Chapter 17

"I've been thinking, Captain."

In the week following Pan's deadly 'game,' Smee had done a lot of soul-searching; both alone and, secretly, with Casey. As the sole survivor of the doomed search party, the young man had taken the loss hard, burdened with guilt plus the trauma of having directly witnessed their deaths. Smee did his best to bring comfort, though often as not, ended up without the proper words. But it was during one of these late-night mind wanderings, while watching his son sleep, that an idea had struck the first mate regarding Hook's dilemma, and he had finally gathered the courage to share it with his captain.

Leaning casually against a tree trunk, grimacing as he worked the feeling back into his fingers after a not-so-friendly encounter with Lost Boys, Hook gave his first mate a haughty smirk.

"Have you now? Careful, mate; don't overexert yourself."

Occasionally, inexplicably, the process occurred with severe stabs of pain all throughout his hand, tormenting the pirate for several long moments before normalcy was restored. This appeared to be one of those times. Smee hesitated, watching the captain shake his hand with a wince. Then the first mate fortified his resolve and continued his train of thought.

"Sir… if the enchantment gets stronger when your heart beats faster… maybe it gets weaker when it slows down."

Impatiently, Hook snarled,

"Your point?"

"Well, maybe if it slowed down enough… maybe the cuff would be removable."

"Bit of a flaw in your reasoning, mate," growled Hook, still in obvious discomfort. "Damn thing isn't exactly falling off of a morning. I'd say a slumbering heart beats slowest; wouldn't you agree?"

"Well… yes… but I'm sure it speeds up a bit even before you wake up. Maybe if I were to keep watch one night…"

"Smee." Hook raised a mocking eyebrow. "Are you inviting yourself into my bed?"

"Gods, no, Captain… not that I… I mean, no offense; I just meant I would sit nearby while you slept. And if that didn't work, well... maybe, meditation?"

The captain snorted derisively. But then a thoughtful look crossed his features. He pushed off the tree, holding out his hand, and nodded toward where his cutlass lay on the ground. Smee bent to retrieve the weapon, and as he passed it to his captain, Hook murmured,

"Mister Smee, you may be onto something after all. Not the meditation rubbish, of course."

Smee cocked his head curiously. "Then… what?"

Hook slid the cutlass into its scabbard, hand apparently feeling better. "Not what. Who."

"W-who? Sir?"

Hook leaned forward with a sly wink. "Tiger Lily."

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Neverland's most secretive inhabitant was not difficult to find - if she wanted to be found, that is. All one had to do was trespass onto what she considered to be "her" corner of the island. Then, she would either show herself… or strike you with one of her blowdarts. Merely sedative, or fatally toxic; one never knew which she would use. And the pirates were hardly on her list of allies.

Still, she must have been in an amiable mood when Hook and Smee encroached on her territory, for she refrained from attacking. A short distance from the informal border, she appeared to them suddenly, a closed look on her face.

"Captain Hook," she hissed. "I thought you knew by now - pirates aren't welcome here."

With his most polite smile, Hook spread his arms to the best of his ability, showing honest intentions. "Come now, Tiger Lily. We've known each other quite awhile; I had hoped we'd established a bit of mutual respect."

The former fairy - that's who she was, although she never broadcast it, especially not to pirates - refused to be taken in by his charm.

"What do you want, Hook?"

His grin fell slightly, and a hint of an edge crept into his voice.

"A deal," he admitted. "Something to benefit us both."

"What could you possibly have that might interest me?"

The pirate sighed, forcing a brighter smile. "You know that he sends us to the Enchanted Forest from time to time; surely-"

"There's nothing I want from there," she spat.

"Let's not be hasty, love; perhaps if you were to consider-"

"No," she interrupted firmly. "Unless you can take me along and conveniently forget to bring me back."

Hook rubbed his chin with his thumb. "I… somehow doubt Pan would allow that."

"Goodbye, Captain."

Desperately, Hook lurched after her, nearly tripping over the foliage in his haste. "Wait! I… what if…"

She seemed amused by his stammering: she halted, half-turning and folding her arms, expectant. Hook stopped and regained his composure, running his hand down his face while he thought furiously. Finally, he sighed.

"Look, I know you value your solitude. I'll order my men never to come here; we'll leave you alone from now on."

"That's only useful to me if I don't have to worry about Lost Boys either."

Biting back a protest, Hook watched her eyes. She wouldn't back down; this he already knew. With an internal groan, he said,

"I'll see what I can do about that. No promises."

Her lips curled into the smallest of smiles. "And you take me with you when you leave this place for good."

Hook scoffed. "There's no current scheme to that effect, darling; you may not want to count on it as your only option."

"I know you. You won't give up until you find a way. If I'm still here, promise to take me with you."

There was no harm in that; not that Hook could see. He gave a one-shouldered shrug. "You have my word, love."

She dropped her arms to her sides, unable to hide her smug sense of triumph as she studied him up and down. "What do you want from me?"

His gaze darted sideways, evasive. Uncomfortable. "I require your… botanical expertise."

Tiger Lily flashed a knowing smile. "Got a rash?"

Indignant, Hook sputtered,

"No, I bloody well do not, and I resent the implication."

"You are a pirate."

"With standards!"

He realized then how petulant he sounded. Tiger Lily was winding him up for her own amusement, and he was playing right into her hands. He turned his exasperation into his best leer, hooded eyelids and all.

"Although you're welcome to take a gander."

She rolled her eyes. "The real concern, then."

Hook held up his hand; with his sleeve already unbuttoned, it slid down his forearm, exposing the golden cuff around his wrist. "I need to be rid of this. Your concoctions may be the only solution."

Tiger Lily tilted her head in curiosity. She moved confidently forward, not concerned in the slightest that she could be in any danger. Running her fingers over the metal, she noted the bandages covering the burns underneath. She poked at the linen casually; Hook gritted his teeth but didn't draw back.

"Careful," he hissed without rancor. She twirled the cuff, murmuring,

"Tell me."

So the captain filled her in on the story - how he had fallen victim to the enchantment, how it affected him, and Smee's idea for how it might be removed. The fairy glanced at Smee for the first time, fixing him with an appraising stare. Then she released Hook's wrist and stepped back.

"Does this have something to do with how you lost all those men?"

Hook clenched his jaw in sorrow and annoyance. "Heard about that, did you?"

"Pan was quick to gloat."

"I'm sure he was." Hook didn't answer the original question, choosing instead to glare silently; making it obvious that he had no wish to discuss the sore subject. Tiger Lily relented, eventually.

"I may be able to help you. Assuming the cuff really will come off when your heart slows… or stops."

Hook read her intentions in her eyes. She was warning him that it could be fatal… but not threatening to make it so. "Aye, love. All I can ask."

She nodded decisively. "Then go talk to Pan. I will meet you back here after you secure me my solitude."

Hook pursed his lips, still doubtful he could provide such a thing. But he offered his hand to seal the deal.

"I look forward to your ministrations," he smirked.

She shook his hand, but said,

"You really shouldn't, though."

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AN: I couldn't find Tiger Lily in the character list... anyone know how to add her?