Emma sat down at the table at the end of Granny's Dinner, feeling exhausted from a day of grueling busy work. Now that the Wicked Witch was gone, and David had rehired her as sheriff, she had a ton of paperwork to file at the station. Henry was at Regina's for the night, Hook was off…somewhere, probably doing something piratey, and Mary Margaret was home with the baby. This was the first night she had to herself in quite a while, and she was surprisingly excited to eat her lasagna in peace.
David sat down across from her with a cup of coffee and he her a small smile.
"Evening Emma." he said kindly
Emma nodded back with a little smirk, "Evening, your majesty."
David shook his head and chuckled, "Emma, will you quit with that. I'm your dad."
"That sounds even worse."
"Worse than your boss? Have you seen Hook? I wanted to ask him about that spell the wicked witch cast on him."
Emma shook her head, "Come to think of it, I haven't seen him all evening."
"He will always be a bumbling vagabond. Are you going to look for him after this?"
Emma laughed, and felt glad that she wasnt the only one who thought of Killian as a little too adventurous.
"He's a big boy, he can rescue himself. How was-"
But she never finished her sentence, as she was cut off by the main door of Granny's Diner opening. They knew something was wrong the minute Killian stumbled through the door. He was covered in dirt, and his hair was mattered with mud and leaves. Usually, this disheveled state was normal for the pirate but was was unsettling was that Hook was quiet. He stood there in the doorway with an empty look on his face and a tremble on his lips. When he finally spoke, it was a mumbled stutter;
"I-I need to w-wash up-"
And they he started walking no-limping towards his room, the room that he stilled slept in even though Emma had offered him a place at her home.
"Killian-?" David started, concerned for his friend, but Hook didnt stop. Emma exchanged a nervous glace with David as Hook disappeared into up the stairs that led to Granny's Inn. What was going on?
After a few moments of dense silence, David finally stood, Emma looked up at him.
"I'm going to see if he's okay" David said quietly. Emma nodded, but stayed where she was. She had a feeling that Hook did not want to be crowded right now. She watched Davidran up the stairs and waited, for a sound, or a voice, something that said her friend was okay. There was nothing but silence.
Emma tapped her fingers against the table, there was something about the way Hook looked that troubled her. And the fact that he barely said a word. Usually Hook never stopped talking, what had happened?
Emma jumped a little when the heard the backdoor open. She looked up and saw David step into the room, a grim look on his face.
"Is everything okay?" Emma asked
David started to shake his head, but then he stopped himself and shrugged.
"I don't know, Emma." he said quietly in a tone that made Emma shiver.
"Did he tell you what-"
"Can you go grab some of his clothes? I think they are still in the dryer downstairs." David interrupted.
Emma paused, but then nodded and stood up. Hook actually did laundry?
"What's going-"
"Just go. I'll tell you later."
Emma nodded, and stood up, feeling slightly hurt that David wouldn't tell her what was going on.
When Emma returned from grabbing Hook's clothes, she walked straight up to the pirate's room and knocked softly. She heard a quiet gasp, and then David's whispered assurances; "it's only Emma, with your clothes. It's alright, no one is going to hurt you." and then the door opened a notch and David's head poked out. Emma smelled soapy water as it wafted out, and heard the splashing of the water, but Hook was silent.
"Here are his clothes." Emma said softly, "Is everything okay? What's going on?" she asked again.
"Everything will be fine. He can't stay here by himself though. I'm going to let him stay in our guest room, and let him rest until we get this all sorted out." David said, his tone grim and serious. Emma nodded and handed him the bundle.
" Does he need the hospital? What else can I do?" he asked
"He won't go. He says he just needs to rest and he'll be fine."
"And you believe that?"
David shrugged, and then said. "Coult you wait here with him.? I'm going to help him get dressed, and then go talk to Snow and get the room ready. Can you sit with him while I go?" he asked.
Emma nodded, "Sure, no problem."
And David shut the door again.
Emma paused in the hallway, unsure of what to do, unsure if she should be listening to the whispers coming through the door. Finally, after what seemed like ages, David emerged and closed the door behind him.
"Emma?" he asked, beaconing her towards him.
"Yes?"
"I'm going to go get things sorted out. Can you sit with him until I get back?" David paused, then took a deep breathe, "Emma, I'm not sure-he's a little freaked out-he doesn't want to be touched, just-just be there for him, okay?" he asked with a pained expression on his face.
David gripped her shoulder in what seemed to be a reassuring way, but Emma could feel his fingernails digging into his skin. Emma just nodded, still confused about what was going on.
"Did he tell you-?" he started to ask, but David shook his head.
"He hasn't said a word-i think he's in shock. He needs a quiet place to rest, then I think he'll get better." David explained.
Emma nodded again, "okay."
David gave his shoulder another squeeze and then turned away, jogging towards the stairs.
Emma waited until his footsteps faded to knock softly on the door.
" Hook?—-Killian?" She asked softly, "It's Emma, may I come in?"
Emma paused, but she didn't hear an answer. She opened the door quietly and stepped in. The hotel was empty, but the bathroom door was a jar. She opened it, and was met with a sorrowful sight;
Hook was sitting with his back against the wall, knees tucked up against his chest, his wet hair lank against his face. He did not look up when Emma entered, or do anything at all except hunch his shoulders in, making his appear smaller than he seemed.
Emma felt lost at what to do. Hook was so different, so still and quiet. It scared scared, but she also felt a rush of anger. Whomever did this to her friend was going to pay. She let a breath out, and then walked over and kneeled next to him. Now she could see that most of the dirt on his face was actually bruises, like someone had beaten him badly.
Emma did not miss the shudder, or how Hook leaned away from her.
"Killian?" Emma asked again, she gently put his hand on his friend's knee.
"Everything is going to be okay." she said, trying to be reassuring, but then she felt Hook flinch under her touch so she moved her hand away.
Emma sighed, then leaned back against the tub, mindfully aware of the distance between them. She could see Hook was shaking but trying hard not to show it. What had happened? To make him so scared? Hook seemed incredibly small in the baggy nightclothes he wore. It was so unlike him, to be small and quiet. He seemed to be battling with something internally. He kept shuddering and shaking his head, unaware of where he was, or whom he was sitting with. Emma sensed that he was drifting farther and farther away, and she had no idea how to bring him back.
But I have to try. Emma thought.
"Killian?" she said, and when her friend didn't respond she said it again.
"Everything is going to be okay. You're safe now. No one is going to hurt you. Killian? Look at me." Emma asked. Killian froze, but after a few moments he looked up. Their eyes met for a split second and then Killian looked away.
Emma sighed. "whatever happened, you can tell me. Im not just the savior or whatever, I'm also your friend, no matter what." she said gently, eyes never leaving his friend's face. Hook nodded his head slightly. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. He let out a shaky breathe and then another one. Emma smiled a little but she didn't want to say anything to break this sudden change in atmosphere. Hook seemed less tense now, than before. And Emma realized that they didn't need words to be comfortable with each other. She felt a sudden surge of confidence, whatever this was, whatever was ailing his friend, they could fix it.
They both jumped when David knocked on the door, and the comfortable spell that was between them broke. Hook shuddered again and lowered his head. Emma stood up and opened the door.
David smiled slightly when he say him. "How's everything going?" he asked softly. Emma just shrugged. "It's going, I guess."
"Good. can you- can you help-lets bring him over?" David asked awkwardly.
Emma nodded, then opened the door wider. She turned to her friend, walked over and kneeled down next to him.
"Killian?" David's here. Lets get you to bed. He's going to take you to his house. Everything will be better in the morning, I promise."
Killian nodded slowly without opening his eyes. Emma stood, then backed up, giving Killian room to stand on his own. Hook winced slightly as he pushed himself up to standing, he clutched his right side with his left arm and swayed a little.
"Whoa, you're okay?" Emma asked , reaching out to steady her friend. Hook's eyes flashed opened and he flinched away from Emma's touch. Emma immediately withdrew her hand.
"Sorry, I'm sorry." she whispered, and took a few steps back. It was only was when she had given Hook enough space did he move on his own, towards the door. Emma noticed that he was limping slightly and exchanged a concerned look with David before he opened the door wider and gestured for them to follow him.
The walk down to the Charming's residence was long and silent. The only sounds were from the shuffle of their shoes, and the occasional sniff from Hook-the loudest sound he had made since they found him. No one talked, or laughed and it was so unsettling to Emma, she had to think that this was a dream. Some crazy plan that Regina had come up with, or another scheme of Rumplestilskin, who had never truly gotten over his vengeance for Hook.
But then Emma saw the real pain in Hook's carefully masked face, the tremor of his hand as it fidgeted with his sleeve, and the limp in his walk and Emma knew that this was no dream. This was real, a real person had attacked her friend and Emma honestly had no idea what to do next.
They got to the rooms quickly enough. No one had stopped them in the streets or asked any questions. One of the advantages of being with the crown prince of Storeybrooke, right? Emma thought sullenly. David opened the door for them and they followed him in to the guest bedroom.
Hook limped over to the bed, but didn't sit. He looked around a little, and then back down at his feet. He seemed to be thinking things over. Emma couldn't help but look around the room. This had been her bedroom when she had roomed with Mary Margaret, before the curse had been broken.
"Killian?" David asked, Killian jumped but then looked up towards him.
"You can rest now. We'll figure everything else out in the morning. It will get better, I promise." David told him, gesturing towards the bed.
Killian nodded, and then sat down.
"Emma and I will be right outside, if you need anything." David continued, giving a nod to Emma's confused stare. Emma then realized that David intended to keep her here with them tonight and felt grateful for her dad. He knew how close she was with Hook, and how much she cared about him. Hook nodded again, and then laid down, favoring his left side. He let out a shaky breathe and closed his eyes.
Emma tapped the bed gently with her hand.
"Try to get some rest, Hook. We'll see you in the morning." She said quietly and then he followed David out, closing the door softly behind her.
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