Title: Not Playing Favorites

Thanks so much to my new beta, old romantic Em!

Summary: Takes place at the end of Red-Handed. Details Emma's POV of Mary Margaret's arrest.

Not Playing Favorites:

Mary Margaret hadn't said much during the arrest, but hurt and betrayal were written all over her face.

"I have to do this by the book and I can't show any favoritism," Emma tried to explain as she gently led her friend to the jail cell.

The other woman remained silent.

"C'mon, you know Regina would use any excuse... She'd replace me in a heartbeat..." the words were out of her mouth before she realized what she'd said.

Mary Margaret's pale white skin turned even paler at the unintentional pun.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean-" Emma trailed off and flailed her arms helplessly.

Her roommate just shook her head, and sat down on the bench in the cell. Elbows on her knees and face buried in her hands, silent tears slipped down her pale cheeks.

Emma grabbed a box of tissues and a water bottle and sat them both on the bench before locking the cell.

It took nearly two hours to get all of the paperwork, fingerprints, and mug shots filed. Everything was saved, and backed up. Emma was not going to let anything slide. She owed it to her friend to be as thorough as possible.

"It's done. Your bail is set, so I'll pay it, and you can go home. Then we'll..."

"I get a phone call, right?" Mary Margaret interrupted her tersely.

"Um, yes. Sure you can," Emma said and was about to dig her friend's cell phone out of her purse.

"I need to use your phone."

Emma blinked and looked up at her in confusion.

"Mine doesn't have the number I need."

Mary Margaret held her hand out through the bars, and Emma slowly slid her cell phone out of her pocket and handed it over.

The woman in the cell gave Emma a pointed look.

Do you trust me, or not?

The words were not spoken aloud, but they might as well have been. It didn't take long for Emma to make up her mind.

"I'm just gonna step out and get some air."

She really had intended on staying out much longer, but in her haste to prove her trust to Mary Margaret, Emma had forgotten her coat and it was really cold out.

Mary Margaret had just hung up when Emma came back in.

"Someone is coming to bail me out. You don't have to worry about tarnishing your reputation."

Emma felt like she'd been slapped.

"Mary Margaret, please don't be like that!"

But her friend was facing the wall and refusing to say another word.

Twenty minutes later, Emma heard a familiar sound and let out a groan.

"Oh, please tell me you didn't!"

She pulled the cell phone back out of her pocket and looked at the recent call list.

Mr. Gold's name was on top. And sure enough, it was the clicking sound of his cane on the tiled floor that Emma had recognized.

"You didn't have to do that- I would have bailed you out! You shouldn't have made a deal with him!"

Mary Margaret's face had gone red, but she stuck her chin out defiantly.

"Wouldn't want you playing favorites."

Emma's jaw dropped at the snotty tone. It sounded so wrong coming from her best friend.

"Miss Blanchard, I recommend that you not speak without your lawyer present."

Emma and Mary Margaret jumped slightly at the sound of his voice even though they had both known he was there.

Emma turned on him, ready to unleash all the anger of this crazy emotional day, but stopped at the look in his dark eyes. They looked at her with sympathy and concern. He wasn't her enemy, and he would be true to his deal and help her friend. Of course he would have his own reasons for helping, but he would do whatever it took. And Emma had already proven that she was not willing to go as far as he was.

The anger deflated out of her, and she turned back to Mary Margaret with tired eyes.

"He's right. I have to stay distant and do this by the book. Too much is at stake," she admitted with a sigh.

Mary Margaret's eyes began to shine with unshed tears.

"Right. Wouldn't want you to lose your job! I mean, it's only my LIFE, we're talking about," she practically shouted.

This time it felt like a kick to the stomach.

"Regina would hand-pick her replacement. As your lawyer, I think our best bet is Emma Swan keeping her badge."

His voice was quiet, but the words echoed loudly through Emma's mind.

Mary Margaret put a hand to her mouth and gasped. More tears slipped out and, without a second thought, Emma opened the cell.

"Mary Margaret, listen to me. I swear to you, I will not let that happen. I am going to get to the bottom of this. It will be okay. I won't let you down," she promised and let out a small squeak when Mary Margaret suddenly engulfed her in the strongest hug Emma had ever received.

The surprise quickly melted away, and Emma felt her affection for Mary Margaret grow ten-fold.

Twenty-eight years of wandering, and she'd finally found her home in this quaint freaky little town. Other than Henry, Mary Margaret was the closet thing Emma had every had to real family. And she would fight to her dying breath to hold on to it.

Mr. Gold cleared his throat, and the women reluctantly ended their hug.

"Go home, Miss Blanchard. Get some rest, and I'll be over in the morning to start planning our strategy," he commanded, but with a kindness that left not offense.

Emma nodded at her and watched her leave. She turned turn to Gold with a warning glare.

"Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?" She demanded.

He smiled and looked down as if taking a moment to enjoy a private joke. Then he looked back up at her and tilted his head.

"Simple. I need you to do your job, and do it right. You still owe me that favor, and if you aren't Sheriff anymore, then my options become a lot more... limited."

Emma nodded, feeling better now that she understood his motives.

"Tread carefully, Emma. You have a part to play, and the whole town is watching."

End

A/n: Possible sequel/chapter two. Depending on just how AU Sunday's new episode makes this fic! ;-)