Wendy and the other boys were talking to the Indians when Peter flew up and hovered before them. His eyes flashed dangerously and his face was set in a frighteningly angry expression. Nibs and John caught up a second later, and Nibs looked angry too. John just seemed confused.

“What happened, Peter?” Wendy asked worriedly. “Did you find Slightly?”

“I don’t want to hear that filthy traitor’s name again,” Peter said lowly.

“Peter!” Wendy gasped, but the boy just flew into a tree apart from the others. “Nibs?”

“Slightly’s a pirate. He’s to get no quarter in battle,” Nibs answered and followed Peter.

The other boys were confused and upset, and Wendy turned to John.

“I don’t understand it, Wendy,” John said, scratching his head. “We saw Slightly and Jukes going into Hook’s cabin, so we hid below the window to see when would be a good time to rescue him. Hook invited Slightly to stay and live with them… and Slightly agreed! Hook made it clear that Slightly could stay or leave – even offered to have someone row him to shore, so he’s definitely not a prisoner. How could Slightly not want to come home?”

The boys looked at each other, frowning. They were beginning to see why Peter and Nibs were angry. This was the worst kind of betrayal.

“Was Slightly okay? How did he look?” Wendy asked worriedly.

“I don’t know, we couldn’t see him. We heard his voice.”

“Perhaps he didn’t come back because he was hurt. He was stabbed and he went over the waterfall! As far as he knows, Peter banished him, so he thinks he has nowhere to go,” Wendy reasoned.

“It doesn’t matter,” Peter snapped as he came back into the clearing. “He’s known me longer than any of my other boys… he was my first Lost Boy! He should know I wouldn’t abandon him if he’s hurt.”

“And you’ve known him longer than anyone else,” Wendy countered. “And you disowned him! He’s hurt, so he’s not thinking clearly. Imaging being wounded and nearly drowned and all your Lost Boys turned on you. How confused and upset would you be?”

Peter’s face softened a bit, but then it hardened again. “I’d rather be alone than take up with Hook. He could have gone to the Indians. No more excuses, Wendy. Slightly made his choice, now he gets to live with it!” Peter turned to the other boys, “Let’s go to the lagoon for a swim.”

Wendy sighed in exasperation, but followed the boys to the lagoon. She hoped to talk to Peter again, and thought that perhaps a swim would cool him off and make him more reasonable. But he refused to discuss it, and after awhile she gave up on trying to sway him.

“I’m going, Peter,” she said finally.

“Going where?” Peter frowned, looking up from the sandcastle he and the boys were building. They were having a contest to see who could build the best one. “You can’t leave, you’re supposed to judge!”

“I’m going to check on Slightly!” she said firmly, holding up her hand to silence him. “I don’t care what you think, Peter. If you won’t go with me, I’ll go alone.” She leapt into the air and began flying towards the ship.

She didn’t get far before Peter was in front of her, blocking her way.

“Don’t start, Peter,” she snapped. “Slightly is my boy, too, and I won’t believe it until I see it.”

“Suit yourself,” Peter answered, “I’ll show you.”

It took awhile for the two to slip about the ship unseen and find Slightly – they weren’t expecting him to be in the brig. Hook did catch sight of them (pink shows up really well on a pirate ship) and he smiled as a bit of mischief presented itself in his mind. He gave them a few minutes before going to the brig.

Wendy and Peter peered through the bars and stared at the sleeping boy. Slightly was wearing only his shorts and he’d kicked off his blanket, so it was easy to see his injuries. Blood had seeped through the bandage on his side. His entire body was bruised black and blue, and they could see scores on his chest and legs.

“Oh, Slightly, my poor boy,” Wendy moaned softly.

“You’re right, he is hurt bad,” Peter added, “We have to get him out of here.”

They began looking for a way to open the cell, but they had to hide when they heard voices approaching.

“You gave him rum?” Hook growled as he dragged Billy to the cell.

“He couldn’t sleep, he was too sore and he’s upset from everything that happened yesterday,” Billy stammered. “I didn’t think it would hurt him.”

“The child nearly bled to death and he has a concussion, and you thought getting him drunk wouldn’t hut him?” Hook scolded as he knelt by the bunk. Slightly stirred and whimpered, and Hook put a reassuring hand on the boy.

“If you’ve done permanent damage to my new weapon against Peter Pan, I will flay you alive!” the man snarled as he examined Slightly. He winced at the smell of the rum. Jukes had actually done him a favor: with Slightly inebriated and passed out, he could say things for Pan’s benefit and not worry about the boy refuting him.

Behind the crates, Peter’s face flushed in anger and Wendy covered her mouth as Hook continued to speak.

“Let him sleep it off. When he’s better, he will lead us to Pan’s house and secure his place in my crew.” Hook chuckled, “If I actually manage to dispose of Pan, I may adopt this wily child as my own son.” He picked up Slightly and turned to Jukes, “Prepare him a place to sleep, he’ll rest in my bed till it’s done. I don’t want him getting sicker down here.”

“Billy,” Slightly’s voice was low and thick with sleep.

“Yeah, cully?” Billy answered.

“Why does Peter hate me?”

Billy gave only the quickest glance at the crates, the only place Pan could hide if he was still here. “I don’t know. Probably because he’s a self-centered brat and he only cares about himself,” Billy winced and stared at Hook, “just like you said. But we’ll get them back, won’t we?”

Slightly didn’t answer, having only been talking in his sleep. Feeling like he’d betrayed his friend, Billy gathered the pillow and blanket and followed Hook to the deck.

Wendy held Peter while the boy cried. Peter was hurt, deeply hurt. It had hurt him to see Slightly so injured (it evoked memories of Slightly when he’d first found him so long ago). It had hurt him more to hear Hook’s plans for Slightly. But to hear Jukes’s description of how Slightly felt about him broke his heart.

When the tears stopped, he grabbed Wendy roughly and flew with her in his arms, not even bothering to hide his escape from the ship. Once in the air, he screamed out his anger and zoomed home, still clutching Wendy to him.

Hook chuckled when he heard Peter’s scream and he tucked Slightly in the bed. “Only one day and already you’ve helped me hurt him so much. You’ve already made it worth my while to save your hide. I just hope you make it worth my while to let you live.”

End Chapter 5