Second Date

Chapter 34: Magical Lips

Chapter 34: Magical Lips

Jim ran to Wendy. He flew at first; turning her over, propping her against his knee, lifting her chin, and brushing poison from her mouth. But as he investigated, Jim slowed. He read every evil sign and stopped.

"She's...gone." Jim breathed. "She's gone. She's gone I can't believe she's - "

Abruptly, Jim looked at Captain Hook.

"Is there a reason he's still standing?"

Flynn flipped his frying pan. "Nope."

They fought the good fight. And they fought it dirty. Rapunzel strangled Captain Hook with her hair. Merida sprayed him with arrows. Flynn tried to force feed Hook his frying pan. And Ariel just punched.

"Great Scot and Mother of England!"

Galloping over Nana, Mr. Darling charged into the hurricane. Furiously, he wrestled Flynn for the frying pan. "What the devil goes on here? You heathens -- barging in at ungodly hours! I say! I SAY! Release Captain Hook! Be gone from my home! Be gone afore I unleash the Disney brigade - "

"George!" Mrs. Darling shrieked. She pointed as Jim lifted Wendy onto the bed. "George! George! It's Wendy! Oh my baby - my little girl!"

Mrs. Darling swept across the room. In her hysterics, the poisoned apple went unnoticed.

"Wendy? Wendy, my darling? Oh! George!" Mrs. Darling clutched her mouth. "George! She's not breathing!"

"Not breathing?" Mr. Darling shouldered through Jim. As Jim ducked to the window seat, Mr. Darling touched Wendy's head. Immediately he jumped. She was ice cold.

"What the - " Mr. Darling probed Wendy's neck. After a pause he seized her wrist, searching for a pulse. He repeated the motions until his fingers were sore, but he could not find a heartbeat.

Nana sensed the distress. Propping at the bedside, she licked Wendy's cheek. When the girl did not respond, Nana whimpered imploringly. But neither Nana nor Mr. Darling could bring Wendy back to life.

"Good...good lord." Mr. Darling's voice dropped. Stupefied, he stared between Captain Hook, Hook's captors, and his sobbing wife. Something atrocious had happened in the heart of his household, but Mr. Darling was clueless who to blame.

Then, he saw Peter Pan.

"That boy!" Mr. Darling stood before the bed. He growled furiously as Jim carried Peter to the opposite side. "That filthy street-rat! This is the last straw! He has harmed my daughter! I'll see that Peter Pan never shows his disgusting face in Disney World aga - WHAT are you DOING?"

Jim ignored Mr. Darling. Weaving passed Mrs. Darling, he gently set Peter beside Wendy.

The Darlings erupted.

"WHAT!" Mr. Darling roared. "ARE you DOING?"

"Take him away!" Mrs. Darling cried. As Nana barked, she tried to pull Wendy from the bed. "Take that dreadful boy away from here! He's bewitched Wendy! He's - "

Jim took Mrs. Darling's arm.

"Go get Mickey Mouse." he said.

Mrs. Darling blinked. Tearfully, she cradled Wendy. "Go? And leave my baby? Here? - with him?"

"Yes." One hand on Peter, Jim eased Wendy back to her pillow. "Now. Go get Mickey Mouse."

"Young man!" Mr. Darling snarled. "Unhand my wife! And remove that infernal Peter Pan so I might throw him out the - "