Dead Reckoning

Chapter Twenty-One

After everyone else within the hospital room walked out to give Emma some time alone with Killian, David closed the door behind him and turned to Gold, then quiet enough so that his daughter wouldn't hear him, he uttered crossly, "Don't you think you could have been a little more subtle when you told Emma of what's about to happen to her husband?"

The shopkeeper turned around to face the Prince as he replied, "Subtlety never was one of the qualities I was good at. She asked what was going to happen to him and I answered. I do apologize if I was too harsh."

"You almost seem happy about what's happening to him," Regina responded sternly and crossed her arms while she looked at her former tutor in magic, then her eyes softened. "I'm sorry. That wasn't really fair. After all, you are trying and we all see your efforts. So, we should be prepared to return to Neverland again, is that right?"

"If there's a chance in saving Hook, then yes," Rumple answered and then handed the book over to the Queen as well so that those who weren't in the room before could have a look at the page too. "That is the weapon I believe was used to cause this. I take it heard what's about to happen then?"

Henry spoke up saying, "You have to find a way to help him, Grandpa. He can't die again, and not like this. Please."

The Dark One nodded as he replied, "Like I told your mother and Hook's brother here, I will do whatever I can. If Emma was right about one thing, it's that I owe it to my old enemy to make amends for all I've done to cause all his pain. He might not have been willing to accept his hand back, but I believe that was perhaps so I could do this for him instead."

"Do you have any solution that might be able to help him now?" Liam asked softly as he turned his head to look through the glass doors at his brother, while Emma remained lying next to him, tenderly caressing his face. "Now, temporarily I mean?"

"I'm afraid not, dearie," Gold responded with sincere concern. "The best I can tell you, is that I believe the burn caused by the brand can be healed. But you will need the very waters from the island used to cure David here of the dreamshade poisoning that nearly killed him. Which means you will need me to make up another dose of the elixir I created to cure the cure. That is if you can get past the Lost Boys without getting yourselves killed in the process. It will take me some time. I will leave you now so I can started. There's much to do and not much time to do it in."

Charming sighed in frustration, looked back at his daughter and son-in-law as well, as did Snow, then he said calmly, "I guess that means we need to decide which of us are going back to that island. I'll go. Hook saved my life that day when he didn't have to. I may have told him I was grateful and gave him a little credit, but I'm not so sure I ever really repaid him. Besides, I was with him when we climbed the cliff that led to the magical spring. I think I might be able to find it again."

Liam pulled up his sleeve to reveal a large scar left behind even after his death, along his left arm where he had cut himself with the dreamshade branch that had killed him and then he stated, "It may have been many years, but I will never forget anything about that day. Killian begged me not to do it. Pan appeared to us the moment we first landed on the island and told us dreamshade was poisonous. I didn't want to believe that our King would send us to Neverland to bring back a plant with the potential to kill thousands of people just so he could win the war we were fighting at the time and obliterate an entire race. Killian on the other hand saw the dangers and I was too much of a stubborn ass to listen to him. I learned very quickly I should have trusted my brother more, but it took nearly dying to see it. Killian saved me with those waters after Pan showed him the spring with a warning. Pan never reappeared so Killian could learn of the price that came with the cure. We left Neverland to return home with the intent of turning against our King, but I died shortly after. My death was my own fault, but Killian paid the real price and became a pirate because of me."

"My point to all of that is, I definitely remember where that spring is," the older Jones continued after he looked at his brother again sadly and turned to face the doors. "We won't have to lose time trying to find it again."

"That'd be great," David answered as he gently laid his hand on top of Liam's shoulder by way of comforting him a little.

"I'm going too," Leroy quickly replied gruffly. "It's been awhile since we've faced real enemies and this afternoon's fight against that brute and last night's brawl at the bar really made me miss this kind of danger, sort of. Besides, I haven't left Storybrooke since we all returned from the Enchanted Forest the year we all forgot for awhile. I'm going crazy being stuck here."

David smiled as responded, "Leroy… if you wanted to leave for a time, all you had to do was ask. We have a few ways of getting to other realms now. You just probably would be able to return without a magic bean."

Anton spoke up saying, "Our crops aren't ready yet, but they will be before too long. I'll come with you as well. I want to do more for this town. Hook is my friend."

"Would anyone else be willing to join us?" the former sheriff asked while he looked around those still with them.

"I may as well come along… if just to give you lot a way back home in case Hook's brother here can't," Regina answered in frustration as she flicked her wrist, then the Sorcerer's wand appeared in her hand. "Better safe than sorry. Besides, you could use a little more magic on your side, even if you have an army of ghosts to fight for you already."

Liam bowed to her and then replied, "I thank you, Your Majesty. On behalf of myself and my brother."

The dark haired woman smiled as she responded, "Well… I think I see which one of the Jones brothers has the real manners. Hook may have been a villain and a scoundrel when we first met, but he never once bowed to me and he hasn't been that respectful towards me since he's changed either."

"And yet despite your pasts, you've come to respect and care about him as a close friend like he's come to feel for you as well," Snow White said smugly, then turned back to her husband. "I would like to come too, but I really should stay here with Neal. We can't both leave him again. Besides, Emma is going to need me here too. She may want to go with you, but she's not in her right mind right now. We can't let her go, David. Killian wouldn't want her to risk her life for him like this."

"Don't worry, I think we can convince her Hook needs her here with him more, seeing as we have no idea how long we have before the effects of the brand will come about," the Prince voiced sadly, then pulled his wife into his arms and held her close.

Do you think you have room for one more volunteer?" Sir Morgan then asked as he looked over at his own daughter, who smiled at him for speaking up. "I owe it to Hook for saving Violet's life this morning."

David reached out his hand to the former Knight as Morgan shook it, then David answered, "We would be honored to have you with us. Thank you. All right everyone, it looks like we've got ourselves part of a solution. Let's get ready."