I wrote the first two chapters as OS that I posted in Once upon a time there was a queen and her shepherd. By popular demand, I'm writing this into a multi-chapter version and posting it here. I will add to this fic as the muse strikes and will leave it completely open to suggestions. So let me know in the comments where you'd like to see this story going.
My goal is to write short chapters, 1500 words or less but update often.
Never again
His eyes were haggard when he entered Storybrooke General Hospital at two a.m. in the morning. The Sheriff of Storybrooke only had a couple of hours of sleep, spending most of his evening soothing his little girl, Emma, who had started teething.
Despite his fatigue, David Nolan would not trade the joy of fatherhood for anything in the world. His wife, Mary-Margaret, and he had tried for a child for most of the past five years without much success until that fateful appointment at a fertility clinic in Boston two years ago.
The facility had been catering to a very exclusive clientele but a generous donation from his father-in-law and mayor of Storybrooke, Leopold White, had miraculously opened its door. David had no idea how much Leopold had spent on the clinic but he knew that the amount was in the six digits category.
The way the all powerful Mr White always doted on his daughter had often been a subject of contention between David and his wife on more than one occasion. Mary-Margaret worshiped the ground on which her father stood but David had never liked the man. Behind his gentle, kind, and fair facade, David knew that Leopold could be ruthless. After all, no one climbed to a position of power without ruffling a few feathers.
David's suspicions started three years ago. His promotion to Sheriff shortly after his wedding to Mary-Margaret had stunned the town. Protests had been organized to reinstitute Graham Humbert in the role. The man in question had been found dead two days later, essentially putting a stop to further open disapproval. A suite of other incidents only confirmed the Sheriff's suspicions.
David scanned the room quickly to find the man he was looking for. Dr. Viktor Whale was talking to a group of nurses and David made his way toward him. "What have you got?"
The man looked at the Sheriff directly. He had become the hospital administrator a couple of months ago, enough time to want to put an end to the charade he had unwillingly been participating in. "Domestic assault and battery."
David schooled his features not to show his surprise to have been called in the middle of the night on such a case. His deputy usually handled those cases; not that he did not consider the crime to be severe but his administrative responsibilities usually prevented him from the day-to-day handling of such cases. He was only involved in murder investigations and the Sheriff himself could not remember the last time it had happened in the sleepy town located on the coast of Maine.
If the doctor noticed David's puzzlement, he did not show it. Instead, he handed the Sheriff the medical report, complete with the pictures of the victim. "She is still receiving medical attention. Her husband is in the waiting area; I thought you'd like to handle the case yourself." The statement was true in more ways than one. It was a cowardly move but one that may keep the doctor alive. The decision to call the Sheriff had not been an easy one. The doctor had wrestled with it for several months; each time the woman was brought to the emergency room. Finally his conscience forced him to call the authority, at least what could pass as such in the corrupt town. Whale just hoped that David was not as corrupt as many.
David grabbed the file and opened it. He found the pictures of the results of the assault on top of what he knew was the medical description of the injuries as well as the doctor's opinions on what could have caused them. If the woman decided to press charges, this report would be the strongest evidence for the D.A.
David examined the first picture carefully. He could clearly see the outline of a hand on the woman's thighs. David did not need to read the report to know what those were. He could also guess that the marks had resulted from someone trying to wrench her thighs apart. The following pictures all showed bruises on porcelain skin: her ribs, stomach, shoulders and back were littered with marks. David gasped in shock at the last picture of the woman's face. "Regina!" David stared at the picture of Regina White, his mother-in-law with her left eyes swollen shut and her lip split in half.
"Leopold is in the waiting area." The doctor waited for David's reaction, hoping that the Sheriff was not like the rest of his family, hoping that he would not try to bribe him to send Regina home. Regina had already visited the hospital four times in the last month and Whale did not know how much more her body could take. Leopold would eventually kill her unless someone intervened.
"Where is she?" He did not know Regina well. She usually stayed silent in the back at their family's gatherings. He had always wondered what would push a young woman to marry a man three times her age but neither Mary-Margaret or her father had been forthcoming on the subject.
Whale let out a short breath in relief. Perhaps Regina would get the help she needed after all. "In a private room at the end of the corridor. I… I usually give her a sedative and keep her the rest of the night… give her some respite."
David frowned. "Usually?"
"This is not the first time." Whale averted his eyes in shame. He should have acted sooner but like everyone else in town, he was afraid of Mayor White. "But this is a lot worse. She has two broken ribs and a small concussion."
"What did she say happened?"
"She fell down the stairs."
The doctor did not have to tell David that her injuries were inconsistent with this scenario. "Can I talk to her?"
"Yes." Whale nodded. "But she is scared. She won't talk to you. She doesn't think that anyone in town will help her."
Regina may have been right on that last point. "I can't help her unless she tells me the truth." Without waiting for an answer, David walked towards Regina's room quickly reading over the doctor's written report on how the injuries could have been sustained.
EC
Regina White was fidgeting on the bed. It was not the first time during her marriage that she had to take a trip to the hospital in the middle of the night. Over the years, her husband had ensured that the doctors seeing her would treat her injuries as best as they possibly could and send her home. However, the new administrator, Dr. Whale, was different. He would usually prescribe her a sedative and let her sleep peacefully for the rest of the night. Regina was looking forward to the nothingness that would come with the drug. She jumped slightly at the soft knock on the door. Her eyes widened in fear when she recognized Mary-Margaret's husband.
David's heart broke at Regina's fearful expression. He smiled softly. "I'm here to help you. Dr. Whale called me." Regina's eyes were rapidly filling with tears: she had hoped for a night away from her husband, away from her pain but no such luck. David sat on the stool near the bed Regina was sitting on, her legs almost touching his chest. "It's normal procedure for him to call me when the resulting injuries are inconsistent with the manner in which they were said to be inflicted." He waited for her to deny the accusations. When she remained silent, he prompted her further. "You didn't fall down the stairs, did you?"
Regina slumped forward slightly, her head hanging low. David reached for her hand and she jumped at the contact, jerking away from him. "I know you're afraid to talk to me. You have no reasons to trust me. But you don't have any not to either."
Two surprised brown orbs searched his face for the trace of a lie. David smiled at her encouragingly. "All I can tell you is what my duty as Sheriff is if you tell me the truth. I would listen to your version of the facts and examine the bruises to corroborate Whale's report. If your story matches with what Whale and I think really happened to you tonight, I will go and arrest your husband before placing you under protective custody. What that means is that I'll take you somewhere safe away from him where you can rest and heal. I'll turn all the evidence to the D.A. office for further prosecution. But first, you need to tell me what really happened to you."
Regina remained silent. She knew that her husband had bought out everyone in town. Even if David was sincere in his desire to protect her, the D.A., the judge and/or the jury would never let her husband go to jail. Then, she would be right back where she had started: in her husband's mansion.
David saw the battle raging inside her. "Did you fall down the stairs?"
After a long moment of silence, Regina finally answered. "No…" She whispered.
"Would you like to tell me what happened?" Regina hesitated once more before nodding. This could be her only chance to get away from the monster her husband truly was and as slim as it might be, she would take it. She hoped to escape during the trial. Her train of thought was interrupted when David spoke again. "I'm going to record our conversation. Is that ok?" Regina nodded again. David took his digital recorder from the inside pocket of his leather jacket and placed it on the bed near Regina.
As soon as David turned it on, Regina starting narrating the events that had really happened that night. She had to stop a few times through her story, her emotions getting the best of her. David remained silent. The tape would be played in court and the least he prompted her now, the least ammunitions he would give the defense side. Regina needed to tell the events in her own voice; he could not put words in her mouth or ask for clarifications. He would let the defense attorney do that. He did not need to. The series of events she was describing perfectly matched Whale's description of what could have caused her injuries.
When she finished, David turned off the recorder and as gently as possible took her hand. Regina did not try to pull away from him this time. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb soothingly. "I'm sorry I have to ask that… but I need to have a look at your injuries. Is that ok?" Regina looked away from him but nodded.
David stood and placed his index and middle fingers under her chin, turning her head toward him. "I'll be gentle. You need to tell me if I'm hurting you or if you feel uncomfortable." Regina nodded again, tears finally falling down her cheeks. David opened the file containing the pictures that would be admitted as evidence and started examining the injuries on her face. He would have to testify that these pictures were a faithful representation of how Regina looked tonight. "I need to have a look at your back."
Regina pulled her gown open in the back, revealing the bruises she had sustained tonight as well as the more faded one from a previous night similar to this one. David fingers were tracing lightly on her skin. She shivered in response. "I'm almost done." David said reassuringly. Once finished, he helped her close the gown.
David sat down on the tool. "I need to have a look at your thighs." It was important since the bruise bore a close resemblance to a human hand. The jury would not need a doctor to interpret this particular injury and it could only help her case. "I'm sorry, Regina." Regina pulled her gown up in a sob. She felt like a piece of meat men had been handling all night. At least David was trying not to hurt her. The sheriff made a nod of it quickly and pulled the gown back down. "All done."
Regina started shaking uncontrollably. David helped her lie down on the bed and pulled the sheet over her. "I'm going to take Leopold down to the station. He won't be able to post bail until morning." He knew that a judge would unfortunately grant the bastard his freedom.
Regina's eyes widened with fear and she tried to sit up: bail! She had forgotten about it. She would not have enough time to escape before her husband would be back to take his revenge on her. She pushed David's chest with all her strength. "No! You said you were going to take him away… you said I would be safe!"
David gave Regina space. "Regina, you won't have to go back. You're not his property. Until the end of the trial, you'll be under protection. Someone will stay with you at all time."
"Someone he can pay off!"
"Regina, I'm asking you to trust my judgement. There are people in this town who will do the right thing! Whale did! I just did! I will stay with you. I won't let him touch you again. I promise."
Regina did not doubt the veracity of his statement. After all, he could have just sent her back to her husband. However, she could not help but wonder how long his resolution would last. "And what's going to happen when Mary-Margaret learns that you've arrested her beloved father?"
Her statement had the same effect as a cold shower. "Does she know?" His heart raced in his chest waiting for the confirmation that his wife could not possibly know about what her father had done to his young wife.
"Yes." Regina whispered through clenched teeth. "When she was fourteen, she walked on him… having his way." David closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to come back to normal. "I bet this changes everything for you, doesn't it? You're going to have to choose between your wife and me. And we both know where you heart lies."
David sat down on the stool, wrestling with his conscience. He could not believe that his wife could have closed her eyes on what was happening in her home. Mary-Margaret had the purest, most benevolent soul. She would never sit by and let anything like that happen… unless it involved her father. When it came to Leopold, she always had a blind spot. But he would never be able to face her or his child again if he let Regina be the victim of further abuse. "No, it doesn't. I promise you that I will keep you safe." Surely, Mary-Margaret would understand.
Regina was taken aback by his answer but the sincerity of his tone finally convinced her to let him help. She laid back down on the bed, tired of fighting. David placed the cover back over her bruised body. "I'll come get you as soon as I'm done at the station. Try to get some rest." Regina smiled at him softly as David exited her room.
EC
By the time David entered the waiting area, he had managed to cast his doubts aside. As soon as he got a glimpse of the Sheriff, Leopold smiled and stood to greet his son-in-law. "David, when can I take Regina..."
The Sheriff turned the man around roughly, forcing Leopold's hands behind his back. "Mayor White, you're under arrest for domestic assault and battery on the person of Regina White."
The man huffed in rage. "David, what's the meaning of this? You better remember your place here!"
David ignored the question, continuing reciting the Miranda warning. Once he finished, he whispered in his father-in-law's ear. "I'm the Sheriff. A crime has been committed. Now let's go."
EC
David came back to the hospital three hours later. As he was making his way toward Regina's room, Whale accosted him. "She refused the sedative. She is scared, David. Second-guessing her decision." Both men knew it was a perfectly normal reaction. "I would suggest she sees Dr. Hopper today."
"Has Regina agreed to that?"
"No. She wants to leave."
David nodded. "I'll get her somewhere safe. As soon as she is settled, I'll make arrangements for her to see Archie."
Whale sighed. "I'd like to keep her here, Sheriff. Her injuries necessitate further medical treatment. I ran some blood work. She is anemic, and both her liver and pancreatic functions are elevated. I need to run some scans to see the exact nature of the injuries." Whale swallowed. "She is also suffering from severe dietary deficiency and she is slightly underweight for her height. She needs proper care. More than you can give her yourself."
David pinched the bridge of his nose; controlling who would have access to Regina in the hospital would be a nightmare. "I can't trust anyone here to keep her safe. The judge will see the request for bail by ten at the latest. Leopold could be out of jail by noon."
"That's all the time I need to finish testing." Against his best judgement, the Sheriff agreed to the doctor's request.
EC
Regina was ready to leave the hospital by eleven am. Thankfully, the case had been assigned to D.A. Albert Spencer. Although David loathed the man and very much doubted he had Regina's interest in mind, his constant feud with Leopold White was a definite asset. Spencer had eyed the Mayor's office for some time now and convicting Leopold of a crime was certainly a road paved in gold.
While the nurses were helping Regina clean up, David followed Whale to pick up the necessary medication. Regina needed to stay under the radar; therefore they could not walk into the pharmacy with a prescription, especially considering Clark's allegiance to the mayor. Besides, Regina needed an IV for some of the required medication. Whale had printed care instructions that David was reading carefully. "Most importantly, she needs rest and time to heal." The doctor finished.
Whale and David helped Regina to the car. Now that the initial shock of finally being rescued had passed and the adrenaline had flushed out of her system, Regina could barely keep her eyes open. David settled her as comfortably as possible in the back of the police cruiser. He covered her with a blanket, making sure that no one would be able to identify her before driving toward Granny's diner.
Widow Lucas also ran a bed and breakfast and the Sheriff knew that the old woman would be discreet and happy to help Regina, having herself been the subject of spousal abuse in her youth. She had managed to escape her husband and had started her life again in Storybrooke with her then three-year-old child. Her charitable demeanor had soon earned her the nickname of Granny.
He parked in front of the bed and breakfast ten minutes after leaving the hospital. After making sure that Regina would not wake, he walked inside, finding the old woman balancing her books. "I need your help."
Granny raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I'd think you'd go to your father-in-law first." There was no lost love between Granny and the mayor ever since the incident involving her granddaughter, Ruby. She and Mary-Margaret had been best friends all the way through high school. One night, Ruby had taken Mary-Margaret to the school dance. Although the accident had not been Ruby's fault, Leopold had blamed her for endangering Mary-Margaret's life. After graduation, Ruby had moved to California and had never looked back. Although Granny missed her grandchild dearly, she had never forced Ruby to come visit. She had herself entertained the idea to move to California, but there were too many people in town she still cared about.
David swallowed before describing the events of the past few hours. The old woman's eyes widened in surprise. She had recognized all the signs in Regina but she had never thought anyone would be foolish or brave enough to try to protect her, least of all Leopold's own son-in-law. "What is Mary-Margaret saying about all this?"
David averted his eyes. "I don't know." His wife had left him fifty text messages over the past two hours. "I haven't talked to her yet."
"Where is Regina now?"
"Are you going to help me?"
The woman stood from behind her desk. "I'm guessing she needs a safe place to stay. You brought her here."
David nodded. "Once Leopold is released on bail, she won't be safe anywhere… you're the only one he can't coerce."
Granny nodded. "I'll go prepare a room for her upstairs."
David first carried Regina upstairs and settled her on the bed. The woman was so exhausted that the motion did not wake her. While Granny was working to make her new protegee more comfortable, David went fetching for the hospital supply.
David started Regina's IV and elevated the bag using the coat hanger in the room. Regina stirred in her sleep. David sat down beside her and gently rubbed her back "You're safe here. Just get some rest."
Regina was too tired to argue and she soon fell into a peaceful slumber.
EC
David was waiting for Mary-Margaret at the dinner. He had placed Regina's file in front of him, ready to have a long overdue explanation with his wife. The short brunette stormed through the front door ten minutes later.
Mary-Margaret spotted her husband immediately. Bumping into a few customers on her way to the furthest booth, she sat in front of David. "Why did you arrest my father?"
"You know why. You bailed him out."
"He said Regina fell down the stairs."
"How many times has she fallen down the stairs, Snow?" He used her nickname, trying to get her past her rage and the blind devotion she held for her father. When Snow did not reply, he pushed the file toward his wife. He opened it to the first picture of Regina: it showed the bruise on her face. Mary-Margaret gasped in both shock and horror. She placed her hand in front of her open mouth; tears were springing from the corner of her eyes. David flipped through all the pictures that had been taken at the hospital earlier in the day. "We can't allow this to happen ever again."
