(Apologies for the wait for this chapter. In all honesty, I have a serious Sims addiction. Anyhow! I hope you enjoy, let me know what you think!)
Fifteen
Unlike she thought, she could not fall asleep in the car. Emma didn't know what kept her awake, despite the long car trip and her exhaustion. For a while, she just stared at Peter's silhouette against the window and the cities nightlife behind it. Blue had some jazz music on the radio, not to loud, just at a comfortable volume. Emma wondered if it was Blues own car they were driving in.
Sitting on Killian's lap, she could feel his hand gently brushing through her hair. She always felt so safe whenever she was in his embrace. She was cold, soaking wet and exhausted, yet she was content being there. What had happened in just a few hours seemed crazy.
"You okay?" Asked Killian.
"Yeah, just tired... What about Neal?"
"We caught him. Ruby is taking him to one of our houses as we speak."
Are we heading there?"
She wanted to settle things with her ex right now. After selling her off, and trying to kill her twice, she thought it was about high time they had a little conversation. Blue stops Emma in her thought as she spoke to her through the windscreen mirror.
"No, we are not. We are heading to the hospital, Emma. Incase you haven't noticed, you are bleeding."
"Well, I know but I figured I would just... heal."
"What I meant is you're still bleeding."
Emma noticed the slight worry on Blues expression in the mirror. She pulled back the side of her coat, revealing her sliced hip that was indeed still oozing fresh blood, and it was stinging like hell, no thanks to the seawater. It may have been deep, but she thought her wolf would have taken care of that by now. Why wasn't she healing?
Can't do that.
What do you mean we can't do that? Emma asked her wolf mentally. How come we can't do that? Any werewolf is suppose to do that! That's part of the checklist: shapeshifting, enhanced sense of smell, mind linking, night vision and fast healing! Why don't we?!
While she was trying to coax answers from her wolf, Killian carefully pulled back her coat again himself to take a look, checking her injury with a smile. Emma bit her lip. Okay, so her deep cut was pretty worrying. Peter was looking, too, a bit curious, until realising Emma's full bare leg and hip was out, earning him a daring glare from his older brother. He quickly looked away, but Emma swore she saw him blushing.
"Why aren't you healing?" Killian asked, almost as if he was asking himself the question, though.
"I haven't got a clue... I thought I would heal like any werewolf now that my wolf if fully awakened, but... I don't get it! Maybe it's the salt from the seawater?"
"You're not a bad spirit, Emma. Salt doesn't affect werewolves." Peter sighed, still keeping his eyes away from any bare skin of hers on show.
"Maybe a witches curse, then?"
"You mean the ones that our father would be stupid enough to keep living in the city full of werewolves instead of exterminating them?"
Emma felt Killian stiffen all of a sudden, but Peter apparently didn't seem to notice. She knew about their father having chased all vampires and witches out of Storybrooke years ago- that was not a secret to anyone. He'd made sure it was rather... Blatant. Was it the mention of his father that made Killian react?
"Peters right, I don't think we have any witches left in the area, and anyway, I don't see why a witch would have anything against you. You were under the radar until a couple weeks ago." Said Blue. Emma didn't have any other ideas. She kept looking at her cut, disturbed, but Killian covers it with his hand, trying to slow the bleeding as much as possible. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder once again. Killian pressed his lips against her forehead ever so softly.
"It's okay, we're almost there, honey,"
"Thanks, Blue, but... I don't get it! Why aren't I healing? There is already to much going on with Neal, and the whole mystery surrounding my birth, and now this..."
Nobody answered, but she felt Killian tense up again. She should have known. If it appeared that she was really unable to heal herself, her already very protective mate would probably not like it at all.
Finally, they arrived at the hospital, but with no VIP room, thankfully. Killian carried her straight to the ER, and an old lady doctor came in to examine Emma. She was tall, very thin and wearing her long white hair in two braided buns. She seemed acquainted with Blue, judging how they were openly conversing about Emma's injuries and sharing her notes. Apparently, other than her obvious cuts, she had a broken rib and a few bruises, that was it. After a few quick stitches in her hip and being bandages up, she was only left with some swelling and a blood transfusion.
"Not bad for a first battle." Peter elbowed her arm and gave her a wink.
"Nana, any idea why Emma isn't able to heal herself?" Blue asked the doctor. Wait, what? Was the doctor actually Blue and Ruby's grandmother? When she thought about it, the lady did look quite similar to the siblings- well, mostly to Blue, as she'd never actually seen Ruby in her human form yet. The same honey coloured skin, and Ruby's blueish eyes. Plus it would explain how Blue knew so much medical stuff.
"I don't know sweetie. This is the first time I'm seeing such a thing. You are healing fast than a human would heal, but in all honesty, a werewolf would have definitely healed by now."
"Then what is it? Maybe a spell?" The doctor rolled her eyes at Blue.
"What is it with these crazy ideas? There is no witchcraft that can make a werewolf unable to heal itself. Trust me, I know enough about black and white magic to know it has nothing to do with this."
Emma was even more curious. Their grandmother seemed very acquainted with magic, which seemed pretty cool to her. The doctor smiled at Emma and showed her her banded injury with a comforting smile.
"It's going to be okay. You just have to bear with it the human way."
"I can do that. It's not like this is my first time..."
Peter smiled, but his old brother was clearly not happy about it. He stayed silent since the doctor came in and stood next to Emma throughout the whole examination, but she was starting to think that it may have been better if he'd of stayed outside. He reacted so negatively each time she was wounded.
They exchange a look, and Killian suddenly exits the room without a word. Blues grandmother watched him go, but she clearly was not affected by his alpha aura.
She is not one of us, her wolf whispered.
That certainly explained it. Emma wondered how the doctor got werewolf grandchildren then. After all, she still seemed to know quite a lot about werewolf specifics.
"He's probably just went to call Graham or Alec." Peter explained. Emma nodded, and turned to Blue and her grandmother.
"Alright, can I go now, doctor? I have spent enough time in this hospital as it is, recently."
"Oh, you can call me Nana or Granny Adriana, sweetie. And yes, just finish up this transfusion and then you're good to go. But you should rest tonight, and make sure you eat enough, okay? Bluebell, you tell your brother and sister to come visit their dear old nana sometime!"
Granny Adriana gave them a smile before exiting the room. Peter and Emma turned to Blue with the same smirk on their faces.
"Bluebell?" Emma teased.
"Oh shut up, you two! I hate my name..." She grumbled.
Within the next half an hour, Emma was finally out of the hospital and heading back to the car they arrived in. It was completely dark outside, but Killian carried her through the car park despite her protests. She insisted on going to see her shitty ex partner, but the three of them were against the idea.
"You need to go home and rest, baby girl. You heard Nana, that guy can wait."
"Don't worry, Ruby and Gray are watching him. He's not going anywhere." Said Peter. Killian didn't say a thing, but she could see he silently agreed with them. He'd barely said a word since they left the hospital. Emma wondered what he was thinking about. She was far to tired to even think herself.
Once they arrived back home at their apartment, Killian once again carried her all the way up and into her bathroom, before exiting to that a call. She was so grateful she could finally take that hot steaming shower she'd been dreaming of since she first got into Blues car. It was high time, because she really did stink after that battle and her short dip in the sea. Blue came in to help Emma was her hair, as she was so tired she couldn't even stand up in the cubical after 5 minutes of heat. She really had to work on her stamina.
When she was done, she really felt clean in some brand new cream and white silky pyjamas Blue had brought in for her. Emma tied her hair in a loose bun for the night, and climbed onto the bed, preparing for a good nights sleep. That was until Blue came through the door carrying a tray that held what looked like a 3 course meal on it, making Emma frown.
"No. Don't say you don't want it." Warned Blue. "If you do, I will call the boss and have him spoon feed you like a baby."
Emma couldn't really say anything after that, knowing Blue actually would tell Killian she wouldn't eat her dinner, so she let her out the tray in front of her on the bed. Well, it did look good. A small portion of bruschetta, rigatoni alla carbonara and even an almond cake for dessert. She bet it all came freshly made from Graham's restaurant.
She started eating under Blues close surveillance. They didn't really talk, and she was busy texting someone and Emma was lost in her own thoughts. She hadn't forgotten about the She-wolf who had helped her during the fight and saved her from drowning. Seen as how she'd called Graham 'Gray', Emma assumed she was related to the second brother somehow. But why wouldn't she want him to know she was there? He didn't seem to have anything to say when she was with them at the Red Moon clans territory. Emma wished she knew the stranger in her human form, or at least seen her clan marking. She had said they would meet again soon, but how? Emma didn't even know the woman's name!
"Emma?"
Killian came back into the room, followed by Peter. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who went straight for a shower; the youngest Black brother also smelled of soap. Killian, however, still wore his jeans that were tainted with her blood. Emma took another bite of food as he sat on the side of the bed in front of her, while Peter walked towards the window and stood next to Blue with his arms crossed. Killian's eyes were glowing in a scary manner, instantly worrying her. Did something bad happen?
"What is it?"
"Why does Ruby say that Neal was the guy that attacked you that night?"
Oh, crap.
She'd totally forgot about that. She didn't even think Ruby would be able to identify him, considering it was the middle of the night and chucking it down with rain, but she supposed Ruby did chase Neal and hurt him. She must have identified him then, and that would also explain how Ruby recognised Neal's scent as quickly as Emma had early. Emma bit her lip. Killian looked really angry, and Blue was stood with wide eyes, too. Emma put her fork back down on the tray. How could she handle this?
"Emma!"
"Don't yell at me! Yes! Neal was the one who tried to kill me!"
They all looked at Emma, shocked.
"I thought you said it was that Jekyll guy?" Blue yelled.
"Yes, well no, Neal was the guy you pulled off me in the alley way."
"But I thought you only wanted to find this Neal guy to ask him about your family background?" Said Peter.
"I did, I do. But Neal hates me, and yeah, he tried to kill me."
Twice actually, but they didn't need to know that. Killian looked furious. Emma felt bad for not telling them the truth from the start, but she was one hundred percent sure Killian would have killed Neal on the spot if he knew everything.
"I knew there was something odd about him," explained Peter. "When we went to the Red Moon clan that day, your former alpha and that weakling girl did mention he had been wronging you. And you said he lied, too."
"No wonder he wanted to avoid us so badly, now."
The only one who remained silent was Killian, despite his fuming eyes still on her. Emma tried to reach for his hand, but he rose from the bed, both fists clenched tight.
"Killian, say something. Please."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't want you to get mad at him."
"Now, really?"
Okay, she realised it was a bit too late for that. He was obviously furious, and mad at her, too. Emma let out a sigh, trying to find her words.
"Killian, I need to solve things with Neal. Yes, he hates me, and tried to kill me. But that's my problem, okay? I need to talk to him and solves all of this with him, and I can't do that if you kill him first!"
"I want to kill him, Emma! I don't give a damn if you class him as family! I'll slaughter anyone who touches you, and he tried to fucking kill you! You would be dead if it wasn't for Blue and Ruby! You lost your voice, you were in a coma for days! How do you think I felt after I finally found you and yet had to sit and watch you while you were unconscious in a hospital bed day after day?!"
"I'm mad, too! How do you think I feel after my own ex boyfriend tried to strangle me to dead? Killian, for the last 5 years there wasn't a single day Neal was nice to me! He was the worst! But he is still family to me, he's all I have left! I need to know why he is like this. I'm not protecting him, I just want to face him myself! Killian, I need you to let me do this!"
He stayed silent, but she could tell he was seriously thinking about it. Moon Goddess, why did they always end up yelling somehow? Emma felt even more exhausted than before. She couldn't believe they argument was in front of Peter and Blue, though they did seem concerned. Emma got up from her bed and grabbed Killian's arm. He ignored her, but she kept a hold of his hand and looked up at him.
"Killian, please. Neal's attitude only changed after his fathers death, and I need to know why he has took his anger out on me! He is the only person left who can help me know why my parents kept my birth a secret. After I talk things through with him, I promise he will be out of my life."
He stayed silent for a while, then turned to her with his ice cold eyes.
"That's why you didn't want me to hurt him."
"Yes. You promised, Killian."
"That was before I knew he tried to kill you!"
"Killian!"
He couldn't go back on his promise. She wasn't going to let him touch Neal. They glared at each other for a while, then she watched his eyes shift slightly, and he pointed at her scar.
"Is he the one that did this!"
"What? No, Neal has nothing to do with my scar, I swear."
She was telling the truth, and she prayed to Moon Goddess he believed her. He kept staring at her scar, and Emma hated it. Usually he ignored it, so why was he so curious about it all of a sudden? Emma tightened her grip on his hand, seeing how conflicted he was. Couldn't he stay there with her? She just wanted to crawl into bed, fall asleep in his embrace again, and forget about everything for a few hours.
The anger in his eyes hadn't reduced in the slightest, and Emma couldn't help but bite her lip.
"Killian, please, you promised you wouldn't hurt him."
He looked at her again, and all of a sudden leaned down to kiss her forehead, before storming out. Emma stood there, completely blank. Where had he gone this time?
