Chapter 26: Leave it to Our Fearless Leader
~Neverland: 1 month prior to escape~
Smee furtively approached the grumbling group of pirates as they gathered their packs.
"Where are you headed, gentlemen?" he asked in what he hoped was a confident tone. Cecco threw him a jaundiced look.
"To the ship," he announced. "We've had enough of this blasted jungle. We're off, and we're going to finally use that bloody bean to be rid of this curse for good."
A few murmurs of support greeted his pronouncement. Smee scowled.
"What about the captain?"
Cecco shrugged. "Dead, in all likelihood."
Smee shook his head. "He's not dead. We just need to keep searching. We'll find him eventually."
"It's been months, mate," whined Jukes. "He's either dead or found his own way off."
"Months? How do you know?"
"Got meself a fancy timepiece," Jukes replied, digging out a golden pocketwatch. "Bloody useful invention it is. 'Course, you gotta remember to wind it, or it'll stop on ya."
Smee waved it off. "Even so. We aren't leaving till we get him back."
Cecco snarled. "And how do you propose to stop us, mate?"
Smee shrank back, looking for backup among the nearby trees. "Well, for one thing, I'm the only one who knows where the bean is."
"Gone and hidden it, have you?"
"I did."
Cecco leered as he ran his hand along the flat of his blade. "I have a feeling it won't be too hard to draw that secret from you."
Smee swallowed. The half dozen other men in the group were looking on with interest, but none seemed in a hurry to join Cecco in his threats.
"I have Starkey and Mullins on my side," Smee squeaked as he took a few more paces backwards. "Once we get the captain back, he won't be happy to hear of your treachery."
Cecco rolled his eyes, but stopped his advance. "It's a fool's errand. The three of you are just wasting our time."
Smee straightened his clothes, trying to regain some dignity and authority. "Good thing we have so much of it, then."
Cecco grumbled and sheathed his weapon. He gestured at the rest of the group, who continued preparations to row back to the Jolly Roger. "Do what you like, mate. We're through. You can tell the rest of your pointless search parties they're welcome to take their ease aboard ship with us. Starks and Mullsey will change their tune eventually. Then that bean will be ours… one way or another."
He gave Smee a dangerous look before stomping over to the rowboat. Smee scowled at his back, muttering,
"Traitors."
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"You feel up to having visitors this morning?"
Killian groaned inwardly at the thought. His grogginess from last night's medication hadn't been helped by Whale's early morning progress check, and he hardly felt himself presentable for anyone but Emma. At his hesitation, Emma said,
"Just Smee and Casey for now, although you should know that everyone else is dying to see you, too. I thought we should start small and see how it goes. But if you'd rather wait…"
"It's all right, love. I would like to see Casey safe and sound, to remind myself of the 'light at the end of the tunnel,' I think is the expression."
She smiled radiantly. "Yep. And that's what I thought, too. I'll let them know you agreed."
A fitful doze occupied his time until their arrival. Smee alerted Emma when they were outside so that she could warn Killian and situate his bed for receiving company. Killian was grateful, for while he'd long ago lost any shame in front of Smee, Casey was less well-known and therefore presented more of a cause for anxiety. Killian tucked his stump beneath the blanket. There was no reason to feel the need to hide his weaknesses anymore; he knew that. And it wasn't like his crew had never seen it without the brace before. But… it was still uncomfortable to bare it before anyone other than family and close friends.
Both Smee and his son were a bit timid as they entered, as if afraid to invade his space.
"Hi," cringed Smee with an awkward little wave. Killian found a smile that was more energetic and welcoming than he felt.
"Smee. And Master Casey. Come in, mates."
They stepped cautiously to the foot of his bed. Smee held his hat in his hands, his hair a ridiculous frizz without it.
"How are you doing?" Smee asked with genuine concern. Killian grimaced a sigh.
"Progressing, slowly." Killian turned his attention to Casey, who appeared ready to flee the moment his former captain noticed him. "And you, mate?"
"Shipshape, sir."
Killian nodded. "Glad to hear it. And how are you taking to life on land?"
Casey shrugged. "It's an adjustment. But not an unwelcome one. Storybrooke is a nice place."
"Aye."
After a beat, Smee nudged his son, saying,
"We brought you something."
Casey sidled forward and held out a small, translucent box. Killian recognized it as a music disc like the ones Emma kept in her yellow vehicle.
"My thanks," Killian said politely as he accepted the gift. Smee hastened to explain.
"I hope you don't mind… I took Casey to see the Jolly Roger, and we had a thought. It can be… hard to rest in this place, and… well, we thought maybe some familiar background noise would help."
Casey gestured at the disc with a shy grin. "That circle of plastic contains sounds from the past!"
Smee nodded proudly. "We made a recording from inside your cabin, both during the day and at night. The surf, the gulls, the creak of the ship herself. If you have a CD player, you could listen to it and pretend you were aboard."
Killian's smile was genuine and grateful. "That's genius, mate. Bloody brilliant. Thank you."
"Good idea," Emma agreed. "I can play it on my laptop."
Both men looked proud at the praise. Casey returned to his father's side, and Killian handed the box to Emma. Then Killian took a breath.
"Listen, Casey, I… I have to apologize for what I did to you. It was selfish, and wrong, and I'm sorry."
Casey nodded slowly. "I… do appreciate that, sir. I can't say I didn't resent it, or even that I didn't hate you for it." He looked a little guilty at the admission, continuing hurriedly. "You took me from my mates; my father; without warning, and presumably forever. And I couldn't fathom what I had done to deserve it."
Killian winced and shook his head. "Nothing, mate. You were the first to come to mind, and that was it. I never found any fault with you; please don't think that."
With a gulp, Casey continued. "Thank you, sir. It's good to hear that."
Killian let a beat elapse, then admitted,
"I've been attempting to put right whatever wrongs I've committed. There are far too many. I don't expect forgiveness. Just know that I deeply regret what I've done."
Casey looked at Smee, then back at Killian. His face was somber; pained. But he did nod.
"Thank you. I do appreciate the honesty. But more than that- of far more worth to me- is what you've done to make it right. I owe you my life, and what's more, you put my family's needs above your own. So… thank you, Captain. My forgiveness is not gratitude enough. But it's all I have to give."
Smee was nodding vigorously. "And same here."
Killian looked from one man to the other, seeing their earnest expressions and feeling quite unworthy. "It was the very least I could do, and no more than my duty."
He gave a tired, tentative smile, and Casey stepped forward with his hand extended. They shook in mutual appreciation. Smee was quick to follow suit, trying hard to disguise how close he was to tears. Then they both stepped back, and Casey said,
"Well, we'd better allow you to return to your convalescence."
With a small wince, Killian replied,
"Aye, that may be for the best. But thank you for the visit, and for the thoughtful gift. I believe I can rest easier now."
Hesitantly, Casey said,
"I hope so. And Captain… if you ever feel the need to… discuss your experience, I would be a willing audience."
"Likewise, Casey."
After polite farewells, the men left, and Emma watched Killian's face as he looked at the door for a long time after.
"What?" she finally asked. He turned to her, eyebrow raised.
"'What' what, love?"
"You look perplexed."
He sighed. "The residents of this town are far too quick to forgive, even the newest ones. It's still unfamiliar after spending the majority of my life refusing to consider forgiving my enemies."
"And yourself," she added.
"Aye. And especially myself," he admitted, pulling her close. "Fortunately… I have beside me the best example to strive towards."
She returned his embrace, but said,
"Best? I don't know that I'd go that far."
"Aye, best. Because of your infinite grace for this unworthy soul."
Emma snuggled closer. "Someday I'll actually convince you of your worth."
"If my Swan makes it her mission to do so, I may yet stand a chance." He kissed the top of her head. Then he gestured toward the table. "Now then, love, if you'd be so kind, I'd very much like to hear the compacted disc recording of my other lovely lady."
She grinned up at him. "Only if it means you'll actually get some rest."
"That, darling, cannot be guaranteed; however, I promise to do my utmost, barring interruption by well-wishers, kitchen staff, or lackeys with sharp implements with which to stab me."
She smirked. "You really want to get out of here, don't you?"
"I believe I've made that quite clear."
She ruffled his hair before standing up. "We'll see what Dr. Whale says on his rounds tonight."
Killian let out a groan and closed his eyes. As the wonderfully soothing sounds of his ship filled the room, he couldn't help muttering,
"I never thought I'd miss the predicament of having only Smee to look after me."
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In the end, Killian managed to convince a reluctant Whale to discharge him early. Something in his blood still concerned the physician, but Killian felt much better and was entirely fed up with hospital life.
There were certain instances when he didn't mind slipping back into his Hook persona.
Emma did promise she would help him with the half-dozen prescriptions he was sent home with, and drag him back for far too many follow-up appointments. But it was all worth it to be back in their house… in their bed… in her arms.
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AN: If anyone is interested, I chose a pirate who could theoretically be Casey. I don't think any of them are specifically named besides Smee. He's in "The Crocodile," with about 28 minutes remaining, in the scene where Rumpelstiltskin reveals himself to be the Dark One and Killian says "Even gutter rats have more manners than you just displayed." If you can tear your eyes away from Killian for a minute (hard, I know!), Casey could be the pirate standing to Killian's left, with long hair, wearing the yellowish head cover with dangly things on it. And weird spotted boots! :D He doesn't necessarily look a lot like Smee, but he's pretty young. I could see him being in his early 20s, where Smee could be late 30s, having been fairly young himself when he and Casey's mother conceived. I don't know if he's in any other episodes (they probably aren't that concerned with continuity of extras!)