Author's note: Thanks to those who reviewed, followed, and favorited this story! Hope y'all enjoy this ch.

Chapter 3

She was pale. Not to say that she was known for her golden tan, but she was too pale even by her standards. If it wasn't for the constantly beeping heart monitor, it would almost be as though she was merely sleeping.

As Hook sat in the chair, one of her cold hands clutched between his, he was struck by a memory of himself lying in a similar bed in a similar room, Emma leaning over him, uttering threats barely disguised by that cheeky smile of hers. He remembered snarking back at her as he fought against the restraints holding him down. Even then he'd found her charming. Oh, how he wished they could go back to that day.

Mary Margaret and David had gone in first, leaving Hook to relay the events of the past twelve hours to Henry in a low, hollowed, detached voice. The high pitched notes and wavers in the kid's voice was evident of his devastating reaction. Hook couldn't do much more than say that he could go see his mother if he pleased. And then Henry had been too overcome with emotion to continue speaking on the phone any longer, and Regina had picked it up, saying in a crisp voice that she'd bring Henry over in several hours.

The chair was pressed up against the bed as close as possible. There wasn't much he could say; instead, he settled for gripping her hand tightly, burying his face in the rough fabric of the blanket covering her, hoping desperately that he could convey all of his jumbled feelings through his touch. His shoulders began to shake as the tears he'd been holding back for so long finally came.

"Emma, love." He choked, voice muffled by the thick fabric. "I'm so, so sorry…"


Eye pressed to the spyglass, smooth metal worn by many years of use, Hook spied Emma, sitting alone on a large rock by the water, long hair blowing violently in the wind. In the distance, the clock struck twelve. Noon.

Just as he'd expected, Emma was not planning to show up to her lunch date with Neal.

He closed the spyglass, stowing it in one of the many pockets in his large leather coat. From where he stood on the deck, she wore a conflicted look. Well, if he had anything to do with it, that look would soon be replaced by one of rapt desire for him. Stifling a cheeky grin, he headed down the gangplank of his ship and straight towards her.

Her posture was rigid and her fingers tapped repeatedly on the rock beside her. She looked up as he approached, her expression one of surprise. "Hook?"

"Rather nice day isn't it?" He commented, maneuvering over the jagged rock covered ground.

"What are you doing here?"

"Why, as I said, it's a rather nice day. Just here enjoying the weather." He answered.

She stared suspiciously at him. "Really."

"Really." He sat down on the rock beside her and flashed her a wide smile. Uncapping the flask with his hand, he held it out to her. "Rum?"

She rolled her eyes; nonetheless she grabbed it and took a large swig. "Thanks."

"Question is, love," He took the flask back and pressed it to his lips, trying to ignore the fact that he was touching where her lips had been just moments ago. "What are you doing here? I know we didn't fight so hard back in that cursed land for you to be sitting out here alone. Shouldn't you be with your family?"

Emma shrugged but did not respond.

Alright, enough beating around the bush. "Aren't you supposed to be at Granny's with Neal?"

She blinked at him. "How did you know? Were you eavesdropping?"

"I was doing no such thing!" Hook said, visibly affronted. "I just happen to excel at listening in to other people's conversations. Amongst…" He gave her the once over, pressing a finger to his lips. "Other things."

Emma rolled her eyes. "That's called eavesdropping, buddy." She snatched the flask out of his hand again and took another sip.

"Hey, that's mine." He made a swipe for it. "And you didn't answer my question, love. Why are you sitting out here with a pirate with a drinking problem, lovely weather aside, when you should be with the father of your lad? I know I'm devilishly handsome and all, but lunch with Neal should be much more appealing than sitting here alone."

"Devilishly handsome, huh?" She said wryly. "You certainly think highly of yourself." She grabbed the flask once more.

Yet again she'd dodged his question. As much as he was dying to know why she was avoiding Neal (not that he didn't already have a hunch) he wasn't going to push it. They sat in a companionable silence for several moments, hair blowing in the wind as they looked out at the beach.

And then Emma spoke up. "I don't think I'm ready." She admitted.

Hook looked over at her. "And why's that?"

She shrugged. "Dunno."

"Well, I think I know why."

"Do you, now?" She raised an eyebrow.

"He broke your heart." Hook answered simply. "And no matter how hard he tries, he will never be able to make up for it."

One look at her and he knew he was spot on correct. Her nails were digging into the palms of her hands as a small, lone tear made its way out of the corner of her eye.

"Is that selfish of me?" She muttered. "He just wants to give Henry a complete family, and here I am, preventing it from ever happening."

"Of course not." Hook protested immediately. Acting purely on instinct, he reached out with his hook, turning her head to face him. His thumb reached out to wipe away her tears. "It's not selfish if you can't forgive him for wronging you in so many ways."

"But Mary Margaret and David have done the same. And I've forgiven them!" She argued. "But despite the fact that I still love him, I just can't seem to let everything that happened with Neal go."

He bristled at the thought that she still loved the dark one's spawn. "That's perfectly natural." Hook responded. "There are some things we will never be able to let go. For me, it's the death of Milah." He gulped at the sound of her name, the familiar hollow ache spreading throughout inside. But ever since Neverland, the ache had been less painful. "And for you, it's your history with him."

"But what about Henry?"

"Your lad will be fine. He has three parents who love him, not to mention grandparents and probably the whole rest of this bloody town. He is as irresistible as his mother." Hook couldn't resist throwing in.

"I guess." Emma still looked unconvinced, completely ignoring his little comment at the end..

"I know you just want to do what's best for your son, but if what's best will make you unhappy, then perhaps it's not the best. Henry wouldn't want you to be unhappy."

A half smile crept over her face. "How do I know you're not just saying all of this for your own little reasons?"

"What reasons?" He asked, mock surprised.

She gave him a hard look. "You know what I mean."

"Well then, love." He stood up. He'd already made significant inroads today and now it was time to go. "I guess you'll just have to see.


The loud blare of a siren caused Hook to sit up, startled, nearly disturbing the many tubes and wires sticking out of her. He could hear distinct voices coming from the background.

"Male, 35, wounds to the shoulder and head." A voice said. "Found him behind some bushes. Looks as though he was passed out there for several hours until a civilian found him and called 911."

"Get him stabilized." Whale ordered. There were sounds of something being wheeled down the hall towards him. There was a sharp sound as a curtain was drawn around the new patient.

"...'s goin on?" A groggy male voice asked. "Where am I?"

At the sound of the voice, Hook stopped short. No.

"Youre in the hospital, sir." A crisp female voice responded. A nurse, Hook presumed. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Uhhh…" The man muttered. "Attacked."

And then Hook saw red as he bolted out of Emma's room and into the curtained off area where the man was being treated. Before the nurses could stop him, he charged straight for the man lying in the gurney, his hand finding his way around the man's throat, wishing with all his heart that he had both hands.

The better to strangle the man with.

"Attacked?!" Hook spat. "You weren't attacked and you know that, you lying son of a bitch."

Behind him, he could hear nurses screaming for security, but Hook ignored all of them as he concentrated on choking the life out of the man.

"Get..off...me!" The man wheezed. He had a cut on his head and bloody gauze on his shoulder, but his injuries were trivial compared to hers. Nothing, even.

"Not until you pay for what you did." Hook snarled. The man was growing ashen and his eyes were closing; it was evident that he was about to pass out, when someone seized Hook from behind and forcibly dragged him backwards.

"Your wife deserved what she got." The man grinned maniacally as Hook was being dragged away. "I hope she dies."

Hook fought against the burly security guards, yelling obscenities at the man as he found himself traveling down the hallway and into the waiting area. One of the security guards went over to speak to David, who eyed Hook with a mixture of disappointment and disdain.

"This is a warning, sir." One of the security guards said. "You're lucky that the deputy is letting it slide. But attack a patient again and we will be forced to ban you from the grounds."

Hook just spat angrily as he was released, saying nothing.

"What the hell was that?" David crossed his arms. "Attacking another patient?"

"You don't understand." Hook began pacing around the room. "You don't know who he is, what he's done."

"Doesn't matter." David sighed. "Look, I get that you're upset. I really do. But you can't go attacking other patients. I'm serious. If this happens again you won't be able to see Emma." He said firmly.

"I don't care." Hook replied darkly. "That's a fair price to pay if it guarantees his death.

David rubbed the back of his neck. "What's so important about this man? Whatever it is, it can wait."

"No, it can't."

"Why?"

"Because he's the one who shot Emma."

Author's note: Next ch, we'll find out what exactly happened. Via flashback of course. As always, reviews are appreciated.