Daniel menouvered around the ship quicker than he had the day before. He was getting used to this new vessel.

"Hello ladies." he said, entering into the kitchen area.

"Hello Doctor." Amelia said, unknowlingly easing into being more timid than she already was.

"Could you make some hot water for the captain? I'll be back to retrieve it in a moment." he continued, mostly talking to Scarlet.

Scarlet smiled and said "Of course, Doctor. I will get her tea box as well. How is the captain this morning?"

Bane looked up and stood when he saw the doctor, nodding to the other crew members as he passed. He paused by the doctor and said "I have been around this morning and checking on those you treated. I have a list of those who should come see you when you have a moment. Is there anything I can do to help out?" Iris walked over, slower then normal as she favored her knee. "Morning Doc"

"She be as I expected 'er t' be." Daniel commented.

"Me thanks, Bane and Goodmornin'." He said, taking the list from Bane and nodding to Iris. "How be yer knee?" he asked, eyeing the way she walked. There was a difference in the manor of looking for Daniel. There was a calculating of symptoms and signs that somewhat happened automatically with his position with the crews. There was also, at separate times, gazes of admiration and desire. Iris seemed to have an uncanny ability to her to draw out both together. It was different with her than with Avery, she was an entire other flame of her own.

Scarlet nodded and moved to get the tea box as Bane handed him the list and Iris said "Its sore but better then before. I have taken it easy as you asked" Bane shook his head and said "Is taking an easy flying in the rigging this morning like a flying monkey?" Iris smacked him in the shoulder as Scarlet came back with a wooden carved box. "Here you go, Doctor. Is there anything else I can get for you?"

"Me thanks Scarlet. This be all I need fer now."

Daniel couldn't help but smirk. This crew cared so much about each other. For pirates, they were terribly unselfish. He thought to himself that of all the naval ships, this would be the grandest. Their crew cohesion and care was unlike any other, and much of what naval captains strived for.

"Tis part o' me job. Tis not easy t' convince a fine sail'r tha' they need t' slow down. Iris, ye de need t' take 'er easy. Yers is not a quick fix. 'T's been 'round t' long fer tha. Af'er a battle, keep off o' i' as much as possible. Keep doin' those exercises an' eventually ye will be better."

It saddened him some that he was not able to simply just heal everyone that crossed his path. Then again, miracle workers often went to their doom by helping people.

"I be on me way t' take this t' Cap'n." Daniel said, half as a statement and half as an invitation.

Iris said "I would like to join ya if you don't mind...I need to update her on the repairs" Bane nodded and said "As would I...and to check up on her"

Avery was sitting at her desk, looking over maps and charts. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, shaking her head. "I can't see it...what could the pattern be..." Then she looked up as across the room a candle on the mantle suddenly lit up. She watched the flame dance in the darkness of the room before she said "No...that's not how I wish to handle this...not everything has to end in blood..." The flames flickered then went out, Avery sighing again and holding her face in her hands.

Scarlet went back to work and stopped by the young girl saying "Once we are done with this rush, we can go speak to the captain about getting you home, alright?"

"Thank you, Scarlet." Amelia smiled in relief. To have her feet back on solid ground would be lovely. She was not looking forward to going back into society though. She had found that doing honest work with Scarlet had been fun and rewarding.

~~~

The three wound their way around the ship and straight to the Captain's Quarters' door. It was slightly ajar now. Daniel knocked and awaited either Bane or Avery's approval to enter.

"Cap'n, i've returned with the remedy and Bane and Iris." he called into the gap. He caught a flickering out of a light as he was close to the door.

The cook nodded and started doing the clean up and said "Would you go gather the dishes in the dining hall dear?"

Bane nodded and opened the door to see Avery at the window, facing away from them. When the doc spoke she turned and said "Good morning you three...are there any updates of the crew and ship?"

Daniel began to steep the carefully measured and bagged ingredients for Avery. He awaited the responses of Iris and Bane as the good captain seemed to be directing the question more to them. In any case, Daniel tossed his two cents in.

"Th' crew be healin' well. 'ts too early t' really tell i' thar be any lastin' harm."

Avery nodded as Iris moved to sit in one of the chairs as Bane said "Repairs are being made and we have lost no souls as of roll call this morning." Avery nodded and sat behind the desk, flinching as she sat down. She pulled a box from the desk drawer and said "Another piece found...luckily we got to it before it did any damage"

"Aye." Daniel agreed.

He waited a few minutes, half listening to the others talk while the tea steeped. When it was ready he fished out the leaves from the pot and set them on one of the wooden plates that was given to him as part of the trey of things he requested from Scarlet. He poured the sweet, plant smelling tea into the cup and brought it over to Avery.

"Thar be nothin' t- impair judgement in tha' tea Cap'n." He said, setting it in front of her. He remembered her aversion to anything that would alter her level of awareness, and rightly so.

"Has a port been chosen t' make birth at?" He inquired.

Avery nodded as she took the tea cup and moved the map over so the other three could see. "I think we take port here, its only a day sails away and it has a harbor and a market so we can get all our supplies and make the repairs needed." Bane looked at the map and nodded and Iris added "And it is big enough so we can send word about Scarlet's little friend" Avery looked up and said "Pardon?"

"Aye, th' sooner we m'ke birth th' better off we'll be 'n me humble opinion." Daniel said, supporting Avery's choice of where to make port. However, he was just as stunned as Avery when Iris mentioned that Scarlet's friend, whom he would assume was Amelia, had to send word anywhere. Daniel scouwled in concentration, trying to piece together what Iris said could mean. He decided to hold his tongue and let Avery do the talking. After all, she was the captain.

~~~

Amelia giggled and laughed out of sheer joy. She was beginning to loosen up finally, one of the sailors having cracked her shy exterior with a number of semi-tasteful jokes. She looked over to Scarlet to see her smiling and letting a chuckle slip through her lips occasionally as well.

"My goodness Mr. Sailor, you seem to have many funny tales from serving on this vessel." Amelia breathed. The salty air didn't hurt her eyes or lungs as much anymore. There might be a sailor in her yet! Such a dangerous thing for a lady to be... she would be flogged when she got home if her mother ever found out. The sailor man seemed to respond to her twinking eyes by bringing forth a tale about particularly playful dolphins. Amelia enjoyed listening, all the while keeping an eye on her safety net, Scarlet.

Iris looked up and said "Scarlet told me the girl is from a noble family. She was taken during a raid. Scarlet was hoping we could help her home.." Avery sighed and rubbed her eyes saying "my angel of mercy...Scarlet what am I going to do with you" Bane said quickly "Doctor you said the girl was new on your old ship?"

Scarlet was cleaning up and putting out snacks for the men, smiling as she watched the young girl. "You ask anyone on board and you'll get a good story."

"Aye, she was." Daniel said, agreeing with Bane. He knew the questions about this would be fired at him so he tried to explain himself. He was not like the rest of his other crew, he never enjoyed a moment under that flag. Well, until he met Avery. "Th' girl Amelia was brought on t' th' ship after a raid. Th' crew got int' a tussle while makin' birth. She was dragged onto the vessel th' same way I was." He commented. Daniel did not want to be pinned with the blame. That night his post had been to watch and defend the ship.

~~~

"It seems so Scarlet." Amelia giggled, finally pulling away from the grasp of the sailor that had kept her entertained. "What if I ask you then?" she said boldly. This new found happiness bolstered her and gave her hope and curiosity. "How did Iris, Bane, you, and the Captain all end up on this vessel together? And to be so tightly knit?"

Avery sighed and rubbed her nose then said "later I will speak to the child and see where she is from...maybe we can make a stop at some point but if it's where your old ship came from it could be a while before we make our way back there" Bane nodded and Iris said "so speaking of path, where are we heading after port captain? We need to locate another piece yes?"

Scarlet smiled and said "we all came in our own way. I was a child on a cruise liner many years ago with my father who was a cook. Our ship was attacked and almost snuck. I barely remember being pulled out of the water and arms holding me...when I woke Avery was there with her father, looking relieved. They had found my life raft when they were fishing off this very ship. They took me in...Averys father always was a good and gentle man"

"Aye." Daniel said agreeing with Bane. "Th' sooner th' better if ye ask me. Th' sky was darkening as we came back te ye Cap'n." he commented. It had looked like a simple collection of rain clouds, Daniel was amused by the idea of weathering a true storm with this crew. His brows knit together in the middle of his forehead. He was thinking how some of the crew would have to go below decks and wait out the storm while the rest fought it, they were not yet ready to return back to regular duties never mind handle a large scale storm.

~~~

"I- guess I never thought about pirates having families." Amelia admitted, blushing. Did she really think them so uncivil to not have the basic joys of human life? Family, love, hard work, loyalty... Pirates were the same as those loyal to the crown when it came down to it. "You must be glad that they had found you." She said, trying to move the conversation on. "You must have been there the day Captain Avery decided to journey out on such a vessel." Amelia was looking for another story, trying to maybe ease the pain of Scarlet losing hers.

It began to rain.

Avery looked out the window and said "indeed it does...Lasy Iris would you ready the girls for me?" She nodded and left the cabin, her knee looking better now. She turned to Bane and said "get those wounded into the under cabin and the others at posts" Bane nodded and left, leaving the pair alone. Avery sighed and rubbed her eyes, taking a drink of the tea. "Doctor...we may need you ready to treat at a moments notice..."

Scarlet was wiping the dishes dry as she said "indeed I was. Bane and Iris were here too by that point. She took over after her late father was killed
...she vowed to finish the job he started and to give all of us a place to call home"

"Aye, Cap'n" Daniel said, standing at attention. "Are ye feeling well fer this?"

~~~

"She certainly seems to be doing a fantastic job of that, it seems." Amelia tossed. She began to hear a slight knocking noise. "What is that?" She asked, not yet knowing what rain sounded like on such a vessel. She began to help Scarlet put the wooden dishes away.

Avery stood and finished the tea as she said "no...not at all but I will have to be. I am the captain and I have to protect my crew and this ship...-'s that little girl so she can go home...at some point..."

Scarlet smiled then the door opened and Iris was standing there. "Scar, the captain wants to see you...and the little lady"