Chapter 11:
Emma woke the next morning to a rose on the pillow but no husband. Reaching her hand over to the other side of the bed she found the sheets cool indicating that he had been up for a bit. She groaned a little at the thought of getting out of the bed that was so comfortable. Still she wanted to find out where Killian had gotten to. As she got out of bed it occurred to her that she wasn't even remotely nervous that he had left. Some cynical part of her still tried to make her feel like it was because he felt obligated but a larger part of her knew that that wasn't the case. He stayed because he cared and because he wanted a life for her. A smiled tugged at her lips at the thought. She'd never had that before. The absolute assurance that someone chose her. Grabbing one of Killian's shirts that had been draped over the edge of the laundry hamper she pulled it on as she walked out of the room. Reaching the living room she overheard him in the kitchen.
"Dave, come on. Now is not the time to come back." He paused, waiting for Officer Nolan to respond.
"Fine. I'll explain to Emma but I'm not spending more than two days away from my wife. This is a quick trip." Her eyes dropped to the ground, a feeling of dread hitting her in the stomach. She knew it wasn't rational. He wasn't leaving her. He didn't even want to go. The conversation that she'd overheard indicated that he was doing everything to stay with her and yet she couldn't help the feeling of abandonment. When she got out of bed she felt certain that he wouldn't leave and now that was exactly what was going to happen. Straightening her back she made the decision that she wouldn't hide. She would go into the kitchen and hear him out. Too many times in her life she had turned and run away, and she had no idea how many times that had led to her running away from a good thing. Stepping into the kitchen he turned, a sad smile crossing his face as he listened to the voice on the other end of the line.
"Right Dave. Well I'll talk to Emma. She's not going to be coming. I'm not willing to put her at risk by bringing her back so I'll need another detective to stay with her. Perhaps Mary Margaret unless there's a local agent. A woman preferably. Someone she can feel comfortable with." Another moment and he swiped the button on his phone to shut it off, catching her eye.
"So you heard."
"I did. Wanna explain?"
"I do love. But first I'd like to kiss my wife good morning. If that would still be okay with you." She nodded, leaning in for his kiss. He hadn't gotten quiet when she walked it. He hadn't tried to pretend that nothing was happening. Without knowing that he was doing anything he put her fears at ease. His lips brushed hers, a chaste kiss, but she still felt a jolt of electricity at the contact. The night before had been amazing. She had always had a sneaking suspicion based on the way he kissed and the way that he managed to make her want in a way she never experienced before that he would be an amazing loved her but he had far exceeded her expectations. Not just in the physical sense but in the way that he had cared for her. The way that he sought her pleasure before his, made sure that she was comfortable, and when they finally went to sleep the way that he enveloped her in his arms. She had fallen asleep to his lips continually brushing the top of her head. His lips had barely touched hers this morning before he stepped back and leaned back against the counter.
"So you have to go somewhere?"
"Aye love. Sadly I have to make a trip to Storybrooke."
"I thought it was too dangerous."
"It's too dangerous for you. As far as any of Gold's associates know I was just relocated. The timing may be coincidental but he was never looking for me. I won't leave you alone lass. Two days is the longest I'll be gone and Officer Tinker is going to stay with you while I'm away..." He was stopped mid-sentence by the sound of her laughter ringing out through the room.
"Something funny?"
"Officer Tinker?"
"Yes. Officer Bella Tinker."
"Oh my gosh. Her parents. What were they thinking?"
"That nothing really sounds great with Tinker?"
"Well there is that." She took a step forward, putting a hand at each side of his waist. "Why do you need to go?"
"I need to make a statement. My being Gold's kid changes a few things."
"How is that even possible?"
"I have to make a statement before the defense gets wind of it. We need to make sure that it's clear and on record that you had no idea of my connection to the victim or to the murder at the time of your first statement. It shouldn't be that difficult given the dates on all my reports as well as the date and time stamp on your testimony. But since you're my wife I also have to make sure that it's clear that we weren't dating before the murder."
"So you being his son could be the key to keeping him out of jail?"
"I don't think so love. I think that most of the judicial system is always chomping at the bit some to get a man associated with the mafia behind bars. We're in a good position but I still want to make sure that we have all of our bases covered. While I'm there I want to confront Gold." She took a step back, putting a little bit of distance between them.
"Why would you want to do that? Is it even safe?"
"Aye love. I don't see why it wouldn't be. I'm not going to mention you at all. My original birth certificate has his name on it. I'll just let him know that I found out it and that I needed to find out about him. I don't even know if he is aware that the man he left bleeding out in the parking lot of your apartment complex was his son." Despite the way he tried hard not to let his face show any emotion she could hear the pain in his voice. He didn't know Bobby but he still grieved him. Grieved the missed opportunity to know his brother. To maybe have a few memories of his birth mother shared with him. Stepping forward she wrapped her arms around his waist, placing her head on his chest.
"Killian if you wait maybe I can go with you. After the trial."
"That can't happen love. It defeats the purpose of you being in witness protection. It's only safe for me if I take precautions not to lead them back to you. Which I will be doing." Tilting her head back she bit her bottom lip as she sought his eyes.
"I hate this. I hate that I can't be there with you. I'm your wife. When you're going through the tough stuff I'm supposed to be there. I'm supposed to be able to hold your hand and get you through it. Instead I have to stay here and hide out." Taking her hand he led her into the living room. Settling on the couch he waited a moment while she sat next to him, sitting on her knees facing towards him so that she could look at him.
"Listen Emma. I don't need you there..."
"Okay..."
"That's not what I mean and you know it. I think we've had quite enough of the misunderstandings and disagreements the last couple days. I'm certainly not trying to go there, especially since I'll have to be leaving for a couple of days." Taking her hand he looked down at the fingers that she had instinctively linked with his.
"I don't need you there Emma because you're always with me." He looked down at his ring finger, the symbol of their vows a clear representation of what he was saying.
"I haven't forgotten your vows. Good or bad you're there with me. Perhaps in this particular instance it can't be physically but in the ways that really matter I know that you'll be there. Lending me your strength and more than that giving me something to come back to. You need to understand Emma that if there were no you and I had learned this information I'm afraid that I would have reacted very differently. I'm afraid that I would have spent some time at the bottom of the bottle until David and Mary Margaret found a way to pull me out again. It's having you here that has made all the difference. When I'm with him there's nothing that he can say or do that will change the fact that when I leave him I'll be coming home to you. My wife That means more than you could really ever know." A small smiled crept across her face as she leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his lips.
"So do you have any plans until your travel arrangements are put in place?"
"Nope. David will call me this evening with the details for me. I'll probably leave in the middle of the night so that I can fly under the radar a bit. I'll only be gone a couple of days. I promise. While I'm there I'm also going to try and get the date for you to give your testimony. The sooner the better. I'd like to start living our life without this trial hanging over our heads."
"Well since you've got some time to kill how about you and I make good use of it." She stood and walked towards the hallway leading to her bedroom. Walking backward she beckoned for him to follow with the crook of her finger.
Two days later found Killian alone in an interrogation room at the Storybrooke PD. David was sitting across the table from him, a prosecuting attorney at his side. Regina Mills. She wan an intimidating woman. Her face was stony and she looked like she could cut you down with just a look in your direction. He was extremely grateful that she was on their side because she didn't look like someone he would want to go up against.
"So you're Officer Jones then?"
"Aye. At your service. At least for the time being."
"What does that mean?"
"That means that as soon as this trial is over I'm going to be resigning from the force."
"Why is that?"
"Why do you need to know?"
"Well for one thing it could be pertinent. But if the defense were to ask that same question you should avoid giving that answer."
"I won't lie."
"Don't lie. Just don't offer information. If you say that you're going to be quitting when the trial is over it appears as though you used the resources that the police department could afford you and when you got the results you wanted you quit. It makes you seem less than honest. You need to be appear to be the consummate professional. Loving your job. Willing to do anything for the job. Which clearly you are." He nodded, understanding what she was saying. He knew his motivations for quitting but no one else did.
"Mr. Jones how do you know a Miss Emma Swan?"
"She's my wife."
"How long have you known her?"
"Just a few months."
"When did you meet her?"
"The night of Bobby Bailey's death."
"How did you meet her?"
"I was assigned to be her bodyguard while she was put in the witness protection program."
"Assigned or chose to be her bodyguard?"
"Chose. There was no one else in the Storybrooke PD that easily lifted out."
"How do you know Robert Gold?" He stopped for a moment, taking a look at Dave. He knew that she knew all the details. She had been thoroughly briefed. This statement was just to get the information on the record. Still, discussing the details of his adoption and subsequent abandonment with a virtual stranger was not his idea of a good time.
"Mr. Jones?"
"I don't know him. I've never met him before."
"How are you connected to Robert Gold?"
"He's my birth father."
"If you've never met him how do you know that?"
"I've known for several years that my birth mother was Milah Stilts and I've known the details of her murder. When I heard the details of Bobby Bailey's murder I told Dave here that I had been looking into it. He contacted me a short time later with the information that he gathered. Including the fact that there was a copy of my birth certificate with my name on it that I had never seen. Another name that was on it that I had never seen was Robert Stilts. The facts just fell together for him from there."
"Did you have any clue when you met Emma Swan that Robert Gold was Robert Stilts, your birth father?"
"No."
"Did you ask her to identify Robert Gold as Bobby Bailey's murderer to catch your mothers killer?"
"Not a chance. We were already well in the witness protection program before I found out, and she was there with me."
"Is there anything else that you think might create an issue for the case?"
"Not that I can think of. All I can tell you is that he's taken enough from me. I'll be damned if I'll ever let him near my wife."
"Commendable but probably not a great choice to say on the stand." He nodded as he stood, reaching for his black leather jacket on the back of his chair.
"I'll say anything true any way you want me to say it as long as you put that piece of low life scum away." She smiled slightly as she packed up her briefcase but Killian turned to Dave.
"Where is he mate?"
"Killian, I don't know if seeing him is the best choice you could make. You want to get home to Emma. Why don't you come for dinner tonight and then in the morning you can head back home to your wife? And in the meantime my wife will make sure that you are fed within an inch of your life." Killian smiled slightly but Dave could tell by the distance in his eyes that he was not changing his mind in the least bit. He wanted to see Gold and he was going to see him.
"Mate? You know I need to do this."
"I know." He turned and led Killian down the hallway to the holding cell. Normally he would have been sent to the prison to wait for the trial but because of his mafia connections the state felt that he was safer being here, in a small town, than in the prison. They could control his visitors and make sure that he didn't have contact with anyone that wasn't pre-approved. At the end of the hallway Dave left Killian to make the rest of the walk alone. Six cells down and on the left sat Robert Gold.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Detective Jones."
"Which begs my next question. Why are you here?"
"I'm here to see you in person. Do you feel good in here in this tiny, cramped little cell?"
"I suppose I've been in worse places. Why do you care?"
"You and your late wife put a child up for adoption years and years ago. I'm him."
"If you're looking for a father son reunion boy you've come to the wrong place. I've no interest in some piece of garbage that I tossed away years ago. I wasn't sorry then and I'm not sorry now."
"Didn't expect sorry from you. I don't want it. Trust me I was much better off. I know what you've done though. Maybe more than you know."
"I doubt that. I'll be out of here soon enough."
"Doubtful. Seems like they've got a pretty rock solid case."
"That's their delusion, not the reality. I have connections that they don't know about. Connections you don't know about." He felt a chill go down his spine at that. Was it possible? Did he know where she was or that she was his wife? Was he really keeping her safe? The minute that the questions started screaming in his head he stopped himself. He was doing exactly what Gold wanted him to do. "What about your other son? I know that you and my mother had another kid. Whatever happened to him?"
"Don't talk about my boy."
"Ahh. I finally found that spot for you. That big old gaping wound. Was there someone that you loved once?"
"I'll find my boy. Don't you worry. I've been looking for him for years and I've come close." Killian had to stop himself from smiling. Despite how much Robert Gold deserved to hurt he couldn't find joy in the next thing he said. It would make him too much like him. Taking joy in others pain.
"You've come close alright. Before I give you anything more though what's the difference? Why care for him and not for me? I mean you all but threw me a way like so much garbage. Even got my mother to do it. So what was so special about him that made you want him?" It felt like he was jealous somehow but that wasn't the case. He just needed to know. Despite whatever issues his life had had he had it much better than Bobby Bailey. He had no memories of Milah but at the very least one of those memories wasn't of his father killing her. Her bleeding out on the floor. Running off in the middle of the night. No, he wasn't jealous of Bobby. He was grateful that he had been put up for adoption. He had had his mom and Liam. People who chose him and loved him. He would never be sorry for that.
"You're not my kid. Your slut of a mother found herself some dock worker and got herself knocked up. Tried to pass you off as mine, even put my name on your birth certificate but I knew. I wasn't home when that piece of trash got pregnant for you. I told her to either give you up or I would take our boy and never come back. She chose him over you." The words hurt. Killian couldn't ignore the sting of rejection. Not from Robert but from Milah. The words were meant to hurt and no matter how much he wanted to he couldn't stop the ache from settling in his chest. She had chosen Bobby. Even if it hurt her to do it she had done it and he would never be able to ask her why.
"Boy am I relieved. I'm sure my mother was a good woman but I would have hated to have your blood running through my veins. You think you're hurting me by saying that I'm not yours? You're freeing me and the great, ironic part is that while you're freeing me I'm going to see you locked up. I'm going to see you locked up for killing my mother and I'm going to see you locked up for killing my brother."
"I'm not confessing to killing your mother. You think I don't know that there's all kind of cameras in here. And I can't in all honesty say that I didn't kill your brother, although if the cameras catch anything I'm going to say that I didn't. But I don't know your brother. I don't know if you have a brother."
"Oh I do. I did. Two of them actually. One adopted, and one biological. Or did you forget that even though you're not my father Milah's other son would be my brother." A look of fear crossed Robert's face but as a master con he schooled his features before Killian could even be sure that it was there.
"You're trying to play with my mind detective."
"Not at all. Playing games with your mind is not my style Gold. Especially when I've got the truth in my hand. See after you made my mother put me up for adoption she started making some provisions. You must have showed your hand a bit too much because she didn't trust you fully. Behind your back she started doing some legal legwork. She had your name removed from my birth certificate but she also had your name removed from Neal's. Now I don't know for certain because I wasn't there but this is how I've worked it out in my head. I think she gave him instructions. Where to go if anything ever happened to her. The night you killed her I'm going to guess he was in the house. I've seen blueprints and I know that there was a small alcove under the stairs. He probably hid there until you were gone and then poof, vanished into the night. You're a smart guy though. Probably have it all worked out. Except for the part where she had given custody of Neal to the neighbors, along with forged documents and his real birth certificate, in the case that something ever happened to you. I'm surprised that it never occurred to you that the neighbors moved pretty shortly after Milah was killed. It wasn't just because a murder happened on their street. The moved to Connecticut and enrolled a son that they had never had before in school. When he was an adult he moved to Storybrooke and up until recently was living nearby."
"You mean my son is here? In this town? How is that even possible?"
"He's here. In this town. His current address is Storybrooke Cemetary." For the first time Robert truly looked shaken. His knees seemed to tremble as he stepped backward, his stringy hair falling in his face. He looked frail, far less powerful than he had even moments before. In an instant Killian felt shamed because as much as he tried not to he had been enjoying torturing Robert Gold. Reveled in knowing that he was going to level his world, just like Robert had done to so many others.
"How? How did he die? My son."
"He was dating a girl. They were happy. Living together. Planning a life and a future together. Until one night he was walking out of their apartment complex and was confronted by her ex-boyfriend. He was stabbed repeatedly in the stomach and left to die in the snow." Robert's legs crumpled underneath him as he fell to a heap on the floor, heading falling into his hands as he wept. Over and over he repeated, "my boy, my boy." Finally he looked up at Killian, who didn't really know what to do. "Are you saying that I killed my son?"
"I am. Neal Stilts went to live with the Bailey's. They renamed him Bobby and he was dating Belle French. He was killed by Robert Gold." Killian stood and watched as Gold cried on the floor of his cell, the ruthless criminal falling away as he revealed a father grieving for his child. He wanted to feel more than he did but all he could imagine see were the victims that he had already claimed, and one more that he had yet to claim. One more that he could hurt. For a moment he enjoyed watching the desperation in the man as he cried.
"I owe you an apology." From his place on the ground the broken man looked up at Killian.
"Not that I need your apologies but why are you sorry?"
"I'm sorry because I enjoyed telling you. I enjoyed watching you realize that you murdered your own son. I don't feel bad for your misery but I don't have to enjoy it. The fact that I did makes me far more like you than I ever want to be. For that I am sorry." Before another word could be spoken Killian turned on his heel and left the room. He had a home to get back to and a wife waiting there for him.