A/N: Last chapter! An extra long one, though, to compensate. :)
Killian was swabbing the deck as the afternoon sun gradually sank in the sky. There really was no point to it as the ship had never been cleaner. Having so much free time meant that Killian spent all of his time on the Jolly and if he didn't keep his hands busy with some task or another his thoughts strayed to Emma. So he was swabbing the deck, the radio softly playing in the background.
The weather had been relatively mild all day but there had been some dark clouds hovering on the horizon. The Maine wind had started to work itself into a frenzy, bringing those thunderclouds closer until they were right over head. Killian had just finished packing away his cleaning supplies when the skies opened and the downpour began.
He was heading towards his truck when he heard sirens, and soon after the sheriff's vehicle whipped into the parking lot. David and Emma bolted out of the vehicle and started jogging down the dock, calling out instructions to each other.
"You start the rescue boat and get on the radio with the harbormaster in Portland," Emma was saying at they came upon Killian. David saluted her and nodded at Killian before sprinting to the end of the dock.
"Swan, what's going on?" Killian's concern made him forget his commitment to stay away from her.
Emma was pulling out her phone. "One of those tourist cruises from Portland capsized nearby and we got a rescue call. The problem is Storybrooke's search and rescue boat is more suited for rescuing a single fishing boat, not a seventy-person cruise. I'm putting in a call to Portland's police to let them know we'll do what we can, but that our resources are limited." She started scrolling through her contacts before raising the phone to her ear.
"Emma, wait. I can go out with you. The Jolly can easily accommodate seventy people."
Someone on the other line had started talking but Emma was focused on Killian. "You would do that? It's not good sailing weather out there. I don't even know why a tourist cruise would be out on the water with this weather."
Killian offered a half smile. "Swan, we both know I'm the best sea captain you know. I can handle it." He beckoned to her to follow him back down the dock.
She followed him toward the Jolly but continued past it at a jog. "I have to let David know we're going out there too. I'll be back in just a second."
Killian nodded and started to make way to sail. He raised the sails and unmoored the lines. Emma was back just as he was ready to pull away from the dock. He directed her over to the helm of the ship while he continued to bustle around the ship, adjusting the sails and occasionally calling back instructions to Emma. Soon, though, they were out in the cove proper and for such a large ship, they had made good time.
"So where is this capsized cruise waiting for us, anyway?" Killian finally asked Emma.
"We're going to follow David out but it's about fifteen miles south of our cove. The tourist guides were able to activate the ship's homing signal so we should be able to find them fairly easily."
Killian nodded but didn't have time to keep chatting. The seas were rough today and he had to focus his attentions on making sure they didn't capsize too; that would make for a fairly poor rescue mission, after all. He soon took over at the helm and sent Emma belowdeck to put on a lifejacket and see what other rescue gear he had on board. Killian was not jealous of David in his little speed craft. The rescue boat was probably easier to maneuver but it was also being tossed around a lot as one huge wave crested after the other.
Emma returned from belowdeck with a string of lifejackets which she secured to the main mast. She made another trip and brought up three life preservers and a utility lantern. She tied each life preserver to a separate rope. Killian glared at her the best he could while focusing on keeping them afloat, but she seemed to get the message anyway and finally put on a lifejacket. The last thing he needed was worrying about her drowning too.
David's vessel was equipped with a floodlight which had been on its lowest setting, making it easier for Killian to keep track of him. Suddenly the light flared bright white and Killian locked the wheel in place and hurried to pull the sails in. Emma was signaling to David with her lantern and then Killian saw the capsized boat and the civilians scattered around it.
While he was in the Navy, Killian had often conducted rescue missions but it was highly irregular to conduct one from a sailboat. Him and Swan managed though, working together seamlessly to pull people out of the water and send them belowdeck to get out of the storm. So far, no one was hurt too badly; just lots of cases of water inhalation and developing hypothermia. David had manned the floodlight and communicated with the ship's captain to make sure they had retrieved everyone.
After Emma had double-checked the headcount, they set sail again, racing back to Storybrooke's shores. The Jolly was carrying a lot more weight now and Killian had to compensate the sails to get them moving again at top speed. Emma was busy distributing blankets and first aid belowdeck. Luckily, everyone had fit down there, but each time a larger wave crested over the sides of his ship, Killian cringed with worry.
As they entered the cove, Killian saw that there are ambulances waiting with their sirens ablaze. He assumed that was something Swan had taken care of before they left and he was glad she was in charge; she always thought of everything. They pulled astride the dock and were immediately bombarded by a medical team. Those needing the most medical attention were loaded into the first wave of ambulances. David had climbed aboard at some point and was also moving amongst the rescued.
Emma had stepped back up near the helm to take a call and Killian could tell from her tone that it was someone from Portland. He lingered nearby, intently adjusting a mooring line, definitely not trying to eavesdrop. Emma hung up too soon though and noticed him dawdling.
"Not enough to do, Captain? There aren't enough medals of honor to collect to distract from eavesdropping on me?" She smiled as she said it, and Killian climbed the steps to where she was standing.
"Dave is more than capable of handling the few remaining persons on board. I was just tidying up my ship." He sniffed and looked away, unable to hide the smirk pulling at his lips. "Do you really think I might get a medal of honor, though? I think it might look dashing on my chest." Relief at having saved everyone was giving him false bravado.
Emma laughed, as she always had at his antics. "I can probably finagle you one, if you'd like. That was Portland's rescue team on the phone, telling me they had found the boat and were working to pull it ashore. They were impressed we managed to bring everyone to safety." She looked straight at Killian now. "Thank you, for your help. The med response team thinks everyone will be fine because we were able to act so quickly. I owe you."
Killian returned her gaze but continued in his playful tone. "No thanks necessary. I've always told you, Swan, the Jolly Roger is really big. I'm glad I got to prove it to you."
Emma laughed, a smile covering her face while she rolled her eyes. "Yes, you have always said that, Killian, but it was always an innuendo. It was never a recommendation for your ship's actual capacity." Emma's gaze shifted to someone behind him and she waved. "Look, I should probably follow this last group into the hospital. I need to check on everyone we rescued."
Killian nodded and moved aside to see David waiting on the deck for Emma. She touched his arm before leaving the ship. "Seriously though, Killian, thank you."
"You're welcome, Emma. Anytime." Every time, he added silently. She smiled at him before disembarking and catching up with David. They climbed into their patrol car and then Killian was alone again.
~k+e~k+e~k+e~
"Okay, Emma. I'm heading out. I'll finish the rest of my report in the morning." David tugged on his jacket and gathered up his keys. "Promise me you'll leave soon too?"
Emma looked up from a stack of paperwork that was making her eyes blur to nod vaguely at David. "Sure, I'm just going to clean up a bit and then I'll head out too. Good night." David nodded and then headed out the door. As it shut behind him, Emma stretched and popped her neck. After everyone had gotten settled at either the hospital and Granny's, she and David had to come back to the station to fill out their reports and check in with the Portland office. It was a terrible way to end an already long night but she decided it was time to head home too.
She cleaned up a few files before shrugging on her coat and heading out to the parking lot. The rain was still pouring down, making the air very brisk. Emma was really glad they had been able to rescue everyone and that all of them would make a quick recovery. She can't imagine how terrible she would feel now if things had gone poorly on the rescue mission.
Which it easily could have, she realized as she climbed in the bug and started the engine, if not for Killian. His help had made the difference and she was definitely really grateful for it but she also found herself wishing he hadn't been so conveniently on hand at the docks. Her feelings surrounding him were complicated enough without the added aura of heroism. She couldn't deny to herself that she wished things with him weren't so complicated though.
She turned onto her street and pulled into her driveway. The bug was just beginning to pump out heat and Emma took a deep breath before plunging back out into the rain and making a break for the porch. She was running up the steps with her head down when she tripped over something. No, someone, Emma realized as her eyes adjusted to the gloom. She shrieked and scrambled to pull out her gun.
"Swan! It's me! Sorry, I hadn't meant to startle you!" His arms were in the air but he hadn't bothered standing up.
"Killian! What the hell are you doing out here in the middle of the night?" Emma's heart was still hammering but she returned her gun to her holster.
Killian relaxed his arms when the gun disappeared but she could tell he was upset. He slouched again and reached up to scratch behind his ear with his hand. "I…I thought you were already inside. I didn't realize you would still be out so late."
Emma was confused. "So you're just sitting on the steps out here in the rain because…" She was sopping wet now but couldn't be less interested in moving inside out of the storm.
Killian took a deep breath and clasped his hands together, dangling them between his legs. His voice was soft as he said, "I missed you. I got back to the cabin and realized there was no where else I wanted to be than here. So I drove here and got out and had made it up the steps before I realized I shouldn't be here. But by then, I really didn't want to turn around and leave so I kind of just…sat down. I suppose I was waiting for the motivation to leave when you showed up."
Emma was dumbfounded by this confession. She literally felt floored and decided to sit down before she was completely overwhelmed. "I thought you were back together with Milah. I saw you talking to her the other day and after everything that had happened and then the break up, I kind of freaked out. Had an emotional meltdown, actually." Killian twisted his head to look at her and Emma cringed away from him. "I know, it's pretty pathetic."
Killian snorted. "That is not pathetic. Me drinking myself into a stupor to avoid thinking about you after our break up is pathetic."
"I guess I assumed after my…incident with Neal, that you would get back together with Milah. But actually seeing evidence of it, kind of shattered me."
Killian was still looking at her, twisting awkwardly on the top step to do it. "Emma. I told you before, I never will be interested in Milah again like that. I wish you would trust me on that."
"I want to trust you. I do trust you. I just have a jealous monster that lives in my chest and when I saw you comforting her the first time, it reared it's ugly head."
"I get that, Emma, I do. My jealousy monster definitely reared it's ugly head when I found you and, him. I was definitely really angry in that moment because I didn't understand what was going on. But, Swan, I am never going to pick someone over you. Ever."
Emma looked up to into his eyes. "I want to believe that, I really do. I guess I just didn't believe that I deserved to have you pick me after I hurt you by seeking Neal out."
"I definitely would really rather not ever experience that again, but Emma I forgave you. And I still forgive you. I get why you acted the way you did and I hope you understand why I was comforting Milah. But that stuff doesn't really matter. We have to trust each other first. We have to trust that's there's an explanation, that there's a good reason, that we will always choose the other." Killian gaze was steady as he settled his hand over hers. "I trust you, Emma. Do you trust me?"
Emma returned his gaze with her own. His eyes were earnest and more steady than she had expected. She knew that he did trust her, to never hurt him again, to always come back to him. She wasn't convinced that she deserved that trust but she decided she was ready to earn it. Because she was sure she trusted him and she never wanted to give him up again.
She stood up and pulled him with her. "Let's go inside. It's late and it's cold. And I've missed you too."
He smiled, a real full smile, and kissed her devotedly, before following her out of the cold rain and into their warm home.
A/N: The end! I really enjoyed this fic and had a great time researching sailing terms and then leaping away from them into the realm of fiction. Thank you so much for all the follows and favorites, and especially your reviews! They kept me on track and were very motivating. :) This is my longest fic yet and I'm really happy with how it turned out. As always, I would love to hear your thoughts.
I'm working on a longer fic that I hope to start publishing soon (teaser: Sheriff Emma goes to Nottingham) but in the mean time I am working on Valentine's Day fics over on tumblr ( inanyrealm). I hope you check both of those things out because its good for my ego, but thank you again for following along to this story! - M