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In the swirl of passion	By : Lywhn Category: M through R > Peter Pan > Het Views: 35043 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Peter Pan, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 17
- 18
- 19
Chapter 18 – Help for Hook

Darkness surrounded him, the air stale and cool. Slowly, James blinked several times, finally realizing that there was no light.
He was hanging by his wrists from shackles, his shoulders ached from holding his weight. With a subdued groan, he stood, grimacing as the pain exploded in his body. The shackles were securely fastened to the ship’s wall by iron rings in two of the heavy beams, themselves part of the ship’s framework, designed as the needed ballast stabilizing a vessel during heavy seas.
Teach enjoyed torturing people, otherwise he wouldn’t have given the order to chain him up like this. His body hurt like hell, and he could feel the blood dried on his skin. He had fallen unconscious as four of Blackbeard’s brutes had dragged him down into the ship and thrown him brutally down the ladder in the lowest part of the Jolly Roger.
Hook sighed and closed his eyes. He knew that he and his men were lost. There was no imaginable way to escape now. When the morning came, they would all die.
Strangely, he felt sorry for his crew. They had been loyal to him, more loyal than he’d ever expected. There had been a time (he didn’t know how long ago, time had its own rules in Neverland) when he thought they would mutiny.
They were buccaneers that traveled the sea to find treasure, and not bounty-hunters who chased boys only for their captain’s pleasure. But they’d stood behind him there on deck, never leaving his side. Even though he had killed several of them – sometimes because they broke the ship’s rules, sometimes out of a burst of temper – they hadn’t lifted their weapons against him. It would have been their right to depose him. A pirate-captain was chosen by the crew, and if he was a bad captain – which meant principally that he hadn’t found enough swag or had taken the ship into unnecessary danger – they could choose another leader. Pirates were the first community to have a sort of democracy, beginning with the choice of a captain and ending with the provision for injured comrades and remaining family members.
To his amazement none of his crew had joined Blackbeard. Alas, they were even ready to die with him! He was NOT alone, as he had thought. Yes, they were, even by their own standards, a lower class of society, but their decision on that deck to die rather than to desert to the enemy showed him now that their character was better than most so called ‘nobility.”
Not surprisingly, Smee had done his part to hold the crew together. The old Irishman was the most loyal man he’d ever met, but Smee wasn’t the only influence over his men’s opinion. They acknowledge him their un-crowned leader, and this was more than he’d ever looked for. Why hadn’t he seen it until now? For a moment, he thought he would hear the fairy-queen’s voice in his head again: ‘You are blind in your pride, James Hook! Blind! And because of this -- you are alone!’ Yes, now he knew what this ancient creature had meant. She had seen something his arrogance had hindered him from seeing. He hadn’t been alone, and he would never have felt so if he had let someone near him.
But it had been Wendy who had opened his eyes – and his heart. Wendy! His only comfort now was that his sweet girl was safe. He didn’t know if she had waited until she had recognized the first signs of the ship’s capture, or if she had set Pan free shortly after he left. The second thought hurt him, because it would mean that she didn’t trust his word to let the boy go. But without knowing why, he was sure that she had waited for whatever would come.
Wendy had faith in him, this he had clearly seen in her eyes. And it was this faith now that gave him warmth and light even in this dark, deadly situation, presumably the last hours of his life. She had a commitment to him. He sensed that now, even without her presence. If he only had told her what he felt for her! It had been a mistake to not reveal it to her in those hours ago before he went to the Revenge. Now that fleeting opportunity was forfeit, and he would die without her knowing the truth. He regretted this the most.
He straightened his shoulders trying to ease the tension in them, but it was no use. His arms already felt as if they weighed tons, and he wished he could sit down, but the chains were too short for that. James cursed Blackbeard and his cruelty toward his captives. Alas, he himself wasn’t one who handled an enemy softly, but he had never tormented a captured foe by chaining him with no possibility of sitting or lying down. Hell, he even ordered his men to give Pan room for movement when the boy had been locked in the brig.
Pan … James hoped that the boy was smart enough to take Wendy back to London, before Blackbeard could conquer and destroy Neverland. If the girl was back in England, none could harm her anymore – not physically. Her heart was another matter. She would grieve for him, but she would be able to go on. She was too strong to give up. What they both shared was real, a once-in-a-lifetime relationship, and he believed her when she said she would never let another man touch her like he had, but she would probably have to marry to live a safe life in England.
The thoughts of his Wendy being in the arms of another man hurt him more than the shackles or the lash ever could, but he attempted to look at it rationally: She would have no other choice, and possibly she would find new happiness. Here was another thought that cut him, but in this very moment he only had to think of her well-being – and about their time together.
James leaned his head against the rough wooden wall behind him, and let his memories of the last fortnight take him away – to a time when he had felt joy, felt love for the first time in his life, and experienced the overwhelming knowledge of being wanted, when his brave, beautiful girl had taken him into her arms…

As Wendy and Peter closed in on the Jolly Roger again, they could hear the voices of the strange pirates carousing on the main-deck of the mighty galleon. Blackbeard’s roaring laughter was heard over the water, and Peter made a face while he helped Wendy to slip through Smee’s porthole. “Blowhard!” the boy grumbled and followed his friend in the cabin.
Wendy glanced about. Smee’s clothes had been thrown out of the locker and the belongings of another one lay across the bed. The drawers of the desk had been emptied on the floor beside the violin, which had been torn down as well. It seemed that someone else had already taken possession of the boatswain’s quarters.
From instinct, Wendy took the keys that hung on the wall, and put them into her pocket beside the little bag with the fairy-queen’s dust. As bo’sun and quartermaster, Smee had the key to every lock on the ship, and the girl knew she’d need them eventually. If Blackbeard had shackled James with other chains than the ones Hook had used for Peter, she would surely need the keys.
The boy gripped the latch, but the door was locked. He and Wendy exchanged a glance – damn it! – then Peter broke into a grin and pulled out the knife from the Lost Boy’s weapon-chest -- his own knife was still somewhere in the captain’s quarters.
Under Wendy’s amazed gaze Peter started to move the tip of the blade in the lock. In a moment, both friends heard a quiet click and the door opened. The girl had to grin. “Peter Pan, don’t tell me you’re a burglar.”
The eternal boy grinned back. “Remember the time I sneaked into the nursery!” He made an innocent face. “Hey, sometimes you have to take some strange detours to reach your destiny!”
“A very good excuse.”
Peter stepped into the passageway, and waved Wendy to follow him. The girl closed the door behind her and pulled him along with her. “How do we reach Hook’s cabin now?” the boy whispered, and frowned as Wendy opened the entrance to another room.
“Come!” she waved impatiently, and with an almost visible question mark on his forehead, Peter did. Lighting a candle with the help of Peter’s flint, Wendy pointed across the room at the wall. “There’s where we go!”
The boy gazed around him. “Wendy,” he said slowly. “This is the wash-house and…” He grew quiet as his friend walked to the wall and opened an invisible door. “What the heck…” Peter began and joined her. Open-mouthed, he stared at first at Wendy and then into the dark passage, where he recognized a winding staircase upwards. “How do you know about THIS?” he asked flabbergasted. “I mean, I know this ship very well, but this is--”
“-- a secret passage. And, as the name says, it’s normally a secret.”
“But,” he pointed to the stairs, ”who told YOU about it? Even I didn’t know about this!”
“Hook showed it to me. He won’t be happy if he learns that I showed it to you, but his life depends on it, and so I don’t think that he’ll mind too much.” She sighed and looked straight into the crystal blue eyes of the boy. “Promise me that you won’t speak with the others about it. This passage is for the safety of the ship’s leaders and doesn’t exist for boys to play pranks.”
Peter cocked his head. “It would give a good chance to--”
“No! I trusted you in showing you this, Peter Pan. Don’t disappoint me now! I know that even you can occasionally be rational, and realize the importance of keeping this secret safe.”
The boy sighed deeply and nodded. “Promise!”
The wide warm smile he knew and liked so much rewarded him now before she stepped into the secret passage. Peter followed behind her, closed the door and climbed the winding stairs upward. “Hook, you old codfish, I’ll give you this much: you’re really clever sometimes. This is a great escape!” he murmured.
As they reached the end of the staircase, both friends listened carefully before the girl gripped the little latch and opened the door. As quietly as possible, they slipped into the cabin and Wendy felt a short pang in her heart when she found herself back in James’ quarters, so familiar to her now, where she had been the happiest. His scent and that of his hair oil rose in the room, and for a moment, new tears threatened her eyes again, then she blinked them back. There would be time for tears later!
A cawing captured their attention, and Wendy saw Short Tom and a lovely green parrot sitting together in a cage. Short Tom simply looked sad and fearful, and even the soft strokes of his ‘buddy’ to calm him weren’t successful. Wendy crossed to the birds. James’ parrot seemed to feel that his master was in danger, and glanced up at her with fear in his remaining eye. “Don’t worry, Short Tom!” the girl said gently. “We’ll get him out – and you too.” A quiet cackle was the answer before he said: “Poor Short Tom.”
Peter grinned. “So ‘poor’ he is not, if you look at his companion. She really is pretty.”
Wendy lifted one brow. “She?”
“Yes. Look at her nose; it’s light brown. That’s a female parrot.”
The girl had to giggle. “Short Tom! How have you managed to get a girl-friend?” The parrot looked away, as if embarrassed, while the other bird started to preen his feathers.
Peter touched her shoulder and pointed in the direction of the cabinet. Wendy nodded. The boy was right -- they had no time to lose. She opened the cabinet and looked at the small bottles. Which one had James used to calm her down? One bottle caught her attention, and she opened took it out. ‘Laudanum’ she read, and pursed her lips. That made sense. “Is there any wine remaining in one of the bottles over there?” She pointed at the full table, and Peter stepped to it, lifting one after another.
“Here! This one’s almost full. Do you want to use the wine to hide the flavor?”
Wendy nodded again and took the open bottle. “Hook’s guard wouldn’t drink pure laudanum on his own, so this will hide the flavor.” She poured most of the sedative in the wine. “That has to be enough!” she murmured and put the laudanum back into the cabinet. If Blackbeard would come back to the cabin, there would be no traces for him to find.
Peter looked around him and saw his own knife lying on the desk. “Hey! There it is!” he whispered, and with a wide grin, he replaced the small knife he wore with his own, feeling instantly better with the familiar weapon. Then he spotted Hook’s mighty sword, locked safely in a showcase like a trophy. He knew that Hook also preferred his own weapons, but there was no chance to get it without breaking the glass, and that would make to much noise. So Hook would have to use the sword that Peter had brought from the hideout for him, along with his own, fastened at the additional sash he wore.
His eyes caught a gleam at the nightstand, and, curious, he stepped to it. His saw a plate with untouched food on the mattress beside a book, and knew instantly that it was Wendy’s dinner. Why she hadn’t eaten it was easy to understand. Of course, she hadn’t been hungry, knowing perfectly well about the danger they all were in. Then he lifted both brows when he saw what was gleaming in the dim light. It was Hook’s hook. If the captain was without his hook, then he really was nearly defenseless. He would need it for the coming battle. The boy took the hook which had so often threatened him, and fastened it at his belt.
“All right, that’s it,” Peter whispered. “We should leave, before Blackbeard returns to count his spoils!”
Wendy grimaced and looked around her. The usually tidy cabin was now chaotic. Teach had laid his belongings wherever they dropped. There were overcoats and breeches beside undergarments and pistols, simply tossed over the ottoman. Furniture she knew came from the usurper’s cabin stood beside James’ pieces, and over the Spanish wall hung several blankets. The cabin looked as if a bomb had exploded. “Hook will be outraged,” she murmured and Peter looked at her, puzzled.
“Why?”
“Because what Blackbeard has done to his cabin. You never realized how fastidious Hook is?”
The boy shook his head. “No. By the way: what is fastidious?”
Wendy groaned and turned back to the secret passage. “Boys!”
Clearly mystified, Peter followed her out. What the heck did THAT mean?
“Come on,” she urged. “Part two of our plan awaits.”

John and Slightly watched Blackbeard’s gang on the Jolly Roger, now celebrating loudly and thoughtlessly. Perfect! None one of them would recognize the boys. The buccaneers were drunk, congratulating themselves, and only had eyes for their great ‘victory.’
Blackbeard’s tall, heavy figure walked among them, and the both boys could hear him laughing and joking with another man with a blond ponytail, who walked beside him and talked a lot. Teach nodded and straightened his shoulders. He seemed to be very proud of his little plan to catch the Jolly Roger and her crew.
John and Slightly exchanged a glance. Now or never! Like shadows, the two boys left their concealment behind the rail of the Revenge and hurried to the hatch leading to the storeroom. Of course it was locked. Slightly took out a slim blade and started in on the problem. It wasn’t long until the lock gave way, and John snorted softly at his step-cousin. “I thought you want to be a doctor, not a criminal.”
“Hey, my step-uncle is on the board of the greatest bank of England. Shame I can’t work on my burgling skills!!”
John swallowed his laughter. If his parents and his aunt only knew of Slightly’s ‘talents’ --!!
After a last glance at the Jolly Roger, the boys lifted the heavy hatch a crack and slipped through it down into the guts of the Revenge. Lighting a candle, they descended the ladder and looked into nearly sixty bewildered pairs of eyes.
“You?” Smee gasped and walked slowly to them. His sleeves were torn, and deep scratches could be seen beneath, and his nose was dark and swollen from the blows from the enemy crew. “What are YOU doing here?”
The boys grinned at him. “Any of you want to exchange this lovely room for your own hammock?” Slightly asked.
Cecco stood beside Smee. “Does it mean t’at ye would--”
“-- set you all free?” John cut in. “Aye! Exactly what we mean.”
“Shiver me timbers!” Mullins whispered.
The old Irishmen blinked several time, then asked the question that tormented him the most. “What’s about the capt’n?”
Slightly pointed in the direction of the Jolly Roger. “Peter and Wendy have started a rescue.” He let his gaze travel over the buccaneers. “Are any of you hurt?”
Jukes shook his head. “Not really. T’ey caught us wi’ knockout drops. T’ey give us some kicks and blows, but t’at’s all.”
John nodded. “Very good. You’ll have to fight for your ship and your lives.”
“But how?” Skye cut in. “We have no weapons nor --”
“Near the stair to the bridge is a barrel with blades we brought with us.” The pirates looked at each other. It seemed fate would give them a chance to fight for their lives, and even to win their ship back. And as this knowledge took hold in their minds, smiles began to appear.
Hastily they moved the boys along toward the deck, silent as possible. Before they reached the hatch, Slightly turned to them. “Stay low behind the rail and wait for our signal. Your captain has to be free before you can attack Blackbeard’s brutes. Otherwise he will use Hook as bait.” Smee nodded and John and Slightly thought they could feel the eager resolve of the men.
Quietly the boys opened the hatch enough to allow the men to climb through. One by one, they left their prison, moved like shadows to the barrel, took a weapon and hastened to the rail, secreting themselves behind it.
Slightly made a noise like an owl, and a golden light left its hideout behind the stair. Tinker Bell waved to them and flew away, taking her role as messenger very seriously. She still felt like she had hit a mountain, but nevertheless she would do anything to help Peter to save Neverland from further disaster.

Peter and Wendy left the cannon-deck and went down to the lower deck. Reaching the lowest of them, they crept forward to the location of the brig and looked carefully around the corner to the heavy door of the cable tier. To their great surprise there was no guard. They changed bewildered glances. Was Blackbeard so sure of himself that he thought a guard for Hook was unnecessary?
Now even more watchful, the two friends tiptoed to the brig and Peter slowly pushed at the door. It wasn’t latched, and the candle that he held shone into the dark room. He could see the chains that had held him only hours ago, as well as the plate with his ‘last meal’ and the bloody bandage. Where was Hook?
With pounding heart, Wendy stepped beside him and looked into the cable tier with rising panic. Where was James? Had Blackbeard changed his mind and already killed him? Or had he simply locked him somewhere else? Or had he taken him to torture him? ‘No, Wendy, stay calm! Is there another safe place on this ship where he could hold a prisoner captive?’
“Maybe he’s locked somewhere else,” Peter murmured, having almost the same thoughts as she, and met her fearful gaze. Odds bobs, why was she so afraid when it came to Hook’s well-being?
Wendy nodded. “Perhaps Blackbeard locked him in one of the holds?”
The boy shrugged. “Let’s look.”
They hurried back to the holds, Peter signing to Wendy to stay back, and peeked around the doorframe parting the lower deck in two sections. Again, he saw no one. Bats and rats! Where had Teach taken his prey?
He turned to Wendy and shook his head. For a moment the girl started to panic. They were too late! James was already dead and-- Irritated she wiped her surfacing tears away. No! She wouldn’t give up until she had found him! Even if she had to tear out every plank of this ship! ‘Think straight, Wendy! Where could he be?’ she thought, and tried to remember what James had told her about the Jolly Roger and ships in general.
Where were the most secure places? The cable tier, the sickbay – if you could call this room so – the captain’s quarters and… The bilge! The lowest part of a ship, deep within the hull itself, beneath the last deck; only accessible by ladders. If a ship was going to be dank and smelly, then it started there. So it had to be checked on a regular basis, another responsibility of the ship’s carpenter. When a ship wasn’t fully loaded and came into heavy sea, or sailed into a storm, ballast was placed in the bilge to steady it and to prevent it from capsizing. Only an insane man such as Blackbeard could think to put a man down there. “He is in the bilge,” she whispered and walked further aft, being careful not to spill any of the wine she carried in the open bottle with her.
Peter came close again and looked at her. “How do you know this?”
Wendy simply shook her head. “I feel it!” She didn’t see Peter’s bewildered face, and stopped as she came to the end of the deck, deep under the backward-castle.
“You FEEL it?” Peter murmured. “How can you feel where somebody is?”
A soft smile was the answer. “Trust me!” She pressed herself to the wall of the passage, looked around the corner and lifted one thumb in triumph as she saw the figure sitting on a chair beside another hatch, the one leading down into the bilge.
Peter slid beside her and sneaked a peak in the indicated direction. And there sat a man on guard. He seemed to have dozed off, but neither Peter nor Wendy would take the risk. The boy looked skeptically at his friend. “Do you really want to do this?” he whispered and the girl nodded.
“I have to!” she answered firmly and moved to step forward, but Peter held her back one last time.
“If he gives you trouble, I am coming. I’ll finish him before he can open his mouth.”
“It was because of the risk that we agreed to this!” She lifted the bottle, took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The guard immediately came out of his doze and reached for his pistol. “Who’ t’ere?” he asked sharply, and Wendy needed all her courage to approach him from the darkness.
“It… it’s me!” she answered with slightly trembling voice, which wasn’t a trick. She really felt her heart sinking. The pirate was tall and slender. His olive skin, curly black hair, sharp nose and high cheekbones gave him away as Spanish. His clothes were dirty and torn, but he carried enough weapons to arm three men.
His dark eyes narrowed at the small figure coming slowly closer. He recognized the girl Blackbeard had caught the morning before, and frowned. “What are you doin’ here?” he demanded and watched the girl coming closer. “We t’ought you’ve taking the fly!?”
Wendy smiled nervously and only her desperation for James’ life forced her continue in her role. “B- Blackbeard caught me. I only hid a- as you and the others captured the ship and—“ she swallowed, “and I… I’m serving your crew tonight.”
The man didn’t relax, but looked at her askance. “And our capitano gave ye t’e order to bring ME somet’in’ to drink?”
Wendy nodded and bit her lips. “He… he’s in a very good mood a-and they’re all carousing up there!” She took a deep breath. “He said he would hurt me if I didn’t obey, s-so I am here now.”
“And he sent ye down here? Alone?”
Wendy saw the distrust in his eyes and shook her head. “Uh, n-no. The big one with the blue shirt and the red hat waits at the companionway,” she lied, remembering this one from yesterday, as she had been caught by Blackbeard.
“Ye mean Geoffrey?”
“I… I don’t know his name, but…”
The Spanish man started to grin. “I t’ink, you’ll know him in a short time very well!” He started to relax as he saw how shaken the girl was. She was pale and her big eyes were almost black with fright. Slowly he took the bottle out of her trembling fingers and looked at it. “Aye! T’at’s from t’e cap’n’s store!” Smiling he drank several deep gulps and looked back at the female captive. She really was beautiful, even with her dark blue cheek. Normally, he preferred the darker type, but for this girl, he could make an exception. He gripped her wrist and pulled her close to him. “T’e cripple down t’ere has good taste, no doubt!” he grinned. “Do ye want to know, why me Roger is so jolly here on the Jolly Roger?” He laughed about his own joke, let her wrist go, wrapped his arm around her and pressed her to him; let her feel exactly what the presence of a young beautiful female was doing to him.
Wendy had to use all her control to hide her loathing. She shivered with disgust and as he drank again from the bottle, she prayed that the mixture of wine and laudanum would finally do its work.
“Give me a kish, lille girl!” he slurred suddenly, but nevertheless he bent down to kiss her.
Like a flash Wendy held him back. “What do you have in mind for him?” she asked, indicating the hatch underfoot.
“Wish Hook? Hanging!”
The girl smelled the foul breath of the buccaneer mingled with alcohol, and felt sick. The man wasn’t really ugly, but in his drunken state, his entire appearance he repulsed her. “B… but what about the law of the pirates? It says you have to give a captured captain the choice of suicide?” she distracted him again and the pirate laughed.
“Blackbeard don’t give a damn shing of t’e rulesh! And sho it’sh more fun!” He took another good swallow from the bottle and looked glassy-eyed at her. “T’ere ish not’in’ better ash to shee someone hanging from t’e yardarm – beshide a pretty lass and…”
He stopped and blinked. Wendy felt new hope rebuilding. Was it finally working? “What is it?” she asked innocently. “Aren’t you feeling well?”
The pirate let go of her and glared at the bottle, swaying and turning a pale shade of green. “What t’e heck…” he began and then realization came to his face. “YE!” he gasped. “Ye poisoned me, ye whitsch!” He grabbed for her, but Wendy stepped hastily back. The buccaneer blinked several times and saw two boys coming out of the shadows. Twins, he recognized. They even wore the same odd clothes made out of leaves and… No. It weren’t two boys, but one; with golden locks and a fell expression on his face. The boy stepped in front of the girl and lifted a sword. “Ye t’e boy t’e cap’n wantsh!” the Spanish man croaked.
Peter tensed, ready to attack. The guard pointed at the intruder and realized with his last clear thought: “Ye want to help Hook!” Then his knees gave way and he fell over. Carefully, Peter knelt beside him and checked on him. Out cold! “Very good!” he grinned, and Wendy sighed. Her plan had really worked! She couldn’t believe it. Peter searched the pockets of the pirate and pulled a ring with several keys out. “Here! One of them must be for the hatch. So you don’t need the keys you stole from Smee’s cabin.”
“I didn’t steal!” Wendy corrected, shocked. “I just borrowed them!”
Her friend laughed quietly. “Of course. Sorry!”
One of the keys fit and he opened the hatch. Fetching the pirate’s lamp, he handed it too to Wendy, saying: “Be careful while you climb down. Free Hook as quickly as possible. I’ll be sure that your boyfriend here doesn’t interfere!”
With suddenly clumsy fingers and joyful heart, the girl took the lamp and the ring of keys, and started down the ladder. The dim glow didn’t reach far, and as Wendy reached the bottom, she lifted the lamp to have a better look. She saw several little shadows scampering away and heard the squeak. Rats! Of course. These little rodents were on every ship, no matter how clean or in what condition. Taking a deep breath, Wendy stepped forward, looking for James. Finally her gaze found the dark figure, chained with spread arms at the ship’s wall and met in the dim light the disbelieving glare of the forget-me-not-blue eyes she loved so much.
With a choked scream she hurried to him, set the lamp down, wrapped her arms around him as far as possible and buried her face at his throat; not even noticing his wince as she made contact with his injuries. “I found you!” she whispered and was unable to repress the rising tears again. She could smell his so familiar scent again; could feel his curly mane tickling her face, and sighed as he pressed his face against hers. After all these hours of fear for his life, it was almost a redemption to be close to him again. “I’ve found you!” she repeated with a sob, and rubbed her cheek on his shoulder, before she lifted her head and took his face in her hand; looking at him as if he were a miracle.
She saw his ashen complexion, his damp eyes and his soft lips, framed by the moustache. Then she recognized the dried blood that had left a track from his nose, over his mouth to the chin, the result of Richards’ blow. She damped one sleeve with her tongue, and cleaned it from face.
James looked at his girl and couldn’t believe his eyes. He thought her far away, in Neverland, safe from Blackbeard’s cruelty and sadistic vengeance – possibly all the way to London. He had thought he would never see her again, and tried to comfort himself thinking of her safety. And where was she? Here, deep in the Jolly Roger, at his side and embracing him with a strength that surprised him – and hurt as well. Teach was not a gentle man. But he didn’t mind the pain this time. Not when his beloved Wendy was close, held him in her arms and looked at him as if he were the most important thing in the world to her.
And then it hit him. She was here – in danger! In mortal danger! The ship was completely in the enemy’s hand. They both were surrounded by cold-blooded killers, who would love to have their brutal way with the girl before they cut her throat. The joy of seeing her again turned into desperation, as he realized that she could die. “Why have you come?” he murmured hoarsely. “I told you to flee and…”
She closed her mouth over his, cutting off his words. To feel her gentle lips and to taste her fresh sweetness was overwhelming. Torn between despair and longing, he returned her kiss, conquered mouth as he had done so often before, relishing in their familiar duel of tongues. She kissed him with the fire he only knew when they were making love to each other, while her tender fingers stroked his temple and entangled finally in his hair. Her soft breath caressed his face, and he could feel her sweet young body through her shirt and his torn clothes. Her warm body chased away some of the chills gripping his joints.
When they parted, Wendy let her gaze roam over him. He was pale, but not as weak as she thought he would be. He really was a fighter. And then she saw the pain and desperation in his eyes and knew that it was because she was here and not in the safety of Neverland’s jungle. His next words confirmed her thoughts.
“Why have you come, dear Wendy? I ordered you to leave immediately if Blackbeard took over the Jolly Roger.” He saw her open her mouth to protest and continued: “I would gladly die if I knew you were safe. Please, my love, return the way you came and fly back to the island, before Blackbeard can find you.”
She lifted one hand and stroked his cheek, but her gaze was firm. “I will never ever let you down,” she whispered fiercely; her eyes beginning to blaze. “Do you hear me, James Hook? I will NEVER abandon you!”
“But your life--”
“-- isn’t a life without you anymore! There are two possibilities: We both survive this whole mess, or we both die!” He paled even more and she gave him a quick kiss. “Calm down, James!” she murmured and pulled the ring with the keys from her pockets, the ones Peter had taken from the guard. “I’m here to help you. And I’m not alone!”
Amazed he looked at the keys. “How do you get them?”
She grinned and tested several of the smaller keys for his chains. To her dismay, none of them fit. James took a deep breath. “Stop it, Wendy. The only key that fits these shackles has been taken by Blackbeard.” He saw fear returning to her, and cursed once more that he seemed fated to give her sorrow. “As far as I know, Smee had a double pair of them, but--”
Her face lit up. “Ha, I knew it!” she whispered and took the second set of keys out of her other pocket, the ones she had ‘stolen’ from the Irishman’s cabin. Triumphantly she lifted them before his bewildered eyes. “How…?” he began and the girl started to giggle.
“Red-handed Jill has tested her talent for burglary!” she grinned and earned a small chuckle from him.
“You are really a wonder, Wendy Darling.”
The first lock opened and the girl sent him a proud glare. “And don’t you forget it!”
James groaned as the merciless iron released his left arm, and for just a moment he nearly lost his balance, then he had himself under control again. With a grimace, he rolled his shoulder and gasped, as the blood began to circulate normally there. “God blast that insane shit-head!” he growled and caught her scolding glare. “Sorry,” he said insincerely. As the second shackle was loosed, he stretched himself and clenched is teeth, as pain exploded in his back, chest, shoulders and arms. He needed a warm bath, a decent meal and a good rest – at the side of his girl and an incredible, passionate awaking several hours later – but right now he had to wait. There was a ship to win back and men to rescue who were sentence to die.
Wendy looked at the whip marks on his torso. “How bad is it?” she asked quietly, and he only shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ve had worse.”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Whom else do I know who answers me like that?” She sighed and looked closer, seeing now how badly beaten he really was. “That monster!” she murmured and stretched one hand out towards his chest, but not touching it.
He smiled at her. “It will heal, my sweet. These aren’t the first blows I received in my life. And by the way, I am so looking forward to your tender care!”
She shook her head. “Sometimes you are really impossible, James.”
He forced a smile. “Where is the guard?” he asked suddenly, surprised that the man hadn’t alert his comrades.
“Fast asleep!” Wendy smiled wickedly.
“Asleep?”
“Yes. I gave him some of the wine that put you down as well.”
James cocked his head. “The same wine Teach gave me?” he wanted to know, again curious.
The girl shook her head. “No. I put some of the Laudanum you gave me into one of his bottles and offered it the guard. I pretended to be a captive, was following Blackbeard’s instructions and he bought my act.”
Hook frowned. “How you got one of his bottles and my Laudanum? You fled from my cabin, as Teach told me.”
Wendy nodded. “It’s a long story and I’ll tell it to you as soon as we’ve sent this enemy to the land where pepper grows.”
He lifted his hand and stroked over her cheek. It wasn’t that cold down here, and he knew that her cool skin hadn’t anything to do with the temperature, but with her fear. And ignoring all dangers and her fright, she stood here before him, in the middle of enemy territory, to help him, and had even the nerve to trick the guard. “You really have the heart for piracy!” he murmured and took in her beautiful face, her trembling lips and the warmth that shone from her eyes. Possibly this was his last chance to declare his true feelings for her. He stepped close to her and opened is mouth to say the three words that changed and moved the world when he heard a very familiar, annoying voice. “Are you two coming?”
James whirled around, ignoring the dizziness, and looked flabbergasted at the small figure poking his head through the hatch, a candle in one of his hands. The soft light of the little flame shone over the golden locks, leaf-clad shoulder and found an echo in the shining eyes, full of adventure-lust and mischief. “Pan!” the gasp escaped Hook’s lips. “You’re here as well?”
The eternal boy grinned as he looked over his mortal enemy, who presently had the silliest expression on his face he ever saw, and then to his friend, standing next to the pirate-captain. “Aye! And if you two don’t get up here, all three of us will get caught!”
The head disappeared and Hook’s gaze still remained at the now empty spot, shocked. “What is HE doing here?” he asked completely bewildered.
Wendy smiled. “I told you I didn’t come alone.” As she saw his perplexed face, she had to giggle. “Come on! There’s still a lot of work to do!”
Still thinking he had landed in another reality, Hook climbed the ladder, holding with his right forearm. Upon reaching the hatch he felt small strong fingers gripping his hand. He looked up straight into Peter Pan’s face, which wore an expression of firmness while the boy assisted him through the hole. Wendy followed, also taking Peter’s offered hand without hesitation. She saw the captain still eyeing his ancient foe, and as soon as she reached the deck, he blurted out: “Why would you help me? Again?”
Peter straightened and looked at his adversary with an unreadable expression. “Possibly because you invited me so politely to a ‘last meal’ yesterday. Or because she convinced me to help you.”
Hook couldn’t respond, so he glanced around, spotting the unconscious guard at the floor, bound like a package ready to post. He strode to him, bent down and took his pistol, bullet- and powder-sack. He gasped as he felt a new pain rushing through his upper body and closed his eyes.
“Why did you provoke Blackbeard the way you did?” he heard Wendy ask, and looked up to her. “I heard what you said to him. Peter and I were in the weapons cabinet. Teach could have killed you!”
James took a deep breath. The thought that his sweet girl had watched the whole brutal scene touched him. “You saw it?” he asked, and as Wendy nodded, he bowed his head. “I am sorry,” he murmured. “It was not for your eyes.”
The girl pressed her lips together. “You didn’t answer my question. Why did you practically invite him to kill you?”
When James didn’t answer, Peter retorted: “Because that was exactly his intention.”
Shocked Wendy glared at her lover. He avoided her gaze and grumbled, “I’m surprised how well you know me, Pan!”
This was confirmation enough for the girl. “Why?” she whispered.
James lifted his head and looked straight into her horrified eyes. “I hoped to provoke him enough to kill me instantly. It is a more honorable and easier death than if he would hang me at my own yardarm.”
“You really prefer death before you wait for rescue?” she asked, shocked.
A soft smile played his lips, at which Peter frowned: this was simply… so unlike the Hook he knew! “What rescue should I have expected, dearest? I ordered you to free Pan and to flee as soon as you recognized that Blackbeard really had something devious in mind. And since he told me my cabin was found empty, I thought you away in Neverland – safe and secure.” He snorted. “Of course, I should have known that you would try something like this.”
She jammed her fists onto her hips. “The only one who’s been crazy is YOU, James Hook! ‘I have to go to this dinner to keep an eye and an ear on him’. Ha! From the moment you told me, I thought it insane for you to go into the lion’s cave. I begged you not to go, but no, you had to demonstrate that you have everything under control!” She shook her head. “Men!”
Peter stared at his friend and again he asked himself what had gotten into her. Warily he watched Hook, waited for the explosion of rage, but instead, Hook simply grinned. “Has anyone ever told you that you are really enchanting when you are furious?”
Wendy shook her head and grumbled something that sounded like “arrogant”, “impossible” and “pig-headed like Peter”.
The boy cleared his throat, not understanding why his friend and the normally very irritable captain were getting along together so well, but for now they had other difficulties at hand. “Sorry to break this up, but right now we have other problems to deal with.”
Hook nodded and stood up, fastening the weapon and supplies at his belt. Without his hook, it was a trial and Wendy stepped up to help. Peter hesitated a moment, then he reached to his belt and pulled out the implement. “I think you will need it, Captain,” he said, and offered his foe the reason for his chosen name.
James’ eyes widened, as he saw the curved blade shimmering in the lamplight in the hand of the boy. He took it with a surprised: “Thank you.”
“Why did he take it from you?” Wendy asked and watched him fastened the tool in the cuff.
“To humble me. And to prevent me from killing myself as soon as his men came to fetch me for the execution.”
The girl shivered. His danger hadn’t been from Blackbeard alone but himself as well. The boy nodded, understanding completely. Then he pulled out the second sword. “And you’ll need this, too.”
With a quality weapon in his hand, Hook felt instantly better. Curiously he examined the sword. “Doesn’t it belong to Cookson?” he asked, recognizing the sword finally.
Peter shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. It comes out of our weapon-stock. Your own sword is locked in a show-case in your cabin.”
Hook lifted a brow. “Why do I think that I would find many things from my ship in your hideout?”
Peter simply grinned and Wendy blushed – two proofs of his deduction. He made a face, then stepped past the friends, looking down the passageway. “Do you know where Blackbeard is, Pan?”
“Either still on the main-deck bragging about his ‘famous victory’ or in your quarters,” the boy informed him.
“Don’t be surprised when you see the mess he left there!” Wendy murmured, and met his bewildered and then irritated gaze.
“And for this I will get that bastard, too.” He took a deep breath and walked along the passage. “First we have to set my men free and then--”
“If Wendy’s plan is successful, then your men are already free,” Peter interrupted, not without some pride.
James stopped and stared again at Wendy. “YOUR plan?”
She smiled sweetly at him. “Aye, MY plan!” She fluttered her eyelashes, and lifted her chin. “As you said, I really seem to have the heart for piracy.”
Hook laughed for a moment. “And not only for that!” Wendy turned crimson red and shot him a glare that meant ‘shut up’.
“The Lost Boys will soon begin a distraction,” Peter continued. “Until then we have to remain hidden.” He motioned for his adversary and his friend to follow him, and together they reached the companionway.
Laughter, ribald songs and many slurring voices reached them. James made a face. And THIS on HIS ship! He felt Wendy stepping beside him and let his eyes travel in the dim light over her face. He would NOT allow her in the coming battle! “As soon as we reached the lower cannon-deck our ways will part!” he said quietly to her. “You will run to the quarter-deck and use the passage I showed you. Wait until you are completely certain that Blackbeard has left my quarters. Then you go inside, open a window and fly back to Neverland. Understand?”
Wendy looked bewildered at him. “You don’t think I’m about to turn my back --”
“Do as I say!” James cut firm in. “I am still the captain of this ship,” he added and stopped her protest, “and you will obey my orders.”
The girl’s eyes started to flash. “I don’t take orders – either from you or from Peter, as I told you before.”
James grit his teeth and turned his attention to the eternal boy. “How do you tolerate her cantankerousness?”
Peter grinned his famous insolent grin: “Very well!”
Hook shook his head. “Of course! You aren’t any different!”
The boy repressed a chuckle and looked at Wendy, who had crossed her arms in front of her chest and had a defiant tilt to her chin. James saw her obstinate face and lifted one brow. “Two possibilities, my sweet wildcat: First: you do as I say. Or second: I lay you over my knee and give you a thrashing, like a little child deserves when she disobeys.”
“I am NOT a little child anymore – as you already clearly know. And don’t you dare threaten me! By the way: it would make too much noise if you carried out your threat, so forget it!”
She felt Peter’s hand on her arm. “Wendy? I don’t like to say this, but Hook is right.” Hook repressed a whistle. Pan helped him and said now that he was right? This was surely red-letter day on the calendar! “It’s too dangerous for you,” he continued softly. “And by the way I can fight better if I know you’re safe.” He exchanged a gaze with Hook, who nodded slowly his affirmation.
Wendy looked between the two back and forth. “Unbelievable. You two are of the same opinion?”
“In this case I have to agree with him,” Hook growled, obviously forcing the words out. He took a deep breath. “It really is too dangerous for you, kitten. You are brave and not easily frightened, but the risk is too high. Pan is right. It IS easier for us to fight without the gnawing fear that you could be injured – or killed.”
Wendy saw the worry in his eyes and the pleading. She knew that he feared for her – probably as much as she feared for him. But she couldn’t just stay back and wait for the battle’s end. She would lose her mind not knowing if he were still alive, wounded or dead. And by the way she still cared for Peter as well. She didn’t want to lose either of them.
Searching for assistance, she glanced at Peter. He knew she loved adventure, but the eternal boy shook slowly his head. “No, Wendy. Not this time. This will be a battle to the death, and as good as you are with a sword, you aren’t that good yet. And you don’t like to hurt or to kill people. You could hesitate in the wrong moment and lose your life. Let this battle be fought by the warriors.” He smiled gently as he saw her disappointment. “Hey, you didn’t run, you freed me – and even made this very good plan – without that neither Hook nor I would have a chance to kick Blackbeard’s arse. So be strong and wait for the shining knights to return to the lady.”
Wendy nodded her head, feeling again the burning behind her eyes.
“Promise?” Peter pressed her softly.
After a last gaze at James, who nodded, she took a deep breath and whispered: “Promise!”
The boy grinned. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“You have no idea how hard it was -- and is!” she breathed and turned her face away.
Peter frowned, then shrugged. “Wait here. I’ll just have a look to see if the boys are ready for the diversion.” With that he lifted himself in the air and flew soundlessly up the companionway.
Hook and Wendy stood at the bottom of the stairway, waiting. Wendy bit her lip. Perhaps these were her last minutes together with James. Perhaps he would die shortly, despite her attempts to save him. Perhaps everything had been for naught and she would lose him. Her gaze roamed over his tall figure and his curly mane. An old memory sounded in her mind: ‘You will die alone and unloved – just like me!’ No! He was NOT unloved, and she had to tell him this, before it would be too late! She had been so blind not to realize her feelings for him, and had feared she wouldn’t get a chance to admit how much she loved him. But now fate had handed her the possibility and she would use it!
James stared into the darkness. Even if his men were free and the Lost Boys and Pan supported them – what a crazy turn of events! – the chance that he would survive the coming clash was low. Teach was an excellent combatant, he knew for sure, and Blackbeard wasn’t injured as he was. The only advantage for the crew of the Jolly Roger was that they weren’t drunk like Blackbeard’s men – a significant advantage. But nevertheless, the result was uncertain. Perhaps this really was the last time he would be near his Wendy. He had forfeited the chance to reveal how he felt several hours ago, but fate had been merciful enough to give him a second chance. And this he would not forfeit!
Slowly he turned around to her, laid the sword down, and took her softly by her shoulders. She looked up to him – eyes betraying her fear as well as her deeper feelings for him. “Wendy?” he whispered. “I want to tell you something,” said both in the same moment, and smiled for just a second. “You first,” he said quietly, but she shook her head. “No, you first. You are still the captain.”
He chuckled. “Glad you remember that.” He grew serious again. “Wendy, perhaps we’ve only changed HOW it will happen, but not how the story ends. I could die. And before my last curtain falls, I have to tell you something, something, I didn’t realize before I saved you from Blackbeard’s clutches.” He took a deep breath. “I was too cowardly to admit it to you.” He took her face in his hand and looked deep into her eyes. “I love you!” His voice was warm, soft and tender as the sparkles in his eyes. He saw her rising tears and the beginning joy on her face and kissed her gently, pulling her closer to him. Instantly she wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss with so much devotion that it shook him. Without a word, she showed him how much he meant to her.
When they finally parted she buried her face at his throat again, and clung to him. “James?” she murmured with a shaking voice. “I--”
A soft whoosh came over them, and the lovers stepped hastily away from each other, not wanting to risk adding another problem to their long list by letting themselves be caught. To lose the contact was agony, and James caught her gaze full of warmth and longing, matching his own yearning for her nearness and desire to be alone with her now.
“All clear!” Peter’s words were no more than a whisper. “Come!”
Without hesitation James took his sword, clamped it into his hook, reached for Wendy’s trembling hand and pulled her along with him.
The girl followed him as in trance. He loved her! He LOVED her! He had said it – and meant it! She had seen it in his eyes, heard it in his voice and felt it in his kiss. He loved her! Despite the present perilous situation – trapped on a captured ship full of inimical, hostile pirates – she felt like she was walking on clouds. She wanted to scream her joy into the skies, and to take him into her arms and to reveal him her feelings for him. She wanted to return to his quarters and to show him exactly how much she loved him. She wanted to care for his injuries and to kiss every inch of his body, telling him over and over again how deeply he trod in her heart and soul. And this was EXACTLY what she would do, as soon as they had kicked Blackbeard out of Neverland!
They reached the second cannon-deck and James shoved her gently in the direction of the quarter-deck. “This way, my beauty,” he commanded softly and – turning his back to Peter – he gave her a look so full of love, she felt ready to cry.
“Be careful!” she whispered. “Don’t you dare to get yourself killed, James Hook! I would never forgive you, do you hear me?”
He smiled. “I will do my very best, sweetheart.”
Wendy took a deep breath – ‘Don’t cry now! What would he think of that?’ – and looked at a flabbergasted Peter, who gazed at her and Hook’s back. “And you, too! Just keep your happy thoughts and show these damn bastards who is the prince of Neverland, Peter Pan!”
The eternal boy found part of his smile, then watched his friend running over the cannon-deck and finally reach the door to the quarter-deck, closing it behind her. What in the name of all fairies of the world was happening between Wendy and Hook? They both acted toward each other, as if… He couldn’t find the right word, and was lost that train of thought as the pirate-captain poked his upper arm. “Come on, Pan. There awaits an enemy to fight and glory to win!”
Following a suddenly very glowing James Hook, Peter climbed the rest of the companionway and signed for his former foe to remain silent. Turning his attention back to the situation on deck, he looked around him and found the tiny, golden shimmer hidden where the handrail crossed the planks of the deck. He nodded to Tinker Bell and she flew away. Cautiously, he and James stayed hidden in the shadows of the companionway, and hadn’t long to wait until the voices on deck went quiet for just a moment, then shouted: “What t’e devil is t’at?” “How did it get here?” “Fetch t’e cap’n!”
Carefully Hook looked around the corner and out of the shadows, and saw an odd figure on the bridge near the helm. It was completely made of straw and danced near a small fire, while all about the ship, dull drums echoed through the cool night-air. It was a ceremony dummy made by the Indians, he quickly realized, and was made to dance by several Lost Boys with nearly invisible strings which he spotted high above in the mizzenmast.
Peter giggled behind his hand and nudged his elbow in Hook’s left arm. “Just wait a moment. The best is yet to come when Blackbeard arrives!”
They didn’t wait long and the door to the captain’s quarters burst open and Teach stormed on the bridge. His angry gaze found the dancing figure and for a second his face wore a bewildered expression. “What t’e hell…?” he barked, looking wildly around him, trying to determine whose fault this crazy thing might be, but all of his men were down on the main-deck and watching the scene with odd expressions.
“Stay here!” Peter whispered to Hook and shot up into the air, flew a high arc and sank down outside of the ship near the bridge. Blackbeard had already pulled out his cutlass and strode to the ‘dancer’; crying murder as he struck the dummy. In the very same moment Hook heard his own voice calling from beside the ship: “Teach, you fat belly full of rotten codfish! Get your sorry arse from my ship, or I’ll tear you apart with my hook!”
James had to repress a chuckle. “Pan, you little bastard, you are really good at imitating me!”
Blackbeard stiffened instantly and his men grew silent. “James?” Teach called. “Is it really you?”
“Has all that food made you deaf, Teach? Or has the rum already destroyed the rest of what little mind you had left?” answered ‘Hook’s’ voice.
Blackbeard cursed and whirled around to his men. “Which of you bilge-rats has let him escape?” he snarled. “Three of you -- to me!” He tore out his pistol, ran to the side of the bridge and shot down into the water, thinking Hook would be outside at the ship’s railing.
The real Hook just smiled. “Pan, you are the cleverest boy I ever met!” he whispered and looked to the Revenge. And sure as the sunrise, he saw a red cap and a face with spectacles and a grey full beard beneath it. His men were free, exactly as Peter had said! His gaze returned to the invading crew and his smile changed into a frightful grimace.
Then gripping his sword, he strode the last three steps up and climbed upon the middle-deck. Lifting his weapon, he called loudly: “TEACH! If you are searching me: I am here!”
The other captain whirled around as did his men. With disbelief he stared at the tall slender figure, standing proudly on the middle deck. Looking at Hook, as if he were a ghost, Teach’s pirates began to whisper. Then life returned to Blackbeard’s face, and with fury, he screamed: “HOOK, you--”
At that exact moment, the loud shout “Attack!” came from the Revenge and James’ men swung themselves with loud cries to the Jolly Roger.
The battle had begun…

TBC…
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In the swirl of passion