Captain James tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and met King Jabbar's overhead swing. The metal clashed and both swords slid together hilts meeting as they struggled to push each other back.

Muscles bunched and strained as they faced off. Cannon fire has long stopped and the crew below had King Jabbar's men dispatched. All eyes now on the two men who fought. Swords flashed in the sunlight as the ships groaned with the effects of the cannons damage. The waters had calmed and wood, barrels, and a few bodies floated in the foam of the sea.

The sound of flesh ripping open was louder in Captain James ears as King Jabbar's sword ripped into his thigh. Dark warm blood spread and dripped to the wood deck. The pain was just a burn and Captain James pushed it aside. Driving his sword into King Jabbar's shoulder.

A cry of pain sounded out as King Jabbar's sword fell to the deck. He pulled the pistol from James' waist.

"As I said before, she is mine now." James growled.

King Jabbar grabbed the sword blade that protruded from his shoulder. Weak with pain and exhaustion he was pushed to the side of the ship.

"You will die before I let you keep her." King Jabbar laughed. Hel held the pistol up and took aim.

Captain James felt the burn as the bullet entered his chest. The only thing that kept him upright and unflinching was the memory of Stormy's face as she had cried for help. He focused on that as he pushed his sword farther into King Jabbar, tipping him overboard. He pulled his sword free and watched him fall into the water below. James slowly crumpled to the deck floor as his mind went black.

John rushed to Captain not knowing what to do. Borak was immediatly at his side working to stop all the bleeding. The cut on his thigh was shallow and the bleeding was almost stopped, but the deep hole in his chest was bleeding freely and Captain James was quickly turning pale.

Borak waved to the two men at the bottom of the stairs to come help get James to his cabin.

John rushed to give the order to make way for the nearest port. Time was limited for the ship. She was taking on water fast now.

Pounding on the door Borak called out to William, "Let us in the Captain's been injured and I need to tend him inside. Quickly man."

William snatched the door open and had to grab Stormy when she started to rush out. Her face paled at the sight of so much blood on Captain James shirt. Her moan muffled by her hands clasped over her mouth.

"Lay him on the bed. Gently now." Borak issued a few orders and asked for fresh clean water.

William stood holding Stormy up as she watched Borak rip away the blood soaked shirt. The wound in his chest was a deep hole close to his heart. Stormy swayed on her feet, if it wasn't for William holding her she would be in a heap on the floor by now. Her stomach turned when nausea took hold.

"William I need to go outside. I can't watch this." She turned her head to the side and closed her eyes as Borak pressed around the wound to make sure nothing vital had been hit by the bullet.

Blood ran out in a dark stream leaving the sheets on the bed stained dark red. John was still on deck issuing orders and taking charge of the crew. As first mate it was his job to get the ship to port for repaires and see that the Captain was taken care of. William walked Stormy to the open door. One of the men who brought Captain James in started ripping a sheet for bandages.

Stormy took a deep breath of fresh air as she reached the deck. The ship was in shambles, and was slowly making its way through the water. She turned around and looked at the ship that was slowly sinking not far behind them. The deck now covered in flames and black smoke.

Without wind and a complete set of sails the progress was that of a drifting log. Men worked with what they had for some repairs, but the broken foremast was a big loss. Men scrambled from post to post yanking ropes and tossing debris overboard. Useing long poles for oars through the cannon ball holes.

Captain James moaned as he felt pain in his chest. He remembered watching the deck get closer to his face as he fell, and his eyes shot open. A prick and pull made him flinch as two men held him down. Borak was stitching up his chest as best he could. At least he wasn't dead. He quickly looked around for Stormy. Her name was on his lips as he faded back to unconsciousness.

Borak shook his head and tied off the last stitch. "All this for one little girl. I hope it's worth it Captain." Borak wrapped Captain James with the torn sheet after he cleaned and added some padding over the stitches.

"He should sleep now. I'll make some tea to soothe the pain when he wakes, but he shouldn't move around a lot. One of you stay here until miss Stormy returns to tend him."

The big man with an X tattooed on his arm sat down in a chair and nodded. "Aye doc I'll stay a while."

"Thanks Ben." Borak left the room with the other sailor hoping to find Stormy close by. The bullet he pulled from James' chest held in his hand. It was close to his heart, but missed by a thread. James could still easily die from the wound, but only time would tell.

Stormy stood at the railing looking down at the blood stained wood tears in her eyes. She asked William who stood just behind her, "He did this for me? Just to save me from that man?"

"Aye miss."

"Doesn't he know he didn't have to?" She sniffles.

"Aye miss." William shuffled his feet and rung his hands as he saw Borak approach them.

Borak patted him on the shoulder, "That's not all the Captain's blood my lady. He dealt a bit of damage to the attacker." He refrained from telling her is was King Jabbar who had attacked. That was the Captain's story to tell.

She looked at Borak and her voice just above a whisper, "Is he ok? Will he live?"

"That's up to you my lady, and the wind. He's in your care now. You are his prize after all. Pray for a strong wind, and faster sailing." With that Borak left her, headed to the galley where the kitchens awaited him.

The bullet held his attention. A bullet from his Captain's own gun.