Chapter Three:

Emma had been at the hospital for two weeks straight after the incident, Killian never leaving the hospital, or if he did it was only to freshen up his clothing, have a shower and then come right back to her side again. Everyone has accepted his behavior, even after they learned about what Killian did to Neal. They couldn't blame him for wanting to protect her. Even Henry couldn't blame Killian for punching Neal, in fact he along with David were quite impressed on how it was done. Killian could still remember the conversation.

"So I hear you punched my dad?" Henry spoke calm and calculated.

"Sorry, Lad. I lost my temper." Killian hung his head in shame. Slowly losing faith that Henry would want anything to do with him after he punched the boy's father.

"Are you kidding! I am glad you stood up for my mom." Henry smiled approvingly.

"What? You aren't upset that I hit him?" Killian asked, seemingly quite perplexed.

"At first I was, then David explained why you did it and what my father did to deserve it. And I get it." Henry responded as he made his way to the couch in the Nolan loft. Killian placed a curious look towards David before sitting at the dining room table. A smile spreading across David's face as he did.

"I have a question for you though." David stated firmly. Causing Killian to visibly flinch.

"Alright?" Killian responded in acknowledgement.

"How the heck did you manage to hit, Neal that hard and not have any form of bruising or open cuts?" David's stern question, becoming more a question of curiosity and intrigue.

"Practice, Mate." A devilish smile made its way across his face as the apartment erupted with a chuckle from Henry and David, leaving the question improperly answered. There was no way Killian was going to let Henry know how far he had to go in order to even get to that point.

Killian sat in his chair looking at the peacefully sleeping Emma. Regardless of the multiple wires coming from her arms and the oxygen tube in either one of her nostrils, Killian still thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. He had placed himself at the end of her bed, so he could watch over her. As well as protect her from any other attempt on her life. If this scumbag who attacked her, decided to come back he wanted to put himself in between this Pitch Black person. As he watched her sleep his eyes grew heavy. He desperately needed sleep, but the idea of falling asleep and potentially leaving Emma exposed and unprotected was the only thing keeping him awake. After hours of fighting it, Killian finally succumbed.

Completely un aware that the very man Killian wanted to keep away from Emma, had been standing next to Emma ever since she first fell asleep that night. It wasn't like he was worried about the other man seeing him, no Pitch knew that he couldn't, that was why he was there to begin with. There was something about her that made her a threat, especially after how they first met. But it wasn't like he hadn't dealt with someone like this before.

"Hello, Emma." Pitch spoke as he hovered over her. Looking at the helpless human before him, knowing that neither she or the other man could hear anything he was speaking.

"You have posed a great problem for me. I mean your little firework display that day would have been even more amazing if you were actually able to tap into that glorious power you have." Pitch stood up straight looking down on Emma.

"Too bad that there isn't anyone powerful enough to help you figure that out." He spoke coyly making his way to the other side of her bed.

"Regardless. I can't have you accidentally learning that power, now can I?" Pitch's fingers lightly touching Emma's right arm, sending a shock wave of shivers coursing through her entire body.

"Fortunately for me, I know how to deal with problems like you." Pitch's voice starting to get more excited at the thought of what he was about to do.

"And the best part. Is after I touch you. I can find you wherever you are sleeping." Pitch smiled menacingly as he leaned lower to Emma's face as he spoke. Stopping only centimeters above her face. He loved being this close to someone when he was about to inflict the worst kind of torture imaginable. He loved hearing their pained cries, and muffled screams. Pitch's smile becoming more menacing as he lifted his right hand, placing his index finger on her temple briefly, only to drag it down the full length of her cheek to her chin. It only took a few seconds after touching her chin for Emma to start whimpering quietly.

"I hope you enjoy watching yourself helplessly fighting against me for the next hour, Emma." Pitch let out a low chuckle as Emma's body suddenly convulsed, but her whimpers remained silent. Pitch knew that only a few more minutes and she will be screaming and thrashing about the bed, and even though he enjoyed watching that happen to everyone he touched. He disappeared fully with a smile on his face.

Emma had been sleeping soundly, that was until the sudden nightmare kicked in. She was walking up to the mansion with Neal at her side. That immediately cut to the two of them in front of this figure. His skin was a pale sickly grey, long black robes cascading to the floor, his eyes were a pale yellow, and a thin frame. "Who are you?" Emma demanded as she raised her gun at the figure before her. Neal cowering behind her the entire time.

"Oh, don't mind that. All you need to know is that I am going to personally destroy all of you." The figure smile menacingly as he raised his left hand to which a flash of black light flew over their heads just missing them.

"Watch out!" Emma screamed as they both ducked.

"Run!" Emma shouted again. As they reached the top of the stairs another blast of black light just barely missing them again. Without a second thought Emma turned suddenly and threw her own light magic at the thin figure who was only a few feet behind her. It made contact with his shoulder, barely knocking him back. Emma stood there in shock at what just happened. She couldn't fathom that her magic had done nothing against this man. Who was he? Emma thought suddenly, but before she could let another thought come into her head. He was directly in front of her.

"Shouldn't have done that, Emma." His voice sending shivers down her spine. Then without any warning a blast of dark light spread across her chest from his hand, sending her tumbling down the stairs. Her body crashing and slamming into every step on the way down, only to finally stop at the second landing of the staircase. Agony spreading through every inch of her body as she laid there, unmoving. Emma weakly looked towards the door from where she was laying. Neal was gone. I have to get out of here. I have to get to Henry, Killian... Emma thought as she tried to crawl away from the figure who was making his way towards her from the top of the staircase. Then a searing pain in her knee made her stop, as she could feel his foot twisting it violently, completely dislocating it. She let out a scream of pain, before she felt his icy hand roll her over onto her back to face him again. She was alone and injured from this figure that was now towering over her suddenly, a smile creeping across his face.

"who are you?" Emma weakly asked

"Well, seeing as you will most likely die for the injuries. I guess I can tell you my name." He spoke before bending down onto one knee.

"My name is Pitch Black." Pitch smiled as he placed a hand on Emma's shoulder, causing her to scream. As Emma screamed she could see a dark haze cloud her vision, the pain was overwhelming and she lost consciousness.

As she lost consciousness the memory started up again. Always ending with her losing consciousness then it restarting all over again. On the third time her body started to involuntarily thrash about.

Killian had only been asleep for at most an hour before he woke to the sound of Emma screaming his name, only to find her thrashing around in the hospital bed.

"Emma?!" Killian was at her side in seconds, not caring if she hit him, he had to wake her. His chest clenched as he saw the pained look on her face, along with her tear soaked cheeks.

"Swan, I'm here. Wake up, your safe." Killian reached down holding one of her thrashing arms in with his good hand. Emma's eyes suddenly flew open, a look of pure terror behind them, until she realized who she was looking at. Killian's eyes have this way of calming her that she would never understand, but at this moment she was grateful for him being there.

"It's okay, Love. It was just a dream. I'm here." Killian slowly released her arm to only bring his hand up to touch her face in a soothing gesture. As he did Emma burst into tears.

"It was awful, Killian. It wouldn't stop. I couldn't wake up." Emma's body shook horribly beneath his hand.

"It's okay. I'm here." Killian spoke softly.

"He attacked us without warning. I tried to fight him off. My magic hit him. It didn't do anything. He threw me down the stairs. I couldn't do anything. I was alone." She choked out through her sobs. Killian's heart sank as he listened to her. Neal had left her alone with a being who wasn't even phased by her magic. And he had seen firsthand how powerful she was.

"It's okay Emma. Nothing is going to happen while I'm here." Killian leaned in letting his heart do the talking. He wanted to wipe away what happened to her, with every fiber of his being. But all he could do was sit there next to her as she cried, until she finally fell asleep. Even after that, he wouldn't move. He couldn't move.

David had come into the room without Killian noticing, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"How's she doing." David asked calmly.

"She's fine now." Killian spoke never taking his eyes off Emma.

"What do you mean by, now?" The level of concern creeping into his voice becoming even more evident.

"She had a night terror." Killian's voice cracked.

"What do you mean a night terror." David said walking to the other side of Emma's hospital bed.

"She was having the same dream over and over again, without being able to wake up. That is until I woke her up." Killian spoke in a defeated tone.

"Then it is a good thing that you were able to wake her." David stood looking from his daughter to Killian.

"You don't understand, Mate. Night terrors don't just happen. They are caused by something. And I think this new villain is that something." As the words slipped from his mouth, did he realize what that meant. They were all fighting against the embodiment of fear itself, Pitch Black. He had heard legends of what Pitch was, and now the bastard was here. And for some reason Pitch found that Emma was a threat. The woman Killian loved had become the victim of this embodiment. How was he supposed to protect her from this?