Slightly watched woodenly as he saw Nibs and Curly marched by, hands bound behind their backs. Neither boy looked up at him, but Curly was crying. Mason had his cutlass out, using it to guide them to the brig. The other pirates followed, then Smee and Starkey walked by bearing a litter. Peter lay upon it, pale and still in the lamplight. Blood stained the bandage on his stomach. Hook followed the litter, a smile on his face and his arm around Billy’s shoulders. Tink was in his fist.

The Captain paused by Slightly, who was sitting up in his hammock. “Ah, Jason! This is a glorious night! Peter Pan is mine!”

Slightly just shrugged, knowing better than to look concerned. “Good. Maybe now I won’t have to clean up any berries in the morning.” He ignored Tink’s squeak of protest and laid back down.

Hook chuckled, “Jason, my boy, that’s the spirit. Provided Pan doesn’t die of his wound, we shall have an execution as soon as he’s fit.” He clapped Billy on the back, “Good work, Mr. Jukes. You’ve made me proud.” Humming happily, Hook left the two boys alone.

Slightly sighed when everyone else was gone. “What happened?”

Billy told Slightly everything that had occurred. “I couldn’t see. I didn’t know he’d stopped and turned around. Maybe he couldn’t see either. But I stabbed him.”

“Is he going to be alright?” Slightly kept his face impassive, to act as if he didn’t care. It was easier to stay sane if he didn’t care. But no matter how much he pretended, he still felt the fear and worry gnawing him inside. Peter can’t die! I have to help him. Play it calm, the pirates don’t trust me either.

“I botched it. Good thing I wasn’t aiming to kill him, or I’d have to be ashamed. Cap’n and Smee are pretty sure I missed anything important, so there’s no worries there. But he’s bleeding a lot. Cap’n’s gonna sit with him until it stops, in case Pan dies. Says he wants to be there if he does.”

“Congratulations, Billy,” Slightly said, “You’re back in Hook’s good graces.”

Billy sighed and climbed into Mullins’s hammock… tonight the man wouldn’t mind. “I just hope they were here to mess with you. If they came to take you home, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“I thought you wanted me here,” Slightly said sharply. Great, even Billy is sick of me now. What did I do this time?

“I do!” Billy reassured his friend. “But Mullins is right, you don’t belong here. Either Hook will kill you, or you’ll do yourself. I’m worried about you, you’re not doin’ so good here. If there’s anyway to get you off this ship, I’ll find it.”

Slightly said nothing, just closed his eyes to sleep. Hook will be in the brig for now, so I can’t help them. Rest now, maybe I won’t hurt as much later and I’ll be able to move better. He didn’t think he’d get any sleep, but within minutes he was lost to his dreams.

Hook sat in the brig in a chair by the cot. Pan was still out, but the bleeding had slowed. He didn’t think the boy would die, but he wasn’t going to be exerting himself anytime soon. The other two boys lay in the corner on a pile of hay, curled up together under a blanket. They’d been very quiet and afraid for their leader. Now they slept fitfully, too upset to allow themselves to fully relax into sleep.

Hook sighed and changed the rags again. Yes, it’s stopping. He should be fine… fine enough for what I’ve got planned for him. Hook wanted the boy fit for his execution; he just wasn’t quite decided on how he was going to kill him. “One more thorn in your side, boy,” he said softly as he bound the wound again. “Jason should come visit you tomorrow.” He finished the bandage, brushed the hair from the unconscious boy’s face, and left, locking the cell behind him. He hung the small iron cage with the pixie in it on the opposite wall, ignoring her questions and pleadings. Smiling still, he went to his own bed to sleep.

End Chapter 11