Chapter 7: A Way to Heal

"How much did you hear," Neal asked as he walked back over to the spot he occupied before.

"All of it," Emma replied, "but your life is none of my business."

Henry studied his parents. "Were you two always like this?" he asked flat out.

"Like what?" Emma said pretending to be oblivious as to what he was talking about.

"Did you two always snipe at each other?"

"No," Neal said answering for Emma. "Back then we actually liked each other."

"It was a long time ago, Henry," Emma conceded to his question. "You should rest," Emma said turning her attention to Gold. "There's not much else I can do for you at this point."

"It's too bad you don't have magic," said Henry, "Then you could heal me like you healed my arm."

Emma looked up at her son, "Your arm?"

Henry looked guilty, "David didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what and more importantly why didn't you?"

"I kind of burnt my arm in that red room place. Grandpa Gold healed it so I didn't say anything."

Emma looked at her son with both amusement and confusion. "Looks like I'm not the only one keeping things a secret."

Henry shrugged. It was one thing keeping his burn from his mom but she had lied about his father. To him that seemed a much bigger deal so it was still harder to forgive Emma for that mistake.

Emma got up and went to Neal's small kitchen grabbing a cup from the cupboard and filling it with water. She returned and sat next to Gold, holding his head with one hand while helping him drink it with the other.

"Thank you," said Gold. "You can listen to Bae you know? You don't have to do this."

"I know I don't," Emma answered leaving it at that. There were so many other thoughts in Emma's head; that she was done listening to Neal, that the last time she listened to him things didn't go well but she refrained from saying any of them out loud. Instead she looked up at Neal. "Got a first aid kit?"

"Yeah," said Neal, "under the sink in the bathroom."

"Kid," said Emma.

"No," said Neal, "its okay, I got it."

Neal retreated slowly to his restroom. For a moment he paced. A few days ago he had spent so much energy in talking to his father telling him about his pain and abandonment that he had left him in, telling him how now that he was here he could finally do what he'd been wanting to for years, letting him go. For years he had convinced himself that his father was dead, maybe not in the physical sense but enough to the point where there were times his mind actually believed it.

Now it was starting to feel as if none of that mattered. He was on the other side of the room, possibly dying and all he could think of was how out of all people it was his ex-girlfriend who was trying to save him. Emma could let it slide that he was the worst person in the world, she could let all of his threats and torture slide, all she saw was another person in need of help.

Neal huffed as he reached for the large first aid kit and made his way back to the other room. He handed it to Emma and she began rummaging through it looking for all the gauze she could find. The small amount would have to do.

She began to remove the towel and started packing the gauze as best as she was able.

"There's not much else I can do," Emma said to Gold, "I'm not a doctor."

Gold leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "You've done more than enough."

"We'll let you rest up," Emma said excusing herself so she could go wash up.

When she returned she found Neal and Henry outside on the deck. Henry was sitting on the steps. She glanced over at Gold. He was still sweating and shaking but that was because of the fever. Emma went to Neal's room and grabbed the comforter off his bed and returned placing it gently on Gold as to not disturb him.

Emma then made her way outside.

"So what now," said Neal, "we just wait for him to die?"

Emma sighed. "Without a hospital, without magic that's all we can do. We have to get him back to Storybrooke but that's nearly as impossible since he's in no condition to fly."

"Thank you, for at least trying?"

Emma looked at him, "Did I miss something? A few minutes ago you wanted me to let him die and now you're thanking me."

"I just forgot how much I missed that- seeing you care about other people."

"It never changed you know." Now Neal looked at Emma. "Shortly after I got out I worked on becoming a bail bonds person. I was able to find people and it gave me access to spend time finding…" Emma was going to say 'you' but given his engagement she thought that was probably inappropriate, "my parents. Caring for people just came naturally. I'd sometimes run down scum bag mothers or fathers and I'd see the pain their kids were put in because if their mistakes. I always got the jobs done but I helped people too. When I moved to Storybrooke that kind of followed."

"How so?"

Henry beamed and spoke up, "She became the sheriff," he said proudly.

Neal smiled and was impressed "So she goes from being on the wrong side of the law to taking the law into her own hands."

Emma looked down at the street. "I wouldn't have been on the wrong side of the law if it hadn't been for you."

"Emma, how many times do I have to apologize for that? I was just trying to help you find your way to your family."

"You know abandonment. You know how hard it is to forgive someone for that. After god knows how many centuries you can't manage to forgive your own father. Do you really expect me to forgive you for turning me in, for leaving?"

"So that wall, it's always going to be there between us now isn't it?"

Emma looked at him sadly, "Who do you think put it up in the first place?" Emma shook her head, "I'm gonna go check on Gold."

Time passed slowly over the next several hours. Neal had ordered take out since none of them wanted to leave Gold alone in his condition. Conversations were sparse and in between.

Henry helped with the clean up as his mother continued to look after Gold. He was starting to fall in and out of consciousness.

"He's getting worse," Emma said to Neal quietly as the two stood near the window.

"If it was your father what would you do?"

"Neal, you know I can't answer that. Our fathers are completely different."

"Well say you didn't know anything, you didn't know who they were, what their past was like. What would you do?"

Neal's questions weren't far off. Emma remembered back to when the curse was still in effect. David was just a stranger but she had spent a lot of time and energy in trying to save him. The answer was easy.

"I'd find a way to get him better," Emma said with a small smile.

Neal nodded and walked over to Gold, kneeling before him. He looked at the man who was frail and weak. Neal knew the risks of saving him. Letting him die was easier and he was personally better off but that was also the most inhumane thing he could do. For so long Neal had been a coward, running away from magic, from Emma, from his life. This was the first time he could prove that he was nothing like his father. He would not let him die to suit his own needs.

"There's got to be some way we can save you," Neal said to Gold his eyes pleading.

Gold opened his eyes and looked at Bae surprised by his remark.

"There's nothing to be done Baelfire." Gold coughed, "its okay this is what you wanted."

Neal shook his head, "No, not like this." His face grew stern. "I am not you. I'm not gonna let you die just because it's what I want. What can I do?"

"Nothing I'm afraid," said Gold.

An idea came to Emma and her eyes lit up, "Maybe he can't but what if I can?"

"What are you talking about," Neal asked.

"Magic doesn't work in this world but I'm pure magic right?"

Henry's eyes intensified, "Mom?"

"You're what," Neal said not knowing a thing what she meant.

Gold's eyes lit up in a way they hadn't before. "You think you're magic can work?"

"Wait, you have magic," Neal said not wanting to get off that topic.

Emma ignored him, "It's worth a try."

"I don't have to tell you all magic comes with a price," said Gold.

"If it means giving you and your son another chance then it's a price I'll pay."

Emma walked over and took the seat on Gold's right side.

"I don't even know what to do," Emma said now suddenly feeling unsure of herself.

"Yes you do," said Gold. "You've used your power once before. All you have to do is will it and it will come. If you're having second thoughts I understand."

"No, no second thoughts," Emma said.

Gently Emma began to remove the packed gauze. There was some oozing and some blood on it, evidence that Gold was running out of time.

Neal and Henry both watched as Emma placed her hands over Gold's wound closing her eyes. Short waves of blue radiated from Emma's fingers, the round waves getting larger until both her hands were covered. The waves pulsed downward toward the intended target. Gold's heartbeat was getting faster but in her state Emma could feel as the damaged parts of his internal structure began to work themselves out and return as they were before the injury. The power started to weaken and Emma could feel that she was at the last couple layers of skin.

The blue energy recoiled and Emma opened her eyes.

"You did it," Henry said with a big smile.

Neal only stared in awe, "Yeah."

Gold smiled. "Thank you Miss Swan. Guess I owe you a favor."

"Guess so. When the time comes I'll cash it in."

Neal stood up and began pacing. Everything he had known, everything he thought he knew was now starting to spiral. He looked at Emma.

"We need to talk."

Emma stood and turned to face him. She knew something like this was coming. "Yeah I guess we do." Emma turned to her son, "Henry, keep an eye on Gold okay? Just because I healed you doesn't mean you can get up and start walking around."

"Go," said Gold. "I'd imagine you two have a lot to talk about right now."

Emma turned to Neal. "After you," she said to him.

Neal fumed as he made his way outside.