Things start to become a bit clearer... for us anyway, poor Killian is still very much confused. Bless him, I'm sure you've all figured out the way home by now... will he ever "See it"
More than likely won't be an update tomorrow, I've got a lot on and am struggling to type them up, don't worry, the fic is complete so you will get it, I promise.
As always please review.
Enjoy
:)
Killian sat out in the clearing just watching a squad of young men and women as they worked on fixing his and David's damaged teepee. He was unwilling to head back into the main one until he knew he wasn't likely to "freak out" again with the boy being in there... In his mind he wanted to forgive Jensen, help him even but it would seem that his body hadn't caught up with his brain and he had come entirely too close to another attack earlier. He had thought on it for a while as he had sat by the fire but in the end he had put it to one side deciding that he had plenty of time... perhaps he should ask Swan if she could arrange for him to talk to Archie, the cricket always managed to help him think more clearly.
He watched as the group laughed and chatted while they fixed the broken upright and in no time at all they had finished. A cheer went up then the group slowly dispersed with everyone wearing happy faces. Killian had been sitting by himself for a while assuring David that he was fine with his brother talking to the boy but now as everybody headed out of sight he suddenly didn't want to stay where he was so he pulled himself up stumbling slightly as he started back towards the newly repaired teepee.
"Bloody hell" he mumbled to himself clamping his hand over his hip as it complained loudly, he was beyond tired and his foot kept catching on the ground as he made his way over the grass.
Eventually he made it inside only to find that the fire had died out and he had no way of heating some tea to help with his ever increasing pain. He half thought about just taking the pot out to the communal fire but decided one trip across camp had been more than enough for one day so instead he struggled down onto the ground and got to work relighting the one inside. It was awkward as hell with his sore hip and ribs but eventually he was sitting back breathing heavily as the fire roared and his tea was finally heating.
He tipped his head back and closed his eyes as he waited only to jump in surprise when Robin spoke right by his side, where the hell had he come from?
"Sorry, did I wake you?" Robin cringed
"Perhaps but being honest it was probably a good thing" Killian groaned bringing his hand up to the back of his neck, God's how long had he been asleep, his neck was so stiff "I was just making myself some tea, I must have drifted off"
"Let me get it for you" Robin said with a smile then held out the mirror for Killian to take "Here, I believe this belongs to you."
"How did you get on?" Killian asked as Robin stooped down by the fire and lifted the pot
"It was good, great in fact. I owe you Mate. If it were not for you I would still be worrying about the whole thing... now... well now I can start to look forward to a future again. So thank you."
"Welcome" Killian replied with a quick smile but as he moved a sharp pain shot across his chest and he was left with his jaw and eyes clamped shut trying to breathe through it.
"Here" Robin said by his side and when he opened one eye it was to find a cup being held up in front of his face. Killian tried to raise his hand to take it but of course the minute he moved the pain was back causing him to cry out before clamping his hand back over his ribs, he was stuck, he couldn't do it.
"Just drink" Robin whispered lifting the cup to Killian's mouth, he just gulped the tea down not caring that he was having to be helped again but internally cursing himself for leaving it so long since his last dose as the pain became almost unbearable.
"Thanks" he gasped once Robin pulled the cup back
"Do you want to get in your bed or do you want to just lie there? I can grab your bedding if you like"
"Here" Killian grit out through clenched teeth trying hard not to let another groan escape him
Robin hurried back after grabbing the bedding and in no time at all Killian was lying down. The minute the pressure was off his side he felt much better and even managed to open his eyes to look at Robin.
"Sorry Mate. You should not have to do this for me" he mumbled in embarrassment closing his eyes again
"And you didn't have to convince me to talk to Regina yet you did. Forget it, just concentrate on getting some sleep. I will let David know where you are. Unfortunately I need to get back to Roland otherwise I would have stayed. Will you be alright by yourself?"
"Aye" Killian replied opening his eyes and giving a smile "Thank you, you are a good friend"
"Any time" the archer smiled "Sleep Hook, you need it"
Killian smiled back but let his eyes close with a heavy sigh and within minutes he could feel himself drifting off... straight into another very strange dream.
He was back in the clearing although this time Jensen was there but he looked different... his clothing was strange, like it didn't belong to him. Jensen was sitting on the log just waiting for him and Killian's heart rate picked up as the boy looked him up and down and smirked.
"You know you've seen the way home, right?" Jensen laughed and immediately Killian's nerves left him and frustration hit him square in the gut.
"Gods, don't you bloody start" Killian barked out walking away from the boy throwing his hand in the air.
Jensen was running after him in a second and Killian spun around quickly bringing his arms up to protect himself expecting Jensen to run into him... to find that he was now in Tink's cave... what the hell?
Jensen was still by his side and he looked annoyed "I wasn't going to touch you Hook, I meant what I said, I'm sorry"
"Aye, I'm sure you are" Killian grit out forgetting his change of scenery for the moment "Sorry that the Shadow Man caught up to you"
Jensen gave a heavy sigh "I deserved that but I'm serious. I wanted to leave Devin's crew for ages. I saw how happy Tootz was with Rufio. He found a family... that's all I ever wanted. I wanted a Mother more than anything but Devin made it impossible to leave."
"Nothing is impossible if you work for it" Killian threw back "Tootz proved that"
Jensen shook his head "You have no idea what Devin did to us, to all of us if we didn't do what he told us"
Killian looked the boy right in the eye "So tell me. I am not a stupid man Jensen, make me understand"
"I can do better than that" he shot back pulling off his jacket. He dropped it in a heap by the cave entrance before pulling up his top and turning around to show his back "I can show you"
Killian's jaw fell open at the scars that littered the lad's skin "Are those... burns?"
Jensen dropped his top and turned back around with a nod "It got worse when Rapha left, I think Devin wanted to make sure that we didn't leave him. Look, I know that I could have stood up to him but it's all I've known for a very long time. Before Devin it was Peter and believe me when I say, he was MUCH worse...you saw what he did to Felix's face yet Felix was the most loyal of all of us"
"I remember" Killian agreed knowing how it had ended for Felix "OK... I understand BUT I can't just forget what you did to me. You put a damned rope around my neck... you nearly killed me"
Jensen just dropped his head and mumbled "I know"
The silence hung in the air for a few minutes until Killian could bear it no more, he turned to head outside to find himself in front of Regina's pool house. He turned quickly on the spot in confusion to find Jensen hugging himself and rubbing his arms against the cool breeze.
"I left the jacket in the cave" he muttered to himself giving a shiver
Killian was so confused, why was he here? He turned back to look up to the main house only to suddenly find himself face to face with the Shadow Man. Killian tried to back off but it was upon him pushing him back into the apple tree with a thump bringing it's hands up towards his neck once more.
Killian opened his mouth to try yelling for help only to realize that the shadow was not strangling him after all when it's hands settled on his shoulders not his throat. It seemed to be trying to tell him something as it kept looking back at Devin... no, not Devin, not anymore, Jensen... or was it? The boy seemed to be blurring between himself and something else, like there were two beings rallying for the same body.
Blurry Jensen was suddenly yanking the shadow free and yelling "Get away. You are not taking his shadow too... get away from him"
The boy raised his hand and in an instant the Shadow Man was alight as Jensen used his lighter upon him. The flaming Shadow howled and hissed for a few seconds before simply fizzling out and dissipating in a cloud of ash. The Lad turned and dropped down onto his knees next to Killian's side but when he looked up to meet the Lost One's gaze Killian was trying to back away once again as Jensen narrowed his eyes giving a predatory look that would have rivalled Devin. For a split second Killian was sure he saw a red glow deep within the boy's eyes...but then it was gone and all that remained before him was a sneering grin
"You are such a fool Captain..." Jensen laughed as he pulled a rope from behind his back and held it up "You know that you can't trust me, I am not who you think I am... who you want me to be... I am evil through and through"
"Get away" Killian gasped as Jensen lent forward grinning like a damned hellion.
"HOOK"
"GET AWAY FROM ME" he screamed, lashing out wildly only to have someone grasp hold of his fist.
"Hook, come on, open your damned eyes... it's just a dream"
"David?" Killian gasped finally opening his eyes to find his Brother's worried face by his side
"Yeah it's me." David replied with a sigh "I thought these dreams had stopped?"
"Aye" Killian breathed out sagging onto his bedding as his heart thundered against his pulsing ribs "So did I but it would seem that I do not need Devin to have a nightmare... Jensen has taken over that role... that was beyond strange"
"You want to talk about it?" David asked settling down next to him
"Just... give me a minute" Killian sighed trying to sort out the jumble in his head, what the hell had that been about?
"Here, you want some water?"
Killian came up onto his elbow gingerly taking the cup into his still shaking hand and gulping it down quickly before lying back down and pulling in another deep breath before letting it out slowly.
"I was talking with Jensen... he said that he wanted to change but just as I was beginning to trust him he turned on me... Gods David, he was about to wrap that bloody rope around my neck again"
"It was just a dream Hook. I've been talking to him for a while and he seems genuine to me. He's been through a lot but I'll understand if you don't want to see him, I think even he'll understand that"
"Let me guess" Killian sighed closing his eyes "Devin used to beat him? He was only doing what he had to, to stay safe etcetera , etcetera..."
David frowned "How did you know that?"
"Lucky guess" Killian replied with a smirk peeking open his eyes but when David raised an eyebrow at him he sighed "Jensen... the one in my dream, he had scars all over his back. He told me that Devin had become increasingly violent recently... that was right before he attacked me. Maybe I have seen the scars before and subconsciously put two and two together... I just don't know what to think David and being quite honest the whole thing is giving me a headache"
"I wish I could help you" David sighed "Maybe I could speak to Lark and see if he has another dream catcher thing"
"As much as that would be appreciated it would mean that if the Crocodile needed to return he could not and right now I would rather leave that option open, besides, I cannot shake the feeling that I am missing something that I need to see"
"You keep saying that" David muttered with a frown
"Aye but this time I think it was something else, something about the Shadow Man..." He gave a frown as he thought back to the look on the Shadow's face... it had been different, it had been pleading almost...but the image faded in his mind and he let out a heavy sigh as his head throbbed "Gods I don't bloody know anything anymore"
"You'll figure it out" David said clapping his hand on Killian's leg.
Killian just hoped David was right... he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep doing this because at this precise moment he felt more tired than he had felt before he had slept... maybe a new dream catcher wasn't such a bad idea after all, did he really want the Crocodile creeping around in his dreams?
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Regina had smiled her way through lunch, she had paid for the whole thing insisting that the kids have whatever dessert they wanted before leaving a tip for Ruby that had Granny's jaw hanging open. Emma chuckled to herself as Ruby looked at her with a look of total disbelief on her face and mouthed.
"What the hell?"
Emma just grinned as Junior took hold of her hand and they all headed to the door, the last thing she saw before stepping out onto the street was Ruby lifting her hand up to her face in a telephone sign and raising an eyebrow. Emma just gave a little laugh and a single nod, she could do that, she could call Ruby later... after she had called Hook back of course.
She could see that he was struggling and she hadn't had a chance to talk to him earlier but she would make sure she spoke to him once the kids were in bed later... but they had a family to reunite first.
"LOOK" Junior suddenly yelled out pointing across the street "It's Rapha"
He let go of Emma's hand and before she knew what was happening he had ran straight out into the street in his excitement to get to his friend.
"JUNIOR" she screamed reaching out to try and catch hold of him but he seemed to panic at her voice and ran straight into the path of an oncoming car. There was a screeching noise as the car tried to avoid him but she knew that it wasn't going to stop in time and her eyes went wide in horror. Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl as she watched the nightmare play out in front of her eyes but just as the car was about to make contact he disappeared in a cloud of red smoke right before her eyes only to reappear instantly by her side sitting in Gold's arms.
"MOMMA" Junior yelled out throwing himself into her arms, she just pulled him in hugging him tightly as he cried loudly.
Rufio, Tiger Lily and Rapha ran across dodging the stopped traffic and then Belle arrived too but Emma only had her eyes on one person.
"You saved him" she almost whispered locking eyes with Gold
He didn't reply all he did was bow his head with a slight smile on his face before looking to Belle as she came up to his side.
"We were just on our way to see you guys" Belle burst out looking close to tears "Is he alright Emma? Did the car hit him?"
She shook her head "I think he just got a fright"
"Well thank goodness for that" Belle breathed out in a long sigh
"I think that perhaps we should get him home" Mary-Margaret declared steering Emma towards the Jolly
Emma stood her ground shirking out of her Mom's hands as she stared at Gold and almost whispered "Thank you"
"I meant what I said Miss Swan" he replied with a smile "I said I would do everything in my power to keep him safe so I will"
Emma pulled Junior in tighter as he snuggled against her neck, she was so torn. A huge part of her just wanted to turn and leave Gold standing where he was, she had been burned by him so many times before but another part of her wanted to believe that he could change... Hook had!
She let out a sigh "Well I guess the least I can do is get you a decent drink back at the Jolly."
He gave another smirk and raised an eyebrow high on his head then chuckled "As long as you have something other than the Pirate's rum... I really have never taken to the stuff"
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Jensen's legs swung over the side of the bed and his body was pulled up to stand on his feet for the first time since this whole thing started.
He had no control... he was just a silent voice within as his mouth opened against his will.
"I am fine, thank you" he spoke the words even though they were far from the ones he wanted to yell.
He was helped across to the fire where he was lowered down to sit on the furs. A few minutes later he was handed a bowl of food and his mind screamed at him to eat it, whatever it was it seemed to make it possible for him to break free... he had thought that he had been winning the battle to retake his body in the early hours of the morning when he had first been given the mashed up vegetable and he had found himself able to fight back for the first time, he had tried to warn Lark about the Shadow Man but when he had opened his mouth to talk only nonsense had come out.
As he now sat by the fire he tried to will his arm to rise but the spoon stayed in the bowl as his mouth thanked the man who had given it to him.
With a deep internal sigh he just hoped that Hook had gotten his message... the Shadow Man was too strong while his body was awake but in sleep he had found that he had been guided to the Pirate somehow, he held onto a slither of hope that Hook would figure this out.
The deep dark voice inside of him laughed and sneered "I will be free of this island Jensen and together we will rule a new world. I have dreamed of leaving here for an eternity and you have provided me with a way. It feels so good to have a body once more, you have no idea of the gift you have given me"
Jensen wanted to scream, he wanted to thump his fists into his very being to rid himself of his burden. When he had grabbed hold of the shadow and ignited it he had thought that he would free everyone of it forever... he had not expected it to turn on him.
It had screamed in agony as it was engulfed in flames but it's bright red eyes had turned on him and before he knew what was going on it was inside him... he could feel it's pain, feel it's terror... it had thought that it was about to die but inside him it had hidden from everyone and it was growing stronger by the hour as his own shadow was getting weaker... he was losing the ability to fight back... he needed to eat more of the vegetable he had been given.
His head turned without consent and he could see more people milling about but no one was interested in what he was doing, his head turned back to the fire. He watched in horror as his hand lifted up the bowl and tipped it so that it's contents fell into the flames with a hiss. Jensen knew then for sure that the Shadow Man knew that this food made him weak, he had just lost his one hope of breaking free.
It was all down the the Pirate now... Captain Hook was Jensen's only hope of survival!