Gah - sorry, it's been like 1.5 days? I'm usually really good about daily posting over breaks. BUT dudes I ran two races and saw Frozen THREE TIMES = no time! And aside from wanting to burn everything I've ever written after getting a load of Frozen's kick-ass screen writing, I am 100% addicted and cannot stop singing Let It Go.

Any how...on with ARBB.

Chapter 10: Traitor

"Are you…bargaining with me, Boy?"

Hiding his confusion, Captain Hook leaned on his sword, threw back his head, and laughed. Peter's eyes smoldered as the crew joined, advancing in their glee with cutlasses drawn and pistols triggered.

"Hold your fire!" Hook ordered as Peter lifted threateningly into the air. "Give the boy room, mates. Give the boy room! Today, the little flying rat has come to bargain…"

Flicking his sword, Hook dislodged the knife from Peter's belt. It clattered to the deck. Peter did not break eye contact, but his fingers dug deeper into Wendy's nightgown.

"…like a man." Hook finished. The crew cackled. Shark narrowed his eyes.

Slowly, the captain began to encircle the boy, contemplating Peter's intentions and his sincerity. The boy was offering a trade: the girl for the pixie. Interesting. Clearly, the boy thought Hook himself held the pixie prisoner. Naturally that had been the original plan, spoiled by his dimwitted crew…but if Pan was none the wiser… Hook's eyes dilated, shifting between red and blue as he considered the odds. Could Lady Luck really be in the captain's favor?

Swiftly Captain Hook caught Shark's eye. Shark gave an indiscernible gesture of affirmation. Hook nodded. Flourishing his hook, he stepped forth to Peter Pan, preparing to take the gamble.

"What are your terms, Boy?"

Peter stood his ground. He was still as a statue but one toe was poised for takeoff. Wendy winced. Pan's grip was so tight; his fingertips were pressing red welts into her skin.

"Speak." Shark grunted, is voice gravely from days of silence. Impatiently the crew agreed. Peter turned sharply. Turk pushed a cutlass between the boy's shoulder blades. Mullins dropped a noose, letting it swing against Peter's forehead. Gentleman Johnny stroked Wendy's ankle.

"Call off your pirates, Hook!" Peter ordered, swinging away from Gentleman Johnny. "Or no deal!"

"Realize Boy, that you are thus fortunate," Captain Hook said as the pirates cackled, egged on by Peter's anger. "That they haven't separated your head from your body, and thrown it to the crocodile."

"That's your job." Peter retorted, retaining a shred of cockiness as the pirates inched closer. Turning in half circles, Peter suddenly felt Wendy kneading into his chest. The boy ignored her, until the pirates started to notice and jeer.

"Spritely little lass!"

"Plucky little scrumpet."

Peter glared at the girl. Muffling through her gag, Wendy tilted her chin up. Twice.

"Very clever." Captain Hook smirked as Peter followed Wendy's cue. The pirates were lowering fishing net. It hovered above Peter's head, suspended from the boom and ratlines, preventing vertical escape.

"Very clever indeed, wouldn't you agree boy? Now…you are surrounded from behind, from below, from side, to side, and now from above."

Invitingly, Hook held out his arms. Smee mimicked the pose, smiling happily as Captain Hook spoke against a darkened sky. "The only way out, Peter Pan, is through me. Now. Name. Your. Terms."

Peter could feel Wendy's heart against his chest. He straightened so the pounding would go away.

"Tinkerbell." Peter announced, his own heart spinning out of control. "Give me Tinkerbell and I will give you…Wendy. That was the pirate's deal."

Shark's muscles tensed as he was caught in Peter's midnight glare.

"Mr. Shark." Captain Hook spoke calmly and carefully, watching Shark like an untamed animal. Shark's whiplash instincts were an asset, but the pirate mustn't alarm Peter Pan before the bargain was reached. Claiming the girl was imperative to Hook's plan.

"Mr. Shark." Hook repeated. "Were these the terms? Quote them. Exactly. "

Shark curled a lip at Peter. "Aye. Those were the terms." Advancing, Shark recited the threat. "'Give me the girl if ye ever want to see yer fairy again.'"

"Nothing else?" Prompted Captain Hook, itching to make the transaction. "Is it that simple, Boy? The girl for the pixie?"

Peter nodded. His throat moved as if the words were stuck in his throat.

"Delightful. But, if I buy something…" Captain Hook beckoned Shark forward. "I want to see the merchandise first. Mr. Shark. If you please."

"Aye." Catching Peter before he lift off, Shark grasped Wendy's waist. The pirate grunted as Peter resisted Shark's pull.

Hook smiled. "My dear Peter Pan. How can we inspect your bargaining chip, if you won't let her go? Release the girl. Mr. Shark promises not to hurt her. Isn't that accurate, Mr. Shark?"

"Aye." Shark growled, twisting Wendy unsympathetically from Peter's grip. In the scuffle, the girl's wound reopened and Wendy's shoulder shined red.

"Gentle, Mr. Shark." Reminded the captain as Peter dove for his dagger. "We shouldn't spoil her at the present, should we?"

"Hook." Peter growled warningly.

Captain Hook smirked, allowing the heckling of his crew to silence the boy. He turned to Wendy, lost under Shark's muscles.

"Untie her." Captain Hook ordered. "Away with that filthy bondage. Let her upright, Mr. Shark. Carefully now. I want to see Pan's… stock."

Roughly, Wendy was unbound and the kelp ropes were tossed overboard in a tangled heap. Save for Shark's hold, the girl stood unsteadily aboard the swaying ship. Red lines from the ropes criss-crossed her arms. The gag was still in her mouth.

Ensuring Peter could see, Captain Hook approached Wendy regally as a king. It was curious: Hook would have bet his soul to Davy Jones that Pan suffered a soft spot for this…this Wendy. Yet here the boy was, freely exchanging the girl for that pesky pixie. Something was fishy. But what were the implications? Was it a trick? Would Pan reappear as the rescuer? Or did he really hold the girl in contempt, and bid her to rot in the Jolly Roger's for eternity?

Gentlemanly as possible, Hook held Wendy's jaw and fished the gag from her mouth with his hook. Sea kelp. Disgusting.

Peter flinched. Slightly. Very slightly. But enough for Captain Hook to resume his suspicions. Returning to Wendy, the captain smiled in a most ungentlemanly way, wondering how far he could push Peter Pan.

"Let's see if the tiger has feelings. Smee." murmured Captain Hook, leaning over Mr. Smee's ear. "Watch Pan."

"Aye, aye Capn!" said Mr. Smee as Captain Hook motioned for Shark to release the girl. The crew crept closer, enticed by the rising tension. Shark unclenched his grip. Gruffly, he shoved Wendy forward. The crew applauded when she fell at Hook's feet.

One eye on Peter Pan, Captain Hook bowed, mockingly sweeping his magnificent hat across his chest. "A thousand pardons, My Dear."

Wendy looked up as the feather in Hook's tricorn brushed her nose. Replacing his hat, Hook offered his hand and seized Wendy's when she did not accept.

"My, my. How uncharacteristically impolite." Hook escorted Wendy to her feet. "I wouldn't have thought such a pretty little lady would refuse a gentleman's hand. How rude. Shall we try again?"

Again, Hook bowed. Wendy's eyes widened. Although she understood the proper response, the girl refused to be conducted by the captain for the amusement of his crew.

Hook looked up. Any previous hilarity drained from the captain's face as his sword sliced from his sheath.

"My Dear." Hook said, angling the blade against the back of Wendy's neck. "I think you can do better. Now: once more. I bow…and you…?"

The sword slivered into Wendy's neck. The girl jerked slightly down.

"Lower…" Hook prompted pressing the blade. "And I would add a little flourish with that lovely dress. My crew likes a show."

Wendy gasped angrily against the sword. But with utter loathing for the captain, she curtsied.

"Either unintelligent or stubborn." Captain Hook said casually towards Peter Pan as the pirates whistled. "But a sight for sore eyes."

The crew started to croon. Peter reacted when Gentleman Johnny threw money, pegging Wendy with golden coins. The boy did not know what Hook or his crew were doing to Wendy, but he did not like it. No. He hated it. He wanted to kill Captain Hook. Peter wanted to hurt the codfish until he died.

"Hook! Stop. " Three pirates appeared in Peter's path. Blocked from above, Peter spoke through their arms. "This isn't part of the bargain."

"Inspecting the merchandise is every part of the bargain." The captain retorted kneeling before Wendy and looping his hook around her sash. He pulled. Wendy threw out her arms, hands landing on Hook's shoulders. "Thus far I am not displeased. Fret not, Boy. I have only several more questions…"

Wendy resisted Captain Hook's pull, her fingers fighting not to slip over his crimson justaucorps. Desperately, she looked to Peter Pan but Captain Hook caught her chin.

"First thing's first." Captain Hook said, shaking Wendy's chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "What is your name?"

Again, Wendy struggled, extending and rotating back her head.

Hook was loosing patience. Quickly, he rose. Anticipating that Wendy would not suspect the movement, Hook yanked, and seized the girl by the thoat as she reeled forward.

"Your name, Girl! Now!"

"Wendy." she gasped, pushing against his cravat.

"Wendy….?"

"Darling."

"I see. And do you know why you are here, Wendy Darling?"

"I…I…"

"Answer the question!"

"I lost Tinkerbell…and…Peter…and Peter…" She shook her head against his hand, squeezing her eyes shut as if to deny the answer.

"And Peter Pan brought you here." Hook finished delightedly. "After turning Neverland against you. How charming!"

Energized by Wendy's grief, Captain Hook threw the girl. His sword was at her throat in seconds, like a predator about to vanquish its prey. "Tell me Wendy…do you think Peter Pan is kind?"

Wendy tried to squirm away. Black Murphy pounced at her with a growl.

"Hook! Stop!"

Hook ignored Peter. Slashing his sword, he chased Wendy as she tried to escape. "Tell me Wendy, do you think Peter Pan is just?"

"Hook!" Peter shouted as Scallop kicked Wendy back at Captain Hook.

Hook cornered Wendy, stabbing his sword around her with each word "Do you think Peter Pan is gentle? Loyal? Forgiving? Heroic? Warm? Tolerant? Noble? Loving? Calm? Do you think Peter-Pan-cares-about-you-at-all?"

"ENOUGH!"

Peter almost reached Wendy. Burning through the pirates like a fiery comet, Peter almost touched her tear stained face. But he was too late. Captain Hook's pistol erupted and the overhanging net dropped. Ropes gathered around Peter's neck. And after Hook's cry…

"TO THE CANNON!"

…Peter was stuffed into the barrel of Long Tom.

Snarling like a panther, Peter clawed his way out only to be knocked deeper into the breech with a wooden rammer.

"I accept your bargain and your terms, Peter Pan." Captain Hook said gleefully into the cannon, holding Wendy under his arm. "And I thank you, for sentencing your little lady."

"She's not my Wendy-lady!" Peter barked, forehead bleeding from the ramming staff. Frantically he struggled to free himself. "She went to the ocean! For HIM! She's a traitor!"

"She's a traitor?" Hook said, with incredulous delight. "SHE'S a traitor? My soon-to-be-deceased, Boy. Take a look. Look at what you have accomplished."

Shifting to improve Peter's view, Hook flaunted Wendy across the breech opening.

"You have bargained your little Wendy. Don't you understand, Boy? Our bargain is binding – she is mine to do as I please! You have given her to me. And, incidentally, for a pixie that I do not currently possess."

"Liar!" Peter shouted as the ramming staff landed on the bridge of his nose. "Liar! Where is Tinkerbell? Give her to me! We made a deal!"

"Precisely!" Hook snarled. The pirates cleared as Captain Hook struck flint across the iron barrel. Sparks jumped. Billy Jukes prodded Peter with the ramming staff.

"Our deal, as detailed by none other than yourself, was the girl if you ever wanted to see the pixie again."

Hook sliced the flint across the cannon. Billy Jukes faltered, jerking the ramming staff back and forth as he watched the precarious fuse.

" Well!" Hook squeezed Wendy against his hip. "I do not have your pixie! But with this girl, my plan unfolds and soon the blasted pixie will also be mine! And when I have her, I'll pin her wings to the mast. And you can see your precious pixie all the time!"

"So it seems Peter Pan!" Hook declared. "Your bargain is in vain! It seems that you are the traitor!"

"No!" Wendy cried, wrenching her mouth from Hook's hand. "Stop! Please!"

Peter's fingers groped from the breech. Billy Jukes cracked the ramming staff onto the boy's knuckles. Instantly, Peter's hand snapped to life. Wrist rotating grotesquely Peter seized the ramming staff, the skin raw on his knuckles. Startled, Billy Jukes recoiled and the ramming staff went limp. Peter yanked. The ramming staff shot up like a lever, punching Billy Jukes in the nose.

"Fire!" Wendy suddenly yelled.

Wildly, Billy Jukes dropped the ramming staff, hit the deck and covered his ears, bracing for a cannon blow that never occurred.

"Peter!" Wendy screamed as Hook struck the flint. "Peter! Fly!"

Peter's head and shoulders appeared. Sparks showered, raining into the fuse.

The cannon detonated, blazing Peter Pan into the sky and leaving Wendy in the pirate's embrace.