Against The Current

Chapter 34

3 Months Later

Emma's fingers pounded furiously against the keyboard as she tried to bring up any relevant information pertaining to her current case. She'd been given a lot more desk work recently and she found it so frustrating. Emma knew what her skills were and being confined to a desk just didn't cut it.

David had been treating her like she was fragile when in reality she wanted to forget everything and bury her teeth into a new juicy case or close up the one she had worked so hard on. At the moment she was in limbo and she needed to forget. She needed to forget him.

Killian

His piercing blue eyes, cheeky smile and tousled dark hair. The image of his face had pain lancing through her chest. He had refused to see her. He had refused all of her phone calls. Her text messages went unanswered.

Emma had desperately appealed to Robin. He had been polite on the telephone but it had gotten her no closer to seeing Killian. She had tracked him down and cornered him out the front of the hospital one evening. Robin patiently listened to her pleas. Emma could see that he understood her reasons by the softening of his eyes. It didn't help! Killian had given Robin clear instructions and nothing she could say would persuade him to help her. Robin had confirmed that Killian was healthy but still so very mad!

Graham was no help to her either. Killian had told him that his services were no longer needed and thanked him for his loyalty. Graham had told her that he had visited the hospital several times and that whilst he looked good, Killian wasn't exactly being the chattiest fellow.

The Agency had quickly tracked down Neal but Gold was still being elusive. Neal was a creature of habit. He liked paying for women and gambling so it hadn't been hard to track his activity. Emma had felt such a satisfying urge run through her when she finally placed the handcuffs around Neal's wrists. She was also ecstatic when the rap sheet listed so many offenses that the Judge quickly denied bail and ordered him to a secure facility and into solitary confinement. Until they arrested his father they couldn't have Neal interacting with anyone that could belong to Golds elaborate crime network.

The information they had collected had been sufficient enough for an all out man hunt to be undertaken in order to apprehend Gold. Every Agency had now been briefed on how dangerous he was and how imperative it was to get him into custody.

"I don't think you are typing hard enough" David's voice joked from behind her.

"I'm playing nice." Emma smirked, "How can I help you?"

"Get your things. We are going to Corsair's head office."

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Emma felt the butterflies gnawing at her stomach as she looked up at the Corsair's building. She had not been back since that awful night 3 months ago and wouldn't be surprised if security tried to apprehend her when she entered. Their entrance through the lobby was smooth and Emma felt herself release a breath she hadn't even realize she'd been holding.

The elevator ride was smooth but felt like it took forever to climb the floors to the Executive level. David kept giving her concerned glances as they ascended. He may not know exactly everything that happened whilst she was undercover but she was sure that he had drawn his own conclusions. Emma knew she needed to pull herself together and shake off the jitters but being back in this building just reminded her too much of him.

"He's ready to see you now."

Killian had replaced her with a tall and busty brunette. The woman looked completely unprofessional with a tight pale pink dress that had her breasts nearly spilling out of them. Her face was caked thick with makeup and her sugar sweet voice was enough to make anyone sick.

Emma had never felt the need to dissect someone as much as she did this woman. The stabbing feeling in her stomach she could easily identify, jealousy. Killian had replaced her easily and with someone that oozed sexuality.

Emma was left wondering if his new assistant had shared the same quiet moments with him that she had.

Shit. Working here had made her soft.

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Emma felt a rush of longing mixed with familiarity as they entered Killian's office. Nothing had changed, it was as if she had never been away.

Killian was gazing out of the window and Emma watched as his back tensed. He knew she was there. Killian turned slowly to face them and she felt his heated gaze sweep over her. It was a slow appraisal from head to toe that he made no effort to hide.

Emma in turn soaked him in, from his disheveled hair and right down his tightly tailored suit.

He looked amazing. Her memories not serving her justice at all!

"Agents, How can I help you?"

His words sounded forced and Emma felt his disdain for the word 'Agent's' rip right through her.

"Mr Jones. Thank you for agreeing to see us! We know how hard this has been on you and your company." David could sense the tension and started down the diplomatic route.

"Yes. It has been difficult." Killian told them quietly, his eyes seeking her out.

"We are very close to tracking down Gold. As you are aware we have his son Neal in custody. We require your participation just a little longer and request further access to any files pertaining to Gold and his activities within your company." David was great at his job and such a great diplomat.

"Surely you have taken all that you need from me?" Killian questioned sternly.

Emma watch as David inhaled sharply, not expecting Killian to start getting defensive.

"I understand that what we did was....."

"Deceptive, Underhanded, Manipulative..." Killian cut in derisively. He was no longer going to play nicely with them.

"Kill...." Emma opened her mouth to appeal at him but was cut short quite quickly.

"Don't YOU dare speak my name. You don't even deserve to be here. The only reason I agreed to this meeting was because I don't want Gold out terrorizing other people...like he did to me, my family and my company."

"Mr Jones...." David began but stopped when Killian held his hand up in a stopping gesture.

"I will allow you access to whatever you need. Whatever help you need...you have."

Emma was surprised by Killian's words. She thought for sure that they were going to be asked to leave. Yes, they probably could acquire what they needed by way of the law but that would take time. If they wanted to apprehend Gold quickly then they really needed the cooperation of Killian Jones.

"I'll have Robin escort you to the Mainframe rooms down on the sub levels. You will also be able to see real time feeds from all of our ships. All of our manifests and locations are also wirelessly linked now. You can use your previous research to further your case. If there is anything here that can help you find that Bastard then I want it found."

"Thank you." David gestured to her and they began to make their way out of the office.

"Not you Swan. We need to have a chat."