Author's note: Okay, so, I had to re-watch this episode, 2x12, to remind myself of everything that happens after the crash. So for the purpose of the story, because I messed with the intensities of Greg Mendell's and Hook's injuries, everything is pushed back about two days.

PS. Since Hook wasn't affected by the curse, I thought this would be an appropriate reaction for someone who's never seen a modern hospital, let alone woken up in one.

...

Dawn finds half of the hospital staff scrambling to their feet and rushing to the room down the hall.

Dawn is when Captain Hook wakes up, alone, in pain, and chained down to a bed. He is vaguely aware of not being in his own clothes. There's something on his face and when he reaches for it, he realizes he's trapped. The movement makes him bite back a strangled scream as pain in his chest roars back to life. His hook's missing. Something's beeping, and it's getting faster. He doesn't know where he is or how he got there and it's getting increasingly hard to draw breath. But it's only when people start rushing in, blurry faces he doesn't recognize, that real panic sets in. Then the reel runs out.

…

The second time he wakes up, not long after, goes over more smoothly. Before he has a chance to repeat any of his mistakes from earlier, like trying to move, Whale comes to stand at the foot of the bed, hands out as if he were approaching a frightened child. Killian kind of hates him for that.

"It's okay Mr. Jones, you're in a hospital. You got hit by a car."

And everything comes back to him.

…

For a while, nothing happens. Once Whale is gone, having been kind enough to remove the bloody contraption from his face, all he can do is look around, his movements limited both by pain and handcuffs. There's not much in the room. It's bright, clean, and bare, except for the machines he assumes are somehow medical, a small desk next to the bed and a chair.

When a nurse comes to check up on him, Killian is tempted to tell her to take the chair away. There won't be anyone sitting in it, anyway. He buries the thought, smirks when she asks how he's feeling.

…

He doesn't need to look twice at the folded parchment to know what it is and where it came from. He isn't completely successful at stifling the anger that washes over him, anger at some strangers having touched it, looked at it. But it soon fades to the background, and Killian allows himself a moment of despair. He hasn't seen his brother in almost three hundred years, and the weight of that makes him close his eyes. It hurts, even after all that time, just the same. The only difference now, if it wasn't for the nearly faded drawing, Killian isn't sure he could recall his brothers face. And that makes his chest seize painfully, nothing to do with broken ribs.

"Where's Cora?" The voice startles him. He wasn't expecting her to come, but now that she's there, he knows it was stupid of him. Of course she came, she had to. The Sheriff is there to get the information, to make sure the guy who'd just shot someone wouldn't get away.

…

"Where's Cora?" The words are out before Emma has a chance to stop them, and it's a relief. Because being the Sheriff, there on official business, is much easier than facing the real reason she's there. She sits in the chair, still feeling out of place, but less like an intruder than the last time.

"You look good, I must say, all "Where's Cora?" in a commanding voice. Chills." A though starts forming in her head, but she can't figure out what it is, yet.

"You have all sorts of sore places. I can make you hurt." Or I could almost kill you. Again.

"You wouldn't dare." He doesn't know, it dawns on her. His smirk is forced and eyes narrowed in pain, but there is no blame in them. He doesn't know what she did, or just doesn't remember. She wishes that made her feel better, but it just causes her guilt to grow another horn.

"I've no idea where Cora is, she has her own agenda. Let's talk about something I am interested in, my hook. May I have it back? Or is there another… attachment you'd prefer?" Busy with her guilty conscience, she'd almost forgotten what a pain in the ass Hook could be. Emma can't keep a small smile from reaching her face.

"You're pretty chipper for a guy who just failed to kill his enemy, then got hit by a car."

"Well, my ribs and lungs may be a bit worse for wear, but everything else is still intact, which is more than can be said for all the other bad days I've had." And she has to stop herself from following his lead and looking at the space where a left hand should be. She wonders, if for a moment, how many "bad days" a person can live through, until one day, they… don't.

"Plus, I did some quality damage to my foe." It's what makes her remember who she's talking to. Because Hook isn't just a victim, and that makes everything a bit easier. Her anger spikes.

"You hurt Belle." She's standing next to him now, accusing.

"I hurt his heart. Belle is just where he keeps it. He killed my love. I know the feeling." They say time heals all wounds, but she doesn't have to imagine the helpless rage, the hurt of losing someone you love, because she can see it clearly in his eyes.

She swallows the "I'm sorry" that almost slips out and says, "Keep smiling, buddy. He's on his feet, immortal, has magic, and you've hurt his girl. If I had to pick dead guy of the year, I'd pick you." They exchange mocking smiles. She turns to leave, walks.

Her head is a mess. She came, teased him, threatened to hurt him. Maybe if he'd been angry, if he'd blamed her, maybe she could've apologized. Maybe that would've made her feel better, less like she's getting away with murder.

"It's okay." His voice is low, scratchy from using his damaged throat for so long.

"What?" Her eyes widen, and she's frozen to the spot. She was wrong, earlier. 'He remembers.'

"You made the right call. It's okay Swan." She feels sick. Out the door, around the corner, she doesn't look back. Then she runs to her car.

A/N: …I'm not happy with this chapter. I feel like my ability to string together sentences that make sense is running dry. If you have any complaints about this particular mess (chapter), or suggestions, feel free!