I initially made the Dr Emma and Deputy Killian gifset to remind myself what I loved about Captain Swan and then wanted to write the story, figuring it would be a long one-shot. Well, the muse apparently had other ideas. I'm anticipating 10-15 chapters and while I'm leaving it at a T right now, I just have no idea if it will stay or float into the M range. This story is truly writing itself and I'm just along for the ride. I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 1
The word cloak means to hide, cover or disguise and is something we all have. We use it to wrap around us keeping others from seeing the real person that lies beneath. What differentiates us, as individuals, is the type of cloak we have and how we use it.
Emma picked up the last box, locked the door behind her and dropped her keys in the mail slot for the manager of the boarding house she had called home for the last four years. Good riddance, she thought, as she stowed the box in the back seat of her yellow bug and climbed behind the wheel. Storybrooke, Maine was a long way from Champaign Illinois, and she for one was glad.
Once she was on the highway, she let her mind wander back over the last few months, still not sure how she had gotten so lucky. Who would have known that answering a help wanted ad her first summer of school would lead to an opportunity of a lifetime?
Initially, her job was just to take care of the animals that resided on a farm not far outside of Champaign where she was going to veterinarian school. But as time went on, she learned that the farm belonged to one of the professors who had started the University of Illinois program and after retirement, he split his time between his farm in Illinois and a small private practice in Maine. For the past year, she and two of her classmates had been interning with ole Doc Gold for what had only been described as a premier position for any new graduating student. It wasn't until their internship had come to its end, that they learned what the position was: owner of a small private practice.
It hadn't been easy, as Doc Gold was a task master, wanting things done his way. Plus, her classmates, Neal Cassidy and Victor Whale, had done everything they could to make her look bad and take responsibility for any and every suggestion she had made. But her perseverance had paid off and when Doc Gold handed her the keys, it had felt right. "And Storybrooke Pet Hospital is all mine." she whispered crossing the state line into Indiana.
She had a week before she was supposed to meet with Doctor Thatcher, who would hand everything over to her and then she would no longer be Doctor Emma Swan, Veterinarian, but Doctor Emma Swan, Owner and Veterinarian. She had come far and after a few days in New York City visiting her best friend from college, Elsa, she was going to work her butt off on the rest of her dreams. Goals equaled success had always been her motto.
Graduate from High School. Check
Graduate with her Bachelor's. Check.
Get into Veterinarian School. Check.
Graduate from Veterinarian School and pass her licensure exams. Check.
Get a job. Check. Check. Double check.
Pushing in the CD that held her 'motivational' songs, she cranked up the volume and sang along, "Risin' up, back on the street..."
~~~cs~~~
Killian Jones signed his name on the last report with a flourish and added it to the stack in his outbox. He had officially survived his first tourist season and now, according to his mates in the Sheriff Station, life would go back to being boring.
"All done, Killian?" Ashley, the cute office clerk, asked picking up the stack of files and adding them to the pile she was already carrying. At his nod, she continued, "I'll get these filed."
Killian winked, "Thanks, love." He noticed the pink tint cover her face and unconsciously his smile grew. Sometimes it was just too easy he thought, glancing away from her to look at the clock. "Hungry, Dave?" He called to his partner, David Nolan. "I'm going to run to Granny's."
"Sure, get me the usual." David answered barely looking up from the report he was reading.
A quick check of the temperature had him forgoing his jacket and after shutting down his computer, he slipped on his sunglasses and stepped out into the bright September sun. The first thing he noticed was the noise, or lack thereof. Gone was the loud music. Gone was the constant chatter in the distance. And gone were the crowded roads with lines of cars, in both directions, as far as the eye could see.
"'Bout bloody time," he groused stepping off the curb to make his way to Granny's.
In comparison to the previous week, his walk was quick and after waving to Archie, out walking his dog, and Maurice, the local florist, he stepped into Granny's diner, his favorite lunch spot. With his paperwork completed, he figured he deserved a longer lunch, if the opportunity presented itself, and quickly perused the interior for the right distraction.
"Hi Killian," he was greeted by Henry, who had spent the summer in town but would be leaving soon for college.
"Henry!" He greeted the young lad and after exchanging a series of complex hand slaps, he gave his order and sat down at the bar. "This is the slowest it's been since March." he complained.
"Yeah," Henry agreed sullenly. "There go my tips though."
"Aye, I can see that." Killian acknowledged sympathetically. "When do you head back to school?"
"Next week," Henry told him, just as 'order up' was called over his shoulder.
After paying for his food, making sure to leave a nice tip for Henry, Killian waved goodbye.
If someone would have told him a year ago, that his life would do a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn, he would have laughed in their face. Yet here he was, living in Storybrooke, a small picturesque town in Maine, and enjoying it. The town's busy season that brought forth a cacophony at all hours of the day and night, had added a variety of flavors to his life, but now that it was over, he was interested in seeing what was next. Supposedly, the winters were the quiet time when everything seemed to stand still, and he was alright with that to a point. He didn't need much, just a little sun, a little music and a little company to keep him entertained. If he remembered correctly, several of his acquaintances were full-time residences of Storybrooke and they always seemed willing. There was the Lovely Lady Bell, the Charming Cleo, the Magical Merida, the... before he was able to list any others, a bright yellow bug drove by, music trailing in its wake, capturing his attention.
He watched the yellow car disappear around the corner, wondering who was driving. Was there someone new coming to town? A new challenge for him to tackle? He hadn't seen the car before and the music...not something he had heard in a while...if forever.
As the day continued, the melody that had followed the yellow bug played off and on in his mind, but he couldn't put any but a few words with it. He hummed a note or two, then added, "...must be true." Then he hummed a few more notes, adding, "...one that I want. ...one I need." more times then he cared to admit.
"Killian," David bellowed, "What the hell are you singing?"
"Some bloody song that won't leave my head." Killian snapped, disgusted by the whole idea. He looked up at his partner and friend and went on to explain, "On the way back from lunch a car drove by and the bloody music is stuck right here," he smacked his forehead with the palm of his right hand.
David laughed, "Hell, I'd be pissed too if that song was stuck in my head. Was it a chick driving?"
Killian shrugged, "No clue. Just saw yellow and heard the music."
David leaned over his shoulder, pulling up YouTube and locating a video, "You're welcome, Lover Boy."
Killian listened to the music, watching the dark headed man and blonde female gyrate while singing, "The woman has big...hair." He smirked.
David just shook his head before disappearing back into his office.
Killian pressed play to watch the rest of the video, his mind already conjuring up images of a beautiful woman behind the wheel of the car.
~~~cs~~~
Emma had been surprised and pleased when she had arrived in Storybrooke and discovered what was to be hers. The Storybrooke Pet Hospital was located on several acres, not far outside of town. There were two buildings, including a large barn where she could treat horses and cattle easily. The other building was two-stories with the bottom floor divided into rooms that made up her clinic and the top had been converted into a small apartment. It couldn't have been more perfect.
Once she had arrived in her new hometown, Dr. Thatcher had shown her around, giving her a copy of the inventory. A week later, she met with the attorney, August Booth, signed her name on a few dotted lines and the place was hers. And another item from her goal list was crossed off, she thought, grabbing a bottle of champagne and calling her friend Elsa. Catching up with her had almost been worth the hangover she had the next day, but the time for celebrating was over and it was time to get busy. It was time to move on to the next goal; MAKE BUSINESS A SUCCESS.
The tingling of the bell alerted her that she did have a business to run and pinning her goal list back on the bulletin board, she went to greet her very first customer. A petite brunette was standing in front of the counter holding a bird cage "Can I help you?"
The woman's look was tentative, as if she wasn't even sure she should have come, "I was looking for the Doctor." she said hesitantly.
"I'm the new Doctor." Emma smiled at her, "Maybe I can help." She couldn't believe how fast her heart was beating, because she had seen dozens of animals, but this was the first she had seen that was her very own. That was exciting.
The woman studied her for a few seconds, "Oh, okay thanks," she finally responded. "What happened to Doc Thatcher?"
"He retired," Emma told her quietly. "Now, how can I help, Miss...?"
"Mary Margaret," the woman answered. "I found this bird tangled in some wires, and I thought maybe..." She held the cage out with the scared bird inside."
Emma took the cage from the woman, leading her into one of the examination rooms. While she checked out the bird, she learned the woman was a first-grade teacher and married to the town sheriff.
"It looks like the bird has a broken wing," Emma explained, "I'm going to try to set it...and we'll see."
Mary Margaret's face fell, "Do you think it will be alright?"
Emma shrugged, she wasn't going to lie, but she wasn't one to make promises. "I'm going to do the best I can do, okay?"
The look Mary Margaret bestowed on her was one of intense scrutiny, as if she was trying to determine if Emma was trustworthy or not. Finally, she nodded, "How much do I owe you?"
"This one's on me." Emma couldn't keep the large smile off her face and confided, "You're my first customer."
"Oh, congratulations." A twinkle appeared in Mary Margaret's eye, "You're new in town, aren't you? Would you like to meet for lunch or coffee sometime? I could introduce you around."
While she wasn't sure how much free time she would have, Emma realized that having someone who knew the area and its inhabitants could help get her business up and running. "That would be great, thanks."
"Great." She turned to go, but stopped after a few steps, "Will you let me know about the bird?"
"Even if it's not good news?" Emma asked her. Mary Margaret didn't say anything, just gave a quick nod. "I'll let you know." She promised.
"Thanks." Mary Margaret waved and left the building, the tingling of the bell signaling her departure.
"Well, little bird," she crooned softly, "let's see what we can do to fix your wing."
~~~cs~~~
It had been over a week since the yellow bug had driven past him leaving only snippets of a song he couldn't get out of his head. Thanks to YouTube, he now knew what the song was, but who was driving the car? That was still a mystery.
What he couldn't figure out was why he spent so much time trying to figure out who the bloody hell was in the bug. It wasn't like he didn't have the numbers of plenty of women written down in several books in his desk. Any of those women would be more than happy to entertain him for an evening or two but...he didn't want them. He wanted...hell that was the problem, he didn't know what he wanted. Ever since the incident with young Violet, he just...he just didn't know.
Killian turned onto Main Street, the flash of yellow immediately catching his attention. Without thinking of any consequences, he stepped on the brakes, halting his car in the middle of Main Street. "Bloody hell!" He murmured spotting the elusive car parked next to Granny's.
The honking of horns around him registered and with a sheepish wave, he hit the gas, pulling the car into the station's parking lot. After a quick check with Ashley, he ducked into the men's room to check his hair and swish with mouthwash and made his way to Granny's, a bounce in his step that hadn't been there earlier in the day. The difference, he decided, was in the possibility but even that didn't make any sense to him.
The diner, apparently crowded, as customers had spilled out onto the tables in front but even though several of his admirers waved, he remained focused. His only concern was in finding out who was driving that yellow car and trying to determine why it mattered. As he grabbed the door handle, the profile of the person sitting just inside caught his attention. Gobsmacked, was the only word that came to mind, and without any doubt, he knew she was the person for whom he had been looking.
He took a deep breath, wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and pulled open the door. The smell of frying foods hit him in the face causing his mouth to water. Be cool, Jones. You're just here for lunch, he tried to tell him himself as he sauntered in, taking his time as he walked by her table. One look, and he knew he wouldn't have forgotten her face had he ever seen it before.
He spotted Robin, the other deputy he worked with sitting at the counter, "Who's the lovely lass?" he spit out rapidly.
"Well, hello to you too." Robin quipped.
Killian gave him a dirty look and nonchalantly leaned against the counter, "Very funny. Hello. Now," he tried again in a slightly friendlier voice, "Who's the lovely lass?"
Robin pointed over his shoulder, "That lovely blonde lass?" He imitated.
"Bloody hell, Robin!" Killian pushed his friend's hand down. "Are you in high school?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Robin pointed out. "After all, you are the town Lothario. Go introduce yourself."
Killian looked around the diner, knowing the title fit the man he was before moving to Storybrooke more than it had recently. But, he'd never had difficulty talking to women before. Was this woman any different?
"Shoo," Robin groused, interrupting his thoughts. "I'd like to eat in peace."
"You sure are grouchy," Killian retorted. "Problems at home?"
Robin finished the bite he had just taken before answering, "Regina's still out of town, that's all. Now," he nodded his head across the diner, "go meet the girl."
Killian stood a little taller, pulling his shoulders back, "I think I will." He took several steps toward her table before the bravado he had been feeling disappeared and almost as if being pulled by an invisible string, his feet detoured toward the table occupied by his friend and colleague, David Nolan and his lovely wife, Mary Margaret who were deep in discussion about the very woman he wanted to meet. "I think Emma needs to meet Killian," he heard David say to his wife. "Don't you agree?"
Killian didn't wait to hear Mary Margaret's thoughts, but interrupted with his wishes, "I couldn't agree more." He chimed in, pinning her with the smile that always worked when he needed members of the opposite sex to do his bidding.
"Killian," she cautioned, "Emma might not..."
"Emma." He repeated the name several times, liking how it felt on his tongue. "What could it hurt?" He grinned at her. "Come on now." He could see she was weakening, "Even David thinks it's a good idea."
Mary Margaret shook her head and sighed, "Okay, Come with me. We were just leaving anyway."
As he followed his friends toward the elusive Emma, Killian found his step slowing and his heart rate picking up speed. What was it about this woman that made him hesitate? When he couldn't quickly come up with an answer, he forcefully pushed aside the feelings of self-doubt and added a little more swagger to his walk, effectively cloaking the feelings of insecurity.
"Emma," he heard Mary Margaret say, "I'd like you to meet Killian Jones. He works at the Sheriff's station with my husband, David. Killian, meet Emma Swan."
Killian's lips curved up into a smile, "You're the one that I want." he responded cheekily.
He heard Mary Margaret groan softly, "Killian!"
When a look he didn't expect crossed Emma's face, he unconsciously took a step back. It wasn't one that was adoring or even indulgent. It wasn't even one that spoke of intrigue. It was more one of annoyance, like you might give to a pesky fly. Killian swallowed the knot lodged in his throat and tried to look contrite, "Er, I'm sorry, Lass." He rubbed the back of his neck, "You drove by me the other day and that song was playing and well, I..."
"And you thought to impress me with your witty repartee?" She snapped effectively dismissing him.
Killian looked up at her under hooded eyes, "Oh, you're a tough lass, I see." He cocked a brow, fully expecting her to have a quick comeback.
She squinted, her green eyes locked with his blue ones, "Some would say so." she answered quietly.
Killian studied the woman standing in front of him, her angelic looks creating a dichotomy with the waspiness of the words coming from her mouth. Why was that? Was she too, trying to hide something? "Just who are you, Swan?" he murmured so quietly he wasn't even sure she heard him.
Her green eyes roved his face, "Wouldn't you like to know?" She retorted just as quietly, before turning her back on him to speak Mary Margaret. He thought she was going to ignore him and leave without saying anything further, but then as if unable to resist, her eyes moved back to his. "It was nice to meet you." The corners of her mouth turned up into a semblance of a smile never reaching her eyes.
"You too, Ms. Swan." He gave her his best smile, hoping to thaw the ice around her a little.
"It's Doctor," she corrected him, "Doctor Swan. I took over for Doc Thatcher." And with a wave to Mary Margaret and David, she was gone.
Killian stared after her retreating figure, still reeling from the flaxen haired goddess...and she hadn't responded as he had come to expect to his charm. Did he care enough to try to change the way she thought about him, or did he just chalk it up to she was a woman who was too busy to be very friendly?
~~~cs~~~
Several days later, Killian Jones' lame pick up line was still floating through her mind. She couldn't decide if he thought he was charming enough that he could get away with lines like that or if he was just gauche. That she was still thinking about it annoyed her as she didn't have time for a man in her life. She was working toward the next goal on her list and the goal that said, FIND A MAN was not next in line. That space belonged to making her business a success. "No detours, Emma," she reminded herself sharply, sitting down at the computer to do dreaded paperwork.
Two hours later she had accomplished little except for staring out the window watching the clouds fly by and needed to get out of the house. Changing into running clothes, she grabbed her iPod and drove to a large park several miles from her home.
The Peter Pan park took up quite a large piece of land and had been created for the entire family. There were several playgrounds, a heart trail, sports fields and an area that functioned as a water park in the summer, but in the winter froze over and was used for ice skating. Whoever had designed the park had even saved space, creating a dog park. She had stopped several times prior to watch the dogs interacting with each other...and had even passed out a card or two, which coincidently enough helped her toward her current goal.
The parking lot was only half full, making parking easy. Emma stretched a few times to work out the kinks in her back from sitting and then selected a playlist, stuck in her earplugs, and took off at a slow jog. The farther she ran, the more her gait evened out, her speed increased and all the tension she had been carrying faded away. If she wasn't in a room surrounded by animals, this was her zen. Running allowed her to think, to plan and to regain her focus on exactly where it should be. At about the four-mile mark, the music transitioned and slowed, indicating it was time to walk.
The slower, softer music didn't mask the noise going on around her, making her realize she wasn't as alone as she thought. Many voices, both of the two and four legged varieties, had her trying to determine the best course of action for handing out a few more business cards, when she thought she heard her name and her attorney stepped in her path. "August?" She pulled her ear phones out and studied his appearance. "Are you okay? No offense, but you don't look so great." That was an understatement, she thought taking in his wrinkled clothes, unshaven jaw and bloodshot eyes.
"No," he shook his head, "I'm not so great," he admitted. "I'm hoping you can help."
"Sure, I'll try," she agreed.
"I don't even know where to start," he confessed.
She would have laughed at the normally verbose attorney who couldn't seem to organize his thoughts. "Try the beginning," she finally suggested after a few minutes of silence.
"Okay," he began. "Have you met Archie and his dog, Pongo? Emma shook her head no and he continued, "He's the town psychologist and Pongo is his dog..."
He went on to tell her that Archie had been asked to guest lecture at a University in Canada for a few months and worried about his dog as he wouldn't leave him with just anyone. "My father, Marco" August told her, "volunteered and everything was going fine until he had a heart attack and Pongo ran away."
"Oh, no, August," She sympathized. "Is your dad okay?"
"Yeah," August nodded, "he's going to be fine." He sighed, "But he's worried about Pongo."
"How can I help?" She asked him softly.
"He was seen running in those woods," August pointed over her shoulder toward the row of trees that lined the outer edges of the park. "I'm hoping you can catch him."
"He won't come to you?" While her sympathy was with August and his father, she was worried about the dog. He was used to being taken care of and she was concerned about what might be in the woods.
August shook his head, "No," he alleged. "He's difficult."
She studied the woods that started not far from where they were standing but she couldn't see the dog that August claimed was running loose. "Let me get a few things from my car." They walked to her car where she left her iPod and grabbed some treats and a leash. "Do you want to go with me?"
"No," August looked at his watch, "I need to get back to the hospital, if that's okay?"
"Sure. I'll take him back to the clinic."
"Thanks, Emma."
Once August left, Emma set off for the woods hoping she could find the dog before something happened to him.
~~~cs~~~
When a call came into the station that Pongo was running loose in the woods bordering the Peter Pan park, Killian volunteered to try to catch him. Not only was the park close to Emma's place, but it was the right thing to do. He hadn't seen her since their infamous meeting at Granny's and there was a part of him that wanted a do-over, but the other part wanted to say, 'it wasn't worth it' and move on to the next pretty face. There were a few left in Storybrooke that had yet to be added to his black books.
He arrived at the park just in time to watch Emma wave at August and with a leash in her hand, head toward the woods. He circled around, reaching the trees just as she stepped into the shade they created and keeping his eyes on her followed her from a safe distance.
There was no sign of the dog for several minutes, but she never raised her voice to yell. Stopping periodically, she would stare at the ground, almost as if she were tracking the dog. When she lifted her head, as if listening for something, Killian halted behind a tree trunk and waited.
It didn't take long until he saw Pongo's black nose peer around a fallen log at Emma. She waited for him to come to her, holding her hand out steadily offering treats for good behavior. Killian wasn't sure how long they stood there, him holding his breath...waiting to see what would happen. Goosebumps broke out on his skin as step by step the scared dog made his way toward the stranger. Her ease with which she was able to get the frightened dog to trust her was like nothing he'd seen before. The words Animal Whisperer floated through his mind as she quickly clipped a leash onto Pongo's collar.
"You're coming with me," he heard her assuring the dog as she led him away.
He couldn't decide if he should make his presence known, but in the end when she walked within thirty yards of where he was standing and didn't notice, he let her go. Was a night out with the guys what he needed to get her out of his mind? Or did he need to choose one of the ladies whose name resided in his book and spend an evening with them? One way or other he needed to regain the upper hand. No one made Killian Jones feel like a fool, least of all a woman.
~~~cs~~~
Once back home, Emma made sure that Pongo was healthy, and after he was bathed and fed, he curled up on a dog bed and went to sleep. "You poor thing," she murmured, scratching him lightly on the head. He made noises that sounded like sighs, but never opened his eyes. Laughing at his antics, she left him alone and went to shower before calling August to let him know she had the dog.
Over the next few weeks, her business seemed to come alive. She wasn't sure what had caused it, but never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, she embraced her newfound importance and took advantage. She thought her gentle, caring nature made her a good person to work with animals and her empathy helped her with their owners. The busier she became the more she realized that if she was treating sick animals, there was no one to answer the phones or make appointments. She added that to her mental list to deal with later.
Her list seemed to be growing, but she wouldn't have had it any other way. The day had started before dawn when she had answered a panicked call and helped to deliver a breech foal at the Lucas' ranch. After returning to the clinic, she had then been blessed with a full day of appointments. However, the blessing had turned into a curse when ten hours later, she was finishing up for the day, but her head was killing her. It took her several minutes for realizing that she hadn't taken time to eat all day, yet with messages still to answer, she didn't have time just yet.
The tinkling of the bell over the front door ushered in a pleasant looking, bespectacled red-headed man, "Can I help you?" she asked before he could say anything.
"I'm Archie Hopper," he introduced himself. "I heard you found my dog."
The breath she'd been holding escaped, she was so relieved that Pongo's long-lost master had returned. "Follow me." She led the way into her office where Pongo was usually sleeping this time of the day.
As soon as they stepped through the door, Pongo's head popped up, his eyes coming alive, "Pongo. There you are." Archie whispered.
The scene of the adult man reuniting with his friend brought tears to Emma's eyes. She quickly blinked them away, "I think someone is happy to see you." The way Pongo's entire body was wiggling with happiness had her laughing, the feeling inside exactly why she had gotten into the field.
"Thank you so much," Archie went on happily. "I really missed him."
"He missed you too." Emma answered a few questions regarding Pongo's activities since he had been with her and once Archie had clipped on a leash, she led them back to the front room.
Archie kept up a steady stream of small talk asking questions about the changes she had made since taking over the clinic. "You know," he snapped his fingers, "If you need some help around here, Doc Thatcher had a few regulars he used from time to time."
Emma's ears perked up, "I was just thinking today that I needed someone." She laughed, "It's hard to be in two, or three, places at once."
"I know how that is," Archie acknowledged. "LeRoy would be a great help around here. I'll get his number when I get home and give you a call. Would that be okay?"
"Great, thanks." She waved goodbye and made her way back inside just as Mary Margaret was leaving a message to call her back. "I will," she promised herself, "just as soon as I eat something."
Clark Kent wore a cloak to masquerade as Superman. Harry Potter wore a cloak when he wanted to disappear. Cinderella wore a cloak to pretend she wasn't poor. The Big Bad Wolf wore a cloak to pretend he was sweet and innocent. The Von Trapp family wore cloaks to escape. Many types, many sizes, many colors but each cloak meant to conceal the real person beneath.
~fin
So what did you think? Stay tuned. Chapter 2 will be posted next week. AND if you aren't on tumblr and would like to see the gifset that I created, you can find chapter 1 - post/182603209616/kittens-puppiesus-a-captain-swan-au-summary
or part 1 and the summary - post/179449736296/kittens-puppiesus-a-captain-swan-au-special
and part 2 and the summary - post/180919850856/kittens-puppiesus-cont-a-captain-swan-au
See you next week.