Was she hearing a ringing, or was that just silence?
Even in her unconsciousness the pain was still there. It started from the back of her head and worked its way down. The sharp throb pumped through her body and down into her feet. Her eyelids were quick to open, though her blurred sight was slow to adjust to her surroundings. Wherever she was, the room was warmly lit. Soft, glowing orange lanterns rocked left to right. She suddenly realized that she was in the Captain's Quarters. She felt warm under the several heavy wool blankets in Hook's bed... Hook's bed.
Though the island was sweltering hot during the day, the temperature drastically dropped at night. The tropical heat was replaced by the nipping cold as the great Neverland moon came out into the sky. Emma's nights spent on the island had reminded her of the value of a good quality blanket to say the least.
She pulled her arms out from under the blankets and felt the pain in her upper back. Her head throbbed again. "Damn," she muttered under her breath as she began to sit up. There were two soft knocks on the door leading out onto the deck. Emma hastily gripped the ends of her blankets, "Yeah?"
David was hesitant to open the door at first. He took a small step into the Quarters. "Hey," he weakly smiled as he shut the door behind him. "How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," she mumbled with reserve. "Couldn't tell you what happened."
"The knots holding one of the masts up were insecurely tied. It got loose, swung around and hit you on the back of your head. You were knocked out instantly. You've been out for almost half a day now."
"Oh," Emma slowly sat back down on the edge of the bed. "I guess that explains the throbbing," she winced as she grabbed the side of her head in agony. "Hold on, I checked the knots for that mast; it was pretty damn secure. Hook even said so!"
"It wasn't your fault. We'll talk about it all later. Just take it easy in here for a while. Your mother and Regina both think that you've got a serious concussion."
"And the reason that you put me in Hook's cabin is because, why?"
David sighed and sat on the other side of the bed. His eyes were tired from a blatant lack of sleep and excessive concern. "This was the safest place to keep you while you slept. There's only one way to get in," he nodded to the door he had just come from.
"You've been guarding the door the whole time?" Emma's eyebrows rose in disbelief.
He nodded slowly, "We're sorry that we didn't believe you about Henry and Pan. I'm not sure how many times it'll take for you to prove us wrong before we start to get it," he half-smiled to her.
"So you do believe me," Emma smiled at David with relief.
David nodded warmly, "You've got your mother's intuition. I'll give you that."
"Have you talked with Gold about what we should do?"
"We're still trying to figure that part out. Pan is still oblivious to our knowing, but it's only a matter of time before one side attacks the other. Hook and Gold will stand behind us when the time comes to confront him."
"And Regina?"
"Regina isn't as easily convinced. She still thinks he's Henry and has made it clear that she will lay down her life to protect him."
Emma leaned her head back gently against the sturdy wooden headboard. She frowned discouragingly, "We can't win without her on our side."
"Hey," David gently lifted Emma's lowering chin with two fingers, "don't worry about it tonight. If we're going to have any chance against Pan, we'll need our best fighter out there. Get some rest and I promise we'll talk about it more in the morning," he leaned in and gently kissed her swelled forehead. Emma smiled at the fatherly gesture. It was weird at first, but she was starting to get used to the father-daughter relationship she was establishing with David. It definitely helped that he toned down the protective side when it came to her seemingly suspicious friendship with Hook.
"You need to sleep too," Emma looked at him sternly. "No more of this night watch business. Go tell Mary Margaret that I'm okay and that I ordered you to go to bed."
David chuckled weakly, "Don't worry about me, Emma."
"I'm serious. You're not looking too Charming right now. Go to bed, I promise I'll be fine."
His gaze softened in defeat, "If you need anything-"
"You're right down the hall," Emma smiled with reassurance. "Trust me, I'll sleep better if I know that you aren't pulling an all-nighter outside my door."
"Alright, then. I guess I'll see you in the morning."
The night progressed as the bright moonlight shined into the Quarters through the thick glass windows. Despite her constant tossing and turning, Emma couldn't find a comfortable position to sleep in. The bed was way too big for one person. On top of that, her thoughts swarmed her. Where is Henry? What is Henry? Is saving him even within her reach?
She listened to the calm waves as they splashed against the ship. She tried to steady her breathing. The warm vapor of each breath dispersed into the chilled night air. As she listened to the surf, another sound came to her notice. Footsteps.
They were far too light and far too careful to be anyone simply getting up for a glass of water from the supplies. Her suspicion was reason enough for her to investigate.
Emma was careful to open each door as she followed the light traveling down the hall. Whoever it was must have had access to the lanterns. She paused at the room where the light had entered. The door was left slightly ajar.
"I need the man and woman who brought you the boy. With their assistance, we can leave your land and never return. Tell me where they are and we won't disturb you any longer."
"You know, when I told you to never return to Neverland the first time I thought I was being pretty clear," Henry whispered darkly. Emma leaned closer and dared herself to even steal a glimpse of the two conversing. Hook was standing in the middle of the room; his posture appeared uncomfortably rigid. Henry, on the other hand, was slouching comfortably in a wooden chair. His feet were crossed over the end table.
"You want these people gone," Hook responded carefully. "I can take them. Just tell me where the other two are."
"Well I suppose that depends on how they'd help you," Henry responded cryptically. "If it's their spirit you're after, then you'll find their shadows spiked down by the borders of the Native lands. If you're in search of some leg work, then I'm afraid you'll have to ask my boys down at camp what they did with their bodies."
Emma felt her own stomach twist at his words. She never knew that she could feel such remorse for her enemies.
"Do not harm these people, Pan. I'm the one who brought them here. I knew the consequences of returning to this land. Spare them, take my life in their stead."
"You're a tragic fellow, you know that? When you first came here, you were all worked up about that dead fishwife. You'd think that a man like you would learn not to trouble himself with the likes of women again."
Hook's eyes burned holes into the ground as Henry slowly strutted around him, "I made a promise to the boy's mother that I'd return her to her son."
"And that you did! I'll tell ya what," Henry twirled his thumbs with enthusiasm, "I'm feeling generous, Hook. As it turns out, I've sort of missed you. Neverland hasn't been the same. It's not as fun without the dear old sea dog around. I'm going to spare you and your ship and I'll even provide you with a crew of strapping young lads. You'll be a true pirate Captain yet again."
Emma finally noticed that Hook was trembling. She couldn't tell if he was trembling with anger or fear… or both. She couldn't begin to imagine what leaving Hook alone in Neverland would do to him. "Whatever you want is yours," he muttered softly. "I only ask for mercy to my crew."
Henry laughed childishly, "Really man, if you're going to come to my land and have the audacity to ask me favors, you should have known better than to have brought a weakness."
Hook's eyebrow rose with misunderstanding.
"That blonde lady, Emma Swan... boy is she something. The woman pulled out some magic on me, you know. Well actually, I guess you wouldn't know, seeing as my knife was buried six inches deep in your chest at the time," he giggled. "She seems like she'd be a lot of fun to have around." There was a twist of amusement to his voice. "Is she, Captain? Is she a lot of fun?"
Emma squeezed the frame of the door until her knuckles went white. Hook bit his lip, the color in his face drained. "Not to worry Captain. I'll give you her hand to remember her by: a token of a pirate's conquest."
The boy took a step right in front of Hook and leaned his head up to face him straight on. His little eyes narrowed viciously, "And let it be a reminder to never disobey me again."
Emma couldn't allow the conversation to go any further. Taking a few steps back, she located the one particular squeaky board in the hallway and stomped down hard. Henry and Hook went silent. Acting as natural as possible, she knocked twice before letting herself in.
"Hey," her voice cracked. Damnit Emma, could you be more obvious?
"Hey Mom!" Henry smiled innocently. "You feeling better?" It brought bile to Emma's mouth. She swallowed down her aggression and gave him a warm nod, "Let's get you to bed, kid. We might be going home tomorrow."
Hook's eyes followed her like a ravaged watchdog. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't wipe the savageness off of his face. At least Emma could pretend.
Henry childishly hopped onto his bed and let Emma pull the covers up to his neck. "G'night, mom," he grinned. Before she could respond, Hook grabbed Emma's arm and helped her to her feet.
"G'night Captain," Henry smiled and winked.
"See you tomorrow, kid." She muttered before shutting the door.
Emma turned to face Hook, who was already halfway down the hall. "Hey wait," Emma paced after him, "we need to talk about what just happened." She grabbed his arm and whipped him around.
His eyes were shut tight; his hand was gripped in a fist. "Hook, you can't let him get to you like that." Hook dropped his head as he pursed his lips together.
"Hook, look at me... Killian, look at me," Emma's voice softened under his name. "You're going to leave this place: we all are. He's not going to get any of us."
"Get some sleep, Swan." His sea blue eyes slowly opened; his emerging tears glistened in the candlelight. Holy shit. Emma immediately let go of his arm and took a step back.
Without another word Hook retreated out onto the deck, leaving Emma alone in the cold darkness of the hallway.