Chapter 11: Roguery, Larceny, and Arsony

It was well past dinner time, and Emma was still at work. Killian had spent the whole day fruitlessly searching for any clue of Casey's whereabouts. Then, with his back feeling slightly better after a couple days of antibiotic treatments, Killian had been able to prepare the evening meal, using only ingredients that did not require reaching or bending. But Emma messaged him to start without her. Reluctant, but knowing it was coming up on his infusion time and wanting to take the advice of having eaten first to ward off side effects, he eventually gave in. He even choked down some of that yogurt stuff that Emma claimed was supposed to be taken with antibiotics.

At close to 8:00, there was a knock at the door. Killian hobbled over and was surprised to find David, wearing a teasing smile.

"Hey there, gimp. We've missed you at the sheriff station."

"So I've heard. 'Dad.' Emma doesn't believe me when I tell her I'm fully capable of at least assisting with the paperwork."

"The way I hear it, you can hardly use the bathroom yourself."

"An exaggeration," Killian scoffed, although it most certainly was a challenge. "She's just trying to get you on her side against me."

David shrugged. "Well it does sound like you're being stubborn and unreasonable."

"Unrea… I thought I'd be able to count on a bit of support from my new father-in-law. You're the one who always had no trouble reminding me of my less-than-honorable past."

Smiling gently, David replied,

"Yeah; the key word being 'past.' You've done more than enough to atone for all of that."

"Maybe in your eyes, mate." There was a pause, then Killian sighed and changed the subject. "Anyway, what are you doing here? And what's keeping Emma?"

"She's still tied up with work. She sent me to drive you to the hospital."

Killian rolled his eyes. "Did she?"

"Yep. I know I'm not nearly as pretty, but I'm a good hand-holder. I should be able to fill in for her this once."

Killian groaned softly and then retrieved his jacket from the wardrobe handle. "If you insist. But holding hands is out of the question."

David chuckled as Killian shut the door behind them. "Fine. I had to at least offer."

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~Enchanted Forest: Neverland Day 213~

Hook tossed his sack of plunder onto the deck with a flourish, adding to the steadily-increasing pile of loot. In truth, his contribution was mostly books and scrolls; anything that appeared to contain even the slightest mention of the Dark One. But he'd thrown in a few weapons and the like, just to excite his crew. They responded with a rousing cheer, all in various states of inebriation, some with soot or blood stains on their clothing. Hook himself was splattered with it; his namesake coated.

"That's more like it, eh mates?"

The men cheered again, and Hook allowed himself a dark smile. Attacking villages had never been his intent when he'd turned pirate; he preferred ships loyal to his former king. Those men knew and accepted the risks of their profession, and were thus completely acceptable as targets. Village folk were generally innocents, and frequently struggled to scrape out a miserable existence. It was hardly good form to attack them. And yet… life itself didn't adhere to good form, as Hook well knew. If Pan wanted them to raid villages on the coast of the Enchanted Forest, or wherever else, then that's what they would do. Good form be damned. Besides… ending their pathetic lives could be viewed as a favor, in a way. Hook wasn't going to lose sleep over it. Especially not when there were plenty of other reasons for that.

Smee furtively added a single silver stein to the treasure, and Hook sneered.

"Been visiting the tavern, have we? I hope you got your fill of the wenches before we torched the place."

"I… was mostly hoping for a bit of a drink, sir. No offense to your rum, but I thought a change would be nice."

"Who else is willing to wager that Mister Smee settled his tab on his way out?"

The men sniggered and rolled their eyes mockingly. Hook snagged Smee's collar with his blood-stained hook and dragged him closer. Throwing his arm over his first mate's shoulders, he said,

"Here's how it works after a pillaging. We divide the spoils equally, even if one man is slightly less… productive than the rest." He eyed Smee's contribution disdainfully. "As our newest addition, I'm allowing you first pick."

"Oh, Captain; I don't need…"

"Them's the rules, mate. In fact, I may have the perfect prize for you."

Hook shoved Smee aside and bent to rummage inside his own pack. He pulled out a glinting dagger followed by its sheath. The blade had an unusual wavy shape, and seemed in good condition despite its apparent age. Hook stood and held the handle toward the other man. Smee backed away timidly.

"Please, sir, I don't want…"

"Smee," barked Hook. "You will take this, and you will keep it on your person henceforth. I'll not have my first mate going about his duties unarmed. Neither will he cower in the tavern when there's raiding to be done. Is that clear?"

Smee took the dagger, eyes downcast. "Yes, Captain."

Hook tossed the sheath at him, then turned to the rest of the crew. "Have at it, lads."

The captain watched with disinterest as they divvied up the booty. He knew they would leave the books for him, which was all he had an interest in anyway. At long last, he would be able to resume his hunt for ways to kill the Dark One. Their long months in Neverland… his reluctant submission to Pan's devilry… it really did have a purpose after all. The boy finally trusted him to do his dirty work outside of the island's boundaries… well, trust wasn't quite the right word, as Hook had no control over where and when the Jolly Roger would depart and return to that cursed land. But so long as he fulfilled Pan's missions, he could do as he pleased until the demon recalled them. And it gave his crew a much-needed morale boost as well.

Smee also watched the proceedings, Hook noted, but declined to pick out any additional treasures for himself. He looked uncomfortable with the dagger at his belt, and Hook resolved to ensure he could at least put up a token defense if necessary. His crew was already down at least half a dozen men since their arrival in Neverland; no sense in anyone being an easy target for lack of training.

Hook's gaze strayed to the smoldering remains of the village, and his thoughts turned inevitably to Milah. He pushed aside the guilt of her imaginary disapproval and focused instead on a niggling idea he'd had since arriving in the realm. They were many leagues from that village; it was doubtful Pan would allow them to stay long enough to reach it. But one day… one day he'd return and raze the place to the ground. It mattered not that the inhabitants had no responsibility for what had happened. He wanted it off the map.

Of course, there was the small possibility that the Crocodile lay in wait there. But Hook doubted it. The man was power-hungry; it was highly unlikely he'd settle for a port town of little value or import.

"That'll be all, mates," Hook dismissed the men as he scooped up his pack and made for his cabin. "We set sail at first light."

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AN: This is the only thing that makes sense to me regarding their centuries in Neverland. We know Hook learned of the Dark One's dagger from Baelfire fairly early on, and once they started traveling to other realms, doing Pan's errands, there had to be a reason why they kept going back for so long (especially if Hook were being forced to do things with Pan that he didn't want to do.) My explanation is that they had no choice; that Pan could use his magic to move the Jolly Roger to whatever realm he wanted, and pull them back whenever he felt like it.