Drogheda | Book 1

27. Worsening Stature

_________________________One Day Later_________________________

Killian's POV

I wake up next to Emma. I open my eyes as she moves. I look down at her as she groans in pain. She's extremely sweaty and hot, and not in the good way. "Emma," I try to wake her. She groans. "Swan, wake up." I shake her. She opens her eyes slowly. "Love, what's wrong?"

"Killian," she says weekly. "Please help." She whimpers.

"Liam, get the doctor!" He jumps up and runs out. I put my hand to her forehead. "God, you're burning up."

"It hurts." She cries.

"I know, help is on the way. Hold on, sweetheart." I grab a ice bag and put it on her forehead. "Hold on." Fear strikes every part of me. Doctors and nurses run into the room.

"Step back." A nurse says. I do as she says. Liam runs in. All of them talk at the same time, making it impossible to understand. I hear only one thing.

"Killian,"

"I'm right here, daring." They put a mask over her face and roll her out of the room. I take her hand as we run down the hallway. They hold me back breaking my hold on her hand. They rush her into a room, out of my view. "Please make sure she's okay." I beg.

"We're going to do everything we can." They run into the room, leaving me standing there in the middle of the hallway. Liam runs next to me. I back up against the wall and grip my hair in my hands, pulling at the roots. I sink to the floor.

"No, no, no, no, no." I repeat. "Not my Swan." Liam walks to me and sits next to me. Tears fall down my face as I pull my knees against my chest. Liam doesn't say anything just sits next to me; letting me cry. "Emma," I say in tears. My phone starts ringing. I take it and look at the I.D. it's my mother. I answer it.

"Liam called us. Are you okay, sweetheart?" I stand up and pace.

"No, I'm far from okay."

"I'm so sorry, Killian."

"My world is falling apart. I need her, Mum. I have nothing to live for if she leaves."

"She's going to make it, baby."

"I don't know. She's was so scared." I cry.

"Hold onto hope, my love, she'll be okay."

"Friends and family of Emma Swan?" A nurse asks.

"I have to go."

"Have hope, Killian."

"Bye,"

I hang up and run to the nurse the same time Liam does. "How is she?" I ask frantically.

"We stabilized her, but she has a extremely high fever of 104. If we can't get it under control it will eventually cause brain damage, causing her to lose her memories. If it goes untreated she will die." I put my hands to my face and run my fingers through my hair. "We're doing everything we can, but truthfully there isn't a whole lot we can do." She walks off. "Oh, and she's asking for you." I nod. I run into the room. I turn a corner and see her lying in a bed, attached to a thousand different machines. Tears sting my eyes as I walk to her. She looks up at me and tears run down her cheeks.

"Swan!" I embrace her tightly. She cries into my shoulder. "I thought I lost you."

"I'm sorry." She holds me tightly.

"I love you," I pull back and cup her cheeks. "I love you so much." I kiss her breathless. "Are you okay?" I ask pulling back.

"I'm okay, just a little hot."

"Oh, Swan." I put my forehead to hers. "Lie down, love, you need to rest." She does as I say. She intertwines out fingers. She holds my hand as tight as she can, but I barely feel a thing. I kiss her forehead. She cuddles up to me.

It breaks my heart to see her like this. She holds me like it will be for the last time, and, in reality, it could be. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close. Close isn't close enough.

Liam walks in. He looks at me with a sympathetic look. Tears roll down my cheeks as I hold Emma. Liam takes out a camera and snaps a picture of us. I'm too focused on Emma to really pay attention to him. "Killian?" Emma looks up at me.

"Yes, my love?" I ask stroking her cheek.

"Can you turn the air down?"

"Of course," I kiss her forehead and get off of the bed. I go to the wall and adjust the temperature. I crawl back in the bed with her. She lays her head on my chest. "Is that better?" I ask.

"Mmm hmm." She sighs, sleepily.

"Go to sleep, Swan, you've had a rough day." A few seconds later I hear a soft snore. I smile and hold her close.

Emma's POV

I wake up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. I lay in Killian's arms, looking up at him. He holds me impossibly close, but it's comforting.

"Swan," Killian groans and starts to move around. "Emma, no." He groans again. "God, no, please, anyone but her." I sit up and shake him, trying to wake him from his nightmare.

"Killian," I say softly, trying not to wake Liam. "Killian, wake up." His eyes shoot open and look around the room. His breathing is heavy and pupils are dilated. "Hey," I cup his cheeks. "It's okay, I'm right here. You're alright." His eyes continue to scan the room. "Hey, look at me, baby." His eyes finally meet mine. His breathing slows and he starts to calm down. "Shh," I say sweetly. He quickly pulls me in for a long, passionate, kiss.

"You're still here." He smiles with relief in his tone.

"I'm not going anywhere." I hold out my arms for him. He lays his head on my shoulder. I put my hand in his hair and slowly move my fingers through it. I attempt to comfort him which seems to be working. "What was your nightmare about?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"I lost you." He chokes out as I feel a tear hit my shoulder.

"Well, that's not going to happen." I hold him tighter.

"It felt so real." He cries.

"I know." I say soothingly. He cries into my neck. "Shh," I say sweetly. "It's okay, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." He squeezes his eyes and tries to control his rapid breathing. I hold him until he falls asleep. I carefully lay him down and snuggle up to his chest. Knowing everything I just said was a lie.

Death walked through through the halls unseen by everyone, he looked through the doors, but never went in. He kept walking until he came upon many a door, but entered one.