I must say you blew me away with the reviews that I just had to update ASAP, so here it is, and thanks again to all of you!
Chapter 11 – Out
"Morning Miss Swan" Whale said from his place by the door to her cell.
"What do you want?" She frowned at him as she got up to sit on her bed "What are you even doing here? Aren't you banned from the women's quarters? You know, being a man and all" She said, a hint of mockery in her tone of voice.
"Yeah I am, but you know how much I like to bend the rules" He replied with a smirk as he reached his hand up to lean against the lintel
"Well what do you want?" She grimaced and arched an impatient eyebrow at him.
"Just came to let you know I'll be waiting for you in R&R" He said as he crossed his arms across his chest, now leaning his shoulder against the lintel.
"Why?" She asked in suspicion.
"Hopper is on sick leave so I guess you're stuck with me" He raised his brow and shrugged.
"I guess I am" She said as she got up from her bed and quickly pulled her hair up into a half-assed ponytail.
"Well don't look so disappointed" He said sarcastically "In a few hours you'll be out just the same"
"Yeah" She said dryly.
"Come on, it's the day of your release and you're not going to smile? Not even just a little bit?" He said as his eyes searched hers.
"Whatever" She rolled her eyes at him as a smile escaped her lips.
"That's more like it" He smiled back in triumph "So I'll see you there" He said and gave her a nod of encouragement.
After he left she averted her gaze from him back to the room as she started to gather up her things, remembering that not long ago Mary Margaret had done the same, remembering it was the day that she had handed her the note, thinking that if only she had gone to see Killian the day that followed Mary Margaret's release she wouldn't have spent her last days in prison dwelling on the past and drowning in regret.
Over the remaining three days that were left until Killian's departure she had been looking forward to his visit, practically sitting on the edge of her seat, waiting for him in anticipation and desperately seeking Blue out, just to hear that he hadn't come, each time her heart sinking in her chest a bit more. Oh how the tables had turned, now she had been the one who had waited his arrival, and he had been the one who had failed to show up, probably got discouraged with her, serves her right! Who wouldn't be? She treated him horribly, pushing him away and ignoring his visits, no wonder he stopped showing up altogether.
She and Ruby said their goodbyes, and Emma found herself a bit surprised by Ruby's display of emotion, since the girl that always seemed to be so giddy and lightheaded, all of a sudden seemed to be struggling to let go, even though she herself had no more than two months until her own release. They hugged for a long moment, promising to each other to stay in touch, even long after they will both go on with their lives outside those walls.
She then went, for the last time, to find Blue, in hope that she will be able to help her in obtaining Killian's phone number, cause even though she was tremendously disappointed that he had given up on her, she knew she had absolutely no right to be, and she knew she still owed him some kind of gratitude, even if it will only be over the phone.
Unfortunately, the too honest for her own good of a woman was of no help, saying she was not allowed to give that kind of information about a former employee. She was almost about to give up as her mind began to scramble, thinking of another way to obtain his number, and then it came to her, she remembered all too well who it was that shamelessly relished on bending the rules – Whale.
...
She was sitting on a bench in the receiving and release area staring at the hard cardboard box by her side. It was basically her life in a box, as it contained the swan keychain in addition to all of her belongings she had with her at the time of her arrest. Her cell phone, the key she used to wear around her neck, her black bag and its contents, her black frame clear lens glasses she used to wear only as a fashion statement, her black boots and her clothes, which were a pair of black tights, a long black and white striped sweater and her white wool collar grey cardigan.
It was way too hot in the season for her to wear her autumn clothes, but she had no choice, cause unlike the other inmates who were also being released that day, no one had sent her clothes to the R&R department beforehand.
She got dressed and even though it was rather hot in those boots and sweater, she just had to admit to herself that it was a nice change from those dark prison uniforms.
"Preparing for the winter?" Whale asked sarcastically as he entered the room with some papers in hand "You do know it's like a hundred degrees out there"
"Ha-ha, it's what I came with" She answered half-sarcastically, half-defensively.
"Here" He ignored her reply as he handed her the papers and a pen "You need to fill out these release forms"
"Okay" She nodded and watched as he turned to leave "Wait" She called at him and swallowed hard.
"Yes?" He asked as he slowly turned to face her again, his arms crossed across his chest and a curious expression creasing his face.
"I wanted to ask you something" She hesitated.
"Well ask away" He said as he gestured with his hand, urging her to talk "Well girl?" He continued impatiently "I don't have all day you know" Emma rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking that he was being his usual 'charming' self, what exactly had crossed her mind when she thought about asking that man for anything? But she had no better choice, and she really wanted to get that number. It was obvious that he was about to lose his patience any second now, so she decided to give it a try.
"Can you find someone's number for me?" She finally asked, a hint of insecurity in her tone of voice.
"Miss Swan, are you asking me for a favor?" He raised his brow at her, a smug grin taking over his face.
"I guess I am" She replied reluctantly as she shifted nervously on the bench.
"And what's in it for me?" He asked in a playful tone as he took a step closer, closing the distance between them.
"What do you mean?" She raised her brows, pretending not to understand.
"I mean, what are you going to do for me in return for that favor?" He said slowly as he placed one foot on the bench and rested his arm above the bent knee, his body leaning forward to stare at her up close, his smug grin spreading even wider, making her feel uncomfortable.
"Well what do you want? " She asked sharply as she slightly backed away, tired and disgust from his constant sly innuendos, her lips forming a tight line. That sleazy, sorry excuse of a person.
"Relax girl, I'm just messing with you" He laughed "Well who's number is it that you need?" He asked and she raised her brows in surprise.
"Jones" She cleared her throat, trying to sound nonchalantly as possible.
"Okay, just fill out the forms in the meantime" He replied simply and she was extremely surprised when he left without any other sarcastic remark or innuendo.
...
"Here" He handed her a piece of paper with some numbers on it "Now what about the forms?"
"All done" She grabbed them from the bench and handed them to him.
"Good girl" He said in a playful tone of voice and grinned before he turned to leave.
"Thanks" She called after him and he turned to face her "For this" She fingered the paper he gave her.
"Sure" He dismissed before he turned to leave only to stop in his tracks one more time "Oh, and good luck" He said genuinely and gave her a nod as he faced her for the last time.
"Thanks" She said slowly and blinked heavily in disbelief. Could it be that he wasn't so bad after all?
...
She stood outside the gate, adjusting her bag across her body, her cardigan hanging over it, the swan keychain in one hand, the gate money, 200$ in cash that she received, in the other. She couldn't believe that she was really out, free at last, she can do whatever she pleases, no one picking on her, no one bossing her around anymore.
She took in the fresh air, not that she lacked air inside the prison walls, they had plenty of time in the prison yard, but still this air was different, she felt different taking it in, an exhilarating feeling taking over her body as she did, there was no doubt that this air had something special about it, it was tinged with something special, it was tinged with the scent of freedom.
She stuck the money in her bag and started walking towards the visitors parking lot in search of her yellow bug. It still felt weird referring to that bug as her own, after all it was his car, Neal's car. She hesitated for a moment as she stopped in the middle of the parking lot, looking down at the keychain in her hand before raising her head, her eyes scanning the parking lot, and it only took her a few seconds to spot the car, after all it was a bright yellow, easy to spot kind of a car.
She hurried towards it, couldn't wait to get in that car and get the hell away from that place, she only hoped that the car would start and that it had enough gas, cause she sure as hell didn't want to get stuck anywhere near that place.
She thought that some of her clothes might still be in that car, maybe she could find something lighter to wear, she continued thinking about what she was hoping to find in the car when she suddenly stopped in her tracks, stopped to the sight of him.
Her breath hitched in her throat and her heart skipped a beat as she stared at Killian. He was sitting on the ground, his back leaning against the yellow bug as he was playing with his phone. He was handsome as usual, his dark hair combed to one side, wearing an untucked light blue polo shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans.
Her head was reeling with questions. What was he doing there? Was she really the one he was waiting for? Did it mean that he was not angry with her? How did he even know that it was the day of her release? And how come he wasn't in Boston?
"Hey" He said as he leaped up from the ground and took the earphones out of his ears, hanging the cord around his neck and sticking the phone in his back pocket, seemingly nervous and excited at the same time.
"Hey" She continued to walk towards the car, towards him, her throat dry and her heart racing in her chest "What are you doing here?" She wondered, the words slipping from her lips without a second thought "I mean – " She swallowed hard before she slightly shook her head in confusion "Aren't you suppose to be in Boston by now?" She asked and tilted her head to one side, the sun making her eyes squint. She reached a hand up to her forehead, trying to block the sun, as her green eyes flickered nervously back and forth from his face to a spot behind him.
"I am" He sounded a bit flustered himself "I'm sorry I didn't come to visit you on those last days, it was just that I rebooked my flight to get to Boston a few days earlier – "
"Seriously?" She smiled widely at him as she lowered her hand back down, her eyes beginning to relax as a big cloud was now blocking the sun "You're apologizing for not coming to visit an empty table?" She asked amazed. Was this guy for real?
"So it seems" He chuckled in embarrassment as he glanced down and scratched behind his ear "Anyway" He looked back up at her "I wanted to get to Boston ahead of time to complete the training so I could take this week off"
"Why?" She asked as her eyes widened in wonder.
"Well, Hopper informed me that your remission was approved" He said as he took a step closer, closing the distance between them "And I wanted to be here when you get out, I – ".
"About that" She cut him off "I wanted to thank you Killian – " She said softly as her hand unconsciously reached for his arm. He swallowed hard at the touch as he fought the urge to look down at her hand, his eyes softening, slowly filling with love and desire.
"No need" He didn't let her finish as he shook his head and smiled "I'm just glad you're finally out and – "
"Actually there is" She cut him off again as her hand let go of his arm and she gestured with both of her hands for him to listen "Please let me thank you properly, you've done so much for me, and I want you to know that I appreciate it, really appreciate it, all of it, even though sometimes it didn't look that way" She raised one eyebrow and twisted her mouth to one side "Well not sometimes, more like all the time, I'm really sorry about that, I didn't mean to be such a – " She lowered her gaze to the ground and chuckled in embarrassment "Well you know, I was mean and you didn't deserved that, I know you were trying to help, but I was a mess, well I'm still kind of a mess, but at least now I'm out and I'm free, thanks to you, which was actually the point to all this rambling" She grimaced at herself for missing the point before she took a deep breath and continued "Thank you" She said slowly as she stared deep into his bright blue eyes "I really mean it, I don't think that words are enough to repay you, so if there's anything I can do, please, just say the word"
"I already told you that you can be quite persuasive" He smiled at her, a big toothy smile.
"Yeah, you did" She smiled in embarrassment as she looked at the ground, gently kicking at the gravel with her boot.
"Well there is this one thing" He said, a mischievous smile lifting his lips as she raised her gaze to meet his.
"Well, what did you have in mind?" She asked in a playful tone as a flush of heat made its way up to her cheeks.
"It's nothing like that" He said, a bit flustered "Although I can't say that I'd mind" He added in slight embarrassment "But it is something else"
"Okay, well name it" She said without hesitation, trying not to look disappointed.
"Are you still heading to Maine like you planned?" He asked and her brow immediately shot up to her hairline as his question took her by surprise.
"Yes" She nodded. He remembered? She knew she wanted to go and visit Mary Margaret once she gets out, but she barely mentioned it to him once.
"Then perhaps you can give me a ride? Back to Boston I mean" He asked, drawing his bottom lip in between his lips in anticipation for her reply.
"Sure" She was quick to reply, without thinking about the implications, which meant being alone in a car with him for over forty hours of driving.
"Great" He said as a big smile spread across his face "So what now?"
"There's this one thing that I'm just dying to do, basically ever since I got in that place"
"Well what is it?" He asked as he leaned his back against her car, crossing his legs at the ankles.
"Take a shower. In private. Without anybody breathing down my neck, without another inmate yelling at me, or worse, threatening me, not to use all the hot water" She slouched and rolled her eyes.
"I figured you'd say that" He said confidently.
"You did?" She wondered. Did she forget he used to work there? He knew all too well what the inmates' problems were.
"Yeah, that's why I allowed myself to book us a room" He said, again taking her by surprise.
"Well aren't you an optimistic" She smiled and raised one brow suggestively.
"I meant, book you a room" He corrected himself as he gestured with his hand towards her "Come on, let's go, it's not far from here"
"Wait, I have to do something first" She said as she went over to the front of the car and opened the trunk, smiling widely to the sight of her suitcase. She opened it and took out a simple floral spring dress before closing the trunk back "I have to change, you wait here" She eyed him carefully before she entered the car and moved to the back seat.
"Nothing I've never seen before you know" He chuckled at her as he took a peek at the side mirror, catching a glimpse of her bra. The man might have been decent and honest but he was no saint.
"Haha, you are a funny man Jones" She called from the back seat as she pulled down the hem of her dress "Come on let's go" She said after she moved back to driver's seat.
"Well that's much better" He said as his eyes skimmed her body when he got into the car, smiling widely at her.
"Oh shut up" She said and rolled her eyes before she started the car and they began to drive away, the image of the prison in the back view mirror becoming smaller and smaller.
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