Hook

"Time's up, Crocodile."

- Hook to Mr. Gold

Captain Hook, also known as Killian Jones, is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He débuts in the fourth episode of the second season. He is portrayed by starring cast member Colin O'Donoghue, and does not have a Storybrooke counterpart.

Hook is based on a character of the same name from the play, Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up.

History
As a young boy, Killian Jones and his father plan to sail and explore other worlds together on a ship. Unfortunately, Killian receives an emotional blow when his father secretly disappears during the night to avoid capture as a fugitive and leaves him to fend for himself.
 * -|Before the Curse=

Killian grows up to become a Lieutenant of a ship named the Jewel of the Realm and is invited along for a sea expedition with his brother, Captain Liam Jones. On orders of the king, they must travel to a far off island and obtain a plant, Dreamshade, rumored to heal any affliction. On way there, they is attacked from behind by two other ships firing cannons. To escape them, Liam commands for the sail to be released down, which is made of Pegasus feathers, and glides the ship off the water's surface into the clouds.

The Jewel of the Realm lands back into the ocean once they approach the island. Then, using a small boat, Killian and Liam paddle to the shoreline. While assessing their surroundings, a young boy, Peter Pan, takes them by surprise. After Pan affirms he lives on the island, Neverland, Liam introduces himself and his brother while briefing on their mission, at the behest of the king, to procure Dreamshade. As Pan looks at the plant drawing, he attests Dreamshade is dangerous and comments that their king must be really ruthless, but Liam pegs his claims as nonsense while Killian chimes in it's medicine. However, Pan presses the plant only leads to doom and exemplifies how easy it is to kill an entire army with poison instead of a messy onslaught of bloodshed in battle. Beginning to have doubts, Killian tugs Liam aside to discuss the possibility Pan is telling the truth, though his brother doesn't buy it. Liam takes back the drawing and makes off deeper onto the island. Killian follows behind, though he turns back to see Pan waving him off.

At the top of Dead Men's Peak, they find a large batch of Dreamshade growing along the wall. In a misguided attempt to put his brother's worries to rest, Liam purposely cuts himself with a branch of Dreamshade. Passing out from the rapidly spreading poison, Killian is panic-stricken and pleads for Pan's help until he parts a horde of Dreamshade thorns to allow passage to the island's remedial spring. As a catch, Pan gives a fair warning that they should not leave Neverland unless willing to pay for the price of magic. Killian promises whatever the price, he'll give it. He hurries back to deliver the water to Liam, who is completely healed by it. He turns to repay Pan for his services, but the boy is nowhere to be seen.

Journeying home, Liam proposes they must shed their king's true colors in sending them to collect poison, however, he collapses after the Jewel of the Realm leaves Neverland's seas. Dying in Killian's arms, his body is later thrown into the sea. Liam's death has a profound effect on Killian, who takes his place as captain of the ship and renames it the Jolly Roger. Killian reveals to the crew what type of man their king is, to which everyone agrees they need not serve someone so horrible any longer and embrace the life of pirates "with honor" instead.

During his many adventures as a pirate, Killian and his crew stop in a town tavern where a woman named Milah frequents. They become acquainted and begin gambling and drinking together. Killian entertains Milah with stories of the lands he has visited. One day, they are interrupted by the appearance of Milah's husband, Rumplestiltskin. Rumplestiltskin asks Milah to come back home with him, though she refuses. Killian comments how Rumplestiltskin is taller than Milah had described. Rumplestiltskin and Milah's son, Baelfire, who had been told to wait outside, comes into the tavern calling for his mother. Seeing her son, Milah forfeits her stay and goes home. The next day, Killian and his crew seemingly kidnap Milah, but in actuality, she goes willingly with them. Not knowing the truth, Rumplestiltskin goes to his ship to plea for his wife back. Killian references himself as a man with a code of honor, and if Rumplestiltskin can fight him and win, he will allow Milah to return home. When Killian throws the sword to Rumplestiltskin so they battle man-to-man, the latter backs out of the duel.

Several years later, Killian returns to the same tavern where he met Milah and proceeds to drink and enjoy a good time with his crew. In the alley outside the tavern, he is bumped into by a seemingly helpless beggar, whom he makes fun of by referring to him as a crocodile. The beggar begins to laugh hideously, and casts off his cloak to reveal he is none other than the Dark One. Rumplestiltskin asks for Milah, and at first, Killian feigns ignorance of knowing a woman by that name, but then, he lies and states she died many years ago. However, Rumplestiltskin takes his words as truth, and challenges him to a sword fight. Confidant in a victory, the Dark One also takes Killian's sword and remarks there'll be something poetic about killing him with it. During the duel, Rumplestiltskin gains the upper hand and, plunges his hand into Killian's chest; preparing to rip his heart out.

At this moment, Milah makes her presence know and orders Rumplestiltskin to stop. She proclaims to possess the magic bean once owned by William Smee if he will spare both her own as well as Killian's life. She also reveals Killian is her lover, and joined his crew of her own free will. Rumplestiltskin agrees to the bargain and will meet them on Killian's ship, the Jolly Roger, the next morning. He threatens Killian's crew will be the casualties if the pirate himself decides to flee. The next day, Milah offers Rumplestiltskin the bean, but they get into a heated dispute about why she left. She admits wrongdoing in letting her own desire to be out of the marriage take precedent over the well-being of their son, Baelfire. However, Milah spitefully says she never loved Rumplestiltskin. When he moves towards her in a fit of rage, she tosses the magic bean to Killian, who clenches it in his fist as he watches Rumplestiltskin rip Milah's heart out. He runs to her side and holds her as Milah professes her love for him with her last remaining strength. She dies in Killian's arms as Rumplestiltskin crumbles her heart into dust.

Rumplestiltskin demands the bean, but Killian angrily refuses. In response, Rumplestiltskin cuts off Killian's left hand, which he believes holds the bean. In agony, Killian cries out in pain, then grabs a hook near Milah's corpse and drives it into Rumplestiltskin's chest. Unaffected, rhe Dark One laughs and disappears in a cloud of dark red smoke, leaving the hook to clatter onto the deck. In a rage, Hook takes the hook and replaces his left hand with it before burying Milah at sea. Then, he tosses the magic bean, which was concealed in his other hand, into the sea, where it creates a portal. As he sails the ship to the portal, Killian states he and his crew are going to a place where youth is eternal. When Smee asks the name of this place, Killian, now Hook, says, "Neverland".

Upon Baelfire arriving at Neverland via being carried by a being called the Shadow, he manages to ward the creature off with fire. As a result, Baelfire falls into the ocean and an approaching ship spots him in the water. The crew throw a rope to pull him aboard. Sputtering and confused, Baelfire awakens to meet the captain of the ship, Hook, and one of his crew members, William Smee.

Hook hides Baelfire below deck in a vent when Neverland's lost ones, led by Felix, climb aboard to search the ship for a certain boy Peter Pan is looking for. With casual complice, Hook allows Felix full range to check all the rooms below deck. When he does not find the boy, he has no choice but to leave empty handed. After the lost ones are gone, William Smee approaches Hook and is against his decision in not handing over Baelfire to them. Hook states he's not about to lose his only chance at revenge when he has the Dark One's son on his ship; showing he is aware who Baelfire is. He develops a friendship with Baelfire and teaches him how to steer the ship. Their likenesses are made even more clear when Baelfire tells Hook the truth about who and what his own father became. From this, Hook learns of the Dark One's dagger and if Rumplestiltskin himself is stabbed with it, he will die. Baelfire is upset as it's the only thing his father cares about now and even chose his only son over it. Seeing the boy's disappointment and hurt at being abandoned by his father, Hook comforts him by detailing the story of how his father, too, left him alone.

Hook's close kinship with Baelfire is ruined when the boy finds a drawing of Milah and demands to know how he knows his mother. Unable to hide the truth, Hook spills about the true fate of his mother, who ran away to be with him because they were in love, but she died when Rumplestiltskin tore out her heart and crushed it. Hook tries to alleviate the betrayal of lying to Baelfire by telling him about how Milah used to always speak of going back to get her son so that the three of them could be together. He believes the two of them can live out her dream and become a family. Baelfire doesn't care and wants to get off the ship for good. Since he can't go back to Wendy and her brothers, Baelfire opts to go to Neverland. The rejection hardens Hook from other emotions and revenge becomes his main and only focus. Bitterly, he thanks Baelfire for helping to see the thing he truly cares about is killing Rumplestiltskin.

Sometime later, Hook returns to the Enchanted Forest and breaks into the Evil Queen's palace to procure information from Belle on where Rumplestiltskin hides his dagger. Belle has no idea what dagger he is talking about, so he knocks her out and prepares to kill her for being so useless, but the Evil Queen steps in and informs Hook that she plans to cast a curse that will transport everyone to a land without magic, where Rumplestiltskin can be destroyed much more easily. In exchange for this revelation, she asks that he travel, via Jefferson's hat, to Wonderland and rip out the heart of her mother, Cora. To do this, the Queen enchants his hook, providing it with the magic to remove only one heart. She requires that her mother's corpse be returned to the Enchanted Forest, so she sends a dead soldier with him.

Upon arrival at Cora's palace in Wonderland, where she is known as the Queen of Hearts, Hook attempts to rip out her heart, but she has since removed and hidden it elsewhere. He then tells Cora that her very own daughter Regina sent him to kill her. Eventually, Hook is swayed into a partnership with Cora, when he learns it will be impossible for him to enact his revenge in the Land without Magic, as he would no longer remember Rumplestiltskin, let alone what he had done. However, if he would help Cora get close enough to Regina to rip out her heart, Cora promises to transport Hook to this new land with memories of his hatred for Rumplestiltskin. Hook returns to the Enchanted Forest with Cora, who feigns being dead, and he presents the body to the Queen. On the Queen's request, he leaves the mausoleum so she can say goodbye to her mother. Cora hears her daughter's last confession and decides not to kill her, which calls for a last minute change of plans. She and Hook return to the Enchanted Forest, before the casting of the Dark Curse, to an island over which Cora casts a protective shield that keeps them and all of the Safe Haven's inhabitants safe from the curse. There, Hook learns from Cora, that they will be frozen for twenty-eight years until the curse is broken.

In the present day Enchanted Forest, Hook stands by a seashore near the small island hamlet where the survivors of the dark curse live. Cora approaches and shows him the ashes of the wardrobe. They talk about using the ashes to get them to the other world. Hook says that Cora will get to meet her daughter and he will get to skin a crocodile, referring to Rumplestiltskin.
 * -|After the Curse=

When Emma, Mary Margaret, Mulan and Aurora come to Safe Haven, they discover Hook beneath a pile of bodies. He attempts to deceive the four of them by saying he survived Cora's attack on the camp by playing dead and that he was a blacksmith who had lost his hand in an ogre attack. Emma is not buying his story and puts a knife to Hook's throat, saying that she can tell when a person is lying. She ties Hook to a tree, whistles for the ogres to come get their bait, and begins to walk away. Unable to best Emma, Hook reveals his true identity as a shocked Mary Margaret pulls his hook out of his satchel. Hook admits to working with Cora, but offers to join forces with Emma and her team as he knows a way to get to Storybrooke. Most of all, he wants to go to Storybrooke to get revenge on Rumplestiltskin for taking away his hand. Emma decides to cut him free. Then, he leads them to a giant beanstalk stretching up into the sky, and explains there is an Enchanted Compass at the top, but first they must deal with the giant guarding it.

Hook tells the four women that he possesses a counter spell from Cora, which was originally intended to allow only her and himself to climb the beanstalk, so therefore he can take but one other person with him. Emma volunteers, and he slaps a black cuff on her wrist that glows gold briefly before allowing her to climb up with him. On the beanstalk, Hook asks Emma about her past, but she is reluctant to reply. Hook knows she has a son, but also guesses that Emma herself is an orphan and does not want to leave Henry in the same situation. She asks how he could possibly know that, and Hook states while in Neverland, he spent time in the company of a group of orphans known as the Lost Boys, so recognizing another orphan comes easily. He probes Emma on the subject of being in love, though she replies it's never happened for her.

At the top of the beanstalk, Emma and Hook arrive in the realm of the giants. Emma asks why the place is so run down and Hook asks her what she knows of giants. Emma mentions knowing the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. After hearing her brief synopsis, Hook states while her version is a good tale, that's not quite how it happened. He fills her in on the lore of the Enchanted Forest of a man named Jack who led an invasion of the giants' realm, killing all but one giant. When Hook sees Emma's hand cut from the stalk, she brushes it off as nothing, but he doesn't think so. Emma wonders if that means he wants to be a gentleman, to which Hook shrugs it off and states the giant can smell blood and points out he already is a gentleman. As he cleans her wound, Hook starts working up a plan on how to get the compass from the giant. Emma doesn't think the idea is worth it, so she suggests they could use the poppy dust Mulan gave. While Hook passes her the powder, Emma spies a tattoo on his arm for Milah. Hook alludes it's in memory of someone he knew long ago. Emma realizes he loved Milah, and Hook notes that for a woman claiming not to have ever fallen in love, she is perceptive about the subject. Emma acknowledges she may have been in love once.

To lure the giant out, Hook takes a human bone and uses it to pound on a massive metal shield. The noise annoys the giant, who comes storming out and sees Hook. He begins taunting the giant as a cover to lead him towards Emma. The tactic works, and Emma manages to knock the giant out by throwing the dust in its face. At first, Emma believes Hook to have been crushed by the giant, but he is alive and congratulates her on knocking the giant out cold before they proceed inside. They wander through the giant's lair, with Emma looking for the magical compass, while Hook seems to have more of an eye on the treasure. Emma snaps him out of it, though Hook tucks a golden coin in his belt. They stumble across the skeleton of Jack the Giant Killer. All that remains are his bones, a few tattered bits of cloth and a large sword with Jack's name inscribed on it. As Hook prepares to search further, Emma notices a tripwire and stops him in his tracks. Hook takes this as a sign of affection from her, which she strongly denies.

Hook spies the compass sitting on top of a golden bird cage, and asks Emma to give him a boost, to which she retorts the one fetching it should be her, not him. He requests Emma to trust him, but suddenly, they hear the sound of the now awakened giant, pounding up and down, behind them. Roaring in fury, he storms towards them as his movements loosen stones from the ceiling, which fall and appear to crush Hook.

After fighting and trapping the giant, Emma releases him in exchange for the compass and a promise to delay Hook from immediately following her down the beanstalk. The giant, Anton, obliges to her wishes since she is the first human he has encountered in a long time that isn't out for blood. Freeing Hook from under the rocks, Emma shows him the compass, but as he reaches for it, she tucks it into her coat pocket. Then, she clamps a manacle on Hook and voices her distrust in him. She turns and leaves as Hook shouts for her to come back and free him.

Later, Hook manages to escape the giant and climbs down the beanstalk. Landing on the ground, he finds Cora waiting for him. The two talk, and Hook illustrates how he planned to bring the compass to her, but Emma took it away and left him. Cora believes Hook has betrayed her, which leaves him wondering if she will kill him, and dares her to try. Instead, she feels satisfactory in leaving him alone in the Enchanted Forest with his vengeance unfulfilled. He moves to attacks her, but she disappears, leaving him face down in the dirt.

Hook earns back Cora's trust by sneaking into the cell of her prisoner, Aurora, and ripping out her heart. When Aurora awakens and is startled by his presence, he graciously frees her, though she has no idea of what transpired while unconscious. She wonders why he is letting her go, and Hook discloses Cora's failure will be gratifying to him. He asks Aurora to deliver the message that his deal with Emma still stands, and still wants to help her back to the land without magic if he can go as well. Later, in the cell, Cora comes in to find Hook, and detonates he was the one who freed Aurora. For his insolence, she binds him to the wall with preparations to kill him, but Hook remarks she should be thanking him as brought her a gift. He instructs her to look in the satchel. After opening it, Cora is delighted he procured Aurora's heart for her. Using it, he and Cora listen to Aurora and her three companions speak. They learn about the foursome's next journey to Rumplestiltskin's old cell to find squid ink, which will entrap and render Cora powerless. Cora congratulates him on taking out a heart, and Hook proposes they continue to Storybrooke together. Once Cora agrees, he leaves, presumably to get the compass from Emma.

With Aurora's heart in hand, Cora manipulates the girl into triggering a switch to lock all four of them in Rumplestiltskin's old cell. Out of the darkness, Hook and Cora make themselves known. When the three women attempt to confront Aurora over her "betrayal", Cora unveils Aurora's heart from beneath her cloak and squeezes it as a test. Hook confronts Emma about leaving him atop the beanstalk. She tries to make him reconsider, but Hook is not interested and shows her a "souvenir", a magic bean, which was procured from the giant's neck. Tauntingly, he affirms she is very much like the bean as it was once magical and full of hope, but is now "dried up, dead, and useless." Hook makes it clear he's done with her, and leaves with Cora for Lake Nostos.

Once there, Cora has Hook dump the wardrobe ashes into the waters of Lake Nostos, thereby fusing the ashes with enough magic to open up a portal. Ready to jump in, Cora asks Hook to hold onto the compass in her hand or else he'll end up somewhere that is not Storybrooke. However, Mulan stops them in time by firing an arrow, and shooting the compass out of Cora's hand. He and Emma fight for the compass while Mulan battles Cora. Mary Margaret attempts to find a good angle to aim her arrow, but cannot with everyone's sudden movements. To evade Mulan's attack, Cora disappears within a cloud of smoke leaving behind the satchel that holds Aurora's heart. Momentarily, Mulan manages to catch it on the tip of her sword, but Hook, mid-fight, and using Emma as a counter weight, literally bends backwards over the portal and catches Aurora's heart. He tosses it back to Mulan, and attests to being a pirate, but still bristles at the thought of a woman losing her heart unless over him. Mulan, on Mary Margaret's urging, hurries back to return Aurora's heart as Hook and Emma continue their sword-fight. At one point, Emma is pinned down by him. She tolerates another one of his innuendos until revealing the compass in her hand, and promptly knocks him out cold.

After the portal closes following Emma and Mary Margaret's ascent home, Cora looks at the waters of Lake Nostos in disappointment. However, Hook once again reminds her of his "souvenir" and the waters will restore magic to the bean, which can then transport them to Storybrooke. While the newly reunited Charming family enter Granny's diner in celebration in Storybrooke, Hook's ship emerges through the fog gliding across the sea surrounding Storybrooke with Hook and Cora on board.

At the Storybrooke harbor, Hook stands on the dock as Cora disembarks his ship. They discuss his desire for vengeance against Rumplestiltskin and that matters are a bit more complicated now that magic is in Storybrooke. A local resident of Storybrooke approaches and admires the ship, to which Cora uses her magic to conceal it from prying eyes and turns the man into a flopping fish. Then, Hook kicks the fish into the water.

Sometime later, he and Cora observe Regina leaving the diner alone after her talk with Emma. Hook asks if her daughter is broken, and Cora says not yet. To set the plan into motion, Cora masquerades as Regina and sets her up for the murder of Archie.

Aboard his ship, Cora tells Hook she has brought him a gift that will make it easier for him to gain information about Storybrooke and Rumplestiltskin. Cora takes Hook into the ship's hold and shows him a captured and bound-up Archie. When Hook asks who she actually killed, Cora has no knowledge of who it is as she has only been in town for a short time. Cora smiles wickedly at Archie and says there are ways to make a cricket chirp.

Below the deck of the Jolly Roger, Hook demands Archie for knowledge on the dagger. Archie pleads ignorance on the topic, and Hook sees he is telling the truth. However, he knows Rumplestiltskin must have a weakness, and threatens to "dissect a cricket" if Archie does not talk, which he agrees to do.

Later, when Belle enters the library, she finds Hook casually reading a book near the back. When she informs him the library is not open yet, Hook remarks he's not here for books. Immediately, Belle recognizes him from her previous life in the Enchanted Forest when he broke into her cell in the Queen's castle. She attempts to run, but Hook follows and blocks her escape through the front door. Hook admits while he still wants to kill Rumplestiltskin, she will "do for now". Hastily, Belle pushes the book cart, which falls upon Hook and knocks him down; giving her time to run into the elevator. As Hook bangs on the door from the outside, Belle calls Mr. Gold for help, but when he arrives, her attacker is mysteriously gone. Without Mr. Gold's knowledge, Hook deliberately drove him to rescue Belle from the library so Smee could steal Baelfire's shawl for him.

When Belle discovers Hook's ship, she releases Archie; uring him to find Mr. Gold, and begins to search for the shawl. From behind, Hook mockingly holds up the shawl. Belle motions for her gun, but Hook grabs it first. After a bit of observation, he seems to understand its workings and points it at her head. When Belle declares she is not afraid of him and questions whether he has hurt Rumplestiltskin enough, he chuckles and begins to reveal the truth about Milah and how she died, although she is resistant to his words. She knocks him into the hold and runs up to the deck, though Hook arrives there first. Suddenly, Mr. Gold approaches and begins beating Hook, who openly taunts his cowardice. Horrified, Belle pleads for him to stop now that the shawl is in safe hands. Hook is left in a battered bloody mess as Belle and Mr. Gold leave the ship.

After Mr. Gold has successfully crossed the town line with the enchanted shawl, he bids Belle, who is standing just on the other side of the line, good-bye. Suddenly, Hook shoots at her, causing her to fall across the town line and into Mr. Gold's arms. Magic passes over her, and she loses her Enchanted Forest memories. Then, a car speeds past the town line, hits Hook, and swerves to the side of the road.

Shortly thereafter, Emma arrives at the scene of the crash. Mr. Gold is enraged at what has unfolded and hurts Hook further by crushing his already broken ribs. Emma notices his condition and takes him to the Storybrooke General Hospital, along with the stranger who crashed into Storybrooke.

When Hook later awakes in his hospital room, he is interrogated by Emma. She asks him about the location of Cora, Hook comments and deflects her questions with by flirting with her. Emma gets frustrated and psychs him out moving forward quickly making Hook regret it with the pain of his ribs. He then admits that he has no idea where Cora is and she has her own agenda. He inquires after his hook and flirts with Emma about certain attachments when Emma notes that he's a chipper especially after his accident and failure on revenge. Hook notes he's done damage towards Mr. Gold by hurting Belle. Nonetheless, he finds the blow well worth it since Rumplestiltskin started it all by killing Milah. As a last word, Emma gives him a threat about how Mr. Gold is still very powerful and Hook himself could be dead within the year because of what he did.

Having recovered from his injuries, Hook is taken out of the hospital by Mary Margaret, David and Leroy who question him about Cora's plans. He agrees to take them on his ship, and the group pass the invisibility spell to find a giant who was kidnapped, shrunk down in size, and trapped in a cage by Cora. Hook continues to deny knowing anything about Cora's plans and tells them to ask the giant. Mary Margaret opens the giant's cage and assures him it will be alright. When he sees David, Anton the giant, recognizes him, and he knocks him down. Mary Margaret starts firing arrows and Hook escapes in the confusion.

In the hopes of contacting Cora, Hook places a Queen of Hearts card on the ground. Instead, Regina appears. She blames him for not killing her mother, but admits they have made amends. She asks if the townspeople have found his ship and Hook says Cora should ask him for herself. She asks Hook if Cora's things are still on his ship and Hook specifies the giant has escaped. From this, Regina devises a plan to use the giant to her advantage in causing trouble in town.

Hook barges in on Regina and Cora, asking if Rumplestiltskin is truly no longer in Storybrooke. Regina and Cora confirm this, and Hook is eager to leave Storybrooke and seek him out to kill him, as Mr. Gold has no magic outside Storybrooke. Cora promises he will have his vengeance, but to do so, Hook must team up with her and Regina to find the one thing that can control Mr. Gold--the Dark One's dagger.

After Regina retrieves the call number for a book in the library from Belle's purse, Cora and Hook meet her there and search for the book indicated on the yellow index card. They do not find a book, but Cora pulls out a treasure map. Hook states that they are lucky that he knows how to handle a treasure map, and he proceeds to outline the area where the dagger is located. As the trio makes to leave, Cora uses her magic to fling Hook against the back wall of books, knocking him unconscious.

Awakening, Hook takes matters into his own hands by going to the Storybrooke jail, where he attacks David, steals keys and uses them to open a drawer where his hook is kept. Reattaching it as his missing hand, he leaves and sails the Jolly Roger to New York. Tracking Mr. Gold to an apartment complex, he knocks Emma out of the way to stab Mr. Gold with his hook, which is coated in Dreamshade, stating he took Milah and his happiness from him, and now Rumplestiltskin's life is his. Emma manages to knock Hook out before he can hurt Mr. Gold any further. Neal runs down the stairs and sees the scene, recognizing Hook. To keep Hook from harming anyone else, Emma locks him in the Neal's storage closet while they make plans to sail back to Storybrooke on the Jolly Roger.

Later, Neal notifies Emma that when his fiancée, Tamara, went to get her bags from the storage closet, Hook was not there. In truth, though Neal and Emma are under the impression Hook somehow escaped, he is actually taken hostage by Tamara and Greg. They sneak him into Storybrooke via hiding him in the back of a truck, and want to use him for their own means.

On the top level of the clock tower, Tamara and Greg tie Hook to a chair. He guesses they are going to interrogate and torture information out of him, and laughs at the situation. Hook doesn't care about following their rules as he believes he has already accomplished his life's goal of killing the Dark One. Tamara and Greg show him the truth by easing his chair close to the clock tower's face and handing him a telescope. Hook uses it to peer down onto the ground level of the town, and becomes enraged seeing Mr. Gold alive and well walking beside Belle. Greg makes him see he cannot win against the Dark One unless he has help, and if they help him, he must also do as they want. Greg wants Hook to get close to Regina under the pretense of becoming her ally, which he agrees to do.

Hook comes to Regina in her office and pretends to spill Tamara and Greg's secret plan of wanting him to become aligned with and betray her later on. He gives his condolences upon hearing of Cora's death, and pulls at Regina's heart by talking about the one thing Cora wanted for her daughter was to see her win. Regina lets Hook in on her escape plan from Storybrooke by using magic beans to go back to the Enchanted Forest. Before she leaves with Henry, Regina wants to activate a "fail-safe" that will eradicate the whole town and its inhabitants. Hook asks if the "crocodile" will also perish, which Regina confirms.

Hook and Regina travel down to the basement level of the clock tower where inside a cave hides the "fail-safe". Hook grimly talks about how revenge is all he is living for, and once his vengeance is fulfilled, he'll have nothing to live for. But, Regina believes otherwise; that after vengeance is a fresh start. She notices Hook is wearing her mother's armband, and demands it back. Inside the cave, Regina explains the "fail-safe" is guarded by Maleficent, and the magic in the cave prevents her from dying so she can continue to keep the "fail-safe" from intruders. Hook becomes Maleficent's bait and distraction after Regina pushes him into her pit. Despite stabbing Maleficent, she regenerates and reforms into a bigger version of her current self. Using unknown means, Tamara and Greg save Hook from her.

Hook is waiting in the library by the time Regina makes her way back up from the cave to the ground floor of the clock tower. She is astounded he survived, but he states that's the thing he's best at. Hook reveals he felt a genuine connection when she spoke of starting over with a new life after vengeance, and it almost made him put a stop to his "plan". Upon further inquiry, he unveils it as Tamara and Greg's plan, and they walk into the room to face off with Regina. Despite Regina's attempts in using magic against them, it does not work as the armband is designated by science to cancel out magic. Hook lets Greg take the lead in speaking to Regina, and watches as Tamara, on Greg's orders, puts a bag over Regina's head and take her to an unknown location.

Greg has Regina tied up with the intentions of torturing her until she admits where his father is. He asks Hook to give him a hand, "preferably his good one". Hook refuses, telling Greg that he will only help them when they're interested in killing Rumplestiltskin, before walking off.

Hook is incredulous Greg and Tamara plan to use the trigger to bring about the destruction in town and murder everyone just to get rid of magic. With his own safety at risk, too, he aligns himself with David, Emma, Mary Margaret and Regina. The trigger can't be stopped, but Regina can slow it down. David suggests the delay will give them more time to steal back the remaining beans from Greg and Tamara, use them to open portals, and traveling to the Enchanted Forest. Emma points out no one knows their current whereabouts, though Hook chimes in he knows. To keep the pirate from betraying them, David goes along with him.

Outside the cannery, they witness Greg burning documents. Inside the building, David threatens to pull the trigger unless the beans are handed over. As Greg pulls out a small clear bottle containing them, Tamara ambushes from behind and shoots, though David manages to dodge while getting grazed by the bullet. Hook tackles Greg to the ground; causing the bottle to break on the floor. While David chases after Tamara, Hook wrestles for the beans and eventually grabs one while Greg makes off with the other.

Hook catches up to David, who was just bested by Greg. David is upset at their failure, but Hook shows him the bean he was able to get and puts it into his belt container. This does little to cool David's anger at letting Greg and Tamara escape, but the latter attempts to calm him down. Rejecting Hook's words, he grabs the box containing the bean and stalks off.

Returning to the diner, where some of the townspeople are grouped, David gives Emma the news about the procured bean. Henry questions where his adoptive mother is, and Emma tells him that she is in the mines slowing down the trigger, but will not be able to make it out. This cause anger on Henry's part since Regina will basically be left behind as everyone else escapes to the Enchanted Forest. He points out this situation isn't any different from the Wraith attack, which gives Mary Margaret the idea they can use the bean to send the trigger to another dimension. After much debate, Mary Margaret sways Emma into getting Regina out safely. As David tosses the boxed bean to Emma, Hook snatches it in mid-air. Not settling for wasting time and energy on saving someone who clearly wants to die so others can leave the trigger's catalyst, Hook declares he is leaving alone. Emma reasons that he's only ever known to rely on himself as she has, but they are going through with the plan whether he is a part of the group or not. Impressed by her speech, Hook forks over the bean, or so he makes it appear. In actuality, he gives back the box, but hid the actual item for himself. Then, he asks the real reason she's going out on a limb for Regina. Emma tells him Henry's father is now dead and vows to not let her son lose his mother. To Hook's surprise, he is finding out for the first time that Neal, who was known to him as Baelfire, is Henry's father.

After this conversation, Hook gets back on his ship and plans to use it to save himself from the trigger that is destroying town. On deck, he notices the wood indentation on deck where he carved "S" for starboard and "P" for port when he taught Baelfire how to steer the ship. He is reminded of the genuine affection he had for the boy and how he once cared for someone, and decides not to use the bean to make his getaway. Confronted at the docks by Emma, Mary Margaret, David and Regina, he forfeits the bean. Emma still has the impression he has only ever cared for himself, but Hook says he needed some reminding of his own capability to care for others. He allows them to board to start a journey in traveling to another world to find Henry, who has been kidnapped by Greg and Tamara and taken to another land.

Aboard the Jolly Roger, Mr. Gold directly asks Hook if he's done trying to kill him. Grudgingly, Hook responds affirmatively, and the two trade glares. Then, Mr. Gold uses the globe to track the realm Henry is currently in—Neverland. After Hook casts the magic bean into the water to open a portal, he, David, Emma, Mary Margaret, Mr. Gold and Regina set sail for the land.

Journeying through the portal, Hook steers the ship until it lands in the nighttime waters of Neverland. Cautiously, everyone on board looks around to assess their new surroundings until Emma asks aloud if they are at the proper destination, which Hook affirms, as they sail towards an island.

On deck, Hook slows down the moving pace of the ship, and in doing so, perks Regina's attention. She chastises him about taking his time while Henry's life is in danger. Hook reassures her he's simply trying to bring them to the far side of the island that is linked with the widest part of the river and sail right through to shore to take Henry's captors by surprise. Recalling who else is on traveling with them, Hook bitterly remarks of the irony of having spent unmentionable amount of time trying to leave Neverland and hunt down Rumplestiltskin, and instead, his sworn enemy is now a guest on the Jolly Roger back to the same land. He states it's not the happy ending his hopes were pinned on. From this, Regina is reminded of something Greg said to her; that she is a villain, and those in this category don't get happy endings. She asks if Hook believes that to be true, but he hopes not or else they've wasted their lives.

At the railing, David and Mary Margaret talk with Emma and convince her they will find Henry, though Mr. Gold coolly interrupts to state that won't be happening; drawing Hook and Regina's attention as well. From behind the steering wheel, Hook notices the older man swapped clothes for his old Rumplestiltskin outfit, and scoffs what a great use of their time that is for. With a calm determination, Mr. Gold announces his intent to get Henry back on his own. Annoyed, Regina reminds him they agreed to go on the search and rescue together, but he replies there was no such agreement. Mr. Gold asserts Emma has never truly believed in her parents, in magic, or even herself, and this is what will be a complete failure in her rescue of Henry. Deciding he would do better off on his own, Mr. Gold disappears to the island with a spin of his cane.

Below deck, Hook walks in on Emma doing pull-ups. When asked what she is doing, Emma says it's preparation for a fight. He declares she doesn't appear to be someone who needs strengthening for battle while Emma gives him a look and stops her workout routine. Hook adds what he means is to not be so down from Mr. Gold's earlier words. Sitting down to rest, Emma asks what he wants. Hook mentions he has something to give her, and briefly talks about having spent time with Baelfire, though Emma maintains she only knew him as Neal. He offers her a blade that once belonged to Baelfire, which makes Emma question when Hook became so sentimental. Hook states, in fact, he simply thought she might need a weapon and nothing more. Then, he places a small cup in her hand and pours rum for both of them. They make a toast in Neal's honor. Sitting across from each other, Emma asks how much time he spent with Neal. Hook says it was long enough to miss him, too. Suddenly, a loud rumbling and pounding against the ship causes alarm, and they both hurry to the deck to see what's happened.

Assessing the situation, Hook realizes what is happening and ushers everyone to prepare for attack. Having no idea what he means, Regina expresses confusion, but Hook urges her to grab a weapon. High pitched screeches ring from beneath the waves, and Emma asks what is out there. They all look over into the waters to discern what creature it could be, and see bodies of swimming mermaids, which only Hook is unsurprised to inform them of. He attempts to quicken the ship to outrun them, but there are too many. David goes to fill a cannon with ammunition and repeatedly fires it at the swarm of mermaids while Mary Margaret and Emma throw a fishing net into the sea and catch a mermaid on the line. As they pull the creature in, Regina remarks it's only one, and takes matters into her own hands by continuously conjuring fireballs into the water until the other dozens of mermaids disperse away from the ship. Still struggling with the weight of the mermaid on the fishing line, Regina hauls and teleports it onto the deck. Disgusted, Hook calls for the mermaid to be thrown off his ship, but Regina disagrees as it might be helpful to have a hostage. David sides with Hook and wants the creature away from them. Regina proposes they should find out why the mermaids were attacking while Mary Margaret wonders if she means to torture it, to which the latter is open to. Sneakily, the mermaid grabs a conch shell that was also tangled in the fishing line and blows into it to signal a warning; eliciting the sound of thunder from the sky as a response. She threatens them all with death if they don't free her. David attempts to interrogate the mermaid about what exactly she did by sounding the shell, while the half-fish half-human being pleads to be let go. Regina refuses, and warns she will use force if no answers are given. Frustrated, Mary Margaret states threatening someone isn't a way to get a response, though Hook clues everyone in that a mermaid's word absolutely cannot be trusted. Mary Margaret suggests perhaps the mermaid is afraid of Pan and letting her go would be best, but Regina hints if that happens, it's just as likely the whole horde of them will be swimming right back to kill everyone. With an air of confidence, the mermaid sneers she doesn't need her friends to slaughter them, and they will do it themselves.

Unexpected loud thunder claps brewing from the sky startle everyone; making Hook realize the mermaid previously called the storm to arms. Using authority with a sword, David presses the creature to stop the storm, and then they will let her go. She refuses, and an impatient David moves to prepare slashing open her neck as Regina incites him to go through with it. However, a shocked look from Mary Margaret deters him away from doing so. During Hook's struggle to motion the ship into speeding away from the storm, more bickering follows Mary Margaret and Regina's disagreements over what to do with the mermaid. Eventually, Regina decides for the group to freeze the water nymph into a wooden statue so the storm disturbance will cease, but instead, speeds it up into a downpour of rain and gigantic sea waves.

Emma tries to help Hook turn the ship at the steering wheel when tensions are reaching a breaking point with Mary Margaret and Regina. Their ongoing dispute over whose fault it is for the current situation turns into an all-out jab of personal remarks until they both begin trading physical punches. David hurries over to break it up, but Hook incurs his wraith by using an unintended insult towards Mary Margaret, and the two start a fist fight. Emma tries to stop it, but even her attempts at informing everyone the real reason for the storm's cause—everyone's animosity towards each other—falls on deaf ears. Too busy brawling, neither Hook or the other three notice anything is amiss until they all see Emma jump head first into the water. In the process, a rigging rope pulley block snaps from the sail and falls into the water; knocking Emma unconscious. Panicked, Mary Margaret requests Regina to bring her up, but she is unable to without knowing Emma's exact location underwater. David volunteers to retrieve Emma, which quickly helps assemble a group effort to tie a rope around his waist so they can pull him in later. Beneath the waters, David grabs hold of Emma and surfaces; signaling Hook, Mary Margaret and Regina to haul them back onto the ship. The hard work pays off, and both are out of harm's way. On the soaked deck, Emma's parents cradle her until she finally comes to just as the ocean begins to calm and the moon peeks from behind the dark sky.

The Jolly Roger, damaged by the storm, causes a change of plans, and those on board take a rowboat towards the island shoreline. On their ascent off the boat, Regina advocates towards another alternative plan instead of going through the jungle; she can fix the ship with magic and follow through with what Hook intended to do. Emma thinks it'd be better to save up the magic for later use, and notes they should stop running away as Pan already knows of their presence. She proclaims Mr. Gold was correct in that Neverland is fueled by the power of believing, and it didn't sit right that everyone was busy being at each other's throats to be believers. Emma also admits she was wrong, too, and the best thing is to not believe in magic, but in each other. Quizzically, Regina interprets her words to mean that, after all strain in their relationships, she wants to be friends. Emma doesn't expect that, and states there doesn't have to be friendship; just cooperation to save Henry. David doesn't think they can with Hook and Regina, but she insists it's possible to succeed by being who they are and sooner or later each person's individual skill will be needed. Regina questions what Emma's skill is. Emma responds, in turn, that she is a mother as well as a leader, and to help her get Henry back or step aside. With that, she walks off into the jungle. David and Mary Margaret quickly follow suit as does Hook, and Regina trails behind.

While treading through the jungle upwards to a cliff ridge, Regina mentions she could have easily used magic to bring everyone to the present area, but Hook points out there are hidden dangers in an unfamiliar location. He asserts only he himself has proper knowledge to guide them through; a judgment Emma trusts because of his previous residence in Neverland. As David progresses in the lead of the hiking expedition, he swipes stray branches and twigs out of his way with his sword to allow himself and the others to bypass forward easily. Seeing a bushful of thorns blocking a path, he prepares to slit them into pieces, but is blocked by Hook. David insists he can handle it, though the pirate familiarizes everyone with the actual danger in a substance, Dreamshade, oozing from the thorns. He mentions it is the same poison, in a concentrated dose, once used on Mr. Gold and in Dreamshade's natural form, death will be much more painful and agonizing. Hook advises they go left, but David ignores the recommendation and chooses the right path as Mary Margaret and Regina follow; leaving Hook and Emma. Teasingly, he says her father is very distrustful of others, but Emma's opinion is David isn't used to working with enemies. Avouching himself, Hook promises that while they are on the island, he is not one of the bad guys. Even so, Emma counters Pan isn't supposed to be, either. He wonders where she got that idea, and Emma indicates the impression came from stories heard as a child. Hook corrects the pretense by stating Pan is the most treacherous villain he's ever faced. Curious about other fictional incarnations of himself, Hook asks her what he is like in stories; aside from being a handsome villain. Unamused, she leaves him to decide if perms and waxed mustaches are his thing. Hook ponders aloud if her tone indicates perms are a bad thing.

Up ahead, the ridge allows them to get a view of the island, but Hook is unable to discern anything as everything looks different since he was last present. With the effort of the journey wasted, David proposes they begin combing the sections of the island, but Hook puts them off from the plan as the Dark Jungle is not safe to travel through and suggests taking the path around it. Seeing as everyone's strength is likely depleted, he decides it's best to set up camp for the night. Regina demands if resting is the answer while Henry is still out there, which Hook agrees it is if everyone wants to live long enough to find him. Tiredness overrides the drive to continue the search as they call it a night.

The group sleeps through the night on makeshift beds, but only Emma awakens and has a face-to-face talk with Pan, who offers her a map to Henry, but only if she stops denying her true self. Later, everyone awakens to the news of Emma's encounter. Hook muses Pan likes his games, but Regina is in disbelief since the map clearly has nothing on it and brings up the possibility it will lead to a trap. Hook points out Pan doesn't need to do such a thing since the whole island is rigged. From behind, David and Mary Margaret arrive back after finding no sign of Pan anywhere. As Emma is having no luck deciding what to do next, Regina deems the whole charade to be one of Pan’s tools to distract them from looking for Henry, and prefers to try using magic on the map. She moves to take it, but Emma stands her ground in following the given instructions; a move Hook agrees with as breaking Pan’s rules are unwise. Grudgingly, David echoes Hook’s sentiments, to which the pirate deems the latter is becoming more trustful of him.

Emma tries her hand at unlocking the map by voicing out loud truthful statements about herself with encouragement from David and Mary Margaret to dig deeper to unearth the more uncomfortable facts about herself, including the biggest of them all, which Hook doesn't understand, so Regina tips him off on the "s" word. Preparing herself, Emma firmly declares she is the savior, but the map remains unmarked with no response. Preparing herself, Emma firmly declares she is the savior, but the map remains unmarked with no response. Tired of playing games, Regina snatches the map and casts a locator spell on it to guide them to Pan's current location.

They follow the map through Dark Jungle to an area shaped like a pit, and at the center standing with his back towards them appears to be Henry. Emma calls out to him, but as the boy turns around, it’s revealed to be Pan dressed in Henry’s clothes. Pan, displeased at the breaking of his rules, sets the Lost Boys to circle Emma and the rest of her group into battle. Hook counsels everyone to be on the lookout for the Lost Boys’ arrows as they are laced with Dreamshade. As everyone else defends themselves against the onslaught, Hook duels with Felix. A moment later, at the sudden pierce of a whistle, all the Lost Boys round up to Pan’s side. Pan reaffirms the map will only show a path once Emma stops denying who she is, and makes off with his gang.

After the scuffle with the Lost Boys, Emma manages to unveil the contents of the map. From looking at the map, Hook deducts Pan's camp is in the northern part of the island, but traveling there will be bound with impediments. David suggests preparing for what is coming up, though Regina isn't so sure about their way of doing things. Emma allows her the opportunity to disagree, but reasons their best chances are through working together. With a strategy planned, the group breaks apart to assemble for leaving. Hook offers Emma a drink of rum and asks how she unlocked the map. She states it worked by following what Pan told her to do. Notably, he wonders who she really is, but Emma isn't interested in sharing that information. When she hands him back the rum, Hook tells her he wouldn't mind knowing, but Emma leaves wordlessly.

Heading straight north to the site of Pan's lair, Emma unravels the map to see how much further away they are, when the destination on the map changes to a location far behind them. Hook informs the group Pan has just moved his camp. Emma comments the entire journey was a waste, so Regina brings up a faster way to reach Henry; namely by using magic to transport everyone there and grab him. The suggested plan is rejected as, per Hook's knowledge, Pan will likely have shields against magic and that kind of attempt would only result in everyone's death. Regina considers what he has in mind instead, so Hook explains they can track down a fairy Pan trusts as she might be a good inside source to get them into the camp with pixie dust. At this, Emma thinks he means fairy dust. David clears things up by explaining pixie dust is much stronger and is akin to nuclear fairy dust, which helps Emma to realize the fairy they are looking for is Tinker Bell. Alarmed, Regina thinks it's a bad idea, but once again, she's in the minority and eventually goes along with the plan.

With Hook in the lead, he stops to wait for Emma, Mary Margaret and Regina to go ahead, but when David walks past while covering his chest, he confronts him about the wound. David feigns ignorance until Hook says he clearly saw what happened when the arrow struck him earlier in the fight with the Lost Boys, and asks to see how bad it’s gotten. Making sure the others are not near, David pulls up his shirt to show the cut has turned black and is spreading further out. David wants to know how much time he has left, which Hook estimates to be days or weeks at most, though he definitely won’t make it to summer. Hook insists it might be better if David tells Mary Margaret, but he strongly refuses, and instead hopes Tinker Bell’s pixie dust can heal him.

Since Regina stays behind to rest in the jungle, Hook and the others progress to Tinker Bell's tree house. Inside, Hook climbs up first to make sure it’s safe and then allows everyone else to follow. David proceeds to look around for the pixie dust, but Hook points out there is no way Tinker Bell would just leave it lying around. While getting used to the tree house surroundings, Mary Margaret finds it strange Tinker Bell needs a ladder when fairies are known to have wings for flying. From sleuthing, David finds a white cloth, which Mary Margaret recognizes as Regina’s. Emma pieces together that Tinker Bell was tracking Regina, and they rush off to rescue her.

They ambush Tinker Bell outside a cavern, but Regina arrives to attest to the fairy's innocence. However, Regina states Tinker Bell won't helping them infiltrate Pan's camp. Hook chides the fairy for not assisting him after all they've been through in the past, but Regina comes clean that Tinker Bell no longer possesses magic, pixie dust or her wings. Through much discussion, Emma and Mary Margaret promise if Tinker Bell gives a hand to their cause, she can make a new home in Storybrooke. Tinker Bell agrees to the deal, and announces her intentions to enter Pan's base as well as leave an opening for them, too. Later that night, the group settles into their campsite along with Tinker Bell.

At the camp base, Hook listens with rapt attention as Emma uses a stick and a drawing on the ground made of dirt and stones to elaborate on Pan's headquarters. Emma drills that once Tinker Bell talks her way in and gives the signal of a clear coast, they will be sneaking in from the back. Tinker Bell adds they will still have to deal with any Lost Boys inside. With contempt, Regina states a few children with pointy sticks can be handled just fine. While folding up a blanket, Tinker Bell promises it's not the sticks that are a cause for concern, but the poison they're dipped in. At this mention, Hook gives David a vigilant and knowing stare. Mary Margaret recalls it must be the Dreamshade Hook previously told them about. As Tinker Bell goes on to forewarn that even so much as a nick will cost any one of them their lives, David hastily intercedes to conclude they understand that poison sticks equal inevitable death. He asks when they will be putting the plan into action, to which Tinker Bell is all up for it, but also wants to be filled in on the escape route off the island. Her question is met with silence and perplexed looks between members of the group. She re-asks to be sure, though Mary Margaret answers they were planning on figuring it out at the last minute. Tinker Bell emphasizes there's no point in going forward with the plan if there isn't a way out of Neverland. Firmly, Regina responds they will figure it out, but Tinker Bell vouches no one ever leaves the island without Pan's permission. David ensures when it relates to family, they always find a way. Seeing as no one is taking her cautions seriously, she pulls out a watch from her pocket and states it was from the people who brought Henry to Neverland. Hook learns the fates of Greg and Tamara ended in death once they were of no more use to Pan. Tinker Bell schools the group on the severity of what Pan does to people he employs and what he could do to them. She contests the risk is not worth it for herself unless there is a way off the island and asks to be notified once they figure it out. After Tinker Bell strolls off back to her tree house, David prepares to call her back, but Emma stops him. She sees reason in Tinker Bell's words and believes it might be unwise to break into a place without knowing the way out, which Neal once taught her. David directs questioning onto Hook on how he made it out of Neverland before. Hook affirms he did so aboard his ship, alas, the portal used to leave was made from magic acquired in a deal with Pan and it doesn't seem likely the same bargain could be repeated a second time. Regina inquires if this means no one has ever truly left without Pan's say so, but Hook brings up Neal once did.

In order to find out, they set off to reach a cave Neal once inhabited. They reach a steep rock ensnared with vines. Hook asks for Emma’s help in lending a hand, even though David enlists himself for the job. Together, the two men work to pull down a rope. Hook perceives David is not looking well, though his comment is taken lightly by the recipient. Their efforts yield the opening of a cave door, to which everyone begins making their way in. However, Hook holds back David to ask him how much longer he is going to keep up the charade as well as his family’s due in knowing about the wound. David doesn't see the point with no way to stop the poison in his body, which means there is no hope. Hook remarks that the one thing he’s learned from “hero” types is hope never dies. From this, David senses Hook is holding back information, so the latter states the cure is a world apart and with no way of getting off the island any time soon, it is impossible. David advises no word of their conversation can slip out because the only thing everyone else needs to worry about is getting Henry back.

In the cave, Hook hurries in to light a torch, with help from David’s lighter, which brightens up the wall decorated with various drawings. Instantaneously, Emma determines Neal must have lived here as a boy. Hook suspects there are clues in the cave to show how he escaped Neverland.

While looking over the drawings, Emma comments she had no idea Neal liked drawing. Hook attests he got from his mother. Later, she returns with a lit candle for closer inspection of the wall, while Hook guesses the drawings were just a way for the boys on the island to pass time. Emma, with a pensive expression, realizes he knew Neal, when he was Baelfire, pretty well, to which Hook agrees with since they spent a fair amount of time together.

Looking over some items left behind in the cave, a peculiar looking half coconut with holes turns out to be a perfect fit with Emma's candle holder. After the torch is snuffed out, the two halves are combined to kindle a recreation of a night sky of constellations that proves to be an escape route map. However, though Hook did teach Neal how to navigate using the stars, he is unable to actually read the encryption pattern and the only who could is the map maker himself, which is Neal.

With no way of using the map, everyone gives a more thorough search in the cave for something else that might be able to help them. Emma spots a large set of drawn on tally marks behind a bed. As she pulls away the covering, Hook asks if she needs a hand. She perceives him to be starting a joke, but he is serious and lifts the bedding away to expose the marks on the wall. Hook observes Neal counted how long he was trapped in Neverland. Upon closer look, Emma guesses Neal stopped marking the days because he got off the island. On second thought, she realizes the actual reason is due to his dimming hopes of ever leaving, so there was no merit in continuing to count. Regina's interest is piqued by Emma figuring that out from a bunch of scribbles. Emma admits she did the same thing while growing up being placed in foster care homes one after the other. David supposes Henry must feeling the exact same way right now. Although they are working towards rescuing him, she determines Henry himself is not aware of that and he needs to be given a sign his family is coming. Regina doesn't see a way around when there are Lost Boys constantly trying to kill them. On Mary Margaret's suggestion, they could use it to their advantage and files out of the cave to show them her idea.

Emma moves to follow, but Hook wants to speak with her first. In a heart-to-heart, he speaks from experience of knowing what it's like to lose hope, too. Uncomfortable, Emma shuts down the conversation by calling him out for attempting to bond with her as something she's not interested in. After she is gone, Hook takes a moment to gather himself before turning to go as well. David steps back into the cave to proclaim Emma is never going to like him and judges him harshly as nothing but a pirate.

By the campfire, the group begins weaving a large net out of vines. Hook can't take his eyes off Emma, who awkwardly glances at him, and resumes work. Regina is dubious a trap for a Lost Boy is going to lead anywhere, though Mary Margaret's plan is to show retaliation by firing back at their attackers. As David comes back from the jungle carrying more vine, Hook expresses doubts at the probability any Lost Boy will betray Pan. Mary Margaret ignores his advice while Emma states they need more vine. Heading back to collect more, David implores Hook to tag along. Hook mouths back in defiance, but Emma presses they need more rope. He makes a grand gesture of bowing and going as "the lady insists"; annoying David further and drawing a curious look onto Emma from Mary Margaret.

While David grabs handful of vine, he warns Hook again to stay away from his daughter. Hook indicates Emma can take care of herself and doesn't need his parenting, which is a good thing. David asks what he means. Stating the obvious, Hook points out he's going to die in a day or so. Still not accepting the reality of the situation, David swears if he does die, it'll be in helping his family and is certain that's something Hook could never understand. Hook tries to bring up a possible way to save him, but David believes it'll only lead everyone off the main course of getting Henry back. He accuses Hook of being selfish instead of thinking of what else is at stake. Fed up, Hook deems himself in harm's way for every second he's in Neverland risking everything for them. David rejects his excuse as he knows Hook's real reason for being here is Emma. He promises to do everything in his power to keep Hook from getting her. Smirking, Hook jeers it's good that he'll die soon, to which David takes swing at him, but the latter ducks. Already very weakened, David passes out as Hook catches and carefully places him on the ground.

Hook snaps him back to conscious with a dose of rum, though David rejects the offer of drinking more. Unable to stand up, Hook helps him to lean against a wall and forces David to show him the Dreamshade wound once more. From studying the abrasion, he assesses it's nearly spread to David's heart and that means there are only hours of life enough. Even at Hook's insistence to tell his family the truth now before it's too late, David doesn't want to and insists on doing whatever he can to be useful. Hook keeps him from trying to move any further than necessary and in the process, purposely drops his brother's military insignia that David picks up shortly after. He perpetrates a story of how his brother lost the insignia during a duel with Pan on Dead Man's Peak. Hook supposes it washed down from the storm that wrecked the Jolly Roger when they came to the island days earlier. Then, he feigns perplexity over the fact the insignia survived after all these years, and it's possible his brother's satchel did as well, which contains a sextant useful for decoding Neal's star map. David decides to make it his last mission to nab the item and makes Hook come along so if he dies, at least the sextant can be given to Emma.

Hook and David head back to inform everyone else about the change of plans. Emma is all set to go looking for the sextant, but Hook heeds the importance of getting a message through to Henry. At this, David says only he and Hook will be fetching the sextant and says last farewells to Emma and Mary Margaret.

On the way to Dead Man's Peak, Hook probes David on the current state of his health. David tells him to worry about getting to the sextant, though Hook is actually talking about how he handled saying a final goodbye to his family. David establishes he did it out of love and hopefully Mary Margaret will eventually understand. Hook asks if he means to tell his family that from beyond the grave. Alternatively, David wants Hook to memorialize him as a hero fighting for their way home, and warns against telling them he left already a dead man. Hook doesn't see why he should help him, so David recounts it was his theft of the magic bean that led Greg and Tamara to making off with Henry as well as everyone leaving Storybrooke for Neverland. Hook abstains from the argument, and unlike himself, considers David lucky to have the chance to say goodbye to his loved ones. His words help David figure out Hook lost someone, too. Hook ignores his comment and upon reaching the peak base, he identifies how they will be climbing up; with himself going up first and throwing down a rope line. David guesses he lost a brother; reminiscing about his own twin sibling, who passed away before they ever met. Hook muses two of them would be a disaster as he can barely stomach one as it is. Chuckling, David believes Hook might've liked him since he was a thief and liar, too. To this, Hook remembers his brother as a stubborn man.

Hook ascents the peak and prepares to throw a rope line for David when Pan appears for a chat. He proposes a deal for Hook to come back and work for him. Hook notes he doesn't miss the old days of being under his employment, even so, Pan offers to give him and someone else, namely Emma, a safe crossing out of Neverland. Still, Hook points out Emma could never leave her son behind. Pan remarks she did once and if it happened again, Hook can be there to help her pick up the pieces. Reminiscing about their past business relationship, Pan sees the present as a perfect opportunity to restart the affiliation, though Hook doesn't care. Knowingly, Pan can distinguish Hook is indeed interested because he is good at survival. When Hook questions what is required of the job, Pan cites a bit of dirty work, which he will reveal in time, but firstly, wants him to seal the deal by killing David. Hook glosses that either way David will die soon from the effects of Dreamshade. Pan contends he wants to see him murdered in cold blood. Hook answers by challenging his authority, so Pan reminds him of what happened the last time he came to the island and didn't listen. Before taking off, Pan pulls out Hook's rum flask and tells him to come to a decision by having a drink. In the nick of time, Pan disappears as David climbs up. Hook scolds him for not waiting. However, David suspiciously questions if he was just speaking to someone. Hook brushes it off as an old habit of talking to himself.

At the peak cliff, they round the corner to a massive patch area of Dreamshade thorns. Hook stands back to let David cut through them, but finds a sword drawn in his face. David reveals he overheard his discussion with Pan and doesn't trust Hook not to follow through with the orders. Pushing the sword tip into Hook's neck, he demands the sextant. Hook comes clean with his lies about the satchel and how he planted the insignia so David would find it. He also professes to going to that extent just so David's life can be saved. Nonetheless, David believes Hook brought him to the peak to die and throws the first punch. To stop things from escalating, Hook knocks David unconscious.

Then, Hook slices through the Dreamshade thorns to retrieve some of the remedial spring water hidden behind it. He wakes David, who begins pushing him away, but listens when Hook shows him the water that can save his life. Before handing it over, Hook tells David the water's power is from the island, and once consumed, he can never leave. David perceives it's small price to pay for the chance he'll have of saving Henry and help his family return home. He drinks the whole canteen until the Dreamshade begins to physically disappear from his body. Helped up onto his feet, David asks why Hook risked his life when there is nothing to benefit from it. Hook jokes he didn't do it for him.

Hook and David report back safely, though they startle Emma, Mary Margaret and Regina, who mistakenly believe intruders are approaching the camp. David has an happy reunion with Mary Margaret as the two kiss frantically. Looking away in disdain, Regina inquires where the sextant is. Hook announces Pan got to it first. Pulling away mid-kiss, Mary Margaret asks what happened to cause David to become overly affectionate all of a sudden, but he entices her back into their make-out session. Gawkily, Emma is painfully embarrassed at their display while Regina mumbles what she wouldn't give for another sleeping curse. Finally, the two lovebirds break apart as David publicizes how Hook saved his life. Hook questions if he's sure about telling them. Nonetheless, David stretches the truth by saying on their trek up the peak, they were ambushed by Lost Boys, but Hook did everything in his power to keep him from being hit by a Dreamshade arrow. After procuring Hook's flask, David makes a toast to him, takes a sip of rum and hands it over for Mary Margaret to do the same. Then, it is passed to Regina, but she has no inkling for drinking rum and walks off into the distance. Instead, Emma takes a drink. David and Mary Margaret go off to be alone; leaving Emma and Hook together once more. She asks if he really saved David's life. He wonders if that fact surprises her. As she hands back the flask, Emma illustrates he and David haven't been the best of mates. Even so, Hook indicates it doesn't mean he'd leave her father to die, to which she gives a sincere thank you. Flirtatiously, he steers her towards giving gratitude on another level; drawing a smile from Emma, who replies that's what the thank you is for. He japes that David's life is only worth that much to her. Emma believes Hook can't handle it, the attraction blooming between them, but he professes she's the one who has been unable to come to terms with it. Sparks fly, and Emma pushes Hook into a long, passionate kiss. She diverts away stating this is only a one time thing, despite the hurt look on Hook's face, and leaves him. Trotting off, Emma requests he not follow her, and for the time being, gather up some firewood. He promises to do as she wishes while Emma secretly smiles at his response.

Trivia

 * The casting call describes him as, "A handsome, fearsome and confident pirate ship captain, Hook relishes every challenge and never backs down from a fight, whether the reward is power, riches or women. He possesses the meticulous style and old-school manners of a proper gentleman, but beneath that veneer lies a vindictive enemy who will not rest until all his enemies have been defeated… and humiliated."
 * His wardrobe is inspired by the electronic band Depeche Mode.
 * The name "Killian" is of Irish Gaelic origin derived from the name "Cillian" and itself derived from the word "ceall" that means "church".
 * The surname "Jones" is of Welsh origin derived from the given name "John" and itself derived from the Latin name "Johannes" that means "God is gracious".
 * Hook is one of very few Enchanted Forest characters to have a known surname.
 * Has a tattoo with Milah's name on his right wrist.
 * Has a deleted scene from "In the Name of the Brother" showing Hook's confused reaction in seeing the food product Jell-O for the first time.