Finally finished the next chapter! I was struggling a bit! It's sort of a filler chapter but I promise it's still good and the next one will be even better!

ENJOY!

Chapter 8

Gold sat calmly on the deck of the Jolly Roger as he watched David pace back and forth. Every once in awhile he would stop and walk to the edge of the boat…listen for any sign of their return…then continue with his pacing. He had been at it for at least half an hour and it was getting on his last nerve.

"You burning a path on Hook's deck with your constant pacing isn't helping anybody," Gold finally said as he folded his hands on his cane.

David sighed as he stabbed his fingers through his hair. "Gold…the love of my life is with the one person that despises her and my daughter is with a pirate I'm just starting to trust doing god knows what…so forgive me if I'm a little worried."

"At least you have your loved ones in this world," Gold said quietly.

David looked over at him and dropped his hands. "I know…but at least you know Belle is safe."

"How could I possibly know that?" he asked looking up at him for the first time.

"She's in Storybrooke…what could happen in Storybrooke?"

Gold tilted his head and sneered at him. "Did you seriously just ask that question?"

David opened his mouth, then closed it and then sighed. "Right…that was a really stupid thing to say…sorry...and you're right…at least my loved ones are with me."

He waved it off. "Oh just continue to pace if you want…it's what I'd be doing if Belle was out there so I certainly can't judge you."

David gave a quick nod of thanks and continued pacing. "I don't particularly like this staying behind crap…the waiting is agonizing. I'd rather face an army of ogres than to…"

He stopped mid-sentence when he heard something and then quickly turned to the edge of the ship and sighed with relief when he saw Hook and Emma rowing the boat towards them. "Hook and Emma are back," he told Gold. "Go on to the other side so we can pull them up."

Down below Hook and Emma latched the pulley securely on either side of the boat and then gave a tug on the rope to let them know they were ready. Once at the top, Hook stood up and let Emma go first, holding out his good hand as she passed by. She took it as she crawled out and then took David's outstretched hand with the other as she easily stepped onto the deck.

"Are you okay?" David asked her softly and she answered with an assuring nod as Hook vaulted himself up and over the side of the ship and landed right next to her.

"You two are soaked," Gold pointed out.

"Really? We haven't noticed," Hook sassed back.

"Where's mom and Regina?" Emma asked.

"They haven't made it back yet…but they didn't leave right after you," he rushed on when he saw the worried look in her eyes. "They left about a half an hour ago after Mary Margaret got her bow and arrows…I'm sure they're not far."

"We should go after them," Emma stated. "They could use our help."

"No," he said firmly as he shook his head. "You two just got back and you need your rest."

"I couldn't possibly sleep."

"You're exhausted, Emma…and it won't do Henry any good if you're run down, AND," he quickly added when she was about to protest again. "Gold and I will go look for them ourselves if they aren't back in an hour, okay?"

Emma took in a deep breath and let it out. "Okay…okay, fine…I just…don't like the thought of hanging out here waiting."

"Yeah…it sucks," he agreed with a smile and then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Before you two go get some rest, how about filling us in on the details?"

Hook gave her the nod to go ahead. "We found his ally…Ariel…she's a mermaid."

"A mermaid?" Gold asked. "I thought mermaids were evil."

"She's different," Emma assured him. "She changed her ways when Hook saved her life years ago…I was wary about her at first," she admitted with a quick smile to Hook. "But she grew on me fast."

"Still," Gold said not convinced. "To trust a mermaid…that could be stupid."

"She saved Henry's life," Hook shot back. "If it wasn't for her…Ariel's sister would have dragged him down to the depths never to be seen again, so let me assure you we'd be stupid not to trust her."

"What are you talking about?" David asked as he turned to Hook. "She saved Henry's life? How do you know this?"

"She knew who we were talking about when we first brought up Henry," Emma answered for him. "Their portal opened up right smack in the middle of Mermaid's Lagoon and as soon as she saw Henry she knew he would be in danger. Her sister Ursula, had Henry by the ankles just as they were about to get to land…Greg and Tamara held onto him long enough for Ariel to get to Ursula and yank her away so Henry could escape."

"Ursula's also the reason why we're soaking wet," Hook pointed out. "We had our own run in with her when she capsized our boat...the wench almost got Emma."

"What?" David exclaimed as he touched her damp shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. "Thanks to Hook."

Hook shook his head. "You were the one that managed to hold onto the edge of the boat long enough for me to get to you."

"Yes, but I lost my grip and you were the one that held on and pulled me back."

David looked at Hook. "Thank you," he said with a nod of appreciation.

Feeling more than a bit uncomfortable, Hook just gave a little shrug and tried not to fidget like an idiot. "Well…the lass was the one that knocked her unconscious…it was a sight to see."

"That's my girl," David said with a smile.

"We made a good team," Emma said looking over at Hook and then rolled his eyes when he grinned and winked at her. "Anyway…we need to keep our eyes out for Ursula…she could continue to be a problem in the future."

"I'd like to take a shot at her myself," David said as he touched the side of her face. "Are you sure okay?"

"I'm sure," she said softly as she gripped his wrist. "We just need to wait for Ariel now…she swam beneath us the rest of the way to make sure we didn't get attacked again." She looked over at Gold. "And she did see the ship in case you're still not convinced."

"Doesn't mean she'll see it in the future," he pointed out and ignored Hook's scowl by simply turning away to look out towards the island.

"You go and get some rest," David said to her. "I'll keep an eye out for Ariel while you do that…and you should probably take a look at that cut, Hook…you're bleeding."

"What?" Emma asked as she spun around and then her eyes widened when she saw a stream of blood gushing down his face. "Oh my god, what happened?" she asked as she rushed at him.

"It's nothing," he assured her as he touched the side of his tender head. "Just as scratch."

She pushed his hand away and ran her fingers through his damp hair to take a look at it. "Just a scratch, my ass…Hook…how did you do this?"

"My hook must have got me during our tumble into the sea," he said wincing slightly as she continued her examination. "Unfortunate habit when you have a hook for a hand."

"Do you have any rum?" she asked as she looked away from his wound and into his eyes.

"Of course I do, I'm a pirate, aren't I?" He winced again and batted her hand away. "Stop poking at it, Swan…it's not helping."

"Where's the rum?"

"In my cabin…I can just…"

"Keep an eye out for Ariel," Emma said to David before taking Hook by the wrist and dragged him away.

"What are you doing?" He had no choice but to stumble after her. "I can take care of my own bloody wound, woman, I'm not a child."

"Shut up, Hook," she answered back.

David sighed as he watched them disappear down below and then turned to Gold. "She never knows when to slow down…she'll run herself ragged trying to take care of everyone."

"Gee, I wonder where she gets it from?" Gold asked with a smirk and then sighed when David just glared at him. "I might have something that could help." He sat up and held out his hand and purple fog swirled in his hand and when it vanished a small cup of steaming tea appeared in his hand. "Chamomile…it'll help her relax."

David lifted his brows in appreciation. "Wow…cool. Hey, could you poof me up a cup of coffee before you take it down?"