Author's Note: Thank you for the wonderful responses. :) Hope this was quick enough for you! Constructive Criticism is always welcomed.
I know
You mean well, but leave me be
Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Just stay away and you'll be safe from me
~ Frozen, "For the First Time in Forever (Reprise)"
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Chapter Three
Emma sighed gustily making Killian grin.
"What's the matter, love? Too used to being in charge?"
Emma crossed her arms over chest. "The agreement was that if we didn't reach some sort of civilization by noon, I'd agree to follow your direction. But, apparently, you have no better idea where we are than I did."
Killian's eyebrow rose. "Does it really matter which direction we go in? It's not like we have a map to follow."
Her hesitation caught his eye.
"What is it?"
"I don't want to go too far east."
"Any particular reason why?"
"It's Cora's land."
Killian glanced back at the blonde following behind him. "Aye, and what of it? Get caught stealing from the Lady's treasure room, and have a run-in with her local law enforcement?"
Emma snorted. "That would be you, not me, pirate."
Killian chuckled. "I'm not so daft as to try and pilfer from the Queen of Hearts. I rather like mine right where it is." He patted the mentioned area of his chest. "Little too bloody for my taste."
She grimaced. "Are the rumors true then? She really has the heart of her enemies ripped from their chests?"
His expression darkened. "Unfortunately that particular one is all too true. She's definitely not the squeamish type."
Emma shuddered, revulsion running through her. "How do you know so much about her?"
Killian sent a quick glance her way before turning forward and continuing their tromp through the flora. "You travel a lot in my line of work; I've spent some time in Mirlando. Can't say I'm overly fond of the place."
"I can't imagine why," Emma muttered, pushing aside a frond dangling near her face. "So you can see why I'm not too eager to get close to her lands."
"No worries, love, it's not her land you have to worry about. It's coming face-to-face with the bloody queen herself."
"That's comforting." She scowled and Killian couldn't stop the grin curling at the corners of his lips. She sighed again, halting in her steps as she studied the dimming light coming through the trees. "Either way, looks like we're stopping here for the night."
"Don't want to try and push further today?"
Emma shook her head. "Not when neither of us really knows where we are. It'd be stupid to try and find our way through the dark unless we had no other choice."
"Do you think we shook any pursuant then?"
Emma's eyes filled with exhaustion. "I hope so."
"Where do you want to make camp then, love?"
She looked around. "Here's as good a place as any."
With a nod of acquiescence, Killian helped Emma clear a spot for them to tuck down in for the night. Emma rustled through her bag, handing out rations of her remaining trail food, her lips a tight, fine line as she eyed the remaining contents. They ate together in companionable silence, Killian insisting he take first watch this time. Emma agreed, with slight reservation, before shrugging her shoulders, rolling over and discreetly pulling her knife close.
Emma felt as if she'd barely closed her eyes when a sudden noise had her bolting up right, her blade held at the ready.
She jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder, her wrist caught in a firm but gentle grip before her knife ended up in his chest. A flash of white teeth and dark hair had Emma's racing heart relaxing fractionally when she recognized Killian's profile in the dark.
In a flash of irritation she opened her mouth to ask why he had awoken her when the hand on her shoulder moved to her mouth, stifling her words as he motioned for her to keep quiet.
Emma heard it then – the rustling of something moving through the underbrush. Several things, if she was hearing correctly. Whoever they were, they were good. If she hadn't spent so much time trying to survive by running from such pursuers, she might have brushed off the sounds as the usual nightlife. But the stealth was unnatural to her ears and all too human. Her thoughts darkened. If such creatures could even be called human anymore. Ruthless, cowardly racketeers with no remorse that they were.
Killian motioned for her to keep low to the ground and follow him, which Emma did as quietly as she could. She was confident in her own skill of evasion, but, admittedly, was curious to see how he'd handle the situation. Yes, great time to test out someone else's survival skills, Emma. Right when you're both trying to flee for your lives through some gods-forsaken forest in the middle of the night. Brilliant. She admonished herself.
On near silent feet, the two crept forward, Killian making for the gap in their foes' perimeter. As quietly and gently as he could, Killian shifted hanging branches and leaves aside, waiting until he felt that Emma had grasped a hold of them before releasing the foliage and moving forward.
He felt a spark of surprise that she so easily knew where to follow in his footsteps, seemed to know exactly where he wanted her to be positioned next even in the darkness. It was a little enthralling and more than a bit alarming that she appeared to be reading his mind. He hadn't felt that since – No, don't go there, Jones.
There was a loud crack as something crunched underfoot.
Killian winced even as he and Emma froze into absolute stillness.
"Over there!" No longer intending to keep cover, voices and gunfire sprang out from all around them.
Without a second thought, Killian grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her after him, heedless of the noise they were making now. With all the noise their attackers were making, it wouldn't have mattered anyways.
Running and crashing through the undergrowth, Killian cursed himself to all seven hells for losing his concentration at such a vital time.
"Jones."
How could he be so weak as to let his memories assault him even now? Years later?
"Jones!"
True, his revenge was for those in memoriam to begin with, but he couldn't afford to indulge in the past when the present was trying to off him before he'd ever get the chance!
"Killian!"
Killian froze mid-step, Emma crashing into him from behind, muttering curses as she rubbed her nose from where it had made contact with his back. Both their chests were heaving from their frantic sprint, but while Emma's heart was coursing with the adrenaline rush, Killian's had stuttered and almost stopped when Emma had called his name with that slightest touch of desperation.
Memories of the past surged and he pressed a hand tightly over his face, trying to push back the images.
They weren't here. Neither of them. It was long ago. They were gone. Nothing could hurt him now, no one could touch him.
He only had one goal in his existence now; the hatred that fueled it teaching him how to think, how to eat, how to breathe. He just had to survive until then. Outwit and outlast every last one of them until his revenge was complete. Only then would his soul be sated and the ghosts of the past finally laid to rest.
Killian jumped when he felt cool fingers skitter over his own. His first reaction was to knock the phantom fingers away, his heart hammering in his chest until he realized that the hand he had felt was real, attached to the lithe figure of a woman who was looking up at him with a mixture of alarm and concern. Starlight reflected in her eyes. He stared at her, entranced, blinking slowly as if waking from a dream until her words finally registered in his ears.
"Are you okay?" Her hand moved as if to reach for his face again, but she hesitated, drawing her hand back to her side as she studied his wide-eyed expression. If Emma didn't know any better, she'd say he'd just seen a ghost.
Not all spirits can be seen with the eye. Some memories haunt longer than any specter. Emma winced, as much from the thoughts she knew all too well as from the tight grip Killian still held on her wrist. She looked up to see him still staring at her, his wild eyes beginning to calm, brows drawing together in an effort to pull himself back to the present.
"Could you let go?" She cringed at how soft her voice was – not because she was trying to stay quiet in an effort to not have her voice carry, but from a surge of unwanted emotions that had bubbled up to the surface.
Sympathy she could handle. Empathy was another thing altogether.
She had enough of her own demons to fight. She wasn't about to add to her overburdened load with someone else's.
When Killian continued to stare at her uncomprehendingly, Emma waved at his vice-like grip on her wrist. "I'm rather attached to my hand, and would appreciate hanging onto it for the foreseeable future. So, do you think you could let go? Or at least ease up?"
Understanding dawned and Killian jerked his hand away in embarrassment. "Sorry," he mumbled. His hands clenched into fists, silently chiding himself for acting like this was his first-go-round with a target instead of what would hopefully be the end of a long succession of missions.
"No harm, no foul," Emma replied lightly, trying to be discreet as she rubbed at the sore area, her fingers tingling as blood rushed back into her appendage. She'd probably sport a bruise later, but it was just one more in the collection. She smiled wryly. Their dash through the forest had certainly added a few new ones. Her shins may never forgive her after this last chase.
Emma brushed her hair out of her face, frowning as bits of leaves and twigs fell out. "Perfect."
Killian turned to her with an eyebrow raised in question, but Emma just shook her head. "I think I spotted a light back that way a bit," she indicated by pointing her thumb over her shoulder. "It might not be much, but it could be worth a look."
Killian nodded and indicated for her to follow, keeping as close to her as a shadow as they crept back through the forest, keeping quiet as the silence around them now echoed alarmingly.
Emma held up a hand to signal a halt before she crept forward stealthily, brushing aside stray branches and squinting to see better in the dark.
There was a large metallic container sitting in a tiny clearing. What light there was in the night sky was reflecting off its surface – that's what had originally caught her eye. Emma also spotted a few windows placed evenly along the sides before realizing what she was seeing. "I think it's a trailer."
Killian studied the object beyond Emma's shoulder with a frown. "Why would anyone want to live out in the middle of nowhere?"
"Maybe they like the quiet." She shrugged and pushed forward into the clearing. "It looks abandoned."
"Swan," he caught her arm, causing her to turn to him with a questioning brow. "Do you really think this is such a good idea?"
"I'm just going to take a closer look." She glanced back at the camper that had definitely seen better days. "Even if no one's there now, they might have left some food or supplies behind that could come in handy."
"And if there is someone still there?"
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not saying we go in guns blazing. We could wait until they leave. Besides," she patted his shoulder. "That's why there are two of us, right? Two against one. Being a team and all that."
"And the men on our trail?"
Emma bit her lip, contemplating. "We should have a few minutes, at the very least," she decided. "Just enough time to scope it out and hightail it out of here before anyone else comes stumbling along."
With great reluctance, Killian let her go, but followed her to the edge of the camper. He wasn't letting her out of his sight – not with danger from unknown forces being still too close at hand for his comfort.
"Give me a boost?" Emma's voice whispered back as she tried to stand on tiptoe to see in the windows.
Killian grinned. "Are you giving me permission to place my hands on you, Swan?"
She glared. "If either of your hands move so much as a millimeter where I don't want them to, you'll be losing them. Are we clear?"
A stern nod that did absolutely nothing to hide his mischievous eyes and impish grin. "As the lady wishes."
Emma glared at her companion for a few seconds before stepping into his entwined hands, pausing right before he made to lift her. "Wait, your arm."
"It'll be fine for a few moments." He stopped again when she pushed down on his shoulder.
"I don't want you ripping your stitches."
"Concerned for my welfare, Swan?"
She scoffed. "I put a lot of work into patching you up. I'd hate to ruin it, and know I did nothing but waste my time in the first place."
"Well, unless you're suggesting I give you a piggy-back ride," he paused. "Well, now, there's a rather fond idea. How about it, Swan? Care to climb on?"
Emma narrowed her eyes at him, her arms crossed over her chest. "Go ahead, sailor, keep it up. See how long it takes before I –"
Emma jumped; Killian's hand automatically reaching out to shove her behind him as a door just a few feet away from them swung open with hardly a sound. Killian's arms rose in the universal sign of supplication and surrender as he stared down the barrel of a shotgun.
"Easy there, mate," Killian called quietly. His eyes almost crossing as he stared at the muzzle of the gun pointed directly at his nose.
"Just keep your hands where I can see them," a subdued, masculine voice warned. "You too," he motioned slightly with the gun to Emma who had been hidden slightly behind Killian. She raised her arms up so the man could see them.
"You two make enough racket to wake the dead," the voice continued, body hidden by the shadow of the door. "You're either the worst thieves I've come across or the stupidest."
Emma gaped, affronted at the accusation, even if it was partially true. "Excuse you, I am not a thief."
"So you weren't going to break in and take whatever you wanted with no intention of returning it?"
Emma's mind worked furiously to come up with a response but came up with nothing.
The gun rose a little higher, keeping both Emma and Killian in its sights.
Killian shifted subtly, blocking most of the aim away from Emma. "You caught us fair and square. How about a parley before you decide to blast us to pieces on your front doorstep. Just let us in and we'll talk about it like civilized gentlemen." Emma cleared her throat. "And woman."
"And why would I ever invite you in?"
"If you hadn't noticed, mate, we're not alone." Killian's voice had lowered as crashing sounds began edging closer to the clearing. Emma tensed immediately, her head whipping back and forth between the gun in their faces and the ones that were soon to be trained on their backs.
"Please, just let us go," she asked, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice as the sounds drew closer.
The trailer's occupant paused, listening to the noise. "Sounds like you're bringing even more trouble to my doorstep then I'd like. Maybe I should signal for them so they can take you away, let them soil someone else's doorstep."
Killian felt his teeth grinding as he struggled not to overtake the man. He wouldn't risk an itchy trigger finger, especially when he didn't know how many others there might be left hiding further in the shadows of the dingy trailer.
"Please," Emma felt the lines of strain going right between her shoulder blades. "Just let us go."
"Don't bother, Swan, the coward's not going to listen." Killian glared at the shadow.
"Swan?" The voice paused in confusion, the gun dropping just the tiniest bit. "Emma?"
Emma's head snapped up in alarm and bewilderment. "What?"
"Swan?" The voice repeated. "Emma Swan?"
"How –?"
"Get in, quickly!" The gun vanished from view and the shadowed figure stepped back into the trailer.
Killian and Emma exchanged suspicious glances, hesitancy on both their faces but the sounds of men's voices were becoming too clear for comfort. Throwing caution to the wind, the two scrambled inside, Killian shutting the door as quietly as he could behind him. He halted behind Emma who stood in the middle of the cramped camper, looking down in confusion as their host worked frantically to throw back a ratted carpet, fingers prying at hidden lines in the floor and lifting a section of it.
"Get in, both of you," he waved them forward.
"What is it?" Emma questioned, hesitant.
"Smuggler's cache," Killian replied, recognizing it almost instantly.
"It'll be a bit cramped," the voice apologized. "But it's better than what'll await you if you hesitate for much longer."
Voices outside the trailer had Emma jumping. Her face still read how vastly unsure she was about it, but seeing no other choice, she slid down into the dark, gaping hole, Killian right behind her after tossing her bag into the small space of a corner at her feet. As soon as the two were in, the lid was shut snuggly, not even a trace of it behind as the figure hurriedly threw the old carpet back over the top.
Meanwhile, Emma did her best not panic at the thought of being trapped in a tiny, compressed space with a man who was still largely a stranger, wondering if this was all just a clever ruse to hand deliver them to the men hot on their trail. She flinched when she heard the pounding begin on the door, only the smallest part of her brain registering the comforting weight of an arm wrapping itself around her waist.
What felt like a tornado ripping through the place above sounded all around them as things rattled, shook and broke. Loud angry voices joined the cacophony, but they couldn't make out anything distinct with all the other noise.
Emma turned her head into the shoulder next to her, burying her face in an attempt to block it all out; with little more left for her to do then pray to whatever deity would listen as they waited. The arm around her waist tightened, and while it didn't exactly help her relax, it did let her know that she wasn't alone and that was enough to ease her fears.
She began silently counting each of her breaths, focusing on each intake of air in an effort to calm her racing heart.
When something shattering above her head made her lose her count, Emma cast out frantically for something else.
She felt the steady thrumming of a heart near at hand and realized with a shock that it wasn't hers – hers was racing too wildly to be beating that calmly. Emma focused in fascination at the heartbeat beneath her fingertips and began to count each one, forcing her own into the same rhythm until she eventually relaxed. She breathed in a quiet, shuddering sigh as her tension began to leave her, the smell of salt, spices and sweat mixing together to remind her of sailing on the high seas. There was another scent hidden amongst them that she couldn't identify but was uniquely pleasant, and she realized with a start that all of it was emanating from the man currently tucked so close to her in the cramped space.
Emma couldn't even recall the last time she had been so close to another being. Even with all her travels with Graham and Ruby, she hadn't been this physically close to another since –
She squeezed her eyes shut in the complete darkness in a vain attempt to push back the memories. The ghostly whisper of voices in bed during long, passionate nights, faces full of love and hope for the future, lingering kisses and touches that ignited sparks in her eyes and a fire in her belly, childish laughter that lit her face up as if the sun itself was shining from the heavens.
The sudden overwhelming desire to hold and be held fell upon her with no warning and Emma's heart ached fiercely, her muscles near-rigid with the need to grasp onto the shadows of her past with both her arms and hold them tight.
A warm, quiet hand drifted comfortingly up her back and Emma's eyes snapped open, startled into believing, just for a moment, that her desperate wishes and desires had manifested themselves physically. When logic and reality caught up with her Emma wasn't sure what to feel when she realized it was Killian's fingers tracing lines back and forth across her back.
It was as familiar as it was foreign.
Where normally she'd back away in a hurry from such intimacy with another – especially a near stranger at that! – she found that a small, selfish part of her was all too willing to revel in the touch. Too desperate and fierce of a desire coupled with nowhere to go, and Emma finally decided to allow herself to indulge in the sensation, if only for a moment. Besides, if these were to be her last moments in this world, she might as well enjoy something in it, right?
As Emma relaxed to the alluring combination of a steady heartbeat and a warm, comforting embrace, time passed.
She must have drifted at some point, eventually caught in the realm between sleeping and waking when a rustle of movement directly overhead in otherwise complete silence had her as rigid as board in an instant. Killian's body tensed as they both waited in pained silence as the lid above their heads rose on quiet hinges.
"All's clear," the vaguely familiar voice sounded, dark figure standing back in the graying dawn. His hand reached out to help a very stiff Emma crawl out of the hidey-hole before turning to help Killian as Emma groaned, stretching her muscles and joints.
She looked over the cramped, but much larger than her hiding spot, space inside the camper and winced at the mess.
The trailer's owner followed her gaze and sighed. "There wasn't much to begin with, so cleaning up won't be much of an effort. Don't worry about it."
Emma pursed her lips but nodded.
"I'm not sure why you did it, but I'm grateful all the same," Killian sounded from his corner where he was working on getting the kinks out of his neck.
Emma's brow rose as she turned back to the figure who's features were becoming more clear with each passing minute of the rising sun. "You recognized me." She tried to keep the accusation out of her voice. "Or at least my name. How?"
She felt more than saw Killian stiffen behind her as the moment filtered back into his awakening mind. The man before her looked between the two of them for a contemplative moment before he sighed deeply.
"I knew Bae."
"Neal?"
The man nodded solemnly.
Killian watched in gross fascination as the name alone sent a staggering blow to the woman before him. She paled almost instantly and had to brace herself on the counter for support. He jumped to his feet immediately, ready to catch her should her world suddenly tilt sideways.
Emma barely felt her lips moving, a numbing sensation overtaking her body. "How?"
The man studied her critically, concern in his eyes before he decided to continue. "He was an old friend, someone I've known since we were kids."
"I don't remember –"
A tiny smile curled at his lips as he indicated his trailer. "I'm a bit of a recluse – a writer by trade. I like the quiet; less distractions and temptations when you're out in the middle of nowhere most of the time."
"Booth, August Booth," The name slipped from Emma's lips before she even realized she'd said them. Her brows furrowed as she thought, allowing memories to carefully slip forward. "You were his friend. You made that beautiful book of fairytales for –" She bit her lip, both unable and unwilling to continue.
August nodded solemnly, his eyes heavy with sorrow. "I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for your loss." He took in the way her shoulders seemed to curl in toward her chest as if trying to shield herself from the reminder, from more pain. "For all your losses."
Killian watched the exchange with a practiced eye, witness to a private moment of shared pain and felt empathy wash through him. He blinked rapidly at the feeling and shoved it aside roughly.
Sympathy was one thing.
Empathy was another.
It led to attachment, and he couldn't afford any more attachments. Not when all they did was bring you pain. And especially not when that attachment was for your intended target from a mission given by a precarious, ruthless woman who's notoriety was the stuff of legends.
Killian was known to push his boundaries with her, but her patience would only go so far. And he highly doubted it would ever extend to this.
Whatever this was.
He looked up to see that August was watching him with keen, intelligent eyes. Killian had the distinct feeling that the man knew more than he was letting on, but as to exactly how much was yet to be determined.
Killian shifted casually to place his hands in his pockets, fingering the items he had tucked away inside; ready for his usage in an instant should the need become necessary. He relaxed minutely when those eyes moved back to Emma, her hands at her temples, rubbing away at an apparent headache.
August frowned. "You should get some rest."
"I'm fine."
"Listen to the man, Swan; get some rest whilst you can. It'll be another long day, I can feel it already," Killian added when August looked ready to argue.
Emma glared at the two men, her stubbornness rearing up, but when she took a step away from the counter and would have stumbled to the ground had Killian not caught her she finally conceded. With a flushed face and eyes that dared them to make one smart comment, Emma extracted promises that they wake her in a few hours, nothing more.
August led her to the back of his camper, allowing her to rest on his bed. Emma sank into the mattress with a relieved sigh and was out near instantly.
When he came back into the kitchen area, a brow rose at seeing Killian picking up some of the clutter.
"Never pegged you for the 'doing things for others' sort," August commented offhandedly.
"I'm not," Killian replied easily. "I do very well on my own and intend to keep doing so. That being said, some habits are hard to break, and as I figure I owe you my life it's the least I can do to repay the debt."
"I'm not quite sure this would cover it, but it'll do as a down payment I suppose." August sighed quietly as his eyes raked over the mess before rolling up his sleeves and diving in.
"Since you owe me a life," August began after several moments of quiet companionable cleaning, "I'm going to ask you to give me one."
Killian froze mid-grasp for a tattered paperback novel thrown on the floor. He looked at August in incredulity. "I beg your pardon?"
"A life for a life," August continued without so much as glancing Killian's way. "Seems fair to me."
"Sorry, mate, but I have no intention of fathering children."
The comment finally made August pause, his brows drawn together in stark confusion. "Why on earth would I want your child?"
"Oh, I thought that's how these kind of things go," Killian quipped. "You save my life and want the life of my first born child in return and all that." His grin showed teeth.
"As tempting as the offer is, I was thinking of one a little more present already." August returned to his work with a shake of his head.
"You're asking me to off someone for you then?"
At August's raised brow, Killian shrugged his shoulders. "If it's not the first born child, it's usually a demand to rid oneself of an old enemy." As the other man simply stared at him, Killian turned away with a grin. "For a writer, you're not very well read, are you?"
"More tempting than the first offer," August admitted. "But what I had in mind was protecting a life, rather than disposing of one."
"Lost relative, is it?"
August sighed, tired of the games already. "It's Emma."
That brought Killian up short. "Emma? What does she have to do with it?"
August turned to stare at Killian's confused expression, surprise lighting his own. "You truly don't know, do you?"
"What? Have a childhood crush on your old mate's girl?"
August was already shaking his head. "She's much more than that." His eyes drifted towards the closed door. "So much more." He looked back to Killian, blinking at the expression there and felt a small lift of his lips. "You have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about."
"I would, if you'd bloody well tell me." The soft, awed tone of August's voice in reference to Emma had struck a chord in Killian. And it annoyed him. He was also growing increasingly frustrated with all the mysterious allusions and questioning of his intelligence.
Killian felt his fist clench at his side, recalling how he'd always made it a point to only know as much about his targets as was absolutely necessary to get the job done – usually a face and a name. He'd built quite a reputation on getting the work done with so little, but as he'd often pointed out, you needed little else with a good enough shot. And it was just such this reputation that had always led to assignments that were messier than most.
Apparently, this fine kettle of fish was even bigger than had been originally alluded to.
What has that bloody queen gotten me into this time?
August watched his guest carefully for a long moment, allowing the dark haired man to stew as he continued to tidy up the place. The movement caught Killian's eyes, and he narrowed his gaze at the man.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?"
"I'll tell you something if you promise that you'll protect her."
"Doesn't it look like I'm already doing that?"
August nodded. "But things aren't always what they appear to be, nor are people all exactly what they claim to be. Are they?" Intense blue eyes met guarded cerulean as tension rose between them until it was a near physical thing.
Killian smiled suddenly. "No idea what you're referring to, mate."
"Don't bother, Captain, there's no one here you can fool."
Killian's smile became predatory. "I suppose the joke's on you then, if you let me into your home knowing full well who and what I am."
"Who's the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him? Your guard is slipping, Captain." August smiled at Killian's glare and tense-set jaw. "When I pointed my gun at you last night, your first instinct wasn't for your own life, and you followed her right into the cache without a second thought. If she wasn't who she is, I would have easily handled you over to your pursuers with a clean conscious for all that you've done."
A muscle ticked in Killian's jaw as he crossed his arms across his chest defensively. He didn't like what this man was implying, even if the thought had been crossing his mind more than once since the door to their secret compartment had closed over his head. Yet, lying there in the dark with her, he hadn't been as concerned about it as he should have been. And there in lay the problem.
"You're drawn to her," August studied the agitated profile of the man standing in his cramped kitchen. "For reasons you can't rightly explain." His smile was quick and brief. "Don't worry, you're not the first and you certainly won't be the last."
"Are you implying –"
"Only that she has something about her that draws people to her naturally; something intrinsic that reaches out and touches others. Call it what you will – her heart, her aura, her soul. It's still very real and all too present." His smile grew slightly at the corners. "It changes people for the better." His eyes flickered to the closed door once more. "She's touched all of us." He glanced back to see clear blue eyes also looking at the door, an unfathomable look written across them. "I daresay she's even beginning to change you."
Killian bristled at the implication. "Spout all the flowery words you want, mate. But I'd only risk my life for two things: love and revenge. I'm not about to risk my neck for someone I've just met."
"You already have, Captain. Even if you're too stubborn to acknowledge it yet."
Killian scowled.
The quiet click of a door sounded and both men turned to see a sleep-tousled blonde head stumbling out of the room. She paused, noting the tension in the room and felt her brows rise. "Everything alright out here, gentlemen?"
"Just wondering why you're up and about so early," August countered smoothly. "You can sleep longer if you'd like."
Emma shook her head. "I've slept enough." Killian frowned at the shadowed, haunted look in her eyes before sensing someone else's stare he looked back to see August's knowing smile and scowled once again.
"There's a shower in that little room off to the side there," August indicated with a wave of his hand. "I'm afraid it's only cold water though."
Emma's eyes darted between the shower, the mess and the two men before Killian smiled at her. "Go for it, Swan. We'll finish tidying up in here, pack our things and be on our way shortly after. Best not to linger."
Emma nodded, grabbing some fresh clothes from where she had thrown her bag after the upending they'd received by uninvited guests and disappeared into the broom closet-sized room. When the sound of running water started, Killian glared at the man across the space from him, already sensing the smug countenance all but oozing off of him.
"Not going to tell her who I am then?" Killian inquired.
August began pulling out fresh supplies, piling them on his counter to place in Emma's bag. "Your business is your own, I suppose, so long as it doesn't involve harming her, and from the little I've seen, I see no reason to believe you'll harm her intentionally."
"I try to make it a practice not to hurt the womenfolk, not when there's so many others to pick and choose from." He grinned. "I prefer much more agreeable activities with the ladies."
"Her death really hit you hard, didn't it?"
The very breath in Killian's lungs stilled, his every move almost predatory as his grin turned feral. "Care to try that one again, mate?"
August barely spared the lethal man so much as a glance. "I told you, I'm a writer. And a rather secluded one at that. That means I keep my ears to the ground, alert for any new stories or signs of danger. I've heard yours. As I've heard hers."
Killian's look darkened. "I thought you said you were a friend of hers."
August shook his head. "Not of Emma's. Of Bae's – Neal's." He handed his gathered supplies into Killian's arms, eyeing the man directly. "And just as he was willing to go to any lengths to protect her, so will you."
Killian glared but didn't bother arguing against the thick-headed man. It appeared this August Booth had a block of wood for a brain, rather than anything practical if all he did was spout nonsense.
August smiled, knowing he'd won as the shower water turned off and Killian turned to roughly shove things in Emma's bag.
As Emma stepped tentatively out of the little room, her hair damp but clean for the first time in days she let a tentative smile show. "Thanks, I can't tell you how much I needed that."
August waved aside her gratitude. "Happy to help. Your companion is welcome to take one too. I have some spare clothes that should fit him in the left-top cupboard of my room." His eyes flitted over the mess of his bedroom, courtesy of his uninvited guests. "Or well, he can take whatever he can find."
With a nod of stilted gratitude and Emma's assurances that a few more minutes weren't going to hurt, Killian relented and entered the cramped room himself after picking over a few items of fresh clothing, sorely missing the bag he'd had checked into the belly of the aircraft.
Emma immediately turned to help August clean up the rest of the mess. "I'm sorry about all this."
August smiled. "Like I said, Emma, it's no trouble." She looked from him to the mess and back again with a raised brow of disbelief and his smile grew. "Okay, so the mess is a bit inconvenient, but it's happened before and it'll happen again. You should have seen this place after a raccoon family got in here once when I left the top hatch open by mistake. Now that was a mess."
Emma couldn't help the smile that lifted the corners of her lips.
"Any word on your family?"
Emma stilled out of reflex before continuing with her cleaning, determined to keep her hands busy. "Plenty of leads that never panned out," she told him, exhaustion evident in her voice.
"Nothing promising?"
She hesitated before sighing deeply. "They always seem promising until I find that they lead absolutely nowhere, and I'm right back to where I started, but with less hope than before."
"You'll see them again, Emma. I know it." August smiled reassuringly, but she could only give him a forced, half smile in return. Everyone always insisted she would. And look how many of them were left standing next to her now.
The shower water turned off, both their eyes flicking toward the door but for different reasons.
"Emma? How well do you know this Killian Jones?"
"Hardly at all," she admitted. "I met him on our plane, saved his life and we've been running ever since." Her lips twitched at his baffled expression. "It's a long story."
"One you'll have to sit down and tell me one day. Might make for a bestseller." His eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled good-naturedly.
Her lips quirked up half-heartedly.
"All the same, I think you should keep an eye on him, just to be safe."
Emma nodded seriously and thanked him for his advice just as Killian stepped out of the little room, muttering about having more elbow room in the smuggler's cache, earning a more genuine grin from his blonde companion as she agreed.
"Ready to go then, Swan?"
Emma nodded. "Ready." She turned to August, her eyes sweeping over the straightened camper. "Thank you, again, for everything, and I'm sorry for the trouble we brought."
August held up a hand to halt her words. "While I'd rather not go through such a fun-filled evening again anytime soon, I was glad to help."
Emma slipped on her backpack, comforted by the slight weight to it and let August guide them to the door. He held it open wide as Emma and Killian blinked at the bright morning sunlight filtering in through the branches above, leaves stirring slightly in the breeze.
"Take care, Emma," August smiled. "And be careful. The men on your trail are no fools. They –"
A loud bang was heard, its sound echoing off the trees and sending birds scattering in alarm in all directions.
Killian grabbed Emma's arm and yanked her to the ground, shoving her under the trailer and rolling in beside her as more shots were fired. There was a muffled thump as something large hit the ground and the pair turned as one to see August's body, his blank eyes staring at them in suspended surprise.
Emma's terrified green eyes locked on the deadened blue that stared back and choked on a strangled sound that managed to escape her lips.
"Move, Swan!" Killian yelled, tugging at her arm as he half-dragged her towards the opposite end of the trailer, checking for darkened figures lurking in the forest's shadows before pulling her the short distance from the camper to the undergrowth, rolling through the ferns on the edge of the clearing and charging headlong into the forest.
More shots were fired, but Killian knew they were coming from a solo rifle. The group of followers must have left a single man behind to stand watch.
Killian cursed at himself. How could he have been so stupid as to not check the surrounding area before stepping into it?
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Speaking of stupid decisions. He looked over to see terrified, uncomprehending green eyes who struggled to keep up with his relentless pace in her disconnected state.
He'd done exactly as Booth had said he would. He'd protected Emma without a second thought. This golden haired, green eyed, stubbornly complex woman that he had only met a few days ago and knew next to nothing about!
He'd protected her on instinct, as if he'd been doing it for years.
He hadn't lied when he told the man that he'd only risk his life for two things, so…
What in the seven hells am I doing?!
