Author's note: I have 2 papers due and what am I doing? Anything but those papers. Oh well. At least y'all get a new ch out of my procrastination.

Chapter 22: 24 Hours

"Not a very pleasant place, is this?" Hook commented dryly, looking around the dim station.

"It's a police station. What did you expect?" Emma said without looking up from her desk where she was poring over a large stack of paperwork.

"Something nicer."

She stood up, crossing the room towards the large filing cabinet. "Just go entertain yourself with the coffee machine or something. I have a lot of work to do."

"If you say so." He wrapped his arms around her from behind, planting kisses along the back of her neck.

"Hook." She hissed, attempting to wiggle out of his grip. "Stop."

"What?" He whispered. "You told me to entertain myself." With his good hand, he reached out and grabbed the files out of her hands, throwing them aside, where they spilled out across the floor.

"Not like this. Someone could walk in at any moment." She protested weakly, her resolve obviously fading.

"Well then, love. We'll just have to be very, very quiet then, won't we?"

"I guess we will." She turned around, her lips meeting his, arms reaching up to encircle themselves around his neck.

"About bloody time." He smiled triumphantly.

"Shut up." Emma murmured as they backed up against the wall, the files forgotten on the floor.

Suddenly, Hook saw something swinging out of the corner of his eye. The large glowing orb on the ceiling directly above her head, the thing Emma called a light. Was it supposed to swing like that?

"Swan." He broke away, causing her to whimper at the loss of contact. "Look." He pointed behind her, up at the ceiling.

She didn't even look at the direction he was gesturing at. "It's just a light."

"But it looks like it's about to fall." He pointed out.

"It's just a light." Emma urgently pressed her lips against his again. "Perfectly safe."

Well, if she said so. Hook turned back to her, but he couldn't help but worry as the light began to swing precariously. Back and forth, back and forth. Faster and faster.

Suddenly, there was a quiet snap, the snap of the cords breaking above their heads. By the time Hook looked up, the heavy light fixture was hurtling swiftly towards them. Or more specifically, straight towards her head.

Hook only had a split second to react, shoving them out of harm's way just in time as the light fixture crashed through the air right where her head had been moments ago, shattering into a million pieces with an earsplitting crack, showering the floor with broken glass.

"What was that?" A wide eyed Emma sat up, startled.

"I believe it was the thing you called perfectly safe." He quipped. "Looks like you were wrong."

Emma shot him a look as they stood up carefully, avoiding the broken glass everywhere. "Good thing you saw that."

"Ah, yes well I wasn't the one who was so distracted that she failed to notice a large death trap."

"That's never happened before." Emma commented as she bent down to examine the light. "These things are usually pretty sturdy."

"You were just lucky I was here. I shudder to think what would've happened if that thing reached its target." He reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Don't be dramatic. There's no way that would've hit me."

"Yes, it would." Hook argued. "It was directly above your head. It would've killed you if I wasn't there."

"Whatever." She shrugged him off. "Ugh. Now I have to get someone to clean this up."

Hook was astonished at the blasé way in which she'd just shrugged this off. He wasn't sure if he was impressed by the way she was entirely unaffected by a near death experience or horrified.

Just then, out of the blue, there was a cold, snake like whisper in his head. 24 hoursssss. You have 24 hours to bring the boy to me. Or the next time it won't be so close.

And then he knew. This had been no accident. It was Cora's doing. And he knew exactly what she was saying.

He had 24 hours to kidnap Henry or else Emma would pay the price.

Making up an excuse to leave the station, Hook skulked along the alley, sneaking deftly in the shadows towards his mortal enemy's home.

His heart pounded loudly in his ears as he walked straight into the heart of his enemy. If someone had told him several years back that he would be doing this, he would've laughed in their face and asked how much rum they'd drank.

But love made you do crazy things, he supposed.

Taking a deep breath to steel himself, he pushed open the door, completely disregarding the large closed sign, wincing as it jangled loudly. Luckily, the shop was empty.

"Do you not see the closed sign…?" An angry voice grew louder as its owner limped out towards the front. "You!" Rumplestilskin hissed as he took in the pirate before him. Conjuring a large ball of fire, an ugly sneer crossed his face. "How did you get here? What are you doing here, pirate?" He asked, disgusted.

"Oh, believe me. I want to be here just about as much as you want me here." Hook said lightly. "But I do believe you want to hear what I have to say."

"And why's that?" Rumple growled, cornering him against the wall, his cane at his throat.

"Because it concerns your grandson." Hook choked.

Rumple staggered back, clearly surprised. "My grandson. Henry? What do you know about him?"

"Well, more than you think." Hook massaged his neck. "He's in danger."

But much to his surprise, Rumplestilskin merely looked mildly curious, entirely undisturbed.

"Well that's none of my concern." Rumple replied.

"But he's your grandson." Hook argued. "He's in danger. Cora's after him, and she wants me to kidnap the lad and bring him to her."

For a second there, a conflicted look crossed the crocodile's face, but as fast as it came it was gone. Rumple shrugged. "Again, none of my concern."

"Do you not believe me or something, because I can assure you I'm being quite serious."

"Oh, I believe you." Rumple said lightly. "But the thing is, Cora paid me a visit and ensured that she would leave Belle out of harm's way if I let her do whatever it she's here to do. And if that includes my grandson, so be it. I do believe that I've made myself quite clear. If you value your life, and I know you do, you will leave." He said quietly, limping back towards the back room.

"What was all that about?" Hook could hear a woman's voice ask. Belle, he presumed.

"Nothing." Rumple cast one last look at the pirate, a clear indication that Hook had about thirty seconds to leave before he died a painful death.

With a deep sigh, Hook did as he was told and exited the shop, once again blending into the shadows. This had failed. Epically. He had no idea why the crocodile had so adamantly refused to help.

Now he really had no choice. He had 24 hours to bring Henry to Cora.

Author's note: Well now that Rumple has refused to help...whats gonna happen?