The storm was retreating. The wind dying, the bounce of the ship not as dramatic, the rain puddled on the deck instead of whipping around in the air, and in that quiet where the night brightness beet against the thick clouds, Jax heard a splash. It wasn’t like a wave that broke but more like something heavy hit the water. A plop more than a splash. He didn't go to the sound but instead moved toward Nicki’s cabin. The door was open. He stood for a minute confused. Did she leave? He looked inside. 

That was when he heard the honey coated scream. There was no doubt who was calling him. Jax ran to the edge, to the railing and looked out into the dark waters. He saw nothing. Was it all just his longing for her making him hear her calling his name? But the surface broke. Her voice called again. She called his name. Jax lept up on the railing balancing for a second before he would throw himself into the water after her. He told her he would come back hundreds of times. But right before he fell he reached to the riggings along side. It was the dingy, the small row boat used to go ashore. Jax climbed on the ropes with greater speed than the contest. He released the pulley just before her head sank back under. 

“NIcki!” He screamed not anywhere close to the sugar sweet her voice sounded even in distress. Before the row boat loosened enough to fall Jax was over the rail and diving toward the water. 

Jax curled his body tight. In a ball he would sink faster. The slap of the cold sea water did not phase him much, his fear hitting stronger. She was in the water calling him. She needed him. He could not let her down. He had enough times already and this was when he had to come through. Please let him come through.

In the water he opened his body and tried to look around. Everything was dark. The storm churned the sea into a thick muck of green foam and seaweed. Jax could not see anything. He swung his hands around, kicked his feet wildly trying to find anything. No not anything, Nicki. Maybe she was above him. Maybe below. Just a few reaches to his port side or floating off to the stern. How would he find her? 

Jax felt the churn of the water as something moved. He raced toward that movement only to realize it was the row boat hitting the water. He kicked. The edge of his foot hit something. He curled toward it and took hold. It was not Nicki. He was almost sure. But it was someone. It was an ankle and his hands grabbed hold and worked along the leg following as he forcefully kicked up. Up toward the surf. Up toward the sky. Up toward the air. His hands moved around the body until they found more legs and arms. It was two. There were two. Hard snaps of his legs together, pressing the water down and pushing all of them up.

They all broke the water. Jax gasped for air and shook his head trying to see who he held. Davenport clung onto Nicki. It was a death grip for sure. Jax pressed his knee between the two and tugged on the seaman. “Not this one!” He yelled. “Throw her back.”

Davenport was confused and exhausted. He couldn’t let go of his song. But what was going wrong? He lost the sound, the melody, the music. He felt the push of the helmsman and found he had little strength left. But he clung on. Weakly yet unable to really let go. Jax pried cold stiff fingers from around Nicki. He tugged Davenport’s hair and finally pulled him loose. He kicked the man and took a firmer hold of Nicki as Davenport feel back under the water. 

Jax held Nicki’s head up out of the waves and put his arm around her chest treading water on his side. “Don’t you leave me!” He screamed at the First Mate. He looked at the Dust Skate as she rolled on the sea away from them. “Please don’t leave me.” He said softer to her and to his ship. Then he spun away from the ship he loved, with the woman he did, and swam toward the bobbing row boat going in the other direction.