A/N: Neal does get aggressive towards Emma in this chapter so if that is something that would bother you, please be careful! Thanks!
Disclaimer: All aspects of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC and the show's creators.
Emma scrambled to her feet and lunged for the driver's door of her car. She'd know that Beetle anywhere. It was the same one Neal had been driving when they dated. Emma didn't even look at Neal as she moved for fear his face would freeze her. She remembered what a phone call had done to her. Seeing his face, leering and sure, would be enough to completely undo her control. If she could just get in the car and lock it she could get away.
Why had she been so stupid as to come out to the culvert on her own? She should have just gone straight to get Killian. If she had she would be safely in Mary Margaret and David's house already, welcoming Killian back to their lives. Emma had known Neal hadn't left, as much as the police believed he did. She knew Neal better than that. Knew that when he wanted something he got it, no matter who he hurt or how legal his actions actually were. But Emma had been so caught up in closing the door to her past that she forgot an aspect of that troubled background was still out there lurking, waiting for her to be vulnerable.
Just as Emma grabbed the door handle, fingers grappling for purchase against the cold metal, strong hands gripped her waist and pulled her back, throwing her down onto the ground. Emma bounced against the pavement like a skipped stone, knees screaming as the rough gravel bit into her jeans. Her movement stopped about five feet from her car, near the middle of the road. Neal hadn't just got harder. He'd gotten stronger too. Emma pushed herself off the road with bloodied palms and focused back on the car door.
Neal leaned against the door, arms crossed against his chest. His smile was smug; similar to the one Emma had just knocked off Milah's face. It made Emma's stomach twist in sick knots. She knew too well what that smile signaled. Shaggy brown hair covered part of his forehead, falling in messy curls that hadn't been combed. It was longer than she remembered, not that she'd thought much about his hair back then. They were both living on the run so hair hadn't been a high priority. Neal's brown eyes raked up and down Emma's body, seemingly satisfied with what he saw.
"It's been far too long, Ems," Neal drawled lazily, appreciative of the tight skinny jeans she was wearing despite the new rips and stains on the knees.
Emma forced herself to be strong and squared her shoulders defiantly. Neal was like a dog; he could smell fear. If Neal thought he had the advantage Emma was done. "Not long enough, Neal," she retorted, placing a hand on her hip. Eternity wouldn't have been long enough for her.
"Don't be so sour, babe. I know you missed me."
"Who told you that bullshit? Milah? Because she's knocked out in a park now."
"And you'll do the same to me?" Neal asked, as if he were humouring one of Henry's more ridiculous requests.
"You'd deserve it," Emma replied eyeing her surroundings. Neal was blocking the driver side door but if she could just get around him and to one of the others she might be able to throw herself inside and lock him out. Or she could call David. David would save her. How stealthily could she get off a text, tell him where she was? Because he had no idea where, on the entire highway, she was stranded if she just sent highway or road shoulder. David hadn't read the file. Only Killian had. And he was waiting for her at the hospital, totally oblivious to the situation.
Emma slowly stuck her hand in her pocket, grasping the phone. She tried to keep looking at Neal as she fingered the buttons, hoping she was pressing the right ones. But Emma knew that even if she sent something that didn't make sense David would realize something had happened. And that was better than nothing. She just had to get one off.
Neal's sharp eyes focused on the jostling in Emma's pocket. She stilled, hoping he'd think she was just fiddling from nerves. But Neal knew the all tricks. He saw through Emma's ruse immediately. Neal lunged forward and grasped Emma's wrist, ripping it from her pocket. Emma's hand came out, still clutching her phone as if it were the only thing in the world that could save her. Neal grabbed the phone, twisting Emma's fingers painfully until she let go. Once he had the phone in his hand he smashed it against the pavement, stepping on the screen for good measure.
A groan of desperation escaped Emma as she saw the cracked screen and fizzling backlight. That phone was as dead as she was soon going to be. Stupid, stupid Emma. Neal laughed at the sound she made.
"Don't play with me, Emma. Not when I taught you everything." His voice was cautioning, laced with a malice that made Emma shiver. Neal had never been this bad when she'd known him. Four years running from the system as a wanted criminal had done things to him that were not pleasant.
"Not everything, Neal. You aren't that important." Maybe once he had been everything to her. But not anymore. Not ever again.
"Keep telling yourself that, Emma. I know how devastated you were when I left."
"And I got over it," Emma replied angrily. She needed to get out of this situation and get around people. Neal wouldn't attack when she was in public.
Neal scoffed at her reply. "Yeah, by dating some handless freak? Good choice there."
"Better choice than you." Emma measured the distance between herself and the back door of the car. She could make it.
Emma flashed forwards towards the back door. Neal caught her around the waist again, turning her from the handle. He pressed her back against the door, pulling her hands above her head so they rested against the roof. The door handle dug into Emma's hip as she inched back from Neal's hot breath on her neck.
"So pretty, Emma. Why don't you just come with me? We could be happy like before." Neal placed a wet kiss just under her jaw. Emma struggled in his grasp at the touch. It was the worst feeling in the world, having him run his lips up her neck.
Emma jerked forwards and head butted Neal as he ran a rough hand under the hem of her shirt, lifting it up. Neal cursed and slammed her back forcefully before continuing the exploration with his hand. The cool air stung her exposed skin, now covered in a layer of nervous sweat. A terrified whimper escaped her lips as his fingers journeyed lower. Neal had never been like this when they had been together and it scared Emma. Because now she didn't know how far he'd go. Neal misjudged her whimper for pleasure, nibbling at the juncture between shoulder and neck with a moan of his own.
"You like that don't you?" he murmured, voice husky with lust. His fingers closed around the button of her jeans and Emma stilled, frozen by the touch. No. No. Danger. Everything in Emma screamed at her to run but she couldn't. "I bet your boyfriend can't pleasure you with just one hand."
"I do just fine, you bastard," a voice behind them hissed. Neal was bodily thrown away from Emma, tossed on the ground with enough force to wind him.
Emma glanced up and caught her breath. Killian stood in front of her, eyes glinting hard with anger. She'd never seen him so angry before. If looks could kill, well, they would all be dead in mere seconds. Killian panted, chest heaving from the stress. He looked Emma up and down but instead of how Neal had done it, looking to see if she was worth his time, Killian looked for injury.
"Are you alright, love?" he asked gently, voice just above a whisper. Emma shook her head and began to cry, hot tears dripping of her chin as she gasped for breath. She was anything but alright. Neal had touched her. Had her under his control.
Behind them David began reading Neal his Miranda rights as he was handcuffed, still face first on the ground. David jerked him upright and stuffed him into the backseat of his police cruiser, not being all that gentle. Once Neal was locked in, David hurried over to where Killian stood, watching Emma cry.
"Emma, what happened?" David's voice was a mix of concern and shock as he took in Emma's dishevelled appearance, from the undone button of her pants to the way her cotton shirt was hiked up around her breasts.
Emma shook her head. The tears had taken her voice. Killian turned to David. "We'll figure it out later, mate. Give Emma some time." David nodded, cast one last worried glance at her then hurried back to his car. The sirens screamed in the silence as he drove away.
Killian focused on Emma again. "Can I touch you, Emma?" Killian asked gently, raising his arm towards her slowly. He approached her much as Robin would approach a deer that was tangled in wire fencing.
Emma took a deep breath then nodded. Killian was safe. Killian had saved her. She fell into Killian's arms when he reached her, letting the tears wrack her body as she lost control. Killian held her up after her knees gave out; never loosening his grip around her despite the weight of her and his recent hospital visit. Emma cried until she was exhausted, emotionally and physically.
When everything around the couple was silent Killian pulled back to look at her. "Give me your car keys, love. I'll drive you home."
Emma shook her head. "Henry can't see me like this." She needed to be strong for Henry. Right now she felt anything but strong. Her son would be scared if he saw her like this.
Killian nodded sadly. "I know, Swan. That's why we're going to my place. You're going to spend the day in bed being waited on and when you're ready, be that tomorrow morning or next week, we'll go see Henry. Okay?"
Emma reached into her pocket and pulled out her keys and handed them to Killian. "Okay."