A/N So, I actually love this chapter because of the vulnerability in it and how he's still good ol' Killian. Anyhow, I don't know about you guys but OUAT is pissing me off because Killian was meant to make innuendos about Emma not her freaking mother. I'm sorry, that's blasphemous; I still love the show I just want more CS action. And judging by the trailer it's pretty much confirmed that Neal is Gold's son. Just saying. Enjoy!

Chapter 17: Helpless

Killian watched Emma's father leave the hospital and jog downtown to the police station. With everyone gone, he could go see the saviour in private – as he had been doing the past two days. He'd only been caught once, by her lad Henry. He was bright and very perceptive.

Usually, all the pirate felt towards children was annoyance at their inability to stop spilling fluids from every orifice they possessed. And the sounds and constant noise, the chattering and whinging, it was a surprise when he had found out Milah had a son. She had missed him greatly aboard the Jolly Roger, but she knew that Rumplestiltskin would take care of him. He was a spineless coward but he was also a desperately protective father.

Motherhood had never suited Milah, she was a free spirit. It amazed Killian to find out she'd been tied down in the first place. She was so vibrant with life; all the wives and mothers he'd always seen were dreary and dull and strung out. She was different though, like a bright flame still burning on despite her situation; married to a cockroach and mother to his child in the deepest pit of poverty.

He had been drawn to her, that night. As she sat across from him and challenged him with ease, it was the thrill of being around her. So when she went to him later, when she begged him with those big brown eyes to let her join him he said yes. For the first time in years he allowed a woman aboard to stay, not to ravish and dispose of. The crewmen had taken to her instantly, liking her fire and wit. It was a better time, Grimes was not yet aboard nor Talice – he met them in Neverland after her death.

It was a short time before he fell in love with her, a bright flame in the darkest night. She tested him, made him more aware of his surroundings. It made the crew happy because it made him happy. He was a good captain then, he hadn't been so demanding.

Milah had captured his heart in a way no one else could and ever would. He constantly reminded himself of that so that every time he bedded another woman to quench his desires, he felt no attachment; just the heat and thrill of the chase followed by the satisfaction of success.

And so it was why, when she was ripped from him so brutally before his eyes, he became a shell of himself, coating the broken man in a mask of hatred and deceit. Leaving for Neverland with a hook and a cavity in his soul, Killian had become the man he despised. Killian had become Captain Hook, the merciless pirate on a quest for revenge.

Milah had been the only person he'd ever risked his life for…before now. Before Emma.

Entering the brightly lit room, the pirate noticed that Emma's eyes were shut. He could have sworn he heard the young lad talking about her as if she'd woken up. Oh well, he said to himself and walked closer so he could inspect her face.

There was a piece of gauze taped over the deep cut on the right side of her head, there was also a shallow cut on her cheekbone and a bruise had blossomed on her jaw. Even like this, with injuries marring her features, no make-up or brushed hair; she was beautiful. There weren't many women that earned that distinction from Hook. Most females were described by him as attractive or sexy, always more archaic terms. He reserved the word beautiful for those who truly were. And Emma was undeniably beautiful.

Killian watched her for a few moments more, drinking in her features before he turned to leave.

"What? No innuendos or obscene comments while I'm down for the count?" a croaky feminine voice sounded behind him. Smiling wildly, the man turned around to face the saviour who was undoubtedly awake. Her amused gaze faltered as she took in his appearance – he was finally wearing normal clothes; denim jeans, white V-neck shirt and black leather jacket. Apparently she decided it wasn't worth her comment.

"Aye love, I thought it might be inappropriate to influence your dreams when I'm sure they're already consumed by me," he said, voice sultry as he strutted forward to stand closer to Emma's bed. She narrowed her eyes and he thought he saw a glimpse of panic in them – had she actually dreamt of him? The idea encouraged Killian thoroughly.

"Whatever, why are you here? I heard that you visited once already," she said, watching his crystalline blue eyes for any hint of a lie.

"Tis true, I have already visited. I overheard that you were conscious and thought I might stop by." It wasn't the truth but it also wasn't a lie, more of a shortened untruth. He had visited quite often, more so than he had actually intended. In fact, more so than he'd like to admit considering he was trying to keep her at arm's length – emotionally.

"That's convenient then," Emma said and the pirate's brows rose in a suggestive mannerism.

"Would you like me to play doctor?" Killian asked, looking down at her with an insinuating smirk.

"Don't think that just because I fractured my arm I won't hit you." She looked at him threateningly and he just laughed, remembering her father's right hook.

"You hit like your father, love," he announced.

"Did he hit you?" the blonde asked, amusement tinting her features to make them appear more open. He tilted his jaw up a little and pointed to a purple and green bruise that had blossomed where David's fist had connected. For the first time in a long time, Emma outright smiled.

Killian couldn't help but notice how it lit up her features. But as soon as it was there, it was gone. Her expression became indifferent but he could still see the way her lips were upturned slightly.

"You would think he'd be grateful after I saved your life." His words immediately changed the atmosphere.

The conversation abruptly became darker, less light-hearted at the mention of the events two days ago. Killian noticed her change in demeanour, the upturn in her lips disappear. To any other person she would have appeared indifferent, but he saw what was really there. He saw the anger and weakness as easily as if it was written across her forehead. The way her pupils dilated and increased in panic, the way her shoulders tensed slightly, the way her body position changed minutely. These little things told him everything he needed to know.

"Have you found Talice yet?" Emma asked, oblivious to Killian's analysis of her disposition. At the mention of the surviving assailant, he growled.

"Not yet, I will procure him though. And when I do he will regret ever having laid eyes on you." She appeared taken aback by his promise of retribution. He took the opportunity to look over her once more and felt the anger bubble violently at what he observed. There were bruises peppered all over what could be seen of her body and there was a bandage around her arm and a long patch stretching across both collarbones. Emma's eyes followed his and she pulled the blankets up, as if she was trying to cover her fragility.

"And Grimes?" she interceded, trying to catch Killian's gaze.

"He's dead. They've already moved him." She nodded, clearly relieved despite the stoic façade she was trying desperately to uphold. Killian's eyes met Emma's and she felt some of her resolve crack.

"How did you find me… in time?" she asked, eyes flitting down to her hands. She was wringing them nervously without realising it and immediately stopped, of all the people she could appear vulnerable or nervous to, he was not ideal.

"Intuition? Perhaps I've been stalking you, lass," His tone was joking but the saviour knew he was just stalling. For whatever reason, he didn't want to tell her how he found her in time. But she would get it out of him, it was inevitable.

"How were you able to save me, Hook?" She reiterated her question, eyes level with the captains. He sighed, recognising the way her jaw was set.

"You weren't their first stop; they paid me a visit prior to that." He looked away, striding over to the window to look out over the street where the occasional mechanical carriage would speed past. Emma waited patiently for him to continue. Eventually he did.

"Grimes and Talice were transported here alongside Cora, she intended –"

"To let them torture me in front of my parents, yeah I know. They told me too," she cut Killian off, not wanting to hear it again. She had already handled and let go of the pain of what her parents might have gone through and didn't want to relive it. The pirate nodded, turning around to face Emma and lean on the window.

"Well, when we defeated Cora, the two of them made the decision to endeavour for revenge regardless of her presence. Unfortunately, while you were their priority they still harboured a grudge against me for banishing them and then defending you at the lake. Consequently, I became their first stop," He paused, remembering how they'd tied him to the mast and whispered harsh threats, "and I was asleep when they arrived." He was almost ashamed by this fact, as though he should be ready for an attack even when unconscious. It was so utterly Killian Jones of him.

"They woke me up only to belt me and tie me to the mast, the snivelling bastards." Emma looked at him for any signs of injury and only landed on her father's mark on his jaw. He noticed her search and smiled, "They hit me in places currently covered by clothing but I'd be obliged to show you if you need proof." The infamous smirk reappeared.

"Just keep talking," the blonde said stoically, unaffected by his remark.

"As you command, milady," Killian bowed, exaggerating the small mannerism to a gallant stretch, and paused. It was as if he was finding it hard to explain the next chapter of his exchange with the duo. Emma watched as the pirate searched for words that wouldn't come.

"Hook? What happened after they tied you up?"

Killian's gaze snapped onto hers intensely, "They told me what they planned to do to you."

"Why would they do that?" she asked, clearly confused as to why it was hard for him to iterate in words what he had just bluntly said. How could he even be affected by it? The thought of him caring was undeniably impossible in her opinion; if only she knew the depth of his thoughts and emotions.

"Because they were educated enough to know I don't like an unfair fight and they were taunting my inability to assist you when they left me," he replied briskly, sounding more like he was trying to divert the subject than tell her their motives. Emma's gut told her that it was the truth however, she felt like there was more to it, but didn't press on.

"After they left I managed to escape my ship and –"

"How?"

Killian smirked, "Binds don't always hold, love. You should know that of all people." She nodded in agreement and let him continue.

"When I got off my ship I went straight to your apartment –"

"How do you know where I live?" He rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"I didn't just perform a reconnaissance on the crocodile, you're whereabouts might have peaked my interests also. Is there anything else you'd like to inquire before I resume? It is very rude to interrupt someone when they're talking, darling," When Emma didn't answer, he continued his recount.

"I was running towards the apartment building when I heard you scream… it was muffled but I could hear it. I ran up the stairs and saw your door swing open and your blonde hair for a split second before Talice shut it again – he didn't see me," Killian's eyes darkened as he kept talking, "I walked in just as Grimes threw you down. The worthless git tried to squirm out of it, claiming that if I killed him I would be as bad as him. I did it though; I pierced his heart. Talice escaped before I could get him and then I saw you…" the dark storm that was previously his eyes cleared a little as he looked up to meet the saviour's intense stare.

"You were barely conscious; I'm surprised you even remember. Your head was bleeding heavily from where you'd hit it on the brick wall. There was a lot of blood on your blouse too, from where he cut your collarbone… so I gathered you up and ran straight here." As he finished, Emma looked down at herself. She was currently bandaged and covered but she could only imagine how she must have looked that night, crumpled and bleeding against the wall. That feeling of defencelessness returned, the feeling that was exposed and weak. It was an unwelcome feeling, especially in his presence. She couldn't afford to appear pitiful around him. He was too good at reading her, at being able to decipher her. Letting him see her like that was something she wasn't sure she was prepared for.

Either way, he deserved her gratitude. He had saved her life.

"Thank you, Killian," Emma breathed, sincerity saturating every word she uttered. Killian looked up, there were only so many times she didn't use his moniker.

"You are very welcome, Emma."

The delivery of given names made the exchange seem suddenly more personal. Before the atmosphere became too affectionate for her liking the blonde spoke again, "But don't think this means I forgive you for putting Henry in danger earlier."

Her defences were up, the walls renewed and the guard back in place. Her thoughts unreadable and her feelings locked up, the pirate decided it was time to go. There would be no more meaningful conversations in this room; she wouldn't allow it.

Killian chuckled, moving to the door and looking over his shoulder to say "I never thought it would," before striding out of the room, leaving behind a perplexed Emma.

I've decided that next chapter is PURELY Killi-thoughts. I've planned it and I'm so keen to write it. By the way, if I'm late with updates – don't hate me, school's back and I'm busier than ever. Also I'm writing a Valentine's Day themed fanfic so add that to the pile of things I have to do. But I love it and I love hearing from you all and I love seeing the follows and favourites grow so I don't mind.

Reviews are demands for shout outs and spoilers!