It had been two weeks since I first arrived on Captain Killian Jones's ship. Nothing seemed to change really. I woke up in the extremely small room I shared with Tituba, and then helped her prepare meals throughout the day. Every now and then I was called in to the captain's cabin, if he was in need of more rum. He used a bell, attached to a string through a pulley system. He would give two firm rings, meaning he needed me for something. At night, I did as always; waited on Jones for dinner, Gibbs, and quartermaster left, and I was dismissed. But the days wouldn't be complete with the captains little comments every now and then. I've softened up, ever since the James incident. Jones had a reason for doing what he did. I don't know if he'll ever tell me; I am just cabin girl after all.
Tituba and I were doing our usual; preparing food, talking and laughing at each other's stories. We got along really well. Everything was normal, until Gibbs burst through the doors.
"Ladies, a ships been spotted, and we're taking her. The captain suggests that you get somewhere safe." Gibbs said.
"Yes, sir." Tituba said with a nod, wiping her hands on her apron. Gibbs nodded back and rushed out the door. I turn to Tituba.
"Wait, what's happening?" I ask.
"The men are raiding another ship. Follow me." I followed Tituba back to our closet like room. She bolted the door and sat on her cot.
"So does this happen often?" I ask sitting on my cot.
"Yes, maybe twice a month. I've been here long enough to know what to do when it happens."
"How long are we supposed to wait?"
"It's based on the type of ship. If its small, then maybe an half an hour, but if it's bigger than about an hour. That's taking over its crew and stealing the cargo."
"And they succeed every time?" She nods. There was a sudden boom from above. The battle had begun. And for the next hour that's almost all we would hear; cannons and guns being fired. The muffled screams made me shudder. But suddenly it got quiet. The sound of our crew's yells, and footsteps running throughout the halls of the deck, was heard from outside our door. But the only thing I could make out was "The Captains been shot!" Tituba and I both look at each other. We raced off our cots and headed to the top deck. The crew was scattered, but there was a circle where the men stood over the wounded captain. I see Gibbs rushing down the starboard staircase. I run over to him, with Tituba behind me.
"Gibbs, what happened?"
"The Captains been wounded."
"Badly?"
"Yes, and Dr. Nelson has been killed. So we have no one with experience in removing the bullet. If it's taken out wrong, or not taken care of properly he could die."
"So what do you plan to do?" Tituba asks.
"We're going to try our very best to remove it." Gibbs says, he begins to be on his way, but I grab his arm.
"Wait" I say, "I can remove the bullet." He and Tituba look at me with surprise. "I have removed many bullets."
"How?" Gibbs asks.
"My neighbor was a retired doctor. He taught me how to treat wounds, since so many fights happened in the bar. My father's a drunk. He got himself in to a couple fights. And working at a tavern, I befriended sailors. When they'd get into a bar brawl, I'd be the one to remove it, so I've had plenty of practice." A smile spread on Gibbs and Tituba's faces.
"Perfect!" Gibbs ran over to the circle of men. "Lads, take the captain to his cabin. Emily knows how to treat his wound." The sailors looked confused at me. "Be quick about it!" Gibbs reminded them. I watched them carry Jones into his cabin. I asked Gibbs to get the doctors surgical tools. I followed them into the captain's cabin. They removed his jacket, vest and shirt, revealing his tan, toned, and bloody chest. I have to admit, even though he angers me, the man was beautiful. After everything was settled, the dedicated crew looked at me. Gibbs ran in with the doctors bag, he hands it to me.
"I'm ready." I tell him.
"Do you think you can do it?" he questions.
"It'll be a bit more difficult with the rocking, but I think I can." I say with a bit of confidence. He gives me a firm nod then looks to the crew.
"Come on, lads, let Ms. Burrows do her work." The crew shuffled out and I was now once again alone with the captain. I walked over to the bedside, placing the bag down. I stared at the wound for a moment, and then at his face. He was unconscious which was good; removing bullets is painful. I first started with cleaning the wound with alcohol. I watched his head jerk a bit, but thankfully he didn't wake up. I grabbed the pliers and hovered over his wound. It was in a bad place; below the heart. A sudden rise of nervousness rose in me. I didn't realize how close it was. I began to examine the wound closely. It wasn't as deep as I thought but it was still in there. I sucked in a deep breath and then slowly entered the pliers into the wound. I tried being as still as possible as I moved the tool further down waiting to feel the small bullet dink with the metal. Then I slowly moved down the sides of the bullet. Once deep enough, I squeezed it tight, and pulled it out of the bloody hole. I breathe a sigh of relief, and drop the bullet into the tin bowl. To be safe I cleaned the wound one more time, and then bandaged it up. He still laid there motionless, except for the slight rise and fall of his chest. I tried to fight the smile that crept upon my face, but it was almost impossible. I cleaned up the tools placing them all back in the bag, and then strolled out to give the good news. I opened the cabin door to find the crew waiting. They all tensed up when I walk out. Gibbs ran over to me and I handed him the bag.
"Well?" he asked nervously.
"He's going to be fine." I smile. The crew cheered and began to celebrate the safety of their captain.
"Thank you, Ms. Burrows." Gibbs says.
"Your welcome." I say, "But I do think I should stay with him tonight, to make sure his wound wont relapse with an infection."
"Yes, of course. I'll go tell Tituba to start preparing dinner. How long till he awakes?"
"I have no clue. Could be an hour, could be a few days. " He gives me a firm nod, then is lost in the rustle of the crew continuing with their duties, and I return to the cabin. With the sun now setting, I light candles and it gives the room a warm glow. I begin to look around his cabin; books were scattered, empty bottles of alcohol, cloths lying about. If I'm going to be in here all night I might as well clean up; lord knows he won't do it. I begin putting things in order, organizing and what not. A couple hours had passed. I was in the middle of picking up some books, when I suddenly hear a grunt. I look over towards the bed to see Jones beginning to wake up. I stuff the books on a shelf and run over to his side. His eyes slowly open. He looks confused around the room until his eyes meet mine.
"Burrows? What happen?" he says with a raspy voice.
"You were shot. I had to remove the bullet." I say.
"You did? Where's Nelson?"
"Dead unfortunately, but luckily, I have some experience with wounds." I say. He stares at me with surprise, and then lifts up the bed covers to examine his wound. "Do you need anything?" I ask. "Are you hungry?" He drops the covers, and rubs his eyes with his hands.
"Aye."
"I'll go get you some food, and tell Gibbs." It was the middle of the night so everyone was asleep. I thought maybe Gibbs would be awake but he was sound asleep snoring in his hammock. I walked to the kitchen, and find the still warm stew on the stove; pouring it into a bowl, than placing it on a tray. I then grabbed a bottle of rum, maybe it'd cheer him up.
I walk into the cabin, and walk across the room to Jones. I place the tray on the bed side table.
"Can you help me sit up, love?" My heart jumped when he said love. I nodded, and let him use my arm to balance himself. His face looked struggled. He was in pain, and would be for a couple days.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"Yeah. The pains a bitch, but I'll be fine." He says. I give a smile. "So how long will I be bed ridden, lass?"
"Only a couple days, but that's only if your wound heals properly." I say. I reach to pull the covers back, but stop. I don't want to just pull them off him. "May I?" he lifts up his hands.
"No, go on." I pull the covers back, revealing his stomach. The bandage now had a faded red mark. I peal the bandage off so I could apply a new one. I examine it. It looks to be doing well. "So," he begins "how's the devil?" I reach over to the bottle of alcohol I brought in.
"It's doing well. But we need to be cleaning it a lot." Without warning I pour the rum on his wound. He gives out a loud moan, and clenches his fist in the sheets of the bed.
"Fuck." He hisses.
I smile. "The more we clean it the faster it'll heal." I say. After applying a new bandage, I gave him his tray of stew. He looked hungrily at it. I turned and began to finish cleaning up. I felt him watching me, as hard as it was, I continued my work. "So," he began, I turned to look at him "How does a barmaid, expertly remove a bullet?"
"My neighbor was a retired doctor. He taught me how to remove bullets, clean wounds, bandage them, ect. In case I ever needed it for my father or friends that got themselves into bar fights."
"Did you ever do it, or am I your first patient?"
"No, my father was. Don't know why I even saved the bastard." I said finishing up gathering cloths and putting them in a basket. I'd have to clean them later. He just gazed at me, as if thinking.
"I'll tell you what." He says placing the empty bowl on the tray next to him and grabbing the bottle of rum. "You tell me why a strong, sassy, sexy lass such as yourself, stayed with your old man for so long, and I'll answer anything you want to know about me." He then takes a long swig of rum.
"Really?" I ask surprised.
"Aye, but only one." He adds raising one finger. "Can't be giving away all my dirty little secrets, can I?"
"Fine." I say walking over to the side of his bed and grabbing a stool. I breathe in a long breath. "The reason, I stayed was because I thought I…" I stop trying to fight the urge to release tears. "I thought I could change him. I thought if I could pull him away from the drink, and all the bad memories, then he could look forward. But he never did." Jones looked at me, his face blank, but eyes of, what I think is care. "That and, I didn't really have anywhere else to go." I say with a bit of laugh. "Alright my turn." I say. He gives a smile.
"Alright, what's your question?" I think for a moment, but I know exactly what I was going to ask.
"When you killed James, why were you and the men not… sad? I mean you seem rather close with your crew, why not with James?"
"Well, James was an outcast among the crew. I didn't like him, and no one else did either." I sit there considering his answer. He continues, "And what the bastard tried to do to you is against one of my top demands. He knew what he was getting into." Jones said taking another swig.
"Your top demand?" I ask.
"No man aboard my ship can take a woman against her will." He says sternly.
"Why are you so against it? I mean I could never see a pirate being so… noble." He stares at me moment. I think he was debating whether to tell me or not. I bat my eyes a bit, hoping he'd give in; and he does.
"A long time ago, my mum was raped." He says "The bastard who did it was my father." I feel sorrow swell deep inside me. Everything that happened makes since now. "Her and I were rather close, and I promised her on her death bed I'd never disrespect a woman like that." I put my hand on his. He looks at me surprised. It's the first time aboard the ship that I'd given him affection.
"I'm sorry." I say. "If it's one thing I understand, its hate for a father." He smiles, at me. I feel his thumb rub over my hand.
"Thanks, lass." He says. "I guess you could say we both have daddy issues." I laugh a bit. I turn to meet his gaze. I realize we're still awkwardly holding hands, and pull mine away. I stand up, and move to the trays.
"Uh, you should get some sleep." I say with a slight smile.
"Aye, but I think the only way I'll get a good rest is if you join me." He looks at me with a devilish smirk. I narrow my eyes at him. "What? I may be wounded but I'm not paralyzed." I roll my eyes.
"Good night Captain." I say with a smile denying him.
"You'll come around!" he yells making sure I hear before I close the door on him. I bite my lip a bit, and laugh at the pirate.