A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Even though it turned out the way I wanted it to, I'm quite nervous to hear what you all think about it. As a warning, this chapter does deal with alcohol poisoning in case anyone is sensitive to that as a trigger.

Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time are the property of ABC and the show's creators.

"Emma Swan." She trapped the phone between her shoulder and ear as she spun a lazy circle in her wheelie desk chair.

"Have you seen Killian?" David's voice had Emma up and running from work at the first word. He was terrified and it shook Emma to her core. The tone didn't mean anything good.

"I haven't seen him since Saturday," Emma replied throwing herself into her car. She hadn't even talked to Killian since then. She'd texted and called but he hadn't replied. Emma had let him be, thinking he just wanted space. She regretted that decision now. "Why? What's going on?"

"Today's the anniversary of Liam's death." The desolation in David's tone had Emma speeding out of the parking lot, forcing down a panic that threatened to drown her.

"Have you tried his apartment?" It was a fight to keep her voice steady.

"That's why I'm calling. He usually takes this day badly but we can still find him there every year. Killian's predictable when it comes to these things. Jefferson just went there to get him and bring him to my place. His phone was on the counter but Jones was gone." There's a bang as David gets in his car. "There was a message on the phone. From Milah."

Emma cursed, the word tearing from her lips. No. Why would she come back now? The last thing Killian needed today was his old love coming back into his life. Especially one that had ended so badly. "What did it say?" Emma was afraid to know the answer.

"I didn't forget about today. How are you coping without any family or me? I heard about the new girlfriend. Enjoy her while that lasts because Killy? Remember, runners always run and she's one of the fastest."

"Bitch," Emma hissed. How did Milah even know her? A quick Google search would have probably brought up some information on her but why would his ex even feel the need?

"If she can't have him I guess she didn't want anyone to. There were other messages from her dated Saturday too. She just said hi and asked if they could talk, that she missed him. She kept texting until he answered. Killian told her he wasn't interested. So she pulled out the big guns." And there's the reason.

Why hadn't Killian told her? She could have helped him through both Milah's return and Liam's death. That's what she was there for. But her anger at Killian was outweighed by the fear he'd done something stupid. The fear she was going to lose him.

"What do you want me to do?" Emma asked, fingers bouncing on the steering wheel as she waited at a stop sign.

"Check the graveyard. I'm on my way to Milah's old house. Jeff's at the boatyard where Jones keeps The Jolly Roger through the winter. Robin's waiting at the boat in case he shows. Call me when you get there."

Emma pulled a U-turn in the middle of the street and speed towards the town's only graveyard. She didn't even bother hanging up her phone, just tossed it onto the passenger seat.

Every fibre of Emma's being hoped the sinking feeling in her stomach was wrong. She knew deep down that Killian had done something he'd regret later, whatever that might be. The image of him sitting on the floor of his apartment the day of the boat tour flashed before her eyes. As David had said, he was predictable concerning these matters. She pulled into the parking lot of the graveyard, scanning the gravel area.

Killian's car wasn't there but he could have walked. Or caught a cab. Or he might not even be here. Emma pushed the voice away and raced up the path. Her heart was going to beat out of her chest. She needed Killian to be okay. Desperately.

In the middle of the graveyard Emma noticed a figure, face down on the ground, completely motionless. Lying beside the man was a large bottle of rum, completely emptied. Her heart leaped into her mouth as she sprinted between the headstones towards the man. Emma knew, before she ever saw what the man was wearing or his face, that it was Killian.

She slid to her knees beside him and gently rolled him over. His face was pale, his lips a blue colour, eyes dazed. Emma knew right away that it was alcohol poisoning. She'd seen it before at one of the houses she'd been placed at. It's why she had been moved again. Killian must have consumed the entire bottle of rum while he was at the graveyard. Emma eased him into a sitting position, supporting his back. He was completely oblivious to her.

"Jones? Killian. Killian, can you hear me? It's Emma."

His head shifted slightly in her direction but that was all the response she got. He was far gone- too far gone for Emma. She needed to get him to the hospital immediately. Emma reached for her phone to call the ambulance, cursing when she realized it was still in her car. She couldn't leave him alone to go get it. She'd have to take him herself. Emma hauled him up, practically dragging him towards the parking lot. Killian said nothing as she pulled him, only groaning when he stumbled.

The gravity of the situation made Emma forget her fear. She focused with an extreme determination on getting Killian into her car and then putting it into drive, moving as smoothly and as swiftly as she could. Emma knew she should call David but Killian was her priority. She'd call at the hospital.

Several long minutes up the road Killian jerked forwards and vomited onto the floor of her car. Emma cringed, pulling over when he didn't move from his head forward position. She reached over to him and sat him back up, using his jacket to wipe his mouth. Killian glanced towards her then, almost focused. The look gave Emma the courage to continue the drive without breaking down.

"Stay with me, Jones." She yelled that like a mantra the rest of the way to the hospital. Emma was terrified he'd pass out and stop breathing. His breaths were already so slow because of all the alcohol. Emma was scared that if they got any slower he'd faint from oxygen deprivation. She didn't get a response from him the entire way.

Emma parked in front of the hospital doors, hauled Killian bodily out of his seat and into the hospital lobby. Her arms screamed at the weight, her chest breaking in two as Killian incoherently mumbled in her hands but she kept going. Because she would save him.

"Help! Please! Somebody help?" Emma's voice sounded like tears now but she held them back.

Nurses ran over with a gurney and pulled Killian from her hands. They shouted things at each other as they wheeled him away from her. Emma ran after them. She wouldn't leave him now. A nurse grabbed her arm and tried to hold her back, telling her they could handle it, not to worry but Emma screamed, loud, angry curses, pulling at the grip on her arm. Everyone was staring but Emma couldn't find it in herself to care. She just wanted that nurse, with her fake assurances and soothing tone, away from her.

"Emma, Emma, hey. Calm down. " Ruby grasped her waist, pulling her closer as the other nurse let go and scurried after Killian. "What happened?"

"Today's the anniversary of Liam's death. And Milah texted him. Killian went to the graveyard and drank an entire quart of rum. Please don't make me stay out here Ruby." Emma was crying in earnest now, held by Ruby's familiar arms. "I can't lose him. Not another person."

Ruby gave her a small, reassuring smile, dried her tears and took her hand. She led Emma through the hallway to a small room where Killian lay on the bed, eyes half hooded and staring at the ceiling. Nurses and a doctor hurried around the room, preparing equipment.

Killian turned when Emma sat next to him, Ruby letting go of her hand in order to speak to the nurses. He looked a little more focused now, tired, but more aware of her presence.

"Swan?"

"I'm here." Emma reached forwards and grabbed the hand he weakly extended towards her. It was cold but it was Killian's. For now she would be okay with that. Emma noticed his prosthetic hand was missing. Did he lose it at the graveyard?

"I messed up."

Emma's anger flared at that. Because he did mess up. Big time. If Emma hadn't found him when she did he would probably be dead by the time the graveyard groundskeeper made his rounds. Killian had promised her he'd never leave her and yet there he was, drinking himself to oblivion instead of talking to her, telling her what he was feeling.

"We'll talk about that later, Jones." Killian nodded slightly. Emma wasn't sure if he caught her anger, her utter disbelief that she had almost lost one of the most important people in her life earlier. Emma didn't get a chance to find out because Ruby bent down beside her.

"They're going to pump him stomach. I convinced them to let you stay if you want. I'll go call David." Ruby placed a quick kiss to the top of Emma's head before hurrying away. Emma watched her leave, wishing she could stay with her, keep her safe from the lost girl threatening to take over her again.

Nurses pressed towards the other side of the bed, one holding a long section of tubing. The doctor came forward and checked Killian's vitals.

"We have to role you onto your left side now, Mr. Jones, so we can pump your stomach," the doctor said as the nurses shifted him. Killian grasped Emma's hand tighter, groaning as the movement made him dizzy. Emma moved from the chair and out of the way, pressing up against the wall.

"This tube is going to go down your nose and into your stomach alright?" Killian flinched backwards, gripping Emma's hand even tighter. "When I tell you to you'll need to lower your chin to your chest and swallow." The doctor demonstrated.

Emma was really glad that Killian was still very drunk when the nurse with the tube moved forward and started feeding it through his nose. Tears streamed down from his eyes and he held Emma's hand so tightly she thought he'd break her bones. Killian looked just as scared as Emma felt.

"Okay, Mr. Jones, please lower your chin now." Killian shook his head almost imperceptibly.

"Hurt," he croaked out.

Emma bent next to his head and used her hand to push his chin towards his breastbone. "It's okay, Jones. Do as he says." Emma wanted to tell him that she was there, that she wouldn't let him get hurt but he'd hurt her so badly that it was all Emma could do to just reassure him as much as she did.

Killian kept his head where Emma had guided it as the tube went further in. "Please swallow now, Mr. Jones." Killian tried to swallow, his throat moving and gagged. Emma made a shushing noise.

"Come on, Jones. It will be better once they get it in place." Killian searched her face and Emma tried to be brave, tried not to let the fear get too overwhelming. Killian was scared enough without her adding to his fear. Killian pursed his lips and started to swallow. The nurse praised his effort and after what seemed like an age, though was only maybe a minute, the nurse stopped moving the tube and stepped back.

Killian's grip on Emma's hand lessened in relief but tightened again when the doctor pushed air through the tubing to check its position. Satisfied that it was properly in place, another nurse secured the tubing in position against his nose with tape.

The tubing was hooked up to a portable machine and a clear liquid, saline the doctor replied when Emma asked, was pushed into the tube from a syringe. The suction was turned on and Killian cringed as the procedure started. Serves him right for drinking the whole bottle Emma thought sourly. But she held his hand anyways, watching his eyes instead of the ongoing procedure as they waited for the stomach contents to run clear.

The door opened and David entered with Ruby, still wearing his sheriff's uniform from work. Robin and Jefferson waited in the hall at what must have been Ruby's request because they didn't look happy about it. David hurried to Emma's side, face strained.

"I'll deal with your mess later." David placed a hand on Killian's shoulder as he spoke to him. " But for now, get better, Jones."

David turned and wrapped Emma in a hug. In David's brotherly arms Emma began to shake. She couldn't stop herself. Everything she'd been holding back since hearing that Killian was missing surfaced. It was just like she was back in jail- left by someone who didn't care about her. She was lost again.

David must have felt her shaking because he pried her fingers from Killian's and guided her out the door. Robin and Jefferson hurried over to them, hands reaching forwards to comfort a clearly shaken Emma.

"Emma, what happened?" Jefferson asked as he moved. Emma flinched away from his reach, further into David's embrace. David tightened his arms around her protectively.

"Jones drank a pint of rum in the graveyard. I found him on his face." Emma turned away, pursing her lips. "Alcohol poisoning."

"Will he be alright?" Jefferson asked as Robin cursed.

"He'll be fine once they get his stomach pumped." David's voice was strong, saving Emma from having to find her own.

"Can we go see him?" Robin paced towards the door, glancing over his shoulder at the others as he reached for the handle.

David looked down at Emma. "Do you want to go back in?"

Emma couldn't speak. She just pulled away from David and started up the hall. Emma wanted to leave. She didn't want to be at the hospital anymore. She wanted to feel safe again. She wanted to feel like she had a home again, a place where she belonged. Behind her David quickly told Robin and Jefferson to take their places in the room before rushing after her.

"Emma, wait," he called, catching up to her. David placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and guided her to one of the benches placed sporadically up the sterile hall. Emma sat, her head falling into her hands, shoulders sagging. "What's wrong Emma? Besides the obvious?" he added wryly.

Emma leaned into the hand David used to rub her shoulder. Finally, after several minutes she spoke. "Jones almost left me. After he promised he'd never leave me. Do you know how many times I was promised I'd stay with a family for a period longer than a month, how many times I was told I'd graduate from the same high school with the same people I started the year with? I don't because I lost count. For once I thought someone would change that track record." Emma drew a shuddering breath, silent as a nurse walked by casting a sympathetic glance her way. That made her angry. "And now I can't even look at Jones without feeling like I did when Neal left me in jail. Jones could have called me. I would have listened, understood, left work to go help him. But he, like the rest of the world, didn't trust me enough to help. I'm just the same girl I was when I was left on the road."

David shifted away from her and Emma deflated a bit more before he realized that he was just reaching for the cellphone in his back pocket. A quick text and response later he moved back towards her.

"Mary Margaret's on her way. She's going to take you to our place to stay until this mess gets figured out."

"I'm fine," Emma argued. "I'll go home. No problem." Ice cream, cuddling with Henry and putting the swan necklace back on seemed like a valid plan for the night.

"Emma, I'm not going to let you be alone. Jones may have been an idiot today but I'm not. You deserve to be surrounded by people who care and love you. I'll tell Ruby to get Henry and drop him off before supper. We have plenty room in our house for both of you, you know that."

"David, honestly. I can take care of myself." Emma was embarrassed that he was offering. She was strong enough to take care of herself. She'd been doing it for years.

"I know you can, Emma, sweetheart, but I won't feel okay if you're not with one of us. I'll worry about you and Henry. I want to know you're safe, warm, well fed with whatever baked goods Mary Margaret creates in her stress and around people who make you a top priority. It doesn't have to be for very long, just a few nights, okay?"

Before she could answer Emma glanced up at the sound of clicking of heels. Mary Margaret hurried towards them, focused in on Emma like she was a bull's-eye. She squatted in front of Emma, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

"Come home with me Emma. We'll make cherry pie together. Or I will and you can taste test." Mary Margaret pulled back and ran a thumb across Emma's cheek. The movement was so loving that Emma sighed, leaning against her friend's hand involuntarily. That her body did the motion before she could even think about it told Emma exactly what she should do.

"Okay." Emma stood as Mary Margaret helped her up by the hand. "That would be really nice." Mary Margaret pulled her up the hall and to her car, never once letting go of Emma's hand. Even though Emma felt like that little lost girl of her past again, as she was guided through the parking lot she didn't have to pretend that this time she was actually going to a home that loved her.