Summary: Takes place after Season 4 Episode 5 "Breaking Glass" but before/during episode 6, "Family Business". Initially, this story was going to take place before the next episode, but I had this idea about an alternate version of the episode. What if, Killian was taken by the Snow Queen in between episodes and Emma and the gang is searching for him as well as information on who she is and her connection to Emma. Since I have decided to write an alternative to this episode, I did go back and use some of the dialogue from the episode. Please remember, I do not own these characters (OBVIOUSLY).
Author's Note: First, I want to thank everyone for all of the feedback and the kind encouraging words! They have been really helped my self-confidence as I have been working on writing and figuring out how I want to wrap up this story. Really, it means the world to me! Second, I am not totally sure how I want this story to go. I am kind of writing by the seat of my pants so just bear with me as I work out all of the details. ALSO, please note that this chapter is another where I do use dialogue from the episode. Hope that's okay with all my readers!
Chapter Seven
Belle, Snow, and Regina are searching Gold's shop for anything that might belong to the Snow Queen. Everyone here in town, that came over with the original curse, had something of theirs end up in the shop. Belle goes to the back of the shop and opens the safe. She takes out the Dark One's dagger and stuffs it into her purse and returns to the shop floor. Rumple gave it to her because he trusts her, but they need answers, and this is the only way she knows how to get them.
"Look for something you don't recognize. Something that doesn't look like it belongs to anyone we already know in town" Snow says as she looks at the items surrounding them.
Regina says, "Well, I'll check the Dark One's private office. If there's anything he doesn't want us to know or find, he most likely stored it back there."
The three of them split up inside of the shop, but it's not long before they hear the bell over the front door jingle and the sound of Gold's cane hitting the wood floor.
He stops and sees Snow emptying drawers, Regina comes in from the back room of the shop, and Belle is digging through his files. "What in the world is going on in here?"
Belle comes forward and says, "We are looking for anything that might tell us where the Snow Queen is hiding – any object that's connected to her that can help us locate her."
"I don't think anything here will help. I can't say we have ever crossed paths."
Regina comes forward and crosses her arms in front of her chest. "Where have you been, Dark One? Belle mentioned she was supposed to meet you earlier today, but you didn't show."
His jaw tightens and he clenches his fist at his side. "I'm not sure how my business is any of your concern, Your Majesty."
This time, Belle comes forward. "Well, I'd like to know, Rumple. I called you but I didn't get you earlier."
Rumple walks further into the room, towards his back-office space, trying to avoid the inquisition he knows he is going to endure.
"There's an awful signal near the woods. I must not have heard it ringing…"
"Hook answered your phone earlier," Belle says. "Now, tell me…how exactly did a man you despise get a hold of it?"
Regina steps in front of Belle and lowers her voice and asks, "Are you working with the Snow Queen?"
Snow chimes in and asks, "Did you do something to Killian?"
Rumple takes a minute before answering, trying to figure out exactly how much they might know about his plans. He steps towards Belle and takes her hands in his and softens his expression before answering their questions. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone.
"Belle, see? My cell phone is here in my pocket. How could the pirate have answered it if I have it?"
"But Hook said…."
"Belle, I told you. I'm a changed man. The pirate and I called a truce. Why would I try and hurt him now? To what end?"
The confusion on Belle's face is clear to Rumple and he knows that she's believing his lies. Anything to protect his secrets and plans. Belle reaches into her purse for her phone. Meanwhile, Rumple works a little magic to make the caller ID say it was Hook's number rather than his own. Looking at the screen, she sees that the name of her last phone call is not who she thought.
"I…I guess I must have dialed Killian by accident and thought I dialed you? Look," she says, and shows the phone to Snow and Regina.
"Or maybe it was the Snow Queen interfering to throw us off her scent," says Regina.
"It had to have been," Snow says.
"So that brings us back to our original question. How do we find this Snow Queen?"
"Rumple, surely you can use a spell or something? We need to find her lair."
"I'm sorry, Belle, but that's out of the question and even if I could track her somehow, I wouldn't want you anywhere near her."
Quietly, Belle whispers under her breath, "I was worried you were going to say that."
"Ladies, I'd love to stay and chat endlessly, but I have a business to run. So, if you'll kindly take this elsewhere."
Regina and Snow move towards the door, but Belle doesn't move. She reaches into her purse again and this time pulls out the dagger.
"Belle, what are you doing?" Rumple asks.
Voice shaking with nerves, Belle says, "I really don't want to do this."
Putting out a hand in front of him, he looks at his wife, who is unknowingly holding a fake dagger, and says "Belle, I gave you that dagger because I trusted you. Because I thought you would never want to control me."
"I know. I know, and I'm so sorry, Rumple, but we need to find the Snow Queen before she hurts anyone else."
Behind her, Snow says "And we need to find out where she's taken Hook."
Regina says, "I thought the pirate was being held at the ice wall on the town line."
Snow shakes her head sorrowfully. "No. Emma just sent me a text. They aren't there."
"They? Who's…Henry!"
Henry takes the phone back from Killian and helps him sit up with his back leaning against an icy wall. He manages to get the pirate's jacket back on his body but by the color of Hook's lips, can tell that he's beyond freezing at this point. Henry removes his own jacket and wraps that around Hook's front, attempting to keep him from getting any colder.
Killian's eyes are heavy, and he can barely keep them open now. He's quiet – too quiet. His body is so cold that he's no longer even shivering. Henry reaches his hand into the pirate's jacket in search of his flask, hoping that a drink will help keep him warm.
"Hook, I need you to keep your eyes open and drink this for me, please?"
His hand moves slowly to reach for the flask, but it doesn't look like he is able to hold onto it well enough. Henry stops him and tucks his hand back into his jackets.
"It's okay, Killian. I've got it. Here, just tilt your head if you can. We need to get you warm, and this is all we have."
Quietly, Killian swallows the bit of rum he had left and laughs gently. A smile comes across his face.
"It's okay, Henry. They'll find you soon enough. Your mothers will find you."
"They're coming for you too, Hook. You just have to hold on for me."
"I'm so c…cold and tired. It's okay, as long as you're safe."
Hook's head falls to the side, but Henry shakes his shoulders roughly and rouses the pirate once more.
"Hook, no! You can't sleep. Tell me…tell me about some of your best adventures. About the places you've sailed to."
Killian smiles, remembering all the places that he's seen, how he wishes he could take Henry there now, instead of being trapped here.
"Ah lad…the world is so so big. I hope you get the chance to see it someday." Hook takes a few deep breaths but Henry can tell his body isn't doing well. He sits down beside Hook, wraps his arms over the pirate's shoulder and rubs them up and down, hoping to get some warmth in him.
Hook continues his tale. "There are lands where the air smells of spices. And, women are worshipped, while carried on jeweled chairs. The sea is warm. The skies, always blue…I…I said that to your grandmother…."
Thinking Hook is hallucinating now, Henry asks, "My grandmother?"
"Ay, lad. To my Milah – Neal's mother – when she and I first met. You remind me of her."
Henry smiles and hugs Hook a little tighter to him. "I wish I could have met her."
"I'm so tired, Henry. I'm just gonna sleep for a little…."
Hook's eyes close and Henry panics, checking for his pulse. It's there, but it's slow and Hook's skin is too cold. Pulling the jackets tighter to Hook, he says, "Hang on, Killian. Emma is going to find us."