Captain Swan - Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Chapter 18

Emma steps off the elevator and onto the ground floor of the hospital after her first day back since Killian was her patient. Returning to work without breaking down into tears after the devastating loss of her adoptive mother was one of the most challenging tasks she has ever faced. Ingrid had been her guiding light, the one who had shown her love, stability and family when she had nothing. Before Ingrid took her in, she was living on the streets, every day fighting to find food, fighting to find warmth. Fighting to survive.

The thought of going back to work was almost unbearable, but she knew she needed to get back. She needed to occupy her mind, to find some semblance of normalcy and to focus on something other than the tragedy that had befallen her family. The familiar faces of her colleagues held a mixture of sympathy and concern, and they gave her the space she needed to get through her day without losing her sanity.

Her time with Killian had been a refuge, they had spent a lot of time in bed, making love, worshipping each other's bodies and seeking solace in each other's arms. But returning to work was a necessary anchor to the reality they could no longer avoid.

"Emma!"

She looks over, her eyes scanning the atrium lobby.

David's wife, Mary Margaret, rushes toward her from the entrance, her eyes wide with panic and her voice trembling as she speaks. "Is he okay?! Please tell me he's okay!"

Taking a deep breath, Emma looks into the woman's eyes, her own emotions still raw from the recent incident. "Detective Nolan's alive. He's in critical condition, but the surgical team just rolled him out of surgery and said they think he'll make it. He's strong. He's going to pull through."

She sobs in relief, tears streaming down her face. "I can't lose him, Emma. I don't know what I'd do without him."

Emma nods, her own heart heavy with the weight of a situation similar to this. "I know the feeling." She still remembers very vividly the whirlwind of emotions swarming through her when Killian was brought to the ER. She was so afraid she was going to lose him. The fear was almost crippling. "How are the boys?"

"They're fine. We went to visit my parents in Tennessee after Ingrid's funeral. David wanted to keep us safe. I'm just so glad I was able to get a flight here quickly." She looks at Emma with furrowed brows, like something just occurred to her. "You said 'his surgical team'? You didn't perform David's surgery?"

"No, I didn't. I knew he wouldn't want me to. I'm still a suspect in the investigation of Dr. Humbert's murder," she remarks bitterly.

"I would've requested you."

Emma smiles at the sentiment. "Thank you."

Mary Margaret wipes her tears away with a tissue, her emotions still overwhelming her. "So, is it true? Did Killian shoot my husband?"

"It was an accident. A heated argument between them got out of control. Now he's in jail."

"I can't believe it." She shakes her head in confusion. "They have been through so much together and remained good friends after Liam's death. I just can't imagine Killian doing something like that to David."

Emma lowers her head. "He didn't mean to. It was a terrible mistake. Killian loves your husband," she assures, taking the other woman's hand in hers.

"He loves you, too, you know?"

Emma snaps her head up to gape at the woman. "What?"

"Killian loves you." Mary Margaret's watery eyes soften, and a small smile graces her lips. "I've seen the way he looks at you. The way he cares for you. It's quite obvious to anyone who pays attention. You're not just a friend to him."