3
THE CASE OF MISSING YOU
June 2007
Emma was dressed in jean shorts and a red cropped tank. Her hair was somewhat curly and pulled into a high pony, along with a light layer of makeup. She hadn't tried to doll up too much, especially since she was only going to hang out with her 'friend'. It was a hot day, and he had asked to meet up for ice cream, but she had work later that day, so she offered to meet up for breakfast. She was to meet Killian in twenty minutes at Granny's, as friends. It wasn't a date. At least she thought it wasn't.
Was it a date?
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, before turning to look at herself once more in the mirror and spraying some perfume all over her body. She sighed and smiled at herself before meeting up with her mother in the kitchen, "I'm ready to go, Mom."
"Wearing that? Are we sure this boy is just a friend?" Snow snickered and raised an eyebrow as she grabbed her car keys.
Emma crossed her arms and followed her mother out of the house, "He is just a friend, and it's ninety degrees out."
Snow nodded and got in the car, before she started to drive to the town's hit restaurant, Granny's. They arrived only a few minutes early, and Snow watched reluctantly as Emma got out of the car, "You sure you'll be okay, honey?"
Emma nodded excessively, "I'll be fine, Mom. I'll text later when I'm ready to leave."
Snow nodded, "Alright, I love you."
"Mhm, you too." she said before crossing her arms and making her way into Granny's. Emma slipped through the door, making the customer bell ring and causing some people to stare at her. Believe or not, Emma had never been to Granny's in her entire life of living in Storybrooke. She felt out of place immediately when she was submerged into a sea of unknown neighbors. Then, she felt a hand wrap around her forearm, causing her to quickly turn around and grab the wrist of whoever it was.
Killian jumped back and laughed, "Jeez, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."
She scoffed and then let a small smile form, "I wasn't scared, I was just-"
"Right," Killian raised an eyebrow and held his hand to invited her to sit at a booth, "Will this do?"
"It will suffice," she laughed before an older woman handed them menus, to which they nodded and thanked. Emma scanned the menu for an item that made her mouth water, but she had never heard of the plates before - or had never tried any of them.
Killian looked up at her and noticed her hesitation to pick something, "When I go somewhere new, I just get something that I know I'll enjoy, like a bagel or pancakes."
"Mmm, I love pancakes."
He shrugged, "Then get them, love."
Emma raised an eyebrow at him before he continued to speak, "What? I always call people that."
She made eyes at him before the older woman came back and collected the menus and their orders. Emma folded her hands together on the table and looked around the restaurant to try to relieve some of the awkwardness, but nothing seemed to work.
Killian cleared his throat and fumbled with the rings on his fingers, "So."
"So."
"How come we've never become friends before this?" Killian asked, leaning towards her a bit.
Emma sighed, "Well, I was homeschooled for the first eight years. So, I didn't go to Storybrooke Intermediate or Storybrooke Elementary."
He nodded, "Why did you change your ways and decide to come to Storybrooke High?"
She shrugged her shoulders and clicked her tongue, "Guess I just wanted to classic high school experience like everyone else."
The older woman showed up with their food and handed them syrup with extra napkins, "Enjoy my finest."
"Thank you," Killian said before she walked away, and then he looked at Emma, who was already digging into her pancakes, "Are those good? I mean, the chocolate chips in the pancakes?"
She shoved a big bite into her mouth before covering it with her hand and smiling, "Of course, I love some flavor with my pancakes."
"I've only ever had plain pancakes," he said while taking a bite of his buttermilk ones, "Never tried it with anything else."
"You should," she laughed, "Pancakes are sensational."
"With or without the extras."
Emma nodded and continued to eat her chocolate chip pancakes. They would occasionally stop to chat for a bit and then go back to eating until they both finished their plates and just talked. Emma texted her mom to pick her up as they stood from the booth and headed outside.
Killian found his hands to be stuck in his short pockets and his bottom lip to be stuck between his teeth. Nerves were building up and he didn't know why. He could sense that their time was almost over and even just the idea of her leaving made him a bit more upset. He cleared his throat as they stopped walking at the gate of the restaurant, "Did you like it?"
"It was an amazing first time," she smiled and look to the ground, "Thanks, Killian."
He nodded, "Of course. Is that your mom?"
Emma turned to notice the trunk pulling into the parking lot and then turned back to him with a mod, "Yeah. See you in school?"
"Yeah, right, school. Only two months till then." he smiled as she folded her hands behind her back and stepped off the curb. Then, there was a pause between the both of them where they just stared at each other for a few seconds.
Emma quickly stepped back up onto the curb and wrapped her arms around Killian, squeezing him lightly and then letting go and running to her car. She got inside and waved to him, who was still shocked that she even touched him. He gulped and waved back as he watched them back out and leave the parking lot, which made him feel a drop in his heart like no other.
June 2017
Emma growled as she heard her phone buzzing. She shoved her pillow on top of her head and pulled the comforter over the pillow to try to ignore the sound, but the buzzing was too loud. Her arm extended from the bed and her finger wrapped around her cellphone, before she brought it under the pillow and up to her face to read the screen - 4:15AM. She rubbed her eyes and sighed angrily, before it buzzed again and displayed a call from Leroy.
She picked it up, "Hello?"
Swan, we need you at 412 Main St, now.
"What's happening?"
Robbery. And apparently it's your ex boy toy.
"Ex boy toy?"
Neal Cassidy.
She rolled her eyes and sat up from bed, "I'm coming. Be there in ten."
We have the place surrounded. Best hurry.
She nodded and hung up before throwing her phone on the bed and standing to move to her closet, where she grabbed a pair of black jeans and a white tank top. Quickly, she got dressed and pulled her hair into a high messy bun, before throwing on a pair of shoes, brushing her teeth, and grabbing a cup of strong coffee to go. She struggled to open the door of her apartment due to the darkness, and then struggled even more to close and lock the door because the hallway was completely pitch black. She growled at the door as she felt the knob for the keyhole and spoke to herself, "You've got to be fucking kidding me."
Finally, the key fell into the hole and she locked the door, "Thank you for not screwing up this case."
Then, she shoved her keys in her pocket and headed down the stairs and towards her car. She didn't bother getting a squad car, especially because it would just add on another ten minutes to her estimated arrival time since the station was opposite of where she had to go.
She arrived at the scene not five minutes later and jumped out of her car, before running over to Leroy and bending down behind the squad car, "So?"
"You got here fast, Swan."
She rolled her eyes, "I don't take my job for granted, Leroy."
He nodded and pulled out a file, "Neal Cassidy, 28, has previous charges of attacking, attempt at robbery, and attempt at escaping jail."
"Yep, I know. Are we sure he's in there right now?" she said as she stood back up and secured a gun in her holster.
Leroy patted her shoulder, "Sure as ever. Good luck, Swan. Don't hurt yourself."
"Why would I hurt myself?"
"Do you want me to go in with you?" he added.
She raised an eyebrow before jumping the hood if the car and turning back to him, "Why would I need you to accompany me?"
He shrugged, "Old boyfriends can mess with your head; just looking out for you, Emma."
"I don't need anyone to look out for me," she said, "I'm a grown woman, and I'm about to put this jerk in his place. And it's Sheriff to you."
Leroy raised his hands in a surrendering motion before saying, "Whatever you say, Sheriff. We're out here if you need backup."
Emma nodded and slowly headed into the front door of the building. It seemed abandoned from the looks of it - there were boards of wood nailed across the windows, no furniture in sight except a large area rug in the middle of the first room, and it seemed like there had been no air condition on for months. She grasped the body of her gun and pulled it from her holster as she rounded the first corner and started up the stairs. She could easily hear the muffled talk of her ex-boyfriend and another familiar voice, but she couldn't quite make out who the other person was. Emma took a deep breath before stepping up the last stair and coming to a pause when she saw the shadows of two men.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Neal said, "You were supposed to keep him away from her!"
"I tried-"
"We had a deal, man!" Neal yelled, but then quieted down, "You think it's easy for me to live like this?"
The other person quickly responded, "It's not my fault you chose this lifestyle-"
Neal laughed, "Chose this lifestyle? You fucking made me, this was my price to pay for my half of the deal."
"You didn't have to take the deal."
Neal snickered in response, "I had to take it and you know it. It was the only way I could have a second chance with her-"
"No one forced you to do it."
"Shut your mouth," Neal snapped, "Where's the money?"
The shadows moved closer to the slightly opened door as she held her breath and listened to the other voice, "That money isn't yours."
"I'm taking it for myself since you couldn't hold up your end of the deal."
"The police will catch you, and then she'll for sure know your whereabouts."
Neal's shadow moved quickly as the door was then shut, and Emma began to hear shuffling of boxes and furniture in the closed off room. There was a loud bang like something had dropped before she heard Neal's voice again, "That's a clever hiding spot, you know?"
"You aren't going to get away with this. They'll find you, she'll find you."
"Maybe she'll find me and I'll give her a stern fucking, but until then, the cash is mine," he sighed, "And you are no longer relevant."
"I'll tell the police myself."
"You'll do no such thing." Neal said.
Emma inched towards the door and slowly reached for the knob, letting her fingers wrap around the cold metal and shook off her nerves. Then, the other voice spoke, "Or you'll do what?"
"I'll kill you."
At Neal's words, Emma turned the knob and kicked the door open, holding her gun in the air and aligning it with Neal's chest, "Put the money down and your hands up."
Neal's eyes widened at the sight of her, his heart stopping and his breath quickening all at once. He cocked his head to the side and cleared his throat, trying to take in all of her. She was even more beautiful than she was a few years ago.
Emma moved towards him a bit, making him drop the bag of money and fascinate over her a little more. She quickly eyed the man behind Neal, who was indeed the familiar face of her college classmate, August Booth.
November 2012
Emma sat under the tree and folded her knees under her body. She sighed as she opened her law enforcement history book and began reading the assigned passage.
"Detective? Governor?" a man said as he strolled over to Emma, "No, policewoman?"
Emma let her eyes travel up to the man, who was now standing in front of her. He had short, curly brown hair, some scruff on his face, and was wearing all leather. He was holding a motorcycle helmet in one hand and his other was hidden in his leather jacket's pocket. He sent her a soft smile and held out his hand, "August Booth."
She placed her book on the grass and stood, grabbing his hand and shaking it, "Emma Swan. How'd you guess?"
"How'd I guess you were studying to be a policewoman?" he said, "Well, you look pretty badass."
She laughed and took her hand away, crossing her arms and leaning against the tree, "And you?"
He bit his lip and looked away as if he was embarrassed, before turning back to her and tapping his helmet against his leg, "Writing."
"You?" she laughed, "The guy with a leather jacket and motorcycle, is studying to be a writer?"
He nudged her with his helmet, "Just because I look tough doesn't mean I can't be soft."
"And you're a senior, right?" she said, folding her hands in front of her.
August nodded, "Yeah, how did you-"
"I've seen you around my ex before; he's a senior, too." she shrugged and sat back down, "I better finish this homework. Dr. Hopper is going to kill me if I hand in another late assignment."
August cleared his throat and smiled, "See you around?"
She nodded and grabbed her book from the grass, placing it her lap and opening it back up to the assigned passage. Emma looked up at him and smiled as he walked away, before starting her passage.
June 2017
"Emma?" Neal still couldn't really believe that she was standing there in front of him.
She tightened her grip on the gun and stepped towards him, "Put your hands up, Neal."
August stood from the chair he had been sitting in, causing Emma to swing the gun in his direction, "Don't move, August."
August froze and held his hands up in the air, but Neal still chose not to. He squinted towards her and then eyed August, then the money, then back to Emma. She sighed and pointed the gun back to Neal, before taking a step back towards the door and slowly reaching for her radio, "Neal, you make any moves, I shoot you."
As soon as Emma's hand landed on her radio, Neal bolted for the bag of money and hid behind August. Emma immediately and instinctively shot the gun, the bullet going into the headboard of the bed.
"Fuck me." she said under her breath, "Neal, stop hiding and get your ass out here. Let's just settle this."
August, still frozen and now more scared that Neal was hiding behind him, slowly bent down to his knees, revealing Neal, who was texting something on his phone.
Leroy was talking on the radio,
Need help, Swan? We heard a gunshot.
"Neal, who are you texting?" she said as she stepped towards him and August and kicked the boxes aside. He turned towards her and sent her a smirk, before replying, "Right about now you'll find out."
"What the hell does that mean?" she said. Emma noticed August finally sitting down completely on the ground, her attention focusing on the reason he was even doing so. Then, she immediately felt two hands wrap around her arms, making her quickly spin around. The mysterious attacker grabbed her wrists and kicked the gun out of her hand and under the bed. Her mouth dropped, all of it was happening so fast - she had never had any issues like this before. Neal stepped over August completely, stopping and squatting in front of him, "You tell them where I'm going and I'll kill you."
The man whose arms were now tightly around Emma's waist, pulled her back with him and swung her around so that her body hit the wall. She quickly punched him in the gut and yanked off his black ski mask, noticing the key features of him - dirty blonde hair, green eyes, and strong cheekbones - before she was then again swung around and thrown into the window. Her head hit the glass, it shattering and stalling her long enough for Neal and the other guy to run out of there. Her hand found her head, the pain entering her entire body, as she opened her eyes and stared at August, who was still sitting on the ground patiently.
"Where did they go, August?" she said.
He stayed silent, but looked up at her.
"August, if you don't tell me, then I'll have to arrest you." she said, letting her hands fall to her side and pushing her body off the wall.
Emma stalked towards him and reached for the handcuffs in on her jean's belt loop, "August Booth, you're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
As she bent down and cuffed his wrists, Leroy and his fellow officer, Doc, came running into the room, "That's Neal Cassidy?"
"No." she sighed and yanked August up with her, "This is August Booth, one of Neal's accomplices."
August grunted as Emma threw him into Leroy's and Doc's grasp. She sighed as Leroy asked, "And Neal? Did you let him get away?"
Emma cleared her throat and shoved past the three men, "I didn't let him do anything, but yes, he got away with another man."
"I told you that you shouldn't have gone in alone-"
"Leroy, don't speak to me like that," she snapped as she stepped out of the building, Leroy, Doc, and August following, "And next time you even think of doing it, remember that I am your boss. Not the other way around."
Leroy bit his tongue in the process of stuffing August in the back of his squad car, "You coming to the station for his booking?"
Emma froze and turned to Leroy, who was leaning calmly against his squad car, then she eyed August, who was biting his lip and staring Emma down. She rolled her eyes and threw him her gun, "Not right now, but I'll be back later after I'm rested to question him. For now, just hold him in the station's cell until I come back later."
"Go get some rest," he said, "You'll need to be on your game if we're going to catch Neal Cassidy. I'm sure he's already on the run and getting out of this state."
"I doubt he'll leave New York, Leroy." she said as she stuffed her hands in her back pockets.
Leroy opened the squad car door and turned to Emma, "Why do you think that?"
"Because I'm in New York."
Leroy nodded and got into the car, before driving off and leaving Emma alone in the parking lot with her yellow bug. She rubbed her eyes and sighed angrily, before clenching her fists and biting her lip. She got in her car and began to hit the steering wheel, "Fuck me, fuck me!"
In a matter of minutes, she was driving home.
She trudged up the stairs to her floor and unlocked the door, still with a struggle since the hallway wasn't light yet. Emma banged her head against the door after she shut it and turned to move into the kitchen. She stared at the stove clock, which stated 6AM. She threw her keys on the kitchen counter and opened her fridge - no food. With a roll of the eyes, Emma walked out of the kitchen and plopped her body on the couch, falling back first and just lying there for a few minutes.
She couldn't believe that Neal was back for one day and he was already ruining her life. She hadn't been too distracted at the scene, but she was not 100% on her game, so he took the opportunity to escape. She hated herself for it. Emma never messed up her job; her job meant everything to her - especially since her it had taken the place of her family and friends.
Everything was going wild in her life - her job was being messed up by an ex boyfriend, who was now a convict, her other ex highschool lover came back after seven years, and her family still wanted nothing to do with her.
There was a knock on her door.
Who the hell was knocking on her door at six in the morning?
She groaned and ignored it, but there was another knock.
Reluctantly she stood, before trudging over to the door and slowly unlocking it and opening it to reveal Killian with a large white bag.
"Killian, I thought we agreed you wouldn't be bothering me."
"I heard you cursing in the hallway this morning, and I just wanted to give you these." he said as he held out the white bag in front of her, "It's your favorite."
She took the bag from his hands and opened it, letting the sweet smell of chocolate chips fill her senses, "Chocolate chip pancakes?"
He smiled at her and nodded before backing up to his door, "Eat them and sleep."
Killian turned around and left her alone as he shut the door to his apartment behind him. She was stunned by his actions. Emma looked down at her favorite meal since freshman year - her favorite meal since she met him.
He had remembered.
He had remembered how happy eating them made her feel.
And just this small act of kindness allowed her to remember the large amount of happiness they shared when they were a couple.
A/N: Hee hee! :)