Chapter 10 – The Promise
Killian spent the rest of the day going over paperwork and information from the investigation. It was clear to him that he could use Emma's help to access information the police would never be able to get their hands on in time, but the thought of working next to her every day was already getting him nervous.
"Detective, some is here to see you." He heard an officer said and he lifted his head from the paperwork.
Henry was standing there looking nervously at him.
"Hi Killian."
"Henry, lad." Killian smiled. "How did you get here?"
"I'm fifteen, Killian. I know how to take the bus." Henry rolled his eyes.
"Right, I forgot." Killian smiled. "Does your mother know you are here? Any of them?" He raised his eyebrow at Henry.
"No, they don't. But I wanted to talk to you…"
Killian sighed, pointing to the office nearby, "Come with me, lad."
"So…" Henry started once they were settled on the office. "You left Storybrooke."
"There was nothing left for me to stay, to be honest; and there was no way to return to the Enchanted Forest – not that there was anything left there either. I figured leaving town to start again was a path as good as any other. All I had to do was try it."
"You are a cop now."
"Aye, lad." Killian sighed. "You mother, Regina, helped me a little to get all this started."
"Did she make you a cop or did you ask her?"
Killian looked at him intrigued… "Does it make a difference, lad?" But from the way he was looking at him, he knew it mattered to Henry and he didn't want to lie to the lad. "I chose it." He admitted.
"You chose to be a detective." Henry said.
"I felt it was something I could do, that I wanted to do."
"Why?" Henry asked.
Killian had never shared his motivation with Regina, nor did he intend to share it with Emma. But Henry was different.
"Did I ever tell you the tale of my brother Liam?" Killian asked and Henry shook his head. "Liam and I were both members of the Royal Navy of our kingdom. He was captain of the Jewel of the Realm and I was a young lieutenant. One day the King sent us on mission to retrieve a medicinal plant from a foreign realm. A hero's journey." Killian smirked sadly. "We set sail to Neverland."
"Neverland?"
"Aye." Killian said. "And the medicinal plant was none other than dreamshade, the desire of a corrupt king to fight his wars without honor. Liam wouldn't believe me and he cut himself with it. I saw him dying in front of me. Pan showed me the water that saved his life, but the moment we set sail back, Liam finally died on his cabin, in my arms. I lost my brother for the vicious desires of a corrupt king."
"That's how you became a pirate." Henry concluded.
"Aye, I took the ship and it became the Jolly Roger and I never looked back as I set to pillage, plunder and take my revenge on the king's ships." Killian took a deep breath. "You are pretty familiar with the rest of the tale, I presume."
Henry nodded.
"When Regina offered me a chance to build a new life, I really thought over what I wanted to do. My mind drifted to Liam, how good and brave he was, serving his kingdom for the good. And I knew I wanted to make him proud of me again. I lost my way many centuries ago, but I was given a chance to start over." Killian smiled. "So here I am, Lieutenant Jones again, and trying to become Captain by promotion and not mutiny this time. I know it doesn't make up for all the wrong that I've done in the past, but for the life I get to live now, I'll try to do the right thing."
Henry looked at him again, "You are a hero, Killian."
"No, lad. I'm just an old pirate trying to honor the memory of his brother."
"You could have chosen anything. And you chose to fight the bad guys. Defeating the villains is what heroes do." Henry smiled at him. "I just thought someone should remind you of that."
Killian's eyes welled up with tears and he nodded at Henry with gratitude. Those words meant so much to him.
Henry took a deep breath and changed the subject, "Do you still sail?"
"Aye, I have a boat. It's nothing like the Jolly, of course, but it's a nice modern boat." Killian said.
"Would you take me sailing again someday?" Henry asked, "I mean- if you want to…"
"I'd be honored, lad." Killian said. "And now get out of here before your mother finds out and starts yelling at me."
"I'm staying at Regina's today." Henry said.
"That's no better, she can cast curses, remember?" Killian smirked.
"Right." Henry smiled. "It was nice seeing you, Killian."
As he started to leave, Killian called out to him.
"Henry, if you ever need anything or someone to talk to… you know you can come to me, lad, right?" He said.
"I'll keep that in mind…" He replied before leaving.
Killian watched him leave. Henry looked so much like his father at his age; it was almost painful for him to see. And Milah, his resemblance to Milah was uncanny.
"Who was that?" Mac asked.
"Emma's lad" Killian replied.
"Seems like a good kid."
"He is." Killian smiled.
"He doesn't look like her." Mac said.
"Takes after his father." Killian offered.
"You knew him?"
"Aye, he was a friend." Killian admitted.
"Where is he now?"
"He died almost four years ago." Killian sighed, running his hand though his hair.
"Damn, Killian, I didn't know." Mac sounded guilty.
"It's fine." Killian scratched the back of his neck, he needed to get out of there, he needed to deal with his emotions before Emma showed up. "Listen, I need to get some air. If Emma comes, tell her to wait for me, please?"
Mac nodded. Killian grabbed his jacket and headed out.