"I'm not wearing a bloody uniform, mate," Killian said in a childish tone, looking at the hideous brown uniform as if it had offended him personally.
"It's mandatory," Graham tried to convince him.
"You don't wear one. If you can exert authority wearing a leather jacket, so can I," Killian cocked an eyebrow at him. "Besides, brown doesn't suit my complexion."
Graham chuckled. "Oh well, if it's ruining your good looks..." He held out a badge in his hand. "At least wear the badge? Make it official?"
"That I can definitely do," Killian said and Graham tossed him the badge. He caught it and moved to clip it on his belt.
The moment he finished the clipping the room around them began to shake, with objects falling off shelves and glass shattering all around. Killian grabbed a hold of the desk, riding out the tremor. Then it was over almost immediately, a moment of calm before Killian registered the noise of car alarms going off outside and every phone in the place started to ring. Graham lift his head to smile at him. "Welcome to Storybrooke Sheriff's Station, Deputy Jones."
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Killian and Graham made their way outside the town, towards what seemed an old digging area and a mine collapse. Regina was already there, addressing the people that had gathered.
"Everyone, step back!" She noticed Graham and went to stand next to him. "Sheriff, set up a police perimeter. Marco, can you assist the fire department?" she ordered around before she made a point of acknowledging Killian's presence. "Mr. Jones, this is official town business. You're free to go…"
"Actually, Madam Mayor," Killian said nonchalantly, "I work for the town now."
"He's my deputy," Graham explained and Killian couldn't resist moving his leather jacket aside to accentuate the shiny new badge clipped to his belt.
Regina's face contorted horribly for a second before she gathered herself, her tone cold and collected as she addressed Graham. "They say the Mayor is always last to know…"
Graham remained silent for a second, calmly resisting Regina's stare before he spoke. "It's in my budget," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Very well, then," Regina said, straightening her coat. "Deputy Jones." She almost spat the words, the vile palpable in them. "Why don't you make yourself useful and help with crowd control?"
He should have just nodded and gotten right to work, but there was still a part of Killian that didn't want to make it too easy on her. Instead he waited, looking pointedly at Graham. It was only when the other man nodded that Killian started to move. "Coming right away, Madam Mayor," he said as he made his way towards the patrol car to retrieve the yellow police tape.
He could still hear Regina's voice as she made a speech for the gathered crowd.
"People of Storybrooke, don't be alarmed. We've always known this area was honeycombed with old mining tunnels. But fear not. I'm going to undertake a project to make this area safe – to rehabilitate it for town use. We will bulldoze it, collapse it, pave it."
"Pave it?" Henry's voice sounded frazzled as she approached his mother. "What if there's something down there?"
"Henry? What are you doing here?" Regina asked for what must have been the tenth time in less than a week, frustration creeping into her voice. Killian couldn't quite blame her.
"What's down there?" Henry insisted.
Oh, lad, don't do that to your mother.
"Nothing, now step back!" Regina said in a clipped tone. "In fact, everyone! Please, please step back. Thank you." Most of the crowd started to disperse, muttering among themselves. Killian moved to wave them away, but not before he saw Regina take a surreptitious glance around before carefully bending and picking something from the ground, slipping it into her coat pocket.
"What was that?" Oh Lord, Henry was relentless sometimes.
"Henry, enough. Listen. This is a safety issue. Wait in the car!" Regina said, giving Killian and Graham another sharp direction to cordon off the area before moving to talk to Marco.
Killian busied himself setting up the perimeter when he heard Henry's insistent whispers calling his name. He finished what he was doing, and went to meet Henry by the patrol car, surprised to see Archie in tow. The lad was hunched low, clearly trying to avoid his mother's line of sight.
"This requires all of Operation Cobra. Both of you."
"I didn't realize I was in Operation Cobra," Archie said, baffled.
"Of course you are," Henry said solemnly. "You know everything." His eyes darted back and forth between Archie and Killian as he continued speaking. "We can't let her do this. What if there's something down there?"
"They're just some old tunnels, lad," Killian replied, trying to divert Henry from his line of thinking.
"That just happen to collapse right after you get here?" Henry however, was in no mood to be dissuaded. Killian looked to Archie for help, but the other man seemed as helpless as he felt. "You're changing things. You're weakening the curse."
"Henry, that is not what's happening and you should not be doing this," Killian cocked an eyebrow at him, the tone of his voice taking him by surprise. Since when had he decided to emulate his father? He sounded exactly how Brennan used to when he lectured him and Liam. Those thoughts were quickly discarded from his mind - he didn't want to revisit the memories anyway - when Henry kept talking, his voice raising a pitch in frustration.
"Yes, it is! Did you do anything different today? 'Cause something made this happen."
Killian's hand reached for the badge that was now clipped to his belt, his fingers gracing the cold metal. It couldn't be - it made no sense. He was falling into Henry's delusions and he shouldn't-
Regina's sudden appearance broke Killian out of his internal monologue, and it effectively ended the subversive little meeting Henry was ring-leading.
"Henry, I told you, wait in the car!" She tugged him by the sleeve, back in the direction of her black Mercedes. "Deputy, do you job," she shouted back over her shoulder. He did so, but not before witnessing Regina asking Archie to stay.
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Killian sat with Mary Margaret at their kitchen island early the next afternoon, commiserating over her situation with David and watching the woman make s'mores. It should have made Killian uncomfortable - this little scene had girl talk written all over it - but somehow he felt at ease as he engulfed the fantastic homemade treat and listen to Mary Margaret's sigh.
"I'm the worst person in the world."
"Please, lass, you're not even the worst person in this town," Killian pointed out and she gave him a small smile. "Or this room."
She rolled her eyes in an affectionate way. "If Kathryn was horrible it'd be easier, but she's so…nice."
He didn't like that tone, or what she was saying. He knew where that led and he didn't want that for Mary Margaret. She deserved so much better than being reduced to the dirty little secret on the side.
"What, exactly, would be easier?" He tried to maintain a calm tone, his voice low as he enunciated the words, letting the meaning brew between them.
"Nothing," she shook her head, realizing where her thoughts had led her.
"Nothing's a good idea," Killian confirmed. "You deserved better than this, Mary Margaret. You're smart – you know not to get involved with someone who is already married. It's not worth the heartache – trust me."
She cocked an eyebrow at him and Killian felt his cheeks burn with shame. He wasn't proud of his past, there were several things he'd wished he'd done differently when he was blinded by grief and heartache. And he certainly didn't want to revisit them now. "A tale for another day, perhaps?" he offered and she smiled. There was an insistent knock on the door and Killian stood up. "I'll get it."
When he opened the door, the sight in front of him broke his heart and made his pulse quicken. Henry was standing there, tears in his eyes, panting as he continued sobbing.
"Lad, what happened?" he asked alarmed and Henry didn't even hesitate, launching himself into Killian's arms, hugging him tightly. Killian's arms closed on the boy's little frame, each one of his sobs breaking his heart. "Tell me, Henry."
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It had taken Killian a considerable amount of time to calm Henry after the lad told him what Archie had said to him. Then he'd dropped the lad off at Regina's office, and taken a considerable amount of time to calm himself.
His first instinct was to barge into the man's office and pummel him to the ground. Unfortunately, he'd just taken the job as deputy, and he already had one complaint filed against him for threatening Archie - albeit it being a bunch of lies. He simply couldn't take the risk. Henry was all that mattered and ensuring the lad's safety - both physically and mentally- was his main priority.
That didn't stop him for showing up anyway, knocking insistently with his fist, and barging right in when there came no immediate answer.
Archie was sitting on the couch, his loyal Dalmatian by his side, sipping a drink. "Archie, what did you do? You told me not to take the fantasy away. You told me it would devastate him. And now you do this?" His hand clenched into a fist at his side, and Killian took a deep calming breath.
"Of course, but if therapy stops working, you adjust it," Archie said, his words sounding like a justification he was still trying to sell to himself.
"Was it something that Regina said?" Killian trod carefully with his words, but he couldn't help replaying the scene the day before, in which it seemed that Regina was verbally beating up Archie.
Archie stood up, crossing his arms over his chest defensively. "I do not need to defend my professional decisions to you," he said, his voice shaking a little.
Killian's inner lie detector picked up on the hesitance of his voice and he knew he'd struck a chord. Regina had played a part in this, he just wasn't sure to what extent. His phone rang and he checked the number before answering. "Madam Mayor, to what do I owe the pleasure of your calling?"
"Is he with you?"
"I'm with Dr. Hopper at the moment and I'm afraid your tactics have only-" he started but he was cut off by Regina's insistence.
"Not him. Henry." Killian's heart sank on his chest. "Is he with you?"
"I dropped Henry at your office an hour ago," he supplied, feeling the goosebumps rising on his arms.
"Well, he's not here."
"I don't know where Henry is," Killian said and Archie cleared his throat, fear and apprehension in his eyes.
"I think I do." His grim certainty did nothing to appease Killian's fears, it only fueled them more.
Henry, what have you done?
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Archie and Killian drove towards the entrance of the old mine and scouted the place, calling Henry's name. Killian hadn't even been sure Henry was there in the first place, but the sight of one of his candy bars quickly convinced them both that he was there, somewhere.
Killian was a little further from the entrance when another earthquake hit, but Archie was already inside, calling for Henry. Killian rushed towards the place, but he didn't make it in time before the rocks collapsed and the entry was closed.
He stood there, cursing everything in life as he called for Archie and Henry, before reaching for his phone and dialing Graham's number.
It didn't take long until volunteers and the fire department were there, Marco and Graham - and Killian - overseeing the removal of the rocks that were blocking the entrance.
"Archie's smart. He will keep the boy safe until we get to them," Marco promised but it only seemed to be empty words as another tremor began, evidence of another collapse.
"Stop!" Regina screamed, fear sipping through her voice. "Stop! You're making it worse!"
"We're trying to save him," Killian said, trying to contain his own emotions. "He went down there because he was upset, he feels he has something to prove."
"And why does he think he has anything to prove? Who's encouraging him?" Regina spat, her tone raising as she lashed out on him.
"Do not put this on me," Killian said in a calming but threatening voice. "I did not do this to him."
"Oh, please! Lecture me until his oxygen runs out!" Regina said before she walked out on him, voicing her deepest fear - and his - with a trembling voice and tears in her eyes.
Killian took two calming breaths and counted to ten before he went after her. "We have to stop this. Arguing won't accomplish anything," he said as his eyes bore into hers, hoping she could see he cared about the lad's safety as much as she did.
"No, it won't," she acknowledged and Killian could tell she was battling with herself.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
"Help me," she pleaded.
He nodded. He would help her find Henry and after that, he was going to ground the lad until he was eighteen. Killian wondered how the Joneses had ever put up with him and Liam back in the day. It was a miracle they hadn't collapsed from a heart attack.
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The explosives had been a long shot, and the fact that it didn't work only put everyone in a worse mood. Regina was lashing out, demanding explanations and trying to understand what the next course of action could be. If they only knew where they were, they could drill in the place. But they needed a location for that.
And that bloody dog needed to stop barking. Killian thought for one second before an idea came to him. It was a long shot, but they were already grasping at straws anyway. He made his way towards the fire truck and released the dog.
"Go tell us where Archie is, boy," he encouraged and the dog put his nose in the ground as he sniffed and tracked. Killian followed, and it wasn't long until Pongo settled on one spot, pawing at the ground and barking. Graham and Marco rushed to clear the area and lift a wood plank from it. Killian smiled - there was an air shaft. There was hope.
The preparations took place quickly. Marco and Graham helping pull the iron grating that covered the shaft. It looked narrow and steep and - to be honest - quite dangerous.
"So, what now?" Regina asked as she took one step and peeped over into the hole.
"You need to lower someone straight down, or the line will collapse the side of the shaft," Marco explained.
"I've got a harness," Graham said as he lifted his arm to show it.
"Lower me down," Regina said as she rubbed her hands over her tailored pants.
"Perhaps I should go," Killian offered, only to be met by Regina's furious stare.
"He's my son."
He swallowed, his voice throaty as he spoke again. "He's my son too… You've been sitting on a desk for ten years, Madam Mayor. I've been chasing skips and getting in tighter spots than this. I can't do a lot of things-" he trailed off, his eyes meeting hers. "I don't know what TV show is appropriate for him, or what he should be learning at school. I don't know his clothes' size, or what he needs when his stomach aches at night, but this. This I can do."
She looked at him, studying him before she took a step forward, grasping his arm. "Just bring him home to me," she pleaded.
"Aye, I promise," he said as he reached for the harness and prepared himself to be lowered down.
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It was a narrow and deep way down, Killian's heart beating frantically in his chest, trying very hard to keep the fears at bay as he focused on the simple task of making it to where Henry and Archie were. He didn't want to dwell on the dread and anxiety that was creeping up on him, taking residence in his mind and painting him somber scenarios. No, he wouldn't. He would rescue Henry. He was not going to lose the lad again.
Not after just finding him. Not after losing Emma already.
The moment he saw the old elevator on the shaft and he heard Henry's voice, he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Hang on, lad, I'm coming," he yelled as he carefully placed his feet on the top of the elevator and pulled on the gate. Archie and Henry stood up, the first one grabbing Henry and lifting him. Killian reached out, the painful ache in his chest easing the moment his arms closed on his son's frame. "I've got you, boy," he whispered as Henry kept crawling and he had a good hold on him. The moment Henry was secured in his arms, the shaft started shaking, the elevator moving back and forth as if it were to collapse. Killian called for Archie but there was little he could do as he was holding on Henry.
"It's okay," Archie called before everything became a deafening sound as the elevator's line cut and it fell into the precipice.
Killian wished he could have saved him, he could have spared Henry the pain.
He dared to look down and found himself smiling at the sight of Archie holding on, his umbrella hooked on one of his carabiners.
"That's the perfect use of an umbrella, mate," he laughed before he radioed the outside to ask them to throw down a second rope and pull them up.
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It had been a slow process to pull them all up, but by the time they reached the surface, Marco was pulling Archie out and Killian handed Henry to Regina. She took him off of his arms and pulled him away from Killian.
It stung, but Killian knew that Regina wasn't going to have a change of heart over one single moment in which they had bonded over Henry. Nevertheless, he felt the need to see for the safety of his son again and after he was rid of the gear, he made his way to check on Henry.
He was met by Regina's quick shove and an order to clear up the crowd. Killian sighed, his heart breaking a little but masking those feelings as he gave Henry a soft smile before he moved to do the work.
It was a tedious ordeal to clear the crowd away and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Regina and Archie deep in conversation. Whatever words were being exchanged between Hopper and the Mayor, they were not pretty. Archie walked away and Regina's eyes set on him. If looks could kill, Killian would be dead by now.
But none of that mattered to him, only one thing mattered at that point in the night, after the hellish day he'd had.
He walked over to where Henry sat, shock blanket draped over him. He was conscious of Regina's eyes on him, but beyond bloody caring by this point.
"Lad," he said as he reached Henry's side, his hand clasping on the boy's shoulder. "I can't begin to explain how relieved I am that you're okay."
Henry smiled at him, that boyish smirk Killian knew so well. That one - that smirk was on him. And now he would have the satisfaction of wiping it off his face. "That being said..." His expression changed, a stern tone coming to his voice. "You're grounded. Whatever punishment your mother decides on for your grounding, you will accept. Every single last condition. You will not do something like this again. Ever."
He kneeled, his eyes leveling with his son's, desperation in his voice. "Rule number four: Henry, nothing, nothing is more important than your safety. No curse, no proof waiting to be found, no evil scheme. Nothing. Do you hear me?"
Henry nodded and Killian pulled him into his arms, briefly embracing. "Now go home to your mother. You've scared her enough these past few days."
He broke the hug and stood up, turning around and meeting Regina's amused stare. "Madam Mayor," he saluted as he made his way towards his car, desperate for a long shower and some of Mary Margaret's hot chocolate, one thought flowing to his mind.
Brennan Jones would be proud.