Disclaimer: Reluctantly I have to admit that I don't own these characters. They are property of others far luckier than myself.

I sincerely appreciate the kind words for the last chapter. They mean more than you'll ever know.

Enjoy~

"Hey, Mom," Henry ambled into Killian's hospital room a few hours later.

"Henry," Emma was shaken from her half awake state, "What are you still doing here?"

"I wanted to see Killian before Regina took me home," Henry explained while motioning towards the soundly sleeping captain.

Killian had been in and out of consciousness since he'd first woken. When he was awake he made little sense due to the volume of pain medications he was being giving, but he was wildly entertaining.

"That's sweet of you, Henry, but he likely won't know or remember you're here," she replied when he hugged her.

"Is he going to be alright?" Henry looked to Killian in concern.

"Yes," Emma did her best to assure him, "He's likely been through much worse, and he's being well taken care of."

"Maybe you could heal him," Henry suggested, "With your magic."

Emma winced in reply. Since her tangle with the Snow Queen, she'd used her magic sparingly. She didn't have a handle on it enough to even attempt to heal someone so important to her.

Henry sensed her hesitation, "Maybe Regina could."

"We'll let nature take its course," Emma replied.

Henry nodded. "Can I stay with you for awhile?"

"He's not much for entertainment right now," Emma stated.

"That's okay," Henry stated as he pulled out his fairytale book, "I brought my own entertainment." He took a seat in the chair next to Killian, opened the book, and began reading out loud.

Emma listened intently for several minutes before she grew restless. She'd heard the story many times, and even lived through parts of it.

"I'm going for a walk," Emma ruffled her son's hair, "Come get me if he wakes up."

Henry nodded before continuing on with his story.

"How's the captain?" Regina inquired when Emma happened upon her in the hallway.

"He's in and out of it," Emma replied as she took a seat next to the mayor. "They're giving him a lot of medication for the pain."

"But he'll make it?" Regina inquired.

"Doc says so," Emma nodded.

"I could speed the process along if you'd like," Regina glanced at her hands and then Emma's, "Or help you learn."

"Thanks, but no thanks," Emma shook her head while looking at her hands, "He'll be fine. I can wait...You and Henry don't need to stay. I'll be fine."

"Henry wants to stay," Regina replied, "He's very...fond of Captain Jones."

"It works both ways," Emma smiled, "Killian adores Henry."

"I don't know what your father told you about the duel," Regina began.

"Nothing really," Emma shrugged.

"It was a bit one sided," Regina chose her words carefully, "Whether it was because Killian's heart wasn't in it or he was overmatched, I cannot say. Teach had him disarmed, pinned and was ready to jam him with his sword. Someone said your name. Killian was bleeding heavily, couldn't even stand, but he summoned the energy to turn the tables and jammed Teach's own sword into him."

Emma sat in silence while the tale sunk in, swallowing down the lump of emotion that had threatened to surface. She hadn't been told, but she somehow knew that she'd come close to losing Killian.

"Whether he's said it or not, he clearly loves you," Regina added.

"I know," Emma nodded.

"I don't want to be a spoilsport, but we have a son that is impressionable. If Killian becomes a negative influence, I will be forced to step in," Regina replied.

"You wouldn't have to," Emma stated, "If Killian became a bad influence on Henry, I'd step in myself. Henry will always been my first priority."

"Glad to hear it," Regina replied.

Henry came into the waiting room to find Emma, "Mom, Killian's asking for you."

"Henry, it's getting late. Why don't you go home with Regina? You can come back tomorrow to entertain Killian," Emma suggested.

"Yeah, okay," Henry agreed. He wanted to argue, but he recognized that his mom was still frazzled by the day's events and didn't need an argument from him. "Are you going to be okay by yourself tonight?"

"I'll be fine," she smiled as she hugged him tight, "Thanks for being here."

"I'm going to say goodbye to Killian and then we can leave," Henry told his other mother before jogging back to Killian's room.

"If you need anything, let me know," Regina offered.

Emma nodded and turned towards Killian's room. Out of the corner of her eye she saw David returning with a packed bag.

"How is he?" David handed her the bag Mary Margaret had packed.

"I was just going to check," Emma motioned for him to follow, "You can see for yourself."

"How are you?" David asked as they walked the long corridor.

"I've been better," Emma replied, "I've always hated hospitals, and even though Doc says Killian is going to be fine, I can't get myself to believe it yet. He's so beat up."

"I need to tell you something," David nervously cleared his throat.

"If it's about Killian nearly dying in the duel, you can save it. Regina already filled me in," Emma responded. There was an edge in her voice that told her father that she wasn't happy having to hear the news from Regina.

"I should have told you," David immediately owned up to his mistake, "But I didn't want to add to your already frazzled state."

"Thanks for that," Emma replied as she pushed the door to Killian's room. Killian's entire face seemed to brighten when Emma walked in though he kept himself focused on what Henry was saying.

"I'll be back first thing in the morning," Henry vowed, "We can start planning."

"Start planning what?" Emma asked.

"It's a surprise," Henry told his mother. He quickly hugged her and then darted towards the door before he was tempted to elaborate.

"Are you going to share?" Emma looked towards Killian with curiosity.

"It's something the lad is working on," Killian replied, "You'll learn soon enough."

"How are you feeling, Mate?" David inquired.

"I've felt worse," Killian stated, "But not by much."

"You should be sleeping," Emma told him while running her hand along his lower thigh, over the hospital blankets.

"I've been resting since I first arrived at the bloody place," he moaned, "Is staying any longer necessary?"

"They had to pump new blood into your body because you lost so much earlier," Emma stated, "Yes, you have to stay longer."

"Where did the blood come from?" Killian looked to her with confusion.

"Someone donated it," Emma stated.

"Why would someone give me their blood?" Killian pressed, "Won't they be needing it?"

"It's complicated scientific stuff, but the body is capable of producing more, just not at the rate your body needed because you lost so much so fast," Emma did her best to explain something she wasn't too sure of herself.

"I'd like to know whose debt I'm in," Killian replied.

"I don't know if that's even possible," Emma stammered, "It's usually donated anonymously."

"It usually is," David chimed in, "But in this case..."

"What are you…" Emma spun towards her father while he was rolling his sleeve to show the bruise that had formed from his earlier donation. "You're the donor?"

"The hospital was low because of all the patients it has treated today," David explained, "I donate regularly. I asked if I'd be a match for Killian, and it turns out I am. He has a pint of my blood coursing through his veins."

Killian didn't know whether he should be grateful or horrified that his girlfriend's father's blood was now flowing through him. "I'm not going to be suddenly noble now, am I?"

Emma burst out laughing with the question.

"You'll still be your usual dashing rapscallion self," David was quick to assure him.

Killian looked greatly relieved.

"Granny's preparing some soup," David informed the pair, "She'll be bringing it by before long. She swears that it will have you on the mend in no time."

"I don't know if he's even able to eat any food as of yet," Emma frowned, "I'll check with Doc."

Killian scoffed at the idea of asking for permission. As a man that lived a lawless life for three centuries, asking for permission from anyone was frivolous and unnecessary.

"Will you stay with him for a few minutes?" Emma asked her father.

Killian eyed Emma curiously. She hadn't allowed him to be left alone since the moment she'd first entered his hospital room. When she needed to step out, she always asked someone to stay at his side. He wondered what her thought process was. He made a mental note to ask her later.

"Sure," David nodded as Emma left the room. "You gave us a bit of a scare, Captain."

"Wasn't my intention," Killian replied as he tried to sit himself up a bit. He immediately groaned in pain. David stepped in to tuck pillows behind the captain's head, "I might have underestimated my opponent or perhaps I'm a bit out of practice."

"When you're on the mend, we'll have to make our friendly duels a more regular occurrence to keep our skills sharp," David suggested.

Killian nodded in agreement.

Any further discussion was halted when Will burst into the room, his eyes wide with uncontrollable desperation.

"Where is my Ana?" Will charged towards Killian's bed, "You slayed Captain Teach, but did you think to ask where my lady was first?"

"I was a tad busy fighting for my life," Killian responded.

"Where the hell is she?" Will lunged towards Killian, reaching for the neck of his hospital gown.

David jumped in to keep him at a safe distance, "We'll find out. Teach wouldn't be the only one to know her whereabouts. He'd have told others. Killian controls the ship now. You have my word that we will find her."

"Doc says that we can try soup as long as it's something…" Emma came to an abrupt stop when she found Will and David in a sort of shoving match. "Ana! Oh my god, Will, we still need to find Ana."

"And we will," David reiterated when Will lunged for Killian again, "And as soon as possible."

"The compass," Killian chimed, "We can use the compass to find Ana. Teach's ship can jump realms."

"Killian is right," Emma replied, "The ship should almost take you directly to her with the compass."

"We'll sail as soon as Killian is able," David stated, "He'll heal faster if you let him rest."

The answer wasn't satisfactory to Will when it came to his ladylove, but he didn't have any other choice. Killian was clearly unfit to sail, and he had no other way to find her.

"I'll walk you out," David released Will's collar. "Emma, Killian, I'll be back tomorrow to check on you. If you need anything call me or your mother."

Emma nodded and turned her attentions to Killian. Silence filled the air for several moments.

"So I get to eat," Killian looked to change to subject.

"Soup," Emma stated, "And only broth based soups with no noodles or vegetables or meats."

"Sounds delicious," Killian responded sarcastically.

"Maybe if you eat without the snide comments you'll be rewarded," Emma suggested.

"Rewarded you say," he grinned as much as the bruises on his face would allow.

"Maybe," she responded coyly. Her fingers played with his hand, inspecting it for damage. It was the one piece of skin she could see that didn't show injury. Her father's revelation of how she nearly lost him hit her all at once. She bent over and pressed her lips softly against his. Killian's fingers tangled in her hair to keep him close.

"Is that a down payment?" Killian inquired when Emma's lips lingered against his.

"No," she smiled, "That's your incentive to behave."

"I'll be as noble as your father's blood flowing through my veins allows," he gave a smug grin.

"Get a bit more sleep," Emma caressed his tired face, "I'll wake you when Granny gets here."

"How about a bit of incentive?" he tapped at his lips.

She allowed her lips to linger against his for a few moments more. When she pulled away, Killian's eyes were closed, and he looked to be enjoying a restful slumber.

"I love you," Emma brought his hand to her lips and kissed it softly before she retook her chair. She managed to catch a few winks herself before Granny arrived with their dinner.

"I don't want to wake the good captain," Granny spoke quietly when she handed Emma the carefully packaged basket, "I threw in a few of Killian's favorite cookies for when he's feeling a bit better."

"Thank you," Emma smiled, "I know he'll appreciate the sweet treat."

"Your father assured me that Killian will be up and about in no time," Granny stated, "That's welcomed news to the people of this town."

Emma bit back a laugh. The thought that the town would be happy that Killian was on the mend was a far cry from the town hall meeting in which they were all reluctant to help Killian. Now he was some sort of hero.

"Thank you for the food," Emma stated, "And for saying what you did at the town hall meeting about Killian."

"I only spoke the truth. You were the one that inspired the change in him," Granny replied. "If you need anything from me..."

"I'll let you know," Emma replied.

"I'll be back first thing in the morning with coffee and breakfast," Granny stated when she and Emma spotted the cot set up in the room at the same time. The nurses must have set it up for Emma when she was napping.

Emma nodded, and Granny turned to leave.

"Something smells divine," Killian grumbled in his drowsy state.

"You'd better remember to thank Granny the next time you see her," Emma pulled their meals from the basket. "Are you feeling up to feeding yourself?"

"If you help me sit up," he nodded. Emma lifted the head of the bed with a press of a button and then tucked several pillows behind Killian's head.

"This is becoming a common occurrence that I'm not fond of," Emma ran her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Me either," he stated, "But I could get used to you tending to me."

"Eat your soup," Emma set the container of soup and spoon in front of him. In her own container was a hamburger and potato wedges. Killian watched her take a bite with jealousy in his eyes. As delicious as all of Granny's cooking was, he longed for the burger that Emma was eating.

The soup didn't taste like much, but it warmed him up and made him feel more like his usual self.

"Try a potato," Emma handed him one of her wedges.

"How about a bite of that burger?" he suggested as he bit into the wedge.

"Be happy with the potato," Emma shook her head. His face fell in disappointment. "I have something else for you, but I want to see how you handle the soup and potato first. Maybe tomorrow we can try something with a bit more flavor."

"Coffee would be nice," he replied.

"Maybe," Emma replied.

Doc came in while Emma was cleaning up their meals to do a final examination before he left for the evening. He gave Killian a sedative that knocked him out immediately. There would be no sweet treat or reward for his good behavior.

Emma found a pair of pajamas packed in the bag that Mary Margaret sent over. She slipped into the bathroom to change. She couldn't explain why it happened, but she broke down in sobs before she made her way to the cot she'd been provided. It took awhile, but she managed to find a fitful sleep.

TBC…