The Scent and Sensation Affair

Ultraviolet: electrifying, mechanized and chilly - the scent of crushed blooms strewn on cold metal. Lush violet and neroli spiked hard with eucalyptus and a sliver of mint.

Ultraviolet, Part TWO

Harry collapsed. Jack knew more happened as his crew was suddenly free to move and speak and the skies cleared, but all he could focus on in that moment was Harry, his beautiful Harry who was lying so small and still on the decks of the Black Pearl.

Before he knew it, Jack was by Harry's side, kneeling and releasing a sharp breath as the rise and fall of his lad's chest became clear to his eyes. Scooping the lad up without a word, Jack rose and turned to his cabin, somewhere in the back of his mind grateful to Gibbs for moving everyone out of his way and managing the aftermath while he tended to Harry. While all he could do, was tend to Harry.

Harry didn't wake for two days, and Jack didn't sleep. He spent every moment lying beside his Harry, propped up on one arm to watch that chest rise and fall, rise and fall. He was disturbed only when Gibbs came by with food to ensure he ate and didn't collapse himself.

As he watched, Jack worked through the events in his mind, going over them again and again. He didn't like seeing Harry that way, but he understood. Everyone, man or god, had a limit to their compassion.

Jack Sparrow was a pirate Captain – he knew terrible things in his bones as well as he knew he had done some terrible things and would likely do them again. He wasn't frightened or angry with Harry and even though it made him feel like a fool, he told his unconscious lover that. As a matter of fact, when he wasn't thinking Jack filled the silence with whispers to Harry, about how well he understood and how much he missed his lad and how much he loved him and quiet, three-in-the-morning pleas to please, please, wake up.

He couldn't remember ever being so deeply relieved as he was the moment when Harry whispered back, I'm here. I love you. I'm not going anywhere.

They stayed in his cabin for most of the third day, only leaving when night had fallen and the crew was long asleep in their bunks. Jack followed Harry then to their spot on the Pearl's prow and if he clutched Harry a little tighter than usual, neither of them commented.

The rest of that night was spent with Harry whispering to an exhausted Jack, about how sorry he was and how much he loved his pirate and how awful the world could be and how a little boy named Tom broke his soul into little bits and proceeded to break the world, too. How little Tom even broke Time.

Jack sighed at the end and smiled when they were suddenly back in his bed. He laughed when Harry took his arms and wrapped them firmly around his thin waist, then kissed Jack slowly and sweetly.

The sun rose minutes later and soft, even breathing filled Captain Jack Sparrow's quarters as he and the Sea Sorcerer slept at last.

.:.:.:.:.

A/N: That's all folks. It's been a fun ride.