Heart of the Sea

Chapter 26 - Family

Hello everyone! Happy Sunday. :) Hope you all are doing well, and I hope you enjoy this latest chapter. Please don't forget to comment and vote; I'd love to hear from you. :) Anywho, thanks again for reading, and I hope you all have a wonderful day/night, wherever you are.

- Le Chels

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The ambulance arrived quickly, and Lili was loaded into it, Killian hopping in alongside.
"What happened?" one of the medics asked.
"She was in some sort of fight; as best I could see her leg's broken; I dunno about the rest; I'm not sure about her eye, and.." Killian swallowed, worry filling him. He shook his head, hand resting on her arm. "I don't know," he murmured.
The medic gave him a sympathetic look.

They arrived at the hospital a little later than Killian would have preferred, getting down out of the ambulance, jogging along with them as they rushed Lili in, informing Doctor Whale of what they knew so far. Killian was stopped at the edge of the hallway by an orderly. "I'm afraid you can't go back there, sir."
"You don't understand, she's my daughter. I have to be there, I have t'be with her," he got out impatiently, making to go past the burly man.
The man stepped in his way.
"I don't want to hurt you; now get out of my way."
"I'm afraid I can't do that sir."
Killian gave him a look and was cocking his fist when two hands kept it from going forward, Emma holding onto his arm. "Killian."
"Swan I have t'go back there, she's my daughter, I cahn't-"
"I know, I know. She's gonna be okay Killian. Hey, look at me. She's gonna be okay."
"Emma-"
His eyes searched hers, and the desperation and fear in his tugged at her heart.
"I just got her, I cahn't lose her now. I thought all..all my family was gone, but.." His eyes flicked between hers. "I cahn't lose her," he repeated quietly.
It struck Emma how lonely he must have been, knowing the feeling too well herself from all the years on her own, believing her parents were either gone or didn't want her, her child off who knew where, Neal a painful memory. She pulled her pirate into a tight hug. "She'll be okay, Killian. She's a tough girl," she murmured into him as he slowly sank into the embrace, grip on her tight as though he himself were hanging on for dear life, eyes shut tight.
Once he drew back, Emma slipped her hand into his, their fingers intertwining as they went over to sit down in the chairs in the waiting room. David and Snow joined them shortly, each giving him their sincerest apologies, giving him encouraging words, but he knew deep down they meant nearly nothing. Every time he lost. Every time he grew attached, thought he had a chance at a family, they were lost. His mother dead when he was but a child, father sold him and his brother, Liam killed by dreamshade, Milah by the Dark One, Bae gone first with hatred then death, the second chance he'd thought he had; the near misses with Emma were growing almost too numerous to count, and...now he was losing Lili. He huffed a laugh. For all his being a pirate and sailing on the winds of fortune, Luck had never given him a truly good hand. Not until he'd met Swan, but..he wasn't even sure this would last, so much as he wanted to hope.
So much as he wanted to hope.
"Hey."
Emma's green eyes locked onto his, compassion filling them, her arms wrapped around his. "Everything's gonna be okay."
He blew a breath out of his nose, not wanting to burden her with his downcast thoughts. "I hope it will be," he said simply.

It was about another hour or two before Whale came out. Killian stood immediately, Emma and her parents following soon after. "Is she alright?"
"It's hard to say."
"What d'you mean it's hard to say, will she live or not," he asked, voice hard.
"I don't know," Whale replied, own voice hardening in reply, though he softened a little. "I did what I could. So far as I could tell her eyeball wasn't damaged, but she has several broken ribs, a broken leg, a lot of bruising, cuts, and a concussion. You know what a concussion is, right?"
Killian gave him a look. "I've been in my fair share of fights, mate. I know what a bloody concussion is."
Emma stroked his arm gently in a silent reminder, a small encouragement, and he took a breath, head dipping for a moment. "I'm sorry. What do you know."
Whale shook his head, shrugging. "I..she was supposed to wake up twenty minutes ago, but..I think she's fallen into a coma due to shock."
Killian's brow furrowed. "A.."
"Deeper than sleep. Sometimes people wake up, and..sometimes they don't."
His stomach sank, and he swallowed, head bowing, hand resting on Emma's as she drew closer to him. "Can I see her?" he asked quietly after a few moments.
Whale nodded, leading him down the hallway, opening the door. "You're family, right?"
Killian nodded.
"Then take as much time as you need."
Killian's lips twitched into a grateful smile before he turned to Emma. "I think..I think I'd like t'be alone, lass."
"Alright. I'll be out in the lobby if you need me," she replied quietly, reaching up and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
He gave her a small smile before going in, steps heavy and slow as the door closed behind him. He took in the sparse room, the white bed, the monitors to the side, Lili's heartbeat beeping steadily. Depths she looked bad. Her right eye was severely discolored, swollen shut, bottom lip swollen, skin pale in the bright light. Several bandages had been placed over her left eye. She was dressed in a pale green hospital gown, a band around her wrist, tube in her arm, small device on her finger. Her knuckles were bandaged, and her left leg was raised in a cast. "Bloody hell," he murmured. He pulled up one of the two chairs beside the bed, sitting down, taking her in again and hesitating before he wrapped his hand around hers. It was cold, and sort of small in his.
He swallowed. "I'm so sorry, lass," Killian murmured quietly after a moment. "I'm sorry I didn't get t'you sooner, I could've..I could've helped you." He shook his head. "I dunno if you can hear me, but..I hope you do anyway." He shut his eyes, the emotions that had been roiling inside him beginning to rise up again in the stillness. "Lass please wake up," he murmured quietly, head sinking to the bar on the bed.
He stayed silent for a little while, holding her hand, listening to the beeps of the machine, wondering what he could say that might help. "..I know things are hard. I know you've had a rough time of it, and..I'm sure letting go right now seems very easy, maybe even one of your better options. But can I tell you it's not? There are better things in life than merely sailing and having freedom. There's more to life than pain and disappointment. If I know anything it's that a second chahnce can change y'r whole world. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy Storybrooke so much; it's the place where I got my second chahnce. I found a better ending than I ever thought possible f'myself. I found love, life, people who genuinely care about me. Something more than just revenge and darkness." He paused. "I found family. Maybe not my own yet, but..it was something I never thought I could have again. With you it just makes it all seem more possible. That I might be able to have that again. I know I would still have people who care f'me and love me even if..you go, but...it wouldn't be the same without you lass. Not now that I know you're here."
He shook his head, a grin pulling onto his lips. "Y'know sometimes I wondered if I might have any lost heirs out there, but..I never expected to meet any of them, let alone any like you." His smile softened. "You've been full of life since the first moment I saw you, or at least since I saw you truly. You've always had a bright spirit, and I don't want it t'be dampened. I don't want you t'give up, lass. You deserve a good life, and happiness. Even if they're not with me," he added after a moment, remembering the hasty words this morning. "So, whatever you choose, lass, please know that no matter what you will always have a place with me should you want it. And please remember that there are good things in this world f'you if you'll give them just a chance t'show themselves." His eyes flicked over her, the steady beep as unchanging as ever, and sighed, resting his head against the bar again.