Captain Swan One-Shots

Love in the First Degree, Part Three

David, Emma, and Killian were standing in the back-parking lot at the station as an Albany police cruiser pulled up.

An APB was put out on suspect, Lucas Wilson, a few days ago. He had been traveling on foot, and almost as soon as he arrived in Albany, he was arrested. David then received the call, and they arranged for transfer.

The police chief stepped out of the car and greeted the officers before he warned them, "I'd be careful if I were you. He has a tendency to be on the violent side."

"Will do, Chief. I believe we can handle him," Emma responded with crossed arms. The older man nodded in response before he opened the back-passenger door.

A slew of curses immediately flowed from Wilson's mouth as Emma hauled him from the car. Before she could even get a good grip on his arm, he elbowed her - hard - in the stomach.

"Damn it!" she cursed before she groaned in pain and doubled over.

Killian's eyes widened in worry before he rushed to his partner's side and asked her, "Emma, are you alright?" bending down slightly to meet her eyes.

"Arrest our guy, Killian. I'm fine," she responded, an air of urgency in her tone.

"Are you sure you're alright, love?" he asked her, concern lacing his tone, and it was also evident in his blue eyes.

"I'm fine, Killian," Emma scolded before standing up straight. Both of them then turned their heads at the sound of David reading Lucas his rights as he walked him into the station.

"Bloody hell," Killian muttered as he ran one of his hands through his hair. "I'll hear about this," he chided himself before he and Emma headed inside.

They passed the jail cells on their way to the office. Lucas, who was now awaiting his arraignment, called out to Killian, "You always get your partner or your boss to do your job for you, Detective?" a satisfied smirk playing across his features, emphasizing the sarcasm on that last word.

Killian balled his fist up by his side, and he clenched his jaw. When he felt Emma nudge his side, he visibly relaxed.

She then told him, "He isn't worth your job, Killian. Besides, he's already headed to prison."

"Aye, Swan. Thank you," he told her. He then continued, "Now all that's left to do is fill out the paperwork."

Emma nodded before she suggested, "And maybe then you can tell me what the hell happened back there."

Killian opened his mouth to explain when he heard David's voice: "Jones! In my office. Now!"

The dark-haired man sighed and ran his hand over his face and through his hair.

"Good luck," Emma offered before she continued on to their office. Killian then sighed before he trudged toward the chief's office.

The moment he walked in and shut the door, David scolded, "You mind telling me why you failed to arrest your suspect?"

Killian ran his hand through his hair once before he admitted, "Look, I know I screwed up. You don't have to tell me that."

"At least we're in agreement," David conceded. He then took a breath and stated, "Just because you know you were wrong doesn't mean you're off the hook. What if you and Emma had tracked him down, and he had the same reaction?"

"Then there'd be a murderer on the loose," Killian interjected, his voice filled with self-deprecation.

"Damn right there would be," David seethed. He then took a breath and spoke, "Look, Jones, you are a hell of a detective, but this isn't the first time you've let your emotions cloud your judgment. You have to get a handle on it."