A/N: trigger warning for descriptions of sexual assault.
"Yes, but my friends call me Cap," the man said with a leer.
"I'm not your friend," Emma spat, her body shrinking slightly as Killian stepped a little closer.
"Oh come now," he chuckled. "We had such a good time together for all those months. Why do things have to change now you're also eating some posh chick's pussy?"
Emma narrowed her eyes and went to push past Killian but he grabbed her arm. She tried to wriggle free but his grip was vice-like. Despite the crowded room, no one was paying the pair the slightest bit of attention.
"Don't make a scene," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "I just want to talk to you. Come with me and we can go somewhere more private."
Emma desperately scanned the crowds but couldn't see Regina anywhere. She couldn't even spot Cora whose presence she'd be grateful for at that moment. Not knowing what the man holding her was capable of if she were to try and shout out, she followed reluctantly as he tugged her through the crowds and towards the bathrooms.
Regina nodded politely and smiled as she listened to the lawyer in front of her drone on and on about mergers and acquisitions. She wasn't really concentrating though and she was already wondering how much longer she would have to obediently stand by her mother's side before she could escape back to Emma. She drained her champagne glass, thinking she would be able to use that as an excuse to return to the bar and the blonde waiting there but as she did so, a waiter appeared behind her and offered her a replacement at once. She thanked him, even thought she was cursing his efficiency inside.
"… and then we settled for under one million short of their asking price," Rupert Bond finished.
"Impressive," Cora practically purred. "You are such a talent in the art of negotiating, don't you think Vanessa?"
Vanessa Bond eyed Cora with suspicion before giving a non-committal shrug. The tall, thin woman looked incredibly bored standing beside her husband and Regina couldn't blame her. The man was as dull as dishwater.
"And when we signed the papers their lawyer even said …,"
Regina zoned out again and scanned the crowd. As she did so, she spotted David Nolan. Relieved that she could make an excuse to duck out of the conversation she waited for Rupert to finish his story and then apologised, citing a desperate need to speak to David as her reason. She could practically feel her mother's eyes burning into her back as she hurried through the crowd.
"David," she said, catching him by the elbow and turning him towards her.
"Hey, Regina!" he grinned as he took in his friend before him. "Wow you look amazing."
"Don't let Mary Margaret hear you saying that," Regina said. "That woman already hates me enough."
"That's because you're an evil boss," the man joked. "But don't worry, she's not here. Came down with the flu last night and is holed up in bed, poor thing. She's been looking forward to this all year."
Of course the woman would love these sorts of events. After all, she clearly enjoyed spending time with lawyers, unlike Regina.
"Flying solo tonight then?" Regina asked.
"No, I brought Cap along instead. He'd been hankering for an invitation for weeks actually. God knows why, I hate this night almost as much as you do."
At the mention of the man's name the blood drained from Regina's face and she at once whipped her head around and peered towards the bar. She couldn't see it however through the throngs of people.
"You ok?" David asked, frowning at his friend's reaction.
"Fine," Regina said. "I've got to go and check on Emma though. She's been waiting for me at the bar as I do the rounds."
"Oh, I'll come with you," David said. "I've not seen her since the hospital so it would be nice to say hello again. How's she been?"
"Great," Regina said distractedly, leading the way through the crowds and bee-lining towards the bar. David hurried to keep up.
As soon as the bar came into view, Regina's heart beat faster. Emma was nowhere to be seen. She pulled out her cell as she sped up her pace but there was no message from the blonde. Tapping the green button, she tried to call her girlfriend but it just rang and rang before going to voicemail. Once at the bar, Regina turned and looked back, scanning the crowd.
"What's up?" David asked, sensing that Regina was very worried about something.
"I don't know where Emma is," Regina said. "Excuse me," she said to the bartender, "did you see where the beautiful blonde in the red dress went?"
The bartender nodded towards the washrooms in the corner of the ballroom and Regina set off at once. David hesitated for a moment, and then followed.
Emma's back was pressed hard against the wall, her eyes wide with fear as she scrabbled and pushed against the man before her. Killian's hand was clapped over her mouth, muffling her moans of protest.
"Quiet," he hissed through the darkness, "or someone might hear us."
Emma's eyes narrowed at this. Of course she wanted someone to hear her. She tried to shout out but Killian's free hand wrapped around her throat, pushing hard on her neck and forcing the air from her lungs. She coughed against his palm and fell silent.
"Thank you," he sneered.
Emma took in as much air as she could when his hand released her windpipe but she choked again when she felt his hand pushing her dress up and his leg forcing itself between her thighs. She lashed out, her nails scraping the skin of his arms and causing him to hiss with pain. He somehow managed to grab both her wrists with his hand and held them tightly together.
"Fuck off, you little bitch," Killian growled. "Don't pretend you don't want this. I know you've missed me."
Emma struggled fruitlessly but she couldn't free her hands. Her hips were pinned to the wall by Killian's and his leg was still forced between her own.
"Now," he said slowly. "I am going to let your hands go and you are going to stand here quietly whilst I take what I want. And if you don't, I'm going to tell your pretty little girlfriend just what sort of woman she's screwing. What woman abandons her own son, just like her parents abandoned her as a baby? I suppose they knew you were worthless and you knew your son would be too."
Tears were rolling down Emma's cheeks. She couldn't even wipe them away and they trickled over Killian's fingers. He smiled grotesquely as he felt the warm, salty dampness. She closed her eyes so she didn't have to see his leer and when he released her hands seconds later, she let them fall limply to her side. She couldn't let him tell Regina about her son. Regina could never know how Emma had given up her baby.
His hand was between her legs once more, pushing aside her underwear and touching her most intimate area. She sobbed but it was barely audible behind his hand. The click of metal and the rustle of material told Emma Killian was unbuckling and lower his pants. She braced herself for what was coming next. Killian moved closer, his bare flesh brushing against her own.
Light flooded into the closet and pierced through Emma's closed lids.
"Emma!"
She snapped her eyes open, letting out a cry of relief as she saw Regina standing before her, white-faced and terrified. Killian stumbled backwards, tripping over a box of cleaning supplies as he struggled to pull up his trousers.
"Cap."
The man froze at the sound of his friend's voice. Emma knew who it was too as she hastily tried to cover herself up, tugging the dress back into place. Regina rushed past Killian and stood in front of the blonde protectively as David's face appeared in the doorway.
"David, I can explain," Killian stammered. "She dragged me in here, she said she wanted to have sex with a man again and -,"
"You liar," Regina shouted. "Do you really expect us to believe that? David, look at her. Does this look like a woman who wanted what we just saw? Killian was trying to rape Emma. Again."
David's kind blue eyes met Emma's tear-filled green ones. No matter how loyal David had been to Killian in the past, he had known the truth as soon as the closet door opened. In fact it had been he who heard the whimpers as they passed it on the way to the bathrooms.
"Killian, what have you done?" he asked, despair in his voice.
Wide-eyed, Killian stumbled out of the closet and rounded on his friend.
"You believe them? You believe that little criminal, whore beggar and her dyke bitch girlfriend?" he shouted. "What the fuck, David. We've been friends since college. How the hell could you betray me like this?"
"You've betrayed yourself, Killian," David said. "I knew you were still having problems but I never thought you would go this far. And need I remind you that I've know Regina since college too. And she, unlike you, doesn't have a record of lying to me and screwing me over just to get a bottle of vodka or a line of coke."
Killian narrowed his eyes at his friend before turning on his heels and storming off down the corridor. David watched him go before turning back to the two women still standing inside the closet. Regina was hugging Emma tightly, the blonde's face buried in her neck.
"Regina, we need to -,"
"I know," Regina said, reluctantly releasing Emma and wiping her own tears away. "We're coming now."
Emma frowned. Did Regina really expect her to go back to the party after what had just happened? Realising the blonde was confused, Regina took both of Emma's hands in her own and squeezed.
"Honey, we're going to take you to the hospital now."
"What?" Emma said. "I'm not hurt."
"We need to do a rape kit," she explained gently. "If we can get DNA evidence of what just happened, that man will be put away for a long, long time."
"But he didn't -,"
"I know," Regina said, not needing or wanting Emma to verbalise what they had prevented happening by mere seconds, "but there may still be trace evidence. Pre-ejaculate, skin cells, hairs, anything."
"I scratched him," Emma said, glancing at her fingernails and wondering if invisible flecks of her rapist were caught beneath them. Her stomach churned at the thought.
"Good," Regina said. "Are you ok with going to hospital? I … I don't want to force you to report this but you know that this is our chance to get him for what he did."
Emma nodded mutely and followed Regina from the closet. The lights in the hallway seemed even brighter and she squinted against them. There were people milling around from the charity function, walking to and from the ballroom and looking inquisitively at Emma, Regina and David. Emma ducked her head, walking blindly after Regina's heels with David close behind her.
The hospital was busy, already full of drunks and over-eager partiers who had taken things too far on the Saturday night. Emma didn't have to wait long however and soon a kindly looking nurse ushered her into a private room to perform the examination. It was humiliating and Emma cried fresh tears as she felt the swabs and heard the clicks of the camera. Once it was over and she was given a crisp hospital gown, Regina rushed into the room. Emma threw her arms around the brunette and sobbed, her whole body shaking as emotional exhaustion flooded her senses. Regina squeezed her tight, never wanting to let go of the beautiful, devastated woman in her arms.
A knock on the door ten minutes later made them break apart. Emma wiped her face and called out her consent for the person to enter. David's concerned face peered around the frame. Regina smiled at her friend and beckoned him in.
"How are you?" he asked, standing awkwardly at the foot of the bed where Emma was now sitting.
The blonde didn't answer. She didn't know what she was supposed to say in answer to that question. David seemed to understand her confused silence.
"Emma, I'm so sorry I took you to meet Cap last month. If I'd have known I would never have done that."
"It wasn't your fault," Regina said. "Even I didn't know who he was."
David shrugged. "I know but I still feel bad. Why didn't you tell me that day?"
"Would you have believed me?" Emma asked.
A guilty look crept over David's features. "Probably not," he admitted. "After all, I've known Cap since college and I've never seen him act so aggressively towards a woman. He can be an idiot when he drinks but he's never been forceful. At least, not with me."
"And now?" Regina asked. "Do you believe what I told you when we were waiting?"
Regina had figured since David saw what was happening in the closet, Emma wouldn't be too upset about him finding out what had transpired between herself and Killian for all those months when she was living on the streets. And how it had ended. She hadn't, however, been sure if he believed her. She was immensely relieved therefore when David nodded.
"I have to," he said. "I've known you for a long time, Regina. I know you wouldn't lie to me about something like this. And it seemed obvious that Emma and Cap had met before tonight. Even drunk he's not stupid enough to try something like that in a public place with a complete stranger. As a lawyer, I'd strongly encourage you to press charges."
"Thank you," Emma said. "That means a lot."
"Does that mean you will report this to the police?" Regina asked, turning back to the blonde.
"The hospital have already called the Special Victims Unit," Emma shrugged. "They always do apparently when someone comes in and discloses a sexual assault. And now I have proof, I suppose there's no reason not to."
Regina breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought she was going to have to persuade Emma to report the monster of a man, so she was very pleased to hear Emma had come to that decision on her own. After all, with the legal trials and difficulties which doubtless lay ahead of her, Emma would need to be one hundred per cent committed, not just doing it because Regina wanted her to.
"I know a guy who would be an excellent prosecutor," David piped up. "I'd do it myself but I believe the judge would consider it a conflict of interest."
"Thank you," Regina said. "For everything, David."
The man nodded and then, seeing the exhausted looks on the women's faces, made his excuses to leave. Regina promised to call as soon as they knew anything about the case and Emma thanked him once again for his support. When they were alone in the room once more, Regina climbed up onto the bed beside Emma and pulled her into her arms. That was how the SVU detectives found them an hour later.
The interview took less than fifteen minutes, after which Emma was discharged and the two of them made their way silently back to the penthouse. It was after midnight when they walked through the door and everything was quiet. Ruby, who had been babysitting Henry, had been offered the guest bedroom since they were anticipating being late back, although not for the reasons which transpired.
"Are you sure you're ok to sleep in here?" Regina asked as the two of the entered the master bedroom. "I can take the couch if you're -,"
"No," Emma said firmly. "I want to be in here. With you."
"Really?" Regina asked, her heart feeling minutely lighter than it had done since the moment she realised Emma was missing hours earlier.
The blonde moved towards her with a gentle smile and ducked to kiss Regina's lips lightly.
"Nothing happened," Emma reminded her. "Not really, anyway. Thanks to you and David he didn't hurt me. I'm not going to let what that bastard did to me destroy what we have. I love you and I want our relationship to remain as it was. Sex and all."
Regina nodded her understanding but didn't smile. Emma noticed.
"Unless … I mean, if you don't want me now that -,"
"No!" Regina exclaimed. "No, Emma, that's not it."
A sigh of relief escaped the blonde and she seemed to sag slightly where she stood. "Really?"
"Really," Regina assured. "I love you too and I want us to go back to normal as soon as possible. But I also know it's going to take time and I don't want to push you. That doesn't mean I don't want to have sex with you because I do. I always want you, Emma. You're … addictive."
Emma couldn't help but smirk at this description and she wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and kissed her, slow and deep. When they broke apart, Emma went to have a hot shower, scrubbing her whole body several times. Emerging feeling slightly cleaner, she brushed her teeth alongside Regina and then they got ready for bed and slid under the covers together. Despite what they had said, neither woman wanted to do anything more than lie in each other's arms that night. Regina curled herself around Emma, the scars on her pale back barely registering as she encircled the slender frame. She peppered kisses along her shoulder blades and buried her face into the familiar smell of Emma's hair. The blonde wiggled back into the comforting arms, placing her hands over Regina's which lay on her stomach.
"We're going to get through this together," Regina whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Good," Emma breathed back. "Because I'd go to the ends of the earth to find you again."
A/N: a huge, huge, huge thank you to Swanqueen44 who handed this idea to me on a plate when I asked for thoughts on how to deal with the bastard that is Killian (in this story only, of course). Apologies for the emotional chapter and I'm sure some of you found it hard to read. It was hard to write too. But it's done now. The worst is over for Emma and our two ladies can move forward with their lives … well, once they deal with Emma's secret, that is!