Pirate AU
While the others looked through the treasure, Chris gazed around the chamber, feeling a strong sense of foreboding. He kept waiting for something to happen, to go wrong. It didn't bode well for them."I can't imagine how long it must have taken to bring everything down here. Most of Mckenzie's men had been caught and hanged by that time. He had only a handful of trusted men left." Nathan remarked as he walked towards him. "What's wrong, Chris? Why aren't you trying to bury yourself in the loot with the others?"
"Can't," Chris muttered. "I have this feeling something's wrong. Makes me nervous."
"That's just the sight of all that fortune." Nathan grinned.
"I guess." Chris allowed, although he wasn't too certain.
Vin approached them, his whole face lit up with a wide smile. "You do realize we are rich beyond our wildest dreams, don't you?" he chuckled happily.
"Correction; I am rich beyond my wildest dreams!" a new voice stated from behind them.
Chris turned around and found himself looking straight into the barrel of a pistol. Ten men were standing near the passageway, all heavily armed. Their leader was dressed all in black, looking smugly down at him, and Chris had no doubts about the man's identity, especially after seeing the anger in Ezra's eyes.
"Death," he growled.
"Larabee," the other man mock bowed. "We finally meet face to face." His eyes focused on Ezra, turning impossibly cold. "Mr. Standish, we meet again. I believe we have some unfinished business between us. Now, gentlemen, if you please. Relieve yourselves of your weaponry."
Chris nodded to the others who obeyed, letting their swords and guns fall to the ground. "You won't get away with this." He swore.
Death smiled. "I already have, Captain Larabee." He turned to one of his men. "Go back to the 'Skull' and tell Mr. Cook we have found the treasure and need every available man to help carry it back to the ship." After the man had left, he grinned at Chris. "It is most fortunate that my ship is anchored on this side of the island. It will save precious time."
"How did you find us?" Buck asked.
"I have been following you since you left Tortuga. The storm gave me some trouble, but my ship is better equipped to handle it than yours was. It was easy to discover this island and where you camped last night. When you went in search of the treasure this morning I followed you. I have a good tracker amongst my men and you gentlemen left a visible trail. Which one of you had the misfortune of landing in quicksand?"
"I did," Vin answered with a scowl.
Death shook his head, tsking softly. "Very clumsy, Mr. Tanner. I expected more out of you. Mr. Appleton, Mr. Donovan, watch the prisoners. The rest of you, start taking the treasure out. And make it fast."
"Aye, Captain."
For the next three hours Chris and the others watched helplessly as the treasure was taken from the chamber, first by Death's remaining seven men, then by the dozen others brought from the ship. Little by little all the chests disappeared, taking several trips before the task was completed.
Death approached them, brushing an imaginary speckle of dirt from his clothes. "Gentlemen, it has been a pleasure. Mr. Standish, I'm certain you will be exhilarated to know you will be coming with me. As I stated before, we have some unfinished business to see to. I don't take kindly to being made a fool. As for the others... Kill them." He ordered his men.
"No!" Ezra shouted, blocking Death's way as he made to leave.
Death raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Something to say, Mr. Standish?"
"Don't kill them." Ezra pleaded softly. "I'll do anything you want, but please... don't kill them."
"Anything, Mr. Standish?" Death grinned.
"Yes." Ezra replied firmly.
"Are you certain? Anything?" Death leered, his eyes running up and down Ezra's body lasciviously.
Chris saw Ezra's eyes widen as he realized exactly what Death was asking for. "Don't do it, Ezra!" He shouted desperately.
Ezra looked at him, his eyes regarding him sadly. "I'm sorry, Chris. I can't let you die." Then to Death, "Anything."
Death stared suspiciously at the two of them, and Chris saw the sudden understanding shine in the man's eyes. "Ah. I see. Well, well, well! I confess I am surprised, Captain Larabee. But then, Mr. Standish is a very handsome man." He sighed dramatically. "Oh, very well! I'm feeling benevolent today. Mr. Donovan, please tie the prisoners securely."
Chris fought furiously as his wrists were tied behind his back, followed by his ankles. He was thrown on the ground, his shoulder hitting the wall painfully. The others were soon sitting beside him, all bound hand and foot and leaning against the rock wall.
"There!" Death gushed out. "I did what you asked, Mr. Standish. And to show you I am a reasonable man, I will even allow you to say goodbye." He told Ezra, gesturing for him to go to Chris.
Chris watched Ezra approach him hesitantly, then kneel before him. "Chris?" He whispered softly. Chris turned his head to the side, unable to face the other man. "Chris, please?" When he still didn't acknowledge the other man, Eza sighed sadly. "Fine, be that way. I know you are upset, but I had to do it. Would you have let me die?" He wrapped his arms around Chris, hugging him tightly. "I love you," he breathed into Chris' ear.
When he moved back, Ezra looked at the other men. "Gentlemen, hope we meet again someday."
"Count on it, Ez," Buck vowed fiercely.
"Take care of him for me?" Ezra whispered.
Vin nodded. "We will. Take care of yourself. We will come looking for you."
"Enough!" Death ordered. "Take him to the ship!"
Chris watched as two men grabbed Ezra and dragged him away from the chamber. As they reached the passageway, Ezra turned and their eyes met. He wanted to say something, to tell Ezra he was sorry for the way he had acted as the other man was saying goodbye, that everything was going to be fine, but nothing came out. Ezra smiled at him sadly, then disappeared from sight as the men took him away.
He tensed as Death drew near, staring down at them. "You didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?" The man drawled.
"Meaning you are going to kill us after all?" Josiah challenged.
"Oh, no! I may be Death, but I do keep my promises. And I did promise Mr. Standish I would not kill you. Of course, there are other ways of making you disappear. I can always give nature a hand."
"What?" Nathan frowned.
"I'm certain it will be relatively easy to blow up that passageway after my men and I go through it. Even if you do manage to free yourselves from the ropes, you will be trapped in this chamber forever and die. I will have kept my promise, as I won't be the one killing you. I will eventually tell Mr. Standish. It would not be very sporting of me if I kept such knowledge hidden from him. But of course, I will have my fun with him first." He smirked. "How does it feel, Larabee? To know I have everything you wanted? The treasure and... more." Death laughed evilly. "Well, time to go. Die well, gentlemen."
When they were finally left alone, Buck banged his head against the wall with a groan. "I hate that bastard!"
The roar from an explosion echoed throughout the chamber, a deep rumbling growl that nearly deafened them. The ceiling in the passageway collapsed, dirt and rocks raining down on the six men, and blocking the way out.
"I don't want to die," JD whispered brokenly when the dust finally settled.
"And you're not going to." Vin told him. "Can you turn around?"
JD frowned. "I think so. Why?"
"There's a knife hidden in my right boot. If you take it out, we can use it to cut the ropes."
"We need to find a way of getting out of this cave," Josiah remarked.
"We will. At least now we'll be free." Buck retorted with a maddening grin. "We still have a fighting chance."
Chris narrowed his eyes dangerously. "And we will get out of here." He vowed fiercely. "Death hasn't seen the last of me yet. However long it takes... I will find him."
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
Ezra sat down on the bed, looking around Death's cabin. He had been brought to the man's quarters as soon as he had arrived at the ship, his hands tied in front of him so he wouldn't try to escape again. He had been left alone, the door locked after the two men had shoved him inside.
He stared out the windows, realizing it was probably mid-afternoon. He was hungry; they had arranged for something to eat in the morning before going on their treasure hunt, but hadn't anticipated spending so much time away from camp.
The door opened and Death entered, a wide smile grazing his face. "Mr. Standish, I believe it's time you kept your part of our deal. I need something to bank the fire inside; finding a fortune always does that to me."
"You mean, stealing." Ezra scowled.
"Details, Mr. Standish. Well?" When Ezra hesitated, he glared. "We haven't set sail yet. I can always send my men back to kill your friends."
"No! No, I will do it." Ezra agreed, swallowing hard.
He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes as Death covered him with his body, his hands beginning to paw at him. He bit back a groan as the man nipped at his throat, the bigger frame grinding against his in an obscene parody of lovemaking.
He tried to keep his mind away from what was happening, but all he could think of was Chris. He remembered their intense yet loving kisses, the way the other man always managed to set his body on fire with a mere touch. Something rebelled inside of him and he suddenly knew he couldn't go through with it, he couldn't betray Chris that way.
He shoved Death away as hard as his bound hands would allow, his body bucking at the same time, trying to dislocate the weight pinning him down. When the other man became more forceful in his rough caresses, he moved a leg between Death's and kneed him furiously in the groin.
Death cried out, his hands moving to cover his loins, and Ezra took the opportunity to push him away. The pirate fell to the floor whimpering softly, his gasping breaths loud in the otherwise silent cabin.
Minutes passed until Death finally sighed and sat up slowly. "I see you are not a man of your word, Mr. Standish," he observed, glaring at Ezra through watery eyes. "That's --" A knock on the door prevented him from finishing. "Yes?" He called out as he rose from the floor.
The door opened and one of the men Ezra had seen at the cave walked in. "Captain, we are ready to depart."
"Very well, Mr. Donovan. Set a course to Port Royal." Death ordered. "Now leave us."
"Aye, aye, Captain."
Once they were alone again, the pirate stared down at Ezra. "As I was saying, it's not very gentleman-like to go back on your word." He smirked. "Then again, neither one of us is truly a gentleman, are we? So I guess I can tell you the truth now."
Ezra frowned. "What truth?"
"Your friends are dead, Mr. Standish. Or will be, eventually."
"W-what?" Ezra stammered. "B-but you said --"
"I said I wouldn't kill them, and I didn't." Death interjected. "I merely blew up the passageway's entrance, trapping them inside the chamber. It will take them an agonizingly long time to die." He stated with a laugh.
Ezra felt his blood turn cold in his veins. He looked at the man chuckling before him and a furious rage took over his whole being. Rising from the bed in one swift move, he pushed Death away from him, reaching for a chair with his bound hands and hitting the man with it until Death was cowering on the floor, shouting desperately for help.
His mind didn't register the door opening or the four men trying to get him away from Death; all he could see was the man who had fooled him, the man responsible for his friends' excruciating demise. He kept swinging the broken chair, over and over again, until finally someone managed to hit him from behind and he plunged into blessed oblivion.
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
Buck dumped another load of rock away from the blocked tunnel and wiped his dirt-covered brow. "How long have we been doing this?"
"Forever," JD muttered.
They kept digging away at the dirt and rock, their ragged breathing filling the chamber. They had been clearing the passage for hours, painstakingly removing rock after rock, in an effort to escape their entrapment.
Chris was pulling away another large boulder when he heard a muffled scraping sound. "What the --? Everyone keep silent!" He ordered. "I heard something on the other side."
The five men stopped working, standing frozen as they all tried to hear any sounds coming from the other side of the blocked entrance. The scraping sound was clearer now, along with the sound of several voices.
"Hello?" Chris shouted. "Can anyone hear me?"
"Captain Larabee?" a familiar voice penetrated through the rock and dirt. "Captain, is everyone all right?" The distant voice called out again.
"Yes! Can you get us out of here?" Chris asked.
"We're trying. Me and the boys are all here. We'll get through to you soon, we still have more rock to move. You better keep going on that end as well."
Chris nodded and they set their minds and bodies to it, digging feverishly through the blockage. Soon the sound of rocks falling echoed in the chamber as the top of the entrance suddenly became clear. A pair of hands appeared and pushed more dirt away.
Chris grinned as Henry, one of his crewmen, slithered through the opening, sliding down on his stomach until he reached the bottom. "Captain," he panted with a grin.
"Henry. Well done, man! How did you know we were here?"
"Mark was searching for food on this side of the island when he spotted Captain Death's ship. He came for the rest of us. When we got to the cove, we saw a group of men heading towards the mountains and followed them. We saw them enter the cave, but decided to wait before doing anything. We almost attacked when we saw them leaving with the treasure, and then Ezra, but we didn't know what had happened to you. After Captain Death left we came inside and heard the explosion. We figured you had to be here."
"Good work. Let's get out of here."
One by one they left the chamber, joining the rest of the crew in the passage, following the markings on the walls to find the exit. Once outside, Chris took a long, deep breath, relieved to be out in the sun again. They were free. Now all that was left was to hunt Death down... And kill him.
CHAPTER XI - Vengeance
He stood on the beach for a very long time, watching the 'Skull' sail into the horizon until it was only a small dot on the ocean.It hurt him to think of Ezra in that madman's hands, suffering whatever torture Death chose to inflict, while they were stranded on the island with no way out. They were ready to signal any ship sailing their way, but until that time they would have to be patient and make the best of a hopeless situation.
"We'll find him, Chris," Vin assured him as he walked up to him.
"Eventually, yes." Chris acknowledged softly. "But what shape will he be in? It could be weeks before a ship comes our way. By then Death could have killed him, for all I know."
"He won't. If I know Ezra, he will fight Death tooth and nail. And that bastard loves a challenge."
Chris closed his eyes on the slowly setting sun. "That's what I'm afraid of, Vin. That's what I'm afraid of."
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
Ezra woke up with a splitting headache. Opening his eyes, he realized he had been taken to the ship's hold, his hands still tied, but with a new addition; he was bound to a pillar by the waist. He squinted his eyes at the darkness around him, seeing the treasure resting securely on the other side of the hold, strong ropes keeping the chests together and preventing them from slipping as the vessel swayed gently.
Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he waited until the man drew near to raise his head. He felt a profound sense of fulfillment as he noticed Death was limping slightly and witnessed the bruises covering the man's face. It wouldn't bring Chris and the others back, but at least he had allowed himself a small amount of revenge.
"I see you are awake," Death drawled.
"How observant of you," Ezra quipped sarcastically.
"You know, I could take what I want, force myself on you. But that would be far too easy. I want you to submit to me, to surrender willingly." He smirked. "So I decided to tame the beast, so to speak. From now on, and until I say otherwise, you will remain in the hold. No walking around, no going up for fresh air and sunlight. You will have no food brought to you, and only enough water to keep you alive. You will be allowed to bathe and relieve yourself only once a day. Unless you wish to starve to death, I sincerely hope you change your mind about our deal, Mr. Standish. It takes a very long time for a man to die this way. Although it would be ironic for you to perish thus; after all, your... Larabee is suffering the same fate as we speak."
Ezra growled, trying to kick at the other man, but Death moved out of the way. "Now, now! Temper, temper! I believe I shall leave you alone to ponder the error of your ways, Mr. Standish. Have a pleasant day."
Ezra leaned back against the pillar, looking up helplessly at the wooden ceiling. The numbness he had felt at the island when he had believed Chris to be dead was returning tenfold. It physically hurt to think of the other man's suffering, and a dark side of him was content he would be experiencing something similar. It brought them closer somehow.
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
It took three weeks for a ship to sail close enough to the island to see their smoke signal. Luckily, it was a British cruiser, and obviously patrolling the islands in search of pirates.
Chris waited by the beach as a long boat slowly approached, then went over to meet the officer and the six seamen coming ashore.
"Gentlemen, am I happy to see you!" He huffed as he shook the officer's hand eagerly.
"Sir, I am Lieutenant Durst. What has happened? Why are you here?"
"Christopher Tanner. I was captain of a small ship carrying supplies from good ol' England when we were attacked by pirates. They took all our valuables, the cargo and sunk our vessel. They left us on this island to perish, sir! Those... those scoundrels!" He shouted in mock outrage.
"Did you happen to hear the pirate's name, sir?" Durst asked, his expression a sympathetic one.
"I believe the name I heard was Captain Larabee."
"Oh, my! Sir, you are most fortunate to be alive! You were attacked by one of the most ruthless pirates in the Caribbean Sea!"
Chris raised an eyebrow at those words. "Really?" he drawled. "Then I am truly fortunate. Twice over, now that you have come for us."
"Is any of your crew here?"
"Yes, Lie
tenant. We set camp not far from here. It's been three weeks, we needed some place safe to live in."
"Of course. Show me to your camp, then. My men and I will help you bring everyone aboard."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Please, follow me."
Chris lead the men to their improvised camp, grinning wolfishly as his men suddenly jumped from cover and attacked the British, not giving them enough time to fight back. Soon they had them disarmed, out of their clothes, and securely tied.
"What's the meaning of this?" Durst asked as he glared up at Chris.
"Well, Lieutenant, it's like this. You have before you one of the most ruthless pirates in the Caribbean Sea." Chris answered with a chuckle.
The man gasped in understanding. "Captain Larabee!"
"In the flesh!" Chris responded, bowing with a flourish. "And I'm in dire need of a ship, which is why I'm going to take over yours. The rest of the crew will be brought here as soon as the vessel is under our control."
"What's the plan?" Nathan asked.
"We wait. They will probably send more men when Durst doesn't return. We need further clothes and weapons. If they do not, we attack as soon as it gets dark. In the meantime, see if their clothes fit any of you. If they see us, the clothes will fool them long enough for us to get closer."
"Wouldn't it be easier to let them take us to the ship and overpower them there?" JD asked as he donned one of the seamen's garments.
"Not really. See, if we do it that way, we have the whole crew to fight against, even if they aren't expecting a threat from the marooned. This way, we have already eliminated seven men, and if they send more, it'll be a considerable share of the crew. There will be less men left to fight. If we wear their comrades' clothes, most of them won't even see us coming." Josiah explained.
"Buck, go watch the cove. Warn us when they send more men."
"On my way."
Vin grinned as he finished buttoning Durst's uniform. "We're getting closer, Chris. The ship is practically ours. Soon we'll be able to leave this island, go after Death and rescue Ezra."
Chris nodded, his heart speeding as he thought of the other man. Three weeks was a long time, too long when you were captive to such a man as Death. He shuddered as he remembered Ezra's declaration of love as he was saying goodbye, and hoped he would be able to hear those words again. And more importantly... say them back.
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
Everything went according to plan. Six more men came ashore in the afternoon, armed to the teeth and expecting trouble. Still, Chris and the others didn't have great difficulty subduing them. Their clothes were divided amongst the men, and by nightfall they were ready to attack the British cruiser.
They hopped into the two long boats, rowing calmly towards the ship. The sentries spotted them, but as predicted, seeing the familiar uniforms and clothes, let them approach. They moved swiftly, going after the sentries first, knocking them unconscious, then the seamen still wandering about the decks, the ones sleeping in the crew quarters, and finally the officers' cabins.
Two hours later they had left the British back at the island and were on course to Jamaica. Captain Larabee and his men were back.
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
They spotted the 'Skull' on their fourth day at sea, on her way to Tortuga. Chris coldly studied their formidable adversary; with its fifteen hundred tons of impressive bulk and its numerous artillery, he knew they were in for a fight. The British cruiser was a good ship, fast, but would not be able to withstand much punishment.
"Battle stations!" He ordered, watching the men rush below deck to take their positions while the artillerymen aimed the cannons and firelocks.
There was a flash of light from Death's ship and seconds later a large cannonball whistled through the cruiser's masts.
"They've seen us!" Buck shouted.
"Fire!" Chris ordered.
Buck nodded, firing a single shot. The cannonball smashed through the gangway of the enemy bridge, snapping the flagpole in two on its way.
But Death was not defeated. In that instant the 'Skull' seemed to catch fire. A hurricane of steel whizzed through the air and struck the cruiser, fracturing its masts and creating chaos aboard.
"Damnit! Vin, move us closer, quick! Our only chance is to flank and board them."
"Aye, Captain!"
The cruiser sailed closer, and was quickly hit by a second volley of fire that sent wood, cannon parts and debris flying. The infernal cacophony of gunfire erupted, both sides matching shot for shot, cannonball for cannonball.
Both crews, bent upon victory, could hardly see each other, engulfed as they were by immense clouds of smoke that stubbornly clung to all decks, but they continued to fight with equal furor, as fire was met with fire and discharges by more discharges.
The 'Skull' may have had the advantage of its great bulk and massive artillery, but Chris' men were leading the attack, refusing to give up the fight. Riddled with holes, sails shredded, and now almost completely unrecognizable, they continued to fire, despite being subjected to an incessant hail of cannonballs.
In spite of everything, Vin managed to maneuver the ships side by side. A wild cry of victory was heard throughout the cruiser, the men wanting nothing more than to get on board the other ship. The grappling hooks were hurled and the battle proceeded, only this time face to face with the enemy.
"Attack!" Chris shouted, jumping over the bulwarks and landing on Death's deck, his eyes already looking for the other man.
The air was suddenly filled with a different kind of noise; the distinctive sound of blades clashing together as the men from both crews fought for their lives, skillfully engaging in swordplay.
"Captain Larabee," his nemesis drawled from behind him. "You never cease to amaze me."
Chris slowly turned to face Death, sword already in hand. "As you see, I'm still very much alive. You, on the other hand... won't be for long!" He growled angrily, as he thrust forward.
Death dodged, blocking his stroke. They were facing each other, spinning in a slow circle, feinting, teasing, learning about the other, the tiniest movement countered.
"Enough fun! Time to die, Larabee!" Death grinned, finished with the teasing.
Their swords crossed, then again, and again, the sound from the blades coming so fast it was almost continual. Chris pressed on, making Death retreat. They were almost flying across the decks, never losing balance, never coming close to stumbling, paying no mind to the other men fighting all around them; the battle raged on, first one and then the other gaining the advantage.
Chris was fighting furiously, ducking and feinting and thrusting, escaping by inches as Death's sword slashed the air painfully close to his left arm. He felt Death gaining on him, forcing him back, seeming to gain strength as the duel advanced.
"Where's Ezra? What have you done to him?" He growled, as he was pushed against one of the masts.
Death laughed evilly. "Wouldn't you like to know? Stay alive and find out!"
Suddenly thinking of Ezra at the hands of the madman, Chris felt a surge of power and went into a fierce attack, striking with deadly precision, driving Death easily back, landing blow after blow, slash after slash, until the other man was bleeding from several cuts.
"Die!" He breathed, attacking in earnest.
He drove for Death's left shoulder, thrusting successfully. Then another move and his blade entered the other man's right shoulder; always striking, always moving forward. And then, almost too fast for the eye to follow, the sword stroke one final time and Death cried out as he was unable to parry and Chris' blade plunged clear through him.
They stood frozen for a moment, their eyes locked, Death's reflecting pain and fear, Chris' reflecting vengeance. Then he withdrew his sword and Death pitched forward, lying dead on the ground.
Chris leaned against the mast, panting for breath, staring down at Death's ashen features, the blood still pouring from the multiple cuts, his eyes bulging wide, but no longer seeing. He had finally won.
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
It was unbelievably easy after that. Seeing their captain was dead, Death's remaining men surrendered their weapons. Chris allowed them to board the British cruiser and sail away to lick their wounds, warning them not to show their faces in the Caribbean Sea in the near future if they valued their lives.
"Now what?" JD asked, looking around their new ship.
"Search for Ezra." Chris replied, already marching towards the cabins.
He was frantically going through each cabin when Vin's voice called out, "Chris! Nathan! Come quickly!"
Feeling his heart skipping a beat, he exited the last cabin, joining the others on the deck. "Where are you?" He shouted.
"In the hold!"
They rushed to the hold, and Chris gasped at the sight before him. Vin was holding an extremely frail looking Ezra in his arms. The other man had lost weight he couldn't afford to lose, his pallor was frightening and he looked haggard and weak beyond belief.
"My Lord," Josiah whispered. "What have they done to him?"
CHAPTER XII - Bliss
Chris knelt beside Vin, gently gathering Ezra in his arms. "Ezra?" He called softly, feeling the slight trembling in the other man's body. "He's freezing, Nathan. What the hell has that bastard done to him?"The healer shook his head despondently. "I don't know. We have to try and wake him."
"Ezra? Ezra, wake up." Chris patted the pale face tenderly. "Ezra?"
The other man groaned, snuggling up against him. "Cold..." He muttered.
"Ezra, I need you to open your eyes for me." Chris pleaded. "Come on, Ezra."
"No..." Ezra whispered in a nearly non-existent voice.
"Yes, Ezra. Do it for me, come on."
Ezra sighed gently, then slowly opened his eyes, blinking sleepily up at Chris. He looked at the other man for a long time, then suddenly began to chuckle weakly.
"What are you laughing at?" Chris asked, confused.
"Hallucination," Ezra breathed. "You're a hallucination."
Chris shook his head at the man's whimsical mood. "I'm not a hallucination, Ezra. I know Death told you we were dead, but we managed to escape from the cave."
Ezra looked up. "You did?"
"Yes, we did." Buck answered gently, and Ezra turned his head to look at him, then at the others.
He turned his focus back to Chris, raising a trembling hand to brush over his face. Chris held Ezra's hand up with his own, pressing it against his cheek firmly. "I'm alive," he whispered.
"You're really here?" Ezra queried, so softly the others had to strain to hear. "You didn't die?"
"We are really here, we didn't die. Believe me, Ezra. And Death is dead. He will never hurt you again."
"Oh, Lord!" Ezra breathed, struggling to wrap his arms around Chris' neck.
Chris held him tighter, pulling him closer to him. "It's all right, Ezra. You're going to be fine."
"I'm so tired..." Ezra whispered against his neck.
"Ezra, I need you to stay awake." Nathan told him. "I have to ask you a few questions."
Chris felt Ezra nodding, so he manhandled him gently until he could look at Nathan.
"What are you feeling?" The healer asked softly.
"Cold... Fatigued..."
"Do you know why?"
Ezra nodded. "Been without food for --" He frowned, then looked up at Chris. "How long... the cave?"
"You haven't had anything to eat since the day we found the treasure?" Josiah asked incredulously. "Why?"
"When he told me what he had done..." He sighed, closing his eyes and leaning back against Chris' chest. "I nearly killed him. Took four of his men to get me away from him."
"So that's why he decided to starve you to death?" Chris gritted out, feeling furious anew. Death had died far too quickly.
"I wouldn't say yes..." Ezra explained weakly. He looked up again, obviously trying hard to focus on Chris' face. "I couldn't keep my part of the deal, didn't let him... I couldn't betray you." He tilted his head to the side. "Are you still upset with me?"
"Lord, Ezra!" Chris whispered, resting his forehead against Ezra's. "I wasn't upset with you. I was angry, and not at you. I was angry at me. I made you a promise, that he wouldn't get near you, wouldn't hurt you again, and I couldn't keep my word."
"Chris," Nathan interrupted gently. "You can do this later. Right now, Ezra needs to be taken somewhere comfortable, like one of the cabins. And we need to find him something light to eat. Ezra, have you been in here all this time?"
"Yes."
Nathan exhaled softly. "All right. I need something to cover his eyes. There's not enough light here to see properly, and after nearly four weeks the light from the sun will hurt his eyes."
"Here." Vin offered, giving him a small scarf he usually wore around his neck.
"Thank you. JD, find the galley. See if there's any fruit, or at least something to make a broth."
"Right." The young man answered, rushing out.
"Buck, find him something warm to wear. Until the food begins to work, he will continue to feel cold. Josiah, can you carry him to the captain's quarters?" Nathan asked, once the scarf was in place.
Chris released his hold on the other man long enough for Josiah to carry him to Death's cabin, and lay him down gently on the bed, then sat by Ezra's side, hovering protectively as Nathan began to examine him thoroughly.
Buck returned with a heavy coat, which Chris helped Ezra don, smiling at Ezra's contented sigh as he finally felt warm enough. JD walked in carrying a cup filled with freshly made broth.
"It was already on," he informed with a grin. "All I had to do was wait a few minutes for it to finish brewing."
Chris nodded. "Thank you, JD." He reached for the cup, then waited until Josiah and Nathan placed Ezra nestled against him, to raise it to the other man's lips. "Ezra, I need you to open your mouth. I have some broth here for you."
The other man obeyed, taking slow, careful sips until the cup was almost empty. He shook his head, refusing to take more, and Chris looked at Nathan.
The healer smiled. "He did good. It'll do for now. Lay him down and let him sleep for a while. We'll give him more every few hours. He can't eat too much or he will be sick."
Chris adjusted Ezra's position until he was lying back on the bed, removing the blindfold and covering him tenderly with the covers. He brushed a few strands of unruly hair from the man's forehead, then turned to the others.
"Set course to Tortuga. This ship might not have suffered too much damage, but it still needs repairs. Do whatever you can now; leave the rest to when we get there. And clean the ship."
"What do we do with the bodies?" Vin asked.
"Throw them overboard." Chris replied, his eyes flashing dangerously.
=-=-=-=VA=-=-=-=
The men worked feverishly. They were all capable seamen and several skilled carpenters and ship builders could also be found among their ranks. It took them only four hours to raise two new masts, reinforce the bulwarks, seal all the holes and repair the rigging, having had an abundance of cables, fibers, chains and ropes on board. By mid-morning the third day, not only could the ship set sail, but also engage in battle once again, for new barricades made of tree trunks had been erected to protect the cannons and firelocks.
The ship's name had also been changed. Chris refused to let such a magnificent ship be named 'The Skull', so he had renamed her 'Destiny'. It seemed fitting somehow, after all they had been through in the last months.
The seven men were now gathered in the main cabin, trying to decide their future. Ezra was sitting on the bed, much to Chris' relief, looking alert and much healthier. Against Nathan's orders he had already been walking about the ship, if only for a few minutes. Chris grinned ruefully, the other man was nothing if not stubborn, confronting even his own physical needs.
"So we still have the treasure, which means we're once again rich beyond our wildest dreams." Vin quipped. "Now what?"
"We keep doing what we have been doing so far." Chris replied. "Death might be dead, but we still have the governor to fight against. Now, after the last few weeks, I think everyone deserves a little time ashore. So take the crew and go. I'll stay here with Ezra."
"I want to go as well." Ezra protested.
"No, you don't." Chris replied sweetly. "You're staying here."
Ezra glared at him, but remained silent as the others exited the cabin. "Why can't I go?" He finally asked.
Chris sighed. "You know why, Ezra. It's only been three days. You are still too weak to walk around town with the others. Even if they went to the tavern, it would take too much out of you, and until you are well, Nathan said you can't drink. What would you do, spend the afternoon watching them?"
Ezra exhaled softly. "I'm sorry. It's just --"
"You're tired of being locked up. I know. But Ezra, you have barely moved for the last month. For what you told us, Death only allowed you to walk a few minutes each day, and during last the week, you had to have help. And you're still weak from lack of food. You have to be patient."
"Not exactly my strong point," Ezra conceded with a slight smile.
Chris chuckled. "It doesn't matter. I still love you." He said, enjoying the way Ezra's eyes lit up at the words. He leaned forward, brushing his lips over the other man's. "I've been wanting to say that for a month. I. Love. You. I'm sorry for the way I behaved at the cave."
Ezra nodded. "It's quite all right, Captain Larabee," he replied with a teasing grin.
Chris mock glared at him. "You're pushing your luck, sailor."
Rising from the bed, he began to take off his clothes, grinning at the other man's gaping expression. "What are you doing?" Ezra blinked, confused.
"Undressing." Chris answered with a chuckle.
"I can see that. Why?"
"I want to lie down with you, hold you for a while. The others are leaving the ship as we speak, we'll be all alone. No one will bother us. What do you say?"
Ezra seemed to hesitate, then nodded slowly, so Chris motioned for him to lie down. When the other man obeyed, he sat back on the bed, then made to stretch beside him, hankering down into the space Ezra had left for him. He looked over at the other man, who lay acquiescent in his corner, squinting at the afternoon sun.
Shaking his head fondly, Chris reached out and pulled Ezra into his arms, one hand gently directing the younger man to rest his head on his chest. Ezra stiffened for a moment, but just as Chris began to fear he had been too presumptuous, Ezra relaxed, letting his arms move around Chris' larger frame.
Burrowing in further to bring their bodies into full contact, Ezra sighed happily and said, "This feels good."
Letting out a relieved breath, Chris hastened to agree, his hand caressing the chestnut hair tenderly, "Yeah. Yeah, it does."
It felt so good that Chris had to struggle to keep his body under control. It wasn't easy with Ezra in his arms. Feeling his warmth, his spicy smell tickling his nose, made it damn near impossible not to become aroused. But he refused to do anything to upset the other man. They had done nothing more than kiss and he was almost certain Ezra was a stranger to male loving.
But just being there, wrapped in each other's arms, felt incredibly right. It filled something inside him that had been sorely lacking since his wife and son's death. It was contentment, bliss. He could stay in that bed forever, enjoying the feel of Ezra in his arms.
Though Chris had been sure Ezra had fallen into a healing slumber, the other man broke his contented silence a moment later.
"Chris?"
"Yes?" He whispered back.
"I need to know if.... Not that it matters, but... I wanted to ask...." Ezra stammered, his uncharacteristic nervousness making Chris frown.
"You can always ask me anything, Ezra. What is it?"
"Have you ever... been with a man?" He asked hesitantly. "Because... I am not certain if I am prepared, but I do wish to become... intimate with you."
Chris smiled gently. "So do I. I have been dreaming about you for a long time, about loving you and --"
"You dreamt about me?" Ezra interjected, sounding surprised.
"Yes. Especially on that island. The dreams would come when I had no control, when I was sleeping. Part of me hated thinking of you that way when you could be suffering Lord knows what at Death's hands, but I was helpless to prevent them. And answering your question, yes, I have been with a man before. Some years ago. He died two years before I was married."
He felt Ezra lift his head. "I'm sorry."
Chris shook his head. "It was a long time ago, the wound has healed."
"And your wife's?" Ezra queried perceptively.
"That one still smarts. Probably will until the day I can get the man responsible for Sarah and Adam's deaths."
"My uncle."
"Your uncle." Chris confirmed. "But it's not as important as it was before. I couldn't think of anything else but getting my revenge."
"And now?"
Chris smiled. "Now I spend most of my time thinking about you."
Returning his head to its former place, Ezra cuddled in a bit more and Chris could feel him smiling against his chest as he whispered, "I love you, Chris."
"I love you too." He whispered in return, and to his surprise he fell almost instantly into a deep, blissful slumber.
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