A/N: Here we go with the reunion! Enjoy! I hope you all enjoy this chapter more than the last since the response was very different for that chapter than the other two. After this chapter is where the fun really begins (in my opinion)! Thanks so much for all the support. It's blowing me away! Let me know what you think of this one! Enjoy!
Warning: This chapter mentions alcoholism.
Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.
The bullpen was empty save for Emma and David sitting across from each other at their giant shared desk. The rest of the officers that were working the nightshift were out on patrol since it was this time of night, the midnight to three stretch that you got the troublemakers out, just when they were starting to be annoying and not after the chaos had happened. Unfortunately for Emma and her partner, they were buried in paperwork, having lost a bet to another officer, Graham Humbert during a dart game, and were stuck doing his reports as well as her own while he drove around.
Not that her mind was on the paperwork. There was no way she was going to get through the big pile of half-done reports when her thoughts kept drifting back to that strange morning a week previously. It would be a lie to say she hadn't listened to Killian's entire new album after that day, just a few at a time so she wouldn't feel like her enjoyment of the music, and curiosity in the man, was too real. The lyrics just reminded her too much of her own life. Right from that story about the person sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for someone to come. To someone who didn't know about those feelings it would sound like someone waiting for a girlfriend. To Emma, she knew it was about waiting for parents and being abandoned. She'd googled the song afterwards to see if Killian really was the songwriter. He was. Emma wasn't sure if she felt sadder for herself or Killian after hearing that song. It sounded like he'd had a shitty childhood as well. Once again Emma felt like she could actually know Killian and on one hand that was horrifying because Emma didn't do that kind of thing, but on the other hand, it made her curious.
Footsteps sounded up the hallway, hurrying towards the bullpen for patrol officers. Emma glanced up, waiting to see who it was, part of her really hoping it wasn't some civilian with an emergency that would involve a lot of paperwork. A redhead in uniform, long curly hair tied up in a ponytail, poked her head into the room, checking to see who was still in. Her eyes lit up with recognition at the sight of Emma and David.
"Emma, David!" Ariel called, slipping into the room. Ariel was an officer in the department that worked with the port authority and often partnered with Emma and David on various policing jobs on or around the water. Ariel just gotten back from her honeymoon, three weeks in Fiji, after marrying some rich man she'd met at the pier two years prior. Emma had been invited to the wedding but she hadn't gone- no one to go with and weddings were a lot for her tight leashed emotions to process. She'd seen pictures though and boy, was it ever a wedding.
"Hey Ariel, welcome back," David called, pushing back his chair and standing. The tan colouring Ariel's skin really made Emma wish she actually took a vacation once in a while. Emma hadn't ever gone on one. At first she never had the money. And then she just didn't see a point in being alone on another continent when she was doing that just fine in Queens.
"Thanks. Look, a call just came in. You interested?"
"What is it?" Emma asked, getting up as well. She'd take pretty much anything to get away from those papers that were making her eyes go blurry.
"Suspected intoxication on a marine vessel. Boat's just out there floating. Would have called the coast guard but it's their night for practice drills so they're all busy and I'm on duty," Ariel finished with a shrug. Ariel was a registered captain and when needed captained the department's police boat, mostly in the summer when the boaters were out in full force, usually with beer.
"What do you say, Emma?" David asked with a grin. "Up for a sail?"
"Always," Emma answered, reaching over and shutting her laptop with a finality. She grabbed her gun from her desk top, slipping it onto her belt and followed David and Ariel out of the bullpen. They took David and Emma's police cruiser down to the port where their little grey police boat with the rubber bumpers sat, tied up.
The air was cool now, the spring heat having blown out sometime through the late evening. Emma found herself wishing she'd brought her jacket as goosebumps raised across her skin. She pulled on her lifejacket, pulling her arms into the main part of it against her chest as Ariel backed them up and then put into the harbour.
"So what's the story?" David asked, looking just as chilled as Emma was feeling. Emma went behind the wave shield and hunkered down, back to the side as they cut through the smooth water. David leaned against the shield, arms crossed over his chest. Ariel didn't seem bothered by the sea wind in the slightest as she turned to the two other officers.
"A commercial vessel called it in. Apparently, there's a pleasure boat, The Jolly Roger, floating two miles from shore. No one can be seen but they could hear someone singing. Sounded like they were drunk."
"So we'll tow them in?" Emma asked.
"Or they'll tow us, if the boat's big enough."
"Better than paperwork," David put in. Emma had to agree. It was a beautiful night, much more enjoyable now that she was out of the wind. The stars winked at them and the moon illuminated the open water. Despite being still on duty, there was a peacefulness to being out on the water. Emma needed to make a point of finding a way out onto the water more often through the summer. Maybe she could get to know Ariel a little better and spend some time on the boat Ariel shared with her husband.
"There she is," Ariel said solemnly about twenty minutes later, slowing the engine to a quiet growl. Emma stood with a yawn, stretching, back cracking and shoulders popping. She'd actually started to drift off, cuddled there against the side. She followed Ariel's outstretched arm.
Floating about twenty feet away was a large white pleasure yacht, The Jolly Roger painted in scrolling black font across the side of the hull. It was the boat of someone rich, probably some Manhattan stock broker whose teenager had stolen the keys to go drink. Like the report had said, there didn't appear to be anyone on board. But, unlike what they'd been told, everything was silent.
Emma shot a worried look at David.
Ariel grabbed the loudspeaker, holding it up to her mouth. "Captain of The Jolly Roger, please prepare to be boarded by NYPD." They all stayed quiet, waiting to see whoever was on board come out. No one did. "Captain of The Jolly Roger, this is your last warning." Again, no response. Ariel sighed and got the boat going again. In a few moments they had sidled up to the side of the yacht and Ariel gave them the nod to board as she looped the bow line around the whole in the yacht's washboard.
Emma was able to easily step up onto the side of yacht and jump down onto the Jolly Roger, David following. As soon as she did and looked around she realized why no one had responded. And nearly swallowed her tongue. Laying on the deck of the boat, passed out, an empty rum bottle beside him, was Killian Jones.
Killian Jones. Rock star.
So much for never seeing him again.
Before Emma could say or do anything, Ariel had boarded and exploded.
"Killian Brennan Jones," she hollered. Emma shot the usually demure redhead a surprised glance. It didn't sound like Ariel was a fan. It sounded like Ariel had a personal beef with the musician. "Get up now," Ariel yelled, grabbing Killian's shoulder and shaking.
Killian's eyes opened slowly, as if that movement alone caused him pain. The alcohol clouded his vision, making him look around as if he didn't actually see anyone in front of him or notice Ariel's fist in his shirt. However much rum had been left in the bottle before Killian had started that night, seemed to be enough to put him down for the count.
A slap sounded, the noise radiating over the silent water like ripples. "Do you know what you did to Eric?" Ariel asked, hand poised for another crack. David, registering that Ariel had actually hit Killian, whose cheek was quickly reddening, leaped forward and grabbed the woman, bodily pulling her back. Killian hadn't reacted at all, despite the obvious force behind Ariel's hand.
"What are you doing?" David asked, voice erring between shock and anger. This wasn't Ariel. Especially not Ariel when she was on duty. Emma hadn't once seen Ariel act unprofessional, even when she'd first met her husband Eric, while she was working. Ariel had stayed completely quiet around Eric, as if she'd lost her voice, and then, once the case was closed, went straight back to the pier and introduced herself. But this-
"Do you know who that is?" Ariel's chest heaved in David's grasp as she waited for an answer. David shook his head but Emma said nothing. She didn't really think this was the place to reveal that she and Killian had had a very strange meeting the week before. "That's Killian fucking Jones," she spat, turning her nose up at the drunk musician. "He was the lead singer in a band with my husband Eric." Eric, the piano player. After Neverland's Lost Pirates had disbanded, Eric must have taken a job at the port. It clicked then how Ariel had had enough money to go on such a long honeymoon and have such a lovely beach wedding. "The band broke up after some serious shit, and this loser cuts himself off. From everyone who ever loved him. Do you know how much Robin needed you?" Ariel asked, now shouting at Killian again. "How much Eric worries about you? How he buys every shit tabloid so he can keep track of you and make sure you're not dead in a ditch somewhere?"
"If you'd like me to jump overboard now lass, I'll gladly do it," Killian responded quietly, shocking everyone with his voice. Emma spun to look at him but Killian was pointedly looking at his lap. She saw his expression for what it was- shame. Now whether it was shame at getting drunk and caught by the cops, or shame at what Ariel had said, Emma didn't know.
"Ariel," Emma said quickly, cutting off the redhead's retort which could probably be paraphrased into "take a long walk off a short pier". She needed to smooth things over before something worse than a slap happened. "Go tie on the police boat so we can get ready to go. David, go get the first aid kit from the boat. I want the emergency blanket." Emma leveled both of them stern glares. Ariel seemed to be coming back to herself, sending Emma a chagrined look but not apologizing. David just seemed confused at the whole thing.
When the two other officers had gone about their business, Emma bent back to Killian, squatting in front of him. Killian was still looking at his lap. Emma had no idea if Killian even remembered her or if she was about to make a fool out of herself but she spoke anyway.
"Killian? Do you remember me?" she asked softly.
Now Killian looked up, his blue eyes meeting her own for a short moment of recognition. "Emma Swan," he answered, voice slurring. Emma tried not to let on her surprise. She hadn't really expected him to remember her first name, let alone her full one. After what she'd read about Killian through the week, Emma had just expected Killian to move on and never think of her again.
Emma sighed. "What have you done?" she whispered, balanced on her heels. Killian was a mess. His eyes were bloodshot and unfocused. The black hair that, according to the pictures Emma had seen, was usually messy in a purposeful way, was now matted with salt spray and sweat. Shivers wracked Killian's body, the short sleeved black t-shirt not enough to protect him from the night breeze.
"Was looking for peace." The alcohol seemed to loosen his tongue. The answer felt real, like she wasn't really supposed to have heard. "I really fucked up this time, didn't I?" Killian asked, focused a bit more on her now.
"We're going to have to charge you operation of a marine vessel while under the influence," David supplied, coming up behind Emma. He dropped the first aid kit in her lap and Emma undid the zipper, quickly finding the reflective silver emergency blanket.
Emma held the blanket out to Killian but he shook his head. A punishment, Emma could easily tell. It was obvious Killian was freezing but staying that way was penance for getting in such a situation. Emma sighed. This man had a lot more going on than she'd initially thought.
"Killian- if you get hypothermia on the sail back I'm going to have to do a shit ton of paperwork so just put on the blanket, okay?" Emma asked, allowing her voice to have just a hint of exasperation to it. Killian shot her a glance that told her he knew what she was doing.
"Ariel would love it if I froze to death."
"Killian," Ariel said sharply, coming on board now that the police boat had been secured to the stern of The Jolly Roger. "I don't want you to die."
"You sound so convincing, lass," Killian drawled, sounding more lucid now. While he was distracted by the other officer Emma draped the blanket over his shoulders, tightening it around him and trying her best not to think about how close she was to Killian. She was on duty, damn it. And she was arresting him.
"If you died Eric would do something stupid like blame himself for not stepping in."
"I think after three years he can drop that hero streak."
Ariel glared at him and turned with a huff, finally recognizing that she was veering too far from professional territory to retort again. With another angry huff Ariel marched into the cabin of the yacht and fired up the engine. Killian looked down, pulling that supposedly unwanted blanket tighter around him. As the boat started up David moved into the cabin with Ariel, most likely to talk her down, and Emma stayed next to Killian, settling on the deck.
Emma wasn't sure why she decided to stay there. There really wasn't a need since Killian wasn't about to fall overboard while he was sitting down and she could easily slip away to stand with her colleagues but there was something in the way Killian was looking down that made Emma want to stay. Killian seemed ashamed of his actions but there was also an air of helplessness to him. Maybe he hadn't wanted to drink. Maybe he'd felt like he needed to.
A word bristled at the back of Emma's mind. Addict. Yes, Emma was pretty sure there was a level of alcoholism to Killian- perhaps a side of him he kept secret if the shame colouring his expression was any indication. Maybe he hid behind his celebrity persona- that one that made no one second guess the rum soaked aura that was swallowing him whole?
"So I guess you are a policeman," Killian said, breaking the silence between them. It took Emma a few moments to remember what he was talking about.
"Policewoman," she replied, going for some levity. It felt out of character for Emma to try and be the light one. That was Mary Margaret's job. Emma had seen too much to be anything other that pessimistic. Or at least she told herself that as a scapegoat for the guilt of being doom and gloom.
"So what does this charge mean for me?" Killian asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite the slurred words and serious topic. It was a strange combination.
"You'll have a DUI on your record, a fine and lose your boating license for a while. Could have been worse. At least you didn't hurt anyone," Emma finished with a light shrug, keeping her voice that even one she used with the people she took into the station.
Killian heaved a resigned sigh. "Regina's actually going to kill me."
"Regina's your manager?" Emma asked, trying to ignore the looks David was shooting at her from the cabin. The name vaguely reminded her of something she'd read on Killian's Wiki page.
"Yeah. She was already pissed. Haven't written anything in months and now I do this. She'll probably actually drop me now." Killian shook his head sadly. Again, there was that strange combination of drunken lilt and sober topics. Maybe it was easier for Killian that way? To just let the booze keep hold while he discussed the potential end of his career because of his own actions.
Emma furrowed her brows. "Why did you do this then?" When Killian stiffened at her words Emma realized that she'd probably stepped over the line. After a few long heartbeats Killian just shook his head. There would be no verbalizing of his answer now. Emma wasn't sure if there ever had been.
The boat engine slowed as they pulled into the pier. David came out of the cabin, closing the space to where Emma and Killian sat. The blonde officer put his hand out to help Emma up so they could get the boat tied up.
"You okay?" Emma asked Killian as she stood, leaving him there on the deck. Killian nodded, back to looking at the deck, using his nail to scrape a chunk of dirt off the grey paint. With a firm nod back, Emma followed David to the washboard, grabbing the rope coiled there. Ariel cut the engine, the boat falling into silence, save for the lap of waves against the hull.
"That's quite the interaction Ariel and Killian had," David mused quietly as he reached over the side and grasped the floating dock so Emma could tie the bow line to the metal grommet. Emma didn't answer aside from a shrug. She didn't want to gossip. Killian had gone through too much and while Ariel may not have been off base reacting as such, it really wasn't something that had been helpful. Killian was barely holding on as it was.
Ariel strolled over to David and Emma, still looking irritated. She jerked her thumb towards Killian. "Killian can't be alone after all the alcohol he ingested. You taking him to the drunk tank or can I take his sorry ass home to Eric?"
Bring Killian home to Eric? The one who apparently worried himself sick over Killian, a man who was currently battling more demons than the fifth circle of hell had on it's census? That seemed like the worst idea Emma had ever heard and she'd made some seriously terrible decisions in her own past. She was like captain of the bad decision team. There was no way Killian would find any sort of peace at Eric and Ariel's house.
But Ariel was right- Killian couldn't stay alone. What if the alcohol poisoning set in? What if he just went home and drank more? That thought shot worry through Emma. She'd only known Killian for a grand total of forty-five minutes and yet the idea of something happening to him was something she couldn't even think about. If she did she'd scare herself thinking about the level of kinship she already felt for Killian. But Killian couldn't go to the drunk tank either and risk being seen. Or call his manager. Not if he wanted his career salvaged and in Emma's opinion, that seemed like the only thing he had anymore.
Emma didn't know why but she just knew she couldn't let him lose that. Maybe it was because people had let her lose everything before and she'd always wanted someone to step in.
Emma spoke before she could stop herself. Or consider how much she was going to regret this. "His manager is coming to get him," she lied easily. Emma could feel Killian's panicked glance against her back.
Ariel shrugged. "Good luck to her."
Emma didn't say anything else or think about how unknowingly, Ariel was talking to Emma. She turned away to Killian. "Come on, we're going to the station. Ariel will keep your keys and arrange for your boat to return to it's berth."
Killian said nothing, a frantic look to his eye, but he pushed himself up obediently anyways. As soon as he was standing he took a stagger, falling towards the washboard as the alcohol went to his head. David caught him easily, pulling him upright then out of the lightly bobbing boat. Once on solid ground Killian seemed more stable and was able to walk slowly towards the cruiser under his own power.
Ariel stayed at the pier to make arrangements for Killian's boat, shooting him a glance that may have been apologetic but was also very annoyed before hurrying into the port authority office. The absence of Ariel seemed to make the atmosphere between them all much lighter and Emma knew she'd made the right decision about not allowing Killian to go with her. Killian himself was completely silent the whole ride back to the station.
"Why don't you go home to Mary Margaret?" Emma suggested to David when they got out of the cruiser. She needed David to leave if she was going to pull off this outrageous plan without him making her change her mind. "Shift's over anyways. I'll wait with Killian until his manager comes."
"You sure?" David asked.
Emma nodded. "Yeah, no problem. Give Leo a kiss for me." Leo was David's two-year-old son. Reminding her partner of the child was pretty much a guarantee for him to want to rush home.
"Thanks. And you better come over this weekend," David replied good naturedly, heading for where his very-practical-new-father SUV was parked. "Leo misses his Auntie Emma." Emma nodded, trying not to feel guilty at not seeing the blonde little prince for a while. In her defense she'd been busy. And sometimes being around a family hurt.
When David had climbed into his SUV and started it up Emma moved to the backdoor of the cruiser, opening it to reveal a reserved and slightly sick looking Killian. Killian had drunk so much that he wasn't even a fun drunk. It was straight to near comatose and hungover. She couldn't believe she was about to bundle this man into her beloved Bug.
"Come on," Emma instructed, a bit sharper than what she'd intended. But here, with the two of them alone in the parking lot, it all seemed too real. But there was still that spark of courage inside. Emma held onto that. She wasn't going to back down. Not when she could actually help.
Killian pulled himself out of the car, swaying slightly. Emma waited until he'd steadied himself with a hand on the roof of the car before starting towards her own vehicle.
"Do you want me to wait for Regina inside then?" Killian asked, looking very confused and upset.
Emma turned, realizing she'd never actually told him what was going on. "You want to keep your career right?" Killian nodded, not really following. "Good. Because Regina was a lie. You're coming with me to sober up and dry out," she added at the end with a spur of the moment decision. She'd only intended on keeping him at her place for the night but watching him there, alone in the parking lot, she knew the cycle would only start up again the minute she left him at whatever mansion he lived at the next day. Killian needed a rehab of sort whether he wanted it or not. Emma could- probably- do that.
Killian gave her a strange look, measuring her genuineness, deciding if it was worth fighting her on the plan. Emma kept her face steady, waiting. After a long moment he seemed to accept whatever he saw because he sighed and started to follow her. "As you wish, lass."
Emma felt her lips prick up in a smile. "Good," she answered, unlocking her car. "Don't throw up in my car and if you try any funny business remember, I've-"
"Got a gun," Killian answered for her as if they'd done this routine a million times before. It was starting to feel like they had. Maybe in some other life that was true.
