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-FantasyWriterFoSho

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Summary of the Previous Chapter: Elsa managed to burst through the ice wall, allowing Regina and the others inside. While they engaged Gold and the Snow Queen, Killian, Mary Margaret and David found Emma, who was still staring into the mirror.

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Chapter Fifteen: Escalating Circumstances

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8:33PM -Storybrooke General Hospital

Her head throbbed, her stomach was agitated, her throat was tender, but now bone dry, and every part of her body was incredibly sore.

Eyelids heavy, Emma rapidly blinked them before she was able to squint and peek through. Dizzy, she was barely able to register the bed she was on or the clinical instruments that surrounded her in the lightly colored room, but that didn't stop her from straining to remember what had happened.

Everything was cloudy but what she did recall, she didn't like.

The mirror, she thought, the words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

The ice cave...the Snow Queen...bad images…

...pain...

Then...a blurry darkness.

Smacking her dry lips together, she tried adjusting herself on the stiff mattress below her, only to realize that something was touching her left hand. Slowly turning her neck to look, the movement aggravating the dull ache in her head, Emma's eyes widened.

Hands wrapped around her own, with his head laying down beside the two in an awkward sitting position, was Killian.

Softly gasping, Emma's mind whirled.

He saved me.

He, and my parents, saved me from the Snow Queen's grasp.

Licking her lips, she found it within herself to flex her fingers, the motion stirring the man beside her.

Responding by tightening his grip, Killian groaned then raised his head, hair falling against his eyes when he straightened up, then semi-stretched, in his seat. When she chose to move her fingers again, he instantly looked down at their connection before snapping up to seek her face. Relief soon flooded his eyes when he saw that she was awake.

"Emma?" Killian said, pushing his chair away to stand directly beside her. Brushing back some hair from the side of her face, he then gently rested his hand on the top of her head. "Emma? Can you hear me?"

Hearing those words again, but in a different context, sent a shiver down her spine. Managing to nod her head, she watched tears of joy fill Killian's eyes.

"W-where..." she began before erupting in a series of dry coughs and ragged breathing.

Reacting quickly, Killian removed his hand so he could turn and reach for the pitcher of water that sat on a nearby desk. After pouring some into a cheap paper cup, he then gently placed it against her lips. Instantly accepting his offer, she opened her mouth and sipped, the cool water so soothing that she downed the contents in seconds, prompting him to refill it.

Lifting up an arm, Emma managed to take it from him though her fingers noticeably trembled around the container. When Killian moved his hand back to the top of her head, she opened her mouth to thank him but he shook his head, making her look at him in confusion.

"No, don't speak, love," he advised. "You need to conserve your energy. You've been put through the ringer."

That's an understatement, she agreed silently. Slowly pushing her body up with a hoarse groan, she leaned her head back and looked up at a worried Killian. Needing to know the details, she decided to mouth her concerns. What happened?

"You've been here for over an hour," he answered, leaning in to properly understand her. Softly stroking her hair with his thumb, he continued, his voice raspy with emotion. "After the Snow Queen and Gold disappeared, Regina immediately brought you here from that ice fortress. You were treated the moment you arrived. Dr. Whale and several of his nurses inspected you," he paused, his voice breaking a bit. "You were suffering from extreme fatigue and dehydration with a spike of elevated blood pressure. You have improved greatly though some of the effects have lingered."

That explains my symptoms, she thought, closing her eyes to alleviate her shaky vision, her pulsating headache and her sore and weak muscles, but when all of his words began to seep in, she suddenly snapped them back open.

Regina? She asked, resuming then holding his gaze. She was there?!

He nodded his head. "Aye, love. She agreed to assist us one last time. There's more to discuss about that but don't fret about it for now." He saw her face fall for a moment before she reluctantly accepted. "She did try to heal you, but it turned out that she was too drained from our rescue mission. When she recovers, she has already agreed to heal you..."

Emma raised a surprised brow before leaning back down. Wow. I never thought I'd hear that again...

Where are my parents? Henry?

"Everybody is outside in the lobby. Last I heard, they were talking to Whale but they've been gone for nearly half an hour and Henry is at your parent's house, watching over your baby brother."

Nodding her head in a teetering fashion, Emma looked away in order to stare up at the ceiling, her concentration faltering while her mind continued to be a confusing, tormented jumble. She was exhausted but she doubted that she would be able to sleep.

She also didn't want to risk seeing those images again…

Sighing, Emma tried to concentrate on something comforting and wasn't surprised when she soon found herself relaxing under Killian's touch. His calming and repetitive strokes against her hair and forehead were enough to push her troubles away.

Watching her zone out with a blank stare on her face, Killian couldn't help but to be worried—even more so than he already was. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't able to read her and that bothered him.

Not knowing what else to do, he just continued caressing and observing her, afraid that if he didn't, something else would happen.

"How's our patient doing?" came a familiar voice from the now open doorway and when they both acknowledged it, they saw Whale entering with a couple of nurses behind him. "I see that she's awake. That's a good sign."

Moving over to where Killian was standing, he politely asked the other to move in order for him to check her and her vitals while his two assistants headed over to the opposite side of the room. Reluctantly, Killian took a step back and off to the side, not wanting to be in the way but also not wanting to be too far away from her.

As Whale observed her face, neck and throat, he tried to engage in small talk but she wasn't in the mood to speak anymore. Giving him a weak smile, Emma soon found herself staring at her hands, which were still shaking. Trying to escape what was happening, she stared at her trembling fingers, desperately wanting to be anywhere else.

I've been through so much...

To say that she wasn't traumatized would be a lie but because of her experiences, she thought that this would be a fitting addition to her complicated, short life...

God, I need therapy…

Too spaced out to hear, or to see, anybody around her, Emma didn't notice one of the nurses approaching her with a needle. Intent on doing some blood work, the woman tried to alert her to her presence by gently touching one of her shoulders and calling out to her. After waiting for a couple of seconds, she then leaned forward and reached for the closest arm with her free hand, the needle held a little bit off to the side.

Finally feeling the contact, Emma was startled from her thoughts, a pronounced feeling of fear coursing through her body. Jerking away with wide eyes, her hands sparked then flashed when she raised them up, the protective action magically pushing the woman, and the other nurse, into the wall behind her.

"Emma!" Killian cried, rushing forward.

"Ms. Swan, you have to breathe," Whale began calmly, though he was shocked enough to pull away from her.

Snapping towards the doctor, Emma accidentally released another shot that blasted him and the advancing Killian against the furthest wall, the former toppling into the other with a loud thud.

"Killian!" she shouted, nearly bolting from her bed, apologetic tears in her eyes.

"It's okay, Swan," he responded with a grunt, his eyes closing briefly in pain. Gently rolling the rattled Whale off of him, he used his legs to push himself up the wall, the motion scratching his leather jacket against his sore back. "It was an accident."

Stumbling over to a petrified Emma, he pulled her into a hug, her trembling hands pressed tightly against his chest. Trying to calm her down when Whale and the two nurses scrambled out of the room, he kept repeating that everybody and everything was fine.

"I hurt you this t-time," she rasped out, her throat once again raw. "I-I not only hurt them but I..."

"Stop it," he said, cutting her off. "Don't go there, love. I'm fine. I'm right here..."

Hysterical, tears poured from her eyes and onto his clothed shoulder. Swallowing hard, she shook her head, the ends of her hair brushing her lower back. Remembering what had happened in the mirror and what had happened at the station, she suddenly tried pushing him away from her.

"I need to g-go," she stuttered, the tremors in her hands matching how she was feeling on the inside. Eyes wild, she frantically searched about the room, her fingers curling into his shirt. "Before something else happens, I n-need to g-go!"

Killian grabbed her fingers and pulled her closer to him, forcing her to meet his worried gaze. "You're not running away from me again," he declared, huskily. "I need you to listen to me, love. You've been through a horrible ordeal and that doesn't just disappear easily. Once you're physically well enough to leave this place, we'll ensure that you have all the assistance that you'll need, I promise you. You won't go through this alone. I'll never stop helping you, Swan. I'll never stop being there for you, so...you don't have to keep running away."

Heart strings tugged, Emma closed her eyes and leaned into him, slightly pacified. Returning the gesture, he pulled her into another hug, his scruffy beard brushing against her temples.

Clearing his throat, he then turned his head to whisper into her ear. "I'll also never stop loving you, remember that, Emma. I love you. We're in this together."

Emma's heart now hammered inside of her chest.

Nodding her head, she remembered how he helped her break the mirror's spell, a warm feeling encompassing her mind and entire body. Feeling less high strung, Emma pulled away from him with a small, but genuine smile, on her face.

Wiping her tears with the back of his hand, Killian pressed a tender kiss to her forehead before gently nudging her backwards. "Rest, Swan," he ordered with a grin. As he helped her get back into the bed, her stiff limbs moving awkwardly before he was able to put them beneath the white sheets, he gave her a loving look. "I have to go find the doctor and his assistants, as well as properly inform your family that you're now awake..."

"I'm sure Whale's already told somebody something," she remarked gruffly, her eyes meeting his.

"Then, I'll go and correct the information," he replied, lifting his hand up to caress her cheek before walking over to the door. "See you in moment, love." Looking at her over his shoulder, Killian then shut the door and walked down the hall, to his right, leaving Emma alone in the room.

After waiting a couple of minutes, she then kicked the blankets off of her then slipped out of the bed onto her wobbly legs, her eyes determined. Managing to steady herself, she breathed deeply then walked over to the closet, which was thankfully nearby.

Opening it, she found her clothes and quickly put them on, her hands fumbling over the buttons and some of the material. When she was done slipping on her jacket, she crept over to the door and slowly opened it a few inches. Sticking her head out into the created space, Emma glanced about the hall, her eyes moving from one end to the other, and when she noticed that it was completely empty, she slipped out then closed the door behind her.

Breezing past the other rooms with her head downcast, she quickly located the back exit, adrenaline fueling her bruised body. Emerging into the open air, Emma momentarily closed her eyes, allowing the cool wind to sweep over her face and through her loose locks before reopening them.

Regrouping, she breathed deeply before heading into a specific direction, her eyes focused. "Sorry, Killian," she whispered, pushing away her emotions when she began walking down a street. "But I have to do this...I'm still too dangerous."

Why can't I find control? she thought, once again blaming herself.

It took nearly thirty minutes for her to get into the vicinity of her destination. Every inch of her body was screaming at her but she pressed on and didn't stop until the building loomed in front of her.

The Pawn Shop.

Biting her bottom lip, she stared at the sign.

Killian said that he was at the cave, she mused, her memory still fuzzy. Was Gold helping or...?

She didn't remember seeing him, or Regina for that matter, but figured that it probably had something to do with them not being in general vicinity of the mirror...

Nevermind that, she thought. I have more important things to worry about.

Damn the costs and the risks.

I'm doing this for my family...

Ignoring her misgivings, Emma moved to the entrance and opened the door, her eyes immediately finding the man she was looking for. Gold was standing beside the curtain, to his back room, and when he heard the bell ring above the door, he immediately turned around, his eyes widening in surprise at seeing her.

She had to admit that she shared his sentiment. A part of her didn't think that he would actually be inside but she wasn't going to complain about it.

She still wanted his help.

"Um," she began, testing the strength of her voice before she continued. "Would it be p-possible for you to speed up whatever you planned on using to remove my magic? I would greatly a-appreciate getting rid of it as soon as possible..."

Gold's eyes flickered unreadably. Of all the people to wander into his shop, which he was just about to shield magically, he didn't expect to see her—not after what had happened less than three hours ago. Unless, she doesn't remember it because of that relic, he reasoned silently. She also hasn't been informed about it either, given the gravity of the situation, and...that works out well for me…

Once again noting his good fortune, Gold desperately took a step into her direction, ideas popping into his head. "That I can, dearie. In fact," he began, a lie readily on his lips. "I had anticipated your arrival…"

"You did?"

"Yes. So, fear not. The process is already finished."

Emma's eyes widened further in shock. "That's great!"

"But we must hurry," he then said, glancing behind her. "No doubt they would've noticed your disappearance and this is something that needs to be done without any interference." Noticing her peculiar expression, he continued. "You appear as if you had escaped from somewhere, dearie. A hospital by the looks of you..."

Glancing down at her feet, she didn't answer him.

"No matter," he dismissed, limping his way over to her. "The good news is that we have to do this at another location anyway and not just because of your bothersome company. We don't want to cause a disturbance, do we?"

She shook her head.

Raising a hand, his eyes flashed. "Ready, dearie?"

"Yes," she answered softly.

Smiling, he snapped a finger, whisking them away from his shop in a cloud of smoke.

…

After carefully leaving the parlor shop for the second time, the Snow Queen wandered the empty streets before she saw something that alarmed her. Blinking back her surprise, she had just turned a corner when she spotted Emma on the opposite side of the road.

Her features were peaky, but also resolute, when she stood in front of a building before walking inside of it. Curious as to where she was going, the Snow Queen glanced up at the sign and immediately felt her body jerk.

"Why is she going to Rumple?" she questioned, alarms ringing loudly inside of her head. Without hesitating, she frantically sprinted over to the shop. Flinging the door open and pushing herself inside, the Snow Queen saw what remained of Gold's billowy red, teleportation cloud.

Charging forward, she stretched a hand out and grabbed at the dissipating smoke, her fingers instantly disturbing the integrity of it. When it began to burst and pop around her arm, she soon found herself being pulled into the cloud, a small cry escaping her lips when she was fully enveloped then swept away alongside the pair.

After successfully piggybacking off of Gold's magic, the Snow Queen quickly hid when they landed, her movements agile enough to not be noticed. Sliding behind a corner, she glanced around. She appeared to have been taken to an abandoned house. How appropriate, she thought darkly. What better place to be sneaky?

Peeking from her position, she stared into a wide living room, her eyes focused on the pair but mainly on the Dark One, who had just pulled out a device and his dagger.

"Where are we?" Emma then asked, her back facing the older man as her eyes scaled the walls—when she turned into the Snow Queen's direction, the other woman ducked away but only enough to avoid being seen.

"It's a deserted lakeside mansion," Gold answered, somewhat flatly. "I discovered it weeks ago. It's the perfect place to conduct business."

Turning to face him, Emma immediately raised a brow, confused at what she was seeing. Why does he have his dagger out? she quietly thought. And what is that...tool? Wasn't it supposed to have been a potion?

She then cleared her throat. "What are you holding?"

"What you asked for. It's a way to rid one of their magic...forever."

At his tone of voice, her gut twisted. I don't like how he said that. Instincts now on full alert, Emma took a small step back.

Laying the device onto his palm, Gold waved a hand over it and with a burst of light, it opened, ultimately revealing itself to be a dark blue, pointed hat. "This," he said, indicating what he was holding with a gesture. "Is an ancient, one-of-a-kind device and a painless approach to your problem. It fell into obscurity many years ago but luckily for you, Ms. Swan," he paused with a mirthless smile. "It was found."

"You're sure that it's safe?" she questioned, weighing her options while also carefully observing his features.

He nodded his head, his gaze never wavering from hers.

He's not lying about that, she thought, her eyes slightly squinting. Folding her arms over her chest, she looked at his dagger, which he was holding down at his side. She was just about to ask about it when a sudden breeze accumulated beside her. Distracted, she turned towards it and nearly gasped at the unexpected appearance of the Snow Queen, who was eyeing the unreadable Gold angrily.

Stumbling backwards, Emma watched the beginnings of what was sure to be a violent confrontation.

"I warned you," the Snow Queen began, her eyes flashing ominously. Hands up in a defensive posture, she continued, her tone dark. "I told you to stay away from her but you didn't listen. You can't have Emma." At his flippant expression, she took a step forward. "You owe me. If I didn't tell you about Hook, you'd be done for!"

Body perking up at the mention of her boyfriend, Emma's eyes bore holes into the side of the Snow Queen's head. "Killian? What about him? What are you two talking about?" When nobody answered her, she dropped her hands then gestured wildly, despite her sore limbs. "Somebody better explain to me what's going on, right now."

Again, nobody elaborated on what appeared to have been an uncensored remark.

Shaking her head, Emma turned towards the door. "You know what...I'm done. I'll find some other way to—"

Half-turned to the exit, half-facing the center of the room, she was instantly paralyzed by Gold, who attacked not only her but also the Snow Queen, who didn't have a chance to react.

"Oh no, Ms. Swan," he then said, his dagger hand now raised. Smirking, he tilted his head. "You're in this until the very end..."

…

"She attacked Whale?" Regina asked as they made their way from the lobby into the hallway Emma's room was in. "Well, I'm sure he deserved it..."

"What about the nurses?" Killian asked with a raised brow.

"I'm sure they'll be fine," she dismissed, making the man beside her shake his head. When they approached the door, Killian reached for the handle and pushed it open.

"Emma, I brought Regina. She's going to see if she can heal you—" he stopped, his eyes wide. Frantically glancing about the room, he darted inside. "Emma? Emma?!"

"Did she run away?" Regina asked, appearing to be genuinely concerned before she neutralized her expression. Sighing, she rubbed at her forehead. "Of course she ran away..."

"Not now, Regina," Killian growled, not liking the implication.

"Keep your hook on. I didn't mean it maliciously," she explained, still standing by the entrance. "After what she's been through, I'm surprised that she didn't do it when you were resting beside her..."

"You're now choosing to be sympathetic?" he countered, his tone harsh as he bounced about the room.

Clearing her throat, Regina rolled her eyes before reaching into her jacket's pocket, thoroughly annoyed. "Hardly. I'm just seeing it from her point of view, but if you really want to know what I'm thinking, here it goes. I think she was stupid and childish to run away. The last thing she needs right now is to be alone..."

"She's scared, not stupid or childish," he defended, finally turning towards her after checking the bathroom and the closet. "In any case," he continued, his eyes steely. "We have to find her. The Snow Queen and the crocodile are still out there. I don't want anything else to happen to her..."

I already feel horrible at what she's already been through, he thought, blaming himself.

"Way ahead of you," Regina responded, showing him what she had pulled from her pocket. Locked tightly in her grip was a vial. "This is exactly why I brought more of this potion with me." Tilting her head, she then pursed her lips. "I have a feeling tracking people is what I'm going to be doing for the next couple of hours..."

Killian was about to question her about needing an item, in order for it to work, when she magically summoned the beanie, she had stashed away, out of thin air. Adrenaline pumping, he nearly knocked her over when he suddenly bolted out of the room. "I'll go inform the others. Wait for me!"

"Like I was going to go by myself," she muttered, uncorking then pouring the contents onto the beanie. Holding onto it tightly when it started to twitch, she stared at the disheveled bed, her head shaking absentmindedly. "You better be okay, Emma," she said softly, her voice layered with concern. "You better be okay..."

Giving the room one more look, she then stepped back out into the hall and shut the door, her hand slightly tugging under the influence of the lurching beanie.

She was deep in her thoughts when she finally spotted a reemerging Killian in her peripheral vision. "How were the hysterics?"

"They were naturally worried," he answered, jogging the last few steps in order to stand next to her. "But I pacified them by saying that we'll bring her back."

She raised a brow. "I'm surprised that they didn't want to come."

"They were on their way out to check in on Henry and the baby," he explained, his eyes staring at the irritated, jerking motions of the hat. "They wanted to but I convinced them otherwise. Fortunately, they trust me enough to seek her out..."

"You are dating their daughter," Regina retorted. "It had to start eventually, especially after you broke the mirror's spell with True Love's Kiss..."

Killian gave her half a smile before she silently let the scarf go.

In a hasty pace, they followed it out the back of the hospital and around several backways before they both realized where it was taking them to. Seeing Gold's shop coming into view, their hearts jumped.

"She wouldn't," Killian breathed, panic settling in. "Not after what happened..."

"To be fair, she may not even know what had happened," Regina commented. "She was in a trance. From what you told me, even you mentioning his name wouldn't have sparked anything..."

Glancing up, she then ran forward, her heeled boots stomping evenly on the ground before she jumped into the air, her lithe fingers gripping then pulling the beanie down in one fell swoop. Landing gracefully, Regina magically hid the item again—knowing that the potion would die out the moment it entered the other space—before bringing out another concealed material.

"What are you doing?" Killian asked curiously, moving towards her.

"Considering what happened the last time, I'm just going to skip over the whole shebang and go directly to the source." Grasping Gold's scarf in her hands, Regina first lifted it up and looked at it, hoping to locate some residual magic, but when she didn't find any, she clicked her tongue then pulled out another vial.

"If I don't see another tracking potion in my life, for the next couple of decades, I'd be completely thrilled."

Immediately pouring it onto the red fabric, they waited a few seconds before it took off. As they continued to track it through various streets, their legs grew sore and cumbersome, especially when it started leading them through the forest.

When they came across a clearing with a small lake at the end of it, they slowed down, their lungs in desperate need of a break. Grabbing at her side with one hand, Regina minded her surroundings then suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening.

"What's the matter?" Killian asked breathlessly. "We have to keep going!"

Looking at him, her features changed. "I know where they are."

Raising a hand, she took in a much needed gulp of air before wrapping them both in a purple cloud, which immediately brought them to the abandoned lakehouse across the fields.

After they landed, they quietly approached the entrance. When she slowly opened the door, Regina motioned for him to enter first, which he readily did. Hook poised in the air, Killian entered into a dilapidated hallway with Regina trailing closely behind him, both of their ears open and absorbing every sound the house was making.

Hearing a suspicious scuffling noise, Killian directed them through the corridor and around a corner before stopping and signaling Regina to back up. Peeking intently into the room they nearly passed, he then smoothly knelt down in order for her to lean in and observe the scene from above his position.

Skin crawling, they arrived just in time to see Gold advancing in on a frozen Snow Queen, his dagger once again pointed at her chest.

…

More to come! Stay tuned and thanks!