Chapter one
Killian had been sick for days, he was weak, tired, and nauseous. He spent most days wasting away in his bed while his wife Emma Swan and his stepson Henry (now 36 years old) looked after him. After almost a week Killian had not gotten any better, Emma and Henry decided to take advantage of western medicine and finally take him to the hospital. The two of them helped Killian out of bed with one person under each arm they half carried him into Emma's yellow buggy, as they entered the car Killian took a sharp intake of breath and fell unconscious into the car. They sped to the other end of Storybrooke to the town hospital where Killian was taken in and given a room.
"It'll be fine mom" Henry reassured Emma from next to Killian's bed where Killian lay, now conscious.
" We'll see once the blood tests come back" replied Emma cynically.
"Whatever happens I told you, love, I'm a survivor, Killian said weakly from the bed, taking Emma's hand.
"Well..?" asked Henry as Dr. Whale entered the room.
"The results came back and it looks like you have contracted polio."
Silence fell on the group. The three stared in awe.
"How could that be?" asked Henry still in shock
" No vaccines in the Enchanted Forest and the Jolly Roger isn't the cleanest places must have been in something you ate or drank there," responded.
" But as far as I know polio doesn't cause illness like this," said Henry.
" The kind that paralyzes would," responded.
"What?!" shouted Emma.
" The virus that Killian contracted destroys the nerve cells in the spinal cord causing muscle wasting and paralysis. Your luck,y you came when you did this could have been fatal even it had been left untreated for much longer. Unfortunately, the virus did get through some of your spinal cord, causing partial paralysis your legs. I'm prescribing you Analgesic for the pain, a Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for the fever and inflammation and a few days bed rest. Walking is not impossible but highly difficult and will require aids. However, I suggest that you still try whenever you can in order to avoid losing the motor functions in your legs completely. I assume that you have insurance? "
" Yeah" replied Emma quietly
"That will cover all other supplies needed for daily life from now on. I'll give you three a moment alone." and with that Dr. Whale left the room.
There was a silence in the room. Noticing Emma's facial expression of fear and shock Killian said,
" Its alright Swan we can handle this, after all, we've been through all that matters is that we are together." Emma smiled, but there were tears in her eyes.
"Come on, let's get you home," said Emma in an attempt to keep the mood light. "Henry, can you start on the paperwork I need to make a call." leaving Henry and Killian, Emma goes outside.
"Regina, meet me at your vault in 10 minutes" and with that Emma took off in the direction of the graveyard.
In Regina's vault, Emma explained all that had happened.
" Please don't tell my parents," Emma asked tentatively
" Don't tell them?! Emma this is huge, this will affect everyone in Storybrooke especially your parents," replied Regina in shock that Emma would ask this of her.
" Just for now we need to figure out how to deal with this ourselves first, I can't deal with their 'forever hopeful' shpiel. You know them you know that they won't give us space to figure this out ourselves. Please Regina just for a few weeks." pleaded Emma
"Fine." Regina agrees reluctantly " what do you need?"
"I need you to search for any spell that can reverse paralysis."
"I'll do what I can to ensure your happy ending stays as happy as it can be."