Thank you for your heartwarming and encouraging comments in the last chapter. They really made a difference. I am writing this fic for me, because this was something I fell in love with, but seeing others enjoying it and recognizing has helped a lot.

The rest of the day was hectic. Killian had to call an ambulance and then go with Kathryn to the hospital. She was in shock, and barely a word out of her mouth made any sense before she vanished into the care of a phalanx of health care professionals. Whale and his team told him that there will be a while until they were able to properly assess her state. Killian could either kill the time in the waiting room or he could put a few other things into action in the meantime. Deciding there were other important things to do, he asked Whale to call when Kathryn was stable and ready to talk.

As if the devil were nipping at his heels, he ran back to the station. In the turmoil, Mary Margaret had been taken back to the station to await further news. Killian dismissed the court officers and then broke Mary Margaret free from her cell. He didn't wait for any other order, he would take the fall if needed, but he couldn't bear the sight of her into that cell one more minute. After a long hug where he felt the life coming back to him, he asked her to go to the loft and stay there. He knew it wasn't ideal, but Mary Margaret seemed to agree that it wasn't proper to start parading around town. Not just yet.

After sorting out a few things with the judge and the DA, Killian made it back to the hospital to talk to Kathryn. She was awake and being assessed by Whale. Killian knocked politely on the edge of the glass door and let himself in.

"Sheriff Jones," Whale greeted him. "Look who's awake."

Killian gave Kathryn what he hoped was a warming smile. "It's good to see you're doing better. I know you probably need to rest, but I need to ask you a few questions about what happened. Do you remember anything?"

Kathryn crumpled her forehead as if trying to force memories out of her mind. "I don't know much. Um, I was in a car accident, and…I remember the airbag going off. And the next thing I knew, I was in the dark, in some basement. I didn't see anyone, but there was food and water. And then, I guess I was drugged."

Killian tried to remain calm, but he couldn't help the bile rising to his throat, his own memory remembering painful anecdotes from the system, ones that he either experience in the flesh or were told to him, lonely whispers in the dead of the night. Trying hard to avoid his own demons, he turned to Whale.

"We're still trying to flush that out of her system," Whale confirmed, with a gentle smile. It seemed he was capable of being a decent human being around a female after all.

Kathryn took a deep breath. "And then, I woke up in a field at the edge of town, and I started walking. That was it."

"Did you see anyone? Hear a voice you can recognize? A smell? Anything?" Killian ventured.

Kathryn's eyes filled with despair. "Nothing, I'm sorry. I wish I could help more." Her eyes turned from Killian to Whale. "You thought I was dead?"

"We found a heart buried in the woods. Your DNA matched." Both he and Kathryn turned their eyes to Whale.

"They're grilling everybody down at the hospital lab to see who doctored the DNA results." Whale looked uncomfortable and averted his eyes.

Ah yes. The lab. They had a lot of explaining to do after that one, and Killian had already given someone an earful over the phone. If Kathryn hadn't turned up when she did, Mary Margaret would have gone through hell. Well, she already had, but it could've been worse. It could've been permanent.

"Why would anyone do this?" Kathryn asked with concern in her features.

"I think they were trying to frame Mary Margaret." Killian left behind the rest of his thoughts. The last thing he needed was for Kathryn to hold more resentment against the other woman by realizing she'd been a pawn in someone else's game.

"But why?"

She seemed genuinely puzzled about being mistaken for dead, and right now, she was horrified about someone framing Mary Margaret for it. Not an ounce of her seemed to hint at the fact that Mary Margaret deserved it, which ruled out Kathryn being an accomplice in anything. Killian could see that whatever the affair with David was… it was clear that Kathryn had decided to move on the moment she'd packed her bags and decided to go to Boston.

Good for her.

"Who would do that?" Kathryn asked, almost to herself.

Killian could only think of one person, but a part of him still refused to believe it. That was the adoptive mother of his son. To even think….

But right now, he wouldn't think about it. Not today. Work could wait one day. Killian had other things to do.

/-/

Killian didn't expect many people to come over to Mary Margaret's welcome home party and yet the place was swarming with people. He should have known Storybrooke would be like any other small town, filled with fickle bastards that flipped like pancakes once the news was out. Killian tried very hard to mask his contempt - for Mary Margaret's sake - as he helped her pour cups of punch.

"All of these people… Just to welcome me home?" Mary Margaret seemed surprised and almost hesitant at the crush of people crowding her loft.

"You've got a lot of friends," Killian offered with a quizzical smile, not wanting to lie to her but also trying to keep his thoughts to himself.

"Yeap, they all came to visit me in jail," Mary Margaret deadpanned, her eyes surveying the crowd. "It didn't feel like the town had my back yesterday."

Killian poured the last cup of punch. "Don't worry, darling. I have a special batch of spiked punch for ourselves, to help us endure this." He handed Mary Margaret the tray as he noticed Booth talking to Henry. The hair on the back on his neck stood at the sight, it was not a good thing to have August lurking around his son. He made his way towards them as Mary Margaret distributed punch to the guests and the moment Henry darted towards her with a gift and a card, Killian took advantage of the opportunity. He leaned and whispered ruthlessly.

"You're not welcome here, mate."

"But I thought after the other day..."

"Doesn't change anything. It's my house, Booth. Get out before we make a scene and ruin Mary Margaret's first day out of jail."

Kilian turned around, not bothering to give August more attention than needed, and focused on Henry delivering a present to Mary Margaret. Her eyes warmed as she opened the massive handmade card, but her expression soon turned confused as she read the card. "We're so glad you didn't kill Mrs. Nolan…"

Well, Henry clearly had Emma's tact.

Henry seemed oblivious to this, as he presented her with a wrapped gift. "It's from the whole class, and I got you a bell."

"Thank you," Mary Margaret took the package from him. "Please tell everyone I'll be back soon."

Assuaged that Henry was now conversing with Mary Margaret and that Booth was on his way to retrieve his jacket, Killian focused his attention on the other person in the room he wasn't thrilled to see.

"Sheriff Jones," Gold saluted him, leaning on his cane, as Killian approached him.

"I'm going to cut to the chase, Gold, as I'm tired of the games." Killian crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to the side. "Was it you?"

Gold had the audacity to play the innocent and confused part but Killian wasn't buying it. Leaning closer, he pressed. "Did you make Kathryn suddenly materialize?"

"You really think I had something to do with it?"

Killian shrugged. "It sure played that way to me."

Gold pondered his words for a moment and then simply dismissed them. "You can't prove anything, Sheriff, and you know by now that it wouldn't be in anyone's best interests to start spewing false accusations. I might be tempted to file a complaint." He gave Killian a crooked smile. "But I'm willing to let it slide if you answer me a question- what do you know about him?" He pointed his cane at August's retreating form.

Just what he needed.

"Goes by August. He's a writer. Typewriter wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in an asshole. Why?"

"He was poking around my shop today. August Wayne Booth. Clearly a false name. There's one thing I know about – it's names."

Great, now August was snooping into Gold's business. Killian could only wish it ended badly for one of them. Or both. But he'd be so lucky.

"Do you want to file a complaint, Mr. Gold?" His tone was filled with sarcasm. "Feel free to stop by the station tomorrow and I'll see what I can do for you."

Clearly, Gold wasn't impressed by him. "Do you trust him?"

Killian chuckled. "As much as I trust you… which is not at all. Let me be clear, Gold, the only people I trust in this town are Mary Margaret… and my son."

He took a few steps back, turning to find Henry. "Henry!" he called. "Let's get you home before Regina finds out you were here."

And before I punch Gold.

Henry hugged Mary Margaret goodbye and grabbed his things. Killian opened the door, only to find David standing on the other side. One quick glance at Mary Margaret, a quickly mouthed name and a vehement shake of her head were enough for Killian to know how to proceed.

"You're not welcome here, mate." It was Killian's lucky day. He got to tell both August and David off.

"I just want to-" David started but Killian cut him off with a ruthless stare.

"You've done enough. Just honor her wishes and leave her alone." He noticed Henry's sad face, but Killian wasn't going to buy into that one anymore. If David was Prince Charming, Mary Margaret's hero, he would have fought for her. And he hadn't.

"Come on, Henry, let's go," he motioned as he closed the door behind them and sidestepped David.

/-/

The next morning, with Mary Margaret sleeping safe and sound in her own bed and free from all the charges fabricated against her, Killian was finally able to focus on following the thread of facts and tracking down the true culprits.

Whoever it was who had framed his friend - and he had a pretty good idea whom that might be - he was going to find enough evidence to put them behind bars.

Which meant that Killian needed to start by the weakest link. And he knew exactly where to find him.

As predicted, Sidney Glass was sitting in a booth at Granny's, enjoying his morning cup of coffee. The man was a creature of habit and Killian had already pinpointed most of them during the months he'd spent living in Storybrooke. He wouldn't have been a very good bailbondsman - or sheriff - if he hadn't.

Killian approached the table with a little swagger, taking the seat opposite Sidney and giving the man his most vicious stare.

"Good morning, Sidney."

A part of him rejoiced in how the reporter flinched at his vindictive tone. Killian Jones wasn't here to play games, and Sidney knew it.

"Killian, hey," Sidney tried to deflect, using a friendly tone while fidgeting with his coffee mug. "So, things certainly did work out, didn't they? For… For your friend?"

No thanks to you.

"First of all, it's Sheriff Jones." His tone made Sidney pulled back slightly and Killian was really enjoying it. "You told me you could help with Mary Margaret and idiot that I was, I wanted to believe you." He pulled out the broken wire tap and placed it on the table. "But, eventually, there are things that even a naïve Sheriff cannot ignore."

Sidney stiffened for a brief moment before he tried to play dumb. "Is that a bug?"

"Drop it, mate." Killian had zero patience left for people like Sidney. "You fooled me once, spying on me and reporting back to Regina. But you will not fool me again. I don't know what hold she has on you, but it sure has to be huge for you to dance to the beat of her drum."

"She's a good Mayor."

Killian chuckled. If that was what Sidney wanted to claim…. "She tried to get Mary Margaret convicted of a crime that didn't even happen. Someone tampered with this investigation and you, my friend, could possibly be in a lot of trouble. There is a trail somewhere out there on the outskirts of town and I'm going to find that basement. And when I do, I'm taking everyone down. Everyone. You might want to consider whose side you're on."

"I wouldn't bet against her. She's an amazing woman."

There was a note in Sidney's words that made Killian shiver. He couldn't believe it. "Are you in love with her, Sidney? Is this why you're so keen on helping her?"

He sighed, running his hand through his hair as he stood up. "You know, I can understand loving someone so much that you're willing to lay it all on the line for her. Trust me, I do." His eyes closed for a brief moment as images of Emma teased at the edges of his vision. "But here's the thing, mate. She's only worth all of this if she feels the same way about you. Otherwise, she's just using you. Like she used Graham."

He left the diner, hoping Sidney was thinking long and hard about what he'd said. His mind was racing, his heart beating frantically in his chest. He wanted to respect Regina and her adoption rights, but something was boiling inside of him, something we couldn't quite yet put a name on.

/-/

The day went by in a blur and evening found him waiting for Mary Margaret to arrive at the loft, a poor excuse of a homemade dinner of roasted beef and potato salad that he'd put together following the instructions from a cookbook he'd found on one of the shelves. It wasn't perfect - the roast looked slightly toasted or rather burnt at the edges and he wasn't sure the potatoes were properly cooked - but he waited for his friend with a beaming smile and a couple of beers.

But when Mary Margaret arrived, looking as if she'd been crying and holding a newly purchased rum bottle, he knew it was bad. The quality of the dinner long forgotten, he started pouring as they both sat at the kitchen counter, picking at the food and downing drinks. It was about David - of course it was about that bloody idiot. But Mary Margaret had found the strength within her not to take him back simply because he'd apologized. She'd stood up for herself, realizing that she deserved better than a guy who'd turned his back on her when the going got rough.

Granted, it was a very rough patch, but still… if he'd really trusted her, if he'd really loved her, he would have stood by Mary Margaret. Killian knew with all his heart that if it had been Emma in Mary Margaret's place and he in David's, no matter what the evidence, he wouldn't have hesitated. He would have believed in Emma, no questions asked. He wanted the same for Mary Margaret - hell, even Sidney was more loyal to Regina than David had been - and he made sure to let her know that as they both washed down the last of the potato salad with their third tumbler of rum.

/-/

The hangover headache was a killer and his head was pounding heavily as he entered the station the next morning. The sight of Regina sitting on a desk, her panty-hose clad legs crossed one over another, made him groan internally. He didn't want to deal with this today. But alas, there was no respite for the sheriff.

"Madam Mayor," he saluted with just the right amount of sarcasm to make her feel uneasy. "Please make yourself at home."

She ignored his remark, her eyebrow raising. "Congratulations, Sheriff Jones. There's about to be a big break in your case. You just got yourself a confession. But first, I want you to listen to the whole explanation, so you understand why this happened."

He didn't like the sound of any of that. His headache soon forgotten, Killian took a few steps toward her. He wasn't as naive as to think she was going to confess to having anything to do with setting Mary Margaret's up. Not at all. Regina Mills wasn't the type. She was up to something. He just needed to figure out what it was soon enough for him to stage a counter-attack.

"I'm waiting with bated breath, milady."

She stood up from the desk, her high heels clicking against the tiled floor, her eyes never leaving his. "Sidney, you can come in now."

Killian turned to witness the man entering the room, his eyes cast down as he refused to meet Killian's gaze.

"Tell him what you told me," Regina pressed and Killian's heart beat frantically. He was starting to get a hint as to where this was going and he didn't like it one bit.

"It was me. I confess. I abducted Kathryn, and I held her in the basement of an abandoned summer home by the lake. I bribed a lab tech to get me the heart from the hospital, and I used that same person to doctor the lab results," Sidney recited as if the words didn't belong to him.

Killian pondered for a second the information he was hearing, but he didn't have time to reply before Regina interjected. "And the other thing."

Sidney cleared his throat. "I…borrowed some skeleton keys from Regina and…planted the knife in your apartment."

Bloody hell. She had him by the balls.

"My keys. Can't help but feel personally violated about that part."

Only one thought went through Killian's head. What did she have on Sidney?

"Why?" he rasped, his eyes moving from Sidney to Regina. "What reason would you have to do any of this?"

"I was going to find her after the conviction, be a hero. Then, get the inside track on the biggest story to ever hit this town. I'd get my job back. Plus, a novel, and a movie, and… I don't know. It sounds crazy now."

"It sounds like you're lying, mate."

Sidney breathed deeply. "I have maps to where the house is. You'll find chains in the basement. Lots of fingerprints, I'm sure – hers and mine. But, I didn't hurt her." The vehement tone in which he delivered the last line was Killian's final clue on this. He was willing to take the blame, but there were certain morals the man wasn't willing to surrender.

"The man has obviously suffered some kind of mental break. He clearly hasn't been himself for a while," Regina went on as if Killian had actually bought this nonsensical bullshit.

"Aye. You've certainly broken him, alright." He couldn't help himself and truth to be told, he didn't want to.

Regina stiffened, her eyes focused on his. "You're so caught up in yourself, Jones, you can't see the truth."

If only. He could see the truth, as if the fog had lifted, he could see it. And he was tired of this game.

"A word in the hallway, Mayor Mills." Killian started walking, not even bothering to wait and see if Regina was following. He'd heard the distinct sound of her heels on the tiled floor a few second later. Once in the hallway, he turned around to face her.

"You have a confession, Sheriff. You're obligated to do your job," Regina cocked an eyebrow defiantly at him.

Killian tilted his head, his mind running through all the truths he wanted to spit in Regina Mills' face. Truths he knew wouldn't do any difference… Words that were not going to make a dent in the woman standing behind him.

He didn't hold the winning hand and yet, he knew he couldn't leave the game yet. So he asked himself the one question that always helped him see clearly.

What would Emma Swan do?

The answer came clearly to him and he took a few steps towards Regina. "I know you own the game, lady, and that chances are you own this town. Either you or Gold or a combination of the two, and I couldn't care less, as long as you didn't interfere with what I hold dear. But you decided to go after the people I care about."

Her eyes flashed with danger. "Are you threatening me, Sheriff?"

"Not at all. But you're so blinded by rage that you don't care who gets hurt in the process. And it's time I put a stop to this. You're not getting near Henry again… I lost his mother, I will not let anything happen to him. I don't care who you are, I don't care about the papers that have been signed, I don't care about anything." He took a deep breath, standing dangerously close to the woman that was currently representing a danger to his son wellbeing. "I'm getting back my son."

I'm getting back Emma's son.