Chapter Six – Twelve Days
Jefferson had all but fallen asleep when James burst into the room. "Oh sorry Jefferson did you fall asleep?" He leaned down unleashing the animal he walked into the room.
Was that a dog? Jefferson thought sitting up. I hate dogs. The animal was sniffing around the floor and it came up smelling him. A pig? He brought me a pig. "So nice of you to bring me dinner, but you do know you have to cook it right; before I can eat it?"
"Oh this pig isn't for you to eat. It is for the feast in three days time." James waved behind him and servants brought in a big bowl of fruit and plates filled with hot rolls, and a whole turkey.
Jefferson felt his mouth water as the servants left. He watched as James reached up ripping off some grapes and threw them on the floor. At first Jefferson thought he was throwing them at him, but the pig let out a squeal and it trotted back over to James. Jefferson forced himself to look away from the pig as it sucked in the fat grapes.
James leaned back on the table blocking his view of the turkey, but Jefferson didn't need to see it, he could smell it and God it smelled delicious. He thought back to his last meal at Rumple's; it had been a simple meal by Rumple's standards. Just a chicken and few sides, but dessert had been this apple cobbler that the new servant girl Belle had made, and it had been wonderful, Jefferson had always loved apples but damn if Belle couldn't cook and make everything taste better.
James saw him staring at the fruit and he reached over picking up one of the bright red apples. He tossed it in the air. James was mocking him but Jefferson couldn't hear him, he saw only the red apple and his mind drifted back to the first time he had visited Regina in her garden at her castle.
Jefferson reached up and took one of the shiny red apples off of Regina's tree.
"You know the no one other than me is allowed to pick fruit off of this tree."
Jefferson finished wiping the apple off on his shirt. "Is that so?" He asked right before he took a big bite of the apple. He gave her a big grin as he chewed.
"It's a crime punishable by death."
Jefferson swallowed as he moved closer invading her personal space. "So what you are telling me is there is more than one way for me to lose my head by tasting your forbidden fruit?" He fought to keep his tone serious but his teasing smile showed on his face, and his eyes lit up as his mind raced with mischievous thoughts.
Regina blushed. "Apparently so."
"Well it is a good thing the apple is just as delicious as you."
"Oh really?" Regina asked raising an eyebrow at him.
"Yes, kind of makes it all worth the risk of possible death." He leaned in and to her surprised he kissed her right there in the middle of her garden.
"Jefferson!" James called over to him.
Regina had loved the kiss but she was so pissed about him doing it out in the open like that where anyone could have seen.
"Jefferson!" James called again throwing the half eaten apple at him. It bounced off his chest bringing him out of his day dream and back to the cell. "Are you listening to me? Or are you dreaming about the last time you had a good meal? What has it been now twelve days?"
It took Jefferson a second to realize that James had thrown the apple he had been eating at him. He made a move for the apple but he had been too slow, the pig beat him to it and he had to watch as the apple's juices dripped down its muddy chin.
Jeff don't let him see your hunger. A familiar voice made him turn his head to his left.
Great! Jefferson thought. Now I am starting to hallucinate, and of the all the people I could see my messed up brain had to pick my worthless father.
"Why he knows I am hungry." Jefferson muttered to the ghost image of his father.
"What was that Jefferson? You are mumbling again." James called over as he leaned back on his chair placing his feet on table.
Remember what I taught you. Never show weakness, and never give into their demands. For then they know they have you. His father faded away and Jefferson focused back on James who was ripping off huge chucks of the turkey leg.
"I said you may want to remember your manners and slow down or you may choke." Jefferson covered up his mistake.
"Nice of you to care about my health." James bit off another bite of the turkey leg.
"Oh I care a great deal about your health. So much in fact that I hope you stay alive along enough for me to get out of this cell, and recover so I can be the one who kills you."
James laughed "I think it is so inspiring the faith that you have that you will somehow get out of this cell, and not die here." He tossed the half eaten turkey leg to the pig at his feet.
It oinked over happily chewing it down. Jefferson could hear the bones crunching in its mouth. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall, trying his best to ignore the pain in his stomach.
"Oh I am sorry Hatter am I boring you?"
Jefferson opened his eyes. "Always." He stated as he looked back over to James.
"Well I have something to make your life interesting." He picked up the bowl of fruit and the pitcher of water. He turned the fruit bowl upside down dumping the fresh fruit to the dirty floor. The pig started eating the closest piece. James poured the water into the bowl. "I am sure you are quite thirsty." He placed it on the ground in front of the pig.
Jefferson clutched his fists thinking the jerk had been talking to him not the pig. Don't show that he's bothering you. He thought over and over again fighting to keep his bored appearance.
The pig drank its fill and then walked back over to the discarded fruit. James picked up the bowl, "Oh look Jefferson." He walked over towards him. "The pig was thoughtful he left some for you."
Jefferson looked down into the bowl James placed beside him. The water had bits of chewed fruit, mud, and pig saliva in it. "Well that was awful thoughtful of him, he shouldn't have." Jefferson wrinkled his nose at the mess in the bowl.
James started to walk away from him. He went over to the levers which controlled the length of his chains and cranked the chain which was connected to his hands a few times. Jefferson raised his eyebrow confused at what James was up too.
"I am going to leave the food on the table. I know you pride yourself on being resourceful Hatter so you should enjoy the challenge of trying to get your meal. And it will be the only meal you will get today." He leashed the pig and pulled it back out the door with him.
Jefferson sat there for a moment not moving. He knew his chains wouldn't let him get to table. He pushed the water bowl to the side, before he pushed himself up the wall to his feet. He leaned against the wall its coolness feel good against his still burning cuts on his back. But he knew the dirty damp wall was only going to infect the cuts and make them feel worst in the long run. He moved slightly away from the wall standing, testing his legs as stared across the room at the food.
He slowly walked towards the table until his handcuffs drew tight. He stopped sitting down trying not to have a complete breakdown as he stared at the still warm rolls and turkey that laid less than 7 feet away from him.
"What are you doing Jefferson you knew you couldn't get to the food?" His mind raced as he looked at the table full of food. James hadn't cranked his chains on his legs. "Maybe I can knock the table over."
He laid down on his back but the cuts from the whip burned as the dirty got in them. He rolled over on to his stomach reaching with his feet for the table, but he was still too short. He pushed himself back as far as he could with his handcuffs raised above his head. His toes barely brushed against the table leg. He swung his leg trying to get the table to move, but he just didn't have the length to reach it. He strength as far as he could the cuffs dug into his wrist opening the cuts he had already there. Grimacing he let out scream of frustration as he kicked his feet.
"Think, think, think, Jefferson! You need to eat something." He stopped kicking and fighting his cuffs to just lay there a moment. He moved back into a sitting position looking around his cell. For the first time the cell looked huge. The fruit was all out of reach in the right hand corner of the room. The turkey and rolls were too far away in front of him. And the door and his hat were too far away to his left.
If I could have gotten to the table I could have not only eaten but gotten one of the bones and picked these cuffs and the lock on the door. I could slip up stairs and slit James throat before I escape to the woods and get back home to Rumple.
Jefferson flipped out he pulled on his chains screaming as he tried get across the room. But the chains won out and he was jerked down to the floor. He felt tears on his face as he sat up looking at the table and all the food. The smell was starting to make him feel sick.
He pushed himself backwards to the corner he had taken to using as his refuge spot. As he moved backwards he placed his hand in the water bowl James had left. He jerked it out and pushed back against the wall. He looked down at the bowl with the discussing pig slop floating in it.
He pulled his knees in close as he leaned back against the wall. His stomach growled, and everything hurt. He bit his lip feeling more tears falling down his face. "Rumple." He whispered grabbing his head. "He must not know where I am. He wouldn't leave me like this if he knew. Dear God, I am going to die here, aren't I?" He commented suddenly seeing no possible escape.
Drink the water. His father's voice filled his head. Jefferson looked over standing above the bowl he once again saw his father.
"You have got to be joking it may make me sick."
Are you really that high and mighty now Jeff? The fancy clothes, all the gold, and making your home in a castle, it has all made you soft. You have drunken and eaten worse things on a dares from the Lost Boys. You can go days without food, but you know you need water if you are to survive.
Jefferson put his hands to his head. "Just shut up! Go away! I escaped Neverland so I never had to see you again. I told you, you are not my father anymore, so leave me alone Captain Hook! If I am going to die I don't want your company!" Jefferson cried. "Why can't I hallucinate a friend like Victor or Alice or Regina?"
Well we both know why it is me and not Rumple you are seeing. Hook looked down at his son. Because you think I already think you are a disappointment, where that evil crocodile views you as a successful servant.
"I am a successful business partner!" Jefferson hissed as his father's ghostly image disappeared. He reached out for the bowl and told the empty room. "And I am going to figure a way out this. I won't die here." He brought the bowl up to his lips and drank the water.