Hello! We get a little closer to understanding the mysterious illness in this chapter and I feel really sorry for Jane :( Please review and give feedback/criticism and thanks to those who have :D

Chapter 9

"It wasn't his fault! He is ill, mother!" Jane cried, her tear-streaked face raised imploringly.

"Jane's right Wendy, any fool can see that he's not well. I bear him no ill will." John agreed, gesturing to the unconscious boy.

Wendy turned away to hide the concern that she had disguised as anger; whatever had polluted Neverland had obviously corrupted Peter as well. The thought troubled her, she could not let Jane get involved. She turned to look at her daughter who was gazing steadily back at her despite her state of upset. Wendy sighed, there was nothing she could do.

John placed a hand on his sisters shoulder,

"Come on, I think you are in need of a cup of tea." He said, leading her out of the room.

Jane rolled her eyes – Uncle John thought that tea was the answer to every problem.

"If only this were that easy." She murmured, kneeling down next to Peter.

He stirred as she placed a hand on his forehead and she gasped.

"Peter?" She said urgently, his eyelashes fluttered. Slowly she leaned over and brushed her lips across his cheekbone,

"Please come back." She whispered into his skin.

His eyes flew open, taking her by surprise.

"Peter!" She threw her arms around him and he blinked in shock.

"What happened?" He asked shakily.

"You got angry...really angry and then you passed out. You've been out cold for an hour!" She told him.

"An hour? It's never been that long before." He muttered to himself. Jane frowned.

"This has happened before?" She asked warily.

"Back in Neverland." He answered, flapping his hands for her to stop fussing and getting to his feet himself.

Jane remained kneeling, "You never told me." She whispered.

"You didn't ask." Peter replied, rolling his eyes.

"Peter -" Jane said but her voice cracked with emotion and she pressed her fist to her mouth, "Peter you have to understand -"

"I don't have to do anything Jane." He interrupted scornfully, putting his hands on his hips.

"You're ill, Peter!" She said in frustration.

"No I'm not." He replied simply, she squeezed her eyes shut.

"Yes. You. Are." She told him slowly, he narrowed his eyes at her but she kept going, "That wasn't normal! Getting uncontrollably angry to the point where you don't know what you're doing and then passing out for an hour is not normal behavior!"

"I'm not normal." He replied, "I'm Peter Pan."

Jane got to her feet and stared at him – she couldn't believe he was being like this.

"I don't care who you are – you're ill!" She said but he came closer and stared down at her arrogantly.

"Sometimes I think you forget who I am, I don't get ill! You get ill, other people get ill but Peter Pan doesn't. None of the Lost Boys doubt me like you do, Wendy never did."

Jane flinched, he could be cruel as a child is cruel: without knowing it. He couldn't see how much his words hurt and he never would.

"I am just trying to help you." She said as calmly as she could. Peter laughed and pecked her on the cheek,

"I don't need your help. I'm going to lie down for a while, I'll come and find you after." He said lightly as he left the room.

She watched him go in disbelief and then kicked a chair over, leaning against the counter she rubbed her forehead wearily. So many fears and worries were rushing round in her head that it was impossible for her to think straight and to top it all off she had Peters voice telling her again that he 'didn't need her help'.

"But you do Peter." She said to nobody in particular. "If you'd just listen."

There may have been a time when he was invincible but everything had changed, he had just refused to change with it. Jane knew him, he would never accept that he was no longer the boy he was so she had to figure out a way to get him back.

The door opened and Wendy walked into the room carrying 2 cups of tea.

"How are you darling?" She asked, setting the mugs down on the table and embracing Jane.

"Not good." Jane mumbled into her mothers shoulder.

"It will be okay." Wendy soothed her, kissing the top of her forehead. "Here, sit down."

Jane sat and put her head in her hands.

"You cannot do anything Jane, he will be okay." Wendy smoothed her daughters hair out of her face but Jane moved away. Wendy dropped her hand and sighed.

"I understand." She said but Jane turned to her and shook her head.

"No Mother, you don't. I know that I have to do something, I can't explain why I just do. I have a feeling that I can fix this...I'm just not putting together the pieces."

"No this isn't your responsibility." Wendy reasoned, concern showing on her face.

"Yes it is. Peter is! And all of this, the illness...I can stop it. And there's something else..." Jane trailed off and swallowed audibly. "He – I saw Peter, when he was angry, I saw his eyes flash red." She finished in a rush, looking earnestly at her mother, tears gathering in her eyes.

Wendy stared at her in shock, her hand went to her heart and she struggled to speak.

"Like...you mean like -"

"Yes. Like Hook." Jane said flatly, fighting back more useless tears.

"So you think this illness has something to do with..." Wendy said, aghast.

"Yes. I do."