It had been over a year. He found himself in this new land of new York City, surrounded by millions of people; none of which ever had the face of his Swan.
He wandered each day searching desperately, a flash of golden blonde hair would stop him in his tracks, only to lead him to a woman who was never Emma.
He had sworn it to himself and her parents he would find her in this land and he would stop at nothing until she was found. However, as each day went by leaving him another day with her lost, his hope began to waver.
What if he never found her? What if when he did, he couldn't break the memory spell Regina had placed on her and her son? What if—no, he would NOT allow himself to let these thoughts intrude his mind. He had to find her. He WOULD find her, if it were the last thing he did.
Today, as he wandered a new neighborhood street, he felt that something would be different. He felt something deep within him, pulling him towards something. He followed this feeling; allowing anything that could possibly lead him to her, do so.
The strange pull within him led him to a block, on one side of the street, apartment buildings and small shops, on the other, a building with a sign in bright red letters that read: HOSPITAL.
A chill ran through his body. What had brought him here? Was his Swan just behind those doors? It was worth a try. He would leave no stone unturned, or, in this case, no building unexplored.
He walked in the front doors, eliciting stares and heads to turn in his direction as he went. At first this bothered him, but it no longer did for he was used to the attention and no longer cared. He walked up to a desk, behind which sat a young woman. She was also blonde like his Swan, but her presence did nothing close to what Emma's did to him.
The young woman looked up as he approached and he saw her eyes widen and a blush color her cheeks. Just another thing he was used to by now, women being caught off-guard and flustered by his devilishly good looks, but he wasn't here to flirt.
The woman gathered herself and shook her head as if trying to clear it, "Um, hi…uh…How can I—how can I help you?"
"Hello…er…" Suddenly he realized he didn't know exactly what to say. "I'm looking for a woman, er, Swan…Emma Swan."
The woman's face seemed to fall a bit at the mention of Emma's name as if she hoped he wasn't looking for another woman, but she cleared her throat and carried on professionally.
"Patient Swan, Emma…hmm…" she said as she clicked buttons on the machine in front of her and stared intently at the glowing box. But something she said confused him.
"Wait, did you say 'patient?' As in, she'd been injured?! His tone became more frantic as he realized where he was. He had been in one before, what seemed like ages ago, but for some reason he never connected that she might be in here because she was hurt or even sick. He swallowed hard and his good hand began to shake.
"Are—are you alright, sir?" The woman asked him noticing his change in demeanor.
"Is—is she alright? Emma, is she…?" But he couldn't finish the thought as a million and one horrible fates for his Swan crossed through his mind. He felt his knees grow weak.
The woman broke him out of his panic. "I don't exactly know why she is here, but you can go visit her room." She handed him a small piece of paper with the word 'VISITOR' on it. He took it and looked back up at her, confused. "Her room is on the second floor, number 815." He stayed silent, words failing him. She continued, "You can take the staircase to your left. Turn right when you reach the top, her room will be at the end."
He looked to the staircase she was pointing to and back to her. "Emma? Emma Swan?"
"Yes sir, Emma Swan. Room 815."
Just then a young boy appeared at his side, "You're here to see Emma? So am I, we can walk up together."
Hook looked down at the boy and his heart dropped.
"Henry."
