Chapter 19
Emma
The shadow demon soared for another pass towards us. I could see the empty socket eyes glaring at Killian and I as it flew towards us. I reached for Henry's hand and pressed myself up against Killian so that Hope was delicately sandwiched between our bodies.
I looked into Killian's eyes desperately and said in a soft tone, "Just in case, I want you to know I love you. It's always been you." I stared at him as if it might be the last time that I would see him. I glanced down at Hope who was shrieking and gawking up into the sky.
I looked up at my husband again. His eyes melted with deep love for me. He kept Hope tightly in his arm and nodded once in acceptance.
I lifted my eyes to the demon again, who was flying towards Killian. It was like its shadow hands gripped him as it swooped down and grabbed him. I felt Henry's weight as well as my own pulling onto Killian enough to slow the demon down.
"No!" I cried.
The demon screeched again and soared upward into the sky with Killian. I grabbed Hope and ran after them. With Killian kicking throwing his weight downward, I gripped his ankle hard, just as Henry quickly grabbed Hope from my arms, freeing my hands. I yanked Killian's leg and yanked him down towards me. It started to lift Kilian up into the air, but I pulled Killian so that the demon was slowed down in its ascent into the sky. It dragged Kilian and I towards a tree. I hollered at my husband, "I won't let you go!"
The demon flew right past the tree, knocking me against the tree trunk. It somehow let go of Killian in the process as he rolled onto the grassy ground next to me. I smacked my head against the tree trunk so hard that tears sprung otto my eyes and my skull throbbed with pain. I groaned as I rolled onto my stomach. I couldn't believe the intense pain that I felt in my head. I squeezed my eyes closed, unable to move because of much it hurt. Without controlling it, I cried silently. The impact must have been great, because the sharp pounding pain made me think of nothing else.
I heard Killian scream "Emma!" He hovered over me and carefully moved me to my back. I could see my family racing up behind him to look down at me.
Henry said in a worried tone, "Mom! Are you okay?"
Snow bent down to gingerly touch the side of my head. She said to me, "Emma you're bleeding. Hook, we need to get her medical help." She looked at my husband who was gazing down at me frantically. I glanced up at the sky, but the demon had vanished as far as I could see.
Regina and Robin were standing there along with Neal and my little brother who stared at me worriedly.
Henry dropped to his knee and surveyed the sky as if looking for the demon.
I met Kilian's eyes again. He appeared astonished with widened fearful eyes. He said to me, "I'm so sorry Love." His hand tenderly touched my forehead.
I winced at the pain that pounded inside my skull. It felt like it was cracked. I felt dizzy and tired. Killian carefully touched the side of my face. "Neal has Hope, don't worry." He inclined his head towards Neal who was behind him, holding Hope who was fuzzing and wailing. Everyone else was watching me with fear.
David said, "The demon flew away. But it may be back. Let's get her inside iron walls," he told Killian. "I don't think we should wait."
My husband managed to slide his arms under me to lift me. I began to stand up, but I felt off balance and fell back down. Kilian said, "Emma!" He held me and lifted me into his arms.
I said, "I'm fine. I'm just stunned that's all." My vision was blurry around the edges. i felt sick to my stomach.
Killian rose with me in his arms. I held onto his shoulder, but I felt weak, and the aching was so strong and sharp that I closed my eyes. It seemed to help me not feel quite as much throbbing. Killian carried me to one of our vehicles, but the agony in my head made me want to rest. I laid my head on his shoulder, since somehow that helped ease the splitting pain.
Killian
As I carried Emma to our yellow car, I realized she wasn't responding. Her head rolled back over my elbow. Her eyes were closed. David and Henry were running next to me. David opened the passenger car door.
"Emma?" I cried as I gazed down at her. I hollered to our family, "She bloody passed out."
"No..." Henry said with dread. "Mom!" he exclaimed.
"Don't let her fall asleep," David said to me as he glanced over his shoulder and up into the sky.
"I know that, Mate, but she won't wake up!" I said as I gently sat Emma in the back seat and ran my hand over her cheek. Her forehead was red from the tree trunk. I held the sides of her head carefully so that I might not hurt her. She was completely unconscious. "No Love, please don't do this." I gingerly held her face and said, "Emma" a few more times. i gingerly shook her.
"We have to get her to the hospital Killian," Neal said. I forgot he was standing behind me with my daughter. Hope was crying hard now. Snow reached for Hope and cooed at her, trying to calm her down.
I exhaled, scared to death that there might be some internal damage inside Emma's skull, or a fracture. I exhaled and snapped, "Don't you think I don't bloody know that?" I said, "Emma!" again, but it was no use. She was still unconscious. I closed my eyes, trying to think straight.
David said, "Get in Hook, I'll drive you both to the ER." He hurried to the front seat of the bug. The keys were in Emma's jacket pocket which I took out for David and passed them to him. I climbed in next to her to hold her. I gently guided her head to my chest and held her. I held my palm lightly to her chest over her heart and felt her heart beating. I lowered my ear to her face. I could hear her breathing. The others climbed into the other vehicles except Henry, who climbed in the passenger seat. David sped up down the road.
I held the side of her head and gazed down at her remorsefully. "Emma please come back to me."
David said reassuringly, "She'll be fine, Hook. She's breathing and her heart is beating. I know you're scared. I am too. But it could have been far worse. That thing could have taken her away. But it didn't."
My eyes burned with unshed tears for my wife. It made me angrier. "That bloody demon meant to harm me, not her." I said with terror gripping my body, making me tense, angry and fearful all at once. I stared down at her beautiful face. I couldn't stand the idea of her being in pain. I knew she had felt agony by the way she had crumpled to the ground when the hell beast smacked her into the trunk of the tree. It should have been me. I was afraid for her life, and her mind. This was the second time she had been harmed, but she had saved me as well. My chest constricted with ache of seeing her unconscious.
It worried me that she might not be able to do the bloody ritual tonight but remaining here in the past might have to do for now. I was more afraid for her life and well-being.
"I know. But the hospital can help her." He replied evenly, as usual, full of hope just like Snow.
He pulled into the Emergency Entrance drop off area. He looked at me and pulled out the keys from the ignition. "Everything is going to be fine, no matter what Hook." He imparted his wisdom with a long, earnest, optimistic stare before he got out and nodded at me.
Killian
I was perched, rather edgily in a padded chair next to Emma's bedside in the intensive care unit. I held her hand as I watched her sleep. She had been admitted into the local medical center. I held her hand in mine on the mattress as watched her sleep dressed in a white and blue spotted hospital gown.
Snow and David were with Hope and Little Neal grabbing food and coffee. Luckily, we had bottled formula stocked for Hope to drink. Regina and Robin stood alongside Neal near the wall, watching Emma as she laid there on a monitor. We had just returned from a CT scan of her head, as well as a series of tests such as her glucose levels, responses to stimuli, blood count and electrolytes. She would be kept in here in the ICU until further notice, so that the nurses and doctors could take care of her and monitor her.
I noticed that Neal stared at her, with arms folded across the chest, seeming as worried as I felt. It aggravated me, despite Emma's promises that she loved only me. Especially her last words, bloody hell I hated to think of the promises as her last words, which she had said to me about it always being me. Her proclamation had given me relief that nothing would transpire between them. Still, I didn't trust Neal. I knew he had texted her a lot, but I hadn't had a chance to check his messages. I trusted Emma greatly, but although she denied her feelings for him, I could tell she cared a great deal about him. It bothered me that Neal was standing at her bedside as well, but I didn't have the energy or focus to order him to go away. Besides, he was Henry's father, and I wouldn't cause any more issues between any of us than there already were.
"I wonder when the CT results will be read by their radiologist," said Neal. He looked at Robin, then at me.
I rolled my eyes but kept staring at my wife. "Her doctor will be in any moment," I said tersely. I had no patience for him, but I chose to be polite.
Regina replied evenly, "She's stable so far. I just think that she should have woken up by now. Did you try kissing her?" she asked me.
I leaned over and gently kissed Emma, savoring her sweet scent, but it felt odd that she didn't respond. Not that coma patients ever did. I waited as I whispered, "Please wake up, Swan." I hoped that true love would break the coma, but nothing happened. Her monitor didn't speed up or change its normal beeping. I stared at her closed eyes. She was breathing, but that was it. I looked down at her arm. She was hooked up to an IV that would nourish her with fluids. It made me wince to see tubes and a needle taped to the inside of her forearm. She looked so helpless yet peaceful.
"This should've been me," I growled under my breath.
Robin came behind me and said, "She was trying to save you and the baby, Mate. Don't blame yourself. At least Hope is not injured." He faced Regina. "Or the rest of us."
"She is always, and will always be a hero, Hook," Regina said. Regina stepped up next to Robin and said to me in a quiet voice, "We only have four hours until 8:15. I have a feeling she won't be awake by the time of the, you know, appointment." She glanced around at the passing nurses and techs in the corridor of the ICU.
Emma's nurse came to me with a cordial smile and said to me, "You're the patient's husband, correct?" She was holding a clipboard and gesturing towards Emma.
I nodded and rose as I looked at her. The nurse replied in a kind tone, "She is stable so far. We will have to continue to feed her intravenously. The necessary tests are completed so far."
"When shall her CT results be ready?" I asked, managing to remain calm.
"We put a STAT on them. The radiologist will have them read by today and then her doctor will come and speak to you about them once we give them to him. It should be by the end of the business day. Right now, the best thing to do is to prepare that she will be staying overnight, and we aren't certain yet how long, but she is in good hands here. We can monitor her fluids and her blood as well as breathing."
I tried to remain composed. It was ridiculous that the brain CT wasn't dictated yet. I would be patient and kind to the nurse though, who was only doing her job. Most of my rage was reserved for the bloody hell shadow demon and Neal. He had tried to talk to me earlier while Emma went through her tests when we arrived at the ER, but I barely answered him.
I didn't care as much about the bloody ritual anymore to get home. If we never did than it might be best because I wanted to murder Gold myself. He had orchestrated this, and probably had tried to kill me. It was evident that Neal was the Crocodile's choice for my wife. Right now, I only wanted my wife to be healthy and awake, with no severe brain injuries.
I nodded and replied, "Do you know of any report of her condition at this point?"
"After the lab tests and physical exam, so far we know that she is in a coma. She had no responses to any stimuli and no eye movement. I'm sorry I don't know more yet. The best thing to do is wait until the doctor comes in with the report from the CT." She smiled sweetly and then turned to leave.
"Bloody hell," I said under my breath as I sat back down and reached to touch Emma's hand gently with mine, hoping that she would feel my touch and regain consciousness. She didn't. I picked her hand up on the bed and held it. "You're a fighter Swan. I know you'll recover."
That was when Emma's phone tinkled, alerting that it was ringing. Everyone who wanted to contact her would be here. I picked up her phone from the bedside table and noticed that it was "John", who was her boss at the agency she worked under. I took the call and said, "John is it?"
"Yes?"
"This is her husband. She's in a coma. She's no longer interested in the job."
John said, "I'm so sorry to hear that. I had no idea she was married either. Can I do anything?"
"No thank you, Mate, except that she is finished working for you now." John tried to speak but I closed the phone. Perhaps it was good that he called, so I could end their business. It was good not to have loose ends once we left this year, if we ever got a chance.
I began going through her messages. I read the ones Neal had sent her and then lifted my eyes to glare at him coldly.
He raised his brows and stared at me like he had no idea what was wrong with me.
"Everything okay?" he asked me nonchalantly.
Regina and Robin traded uh oh looks. Regina took his arm and said to me, "We're going to get coffee. Try not to put another person into a coma, Hook."
I smirked at her joke. I didn't mind her as much now compared to interacting with Neal.
I stepped up to Neal, my blood pounding. I clenched my jaw and glowered at him. Adrenaline kicked in because of the altercation I had been looking forward to. I said with fierce bitterness, "Leave Emma the hell alone. Can't you see she is happily married? With a baby? Do you feel like wrecking her home, if you care about her so bloody much?"
I hardened my eyes, ready to hit him.
Neal's eyes widened as he glanced at Emma and then at me. He cleared his throat and averted his eyes, obviously guilty. "Look I said I was sorry. I care about her. I want to be a part of her life and of Henry's. That's all I'm interested in from this point on. I've always wanted her to be happy."
"She is." I said flatly. I took another step, itching so bad to take a swing at him, although that would result poorly, and Emma would probably be upset with me if I did. Besides, I couldn't do that to my new son, Henry. He would despise me too. I said quietly, "Do her a favor then if you love her so much, and stop bloody hitting on her, or I will hit you next time I see messages like this." I brandished her phone and stared him down confrontationally.
He nodded and smiled, which took me off guard. He said coolly, "You don't know how lucky you are, Hook. To have her. I envy you."
I simply lifted an eyebrow at him, unsure how to take that comment. I tried to depict if he was trying to insult me.
Neal resumed indifferently, "Just enjoy her and stop punishing her for what she felt for me. You can hate me, that's fine."
"I could've bloody turned you in, to John, the bail bonds manager, who I think is still looking for you," I said sardonically. I lifted my chin proudly. At least I had Emma forever. I gestured towards Emma's cell phone.
He shrugged with a blasé attitude like he didn't care what I said. "Emma wants me in her life, you know. Even if it's just as a friend. She and I still will be co-parenting, that never goes away, even if Henry is eighteen. I will be in Henry's life. You can't stop that. If you do, it cuts into ties you have for Henry as your step-son." He replied reasonably. He stared at me analytically, not exactly glaring or giving me a cold look, but he was challenging me. I couldn't figure him out.
My nerves flared and anger boiled within me. His soft tone was all wrong for his words. I tensed up, squeezing the phone. I imagined myself arching my arm back and hitting him in the face with all my strength. Damn that would feel good, but I didn't do it. "I do know," I said curtly. "I have access to her phone because she is my wife. And I have a say in you two talking for personal reasons. Make another pass at her and you will go missing."
His face was sullen and admiring at the same time, as if he wasn't bothered by my comment. I looked at him spitefully, recalling how we used to be close friends, but now I wouldn't ever want that again. It was clear to me that Neal was playing off making passes at my wife, and he probably wouldn't stop. Even if he apologized to me, I didn't believe him, especially now judging by his texts to her phone which I was relieved that she had stopped reacting and answering to his innuendos. My stomach dropped and my chest hurt at the sight of her laying there in her hospital bed in a coma. Obviously, the demon wanted me out of the way, not her. I thought about the sincerity of the way Emma had shown me nothing but patience and love especially lately about this matter with Neal.
Perhaps I would stop making Emma feel badly for having any residual feelings, because he was right, I was lucky. She had still chosen me because she could end the marriage if she wanted to. Nowadays divorce was common, so was cheating and Emma was not like that. She had never been with anyone else even when she and I started dating. I had asked her after the time when I had accidently left her right before we got married, if she had seen anyone else. Her answer had been no. She had had time, when I was stuck between worlds. Her focus had been me. I realized that even though I felt threatened just a little by Neal, I needed to not let it ruin our relationship. I would choose to trust her and to not let Neal get in the way of our marriage and family, like I did last night. That had been a mistake and I was lucky indeed that she had come after me to reconcile.
Instead of striking him, i stepped back. Henry and Snow entered along with David and Little Neal. Hope was fussing. I pretended I didn't have any altercation with Neal. Instead I gestured to be given Hope, which Snow placed her in my arms. I smiled down at her as she stared up at me and smirked a little. Her whining ceased and squirming with her little fists balled and moving around. She looked up at me as she cried. I bounced her lightly in my arms and cooed at her. I said in a baby voice, "Hello there gorgeous one. Your mummy will be just fine." I kissed her forehead and then cut Neal another warning glance. He was talking to Henry.
David was holding a square carton of four to-go coffee cups, probably from the hospital cafeteria. He looked at me and said, "I brought you a coffee, Hook." He shifted his gaze to Emma.
I smiled my appreciation. "Thank you." I noticed he was staring at Emma with concern. I said, "Nothing has changed in her condition. I can't bloody wait until this evening for her report."
Snow walked over to Emma's bedside on opposite side of me and stared at Emma worriedly. She sat beside her in a vinyl cushioned teal chair and looked at the monitor near the head of the bed. She managed an optimistic smile and said, "She's going to be fine Hook. I asked one of the nurses about comas. They can last anywhere from a couple days to a few weeks. And we don't think this is a sleeping curse or a spell."
"Although we don't know for sure," David interjected rationally. He had set the coffee cups on a small rectangular table behind him. Robin stood towards the back of the room with Neal as they listened and stared at Emma remorsefully.
Regina put up her finger and looked at me. "That's where my idea comes in." She strode confidently towards the open door and poked her head out. A nurse was strolling by with a tray down the corridor. Regina said, "I'm going to temporarily close this. For religious reasons." She closed the door and faced us. She held up her hand towards Henry, who handed Regina a mason jar with a lid, full of clear water.
Regina smiled at Henry lovingly and reached for a square table with wheels that the hospital used for bedsides. Henry scooted it towards her, and she set the jar on it and pushed it elegantly in front of Emma's head. She said with poise, "Now. Here is what I'm going to do. Although this world has no magic, I still know a spell that will tell us whether Emma's spirit is going towards life, or death." She looked at the jar and then at Emma. Regina continued, "How we are going to know that, is in this jar, a shadow will appear. The shadow either will appear at the head of the bed…or the foot of the bed. Head of the bed means good, that she'll recover very soon, or the foot, well, it's obvious." She said grimly. She frowned at me, reading me.
I raised an eyebrow and replied apprehensively, "Meaning if her spirit is in peril? If she is near death?" I grimaced and faced my wife. I couldn't deny that I was afraid for her life. I sighed and held up my palm submissively.
Regina nodded solemnly. "Yes. If she is closer to either, this jar of water, holy water, will be able to show us. There is a slight bit of magic as far as this Hell Beast is concerned. It touched her and you. But I honestly think that this spell to see how much danger she is in while unconscious." She concentrated and closed her eyes. She said as she touched the jar with her palm and the other hand she laid her hand over Emma's heart. "I beseech you, Death, where is Emma Swan's spirit?"
Everyone remained quiet.
I watched the water. After about half a minute, I saw a shadow, like the silhouette of Emma, rise from the bottom of the jar like she was standing up. She stood behind a bed with her hands on it as if staring at us but there was no face, no eyes, just a shadow. She stood very still.
Regina exhaled and closed her eyes for a moment. "Dammit. This Hell Beast must be very good at Comas. I think she is in a persistent coma. I honestly think that she won't wake by this evening."
"What the blazes are you talking about?" I asked as I watched the shadow. It was standing by a very low foot of the bed. "Bloody hell. No, she won't die." I gently threaded my fingers into hers and tried not to panic. I said, "Emma please. You're stronger than this." I kissed her again. I softly touched the side of her cheek.
"What does that mean?" asked David, slightly raising his voice at Regina. "That Emma's going to die?"
Neal said, "You know I could try to wake her up you know, just saying."
I glared at him. It bothered me because he was being serious. "Don't even bloody think about it."
Neal gave me an offended look and said sincerely, "Look I'm honestly trying to help. I don't want her to die in a coma either." He dodged my sharp look.
"She isn't going to die," Snow said soothingly. She reached her hands to take Hope from me and held her with a small smile down at my daughter. Snow said to me, "You know Emma is stronger than this. This Hell Beast is very hostile and very strong, yes, and he might have gotten to Emma twice, but we won't let her." She turned to Regina. "What if you do the spell, if Emma can't tonight?"
"Do you have the other half of the heart pendant?" Neal asked as he pointed to his half.
Regina gave him an awkward partially disgusted look. She drew back her head a little bit.
David said to Regina, "Can't you do the spell tonight? You have Emma's heart which she gave you."
"That was a wise move on my Mom's part." Henry inclined his head towards Emma.
I averted my eyes to the jar. The water was there, still, but the shadow in it had disappeared. I pointed my finger at it.
"That means the spell is over," Regina said.
Neal approached Regina and said, "Yeah, why don't you just do the ritual with me? We can all work as a team to do this with the salt and the mirror and the candle."
"Lavender and sage wouldn't be a bad idea," Regina replied as she blinked her eyes oddly at Neal.
Neal lifted his eyebrows pleadingly. He gestured a hand towards Emma. "I don't want to put her through this even if she wakes up in the next few hours. It's worth a shot." He eyed her fingers. She slipped her hand into her pocket of her leather jacket and produced the other half of the heart.
"Oh, well I don't think it will be the same coming from me," said Regina. She studied the heart pendent like it was a pathetic piece of cheap jewelry as she wrinkled her nose. "I highly doubt it will work. But I'll try it. Not that I have any love for you." She gave Neal an arched brow.
Neal shrugged and made a face like he didn't care. He stared down at Emma longingly. "I doubt my father will let her die."
Regina scoffed. "He'd better not. I already consider him on my shit list." She waved her hand toward Emma. "And he's tried in the past to kill her. Sorry Hook." She regarded me apologetically, probably for my feelings on her harshness. But it was true.
I frowned at my wife. "If she's in a deep coma, isn't there anything we can bloody do? Forget the ritual. I think my wife is more important. We can go home another time, or not, either way I don't care. What does this mean for Emma?" I asked Regina. I was vexed and out of patience.
"I don't know, I'm not her doctor." Regina replied with a frown. "I just see judging by the water jar that she her condition is serious. I doubt there's anything we can do right now except wait, and plan on living here, in the past."
"Magic from the demon didn't poison her, did it?" Robin asked.
Regina moved right to Robin's side and replied, "I doubt it. This happened to Hook." She opened her palm at me. "He's not poisoned. Luckily it left. I'm sure it didn't mean to kill her or harm her. Just you." She said to me with a dazzling smile, which I took as artificial and feisty.
Snow gently touched Emma's hand. "There has got to be something that will wake her. "
Just then the door opened, and a male doctor with a white lab coat walked in. He was holding a clipboard with a report. He looked at me and asked formally, "Killian Jones?"
I nodded once and approached him tentatively and gave him my full attention.
The doctor looked at Emma and then the monitor readings, and then said to me professionally, "There is no brain damage from her CT. Not even a cracked skull. We're going to keep her here to continue monitoring her and nourishing her through her IV. Her breathing is stable, but we still must monitor her heart rate and blood sugar, since she's still not responding to stimuli. Right now, this coma is well into six hours. We just have to wait until she wakes up."
"Why is she in a coma then if there isn't any brain damage?" I asked.
The doctor replied, "We don't know yet." He shrugged and flashed me a condoling smile. "We're monitoring her best we can and we might start doing more tests tomorrow. If this persists overnight into another 24 hours, I'm going to order a brain MRI. Our staff will continue to watch her closely. I apologize we haven't found anything. She did take a very hard hit to her forehead though. This could be her body responding to the shock and the pain. If she hit a tree from a bicycle crash, then the impact caused this. I'll be back here tomorrow morning, if anything changes, I will come talk to you." He turned and left the room quickly.
I exhaled in frustration once he was gone snd rolled my eyes. I said grudgingly, "Well that wasn't bloody helpful." I approached Emma and sunk down in my seat and gently caressed her hand.
A nurse came in and checked the monitor screen, and the levels of her IV bag and then checked her bandages and gave her a once over. She swiftly left the room.
Snow came to me and touched my shoulder. She smiled at me and said, "Don't lose hope. It could be worse. She's not even on an oxygen tube, that's good. I think we should all accept that we might just have to be trapped here in this year and hope that Gold sends another way."
I averted my gaze on my daughter who was making little whimper noises. Snow placed her in my arms again and I smiled down at her. I said, "It's alright Love." I kept her in one arm and looked at my wife, who seemed so peaceful. I tenderly massaged her hand in mine, hoping to wake her, but she didn't respond. I rubbed my finger over the front of her hand and sighed sadly. I tried not to be discouraged.
"What worries me is the jar's shadow showing that she's closer to the persistent coma," I said. "Yet last time I was in a coma, she kissed me, and I awoke instantly. Why wouldn't my kiss work? I don't understand this." I gazed at my wife helplessly.
Hope was gazing up at me as if studying me with mature eyes. As if she understood me. I tried to give her a smile to reassure her. She was so placid. At least she wasn't inconsolable like several days before when Emma didn't remember any of us.
"Because Gold probably wanted you dead, and the Hell Beast probably was trying to kill you," Regina said to me, like she was speaking to an idiot. "Weren't you paying attention?" She gave me a sassy smirk. She motioned her hand at Emma. "I think what we can do is wait for her to wake up. I would do this love ritual with Neal," she rolled her eyes at Neal with sarcasm, "but honestly if we succeed, then Emma is stuck here. Someone would have to be carrying her in the graveyard yet she is in critical condition, and that is assuming the ritual would work."
Neal said, "So we wait. That's fine. Emma takes priority. I agree. She's safest here and receiving the necessary care."
I shot him another seething look. I didn't think I could ever forgive him for kissing Emma. He noticed, but he didn't react. He went beside Henry and squeezed his shoulder consolingly.
Henry said, "At least maybe Dad, you can grab the Death Sack tonight. And we can keep it in a safe place. I wonder if it's related to Mom's coma." He frowned sullenly and then faced Neal who nodded at him.
I looked at Henry and nodded my acknowledgment and gazed at Emma.
Snow said brightly, "Perhaps Gold can see us, or at least somehow know what's going on, if he is controlling that demon. I know if he's pulling the strings of that thing, then he would want Emma alive. He knows Emma is one of the keys to this imperative ritual. I think there is hope for Emma." She smiled at me sympathetically and said, "Hook, even if she remains in this coma we have to focus on the fact that she will wake up. At least she isn't in a more severe coma."
"Aye, but is there any way Regina, that you may think that Emma could awake?"
Regina folded her arms and glanced at Neal insinuatingly. She gave me a knowing look and then slid her eyes to Emma then to Neal insinuatingly. "Well, since you asked, you know I don't sugar coat things. I think you should let Neal kiss Emma. I know we are all thinking it." She looked around the room at everyone's stunned expressions. Neal seemed delighted, yet obviously trying to conceal his enthusiastically.
"It wouldn't work, though, she is in love with her husband?" Snow countered as she furrowed her bow at Regina. "That is for true love patients. Not for past lovers, am I right?"
Regina shrugged in a suave, self-righteous way as if not swayed in any way of her idea. "Well, it's worth a shot, isn't it?" She shook her head at me with attitude. "Don't you want to save your wife? And try every idea we can think of? It's only a kiss."
I grimaced and stared at Emma grimly. I didn't like the idea one bit. "I don't think it will work." I said through clenched teeth.
"There is no such thing as just a kiss," i said curtly.
"I'm willing to try," Neal said evenly.
Henry looked uncomfortable yet intrigued as he looked at his father.
Regina said to me, "Or are you afraid that it might work? You need to think of your wife's life."
I thought about the facts and how much it would bother me to watch him kiss her, regardless if she was unconscious. I knew it was worth a try, but I didn't want to take the chance. I needed to not be stubborn and selfish, just in case that was the key. "This is ludicrous," I said. "You really want me to agree to another man, who loves my wife, to bloody kiss her again?" I snapped.
David came up to me with an encouraging expression. He said in a quiet tone so that no one would hear him, "Look I know that you don't want to try it. But think about it. It's like a test, or a shot, that you know is uncomfortable here at this medical center to let her undergo, but it's worth it. So what if it works? And she wakes up. I highly doubt that it will change her feelings for you, or your marriage."
I exhaled and looked at my wife laying there, unconscious and probably for a long time. I knew that it was worth the try, and that we were out of options. I hated to give in especially to Neal.
I walked outside of the room. David followed me and gave me a soft, caring gaze. He nodded once and said, "You know I like you now. You know that I wouldn't suggest this unless it was important. I know that it's probably hard, but I also think that you will know you tried everything for her. I'm not saying I want Neal to kiss her, it's the hope and the probability."
I shook my head sharply. "I just can't conform to this." I saw Emma's doctor talking to a nurse and I hurried to him. Before the doctor could walk away, I caught him and stood in front of him and said, "Is there anything that you can do for my wife?" I looked pointedly at Emma's room and gave him a sorrowful expression. "I'm worried about her and with all due respect, it isn't enough to just wait. What if she gets worse, or turns into a vegetable?"
The doctor smiled sympathetically and said rationally, "I'm sorry Mr. Jones. The only thing I can say is that she has a good chance of waking up. I've seen more severe patients. We just don't know anything else right now, but we will keep you updated."
"Yes, but isn't there anything you can do to help her?" I asked with despair as I frowned at him. He hesitated, but I pressed, "Please. She's just had a baby. I'm begging you for anything to go on."
He shook his head and replied, "I'm truly sorry. I can't tell anything else from her CT images and her vitals. It's not something we normally do, but I will order an MRI for her for tomorrow morning when radiology opens. I'll follow up with you on the time available for that. Okay?" he asked kindly. He turned and left, obviously in a hurry to tend to other patients.
I made my way to David who was still standing near Emma's room doorway, watching me.
I shook my head in dismay and said, "The doctor only wants to order a bloody MRI. As if it's the best he can do for her."
David stared at me as if waiting for an answer. He said, "If you change your mind about Neal," he glanced over his shoulder, "You do know that it won't hurt your marriage, right? Just say the word."
I exhaled. "Yes, it will. If that who wakes her and not I?"
David nodded. "It's up to you. It may not work. Since yours didn't. I just think that if she doesn't wake up by 8:15, then we're going to have to live here in indefinitely."
"I'm more worried about my wife right now, Mate," I replied evenly with respect. I knew he was trying to reason with me, but I didn't want to condone another kiss. "I'll be forthright with you and say that I can't say yes to such a thing. Would you?"
David replied pensively, "I don't know. I don't envy your decision. I think that once we get it over with, we will know, and you can have the confidence that you tried. That you made the sacrifice. Just as she did when she saved you. I honestly know that she won't ever go back to him. If it's that small thing that's stopping you, then maybe accept that Emma was promising you earlier the truth that won't change. That she won't leave you."
I did want to sacrifice this chance, at least to rule it out. I decided that i should make the sacrifice. I nodded and then walked back into her room. Nothing had changed with Emma's condition.
"Any news?" Snow asked with a hopeful smile.
I shook my head and then heaved a surrendering sigh, "I'm willing to do anything for my wife. The doctor can't help her today." I looked at Neal and held his questioning gaze. I dropped my eyes down to Emma and nodded once.
Neal walked to Emma's bedside and leaned in and softly kissed her, and I knew he meant it by the way he seemed to linger near her face. I cringed at the sight. I wanted to yell for him to stop, but I had to allow this. It made me want to throw a chair at him, although I had condoned it. It made my stomach churn as he gingerly pulled away and stared down at her, obviously in love with her. He stared at her like he worshiped her. As seconds ticked by, I realized that it hadn't worked. Everyone wore the same feeble frown.
At least i had sacrificed this for her, because it truly was the greatest sacrifice other than dying for her.
I crossed my arms. At least that was over, and we knew that she wouldn't respond to him either.
Neal said, "At least I tried. Thank you, Hook." He cleared his throat and looked downward. He gazed at her helplessly and said, "I think that it's time that I grab the Death Sack. Anyone care to join me?" He left the room in a rush. I knew he took this fail personal. At least he knew how it felt to be desperate, like me, and I wasn't alone. I felt even more angry and helpless now. I went to Emma's bedside and softly caressed her cheek. "What else can I do for you, Love?" I whispered to her, hoping she would wake up at my voice. I was tired of the demon hurting her. "If you only knew the sacrifice i just made for you. I hope you don't mind."
"At least I think we are all safe inside this hospital," David said as he pointed at the windows which had iron over them.
Regina announced, "We're going to go grab dinner. I'm going to ponder what else we can do for her." Robin and Regina left the room.
Hope started to cry. Snow said, "I'm going to go heat up a formula bottle for her for you, Killian." She brought Hope into my arms. Hope looked up at me through teary eyes, but kept wailing, turning pink. I soothingly shushed her and patted her back with my hand as I gently bounced her and tried to speak to her in baby babble. She didn't calm down. I glanced up at Emma, wishing she could soothe Hope. Snow said, "I'll hurry." She dashed out of the room, which left Henry and David and me.
Henry was pacing as if contemplating, as he stared at his mother.
Hope shrieked louder. I kissed her forehead and whispered, "Your mummy is asleep." I tried to rock her in my seat with my body but that didn't suffice. I finally rose with Hope, who was flailing her arms and legs and persistently screeching. I would try something, to at least calm Hope down. "Here is your mummy," I said. I gently laid Hope next to Emma, as if by instinct, so that Hope would know that she was right beside her and feel her warm skin. I gently situated Emma's arm so that Hope would feel like she was being held. Hope seemed to know that she was near her mother, because she stared right at Emma's face and her eyes brightened.
"Wow, that's like magic," exclaimed Henry.
I kept my hand near Hope in case she chose today to roll over, even though there was a plastic guard on the sides of the bed frame. Hope calmed down and whimpered and cooed.
That was when the monitor started beeping a bit faster and Emma moved lethargically. She let out a soft groan, took in a deep breath and blinked and looked at the ceiling, perplexed. She frowned and glanced at Henry then at me.
"She's awake!" I said with glee. I smiled and sighed in relief, stupefied that she was moving. "Emma," I sighed as I softly touched her hand and grinned down at her. Recognition and awareness flashed in her beautiful eyes. She cracked an uncertain smile and whispered "Killian." I carefully kissed her lips and exhaled in relief.
Henry hurried to Emma's side and slid his arms around her for a careful hug. She smiled at him and said, "Hey Kid." She smiled warmly at David who beamed at her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Emma looked down at Hope, her smile widening. She slid her arm around Hope and cuddled her to her side.
"I don't believe it," said David with his classic bright merry smile. "I'm going to alert he others and the nurse." He strode out of the room with a bounce in his step.
Emma placed her other palm on Hope, who gazed adoringly at Emma. She sweetly whispered, "Who knew that you would wake Mommy up. Makes sense she would." She said to me. I was overwhelmed with joy.
"I had no idea that would work," I replied as I kissed her tenderly. "At least your memories are still intact?" i gently rubbed her arm affectionately.
She nodded with a sincere smile up at me. The love in her eyes was enough to reassure me of everything.
"I don't understand," I said to Emma. "You have been in a coma for most of the day. We were out of ideas to wake you."
She shrugged with a smirk. "Mom ears I guess." Her arms cradled Hope into the crook of her elbow so that she was holding Hope, who seemed entranced by Emma. Emma's hand slipped into mine.
Snow smiled brilliantly. "I don't think it was Hope who woke her." Snow met my eyes.
Emma furrowed her brow in confusion "Wait, what? Killian what is going on?"
I smiled at her and softly touched her cheek. "I made a sacrifice for you, just as you made a sacrifice for me."
Playlist
Far Away – Nickelback
Here Without You – 3 Doors Down
I Can't Sleep Baby – R. Kelly
Through Glass – Stone Sour
I Will Return – Skyler Grey
In My Place – Coldplay
Ghosts – James Vincent McMorrow
Broken – Seether and Amy Lee
Lullaby – Nickelback
Lithium – Evanescence
Hemorrhage – Fuel
The Other Side – Evanescence
Hearing Damage – Thom Yorke
In My Arms - Plumb
Sweet Sacrifice - Evanescence
