Chapter Forty

Piper had stayed close to her younger sisters even when Prue had gone off with Ororo and Delvira. She knew what their godmother had intentions of doing for 'Ro could no more not be with Wolverine when he needed her than she herself could not be with Cole if they were in their situation. She also knew that she seemed to have developed a constant shadow and needed to talk to him. "Paige," Piper called to her sister, "I'm going to step out with Cole for a few minutes."

Paige met Piper's eyes and realized that she wanted her to watch Phoebe. She nodded.

"Be sure they don't leave without us," Piper told Paige before turning around and looking up at Cole.

Cole took Piper by the hand, and they walked out of the room and headed out into the living room where they could be alone. It was not crowded as every one seemed to be in Delvira's room or already gone. He looked down into her eyes. "You wanted to talk to me?" he asked.

Piper nodded as her eyes gazed up into his. "Cole, I know you're worried, and I know you probably don't think it's a good idea for us to go. Thank you for not saying that, but . . . A lot has happened this morning. We . . . We came into our powers."

"Your powers?" he questioned, concern showing on his face. "What powers?"

"Remember the ruckus Gonk caused in the kitchen? When I fell and you caught me?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm still not exactly sure how it happened, but I . . . I froze you, Cole. I froze everybody and everything in there."

"Why wasn't I aware of it? I can understand why the others wouldn't be, but I'm half Demon. I should have realized it."

Piper shook her head. "I don't know," she admitted. "We're still trying to figure it all out, but if Phoebe feels that she should follow through with her premonition . . . We all want, and need, to be there for her. I know she's not saying anything about it, but I know that seeing Jareth the way she did . . . It scared her."

"What powers did the others get?"

"I think you call what Prue has . . . " Her face slightly scrunched in thought. "Tele . . . Telepathy . . . No, that's not it. Telekinesis. She's able to move things with her hands but without touching them."

A dumb expression grew on his face. "You got freezing powers. Prue got moving things." He wasn't sure exactly what telekinesis meant; he'd never heard the term before. "And Phoebe got premonitions. What did Paige get?"

"As far as we've been able to figure out, she can ask for something and get it. She tried asking for a ship, but that didn't work. Yet when she accidentally asked for a Goblin, it flew right to her. The same thing happened with Prue's hair brush."

"Interesting, but also very dangerous. None of you know how the powers work nor can you truly control them right now. You might should practice with them before we leave? Practice on me. You didn't hurt me the last time."

Piper had been growing nervous, fearful that he was about to tell her that they shouldn't go, and had been prepared to rebuff him when he continued. She smiled, accepting the compromise. "All right." Her smile vanished in thought as she took a couple of steps backwards from him and held her hands up. She concentrated on Cole first and then on freezing him as her hands shot out.

"You really do need to . . . " Cole was saying when he froze.

"Cole?" Piper asked. When he didn't answer her, she stepped closer and waved a hand in front of his face. Just as before, she could pull no reaction from him.

Seconds later, Cole continued his sentence, " . . . practice." At the look on Piper's face, Cole grinned. "You did it, didn't you?"

She nodded, still grinning. "I know it's going to take a lot of practice for all of us, Cole, but I can understand why Phoebe feels like she needs to see this through. She had to have had the premon . . . " Piper frowned. What was that word again? " . . . premonition for a reason."

"I'm not objecting to going, Piper. Remember I can grow an energy ball in less than a second. I can take care of us, but I do want you to keep practicing. You have to be able to use your power within seconds sometimes, and you want to get it down to a fine art where you freeze only the ones you truly want to freeze. We'll work on it together when we get back." He leaned down and gently kissed her. "Now we'd best go see Chong and let him know that we're leaving."

Piper smiled up at Cole. "I knew you'd understand," she told him, her brown eyes shining. "Thank you." She leaned up and kissed him again before starting to move toward the kitchen.


Prue walked down the stairs, glancing around and hoping to see Cole by himself but knowing that she probably wouldn't. She caught sight of him and Piper walking toward the kitchen and headed straight toward them. "Cole, can I see you for a minute?"

Cole looked at Piper. "Go ahead, honey. I'll be there in just a minute." He kissed her and then let her go.

Piper couldn't help wondering what Prue wanted to talk to Cole about, but she trusted both of them. Nodding, she gave Cole's hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. She started to continue into the kitchen but paused and looked back at Prue. "She went, didn't she?"

Prue looked at Piper. "Yes, and she put me in charge till she returns. You know how Phoebe and Paige never mind; I need you to help me to keep them in line."

"You know I will, Prue," Piper assured her sister before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Cole, I guess Piper told you about our powers?"

"Yes, she did, Prue. I'm glad that you've got powers, but you've got to be very careful with them right now. They're new to you and could be more dangerous than helpful at this point."

"I can move things," Prue told him, "and I do realize that I have to be careful. I knocked Goblins out just by throwing them back against the wall! Their heads hit, and smack, they went out! It felt great to have that kind of power, but it does scare me."

"Like I told Piper, you must practice and then practice some more." He did not volunteer for Prue to practice on him, however. "We'll set up targets when we get back, and you can practice hitting them. What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Auntie 'Ro put me in charge of the girls till she returns. I would like to ask you to help me to keep Piper from doing anything foolish. If she sees the girls doing something she thinks foolish, she might do it too. I don't want her to take any chances out there. I worry about her."

"Prue, I know you think she's not as strong as you and the rest, but you're wrong. She's very strong, both in mind and spirit. I will be very careful with her and the rest of you. I don't want anything to happen to you. I care about y'all, and I love Piper with all of my being. If something was to happen to her, I wouldn't want to continue, so you can rest assured I'll take care of her."

"That's great, and I appreciate it," Prue told him with a smile. "I promise not to do anything foolish myself. I've got a certain doctor I want to catch."

"One thing, though, Prue," Cole asked, "what made your powers kick in?"

"The Book," Prue told him.

Cole didn't ask. He'd seen the big Book on more than one occasion and had even reached toward it once when it had been left laying out in the open and been shocked for his efforts. "Be careful using that. Magic's a wonderful thing that could easily get out of hand."

"I will be careful," Prue reassured him. "I know what you mean. You didn't ask me how Piper got her sight back."

"I figured you read it in the Book."

"Yes, I did," she said in a small voice.

"Is there anything in that Book to get us off the island?"

"I'm . . . not sure. I didn't have time to look, but I will later."

"If you need help, let me know. I don't mind trying magic. I've often wished that I have more than I do. I'd best get into the kitchen and get Piper. They'll be leaving soon."

Prue nodded. "I'd best go see about the girls before they get into trouble." She headed toward Delvira's room even as Cole went into the kitchen.


"Well, don't just stand there!" Tom's persistent voice screeched, finally snapping Ororo back to reality. "Get us down before they see us!"

Ororo returned them so swiftly to the ground that she was still trying to figure out if she had truly seen what she thought she had when she found herself looking at the others again. "Gabrielle's been taken," she spoke quietly.

"By Giants!" Tom added, his eyes still as large as saucers.

Jack looked at both of them. Knowing Tom to be a prankster, he gave him a very disbelieving look. "You're trying to make me believe that you two just saw a Giant, Tom? I don't think Giants even exist!"

"Neither did I," 'Ro spoke before the catman could answer. She was still fighting to calm her nerves down. "Yet I know what my eyes just saw."

"Was Gabrielle alive?" Jack inquired. "Did you even see her?"

"He was carrying her by her hair," Ororo replied.

"And she was still kicking," Tom added, "literally."

Jack took a deep breath. He wanted to keep Will at the back of the line to protect him, but he knew Will would be right there beside him when they attacked the Giants. "Does any one here know anything about fighting Giants?" he inquired.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Morph offered helpfully.

"Were there other Giants?"

Ororo nodded, but it was Tom who voiced their answer. "Two others."

Jack thought a minute. "What do we have that we can use to hurt the Giants, maybe even kill them if necessary? I don't imagine our swords are going to feel much more than like toothpicks to them unless we can reach a very vulnerable spot." He looked at Wolverine. "Your claws and 'Heed's firepower might work. Any other suggestions?"

"Lightning bolts," 'Ro spoke, her eloquency failing for once, "and wind."

Crystal hesitantly rose a finger. "My ice."

"I'm sure Tom and I can whip something up," Morph added confidently.

"I suggest," Jack said, looking around at all of them, "that those of us with only swords go in first, distracting them and giving the rest of you a better chance of attack. Lead us there, 'Ro."

Xena was pacing angrily up and down. "Giants exist, and they are the stinkiest, lowest life form there is except for Trolls! I think they're cousins. I've got to Gabrielle back! I think it's a good plan of action, Jack. We're small. We have swords. They're gonna feel like pigstickers to them. It'll piss them off. They'll be striking at us and not paying attention to the others. I've got to get Gabrielle back! I'll kill any of the bastards that hurt her!"

Wolverine looked at Jack. "I'm going in the second line o' defense. All you boys, be careful. Joxer an' Elizabeth, you should stay behind the others. Ya don't even have a sword, Elizabeth, an', Joxer, you're more apt to get one of us than a Giant so you protect Elizabeth."

Elizabeth had seen Joxer in action before and couldn't believe that Wolverine would suggest that he protect her! "You know, if you want that sword in capable hands, you could give it to me."

Jack looked at Joxer. "Give Elizabeth your sword."

"I don't wanna give Elizabeth my sword!" Joxer cried. "I want to protect her!"

"Joxer, what you want to do and what you are capable of doing is not the same thing. Do you want to get eaten by a Giant?"

Joxer shook his head, his eyes as big as saucers.

"Then give Elizabeth your sword."

"She can't protect me!" Joxer persisted in protesting. "She's a girl!"

"You'd better watch talking about the women in our band, 'cause I have a feeling that even Dawn could beat your rear end and none of them are going to take kindly to you calling them a girl."

Joxer looked out the corner of his eye at Elizabeth, hoping she hadn't heard the last, but at the look on her face, he knew she had. He held his sword out to her. "Sorry, Elizabeth, but I was only stating the obvious. How do you know how to fight?"

Will had been hiding his smile for a while now. Though the thought of Giants terrified him, he was glad to see the Elizabeth he remembered so fondly returning. At Joxer's question, however, he quickly coughed and tried to blend himself in between Jack and Brendan.

Elizabeth coolly returned Joxer's gaze. "I do have my ways, Joxer," she informed him, "thanks to a friend, and while I may not be the best with a sword, I certainly am better than you. I'll do my best to protect you which is more than you could have done for us." A thin smile stretched over her lips. "Just like you," she informed him, "I'm only stating the obvious."

Joxer hung his head. "Well, I would've tried my best to protect you."

"Thank you for that, Joxer," Jack told him. "Now stay well behind us and don't get into trouble so that Elizabeth has to rescue you. We can't afford to take our minds off the Giants just because you get your behind into trouble. Now don't say anything else. Go quiet as a mouse. We don't want them to hear us coming."


Piper had quietly slipped into the kitchen and had been watching Chong, trying to figure out how to tell him what was going on, when he had happened to glance in her direction. "Piper, what's going on?" Chong asked. "Are you watching the food?" When she looked confused, he explained, "Lorne told me that he would return to watch the food if they couldn't get anybody else."

"Jack and the others already left, Chong," Piper told him gently. "I know you wanted to go. So did several others, but he wasn't giving hardly anybody much of a choice. They're still not sure if the Sorceresses or even Crystal's crystal will be able to save the others, and he didn't want to risk any more lives than was necessary."

Chong nodded in understanding, but she could tell he was upset. Still, she continued, "Jareth's also been kidnapped, and a group of us are heading off to rescue him."

Chong turned to look at her. "Is Sean going?" At her nod, he spoke firmly, "Then I'm going." He mistook the surprise in her eyes as being defiance. "Don't try to talk me out of it, Piper! I know Captain Sparrow put you in charge of the kitchen and me, but I'm going! If I can't go help Kitty and Kurt, at least I can be there for Sean!"

"Chong," Piper told him gently, "we still don't know what captured Jareth or where he is."

"I don't care," the Chinese man informed her. "I'm going! I'm not helpless! I could have helped in the basement, and I will help Sean!"

It was then that Piper noticed that the pot behind Chong was bubbling. Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized that the liquid was mere inches from shooting at Chong. Her hands shot out in warning even as she exclaimed, "Chong, watch out!"

"What?" he asked even as Piper realized that she had somehow managed to freeze only the things on the stove.

When Cole walked into the kitchen, he saw a frozen pot sitting over a frozen fire, but Chong was still talking and again asking Piper what was wrong. It seemed that Piper had already gotten a good grip on her new power. He was not sure if she wanted Chong to know or not but decided to get Chong's mind off of it. "Chong, we are about to go, and I heard you say that you wanted to go? We'd best find some one to watch the food. Lorne's on guard duty."

Chong smiled at Cole's words. At least somebody understood him! He stepped forward even as the pot was released and its liquid shot upwards, barely missing where he'd just been standing. He turned back to look at it in surprise and hurried to deal with it.


Dawson had borrowed a sword from Lex and was having trouble handling it, because it was more fit for Lex's hand than his. Dawson was surprised that Lex could handle such a heavy sword. He stood, facing Faith and waiting for her to clang her sword against his again. The last time, the vibration had run throughout his entire body yet he had not said a word though his teeth had chattered. He had to get the grip of this, because if he didn't, he knew she'd make him stay behind. He only had a few minutes, and he had to get in at least one good hit with Lex's sword.

Faith frowned, realizing they were going about it wrong. Dawson was still having trouble simply holding Lex's sword right, and why wouldn't he be? Had the boy wielded a sword even a single time before in his entire life? She stepped away, sheathing her own sword. "We need to work on your hold first," she told him.

Walking around him, she reached out and slid a hand over his shoulders. Then her arms surrounded his, and her hands gently folded on top of his own. Her mouth was by his ear as she began instructing him on the proper hold.

Dawson listened carefully, determined to show her that he could strike her sword instead of her striking his. He liked the feel of Faith's arms around him and brought the sword back as she was telling him to do and then forward. They were simple exercises but, at least, they were helping him to get a better feel of the sword.


It did not take them long to sneak up on the Giants. They were surprised, however, to see how many Raptors the Giants had caught. They were tied up and being carried over limbs that looked like sticks in comparison to the Giants. Jack knelt down and motioned to the others to get down.

Jack was looking for their weakest link when he saw the one carrying Gabrielle had now tied Gabrielle's hair to his belt, and still she was hollering up at him. "YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE BIGGEST TROUBLE! JUST WAIT TILL XENA FINDS OUT!"

The Giant swatted at her with a hand that she barely managed to avoid by clinging even closer to his filthy skin. "SHUT UP, HUMAN BEAN, OR I EAT YOU NOW!"

Brendan peered out from one of Jack's sides while Will looked out from his other. It was Brendan who spotted two more Giants approaching, but as he pointed them out, Will, too, looked and his mouth fell open at what he saw. "That can't be good," he whispered weakly.

Jack could not believe that supported between the two Giants were a couple of limbs latched together and strung with Tyrannosaurus Rexes. "That's not good," Jack whispered in agreement.

Kitty moved even closer to Kurt. "Fuzzy," she whispered to him, "they're right. This isn't good, and they're not going to listen if we try to tell them we don't have enough firepower to conquer that right now."

"I think I can bamf to Gabrielle and get her free. Do not give yourselves away. Ve do not vant to have to fight them. They do not know ve're here. Stay quiet."

Kitty nodded. "Be careful," she whispered to him. She kissed him quickly, then phased through Elizabeth to get closer to Jack. Elizabeth's mouth started to open in a scream of shock, but Autolycus' hand quickly silenced her.

Jack felt some one behind him and turned his head to the side so he could see. "What is it, Kitty?" he whispered.

"We don't have to fight them, Jack," she told him. She quickly rose a hand to silence him before his mouth could fly open in protest. "I know they have Gabrielle, but Kurt can get her."

"How?" Jack asked, making sure to keep his voice at a low whisper. His eyes had returned to watch the Giants.

"Teleportation," Kitty replied even as the stench of brimstone filled the air around them.

Katrina was watching the Giants intently. She saw the blue Demon disappear, and seconds later, she was quick to point out to her family where Kurt had managed to land beside Gabrielle, one three-fingered hand over her mouth to keep her from hollering in her surprise.


James looked down at Smee. "Samuel, I need to talk to you alone. Maybe we can go in Frederic's room for a minute?"

Smee looked worriedly up into James' eyes. "Of course, Captain."

"Samuel . . . " James gently chided him. "Do not be so formal! I do not even have a ship any more nor do I want one!"

Smee looked at him in surprise, pushed his glasses back up onto his nose, and looked at him again. "You don't?"

James did not answer but instead led the way to Frederic's room. Once there, he allowed Samuel to go in first and then shut the door behind them. "I am sick to death of the boi! If I say I want a ship, I probably will be thrown back into Neverland, but I've been thinking about it," he paced the room with his good hand behind his back and his hook accentuating what he was saying, "and I have decided, since there is only the four of us now, to stay on land for a while. Of course, at this time, we are trapped on this accursed island, and I would much rather prefer to have our own place. At least, we are together."

"Please stop calling me Captain. Call me James." He came to a stop in front of Samuel and looked down at him.

Smee was thrilled at being able to call his beloved by his first name, but he also knew that he could not stop thinking of James as his Captain. "James, you'll always be my Captain, just . . . not the way it used to be. You are my Captain still, though." He gazed tenderly up at him. "You're the Captain of my heart."

James smiled at that. "Would it distress you overly much if we did not return to sea?"

"Well, no," Smee admitted, "but . . . James, I know you love being a Pirate. Maybe you can't be a Captain any more without getting thrown back into Neverland, but . . . What about Jack's ship?"

"It's nonexistent right now, and I . . . am not thinking about that. I don't know if I want to return to sea at all. I do want to keep being a Pirate. Ah, is it not the life, Samuel?" He grinned down at Samuel. "The feel of the ocean air upon your face fluffing your hair! The smell of the salt and the taste of it upon your tongue makes you long for the open sea!"

"But, still, I don't know." He began to pace again. "I want to return to the pursuits I enjoyed in my earlier years. I want to be a gentleman again, and I want to get my hands on a harpsichord! I've got music in my soul, and I want to get it out! I want to play it and feel those keys trembling beneath my fingers! It's been so long since I've played!"

"But this is another matter for us to think on and talk about later. Right now, we've got something else we need to discuss." He turned to face Samuel from across the room. "I need you to stay here. Frederic is not able to go, but I have to go to save Jareth. He is like a brother to us, and if Frederic was able, we could all go."

Yes, that's the tact, James, he told himself. Blame it on Frederic! The boi has to be good for something! "But, alas, the poor lad is not able!"

Smee eyed James from the bed. Was this really the truth? Was he only wanting him to stay behind because of Frederic? He knew better, but he also knew that James did need somebody to keep an eye on their boy. He nodded. "I'll stay," he spoke simply.

"Thank you, Samuel!" James said as he came closer to his beloved. "We also have some tiger cubs and a strange cat that belongs to Connor that we need you to watch over. Take care, my love. We don't know when those awful dinosaurs are going to return. I don't want to return home only to find that the rest of my family has been eaten!"

He reached out and grabbed Samuel. "Oh Gods, Samuel, if I was to lose you, I'd just die!" He pulled him into a liplock and kissed him so deeply that it took Samuel's breath away and caused him to cease thinking about his beloved Captain's fine acting abilities.


Kurt looked helplessly at Gabrielle's hair. He had never seen such a mess! He made a motion with his other hand, showing her that he would have to cut her hair to get her free.

Gabrielle nodded in understanding and pointed to one of her sais that poked out from her right boot.

Kurt reached down and pulled a sai from Gabrielle's boot, wondering why the girl had not used them to attack the Giant. He knew she wasn't afraid of them to the point that she wouldn't have done her best to get free of them. She had to be tied by something else besides her hair. His quick eyes revealed to him that her hands were tied up inside her hair and thus stuck to the Giant's belt.

The Giant was busily tieing up another Raptor and not paying any attention to Gabrielle. Kurt used the sai and very gently cut Gabby's hair. Just at the moment that Gabrielle was free and Kurt cut the ties on her hands, he bamfed with her.

The Giant started feeling around his belt, not understanding where the girl had gone. "HUMAN BEAN, WHERE YOU GO!" He looked on the ground, but his near-sighted eyes could not tell him what was down there. "HUMAN BEAN, I SAY ANSWER ME! YOU MORE TROUBLE THAN YOU WORTH! I FIND YOU, I'M GONNA EAT YOU NOW!"

Autolycus had slid around to the other end of the group. He saw a big pile of rocks not too far from the Giant. He threw his voice, making it sound as feminine as possible. "DON'T STEP ON ME, YOU BIG OAF!"

"WHERE YOU AT?" the Giant asked.

"DOWN HERE," again the feminine voice floated up to him from the rocks, "AND YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!"

The Giant was busily scrabbling around in the rocks which now had his full attention. Jack made the sign with his hand for them to move out, and as soon as they were clear, Ororo lifted them in her winds and flew the lot of them as swiftly as she could straight for the house.


Salem lay on the bed and looked at his men. He was proud of the boys. He wasn't exactly happy about going on the rescue mission, but there was no way they were going without him since Jareth was one of his boys. He was the one who had gotten his scrawny butt into trouble, and now it was up to good, old Salem to rescue him.

I need the brownie points, he thought, even though they're already attached to my butt. I just hate to leave my comfort! He kneaded the bed an extra measure.

Glancing over to Meesy, he saw that King Meesy was very interested in the proceedings. "Wake me as soon as they're ready to go. I think I might need forty winks." He'd just closed his eyes when he felt a paw touch him. He glanced up straight into Meesy's eyes.

Meesy looked at the black cat in surprise. He knew he had been their leader once upon a time, but he was no longer a man. "You're serious about going?" he asked in a low voice.

"Of course I am! My boy's out there in danger! I don't know what's got him, but they're not going to keep him! I'll scratch their eyeballs out and use them to play marbles! Are you interested in going?" He kneaded the bed again.

"That I am," Meesy admitted, "but what makes you think that they're going to let a cat anywhere near the mission once they realize what has taken him?"

"And who do you think would stop me?" Salem cocked an eyebrow. He wanted to sneer at the very thought that any one would try to stop him from doing what he wanted to do.

Meesy looked away as he replied disdainfully, "Well, I suppose you don't have laws to attain."

"Laws? I make my own laws! What kind of laws do you speak of? There's especially not any laws on this island! We're all Pirates!"

"True, but if they think that the danger is too great for a four-legged feline such as ourselves . . . "

"Meesy, my man, stick with me! I'll show you adventure. First of all, we'd best get out of this room and get ourselves outside whilst they know not what we do. That way, can't anybody stop us. They leave, we follow. It's as easy as that."

"Take yourself outside if you want, Salem, but that may well prove to be a mistake. These are not normal people. What makes you think they'd revert to normal means to rescue Jareth?"

"Hadn't thought about that. You are probably right, my friend. The Queen is definitely not normal. She's a Sorceress which means we're probably going to get a portal. Thank you for reminding me of that little tidbit. Where is she, by the way?"

"She went to James' room to concentrate on a locating spell."

"Good. Then we'll watch the door, and when she returns, we'll be right up under their feet. They go through the hole, we go through the hole."

Meesy fell silent as he thought of all the times he'd been left behind. His chocolate-colored tail swished, cutting through the air like a knife. He knew they'd only ever wanted to protect him, but he was sick of being protected. He wanted to be there along with his family, fighting side by side with the children. If Salem didn't let anything stop him from being with his men when they needed help, he certainly wasn't going to let anything else hinder him! He may have missed going off with the girls and their husbands, but -- his blue eyes turned toward Zora, Vang, and the group around them -- he'd be there for the others.

Salem's tail swished through the air in rhythm with Meesy's. Poor little fella, he thought. Might be a King, but his life is so devoid of adventure! Must be careful of him. Wouldn't want him to get hurt. How long was it going to take that woman to get the portal open? he wondered. "Meese, keep your eyes open. I'm going to take that little catnap. Wake me when the woman returns."

Meesy glanced at him. "I'll wake you when Delvira returns," he agreed, "as long as those are requests, not attempted commands."

"Your Majesty, I'm affronted! Why would I be giving you commands? You are a King, aren't you?" He stared icicle holes into Meese.

"That I am," Meesy replied, "and it's far past time that I joined my people in battle."

"Then, from one cat to another, will you wake me? I had rather a late night last night, and I am in desperate need of those winks."

Meesy nodded. "I will," he promised.

"Thank you." He closed his eyes and was immediately asleep. His whiskers twitched as he thought over what he would do to whatever was holding Jareth.


Delvira's mind was clear as she hovered in the circle of candles she'd lit in the floor of James' room. Breezes whistled back and forth from the open window in the room, causing her long, black hair and dress to flutter even as her thoughts shot out the window with them. Her mind remained clear for a while, nothing disturbing her sole thought of her beloved husband, but then she found herself in a completely new area. She felt dirt under her bare feet and the sun on her pale face. She saw caves in the surrounding area, but then the earth trembled underneath her feet. She turned to look, and her heart nearly stopped at what she saw.

Jareth was indeed chained and hanging upside down from a tree, just as Phoebe had told her. He was not alone, however, as others hung around him. Hoggle and Trely dangled together, and Sir Didymus fought against the chains that bound him even while fussing at his steed and partner, Ambrosious. Something wriggled in Jareth's pocket, and Delvira knew it to be Worm.

A familiar voice rose in a howl, and Delvira whipped again, turning to see Ludo hanging from an especially thick branch. The desire to go to Jareth burned especially bright, causing her heart and spirit to ache, as he yelled at Ludo. "STOP CALLING THE ROCKS! DO YOU WANT THEM TO PELT YOU AGAIN!"

She turned back to look at Jareth. This time, she noticed more than just the fact that his clothes were torn to rags and the aged look that had overtaken his handsome face. This time, she saw the bruises, and she had to stop herself from crying out. Again, the earth trembled, reminding her that something big was around. She saw it even as she came back to herself.

After seeing what she had just witnessed, most women would have either been trembling from the sight of the monster or been crying for their beloved. Delvira did neither, however. Instead, she rose to her feet with a calm yet furious determination filling her. She didn't care how big the brute was or how many of them there was, she'd take them! She'd make them pay for hurting her beloved! She'd fireball their swords straight off!

She blew out the candles and walked, her head held high, from James' room back to her own. The others hushed as soon as she entered. "It was Giants," she spoke in a cold yet calm voice. "I don't know how many, but it's not only Jareth they have. They also have several of our subjects. If you want to, you may come, but make your own decisions and make them swiftly." She drew the athame from the belt laced around her slender waist and held it high. She began mumbling in Latin while carving a door in the empty air. Brilliant light spilled into the room.


Dawn stood still amongst all the voices that raised in shock at Delvira's words. These people couldn't handle Giants! she thought. They were valiant Pirates, but not even they could handle such beings! She could barely even believe they existed, but still she knew Spike could handle them. He wasn't there, though, so who that was left could? Angel! She took off running from the room just a second after Lex.

They both raced through the kitchen, leaving Piper spinning in their wake. "I guess that means it's time to go?" she asked Cole, a little dazed.

"Get to Delvira's room!" Lex called after them. "She's opening a portal!"

"And it's Giants!" Dawn squeaked.

Cole's mouth fell open. "Giants! I didn't know there was any real ones left in this world!" He slipped his arms around Piper. "Hold on, sweetheart. We'll be there in a second." He shimmered them both to Delvira's room and was surprised when a startled voice spoke from behind him.

"Thanks for the ride," Chong told him.

Cole had not known Chong had come with them, but he didn't mind. "You're welcome," he told him.


Lex came to a screeching halt where Faith was still training Dawson. Dawn kept running, however, and finally started yelling for Angel. "Faith," Lex panted, "you're not going to believe this, but . . . It's Giants."

"Giants!" Dawson squeaked. "I didn't know they were real!"

Faith stared at Lex for a moment before shaking herself and sheathing her sword. "Maybe you should stay here," she told Dawson gently.

"No, Faith, I'm coming with you!" he declared. "If something happens to you, it might as well happen to me too! We belong together, and I want to be with you! We'd better run," he said and took off running for Delvira's room before Faith could stop him.

Faith looked at Lex for help. "How'd you handle Clark before his powers started kicking in?"

"You already know," he admitted. "I didn't. He wouldn't listen to me any more than that kid's going to listen to you."

Lex was surprised at the concern shining in Faith's eyes as they met his. "Help me keep an eye on him, Lex? If anything happens to him . . . "

Her voice trailed off, and Lex shook his head. "Don't worry, Faith. We won't leave your side," he vowed. He knew what would happen to him if he lost Clark and was beginning to think the same might very well happen to her if she were to lose Dawson.


Angel heard Dawn calling his name in a panic. Holding to Cordelia, he ran quickly to her side. "What's wrong?" he asked concernedly.

"Giants!" Dawn screeched. At their confused looks, she clarified, "It's Giants, Angel! They're what took Jareth!"

Cordelia's heart froze for a second in stunned disbelief. "They're not real," she protested, her hazel eyes turning up into Angel's dark orbs for reassurance. "Are they?"

"If Delvira says there's Giants, there's Giants," Angel told both ladies. "I've never met any, but I'm not surprised. I've met Trolls before, and I think they're kin to the Giants."

"Cordelia," he spoke, taking her into his arms, "I don't want to have to go and leave you behind, but you're not trained enough for an emergency like this. I love you, darling, and I don't want anything to happen to you. Please don't fight me on this. I want you to stay here." He looked concernedly into her eyes, expecting her to start fussing immediately.

Cordelia wanted to protest, but at the same time, she knew better. She was not trained anywhere near enough to face such a nightmarish thought as . . . as Giants -- she trembled --, and if Angel were focusing on protecting her, he might fail to protect himself. What if something happened to him any way? She knew she couldn't expect him to stay behind, however, not on something like this. "Angel," she spoke quietly, her teary eyes gazing up into his, "just . . . Just promise me one thing?"

"What's that, darling?" he asked, holding her close.

Her hands reached up to cup and caress his handsome face. "That you'll come back to me," she told him, "in one piece alive, because if you don't, I swear I'm coming after you."

"I'll do my best to return to you safely," he promised her even as his lips touched hers. "You two stay together and do what you can to help the others. I don't know how many people are going, but there will still be others here that will need help." He released her and ran for Delvira's room, hoping he would still be in time to make the portal.

Cordelia could only watch him leaving, knowing she'd never be able to catch him. He hadn't given her exactly the promise she'd asked him for, but she also knew that that was because he didn't want to end up lieing to her. Tears welled in her eyes, and she felt Dawn reach out to her with a comforting hand. She allowed the girl to hug her, her own arms going around her, before speaking again and simultaneously fighting to keep her voice from trembling. "Come on, Dawnie; we'd best go see what we can do to help."


James and Smee had just returned to Delvira's room in time to see her opening the portal. James looked down into Samuel's eyes. "Take care of yourself. I'll see you soon," he promised. His lips touched softly to Samuel's. "Take care of Frederic. Don't let him come after us."

Samuel made no such promise but only returned James' kiss and embrace. "Take care of yourself, J-James," he told him, trying to keep from shaking, "and come h-home to me."

"I will, Samuel." James kissed him one last time before reluctantly letting him go and taking his place beside Delvira. Giants? He only hoped they had what it would take to kill Giants.


Cordelia was still trying to calm herself when she heard the door to the house open and the pounding of feet as people entered. Her head jerked up, and her eyes met Dawn's. "What in the world?"

"They couldn't be back so soon," Dawn commented. "Could they?"

Cordy shook her head. "Besides, they're using a portal to go, so wouldn't they come back the same way?"

Dawn nodded in agreement and started to move toward the door. "No," Cordelia told her, "let me go first." She looked around quickly and grabbed an empty frying pan. "Stay behind me, Dawn."

For once, Dawn didn't argue but grabbed a pot that had been by the pan. She didn't realize it had food in it until she looked down at it. "Oops." Setting it back down, she hurried to catch up to Cordelia.

Cordelia had the frying pan risen high with both hands as she entered the living room and was prepared to use it. She stopped in surprise, the pan still over her head, when she saw Captain Jack's group.

"Every one's safe," Jack was quick to assure Cordelia but found her shaking her head. "Has the first group left already?"

"Jack, you have to help them!" Cordelia pleaded. "They're going after . . . after . . . " She couldn't bring herself to say it, but Dawn was there, helpful as always.

"They're going after Giants!"

"We just left five Giants," Jack was quick to inform her. "We don't have the kind of firepower we need to fight them."

"You have to do something!" Cordelia exclaimed. "They already left!"

"We're going after them. Something is already going on with them, because they have not eaten the food but are collecting it as though they are having a contest of some kind. The one who had Gabrielle was not very happy for us to get her, but thanks to the good Father, we were able to. Perhaps he can pull the same stunt with Jareth if we can get there in time?"

"They were using some kind of a portal," Dawn offered.

"Where?" Wolverine was quick to ask.

"Delvira's room," Cordelia told them. "If you hurry, maybe -- " She stopped herself, realizing they were already gone.


Jack raced into Delvira's room. He was extremely surprised to see that the portal was still open though shrinking and that cats were jumping through, both big and little. Cindy was accompanied by Salem and Meesy, and he had barely seen what he now thought to be the tip of Blue's wing. "Crys?" Jack called back to her. "I don't know who all's gone, but Blue's in there and so is Cindy!"

At Jack's words, Crystal pushed past the others, not caring that she was shoving past a couple of men who probably wouldn't mind raising a sword to her. She ran straight for the portal and leapt through it.

Jack jumped through the portal and continued on running. He could see the group just ahead of them and wanted to be able to catch Delvira.

One by one, each of the Pirates plunged behind Jack until only Smee, Frederic, Elizabeth, and Joxer remained. Elizabeth looked at Joxer. "You probably shouldn't go," she told him straight-forward, "but I'm not going to tell you not to. Goodness knows I don't know what I'm doing facing a Giant, but with Autolycus, Will, and the others being there, I'm going." She jumped.

Joxer was about to jump when the portal simply ceased, leaving him staring at Smee on the other side of where the portal had been. "I was going to go!" Joxer said.

"Yeah. Me too," Smee agreed. "James wouldn't let me."

"I'm not a very good fighter. They didn't want me to go, but I'm not a coward!" He looked at the floor.

Smee sighed heavily. "Welcome to my world, son."

"Your world? Why? They won't let you fight either?"

Smee nodded. "James thought I bought his excuse, though, so don't you be telling him any different!"

"Guess we'd better go check on the rest of them that stayed behind." Joxer wondered where Phoebe was. Just seeing her always made him feel better. He headed up the stairs, hoping she'd be there in their room.


Jack had finally managed to catch Delvira and slow her advance. He reached out and touched her arm. "Sparrow, you'd better have a damned good reason -- "

"Father Kurt can rescue Jareth. He rescued Gabrielle already. We don't have enough firepower to fight the Giants. If we can get Jareth out of there safely, we won't have to."

"Jareth's not alone . . . " Delvira stopped speaking suddenly as the earth beneath their feet shook hugely. She looked up. "Besides," she added, "something's telling me whatever Kurt did isn't going to work this time."

Jack turned around to see why Delvira's eyes had enlarged. His mouth fell open. The Giants had already returned to their home! It was more than five, and they were all looking at them!

Will quaked within his boots but tried not to let it show. Turning in a slow circle, his eyes desperately swept the area, but there was a Giant in every direction he looked!

To Be Continued . . .