David, Emma, and Killian were standing in the back-parking lot at the station as an Albany police cruiser pulled up.

An APB was put out on suspect, Lucas Wilson, a few days ago. He had been traveling on foot, and almost as soon as he arrived in Albany, he was arrested. David then received the call, and they arranged for transfer.

The police chief stepped out of the car and greeted the officers before he warned them, "I'd be careful if I were you. He has a tendency to be on the violent side."

"Will do, Chief. I believe we can handle him," Emma responded with crossed arms. The older man nodded in response before he opened the back-passenger door.

A slew of curses immediately flowed from Wilson's mouth as Emma hauled him from the car. Before she could even get a good grip on his arm, he elbowed her - hard - in the stomach.

"Damn it!" she cursed before she groaned in pain and doubled over.

Killian's eyes widened in worry before he rushed to his partner's side and asked her, "Emma, are you alright?" bending down slightly to meet her eyes.

"Arrest our guy, Killian. I'm fine," she responded, an air of urgency in her tone.

"Are you sure you're alright, love?" he asked her, concern lacing his tone, and it was also evident in his blue eyes.

"I'm fine, Killian," Emma scolded before standing up straight. Both of them then turned their heads at the sound of David reading Lucas his rights as he walked him into the station.

"Bloody hell," Killian muttered as he ran one of his hands through his hair. "I'll hear about this," he chided himself before he and Emma headed inside.

They passed the jail cells on their way to the office. Lucas, who was now awaiting his arraignment, called out to Killian, "You always get your partner or your boss to do your job for you, Detective?" a satisfied smirk playing across his features, emphasizing the sarcasm on that last word.

Killian balled his fist up by his side, and he clenched his jaw. When he felt Emma nudge his side, he visibly relaxed.

She then told him, "He isn't worth your job, Killian. Besides, he's already headed to prison."

"Aye, Swan. Thank you," he told her. He then continued, "Now all that's left to do is fill out the paperwork."

Emma nodded before she suggested, "And maybe then you can tell me what the hell happened back there."

Killian opened his mouth to explain when he heard David's voice: "Jones! In my office. Now!"

The dark-haired man sighed and ran his hand over his face and through his hair.

"Good luck," Emma offered before she continued on to their office. Killian then sighed before he trudged toward the chief's office.

The moment he walked in and shut the door, David scolded, "You mind telling me why you failed to arrest your suspect?"

Killian ran his hand through his hair once before he admitted, "Look, I know I screwed up. You don't have to tell me that."

"At least we're in agreement," David conceded. He then took a breath and stated, "Just because you know you were wrong doesn't mean you're off the hook. What if you and Emma had tracked him down, and he had the same reaction?"

"Then there'd be a murderer on the loose," Killian interjected, his voice filled with self-deprecation.

"Damn right there would be," David seethed. He then took a breath and spoke, "Look, Jones, you are a hell of a detective, but this isn't the first time you've let your emotions cloud your judgment. You have to get a handle on it."

With a sigh, Killian tried to defend: "I know, mate, and I do well the majority of the time. It's just that Emma was hurt…"

"She told you she was fine," David interrupted. He clasped his hands together before he stated, "You know I would never intentionally let one of my officers get hurt. You and I both know that Emma can take care of herself - the moment she told you she was fine, you should have gotten up and done your job."

Killian ran his hand over his face in anguish before he spoke, "I don't know what you want me to really say - I know I was wrong, and I'll try not to let it happen again."

"You'll do more than that, Jones. You might not be as lucky next time, and something could seriously go wrong. I will put you on probation if I have to," David scolded.

Despite the fact that Killian knew he deserved it, his eyes still widened slightly. He then nodded and spoke, "I understand, Chief. I'll be more diligent in the future."

"Make sure you are," David stated, his arms crossed once more. He then got up from his chair and said, "I need some fresh air, and you're coming with me."

Though Killian tilted his head and furrowed his brows in confusion, he knew it best not to argue. So, he got up and followed David out of the station.

They came to a wire bench a few blocks down from the station. They both sat down before Killian commented, "If you're going to yell at me some more, I'd prefer to go back inside."

David couldn't help but chuckle lightly before he told him, "I brought you out here because inside, I'm your boss, and you did screw up - I had no choice but to call you on it."

"Aye, mate, that much I understand. But I'm still rather confused as to why we're out here," Killian then interjected.

David chuckled once more before he explained, "As I said, inside, I'm your boss. But out here," pausing to gesture around them, "I'm your friend who's known you since you came in a year behind me at the Academy."

A small smile erupted across Killian's face before he surmised, "And is my friend slightly less pissed at me?"

"Only slightly," David acknowledged with a chuckle.

He then took a breath and became thoughtful as he began, "Look, Killian, I know you have feelings for Emma."

The dark-haired man turned to look at David with a start before he began scratching behind his ear.

He then tried to cover, "I don't know what you mean. We're best friends - there's nothing more to be said."

"I know better than that, Killian. You're not the most subtle of guys - I'm surprised she hasn't figured it out yet," David replied with a good-natured chuckle.

"Because Emma can't consider anything beyond friendship, regardless of how she actually feels," Killian thought, and he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

He then took a breath and admitted, "You're right, okay? I do have feelings for her, but I'm not sure it makes a bloody difference."

"It makes all the difference," David began. He then sighed and continued, "The reason why I brought it up is because I understand why you reacted the way you did when Emma was hurt. Trust me, I wasn't helpful to anyone when Mary Margaret had those labor complications."

Killian nodded before he supplied, "But?"

David sighed once again before he spoke, "I know it isn't always easy for you, but you can't let your emotions cloud your judgment when it comes to Emma. You still have a job to do - a job that requires you to be level-headed."

"I know I do. And you have to believe that I'm doing everything I can," Killian stated, a bit of pleading in his voice.

At David's nod, the dark-haired man took a breath and finished, "And I am sorry about what happened. That was quite far from good form."

"Yeah, it was," David agreed. He then offered, "I meant what I said when I said you are a good detective. Just be careful, alright?"

"Will do," Killian replied. He then got up and said, "I think I'll go help Swan with the paperwork." David nodded before he got up as well. The two of them then headed inside.

When Killian had walked inside he and Emma's office, she looked up and teased, "Am I gonna have to learn to put up with another partner?"

Killian rolled his eyes before he teased her back: "I'm not sure anyone else would put up with you, love."

The blonde rolled her eyes as well before she asked, "But seriously, is everything okay?"

"Aye, love. I just need to be more, uh, alert next time," he told her before he took a seat at his desk.

Emma nodded in response. A moment later, she began tapping her pen against her chin as she considered her partner's actions.

He noticed her looking at him and questioned, "What is it, Swan?"

She hummed before she answered, "I know you aren't always the most level-headed person, but you always manage to do your job. What happened today?"

Killian scratched the back of his head as he thought about how to answer. He couldn't very well tell her the whole truth, but he could still be honest with her.

"You're my best friend, love. I can't stand the thought of you being hurt."

Emma couldn't help but smile at his words. She then told him, "Thanks, Killian. That's sweet of you."

He smiled in response before his partner teased, "But maybe next time, you can just tell me? Instead of, you know, risking not doing your job?"

Killian only shook his head before he told her, "Aye, Swan. I'll keep that in mind." She smiled once again before she continued working on paperwork.

As she was working, Killian couldn't help but watch her. A fond smile overtook his features as she furrowed her brows - a habit she had developed when she was concentrating.

She then looked up and caught her partner's stare. She tilted her head as she asked him, "Killian, why are you staring at me?"

He jumped at the sound of her voice. He then began scratching behind his ear.

He cleared his throat before he covered, "Uh, well, love, I was just thinking about…" pausing briefly as he came up with a plausible excuse, "How you could manage to fall asleep during NCIS."

Emma rolled her eyes before she defended, "I can't help it if I was tired."

"I know, Swan. I just find it to be rather funny," Killian teased her with a grin.

In response, she balled up a scrap piece of paper and threw it at him.

He ducked, and the paper hit the wall. He then sat up and spoke, "Isn't that a bit juvenile, Swan?"

Emma shrugged before she replied, "Maybe if you didn't like to act 12."

"You wound me," Killian feigned being hurt as he put his hand over his heart.

The blonde rolled her eyes at him. A moment later, however, she couldn't help but giggle.

She then told him, "We'd better finish up this paperwork so everything will be set for the arraignment."

"Aye, love," he responded before grabbing the folder at the end of his desk. As soon as he opened it, a thought occurred to him.

He then looked up and asked, "Say, Swan, might I stop by this evening and take back those movies you borrowed?"

"You can, but I won't be there," Emma answered.

Killian tilted his head in question, and she explained, "I'm meeting up with Elsa, Mary Margaret, Belle, and Regina for coffee at the Coffee Club."

Killian couldn't help but grin as he spoke, "Ah, it's a girls' night out, is it?"

With a roll of her eyes, Emma complained, "Don't call it that. It makes it sound like we're middle or high schoolers having a sleepover."

"Says the woman who just threw a wad of paper at my head," he teasingly threw back, picking up said paper to demonstrate.

"Whatever," Emma mumbled before turning her attention back to her work. Though he tried to hold it in, Killian couldn't help the laugh that escaped at her reaction.

He then told her, "Though it's true the rest of the time as well, you are rather cute when you're flustered, Swan."

The weight of his words sank in as his partner looked up with furrowed brows. She then asked him, "You think I'm cute?"

Killian looked down so she couldn't see the blush rising to his cheeks. He scratched behind his ear before he took a deep breath and answered, "Aye, Swan. In a "you're my best friend and I like to tease you" sort of way."

Emma tilted her head as she considered his words. She then slowly responded, "Uh… okay… then."

He nodded at her before he gratefully changed the subject: "So, is it truly alright if I stop by your place while you're gone, love?"

She nodded before she elaborated, "But can you just, like, grab your movies and go?"

With a raised eyebrow, he then asked her, "Why do I get the feeling that you're accusing me of something?"

"Well, the last time you swung by when I wasn't there, you left your key. And you rearranged my kitchen!" Emma stated, slight frustration in her tone.

"Easy there, Swan," Killian began, putting his hands up in surrender. He then continued, "I don't think moving your mugs from the counter to inside the cabinet really counts as rearranging."

Emma glared at him for a moment before she thought over his words. She then sighed and resigned, "I guess you have a point."

She then added, "I actually prefer the mugs in that spot, but don't move anything else."

"Dually noted, Swan," Killian told her. He then scratched behind his ear and asked her, "Are you truly angry with me, love?"

Emma considered his words before she honestly answered, "Just a little annoyed that you moved my stuff is all. Nothing for you to worry about."

Killian offered a smile as he spoke, "Thanks, Swan." She nodded, and he then teased, "I would tell you to be sure to tell Ruby to add cinnamon to your hot chocolate, but I'm fairly certain she already knows your order by heart."

Emma shook her head before she told him, "You are so ridiculous."

"Perhaps, but I'm still your best friend, love," Killian pointed out with a smug grin.

Emma initially rolled her eyes, but she then began laughing. Killian couldn't help but smile at the sound.

When she had sobered, she spoke, "Alright, enough distractions. Let's get on this paperwork." He nodded before the two of them continued working.

A/N: This chapter and the next were originally one chapter, but I decided to split them into two separate chapters because there was just too much going on. You won't have to wait long for the second chapter (Part Four) because it will be up tomorrow :)