RECAP: Hook has been slightly injured in a fight with Gold. He is at Mary Margaret's apartment with Neal and Henry. This takes place the same day the Charmings and Regina go through the portal, so they don't know they're gone yet.
Chapter Twenty-Four - Hook:
Neal poked his head into the room. "Hey, kid, Tamara just called. She needs to head back to New York tomorrow, so I'm getting breakfast with her. That okay?"
"Yeah, sure. Mom, Mary Margaret and Gramps should be back soon. They're normally home right around now. You can go now if you want, I'll be fine."
Hook got the feeling that the boy's true motivation was to spend more time with him. He was still annoyed by the boy's constant questions, but something else told him to develop a relationship with the boy. He did want to get to know Emma's son.
"Well, if you're sure. Call my phone if you need anything."
"Yeah, sure," Henry said.
"See ya later," Neal said.
Once they were alone, Henry really began the interrogation. "Are Wendy, John, and Michael Darling real? Did you fight the Indians ever? Why did you name your ship the Jolly Roger?"
"Slow down boy. Give me a chance to answer. Yes, the Darlings were real. I was the one who helped them get back home in fact. Peter wanted them to stay in Neverland forever, but they wanted to go home. Well, Wendy and Michael at least. As for fighting the Indians, they generally left us alone if we left them alone, but we did have the occasional skirmish.
"The Jolly Roger actually has a very interesting story behind it. There was a captain I sailed under as a boy, went by the name of Roberts. He was a fairly notorious pirate in his day. When he retired, his replacement was a harsh man – never smiled, always yelling, that sort of thing. His name was Robin. After him, I left the ship, ready to strike out on my own, and realizing that I couldn't work under a man like that. I ended up in the employ of a man by the name of Rupert. His successor was named Ryan, who was followed by Romulus, and the last captain I sailed under was Ralph.
"When I finally got my own ship, I realized that I had sailed with many men whose names began with R, but never a Roger. I determined that I would always sail with Roger, and that he had to be jolly."
Henry smiled broadly, enthralled by Hook's mere presence, let alone his story. Hook initially was concerned about being alone with the boy, but his old experience with the Lost Boys was coming back to him.
"How did you lose your hand – I mean, exactly?" Henry asked.
Hook played to his audience, emphasizing his role and the danger entailed with the experience. Henry barely blinked during the tale. "Wow! Is there anything you can't do?"
Hook smiled at the praise, then his face fell as he seriously considered the boy's words. "I wish I could do everything. There are definitely things I can't do."
"Is there anything I could do to help you?" Henry asked.
The boy's innocent, eager eyes instantly earned Hook's trust. "Unless you know of a way to get rid of Rumplestiltskin, I don't think so."
Henry's face became instantly sheepish. "You did hear that Rumplestiltskin is my grandpa, right? He might have done some really bad things in the past, but family is family, right?"
"It's a lovely view of the world, but unfortunately some acts just have to be punished," Hook said. He saw how solemn Henry had become, and he decided to put the smile back on the boy's face. "Do you know how to handle a sword?"
"Gramps taught me," he said, his eyes lighting up once again.
"The prince? Grab a sword, and I'll show you how to really fight."
Henry raced off, and Hook smiled at his retreating back. At least one family member likes me.
After a twenty minute practice session between the two, Henry was begging for a short break. Hook was grateful that the boy had finally tired. He was still not performing at his peak since being run down by that car, and it didn't help that everyone seemed determined to not let him recover, with Emma throwing him into a storage container, that woman, Tamara, tying him up and throwing him in that dark moving room, and his latest interaction with the crocodile. The sparing had taken more out of him than he cared to admit.
"I wonder what's taking Mom and everyone so long. Do you think they're okay?" Henry asked.
"Your mother is a tough lass Henry, and I've seen her mother is just as determined. Unless there is a distinct difference in your grandfather, then I don't see any reason not to believe that they can take care of themselves."
"Yeah, I guess so. Hey, do you want to watch a movie?" Henry asked.
"Movie?" Hook asked.
"It's a bunch of moving pictures. I think you'd like it," Henry said. He began fiddling with a large black box sitting on a table in front of the couch. Hook settled himself onto the couch, allowing Henry to take charge of it.
"This is one of my favorites. I hope you like it," Henry said. Hook was quickly enthralled by the amazingly seamless movement between the pictures that flashed on the screen. He quickly realized exactly what they were watching however, and internally groaned.
"Is this one of those stories about Pan?" he asked.
"Yeah. Don't worry, I don't believe that you're at all like the Captain Hook in this movie."
Henry sat right next to Hook, and about halfway through the movie, as Peter and his companions were singing with the Indians, Hook glanced over and noticed that Henry had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
"All right boy. I'll save the rest of this movie for later," he murmured. He carried Henry over to the bed that sat against the picture window and laid him down. Not knowing where else to go, he helped himself to the couch, and fell asleep after several long minutes of staring at the ceiling. Sleeping on land was always difficult after being on his ship for so long. It also didn't help that his mind was occupied with thoughts of Emma. The fact that she and her parents still hadn't returned made him think that he knew where they were, and that right now, Emma was falling in love with him – again.