Faith, Trust & Pixie dust.

Chapter 11

Brook’s vision see-sawed in and out of focus. She only took a light knock to the head when a heavy bottle had fallen from a shelf and clipped her, but she still felt dizzy.

“Here,” Killian pressed a cold, wet rag to her head, “Better?”

It was a little actually, “Yeah thanks. What was that?”

While in Killian’s quarters, they had heard a rumble. At first, they thought it was thunder, except the sky was perfectly clear. Then the waves hit. One after the other they assaulted the ship, slamming against

the sides and almost tipping them over. Then, like the rain, it stopped. The water was smooth and calm once more.

“Earthquake,” Killian stated, as if it were an everyday occurrence, “I’m gonna check on the rest of the crew, will you be okay?”

“I’ll come with you,” When Killian tried to protest, she pushed him out the way, “I’m fine, really.”

Together they walked up to the top deck, and it was worse than they both feared. The intense waves must have dredged up shit from the bottom of the ocean because there were deep gouges in the rigging. The sails were shredded. The crow’s nest was splinters. Something had ripped the wheel from its holding. The crew had fared better. After the first wave, most of them managed to get below deck so the most they got was wet and battered about by loose barrels. Killian rushed to their aid, checking everyone over for injuries and directing Smee to set up a medic corner for the worst hurt. Anyone who could was set about fixing the ship. They had a decent supply of wood on board for just such an occasion, but they would need to replenish afterwards, which meant getting to land.

Killian sent three of the crew to do just that, fearing that the damage to the Jolly Roger was extensive. Meanwhile the shredded sail was pulled down and replaced with a new one. The rigging was retied, and the splintered remains of the crow’s nest removed and sanded down to avoid further injury. Brook wanted to help, that was what she came top side for, but the moment she stood her head spun and her vision went wonky. Her stomach roiled with the slightest movement. Maybe she had a concussion.

“Killian?” She spoke as loudly as she dared, which wasn’t much, “I take it back, I need to lie down.”

Killian was there in an instant, “Okay, here let me help.” He didn’t bother helping her up, he simply scooped her in his arms and carried her back to his quarters. She didn’t protest, she was too busy trying not to throw up. She either fell asleep or passed out before they had even left the deck.

*

In her dreams, she was standing on the beach. Not Neverland, just a wide expanse of beautiful beach. The sand was almost white and wonderfully soft underfoot. The sea in front of her was crystal clear, reflecting the starry sky above. Yet she didn’t feel peaceful. Instead, she felt panic. Not for herself, no. For the baby. Out on the waves, a beautiful black haired baby boy was bobbing up and down on a piece of driftwood. He was drifting further and further away, and Brook knew she needed to get to him before he disappeared. She threw herself into the water, thrashing through the shallows until she was forced to start swimming. The only problem was that she couldn’t swim. Out on the waves the baby was crying, and Brook was desperately trying to get to him. Something snagged her foot. She couldn’t fight it.

She woke up gasping for air. Her heart beating uncomfortably against her ribs. What the hell was that? Weird dreams were pretty standard but that was… something else. She laid her hand on her stomach. The whole thing felt so real, she had to cheek that there wasn’t really a baby. Isn’t that a thing? Weird pregnancy dreams? She shook her head. It was just a dream. Just a dream.