4

2 told Tinkerbell the entire story, at least what he knew and what 1 had told him, how the machines had revolted against the human race and attacked anything organic, from humans to plant life. The more they told her the worse she felt. Why has this happened and what was the cause?

The stitchpunks couldn't answer that question, though so she didn't bother asking.

"What about you?" 2 asked suddenly.

"Huh?" she looked at him confused.

"What's your story?" he asked suddenly, his optics suddenly focusing on her. "Where have you come from and why are you here?"

She was tempted to keep that to herself but figured, since they were nice enough to tell her their story she might as well return the favor.

5 and 2 listened to Tinkerbell relate her tale without making any comment. They both seemed spellbound by her story, as it seemed so strange. As she spoke, Tinkerbell studied their faces for any signs that they might not believe her and thought her entire story was a crazy fantasy tale she was making up as she went along. They couldn't exactly think that way since she was a tiny human like creature with wings, that alone put some truth to her story. Still, she couldn't be sure.

When she finished, she looked at them as if waiting for the two to make some kind of comment, whether positive or negative.

Finally 2 spoke. "That is one wild story," he remarked.

"Yeah, it's hard to believe." she shrugged, as if it was no big deal. It really was a big deal, though. "But it's the truth, whether you believe me or not."

"I didn't say I didn't believe you," 2 told her instantly. "I was just commenting that it is a wild and crazy story and I'm sorry you've gone through so much to find your friend."

Tinkerbell sighed, lowering her head. "But I haven't found Peter," she told them in a defeated tone. "I don't even know where to look anymore."

The two stitchpunks looked at each other. They both had the same thought but neither had the heart to tell her what it was...that Peter might be dead.

She noticed their looks anyway and frowned. "What is it?" she asked them.

"Oh nothing," 2 said, walking over to a wall to take down a pair of scissors. He needed something to do. "I was thinking about what you said just now. You've been through such a horrible ordeal it must be very hard for you, especially since you haven't found your friend."

The fairy nodded, looking down at her hands with a sigh. He was right about that. She was worried and a little scared. What if something awful had happened to Peter and that was why he hadn't been at the Darling's house? Had he and Wendy flown off somewhere? She knew Peter wouldn't leave Wendy behind at the house.

What if he...

No! she shook her head, she couldn't think such things! he had to be out there somewhere. Far out of harm's way. Maybe he'd gone and found a place to hide during the awful catastrophe and hadn't checked to make sure it was safe, yet?

I hope so!

2 was talking. "Excuse me?" she asked, her attention back on him now. "What was that?"

"I was saying; it's best you not let it worry you," he said. "I'm not telling you to forget about him, just focus on getting better for now. Once your wing is fixed and you're feeling better we can look for him." In honesty 2 knew it was very unlikely they would find him, and if they did, he'd be even less likely to be alive. The stitchpunk didn't say the last part, though.

"But what if he's out there hurt?" she asked him, her face reflecting the worry inside her. "Something could have happened."

2 looked at her, his face full of compassion. She cared so much about the boy... But, he wondered, what could she have done for him? She described him as a human and she was so small compared to him, she couldn't even carry him if she wanted to... he chose not to voice that fact either, not wanting to anger or upset her. "I'm sure he's fine."

"But you don't know," she reminded him somewhat harshly.

"No, I don't," he agreed. "But you can't lose hope. He wouldn't want you to do that."

He was right about that. But what was she going to do then? She couldn't go looking for him now and, if she did, she wouldn't get far with her broken wing and wounds. She nodded and looked back at her bandaged up wing. Even though 2 had done a nice job fixing it up she wasn't sure if her wing would ever work again. It might stay broken and she'd never be able to fly again.

That realization didn't make her feel any better.

The sound of her stomach growling interrupted her thinking. She looked down, embarrassed by the sound. 5 looked at her, somewhat curiously. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine!" she insisted quickly. Why did he have to keep asking her about how she felt? It was starting to get irritating. "Don't worry about me."

5 retreated with a quick apology.

2 looked at 5 and touched his shoulder, saying softly. "I think we should let her be alone."

The one eyed stitchpunk nodded and looked at his mentor. The older stitchpunk was right. He looked back at Tinkerbell. "Umm we'll be out in the hall, if you need us just um..." he had no idea what to tell her to do if she needed them. She couldn't shout for them because it might alert 1 and they didn't want that.

She shrugged once more, as if she didn't care what they did.

Once they were out in the hall 5 looked over at 2. "Do you think he could still be out there?" he asked him.

"She seems to think so," the older stitchpunk replied. "and who are we to destroy that hope for her?"

"But it's dishonest!" the one eyed stitchpunk began to protest.

"Not if he really is alive," he replied, glancing back at the door. "There could be a chance he didn't get killed by the machines or the poison. It's best we consider that option as well."

"How could he have?" 5 asked. "Surely you don't believe what he says about this human being able to fly?"

"It could be true," 2 responded. "After all she proved fairies are real."

"And they seem immune to the poison..." the one eyed stitchpunk observed.

"I've been pondering that." 2 peeked into the room watching Tinkerbell looking around the room with open curiosity. "I wonder how she managed that?"

5 had no way of answering that question. He wasn't even sure Tinkerbell knew.

000

Meanwhile elsewhere 7 was busy using a piece of flint to sharpen the blade on her spear. She was basically behaving herself and doing nothing wrong. After she'd told the whole story to 1, aside from the details of finding the pixie, he'd scolded her and informed the female stitchpunk if she and 2 did it again he'd punish them both.

She wasn't feeling like scouting the area anyway after just coming home so she hadn't argued though rebellion flowered in her chest when he'd been making the orders. But that was hours ago and she was now more calm.

1 appeared out of nowhere and decided to give her a hard time.

"Where have you been?" he demanded, storming up to her. "I've been looking for you!"

7 rolled her optics and didn't look at him as she continued her task. "I've been here all along," she replied, wondering why he'd been looking for her after he'd just spoken to her and given her the third degree. His memory must be going.. "Being a good girl and not causing any trouble, is there a problem with that?"

1 glared at her, obviously not believing her answer at all and disliking her tone at the same time. Maybe he thought she'd gone outside again and done something, since she was sharpening her spear and she only did that when she returned from a trip.

"If you don't believe me, ask 8," she replied with hostility. "He saw me."

The oldest stitchpunk folded his arms and remained silent. His squinted optics seemed to probe her for any sign that she could be lying. It made her feel annoyed and angry but she didn't engage him like she usually would. Her mind was elsewhere and she wasn't in the mood to fight with this thickhead.

But to her surprised, 1 didn't argue with her about it. Either he believed her or was just as much not in the mood for a fight as she was. Instead of saying anymore, he simply turned and stormed off, leaving her with a surprised expression on her face as she watched him do so.

Well.. that was different and a little unnerving. Did he know something?

She put the thought out of her head. Of course not! How would he have found out about the fairy? 2 and 5 were the only ones besides her who were aware she was there and neither of them would say anything!

0000

Tinkerbell sat on the examining table in the medbay going over her conversation with the two stitchpunks. They didn't think Pete was alive, she could easily figure that out by the looks on their faces, they just didn't want to hurt her by saying so.

I don't blame them, she thought to herself. They're wrong anyway. He's alive, I can feel it, and when I find him we're going back to Neverland and this whole thing will just be left behind as an awful memory.

The fairy sighed, wincing when her wings vibrated unconsciously, causing pain to shoot down her spine. Yeah, she couldn't go anywhere until those healed. If they healed, she remembered the time her wing got torn when she'd went to see her sister, Periwinkle, only a magical miracle had repaired it. Hopefully the outcome of this incident didn't end the same way.

"Oh, Peter, where are you?"

00000

2 and 5 decided to let Tinkerbell have some time to herself to do some thinking and went into the church courtyard to pick up a few objects off the scrap pile. They'd be using the items later on to finish making the telescope up in the Watchtower as well as replacing parts if they or the others in the sanctuary wore down.

The two stitchpunks worked in silence, their minds focused on other things, though the topic was still the same. The fairy inside the medbay. The duo quickly collected a few screws and gears then headed back into the safety of the church. It was never wise to stay outside for too long, unless they wanted to risk exposure. Even with the death of the humans and other living things, there were still machines to worry about and they didn't rest.

"Her chances of finding him are so small," 5 suddenly spoke up, more to himself than the elder. He didn't even seem to be aware he'd spoken out loud. "He could be anywhere."

"True," 2 replied, looking at him, though he was sure 5 hadn't been addressing him. "But we can only hope he hasn't gone far if he's still alive. He might have even headed back to that strange place she spoke about."

The look on 5's face told him that was what the one eyed stitchpunk was wishing for. "For her sake..."

"Yes..."

There was silence for a moment then 5 started up again with, "but if he is gone will she be able to deal with it?"

2 looked at him. "I believe she will," he replied patiently. "She's much stronger than she looks."

The younger stitchpunk had to agree with that, her fiery personality was obvious even when she wasn't riled. "But even so, it will still be dangerous once she's able to take care of herself again," he pointed out. "There are machines out here and she might run into more like she did before you and 7 found her."

"I wasn't thinking of letting her continue her search by herself..." his mentor said softly.

5 looked at him. "Are you going to go with her?" he asked, beginning to get a really bad feeling.

2 didn't reply which made 5 feel even worse. They both knew it would be dangerous to go out alone. 2 was a good fighter but those walker machines weren't easy to take down and the older stitchpunk wasn't exactly in the prime of his life... "You can't!" he exclaimed grabbing his mentor's arm in panic.

"I didn't say I was going to," 2 looked at the younger stitchpunk. "but if I did it's my choice."

5 knew he was right but that didn't make him feel any better. 2 was like a father to him, he didn't want the old inventor to go out and never come back. He wouldn't know what to do if that ever happened.

2 seemed to notice 5 was getting upset and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "I'll be careful," he told him, hoping to reassure him. "Don't worry about me. It'll be awhile before she is well enough to go out anyway."

"But what if 1 finds her before she is better?" 5 asked suddenly remembering the older stitchpunk. 1 was suspicious of newcomers. "He might have her thrown out or worse!"

"Oh, I doubt 1 would do such a thing," the elder said, looking at his apprentice. "He might be a little paranoid but he's not heartless. If he discovers her I doubt he'll have her thrown out, but we'll just have to ensure it never comes to that," he added before 5 could say anything more. He chuckled. "Better safe than sorry."

5 fell silent, not wanting to question 2's logic. The other stitchpunk knew 1 better than anyone else, since they'd been created close together. Plus 2 was the second stitchpunk aside from 7 to have more than a few conversations with him since they'd all found their refuge. Even so, 5 felt his mentor didn't know his brother as well as he claimed, the leader always seemed to be hiding something, something sinister.

"I hope you're right," he finally said.

2 patted his arm. "Come on," he said. "Let's get back inside before 1 realizes we're missing and starts to fret."

000

7 finished up with her spear and headed to the medbay area to check on their visitor. Hours had passed since she and 2 had brought the fairy into the building and she wanted to see how the girl was doing. Hopefully she'd pulled through and could tell her who and what she was and why she was there. The biggest question was she able to survive breathing in the air when everything else had been killed off by the poison. She wasn't a stitchpunk like 7 and the rest and yet she seemed immune to the toxins.

Maybe she has an immunity, the female stitchpunk thought as she padded slowly down the hall. That has to be it.

Why was a whole other question and she was pretty sure not even the fairy could answer it. 7 paused outside the medbay, listening for the sound of any activity inside.

It was quiet. 5 and 2 must be out, she thought before peeking inside. The fairy was laying down on the examining table, seemingly asleep. The female stitchpunk pulled back, not wanting to wake her. It would be best not to disturb her.

"What are ya doin'?" a voice spoke behind her making her nearly jump out of her fabric. She spun around and found 8 behind her, giving her a curious look.

"Nothing," she replied, calming down. "I was just looking for 2."

"He not in there?" he asked, looking confused.

"Obviously not." she shrugged. "He and 5 are probably busy working on the elevator."

"Okay." he seemed content with that and walked on, not even looking into the room.

7 sighed in relief, at least that crisis was averted for now. She looked back into the room. Tinkerbell was still sleeping, their conversation hadn't woken her.

Good.

She decided to talk to the pixie later and moved away from the room. Best to wait for a much better time.