Title: Rio
Author: jennaravenrose
Fandom: once upon a time
Rating: mature just in case
She frowned at the paper in her hands. Take a vacation he urged. You've been through a lot, he said.
Too bad she didn't really want to take a vacation. No what she wanted was to finish those design specs.
She frowned at the ticket. No she wasn't up for surf and sand.
Fair skin burned damn it and well sand got in places she'd rather not think about.
Plus she detested flying as a rule. Couldn't stand airports in the slightest. Too damn crowded.
He would say she's making excuses. Well of course she was, she didn't want to go damn it.
"Miss?" said the woman at the counter.
"Can I get a refund on this?" she said
She shoved the ticket across the counter at the woman. The woman took a look at it and frowned.
Probably never had anyone request a refund on first class to Hawaii before.
"Um yes would you like me to rebook?" said the woman
"No just refund the amount of the ticket" she said
She was tapping her foot impatiently, while the woman behind the counter tried to get out of refunding her money.
After about twenty minutes of typing she was about ready to ask to talk to the woman's boss.
"Okay the money should post to your account within twenty four hours, can I help you with anything else?" said the woman.
She shook her head no and walked away from the counter. She breathed a sigh of relief when she was outside again.
If he was going to insist that she go on this ridiculous vacation she would at least like to choose the destination.
She headed for her car which was in the parking structure. She had just gotten to her car door when her phone rang.
Sighing she fished it out of her pocket.
"You were supposed to waiting to board a plane to Hawaii" said her boss
She repressed the urge to groan.
"I hate Hawaii!" she said while she unlocked her door.
"Too bad, you need the sun. Now march back in there young lady and buy a ticket thats an order" said her boss
"Not military can't order me and relax I was planning on going somewhere just not there" she said
He sighed in obvious exasperation
"You are not I repeat not locking yourself in your house and working all week. Don't think I won't check" he said
She swore to herself
"Damn it Nick" she said
"Vacation Rio and that's an order. Don't let me see you with your fingers on a keyboard once, not even to update your status" he said
"Fine, but you know this is going to put me behind schedule" she said
"So will you collapsing of exhaustion"he said
"Fine I'll buy a train ticket but I'm not flying" she said
"Rio you have a pilot's license for crying out loud just get on the damn plane!" he all but shouted
"Nope if I'm doing this I'm doing it my way, see you in a week boss" she said
Then quickly hung up, as an afterthought she turned her phone off.
She wasn't happy about this but at least she could take her preferred travel method.
An hour later she pulled into the train station.
Walked inside and bought her ticket.
With no waiting in line and someone who actually wanted to wait on her thank you very much.
She stowed her ticket and went home to pack. The train left tomorrow morning so she had a few hours of free time.
She ended up repacking twice.
She was reaching into her dresser drawer to switch out another set of undergarments she was unhappy with.
When her fingers brushed it's edge.
Sighing she pulled the battered photograph out of the drawer. She frowned at the picture in her hands.
They looked so happy once, before life and that place tore them apart.
Her fingers traced the face of the other girl in the picture.
"Emma ,I miss you" she said softly
She dropped the undergarments in her hand but held onto the photograph.
It had been awhile since she'd seen Emma, maybe she'd stop by and visit on her layover.
She had several hours to kill anyways. Nodding to herself she set the photo in the suitcase and closed the lid.
She ordered take out while she printed out Emma's address and number.
She hung up and scribbled the remainder of the notes for the new design before locking it in her safe.
Knowing if she didn't stop for the night Nick would come by and bug her.
She hated it when he got all overprotective of her.
It wasn't like she didn't know how to defend herself. Nick knew this so why the big brother act?
The bell rang and she checked the monitor before opening the door.
One thing she wasn't lax about now was security. She recognized the delivery guy so she opened the door.
Took the food and handed him the money plus a sizable tip.
She was always generous to the delivery guys and her food was usually piping hot because of it.
The smell of enchiladas was getting to her as she walked into her kitchen. The chips never made it to the kitchen.
She was grabbing silverware and making notes for her trip. Things like get more cash
She should have enough time to hit the bank before she left.
She clicked on the television and watched a few episodes of glee while she tapped away on her i phone.
She was just finishing up her list and getting up to get another soda.
When her phone rang. She frowned debated not answering it.
Then decided she'd rather he not blow up her phone all night.
"Yeah Nick what now?" said Rio
"Canada seriously Rio you don't even like snow" said nick
"Nick it's spring I doubt there's much snow and yeah I do like snow a whole lot better than sand" said Rio
"Oh really since when? And why Montreal?" said Nick
"In a word underground mall" said Rio
"That's two words, and since when do you watch the weather channel?" he said
"I don't need the weather channel to tell me the seasons Nick" said Rio
"Fine have it your way but take two weeks, since your going to insist on taking a damn train.
You better not be planning to drive" he said
"Nick I am not that stupid give me some credit I know from Las Vegas to Montreal is too far to drive" she said
"I know just be careful Rio wouldn't want to hear my favorite employee has gotten mauled by a moose" said Nick
She opened her mouth to tell him moose don't maul people.
That was bears but he hung up before she could say anything.
She spent the rest of the evening swearing at city-bound bosses and crying to sad glee episodes.
While she tried to finish her enchiladas without drenching them in tears.
She ended up sleeping on her couch.
Thankfully she had set her alarm last night unfortunately to turn the damn thing off she would have to walk across the apartment and down her hall.
Groaning she rolled to her feet padded down her hall.
Turned it off and headed for her shower. She could always grab a latte on the way to the bank.
The first half was by bus so she could always hit one of those cafes downtown.
Eight hours on a bus to salt lake wasn't so bad she could always play angry birds on her pad until they got there.
Besides the funnest part was the journey.
Twenty minutes later she was heading for the door. Rolling suitcase following the click of her heels.
Two hours later she was settling back in one of the bus seats and ignoring the strange glances shooting her way.
She assumed it was because most people who could afford Louis Vuitton choose to fly not take the bus.
She was just finishing up her game of angry birds round twelve take twelve when they pulled into the station.
People were already starting to pack up their stuff so she did the same.
So when they were finally pulled into the station she just grabbed her bag and followed the group off the bus.
She trotted through the station out the side door and headed for the Amtrak station next door at practically a run.
Which she had to admit wasn't exactly easy in six inch heels.
Unfortunately her train was running a bit late and she was worried she wouldn't be able to spend as much time with Emma that she wanted to.
Frowning she perused her itinerary. She supposed she could always take a later train from Boston.
Not like she was really in a hurry and he did say take another week. Her train was pulling up the announcer said.
Grinning she grabbed her bag and headed for the boarding area.
The conductor took her ticket and she walked onto the train.
The cabin she booked was small but private and at least she had her own bathroom and bed.
She stowed her bag then sat back and relaxed. She must have cat snoozed because by the time she woke it was dark outside.
She locked up her cabin and headed for the dining car. It was pretty boring on the train but it gave her time to think. Unfortunately it also gave her time to remember.
Childhood memories that she would rather have forgotten. Emma had been the only bright spot in that dark place.
Her defender and then later her friend. Rio had entered Sweet Angels home for girls when she was eight.
Emma was already there. According to the others it was her second home placement.
Emma had been handed back into the system when she was three and had been at this home for six years.
Rio was protective placement, meaning child services yanked her out of a bad situation.
The adults tried to keep what happened hushed up but Rio had always been a bit too observant plus she could remember everything.
She just wouldn't tell the doctors. The last thing she wanted was to be on medication.
Her mom had been on medication and she tried to kill Rio. Part of her still blamed the meds.
She knew it was irrational to blame the substance when her mother was the one who had stopped taking the pills.
Rio sighed and closed her eyes. Glad she had a private cabin because she could feel the tears pricking her eyes.
Thinking about her past always made her emotional.
It was hard to disconnect those feelings of rejection and abandonment that went along with it.
Rio often wondered if her mother ever regretted it when she was sitting in her cell at Rykers.
Part of her hoped the woman was dead and the other half just wished she would have walked away just like Rio's dad.
The video screen made the sound it usually made when her character had just died.
Frowning Rio clicked it off and reclined the chair. She pushed the thoughts of her mother away and focused on Emma.
Would she even remember her foster sister Rio or would she reject her like the rest.
She hoped not but it had been ten years. Emma did a stint for robbery in Phoenix that much Rio knew.
It was pathetically easy to get information on her sister. Quite another to act on it.
She could still remember the day Rio had supposedly been adopted.
Emma had clung to her like her life depended on it and Rio didn't want to go either.
In the end the adults won out as they always did against a child. Rio was dragged away kicking and screaming for her sister.
As they loaded her into a big black car and drove away Rio watched Emma disappear out the back window.
She had whispered that she would find her and she would.
Some of that time was blurry but one thing Rio did remember were the things Emma told her when she first got to the house. Things that saved her life when the program got a hold of her.
A shiver traveled up her spine and a vague sense of unease settled in her stomach whenever she thought about that place.
She was supposed to be going to live with her new family instead they drove her onto a military base.
Shot drugs into her system and experimented on her.
It was only five years but she had to do something terrible to get free of them.
It was worth it though because now she had the control and all the aces in the hole.
She should be getting closer to Chicago by now. She pulled up her schedule.
She would have to see about a different connection if she wanted to hit Boston first.
They had just announced Milwaukee and it was less than an hour until she would have to change trains again.
She started to repack her bag because she had spread her stuff all over the cabin, trying to find her charger for her pad.
By the time they were pulling into the station.
She had everything packed again and was already heading for the door by the time the train stopped.
She waited patiently for the doors to be opened and climbed off the train.
She entered the station and looked around for the connecting information for the next train.
She groaned out loud when she saw the delay had caused her to miss her next train.
Frowning she walked up to the counter.
"Can I help you miss?" said the woman behind the counter
"Actually yes I just missed my train because the last one was a bit late is there another one heading to Boston?" she said
The woman typed into her keyboard and frowned
"Unfortunately not today no but I can put you on the one for New York. You can transfer to the one going to Boston from there" said the woman
"Very well lets do that" said Rio
The woman started typing again
"Oh ah it's a bit of a price increase, is that acceptable?" said the woman
Rio sighed and dug into her purse and dug out her platinum card
"Not a problem at all"said Rio
Especially not with my boss footing the bill she mused. The woman swiped her card and handed it back.
"It leaves in two hours so don't go far they will announce it" said the woman
Rio nodded and headed for the cafe they had in the station.
She could use some coffee and maybe she would hit that gift shop next door.
She enjoyed her coffee and bought a couple of coffee cups from next door.
She hoped Emma drank coffee. The train announced as she was leaving the second gift shop she found.
Book in one hand suitcase handle in the other she made her way to the gate.
She had to shuffle her purchases a bit to get her ticket out.
She finally did after nearly dropping the whole pile of bags and her book.
Handed the man her ticket and climbed on board. She just got a seat for this leg of the trip.
A few hours later she was in New York transferring to the train to Boston.
She was halfway through her new book.
A bodice ripper she spotted in the bookstore with a handsome dark haired pirate on the front cover.
She didn't know why she got it just that the guy made her all hot and bothered.
She usually didn't read this kind of book but here she was sitting on a train with her eyes riveted to a page in a book.
That was so cheesy you could throw it on dough and call it pizza.
While she tried to follow the plot she thought about what she was going to tell Emma.
Should she lie and tell her she had a great life. A wonderful family or the truth.
Which would make Emma feel worse? She turned the page and rested the edge of the book on her bottom lip.
Yet another guy on the train was making a pass at her.
She sighed what was it about reading a romance novel that made all the losers think they had a chance.
She looked up and regarded the offending party with her best leave me alone or die look.
He got the hint when she simply refused to talk to him.
Truth she decided, Emma would hate it if she lied to her.
She had never lied to Emma before she wasn't about to start now.
After all if you couldn't trust pseudo family who could you trust.
Boston was announced just as she turned the last page.
She was frowning again because the story just left the reader hanging.
You never got to really know the characters until midway through and then just when that happened it left you hanging.
"Stupid bodice ripper" she muttered and shoved it into her bag.
She left the station and hailed a cab. Gave the driver Emma's address and sat back.
Her stomach was filled with nervous butterflies.
Ten years felt like forever what if she wasn't happy to see her?
The cab pulled up and Rio paid the driver. She stood on the curb looking at the apartment building in apprehension.
"Come on Rio, get it over with. The worst she can do is say get lost"she said.
She walked in the door of the building and talked to the doorman.
"So she just up and moved to Maine?" said Rio
"Well no I think it had something to do with that kid" said the doorman.
"What kid?" said Rio
"I think it was her son or something, but I know she drove him back to Maine and then she stayed,
filled a forwarding order for her mail just last week" said the doorman
"Any idea where in Maine?"said Rio
"Well I can't give you her address but I can tell you it's a town called Storybrooke" said the doorman
"Thanks" said Rio
With a bewildered look she left the apartment building and hailed a cab to take her back to the train station.
While there she sat down at an internet cafe and looked up Storybrooke.
Apparently it was a very tiny town with no connecting bus service.
The closest the train could get her was Bangor she would just have to rent a car from there or take a cab.
That was if they let her rent a car. She booked her tickets and checked into the nearest four star hotel.
She had twelve hours that was more than enough time for some well deserved pampering.
She was definitely overdue for a manipedi.
She ate dinner via room service in a huge fluffy robe and continued to research Storybrooke.
There was surprising little information which made Rio a bit nervous.
Either the town was one of those small if you pass it don't blink towns or it was stuck in its own little dimensional pocket. Sighing she shut down the pad and climbed into the bed.
She tried closing her eyes and going to sleep but for some reason she missed the swaying of the train.
Pity she couldn't bring up one of those cabana hammocks from the pool area. She was restless and she gave up on it twice.
By the next morning she was exhausted and ready to go. She took a quick shower.
Put on another of her business suits another set of expensive heels and headed for the front desk.
She paid her bill and caught another cab back to the station.
She waited in the station for the train and checked the bookstore for more books by that author.
She didn't find any unfortunately and boarded the train feeling disappointed that she still didn't know what happened.
She worked off her aggression on a furious session of fruit ninja and angry birds.
She pulled into the Bangor station after a light cat snooze on the train .
She had reserved a car on-line while on the train. From one of the few places willing to rent to someone under twenty five.
She hailed a cab and gave the man directions to the rental place.
Two hours and a sizable deposit later. She was driving a semi new prius that smelt faintly of vomit from the backseat.
A fact that made her very aware that her suitcase was sitting in the same backseat.
Mostly because it wouldn't fit in the trunk. Her phone rang and she pulled over to answer it
"Yeah?" she said
"Boston?" said Nick
"Thought you weren't going to bug me?" said Rio
"No of course not, just checking up on you" said Nick
"Yep read bugging me" said Rio
"All right all right I get the hint I just wanted to let you know the guys flagged someone trying to do a search on you, just be careful" he said
"Will do, thanks for the heads up" said Rio
She hung up and pulled back onto the road. A few hours later she was passing a sign that said welcome to Storybrooke.
She passed over a bridge and for some reason the hair on her neck stood on end.