The Best Tea Cup is Chipped: Book 2

A Race for Time

They headed back to the apartment block where Baelfire and Henry headed upstairs.

"So, uh, did you talk to him?" he asked Emma.

"He said it's complicated." Rumple's heart sunk.

"Oh, I see."

"Well, maybe he just needs some time. I don't know," replied Emma.

"Emma's right. This is all a shock for him and he probably does have a life here. Complicated isn't a no." Belle assured him. Rumple shot her a wry smile.

"Ever my optimist." Any reply was cut off as the door to the lobby was wrenched open and Hook came tearing in. He shoved Belle and Emma out of the way both crying out as they fell, and pinned Rumple to the gate stabbing him with his hook. Rumple screamed as the hook sank into his flesh before being pulled out.

"Tick-tock. Time's up, Crocodile. You took Milah, my love, my happiness. And for that, I now take your life."

Then Emma was behind Hook hitting him over the head with a fire extinguisher knocking him out and causing him to release Rumple who sank to the ground. Belle was immediately by his side trying to see the extent of the damage and stem the blood with a scarf handed to her by Emma.

"Rumple! How bad is it?" Rumple heard the clattering of feat behind them and Bae and Henry came into his line of vision.

"What the hell is going on?" Bae demanded.

"One of your dad's enemies found us," said Emma.

"Hook." said Bae and even through the pain Rumple heard the shock and recognition.

"You know him?" asked Emma as Belle moved out of the way and Bae knelt in front of Rumple checking the wound.

"Papa?" he whispered. It was strange how one word even in such a dire moment was enough to make Rumple's blackened heart soar.

"We should get him out of here," said Belle.

"We can take him up to my apartment," said Bae.

"I'll take care of the swashbuckling psychopath," said Emma and Rumple would have laughed had he the strength.

OUAT

With help from Bae and Belle he was taken up to the apartment and laid out on the couch. Belle opened his shirt and started to clean the wound with some water and cloth provided by Bae.

"Try and stay still."

"I can't do much else," he said. Belle was unbothered by his words. A few minutes later Emma reentered.

"Found a storage room and locked our stab-happy pirate in there. He shouldn't be causing anyone else any problems. And get this—he had a map on him. It looks like he sailed his ship here."

"How'd he get a pirate ship into New York?" asked Bae.

"It's cloaked," replied Belle.

"Is Grandpa gonna be okay?" asked Henry who had been standing back with a worried look.

"Henry, he's gonna be fine," said Emma.

"It will take worse than that roguish wretch to kill your grandfather," said Belle. Henry still seemed unsure but Bae interrupted.

"Oh, man. We gotta get him to an E.R. fast."

"No, it's pointless," sighed Rumple gesturing to the wound which was turning yellowish green.

"What the hell is that?" asked Emma.

"It's poison. It's one of Hook's own making. There's no antidote in this world. It's... it's not from here."