After the children were fed and properly tucked away in bed, I quietly crept out of the room and closed the door behind me.

I balanced the dirty dishes in my hand as I turned around.

"They're asleep," I whisper to Jay. I haven't really looked at him yet, just happened to spot him out of the corner of my eye.

"Can you help me with something?" Jay asked with a soft chuckle.

I turned my head and my heart almost skipped a beat. He was shirtless, totally shirtless, and it took me a moment to realize he was trying to dress his wounds.

I suddenly remembered I was supposed to reply, "Uh, yes. What do you need?"

He turned a bit and showed me a red slice on his shoulder blade, "I can't quite reach it. Could you clean it for me?"

I gulped a little before nodding my head and moving closer. He handed me a damp towel and a bottle of what I could only assume was alcohol.

Turning to face his back, I noticed that the majority of the surface was covered in grayish and pink scars. This definitely wasn't his first rodeo. It looks like some of the scars could be from lashings.

"Uh, I'm kind of new at this," I stated nervously. I never really was one for blood and medical stuff. Frankly, it kind of scared me.

Jay's shoulders shook as he chuckled, "Don't worry, there's not much to it. First you need to clean away the dried blood and dirt around and on the wound with the cloth."

I gulped as I brought the cloth up to his shoulder blade. I gently cleaned the skin around the wound. Once I felt it was clean enough, I turned to Jay for more instructions.

He cleared his throat, "Now you use the spirits to disinfect the wound."

I picked up the bottle he had handed me and dribbled the liquid over the wound. His shoulder blade involuntarily jerked back a little, which was a good indicator that it stung. I wiped up the few drops that ran down his back.

"Now you need to cover the wound," he handed me a roll of cloth that would've been similar to gauze in my time. After wrapping it up, Jay turned back to me and thanked me.

Then his eyes landed on my neck, "You're hurt too. Have you had it cleaned yet?"

"No."

"Come here then, I'll do it."

I gulped and reluctantly handed him the supplies. He dropped the cloth back into a bucket at his feet. After swirling it around and letting it soak up a little more water, he squeezed it out.

"Look up," he commanded. I did as he said and flinched a little as the cloth touched my skin. Jay put a hand on my shoulder to steady me as he brushed away dried blood and whatever else had ended up on my skin. After a while, he dropped the cloth back in the bucket and picked up the alcohol.

"This'll sting a bit."

I clenched my jaw and waited for him to pour the liquid. When he did, I flinched a little. It inflamed the pain substantially, but died down faster than I expected.

"It's not very deep," he observed, "It won't need to be covered up. Are you hurt anywhere else?"

I didn't have to answer. The substantial amount of blood on my arm pulled his gaze there. He reached out and pulled the ripped cloth away from my wound. It stuck to my skin, but he was able to peel it off.

I watched as his lips drew into a thin line. His eyes were unwavering as he studied the gash.

After a long moment he sighed, "It'll need stitches."

I involuntarily gulped. I wasn't so sure I wanted stitches. Especially from anyone less than a doctor.

Jay pushed the bottle back into my hands, "Drink."

"I don't drink," I tried weakly.

Jay met my eyes, "Well, you may want to start because this is going to hurt like hell."

I grimaced at his words and then stared apprehensively down at the bottle. After sighing, I brought it to my lips and took a swig.

It was strong, way stronger than I had expected, and it burned like liquid fire going down my throat. I coughed involuntarily, thumping my chest with a closed fist in a sad attempt to calm my lungs.

"Easy there," Jay said, patting my back awkwardly. I sucked in a breath, my eyes watering slightly before taking another swig.

This one went down easier and I could feel the pain numbing a bit. I blinked as I met Jay's eyes, taking another swig, "Better get on with it then."

He reached up and grabbed the cloth where it was torn around my wound. Then, much to my surprise, he tore the sleeve clean off. He pushed the now shorter sleeve further up my shoulder before grabbing the wet rag again.

He gently brushed away the blood, but that didn't mean it didn't cause me any pain. My eyes stung with fresh tears as I took another swig. God this stuff tasted vile.

I could feel my cognitive senses getting a little fuzzy. The pain ebbed on as Jay took the alcohol from me. "This'll hurt. I'll try to get it done quickly."

I clenched my teeth in anticipation as he poured alcohol all over the wound. I groaned and he pushed the bottle back in my hands, "Drink, and try not to look."

I did as I was told, but as he pulled out a needle and some thick thread, I couldn't help but whimper a little. God this would hurt.

"Drink." he ordered again when he saw me watching. I felt myself pale as more of the burning liquid settled in my stomach.

This can't be sanitary. Oh god, I'm going to die of infection.

I felt a sharp pain pierce my skin. It shot up my arm and into my shoulder, stretching like a tendon to my neck and temple. I gasped as Jay pulled the needle through and pulled the split flesh back together. Then he started the process all over again about a centimeter back.

I was vaguely aware of the solitary drop of water that slid down my cheek. In truth, I was more focused on holding in my cries, both for the sake of the sleeping children in the next room and so I didn't seem like a weak little girl in front of this pirate captain.

When Jay finally tied a knot at the end and pulled it tight, I sighed in relief, sinking back into the cushions of the couch.

My vision was really blurry. I looked down at the bottle to see I'd drank it all. That was surprising. I barely registered that Jay tied a strip of cloth around the wound.

I sank back into the couch and thrust the empty bottle towards his naked chest.

"That was fun," I giggled incoherently, "Let's do it again sometime."

Jay let out a low amused chuckle, "Yes, let's."

Jay stared at me for a moment with a curious glint in his eye. I turned my head and narrowed my eyes at him, "What?"

He smirked at me, "What was it like? Where you came from?"

I was probably grinning like a loon, but I couldn't find it in my heart to stop, "It was so nice. We've always lived near the ocean. Mom never cared much for it, but Dad and I went out on the waves whenever we could," I closed my eyes and laid my head back, "I miss them so much."

"What happened to them?" Jay asked.

I opened my eyes and looked at him with sad eyes, "They're out of my reach now."

Jay broke the eye contact and cleared his throat, "I'm sorry for your loss."

My eyebrows scrunched together as I thought about that. My parents weren't dead.

I turned my head back to find Jay watching me again.

"So where are you from? I don't believe you've ever said," he asked.

I opened my mouth to say 'Massachusetts', but paused when a thought came to mind. He was trying to get answers out of me while I'm drunk. My mouth snapped shut and a glared at him.

"What?" He asked, slightly alarmed by the weight of my stare.

I quickly thought of a reason to steer the conversation away from me. I couldn't risk blowing my secret now.

"Well that's hardly fair," I complained as my eyebrows knit together again, "Why do you get to know so much about me when all I know about you is that you're the captain of this bloody ship?"

Jay raised an eyebrow at my hostility. Then he chuckled a little bit, "What was it you wanted to know?"

I sat up straight and turned fully towards him, rubbing my chin dramatically as I thought.

"Oh!" I jumped a little when I came up with something, "I want to know what a good looking guy like you," I poked his chest for emphasis, "Is doing floating around in the middle of the ocean."

Jay raised a brow again, "You wish to know why I became a pirate?"

I nodded enthusiastically, folding my hands in my lap.

Jay slumped back into the couch and settled in, "It is quite a long story."