A little look at the aftermath of the fight and Israel's death, quite short but the next chapter will hopefully make up for it.

Thank you to everyone who's reviewed and please continue to let me know what you think, how i can improve and all the other stuff :)

Enjoy!

Chapter 24

The hot sun spared no thought for the comfort of the two prone figures as they slept, it's unrelenting heat drove calm from their weary minds and replaced it with fear and unease. Jim was the first to wake, his eyes flew open from a horrible nightmare in which Israel Hands arose from the dead and came after him. He shuddered and rolled onto his side to check on Scarlett; she still looked beautiful but in an unearthly kind of way – her skin was so pale it seemed luminous and her hair was tangled and wild, her lips looked blood red against her paleness.

As he watched her long, dark eyelashes fluttered, casting a shifting shadow onto her delicate skin. Jim sat up and carefully smoothed her hair out of her face, his forehead creasing with worry. "Scarlett? Are you okay?" He asked tentatively.

She made no reply but her full lips parted as she drew a shuddering breath and her back arched slightly with pain. Jim hovered over her uncertainly, his hands rested in the air over her but he couldn't do anything to help her without the risk of harming her further. In his mind he cursed Israel a thousand times over for doing this to her, she looked so drained...in stark contrast to her former self, so vivid and full of life. Jim clenched his fists, she was like a butterfly after the colors had faded from it's wings.

All of a sudden her body tensed and she moaned with pain, her eyes flying open to reveal her tortured expression.

"It hurts." She whimpered, finding Jim beside her and appealing to him. "Make it stop."

Jim's face was as pained as hers as he took her hand gently. "I – can't." He said with difficulty. "I can't do anything else, I'm so sorry." He said in a cracked voice. "I've washed and bound the wound but it's very deep. You have to be strong, it'll stop soon. I promise." He said fervently, begging her with his eyes to keep fighting.

Scarlett's blood-red lips tilted into a half smile as she looked at him with glazed eyes. "I'm not strong." She said slowly. She could feel the amount of blood she'd lost, feel her life seeping away from her...it was agonizing.

"No! Don't you do that! Don't you dare!" Jim said fiercely, gripping her hand tighter. "You can't give up. Hell, you're the strongest goddamn girl I've ever met, you idiot!" He seethed, his eyes flashing with fear and anger. "Are you just going to lie there and -"

Scarlett frowned slightly and interrupted him. "Stop with the pep talk." She snapped and Jim smiled at the rebuff – that was more like it!

"Make me." He said, making the hint of a challenge strong in his voice.

She looked up at him in annoyance, "I would but in case you hadn't noticed I'm kind of at a disadvantage here." She said weakly but still with an edge to her voice as she feebly gestured to herself.

Jim grinned, that's it – keep fighting!

"Shame. Well then I guess I'll just have to continue." He said, heaving an exaggerated sigh and opening his mouth as if to resume his 'pep talk'.

Scarlett's eyes became dark as she glared at him and, with a great effort, she raised her hand and placed one finger on his lips. The independence of the gesture was spoiled by Jim having to hold her wrist in place because of her weakness but still. "Don't make me come over there." She said in a slightly stronger voice.

Jim laughed and gently ran his hand down her arm whilst he returned it to her side. "Okay, okay – you won." He said with a broad smile, then he became serious. "I know another, bigger battle that you can win too." He said quietly.

Scarlett looked at him without saying anything and then beckoned him closer. Jim smiled and brought his face next to hers, thinking she wanted to whisper something, but instead she reached out her free hand and stroked his cheek gently then kissed him softly on the same spot. It was a small kiss but it's sensation lingered and Jim closed his eyes before looking at her once again, admiration making his eyes bright.

"You truly are the strongest girl I've ever met." He said sincerely, touching her wound with the lightest of touches so as not to hurt her.

"Jim if you don't mind, can I rest? I'm so tired." Scarlett asked in as small a voice as he'd ever heard her use.

"Of course, I'll take you to the captain's cabin." Jim said hurriedly. "I'll carry you but I'll do my absolute best not to hurt you." He promised and she smiled.

"I know."

Carefully he cradled her in his arms (taking care not to jostle her wounded shoulder) and stood up, walking slowly and evenly to the cabin.

"Here we are." He said as he laid her down gently on the bed. "That should be more comfortable."

She moved slightly, "Yes it is. Thank you." She said, her eyes drooping with sleep.

Jim just nodded and closed the door quietly behind him and she was asleep before she heard it shut.

Outside Jim sank to the floor and tried to stop shaking – he had killed a man and the girl he loved was fatally injured. He placed his head in his hands, she had to be alright.

Anything else was not an option.