Against The Current

Chapter 33

"Keep the pressure on it!"

"The blood is everywhere!"

"It won't stop!"

Emma felt her heart beat pounding in her head as she listened to words she wasn't even processing. Her brain felt like it had short-circuited and she was trapped in a hell she had never experience before.

"EMMA!" Graham was in front of her as she rocked back and forth on her heels.

His hands grabbed her forearms and gave her a little shake.

"He...Needs...You!"

Three simple words but they were enough to knock Emma out of her trance. She took 3 deep breaths and felt herself centre. Emma knew she needed to treat this like any other case. She had the training and the experience.

She moved passed Graham and fell to her knees at Killian's side. They had been using their jackets to provide pressure but one of the bar staff had provided a first aid kit which sat unopened on the floor.

Emma ripped it open and pulled out all of the gauze she could find.

"Use this and press as hard as you can. Use your knee if you need more pressure." She told Robin as she moved to take Killian's pulse. It was there but it was slow.

His eyes flicked open and Killian let out a soul shredding groan. The blue orbs focused on her face and she watched as a confused look crossed his pained face.

"Get away from me." His voice rasped. It was a whisper but she heard it loud and clear.

Emma was stunned. She rocked back on her heels and into a standing position. Hands pulled at her and she was propelled to the side as a paramedic pushed a gurney past her and lowered it to the ground.

Killian was quickly transferred and Emma followed close behind as he was wheeled to the waiting helicopter. The rotating blades made it hard to hear but the paramedics easily indicated that she could get in the back if needed.

She grabbed the handle and just as she was pulling herself up she heard the words that shattered her.

"Not her!"

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West Valley Medical had been the closest hospital. A 45 minute drive that felt like a lifetime. Graham had bundled her into one of the police cars after Killian had refused her presence in the helicopter. Robin had gone with Killian so at least he had someone.

"Please sit."

Graham's soft pleading words meant nothing to her. Emma had been pacing the Emergency Department's waiting room for over 2 hours. Not one person would tell her a thing. She had pleaded with any nurse or doctor that came out of the locked doors. They all remained tight lipped, knowing the significance of the patient fighting for his life in their facility.

"He knows, doesn't he?" Emma voiced out loud for the first time.

"I think he does." Graham answered her question somberly.

Shit. Emma had never wanted him to find out like this. Hell, she'd never wanted him to find out at all. In the beginning.

The mistake she'd made was getting involved with him. Not a mistake.

Duplicity was part of her job...She was good at her job! She'd never found herself in a situation like this before. Emma always left and never looked back.

The question she then found herself asking was: How did you tell someone that you were not who you said you were?

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"Emma."

The persistent calling of her name was coupled with a gentle nudge against her shoulder.

Emma opened her heavy eyes and straightened her neck, giving it a good stretch out.

Graham had been the one to rouse her but it wasn't him that had her attention.

"Robin."

He was standing there in the same blood drenched clothes, his face looking like he had aged 10 years in an instant.

"He's okay!" The quiet admission was enough to have Emma vaulting out of her seat and wrapping her arms around him in an instant.

The tears she had held back came out full force and she sobbed into Robin's shoulder. He pulled her firmly against him and hugged her tight.

"He will make a full recovery." Robin murmured into her hair.

Emma pulled back and used the back of her hand to try and tidy her face up. She wiped the tears away and nervously scrunched her fists together.

"Where is he?"

Robin's brows furrowed as if he was debating telling her anything.

"I can explain. I promise." Emma jumped ahead. She knew that they did not trust her at the moment but she needed to see him!

"You bloody better."

Emma opened her mouth but was stopped by Robin's hand in the air and a small shake of his head.

"Not now."

"Killian is in ICU. They will move him up to a ward once they have closely monitored him for at least 48 hours."

Emma gave Robin a small smile and moved past him towards the main entrance to the hospital.

"He is sedated for now but I'm not sure he will want to see you."

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Killian's room was dimly lit and she took slow steps towards his bed. The steady beep from the machines did nothing to reassure Emma. She needed to see his chest rise and fall, feel the warmth of his hands.

He looked peaceful, the deep painful etches that marred his forehead earlier where now long gone. Emma slid into the seat beside his bed and took a moment to just watch him. Killian was breathing easy and he had a nice rosy glow. She reached out for his hand, giving it a gentle stroke before threading her fingers through his.

"I am so sorry." Emma whispered.

"Swan?" Killian's raspy voice questioned from the bed.

"It's me." Emma leant forward in the seat. She watched as Killian's eyes flickered open and the soft look in them made her momentarily think he had forgotten what he had learned earlier. That thought was dispelled quickly as his eyes quickly clouded over and a frown disfigured his face.

"You betrayed me." The harsh words hit Emma squarely in the chest.

"I can explain."

"I don't want to see your face again. Leave!"

The monitors started to beep and a nurse let herself into the room.

"Mr Jones. I need you to calm down. Take a few deep breaths."

"You need to leave, please." The nurse requested politely.

Emma watched, stunned that her presence was causing such an adverse reaction in Killian.

"GET OUT!"

Killian's roar had her darting to the door. The last thing Emma wanted was to cause him any more pain. She needed him to understand. She needed him to forgive her.

The question was: Could he?

TBC