Summary: When women start being murdered in her small hometown of Bon Temps, Sheriff Emma Swan seeks help from an unlikely ally: Killian Jones, a 300-year-old vampire who owns a pirate themed bar in Shreveport.

A/N: This is a Captain Swan/True Blood (or Sookie Stackhouse novels) crossover, but it's not necessary to have either watched True Blood or read the novels.

Chapter 2

Granny was the next victim of the Bon Temps serial killer, and that was when it became personal.

For as long as Emma could remember it was always her, Ruby, and Granny Lucas. When Emma was two years old, or so the story goes, her parents were killed while on vacation in New Orleans. A mugging gone wrong, she was told when she got older. So, Emma spent some time in the foster care system, finally landing with the Swans, a nice couple from Baton Rouge. But when Mrs. Swan became pregnant with a child of her own, the Swans could no longer afford to keep Emma, and sent her back into the system. That's when Adele Lucas decided to take in another child to give her granddaughter Ruby, a companion. Ruby and Emma grew up as close as can be, like sisters to one another, and Granny, like the mother neither of them had ever had.

"I-I just don't understand," Ruby sobbed into Emma's shoulder. "Who would do something like this? G-Granny never hurt anyone."

Emma did her best to comfort her friend while struggling to keep her own composure. "I don't know," she said, her voice wobbling slightly. She couldn't get the image of Granny's beaten body out of her head. The stark contrast of her blood against the white tiles of the diner's floor would be seared into her memory forever. "I just don't know," she repeated dumbly.

Feeling absolutely helpless, Emma passed Ruby off to one of her deputies to take her statement. With shaking fingers, she dialed Graham's number and asked him to come to the crime scene. He must have been very close because within seconds, he had breezed into the diner.

His eyes darted around the scene, taking it all in, and his fangs dropped down at the scent of all the blood. She could tell the moment he realized whose body lay prone on the floor when his eyes flashed over to her. He was next to her immediately, arms winding around her and pulling her against his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Emma," Graham said as she stood rigid in his embrace, blinking back tears. She couldn't grieve now, not when she had a job to do.

Emma pulled back, giving him a tight lipped smile. "I need you to see if you can pick out the killer's scent," she told him, pleading with her eyes for him not to say anything else. If he asked her if she was okay, she knew she would fall apart.

He nodded. "Of course," he said. He walked around the crime scene, his nose twitching slightly the only tell that he was inhaling through it. To both of their dismay's, he was unsuccessful.

"There's too many scents in here for me to distinguish just one," he told her grimly. "I'm sorry I can't be of more help."

"It was a long shot," Emma sighed, waving his apologies away.

They remained silent for a moment, watching the Renard Parish forensics team take photos of the crime scene. Graham shifted uneasily and Emma, accustomed to his stillness, shot him a questioning look.

He wouldn't look at her. "This is my fault."

Emma raised her eyebrows at him. She had not been expecting that. "How exactly is this your fault?"

"I've been staying in one of the rooms at Granny's inn for a few nights while they renovate my place to make it light tight," Graham explained, his accent thickening with his agitation. "If Granny hadn't've said yes, the killer never would have targeted her."

She was shaking her head before he even finished. "This is not your fault, Graham," Emma said firmly. "The only one who's responsible is the sick son of a bitch who's behind these killings. And I'm going to find him and make him pay."

Easier said than done, Emma thought a few nights later, as she slammed down the phone on another dead end. It had been a rough couple of days as she fought to keep her emotions in check. Henry had been understandably devastated, and she didn't know how to comfort him when she was barely keeping it together herself. The best thing she could think to do was set him up with a couple of appointments with Archie Hopper, the school guidance counselor and hope that he could offer her son some kind of closure.

Emma rubbed at her eyes in defeat. The coroner's report had come back the same as it had with the other two women. Granny, tough as nails and with a tongue as sharp as a whip, had been bludgeoned to death with the same peculiar shaped object that the medical examiner could not place. Gold flecks had been extracted from some Granny's wounds, but the material wasn't a match for anything in their system.

She had reached a dead end. There were no new leads, no fingerprints, and no one with any motive beyond the typical prejudices held by more than just a few people in Bon Temps. The killer had covered his tracks impeccably, and it made her burn inside with anger at the thought of him out there still, possibly seeking his next victim. Emma hated to admit it, but she needed help.

A quick Google search was all it took to get the number she needed, and she dialed it quickly in her cellphone before she could talk herself out of it.

"Dead Man's Chest, it's a pirate's afterlife for us, how may I help you?" asked a female voice on the other side of the line.

Well, cheesy slogan aside, at least she had the right place. She could hear the background noise of the club over the woman's voice. "Um, hi," Emma said tentatively. "I need to speak to Killian Jones, please."

"The Captain is busy, try again later," the woman responded immediately, a slight edge to her tone now.

Emma frowned. "Can you tell him that it's Emma Swan?" she asked, hoping she hadn't made a mistake in thinking he'd remember her from a visit that had been a couple weeks ago.

"I don't think that will make much of a diff-"

There was a pause as she was cut off, and suddenly there was a whooshing sound and the slamming of a door before the noise of the club were silenced, as if the person holding the phone had gone into another room.

"Miss Swan," came a smooth, accented voice, and Emma couldn't suppress the shiver that went down her spine. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?"

Emma sighed. Why couldn't vampires just say hello like normal people? "There's been another murder," she told him, cutting right to the chase. "This one hit pretty close to home. I've gotta find this guy, and, well..." She faltered for a second. "You did say you would help me if I needed it."

The other end of the line was silent. "I must confess, I am surprised you would take up my offer, love," Killian said finally, and she could hear the smirk on his face. "Why not go to Humbert?"

It was a question that Emma had asked herself, and she had yet to come up with an answer. "I don't know," she answered truthfully. "I just have a feeling you'll be able to help me more than he would."

Emma had learned over the years to always go with her gut, and her gut was telling her that somehow he would help her solve this case.

He was silent again, and Emma wished she was speaking to him in person just to be able to have a shot at gauging his answer by his facial expressions. "I like to think that I am a man of my word," Killian told her in a brisk tone. "Therefore, I will endeavor to help you in any way I can. Be at the club tomorrow night at 9 PM. Bring your case files."

A click signaled that he had hung up, and on her end Emma let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and put her phone down. Apparently, vampires had trouble with goodbyes as well.

She threaded her fingers through her hair, and prayed that she wouldn't regret this. A quick glance at the clock in her office told her she had about 10 minutes to get home in time to tuck Henry in, so she packed up her things, locked up the station, and headed out. This time tomorrow night, she would be on her way to Dead Man's Chest.

The next night, she tucked Henry in tight, and kissed him on the top of his forehead. "Sweet dreams, kid," she said.

"You're going back to that vampire bar tonight, aren't you?" he asked before she'd pulled away. Emma gave him a look and he shrugged. "I may have overheard you talking to Aunt Ruby about it."

"Henry, what have I told you about eavesdropping?" Emma asked resignedly.

"Sorry," he said, only the slightest hint of sheepishness on his face.

Emma sighed. "I am going back to that bar," she told him. "But I don't want you to worry about me. I'll be fine."

"I know," Henry said, closing his eyes and settling into his pillow. "And I know you'll catch whoever killed Granny. Stopping bad guys is what you do."

Emma wished she had as much faith in herself as her son did.

When she came out to the living room, she started when she saw Graham standing next to Ruby until she remembered that she'd asked him to pop over.

"Maybe you can talk her out of this," Ruby said to Graham, a sour pout on her lips.

"Out of what?" he asked, looking from her to Ruby in confusion.

Ruby shook her head and held her hands up in a universal, 'don't look at me' expression. "Be back before 2 AM or I'm sending in the state troopers," she directed at Emma, before stalking off into the kitchen, her long, raven hair swinging after her.

"She's just being dramatic," Emma said, shrugging into her leather jacket. Emma knew her best friend probably wouldn't have accepted the babysitting job if she hadn't been desperate to get out of the inn, where everything reminded her of Granny. She headed out the front door and Graham followed her. "I'm going back to Dead Man's Chest tonight."

"You're what?" Graham practically shouted behind her. He was usually so soft spoken that it surprised her momentarily.

"Killian said he would help me with this case," she reasoned. "I'm running out of options at this point, and it's only a matter of time before the killer chooses his next victim."

"Emma, you can't go to Killian," Graham implored. "If he helps you, he'll want some sort of favor in return. You can't trust him."

"I'm only telling you as a courtesy," Emma said bluntly. "I'm not asking for your permission or your protection." He opened his mouth to protest, but she rounded on him, cutting him off. "I'm not yours, Graham. You may think I am, this whole town might think so too, but have you ever even asked me out on a date?"

He floundered, his mouth opening and closing for a moment, before he sighed and shook his head ruefully. "No, I suppose I haven't," he said. He stepped closer to her, though, eyes holding hers seriously. "But Emma, you don't know Killian like I do. He was a dangerous man and he's become even more so as a vampire."

"I think I need dangerous if I'm going to stop the guy," Emma blurted out, eyes darting away from him. Vampire though he was, Graham was decidedly not dangerous, what with his waistcoats, perfectly gelled hair, and penchant for dart playing.

"At least allow me to come with you," he said after a moment. "Please."

Emma considered it. There was stubborn, and then there was stupid, and she would be bordering on the latter if she chose not to bring him with her.

"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes at his smug look. She pointed a finger at him. "But I don't need you and Killian getting into it, so whatever you have against him, check it at the door, got it?"

Graham nodded. "Consider it checked," he said, and sped over to the passenger seat as if she was going to drive off without him.

A minute later they were on their way to Shreveport for the second time in two weeks.

The bar's parking lot had a bunch of cars in it, but there was no bouncer or line at the front door. Instead, a notice had been tacked up that said, 'Closed for Staff Meeting.' Emma raised her eyebrows at Graham who shrugged in return, opening the door and ushering her through.

Without the loud music, flashing lights, and pirate costumes, Dead Man's Chest looked kind of like a grungy seafood restaurant. Situated at the tables, were several people, human and vampire alike, and Emma recognized a couple of them from when she'd been there last.

Suddenly, a tiny blonde woman appeared in front of her. "Perfect, you're here. We can start soon," she said, smiling brightly. The effect was somewhat ruined by her protruding fangs. "We weren't properly introduced last time, but I'm Tink."

Emma blinked at her. "Um, Emma," she returned, eyeing the other people over her shoulder. "Are we interrupting something? Killian told me to be here at 9."

"Nope, not interrupting!" Tink told her. "Come on, Killian wants to see you in his office beforehand."

Before what? Emma wanted to ask, but followed along after Tink anyway. Beside her, Graham's jaw was set tensely, but he remained silent. She suspected courtesy kept him from saying, 'I told you so.'

Tink led them past the bathrooms to where Killian's office was situated, entering a code on the door, and gesturing them in ahead of her. Killian was seated at his desk, but rose to his feet when she walked in. Today he was without the pirate get up, but still in black, with black jeans and a black t-shirt on that hugged his figure enticingly. Her mouth practically ran dry at the sight of him.

"Ah, Swan, glad you could make it," Killian said, his blue eyes smoldering at her. He didn't look surprised to see Graham, and gave him a short nod. "Humbert."

"I brought the files," Emma said, before either of them could say anything else. He crossed to in front of his desk, and she handed him the stack.

Which he promptly took one contemplative look at before tossing them on his desk.

Emma narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms. "You didn't bring me here to look at the files, did you?"

Killian's patronizing smile did little to calm her down. "Yes and no," he said, leaning back against his desk. Emma felt Graham shift restlessly behind her. "I'm going to help you solve your case, but not before you help me solve one of my own."

Emma almost wished she'd brought along little wooden bullets for her gun. She would have loved to put a couple holes in him. "Is this some sort of game to you?"

"No, I assure you, this is nothing like a game," he replied, deadly serious now. He nodded to Tink and she handed her a piece of paper. "One of my employees is stealing money from me, and I want to find out who."

Emma peered down at the paper. If the numbers here were correct, Killian was out about $25,000; a nice chunk of change. "And you want me to do what, exactly?" she asked, looking back up at him. "Interrogate these people until one of them confesses?"

He leaned closer to her, that insufferable smirk on his face again. "I want you to use your superpower."

It was a shame she had never quite perfected her pokerface. "My what?" she repeated, resisting the urge to look at Graham accusingly. She had told him about that in confidence.

"Your 'superpower'," Killian said again. He gestured to Graham with a nod of his head. "Graham tells me you have the ability to detect lies. A handy little talent to have as law enforcement, I'm sure." He smiled, probably noticing the dirty look Emma threw at Graham. "Don't be mad at Humbert. After our first meeting, I made him tell me everything about you, and as his superior, he couldn't refuse."

"You're kind of a bastard, you know that?" Emma couldn't help but blurt out.

Killian laughed openly, but didn't deny it. "You're not the first person to tell me that, love, and I'm certain you won't be the last." He sobered up quickly, though, holding her gaze with his. "Help me, and I will help you find the killer in your town, Emma," he told her. "I promise."

What she should have done was walk right out of there and found a different solution; talked to more people, chased down more leads. But Emma was never one to dwell on shoulda, coulda, wouldas.

"Okay, I'll help you."

TBC

A/N: I'm so floored by all of your guys' reviews for Chapter 1! So glad you all liked it and are excited for this fic! I for one am SOOOO excited, and I have a ton of ideas for where all of our favorite Once characters fit into this world! A bunch of people called for Neal being the killer for obvious reasons (for those who don't know, Michael Raymond-James played the killer, Rene in True Blood), but I have other plans for him in this fic, so he will be there somewhere down the line!

If you liked this chapter, please let me know! Your reviews will only encourage me to write the next chapter faster :)