)O(
Chapter 59:
Three Days Later
"James?" Aaron's voice seemed to reach into his chest and Dunbar had no choice but to open his eyes.
They were alone in the room, not even Chambers was there. For a moment, James didn't have any idea where he was, just that he wasn't at home.
"Aaron?" He responded finally and licked at parched lips. "Where--?"
Aaron was dreadfully pale and when his hand reached for James, to use a wet cloth to wipe his face, he was shaking obviously. If James was perfectly frank, Aaron appeared as though he was on the verge of collapse.
"Th' infirmary, love, at Fort Charles?" Aaron swallowed thickly and a single tear slid down his cheek, which he brushed away hastily. "'Twas Ike done this to ye, wasn't it?"
For a moment, James couldn't meet the blue eyes. It would all have to come out now. He could no longer shield Aaron from the information.
"Never ye mind," Aaron said at his continued silence. "Ye get some rest, Jamie, an’ get back t' health. We'll talk later, savvy?"
James tried to answer again but the effort was too much. Tenderly, Aaron raised him up a bit and put a tin cup of cool water to his lips. The act brought to mind the first moments with Aaron in that hell on board the Saucy Maid. He took the sip offered.
He fought the exhaustion until Aaron had set the cup aside and turned back to him. With his last ounce of strength, he caught Aaron's hand in his. He never wanted to let go.
)O(
"I can't, Cap'n," Matthew Archer said, drawing away from Ike Stern in the bunk they shared.
Stern caught his shoulder before he could entirely get away and slid up so his naked front pressed against Matt's naked back. "Ye tol' me once ye would follow me t' the ends of the earth an' do anythin' I wanted. Were those jus' words, Matt?"
Stern's hand slid around him to stroke at his lean belly. When Matt pressed back against his captain, Stern's lips and tongue began to work their magic on his neck. Matt couldn't answer for a spell, his body reacting as it always did to the young pirate.
Finally, "No, sir, that's what I feel. I jus'--she's so young! An' it would be such a waste."
Stern chuckled, the hot air from the laugh brushing across Matt's ear. "The men have had their fill of her. So have I. Fact is, you're the only one who ain't. Why is that, Archer? Don't ye like a nice piece o' tail once in a while?"
For a moment, Archer didn't know what to say or do. Before he'd met Ike, he had certainly enjoyed a fuck and a suck with most anything pretty enough--especially if the price was good. But now that he had Ike in his life, he had no real interest in anyone else. And while Ike did indulge with the occasional whore, the only one who shared his bunk with any regularity was Archer. For Archer, who understood that Ike was not well in his mind, it was enough. When Ike started to pull away, Matt turned to him, catching his hand.
"Who was Aaron?"
The golden eyes, which seemed so hard normally, grew soft. Archer nearly released Ike when he saw tears well up there. Instead, Ike looked away as his face grew grief-stricken. "Aaron-Aaron was my firs' captain. He an' my father were-were matelot and I thought, maybe, that he'd-we'd--."
"So all o' this madness is because o' him? What did he ever do to deserve such devotion?" Matt had to struggle to keep the words from sounding angry and accusatory.
"Ye don't understand, an' I don't know if ye can. Ye know those scars on me back?
Archer sighed, wondering if this Aaron had a hand in those scars being there. He already hated the man for causing Ike such pain. He nodded.
"They would've been ten times worse if it hadn't been for him--if I'd still be alive. We were in a bad place an' he took care of me, kept me as safe as he could. He wasn't strong an' he had t' do things that--well, it don't matter now," Ike pulled away abruptly then stood to fetch a bottle of rum, which he opened and drank several swallows from. "All what matters is that I'll have my revenge on the man that murdered 'im. Commodore Dunbar is still alive, I heard, so I got a plan t' make him suffer, savvy?'
"What's the point, Ike?" Archer said it softly. He didn't want to make Stern angry with him but he feared what would happen.
"The point, Matt?" Stern gave him a crooked smile that made Archer cringe. "The point is t' take somethin' from the Commodore the way he took Aaron from me. His little French whore better have her prayers in order, that's all I can say fer now."
Archer sighed heavily then slid back onto the bunk and nestled in for the night. He could take care of the Robbins girl in the morning while Ike slept off the rum he was guzzling. He was snoring strongly when the pirate captain stumbled into bed beside him, curling into the larger man's embrace.
)O(
Abigail Robbins was still a pretty girl though she had been hard used over the last few weeks. When the door to the hatch opened, she raised her head to glower at the man who appeared there. Matt Archer noticed the defiant look on her face and suppressed his urge to smile at her. He wasn't sure whether what he was here to do was a kindness or not.
"Come with me," He said quietly. "It's time."
The girl rose slowly, obviously in some pain from what she'd been put through but determined not to let him see how much. He brought out the dagger he carried and used it to slice through the ropes around her wrists. When he reached for her elbow, she fought free of him.
"Don't touch me," She growled, fury making her bruised eyes spark. "I will face this on my own, thank you."
Archer nodded and waved a hand for her to precede him out the door. Straightening to her full height and pulling her shift into some semblance of array, she walked proudly out of the hold where she'd been made available to the crew. As they stepped onto the deck, she noticed that it was still very early in the morning, the sun barely peeking over the horizon.
"Execution at dawn?" She asked Archer without turning to him. "How very military of you."
Matt didn't reply, not sure what to say in response. When she stopped in the middle of the main deck, taking a deep and somewhat noisy breath of the clean salt air, he stepped to her side and indicated the starboard rail. She looked at him at that point.
"So what does that madman hold over you?" She asked, obviously meaning Ike. "Has he got your family captive somewhere?"
Matt shook his head and continued to point toward the starboard side. She refused to move. "Not until I get an answer. Why do you serve Captain Stern?"
For a moment, Archer hesitated. How could he answer such a question when he wasn't sure of the answer himself? After a pause, he said, "Because I love him, miss. Mad he may be but there's no other, man or woman, I love more. Miss?"
"Bloody pirates!" She cursed then did as he asked. "So now what? Are you going to kill me?"
She didn't see Archer carefully look around the deck of the Lady. When she turned to face Matt, he was extending the hilt of the dagger toward her. Her eyes narrowed then she glared up at him again. "What nonsense is this?"
"I won't kill ye," Matt said after taking a deep breath. "Ike's not right in the head, ye know, so it's up t' me t' do what I can for his immortal soul. We're in the shippin' lanes. Take the knife so ye can fend off any sharks. 'Tis the best I can do for ye, miss. May the winds of fortune blow in yer favor."
For a moment, the Robbins girl stared at him, tears welling in her eyes. Then, without a word, she seized the weapon, hiked up her skirt and leaped from the rail into the water below. To his surprise, she began to swim away from the ship, the dagger clenched in her teeth. He was about to turn and go below when he felt cold steel press against the back of his neck.
"She ain't dead, Matt," Stern's voice was a lethal hiss. "Ye disobeyed my orders--again. It's a bad habit, mate, an' ye know that bad habits can get ye killed, don't ye?"
"I know, Cap'n," Archer held perfectly still, waiting for the shot to fire. Instead, the gun was moved and Stern came to stand beside him at the rail. The girl was just visible to them, as were the curved fins that were beginning to close
on her. Stern glanced back at Archer briefly then turned and fired in the girl's general direction. They could barely hear her yelp then the fins began to move faster toward her.
"I'll be in my cabin," Stern muttered before handing the weapon to Matt then walking away.
Archer turned his eyes to the horizon and tried not to think about anything for a long time.
)O(
Chapter 60:
Recovery
As difficult as James' injury and recovery was on James, it was worse for Aaron. Chambers could count on one hand the number of hours' sleep he suspected Aaron got during the month James was at the infirmary. Ellis spent as much time as he could with them but he recognized it was simply impossible.
When Aaron collapsed one afternoon on his way back from a privy run, James put his foot down. "This is madness! Chambers, take him home and have Beatrice see to him. I'm in excellent hands here." James happened at that instant to glance over at Aaron, who sat huddled in a bedside chair. After a second or two, Aaron's eyes met his. "Oh, God," The words slipped out before James even thought to stop them.
Ellis watched them, realizing he should retreat but unable to tear himself away. It was entirely possible that James didn't understand Aaron in all of this. Moreover, it was highly probable that he was only now realizing that Chambers had no power in this situation.
"I've tried, sir," Ellis finally answered, not knowing if he would be heard. "But I'm afraid he's no midshipman and is even less inclined to obey. I'll leave you two alone for a bit."
"No," Aaron's voice made Chambers turn back to look at them. The former pirate's lovely face was gaunt and haggard; his eyes dull with pain that Chambers suspected no one would ever hear about.
James' eyes were set on Aaron with a puzzled look. He reached for his spouse but Aaron shook his head and huddled out of his reach. Chambers stepped forward then.
"If I may speak frankly," Chambers wondered at his own audacity--perhaps Aaron's madness was contagious after all. "Neither one of you are blameless in this matter but neither are either of you completely at fault. I submit that you both blame yourselves far more than you deserve for Stern's actions."
"That's not true," James said, his hand still outstretched toward Aaron. "I should have told him that Aaron was alive. He is doing all of this because--."
"Nay, Jamie, that ain't true," Aaron's voice cracked and Chambers fetched him a cup of tea, which he took a sip of. "I'm the one brought M-McSwain into his life. I'm the one taught him what piratin's about. I'm the one--."
"You're the one who kept him alive and as well as you could during that villain's tortures," James interrupted, pushing himself into a sitting position despite the pain it had to be causing him. He seized Aaron's elbow. "He loved-loves you because he knows how you endangered yourself on his behalf. Ellis is right. If you have any part in this, it's that you were too good to him. You could have done nothing differently under the circumstances."
"'Physician, heal thyself,'" Ellis quoted, moving to support James. "If I remember right, you were on your way to tell Ike the truth about Aaron's 'death' when you found out Ike was gone. You could have done nothing differently under the circumstances, sir."
James glanced from Aaron to Chambers then back to his lover. Aaron was nodding slightly. He slumped back onto his pillows then and breathed a huge sigh. "What fools we both are!"
Chambers couldn't resist a slight smile. He glanced over at Aaron, who was looking more peaked than ever. "Why don't you join your husband in the bed? There's enough room and if you stay on his starboard side, you'll avoid his injury. It's time to let yourself rest, Aaron."
Dunbar gave Chambers a grateful smile then patted a bit of empty space on the bed to his right. Aaron glanced from Chambers to James, blinking heavily. When he seemed uncertain, Chambers took the tea from his hands and set it aside before picking him up and carrying him to the appropriate spot. As soon as he placed Aaron beside James on the bed, Aaron curled into James, resting his head on the Commodore's shoulder, one arm sliding cautiously across his ribs. James kissed his forehead and began muttering words of comfort. At that moment, Chambers realized he was no longer needed. He dowsed the lamp in the room and took his leave. It was high time he let himself get more than an hour or two of sleep.
)O(
The next afternoon, Dr. Williams and Dr. Howe came to visit. Dr. Williams addressed them first and announced that he was releasing James to go home but not to return to duty. "There is still a great deal of healing to be done before I would consider you fit for duty."
Aaron sat in the chair next to James, holding his hand. His eyes narrowed and he squeezed James' palm meaningfully. When James glanced at him, Aaron raised an eyebrow. James nodded then spoke.
"So I get to keep all my limbs?"
“We managed to save the leg, Commodore, but, well, the injury to it was rather extensive,” Dr. Howe hesitated. “I’m afraid you will have a limp the rest of your days. It’s bad enough that I would recommend you no longer sail as a fighting man.”
For a moment, James felt an incredible sense of loss. No longer sail as a fighting man? Was there a point to being in the navy if he couldn't fight? He glanced at Aaron to see he wore an expression of confusion, as if he wasn't sure how he should feel. James sighed. "I see. That is up to the admiralty to make the final decision on that but until they send my orders, I will do as you suggest."
Beside him, he felt Aaron tense up. It was a subtle movement that someone who didn't know Aaron well would never take note of. James, however, had spent the last two years studying Aaron whenever possible. Although he seemed to be doing much better now mentally, there was still always the possibility of a relapse. Concerned, he stopped concentrating on what the doctor was saying and paid stricter attention to Aaron. When the doctors left, Aaron pressed a kiss to James' hand but there was a look in the former pirate's eyes that worried James.
)O(
When Chambers visited that evening, he and a few marines transported the Commodore and Aaron to Rum Harbor. The next day, Charlotte Edwards came to call. She brought a basket of homemade treats, from biscuits to jams, and two French novels that her aunt had sent her from abroad. Aaron took the gifts from her and led her up to see James. When Aaron left the room to see Beatrice about providing refreshments, Charlotte turned very grave eyes on James.
"She looks to be on death's door, Commodore. Is there anything I can do?"
James sighed, trying not to let the tears overwhelm him. "This has been very hard on her, I'm afraid. I'm the only person she truly trusts and yet-I think I may have lost that trust. I was supposed to return home to her in the same shape I left her, you know."
"And I've made no effort to reach out to her," Charlotte responded, lowering her head somewhat guiltily. "It never even occurred to me that she would need someone to--."
"Don't speak nonsense, Miss Edwards," James interrupted, a slight smile softening his harsh words. "Even had you, I don't know that it would have made a bit of difference. Erin, as I have said before, is like a wild animal in many ways. She trusts very
3few people and almost no one completely besides myself. I won't discourage you from attempts to befriend her but I will advise you that she may never respond in kind."
"Still, I shall make the attempt," Charlotte put on a brave smile. "I believe she needs a friend of her own. Your navy friends are all well and good but she needs someone who understands what it's like to be a woman."
James bit back his initial sarcastic reaction and, instead, answered with a philosophical shrug of the shoulders. "You may be right. There are times, I confess, when she acts more like a sailor than I do."
Charlotte laughed at that. Just then, the door opened and Beatrice entered with a tray of refreshments for them all. Aaron followed her, assuming a place on the bed beside James and gesturing to a chair for Charlotte to join them. As the afternoon progressed, James watched Aaron and Charlotte interact. To his amazement, Aaron began to openly flirt with t
he girl, who responded innocently by taking it all as good-natured fun. When the last of the tea was gone and the biscuits were merely crumbs on the plates, Charlotte excused herself with an exclamation about the lateness of the time.
"I will be back to call in a day or two, Erin," She grinned. "I do hope you feel better soon, Commodore. Perhaps we will see you well enough to escort your lady to the harvest ball?"
James nodded. "It is my sincerest wish, Miss Edwards. Thank you for your visit. I feel better already."
Charlotte waved her hand at Aaron when he started to rise, to escort her out. "No, no, don't bother. I'll see myself out. Good afternoon!"
James waited until he heard the front door shut behind the girl. "What do you think you're doing, Aaron?"
Aaron seemed surprised. "What d' ye mean, love?"
"You were flirting with her!" James drew a deep breath, trying not to be so upset about it but it worried him.
"I was?" Aaron seemed genuinely puzzled. "Maybe I was. I don't know no other way t' treat a lovely like her, Jamie. She's sweet an' genuine, jus' the type o' girl you should have married. Makes me think--."
James felt his face grow warm as blood rushed into his cheeks. He'd been utterly ridiculous to become jealous of Charlotte. "Makes you think what, my Raven? That you're husband's an idiot and a fool?"
Aaron shook his head. "Nay, love, makes me think that maybe I shouldn't be here. Maybe ye should've left me t' go down with the Maid. Me an' Ike together."
"Absolutely not," James said, his voice husky with sorrow. "No, my love, you must never think that. After meeting you, I could never have been happy with anyone else. You've owned my heart, mind and soul since the moment I first laid eyes on you. Would you have denied me the happiness I now know?"
The Sea's Rough Magic Page 36