Nothing But a Pirate

Chapter Seven

Neal continued to lead Emma, David, Mary Margaret, and Tinker Bell through the woods for miles in the opposite direction of where the map Pan had given her said that the Lost Boys' camp was now and since everyone was on edge, as Emma was still frustrated by the rivalry between Neal and Hook, no one spoke for as long as they walked.

However, Emma couldn't take the silence that had broken over them any longer as she called out, "Where exactly are we going, Neal? We're walking further away from Pan's camp. If Henry and Hook are there…"

Everyone stopped moving as Neal turned around to look at the woman he still loved despite leaving her before Henry was born as he responded with frustration, "I told you. I'm taking you to see someone from a long time ago who might know what Pan's plans are for Henry. If we can find that out, then just maybe we might know where he might take our son and we can be there before they arrive."

"Who is this person we're going to see?" Mary Margaret questioned as they started walking again.

"And why would he know what Pan has planned if he and that demon aren't working together anymore?" the Savior asked again curtly. "I'm guessing that's the case, since he's way out here in the middle of nowhere, and nowhere near where the rest of his buddies are running around freely causing mischief for everyone."

Neal let out a long sigh and then answered, "I think that you'd know him best from the movie, Hook. It's a great movie, but very inaccurate as you've noticed. And, like every other movie and story about Pan, Hook, and Neverland, they got him all wrong too. I'm taking you to meet Pan's former second, Rufio."

Emma froze again as she stated, "Rufio? You've got to be kidding me."

"I would think by now you'd have learned that pretty much every fairytale character you've ever read about or seen in the movies are all real," Baelfire replied smugly as he looked over at the blonde woman again.

"Isn't Rufio dead?" she sneered, glaring back at him.

The father of her son shrugged as he responded, "Actually, that may be the one thing the movie came close to getting right. Hook did actually stab Rufio in the chest, like he does in Hook. Or at least that was what he and Rufio both wanted Pan and the rest of the Lost Boys to believe."

David looked at Neal with confusion as he asked, "Wait, you're saying that Hook helped this kid fake his own death? But why… to escape from Pan?"

"Exactly," Bae answered, then sighed as he closed his eyes as if he was remembering something terrible. "I don't really know the whole truth behind why Hook agreed to help one of the Lost Boys, why Rufio wanted to escape, and all that really happened that day… Getting either one of them to talk about it is nearly impossible. But the plan didn't exactly work out as they expected. Rufio survived Hook's attack, but only because he was saved and healed by Tiger Lily. Yes, she's real too. Hook believes that his plan failed and that Rufio actually did die because Pan interfered. I don't know the rest of the details. But now Rufio lives alone in a place where he can hide from everyone, or anyone who doesn't know he's either alive or where he is now. I know because when I was here and trying to hide from Pan, I found him by mistake. I'm telling you right now, he's a little crazy like I said he was and when I introduce you to him, he's not going to be too happy about it. So, I suggest that you let me do all the talking. I can't believe I'm actually betraying his trust. I promised him that I would never reveal that he was alive to anyone, even to Hook."

"I don't understand," Emma replied as she looked at Neal again with anger. "I know that you have a problem with Hook, but don't you think he ought to know that he didn't actually kill this kid? If their plan was to fake Rufio's death and Hook believes he failed, I'm sure that Hook must feel terrible about it. Why wouldn't Rufio want Hook to know that he didn't kill him if they trusted each other enough to work together on this plan?"

When Neal just stared at her, then turned away again and became silent, David pulled his daughter back as he said quietly, "It looks like that will be a question we'll have to ask Rufio, if we can. Just how crazy is he?"

Baelfire looked back at them sternly as he responded, "You'll find out for yourselves in a just a moment. We're here."

As they came upon a waterfall that flowed over the mouth of another cave, Neal stopped again and looked at his friends as he stated, "Wait here. I'm going to go talk to him first. If we all go, he'll clam up and we'll never get anything out of him. In fact, maybe it's best that you don't come at all."

"Not a chance," Emma answered curtly. "We're in this together. Henry isn't the only one who's in danger anymore. Like it or not, we're going to save Hook too. Despite what you believe his motives were for trying to save our son, for saving my father, or for telling us the truth about you being alive, he did all this to help us. We owe it to him."

"Do you really believe that I'm the kind of person who wouldn't be able to put my disdain for someone aside to help my own son or even an enemy?" Neal asked sadly. "Hook is that kind of man, Emma. I'll be back."

When he walked into the water surrounding the rock face and left them behind, Mary Margaret spoke again saying, "I know he may be having a hard dealing with Hook's feelings for you too, Emma… Not to mention that he has to find some way of earning your trust back, but I really think he means well. And Neal wouldn't really leave Hook to behind to die at Pan's hands."

The Savior shook her head as he replied, "I don't know what to think right now, except that I'm tired of fighting. I want my son safe and to get the hell off this cursed island."