Broken

Chapter 2: Paralyzed By Fear

A/N: Okay so we skipped past the climax of the battle with the East India Company. Elizabeth is an emotional basket case after Will’s death. She curls up into a ball on Jack’s bed trembling and sobbing for Will. Not knowing what to do Jack simply keeps vigil at her bedside. Her tears finally stop and she stops crying out for Will after a week. Is she on the road to recovering or is this just the calm before the storm? Please read and review!

Addicted_to_Jack: Thank you for your wonderful reviews! I’m so glad that you are enjoying my stories. If you want to check out another story that I’m currently working on it’s based on the HBO show The Tudors and it’s under Misc. Tv shows.

Sparrowlover: Thank you for your review, it’s nice to know that my work is enjoyed! Hope you enjoy the latest chapter!

Disclaimer: Still don’t own POTC and I’m still not getting paid to write these stories.

Jack carried a trembling and soaked to the bone Elizabeth past the deathly silent crew into his cabin. Locking the door behind them he set her down on her own two feet. Her knees buckled and she crumpled towards the floor limply. Jack reached out quickly and scooped her back up before she hit the floor. He carried her over to the bed and set her down on the mattress gently.

“Izzy…darling?”

Getting no answer from her he continued.

“We have t’ get ye out of those wet clothes. M’ going t’ take yer clothes off an’ get ye tucked into bed.”

Jack began carefully removing her wet clothes unable to look at her as she sobbed quietly for Will. He stripped off every last piece of wet clothing until she was stark naked. Then pulling back the blanket Jack eased her underneath it. She looked up at Jack with wide tear filled tea colored eyes.

“W-where’s Will?”

Jack looked away unable to keep her pitiful gaze.

“Jack? W-why won’t you look at me?”

“Jus’ lie back an’ close yer eyes love. Ye’ve had a very trying day…ye need yer rest.”

“No! I want Will! WILL!!”

Her eyes darted around the room as fresh tears began leaking out of them to run down her pale face. It was more than Jack could handle to see his beautiful and strong Elizabeth crumbling before his eyes.

“I’ll be back in a tick love.”

He strode towards the door grimacing as Elizabeth let loose another mournful wail.

“WILL!!”

Jack shut the door behind him and turned around to find his crew looking at him with concerned expressions etched onto their normally stony faces.

“She’s…jus’ give her some time gents.”

Jack headed towards the wheel deck where Barbossa and Gibbs were standing waiting for him to give them a heading. Barbossa cleared his throat before speaking.

“Jack…m’ sorry bout the girl…I know ye care a great deal for her.”

“Stop talking bout her like she’s dead Hector!”

“Apologies Jack…but she might as well be dead now that the boy’s gone.”

Jack pulled his pistol from his breeches and shoved Barbossa against the wheel jamming the pistol into his forehead.

“Shut it ye feculent maggot! Never speak bout Elizabeth t’ me again unless asked!”

Rolling his eyes Barbossa pushed Jack’s pistol away from his forehead before standing back up straight.

“Enough with the dramatics Jack…I was only saying what nobody else had the courage t’ say. It’s unfortunate for Miss Swann what’s happened…but there’s nothing that ye or any of us can do t’ help her now. It’s best we jus’ let her be Jack.”

“Don’t tell me what’s best for Elizabeth…she’s not yer concern Hector! I’ll take care of her now.”

Gibbs spoke up to try and put a stop to the fight that was boiling just beneath the surface.

“Uh sir…what be our heading?”

“T’ Singapore…I’ve a need t’ see Xian.”

“Aye Captain!”

“If anybody needs me I’ll be in me cabin looking after Elizabeth.”

Jack strode down the steps of the wheel deck and back across the deck towards his cabin. Barbossa’s gruff voice stopped him in his tracks once more.

“Ye think a visit t’ this witch of yers in Singapore will cure Miss Swann Jack?”

Jack whirled around quickly and glared up at Hector before answering.

“I don’t jus’ think it mate…m’ sure of it.”

And with that he walked back into his cabin shutting the door and locking it behind him. Shaking his head Barbossa glanced over at Gibbs.

“I fear that nothing will be able t’ bring back Miss Swann from where’s she’s gone. An’ that’ll be certain t’ drive Jack over the edge of sanity.”

Gibbs nodded as he turned the wheel so that the Pearl began sailing in a eastern direction away from Shipwreck Cove and towards Singapore. He hoped that Barbossa was wrong…if only to keep Jack from losing what small grasp he had on his sanity. Gibbs knew that Jack cared deeply for Elizabeth…even if he hadn’t come right out and said the words. And if he lost her it might break something in him that could never be fixed.

A/N: Okay this seemed like a good place to stop…hope you like where the story is headed so far. Please read and review!