Disclaimer: I don't own Peter Pan or any of the characters.

CHAPTER SIX

BENEATH THE SURRFACE

Peter was lazily sprawled across a large log, which was floating down a river. He laid on his back, his left hand in the lukewarm water and his right arm acting as a pillow supporting his head. His hat was pulled over his eyes to block the piercing sunlight out.

Tinkerbell sat Indian-style on his chest. She rose up and down with each breath he took. She studied him, aware that he wasn't asleep. When Peter slept his breathing was very subtle, unless he was having one of his fitful nightmares. When Peter was asleep, and Tinkerbell sat upon him, she would barely move up and down with his breathing.

She stood up and quietly fluttered to his ear, where she sounded his name. Peter mumbled and turned his head away from her. She sounded his name again, this time with more force. Peter rolled back over to face her.

"What is it Tink?" She fluttered back down to stand on the log and released several delicate bell noises.

"I don't know what's happening to me Tink." Peter sat up and released a sigh. "I keep having flashbacks. I keep seeing James."

Tinkerbell was surprised. She flew up to his face and asked him why.

"I don't know. They just started to come to me. Darn it Tink!" Peter became frustrated. "Why is this happening? James died! He died when Hook arrived."

Tinkerbell placed her arms around part of Peter's cheek, hugging him as best she could, trying to comfort him.

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"Come on James!" Peter motioned for James to follow him. "I want to go explore Skull Rock."

"Aww, come on Pan. We've explored that place over a trillion times!"

"So? We always find something in there, don't we?"

James crossed his arms and looked at Peter. With a shake of his head he gave up. "Oh alright. Let's go."

They reached the cave well past the last rays of sunlight. The moon eerily shined upon the cave's entrance. Peter flew in first, James followed close behind. Peter flew around the entranceway, looking for anything new or exciting. Not finding anything the two flew deeper into the cave.

Peter studied some rocks below them. He flew in for a closer look. "James!" He shouted as he tried to remove a large rock. James came and the two of them removed the large rock together. Once the rock was moved a small tunnel was revealed. The two looked at each other, both thrilled at the new discovery.

"Let's go!" James was about to enter the tunnel but then stopped and looked at Peter.

"The tide will be rising soon. We should come back tomorrow."

"Aww, come on James! We can't wait till tomorrow. We'll be fine!" James thought for a moment.

"Alright." He said while entering the tunnel, Peter following him in. The two crawled for a long time on the ruff surface. The tunnel was never- ending. It was pitch black, so neither knew what was ahead or behind. Both not fearing the dark continued on.

Peter felt something beneath him. He stopped for a moment until the horrible realization that it was water soaking through his clothes registered in his head. "James! The tide! The tide is rising James!"

James quickly stopped. He too felt the water now. "Hurry Peter! Hurry!" He shouted as the two with much effort turned around in the cramped space. The two crawled as fast as they could. The water continued to quickly rise.

The water was now up to their elbows. They were under the belief that they would never reach the entrance of the tunnel. Peter continued to focus ahead of him, hoping for any sign of the entrance. Finally they reached it. "We're here! We made it!" Peter crawled out. The water was up to his shoulders. James began to crawl out of the tunnel right after Peter. He was almost out but the large rock that the two had earlier removed fell, due to the rising water, on top of his lower legs, crushing them.

"Peter!" He shouted in agony. Peter looked down to see the huge predicament.

"James!" He flew down to his trapped friend.

"I can't move my legs! They're stuck! Hurry Peter! Hurry!" Peter grabbed a hold of James and began to frantically pull him, trying to remove him from underneath the rock. James cried out in pain as Peter did this. He wasn't budging though.

The water was rising faster. It was now just below their chins. "Please Peter!" Peter took a deep breath of air and went under the water to try and remove the rock. With all of his strength he pushed up against it, but it would not budge. He frantically kicked, pulled, and pushed it but it remained upon James' legs. Running out of air Peter went to the surface.

James was fighting to keep his face above the water. He tilted his head up, the water at his ears. "Hold on James! Hold on! I'll get you out!" Peter dove back under. He fought with the rock again.

Tears began to roll down James' face. He took one finale breath before the water overtook him completely. Peter looked at his friend as he twisted his body to try and help in removing the rock. Peter's lungs were about to burst. He quickly swam to the surface and took a short breath of air and came back down to James.

Peter once again tried to pull James out, and once again it did not work. James, knowing that it was over, grabbed Peter's hand. Peter held onto it tightly. The two stared at each other. Peter began to violently shake his head no. This was not happening. James grabbed his shoulders and pulled him close. He tightly held onto Peter, who continued to shake his head no.

Finally James could no longer hold on. His lungs needed air. He closed his eyes. Peter felt James' grip loosen. He pulled away to look at him. His eyes were closed.

"NOOO!!!!!!" Peter screamed under the water, causing bubbles to form around James' lifeless face. Peter's body forced him to rise to the surface for air. He began to scream once he broke through the surface. He breathed heavily in and out. Tears of rage, hate, anger, and sadness escaped his eyes. "JAMES!!!!"

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Peter brought his hand to his head. His fingers rested upon his forehead while the palm of his hand covered his left eye. His eyes were dry. He did not shed any tears. He remained silent as Tinkerbell tried to comfort him.

Tinkerbell fluttered around his face. She gently pushed his hair away from his eyes. She sat down upon his shoulder and didn't make any noise. Peter and her sat in silence, neither one spoke, but both knew what was being said through the silence.