"Yes, he's stable." Killian heard Robin say quietly, his voice was close.
'Where am I?' Killian thought. He blinked once, the lights in the room blinding him.
"He's awake, I've gotta go." Robin said and was holding onto Killian's arms gently.
"Careful there." he nodded toward the monitor beside them which he was plugged into.
Killian blinked a few times to focus his eyes, he scanned the room. His breathing shallow.
"Where's Emma?" Killian asked, his voice broke as he said her name.
"Here." Robin offered a white plastic cup of water, ignoring his question.
Killian's throat felt as dry as a desert, he reached his hand out slowly, glancing down at the wires extending from his wrist with wide eyes.
"Thanks." Killian knocked back the water and grimaced.
"What's wrong?" Robin asked.
"I was hoping for something a little stronger." Killian complained, "Now, are you going to answer me?"
"I-I don't" Robin stuttered.
Killian's face grew impatient. "Where. Is. She?" he sat up slowly, wincing through the pain.
Robin looked toward the door and sighed in relief as Regina walked in.
"You're awake. Thank god." Regina said smiling and coming to Killian's side.
"Where is she?" Killian asked straight to the point.
"Where's who?" Regina asked, knowing who he meant already.
"Emma! Where the bloody hell is Emma?" Killian shouted, the pain in his chest growing. He clutched his chest and cried out in pain.
"Hook, would you please calm down. You're just making things worse for yourself." Regina scolded him as the beeping from the monitor grew quicker.
"Making things worse? Are you serious? My girlfr-Emma is now the dark one who can be controlled by that bloody dagger. If that cursed blade ends up in the wrong hands, we'll be in worse trouble. So I think worrying about me is the least of our problems right now." Killian spat through gritted teeth.
"Hey, it's not Regina's fault. Stop taking it out on her!" Robin said, giving Killian a warning glare.
"Alright, let's all calm down shall we?" Regina said rolling her eyes and sighing. "You're welcome by the way, for saving your life." she muttered and slumped down in the chair beside the hospital bed.
"Why are you sitting down?" Killian asked confused, sitting up slowly and throwing his legs off the side of the bed.
"Where do you think your going?" Robin asked concerned.
"To find Emma… because none of you lot will." Killian accused ripping the IV from his hand and wincing.
"Give it here." Regina sighed and held Killian's hand, she waved her other hand over the cut and it was healed.
"Thank you." Killian forced a smile and pushed past her.
He stopped with his hand on the door handle and spun around. "Where's Henry?" his face a mask of horror. "Is he alright?" he asked worried taking a step toward them.
"Henry is fine. He's with Mary Margaret and David at Granny's." Robin explained.
"Although I assume he'll be helping them get back to the loft soon enough." Regina added.
Killian's shoulders eased ever so slightly. He looked down at his arm. He was hookless. "May I have my hook back?" he asked politely.
"It's in the back of the truck." Robin said to Regina.
"I'll get him discharged, go wait in the truck. We'll drop it off at David's and then start planning." Regina instructed Robin, who obliged leaving the room quietly.
"We're going to get her back." Regina said in a small voice, she noticed the pirate's eyes were screaming with pain and loss. His gaze was lost in thought.
"Yes… I will." he said emotionlessly.
"Look, blame me all you want. But it was Emma who-" Regina began, her tone defensive.
Killian looked up at her, his expression that of disgust, which made Regina stop talking. "You think I don't know that? You think it doesn't hurt to know that I'd have done the same if put in that situation? Of course Emma did what she did. She's the Saviour. She always holds herself to everyone's expectations." Killian stopped and covered his face with his hand.
Regina walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. "I know you would have." she said sincerely.
Killian pulled his hand back and smiled slightly at her. "I'm sorry for my rudeness." he sighed heavily.
"To be honest I'm used to it." she winked and held the door open for him.
"Where do you think you're taking this man?" a short nurse with black hair and ghostly pale skin approached them.
"I'm getting him discharged." Regina said simply and led the way to the front desk.
"I don't think so." the nurse argued.
"I'm sorry?" Regina scoffed, "I'm the mayor of this town, now I don't know if you're new here, or even heard of what's taken place in this god forsaken town tonight, but you will discharge my friend here or I will have you fired, like that." Regina snapped her fingers. She was inches from the woman's face, glaring into the woman's eyes.
"Of-of course. I'm so sorry." the woman flustered.
Regina signed paperwork and handed it back to the nurse before pushing Killian lightly out of the doors of the hospital.
"Friend, eh?" Killian laughed to himself.
"Don't over think it, Pirate." Regina rolled her eyes but Killian heard a smile in her voice.
Robin handed Killian his hook as he sat in the cab of the truck. Regina started the engine and drove them back to the loft.
Robin led the way up the stairs followed by Regina and Killian. Regina knocked on the door just once before Henry swung the door open, wrapping his arms tightly around her. His silent sobs breaking her heart. Robin wasn't sure how to help, so he pat Henry on the back gently and walked into the loft. Killian took a step backward, the sight of Henry upset making the pain in his chest return. He took a couple more steps back, stumbling until he hit the wall.
Regina's tears fell onto Henry's head, which was tucked under her chin. Her arms like a chokehold on him. Henry hid his face against her, hugging her tightly. "Why?" he managed to mumble between sobs. He looked up at his mother to find she had no answer.
An overwhelming sense of guilt and hopelessness overcame her as she stared down at her son, she couldn't think of anything to say that would make him feel better.
Henry's attention left his mother as he zeroed in on the pirate standing behind her.
Killian's gaze was on the floor. His hook clutching his chest and his hand covering his face. He slowly sank to his knees. Henry had never seen Killian like this before, but he had a feeling that this was one of very few times he'd ever felt this kind of loss in his life. Henry's grip on Regina loosened, but Regina held onto him shaking her head slowly at him. "Not now Henry." she whispered as she brushed her lips against his head.
Mary Margaret appeared in the doorway, her face red and puffy. The sight of the heartbroken pirate was enough to set her off again. Regina took a step out of the way, pulling Henry with her into the loft. She heard Killian's sobs and turned to see Mary Margaret's arms around him.
"Go and sit down, Henry. I'll be back in a minute." Regina said forcing a smile and stroking his cheek gently. He took one last look at Killian and his shoulders sank as he was reminded that Emma was gone. He slowly headed over toward the couch.
Regina tiptoed over to Mary Margaret who was crouched on the ground beside Killian, her arms around him. She placed a hand on the grieving mothers shoulder and helped her up. She wiped the fresh tears and smiled half-heartedly before wrapping her arms around her. Regina hadn't acted motherly toward Mary Margaret before, however she felt the sudden need to be there for her in a motherly sort of way in this very moment in time. She found her hand stroking Mary Margaret's hair soothingly and rocking her from side to side. They stood like this for a few moments before David nodded at Regina from the doorway and she led Mary Margaret to the entrance of the loft.
Killian got up slowly from the ground, wiping away his tears angrily staring at the ground. His expression that of the villain she once laid eyes on.
"No." Regina said sternly and Killian looked up at her confused. "Yes, I know what you were thinking. You were going to blame yourself for all the things you should have done but didn't. You were going to turn to the darkness because it's easier to get to her that way now. But I won't allow it."
Killian sighed heavily, his icy glare on Regina cracking. "I am to blame. I should have never gone after her in the first place. Villains don't get happy endings. I told her that." he said his voice weak at the thought of Emma. He remembered back to that moment in the cabin, when his heart was pounding in his ears. He had been petrified that he would scare her off by admitting his true feelings. He'd worked tirelessly to bring those walls of hers down and he knew they could shoot right back up if he said the slightest thing wrong. Her hair was falling over her shoulders and her glistening green eyes were searching his for an answer. "Wait, if you're afraid of losing you're happy ending, that means you've found it… what is it?"she'd asked and the lump in his throat grew, the clench in his stomach tightened. "Don't you know Emma? It's you." he'd replied before taking a sharp breath. He watched as her eyes looked into both of his, the tears welling up. A weight had been lifted from his shoulders, just the fact he'd told her and she hadn't gone running for the hills was progress enough. She'd taken a step toward him, and he'd bent his head down to rest his forehead against hers. Their eyes closed and feeling so completely safe and accepted with one another. She'd pressed her lips to his, like an unspoken promise.
Killian didn't realise that Regina had dragged him into the loft and sat him on the couch next to Henry. He shook the happy memory of Emma from his head as his fingers instinctively brushed his lips. The ghost of that kiss they'd once shared lingered, and the pain in his chest gave an unfriendly squeeze around his heart.
Henry looked toward Killian and put his hand on the pirate's shoulder. Everyone in the room was silent, their gaze on Henry. Killian felt the boys hand on his shoulder and he looked over at him warily. Hurt was evident on Killian's face and Henry couldn't help but smile to try and comfort him.
"So, what's the plan?" Henry asked, trying to keep his voice light and turning his attention to David and Robin, his hand still firmly on Killian's shoulder.
David and Robin exchanged blank gazes. "Okay, let's give the ball to the girls. What's the plan?" Henry said impatient and looking to Mary Margaret and Regina, his eyes longing and hopeful.
Regina looked at Mary Margaret who couldn't form a coherent thought, let alone a full sentence in this state of mind. She then looked to Killian who was marvelling at Henry, his face that of a proud father. She knew the face because it was that of her fathers every time he was proud of her. The thought of her father made a lump form in her throat. She coughed slightly and composed herself.
"I'm glad somebody asked." she laughed lightly and a smile spread across Henry's face.
"I'll get maps, pens and flashlights! Be right back!" Henry said enthusiastically, he smiled at Killian and squeezed his shoulder gently before jumping up from the couch and running to the other room.
Killian looked at Regina, his mouth wide open in shock. Regina's face dropped as she stared after her son. "You don't have a plan, do you?" Killian sighed watching her struggle to regain composure.
"I-I don't. Not yet." Regina said quietly sighing, covering her face with her hands.
"Hey, it's alright. We'll think of something." Robin said putting an arm around her shoulders.
Henry ran back into the room, dropping maps, flashlights and pens onto the coffee table before them.
Regina stood up quickly, brushing Robin's arm off her shoulder. She tried to smile when Henry looked over at her sudden movement, but he wasn't fooled.
He sighed irritatedly and crossed his arms over his chest. "You don't have a plan, do you?" his question was directed at his mother who grabbed him in a tight hug. His arms stayed crossed over his chest as he shrugged out of her grip. He collected the maps, pens and flashlights and dropped them onto the main table. No one moved, they just stared at Henry waiting for instructions.
Henry took a deep breath in as he looked at the maps before him. He exhaled loudly and crossed his arms over his chest again.
"Mary Margaret you go with Robin and Mom, David you're with me and Killian." Henry explained as he spread the maps out on the table, taking a red marker and popping the lid off with his teeth and spitting it off to the side.
"Robin, you'll search… here, here and here." he circled small chunks of the map before taking a blue marker and marking the same patches on the second map. "And we… we will search here, here and here." he mumbled mostly to himself as he marked in red where his group would be searching on his map and again in blue on the other.
The adults stood in silence and shock at the young man before them. No one responded to the plan, but Killian stood up first. "At least tell me we have an extra special name for this Operation, Lad?" Killian smiled half-heartedly and Henry nodded.
"Operation Blackthorn." he said, his gaze dropping to his feet.
"Why Blackthorn?" Mary Margaret asked taking a seat at the table beside him.
"Be-Because she wanted to name an Operation that before and I shut her down." his voice broke and he covered his face with his hands.
Killian brought the boy in for a tight hug. "If I'm entirely honest, I don't like it." he said, his accent thick.
Henry laughed slightly, "Got a better idea?" he asked, pulling back to look up at him.
"Operation Black Swan." he suggested, his eyebrow raising slightly.
Henry winced slightly, "We'll work on it." he said and Killian laughed putting an arm around the boys shoulder.
David was standing behind Mary Margaret, his hands on her shoulders, Robin was standing opposite Regina across the table, his gaze on the map before him.
"Do we get team names?" Robin asked trying to lighten the mood, a pang of jealously over the moment Killian had just shared with Henry.
Henry looked over at Robin disapprovingly. "A and B. It's always A and B."
"Of course it is." Robin said scratching the back of his head nervously.
"Okay, are we ready?" Henry asked looking round at his family.
"What about Neal?" David asked just as there was a knock at the door.
Henry grinned, "Got that covered too." he said walking around the table and answering the door.
Granny took him in a tight embrace. "I've got this shift of baby duty." she said releasing the boy and walking into the loft, shrugging off her coat and hanging it up. "I brought some back up too, to help you search." she said matter-of-factly and Henry watched as Ruby, Archie, Leroy and Happy entered the loft.
David watched as his friends entered the room one by one and his smile grew ever so faintly.
Ruby brushed a hand through Henry's hair and smiled at him apologetically before making her way over to Mary Margaret and embracing her tightly.
Leroy and Happy both pat Henry on the back before heading over to Robin and David.
Archie closed the door behind him and put an arm around Henry's shoulders. "What's the plan, Boss?" he asked lightly, leading Henry over to the couch where Killian now sat with Regina.
"How did you know I'd come up with the plan?" Henry asked Archie confused.
"Because you've been the mastermind behind all of this since the beginning. You have the heart of the truest believer. I have faith in you." Archie explained, his tone sincere. Regina smiled at Archie and nodded him, as a silent 'thank you'. Killian sat up right, leaning into Henry and Archie's conversation.
"The cricket's right. You're the true hero here, lad. If anyone's going to get us through this, it's you." Killian encouraged, bumming his shoulder against Henry's lightly.
"You really think so?" Henry asked curiously, "That's an awful lot of pressure." he said looking down at his hands.
"I suppose now we know just how stressful being the Saviour can be." he said still smiling at the boy. "But if anyone can do it, you can Henry."
Henry smiled at Killian.
"Are you saying I'm the new Saviour?" he asked, his eyebrow raising. Something Henry had obviously picked up from spending time with him whilst sailing.
"Well, you are the new Author." Regina interrupted, smiling proudly at her son.
Henry's shoulders eased a little, "What if I need a deputy?"
"You don't need to beg me, Boy. Of course I'll be your deputy." Killian winked and Henry laughed bumping his shoulder into Killian's.
Regina spotted Robin out the corner of her eye, he was watching Henry and Killian laughing and clearly feeling jealous. He caught sight of Regina and forced a smile. She rolled her eyes smiling in response and he laughed slightly, engaging in conversation again with David, Leroy and Happy.
"Who's A and who's B then?" Mary Margaret asked Henry.
Henry stood up and approached the table where the maps still lay. "Okay, Team A will be Robin, Mary Margaret, Mom, Archie and Happy." he handed the first map to Regina.
"And Team B will be David, Killian, Ruby, Leroy and myself." he said folding the map up and handing it to David.
"Let's get going then." Mary Margaret said hugging Ruby once more.
"WAIT!" Henry shouted and everyone stood still. Happy held his hands up in surrender at the front door. "Just one second!" Henry said before running out of the room and upstairs to grab his walkie talkie from his bedside and over to Emma's drawer beside her bed for her walkie.
He ran down the stairs, and handed the walkie over to Mary Margaret. "Here, we'll communicate via walkie." he didn't need to explain why. Everyone knew that's what he and Emma would do. Mary Margaret simply stroked his cheek gently before hugging him quickly. He pulled back and turned around. "Testing one, two." he said into his walkie. Hearing it come through hers behind him made him smile as he turned around.
"It still works." she waved it at him before responding, "Team A… roll out!" she said smiling down at her grandson. She kissed his head before grabbing her coat on the way out, following Happy, Archie and Robin who'd grabbed the map and flashlights on his way out.
Regina hugged him tightly and looked him in the eye. "We will find her." she vowed. "Please stay safe." she begged quietly.
Henry squeezed her hand gently and Killian put his hand on Henry's shoulder. "No harm shall come to the boy while he's in my charge." he said, remembering the first time he said that, he'd said it to Emma. Regina looked up at him grateful and mouthed, 'thank you'. Before following the rest of her group out of the loft.
Henry handed the map to Ruby and flashlights to Killian and Leroy, before grabbing his coat and scarf and leading the way out of the loft.
"Don't rush back. Everything's taken care of here." Granny said to David.
David gave her a grateful look, "If you need me, call me." he said and she nodded.
"Good luck." she said, trying to keep her voice light.
"Mhm." David mumbled hopelessly.
As he shut the door he found Leroy waiting for him. "You need to get it together man. If Henry hears you, you'll make him lose faith in finding her. Don't do that to him." Leroy warned.
David didn't know what to say, he simply nodded in agreement.
"Good." Leroy nodded proudly, "Now let's go save a Princess." he smiled and headed down the stairs. David followed after him, finding Killian at the bottom of stairs his eyebrow raised.
"We're going to find her." Killian said bluntly.
"It's who we'll find that concerns me." David said ashamed of himself.
"Even if I have to go back into the darkness and drag her back kicking and screaming into the light, I'll do it." Killian vowed, his tone final. Instilling a little bit of hope back into David.
David smiled and put a hand on Killian's shoulder. "Let's go pirate."
"Really? I thought we were past this stage, Dave?" Killian laughed, following him out to the pick-up truck.
"Not even close, mate. Not even close." he winked at Killian smiling, as he slammed the car door shut. Killian laughed lightly and watched as Ruby, Henry and Leroy sat in the back, flashlights on the map and Henry pointing to different places. He climbed into the passenger seat and sighed happily. This is the closest thing to family he'd felt in awhile.
'If you could see your boy now, Swan.' Killian thought to himself, smiling warmly as he looked at Henry in the backseat.
"Where we headed, Captain?" David called back to Henry.
"Captain?" Killian raised his eyebrow at Henry.
The boy smiled widely and squinted down at the map in the dim light. "Take a left here and head toward the toll bridge." Henry said loudly as David nodded at the instructions.
"Captain?" Killian repeated.
"Would you prefer boss?" Henry asked smiling.
"Yes. There's only room for one Captain, m'boy… and you're looking at him." he winked at Henry and turned back around.
'I'm coming for you, Swan.' Killian thought to himself and sighed, as he watched the trees fly past them in the headlights of the pick-up.