Jax hadn’t had the time he should have to take care of Nicki’s shoulder. But then, he hadn’t had the time he wanted with that amazing sea witch since she first touched his wounded hand. How long ago was that? He couldn’t count the nights and yet he realized now he had been lost in her since that fight, that first time in her cabin, that card game. As in her determined style she stomped out of the Captain's safe quarters and back into the wind he grabbed the shirt, not his of course, and Luc’s hand. He tied on sleeves to the boys wrist and the other to his.

He grinned to Luc, “Silly maybe, but if I lost you out there I would be paying dearly even in the pits of hell.” He winked and then follow Nicki.

Lus grounded him more than he would ever admit through the storm, the wind, the rain. Jax watched with fear the few times Nicki lost some steps and blew close to the railing and ravage seas. But she stood her ground, kept her feet. It was Luc that gave him weight and reason not to rush to her or step foolishly to fast. He kept his grip on the ship and the boy.

Once below deck Jax untied the shirt and gave Luc quick grin before he followed again the now determined Doctor. He offered his hand when a cut needed more pressure than the ship’s doctor could give needing her hands to cut bandages or wrap tight. He ripped tape when she held her hand out to him words not needed in her clearly directed focus. He stood beside her while she offered her stern and yet consoling warm words to those she layed down to the final rest.

At some point he looked back to Luc realizing the boy was following but at slight distance. The boy’s face told Jax everything. His eyes were wide but tears hung on the edges. His face was pale and his lips quivered slightly. The scene was horrific and Jax had forgotten how young he was. Jax put a hand on Nicki just to let her know he was there but then moved off to Luc’s side.

“Remember that cabin boy’s special spot?” Jax spoke softly putting one hand on his shoulder. Lus could only answer with a nod. “I can take you there again . You can stay there until we are done. There is no reason for you to see all this.” 

Luc pulled his frighten eyes from the mesmerizing scene around him and looked to Jax. To Jax surprise, Luc shook his head no. He couldn’t really say anything, the frighten child, but Jax saw the determination in those young water filled eyes to ride this out, to make himself a part of this no matter the painful discomfort.

Jax squeezed his boys shoulder and smiled. “All right, mate.” Jax put one arms around him the way two drunk men might and lead him closer to Nicki. “How about you hold the tape and when I wiggle my fingers you tear a piece. Be a help.” He pulled the child’s head closer to his and added a whisper, “The Doctor will not ask for help but that don’t mean we can’t give it.”

So the two of them followed the hard working doctor through the awful wounds and cries of the battered crew. They were almost to the end when Luc, nudged Jax and with his head not words nodded to the edge of the dark room and Mr. Davenport, if he remembered the man correctly. The man was curled up along the planks of the ship with a wideness in his eyes. His arms were blood covered and the top of his head seemed sliced open. 

“Sing to me again.” he cried although no one seemed to pay any attention. “Don’t leave me here with these ugly bastards.” When Jax tried to get closer and when Nicki noticed, Mr Davenport screamed and scurried along the edge of the curved wall away from them. Nicki started to follow but Jax reached for her to stop her. He was near his end in Jax’s mind and she was just scaring him more. Let him go. There were others. They could not take their time chasing him. It only took a minute for the doctor to find someone else that needed her.

Some time later, how did he measure time in the depth of death and life?, Nicki was done. He could see her lose her strength her wound still not treated as it should be. She gave all she could, done all she was able. He saw that as she reminded him of his boots. He had not forgotten at all everything she had. 

Jax smiled to her and went closer to her side. Behind him he wiggled his fingers to Luc as if for tape but it was clear none was needed. Luc should follow them. As they moved to the deck, Jax could feel the storm begin to lose it’s hold on the sky and the sea. They would not have to fight their way back to Nicki’s cabin. 

Jax could not see anyone else on deck. So he thought it was time to do what he wanted to, what he could, what he felt needed done. He went to Nicki and scooped her off her feet. She was surprised of course and in no way did she fall into his arms or melt into his touch. No, he felt her stiffness at frist. But she was worn and battered. He held her across his arms and smiled to her. 

“My boots and your shoulder.” He let his whole face smile. “We best take care of each other.”