OK, I managed to do another update. God knows when the next one will be... life keeps getting in the way of my creativity lol
As always please review.
Enjoy
:)
Emma stumbled when the ground shook the first time but just pulled herself up onto her feet heading deeper into the trees with Regina and Henry by her side. They had abandoned the bug at the side of the road not far from the toll bridge when they could no longer follow the hook using the car.
Mary-Margaret had stayed back at the pool house with the baby and as Emma ran she wished more than anything that her Mom could have been by her side, she needed her there... because Emma was terrified of what she would find when the hook finally stopped.
They all ran after the floating hook and with every minute they headed deeper into the woods. The ground shuddered again and the hook suddenly dipped for a second very nearly hitting the ground before it lifted again slightly and headed off but Emma didn't need it anymore to know where they were heading, Killian was in that damned clearing again. She grit her teeth and started running in earnest needing to get there quicker.
"Mom?" Henry cried out behind her
"Keep up kid" she screamed back "We're nearly there"
Emma could hear Regina stumbling her way through the undergrowth behind them but she didn't have time to wait for her she NEEDED to get to her family. When she ran full pelt into the clearing a few seconds later she skidded to a halt trying to understand what she was seeing. Gold stood motionless in the middle of the grassy area hands just hanging by his side but Emma's eyes didn't stay on him they flew to the two figures on the ground near by.
"Belle?" she practically whispered in confusion as the hook floated over and dropped by their side.
What the hell was going on?
"EMMA" Belle screamed out looking up at her and that was enough for Emma to be moving again, something was wrong... very wrong.
Where was Hook and her Dad?
Emma threw herself onto the ground next to Belle to find Junior just lying there staring into space and the Kid was a total mess. His little face was bruised and bloodied and there was a rag tied around his left thigh but she knew that wasn't what this was about... something else had happened but she needed to know what as she watched Junior's hand clutching at his chest just like Hook did when something was going on with the kid.
"Junior" she whispered bending forward but he didn't respond at all, he just kept staring into space. Emma looked up a her friend for some answers "Belle?"
"I think he's in shock Emma." Belle whispered back
Suddenly Emma was looking around again as Henry dropped down next to her and gasped. What the hell had happened here? Gold was now looking around the ground as if searching for something and when he dropped down and shoved a very dead looking Devin out of the way to look underneath him it was too much, she needed to know what had happened. Where was her Dad? Where was Killian?
"Belle what's going on?"
"A portal... David and Killian fell through a portal. He saved me, he shoved me out of the way but they were too close... Oh Emma, they are gone... they were sent to Neverland with the other Lost Ones. I am so sorry. I tried to help them I really did"
"What?" Emma sat back on her heals and blinked widely "How?"
"Devin had Rumple's dagger, he made Rumple give him a bean, I don't know where it came from but that's not all, he made Rumple take us to the pool house too. Devin tricked Junior into handing over the gems. Emma, Devin made Rumple reunite them then duplicated himself, there were two Devins but the Jewel was damaged somehow, something to do with it not being strong enough to use the Dark Ones magic. One of the Devins had the bean, he threw it so that they could all go home but he tried to take Junior with them. We fought him off and Killian managed to shoot one of the two with Granny's crossbow but the other one, he didn't give in and the other Lost Ones joined in and it was too much."
Belle was practically rambling but she stopped and looked back to Junior on the ground in front of her drawing Emma's gaze. Junior was shivering now and his breathing was erratic so Emma pulled him up and hugged him to her front taking the light jacket that Regina suddenly held out and wrapped it around him.
"What happened Belle? What happened to make him like this?"
Belle gulped and the tears started to fall "Junior... he... Oh God Emma, he killed Devin. He shot him in the chest with David's gun"
"WHAT?" Emma screamed looking back at Junior, how did this happen? No wonder the kid was no longer in reality, he was five years old for Gods sake and had JUST killed someone.
Her mind was racing, she needed to sort things out in her head but there was too much to think about although the one thing that she did know was that Junior needed help. She turned quickly to Regina and begged.
"Can you help? Do you have enough magic to heal him?"
"I'll give it a go" Regina answered dropping down onto her knees but Henry threw out a hand stopping her
"Wait. Grandpa can heal him" Henry looked up hopefully towards Gold but Belle shook her head.
"He can't. Devin made sure of that when he was controlling him, he told him while using the dagger that Rumple could NEVER help Hook or Junior" she burst out with a cry of despair
So it was back to Regina and she didn't hesitate she just raised her hands and a soft white glow emanated for a few seconds, it soon stuttered then died out but it seemed to have helped a little as Junior gave a long blink then frowned. He looked around slowly but the minute he seemed to remember what had happened he started crying in earnest, huge racking sobs were torn from him and all Emma could do was pull him in and try to comfort him as he clutched at his chest. Through it all Emma couldn't make out what he was saying as his cries made the words unintelligible but after a few minutes he suddenly twisted in her arms and tried to crawl away screaming as he went.
"PAPA... COME BACK PAPA... I AM SORRY"
Emma lurched forward and grabbed him just pulling him back into her arms as his words tore at her very soul, he was not crying because he had killed Devin he was crying because he had lost Hook... Junior could feel that he wasn't here... their link was broken... Hook and her Dad were really gone.
To Neverland!
Suddenly Emma looked up at Gold, she didn't know how all this had happened but she was damned sure of one thing. The Dark One was going to help her one way or another.
"GOLD" she screamed and his head snapped around to look at her "You have to do something"
He gave the ground one last look before sighing and heading over "Miss Swan I am afraid I cannot. As Belle already told you the Lost One ensured that I could not aide the boy in any way. I am sorry"
"That's absolute crap and you know it. You are the master of loopholes so find one now. I NEED to get to the hospital NOW"
She watched as Gold clenched his jaw before suddenly looking to Belle and holding out his hand.
"I think that it is time that we go home Belle... I really hope that we are standing far enough away so no one else gets caught up in my cloud."
Belle jumped to her feet and hugged Gold tightly before taking his hand in her left but holding her right hand out behind her where the Dark one couldn't see. Emma grabbed it quickly holding onto Junior tightly.
Regina pulled Henry back and and hugged him around the shoulders as he stood in front of her and whispered "We'll meet you there Swan"
Gold's red cloud was suddenly upon them, Emma gripped onto Junior as the kid carried on crying and Emma whispered reassurances in his ear.
"It's alright baby. Momma's got you, you're gonna be just fine alright. Papa and Grandpa will be home before you know it" and she really did believe it, she didn't know why but she just knew that they would be back... her happy ending was nowhere near being done.
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"Come on, we need to get you to some shelter" David grit out, rain streamed down his face and fell from his nose as he loomed above him.
Killian felt strange, his head kept spinning and his chest felt like it was on fire but more than anything else he felt like part of him was missing as his single heartbeat thundered in his chest... he had lost Junior, he was simply gone and it hurt.
David didn't give him any time to ask any questions he just hauled him to his feet but Killian's legs had other ideas and tried to send him back down onto the sopping wet ground. Killian grit his teeth as his entire chest screamed at him to stop but again David just kept going hoisting him back up and practically dragging him through the trees.
Killian let his head drop not really caring where David was taking him, it made no difference anyway, they weren't headed home and that was the only place Killian wanted to go, he knew that they were trapped here with no way of escaping.
The air whooshed from his lungs as David suddenly lost his footing and they both tumbled to the ground. The Prince wasn't giving up though and he was back standing up in a few seconds feet sliding in the thick mud but Killian had had enough so when David tried to pull him up with him he just went boneless giving him no help whatsoever.
"HOOK" David yelled above the torrential rain "YOU NEED TO GET UP"
Killian just shook his head and closed his eyes then mumbled "Leave me here, it is no use"
"DON'T YOU DARE GIVE UP ON ME NOW PIRATE" David screamed at him slapping his hand across Killian's face trying to rouse him "WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS RAIN"
Killian knew David wasn't going to leave him, it was just the way the Prince was was. In his book no one got left behind... but Killian also knew that he couldn't go any further, everything hurt too much. Then Killian's stomach suddenly rolled dangerously and a groan escaped his lips as he tried to curl up onto his left hand side only to gasp and choke in absolute agony when his shoulder hit the mud. His world narrowed again and his hearing dipped leaving him in a stupor. He wasn't really aware of what was going on although he knew David was still there. He could feel him frantically trying to bring him round but his mind had had enough and refused to let him resurface as the rain still pounded down on him.
He briefly came too at one point to find himself slung over David's shoulder, to say that it was agony was an understatement and after just a few short groans and whimpers he was lost again to the darkness.
The next time Killian came round was to find himself in the dark wrapped in a blanket. He turned his head slightly narrowing his eyes against the dim light, where was he? A noise in the distance had him holding his breath just hoping that it was not a Neverbeast but as he lay stock still just listening he could hear the distinctive sounds of human footsteps.
"David?" he croaked out and sure enough seconds later David came into sight carrying a flaming torch.
"Sorry, I had to light a fire near the entrance to keep out the wildlife" he said in a quiet voice coming over and kneeling down next to Killian. "How you feeling?"
"Peachy" Killian dead panned letting his eyes slide closed again with a sigh "Where are we?"
"Tink's" was all David said but then he was getting up and walking away.
Killian opened his eyes and followed him as the light lit up the small cave room. David bent down and in a few seconds there was a roaring fire in the small hearth and as the light danced across the room Killian realized that he was lying in a bed... with no clothes on.
"What the bloody hell?" he grit out trying to move but it was the wrong thing to do and he found himself gasping and choking out breath after breath when his whole body was in instant agony again.
"Hook?" he could hear David by his side but he couldn't get his eyes to open, he felt like he was losing himself to the pain again as another wave hit him and the room disappeared.
He came too some time later with a groan and David was by his side instantly pulling something from his forehead and when Killian managed to get his eyes to focus he realized that David was rinsing out a wash cloth, he rung it out and placed it back on Killian's head giving a soft smile.
"You think you can drink something?"
Killian tried to nod, it turned into a groan and his eyes slid shut again but then David was back holding out a cup for him. The Prince brought his hand to the back of Killian's head and helped him take a few gulps before pulling it away.
"Take it easy" he said in a low voice "You can have some more in a minute"
Killian lay back just trying to sort out his head, his hand found it's way up to his chest and he gripped the blanket tightly just over his heart... his single heart.
Suddenly he gave a sob as the reality hit him... Junior was gone. He had promised to keep him safe... he had failed.
"Hey hey hey... it's OK" David soothed sliding onto the edge of the bed
"Not OK" Killian cried back looking straight up at David "I failed him... he is gone... I can't feel him anymore... and it hurts David... it hurts MUCH worse that anything else that is going on."
"Hook we don't know he's gone" David tried to reassure him
Suddenly a rage built up in Killian "HE IS GONE AND YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW THAT FEELS"
"You're right, I don't know how you feel" David said with a heavy sigh but when Killian glared at him he could see the tears in the Prince's eyes "But I do know that IF he is really gone that I will miss him too. That Kid got inside my heart, he felt like part of me. I love him like he is my own Killian, don't ever think that I don't"
Killian's anger disappeared as tears carried on down his face "I'm sorry... I just... I miss him... I feel like part of me is missing"
"I know but I meant what I said Hook, we don't know if he's gone. For all we know he's still back in Storybrooke"
Killian gave a sigh, David was right but it was all irrelevant. Even if Junior was safe with Swan Killian had lost everything, he would spend eternity trapped here, never growing older while his family carried on without him... Wait... not just without him...without them!
Suddenly Killian realized that he wasn't the only one trapped and his eyes pooped open again to look at the man he chose to call Brother. "I am sorry David. I tried to get you away... but after I pushed Belle, the pain... it was too much. I did not want this for you."
"Hey, you don't think I'd let you go on vacation by yourself do you?" David chuckled
"Vacation? Mate, this is more like relocation" Killian said closing his eyes again.
"OK I'll let you wallow for a while but I've not given up Hook. I am going to find a way home, staying here is not an option. I won't lose my hope, not for all the gold in King Midas' kingdom"
Killian gave a smirk "You sound more like your wife every day"
"Yeah well, she's a smart woman... you'd do well to take a leaf out of her book"
Killian must have fallen asleep or passed out he wasn't quite sure which but the next time he woke it wasn't of his own volition. His shoulder was in agony and when he opened his eyes it was to find David perched on the bed again holding on to his left arm.
"We need to get this out" David said without even meeting Killian's gaze. David poked and prodded his way around the wound and eventually looked at Killian with a resigned sigh "You know what I have to do don't you?"
"Aye Mate. There is no other way... just do it"
David let Killian go and stood up from the bed again heading over to a small cabinet by the wall near the table that sat in the middle of the room. He rummaged about then stood back with what looked like some decent bandages and a jar containing some kind of ointment.
"Looks like Tink's medicine cabinet was well stocked" he said lifting the jar and reading "Healing Ointment" then gave a wry smile "Well if we ever needed that it would be now. There's a few other things there that might help too, some kind of herb that needs to be brewed I think."
"Neverberry tea" Killian replied "I have had that before, when Tink helped me after Pan and Tiger Lily tied me out in the sun. It should help with the pain quite well, thanks Mate."
"I'll make some up now" David said putting the jar down on the table but Killian shook his head
"No point... I have a feeling that it would not stay where is was intended to be once we get started. I can wait, it will be more effective if I can actually keep it in my stomach"
"You sure?" David asked pulling a sympathetic face "This is going to hurt"
"A few mouthfuls of tea is not going to change that David, just do it"
David just nodded before going back to the cabinet and rummaging again. He stood up holding a rudimentary pair of scissors giving Killian a knowing look before gathering up his supplies and heading back over to the bed.
"I'm not sure what way to do this, I mean how you're gonna sit. This is gonna hurt and I don't want you passing out and falling over, you've got enough going on without adding another concussion to the list."
Killian started trying to move gritting his teeth "Help me onto my side" David did just that and once Killian was in place he looked up at David. "You'll need to sit with your knees either side of my hips"
David just nodded again but before he got into position he grabbed the scissors and stooped down to Killian's front "I need to cut this thing, hold tight"
Killian clamped his jaw shut in preparation but it didn't help as a roar was pulled from his throat when David quickly cut the shaft freeing the fletchings to fall onto the bed. Killian was gasping in huge breaths as his stomach rolled again but David didn't hang about he knew this was going to hurt no matter what, waiting for him to calm himself would only draw things out so he just straddled Killian and got to work.
The head of the bolt was wedged deep in Killian's shoulder and he knew that the only way that it was going to be freed was if David pushed it all the way through... it was going to hurt but leaving it in was not an option.
The minute David's hand touched the shaft Killian was whimpering but when the Prince suddenly braced his other hand on Killian's shoulder and gave a hard push Killian screamed into the dark room. His voice echoed it's way out into the night but as soon as one scream ended another began as David wiggled and pushed the bolt through Killian's flesh.
After what felt like an eternity Killian felt it tug free but his misery was not over as David suddenly clamped his hands on either side of his shoulder. For Killian's delicate stomach it was the final straw and he found himself lurching for the edge of the bed. He was in so much pain he could barely form a coherent thought as his stomach spasmed against his will and it ultimately proved to be too much and the darkness took him once more.