Author's Note: Alright, after seeing the latest episode of Once, I think I've figured out where I am planning on taking this story. We'll see. Also, to anyone who has read my other Captain Swan fic, it may be a while before I update it due to editing. Lots of editing. Anyway, enjoy!
A dull pain makes its home in Killian's lower abdomen, proving it difficult for the man to fall back into his previous slumber. Not even the considerable amount of painkiller, courtesy of Doctor Whale, can take Killian from his thoughts.
Oh, what Killian would do for his flask filled to the top with rum right now.
Just when he thought he was being careful, he finds himself wallowing in his past grief in pain. Dear memories he once thought were long gone are beginning to resurface. That's something he definitely doesn't want. Not after the rocky conversation he just had with Emma, and certainly not while recovering from yesterday's battle.
Vivid memories of both Liam and Milah are playing on repeat nit matter how hard he tries to think of something else. He is cursing his now injured hand for not being able to rub his newly formed tears and himself for letting the saltwater fall.
Killian lets in a deep, shaky breath as he looks back further.
"Why can't I just let it go?" He wonders aloud, now concocting a strange picture in his mind of love, past and present.
Emma and Milah, standing side by side. When he sees Milah, he nearly breaks. Regret flows through him, and the fear reminds him of mistakes long gone. Then he looks at Emma, and bursts with love, affection, and exasperation. He knows exactly why he feels the way he does.
He spent so long feeling as if he was incapable of protecting his brother and his first love, Milah. And now, it seems he and his Swan are running a race to see who can protect her best. Emma is far ahead, and it nauseates Killian so much.
He feels he should be content, but he doesn't know how. His lady can fend for herself and he is well aware. That quality in Emma is something Killian finds incredibly endearing. Although, another part of him calls out from the depths of his mind, reminding him of past failures and his current incapability to even stand.
It genuinely stuns him how it bothers him so much, but he knows his reasons well.
It all started with magic. Being incapable to defend against it. And now, here it is again, gnawing at his conscious thoughts.
He knows her power is strong, but can't help worry. Sometimes for her sake, and selfishly for his as well.
Maybe Emma was right. She has magic, I have one bloody hand.
He swirls deeper into his own delirious cloud of doubt and struggles to ignore his injuries to his body, and also hia mind. All he wants is his Swan back by his bedside, stroking the hair lining his cheek.
But, he pushed her away, and she listened. And, for the past hour that she's been gone, his thoughts are more potent.
When Killian realizes the delirium plauging his conscious thoughts, he makes the decisison to let it go for now. A sense of nostalgia waves over Killian as he fades out of his inner turmoil and finally into morphine induced sleep.
Lucky for Emma, Snow is conveniently waiting outside Killian's hospital room. Her hopeful smile fading rom her rosy pink lips at the sight of Emma's troubled facial expression.
"Did it work? Could you use magic to heal him?"
Emma's brows came together, forming deep creases near the the middle of her forehead. "No." She solemly replies, quickly cascading back into her thoughts.
She searches for the right answer, wanting to avoid her mother's curiosity at all costs. As much as she loves her mother, Killian's buisness is his own.
"I'm fine. Killian isn't." Emma answer's vaguely, although clearly confused. Snow instantly starts to worry, and Emma's attempt at evading to fail. Miserably.
"Is he in pain?" Snow asks.
"Yeah, but I'm not so sure it's because of his injury." Emma gives up, anxious for her mother's opinion on Killian's behaivior.
"What is it then?" Snow's eyes look between Killian's room and Emma, waiting for a response.
"I think he's in pain because of... Me?" Emma pronounces it like a question, reviving a puzzled tilt of the head from Snow.
Emma, not really wanting to explain something she knows nothing about, is delighted when David interrupts their exchange of words. Emma decided that Killian's episode isn't any more than just the pain medicine reaching his head.
"Oh, Emma. How's Killian? I brought him some dinner." David tries his best to sound nonchalant, but Emma knows better. Her father has developed some sort of friendship with Killian over the past year, even if he tries to play it off casually at times. David is genuinely worried and the fact that he cares makes Emma smile.
"Killian's fine," Emma rushes her words, crinckling her nose at the sight of the muddy pink colored tray that balances what appears to be Killian's dinner.
"I'm gonna go find Doctor Whale."
Emma dismisses herself from her parents, and scurries to find Killian's doctor. But, as her boots click through the corridors of the hospital, her mother has other plans. Snow sends David a pointed look, letting him know that something funny is going on, and she's going to fix it.
Emma's blond curls and impatience earn awkward glances from patients when she impolitely peeks into their rooms. In search of Doctor Whale, she forgot her manners.
Emma comes across Whale while he isn't busy and she feels relief when he approaches her.
"Ah, Emma. Just the woman I was looking for. I need to speak with you regarding the extent of Killian's internal injury." Whale gives her a somewhat friendly smile, which Emma doesn't return.
Before Emma can even speak, Snow appears from behind a white wall.
"Hello, Doctor Whale." She greets the man with bright eyes, as she makes her way to Emma's side, "This will only be a minute." Snow takes hold of Emma's leather jacket sleeve, giving her daugher no choice but to comply.
"What, mom?" Emma huffs, vaugley reminding herself of a teenager about to be lectured.
"Why would Killian be upset because of you? Honey, is everything okay?" Snow gets right to the point, hopefully bypassing and of Emma's evasion tactics. But, to her surprise, Emma tells her exactly what Killian said.
"Has he been upset about this before?" Snow inquired.
"If he has, he's never told me about it." Emma shruggs it off, pretending that she doesn't mind. In reality, she wants to be Killian's safe place, just as he has been for her.
Snow affectionately embraces Emma, telling her that everything is okay. "You be there for him if he needs you."
Emma smiles. She will be there. Always.
Author's Note: Alright, thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter will be the (extremely fluffy) conclusion to this three-shot. :) Let me know what you think! Constructive criticism is always welcome, especially regarding in-characterness. Haha.