A/N:for this fill: yennifer-milady answered: Milah and crew of "Jolly Rodger". How she became a pirate queen:) Without Killian's help.

Taking Charge

His arm was thrown over her shoulder and she was taking on most of his weight by now as he was pretty much out of it. They had managed to win against the party of bandits that had ambushed the pair of them while heading back to the Roger, but not without consequence. The gash in his side was of decent size and would need stitching. It was bleeding profusely, soaking into his tunic and spreading onto her top as well.

"Just a little further, Killian," she goaded, tightening her grip around his middle to keep him upright. He grunted in response and slumped further against her.

"Leave me, love, fetch Starkey, he'll see me back," he breathed with heavy breaths, his feet stumbling beneath him.

"No, I'm not leaving you. You are always so stubborn about everything else, don't let a scratch be your undoing."

Killian scoffed, "A scratch, she says," he winced leaning into her, "Doesn't bloody well feel like a scratch."

"Shut it and save your strength, you daft pirate," she chuckled, trying to hide the worry in her voice as she adjusted herself to take on more of his weight. His breathing was more labored now, and his steps faltering more often. She hoped she was closer than she thought they were, or they might not make it back after all, and she didn't know if he'd make it the night without proper looking after.

By the time she hauled him up the gang plank he was nearly passed out, eyes heavily hooded and his head was hanging limply on her shoulder. Starkey rushed to his other side and took his other arm and pulled it over his shoulder, helping her get him into his cabin. They gently laid him back on the bed, his eyes already slipping closed.

When she looked back the crew was huddled around his door, muttering their own assumptions under their breath.

"I need water, rum, and clean bandages," she ordered at the men in the door way. A few went to move but one held his hand up in reserve.

"And why should we listen to you, lass? How do we know it wasn't you who put him in that state? Tryin' to take the ship for yer self are ye?" the crewman sneered, hand on the hilt of his sword.

Milah's mouth fell open in honest shock. She had been nothing but loyal to the Roger, its men and most of all, its Captain. Her Captain. Killian.

She drew her sword and held it to his neck, eyes narrowed and lips pressed into a tight line. "You will get me what I asked, sailor, or when he is well and able I will make sure you personally get to know the depths of the sea."

The man smirked and looked over to Starkey who was watching the exchange with an arched brow.

Milah pressed the blade into his skin and a bead of blood pebbled on his skin. "I'm not one for waiting."

She felt a pair of hands go around her shoulders and pull her back away from the pirate. "Ease up, Milah," he softly coaxed her away and took the sword from her hand. He then turned to the crew and brandished it in their direction.

"Now, I suggest you lot do what the lady asked. I won't wait for the Cap'n to wake to make you walk the plank." He pointed it at the smirking pirate, poking him in the chest with the blade's point. "And you, Smithy, have best be apologizing. The good Milah here has done nothing but assist us since she's come aboard, has she not? Kept the good Captain in grand spirits?"

A grumbled chorus of agreements erupted from the crew still in the door way. When he said nothing Starkey pressed the blade harder into his shoulder. "Keelhauling is always an option," he smirked.

"Apologies, milady," he said with a tight lipped grin and a mock bow.

"Just go, get what I need before he bleeds out on the damned bed!" she scolded, pulling at her hair with an annoyed huff. They turned and tried to push their way out the doorway. "And something to stitch him up with as well!"

She pressed her hand to her forehead after the door closed, going over to the bed and sitting by his side. His eyes cracked open and he reached over and took her hand in his bloodied one. She leaned over and brushed the hair from his eyes, giving him a small smile.

"Hey, can you stay awake for me?" Her fingers trailed down his cheek and came to rest on his shoulder. His lips twitched slightly before his eyes slipped closed.

"Killian—" she shook his shoulder gently, "Killian, I really need you to stay awake. You need stitching; I'd rather you not asleep for that."

A heavy breath escaped his lips and he gave a single nod, squeezing her hand. "I'm sorry, love…I…" he trailed off and she felt a tear trekking down her cheek.

"Shh, hush now, you're fine. Scratch remember? You're going to be right as rain in no time."

There was a knock on the door, one of the crewmen returning with her requested supplies and mumbled apologies on behalf of the crew. She heard Starkey telling the man to save his apologies and to turn them into pleas for when Killian was back on his feet. He set the items down on the end table and put a hand on her shoulder. "Here you are, lass. We best get him sorted, lest he loses anymore blood."

She nodded, and undid the clasps down the front of Killian's tunic and had Starkey help her ease him up into a sitting position. "Slowly," she guided, easing his arm out of his sleeve, nodding to the man opposite her to do the same. Killian groaned slightly and the two of them shared a pitiful wince at his pain.

"Get behind him and help hold him up."

Starkey did as he was asked, holding him by his shoulders while sitting behind him on the bed.

"Now hold him still." She wadded up his tattered shirt and placed it below the wound to collect what she could of the spilt rum, in an attempt to not ruin the bed completely. She pulled the cork out with her teeth and spit it on the floor and then quickly poured the contents in a steady stream across the gash.

"AH!" Killian's body jerked, fully awake now and Starkey struggled to hold him down as she attempted to cleanse the wound.

"Keep him still!" she ordered grabbing Killian's hand and seeking out his eyes. She gave him a solemn smile, "I'm sorry, but you know I have to do this."

His mouth was clenched shut and his breathing was shaky, but he managed to nod and squeeze her hand back.

She wiped the blood away from the gash as best as she could and filled a tumbler with rum, soaking the needle and line. Milah pressed the tip of the needle to his skin, "Do your best not to move, Killian."

"Work quickly, love," he breathed, swallowing thickly.

She pushed through the first two layers of skin and he winced, but did not move far, nor did he cry out. His bloodied hands now fisted in the bed sheets and his back pressed into his first mate. She frowned at each groan that passed through his lips, determined to finish the job so he could indeed rest and regain his strength. She tied off the line and cut it with the dagger hanging at her hip and gave the work a swipe with the rum coated bandage to soak up any remaining blood.

Starkey helped her wrap his middle and then she got him to lie back down on the bed, away from the mess of sheets. They'd deal with those later, right now he needed rest and she wasn't moving him for the sake of clean linens.

"You can have my quarters if you'd like, milady, until we can get the bed situated," Starkey said quietly, looking down at his captain.

Killian's eyes met hers and his breathing quickened, not wanting to be left alone and not wanting to admit that she was the reason. He had known he had loved her for quite some time now, It was saying the words that was the problem.

"Thank you, but no. I'd rather stay." She smiled softly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

There was a rap at the door and a she opened it to find a handful a member of the crew there, offering her a small vial. "For the pain, lass," he said, holding it out to her, holding on to her hand when she went to take it. "We've liked ye from the start ya know, pay no mind to Smithy." He leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper, "The Cap'ns never taken a liking to one woman before…"

"That's quite enough Morgan," Killian rasped from the bed, and the man nodded and left. "Milah—" he coughed

"Killian, stop talking," she sighed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

It was then that Starkey took his exit, offering his services shall she need anything throughout the night. She thanked him, he'd never judged her, or questioned Killian's decision to bring her aboard. She wasn't daft; with Killian's charm she was well aware that he had bedded his fair share of women, but she made her choice regardless. And for some reason Starkey and her had held a mutual respect from the beginning.

Milah returned to the bed, wiping a damp cloth across his forehead and tilting the vial into his mouth. She filled a cup with water and brought it to his lips, smiling weakly when he wrapped his hand around hers to take a drink.

"Thank you, love. You've outshone any man on this ship today," he said weakly, his lips twitching upward.

"Even Starkey," she teased.

"Hmm, well, he doesn't keep my bed warm, so I suppose so." He attempted a laugh and only resulted in hurting himself further, groaning in pain and his arm moving to his bandages.

"Shh, rest now, my dear sweet Captain." She situated herself behind him so that his head was in her lap, fingers raking through his hair and planting a kiss on his forehead. "Sleep."

"They like you, you know," he went on quietly, lips lifting at the feeling of her fingers on his scalp.

"Hmm?"

"The crew. They don't take kindly to women on the ship, but they took a liking to you straight away." He opened his eyes to look up at her. "You're bloody amazing you know that?"

She sternly looked down at him, arching her eyebrows. "What's amazing is that your eyes are still open."

He chuckled, swearing at the pain it caused. "Damn."

She rolled her eyes, leaning forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Sleep, Killian. We can talk all you want once you've rested." She quickly pecked him again, smiling against his mouth. His hand came up and held the back of her neck, holding her in place.

"I…I love you," he whispered against her.

Her face broke into a wide smile. "And I you. Now sleep."

The warmth that spread in her chest was indescribable. She had the love of her Captain, the respect of his crew, and the life she had longed for. Soon they would return for her son and for the first time in her life she had a life worth living, with a family to fight for and a home to protect.