Operation Heroes

Operation put on hold

Chapter One

Henry awoke dazed and confused on the floor of the loft. He called out into the emptiness to try and prove what his thoughts were telling him as he made his way down the stairs, "Grandma? Grandpa? Hook?" He called looking around the small space known as a home. He hears a cry coming from the crib where Neal lays. Henry scoops the baby trying to calm the baby. After feeding Baby Neal and putting him back in the crib he promises the baby he would be right back.

Leaving the apartment he begins searching the rest of the town. Calling out as he goes hoping for a reply. Even if it was only one other person that would be okay. Of coarse Neal was still her for the same reason Henry himself was. Neither one of them were born in the Enchanted Forest or any realm but this one. A realm with no magic.

Heading to the mansion that had been his only home for ten years, Henry grabbed pictures of himself with Regina. After his stop there he headed back to the loft, where Neal was still sound asleep. He collected some more pictures. Some of Emma, David, and Mary-Margret. Picking up Neal careful not to wake him Henry sets him in the stroller seat and fastened the baby into the seat before removing the seat from the stroller. Grabbing his bag with the book and the photos Henry carried his infant Uncle out of the loft and headed to the nearest car. Though he had been around enough times to see it, Henry still was not sure how to fasten the seat all the way in properly. When he felt fairly sure Neal would be safe Henry got in the front seat of his mothers Mercedes and started driving down the road.

After crossing the town line he stopped at the nearest Diner. The one Regina had told Robin about. He left the car running and got out of the car. Entering the small Diner he approached the counter where a waitress stood watching as he approached her," Nice parking job, ya old enough to drive?" She asked.

When he reached the counter he replied, "Yeah, are you?" The waitress just smiled. Henry then said," I need your help," continuing after laying out four pictures, " Have you seen any of these people?" The waitress looks at each picture carefully, " Uh, no. No I haven't."

Before she can continue Henry says, "They're my family, are you sure?" He didn't realize his worried tone could come across differently. The waitress looks up and him, "Why don't I ask the others." She leaves her spot and heads to the back with her phone already to her ear, talking in a hushed tone to the person on the other end of the line. At that Henry collects his pictures and leaves hurriedly. He stops abruptly when he sees a book on the shelf titled Heroes and Villains, taking down a copy of the book he sees Issacs face on the back cover. Henry pockets the book before exiting the Diner.

He didn't notice the man in the corner booth who had been observing the entire thing. The man had even taken a moment to write the license plate number on a napkin. Henry sped off unaware the the cops knew what he was driving. As he drivers he pulls out his phone and starts looking for things on Goole about Isaac Heller. He found a book signing happening that night. Stepping on the gas Henry heads off to the signing.

All was going well until red and blue lights were in the rear view mirror. Henry pulls to the side of the road and puts the car in park. When the officer reaches to driver's door Henry rolls down the window. The officer leans down to get a better look. "License and registration, please." Henry stares at the man. The officer stands there waiting for Henry to move.

"I don't have it," is all he says.

"Where are your parents kid?"

"I don't know. They've gone missing, all of them," passing the officer the pictures as Neal wakes once more getting to officer to look in the back window. The officer takes the picture looking through each one and looks back at Henry.

With a sympathetic look the officer says, " How 'bout I take you and your brother to the station with me and we can try and sort this out. We can leave this car her and I can send for someone to pick it up if that will make you feel better."

Henry shuts the engine off taking the keys and placing them in his pocket before stepping out and opening the back door to get Neal's car seat out as well. Shutting the door and locking the car the officer takes Henry back to his parked cruiser and helps situate the baby seat in the back with Henry. During the ride the officer gets standard information. Though Henry gives his true first name he knows no one would find Storybrooke so he gives Swan as his and Neal's last name.

After hours of sitting at the station with the officer and taking care of Neal the officer gets up from his desk and walks over to Henry, "Kid, there are only records of your mother, Emma Swan. She disappeared four years ago from Boston. Then reappeared in New York two years ago with you in her custody. Then you both disappeared again. There are no other records to match any of the other names. We can keep looking but until we find something, you and your brother are going to have to go to a foster home."

Henry stares at the man in disbelief. The officer leads Henry to another room where a woman in a business suit is standing there waiting, folder in hand. She gives Henry a smile and takes Neal in her open hand. The officer opens the doors for them. Patting Henry's shoulder and promising to let him know when they find something the officer leaves him at the van.

It's eight thirty by the time Henry and Neal are brought to the foster home. The couple that have taken them in already have three other foster kids in the house. They welcome Henry and the woman takes Neal as the man takes Henry's bag into the house. Henry follows behind the couple and into the nice two story house. He looks around at the well decorated rooms. It has a sort of homey feel but it wasn't home and he knew that. Along the walls as you go up the stairs hang framed pictures of children. He assumes they get a group photo every time new kids come into this house even if it's only for a little while.

"I'm not sure if you have eaten yet, Henry, but there is some of tonight's dinner in the fridge," the woman, Alex Lester, says with a smile.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry," he responds glumly checking the clock. The book signing was over. The man, Nolan, led him up the stairs to the room he would be sharing with the other boy. A broad shoulder, two hundred pound, blonde boy that looked over from his video games to size Henry up. Nolan gave Henry his bag," The bottom bed is Nick's."

Henry climbed onto the top bunk as Nolan left and asked, "Where will Neal be sleeping?"

Nolan turned around with a small smile, "In our room. Don't worry your brother will be safe there."

Henry nodded as Nolan shut the door. Nick pauses the game and looks up at Henry before standing up at 6'0 and looks Henry in the eyes. Henry looks at the boy before pulling the book out of his bag. He flips it open and looks at the Horror of what Isaac has done.

"Listen, nerd," sounded Nick's deep voice," this is my room. Just 'cause you are staying here don't mean nothing. And if you try to smuggle your baby brother in here at night, I will get you kicked out of the house. I ain't gonna deal with anything messing up my sleeping pattern or my video game time. Got it? Good!" Nick then sat back down and started playing his game again.

Henry sat on his bed and looked between Isaac's work and the story book that started it all. Quietly, so Nick can't hear Henry whispers, "Don't worry guys, I'll find a way to fix this."