Part Nine
Because Letting Go is Hard
Killian had been ready. He had anticipated dodging the Crocodile's attack. As if he would let a fight between them end so quickly. In fact, he had meant to be rather smug about the whole thing. Stored up a few quips to throw in Gold' face.
What he had not seen coming was Emma's reaction. He had counted on her doing the sensible thing and jumping out of the way. She hadn't been the target. She should have been fine. But instead he felt her crashing into his side. Her body fell on top of him and pinned him.
The wind had been knocked from his lungs, but he wasn't trying to breath. Emma was on top of him. And she wasn't moving. In the wasted minutes it took to get his limbs moving he could hear voices, but they were far far away. His eyes were open and he was terrified.
But he had to move. Killian lifted his right hand and eased her sideways, laying her head on the concrete. "Emma?" Her eyes were closed and as he looked further down he could see the singed jacket, the melted leather eating through her clothes. "Shit." He worked the jacket off her as quickly and gently as possible. Her shoulders and upper arm looked the worse, but her pants had also been singed and he couldn't see what damage had been done there. Hesitantly, he brought up two fingers and pressed them lightly to her neck.
A pulse. Faint, but there. She wasn't dead.
The voices behind him were growing louder and clearer, but he still couldn't understand a word. What the hell had she been thinking? He was more than capable of getting out of the way…
"A question for when you're awake." He said under his breath. Then there was a rush of people surrounding him and he was thrown backward. In an instant, Emma was engulfed and he was pushed and pulled further and further away.
"She was trying to protect him. I saw it happen." Ruby.
"We weren't fast enough." The woman…Snow White…
"She's breathing." Killian no longer identified one voice from the other.
"Oh thank God."
"Dr. Whale? How bad is it?"
"Listen, we all just need to give her some space. I can't tell anything right now. We've got to get her to the hospital. I can treat her there. You've already called an ambulance?"
"Yeah. I called right after you guys all got here. I should have stopped her from leaving, but she just ran out. I couldn't grab her."
"I know, Red. You…it's not your fault. At least you got there when you did. Or it could have been so much worse."
Killian inched backward and then watched them pick her up and set her inside the loudest machine he had ever heard. He stood up and started to…but they were already shutting her inside and leaving. When the crowd began to disperse someone spoke behind him, someone talking to him.
"Look, I know it's not your fault. Saw the whole thing."
Killian turned around to Ruby.
"Just…let her parents see that she's okay. They'll calm down and then you can see her."
His eyes were intent on Ruby, but he didn't speak. She shifted on her feet and then realized that he wouldn't be speaking. Not to her.
"I just thought you should know." Ruby turned around and left him, not offering any further information. For now, he was fine being left alone. The idea had crossed his mind to go after Rumplestiltskin, but somehow that didn't seem like the thing he was supposed to be doing. He had better things to do at the moment than go searching for some slimy Crocodile that had no doubt been scared off. Or whatever had happened. As for Emma, well, she had done something incredibly stupid and reckless. Impulsive. Ludicrous. Moronic.
Selfless.
It was easy to start assigning blame for her actions. To label her as rash, but there was no getting around what had driven Miss Emma Swan to dive into what might have been her death. Whatever her logic had told her, he held no doubts that she had been trying to protect him. Perhaps that is why he was upset with her.
Night was beginning to fall over Storybrooke before he had decided to heed Ruby's advice. Not that he had any idea where Emma was being held, but he would start looking and hopefully stumble upon the infirmary just as her visitors were leaving. That was not a conversation he was interested in having. He started heading up the road in the direction everyone else had gone as a start. He did not, however, get far.
"I leave you for ten minutes and you start fights in the middle of the street?"
Killian's head hit a wall and it was amazing how much damn abuse he'd taken over the past few days. "Cora." He acknowledged, still pinned. She stalked in front of him, staring at him with a gentle shake of her head. "Look, I've no time for your games. Just tell me what you came to and let me be on my way."
"My daughter is willing to give me a second chance." Cora began, as if he were some confidant. She really needed a journal or something.
"How very nice for you." He scoffed, and when he struggled to move was held tighter to the wall.
"Yes. I suppose it's a start. She's still…she still needs some time."
"You've tried to kill her. You've ruined her life. I'd say you're lucky to get even that. Why are you telling me this?"
Cora stared firmly, which he returned with a bored tilt of his eyebrows. "Because I think you could prove useful."
Killian laughed, shaking his head. "No, no. You see, our deal is over. Revenge is…for the time being, dealt with. So I don't need your assistance which in turn means you've nothing to offer me. Now if you'll kindly let me go, I've somewhere to be."
"Swan's bedside? Is that what's so important to you now?"
His eyes were dark as he thought about his words before using them. "Where I go is no longer your concern."
"Oh, but you see, it is very much my concern. Especially, since you find yourself in so promising a position." Cora's lips quirked and he did not like where this conversation was heading.
"How is that?"
"You think I don't know?" She chuckled. "You silly, silly man. There's nothing I don't know. You are Emma Swan's true love. Don't deny it, I know you'll try. But you see I really don't care who you chose to fool around with. It's honestly the furthest thing from my mind. However, Emma Swan is the key to getting my daughter back."
Killian didn't probe her further. Even though Cora had paused and expected him to.
Cora sighed. "You are going to help me get Emma out of the picture."
"And if I refuse?"
"Oh, darling, I'm not going to leave you with a choice, now am I?" Cora lifted her hand.
"Wait." Killian stalled her, but she didn't lower her arm. Her fingers still stretched out for his chest. "Wait." If Cora took his heart then he couldn't protect Emma even if he wanted to. He'd be in Cora's control. And he couldn't have that. Besides, he was no one's puppet.
"I'm listening." Cora was humoring him. There was very little he could say that would make her risk letting him to his own devices.
Killian was staring at her hand and as terrible as it was to think that Cora would be in possession of his heart…she was also planning on using it against Emma.
"What is it you want with Emma?" He started.
"What do you mean? I want her dead."
Killian swallowed, but continued. "And what's stopping you?"
"Magic. She's guarded. Some true love nonsense, I don't know. But that's why I need you. You can get close to her. You can get her to do what I want."
"This isn't really about Emma?" He reasoned, studying her. He had been around Cora enough to know that killing Emma was not necessarily what she really wanted.
Cora huffed once. "In a manner of speaking. Henry is Regina's son, too. And she wants him back. The only way for him to truly be hers is if Emma is no longer in the picture. But it has to be done delicately. If Henry suspects that Regina or even I had any part in it…then he'd never forgive her."
"So you want Henry?" Killian thought he saw his chance.
"If you're just trying to save Emma, then I'll just have your heart and be done with it."
"No!" Killian tried to back away, but couldn't move. "You're being too hasty. This is delicate, yes? You honestly think that Emma will allow me near her when you're controlling me? I may not know much on the subject, but I imagine true love would notice."
Cora frowned. "There's a chance she might."
"Aye, and do you really want to risk that? So early?" Killian tempted and hoped she would bite.
"I've waited a long time for my daughter…"
"But your ends cannot be achieved with haste. That is how you make mistakes."
Cora seemed to be getting annoyed. Which meant it was working. "So you don't want me to take your heart. How do I ensure that you do what I need?"
Killian shrugged. "I'm sure there are all manner of ways you could find to punish me if I stray from your task."
"That I could." She said, but then she considered. "I admit you have a point. Needlessly rushing in would make Swan suspicious. If I lose you then I'd have to find some other way to get what I want. However, I don't believe there is anything I can do to you that would ensure your loyalty."
"Is my word not enough?" It was worth a shot.
"Hardly. Like I would believe that you'd betray her of your own will." Cora shook her head. "No, that won't be good enough. You seem over your little revenge campaign, so I can hardly promise you that…unless."
"What?" Killian said, glaring.
Cora stepped closer, looking him in the eye. "Unless you're not quite finished. Rumplestiltskin, he took much from you. And if I was right, he also tried to kill your love. Again." Cora studied him and he knew that she was seeing through him. "If you remain loyal to me…I can get you the one thing you've been looking for. The dagger." Cora smiled. "Yes, I can see that you're already considering it. The dagger would not only kill your enemy, but it would give you his power."
"I'm not interested in the Crocodile's power. I'm interested in killing him."
"And that you could. If you only had the dagger."
"And you know where it is?" He said, wary.
"Of course. Or, I know how to get it, but that's as close as you'll ever get." Cora smiled. "So that is my deal. You continue to be my ally and I get you the dagger."
"And—"
"And if you fail. Or if you give any indication of crossing me. I'll make you wish I had taken out your heart." Without another word Cora vanished and Killian felt the crushing weight release him and he staggered on his feet. For a moment, he did nothing.
He would be lying if he said the offer wasn't tempting. But it was the first time he had ever considered that the price was too high to pay. Cora was relying on his consuming obsession with revenge. And rightly too. As much as he had enjoyed taking the Crocodile's heart, this new offer was bringing up a sense of purpose again. A reason to keep going.
But was it worth Emma?
The answer was no. It was not worth her death. So only one option lay before him. The only one he could work towards without completely self destructing.
He would get both.
A/N: Killian chapters are much easier than Emma chapters. I don't know why. But yeah, this is my attempt to address that Hook does have a bit of a ways to go before he is over everything. I mean, he seemed to be considering that Emma was his new goal, but you really don't get over 300 years of revenge in two days. So he needs to address and then hopefully move on from that part of his life. Thanks for reading! And to all the people who leave comments, it is much appreciated! ^_^
