I do not own OUAT, or any of the amazing character, but the story is all my own.
Chapter 14- Rescue
It was around seven o'clock in the morning when David, Killian and the rest of the team showed up to the station. David was planning on just Killian. Robin, Jefferson and himself. But it seemed all of Emma's little family were there. Liam, Elsa, August, Ruby, Will and Regina were also there. Killian got out of David's truck and went over to greet his brother.
"Bloody hell Killian," Liam huffed as he hugged his brother. "You look like hell."
"Gee, thanks brother." Killian grunted.
"No but seriously, have you slept?" Elsa asked as she hugged him.
"A little" He shrugged. "I'll sleep when we get her home."
David gathered the group and let them know the plan. They would split into two groups, One led by David and one led by Killian. One group would go to the east and start search caves while the other group would go the west.
"Look out for the caves with the large stalactites and a cave large enough to stand in." David concluded. "That was the best description we received from Emma. I will have Graham on standby here in case we need to call."
Everyone agreed and started to head into the station. David could overhear Graham on the phone and signaled the group to be quiet. Something wasn't right… Graham was talking in a low muffled voice which wasn't normal for him. David and Killian exchanged a suspicious look and listened carefully.
"I told you, it's very dangerous to call me at the station Zelena." Graham spoke quietly. "No I don't know if there is a rescue mission being planned, no one has been here." Killian looked over at David, his eyes flashing with anger. "Yes, I will be sure to let you know. I have to go, talk soon dear." Graham ended his call and set the cell phone on his desk , staring out the window.
The next thing he knew something moved out of the shadows without making a sound, hitting him like a freight train, pinning him against the bars of one of the jail cells with a knife to his throat.
"You bloody bastard!" Killian bellowed, anger flashing before his eyes. "How the hell could you do this to her?"
"Killian!" David yelled and Liam was right behind him. The hardened criminal was coming out for the first time in years, and it was scaring the both of them. "Let him go!"
"No! He hurt my Swan and I want to know why!" He pressed the knife a little harder into Graham's throat. "Trust me mate, I've been on the inside and going back doesn't scare me."
Killan felt David's hand on his shoulder, "Trust me, I want to know too. But you are above this."
Liam put his hand on Killian's other shoulder. "You have come so far brother. Think of what Emma would want you to do."
Killian thought of his Swan. Her golden blonde hair, her emerald green eyes, the smile that stopped his heart. He wanted her home, as his future, and as his wife. She made him want to be a better man and he knew exactly how she would want him to react in this situation. Killian looked back at his brother and nodded, stepping back from Graham.
"Good job, son." David commented.
"Oh look," Graham sneered. "The criminal has learned."
Killian launched at Graham again but was held back by Liam as David stepped between them.
"Graham that's enough!" David barked. "You are already in deep shit. We caught you red-handed so you might as well start explaining."
Graham to a large gulp and the color drained from his face. " Zelena approached me before the divorce hearing." He began as the rest of the group gathered close. "She wanted to enlist my help on a little mission she had. At first I denied her, as I wanted a chance with Emma but she would never give me the time of the day and only had eyes for that criminal."
"Maybe because I look at her like the incredible woman she is and not a piece of meat." Killian spat.
"Killian, " David said in a warning tone. "Continue Graham."
"So I figured why not? Help her get what she deserved. There was never a disturbance in the north woods. It was the plan Zelena and I devised to kidnap Emma. I've been her contact in the station about what's going on with the criminal or any rescue attempt. But, I haven't had anything to report since no one has been here."
David nodded and did the last thing anyone expected. He spun Graham around and cuffed his wrists faster than anyone had ever seen. "Graham Allen you are under arrest for aiding in a kidnapping and sending a sheriff out on location under false pretenses knowing the location put them in direct danger." David pushed Graham into the jail cell and slammed it closed. "I'm not going to read you your Miranda rights, we both know you know what they are." David leaned into the cell and whispered, "God help you if anything happens to my daughter."
David turned on his heel and approached the rest of the group. "Anyone have any ideas? We need to have someone man the station with a prisoner here."
"I'll stay behind." Ruby volunteered. "I know how to work the phones."
"I'll stay with her," Regina added. "As mayor people are less likely to argue with me."
David let out a sharp laugh, "Especially with you madame mayor. Everyone else, let's gather the gear we need and head out." David turned to his eldest daughter, "Elsa I need you to come with. If Emma needs immediate medical attention until we can get an ambulance there.."
Elsa put her hand up, "Say no more dad I have my emergency medical kit in the car."
Ruby and Regina said goodbye to Jefferson and Robin. Killian stood quietly against the wall.
Regina approached him carefully, "Killian?"
He looked at her and nodded, "Aye madame Mayor?"
She pulled him in hard for a hug, "Be the man she knows you are and bring her home."
After she released him he gave her a sad smile and nodded. Before leaving he approached the cell facing Graham.
"Have something to say, criminal?" Graham sneered.
"Aye," Killian growled looking him dead in the eyes. "She dies? So do you."
Without another word Killian turned on his heel and followed David down to his truck.
"He was joking, right? Graham stammered looking at Regina.
She gave him a sinister smile. "No, he really wasn't."
"Graham is your pawn?!" Emma questioned angrily.
Zelena cackled and turned back to face her, "Why yes, he is. I had to find someone local to help me fool you pathetic small town folk."
"You're insane." Then a realization hit Emma, "There was no real police call was there?"
"Of course not dearie! It was a trap." Zelena got down to Emma's level so she could look her in the eyes. "I will ask you one more time, where is the criminal?"
Emma leveled her gaze to Zelena's, "Go fuck yourself."
Zelena let out a screech of anger and kicked Emma hard in the ribs, causing white blinding pain to sear up Emma's side. She let out a cry of pain.
Zelena spun to the two goon's standing by Walsh. "You two watch the bitch" She snapped."My brother and I will be going to get breakfast and will be back." The goons nodded and followed Zelena and Walsh to the edge of the cave and took their post. Emma cried silently, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of knowing they almost broke her. She held onto the hope that Killian got her father her message. She knew he wouldn't let her down.
"Please hurry Daddy." She whispered quietly.
The group arrived at the north woods. It was a cold, dreary day with a slight fog cover which could work as an advantage. The group parked at Jefferson's house which sat on the north edge of town and made the rest of the journey on foot, trying to be sure not to set Zelena and Walsh off that they were there.
"Ok gentleman." David began. "You have your walkie-talkies and laser signals. My group will go to the east and Killian's will go down to the west. We will meet back here by 5. Elsa is at a close by undisclosed location on stand-by for medical help. The laser has a 5 mile range, when we reach the goal you know what to do. Robin and Jefferson, You are with Killian. Liam and August, You are with me. Will is going to stay hidden with view of the road in case they come back. Does everyone understand?" The men nodded. "OK, lets go."
The parties started on their journey. There were so many caves in the north woods, large and small alike. It was around noon when David checked in with Killian.
"Any luck?" David's voice sounded over the walkie- talkie.
"Not yet mate." Killian responded with a sigh. "How about you?"
"Not yet. Don't worry son, we will find her."
"Mates heads up!" Will's voice sounded over the radio. "Zelena and Walsh are back headed west. Keep your eyes sharp."
Killian looked at Robin and Jefferson. The men nodded in agreement and took station in a hiding spot out of sight but where they could still see the trail. Zelena and Walsh came up the path talking loudly. Robin loaded his bow quietly as Killian and Jefferson placed their hands on their pistols. Killian led them, following Zelena and Walsh close behind, step for step avoiding any twigs. A mile deeper into the woods, they approached the cave known as Skull Rock by locals, one of the largest caves in the area. Killian put up his hand to stop the others. Zelena and Walsh talked to the goons for a moment and entered the cave leaving them at their post.
"David, this is Killian." He quietly growled over the radio.
"Copy, what do you have to report?"
"We followed Zelena and Walsh. They entered Skull Rock."
"We're not far from there. There is a back entrance to that cave due to a cave in a few years ago. Circle around back and we will go to the front."
"Aye Sheriff."
"Do you have your gun even though I told you not to?"
Killan gulped hard before answering. "Aye."
"Good. Over and out."
Killian shook his head and signaled his friends to follow. Stealthy they moved to the back of the cave, staying out of sight. They reached the back of the cave to a five foot across open.
"Well shit," Jefferson whispered "He aid an entrance not a fucking crawl space."
Killian and Robin both snickered at their friends' lack of filter. Killian Put his pistol back on his belt and grabbed his knife between his teeth, Robin and Jefferson followed suit. Killian crawled in first, the tunnel leading the cave was about 50 miles long. The men started to climb as quietly as possible, when they all heard a blood-curdling scream. Emma, Killian thought. He looked back at Robin in sheer panic. His best friend nodded and pushed him forward.
"I will ask you again, Where is he?!" Zelena screamed, echoing the cave walls.
Emma was tied to a chair again, thighs cut and bloody through her pants. Since Zelena could no longer get a hold of Graham, she resorted to good old fashioned torture. Emma was a hard nut to crack, as she was slowly learning.
"And I will answer you again, go fuck yourself!" Emma sneered.
Walsh got down to her level, "Emma, you need to just tell her so this will end. End this so we can go home to Boston, you're going to have scars as it is anyway and the longer you don't tell her the deeper and worse it's going to get."
Killian, Robin and Jefferson slid along the wall around the corner. He held his breath, waiting on the signal from David.
Emma dropped her chin to meet Walsh's gaze, "I don't even recognize you anymore. The person I had loved, the person I thought I was marrying is long gone. You and your fucked up family need some serious help."
"Be that as it may, you chose this life with me and there's no way out."
"Walsh, when are you going to get it through your thick head that I don't want to be with you anymore? We are divorced, I love Killian."
Killian could feel his heart overflowing with love at her confession. He has heard it time and time again but this time it was different.
CRACK! Walsh's hand went across Emma's cheek. Killian's knuckles went white on his pistol.
"Not yet, mate." Robin whispered.
Gunshots started ringing outside the cave. Zelena and Walsh scrambled to get Emma out of the chair and head to the back exit.
"Freeze! Hands in the air!" David's voice rang through the cave. He surveyed Emma. She was bruised and bloody almost head to toe. Pushing his emotions back and focusing on his job, he pointed his gun at Zelena.
"Well, hello sheriff." Zelena sneered. "Come to join the party?"
"Zelena, enough." David growled. "Give me my daughter."
"Or what?" She moved Emma in front of her as a human shield.
"This has gone far enough, they are divorced I don't understand what you possibly think you will gain from this."
"You don't leave out family, it's not how it works."
"Plus revenge, pleasure to know he'll never have her again." Walsh interjected.
"So if you don't mind, sheriff." Zelena started to walk backwards dragging Emma with. "We're going to just slip out the back now."
"Not bloody likely." Killian came out from around the corner gun drawn followed by Robin and Jefferson. Emma's head snapped up at the sound of his voice. Tears stung her eyes as she saw the sight of the man she loved.
Zelena let out a maniacal cackle. "Oh look! The criminal I've heard so much about!"
"Aye, what do you want?" Killian steeled his gaze on her watching her every move.
"What do I want?" She echoed. "Oh it's quite simple really, I want you dead so my brother can have Emma."
"Not going to happen."
Walsh moved to go after Killian, but thought better of it when he heard three pistols cock into the fire position and had an arrow pointed at his head. Walsh took a step back next to his sister.
"Wise choice, mate." Robin sneered.
"Zelena, it's over." David's voice rang through the cave. "You and Walsh are under arrest for kidnapping, assault and attempted murder."
"You'll have to catch us first, again I have the precious cargo."
Emma slammed her head back into Zelena's nose causing her to scream and push Emma down. Killian lurched forward and caught her before she hit the ground, considering her hands were still tied and she had no way to catch herself.
"Killian.." She whispered and looked up.
"Aye love," He cooed, pushing a stray hair away from her face. "I'm here."
"You stupid bitch!" Zelena roared. "I think you broke my nose!"
"Good!" Emma growled.
"That's my swan." He whispered into her ear.
"Zelena," David was right behind them now. "Enough. It's over. Stop resisting arrest."
Walsh and Zelena put their hands on the cave walls as Jefferson and David arrested them and David read them their miranda rights. Killian quickly went to work cutting Emma's arms loose. She rubbed her wrists and faced him with her hands on her hips.
"I told you not to come." She gently scolded. "You could have been killed."
Killian shrugged and crossed his arms across this chest. "Darling, I never listen."
She left out a painful laugh. "You're impossible".
"And you love me for it, Swan."
Killian scooped her up in his arms and kissed her like he would never see her again, pouring in every ounce of love he could possibly muster.
"Killian," Emma panted. "My lips are bloody."
"Emma Rose, I don't fucking care."
She grabbed his hair and pulled him hard down to her lips, returning the kiss with as much love and passion as he did. When they got home, she didn't plan on letting go of him for a week. Emma cried out in pain and crumbled to the ground.
"Swan!" Killian dropped down, "What's wrong?"
"It's my side, Zelena was kicking me and.." Emma let another cry of pain.
Killian scooped Emma up in his arms " Hold on love, I got you." Killian headed for the cave entrance. "David! Call Elsa!"
"Shes waiting down at the bottom of the hill." David turned his attention to Emma, "What hurts, baby girl?"
"My side, and my legs and.." She screamed again.
"Hold on Swan." Killian whispered. "Hold on just a little longer my love."
The last thing Emma saw was the sun as they exited the cave and her world went dark.