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Killian was worried sick, David had been gone for far too long, where the hell was he?
He had napped on and off for a while but his rising pain levels made it impossible to stay asleep for very long, he kept jarring awake every time he moved. He felt terrible. All the work that he had put in earlier had played havoc on his sore body and now he found that he couldn't even pull himself back out of the bed to get himself any more tea. He had tried but his shoulder, ribs and hip had all flared and he had found his vision whiting out as the pain seared into his brain.
Why had he been so stupid to think that a damned meal was so important?
He currently lay on his back trying to ignore the waves of nausea that kept washing over him. He had his eyes clamped shut, his left leg was bent at the knee and his foot tapped incessantly on the bed as he let his imagination run away from him.
Was David hurt?
Was he lying in a ditch somewhere, out in that rain?
Maybe he had just taken shelter somewhere... that had to be it, he was just trying to stay dry.
As much as Killian tried to convince himself that that was the case his worry only grew as the minutes ticked by so when he finally heard a noise a short time later his heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
"DAVID" he yelled out then hissed in pain when he moved too quickly trying to turn to look at the cave entrance.
Killian slumped to the side, clamped his eyes closed and curled in on himself slightly letting a long groan escape him. As he lay there he heard David come into the cave and literally within seconds he felt hands on him.
"Hook, you alright?!"
Killian's eyes shot open and he was trying to back away in an instant at the unfamiliar voice. The movement had him crying out in pain again but then David spoke from near by to reassure him.
"It's alright, hey calm down. I'll get you some tea in a minute" David's voice soothed him and when Killian managed to open his eyes again it was to find his Brother stripping off his sodden clothing and wrapping himself in a blanket again.
Killian was so confused.
How had he gotten over there? And why had his voice sounded so different?
He suddenly jumped when someone moved next to him and again hands were on him, his world greyed but after a few deep breaths he managed to open his eyes to see...
"Robin?!"
"Indeed" the thief replied with a sigh "I will explain everything, I promise, just let us get you sorted first."
Killian's mind was suck, it kept jarring unable to process what he was seeing but he was distracted seconds later as a blanket clad David dropped down on the edge of his bed holding a cup of tea in his hand. Killian was about to ask what the hell had happened to David's face as he saw the blood that had ran from a gash in his chin and the huge goose egg on the Prices temple but the cup was at his lips before he got a chance to articulate his worlds.
He took a couple of gulps then David pulled it back and took a couple himself before shoving the empty cup on the dresser.
"You OK?" David asked
Killian gave a jerky nod as David's hand came down onto his thigh in comfort. The Prince looked worried and Killian knew why, he must look a state. Killian could feel the sheen of sweat across his skin and the nausea that was still rolling through his gut must have been plain to see on his features but little by little over the next few minutes he started to feel better as the tea worked it's magic.
David stood and made his way over to the fire, the minute he moved away Robin pulled himself to his feet and chuckled.
"You don't have a spare blanket do you? I think I may have gotten more than a little wet on our way here!"
"Sure" David said then pointed to the blanket box "Help yourself"
Killian let his eyes close for a second as he tried to gather his thoughts... what the hell was going on? He was so tired that his mind kept wandering as the tea soothed away his aches and pains. He tried to fight the encroaching darkness but the next thing he knew he was waking up to find David and Robin sitting at the table chatting in hushed tones obviously having finished eating what Killian assumed was his rabbit stew. Practically the minute his eyes opened David jumped up and was at his side.
"Hey, how you feeling?"
"Better" Killian replied honestly
"When I left you earlier and said there was soup if you could manage I was sure that that did not mean nearly kill yourself by making a rabbit stew" David admonished "What were you thinking you idiot? Look at what you did to yourself, was it really worth it?"
"You tell me... you seemed to have eaten it" Killian threw back with a sigh as he pulled himself up the bed a little and looked to Robin "As much as I am thrilled to see a familiar face Mate I think that it is about time you filled me in on what the hell is going on? How are you here?"
"I agree but let us first get some food in your belly, a chef should at least taste his own creation after all his hard work" Robin declared standing up and going over to the pot on the fire.
Robin ladled out a bowl full of stew, grabbed a spoon and headed across to the bed before holding it out to Killian.
"You eat, I'll talk."
Killian reached up but it pulled on his ribs and his arm froze as he gave a wince. David just stepped in taking the bowl and sitting himself down on the edge of the bed. Killian was glad to see that he didn't try to feed him, he just held the bowl so that Killian could feed himself. So as he started to slowly eat his meal Robin grabbed one of the chairs from the table, turned it around and dropped down to start his tale.
"So the last you all saw of me was when I left town with Roland and Marian." He sighed and lent back on his chair as Killian gave a slight nod "Well that's where you were wrong... we all were."
Killian had stopped eating as he watched his friend, Robin shook his head and carried on "We were all fooled. The woman who we all thought was Marian was actually Zelena."
"The bloody wicked witch?!" Killian cried out in surprise
"Indeed" Robin agreed "It is a long convoluted tale that quiet frankly I am still not sure I fully understand but somehow Zelena's essence survived without her body. When the portal to the Enchanted Forest opened she escaped back in time. Somewhere along the line, before yourself and Emma returned with who we all thought was my wife, Zelena killed Marian and took over her body"
"So Marian never did come back with us?" Killian asked in awe... how had they not known?
Robin just shook his head "Her plan was to get revenge on Regina, she wanted nothing more than to tear us apart. Practically the moment we got to New York she unmasked herself and before I knew what was going on she opened a portal using some kind of potion and myself and Roland found ourselves trapped here. We were barely managing to survive. I have lived in the wilds all of my life but this island is something else, the weather here is too unpredictable. We found ourselves caught out in a snow storm and would have surely died if it were not for a tribe that live here. They found us and took us back to their camp and we have stayed with them every since."
"You stay with the Piccaninny tribe?" Killian gasped dropping his spoon
Robin frowned "Is that what they are called? They never told me. Wait... how do you know the name of the tribe?"
"I bloody well hid from them for too many years to count Mate. What I want to know is how in the blue blazes you managed to befriend them? They usually hate "The white man" as they say"
"You've been here before?" Robin suddenly gasped out leaning forward
"Aye Mate, Do you not know where you are?" Killian replied slightly bewildered "This is Neverland Robin"
"NEVERLAND" Robin suddenly cried out jumping to his feet "But all the stories I have heard of Neverland say that it is a place of wonder where dreams come true and children run free"
David scoffed "Yeah well I used to think that too but I was wrong... very wrong!"
Robin sat back down "Soooooo... I have been living in Neverland for the best part of a year?"
"It would seem so" Killian replied but then he frowned "I take it by your reaction you do not know why the weather has suddenly decided to go crazy?"
"The chief said something about the balance of the island being disturbed. When I first arrived there were many more sunny days and the weather was calmer but as time has passed the storms and snow keep coming with more regularity."
David suddenly gave a long sigh "OK, I'm gonna ask this question even though I'm pretty sure I know the answer. Robin, do you know of a way to get off this island? A way to get home?"
"I have done NOTHING but search for a way since the day Roland and I arrived. The tribe have been helping too, they wanted to leave with me. I told them of Storybrooke and promised that if I found a way home that I would take them all with me before this bloody island kills us all. When I realized that you were here my hope soared, I thought that you may know of a way back but it would seem that all that has happened is that our group has grown in numbers"
Killian closed his eyes and sighed... they were stuck.
If Robin bloody Hood and the Piccaninny tribe couldn't find a way off this infernal island no one would.
He was never getting home...
He was never going to see his Swan again...
Henry would truly grown up without a Father...
But worst of all he would never, ever know if Junior had survived...
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David saw the minute Hook lost his hope.
The light went out in his eyes and nothing David said made a difference, the Pirate just shut down. He pushed his food away and said that he was tired before simply closing his eyes and pulling his blankets up over his head.
David turned to Robin with a worried look. Robin gave an understanding smile, he nodded his head to the other side of the room and walked away. They pulled their chairs from the table and huddled by the fire talking in low voices.
"I won't give up looking Robin, it's not a choice I have"
"I know and I will not stop either, we all need to get off this island sooner rather than later. I am just finding it hard to believe that THIS is Neverland. This island is wretched David, it is nothing like the story books I read as a child"
"Yeah... and I bet he's nothing like the Captain Hook you read about either" David replied nodding back to the bed
"Most definitely not" Robin agreed "I mean when I first met him I realized that he was very different so I'm not sure why it surprises me so much that the island would be so different too"
"The last time we were here... to save Henry" David clarified "The weather was stable, it NEVER rained or snowed. I am guessing now that Pan is gone that he was the one in control of the island's magic. I presume without him here the island doesn't have anyone to keep it in check so to speak"
"The chief is worried David, he says that he has NEVER witnessed weather like this here... wait... the children that suddenly arrived on the island a few days ago, are they Lost Ones?"
"Yeah, they came through the same portal as us" David said with a sigh "Long story involving a demon and a crocodile"
Robin just raised an eyebrow high on his head but said nothing, he just moved his gaze to look into the flames.
"Do you think that Hook would manage the trip to our camp in the morning? We would be much safer there..."
David sighed and looked back at his now sleeping brother "I don't know, he seems to be hell bent on pushing himself but you saw his face when you said that all you'd done since you arrived was look for a way home. He's been through a lot Robin... you have no idea what he has survived in the last few months."
Again Robin didn't reply he just gave a heavy sigh again before leaning back in his chair. They sat in silence for a while before David gave a yawn and Robin chuckled.
"You should sleep"
"We should both sleep" David corrected, Robin looked exhausted too.
In no time at all they were both settled on the floor using the furs and blankets, David could still hear the storm outside but it seemed to be settling a bit and he hoped that it would be gone by morning.
He didn't know how long he had been sleeping when he was wrenched from his dream by the all too familiar sound of Hook having a panic attack. David was up and by the Pirate's side in seconds where he found him scrabbling at his throat trying to get air into his lungs. Hook's eyes were wide and unseeing and David knew that he wasn't here, he was stuck inside his head again but that didn't stop him just hauling Hook up and scooting in behind him so that the Pirate lay in his arms.
"Come on Hook, calm down, you're OK... I've got you." he soothed bringing his hand around to rest over Hook's thumping heart.
"What's wrong with him?" Robin gasped out as he suddenly appeared at the bedside
David sighed, he wasn't sure Hook would appreciate him sharing but right now Robin was coming to his own conclusions and they were probably much worse than the truth.
"He's having a panic attack" he breathed out "Something changed recently that I thought might have stopped them... but this one looks nasty. I don't think he'll be in any fit state to go anywhere tomorrow, the attacks really take it out of him."
"A panic attack!" Robin exclaimed "What on earth happened to him David?"
"Long story short. He was trying to help Henry and got attacked. I was the one to find him and while I still don't know exactly what happened I saw the result... they left him hanging from a tree by his neck after beating the crap out of him. They broke his jaw, his hip and he was black and blue from head to toe. I thought he was dead Robin. When I walked into that clearing he was just hanging there... lifeless...but the stubborn idiot wasn't giving up that easy. He was in hospital for weeks, he couldn't talk and was in so much pain all of the time... These attacks started while he was in there but he had been learning to control them with Archie's help then recently something else happened and they started up again."
Right on cue Hook's back arched and he was gasping again as a growl left his throat and David's attention was pulled back to his brother.
"Hook, it's OK. Come on, you can fight this. Don't let Devin win, he's gone remember. He can't touch you anymore"
Bit by bit Hook came back to him and after what seemed like forever he was lying loosely in David's arms with his eyes closed as his chest still gave an occasional hitch.
"You OK?" David asked
"No" Hook breathed out
"Yeah, stupid question" David sighed "You want some tea?"
"C-can... you... s-stew it?" Hook asked peeking open an eye and giving a smirk
"After your last adventure I'll say no. Robin does not need to witness that" David chuckled back.
He was just about to get up to fetch the tea when Robin went instead "Stay where you are David, I will fix the tea if you just tell me where it is"
In no time at all Robin was back, he handed the tea to David who immediately held it up to Hook who took two mouthfuls before laying back with a sigh.
"I think you should have some more" David practically whispered
Hook peeked open his eyes, he shook his head which pulled a whine from his lips and David suddenly wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Stop being so damn stubborn, drink the tea. It's not going to send you loopy, it will just help you sleep you idiot"
Hook mumbled "You're b-bedside manner is w-worse than Whale's"
"Yeah well tough, now open your damned eyes before you end up wearing this stuff"
David was happy to see the Pirate comply, he drank another two mouthfuls before lying back and literally within minutes he was sleeping again. David stayed where he was for a while to make sure that he was definitely out before struggling out from behind him and settling him back on his pillows.
"God, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take" David suddenly burst out as he threw himself back down into his bed, he was suddenly fighting back his emotion as the reality of their situation hit him.
"Go to sleep David, you're exhausted. I'll watch over Hook then in the morning if the storm has died down enough I will go back to camp and bring some help. We'll get him settled before lunch then the BOTH of you can take some time to recover. Perhaps once we sit down and discuss our collective knowledge something will become clear."
David brought his hand up and dragged it down his face "I hope so Robin because the thought of never seeing home again is just too much to bear... I CANNOT stay here. I won't."