Wednesday, 9:22am
With a long list of restrictions and a handful of prescriptions for various medications, Dr. Whale had reluctantly agreed to allow Emma to take her husband home. While his discharge paperwork was being completed, she took a quick trip to the station to gather his personal items from the evidence locker, then ran back home to pick up a change of clothing for him, somewhat surprised at finding her father toiling away on the front porch finishing the repairs to the front door. She gave him a quick thank you as she rushed upstairs, reminding herself that she'd need to get everything back in place before she brought Killian home as their home was still in such shambles that there wasn't even really a spot for him to sit down. David had offered to help set the furniture back upright, but she finally decided just to do it the easy way – waving her hand to magically return everything to where it had been before she'd left for Boston. She probably should have done it sooner, but she simply hadn't wanted to return back here alone – at least not until she was certain that they'd be returning together on the next trip.
Gathering everything she needed into her backpack, she'd arrived back at the hospital to discover her husband arguing with a nurse about the hospital's policy that he had to be escorted to the front entrance in a wheelchair. The sassy nurse was having none of his nonsense and Emma herself actually found the exchange quite amusing as he really was such a horrible patient. She didn't know why he was putting up such a fight over riding in the wheelchair anyway. The previous night had been the first time he finally been capable to get out of the bed and take a few short steps – mainly to the bathroom – and he'd been horribly off-balance and even a bit shaky as the lingering effects of his concussion played havoc with his equilibrium. She'd had to remind him to lean against the shower wall when he'd gotten a tad dizzy and he'd still nearly tumbled out onto her as it was. How he expected he'd be able to walk all the way to the elevator, out the front entrance and make it to the car, she didn't understand. He could be such a stubborn ass sometimes, but she had no intention of allowing any such arguments once they got home, especially since it wouldn't take much more than a simple spell to relegate him to the house.
She had parked the bug in the patient pick up area before heading upstairs, making sure that the security guard saw her so she wouldn't risk getting ticketed for leaving the car there – not that she couldn't fix it if she did get a citation. Now, after helping her pirate get dressed into the long sleeved thermal henley shirt and loose fitting fleece pants she'd pulled from his dresser, she returned his pendant and rings. She regretted not finding him some sort of slip on footwear though because his preferred black leather boots posed a challenge for him. After a few minutes, the nurse came back to the room with an orderly, going over all of Dr. Whale's discharge instructions before she would permit him to sit down in the transport chair. The orderly brought him as far as the automatic doors before Killian was allowed to stand up, finding that simple action a bit more difficult than he'd envisioned and needing Emma's assistance just to get to – and stay on – his feet. Perhaps he'd slightly overestimated his own strength. Shaking her head and grinning at Killian's new willingness to cooperate, she thanked the orderly as she folded and pocketed the pages the nurse had provided so that she'd have both hands free to aid her obstinate husband the rest of the way to the car – a task which had proven to be enough of a challenge that when they pulled up in front of their house, she made the decision that she wasn't about to struggle with any attempts to help him up their front steps and instead simply magically transported them into their living room, materializing right in front of the sofa.
"Okay, have a seat," she ordered, gently pushing him backward toward the couch.
"If my lady insists," he replied with a smirk, although he was secretly thankful she was so insistent because magical teleportation had left him somewhat disoriented. He didn't need anything else messing with his head right now.
"Damn right, your lady insists," she responded. "Like it or not, you're going to follow these instructions. I don't want to have to take you back there."
"I'm fine, Love," he assured her. "I'm glad to be home and especially back in my own clothing. Hospital attire is rather impractical and quite drafty…"
"I'm sure those gowns were designed more for convenience than anything else, but you're not changing the subject. You're not fine. You're better – but still not fine. Your concussion is only about 70% healed and Whale said you could still suffer headaches, occasional blackouts and even seizures. He wanted to keep you another day, you know…"
"And I promise, I'll behave," he replied with a cocky, lopsided grin, not that she was about to believe him, but as she'd promised herself before, she wasn't about to argue with him.
"I'm going to get your prescriptions filled. I'll be back in about an hour. My dad's right outside on the porch painting so if you need anything, he'll be here to help."
"Why the devil is your father out on our front porch painting?" Killian asked, legitimately confused.
"It's a long story. I'll let him fill you in. You know how much he likes to talk." She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek as she headed out, making sure she let her father know she was leaving so he could check in on his son in law. The likelihood that Killian would abide by any of the restrictions was certainly in doubt and while she didn't know how long it might take for him to attempt something he wasn't supposed to do, it was almost a given.
Figuring this would be as good of a time as any to take a break from painting, David strolled inside, leaving the front door standing open so the frame could dry. He nodded at his son in law as he made his way into the kitchen to wash his hands and grab a glass of water. Eager to find out why the prince was painting their door and not about to stay put on the sofa, Killian forced himself to his feet and staggered to the kitchen table, still slightly hampered by the disorienting bouts of vertigo.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" David asked as he dried his hands.
"Since when is a man not allowed to enter his own galley?" Killian responded, perhaps a bit too snidely.
"When that man in just discharged from the hospital and under strict orders to take it easy for a few days, that's when," David stated, matching the pirate's snippy tone as he pulled out a chair and gestured for his stubborn son in law to sit.
"So I'm not even allowed to prepare myself a pot of tea?" Killian wondered as he reluctantly took a seat, fearing the prince would immediately rat on him to his daughter if he didn't comply. "Am I to 'take it easy' or act entirely despondent?"
"I'll get the tea. Just tell me where you keep everything."
"I assumed you already knew where most items are since you're constantly borrowing items from our stores. Just tell me, mate – did Emma ask you to be my nursemaid?"
"No – she didn't," David told him. "But she did ask me to make sure you didn't try to do anything stupid. After all, your stubbornness is legendary."
"Ah, so you've been tasked to play nanny," the pirate smirked.
"I have no desire to play nanny either," the prince laughed. "I get enough of that with a toddler at home. You'll know that feeling soon enough. Your wife just wanted me to give you a few reminders of what not to do."
"Of course she did," Killian sulked. "It would appear that I'm to be prisoner in my own home for the next few days…"
"She's just worried about you. We all were. I haven't even told Emma this but while you were in surgery, we all took turns – myself, Snow, Henry and yes, even Regina for about an hour – just sitting in either the hospital's visitor lounge or in the cafeteria waiting for updates. Even if we couldn't be in that room with you, we weren't about to leave you alone in that building until your wife could get there."
"I had no idea," Killian said almost bashfully, surprised that anyone would be that concerned for his well-being. "No one ever said anything…"
"You're a part of this family, pirate. You may be a royal pain in the ass but you're my daughter's husband and True Love and you're also the father of my soon to be second grandchild. Whether you believe this or not, we would actually like to keep you around." Killian's shy smile and reddening cheeks said it all – he was so thankful to have this family that cared for him even if it didn't seem real at times, but before things could get too uncomfortably emotional, they both agreed it was time to change the subject. "I suppose I should go see if the paint on the door frame is dried so we don't leave it wide open like that for long. Don't want to end up with a house full of flies. I'll give you a hand with that tea in a minute."
"Emma said I should ask you about that," Killian began as he pointed toward the door. "Why exactly are you outside on the porch painting our front door? She said it was a long story…"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. We think Mr. Smee broke in here after assaulting you in the alley when he wasn't able to find the watch. Tossed the whole house looking for it. Nothing was taken, but there were a few things broken – including the front door. Smee pried it open with a crowbar or something similar. Personally, I would have just broken the glass, but who knows what he was thinking. Anyway, I've spent the better part of the past two days helping out with the repairs and just finished re-painting this morning."
"Emma could have just used her magic to fix it," Killian said, not really sure why she wouldn't have done that.
"I know. I volunteered to do it. A few people from town pitched in too. We figured she had enough to worry about."
"Thank you," Killian stated in a soft, but very sincere tone. "For everything."
"It was the least I could do. Now, if my daughter is anything like her mother, I suggest you make your way back over to that couch before she gets back. You don't ever want to argue with a pregnant woman."
"I'll take that under serious advisement, mate," the pirate laughed as he pushed himself back to his feet using the table for support, although he didn't move very quickly until the dizziness subsided.
"Need a hand?" David asked, recognizing that his son in law wasn't exactly steady on his feet yet.
"Not necessary," Killian insisted. "I can manage, but I do have another question for you before you return to painting. When do you suppose I can have my hook back? Don't really feel like myself without it. Emma retrieved all of my other belongings, but it would appear that she either forgot my hook or isn't permitting me to have it yet."
"I guess it's technically still evidence, but since Smee confessed, I suppose we don't need it any longer. I honestly hadn't even realized that you were missing it. I'll talk to Emma and if necessary, I'll head over to the station this afternoon to pick it up." David started toward the front door to finish up his project, but turned back toward Killian and added: "Your mother in law will probably insist that I bring you lunch back too."
"I certainly wouldn't argue with her Highness," Killian chuckled as he flopped back down onto the sofa while massaging his aching temple. He would have preferred to head upstairs to bed, but he didn't dare navigate the steps on his own and he would never be able to live it down if he asked David for help. The last thing he needed to do was to get disoriented and trip on the staircase, so he'd have to wait until Emma returned and with any luck, that wouldn't be long.
10:13am
With a few minutes left before the pharmacy would have her husband's medications ready to pick up, Emma decided to take a stroll around the corner to the jewelry store, wanting to thank Mr. Blackstone in person for uncovering the coin as well as to see if he could shed any light on the pocket watch's history. His shop was tucked away on a quiet corner not far from the Sheriff Station or from Granny's, but away from the busiest part of town. Being the town's only jeweler, he did a decent amount of business, but the shop always seemed to be unencumbered and private – which made it perfect for the questions Emma had in mind today.
A little chime sounded when she pushed open the front door and glanced around at all of the display cases filled with shiny gems and baubles. She didn't really wear a lot of jewelry herself, at least not anymore. Her wedding rings and a pair of simple earrings were about all she wore now, but the gleam of all of the sparkly treasures laid out before her still caught her eye. Maybe being married to a pirate was rubbing off on her just a smidge. Still early in the day, the shop was empty except for Cyrus Blackstone himself who emerged from his office with a huge smile on his face.
"Emma, how nice to see you! How is your husband doing?"
"He's much better. He's home from the hospital and will need a few days to recuperate, but he's definitely far better than Monday."
"That's wonderful news," the jeweler said as he stepped around a display case to meet her in the middle of the shop. "What can I do for the Sheriff today?"
"Well, first I wanted to thank you for finding that hidden coin. It proved to be an extremely valuable piece of evidence, but second, I wanted to see if you could tell me anything about the history of that watch. You told me that it had been in your case for a while. Do you happen to remember exactly when you acquired it and where it was from?"
He leaned against one of his own display cases and let out a long sigh which was not the body language or reaction that she'd expected from her inquiry.
"I'm afraid that may have been a bit of a sales pitch," he admitted, but the statement only added to her confusion.
"What do you mean?" she wondered.
"Emma, I honestly don't know where that watch came from. When you came in that day and saw it in my case, I had no idea how it got there. I'd never seen it before, but you seemed so interested in it, I sold it to you anyway."
"So you're saying that the watch I picked out for Killian just somehow appeared in your shop the day I bought it?" Emma asked, newly perplexed by the ever developing mystery of this little item.
"Maybe a day or so prior. I can't be entirely certain, but I know it wasn't there at the beginning of the week when I did my inventory and cleaned the cases. I do it every Monday."
"Thank you for being honest with me. It adds a whole new layer of intrigue to this case, but it still helps."
"I wish I could be of more assistance to you, but I'm afraid that the background of that piece is just as much of a mystery to me as it is to you."
She shook his hand and after saying their farewells, she started her walk back to the pharmacy on Main Street, her mind fully occupied with attempting to determine how the watch she'd bought three months ago had magically made its way into the local jewelry store. She thought back to that morning, recalling that she'd been trying to think of something unique to get Killian for his birthday but a 300 year old pirate was definitely difficult to buy for. She'd initially thought about getting him a new ring to replace one of his old pirate rings, but she'd been instantaneously drawn to that silver plated watch with its anchor design. Being a pocket watch on a chain, it would be far easier for him to carry and wouldn't have to fit around his hook's leather brace. It also was simply a stunning piece of jewelry as well and she had just known that her pirate husband would love it. Now though, she was beginning to think that it was no coincidence that this unique watch ended up in Killian's hand and she suddenly remembered his remark about Hades saying that the coin he'd flung at him was tied to his fate.
Fate had intervened to bring that object to him, but why? To unlock his memory of the magical abilities he may still possess? It just seemed as though there had to be more to this than magic. A watch that magically appeared and drew Emma straight toward it… A magical coin that was hidden away inside that somehow restored Killian's stolen memories from the Underworld. Gold attempting to steal the watch and the coin to prevent them from learning the secrets it contained…
And that was where she stopped herself. How had Gold known about that pocket watch? Even if he'd seen Killian carrying it, how did he automatically know that it was enchanted? Did he have some sort of homing device for magical objects appearing in Storybrooke and if so, why didn't he just take it? Why force Mr. Smee to steal it?
Seems as though she was going to have to pay the Dark One a visit and that was never a pleasant experience…
11:38am
Returning home with a small paper bag full of prescription bottles, she made certain her bull-headed husband was aware of what each medication was for - going over each one with the same explanation she'd received from the pharmacist. There was an anti-inflammatory to help keep the swelling under control from the concussion, two different pain relievers of varying strength that he could alternate as needed since one was a narcotic and one wasn't and a medication to help with the vertigo he'd been experiencing. Dr. Whale had also insisted on an anti-convulsive medication but Emma was less concerned with making Killian take that one since she knew that his "seizure" had actually been Rumplestiltskin's dark magic. Of course, even though she was describing each medicine to him, she knew she'd likely end up having to keep track of them because anything more than the occasional aspirin was too complicated for Killian who still felt that rum was the answer to any malady. (And she'd also confiscated his flask to keep him out of that too.)
After getting him to swallow the four pills he was instructed to take right away – no easy task in itself – she aided her awful patient up the stairs to their bedroom and got him into bed. Despite his protests, he rolled onto his side and actually fell asleep fairly quickly as the codeine enhanced pain reliever kicked in. She made sure he was sound asleep – as evidenced by his light snoring – before heading back downstairs. She said a quick goodbye to her father who was cleaning up his drop cloths and removing the masking tape from the glass around the newly painted front door and door frame, informing him that she had another errand to run, but would be back in a few minutes. Without a thought of asking where she might be headed, David volunteered to stay at the house until she got back, then he'd take over Sheriff duties so she could relax the rest of the afternoon. She promptly took him up on that offer, but now it was time to go get some answers from Gold.
Emma was tentative and even a bit cautious as she pushed open the door to Gold's pawn shop, sounding the trio of little bells attached to the interior handle. Entering this shop was always a bit nerve-wracking as there was never a way to know what sort of mood the shop's proprietor would be in – especially since Emma certainly was not a person Gold particularly enjoyed seeing.
"Ms. Swan," he greeted her with his back to her while placing an ornate crystal goblet into a display case just beyond his archaic cash register. "My apologies…I keep forgetting that it's Mrs. Jones now. What exactly can I do for you today?"
"I need some answers – and they'd better be honest ones," she stated as the shop door swung closed behind her, suddenly making her feel a tiny bit claustrophobic.
"Answers?" he sneered. "Well, I suppose those would depend on the questions, dearie. I'll decide once I hear them."
"Pretty cocky for someone who failed – yet again – to put an end to his rival, but luckily for you, that isn't why I'm here right now. I want to know how you knew about the pocket watch?"
"Pocket watch?" he feigned ignorance.
"You know damned well what I'm talking about," she stated, trying very hard to temper her anger. "You knew that the pocket watch I gave Killian was a magical object – how?"
"Let's just say that I'm well aware of all enchanted objects that turn up here in Storybrooke. And it wasn't the watch so much that was magical. It really was a rather ordinary trinket. It was something inside that caught my attentions."
"Of course it was. Exactly when did you figure it out?"
Gold closed the door to the case he'd been tending and finally turned around to face her, clearly taking his time to formulate a response to her inquiries. "Not that long ago," he replied. "I happened to see Hook showing the watch to someone a few weeks back and I sensed an aura of magic around it. After a bit of thought and a little research, I determined that it was likely a parting gift from Hades…" The sarcasm and obvious contempt were thick in his statement.
"So Hades told you that he'd taken away some of Killian's memories – specifically memories about light magic? I can't imagine that the Lord of the Underworld wouldn't enjoy boasting to the Dark One that he'd erased a memory that was potentially destructive to both of you…"
"Oh that – yes. In that, I'm guilty as charged…" Gold stated with a condescending snicker. "Hades was all too eager to inform me that he'd enchanted that old coin to suppress your pirate's memories. But that wasn't all he had to say…"
"Go on…" Emma really didn't like the look on Gold's face, but she was still curious to learn what he had to say.
"Hades was in a rather jovial mood, believing he'd snared all of us in his traps – me with the contract and you with the tombstones - so he was rather pleased with himself as he announced to me all about what he'd done to Hook's memory. He displayed that coin like a trophy and as a grand gesture, he put a special clause on it so that it would only return under one single condition. Of course, at the time, he never thought that he would end up a pile of dust in Regina's office or that his brother would return Hook to the land of the living. Clearly that condition was met because the coin reappeared – ironically inside a timepiece…"
"And just what was his 'condition'?" she wondered.
"He called it a 'paternity clause' so am I to gather that congratulations are in order?"
"Paternity clause? He tied Killian's memories to us conceiving a child?"
"That was what I was told, dearie. He thoroughly enjoyed the irony since I'd just learned Belle was expecting and at the time, the contract he was holding would have given my son to him. He even went so far as to specify that the pirate would have to sire a daughter, but since a dead man couldn't procreate, he believed it was an ironclad guarantee. So you can imagine that as soon as I'd ascertained what the object was, I attempted to acquire it before your husband discovered it."
"Attempted to acquire it? That's what you call blackmailing Mr. Smee into stealing it for you?"
"I don't recall blackmailing anyone. Mr. Smee was a willing participant."
"Only after you threatened to turn the little rat back into a little rat," Emma reminded him.
"Unless you have proof of that, Sheriff, I stand by my statement," Gold said brazenly.
"Of course you do," she responded, but unfortunately she couldn't argue. There was no physical evidence that implicated him, just Smee's accusation and Killian's encounter at the hospital, which would be too easily dismissed as a seizure-induced delusion. Gold had been careful to ensure that no one saw him anywhere near Killian's room that night – no one that would remember it at least. "So – what do you intend to do now? Killian may not yet know how to utilize that magic, but you and I both know that he'll figure it out. I may not be able to arrest you and put you behind bars where you belong, but I'm sure I can find ways to make things miserable for you if you come near my family again…"
"Was that a threat, Sheriff?" he taunted.
"Call it what you want. This is between you and me right now and it can stay that way."
"I'll take that under advisement," he replied, turning his back toward her once again, but Emma wasn't quite ready to be dismissed yet.
"My advice to you is to stay far away from my family," she warned. "You know all too well that both Killian and I can hear the call of your dagger. We can find it wherever you might hide it and while I really have no intention of ever seeing that thing again, we both know how bad it could be for you, Dark One…"
"Then we stand in détente, Ms. Swan," he responded without looking back at her. "Now, if you'd so kindly leave my shop. I'm closing for lunch."
Emma started to say something, but decided against it. She'd save that battle for another day. Right now, she just wanted to get out of this den of evil and return home before her husband woke so she wouldn't have to explain her absence, but little did she know that her visit had stirred up a bitter memory for Rumplestiltskin as well. As soon as he heard the bells sound and was certain she was out of the shop,, he lowered his head as he thought back to that conversation with Hades – the conversation that revealed the true extent of how destructive Hook's returning memories could be.
"Isn't this such an interesting predicament?" Hades cackled, knowingly making Rumplestiltskin even angrier. "Just the kind of secret you wouldn't want your enemies to stumble upon…"
"I'm hardly concerned with my enemies getting their hands on my dagger, thank you very much. I've had centuries of practice to keep it well concealed."
"And how do you intend to keep it a secret from those who can hear its call? This is certainly not exactly something you'd want the so-called savior, Emma Swan, to learn…"
"And just how would she learn that she could kill me without becoming a Dark One again? She has no idea that this particular loophole exists."
"But the pirate found out," Hades stated with a wicked grin. "I might have accidentally let that little secret of yours slip when I was reminding him of all the things he lost in death. He gave up a sure way to put an end to you – and now that he knows that you cheated and negated his grand sacrifice, you think that desire for revenge might be reignited? He might be dead but his dear princess, Emma, isn't. I'm sure this something he'd be all too happy to share." Hades laughed as he watched the Dark One squirm. He was definitely relishing all of this. It wasn't often he got to taunt the living and an immortal at that. "Don't worry yourself, Dark One," he said as he playfully tossed a copper hued coin in the air, catching it on his open palm as it fell. "Your secret is safe – for now. Other items in Captain Jones' memory presented too much of a threat to me and as it would seem - to you as well, so I took the liberty of binding those nasty little memories." He flipped the coin yet again then with a flick of his fingers, it vanished in a puff of smoke. "That little piece of metal has those potentially damaging memories locked away and in honor of our recent discovery that you've got a little bundle of joy on the way soon, I decided to add a little paternity clause to this - just for fun…"
"A paternity clause? Just in case a True Love kiss from the Savior doesn't give Hook his memories back?"
"Oh, I made certain of that. The only thing that will make that coin reappear is if the Captain suddenly fathers a little princess of his own. And as we know, a dead man can't exactly procreate so there's little for either of us to be concerned about."
"And what if Emma succeeds in her plan to bring him back?"
"Succeeds? Unless one of these heroes plans to trade their life for the pirate, she won't prevail in this little endeavor. Her plan to split her heart isn't going to work. She just hasn't had that revelation yet. There isn't going to be a way for Jones to sire a child with his fair princess so your potentially fatal secret will remain unknown for now, but of course that's only if no one figures it out on their own…"
Emma had mentioned the dagger and the potential for malady that could come from either former Dark One locating it, but she hadn't mentioned her immunity to it. Either the Savior was keeping that card to play later, or she wasn't yet aware. Problem was, it was only a matter of time before all of Hook's remaining memories were restored and another confrontation would appear all but inevitable.
