Set after the end of S04:E07 - The Snow Queen...

Emma sat on the ridge overlooking Storybrooke, resting her hands on the steering wheel and trying to make sense out of the storm that was raging inside her. She'd almost killed them back there.

She'd almost killed them all.

She knew emotions could trigger magic, but she'd never before seen emotion turn it into a raging inferno, slamming through her with the force of a tidal wave, bursting out of her, uncontrolled and unstoppable. Nothing prepared her for that.

Nothing prepared her for the look in her mother's eyes. The Snow Queen was right.

Her mother was glad she never had to raise her.

"Oh, God," she mumbled, laying her head against the steering wheel. She gave a violent start a moment later when the passenger-side door opened.

"Hello, love," he said, sliding into the seat and shutting the door.

"You weren't supposed to find me." Her voice was clear, despite still being face-down on the steering wheel.

He arced a brow. "The entire town takes five minutes to drive across, and you're in a bright yellow car," he pointed out.

Emma let out a long, slow exhale and slowly raised her head.

"Killian, you have to go. I don't know know if I can control this."

"Yes, you can."

"I don't know that!"

"You can control this, Swan. Now let's get you home - your parents are worried sick about you."

Emma's jaw tightened. "I'll bet." She turned her head and looked out the window. "They're probably more afraid that I will come home."

Killian's eyes grew even more concerned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I hurt him, Killian. And if he hadn't pushed you out of the way, it would have been you."

"Your father always has had a flair for the dramatic," Killian said, "And what you did was an accident."

She turned in her seat to face him. "An accident? An accident? I could have killed you! Or him! And before that, I took out the side of a building!"

"All because you let that witch get under your skin!" Killian replied heatedly. "That's not the Emma Swan I know. Since when have you ever let anyone manipulate you like that, let alone a criminal in your custody?"

"She did not manipulate me!"

"The hell she didn't!" He bit out. "Look at you!"

"Why? Because I'm a freak now?"

He was silent a moment. "I didn't say that," he answered quietly. "Don't put words in my mouth, Emma."

"You mean words like 'monster'? I didn't have to put that one in your mouth. You had that one in mind without any influence from me."

"I mis-spoke, that's all - you know I would never think that of you!"

"You did, Killian," she answered angrily. "You did think that." She felt her palms tingling, and the panel lights on the dashboard began to flicker and spark, despite the fact that the engine was off.

"And you were right," she said in horror, looking down at her glowing hands. "Killian - get out of here!"

"I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly.

"Go! Just go!"

The last word was punctuated with the force of a blow, coming out of nowhere, flinging the doors to the car open and throwing him a dozen feet or more into the dirt outside.

"Killian!" her agonized voice reached him as he rolled up to his knees.

"You can't let her do this to you, Emma!" he said, panting. "Don't let her in your head like this. Where is that fortress you've always locked yourself in? You've always been so careful about who you let in, Swan. Don't crumble now."

She shook her head wildly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Killian - I can't. I can't - " she twisted the key in the ignition, revving the engine. He pushed up to his feet, running for the car as she slammed the door closed.

"Emma!"

She peeled out and he gave chase until he couldn't run anymore, watching the headlights fade into the night.