I know I promised that Rose and Emma would interact in this chapter, but I felt it ended fine where I have it. I hope you enjoy and so sorry about the delay with this chapter. School, work, and a small bout of writer's block did nothing to help.

Chapter 6

Smee was the first one to respond to his yells. He burst in as Killian sat on the floor cradling Emma's head in his arms.

"What happened?"

"I don't know! One minute we were talking, and the next she fainted!"

"I'll go get Whale and her brother…and I'll have someone call the hospital." Smee ran out as fast as he could and Killian could hear him yelling for someone to call emergency services. Killian looked down at Emma, who was still unconscious. He placed a hand on her forehead and she was burning. He quickly removed her leather jacket and rolled up her sleeves to help alleviate the heat (something he'd learned when playing a doctor in a movie a few years previous). Somehow, it did the trick and Emma's eyes started fluttering but never fully opened.

"Swan? Swan, are you okay?"

"August? Where-where are we?"

"No love, it's me. It's Killian." He pushed hair away from her face and smiled down at her.

"Killian?" Bloody hell. She's got a very high fever, she's probably delirious. WHERE IS SMEE?! "I know…I know you were-Auggie, I know you didn't want me to like him and that you were worried because of him kinda getting around and all. But I do, I like him so much."

"I like you too Swan." Killian wondered if she would remember anything she said and he debated whether he should mention it once she was well.

"Auggie! I had a dream about him…about Killian."

"Swan, it's me."

"He saved me, that night I went out with Ruby."

"I did that, I was there." He spoke to her like she understood him, even though he knew it was hopeless. He prayed that maybe it would help her come out of her delirium. But it wasn't and he noticed her starting to slip again.

"He kissed me in the elevator a few days ago…and it was the greatest thing ever. Fireworks, sparkles, stars…I saw it all. But it won't last. He will leave like all the rest." Her eyes shut and her head lolled to the side as Smee, August, and Victor (with his doctor bag) rushed in.

"What happened?!" August fell to the floor next to his sister.

"She's sick mate! You should have made her see Victor. She fainted, she's burning and I think it's causing her to be delirious. She thought I was you."

"Emma's always been stubborn. I told her every single day this week to see Whale, but she refused. Said I needed her and couldn't take the time because Ruby was out. I told her it was okay, that there were plenty of people to help…but she wouldn't listen." Victor was reading the temperature on the thermometer and sighed.

"She needs to get to the hospital and cooled down. Her temperature is 105.6° and if it gets any higher it can be dangerous. Smee, did you-"

"They're on their way Dr. Whale."

"Will, Ruby, Emma…they're not the only ones", Victor said as he took Emma's blood pressure. "Alice came to me this morning, along with Belle and Gold yesterday." Before anyone could ask what was happening, a paramedic came in and Victor informed them of her symptoms. Killian couldn't bear to let her go and so he was allowed to carry her outside to where the ambulance was parked with the gurney ready. He put her down on it and the men went to work, strapping her in and hooking up IVs so she didn't get dehydrated. The men put the gurney in the back of the ambulance and one went around the right side and got in while the other sat in the back to keep an eye on Emma. August got in across from him and Killian fought his immediate reaction to get in next to him.

"You comin' or what?" August was looking at him like Killian was crazy to not already be sitting next to him.

"Family only mate. I'm afraid I wouldn't be welc-"

"Jones. Get your ass in here now."

"Right." Killian sat next to August and took Emma's hand. He was quiet the entire drive to St. James' Hospital, making silent promises that he would not lose her the way he'd lost Liam. The fates would not take his love from him. Wait, what?

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You are so stubborn little sister. August wanted to strangle her for doing this to herself. He looked back at Killian as he followed the doctor and nurses.

"I'll come get you when they're done."

"You better mate." Killian looked him in the eyes and August saw it: this man would do anything for Emma. He loved her.

"Don't worry." August jogged after Emma's entourage and was stopped by the doctor outside the room. "She's my sister, I need to see her!"

"I know Mr. Booth. We are aware. The nurses are getting her into a hospital gown and I need to ask a few questions."

"Right, yeah. Go ahead then."

"How long has she been this way?"

"A little over a week. A few more people have gotten sick, we were told they had some severe flu or something." August ran his hand through his hair, practically pulling at it; he was worried.

"Do you know a Will Scarlett and Ruby Lucas?"

"We work with them, why?"

"They were in isolation with a case of Swine Flu. It's been a while since it's been seen around here, not since we had the major outbreak in 2009, but they had it bad. They're doing much better now and are due to be released soon. Did you sister spend an extended amount of time around either one?"

"Ruby works in our department so they were around each other a lot, but Emma wasn't around Will all that much, just a few times. So Emma has swine flu?"

"Without doing certain tests, we won't be sure. But now that we know she's been in contact with Mr. Scarlett and Miss Lucas, it's all but certain. Are you or the other gentleman that came with you feeling anything?"

"I'm fine. Killian's been around Emma a ton but I haven't seen any symptoms on him."

"We'll test both of you to be sure. When you're in the room with your sister, you'll have to wear a medical mask and a disposable gown. When you leave the room, you'll need to wash your hands thoroughly as well."

"Of course."

"I'll order the tests for your sister, and I'll have a nurse test you and your friend as well." The doctor made a few notes on his clipboard and turned to leave. "Don't worry, Mr. Booth, she's going to be fine." She better be is all August could think. The nurses let him know he could see Emma and handed him the mask and gown. He asked that they tell Killian too.

"He is not family sir."

"He's her…person. Just, please…let him see her because I know him enough that he will drive everyone out there crazy if you don't." The nurse just smiled and went to get Killian. August looped the ends of the mask around his ears and stuck his arms through the yellow gown. When he was dressed, he pushed open the door and saw Emma covered in a bunch of blankets.

"Are you Mr. Booth?" A nurse tending to Emma's IVs gave him an inquisitive look.

"Yeah, I'm her brother. Why does she have all these blankets on her? I thought she had a fever."

"These are cooling blankets. We've also placed ice packs in between them to help bring down her temperature and it's already working. It's still high, 103°, but it's coming down. Once the fever breaks, she'll be out of the woods." There was a knock at the door and another nurse stuck her head in.

"Mr. Booth? We need to run the test on you and Mr. Jones."

"Be right there." August leaned down and kissed Emma's forehead, feeling the heat through the mask. "We'll be right back little sister, don't worry."

"Y-younger…sis-ter." Her lips looked like they hadn't moved at all and August wouldn't have believed she'd spoken except for the fact that he'd heard it.

"She's awake?" August looked at the nurse in the room.

"In and out right now. Go get tested and then you can sit with her." August tore off the mask and gown, throwing them in the hazardous disposal bin set up outside the door. He almost walked right into a pacing Killian.

"How is she mate?" His hair was sticking up every which way, pretty evident that he'd been running his hands through it.

"Doctor said she might have swine flu because that's what Ruby and Will had."

"Had?"

"They're doing fine now and being released."

"What do they want with us?"

"Despite not showing symptoms, they want us to be tested for it."

"Of course. After that, will they let me see her?" August nodded. After both men were cleared, they were directed to a room where Emma had been moved. They met with the doctor outside.

"You two may be fine, but Emma is suffering from a very severe case. She has a weak immune system which has allowed the virus to take hold. How she survived a week before succumbing…"

"She's a stubborn lass", said Killian.

"That she seems to be, but she will recover." The doctor looked at the notes on the chart. "We're going to keep her here until the fever breaks. Once she's out of the woods, she can go home, but she needs to stay in bed for at least a week. She will need rest and relaxation."

"God, she's going to hate being stuck in a hotel room for that long."

"Is there anywhere else she can stay?" asked the doctor. "It'd suit her if you were out of the city."

"My house. I've got plenty of room." Killian looked at August earnestly. "It's outside of Drogheda, in a village called Seaport. Right on the water. Both of you are welcome."

"Really? You wouldn't mind?" Killian stuck his arms into a gown and tied it behind his back.

"'Course not. I live with my sister Rose and Smee has a flat in the village. There's just Mrs. Potts who runs the house."

"Thanks for this."

"No problem." The men covered up and entered the room. They each took seats on either side of her bed and watched over her. August could see the worry in Killian's eyes as he watched his sister.

"You love her…don't you?" August broke the silence and Killian didn't hesitate to answer.

"Aye. I guess I do. I've barely known her a month and a half, but yeah, I do."

"You can't tell her you know."

"I know; walls and all that. I tell you, if I ever get my hands on this Neal Cassidy…"

"Get in line buddy." They were silent again for a while and this time, it was Killian who spoke, but he wasn't talking to August. He'd taken Emma's hand in one of his and was brushing her hair away from her face with the other.

"Please come back to us, Swan. Come back to me."

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She was laying on a beach, but not sure where. She heard the sounds of the waves as they crashed on the sand. She sat up and noticed she was wearing a deep red two piece, lying on a towel under a wide umbrella. She pushed up the sunglasses she wore into her hair and looked around.

"I'm dreaming. I'm in Ireland, not…wherever this is." The last thing she remembered was fainting on set. She'd been sick all week and it had caught up to her. It was a fever dream. She was going to sit back down on her towel when she heard a voice in the distance.

"Come back to me. Swan, please come back to me." She turned her head, looking for the voice's source, when she spotted Killian standing down the beach.

"Killian?"

"Please Swan, come back to us. August needs you, I need you." Emma blinked and now August stood next to Killian, both men smiling at her. An overwhelming need to be in their arms had her take off at a run towards them. At first, no matter how much she ran, she wasn't any closer to them. After what seemed like hours, they were closer and she finally managed to be wrapped in both sets of arms, in a vice-like hug she hadn't ever experienced.

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Killian had fallen asleep holding Emma's hand again, for what felt like the 100th time in the past two days, his head lying on his forearm that was on her bed. Her fever had finally broken the night before, but she hadn't woken up and that had everyone worried. He had been sleeping soundly when he felt something grip his. He lifted his head and saw that Emma's hand was moving.

"Emma? Love, are you awake?" She didn't respond and he felt his heart fall. He lifted their entwined hands to his lips (as best he could, with a medical mask covering his face) and placed a kiss on hers. Not a second later, he heard a small intake of breath and saw that Emma had opened her eyes.

"The hell? How long was I out?" Killian couldn't help but laugh as she turned her head to look at him. "And why are you wearing that ridiculous get up?"

"I have to get the doctor, but what I can tell you is that it's been two days and you've got a bad case of the swine flu."

"Seriously?! That's still a thing?"

"Apparently Scarlett was patient zero."

"Good Lord. Is he ok?"

"He's much better now, along with Ruby. They wanted to come see you but since they'd just recovered, they weren't able to. They did, however, ask me to pass along messages for a speedy recovery." He stood and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be right back, I just need to inform the nurses that you woke up." He stepped out of the room and deposited his protective wear into the bin just outside the door. August was talking to Emma's regular nurse, Siobhan, when Killian walked up.

"Enjoy your nap?" August laughed at him.

"Very much thank you, since Emma is awake as well."

"She is?" Killian nodded and Siobhan, followed by the two men, went back to her room. They donned the yellow gowns and masks and found her lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. She sat up when they all came in.

"Auggie!" August was at her side in one big stride and pulled her into his arms.

"Don't you ever do that to me again Emma. You had me worried sick! What would I do without you?"

"You've got Graham, you'd be just fine."

"I would be far from fine Emma Ruth Swan, and you know it!"

"I just didn't want you to worry."

"Seriously? I worry about you every day." He placed a kiss to her hair and looked over at Killian who he could tell, despite the mask, was smiling. "Well, maybe not a lot lately…"

"Well, Miss Swan, let's get you looked over and we'll let the doctor know. Then he'll tell us if you can go." Siobhan sidled up with a clipboard in hand and gave Emma a smile.

"That would be amazing. I may have been asleep the last couple of days, but I'm bored already and need to get back to work!"

"I'm afraid you won't be allowed to work for at least a week Miss Swan." The nurse could already tell it would be an argument.

"Don't even think about arguing that you're going straight back." August gave Emma a look that said he wasn't to be argued with.

"But-"

"Don't." Emma held both hands up in defeat. There weren't many who could silence an argument from her, frankly no one could, but August could.

"Fine, but the joke's on you 'cause I'm going to be in a mood if I'm stuck in a hotel room for a straight week."

"Lucky for you then lass, that you won't be staying in the hotel." Killian looked down with a smile (albeit hidden behind his mask).

"What?" Emma looked to Killian then to August. "What's he talking about?"

"Your guy here has kindly offered us the use of his house while you recover." August gave a nod towards Killian.

"Oh really?" Emma noticed an arched eyebrow from Killian.

"Of course, love. I knew that you wouldn't want to spend a week stuck in the hotel. Besides, the doctor said it'd be best if you took your rest away from the city. My house is right outside my hometown, Drogheda…right on the water. You'll love it."

"What's going on with production?"

"Gold is sick, the assistant director is sick, Belle, Alice…shall I go on?" Emma shook her head. "Point is, love, production has been halted on account of all the infirm. The studio wasn't happy, but we've got a week and a half away from work."

"Joy." Emma was not happy. She wasn't used to being taken care of, and if she knew Killian, that's exactly what he'd be doing the entire time they'd be at his house.

"Look at the upside Swan, you'll get to meet my sister. She's very excited to meet you."

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The doctor cleared Emma to leave that afternoon, so she and August took a car up to Seaport, to Killian's house. He'd said that he would meet them at the house so he could make sure everything was ready for their arrival. August made sure she was warm and made her wear a sweater (one of his that ended up practically swallowing her) and the doctor made her travel with a medical mask, because she was still contagious but she could stop at the end of the week.

Still weak from the sickness, Emma fell asleep on August's shoulder about five minutes into the drive and didn't wake up until she was already in a bed. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and stretched. The bed she was in seemed to have one of those iComfort foam mattresses and she was enveloped in the softest sheets she'd ever felt, plus some kind of feather comforter. The room she was in was painted in a light blue color and decorated in a nautical theme, which she figured went with the fact that the house was on the beach. Emma had noticed the floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony so she slipped out of the bed, almost falling because her muscles were still weak. When she regained her composure and had put on her red Uggs, she walked over to the sliding glass door and opened it, stepping outside. The warm and salty air of the ocean reinvigorated her after spending so much time feeling horrible. She sat down in a lounge chair, put up her feet and shut her eyes, letting the sun warm her some more and she fell asleep.

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Killian, August, and Rose were sitting around a table on the porch facing the beach, drinking a pint.

"So, August, are you single?"

"Tink!" Killian gave her an exasperated look as August laughed.

"What?" She shrugged her shoulders and gave her brother a look. "He's good looking and I am single, so…" She turned back to August with a pointed look.

"Sorry Rose-"

"Call me Tink."

"Sorry Tink, but I'm not."

"Blast. What's her name then?"

"Seriously Tink! Leave the man be!" She and August looked over at Killian, who was turning red and looking daggers at his sister.

"It's okay man." August patted Killian on the shoulder. "His name is Graham."

"Oh."

"Yeah." August pulled his phone from his pocket and showed her a picture.

"My word. You're a lucky man August."

"That I am. He makes me happy."

"Does he have a hot brother?" Killian jumped from his chair.

"I am going to check on Swan. I'll be back." He jogged back into the house, waving to Mrs. Potts in the kitchen, and went up the stairs to the room on the topmost floor. He knocked lightly, and when he didn't hear a response, he went in.

She wasn't in the bed.

"Swan?" He was going to check the bathroom when he felt the ocean air and looked over to the door leading to the balcony. He stepped outside and found Emma asleep on the lounge chair. Killian crouched down next to the chair reached over, pulling the mask from her face and she awoke with a start.

"Wha-? Killian? Did I fall asleep out here?" She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she sat up.

"Yes love, but it happens to me all the time." She gave a small laugh and it lifted his heart to hear her laugh again. He sat down on the lounge chair and took one of her hands in his, leaning forward as her eyes flickered to his lips. He was mere millimeters away from her when he felt her palm on his chest and she pushed him away. "What? Have I done something wrong?"

"I'm sick and you took off my mask! I could get you with my germs and stuff! You need to stay away from me for a few days, you can't be around me." She covered her mouth and pushed past him into the bedroom, getting in the bed and pulling the covers up to her nose. He gave a big laugh and followed her into the room. "Why are you laughing at me?" came muffled from under the covers.

"You look adorable, scowling at me from under those covers." She rolled her eyes and he laughed some more as he sat next to the lump that was her legs.

"I hate you."

"You're a horrible liar Swan."

"Whatever."

"How are you feeling love?" Her shoulders peeked out from under the covers as she shrugged.

"I don't know the last time I was this tired. And super hungry. You got anything good in this mansion?"

"I'll have Mrs. Potts whip up some of your favorite: grilled cheese and hot chocolate. I'll be right back and I recommend donning another mask there because I'm sure August and my sister will be up to check on you soon." He turned to leave when she stopped him.

"Killian! Don't-"

"-forget the cinnamon on top of the whipped cream." He gave her a sinful wink and left the room. He walked into the kitchen to find August alone on the patio speaking animatedly on his phone and Tink chatting with Mrs. Potts.

"How is she?" Tink asked.

"Tired and hungry." He turned to Mrs. Potts. "Could you make one your grand grilled cheese sandwiches please? And a hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon?"

"Of course dear. Just give me a few minutes." She turned away from him and got started on Emma's lunch.

"Who's Booth talking to?" Killian eyed the man pacing outside.

"Graham probably." Tink set her chin in her hand and looked over at her brother. "Can I go see her?"

"I'm sure she'd love the company." Tink jumped from the bar stool in the direction of the stairs. "Oh and Tink?"

"Yes big brother?"

"Please, no third degree."

"I wouldn't dream of it." He didn't have to have Emma's 'superpower' to know she was lying.

As always, I don't own anything to do with Once Upon a Time, just the plot of this fine fic. I hope y'all enjoy today's chapter and since I'm done with school until January 3rd, I should be able to update a bit more often. Don't forget to leave a review or some kudos (if you haven't already)!
And don't forget to mentally get ready for Sunday!