I own nothing except my delusions.
Stopping the car in the middle of the deserted street, Killian hopped out, followed closely by Ian, Chase, and Leroy. They had set up a camp near the town, needing to stop to try to siphon gas for the cars, as well as scavenge for any possible supplies.
The loss of Emma's car had only a small impact, having the three usual passengers of the Bug split up between the remaining cars. The extra two cars from the newcomers of their group helped, giving them greater numbers as well as more ways to split and carry everything.
Despite the benefits of the newcomers, Killian couldn't help the trepidation he felt. There was strength in numbers, but the sheer volume of people in the group made him nervous. Larger numbers meant they were a larger target, as well as they needed more supplies to sustain them. Even with them pulling their weight, it would be strained. More people meant more mouths to feed, which meant more supply runs for more food.
A larger group meant more movement, making them all the more likely to draw attention, from both the dead and rival groups.
Killian didn't know if he was being a realist, not when his older brother's voice in his head nagged at him that he was being a pessimist.
Regardless, he was happy for the protection the other people provided for his brothers as well as Emma, her son, and Mary Margaret, especially since she was carrying a child.
"You guys go ahead down there," Leroy said, waving toward one side of the street before jerking his thumb in the opposite direction. "We'll take here."
Killian and Ian nodded, turning to go to their part of the street, backpacks in hand.
They were quiet until they were in the first of the buildings that lined the street, making noise as to draw out any walkers hiding further back. At the silence that followed, they knew they were clear.
"So what do you think of the newcomers?" Ian asked.
Killian caught his younger brother watching him in genuine interest, his own opinion of the new additions to the group guarded.
Thinking over how to respond without sounding like a hypocrite, he pitched his voice low. "They've been a help so far, but I'm wondering how long that will last. There's just too many now for my comfort. I know they didn't even have to let us in the group, but there's so many of them. I'm worried that such a large group, while it means more protection, could also draw more attention. That, and we've had to start doing more supply runs to provide for everyone, and hunting has just gotten harder. I'm nervous about our numbers, that we may have too many as of right now."
"Do you think something is going to happen?" Ian asked him.
Exhaling, Killian looked at his brother. There was a large age gap between all of the three brothers, with Liam being eight years older than Killian, and Ian ten years younger than Killian at only eighteen. He was young, yet had to mature to survive in their new world. Killian didn't wish to cause unease to his younger brother, but wouldn't lie to him.
"I really don't know," he finally said. "I hope not, but something is telling me something is going to happen, and soon."
Releasing a heavy breath, Ian nodded. "I know. I would ask if it was some sailor's superstition, but the numbers worry me, too."
Killian reached out to clasp him on the shoulder. "We'll just have to be careful and keep our eyes out, aye? That's all we can do, and pray for the best."
Ian replied with a small smile before moving away to scour more of the shelves.
Returning to his own task, Killian moved deeper into the store, wanting to fill his packs as much as possible. He hadn't ever minded doing supply runs, but the frequency in which they had began needing them had started wearing on his nerves. He wanted to be able to keep moving towards Storybrooke instead of having to stop every few days for more supplies.
It took longer than he would have liked to gather enough to sustain the group, yet still not enough for him to be satisfied, having picked over a couple blocks worth of shops. He was disappointed they hadn't come across any walkers, denying him a chance to release some of the frustration he carried. Eager to return to the rest of the group, he quickly climbed into the Jeep, letting Ian drive.
Ian pulled out, going slow enough for Leroy and Chase to follow before going faster, leading the way back to the rest of the camp.
"So what drama do you think has unfolded in the camp while we were gone?" he asked with a trace of amusement in his voice.
Killian groaned. "I don't even want to think about that."
Ian snickered.
They pulled into the camp, seeing the others immediately look up as the cars stopped.
The brothers jumped out, Ian going to the back to pull open the trunk to allow the supplies to be divided between the cars.
Killian looked up as David and Emma neared him, both wearing serious expressions.
"How'd you do?" David asked him in a low voice.
Exhaling heavily, Killian shook his head. "Not as well as I would have liked. It's enough, but won't last us very long."
David sighed. "We weren't able to catch that much in the traps, either. Mary Margaret and Mulan tried hunting, but the only thing they could find was a deer already being eaten by a walker."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Emma peered between the two men. "I can go out, see if I can find us more."
Killian shook his head. "Love, we already combed the town. There's not going to be much left to find."
Huffing in frustration, she shook her head. "We need to get moving. I know town's have supplies, but I'm wondering if maybe the forests might fare better. We can hunt, or even fish if we're by a beach or lake or something."
David pinched the bridge of his nose, looking conflicted. "Yeah, but how far will that take us off course? And how many walkers will we find in the forest?"
"If we don't do something about the food situation, we won't make it to our destination," Killian said, siding with Emma. He understood David's concerns, but knew they had to keep everyone sustained to even make it.
"We don't have much of a choice," Emma said quietly. "We can't keep going on like this, especially at the rate we're going."
Knowing they didn't have a choice, David finally nodded. "We'll stay here for the night and leave in the morning. We'll move away from the towns and head more towards the trails. Maybe the beaches. They're not too far from here. I'll go tell the others."
He turned, leaving Killian alone with Emma.
"That's going to last us maybe a few days tops if we really ration," she murmured, eyeing what was brought back. She sighed. "That's hardly enough to keep seventeen people going for a while."
"It was all we could find," Killian said, knowing she was right.
"I know," she sighed.
He suddenly reached into his jacket, pulling out a small book in offering to her, hoping it would brighten her mood, even just a little. "Before I forget, I found this for your boy."
A small smile curled her lips as she took the copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from him. "Thank you."
He smiled in return.
She suddenly shifted, her expression hardening before she turned away from him. "I'll make sure he gets it."
Knowing she was putting her walls up, he nodded, unable to help what caused her sudden shift. He had an idea, but was curious as to the exact reason.
The reason he knew as he watched Neal across the camp giving him a dirty look as he carried some of the supplies they managed to scavenge to one of the other cars.
Emma had kept her distance since the day they had found Neal nearly assaulting her, having as little contact with him and his brothers as possible. She didn't prevent Henry from spending time with them, something that gave Killian some relief.
Despite wanting nothing more than to strike Neal for what he did to Emma, Killian moved away to help the rest of the group so they could prepare to leave in the morning.
Emma hated doing some of the sweeps for the area they were to camp in at times, even when she had someone with her to watch her back. She was with more people than she was with, but was anxious, knowing them stopping for even just the night was still just another delay. They had continued at dawn, covering more ground before they had to stop and clear an area for the night.
She was used to working with Killian, trusting him to help her should she need it. Tamara, who Emma really hadn't spoken to to begin with, went with them, quietly following her and Killian's lead.
It wasn't even because she knew Tamara slept with Neal that Emma didn't talk to her, she just hadn't felt any reason to try to develop a relationship with her. Tamara hadn't made any more effort, making Emma guess she was closer to Neal than she had originally thought, and that he had even tried to tell Tamara things so she would be against Emma. She hadn't been happy about going with Emma and Killian, but Emma didn't care. She just wanted to get the job done.
"There's only a little ways left to go, love," Killian told her quietly as he quickened his pace to fall into step with her.
Emma nodded, knowing they could return back to the makeshift camp where she could be close to her son soon.
"Henry's probably reading one of his books," she smiled.
He gave her a small smile in return.
Going back as far as they needed, they turned to head back to the camp. Emma kept growing more and more eager to return, mostly because of the company with her. She far from minded Killian, knowing how well they worked together. Though she wouldn't admit it out loud, she enjoyed his company, even if they didn't talk.
Despite that, she had to distance herself, knowing it wouldn't do her any good, that she had to push him away. She had to forget about their kiss.
Tamara set her on edge, something making her reluctant to trust the other woman.
Lost in her own thoughts, Emma didn't realize the fragile ground she had stepped on near a large pit.
The second she realized her mistake, the earth gave way beneath her, collapsing to widen the hole as she registered the hisses and grunts below.
She stopped her fall by grasping an exposed tree root, her body hanging precariously close to the walkers below. She could feel their rotting hands aiming at her feet, desperate to drag her down to them.
"Shit!" she heard Killian exclaim from above her barely a second before his face appeared over the ledge. "Swan, hold on!"
He disappeared for a quick second before plunging his hand down, just out of reach of her.
She didn't catch what he said to Tamara before he began yelling.
"Well if you're not going to bloody help me, go get someone from the camp who will," he growled at the other woman even as his eyes were on Emma.
His voice dropped, betraying his panic. "Emma, grab my hand. I'll pull you up."
Cautiously as not to fall, Emma began to reach forward before feeling herself slip, making her grasp back onto the root. "I can't!"
Killian nearly strained himself as he stretched as far as possible while trying to hold onto another tree root to help keep him grounded so he could reach her. "C'mon, Emma. I promise, I'll catch you. I just need you to grab on."
Bracing herself, she wound her body tight as she moved to grip his hand, knowing she had only one shot or she would fall into the pit. Pushing forward, she felt the skin of his strong hand against hers, both tightening their grips on each other.
"I've got you, love," he said in a strained voice. "Don't let go."
She felt his muscles straining in his arms as he began to lift her, slowly pulling her out of the pit. Using her legs, she pushed herself forward, trying to help him.
Yanking her, Killian pulled her all of the way up, resulting in him falling back onto the ground with Emma nearly on top of him.
They stayed like that for a moment, both breathing heavily as well as sweaty and covered in dirt, aware they had to check to make sure they didn't attract any new walkers.
The only sounds they could hear were the dead in the pit, hissing and groaning but unable to claw their way out of their prison.
Slowly, Emma picked herself up, moving off of Killian so he could breathe.
Sitting up, he looked over her, checking for any injuries. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine," she said weakly, shaken from the ordeal. "Thank you."
He gave her a small nod. "You're welcome."
As they moved to stand, some of the others broke through the trees, suddenly stopping as they caught sight of them.
"Emma!" David exclaimed, jumping forward to embrace her tightly. "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine, I'm fine."
He held her out at arm's length, examining her himself.
Liam warmly rested his hand on her shoulder, chuckling. "I'm glad my little brother did something right and pulled you out of there."
"Younger," Killian immediately corrected.
Neal walked forward, possessively placing his hand on her lower back to guide her back to camp.
Refusing to let him move her, Emma stood her ground, noticing the dirty looks he threw Killian.
"We should get Doc to check you out to make sure," he prompted.
"I'm fine," she insisted. "If anything, have Killian get checked out. I'm sure he may have hurt his shoulders some."
She suddenly dropped her voice, her tone darker than before. "Besides, since when do you care? You know there's nothing between us. Not anymore."
She stepped away before he could respond, feeling her eyes glaring into her back.
He suddenly grabbed onto her arm, spinning her to face him.
"No, we're not," he said in a low voice. "Look, of this is about Tamara-"
Yanking her arm from his grasp, Emma glared at him. "Believe me, it's not. Leave me the hell alone."
Neal was suddenly blocked by David, Killian, and Liam, standing firm.
"Back off," Killian said darkly.
Neal's glare passed over all of them before resting on Killian.
Refusing to back down, Killian kept his strong stance in front of Emma, his bright blue eyes icy as he stared back at Neal.
Stepping back, Neal turned on his heel, striding back to the camp.
They didn't relax until he was gone, the tension leaving them.
Emma felt her stomach sink.
Killian had already put a target on his back when he and Liam had intervened when Neal had tried to corner her. Confronting him again, even with witnesses, made her more nervous, knowing how vindictive her ex was.
She didn't know what lengths Neal would go to to go after Killian, but she knew that they had to be careful and she had to keep the peace.
She didn't want to even imagine what Neal would do if he found out about the kiss she shared with Killian.
"You shouldn't have done that," she muttered to Killian specifically.
"I'm not afraid of him, love," he replied in a low, sure voice.
Shaking her head, she met his eyes, which she saw had softened as he looked at her. "It doesn't matter. He'll do something to get back at you."
"He's not the first bloke who's threatened me, Swan," he relied. "And I'm pretty sure he won't be the last."
She didn't know what he meant as he turned to go back to camp, the tension in his shoulders visible.
Liam followed him, leaving her alone with David.
"Do you think he'll try something?" David asked her quietly.
Emma closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted. "I don't know. I really, really hope not."
She couldn't ignore the bad feeling in her gut.
Author's note: For the people who keep up with TWD, what did you think of last night's episode? For me, it far from disappointed, especially with the pikes.
Review?