A/N: Long chapter for you all because I did promise no cliff hangers, right?
Emma's breath hitched as she saw the beautiful brunette appear at the top of the steps and hurry down them. Neal chucked at the mixture of fear on Regina's behalf and pure puppy love on Emma's features.
"Peter, you're next," Neal said as Regina approached the car.
"What about this money, Neal?" Peter asked, pointing to the bags of cash which were stuffed behind the chairs.
"Emma's going to bring it on for us, aren't you Emma? You and Regina can each carry two bags. It's not like either of you need any persuasion," he waved his gun, "to follow one another onto the plane."
"Screw you, Neal," Emma scowled.
"Oh, love, I think our days of screwing are sadly over, don't you?"
Emma narrowed her eyes and Neal just chuckled.
"Any questions, Peter?"
"No," the young man said grimly, flexing his fingers around the grip of his gun as if preparing himself. The action should have scared Emma but something told her that Peter was just as unwilling to fire his weapon as she was. Regina was safe with Peter, surely. It was Neal she had to worry about.
It was no accident, they all knew, that Regina walked to Emma's side of the car. When the door opened, two sets of eyes locked briefly before Neal snapped at Regina to take Peter next.
"Are you ok?" Emma whispered, trying to read the brunette's expression. Something was different. Something had changed. There was an element of fear in Regina's eyes which she hadn't seen before, even throughout the events which had unfolded over the last two hours.
"Fine," Regina muttered, eyes burning into Emma's with an unparalleled intensity.
It wasn't fine, Emma knew. But she didn't say anything and allowed Regina to push the door shut and circle the car to Peter's side. At once, the young man stepped out onto the asphalt and wrapped his arm around Regina's neck, gun held in a trembling hand to her temple. Regina glanced back at Emma once before the door slammed closed and they set off towards the plane.
"Shit, Lieu," Maloney said, peering out of a window and watching the events unfurl on the ground below.
"Is Regina ok?" Killian asked, his heart pounding.
"A second guy is on his way. He's holding a fucking gun on her again," Maloney said through gritted teeth.
If anything happened to Regina Mills, her career was over. It probably was already, to be fair, she mused. She had somehow allowed a hostage she had rescued to walk back into a dangerous situation involving armed criminals.
"Take him down as soon as he steps into the jet," Killian said. "And don't let Regina leave again, for fuck's sake. We're about eight minutes away."
Maloney pursed her lips and nodded grimly before remembering that the superior officer couldn't see her and answering in the affirmative. She moved towards the doorway, gesturing for Pearce to join her. Lily had been secured at the back of the plane, out of sight in the small service area. Pearce positioned herself in the doorway which led to the cabin, gun at the ready. Maloney meanwhile pressed her body against the concave wall of the jet, directly beside the open door. As soon as Regina walked inside, they could secure the man who was holding her hostage.
A rhythmic clicking on the steps told the two police officers that Regina was climbing up the stairs towards the jet. Their eyes met and they nodded in unison, happy with their plan. The late afternoon sun cast Regina's shadow across the shaft of light on the floor of the jet as she reached the top of the ascent. A slender leg stepped over the threshold, followed by the woman herself.
At once, Maloney lunged forwards, grabbing the gunman's hand and tackling him to the floor. Regina cried out as she fell forwards too, scrambling away from Peter who landed heavily on top of her. Pearce stepped over her and kicked away the gun which had fallen to the floor. It skidded under a seat and out of sight.
"Ok, ok, I surrender," Peter shouted as Maloney twisted his hand behind his back. "It wasn't me. It wasn't my plan. I didn't do anything."
Regina pushed herself up into a sitting position and then got to her feet, staring down at Peter who was being handcuffed by the police officer now straddling him. Two down. Two still free.
"Miss Mills," Pearce began, moving back towards the woman they had been assigned to protect and making to step over the perp on the floor.
"No," Regina gasped, turning and running towards the open door. Only one thought was in her mind. Emma. Emma was still in danger. Emma was still with Neal. And Emma was in the car which, no doubt, would be showered with bullets as and when the police arrived at the airfield.
As soon as the teenager began to move, Maloney twisted around, still on top of Peter and grabbed at the woman as she passed. Her fingers gripped Regina's toned thigh for a moment but the kick of a heel forced her to loosen her hold and Regina continued, racing out of the jet and back towards the car.
"Miss Mills," Maloney cried as the brunette disappeared back out of the jet. But there was no reply. "Oh God, we're so fucking screwed," she muttered, climbing off her latest handcuffed criminal and hauling him to his feet.
"Something's wrong," Neal said, eyes narrowed as he saw Regina reappear and hurry, with a different sense of urgency, down the stairs.
"Regina?" Emma said, craning her neck over the seat in front of her.
The woman had reached the bottom of the stairs already and was running towards the car. Neal's hands flew to the wheel, fingers gripping as if ready to make a quick getaway. As she approached, Emma opened her door.
"Don't get out," Neal roared, the power of his voice forcing Emma to freeze.
"Regina," Emma said as the woman flew around the door and stopped short. "What's wrong?"
"Um, nothing," Regina said, reaching out and grasping Emma's hands. The blonde interlaced their fingers, squeezing reassuringly. "I, um, Lily scared me. That's all."
Neal frowned. "What's going on up there?"
"Lily's just … you know. She's crazy, right?" Regina lied, praying Neal would believe her. From the look Emma was giving her, she knew the blonde could tell her words weren't the truth but she also knew that Emma wasn't going to give her away. There was an unspoken trust between them.
"What's going on?" Neal repeated, a hint of panic evident in his tone.
"She's got the pilots held hostage," Regina offered, knowing that was what Neal had assumed Lily had done. "But she told me to hurry up and get you and Emma up there too. She told me to run. She pointed her gun at me."
After the day's events, the explanation sounded plausible. Lily was no stranger to not only pointing guns but also following through on her threats. Neal hesitated as if considering the brunette's words before nodding.
"Fine," he said. "Me next. Emma last. Come here."
Regina's eyes met Emma's once more. "Go on, do as he says," Emma murmured, reaching out involuntarily and brushing the back of her forefinger across Regina's cheek which were a little flushed. The brunette's breath hitched at the contact. And then it was broken. Emma's hand dropped, their fingers untangled and she stepped back, allowing the blonde to close the door. Taking a deep breath, Regina circled around towards Neal's door.
"You what?" Killian yelled, pounding his fist on the dashboard of the car which was speeding towards its destination. "I gave you one simple order. Keep Regina Mills safe. How fucking hard is that?"
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," Maloney's voice said through the car stereo. "She was gone before we even had a chance. The second perp is secured, however."
"Right now, I don't care about that. You've let Regina fucking Mills walk back to a car with two armed hostage takers in it. Again. You and Pearce are both going to be up for review after this."
The detective glanced sideways at the furious Lieutenant and pointed ahead to where a control tower was visible. "We're about four minutes away."
"Kill the siren," Killian said as the car sped forwards. The detective reached out and did exactly that, the sound of the car's engine now audible as the wailing ceased. "Maloney, where is Mills now?"
"At the car, Lieu," Maloney said. "She's standing behind an open door. The rear passenger side. I can't see what's going on."
Killian sighed in exasperation and rubbed his hands over his face. "Ok, well, does it look like she's still breathing?"
"Yes, Lieu," Maloney said, ignoring the sarcasm. "Oh, hang on, I have a visual again. She's walking around to the driver's door now."
"That's Neal Gold," Killian said. "He appears to be the ringleader of the group. What's happening?"
"He's getting out," Maloney reported. "He's got Regina in the same hold as the others. I can see a gun. Pistol, I think."
Killian looked at the sat nav on the dashboard. "We're three minutes away. He'll be on the plane by then, right?"
"I'd guess so," Maloney nodded. "The car is not far from the jet. It takes maybe thirty seconds to walk over here."
Was that a good thing? Neal was the most volatile of the group, it seemed. The fact that he was the one currently holding Regina at gunpoint was less than ideal.
"Take him down if you get the chance," Killian said. "And whatever you do, keep Regina safe."
"Copy Lieu," Maloney said, moving back into the position she had held to tackle the second criminal. Pearce, who had emerged from securing the young man at the back of the plane, took her own position just as the click of Regina's heel on the metal stairs met their ears.
The climb seemed to take longer this time, Regina thought to herself. Why? Was it because the man behind her was holding her tighter? Was it because his forearm was restricting her breath as it pressed into her neck? Was it because the cool barrel of his gun was pressed against her temple? Was it because she was walking away from Emma, knowing full well that teams of police were, in that moment, descending on the airfield?
Neal's knee collided with the back of her own and she stumbled. "For fuck's sake," the man growled in her ear. "You'll get to go back to your girlfriend soon enough. What is it about Emma? I mean, I know she's a sweet piece of ass but is it the bad girl image as well? Is that what you like, Regina? Do criminals make you wet?"
The brunette said nothing as she put her foot on the next step and continued their ascent. Neal chuckled at her silence, enjoying the knowledge that he had angered Regina. The entitled rich bitch deserved it. Everything had come easily to Regina, he was sure. Which was why she deserved a day from hell. The fact that there was this evident attraction between her and Emma was just the icing on the cake. He knew it was eating both women alive; Emma because she knew she could never get a woman like Regina and Regina because she knew she could never be with a woman like Emma.
As they reached the small platform at the top of the stairs, Neal readjusted his hold around Regina. Through the thick material of his hoodie, the man didn't notice the pounding heartbeat of his hostage. Nudging Regina forwards, they stepped into the jet.
Before his eyes had time to adjust to the darkened interior, he felt small, strong hands clamp around his wrist, jerking it upwards. Letting out an angry yell, his finger retracted. An ear-splitting bang echoed around the small space and the trembling body which he had been clasping to his own slipped from his grasp.
Emma's hand had been resting on the door handle, poised to get out as soon as Regina re-emerged. The moment the gunshot was heard, however, the blonde threw herself out of the car, leaving the door wide open as she sprinted towards the jet and up the steps three at a time. As she ran, she heard another shot. And a third. And a fourth. Screams and shouts reached her ears, chilling the blood which was pumping through her veins.
"Regina!" she cried out, launching herself through the open door and stumbling forwards over the body which was splayed out on the floor. She caught her balance and looked back at heap of flesh. Neal's glassy brown eyes gazed up at her, unseeing. "Neal," Emma whispered.
"Oh the ground!" an unfamiliar voice yelled at her, pulling her from her turmoil of thoughts.
Slowly turning, Emma found herself staring down the barrel of a glock, behind which glared an angry blonde. Clearly this woman was not Regina's family's pilot. Frozen, she raised her arms on either side of her head, sinking to her knees. The moment she was on the ground, a second police officer came towards Emma, grabbing her wrists and curling cold metal around them. Emma's eyes continued the search of the space for the woman she was looking for.
"Where's Regina?" she asked the cop as she was pulled to her feet.
"Shut up," Officer Pearce said, pushing Emma in front of her towards the back of the plane and away from the corpse against whose neck Maloney now had two fingers pressed, feeling for the pulse which beat no more.
"Emma!"
Despite the armed officer behind her, Emma spun on the spot. "Regina," she gasped as she saw the brunette emerging from the cockpit.
Ignoring Officer Maloney who was getting to her feet, Regina hurried down the jet towards Emma. Her features were awash with relief and gratitude at the sight of Emma, alive and unhurt.
"Miss Mills," Officer Pearce said before Regina could reach Emma, "step back." She held out her arm, the flat palm an obvious signal for the brunette to come so closer.
"She's not going to hurt me," Regina said, stopping at the end of the outstretched arm. "Emma, tell them."
"I'm not," Emma said. "I haven't hurt anyone and I'm not going to hurt Regina."
"Oh, ok, that's fine then. Because we always take the word of criminals who have been holding innocent civilians hostage for hours," Pearce deadpanned.
Emma felt a blush rise up her face. It was true. Of course it was true. No one was going to let her anywhere near Regina ever again. And they shouldn't. She was the reason that Regina was here, in a way. She was the reason Regina had been in danger. Or part of the reason.
"Emma won't hurt me," Regina said, arms folded. "She's been with me the whole time. She kept me safe. She protected me."
"Miss Mills, please, come here," Maloney said, taking a gentle hold of Regina's bicep.
The brunette flinched, jumping away from the officer's grasp and moving as far away as she could. Only Officer Pearce's presence stopped her from running to Emma.
"Are you ok?" the blonde asked, concerned that the move had been caused because Regina was in pain. "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine," Regina said, trying not to think of why she might have so negatively reacted to the physical touch of someone whom she knew was there to protect her. But after the day's events, it was hardly surprising, she supposed.
"Come on," Pearce said, pushing Emma towards the rear of the plane.
Regina made to follow but Maloney grabbed her more firmly and tugged her away. "No, please, Officer. You don't understand," Regina pleaded.
"Maybe not but there is no way in hell I am letting you anywhere near the people who were holding you hostage. Again," Maloney said, eyebrows raised. "Come back to the cockpit with me until the rest of the police arrive."
Resigned to the fact that there was nothing she could do, Regina allowed herself to be tugged in the opposite direction to Emma. Looking back over her shoulder, she saw wide, worried green eyes. In an attempt to reassure the petrified blonde, she forced a smile before Emma was pushed out of sight. Once the blonde disappeared, she turned back towards the front of the plane, this time her gaze landing on the lifeless body on the floor.
"Is he dead?" Regina asked as they passed Neal.
"Yes," Maloney said shortly. "Don't look. Come on."
But it was too late. Regina had already seen the dark stain of blood, seeping out from beneath the fallen man, his eyes staring, blank. And then she was inside the cockpit and Maloney was closing the door behind them.
"Sit," she instructed, pointing to the pilot's seat. Regina did as she was told, comforted in the knowledge that Emma was at least alive. As she did so, Maloney spoke to the commanding officer who was listening in. "Lieu, all four perps have been apprehended. One dead, three under arrest. Miss Mills is safe. She and I are in the cockpit. Estimated time of arrival?"
Regina didn't hear the reply but she knew the police couldn't be far away. Maloney sat down in the other chair and crossed her legs, seemingly waiting. Turning to her left, Regina peered out of the window to the asphalt craning her neck to see if she could spot the approaching cavalry.
"Emma," Peter said as soon as the young woman appeared in the small service area at the back of the plane. "What the fuck happened?" He and Lily had listened to the commotion but been unable to move. Gunshots. Shouting. Regina's voice. Emma's voice. The police. It had been confusing and at the same time, they knew it was the end.
"Neal was shot," Emma said through gritted teeth.
"Fucking cops," Lily snarled. "Is he gonna make it?"
Emma shook her head and said nothing as Officer Pearce forced her to take a seat. All three of them were perched on small fold down chairs, hands cuffed awkwardly behind their backs. Seatbelts secured around their waists, for the hostesses to use during take off and landing, prevented them from standing. Pearce stepped back once Emma was in position, her gun pulled and ready. Lily glared at the cop. Peter stared only at his shoes. Emma bowed her head too, resigned to her fate.
It wasn't as if she had really thought they were going to be allowed to fly out of the US with Regina as their hostage and live happily ever after. Of course they were going to be caught. Of course they were going to be arrested. Even Neal's death hadn't surprised her. She was almost more surprised that three of them were still alive. Grateful, but surprised. She was even more grateful that Regina appeared to be unharmed.
"Officer," Emma said, looking up into the stony face of the dark skinned police woman. "I wasn't going to hurt Regina."
"Shut up," Pearce said, pointing her gun at Emma, "or I'll make you shut up."
Rubber squealed on warm tarmac as the car skidded to a stop metres from the private jet. Killian leapt from the vehicle and raced towards the stairs, his detective right behind him. As soon as he was on the plane, he looked around. "Maloney? Pearce?"
"I'm in here with Miss Mills," a female voice called from the cockpit. "Pearce is in the back with three perps."
Killian pointed towards the rear of the jet and signalled that his detective should go there. He turned towards the cockpit and fiddled the door open.
"Regina," he said as soon as he saw her. "Are you ok?"
"Fine," Regina said, getting to her feet. "Are you in charge?"
"I am," Killian nodded. "My name is Lieutenant Killian Rogers. I've been working with Commissioner Glass on this rescue."
"Sidney?" Regina asked, craning her neck past the Lieutenant. "Is he here?" Surely, she thought to herself, Sidney would let her see Emma. Her father's best friend had a real soft spot for her. He could ask him to do anything and he'd say yes.
"He's on his way," Killian nodded. "As are your parents. They're driving up in a squad car together. I've told them you're safe. They'll be here in twenty minutes or so. Officer Maloney, it looks like you've finally done as I'm asked. Who fired the fatal shot?"
"Pearce did, Lieutenant," Maloney said. "I reached for the perp's gun and forced it away from Miss Mills. Pearce pulled Miss Mills to safety and pushed her into this cockpit before firing three shots at the man whom I was struggling to restrain. He did not survive his injuries."
Killian nodded slowly. The footage from the hidden cameras on both cops would corroborate the officer's story, he was sure. "Stay here," he said to both Maloney and Regina before backing out of the small cockpit and shutting the door.
Maloney and Regina sat down again, awaiting further instruction. Maloney wouldn't dare disobey a direct order from a superior and Regina could tell that Killian was not about to let her accompany him to see Emma.
Lily, Peter and Emma all looked up as the tall policeman appeared in the doorway. Officer Pearce turned and stood up a little straighter. "Lieutenant Rogers," she said. "The offenders have all been secured."
"Good," Killian said, scanning the three young faces before him. Very young, he realised. Teenagers. Younger by several years than the man lying dead in the doorway of the jet. "Have you read them their rights?"
"Not yet," Pearce said. "I wasn't sure on the charges."
Killian had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. These rookies were damn lucky to have not been killed themselves or to have the blood of a billionaire's daughter on their hands. Jersey Police had a bad reputation for a reason.
"How about armed robbery, kidnapping and murder?" Killian deadpanned.
Pearce blushed and set about reciting the Miranda warning she had learned at the academy. Killian watched, arms folded, as the young woman repeated the charges and words to each suspect. They weren't sure which of them was responsible for firing the shot which had killed the civilian in the bank but all three could be charged as accomplices. Neal Gold, however, would never get his day in court.
Out of the window, Regina watched as a veritable fleet of police cars drove up to her family's jet accompanied by two ambulances. They just seemed to keep coming until twenty cop cars were clustered on the airfield. As officers poured out of the vehicles, Regina scanned the bodies for her parents.
"Daddy," she whispered as the man emerged from the back of a squad car, closely followed by her mother. "Mother."
Her parents were accompanied by Sidney Glass, a man Regina had known all her life. The trio stayed back, however, as a stream of police climbed up the stairs.
"Stay here," Maloney instructed as she moved towards the door to greet her fellow officers.
Knowing that there wasn't much more she could do, Regina obeyed. Out of the window, she watched the flurry of activity. After the police, two paramedics were sent up the stairs and, several minutes later, emerged with the stretcher, onto which Neal's lifeless body was strapped. Her parents were hovering beside a cop car. Regina could see her father itching to push past his friend and run to the jet but he was resisting. He must know she was safe, Regina reasoned.
As Neal's body disappeared into the back of an ambulance, the door opened. "Miss Mills," Maloney said. "You can come with me now."
Getting to her feet, Regina followed the officer into the main part of the jet. The space was filled with cops. A man with a camera was snapping pictures of everything. Regina ducked her head, avoiding the curious stares. Maloney's hand landed on the small of her back, steering her past the bloodstain which branded the space where Neal had taken his final breath, and out of the jet.
"Regina!"
The moment she heard her father's cry of relief, all other thoughts faded from Regina's mind. As fast as she dared, she ran down the steps and towards her parents. At last Glass allowed them to move and Henry and Cora dashed forwards to meet their daughter. Three bodies collided, arms wrapped around one another. Face buried in the familiar smell of her family, Regina let out a shuddering wail of relief. Henry mumbled incomprehensible words of love into his daughter's hair while Cora sobbed quietly into her shoulder.
It was only then that Regina realised she had begun to think she would never see her family again. Although Neal's plan had been absurd, she had started to believe it would work. She had feared that they were going to take off in the private jet and escape to a faraway country from which she would never return. Even being with Emma, a woman she had known for two hours, wasn't a consolation for the thought of not seeing her parents again. She burrowed herself deeper into their warmth, their love, tears streaming down her face.
They stayed like that for almost a minute before Sidney gently tapped Henry on the shoulder.
"Come on," he said quietly. "Let's get Regina to a hospital."
"I'm fine," Regina said, pulling back and wiping her face, mascara streaked across her skin.
"No, sweetheart, you're not," Cora said, reaching out to cup her daughter's chin and inspect the gouge in her lip.
"Oh, that," Regina remembered, reaching up and touching the split skin. The pain was more of a dull ache now, the tenderness and stinging pain less severe.
"It needs stitches," Sidney said. "Come on, your father can ride with you and I'll drive your mother."
Regina allowed herself to be steered towards the one remaining ambulance. The other, containing Neal's body, had already departed from the scene. As they reached the car, however, Regina turned back, sensing the appearance of a woman she had temporarily forgotten about in the arms of her parents.
"Emma," she whispered under her breath.
"What was that, Princess?" Henry asked, his arm around Regina's shoulders.
But Regina didn't answer. Instead, she slipped from her father's embrace and raced back towards the jet, towards Emma who was descending the steps ahead of Peter and Lily, each flanked by two officers.
"Emma!" she shouted as she approached.
Green eyes widened at her name just as she stepped back onto American soil, arms handcuffed behind her back. The officers on either side were so startled to see the young woman who had been taken hostage running towards them that they didn't react at first.
It was Regina throwing her arms around Emma's neck that spurred them into action. The two officers tried to unclasp the brunette's grip and pull her away.
"No!" she cried, holding on tighter. "Don't take her!"
"Regina," Emma hissed in her ear. "Let me go."
"No," Regina said, burrowing her face against Emma's neck, inhaling the now familiar musky smell. Considering Emma lived on the street, she practiced excellent hygiene but it was undeniable that the woman needed a wash. Regina didn't care however, and pressed her nose into the soft skin. Her lips, too, made contact with Emma's body. They tingled, and it wasn't because of the open wound slashed across the upper one.
"Miss Mills," an officer said, his arm now wrapped firmly around Regina's waist. "Let go of this woman."
"Regina," Emma said again. "Do what they say. I'll be ok."
"No, you won't," Regina said, pulling back to look at Emma and ignoring the man tugging at her body. "You're under arrest."
"I deserve to be," Emma said, wishing she could wrap Regina in her arms the way the brunette was doing to her. Despite the dire situation, white hot desire had coursed through her veins at the feeling of Regina's body against her own.
"No, you don't," Regina said. "You kept me safe. She kept me safe," she announced louder to the officers around her. "Emma kept me safe. She didn't do anything wrong. You have to let her go."
"Regina, come with us."
"No, Sidney," Regina said without turning to the man she knew was behind her.
"Regina, please. Let this woman go."
A firm jerk to Regina's waist and she was forced to release her grasp. Stumbling backwards, brown eyes filled with tears again, Regina felt her father's arm come to wrap around her shoulder and steer her forcefully away, Sidney following close behind. Emma watched, her own eyes sparkling, as Regina was led away.
"Come on," said one of the officers who was holding her arm. "Let's go."
Unable to do anything but obey, Emma fell into step and allowed herself to be steered towards a police car. Just before a hand landed on her head to guide her inside, she looked behind her. There was no sign of Regina. She gave way to the pressure against her skull and sunk into the car. The door snapped shut and the officer who had climbed in beside her secured the seat belt. Moments later the driver pulled away.
Emma took a deep breath, the lingering scent of Regina rising from her clothes and curling into her nostrils. She closed her eyes. A tear squeezed from beneath her lashes and dripped down her cheek.
A/N: should I change the rating on AO3 to include Major Character Death? I mean, was Neal a main character? I hope no one minded that I killed him. He had it coming, right?