Chapter 2 – Trouble
"Hi" She said as she sat down in his office. It was her third day in prison and her second night in a row that she hadn't gotten any sleep.
Being sleep deprived was not something she hadn't experienced before, and she couldn't say that the bed in her cell was the worst bed she had ever slept in. And still, accommodating to life in prison turned out being harder than she thought and the latest news she received just made it worse.
"Hi" He replied warmly, a genuine smile on his face that was wiped away rather quickly when he noticed that she looked sad and exhausted. "So, how are you holding up Swan?" He asked in concern as she fidgeted in her chair, drumming her fingers on the armrest. "I get that this is probably not easy for you"
Probably? Not easy? What was this man talking about? He clearly did not spend one night behind bars to even begin to understand how it felt.
She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Look, I went through your file and I know it couldn't have been easy for you growing up the way you did" He said with empathy, his voice low and calm as if he was trying to soothe her.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
Again with the easy? Was this guy for real? Why did he think that he knew anything about how she grew up?
She was getting more and more annoyed by the second.
"Silent treatment" He stated quietly "That's okay, I am kind of used to it" He smiled trying to lighten the mood but failing, she didn't smile back or even said a word since she sat down and he was very well aware of that "Look, you don't have to talk, but I thought, given the new situation that you might want to" He said, knowing he was taking a pretty big risk bringing up her pregnancy, but taking it anyway, hoping he could reach out to her.
The moment he finished the sentence he knew it was a mistake as her eyes widened almost immediately and she leaped up from her chair.
"I don't want to talk about this with you" She snapped as they locked eyes.
She only found out that she was pregnant that very morning and already he was in the know?
The fact that he knew so much about her, that her life story was out on display for him to read was driving her insane, she hated being so visible and exposed, it made her feel vulnerable, and in her world it was a dangerous thing.
He got up from his chair and stepped towards her. She averted her gaze and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands, the exhaustion taking over her "I just want to go" She pleaded, suddenly sounding sad and insecure.
"You know where to find me" He replied softly as he opened the door for her.
"Don't hold your breath" She shot him a look as she stepped out of his office.
"Tough lass" He murmured to himself after he closed the door.
He was definitely up for the challenge.
...
"You're going to isolation" One of the two female officers that were grabbing a resisting Emma by the arms shouted at her as they dragged her down the hall.
"Wait" Killian that was about to lock the door to his office called at them "Let me handle this" He opened the door widely and gestured with his hand for Emma to come in.
"Saved by the bell" The same angry officer said to Emma as she reluctantly released the grip on her.
"Isn't past your hours?" The nicer one asked him with a flirty smile.
"Nah, it's okay" He dismissed with a wave of his hand but politely smiled back before he followed a bruised and angry Emma into his office.
He turned the light back on and placed his bag on the floor next to the door after closing it behind them "Take a seat" He gestured with his hand towards the empty chair that was in front of his desk.
"I don't want to sit!" She shouted angrily, hands firmly closed into fists at the sides of her body, her jaw clenched tightly, her body still shaking from the struggle.
His soft eyes studied her. She had scratches and bruises all over her exposed skin, her arms, her face, her neck. It was obvious that she got into a fight with one of the other inmates.
"So what do you want to do Swan?" He asked softly. She didn't reply nor move, just stood there staring angrily at his desk. He took a step towards her and pulled the chair for her "Please sit, let's talk this – "
"I said I don't want to sit!" She cut him off as she turned to shout in his face.
"Swan, I know you're angry and probably hurt and afraid, but it's not good for you to get into fights, especially not in your condition" He took a step towards her, closing the short distance between them.
"You know nothing about me" She placed both hands on his chest and violently pushed him back, the push making him stagger back a little "Go home, why didn't you go already anyway?"
He walked around towards his side of the desk "Swan, I want to help, but I can't if you don't let me" She glanced at him over her shoulder "Swan" He said quietly as he sat in his chair.
"What?" She whipped around to face him, crossing her arms against her chest, her green angry eyes piercing him to the core.
"Please let me help" He pleaded "I looked over at your case and I think we can plea for remission, we might be able to get them to shorten your sentence, but it means that this can't happen anymo – "
"There's no we" She cut him off again, hesitating for a brief moment before she turned to the door "And I don't need your help"
She reached for the doorknob, pulling the door open as he quickly got up and leaned the door shut with one hand above her head "What are you doing?" She exclaimed as her eyes narrowed at him in anger.
"You can't leave" He replied calmly "Not until we figure this thing out"
"Go to hell! You can't make me"
"You know I can" He said decisively, looking sure and confident which made her anger burn even hotter, smoke coming out of her ears, her vision becoming a blur, feeling she was about to lose it and just like that she did as she slapped him hard across the face in reply.
She didn't give him a chance to respond when her hand flew again, this time not managing to reach his cheek as he caught it gently in mid air "But I won't" He said sincerely as he looked into her eyes.
If she weren't so caught up in the moment she might have been surprised to learn that even though her slap was hard enough so that a red mark was visible on his cheek, he was still unbelievably calm and he wasn't angry with her, not even one bit.
She knew that hitting an officer could get her in serious trouble, more trouble than she was already at, but she didn't seem to care. It was as if she were daring him to use it against her, as if she wanted him to report her on that, or at least that he would stop caring.
All of her life she was used to being alone, and then Neal came along. For the first time she let herself appreciate the fact that someone cared, that she wasn't alone anymore, and then in one swift shocking motion the rug was pulled from under her feet. After he betrayed her so badly she promised to herself that she will never let someone in again, coming to the conclusion that alone was in fact better.
Usually she hadn't had a problem keeping people out cause most of them just gave up and left after she had pushed them away a few times, but she sensed that he was a stubborn one and that she needed to resort to extreme measures.
She raised her free hand with intention to hit him again and he caught it too "Swan, what are you doing?" He asked softly, a slightly disappointed look on his face.
"Ugh!" She groaned in frustration as she took a step back, wrenching her hands with unnecessary force from his light grasp "Send me to isolation, I'd rather be there than here with you"
"As you wish" He replied "But I really recommend that you reconsider, you haven't been in isolation before, and I'm afraid you might have a change of heart once you do"
"I'm sure I can handle it" She said with conviction "It's probably nothing compare to some of the homes I've been in"
He studied her in silence for a long moment and when she glanced to look at him she noticed the sad expression on his face "I don't need your pity party, just send me to isolation already" She said firmly.
He opened the door widely "You can go to your cell" He said as she lingered for a moment, a surprised expression on her face.
"Just like that? No isolation?" She wondered and he shook his head in reply "Why?" She asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"I'll make you a deal" He said and she raised her brow at him, intrigued "I want you to come by my office tomorrow after lunch"
"And what if I don't want to?" She asked crossing her arms across her chest.
"You won't have to talk, just come and sit here for twenty minutes, fair enough?"
"Ten" She bargained, her lips forming a tight line.
"Fifteen" He said, a small smile at the corner of his mouth, a bit amused with her bargaining skills.
"Fine" She rolled her eyes and slouched before leaving to her cell.