A/N I actually really liked writing this chapter – it answers some of your questions about how Killian found her in time (in more detail) and what happened when Grimes and Talice originally saw him. Sort of like that night through his eyes – along with some other thoughts and feelings.

I hope you guys like it.

Chapter 18: Unprecedented Thoughts

He left the room quietly, trying to pinpoint his motives for coming. Deep down he knew that she wouldn't forgive him for the 'Cora thing' so easily and yet he still visited, he still saved her. Since when did Captain Hook start caring unconditionally about the welfare of others? Captain Hook never has, Killian Jones does a small voice spoke up. He shook his head, trying to ignore that voice.

Killian Jones died long ago, the moment Milah's heart disintegrated in the crocodile's hand.

It didn't take him long to reach the Jolly Roger, and when he stepped onto the still-invisible boat his eyes landed on the mast. The loose ropes that had restrained him that night still hung ominously on the ground around the mast. They had tied him there while he was semi-conscious, barely able to fight. Then, they waited for him to wake, to be fully aware of what was happening. They had put his arms behind his back and taken his namesake.

Killian remembered.

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Two Days Ago

The rocking motion of the ship was comforting, like his own lullaby. He wouldn't have heard a hurricane if it passed right over his ship – Killian Jones was a heavy sleeper. So it wasn't a surprise when he didn't hear the two men creeping into his quarters.

Suddenly, the pirate was wrenched from his bed and knocked over the head with a blunt object. He never even got the chance to defend himself. Drifting in and out of consciousness, he felt himself dragged to the main deck and was leaned up against the mast. Arms secured behind his back, Killian watched as two figures shrouded by the darkness tied him there and took away his appendage, tossing it on the ground a few feet from them.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" the dishevelled man asked, voice hoarse. The two figures chuckled and it took less than a second to recognise the abhorrent sound.

"G'day Cap'n," Grimes said, lighting a lantern and holding it up so that the three of them were all illuminated in the darkness. Talice looked satisfactorily down at the man he used to call captain before kicking him in the stomach.

Killian cursed and looked up at the duo with fury.

"What are you doing here, how did you even get here?" He asked, gasping slightly from the blow.

"Cora brought us, did she not tell you that when you were plannin' together?" Grimes taunted.

"Evil bitch," Killian muttered, damning himself for not killing the wretch on the spot when he'd run into her. At least she was dead – even if it wasn't proving to be beneficial.

"She had intended to give us some of your time after you'd fulfilled your purpose… but only after we were finished with the lovely Swan girl." Grimes licked his lips and the pirate's head shot up. His tone comprehended more than what he said and the captain's face grew murderous.

"Oh, yes. We planned much for her, but you just had to defeat Cora, didn't you?" Talice said, kicking Killian again. He gasped, remembering Emma on the day that Talice had punched her. How it had infuriated him to see them do that to her, he had just attributed it to his dislike of unfair fights. Now though, with the same occurring to him, he knew it was more than that.

Killian's mind snapped back to the present with a swift kick from Grimes. It landed on his crotch and the pirate captain cursed louder this time.

"So, with her gone we had to make our own plans." The greasy man said, leering over his victim. Icy blue eyes flashing, the pirate looked at the two men before him and growled.

"If you lay a finger on her, I will ensure your death." His conviction might have made them shudder, had he not been tied down. Grimes and Talice laughed, albeit a tad nervously – that tone of voice had never been heard from Captain Hook, even when speaking of the crocodile.

"That's big talk for a guy who's tied up. Tell me, what will you do when we've killed her?" Talice sneered, kneeling in front of him. The restrained captain spat in the lanky man's face, earning him a swift punch in the chest. Talice stood again, wiping the spit from his face with the back of his sleeve.

"Do you want to know what we're planning?" Grimes asked conspiratorially, whispering slightly. He was enjoying this, seeing his former superior restrained and unable to retaliate. It gave the sadistic creep a thrill. Killian's muscles tensed in fury as the short, fat man sat down next to him.

"I think he wants to know," Talice said mockingly, cocking his head to the side.

"Well, captain, we intend to break her. In every way possible." Killian's heart clenched painfully at the notion of his strong swan being destroyed. Grimes continued whispering their heinous intentions and the pirate tried desperately to think of anything else. It hadn't occurred to him before but now, under the threat of her immediate torture and death, he knew he cared for her. It was more than the camaraderie he already knew existed between them. Ever since arriving, there had been two things plaguing his mind. The first, and most obvious, was his crocodile.

Captain Hook had arrived with the intent of doing serious damage to his foe and dying in the process. It was what he had planned for three centuries, but then she got involved. It was from her involvement that the second thought blossomed. He didn't want to hurt her, he didn't want to see harm come to her. And so he had warred with himself, watching the crocodile and the princess with equal attention.

Should he seek out his revenge and risk her safety or drop it and move on? Eventually he had chosen the former after laying out a very intricate plan; he was so sure she wouldn't have the opportunity to interfere. He knew she was staking out the pawn shop but the spineless imp leaving for lunch shouldn't have garnered her attention. It did, somehow, so she found out. And then he'd been angry with her, for making him feel like Killian Jones again, like a person again.

It had driven him to Cora, and it drove Emma away. So when she had come to speak with him two days ago, he had watched amusedly as she tried getting on the invisible boat. He knew she would, though. She had her jaw set and that meant she was going to find him if it took her all week.

When she had finally landed on the boat, Killian knew he was in for it. He had half-expected her to try and pummel him right there, but she didn't. She had, however, caused the temper in him to rise and in an act of both fury and release he had kissed her. And for a moment she had kissed him back.

Another punch pulled Killian out of his reverie and he remembered the last words uttered to him.

"I'm warning you now. Touch her and I'll make you beg for mercy." The voice of Captain Hook, menacing and quiet, reared its head. His eyes blazing with fury, Hook looked at the two men. Grimes smiled, his breath foul on Hook's cheek.

"She will be the one begging for mercy tonight." He thrashed violently under the ropes, trying to escape his binds. It was a futile effort though and he was kicked in the crotch by a chuckling Talice.

"Why are you telling me this?" Killian asked, cursing inwardly as the pain of their blows sunk in.

"Because you care about her, more than either of you realise. I wonder how Milah would feel about all this. Do you even remember her?" Grimes asked indifferently, inspecting the lantern as if it were actually an interesting object.

"Don't you dare talk about her!" Killian roared, his nerves crackling from all the pent up rage.

"Struck a nerve did we? I wonder how he'll feel when he's unable to save the blonde the same way he wasn't able to save Milah?" Grimes said to Talice, looking back at the fuming pirate with maniacal glee. He growled louder this time, his stare brandishing all the wrath of a volcano.

"We have to go now, an appointment with the sheriff. You understand don't you?" Talice said, smiling wildly and walking away from the light still held in Grimes' hand. His greasy counterpart smiled and looked down cruelly at Killian. Kneeling down once more, Grimes whispered in the man's ear, his voice raw with contempt.

"I'm going to make her scream. Think about that."

And without another word they left, disappearing into the darkness. As soon as they were off the boat, Killian manoeuvred himself. It was painful, considering the tightness of the ropes, but he eventually stood up with binds still in place. As he shuffled his arms and finally unrestrained them, Killian rapidly went to work to escape the remaining threads encasing his body.

The instant he was free, he snatched up his appendage and was sprinting away from his ship, away from the docks, to the place he knew she lived. And when he was ten metres away, he heard her muffled scream of agony. Wind rushed past him and he was soon bounding up the stairs. It took him moments to reach the last set to her apartment. That's when her door flung open and he saw her blonde hair whip forward and then back. Talice appeared and shut the door again, oblivious to Killian's presence. Adrenaline coursing through his veins, he had kicked the door down off its hinges.

Without hesitation he had killed Grimes, watching as the cruel light diminished from his dark eyes. Talice had run immediately thereafter, a coward through and through. His attention had snapped back into focus and he turned around to where he heard laboured breathing, to where she was.

Killian had tried to ignore the pain it caused him to see her so physically broken. Bruises were already starting to blossom on her arms and face and there was blood spilling from a wound on her arm, her chest and most worryingly, her head. Stealing himself, he had pulled away the rag in her mouth and scooped her up, desperately running for the medical centre. And when she had been laid down on the hospital bed, and her eyes closed, he had begged God to let her live.

8888

Killian tore his gaze from the mast, walking below deck to his quarters. His recollection had reminded him of those first days in Storybrooke when he had watched her from the clock tower. Intent as to her habits he was soon amused to see she was keeping an eye on the crocodile's shop, obviously waiting for Hook's next move. Emma was dedicated to her job and when she had did eventually take a break it was always at Granny's.

She always sat in that booth next to the window. Every time she went to Granny's she would get a cappuccino and sip it lightly. Emma always appeared to be thinking, planning, stewing over some problem that Killian and the rest of the world had no idea about. A lot of men would find such a trait annoying but he found it charming, almost endearing.

In many ways, Emma reminded him of Milah. Except where Milah was childish and adventurous, Emma was independent and strong-willed. Emma had a determination and defiance that Killian had never seen the likes of. When she set her jaw, Killian could tell she was going to see something through, that she wasn't going to back down. That was just Emma and it inexplicably drew Killian to her.

What are you thinking? His thoughts whipped back into focus abruptly. He closed his eyes and scratched the back of his neck. He didn't really know what he had expected after they left his realm. After fighting and working together in the Enchanted Forest, Killian had definitely felt a sense of camaraderie with the blonde. They were a good team. Even on the boat he had felt drawn to her, unable to tear his gaze away while he sat at the helm – always watching her. The resilience in her eyes as she worked alongside the men, unwilling to be treated inferior. And two nights ago he had admitted to himself that there was more. He cared about her. And it scared the hell out of him.

Was it everything you guys were hoping for?