Hidden Treasures Chapter 40, an once upon a time fanfic

So here is the update you have all been waiting for... you can all stop asking for hurt Hook now!

As always please review

Enjoy

"Family life suits you" Ruby said with a grin as Emma flopped down on the couch next to her

"Yeah" Emma agreed "I never thought I'd find this Ruby, I lived so long being on my own that I thought that that was how my life was supposed to play out, you know? ... How wrong was I?"

"OK enough mushy stuff..."Ruby blurted out turning sharply to face Emma with mischief in her eyes "You can get all gooey over your awesome life later. Spill Emma, I wanna know about Killian Jones Junior. How did he get here? Who's his Mom? Did you know..."

"Woah woah woah Rubes slow down it's not what you think" Emma said turning to the side and sitting on her foot so she could look her friend right in the eye "Killian Jones Junior IS Killian Jones."

"Yeah... Junior" Ruby said like that much was obvious

"No Rubes. He isn't Killian's son he IS Killian just a younger version of him. Look it's complicated but there was an incident with some magic and somehow or another he was the result"

Ruby's eyes bulged from her head and she blinked widely a few times "He IS Hook?!"

"No... he is Junior. They may have started off in life the same way but he is his own person now. There's more Ruby, they have this funky link thing going on too, they can feel what each other is feeling but we are looking for a way to break it."

"What? Why?" Ruby furrowed her brow in confusion

Emma gave a heavy sigh "Because it's physical too Rubes. What Hook feels the Kid feels too and vise verse. We realized the other day when Hook nearly drowned that if he dies the Kid dies too and that's something we need to stop from happening. I mean even if Hook lives to be an old man it would still knock thirty odd years off the kid's life which isn't fair but it's not just that... Junior has had it rough, they both have but the Kid sees what plays out in Hook's head during his nightmares to the point that if Hook has a panic attack so does Junior, we don't want that for him. God I find it hard to deal with and I only see the results of what Hook goes through, God knows how I would be like if I felt it too, if I had to keep reliving it and feeling it every time Hook dreamt of it I think I'd lose my mind"

Ruby just looked shocked as she sat there "Well... you were right Emma, that was not what I was expecting"

Emma gave a laugh "Nothing in this town is ever simple Ruby, you should know that by now"

Emma made them drinks and they sat catching up for a while, it was nice, it was comfortable... maybe a little too comfortable as Emma nodded off right there on the couch with her friend by her side.

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Tootles was starting to panic, he was running out of time and he knew it. Where was the gem?

"OK, OK Calm down" he said to himself taking in a deep breath and holding it for a second before letting it out slowly. "Now think Tootz, think"

He opened his eyes and looked around again but this time like he was seeing it for the first time.

"If I were to hide a gem where would I..." he trailed off when his eyes fell on a long crack that ran from ceiling to floor and his heart leapt.

He jumped forward and frantically started searching the tight gap and after only a few second he found what he was looking for... there it was.

He pulled it out tentatively with his fingers holding it up to the light, he had found it but he knew he didn't have time to stand about, he had to move so he shoved the gem into his pocket and just ran following the footsteps further into the tunnel systems just hoping that it lead to a way out, he needed to get help fast.

Killian woke with a jump heart rattling in his chest... the Lad was dreaming about Liam again. He shook his head trying to clear the thoughts from his mind but he froze when he realized that it wasn't Junior dreaming of Liam at all but himself.

"Gods" he groaned running his hand down his face pulling himself to sit up on the edge of the bed

"Killian"

He froze... where had that come from?

"Killian... help me, please"

The voice was coming from outside, it sounded like a young boy but he didn't recognize him and why was he calling him Killian?

"Who is there?" he called back but there was no answer.

The wind outside had picked up and Killian craned his neck trying to see out the door through the billowing curtain, was someone really out there? His heart rate picked up but he tried to quash it, the voice did not sound like Tootles or any of the Lost Ones for that matter so he pulled himself to his feet grabbing hold of his crutch that was by the bed and started over to the doorway.

"Killian, help me Brother" the young voice called again and in an instant it hit Killian like a brick to the head, the voice belonged to Liam... how was this possible?

He hobbled quicker throwing back the curtain and stepping outside into the dim light "Liam, where are you Brother?"

"Over here Killian, please help me. They are going to hurt me"

Killian's head spun to the side and in an instant his heart was racing as he caught a glimpse of a ghostly apparition of a young Liam near the steps.

"Liam?"

Killian took precisely two steps out of the door before something slammed into his back sending him to the ground with a clatter as his crutch skittered away. His head bounced on the hard surface leaving him in a stupor, blinking widely trying to clear his vision, what had happened? Where was Liam?

Suddenly he could feel hands on him and gave a sigh of relief thinking that it was Swan trying to help him but when a knee pressed into his back and his head was pulled up he was brought back to reality with a thump... someone had hit him, he hadn't simply fallen. Suddenly his heart was threatening to burst from his chest and when a voice he recognized finally whispered into his ear he instantly knew that it had been a trick, Liam was not there and he was very much in trouble as he could suddenly hear the blood rushing in his ears.

His chest hitched and he was gasping for breath as Tootles hissed at him "You took my family Pirate, you and yours made me betray them all, well now it is time that you paid for that."

"Get... off... of ….me" Killian gasped out trying to struggle out of the boy's grasp but Tootles just held on tighter and thumped Killian's head down into the ground once more.

Killian's world narrowed but he did not descend into the darkness... no, he had to fight this. He had to protect his family.

"You are pathetic" Devin's voice was suddenly there, in his head... no, not now, he had to fight this, he couldn't let this happen.

He lay panting into the ground for a few seconds and when he felt Tootles lift his knee from his back Killian made his move, he had to get away, he had to stop this before he lost himself, he couldn't let Tootles hurt anyone else. Killian spun himself over and threw his hand out blindly managing to thump the boy in the face, he was moving in an instant scrambling his way across the hard surface trying to get himself back inside but he was too slow and before he could do anything more to protect himself or the others a rope was suddenly pulled over his head and he was being yanked backwards by his neck.

"Noooooooooo... " he tried to yell as he clutched at his throat but the rope was tightening now, his airway was being cut off and as his bare back was being shredded from being dragged across the patio area he lost himself, he was no longer there... he was right back where this whole thing started.

He was in that clearing, the smell of the damp grass invaded his mind and the voices in his head were back in full force.

"Captain needs taught a lesson boys"

"Jensen, go grab the rope"

"You are pathetic"

He didn't feel any of the pain that was being inflicted upon his being as he was dragged backwards down the stone steps towards the apple tree. He didn't feel the blows that rained down on him as the boy kicked and punched him while he lay gasping on the grass. No, he was still somewhere else entirely dealing with an entirely different demon's face, one that was snarling at him through clenched teeth but when Tootles' foot connected with the side of his head one time too many Killian was gone. It seemed that no matter how hard he fought the darkness it always took him in the end...

"MOM" Henry's voice slammed into her brain, she was on her feet and running before she knew what was happening.

"What's going on?" Ruby's sleepy voice called out from the couch

But Emma didn't answer she just ran full tilt into the room to find Henry trying to bring Junior round, the kid was completely out just lying limply in Henry's arms.

"Henry... what happened?" she gasped rushing forward to check on Junior

"I... I don't know" he said shaking his head in confusion "I thought it was a panic attack to begin with but then this happened. Mom, is it Killian?"

"Stay with him Kid, I need to go check" with that she took off again literally bumping into Ruby in the doorway shoving her not too gently out of the way

"Emma?" Ruby cried following her

Emma threw the door open and sprinted forward expecting to find Hook in a similar state to Junior but all she found was an empty bed.

"Where the hell is he?" she cried bringing her hands up to her head in frustration but they fell when Ruby suddenly sniffed the air and gasped.

"Emma, someone else has been here"

"What? Who?" she cried hurrying over to her friend

"I don't know" Ruby said quickly but she was back to sniffing at the air again "Hook... he went this way"

She was moving out the doors and Emma was right on her heels heading straight towards the stairs and down onto the lawn. Ruby suddenly stopped holding her arm out to the side to stop Emma too.

"Emma... the other person is still here"

"Where?"

Ruby flicked her chin towards the main house but didn't move her hand "That way but just wait, let me get ready"

With that she let her arm fall and within seconds she was in her wolf form stalking forward. Emma followed with her heart thumping in her chest, what the hell was going on?

But then she saw him and the sight before her had her jaw falling open as she saw Tootles trying his hardest to tie Hook's limp body against the trunk of the apple tree.

"HEY" she screamed out and the boy's head snapped up, he looked at her and smirked before taking off at a run

Ruby took off after him but Emma didn't, she only had one thought in mind, she had to get to Hook. She skidded to a halt taking the skin off her knees as she slid across the tree roots.

"Hook... Killian!" she tapped his face lightly but he was completely unresponsive just hanging against the ropes holding him up and he was a mess. His face was a swollen mass and there was blood dripping off his chin down his front "Killian please"

There was a shout in the darkness then a howl rang out followed by a yelping noise "RUBY!"

Emma didn't know what to do, she couldn't leave Hook but she also needed to make sure Ruby was alright.

"Swan, what's going on?" Regina's confused voice suddenly called from an upstairs window of the house into the dim light.

"Regina I need help. Call my Dad, tell him to get back here. Tootles has attacked Hook, he ran off towards town and Ruby went after him in wolf form but I think he's hurt her too." Emma yelled out but she never looked back up, she was trying to untie the ropes that held Hook to the tree.

"On it and I'll call for an ambulance too" Regina called back "Hang on Swan, I'll be right down"

Just then Hook gave a low groan and his leg came up trying to gain some purchase on the ground as he struggled weakly against the ropes.

"Hey... just stay still" she soothed still trying to loosed the knot

But in an instant he was shaking and gasping in breaths as he struggled harder to get free bringing his hand up to clutch at his throat.

"S-Swan. H-Hen-ry... J-J-Juni-or... Need t-to m-make s-su-re safe. T-tootles... it was T-tootz" his voice sounded croaky but she ignored that for now as she carried on

"They're fine, they're inside. Tootles ran away."

He sagged forward as she finally got the knot free and she tugged him into her arms where he fell back just gasping for breath.

"L-Liam... he t-t-tricked me using L-Liam" he gasped trying to look up at her through his swollen right eye as the blood carried on trailing down his face to seep into her jeans.

"Shhhhhh... don't talk just now." she soothed tugging him in closer just as Regina arrived

"He OK?" Regina asked coming down next to them

"No" was all that Emma said in reply before suddenly thinking of Junior "Regina, Junior... He's with Henry. Please just help him" a tear tumbled down her cheek as she looked up at her friend "Please, make sure my boys are alright"

Regina gave a quick nod and took off up the lawn towards the house but in the next few seconds Hook was trying to move again pulling her attention away from the image of Regina's back disappearing into the house.

"Hook just lie still, help is on the way"

But he shook his head and carried on trying to clutch his throat "N-need to s-see the boy, he is f-f-fright-tend, S-Swan"

He clamped his hand to his ribs to haul himself forward and she could tell that he meant what he said so she just got up and helped him. He was on his feet but was far from stable as they slowly made their way back to the house. He was practically hanging on by a thread by the time Emma let him drop down onto the bed but he was determined to get what he wanted.

"G-get the boy" he croaked out into the partial darkness

"Killian I don't think that's a good idea, you haven't seen yourself" Emma cried sitting down next to him, she raised a hand to rub on his back but he hissed loudly when she touched him and she jerked back quickly "Sorry"

He locked his one good eye on her and lifted his hand to his head "It cannot be worse than he is seeing in here Swan, please... he needs me"

Emma just nodded and hurried from the room running straight through the other doorway to find Junior howling in Regina's arms. The minute she came into the room he looked up and called out

"Swan... " he cried holding his arms out to her.

The tears tumbled down Emma's cheeks as she pulled him to her but she didn't stop she just headed back into the other room to find that Hook had gotten himself lying back against the pillows. Someone flicked on the light as she reached his side and her breath left her, her legs nearly buckled at the sight before her. Hook was covered in blood and he had several deep bruises marking his face and chest but the one that stood out worse than the rest was the distinct rope marks around his neck.

"Good God" Regina gasped pulling Henry and Rapha into her front to hide their faces. "Swan?!"

Emma didn't say anything she just dropped down onto the edge of the bed trying to comfort Junior as he continued to cry loudly in her arms.

"Shhhhhh... Momma Swan's got you" she soothed pulling him in tight and rocking him slightly as she looked across at Hook who seemed to be struggling to stay awake, she out to him and gave his hand a squeeze "Hook, open your eyes. Come on, no sleeping"

His eyes rolled in his head and he opened his one good one to look at her before bringing his hand up to gently take hold of Junior's arm.

"H-he OK?" he croaked out

"He'll be fine" she whispered but then Whale and an EMTs were coming through the open patio door.

"What happened?" Whale asked as Emma stood up making her way around to the other side of the bed where she walked over the mattress on her knees to drop down by Hook's head.

"He was attacked" was all she said, she didn't need Henry and Rapha hearing anymore and as if she suddenly understood Regina steered the boys towards the door.

"I'll take the boys back to the house, don't worry Swan I have ways to keep them safe. Call me"

Emma just nodded but her eyes were back on Hook when he suddenly gasped and clenched his eyes closed when Whale prodded his ribs.

"Let's get him loaded" Whale barked out but Hook shook his head wincing at the movement

"No... not going back" he gasped then grit his teeth again causing Emma's stomach to clench as she noticed the blood in his mouth for the first time

"Killian please. You need to get checked out properly you could be really hurt... this isn't just about you anymore."

Emma knew that he knew that she was talking about Junior, she saw his resolve crumble as he looked at the boy who was still sobbing in her arms and gave a jerky nod.

"Alright... but as soon as I am patched up I am leaving...gah... nothing has changed, the boy is NOT staying there"

She nodded tugging Junior in closer, she just needed to get Hook to the hospital, they could figure out what was going to happen later.

She dug into her pocket and pulled out her cell dialing her Dad, she needed him to see if he could find Ruby. She didn't even know if her friend was alright but the howl and that yelping sound kept playing in her head.

Please just let her be alright...