Ad Litteram de Libris, Literally Out of the books Chapter 10, an once upon a time fanfic

I'm really enjoying writing this fic... it's all coming together quite nicely.

Unfortunately for Hook that means more whump!

My Bad :)

Ad Liberandum, To The Rescue

David had come too quite quickly feeling everything all at once but he was happy, he could feel Mary-Margaret and that was enough for him, he had his answers, they were definitely looking for him and Hook but he hadn't managed to stay concentrating on that for long as the Pirate chose that moment to come around too with another long groan.

David had been so close to grabbing the Pirate with his potion infused hand only realizing right at the last second what he was about to do to pull his hand back with a jerk, the last thing either of them needed was that blast of emotion. He quickly wrapped his palm with some remnants of Hook's torn up shirt then moved back to the Pirate's side with concern, he looked like absolute hell as he lay breathing heavily on the sand eyes rolling in his head clearly close to passing out again but David moved quickly, he had to keep him awake.

"Hook, come on open your eyes... look at me"

Hook just shook his head back and forth a couple of times then seemed to still, had he lost his battle to stay awake? David's heart slammed in his chest at the sight before him, injuries be dammed he grabbed hold of Hook and hauled him into his arms giving him a shake to bring him round but the keen that left the Pirate's throat had him feeling guilty as he watched his face morph into a picture of total agony.

He watched in horror as Hook dry wretched a couple of times before eventually flopping back against his front to gaze up at him through hooded eyes. David quickly grabbed another bottle of water and opened it holding so that the Pirate could get a drink, even though he had not actually been sick there had to be a nasty taste in his mouth but as Hook tried to drink deeply the water seemed to catch in his throat and he desended into a coughing fit clutching at his ribs desperatley until he got his breathing back under control then just slumped bonelessly into David's arms too exhausted to do anything else.

"HOOK... don't you dare fall asleep on me, you need to stay awake. He can't touch you here, come on stay with me. Don't do this to Emma"

"Leave me be...let it take me... Swan is not coming" he practically whispered, had he given up hope?

David was not having it, he had to let Hook know that they were going to be alright, that the others would be there soon.

"They ARE on their way I promise so you can't sleep now, if you do I'm not sure you will wake up and I can't have that. I know you are exhausted but he can't harm you while you're awake so suck it up and deal with it, pretend like you are steering that precious ship of yours into a storm, you wouldn't leave her to her own devices would you?"

Hook didn't look convinced as he just shut his eyes again with a sigh seemingly determined to sleep.

"Killian, please don't do this. I don't want to have to tell Emma that I lost you, that it was my fault that you never came home" he pleaded with the Pirate hoping that this would work.

He watched in anticipation as Hook's right eye popped open and he looked straight up at him.

"Dirty trick... poor form" he grumbled "And don't ever call me Killian...it just sounds wrong... makes it sound like you actually care... what would people think?" he gave a weak smirk as his eye closed again

"Yeah well I don't care what people think." David said sincerely "You cannot let this damned daemon win, we need to fight. The others are on their way, I promise"

Hook shook his head again but his eyes remained closed "They think... we are dead... the bloody daemon saw to that"

"No, if that's what he told you he lied. I promise they are coming. I used some of the potion on myself, I'm linked to Mary-Margaret remember, through our hearts. Yeah that blast of emotion is not something that I can put into words but when I say that I know they are coming it's not because I hope they are it's because I KNOW they are"

Hook had opened his eyes fully now and there was something new in his face, he actually looked like he believed what David had just said.

"She told me that no one was looking... that they were having funerals for us tomorrow" Hook's eyes danced back and forth again obviously remembering what had happened when he was sleeping.

"She?" David asked cautiously, who had the daemon appeared as this time?

Hook just closed his eyes shaking his head again as he dragged in some deep breaths but that brought a grimace to his face and his hand came up to clamp against his sore ribs as he grit his teeth.

"It was Emma wasn't it, that bastard pretended to be my Daughter" David was livid, this was one step too far.

"I knew it was not her...don't worry...I was prepared this time. I dread to think what would have happened... if this had been earlier when I was not aware that I was dreaming... Everything seems so real... there is no difference between reality and the dream world." He closed his eyes again and let his breath escape in a long sigh before adding "I just need sleep... I am so tired."

"I know but you can't, Emma is coming. They all are." David said pulling Hook slightly closer and adjusting the Pirate's jacket over him to ensure he was warm enough "So I suggest you pick the topic of conversation and we go from there"

Hook chuckled but David could still see his eyes rolling in his head, he really was fighting sleep "I don't think our interest align much Highness... Pirates and Princes don't usually socialize in the same circles"

"Oh I don't know, we have both fought some pretty epic battles, faced some pretty cool monsters."

"Aye but none quite like this one..." Hook opened his eyes again to look up at him in earnest.

"Yeah maybe BUT they all have one thing in common" David smiled at the confused look on Hook's face. "We defeated them, every single one.

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Emma had not managed to get much information out of her Mom other than they were running out of time, she was giving nothing away other than Hook needed them but Emma knew that it must be bad, she could tell by the haunted look that her Mom wore when she thought that no one was looking. It had been about an hour since her Dad had managed to connect with her Mum and she was concerned that it was getting too much for her to handle.

Emma now stood in the front of Gold's shop next to the others who had all gathered there, they had the map laid out across the floor looking for the cave that her Mom had seen from the inside her Dad's mind a while ago, yeah that was weird.

"It has to be this one" Robin said pointing at a hill on the map quickly from his position on the floor "It's the only one that has a hole in it, we came across it once while out hunting not long after arriving here, nearly lost John in it. The hole is directly in the middle of an outcrop of rocks which hid it from view and we only found it when Little John ventured too close. We never investigated the cave below just glad that we had managed to stop my man from falling to his death"

"That is going to take all night to get too" Emma complained but Regina scoffing next to her had her looking up with raised eyebrows at the Queen

"Emma, when will you EVER remember that you have magic. I can poof us there in a matter of seconds and you could too if you would just concentrate that feeble mind of yours" she curled her lip in disapproval and if she was being honest Emma was slightly annoyed with herself for not thinking of her magic but right now her mind was anything but clear so she brushed it off.

"Great." Mary-Margaret said quickly cutting off any retort that Emma would perhaps have given "Belle can you look after Neal a bit longer?"

"Of course" Belle said with a smile "and Henry too"

"WHAT? No" Henry turned to Emma with pleading eyes "I want to help"

"I'm sorry Kid, not gonna happen. If this works out how we planned it it's gonna be short and sweet. Regina has come up with a spell that should kill Thanatos once and for all then we are out of there"

Henry looked like he was about to protest but Regina cut him off.

"Henry please, listen to your Mothers for once."

Emma watched as every emotion seemed to wash over her Son's face but he eventually just sighed stepping back towards the table grumbling "Fine"

"Right, are we ready people? I can bring us to the top of the hill then from there we can get inside once I can see what I am dealing with." Regina turned to the rest of the group to make sure they were ready to go.

Emma, Mary-Margaret, Robin and Regina all stepped forward into a tight circle, Regina gave Emma a reassuring look as the purple cloud engulfed them cutting the others off from her view.

Henry knew he had one chance to make his move, he had picked up the book from the table to make it look like he was going to go back to his studying but the minute his Mom's Purple cloud had started to appear he launched himself forward and gripped onto the nearest person that just happened to be his Grandma who gave a squeal of surprise as he collided with her.

Seconds later he was lying in a heap, it was dark as he lay in the cool night air but he was definitley outside, it had worked!

"Mom" Emma's voice sounded out as a flashlight clicked on and pointed towards where he lay, he was so busted.

"HENRY" Regina's voice called out

"I'm sorry but I couldn't just stay there, I can help, I know it"

"We will deal with this later" Regina gave him a stern look before reaching out her hand and pulling him to his feet as Emma helped his Grandma up beside him. "We need to get this done"

Robin had moved over to the hole and was peering down inside so Henry ran over to join him, lying down quickly on his stomach to lean over the large boulder for a better view.

"DAVID" Robin's voice echoed around in the space beneath and Henry peered through hoping to see what was going on and when he saw Killian lying in his Grandpa's arms looking at him he gave a quick wave and a grin.

"Hurry, we need to get him out of here" David yelled back looking straight up at them then nodding his head to the Pirate in his arms

"Hang on, we'll be down in a second" Robin called back as Regina took a quick glance down into the cave.

"Alright lets go get them" she said taking hold of Henry's hand "You stay behind me Henry, no matter what, do you hear me?"

He nodded his head emphatically, this was going to be awesome, a real rescue mission.

Killian didn't know if he was dreaming again or not, had he just seen Robin's face high above him? David called out into the cave so it must be true, surely? Then Henry's face appeared too and he knew that it was real as the boy gave him a wave, Thanatos only seemed to be able to conjure one person at a time and he was definitely seeing two high above him and David. His eyes closed again as he relaxed back into the Prince's arms too exhausted to really appreciate his friends above him, he knew that he was safe, they were finally getting out of here.

"Just hang on Hook, they're coming. Open your eyes, we're not out of here yet" David gave him a slight prod as if to emphasize his point but the motion had Killian grasping at his chest again.

"Bloody Hell Mate, watch the ribs" he groaned

"Well open your damned eyes then and I'll stop poking you" David's tone was much lighter than his words and when Killian opened his eyes he knew that David had not meant to hurt him by the look on his face.

"Like Father like Daughter" Killian chuckled remembering how Swan had used his broken ribs against him back when he had first come to town.

David looked confused but movement over by the fire had both them both looking over to see their friends and family appearing in Regina's purple cloud.

"David!" Mary-Margaret's voice called out even before the smoke had even disappeared and Killian watched as David's eyes shone with tears when he looked at his wife as she ran to his side. He had been too busy looking at the Prince above him so hadn't seen Emma until she was suddenly in his face and he couldn't help it when his memory collided with reality and he practically jumped out of his skin at her image in front of him.

Instant agony engulfed him leaving him writhing in David's arms, he could hear Emma apologizing to him but he couldn't reply, he could do anything.

"I'm sorry, what did I do?" She sounded so upset but he still could do nothing to sooth her as he struggled to calm his breathing and bring his pain levels back under some sort of control.

"It's alright, he'll be OK in a minute just keep your movements slow and keep your voice down. I'll explain later" David's voice said in reply and Killian was grateful to the Prince for the assistance.

Eventually after what seemed like forever the pain died down enough for him to open his eyes again and he could see Emma still sitting by his side smiling at him.

"Swan?" he asked cautiously, he wanted to believe it was her so badly but his body seemed to remember all too well what this face had done to him not that long ago as he broke out in a cold sweat and a shiver ran through him.

She smiled so sweetly at him as the tears tumbled down her cheeks that his heart lurched, this was her, this was his Swan, he reached out his hand and took hers gently giving it a squeeze but their moment was interrupted by David speaking.

"Emma, can you take him, I need to see your Mom and help get us out of here"

"Of course" was all she replied as she sat herself down and David slowly passed him over, it hurt, a lot but Killian tried his best not to show it as he was settled into Emma's arms.

"DO NOT LET HIM SLEEP" David added raising his eyebrows high on his head "That daemon is still out there" and then he was gone from Killian's field of view.

"Why can't you sleep?" Emma asked quietly

"It doesn't matter right now Swan, why would I want to sleep with you holding me in your arms?" he gave a chuckle but it turned into a cough which left him gasping for air again until it passed, he was so tired all he wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep but he fought it with his entire being, for his Swan.

"You OK?" Emma's face was a mask of worry as she fussed with his jacket pulling it up to make sure he was still covered.

"Aye Love, I am perfect now that you are here" he managed to breath out, he could feel sleep practically pulling at him, tugging him away from her and he didn't want to go.

"Hook, open your eyes"

When had he closed them?

"Sorry Love" he said opening them again to meet her gaze "Tired"

"I know and you'll get to sleep soon but you can't just yet"

He hoped she was right, his vision was graying around the edges and he knew sooner or later sleep would take him whether he wanted to go or not.