A/N: I'm Alive!

So there are several reasons why this chapter has been delayed so long. 1) I got a second job 2) I took a trip to Europe 3) I got several large video editing jobs on top of having two jobs 4) My beta was and is very busy (which is why this chapter isn't beta-ed but will be edited when she has more time). Anyway...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter 10

Emma stood under the spray of the almost scalding hot water in the station locker room feeling far better than she had not half an hour ago. While her trip through the whirlpool had taken care of a good amount of the grime on her skin, her hair was another story entirely. Cleaning it she'd found twigs, leaves, and it had taken four rinses with shampoo before she was satisfied with the texture. The exercise had been disgusting enough that she gave serious consideration to following in her mother's footsteps and just hacking it all off; too bad she just loved having her hair long too much to cut it for convenience's sake.

Now clean and happy she gently rubbed her sore left shoulder aiding the water as it soothed the muscles and tried to think of a plan. Oh, she had the vaguest notion of what she was going to do in regards to Hook and Gold's feud and how she was going to keep herself out of it, while settling her debts. Troubled was that her idea required her manipulating the town's most prolific and experienced manipulator.

She sighed and leaned her head against the cool tile before her. Why was she doing this again? Yeah, sure, she owed Killian - Hook,she owed Hook, a debt for getting her home but to this extent? Didn't saving him from Gold not an hour ago cover that? Let alone the heads up about magic she was going to give him. Emma sighed and then lightly thumped her head against the wall. It was like Snow asked: why was it so important to her? Her heart answered the question with a sinister whisper that she knew very well why and she groaned in frustration. She couldn't, wouldn't go down that road, not with him, not with anyone, and she needed to nip this...infatuation in the bud. Yes, she was attracted to him, insanely so, and yes she could very well see herself in a relationship with him. One that would probably be fantastic while it lasted, and that was just it, while it lasted.

Emma had no delusions about Killian - Hook! She had no delusions about Hook. He was a passionate fling kind of guy, not a forever one. He lived on a ship, he literally had a home that traveled from place to place. He was a vagabond, much like she'd been in her yellow bug before Storybrooke only, unlike her, he'd been living that way for centuries. He was not the guy to settle down, get married, and have a family; because that's what she had now, a family. He would get bored eventually. He would leave, and she would be left to pick up the pieces. So no, she was not going to open herself up to that kind of pain.

Her decision made, she turned off the water and studiously ignored the voice in the back of her head. The one that said, yes, he was just like she herself used to be when she couldn't trust anybody after Neal. Until, at last she found her family, so why couldn't he be the same? They were so much alike after all.

Dressing quickly after her long shower, Emma threw on a warm white turtle neck, a comfortable pair of skinny jeans, and a pair of lace up brown boots before heading back to her office. She'd left David with the wonderful duty of checking the pirate for anything resembling a lock pick before finally sealing him in the cell. Apparently done with that he was now sitting at one of the desks in the main bullpen and he smiled at her as she walked into the room. She almost laughed at the pile of odds and ends on the desk next to his. "I checked our sleeping friend over and he had quite a few things, but I think I got them all. Also, I called Doctor Whale like you ask, he should be here within the hour to check his head."

Emma nodded, then took a deep breath, and decided to actually have a full fledged conversation with the man. She promised herself in the forest that she'd at least give this father daughter thing a shot. No matter how awkward it was. "Thanks David…where's Snow and Henry?

"Oh, they went too Grannies to get us something to eat, they should be back any minute." he said a fond smile on his face, and she knew he was thinking of her mother; it warmed her heart, and made her slightly jealous in equal parts. They really did love each other completely, she'd never known love like that.

"That's great! I'm starving, I could really go for a burger right now, they didn't exactly have food over there. So, how have things been in the town? Henry mentioned you've been acting as sheriff."

His bright smile was reward enough for her courage and she pulled out a seat when he motioned her to it. Once she was seated comfortably he started to list off things using his fingers to keep count. "Let's see… The repairs to the town after the wraith attack are almost done, we had an issue when Dr. Whale brought back Regina's dead fiancé and the damages he did to the hospital, King George murdered Billy, the tow truck guy, and tried to blame it on Ruby because she turns into a wolf, Gold is dating a woman named Belle. I mentioned her earlier, she's really very sweet and I don't see how that works and … Henry's living with me because Regina's trying to give up magic and she felt being with me would make him happier."

Emma stared at him blinking rapidly as she processed all of that. And here she thought she'd been busy, "Oh…is that all?"

He laughed, "What can I say; it's been a busy couple weeks. All that wasn't even counting the fights between old rivals, and the fact that people can't cross the town boundary without losing their memories."

"So," Emma said rubbing her forehead because she already knew the answer to this question. "How much paperwork is sitting on the desk I refuse to look at?"

David grimaced, "I'm sorry Emma, I would have done it myself but-"

"But first you don't know how to and second it needs to be filed by the Sheriff so you couldn't anyway." Emma sighed and then stood patting her father's shoulder. You would think everyone remembering who they were would cut down on the bureaucracy, but no, of course not."How's this sound, you go and catch Snow and Henry before they get here and you take her home. Just send Henry my way with our food. I'm sure the two of you have a lot of...catching up to do. Plus, Henry will help me avoid the paperwork I should be doing."

"But…don't you want to..." He paused and then took a deep breath before starting again. "I was hoping we could have a family lunch before Snow and I, um, took you up on that suggestion."

Emma paused, threw a quick glance in Hooks direction, and then shrugged. He didn't seem like he was going to come to anytime soon so why the hell not. She looked back at her father with a small smile. "I'd like that. While we wait though, I should probably get something at least started with those files."

David cringed, his eye completely apologetic as he nodded in agreement. Emma stood again, throwing her still damp locks up into a ponytail, and walked into her office, sighing at the mountain of paper on it. For a moment she was daunted by the task but finally she grabbed a random file and started from there; waiting for Henry to come barging through her door and rescue her with questions about the Enchanted Forest. She smiled at the damage report before her, she couldn't wait to tell him that she'd seen an ogre and that his grandmother had killed it with nothing more than a bow and arrow.

0oo0o000oo00oo0o0o

Killian's eyes snapped open and he was instantly awake as he stared at a white ceiling lit by moonlight above him. Having lived as a pirate captain for centuries his body and mind were trained to immediately shift from sleep to wakefulness, there was no groggy in-between state for him anymore. That in-between state could get you killed if the men decided to mutiny, or if other threats came calling. However, unusually enough, he had to screwed his eye shut again as his head throbbed with a familiar but not often experienced pain. He felt very much liked he's gotten piss drunk before passing out somewhere unknown which was also a rarity. Because again, being drunk, really drunk, put you in danger as you weren't in full control of your faculties. In fact he could only remember two times in his life he'd ever gotten drunk enough to feel like this the morning after.

With a quiet groan he brought his hand up to rubbed his forehead and paused as his fingers ran over what felt like a bandage of some kind. He was confused for only a moment before he remembered being on his ship as a cane flew at his head quicker than he could react, and the distant sound of a woman yelling. Instantly he tried to sit up, too quickly it would seem, and his head swam forcing him to lay it back down on what he realized was a bed beneath him. It wasn't the most comfortably surface he'd ever slept on, but it certainly wasn't the worst either. So how had he gone from being at the Crocodile's mercy to being patched up in something like comfort?

The only way that could have been achieved was if Emma and her family had placed themselves between him and his crocodile. On the one hand it made him smile that she cared enough to intervene on his behalf, but on the other, more important side, it scared him shitless that she had. For she was the only one that would care enough to bother.

The last thing he wanted was for her, or hers, to get involved in this thing between them. He would not, no, could not, allow Milah's fate to befall her. Rumplestiltskin was ruthless and he would harm them in an attempt to harm him. Killian sighed and rubbed his face slowly in frustration, he should leave her alone. He should let what was between them rest while he sought his vengeance. Then, when Milah was finally at peace, he would see what they could be, if he lived through it that was...only...there was just something about her. She drew him in like a moth to a flame and whenever she was around him he just couldn't stop himself from reaching out to her. She was beautiful, funny, intelligent enough to keep up with him and even outpace him at times, she was tough as nails, she could take care of herself and she was just...amazing and for all that she was as broken as him, she cared about him; even if she tried to pretend she didn't. That was something he hadn't had in over three centuries, someone that actually gave a damn. Someone who could give him a place to belong, a purpose to achieve other than death.

He knew what he should do, he just couldn't do it. Couldn't stop trying to get through to her, he wanted her, and it was a scary thing to realize that if he had her, as he'd been ready to do with her what he'd attempted to do with Bae all those years ago, he would put her above everything else. Before everything else because she would be everything.

With a deep sigh, he pushed away circular thoughts for a time when his head wasn't already sore and slowly, head pounding, sat up and placed his feet over the edge of the bed. It was only then that he noticed the metal cell bars to his left and rage coursed through him as he shot to his feet. An action he regretted immediately as he crashed back onto the bed, his vision swimming dangerously, and he cursed loudly.

"Finally," He heard a familiar voice say from some distance away, across a room perhaps, and the sound sent a thrill through him, she was here, before he viciously crushed it down. Yes, she was here, but he was also very much in a cell. "I was starting to think I should call Dr. Whale back. Gold must have hit you harder than we thought."

The voice came closer, there was a clicking sound, and suddenly there was light and she was standing there; just outside his cell. He winced against the brightness and was then caught for a moment by her appearance. She looked clean and comfortable in a form fitting sweater and pants with her hair pulled back. He couldn't say he hated the change, she looked gorgeous as always.

He must have stared for too long because Emma frowned, her face concerned, as she looked at him, "We probably should have taken you to the hospital but I was trying to cut down on the collateral as much as possible."

"Collateral?" He slurred, what he realized was probably a concussion affecting his speech, what was a hospital and what did she mean by collateral? So he closed his eyes and, through sheer force of will, fought back the fogginess in his mind that standing had caused and tried again. "Why am I in here Emma?"

Emma sighed, "I needed you somewhere you couldn't sneak away and that wouldn't put too many people in danger if Gold decided to come after you anyway."

"Anyway? What happened?" He groaned as stood slowly and walked over to lean against the bars, rubbing his face.

"Gold hit you. That hurt by the way," She said lifting up her arm to show him the bracer still attached to it. He stared at it for a moment confused before he remembered the lake and what Cora had done to them. He felt genuine fear and concern flow through him that turn him cold. Then a quick glance over her to see if any visible harm had been done, calmed him when he found none. Of course, they were still linked together, how could have been so stupid. He'd put her in harm's way the second he'd turned to face his enemy, never mind the danger she was in for having defended him at all. The lack of magic here just meant that Rumplestiltskin was killable and had to be more creative about how he destroyed you, not that he was any less devious or ruthless.

He'd been on her side fully for less than a day and already he'd put her in danger twice. Perhaps his thoughts earlier shouldn't have been so circular, he was a danger to her and he should leave.

"I'm fine Hook, the magic works differently here. See not even a mark left behind, but I didn't want to exactly find out what would happen if he killed your unconscious ass. So we convinced him to walk away, and brought you here."

Killian bit his lip slightly as he looked at the side of her head, she did look fine, but the could haves beens still put him on edge. "And how, may I ask, did you manage that miracle?"

"I didn't do anything, it was my...dad actually," she said hesitating on the word like she wasn't too sure about it, or still getting used to it. Both could be true given the circumstances, he knew he wouldn't know how to treat a long lost parent who was the same age as he, especially given what he knew of her history. To be quite frank he thought she was handling the whole situation rather well. Perhaps too well. He had to wondered how much she was repressing behind those bloody walls of hers, and how long she thought she could keep it there before it all became too much to hold back. "He used the fact that Belle, Gold's girlfriend because apparently there's someone capable of standing him for more than five seconds, wouldn't like what he was doing. Speaking of Belle, if I even hear that you included, or are planning to include, Belle in your plans I will personally hunt you down and throw you in the deepest darkest cell I can find and leave you there."

She was glaring at him, her eye and voice serious, and he knew that she was more than capable of, and willing to, back up that threat; but it still made him smile a little bit and the urge to kiss her was powerful. He smiled wider as he wondered what she'd do if she realized that he'd already done just that once before. "Oh, nice and commanding love, I like it. Chills, really."

She growled at him, actually growled, and he dearly wished these bars weren't in his way, "I'm serious Hook, her poor taste in guys is not your revenge payday. Leave. her. alone. I'm the Sheriff here, it means that I'm the law. You pull anything it's my job, and my duty, to stop you or punish you. Don't make me do that."

Killian was taken aback by the new information and also the subtle pleading tone in her voice. Being the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White he'd expected her to have some level of authority, but Sheriff? Well that was an interesting turn but he supposed being a Sheriff was just a step to the respectable from bounty hunting. "Emma, I'm after the Crocodile, not those around him. Unlike him I don't take joy in harming those not directly responsible for my pains."

"And yet you took Aurora's heart and gave it to Cora so you could get here to kill him." She replied folding her arms and giving him a look that told him exactly what she thought of that particular action. "I would consider that harming someone. Not to mention all the people I'm sure you've killed to get to this point. So excuse me for not exactly believing that promise."

Killian eyed her as the familiar and painful sensation of panic mixed with desperation ran down his spine. He'd felt this twice before, once when he'd been trying to explain himself to Bae as the boy started down at him horror struck and blamed him for his mother's death. The other when Emma chained him a top the bean stalk, neither time had ended well for him. "Emma, I -I didn't have a choice. We needed her to open the portal and as the camp was attacked that morning she came to me. She told me she knew I'd switched and that she was severing our partnership. I needed something impressive to get back in her good graces. I always intended for the girl to get her heart back again. As for the people I've killed...I won't lie to you lass, I'm a pirate and three hundred year old one at that. I've killed people, but, I have never killed a man in anything less than a fair fight. If you want to reprimand someone about murder, you should talk to the monster I hunt before you say anything against me. I'm a bastard to be sure, but I'm not...him."

Emma leaned back against what looked like a desk made of painted metal as he talked, and watched him; arms folded and eyes blank. When he was done she remained silent for a few moments more, apparently thinking things over; those moments being some of the longest he'd experienced in three centuries. She was literally holding his freedom and his hope, in her hands. If she choose to lock him away, actually attempt to keep him captive, he wasn't entirely sure he could get away. She knew how he worked, because she worked that way too, which meant she'd know how to stop him. "It was a stupid and reckless plan, Hook, I even remember telling you that. You almost got us all killed, and yet, you also got us home so I guess I can't be too mad. However, stupid and reckless isn't going to help you anymore, considering the things you don't know."

He was confused, her reaction was and wasn't forgiving and he was finding it very hard to read her. Killian sighed quietly as the realization sunk in, her walls were back in full force. It would seem that in the half day he'd been unconscious something had happened to bring them back, and reinforce the crumbling ones he's faced on his ship that morning. "I don't understand love."

It was her turn to sigh and walked up to the cell pulling out a key. Making sure he was watching her she stuck it in the lock, and then paused before opening it and looked him in the eye. "I'm going to open this cell and you're going to sit at on this couch here. I have to change that bandage, you need to eat, and we need to talk; then it's back in the cell for the night, deal?"

He looked her over and then nodded slowly, her walls were up but even so, he could tell from this very action that he at least still had his foot in the door when it came to her. He still had her trust, somewhat, he could work with that. The only question was if he should or not. "Agreed … Emma, you know you can trust me. There's no need for the cell."

She gave him a look as she swung the door back and he carefully walked out, making an effort to not let his dizziness affect him. "The cells not really for you."

He paused and then grabbed her arm as she moved to walk away from him. A sudden crazy thought that she was planning something that had to do with his Crocodile struck him and he sent his stomach to his feet. "What does that mean? Emma what are you doing?"

"Nothing dangerous," she said and then gently she pulled his hand off her arm and gave him a gentle shove toward the couch. "Now sit down. I'll get the first aid kit and some food."

He watched her walk away with narrowed eyes and he could feel his eyebrows furrow as he sat down. Normally he wouldn't have been so obliging but his head was spinning and he felt sitting down as asked would be less embarrassing than falling. It helped his pride a little that the "couch" as she called it was comfortable and he relaxed into it.

Now out of his cell and no longer distracted he took a moment to look at his surroundings with great interest, so this was the world without magic. Next to him was one of the many black metal cabinets scattered around the room and in front a strange metal desk. It was empty save the strange light source on its corner and...what looked like all of the weapons and tools he'd had on his person.

He looked over at Emma who was rummaging through a wooden desk in a small glass encased area across the room from him. That desk was covered in a multitude of papers stacked exceptionally high, and he didn't envy her that work. "If I might inquire, who searched me? Was it you?"

"No, actually it was my dad." She said as she walked back into the room with a odd looking white box that had a red cross on the cover. "I went and took a much need shower while he got you situated."

"Bloody Prince Charming!? You let him search me?!" Hook yelled horrified and the expression on his face sent her into a fit of hysterics. Her laughter snapped him out of his horrified stupor and he felt a stupid smile curl his lips as he watched her. At no point during their journey together had she laughed like that, so free and so light. Watching her now it warmed him to know that he was the cause of it, it made him wanted to see her this happy all the time.

Shit.

"First of all," she said trying her best to contain her laughter and he quickly made his face look chargin again as she looked back at him. "He's not bloody anything and his names not actually "Prince Charming", it's David. He also happens to be pretty good at the searching thing. He found an awful lot of knives on you, yes, even the little one in the lining of your right pant leg."

Killian lean back into the couch and quickly ran his hand around his body checking all the places he'd once had a tool or two, only to find everyone gone. Looking back at her he glared feeling more perturbed than angry. "I feel slightly violated."

"Yea well," she said and he was rewarded for his antics by a bright smile, then tried to appear nonchalantly. "To bad for you I know the rule so I made sure to tell him to be extra through."

"Rule?" Hook huffed as he tried and failed to sound disinterested.

"One for them to find, and one for you to keep." She said her voice verging on a taunting singing song as she walking across the room from him and through a doorway into a room that was illuminated by another click. He wondered what that was, the clicking thing. Clearly it wasn't magic, that didn't exist here, so it must be something the people of this world had made to compensate for it. It was like the rest of the things in this room, all so alien to him.

Before him the metal desks not occupied by his gear, were covered in papers much like Emma's, had those odd light sources, and they all had strangely shaped white boxes with a glass on one side. The purpose of which he couldn't even begin to guess at. Behind him there were windows that took up an entire wall. Through which he could make out strange looking buildings in the light cast by polls that ran up and down what seemed to be a road, and everywhere there were strange carriage like contraptions on the side; to be honest the only reason he even equated them to that was because of the wheels they rested on.

This world was strange indeed.

Killian's attention was brought back to Emma as the sounds of cabinets opening and closing, combined with a strange whirring noise reached his ears. He should take this opportunity to run and hunt down his enemy, but instead he remained seated. Not only did he feel like death warmed up, and his mind was clouded, but she seemed to imply that she had some important information to impart to him. Plus, only a fool would give up the chance to have a woman as beautiful as Emma play nursemaid to him. Hell the combined promise of food, and a semi-decent bed for the night, would have been enough on its own to get him to play nice considering his mood at the moment.

Leaning to the side to see into the small room he raised an eyebrow when he heard the sound of running water combine with the whirring. He could just make out her back before she turned with a glass in her hand, drying it off with a cloth. Quickly, not wanting to be seen prying, he leaned back into the couch with a bored expression. It was only a few seconds after that, that a loud beeping sound filled the air and then he hissed as the forefinger of his right hand burned as Emma cursed in the kitchen.

"Emma?" He asked concerned as he contemplated standing and checking on her. It wasn't that he couldn't, he'd fought with worse injuries before, it was just the nausea that came with the act was something he'd rather avoid if he could.

He'd just made the decision to stand anyway, when she didn't answer, as she re-appeared in the doorway with a white cloth held firmly over her right hand; and a frown crossed her lips when she saw him half out of his seat. "What are you doing? Sit down idiot."

"You hurt yourself," he replied indignant at being called an idiot when he'd simply been concerned for her, and with a slight huff, he allowed himself to collapse back on the couch.

"I just caught the tip of my finger with the knife I was cutting your burger-"

"I know," he said cutting her off as he lift up his sleeve to remind her of the bracer and her eyes zeroed in on it. "I felt it."

"Huh, so I guess it really does go both ways now," she said thoughtfully as she walked over to her medical box and proceeded to bind her wound with a bandage that seemed to stick to itself without needing to be tied. He'd never seen the like and it fascinated him. "Alright, one second, I'll be right back with your food."

"It doesn't have blood on it now, does it?" he asked with mock revulsion, unable to help himself.

"No, it doesn't have blood on it," she replied back with a high pitched mocking tone as she came back into the room with a plate full of strange looking food and a glass full of an odd blue liquid. Which she then place on the desk in front of him. "Here, eat up, then I can look at that cut before we talk."

He eyed the food like he wasn't too sure about it, before he finally broke down and asked what it was. Because, while it smelled divine, he had three centuries worth of instincts gain in Neverland that screamed at him not to eat anything before he knew what it was. "What is all this?"

"Burger, fries, and Gatorade," she said simply and then sighed when he stared blankly back at her. None of that having made a lick of sense to him. "Right, so a burger is beef that's been ground up and made in to a disk shape so that it can fit on a bun, which it the bread. You're meant to eat it like a sandwich. The fries are potatoes that have been cut up and then fried in oil; not the healthiest things in the world but they taste amazing. Then the Gatorade is like enhanced water. It was invented for people who play sports or do heavy physical active, but is also good when a person is sick or dehydrated, which I'm sure you are given you've been asleep for almost twelve hours and who knows when you drank last before that."

Killian nodded as he processed all of that and then, less hesitant now that he knew what he was eating, grabbed half of the burger and took a hearty bite. Quickly he pulled it away to stare at it, amazed by the taste. Strange to be sure, but, to be honest, he could think of few things he'd ever had that tasted as good. His reaction seemed to send her the wrong impression and she quickly moved to excuse herself, sounding almost embarrassed. "Yea, I know it doesn't taste that great now that it's been microwaved...I mean reheated. But it's almost midnight and all the food places are closed so..."

"No, no, it tastes fine. I've just never had anything like it." he said as he gave her boyish smile, then turned back to his food and started eating it with gusto; completely missed the dazed looked his happy expression had left behind on her face. The idea that this meal could taste better had it not been "microwaved", shocked him, and he very much wanted to try this "burger" again the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Hungry as he was it took Killian just over a minute to inhale the first half of the burger, then he paused deciding to try the "fries" before eating the second half. Taking a tentative bite he smiled brightly again before proceeding to finish it off and grabbing a few more. These fries tasted almost better than the burger and he found he dearly wished there were more of them.

In fact, he was so wrapped up in his meal that he didn't even seem to notice Emma sitting on the couch watching him with incredulous amusement. Having grown up in this world she'd lived off burgers and fries as a kid because of foster parents who didn't want cook, it wasn't that big a deal to her. Hell, even just in general, she'd never in her life seen someone so happy over food.

Emma sighed and shook her head before standing to sort through the medical supplies on the desk. Killian spared her a brief glance and then turned back to his meal, finishing it in record time. Now all the was left was to drink that strange looking liquid that seemed more like some kind of potion, then anything good for him. But if Emma said it was ok, then it probably was, he did trust her after all. So picking up the glass he turn it this way and that before shrugging his shoulders and throwing it back like he was guzzling down a tankard of foul tasting mead.

"Come on," Emma snorted at the display and he raised a challenging eyebrow at her, "it doesn't taste bad."

Killian smirked, setting the glass down as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve, "No, I suppose it doesn't. It is strange though and I can honestly say I've never had anything quite like it, but it's not bad I suppose."

"Glad to hear it, because you're going to be drinking more of it when I'm done," she said moving to sit next to him on the couch again and he resisted the urge to move closer to her now that he didn't have the distraction of food to occupy him.

"More?" he asked a little hesitant, trying to give himself a distraction. It hadn't tasted bad, but that didn't mean he wanted more of it. It had been a little sweet tasting for his preferences.

"Yes more, now come here," she said gesturing that he should lower his head closer to her. When he did she proceeded to probe around the outside of the bandage as if contemplating it, then she took a deep breath. "Ok, this is going to hurt."

"What are you- AH! God's woman! What the bloody hell did you do that for?!" he yelled at her after she'd ripped the adhered bandage off his forehead with little to no warning, taking with it what felt like most of the skin on his forehead and some of his hair. Quickly he moved away from her and would have raised his hand to try and sooth his burning skin if she hadn't dived across the space now between them and grabbed it.

"Don't touch it! God only knows when you last washed that hand, you'll infect the cut!...and I did warn you," She said as she pulled him back toward her but he resisted, frowning petulantly at her, as he flex his brow trying to dissipate the sting. It wasn't that it really hurt all the much, it had just surprised him, and it was the principle of the thing.

"You bloody well didn't!" he snapped back before with a growl allowed himself to be pulled back toward her.

"Did too. I told you it was going to hurt," she replied flippantly as she pick up a fluffy white ball and an odd cloudy looking bottle with some kind of liquid in it, a liquid he was reasonably sure it wasn't water.

"No," he said slowly like he was speaking to a small child. "A warning would have been "Brace yourself Hook, your bloody forehead is about to feel like it's on bloody fire! Then giving me a moment to actually brace for it!"

"Ugh, you are such a typical guy, you big baby. Fine, I'm sorry I didn't "warn you" right," She apologized sarcastically. "Sorry, I thought someone who'd had his hand cut off would have been able to properly deal with a little pain."

"I can deal with the pain just fine," he said coolly at the reminder, his face turning stoic as he stiffened. "In a fight I'm always ready for pain, you surprised me."

Emma paused and then swallowed thickly looking nervous, knowing that she'd crossed a serious line with that last comment. The fact that she was tired and overworked was no excuse. "I'm sorry, that was really mean of me…look let me just get this finished, we can talk, and then we can both get the sleep we need…ok?"

It was an olive branch if he'd ever seen one and he forced his shoulders to relax as he nodded, "Fine by me Swan."

She winced that the use of her surname but he felt no satisfaction from it. "This is alcohol, but more refined than the stuff you drink so it's going to sting…probably a lot."

He stared blankly back at her as she spoke and he didn't even react when she placed the ball against the cut. It hurt to be sure, but it wasn't awful. It didn't take her long to clean the cut and when she was done she picked up a strange white thing and when she squeezed it a white cream like substance came out of it. "This is anti-bacterial cream. It's going to stop and fight infections in the cut; It might sting a little."

As she proceeded to gently rubbed the medicine into his cut he allowed himself to completely relax, letting go of her earlier comment. She hadn't meant it unkindly, in fact it was quite the opposite. She expected him to be stronger for having survived his experience, not weaker like most did. It gave him a strange feeling of acceptance even as it reminded him of his losses.

Using her current distraction to his advantage he gazed up at her from under his lashes. She looked beautiful as ever and her touch was so exquisitely gentle that it felt more like she was running her hands lovingly across brow and through his hair, then treating a wound. It combined with her scent mixed with vanilla lulled him into a relaxed haze and, with her soft looking sweater calling to him, he wanted nothing more than to bury his face in the crook for neck, staying there for the rest of the night, just holding her to him.

If only. If only.

He sighed quietly when she finally pulled away; equal part of him relieved and despairing at the distance between them. He'd only had a moment's reprieve when she came back, and he tilted his head as he eyed the item in her hand curiously, "How do they work?"

"The band-aid?" she asked confused and he nodded. She looked at a loss for a split second before proceeding to show him, and he was mesmerized by this perfect example of his earlier thoughts. The people of this world had never been able to rely on magic, and because of that had clearly become ingenious in finding creative ways around this handicap. He honestly couldn't wait to explore this worlds wonders once he'd finished off Rumplestiltskin and moved on with his life. "Tomorrow morning you can use the stations showers to clean yourself up. Hopefully you'll be able to stand on your own by then."

"And if I can't" he asked with a devilish smile, he had no idea what a "shower" was, but her phrasing implied he'd be less than decent while participating in one. "Shall I expect your assistance love?"

"More like David's going to have to help you and I doubt you want that." She said her voice flat, face blank, but there was a humorous twinkle in her eye she just couldn't hide.

He made a derisive sound, "I'm not sure I enjoy this habit of having your father violate my person you seem to have, Emma."

"Well if you're unsure about that, maybe you should worry about your own preferences, instead of mine," she replied without missing a beat, and standing to leaned against the opposing desk with that little smile of hers. The one she gets when she knows she won a round of the game. "Now moving on, I have something to tell you, and you're not going to like it."

"Oh," he said sitting up straighter, because that didn't sound ominous to him at all.

Emma sighed and his feeling of foreboding increased, "Magic exists here now, which means Gold has it. Whatever plans you had…there not going to work anymore."

As the words left her mouth he felt his blood freeze and his heart stop. Finding it difficult to breath he searched her face for any sign that she was in jest, and was disappointed. Rumplestiltskin had found a way to bring magic to a world that had none. Which meant that he was immortal and invincible once more; and the only way to kill him was with his dagger. A dagger that, in this strange world, would be next to impossible to find. Not that it mattered anyway with the way the board was set, no, he'd be dead long before he ever even got close to it or his prey. "…how…?"

Emma rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, "Well apparently he'd bottled "True Love" or something like that and hide it so it would get taken by the curse. He tricked me into getting it back for him by saying that it would help save my son. He stole it and did something with it. Then, bam, magic works now."

He stood and paced away to stand with his back to her; his fists were clenched and his breathing hard as he tried to control his anger. The bastard had outwitted him yet again and he'd used a mother frantic to save her child to do it. Killian couldn't fault Emma for any of this, but that didn't mean he didn't want to destroy everything in the offices as some kind of outlet for his rage. It took a good few minutes of simply breathing to control his temper to the point where he could turn back to her and speak, making his face as expressionless as possible under that circumstances. "I have to leave."

"What?" she asked surprised and then jumped in front of him when he moved to collect his belongings. "Whoa, I don't think so buddy. Where the hell are you going to go, you can hardly even walk straight!"

"Emma! That monster has magic again, he's more dangerous now than you could ever know." He said grabbing her shoulder and shaking her slightly. "You saw on my ship, he means to kill me, and if you're in the way he'll kill you too."

Emma rolled her eyes in exasperation then pushed his hand away. "Look, you've been here for almost twelve hours already and he hasn't stopped by. I think David's threat will hold him off for at least a little while longer. Plus, you needed to be awake for Blue to properly deal with these so we can't get them off till tomorrow. Now get back in that cell and try to get some sleep."

Killian sagged completely and all the fight went out of him, she was right of course. He could take his ship and leave, but would he get very far with the bracer connecting the two of them? Better still, would he last very long in a world he knew nothing about when the crocodile was probably waiting for him to leave the protection of the royal family? No matter what he did, there was a possibility of Emma being hurt and he rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Fine, I'll stay, but the cell is unnecessary."

She snorted, "Yea, sorry, but with the state you're in, I don't trust you not to change your mind and slip away in the middle of the night with some half baked crazy idea."

"You don't trust me," he asked genuinely hurt and confused, did she really still not trust him, after everything? His emotions must have shown on her face because she frowned at him.

"You mean do I trust you not to come up with some crazy, anger induced, scheme in the middle of the night that I'll have to clean up and file paperwork for in the morning? No, sorry, I don't." She had a point, but still, it made him pout a bit. She just rolled her eyes before guiding him toward the cell, and finally he obliged her; allowing himself to collapse on the bed that now seemed much harder and colder than when he'd first woken. As his cages door clanged shut behind him.

A/N: Reviews make me happy and inspire me! So please leave me one!