Title: A Life of It

Author: Roguie etc…

Part: 12/?

Fandom: Once Upon a Time

Characters: Emma/Killian

World: AU Modern

Rating: T, with the likelihood it will change to M over time, because I'm weak like that.

Warnings: Child abuse, bullying, mentions of potential molestation, all the bad things you'd expect to find in a poorly executed foster care system.

Spoilers: It's AU, so not likely.

Summary: Everywhere she was sent, he was there, her savior, the boy with blue eyes. He should have meant nothing to her, just another person that had to leave, but he meant everything. Against all odds, he kept coming back.

Disclaimer: OuaT is not mine, if it were, tackle hugs and sweet kisses would be our norm. Also, there would be way more, *cough*, sword practice scenes between our Captain and his Swan.

A/N: So… who hugged a pirate last night? :D Did I scare anybody? Anybody at all? Or have I earned enough trust through the last 30 thousand words that I will fix what I break, hmm? :P~ Well, either way, here you go, four thousand words of explanations… and pushing this story just a little bit further onwards. We're just about finished with the kids games… the big boys have come out to play. Say hello to Officer Hott.. uh.. Humbert… :P~

~~~?~~~

Killian Jones had never prayed so hard in his life as he did in the time it took to tear out of their little apartment and down to Liam's truck. His hand clenched until bright streaks of pain shot up his arms and lights shot across his eyes, but that pain was nothing in comparison to the clenching of his heart as he thought about what vile things Neal could have done to his girl.

The images running through his mind were merciless. He thought of Neal holding her down, thought of her crying in fear and then in pain. He thought of the broken look that would manifest in those pretty green eyes of hers, knowing that someone she trusted had taken from her something she could never take back.

His mind screamed at him. His heart threatened to stop beating. His temple pulsed with the pure, unadulterated rage that coursed through his blood.

"Calm yourself, little brother," Liam said quietly from the driver's seat, his own cheek twitching with how tightly together he clenched his teeth. "Whatever has happened, happened. Your first thought should be of the girl, how to help her. Once she's been settled we can discuss what should happen next."

"If that fucker did anything, anything to her…" Killian ground out, punching his ruined fist into the dashboard and using the fresh bout of pain to distract him from his torturous thoughts.

"Whatever he's done, he will pay, brother, one way or another, but he is not your priority." Liam's calm voice was a balm to Killian's rage, soothing him as they pulled into Ruby's driveway. Still, Killian was out of the truck and pounding on the front door before his brother had a chance to even put the vehicle into park.

"Emma?! Ruby?! Damnit! Someone open the door!"

A flash of guilt crossed his features as Granny appeared in the doorway, her lips curled downwards in disapproval at the commotion. Still, something in her eyes told Killian she'd not scold him with any sort of heat, not on that night. He didn't miss the shotgun that she carried at her side, or the long look she gave him before setting it in front of the closet door and unlocking the barrier between them.

"As my granddaughter said to allow you into our home, Mr. Jones, I will trust you're not the one who put his hands on our girl?"

"Fuck, no," Killian ground out without thinking, surprised as he earned a chuckle from the old lady, followed up immediately by Liam's hand to the back of his head as his brother approached from behind.

"Manners, lad," Liam bit out before turning to hold out a hand to Granny. "Liam Jones, ma'am; I apologize for my brother, but he's understandably upset at the moment."

Granny shook her head before shaking Liam's hand. She turned back to Killian and smiled softly. "Go on, boy. They're in the basement."

Killian eased past her carefully before taking off for the kitchen and the basement door, barreling down the stairs two and three at a time.

"Em?"

The girls were sitting on the sofa; Ruby had a bag of peas pressed up to Emma's face, trying to control the colorful bruising that was already appearing on her pale skin.

"Jesus," he groaned, moving towards them.

"Careful of her wrist," Ruby warned, moving away from Emma so Killian could take her place next to his girl. Emma's wrist was wrapped tightly in a white bandage, the purple color of her fingertips telling the story of the swelling that was already happening underneath Granny's careful tending.

"What the fuck, princess?" His voice was rough as he leaned over her, pulling her carefully into his arms and taking over holding the frozen vegetables to her skin.

"Neal," she said simply, shrugging.

"I realize it was fucking Neal, the fucker texted me all sorts of shit about you after you stopped. What happened?" His heart thumped in his chest as he carefully chose his terrified words. "He said… did he… I mean… are you okay? Fuck!"

Emma chuckled softly through her pain, leaning her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes. "He didn't." She said simply, feeling the shudder course through Killian's body, and the bulk of his tension flow out of him in an instant. For a second she thought he was going to pass out, the release of the buildup he'd been carrying so fast and strong, but after a few deep breaths he tightened his arms around her. "Don't get me wrong, he pretty much thought he was getting it tonight. He wasn't too happy when he figured out that I wasn't giving it up."

Killian groaned, kissing her temple with warm, dry lips. "He did this because you wouldn't?"

She nodded quietly. "Something else was going on with him too. He didn't say what it was but he was twitchy, nervous. I guess I left my door open when I came in to text you; I didn't realize he was watching me until he'd grabbed the phone out of my hands and started reading our conversation. Jesus, there wasn't even anything bad in it tonight, but he lost his shit and just started screaming at me that I was his and I was embarrassing him carrying on with you. Kept saying all the guys already thought we were screwing and now they think I'm screwing you too and playing him like an idiot and he keeps putting up with it even though he's getting nothing out of it. He lost his mind, telling me that the least I could do was open my legs after everything he'd done for me. He threw my phone across the room and tried to climb onto the bed with me, so I kicked him in the balls." She grinned suddenly, and then winced at the pain that flashed through her face at the movement. "Shit!"

Killian chuckled softly, rocking her in his arms. "Of course you did, and it's a bloody hard hit you have when you go for the important parts, too. I can tell you that much. The rest of the experience I've mercifully buried under much nicer, happier thoughts."

"Told you I could take care of myself," she grinned again, more careful this time of her bruising.

"I never doubted you for a second, pretty girl."

"Anyway, he caught my leg as I was getting off the bed, so of course I fell on my face, bashed myself right off the bedpost. Almost knocked myself cold, but I think that startled him too because he let me go for a second. It was long enough that I was able to get to my feet and run for it."

"What happened to your wrist?"

She shrugged. "He was between me and the door so I went for the window, he caught me just as I got my legs over the ledge. The force of me trying to drop to the ground and his grip on my wrist snapped it like a twig."

"We gotta get you to the hospital, Em, or that's not gonna set right." He held his hand up in front of her face, for the first time truly letting her look at his twisted, broken bones. "You don't wanna end up looking like me, do you?"

He felt her giggle softly against him; he relaxed back into the sofa and pulled her further onto his chest, holding her tightly.

"I dunno," she giggled out, burying her face in his neck, not meeting his eyes. "His and hers injuries? We could start a new couple's trend."

"How about not?"

Ruby appeared out of the basement bathroom, carrying a freshly cooled cloth that she exchanged for the bag of peas. "So, hospital?" She smiled brightly.

"Ruby," she groaned, "I've had worse than this before. It'll heal."

The brunette raised an eyebrow and gave Killian her best bitch glare. "Fix this."

Emma felt Killian mock shudder under her before she found his arms shifting and then they both rose from the sofa, Killian carrying her like a child towards the stairs.

"Killian!"

"Shut up, pretty girl. Your best friend is a terrifying beast. I refuse to piss her off anymore than I've already done." He winked over his shoulder at Ruby as she followed them up the stairs and into the kitchen where Liam and Granny were waiting for them.

"Liam, we'll need a ride to the hospital."

"Jesus, Killian, I told you I'm okay."

"And I told you to shut up." He grinned down at her, gentling his words as he moved towards the front door.

"You have a lot to learn about women, little brother," Liam followed them closely, chuckling to himself as he opened the back seat, not questioning when Killian climbed in with Emma, repositioning her on his lap even while she hit him with her good hand, protesting that she could sit by herself.

"I broke my wrist, not my ass, you… you… pirate!" She struggled against him uselessly as he tightened his grip and held her close until she finally gave up.

"At least once in his life a pirate has to kidnap a princess, so shut up and let yourself be kidnapped."

Ruby and Liam climbed into the front seat, both of them chuckling as the two struggled against each other. Killian only released her when they reached the hospital and the emergency room doctors pulled her away to assess her injuries. Killian received a couple odd looks from the nurses as Emma went with them, grumbling about pirates and kidnappings, to which he just shrugged innocently before settling into an uncomfortable plastic seat to begin the long wait for his princess's return.

~~~?~~~

Two hours passed before a doctor came out to let them know they were keeping Emma on a six hours observation. The thought she might have a mild concussion and weren't comfortable sending her home until they were sure she'd have no after effects.

"Are her parents here to sign the consent forms?" A nurse asked as she came out into the waiting area.

Killian looked at Liam and bit his lip. Liam sighed softly. "She has no parents, ma'am. I'll be speaking for her tonight until she has a new legal guardian assigned."

The nurse frowned, looking down at her paperwork. "I will have to report this to the children's welfare association, you understand."

Liam nodded gravely. "Let's just get her fixed up and worry about the consequences later."

"The police will be in to speak with her shortly. From what I understand she's not been forthcoming as to what happened?"

"I have yet to hear the whole story myself, ma'am," Liam answered honestly. "However, from what I've been told, the accident occurred at her current foster home and I am uncomfortable with the thought of sending her back into that environment. I'm sure you understand."

"Of course," she murmured, sympathetically. "Oh, and she's requesting that," she looked at her notes, "Killian join her when she has a moment. She's in ward three, bed five."

"Thank you," Liam murmured graciously, jerking his head at his little brother to indicate he should join them. "If you'd not mind leading us back? I'd not like to disturb the other patients as we look for her, and we're unfamiliar with this institution."

She nodded and led them through the corridors into a patient ward. She gestured at the bed hidden behind a wall of drapes, closest to the window, before hanging Emma's chart up outside the door and leaving them with a warning not to stay too long.

Killian pulled his chair up close to Emma's bed, grinning down at her, twisting a finger into the shoulder strap of her tank top. "What, did you hold a protest against the cute little paper dresses?"

Emma stuck her tongue out at him and shook her head. "No, I'm not staying over night so I don't have to wear the stupid thing. Get your peep show somewhere else, pirate."

Noticing the look of mischief that crossed Killian's face, Liam purposely turned away, shaking his head as Emma's sudden squeal and laughter filled the room. When Liam turned back, her undamaged cheek was bright pink, and Killian was laughing silently, rubbing his arm where she'd hit him.

A cocky remark was on the tip of Killian's lips, held only in check by the appearance of a police officer in the doorway. They all fell silent as they looked up at him, Killian shifting so that he was sitting on the edge of Emma's bed, immediately taking her hand into his own.

"Emma Swan? My name is Officer Humbert. I have a few questions to ask you with regards to your situation in your current foster home."

Emma nodded quietly, her head cocked to the side. "Listen, I know this looks bad but I don't want to press charges… it was mostly an accident anyway."

The officer lifted his eyebrow, taking in her black eye and swollen cheek and the temporary half cast on her wrist. He grunted softly as he flipped through his notes. "I appreciate your statement and will make note of your injuries, however, I'm afraid I'm not here to discuss your accident, Miss Swan."

Killian's face darkened and he moved even closer to Emma on the bed. He recognized the look in the officer's eyes from the night he'd been arrested on assault charges. "Then why are you here?"

Humbert lifted his eyebrow but ignored Killian. "Miss Swan, I was contacted earlier by your foster father. Understandably after your disappearance, your family was concerned for your well being. Not knowing where you could have gone, they performed a room search, looking for any clue as to your whereabouts."

Emma snorted softly, shaking her head. "Yeah, because my best friend's house two doors down was too far to go to knock on a door. Or, y'know, my cell phone, if Neal didn't break it, would have told them to talk to Killian." She sighed. "Whatever, what's your point? I'm sure the police wouldn't be involved over my foster family reading my journal."

Officer Humbert's eyes darkened. "Your foster family involved the local authorities when a large amount of narcotics and drug paraphernalia was discovered in your room, Miss Swan."

"Excuse me?!"

"What the hell?!"

"I'm gonna fucking kill him," Killian growled out, his body tensing, his jaw clenched.

Emma glared at him, squeezing his hand to help him stay calm. "Officer Humbert, I don't know what you're talking about. I… I don't have drugs in my room, or anything to do with drugs in my room. I mean, I smoke sometimes…"

"Emma," Killian growled, shaking his head.

"No, Killian, screw this! I smoke a joint now and then, so yeah, fucking charge me for that, but I don't do the hard shit and I certainly don't have this huge horde of crap in my bedroom. Jesus, talk to Neal, he's the one into all that shit."

It hit Killian then exactly what had happened, his face turning pale as he looked back at the cop who was writing everything down on his little notepad. "Miss Swan, all protests aside, the drugs were located in a place only someone with intimate knowledge of your bedroom could have found."

Emma glared at him, shaking her head. "Yeah, and I'm a foster kid, Officer Humbert. Do you really think I spend my time at every new house going through every corner of every room thinking, hey, they might have a good hiding spot for my drugs somewhere in here? No. I come to a house. They show me to a room. I sleep there and do my homework there and occasionally if I'm lucky enough to make friends, I talk on my phone there. A few months later a black van pulls up out front and I get into the back seat and I'm taken to a new house, with a new room, and I start all over again. That's my life. Jesus, even if I wanted to, I don't spend enough time in one location to figure out who the local dealer is to buy that kind of shit!"

"Considering the quantity of narcotics found in your room…"

Emma stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "Oh. So, I'm the dealer."

Officer Humbert sighed, making further notes on his pad before leaning against the doorframe. "Listen, Miss Swan, you seem like an okay kid, but what was found in that room is extremely serious. If that stash can be tracked back to you in ways other than just it's location in your home, I do feel the need to warn you that your arrest would be required. As it stands, a report has been made to the foster care center; they will be arriving in the morning to escort you to a police involved group home while this case is being investigated."

Emma paled, her fingers wrapping around Killian's hand, her green eyes suddenly wide and uncertain. "Can't… can't I stay with my friend and her grandmother?" Her voice trembled, suddenly small and scared.

"I'm sorry, Miss Swan, but the seriousness of the charges being considered against you requires that you be able to be monitored by the police at all times. You will be required to remain at the hospital until morning when the foster care facility can arrive to escort you to your new location. I would suggest remaining in your room until that time as there will be a police presence placed on the exits of the hospital until your move has been facilitated. Once your relocation has occurred, you will be escorted to the police station where you will be questioned further, and if the evidence quota has been met to satisfaction, you will be formally charged."

Killian growled softly, the only thing holding him in place Emma's hand as a new kind of rage filled his eyes. "Why don't you talk to that jackass, Neal Cassidy? That fucker's constantly got the stoners falling at his feet in worship. That's your dealer right there."

Officer Humbert looked down at his notes and nodded. "Neal Cassidy, 18, foster brother to the accused. I spoke with Mr. Cassidy this evening; he has given me several contacts with whom to follow up while gathering evidence."

"Yeah, I'll just bet he has," Ruby grumbled. "Listen Officer Hotstuff, my girl here is innocent. That little shit Cassidy beat the sin out of her tonight when she wouldn't screw him and then planted this shit in her room to punish her for running."

"Ruby!"

"What? It's not like you're going to tell him, and Killian just looks like he wants to beat someone to death, so fuck it. Neal's the drug bunny of our school. He buys, he sells, he provides. Always has. Always will. Just coz his daddy owns half this town doesn't mean he's anything but a miserable, dirty, useless little shit who can't make himself look good without making others look bad."

Officer Humbert scribbled in his book, nodding quietly as Ruby ranted. "I'll take what you've said into consideration as we investigate." Quickly, he took the names and addresses of Liam, Killian and Ruby, advising them that he would be in contact for a more formal statement over the coming week. "It goes without saying, Miss Swan, to be available to the foster care workers when they arrive in the morning, and once you're placed, do not leave the premises." He sighed. "I'll be in contact again shortly. Good evening."

Silence smothered the room for long minutes after the officer left as they each lost themselves in their own thoughts.

"He's not gonna win, Em," Ruby said quietly, her dark eyes flashing with anger.

The blonde shrugged, leaning against Killian's arm, taking quiet comfort in his presence as she silently imagined her future falling apart at the seams.

"Fuck this," Killian ground out. "We'll run. We'll take the truck, I have some money, we'll stop home long enough to get clothes and shit and we'll run. You 'n me, princess."

"Killian," Liam started, shaking his head.

"No. No. You haven't been here for years, Liam; you don't know anything about us. I'm not letting her go back into the system, especially not jail! I was there and it sucked, she's not going in there!"

"Killian," Emma tried, hoping she'd be enough to calm him as his mind started planning their escape.

"No, Em, just no! We'll go, I'll get a job, we'll change your name, whatever we have to do."

"If you do this, little brother, you'll be an accessory. You'll be tried as an adult. You'll go to prison instead of juvie, and if you think juvie sucked, you have no idea what you'd be in for."

"I don't care!"

"I DO!" Liam roared, shocking the entire room into silence. Liam took a moment to compose himself as he sat on the bed beside Killian, looking into his brother's eyes. "We have money, Killian. We'll do this the legal way, the same way I helped you."

Killian trembled as he held Emma to his body, his teeth ground tightly together, but he bowed under the insistence in his brother's voice.

"Don't you let them take her, brother. She can't go inside."

Liam sighed with the weight Killian was placing on his shoulders, but he nodded solemnly before stalking out of the room and in turn out of the hospital. He'd seen the look in his brother's eyes and he implicitly understood that if it even seemed like it would go poorly for Emma he'd lose them both.

"Fuck," he groaned, leaning against his truck, letting the cool metal against his skin relax his tense posture.

In two separate places four separate people wondered exactly when everything they were asked to experience would break them. When it would just become too much.

~~~TBC~~~

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