea tea is a real kind of tea, commonly found in tea mixes for your immune system, especially headaches, fevers, and problems of the throat. It is the most common tea to help your immune system.