Hidden Treasures Chapter 99, an once upon a time fanfic

On we go...chapter 99!

Not much left of this tale... well, there's a wee bit still to go but certainly not another 99 chapters that's for sure lol.

As always please review.

Enjoy

"Daaa-aaad" Emma's sing song voice called from somewhere as he ducked back through the entrance into the teepee, he had gone to get some food for himself and Hook and had left the Pirate with the mirror so he could talk to Emma alone.

"Emma?" he whispered when he realized that Hook had obviously fallen asleep.

"Oh thank God for that, I've been staring up Killian's nose for the last five minutes"

David chuckled as he retrieved the mirror from Hook's front, he held it up for a second "Hang on, I'm just gonna take this food to the fire to keep it warm, I'll let him sleep for a while."

"He looks wrecked" Emma said as he walked his way over and hung the pot of what he assumed was venison stew high over the flames.

He dropped down to sit on the floor and finally looked at his baby girl, he gave her a quick smile but then found himself frowning and looking back at Hook.

"He had quite a bad panic attack yesterday, being honest he's done better today than I thought he was going to so I guess I shouldn't worry so much"

"What happened? Did something set it off, a dream or what?"

"Where are you Emma?" he whispered "Can the boys hear you?"

"Nah, they are too busy reading a book, I'm standing by the bathroom door. What's up?"

"OK. So the Shadow Man killed Xylo and stole his shadow, you know that right but he also took Jensen too. I think his plan was to use the kid as a new "Pan" so to speak but after the Shadow Man killed Xylo, Jensen freaked. He waited until the Shadow Man left him alone and he ran for it... unfortunately he ran straight into Hook... hence the panic attack. We managed to get him back here pretty quickly though and the whole thing didn't really last more than about twenty minutes, Hook sorted himself out and was even joking around before I got him to go to sleep? Then when I woke up today he had stripped his bed... it got damp from his wet clothes I think but anyway, he seemed pretty together"

"He slept right through the night? No nightmares?" Emma asked with raised eyebrows

"Nope but I think that's more to do with the funky dream catcher like thing that Lark, the medicine Man has left... actually, where is that thing?"

He pulled himself back up and headed back over to Hook's bed with a frown on his face but seconds later when he felt something snap beneath his foot he cringed and cursed.

"What?" Emma hissed in a low voice "What did you do?"

He stooped down and picked up the now broken dream catcher and held it up "Well I hope that doesn't come back to bite me in the ass!"

"You broke it!" Emma exclaimed in a hissed whisper

"Not on purpose" he hissed back tossing the broken bits onto the end of Hook's bed and heading back to the fire

"I hope it wasn't like, an ancient heirloom or something" Emma chuckled

"Yeah, me too" David cringed but just then Emma looked up and her face split into a wide grin before she looked back at him

"Guess who's here?"

He was moving across the room in Emma's hand and seconds later Snow's face appeared before him. Like Hook before him he was instantly in tears as he took in his wife's beautiful face.

"OH DAVID" she cried out bringing a hand to her mouth "I have missed you so much"

"I miss you too" he replied wanting nothing more than to hug her but not being able to he chose to just smile instead "How is our boy?"

"Missing his Daddy but I'm sorry so David, he's not here right now, he's with Regina." she gave a slight frown of guilt

"Hey, that's alright. I'll see him later, as long as he is alright that's all that matters"

"He is just fine" she smiled back then laughed "But I can see two boys and a bear from here that look like they are about to eat me alive if they don't get their food"

Emma appeared in the viewer but she was talking to Snow "Let me take the bags"

They bustled about for a few seconds then Snow was looking back at him, she gave a sniff and wiped a tear from her face.

David could see the love in her eyes and he whispered "You're all really alright? Junior is definitely fine?"

She gave a little nod but when she looked up she snorted and turned the mirror so he could see. David found himself laughing too when he saw Junior tucking into his lunch like a starved child while holding an onion ring up to Pink Bear's mouth.

"You have to eat P.B., you need to keep your strength up young man" he said in a tough love kind of tone

That kid was a dork!

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Something had changed, something was different as Killian made his way down the steps from the pool house to walk cautiously across the grass.

Where was Junior?

Where was Devin?

He swung around quickly when he thought he saw movement behind him and nearly fell on his ass when he came face to face with his Crocodile.

"Well it's about time you stopped hiding behind that contraption" the Crocodile smirked nodding his head to the ground

Killian staggered backwards but followed his gaze to see the dream catcher that usually hung by his bed lying snapped on the ground.

"What did you do?" he gasped out

"Nothing yet" Gold sneered stepping forward and bending down to pick up the broken pieces in his fingers "I couldn't do anything while you were under this things protection but now... well now I..."

He trailed off and gave a heavy sigh but Killian was still backing away from him, what was his game? What was he going to do?

Gold looked up and met Killian's eyes and for the first time ever, in all of Killian's three hundred years of life he saw regret on the other man's features. Killian stopped in his tracks and frowned.

Gold gave another sigh "You saved her"

"What?" Killian shook his head, this dream was so confusing, what was the Crocodile talking about?

"Belle" Gold carried on "You didn't need to but you did. After everything I had done to you, you still saved her."

"She is my friend" Killian barked out "I am not like you Crocodile, I... I could not let her suffer for your foolishness. What were you thinking messing about with the gem stones. Surely you of all people should have known the dangers"

"You are right" the Crocodile said with a wry smile "And for the first time in my life I find myself in your debt..."

"You owe me nothing" Killian replied shaking his head "I did not do it for you. I did it to save Belle."

"None the less" Gold sighed

Killian was about to yell, get angry but just as he opened his mouth Gold lifted his clenched fist and opened it. He gave a hard blow and Killian was suddenly choking on whatever had been in his hand. Killian practically hacked his lungs out as he tried to get his breathing back under control and by the time he managed to get his eyes to open he found himself back in the teepee with David trying to sit him up. He gave a loud groan as his ribs flared but then there was a cup of water at his lips and he gulped it down.

"You OK?" David asked in concern "What did you do? Breathe in a fly or something?"

"Or something" Killian sighed out lying back down on the bed and letting his eyes fall shut.

"Go back to sleep" David whispered and all Killian could do was hum in acknowledgement. As much as he had been adamant that he wasn't going to sleep all day it would seem that his body had other ideas, he still felt exhausted. So with a sigh he settled down into his bed just praying to the Gods above that the Crocodile wasn't waiting for him... that dream had been entirely too strange for words.

Belle awoke to find the other side of the bed empty... again.

This was becoming the normal routine but then she shouldn't really be surprised when she looked at the clock to find it was nearly mid-day. She sighed and pulled herself from the covers and a few minutes later was ready to head downstairs. She just headed straight for the kitchen to turn on the kettle, she needed a tea but when she got to the doorway she ground to a halt when she found Rumple making what looked like breakfast.

"Rumple?" she muttered in confusion, he had normally skulked off somewhere where he brooded all day before returning home and saying nothing.

"Good morning or should I say good afternoon" he said pointing to the table "Sit down, I will bring breakfast over in just a second"

"What's going on?" she asked in a suspicious tone

"Nothing" he shrugged "I just woke up today and felt like breakfast but I also didn't want to wake you so I waited until I heard you get up to start cooking"

"Nah-uh" Belle shook her head "I'm not buying it Rumple. You are up to something. What is it?"

"Let's just say I had a good dream" he said with a smirk "I slept better than I have in days and feel much more... how can I put it? Clear minded"

Belle narrowed her eyes at him as he carried on working but he seemed genuine. She watched him for a few minutes but she couldn't help worrying that this change was too sudden.

Deciding to put it to one side for the minute she changed the subject "Regina found a way to talk to David and Killian in Neverland?"

"I know" he nodded with a sincere look

"They will get home you know but they may not return with your dagger" she proceeded cautiously, she didn't want to ruin his good mood "They may not have it"

"I know Belle... and well, if that is the case there is nothing I can do about it. I lost sight of the important thing, the fact that you are here with me. I could be sitting here by myself with you there with them but I'm not so I say that you and I should just get on with living our lives."

Belle gave a surprised look then narrowed her eyes in fun "Who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

Rumple chuckled as he started to dish up.

"Does this mean that you are opening the shop today?" she asked hopefully

"I think that it is about time that I did... don't you?" he replied placing her plate down in front of her

"Yes" she said quickly "It means that I can go and visit Emma, I want to see how Junior and Henry are, I'm worried about them"

Rumple suddenly faltered in what he was doing and gave a frown.

"What?" Belle asked swallowing a mouthful of eggs

Rumple sighed and met her eyes "The boy, I heard that he was attacked..."

"WHAT?" Belle yelled jumping up dropping her fork

"Calm down" he soothed holding up his hands "He is fine but he is in the hospital. I overheard some people at the store discussing it when I was buying the breakfast things"

"Do you know what happened?" Belle asked walking over to his side

"From what I can gather it seems to have been a Neverland Shadow" then he frowned and gave another heavy sigh

"You can't blame yourself Rumple" Belle said with a kind smile "It isn't your fault that they are there and I know that you are trying hard to find loophole so you can help them."

He suddenly gave a little smirk and she saw something twinkling in his eyes.

"You've found one haven't you? What did you do Rumple?" she asked again but this time it was her that gave a smirk "I can see it on your face, you've been up to something"

"I don't know what you're talking about Belle" he replied but his lips turned up into a smile and he suddenly pulled her into his arms and grinned

She just grinned back before coming up onto her tip toes and kissing his cheek "OK, I can take a hint. You can't tell me. Thank you for breakfast but I'm going to go to the hospital and see Junior for myself. I will see you soon... I love you Rumplestiltskin"

She grabbed her purse and headed for the door but before she got there Rumple called out her name. She swung around to see him sauntering over to the pan on the stove

"If you speak to the Pirate... ask him how he is sleeping?"

She narrowed her eyes again but he just shoved a bit of bacon in his mouth and grinned at her.

What had he done?

This was getting beyond strange now as Killian found himself in the clearing in the woods but again there was no one there with him. Every other time he had been here before Devin had been there to taunt him but now he was just standing staring around all by himself.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" he muttered heading over to the large log that he had once sat on with Rapha.

He knew he was dreaming and that in itself was a strange experience, knowing that you are actually lying sleeping in a completely different place to where you currently stood. He gave a frown as he slowly approached the log, there was something on it.

What was it?

He reached out his hand and took hold of it, lifting it up... it was his jacket... no... wait... as he stood looking at it it changed in his hand... it wasn't his jacket it was Devin's jacket.

He lifted it higher and scrutinized it closely, why was Devin's jacket there when the Lost One was not?

"HOOK" he suddenly spun on the spot when someone called out to him but there was still no one there.

"Hello?" he called back stepping back into the clearing "Who is there?"

"WAKE UP APENIMON, THE SHADOW IS BACK"

He was awake and moving in a second as Bear shook him roughly, he looked around and realized quickly that David was gone.

"Where is my Brother?" he ground out as he hauled himself up and gave a slight stagger

"He is protecting the boy, follow me, we need to keep you safe"

"Bugger off Mate" Killian rasped out then grit his teeth as he tried to move too quickly "I am not hiding, take me to David or I will find him my bloody self"

Bear gave a growl "I have been instructed by the Chief to keep you safe"

"Well you will need to keep my Brother safe too in that case. Take me to him, now." The ground suddenly gave a long growling shudder and Killian was staggering again "What the hell was that?"

"The Shadow Man is angry and the island has already started to suffer." Bear replied grabbing hold of Killian to steady him

"How?" Killian asked raising an eyebrow high on his head

"A large portion of the north part of the island has fallen into the sea and been washed away"

Killian's other eyebrow joined his first but he didn't have time to waste so he just started moving again

"Take me to David Bear, Please, I beg of you"

Bear gave a heavy sigh "Fine but you are going to need your clothes, the weather has turned for the worse"

"What?" Killian asked in surprise "How can it get any worse?"

But he found out only too quickly how much worse it was when he stumbled out the doorway a few minutes later to find a huge snow drift blocking his way. They were still in the midst of a blizzard and the wind had picked up too but Killian didn't care, he needed to get to David.

He was practically crawling his way through the snow and after a few minutes he could see the Shadow Man swooping down at the little figures that were surrounding the entrance to the cave at the edge of camp that they had obviously hidden the Lost One in. He picked up his pace grabbing hold of a burning branch from the fire as he went passed remembering that Henry had managed to destroy Xylo's shadow by setting it on fire.

He noticed Bear grab a branch too but he was too busy struggling his own way over to care what the other man was doing. As he got closer he could clearly make out David and Robin in among the men fighting off the Shadow Man. David was clutching at his arm which seemed to be bleeding heavily and Robin clearly had blood streaming down his face. Killian grit his teeth and carried on but when he heard David give a yell of pain he jammed the branch torch into the snow behind a large rock and screamed.

"YOU WANT A SHADOW? COME ON THEN YOU BLOODY DEMON, MINE IS HERE FOR THE TAKING"

He held his arms out wide in invitation and it seemed to work as he Shadow Man narrowed it's red eyes and suddenly headed his way. It circled around a few times and Killian didn't even take his eyes from it when Bear stopped at his side.

"Do not be foolish Apenimon" Bear hissed out in a whisper "This is not staying safe, what are you doing?"

"Ending this" Killian grit out and in the next second the shadow was swooping down on him... no wait... no him... Bear!

He looked to his side to see Bear still looking at him, the man hadn't even realized that the Shadow was about to be upon him. Killian took one step forward and shoved Bear right in the centre of his chest sending him flying back into the snow but this move had messed up his own plan and as he turned back to grab his flaming branch he found that he was too late as the Shadow Man thumped into him sending him spiralling backwards to land in the snow too.

He threw out his hand out, scrabbling to reach the branch but as he looked at it he realized in horror that the flames had died down leaving only a smouldering end. He couldn't help that now, it may still work so he just kept on trying to reach it but before his fingers found their target the Shadow was on him clasping it's hands around his throat, it felt like he was being strangled and having his shadow removed at the same time... the two conflicting sensations muddling his mind.

"You are either very brave or very stupid Captain" The Shadow's deep voice sounded like it was everywhere as Killian's vision started to blur.

His instinct was to bring his hand up to his throat as the Shadow Man gripped him tighter but he knew that the only way he was getting free was to set this beast ablaze so instead he stretched his arm out, he could feel the rough wood against his finger tips but the Shadow Man suddenly increased it's pressure on Killian's throat cutting off his air.

"You and your friends cannot keep the boy from me, I WILL get to him... I cannot be stopped"

One finger... two fingers... he was just about managing to grasp the branch as the black dots started dancing in his vision but he wasn't about to be beaten so with the last of his strength he clamped his eyes closed and grabbed the branch turning it quickly and ramming it into the Shadow Man's side.

The pressure was suddenly gone when the Shadow gave a high pitched howl. Killian could hear David and Robin yelling out his name then there was a huge rumbling roar and a whoosh of air that ruffled Killian's hair as the Shadow flew off leaving him gasping and choking as he finally brought his hand up to his throat. He gave a rattling cough that seemed to come from his very toes and for a second he thought he was going to be sick. Another cough stole his breath away again and while he lay there curling in on himself and trying to suck in air he felt David come down by his side.

"Hey, it's OK. I've got you...he's gone for now, come on, calm down, just breathe through it, it will pass in a minute, just keep breathing... God Robin, he can't take another one, not after last night! Can someone help me get him back to the teepee?"

Killian managed to peek open an eye to see David wincing as he tried to pull him up into his arms obviously thinking he was having another panic attack.

"I'm alright David" he managed to croak out in a very rough voice before coughing again.

It passed quicker this time and he managed to open his eyes to meet David's worried gaze but there was something different in his Brother's face, he looked really confused.

"OK, not that I'm complaining" David said with a frown "but why aren't you freaking out? That Shadow had you in a strangle hold yet here you are just lying here... not freaking out"

Killian gave a gasp as the truth hit him, David was right... not once through the whole thing did he even think about what had happened before. By his past reactions he SHOULD have been having a panic attack but apart from the obvious reactions to being strangled he had stayed calm, kept his head and actually managed to do as he had intended.

Devin had not taunted him... not even once.

"Hook?" David asked in concern "Talk to me, what's going on"

"He's gone David" Killian croaked "I don't bloody know how but he is no longer in my head. I am finally free. There is no more voice, no taunting... nothing"

He was suddenly grinning widely as David gave a huge sigh of relief and chuckled "OK so he's gone... for the moment and the Shadow Man has stopped his attack. Does that mean we can get out of this snow? I don't know about you but I am freezing my butt off"

Killian gave another cough but when he got his breath back this time he gave a chuckle and just held up his arms mimicking Junior's classic move.

He gave his most pathetic look, sticking out his bottom lip and whined "Carry me"

David barked out a laugh and grinned "You are an idiot"