A/N: It's Monday already! That means it's time for Chapter 6! BIG stuff happens this chapter. It's the start of the undercover operation and some stuff goes down. On a partially related note, I've just written a very special entrance, and while we won't see him this chapter 'per se', he will be coming verrrrrrrrrry soon ;) ENORMOUS love for my fantastic beta @kmomof4 (I legit don't know what I would do without her) and to @courtorderedcake for the gorgeous banner she created (have y'all looked at the attention to detail on this thing?! SHE'S AMAZING!). I hope you guys like it! Thank you for reading!
"Okay, so these glasses have a mini camera in them and a mic, so keep them on or near you at all times, got it?" Jefferson adjusted the thick, black framed glasses on Emma's face as he spoke, glancing back and forth between her and the computer monitor to make sure the feed was coming in clear. "Graham, your watch has the same tech in it, and you should be set as well. We are going to have a van in your vicinity as much as possible without drawing attention and of course you have each other in the field. I'll do my best as your handler to keep you updated on any pertinent information. Okay?"
Emma nodded, as did Graham beside her. Jefferson didn't even acknowledge the nods, as if he expected them. He just wheeled around in his chair and typed a few things into his laptop, making adjustments to assorted programs on his screen.
"Now, remember. Once you step out those doors, you are Emma Swan and Graham McIntyre. Your actual identities cease to exist and you're playing the parts assigned to you. I will be in your ears with these," he held up two tiny mostly clear ear inserts before pressing them into their palms, "giving you info, refreshing your memory on your file details, should it come up, and giving you general advice from the team. Any orders from the captain most likely are going to come through me as well. Think of me as your link to the real world. Any questions?" Jefferson rolled back in his chair and put his hands behind his head.
"I think we're good," Emma said, gathering the bag given to her filled with clothing and essentials. Graham hummed an agreement. The motel room they sat in was to be hers until the case was wrapped and Graham had one across the lot from her as well. She tapped her foot nervously, ready to get this show on the road, but Graham looked about ready to throw up. He was pale and cool sweat beaded at his hairline, making his coppery curls stick to his forehead. She placed what she hoped was a soothing hand on his shoulder. He gave her a grateful smile.
"Well, Nolan, Humbert, I'll catch you on the flip side I guess. Talk soon." He gave a cheeky wink and left with his laptop.
As the door closed behind Jefferson, Graham let out a shaky sigh and ran one of his large hands through his hair. Emma still had her hand on his shoulder, and she moved it to his back, rubbing it in soothing circles.
"We're going to be okay, Graham. You're one of the best detectives I've met and it won't be long until we are back home." Emma hoped she sounded as reassuring as she intended.
"I know, Em. I just can't help but feel this sense of impending doom. We're messing with a bad guy here," he said and stood, wiping a hand down his face.
"Okay. Here's what we need to do." Emma stood and brushed the wrinkles out of her clothes. "You're gonna go find us some grub, I'm gonna take a shower and when I come out, we're going to eat and talk about anything else besides work, and then you're gonna go to your room, take a long, hot shower and we're both gonna get a good night's rest. Sound good?" She placed her hands on her hips. Graham gave her a meek smile, watching her from the corner of his eye.
"Alright, Emma. That sounds perfect." He moved to the door to pick up his jacket, then paused as he opened the door, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Can I count this-"
"Not a date, Graham," she cut him off, digging through her bag for clean clothes, not even lifting her head.
"Alright, alright, I'll get the food for our not-date then." He laughed and slung his jacket over his shoulder, letting the door swing shut behind him.
Emma shook her head with a smile. She liked Graham. He was a good partner, a good cop. She just wasn't interested in relationships. More accurately, she wasn't interested in having her heart broken again. Everyone who ever got close to her was dead. Everyone except Ruby. Ruby often found herself the exception to most every rule, though. She lay her clothes on the bathroom counter and began to strip down, turning on the water and testing it before immersing herself in the warm stream, heart aching with those she'd lost.
She rarely indulged these moments, reopening scars and delving into her own past. She hated herself for it every time. She hated herself even more for thinking it might not have been so bad that everyone died if they came to see her every now and again. She could scarcely go the month before this, now hardly a day, without some kind of encounter. It was hardly ever anyone she knew. It got lonely. Which was, ironically, why she was better off alone. She couldn't lose anyone else.
Emma stuffed her emotions to the back of her heart (where they belonged, in her opinion) and finished her shower. She got out, toweled herself dry, and dressed quickly, wrapping her damp, golden hair into a bun. When she made her way into the main room, Graham was still gone.
"Sheesh, how long does it take to get food?" she muttered and grabbed a book from her bag. It was one of those trashy romance novels that were her guilty pleasure. And suddenly, a devious thought ran through her head. She ran back into the bathroom and grabbed the glasses she'd left there and slipped them on. Walking casually back to the bed, she grabbed her book off the dresser where she'd discarded it in her haste, then settled herself against the headboard of the bed. Emma looked at the pirate aboard his ship, a feisty blonde princess in his embrace, adorning the cover in their passionate pose and almost giggled. Jefferson was about to get an eye full of literature he probably never hoped to read.
Emma immersed herself in a world apart from her own, where swashbuckling rescues and over the top declarations of love existed and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
In her dreams, she was aboard a pirate ship. The red dress she was wrapped in felt heavy and constricting, but she moved about elegantly. She felt like a princess.
"This is quite the fantasy, love." The deep, familiar voice caused Emma to turn.
"Liam," she said, surprised and slightly embarrassed to be talking to him in the middle of a romance novel inspired dreamscape. "Well, this is awkward." Liam chuckled.
"I'm not here to judge you, lass. As always, our time is fleeting." He stepped towards her, sincerity and urgency in his eyes.
"Alright, Liam, then why are you here?" she asked.
"I'm here to make you see Killian. He needs someone. You can help. Here, look," he said, turning and gesturing with his hand. The air before them shimmered and changed, revealing the image of a teenage Liam and a small boy that Emma immediately recognized by his bright blue eyes and mop of dark hair as Killian.
"Killian was nine here. I was seventeen," Liam spoke and Emma nodded, taking in the scene.
Killian held tight to Liam's hand, dragging him along behind him as they chased a paper sailboat downstream in a creek of sorts that ran through a lovely little park. Killian's eyes were bright and full of life, but Liam's, while happy in the moment with his brother, reflected a weight that he should have been too young to bear. Emma could tell he'd taken on much responsibility at a young age. The boat caught itself on some rocks near the water's edge, and Killian retrieved it triumphantly. He turned back to his brother with a wide grin, revealing a couple missing teeth.
"That's a new record, Li! Best run yet!" the boy shouted and Liam chuckled in response.
"Aye, it was, little brother," he replied, ruffling Killian's hair. Killian scowled and tried to smooth his hair back down but it wouldn't cooperate.
"I'm not so little anymore, Liam," he said, offended. "I'm just your younger brother now." Killian puffed himself up as he spoke and teenage Liam fought back another laugh.
"Alright, younger brother, what next?" Liam asked and Killian grinned.
"We beat the record, of course! The Jolly Roger is the fastest ship in all the realms!" Killian exclaimed, running back towards where they'd come from. Liam called his name as he ran off, but the boy was gone like a shot. The teen broke out into a jog after him. By the time he caught up, he found Killian stopped in the middle of the path, staring at something.
A young boy with red hair sat under a tree, his chin resting on his arms that were folded across his knees. One of his knees was visible and bleeding through a rip in his jeans. Angry tears ran down his face and he wiped them away on his sleeve every now and then. Both the spirit Liam and the memory Liam watched on alongside Emma as Killian determinedly marched over to the boy.
"You alright, mate?" Killian called out as he approached. The other boy scrambled to his feet, hurriedly wiping away the remainder of his tears and putting on a scowl.
"I'm fine." The boys regarded each other carefully. Killian reached out a hand in front of him to shake.
"I'm Killian Jones. What's your name?" he said. The red haired kid looked down at the hand for a moment and then took it, shaking lightly.
"Miles. Miles Potter," he answered and Killian grinned.
"How come you're by yourself?" he asked as the two broke apart. Miles' eyebrows furrowed.
"Kevin Yardley pushed me down and took my kite," he grumbled, kicking the sticks on the ground by his feet. Killian looked upset at that.
"Well, Kevin Yardley is a right wanker, then," Killian declared and Miles' mouth popped open in an 'O' at Killian's language.
"Killian!" Liam admonished and his brother looked back at him sheepishly.
"Sorry, Li," he offered and Liam gave him a stiff nod after a moment. Killian turned back to his new friend. "That's my brother, Liam. We're pirates today! Do you want to come sail my boat with me?" He held up his little paper ship and Miles lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Really? Yeah!" he agreed and the two boys made their way back to the starting point Killian had chosen.
"Killian gave him his boat when it was time for us to go," the elder Liam said as the image of his memory faded. Emma gave him a soft smile. "He's always been the first to help others in need. His whole life. It's just in his nature."
"Seems like he had a pretty good influence," Emma pointed out and a humble smile crept onto Liam's face.
"I tried to be. He's just gotten so lost. You're my only chance to help him. I can see you, even when you can't see me. You're a good person. You can help him," he insisted.
Emma was a little unnerved that this spirit had been keeping tabs on her and wondered briefly what all he may have seen, but before she could answer him, the bang of a door flying open with force caused her to jerk awake, her dream connection lost. She reached under her mattress immediately for the handgun she'd stored there and whipped around to point it at her intruder. Jefferson came into the room, completely disregarding the firearm and looking very perturbed. Emma popped the safety back on and stowed the weapon on the nightstand as she rose to her feet.
"Jeff, what the hell?" she asked as he appeared to be doing a sweep of the room. She glanced at the clock and was surprised to see she'd been asleep for over two hours. When he came up empty, he turned to face her, face pale and serious.
"Graham's been shot."