The group stepped off the boat and onto the eerily silent dock. They all took a moment to take in their surroundings. The air, while not hot, was heavy, and no one felt compelled to talk. Finally, Henry spoke up.
"So, where do we go now to find Killian?" The group remained silent, all thinking.
"Since we're here, we should check out the Jolly Roger," David suggested as they all turned to look at the rocking ship with the broken mast. Henry started walking towards it before Emma stopped him.
"Kid, we need a name," she said softly, uncertainty showing in her eyes. Henry saw the look of anxiety in her face, and for the first time felt his own nerves flare. He missed Killian, more than he could say.
"How about, 'Operation Captain Rescue'?" It was simple, but that was what they needed. Emma nodded before taking the lead and walking to the ship, the rest following. When they reached the Jolly Roger, Emma stopped.
"Emma, maybe I should-" David began.
"No," Emma interrupted. "It should be me." Regina took a step forward.
"Emma, think about this. I should go with you. What if there's something, or someone, on that boat? What if your magic doesn't work? You need to bring backup." Emma thought for a moment and nodded.
"Be careful," Mary Margaret told them, as Emma took a step onto the gangplank. It swayed, Emma grasping onto the railing tightly as she regained her balance. Slowly, and carefully, she and Regina made their way to the deck of the ship. Emma's face fell as she took in the area.
The ship's wheel was lying discarded against the side, holes in the floorboards.
"Hello!" she called out loudly, not sure if she wanted to hear an answer or not. Only silence greeted her. Without saying a word to Regina, she walked below deck to the Captain's quarters. The place was a mess. Furniture smashed or thrown against walls, maps lying ripped on the floor. She rummaged through everything, trying to find some clue that he had been there. Regina came down quietly behind her and helped sift through the wreckage.
It seemed the better part of 20 minutes, and they had found nothing to support the idea that Killian had been to his beloved ship. Emma sat on the edge of his bed, the supports giving, and put her head in her hands, eyes red and puffy. Regina came to sit beside her, her hand resting on the end table.
"Emma, I'm sorry. But, there are other places he could be. The station, Granny's, the loft, your place, the…cemetery. We'll find him," she said, supportive, yet also uncertain.
"What have I done?" Emma asked. "I brought everyone here, and we don't even know where Killian is. I've put everyone in danger!" Regina sighed.
"We chose to come with you, you didn't make us. We will find him. I'm going to keep looking for a few minutes while you get yourself back together." Emma struggled to calm herself down. She knew she had to stay focused, had to stay hopeful. After everything they had been through, they deserved their happy ending.
"Emma!" Regina called out, pointing to something on Killian's desk. Emma stood up and joined her. His desk, like his entire cabin, was in shambles. Many photographs lay in smashed glass frames, more glass littering the floor. Papers were strewn about, many ripped or burned. However, on the corner, two small photographs stood upright, perfectly intact. One showed a young Killian Jones standing beside a man who looked quite similar. Liam, Emma thought. His brother of whom he spoke little about, but she knew he missed terribly. The second photo was one that she remembered being taken. David had captured it when Killian had taken her and Henry sailing. All three had waved to David, who stood on the dock, as the Jolly Roger went out into the harbor.
"He must have been here," Emma breathed, her fingertips tracing the photograph. Not even dust was layered on it.
"Exactly. Everything here is a mess, yet these two pictures, of the people he cared most about, are untouched. There's your clue." Emma picked up both photos and put them in her pocket.
"Emma, you should really leave those here," Regina said. "Who knows what happens if you disturb things here."
"I don't care," Emma said, more harshly than she intended. She calmed herself down again. "If we need to question people about him, I want to be able to show them what he looks like. We don't know if the souls here really know each other." Regina conceded, nodding at her friend.
"Either way, we need to get going. He's obviously not here. Take a moment, then join me on deck." Regina climbed the ladder, leaving Emma alone in Killian's quarters. She looked around, fingering his desk, his nightstand, his coverlet. Anything he had possibly touched.
"I'm coming, Killian. Hold on for me." She took one last look around, and then joined Regina above. Together, they went back down to the docks where the rest of the entourage waited.
"Well?" Henry asked, rocking on his feet. Emma gave a small, though sad smile.
"We know he was there. The whole ship is a mess, everything thrown and destroyed. Everything except these," Emma answered, pulling the frames from her jacket pocket. Mary Margaret put her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Well then, let's keep looking."
"I think we need to split up," Gold said suddenly.
"That sounds like a horrible idea," Robin argued. "How do we know you're not just going to take off and leave us here?" To be honest, Gold had thought of that option.
"Unfortunately for me, if I were to return with none of you with me, the chances of Belle believing that all of you died tragically in the Underworld would be very small indeed. Not to mention, I am not leaving without my grandson." He looked at Henry. Henry wanted to scream at the man, but knew he had to keep his mouth shut and play along. It was the only way to keep the status quo.
"So what do you propose?" David asked.
"I'm going to head to my shop. I'm not sure if there are any objects there that could help, but I'm going to go see. We're going to need all the help we can get, I am sure."
"I should maybe head to my office," Regina added. "If it's anything like my real office, it should have a census with those who are here, and maps of important landmarks. Maybe it will shed some light on things."
"I'm going with you," Robin said, wrapping his arm around her. "No one should go alone, save for Gold."
"I agree," David replied. "Mary Margaret and I will go to the loft."
"I'll head to the house," Emma announced. Henry joined her side.
"I'm going with you." Emma nodded.
"One thing to be wary of," Gold began. "A version of time does pass here. When this hazy sun goes down, beasts will roam. We will need a safe place to pass the time until the sun comes up again."
"And where would we find such a place?" Robin prodded.
"The basement of the library," Henry spoke. "No one who's passed knows it's down there."
"Okay, so we meet there at dark. We all must be careful, and be ready for anything," David added. Gold stalked off, leaving the rest of the group to say their goodbyes. David and Mary Margaret pulled Emma close.
"Be safe, Emma," Mary Margaret said, cupping her daughter's cheek and giving her a tight hug, followed by David.
"You guys too," Emma answered. She didn't want to split from her parents, but knew that they would cover more ground that way. "I love you." She had never really said the words often to the parents she never thought she'd ever have. But it was true. She loved them, and she would be forever grateful for the danger they were putting themselves in for her. The pair gave Henry a hug too.
"Do whatever your mother tells you," David said sternly. Henry gave him a smile.
"I will, Gramps, I promise." David ruffled his hair before he and Mary Margaret set out for the loft. Regina walked forward gripping Henry's shoulders tightly as he looked at her.
"Keep him safe," she pleaded to Emma. The two mothers shared a look of understanding.
"Don't worry, I will." She gave Regina a small smile, and Regina and Robin left them.
"What do you say, kid? Time to track down Killian?"
"Let's do it."