Killian looked over at Emma, asleep in the seat next to him. Rain was pounding down hard, but he could hear her soft breathing. Something about this moment, was special. All day he had hardly been able to focus. There was so much beauty in the deep blue of the sea, but the only beauty he could focus on, was hers.

He was attracted to Emma from the moment he saw her, and to have her stay a night in his bed, and lay beside him on the beach, was almost too much for his heart to take. And now looking at her asleep, her blonde hair in messy waves, dressed in his clothes. Oh what he would give to wake up to her like this, every morning.

He shook the image out of his head and tried to focus on the road.

Emma started to stir, stretching and letting out a small yawn. "I can't believe I fell asleep." She said, her voice sleepy and thick. He smiled. "Yes. You snore rather loudly. I could hardly hear the sound of my car over your abnormal noises."

Emma sat bolt upright, her eyes wide. "I don't snore!"

He smirked. "Oh really?"

Realizing he was teasing, she swatted at him. "Oh come on Jones. Honestly."

She turned back toward the window.

Killian cleared his throat. "Emma," He began. "I...thought things over. And I suppose that your input would be valuable in this case. I'll talk it over with the station and see if you can beofficially added on as my consultant. And that way, I'll be able to protect you."

Emma felt the knot reappear in her stomach. She'd had such a good time that she had almost forgotten about the case. About Neal. It was as if whenever she was with Killian, she was in her own little world.

"Of course. Thank you." She replied.

She reached over and turned on the radio, and they listened in silence until they pulled into her driveway.

He turned the key and pulled it out of the ignition, turning to look at Emma.

"Well Swan, I thank you for a wonderful day."

She smiled a brilliant smile and nodded. "Of course. Thank you Killian. I really had a wonderful time.

"You sound surprised." Killian commented with a smirk. He didn't give her a chance to reply as he stepped out of the car and walked around to her side, opening her door for her.

"What a gentleman." She said with a raise of her eyebrows. He locked his arm with hers. "Of course I'm a gentleman. What do I look like, a pirate?"

Emma squinted and tilted her head to the side. "You do look a bit pirate-y."

He led her up to her doorstep, their laughter ringing through the night air. With a jolt he realized he still had his arm laced with hers.

He dropped it and stood back a step. "I'll see you tomorrow Swan. I'll be here to get you at seven."

"In the morning ?" Emma asked, looking completely scandalized. He laughed and shoved his hands into his pockets, shaking his head. Emma was gorgeous. The kind of beautiful that should be in the movies. But here she was, a young vibrant nineteen year old, a witness to a crime, working with an officer who had secrets of his own.

She deserved so much better.

He watched to make sure she got inside safely before pulling out of her driveway. When he got home, he went strait to bed. He didn't sleep a bit.

~()~

Six o clock was an unholy hour to be up, Emma was convinced. She had to call Ruby and tell she would take the night shift.

"Hey Ru." She said when her friend answered the phone.

"Ems! What's grooving?"

Emma smiled. "I have to ask you another favor." Ruby was her best friend. Always watching her back, helping Emma clean up her messes almost as often as Emma helped her clean up hers. She was a trustworthy friend. One like Emma had never had before.

"Of course. What is it?"

Emma braced herself. "Could you take the nightshift? I have something to do today that I can't miss."

She hated asking for help. But the fact that it was her closest friend, made things a bit easier.

There was a pause before a voice came from the receiver.

"Sure thing. But does this have anything to do with that man you were out late with?" EMma could hear the smile on her best friend's face.

She leaned up against the wall. "How did you know about that?"

"News travels fast Ems. Never underestimate the power of nosey housewives with acess to telephones."

Emma laughed. She had learned not to care what people thought since she was with Neal. People would always talk, no matter what. The sky is blue, clouds are white, and people would always spread gossip.

After hanging up with Ruby, she was in a mad dash to get ready. Killian arrived at seven sharp, and Emma still took a few minutes to get out the door.

Luckily she had avoided any contact with her parents. They were asleep both when she got home, and before she left with Killian. She left a note on the kitchen table telling them she'd be home by dinner and not to worry. But she knew that worry was exactly what they would do. They were great parents, but they worried all the time.

When they arrived at the station, Killian handed her a steaming cup of coffee. "The first of many." He commented. "You're going to need copious amounts of caffine to get through today." She smiled and took the coffee gratefully.

As they passed the secrataries desk, she stood up, waving and trying to get their attention. "Oh! Congratulations!" She called after them. Killian turned to Emma. "Wonder what that was all about." Emma shrugged, silently praying that the woman wouldn't say anything else.

He pulled a chair next to his as his desk and motioned for Emma to sit.

"What, is it take your girlfriend to work day?" A passing officer commented. Emma reddened, and Killian told her to ignore him.

"No Stevens. But even if it was, you'd still be alone." He retorted. The other officer smirked and shook his head, not bothering to reply.

"So." Killian said, clearing his throat. "We are going to go over every little detail of the case. Well, what we know so far. I need you to tell me everything." He looked insistantly at Emma. She nodded, and repeated her story, this time filling in all the things she had left out before.

"So the other man that was with Neal, was his father?"

"Yes." Emma replied.

"Do you know the father's first and last name?"

Emma nodded and swallowed hard. "Yes. His name is Robert Flanagan."

Killian dropped the pen he was holding, his face turning white.

"Tell me you're joking." He muttered. Emma shook her head. "No. Neal's last name is Flanagan, but he took his mother's maiden name when he and his dad became estranged. They've reconciled things lately though."

"Emma." Killian said, leaning over, his eyes dark. "You have no idea what this means."

He shook his head and looked around in disbelief. "The man that was killed Nicholas O'Reilly's son. We're in the middle of a mob hit. And this can only be the beginning. There's no doubt that Nicholas is going to be after Neal now."

Nicholas O'Reilly was notorious in New York. The leader of an Irish Mafia, absolutely untouchable by the police, or anyone for that matter. His son showing up dead would start a mob war.

"Did Neal kill him?" Killian asked, his voice low, eyes searching the room to make sure no one was in earshot.

"What?" Emma asked. Stupidly, she hadn't even considered this possibility. She had loved Neal, and its impossible to imagine someone you care about doing something so horrible.

"Is there any chance that it was Neal who killed O'Reilly's son? He repeated.

Emma was speechless. She shook her head. "No." She said. "He couldn't have. I mean-"

Killian held up his hand. "We aren't going to jump to any conclusions. But Emma, if he did this: its my duty to find out."

She stood up, her hands shaking. She started toward the exit.

"Emma!" Killian called after her. People looked up from their desks, interested in the tiniest amount of activity. He cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the attention averted to him. "Miss Swan."

He caught up to her, ushering her outside so they could talk without all eyes on them.

"Listen to me. You were there. Even if you walk away from me right now and never come back, you will never be able to forget this. Do you want to live your life not knowing what happened?" His hands gripped her wrists tightly.

"You're in this Emma. Whether you like it or not. You and I are a team. I can't do this without you."

She took a few deep breaths and looked into his eyes. She nodded. "Okay. I just. Need a minute."

"You can't run off like this. You're going to see things you don't like. You'll have to put away people you care about. But that's all part of the job, and I promise you there is a reason for all of this. It's for the greater good Emma. Sometimes you have to do something that hurts, because it makes things better in the long run." He reached and brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, his hand lingering on her face. She closed her eyes leaning toward him. He quickly put his hand down and stood up straight. "We should get back inside."