Chapter Text
Killian stared at all the cards, flowers, and gifts he'd gotten out of nowhere.
Wondering why people cared all of a sudden about whether or not he lived or died.
Liam had barely left the hospital room, only leaving briefly to go to the bathroom and grab multitudes of coffee.
As he came back from one of his coffee runs, he noticed where Killian’s gaze was. “You’ve got that look on your face.”
The younger boy scrunched up his nose, irritated. “What look?”
“That pensive look you get when you’re thinking real hard. Mum had the same one.” Liam smiled.
“Oh.” All the irritation Killian had feeling since he'd woken up that morning drained out of him. “I'm fine, brother. I promise.”
“Sure you are.” Liam took an almost smug sip of his coffee. “But that wasn’t what my question was implying, little brother. What were you thinking about?”
The black haired boy just sighed. “I just… I don't get why everyone cares now when they didn't before.”
Liam sighed. “That’s kind of how people operate, unfortunately. No one gives a damn until something big happens to grab their attention. Then it’s all they care about until the next big thing arrives.”
“Is it wrong of me to hope for the next big thing to happen soon ? I don't know how much more of this –” Killian gestured to the gifts “I can take before I lose it.”
“Aye, I understand where you’re coming from.” Liam smirked. “I’d assume soon. In the meantime, why don’t you enjoy being pampered for a bit?”
“Sure. Pampered. Half of these have called me Kelly or Kingston, and everyone else minus a couple of teachers, the Charmings, and my friends have spelled my name wrong. One of these people even called me Brennan Jr .” He rolled his eyes.
“Well, Kelly, there might not be any heart to it, but at least you have enough dollar store stuffed animals to last a lifetime.” Liam grabbed a cheaply made, terrifying looking stuffed dog and tossed it to Killian.
Killian smirked at him. “I'll remember that, Lian .”
“That was one time! ” Liam threw up his hands, forgetting he was holding a coffee, and almost spilled it everywhere.
“One time too many.” Killian snickered.
“Mr. Jones, can I talk to you for a moment?” Whale asked, sticking his head into Killian’s hospital room as soon as he was sure his patient was asleep.
Liam stood and followed Whale into the hallway, already worried. “What is it, Doctor?”
“I don't know how to say this…” Had Whale mentioned that he hated his job anytime recently? Because he did . Especially in times like these. “But…”
“Spit it out, man!” Liam barked, not caring that Whale was trying to be delicate.
The doctor winced. “We found some… concerning marks on Killian, when we examined him originally. And at first, we thought that maybe he'd gotten them in a fight or from your father but…. Upon further examination, we think that they might be … self-inflicted.”
Liam didn’t say anything. Just stared straight ahead.
“I'm sorry we didn't inform you sooner. We didn't want to make any assumptions—”
“Whale. Stop talking.”
He did. Allowing the silence to cover them both.
After a moment, Liam simply nodded and said “Thanks for letting me know.”
Whale nodded back, quickly leaving Liam to his thoughts.
Killian looked small in his sleep.
Liam was taken back to when he was a small child, curled up in his bed around his blankets. He’d always slept the same way, no matter how old he got. He smiled softly to himself at the thought.
But the smile immediately left when he remembered what Whale told him.
Killian had been hurting himself.
Liam pressed his hands into his forehead, resting his hands on his knees. How could he have been so blind? How could he have let this happen? He never should have left Killian, or LJ, alone with that monster of a man.
“Liam?... Why are you starin’ at me?” Killian mumbled sleepily.
“It’s nothing, brother. Go back to sleep.” Liam would have to talk to him about it eventually. But not right now.
“I'll go to sleep when I—” He was back out before he could even finish what he was going to say.
At least some things never change.
“Liam? Are you sure you aren't mad at me?”
“Wha? No, Killian, I’m not mad at you.” Liam was most definitely not still very much avoiding the conversation he needed to have with Killian.
“Are you sure you're sure? You've been acting weird since I woke up.” Killian pushed, pointedly ignoring the food the nurse had brought in for him almost twenty minutes ago.
“I…I’m not mad.” He reiterated, beginning to get that sinking feeling that they would be having this conversation whether he was ready or not.
“Then why are you acting so weird? Did something happen at work?”
“No.”
Killian's face fell. “Did—did something go wrong with my case?”
“No! No, of course not.” Liam sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Whale—Doctor Whale—he…he told me that he saw some… concerning marks on your person.”
The younger Jones brother went white as a sheet. “Oh. That's odd.”
Shit, shir, shit was the only thought Killian could muster as he tried to keep the panic off his face.
Liam licked his lips nervously. Spit it out, be a man. “He said that they’re self-harm marks, Killian.”
“I think I would remember doing such a thing.” Killian denied. Very much remembering doing exactly that—not that he WANTED to admit it.
Why did he have to push for Liam to talk to him?
He should have just ignored his odd behavior like he did with their father. Why did he always have to stick his nose where it didn't belong?
“Killian.” Was all Liam said. A simple plea.
And as much of a selfish asshole as Killian was (in his own eye, anyway) he couldn't hurt Liam by refusing to give in. “I'm sorry.”
Liam leaned forward to clasp his hands with Killian’s. “I don’t want you to be sorry, I just want you to be okay!” He was fully crying now, and he knew he needed to let himself cry, to be a good example for Killian.
“Please don't cry. I'll be better. I promise I'll be better. Please don't cry—” Killian pleaded, squirming uncomfortably. Looking away from him.
“I’m not crying because I’m upset with you, Killian! I’m crying because I’m sad that you would do this to yourself!” Liam said, desperate to make him understand.
“I'll stop. I promise I'll never do it again, brother. Please just stop crying.” Killian squeezed his hand. Hoping it'd calm him.
“I want you to stop because you want to stop, not because you think it’ll make me happy.” Liam wiped his eyes.
“I…” Killian didn't know what to say. “I'll try.”
“That’s all I ask. But you won’t be alone. We-we can get you a therapist, someone to talk to, if you wish.”
“Okay… can we talk about something else, please brother?”
“Very well. Except you’ve been stuck in the hospital for days, and there’s not much to talk about.” Liam smirked. “Although, we could talk about that blond lass who visits you all the time.”
“BROTHER!”
Snow had gone overboard with Killian’s ‘welcome back home from the hospital’ party.
So much so, that when Leo came home from school, he asked whose birthday it was.
There was a banner, streamers, confetti, and a giant cake.
“Okay, so I might have gone a little overboard.” She admitted, staring at the living room.
Emma snorted. “More than a little but I'm sure Killian will appreciate it.”
“I hope so.” Snow adjusted a streamer. “I want him to feel loved, especially after…what happened.”
The blonde grimaced. “When's he getting home?”
Snow glanced at her watch. “Soon. I should take the ice-cream cake out of the freezer.” She hurried into the kitchen to do just that.
Killian hesitated at the door—unsure of whether he should just enter right away or if he'd been gone long enough that he needed to knock before he entered again.
Wishing briefly that Liam was with him so he didn't have to think too hard about it before stomping down that thought. His brother had spent enough time with him.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to stand outside for long. Liam (the second one) must’ve seen him through Leo’s window, as he wrenched open the door and tackled him in a hug before Killian could even plan to knock.
“Hello tiny brother.”
“Shut your fuck.” Lj sniffed, clearly trying not to show that he was crying.
“Woah, big words little man. Who taught you how to talk like that?” Killian teased half heartedly, feeling very uncomfortable as he patted the younger boy on the back. Not sure how else to comfort him.
LJ pulled away, trying to act tough. “I ain’t no snitch.”
Killian leaned closer, lips twitching as he tried to hide his smile and look as serious as possible. “It was Leo, wasn't it?”
“No!” LJ seemed offended on behalf of his friend. “It was your dumb girlfriend, actually!”
“Oi!” He gave the younger boy a noogie. “Watch your bloody language.”
LJ stuck out his tongue. “Speaking of your dumb girlfriend, Mrs. Nolan has a party for you in there. There’s cake.”
Killian blinked, all amusement and indignation leaving him—being replaced with confusion and a bit of panic. “ What?”
He didn't squeak.
He didn't.
LJ rolled his eyes so hard, Killian was worried they’d roll completely back into his skull. “Uh, yeah, dingus. Mrs. and Sheriff Nolan wanted to throw you a ‘welcome home’ party, or whatever. Now, I said there was cake, so let’s go eat some fuck–fricking cake!”
Killian looked around at the banner, streamers, and confetti in stunned wonder as LJ and Leo dug into the cake.
Snow handed him a fork. “I know this might be a bit… overboard, but I wanted to do something nice for you after your stay in the hospital.”
He swallowed heavily, ignoring the wetness that was compiling in his eyes. Not meeting her own eyes as he took the fork from her. “Thank you, Mrs. Nolan..”
Stupid emotions.
“—But you didn't have to go through all this trouble for me.”
“It was no trouble at all. I like planning and decorating.” She smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Killian swallowed again and before he could think it through any further, he hugged her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She kissed the top of his head.