Once Upon A Time: The Devil Revealed, Part Twenty One

By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki

Emma watched as Jefferson drove. After hustling her out of the hospital, he took her to his car and they had been driving for at least ten minutes and he hadn't said anything. She was starting to wonder what he was really up to and if she had fallen for a trick of some sort. " So? " She finally said.

" So what? " Jefferson glanced at her.

" So when are you going to tell me what you found out? " Emma said. " The whole reason I came with you was because you said you found out something about Belle. "

" I did but all of it is at my house, " Jefferson replied. " I'll tell you everything when we get there. "

" I thought you were going to tell me once you got me out of the hospital, " Emma frowned.

Jefferson quirked his mouth, " I never said that. "

Emma growled, " Jefferson! "

" You would have been here anyway, " Jefferson gave her a sideways glance. " Remember what I was doing when you woke up. "

Emma scooted towards the door a little more, recalling the panic she had felt when she had seen him ready t inject her with some sort of sleeping drug. She then furrowed her brow, " You said I had that stuff on me before. "

" Yes. In the tea, " Jefferson replied. " It's a rather versatile drug. It can be dissolved in tea or mixed with water and injected. I used it on Mr. Gold's bodyguard down in the tomb. "

" Oh, " Emma said.

" Anyway, " Jefferson glanced at her again. He put his eyes back on the road, " You never answered my question back in the hospital. "

" What question? " Emma tried to remember if he had asked her anything. The rush of panic and fear had made everything a little hazy though.

Jefferson took his right hand off of the steering wheel and placed it under Emma's scrub top. He rubbed her stomach, " Is it his? "

Emma shoved his hand away. Where he was rubbing just a little too low for her comfort. She narrowed her eyes and hissed, " Don't touch me there ever again. "

Jefferson wagged his index finger in her face, " You're still not answering my question. "

" It's none of your business, " Emma replied.

Jefferson arched an eyebrow, " So it's yes? "

Emma rolled her eyes. It seemed he was unaware she was carrying twins. " I'm not talking about this with you. "

Jefferson smirked, " So how does Henry feel about being a big brother? "

" I said I wasn't talking about this with you, " Emma tried to sound more firm. She hoped Jefferson would get the message.

" Fine, fine. I was just trying to make small talk to make the ride go faster, " Jefferson said. " we can sit here and not talk if you want. "

" Sure, " Emma said then snapped her fingers and narrowed her eyes at Jefferson. " Or we could talk about what you found out. "

" It's too unbelievable, " Jefferson said. " You'll need to see all the proof while I tell you the story. "

Emma growled again, getting frustrated. " Whatever. How much longer until we get to your place. "

Jefferson looked around then said, " Five minutes. "

The sound of sirens pierced the air, flashing police lights visible down the road but the car still hidden by the curve in the road. " Damn it! " Emma looked at Jefferson. " They're probably looking for me. "

" Down! " Jefferson wrapped his right arm around Emma's shoulder and jerked her down in the seat, hiding her. The car was an older model with a large dash and it hid her completely. The sirens grew louder, passed them and began to fade in the distance. When the sound was completely gone, Jefferson let go of Emma's shoulders.

She sat back up, gasping. She weakly hit him in the arm, " That hurt! "

Jefferson frowned, his sarcastically playful mood melting into an icy coldness, " Did you want to be caught and have escaped added to your charges? "

A chill ran down Emma's spine, remembering that Jefferson was rather unstable. She had met some real nut jobs but he was probably the least predictable of them all. The way he glared at her made her skin tingle and not in a good way either. " No. "

Jefferson sighed, " I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just trying to protect you. Are you okay? "

" My stomach hurts but it has been since I got out of surgery, " Emma said.

" Surgery? " Jefferson looked confused. " You had surgery? "

Emma blinked, " You didn't know? "

" I thought you had another low blood sugar thing like before, " Jefferson said. " What kind of surgery? "

" Gallbladder, " Emma replied.

Jefferson looked surprised, " I had no idea. "

Emma quirked her mouth, " I guess you haven't been stalking me nearly as hard as I thought you were. "

" I've been a little busy, " Jefferson said. " I did see you went you got sick at the jail. Bravo on getting both of DA Spencer's shoes by the way. I never really like him here or back there. "

" I wasn't really aiming, " Emma said. She then furrowed her brow, " So you were watching me up to that point? "

Jefferson nodded once, " I wanted to make sure you were safe. Doctor Hargreaves is one of Regina's lackeys. "

" I know, " Emma replied. " Mary-Margret overheard him talking to Regina through a mirror tonight. "

Jefferson looked at Emma, " Really now? "

Emma nodded, " She went up to the station to get my things and heard it. She left before he knew she was there and came right to me. "

" I see, " Jefferson said. " Well, he figures into what I'm going to tell you when we get inside. We're here by the way. "

Emma looked out the windshield as Jefferson turned down the drive. He pulled up to the front door and shut off the engine. Emma reached for her door handle but he stopped her by grabbing her right hand in his. " What? Do you think I'm going to run? "

" No. That door sticks. I have to open it from the outside, " Jefferson said. " Besides, you said you had surgery so I don't think you'll be running anywhere. "

" Oh, " Emma put her hand down after he let it go.

Jefferson took a deep breath, his face becoming earnest, " I really am going to help you this time. I swear. "

" No tricks? " Emma arched an eyebrow.

" No tricks, " Jefferson replied. " Please, just believe me. "

Emma looked at him for a long moment then sighed, " Fine. "

" Thank you, " He said then opened his door. He got out of the car, closed his door then walked around to Emma's side. He opened it and put his hand out to Emma.

She eyed it then took it hesitantly, letting him help her to her feet. She hissed a little, the worst part of getting up was being halfway between. Once she was upright, she breathed until the pain dulled. She felt Jefferson grasp her hand tighter and she looked at him.

" Are you okay? " Jefferson asked. He looked genuinely concerned for her.

" I'll be fine, " Emma replied. " Let's just get inside. It's chilly out here. "

" I have some warm clothes for you inside, " Jefferson placed his right arm around her waist and gently guided her to the stairs

Emma frowned, " Not yours again. "

" No, " Jefferson said. He smirked, " They're yours. "

Emma blinked, " How did you get my clothes? "

" No one was really home at your place today so I helped myself, " Jefferson replied.

Emma narrowed her eyes, " You need to stay out of my apartment. "

" You need to get better locks, " Jefferson countered.

Emma frowned but said nothing as they scaled the front steps...

David paced the porch of the convent. He had come to see The Blue Fairy but one of the other fairies had answered the door. He was anxious to speak with her because of a plan they had made earlier in the day. He had asked the fairy to visit Emma and try to put a protection spell on the babies.

If Emma was going to keep the twins, he needed to do everything he could to keep them safe. He knew it was a long shot considering who their father was and Emma's own powers but he had to try to do something. He wracked his brain to think of someone to help him and he had decided The Blue Fairy was his best bet.

He looked up from the porch when he heard the front door creak open, revealing who he came to see. " Prince James, " The Blue Fairy didn't look surprised to see him.

" Were you able to do it? " He asked hurriedly.

The Blue Fairy sighed, " I was. Emma's magic fought me but the protection spell got through to the children. "

" So Rumplestiltskin won't know they exist? " David asked.

" The spell I used is very powerful. It will disguise their presence from any and all dark forces. He will never know they exist until they are born. The only way he'll ever know is if someone tells him. "

" So I just have to keep him from finding out? " David asked.

" Yes, " The Blue Fairy nodded.

" And what about Regina? Or anyone else who might want to do Emma harm? " David wanted to make sure all of his bases were covered.

The Blue Fairy nodded, " The spell should hold until they are born if no one tells them they exist. "

David sighed in relief, " Thank you so much. "

" Don't thank me yet, " The Blue Fairy said. " Thank me when they are born safe. "

David nodded, " Right. I will. "

" You had better hurry, " The Blue Fairy began but stopped. " Is that your phone? "

David blinked then reached into his jacket pocket, finding his phone was indeed vibrating. He furrowed his brow when he saw Snow's number. He answered the call, " Snow? "

" Where are you? " Snow sounded panicked.

" I'm... I'm doing something, " David replied. He could hear a commotion in the background, like a lot of people hurrying around. " What's wrong? "

Snow took a deep breath, " There was a fire at the hospital. Everyone is fine... but Emma's missing. "

" Emma's what? " David said sharply. " How? Where did she go? "

" She wouldn't be missing if I knew that, " Snow replied. " Just get over here. We need to find her. Doctor Hargreaves is here too. "

" Of course he is, " David said. " He's the Sheriff. "

Snow took a deep breath, " Something happened earlier and I haven't had a chance to tell you what. "

" Tell me now, " David said. The tone of Snow's voice let him know it was something gravely important.

" I went to the office to get Emma's things, " Snow said then paused. She then lowered her volume to almost a whisper, " He was talking to Regina through a magic mirror. I think he told her about the babies. "

David went cold. He had never really liked the coroner-turned-sheriff. He had never gotten anything off of Doctor Hargreaves but a vibe that made his skin crawl. " Oh my God. We have to do something. "

" And quickly, " Snow said. She paused again then said, " I overheard him telling his deputy to bring Emma in using any means necessary. "

" We can't let either of them find her, " David said sharply. " There's no telling what orders Regina's given him. "

" But what are we going to do? " Snow sounded like she was trying to hide her fear but David could detect it in her voice. " If they find her first, she could be in some very real danger. "

David paused as he thought then said, " Get the dwarves, Red and Archie. I'll meet you at the diner and we can come up with a search plan. "

" What about Henry? " Snow asked.

David sighed, " He's just going to have to stay with Granny tonight. "

" Right, " Snow said. " I'll get everyone together and meet you there. Please hurry. "

" I will, " David said then hung up the phone.

The Blue Fairy touched his left arm, " What's wrong? That sounded serious. "

He looked at The Blue Fairy, " There was a fire at the hospital. Emma's missing. Doctor Hargreaves had his deputy looking for her but he's working for Regina. "

The Blue Fairy gasped, " Oh no. We can't let him find her for there's no telling what Regina is planning. "

" That's what I was thinking too, " David said.

" I'll gather some of the fairies and we'll help you search, " The Blue Fairy looked like she was already hatching a plan in her mind.

" Thank you, " David said. " We're meeting at the diner. Once you get your volunteers, head over there. "

The Blue Fairy nodded, " Right. See you there. "

" And hurry, " David said as he headed for his truck...

Emma dried her hair as she walked into the living room. She felt like a new woman. After being sweaty at the jail then at the hospital, she was in desperate need of a shower. It was the sick kind of sweat that sat on her skin like a film and she wanted nothing more to get rid of it.

She had made Jefferson swear he would not bother her while she cleaned up and he had not. She had even gone so far as to hang towels over the windows to insure her privacy. He said he would use the time to get his evidence in order so he could tell her what he had found out. She had still rushed through the shower though, still not trusting him completely.

She had gotten dressed quickly as well, pausing only to examine her surgery wounds. They were covered with white, gauze like tape and she could feel metal staples beneath the bandages. She tried to peel the bandages back to get a better look but the tape was stuck fast. It was the sort of tape that would have to come off on its own.

Once that was decided, she finished dressing and headed out to the living room. She was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, her knee high boots and a black tank top. Jefferson had grabbed her reddish-brown jacket as well. She was a little upset he hadn't picked out anything warmer but the ensemble would have to do.

Jefferson had turned the heater up, the room warm to the point it was almost stifling and it made her glad he had picked what he had. He sat on the couch, the same couch he had put her on when he had drugged her and had his back to her. Emma could hear him shuffling papers around and thought his attention was on them.

" Feel better? " He asked, telling her he was well aware of her presence.

Emma blinked, " Yeah. Why is it so warm in here? "

" I figured you'd wash your hair since it was such a mess and I didn't want you to catch a cold, " He said, turning. He quirked his mouth, " Since you have someone else to worry about now, I thought you'd appreciate it. "

Emma sighed, " I do. Thanks. "

" Now, " Jefferson stood up. " Take a seat. I have a long story for you. "