OK so I just watched the new episodes and to say I am slightly traumatized is an understatement!
Killian was equal parts nervous and equal parts excited, in a few short hours he hoped that he would finally be rid of the tube down his throat. He felt woozy, Whale had been in a few minutes earlier and administered something that he called "Pre-Med", Killian got he gist of it, it was to make him sleepy before they took him for his surgery. Normally this would not have been an issue, he'd spent more time sleeping recently than he'd been awake but today it was probably a wise move.
He had woken early, Emma had already been awake and to begin with he thought it was a reasonable time, being unable to see he had no idea how light it was outside. That was until Emma had informed him it was only three in the morning, he did try to go back to sleep and he may have dozed for a while but on the whole he had been awake ever since. The happiness he was feeling was something that he wanted to hold onto, he had not had it in such a long time.
"Stop grinning, you're gonna chew a hole in that thing before they get a chance to take it out" he heard Swan laugh out as she came through the bathroom door.
This just made him grin wider but he couldn't hold it very long, the medication that was running through his veins was already starting to work it's magic and his eyes kept sliding shut against his will.
"Hey, don't fight the sleep, that's what the meds are for. You will be awake and vent free before you know it"
Emma took hold of his hand and simply held it, he was too tired to write anything but she was all he needed anyway. Before he knew it Whale had arrived and he was being wheeled away again, Emma held onto his hand tightly, she was going to stay by his side until he was put to sleep then she would have to leave him. His heart was beating fast again but this time there was nothing he could do to slow it, the closer he got to his destination the more he was, as David called it "Freaking Out".
"Hey, it's OK" Emma squeezed his hand again.
He just clung on tightly willing this to be over as the bed was wheeled into position, again he found himself being manhandled onto another surface. It felt quite hard but also spongy, it was cold against his bare skin causing his back to arch up slightly in surprise.
"It will warm in a second, try to lie flat" someone spoke out from somewhere above his head.
He relaxed back down trying in vain to stop his mind running away from him. He felt someone take hold of his arm and Emma let go of his hand, he suddenly felt like he was drowning, she had been the only thing that had been keeping him above water. The person quickly uncapped the end of the Cannula and he felt them press something onto the end of it.
"It's OK Sir, you will start to feel really sleepy now"
"Hear that? She called you Sir" Emma laughed and took up his hand again.
The moment she made contact he relaxed, she had him, he was safe... the room was fading out now as the sounds became muffled and distorted. He was vaguely aware of hands upon his person then nothing as the world slipped away.
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Emma walked back into Hook's room to wait on her Pirate returning, this was going to be the longest wait of her life, she suddenly wished that she had brought a book but as she looked up her eyes fell on her Dad.
"What are you doing here?" she said with a wide smile
"You really think I'd let you sit here by yourself while Captain Kirk's gone?"
She just rolled her eyes "Please, like I'd date that guy"
"Well in real life he may be much better than in the story, I mean, look at Hook, would you be dating him if he was exactly like his alter ego"
"Hell no, you may have a point BUT I will have you know that I am perfectly happy with the Captain I already have" she replied with a happy smile.
"I can see that and I am happy that you are happy. I can't believe I just said that. If I had known when I first met Hook that you two were going to get together I would have hit him a whole lot harder than I did... he was such an ASS back then"
"Yeah, he was but he was just protecting himself, I can understand that"
"I know, I get it now but he did like to make life hard for himself!"
"Don't I know it?" Emma laughed out
She sat down in the chair again but suddenly she really didn't want to sit in the empty room, it felt weird without Hook in it.
"You wanna go get breakfast?" she suddenly asked her Dad
"Sure. Granny's?"
"You betcha. I could do with a stack of pancakes right about now"
They were sitting in the corner booth ten minutes later waiting for their food as Emma's stomach growled loudly. She felt hungry for the first time in ages and she was not about to let her Dad off easy after he had offered to pay so she had gone big with her order.
The bell above the door gave a jingle as someone walked in causing them both to look up. Belle walked in an instantly broke out into a wide smile.
"HI" she waved wildly and walked right over "How's Killian?"
"Hi" Emma replied "Want to join us?"
Belle nodded and slid into the booth next to Emma as she scooted over.
"He's much better, in fact he's in surgery right now getting his drains and his vent removed."
"Oh Emma, I am so happy. That is good news. How's his eyesight?"
"Still nothing but I'm hopeful that it will come back soon, Whale said that the pressure build up may have just caused some bruising so fingers crossed it won't be too much longer"
Belle ordered breakfast and they chatted for a while but eventually Emma got jittery, she needed to be back at the hospital.
They bid everyone farewell and headed back to the truck totally unaware of Maleficent sitting quietly in a booth a bit further up the diner with her back to them, she raised a knowing eyebrow, she gathered her things and slinked her way to the door and disappeared down the street
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They sat back in the chairs waiting on Hook coming back, David glanced at his watch, nearly mid-day, what the hell was taking so long? This couldn't be good. Emma's knee was bouncing frantically as the door suddenly opened inwardly and the bed was wheeled back in, David held his breath waiting to see Hook's face and sighed out a huge sigh of relief when all he saw was an oxygen mask. Hook was sleeping soundly but he looked quite flushed, David instantly looked to Whale for answers.
They settled the bed into place and David noticed that the Pirate was more upright than before, that was strange!
"Right, as you can see we managed to remove the vent but we will have to monitor him closely over the next few hours and he will be on the oxygen until I am happy that he doesn't need it. At the minute he is managing to breathe by himself but if he starts to struggle or tire we may need to intervene. We had a bit of an issue with his chest drain, that's what took so long but it's all looking good now so fingers crossed people"
He gave a reassuring smile as he fiddled about with the bed control adjusting it slightly but not lowering it much. With the Pirate in his new position his blankets pooled at his hips showing his very bruised chest and the thick pad still attached to his front
"Why's he sitting like that?" David asked casually
"It makes it easier for him to breathe, it's just until we make sure that he's managing then we can lie him back a bit. I'll get someone to bring in a gown in a while, I know it's not pleasant to look at"
"I'm just happy he's here" Emma breathed out and took hold of the Pirate's hand "How long until he wakes up?"
"Not long, he's already woken up in the recovery room but he'll be groggy for a while and probably won't have much of a voice after what he's been through, do not let him over do it he needs to rest. He should be much better tomorrow but give him time, this will have taken a lot out of him"
"We will Doc, don't worry." David clapped Whale on the shoulder but let his hand fall quickly when the smile fell from the Doctor's face and his eyes dropped to the hand.
"OK, this didn't just get awkward at all" Emma whispered loudly
"Indeed" Whale agreed "I'll be back to see Hook tomorrow morning, Nurse Kyle will be keeping an eye on him until I'm back on shift, I have a date to get to"
The doctor grinned widely and looked right at Emma as if daring her to say something but she just clamped her jaw shut and looked towards her Pirate. What was that about?
Whale left the room a few minutes later and Emma gave an audible growl "I can't believe him"
"What? Am I missing something?" David was confused
"He's seeing Cruella, I can almost guarantee it. I saw the two of them in the Rabbit Hole the other night and she had him right under her thumb, he was practically drooling all over her"
"What? Whale and Cruella? Really?"
"Yep and when I tried to talk to him about it he told me to butt out"
"Well I'm sure he'll find out quickly enough that she is not a nice person, Emma we can't stop people living their lives, we have enough going on right here"
Just then Hook suddenly stirred on the bed, his hand coming up to his face to pull the mask away, David moved quickly and grabbed hold of his arm.
"Leave it alone, it stays on"
"Change the record Mate" Hook croaked out but it was like music to David's ears, he hadn't realized how much he'd missed the Pirate's voice until just then.
"You sound like you've smoked fifty cigars" David laughed
"Feel like it too" Hook furrowed his brow as he brought his hand to his chest and he gave a slight cough "Ow"
"Yeah, that's going to hurt for a while" Emma winced in sympathy
"Swan" Hook suddenly grinned widely
Emma took hold of his hand again and Hook's eyes fell on her face, David had to remind himself that the Pirate still couldn't see, his ability to look at thing was getting beyond weird.
"You need to rest Killian, we can chat later but right now you need to go back to sleep. IF you are feeling better tonight we can have a chat then"
"Aye Love, I could do with some sleep... tired" Hook's eyes had slid shut again and David watched as he gave a sigh.
Who knew that such a simple thing could bring great comfort, David was happy that there would be no more mechanical breaths, there had been nothing natural about them and the noise of the machine had disturbed him. Emma stroked the side of Hook's head, they had left the dressing off and David could see the neat row of stitches in his newest wound, that was going to leave a scar but his hair should cover it, when it grows back!
"Come on Emma, let him sleep" he tugged at her sleeve and he didn't fight him.
They sat back in the seats once again and just waited, there was nothing else for it, only time would work it's magic in that hospital room and they would just have to be patient to see the results.
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Whale smirked to himself, how had he managed to bag such a catch? He stood at the bar again waiting on his order to arrive but before the drinks were poured Cruella sauntered over to his side.
"Let's say we ditch this joint"
"What did you have in mind?" he quirked a brow at her
"That's for me to know and you to find out" she answered cryptically as she walked away, she turned with a pout and beckoned him with one finger to follow her.
He was practically running from the door seconds later, this was going to be one hell of a night!
They made their way to what Whale assumed was Cruella's car, it was HUGE, she must have money. He grinned even wider, if he played his cards right he'd be set up for life, she really was a catch.
"Get in" she said with a smirk
He grabbed the handle, yanked the door open and climbed in... and his world went dark.
Cruella slid into the driver's seat and turned to look into the back seat.
"Nicely done dahling" she crooned
"Glad you approve" Maleficent said cooly "I found out something very interesting earlier today"
"And just what would that be?"
"The Pirate is on the mend BUT we have an advantage, he is blind... he literally is not going to see this coming"