13.

"Captain," Smee said somewhat unsure, "Why would you anger her? I thought you wanted the dinner to go nicely," it was not like Smee to question the Captain, but Hook smiled, not at all perturbed.

"She is not angry at me," Hook replied calmly, "She might think so. Its Pan she's really mad at. The seed of doubt has sprouted in our dear Wendy's mind."

Smee looked taken aback, "You're still going through with the plan?"

"Yes Smee," Hook said somewhat annoyed, "Pan's attack was merely a setback. I can work around it Smee, I'm Captain James Hook."

He stood up proudly and began to walk back to his cabin when Charlie ran up to him, fear and excitement on his face.

"Captain, another ship has been spotted!"

"In the dark," Hook said under his breath then in a bark, "Smee fetch me my telescope!"

Charlie seemed to be dancing nervously and Hook soon became annoyed with the tapping, "Knock off that infernal noise!"

Smee came back quickly, "Here you go Captain."

The Captain looked through and cursed, "Why didn't we see them earlier?"

"It was hiding behind the island," Charlie said.

Hook gave him a withering look and then began to shout orders, "Douse the lights!"

"Ain't we gonna fight?" someone asked.

"Do you want to fight during the night?" Hook snapped, "I said douse the lights!"

The crew scrambled, every candle dying upon one breath.

Wendy, who had heard the noise had quietly left the cabins and was standing next to Smee.

"What's going on?" she whispered.

"There's another ship," Smee said quietly, "Captain wants light out, we're not going to fight in the dark."

"Is there something I can do to help?"

"You can help," Hook's voice said in a raspy tone, "By going back into the cabin and staying there until I say otherwise."

Hook had grabbed her upper arm and began walking with her, his large hurried steps over taking her own. When they reached the cabin he pulled her inside, then hurriedly blew out the few candles.

"Ow," Wendy muttered holding her upper arm, very much aware of the marks it would leave.

"Don't try to make me feel guilty Miss Darling, it had to be done," Hook began shifting through drawers, and then said in an agitated voice, "Change into that blasted cabin boy outfit you have. I'll be back in a few minutes."

He left and Wendy dressed quickly, but not as fast as needed, Hook came in just as she was pulling her shirt on.

"I can't see a damn thing Miss Darling, don't cry out like that again," he walked up to her and began spinning her in circles, though it felt more like shoves.

"What are you doing?"

"These," Hook fitted her with a holster, putting a sword in and a pistol, "Are for emergencies, I do not expect you to leave this cabin," then giving her a knife, "Put that in your boot if the time comes. Do not leave your cabin until I say you may. This is not for me to control you Miss Darling, this is so I may have peace of mind knowing I have one less thing to worry about. I must focus on the task at hand, and you have always been a wonderful distraction."

"I could help," she said defensively.

"Again," he said exasperated, "I don't need to worry about anything more. Stay put. These are other pirates, they will hurt you in ways you can't imagine."

"Other pirates?" she asked confused.

"We can't fight lost children and unskilled water creatures all the time. The Indians may be a bit more fun, but there are a few other pirate ships out there waiting to be destroyed."

He grabbed her chin and had her look at him, though she could hardly see anything.

"Captain-"

"Do. Not. Leave," he said forcefully and then quickly kissed her lips, "Understand?"

"Yes," she said in a smaller voice, and then clearing her voice, "Fine. If I must."

She didn't see his smile, "You must."

Then with one more chaste kiss, he left the cabin, locking it as he used to.

Hook was up all night, and into the early morning. His eyes began to stain themselves red, but his mind was alert. As the sun began to bleach his ship he worked furiously on a plan.

"Unless they turn towards us," Captain said in a rushed voice to Smee, "We will do nothing."

"Nothing?" Smee asked incredulous.

"We haven't been to port Smee! We are ill prepared! You think I'm going to engage in a battle with a ship more likely supplied than my own?"

"We could still defeat them Captain," Smee said realizing he might have a voice with the Captain, "We've taken bigger with less."

Hook nodded, "We will wait to see if it turns towards us," Hook said in a low voice, "Then we will attack with brute force. Trust me Smee, it will turn."

The anticipation on the ship was high, nervous glances were traded like gold, the whole crew was holding their breath.

And then the other ship turned towards them.

Hook spun on his heel to address the crew.

"Men, today we fight our battle. This is just one small battle in the long war we fight. Not against Neverland, but for ourselves, to show everyone on, near, or in hearing distance of this damned island that we are the best! We are not to be outdone today, we are not to be defeated. If we loose, if the other ship doesn't kill you, I will. But we will not loose. If you are half as good as I know you are, then we shall surely win. You will not be half as good, you will be better than you have ever been. This is for us lads, we fight for out freedom. We fight for our pride. God dammit, we fight for our lives!"

The crew shouted their approval, this was Hook's moment, he was in his element when he could sound off his speeches. The cheering soared, and was heard on the island, Neverland's creatures slowly beginning to realize the battle at hand.

"Get going! Do not fail the Jolly Roger, do not fail your crew, and do not, do not, fail me."

Chants began to rise as they worked, and Wendy woke up to the words vibrating in her ears.

"Hook! Hook! Hook!"

Wendy ran to the door and shook the handle, only to find it still locked.

"Blast!" she muttered, and then wondered how many times she had heard the Captain say the same thing. If her family could see her now, she knew her mother would faint.

"Hook! Hook! Hook!"

She walked around the cabin in circles, she couldn't take this. How could he expect her to just stand around while everyone else prepared to fight! She could fight! Her side twitched as if begging her to reconsider, but she knew she could fight. Hook knew she could fight, he's the one who taught her, so why could she?

Somewhere deep in her thoughts a voice whispered to Wendy.

He's worried about you.

"Worried about me," she scoffed, "Worried about his bloody plan more like it," but as if she had been trying to prove her subconscious right, she briefly touched her lips. Then quickly put her hand back down, "No. Don't think like that."

"Hook! Hook! Hook!"

"Do they ever shut up!" Wendy cried out, and then fell into her chair. She was tired, the worry had grabbed her even in sleep, and now she was talking like an "uncultured fool" and John would put it. Bloody? Blast? Her father would die.

It made her smile. She was no longer the well bred Londoner, she was Red Handed Jill, pirate.

"Hook! Hook! Hook!"

"If I could shut them up I would," Hook growled, but was secretly pleased at the chants. The attention is what made him thrive.

Soon the ships were close enough that he could see the other's flag. He glanced up at his own skull and cross bones, pride consuming him.

"Get ready men!"

They were next to each other now.

"Canons!" Hook called and the others waved to signal they were loaded, "Aim. Fire!"

The sounds went off and all of Neverland heard the crushing sounds of the first breath of battle.

Wendy who had been standing fell to the floor of the cabin from the shaking. She had been caught off guard, and for reasons unknown, she began to laugh.

The pirates tension fell off them in a wave, this is what they lived for. Fighting had not been bred into most of them, but it would always be apart of them, and as ropes swung to each other's ships and swords clashed, they knew they were here for no other reason than that it was where they belonged.

Hook stood above his men. He would join the fight soon. For now he watched, looking at how the other crew fought, what their tactics were. He already knew their captain would not come to his ship, and he wouldn't go to theirs. It wasn't done, not until the battle was lost and the Captain stepped on the losing ship to plunder and to decide if they lived or died. Hook didn't like other ships to live.

He pulled out his sword and dove in.

Wendy had her hair pulled back into a low pony tail, her boots were scuffed, and she preferred it that way. She looked ready for a fight but wasn't expecting one. When her door began to shake, her head snapped up. She pulled out the revolver and held it in her hand, letting the gun feel comfortable in her hand. The door began to be shot with whatever the other man had, and then suddenly a loud bang, and the door fell.

The man standing there threw his gun to the floor and laughed, "Looks like the cap'n has a lil girlie friend waiting his return. Wanna be my lil friend?" he said through yellow teeth and began to walk towards her.

"Don't come near me," she cautioned and lifted her pistol.

"You gonna shoot me girlie?" he asked, daring her with his words, "You would'n dare."

The shot went off and to Wendy's horror, blood welled up around his chest as his eyes widened and he fell, dead weight to the floor. She had aimed for his leg.

She dropped the pistol, and ran out the door, she couldn't stay here any longer, the man was dead and she had killed him. She had never wanted to really kill someone and the realization of what was really happening hit her. This wasn't a game. This was real. Wendy was in a bloodbath.

Someone ran towards her and she raised her sword in defense, "Please don't make me kill you," she said in desperation, but the man only thought she was baiting him on. His sword came down harder, but she had more skill, she was faster. She was able to bring him to the side of the boat, and with one shove, he fell into the water.

"Please be able to swim," she said urgently, and before she knew what was happening felt herself swung in the air.

"Allo chick," said a new disgusting voice, "You'll be welcomed aboard me ship. 'Ave a nice bunk for you, I do."

"Put me down!" she cried and struggled to get free.

"Don't fuss now," he said laughing.

Wendy was able to pull her leg under his arm to reach the knife in her boot. She pulled it out and pressed it against the back of his neck, "Put me down."

The man stopped, but then just laughed, "You wouldn't."

She gave a harsh yell before plunging the knife into his back.

He let go of her and she ran before she could find out if he was dead. She didn't aim for his heart, but then that hadn't helped with the gun.

Her sword lay on the ground untouched, and she picked it up swiftly, her heart beating furiously.

"Wendy!" Hook appeared next to her, his face livid.

"I didn't have much choice!" she cried, and then a sword came falling down towards her. She lifted hers but Hook had stabbed the man before they had made contact.

"Get back into the cabin!" he yelled.

"The doors blown off!" she cried and knocked a sword out of a man's hand, only to have Hook cut his throat, "Oh my God!"

"The doors been blown off?" he asked confused.

"You just killed two men!" she cried pointing, not realizing she may have killed three.

"The door!"

"They're dead!"

Hook rolled his eyes, "We will be too if we don't get moving," he pulled her behind him towards the cabin, and when he saw what happened he gasped.

"I told you!" she said harshly.

"The door!"

"Yes I know," she said crossly, "Now what?"

He cursed violently and then turned towards her, "Stay by me, do not leave my side."

She followed his back, meeting another man on the way, but he was easily killed, and Wendy tried not to watch as Hook thrust his own sword into the mans gut.

"Gruesome," she whispered to herself.

They were in the middle of it all now, Hook sometimes pulling her closer to him, their swords working next to each other. As horrible as it was, Wendy felt connected with Hook at that moment, as if the fighting had made their thoughts the same. They both knew what they had to do for the other, and acted upon it. They fought for each other's life, no longer their own.

Suddenly a large group and ganged up on the two.

"Blast," Hook muttered, "We're surrounded."

As Hook began to take on what he could, Wendy did the same, but her skills weren't as high as the Captain's. someone had grabbed her within minutes, and as she fought against them, Hook's head turned to see her being knocked out with the butt of the sword.

"No!" Hook cried, but was soon over taken by more swords, having to fight against them just to get a step closer.

The man who grabbed her smiled deviously at Hook, and throwing Wendy over his shoulder ran to the side of the ship where he grabbed a rope and rearranging Wendy, swung back to his own deck.

"Wendy!" Hook hissed and began to fight more than he had ever done before, swinging his sword and hook, all becoming extensions of his anger. He reached the side of his ship quickly, though it would never be as fast as he wanted.

"Captain?" Smee's voice was next to him, but hook ignored the sound.

"I have to find her," he whispered, and swung over to where his Wendy Darling waited.

See I have some action in my story! I wrote this thing in like an hour, I was proud of myself, I got all into it. More to come soon!