Hello! Here's a new multi-chapter story that's been stuck in my head for three years now. I really hope you'll like it!
Sorry for the mistakes, English is not my first language and I have no beta.
Nice reading! :)
(...)
On a cold January mornings Robin Locksley sits in the café a few minutes away from his apartment, drinking Espresso and reading a newspaper while his little son sits right in front of him eating pancakes with forest berries and strawberries, enjoying hot chocolate.
After their unrushed breakfast, they take a quick walk around the town, watching the empty streets (their journey usually starts at 9AM when kids are at school already and adults are at work) and only after their ritual walk around the magical white town do they go to the music instruments shop where they would spent the whole day.
However, today is not one of those days.
This morning Robin Locksley left home at 5 o'clock in the morning to drive a long way to a strange town called Storybrooke to meet someone he's not eager to meet at all. He had woken up Roland with aching heart, promising the boy he will be able to sleep in the car for as long as he wanted (5 hours to be exact, it takes 5 hours to reach their destination) and an extra-large cup of hot chocolate.
After a very tiring trip, Robin finds himself turning over a card in his hands over and over again, nervously beholding it for the hundredth time. He knows each line by heart already (not that there is written much), he studied that piece of paper for far too many times. Yet he still hesitates whether or not he did the right decision by coming here.
Exhaling Robin squeezes the card, mentally telling himself to calm down and just breathe.
It is hilarious how nervous he is while his five years old son is sitting quietly beside him, his lower lip stuck out in a pout that would be adorable in any other circumstances. There's no turning, however, no squirming on the chair, he just sits there and stares at the sky blue wall in front of him.
Little Roland doesn't like hospitals, neither does Robin (to be honest, who does?).The smell of anesthetics has always made Roland's face a little paler, his usual excitement was gone the moment they stepped into the hospital's building. People dressed in white and blue do not bring any pleasant thoughts as well.
A few months ago Robin promised himself and Roland to never ever go to a hospital for this case again. His son has been hurt pretty badly during the last surgery, he was nearly lost, and after the awful torment there were no positive results to be seen. Robin didn't see any reason to torture Roland anymore, he didn't think he could survive something like that again, neither of them could.
However, last week Robin's friend from high school Killian Jones visited him unexpectedly and after seeing Roland, he recommended to see this certain doctor. Robin felt conflicted. He remembered all the horrible things that happened to them in the hospital but Killian was insistent that the doctor is brilliant, the best even. Killian said Robin would be a fool not to give her a try.
Robin decided to trust his friends.
So here they are now, back in the hospital, both anxiously waiting for the 'wonderful' doctor to come.
He did a little research about this doctor, read reviews of her patients, had even contacted a few parents who had the pleasure to meet her. Their responses surprised him to no end – everybody described her as the best professional they've ever met, but a few of them mentioned that her character was… difficult to deal with. But as a doctor, she was brilliant.
Although Robin heard very positive opinions about her and Killian assured him that the woman does not give up until she's successful, Robin doesn't let himself hope that she'll be able to help. It will only be another round of pains and tears for his son and him and then the wonderful doctor will apologize (in the best case) and tell him there's nothing she can do.
Is it even worth it?
"Are you here to see Dr. Mills?" A sweet voice of a woman pulls Robin out of his thoughts, and he turns to look to his side.
He's met by a brown haired woman with green eyes who doesn't look older than twenty-five. The woman is smiling tenderly at him and Robin has to admit that she looks very happy, so happy that it annoys him, too happy to work in a hospital where millions of people die every single day.
There's no way she's the doctor.
Taking a deep breath, Robin glances at Roland who's looking at the woman curiously, obviously surprised by her sweet voice.
Perhaps people like her make patients' lives in the hospital less miserable.
"Yes, we are here to see Dr. Mills," Robin finally replies turning back to look at the young woman.
"I am Mary Margaret, Dr. Mills' intern," the woman introduces herself, that annoying smile never leaving her face.
Robin forces a smile of his own.
He's not usually a grumpy man. To be fair, Robin Locksley was a very positive person in his younger days. He tried to see good in everything and everyone. His friends had even given him a nickname – a merry man for his never disappearing smile and encouragement. Even in the biggest disasters he managed to see a positive side, he always made everyone around him happy.
Unfortunately, everything changed when he was let down time and time again. Being a single father is a hard thing to do but being a single father to a disabled child is ten times harder. After months in hospitals with no positive news, Robin lost his positive side, he smiled less and less, he wasn't the one making people laugh anymore. He pulled away from his friends, locked himself up between the walls of his shop and tried to stay strong no matter what.
"Dr. Mills should be here anytime. I will invite you as soon as she's ready," the young woman explains.
When Robin nods his head, she turns to his son, smiles at him encouragingly, assures him that Dr. Mills is wonderful and walks away.
For a moment the hallway is surrounded by silence, Robin can hear his rapidly beating heart and Roland's sharp inhales and shaky exhales which has him turning to his side, looking to the boy who's playing with his fingers absentmindedly.
"It's going to be alright, Roland," Robin says, stroking Roland's back.
Roland shifts in his chair, his arms now tightening around the stuffed worn out teddy bear that he's carried to every single examination and surgery. He then inhales again and confesses in a tone that makes him sound a few years older than he actually is, "Daddy, I'm afraid."
A sad smile forms on Robin's face as he continues to rub Roland's back, hoping to ease some of that worry.
"You don't have to," Robin insists, trying so sound as encouraging as possible. "The doctor will not do anything today that could hurt, I promise." He feels Roland exhale a little bit easier. "And don't forget that Dr. Mills is Killian's friend. She cannot be that horrible," he adds, feeling lighter when Roland smiles a bit.
Robin wraps his arm around his son, pulling him closer, and Roland instantly cuddles into his side, eyes closing as a familiar warmth calms him down.
"Roland Locksley!"
The sweet voice of the intern echoes in the empty corridor and Roland tenses again, turning to look at Robin with wide, fearful eyes. The father takes in a deep breath and whispers that everything is going to be good, kisses on top of Roland's head and takes him into his arms, walks to the doctor's room.
The room is small and rather dark with a desk where a dark haired woman is sitting, writing something down so fast, her movements make Robin's vision blurred. When she looks up at them, Robin feels a breath catching in his throat.
For a moment he gets lost in her deep brown eyes.
She doesn't look older than Robin, a woman with dark brown eyes and dark hair that barely reach her shoulders.
God, she is stunning.
"Hello, Roland, Mr. Locksley. I'm Dr. Mills," the woman introduces herself, closing off one case. She stands up and motions to the chair beside her desk. "Could you please sit here for a bit, Roland?"
When Roland nods his head uncertainly, Robin puts him down on the chair and stands behind it, shifting his weight from one leg to the other to remain calm.
All of a sudden, surprisingly, his memory takes him back to the moment when Marian announced that she was pregnant. They were overjoyed for they had wanted a baby for quite some time then. Robin was over the moon, he couldn't stop talking about it.
The pregnancy went smoothly but as soon as the baby was born, everything turned upside down. The parents didn't even get a chance to hold their screaming pink baby before he was carried out by nurses calling for another doctor.
Roland had his first surgery on his first hour in this mad world. Robin can still remember the fear he felt that night as he held Marian in his arms. His once strong wife couldn't stop crying, she was so exhausted and tired.
Thankfully, their baby was saved. The doctor who did the surgery told them that the boy will be fine from now on, however, the lower part of his body will stay still for it was kind of paralyzed. She apologized and said it was not possible to fix it completely.
They've been told that Roland will never be able to walk or feel his legs.
Medicine is a progressive field, though, and soon Robin received a call from the hospital who offered to try and treat Roland's disability. And of course, he agreed without a second thought. He was ready to do whatever it takes to make Roland live a life he deserved.
That was when their journey through the hospitals began.
Distant voices make Robin come back to reality, he blinks his eyes repeatedly to bring himself out of the memory lane. He inhales and focuses back at Roland and the beautiful doctor standing in front of the boy.
Dr. Mills smiles at Roland and sits down in her previous place, opens Roland's case and starts reading. The intern, who has been extremely quiet the whole time, opens X-Ray files on her computer and the way her face turns from a sweet smile into a frown makes Robin swallow hard.
He shifts a bit and clears his throat, thinks that offering some kind of information might help.
"Roland was born like this. He had his first surgery when he was-"
"Mr. Locksley, with all due respect, I'm capable of reading," Dr. Mills says, looking up from the case and narrowing her eyes, obviously frustrated. "If I have any questions, I will ask them myself."
He swallows hard and murmurs a quiet I'm sorry.
Roland turns to look at him, his little cute face turned into a nervous frown. Robin puts his hand on the boy's shoulder, smiles in encouragement.
"Alright, Roland," Dr. Mills says, closing the case. "I see that you've spent lots of time in hospitals, didn't you?" she asks, her voice so calm and soothing.
Roland only nods his head, not giving any verbal answer.
She runs her hand over his little legs then and Roland's eyes turn wider, anxious of what is going to happen next. "You can feel your legs when I touch them but cannot move them, am I right?" she asks, this time glancing at Robin.
Roland nods his head again.
"He does feel his legs, but not completely. Sometimes he doesn't feel his toes." Robin offers when Dr. Mills doesn't look away from him. For a brief moment their eyes lock and Robin feels as if he has met her before. "A few years ago doctors from London managed to connect some of the neurons in his spinal cord but it turns out it didn't go as well as planned."
"Alright," the woman nods her head, turning to look back at Roland. "I would like to do a little examination, is it alright?"
Roland's whole body tenses at that as he hesitantly turns over his shoulder to look at his father. Robin smiles, hoping to ease Roland's fears, and nods his head. "It's alright."
Dr. Mills smiles then and stands up, motioning for her intern to take the case from the desk while she lifts Roland up from the chair he's been sitting on. The boy's eyes turn wide and fearful even and Robin curses all the doctors who made his son like this in his head.
He squeezes Roland hand and is ready to follow them to the room next door which is supposed to be the examination room when Dr. Mills stops and turns around to face Robin.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Locksley, but you have to stay here."
Her statement has Roland's lower lip trembling as he squirms in her arms, obviously very unhappy with this situation.
"Daddy!"
"I'm not going to hurt you," she assures Roland, smiling that wonderful smile of hers, breathing calmly and he stops squirming in her arms but still looks at her fearfully.
Roland doesn't trust strangers easily, least of all doctors. He's a shy boy who ducks his head into Robin's neck when people he doesn't know approach him. It breaks Robin's heart to see him so afraid but he's read many medical journals that said it is better to examine a child without his parents for it will make him less anxious (which sounds ridiculous).
Robin decides to trust Dr. Mills.
Breathing in, he says, "It'll be fine, Roland. I'll be right outside the door. If something is wrong, you call for me and I'll come in instantly!"
Roland stares at him hesitantly but Robin squeezes his hand, whispering that he'll be fine, and then the boy is carried to the other room.
As soon as Mary Margaret closes the door behind them, Robin exhales the breath he didn't know he'd been holding. For a few moments he doesn't dare to move, listens carefully to any sound of disapproval from Roland.
The room is silent.
Anxiously, Robin takes a look around the room, tries to distract himself. He's a father of a disabled boy who's spent in hospitals more days than he's spent in his own home, Robin should've got used to this stress already, he shouldn't be this nervous. Yet, he is.
Sighing in desperation, he starts to study the desk which is covered in piles of papers. And then Robin catches a photo frame where Dr. Mills is holding a little boy in her arms, smiling as if she were the happiest person in the world. Her eyes are bright, her hair much longer than now, almost reaching her lower back.
She looks so young.
All of a sudden Robin remembers where he has seen her.
It feels as if his heart was being pulled out of his chest as memories assault him. She was in the car accident, this woman. He was driving home from Marian's place when he saw two crashed cars on the road. Robin, like a good man that he is, stopped to help.
The scene was horrible. There was blood everywhere, two people were already dead in one of the cars. There was also a young woman who was pregnant at the time, she was holding a young man in her arms, a young man who couldn't have survived the crash. Her screams were so loud and frightening, even the memory has Robin's hairs standing on their ends.
It was probably the most shocking night in Robin's life. That night when he got home he couldn't fall asleep for he couldn't shut out that woman's screams.
His breath hitches in his throat as he realizes that the woman who now is examining his son is the one who screamed at that.
The boy in the photo who doesn't look older than Roland is now must be her son. He must be a teenager now.
Robin shivers at the memory.
Her name is Regina, he remembers. He tried to help the man in her arms, he asked her question hoping to calm her down a bit but she only whispered that she was Regina and continued to scream until the paramedics took her and the man away.
Shit.
"See, it didn't even hurt," a voice snaps Robin out of his memory. He quickly turns around to find Dr. Mills walking back into the room with Roland in her arms but all Robin can see is her screaming, her face and body covered in blood as she was losing her mind.
Robin blinks his eyes rapidly to throw the image out of his head and concentrates on his son who's smiling now, shyly but still smiling.
"Daddy, Dr. Mills gave me a lollipop!" Roland exclaims waving a green lollipop in front of his eyes as Robin takes him into his arms.
"Did she?" Robin says, his voice quiet, unsteady.
Damn it! He needs to get a grip.
"Mr. Locksley," Dr. Mills starts after having sat down to her desk and motioning for Robin to sit down on the chair where Roland has been sitting previously.
Robin sits down and tries to focus on her but somewhere in the back of his head he can still hear those horrific screams of hers.
She opens Roland's case again and quickly writes something down. Her hand is so close to Robin's, he has to stop himself from touching it, from asking about the man who's been with her in that accident , if he survived, if she recovered.
It would be inappropriate, Robin tells himself, and forces himself to forget what happened more than a decade ago and focus on what is happening now in front of him.
But he cannot move his eyes from her.
She has a scar over her lip, he notices. That explains why she had so much blood on her face that night.
"Roland's case is… difficult," her voice brings Robin back to reality and he shifts a bit on the chair, prays to God that she hasn't caught him staring. "The examination didn't help to answer any of the most important questions I've had so I would like to do a CT, if you don't mind. MRI would be good too."
Robin fights the urge to scoff and nods his head instead. These tests have been done over and over again, nothing has changed since the last CT, but if she insists he'll not argue.
"I think it's best to hospitalize Roland." She adds, making Roland tense. "Physiotherapy would also be a good option while he's in the hospital. We could kill two birds with one stone, what do you think, Mr. Locksley?"
"Do you think you'll be able to help him?" Robin blurts out, feeling stupid as soon as the words leave his mouth.
God, he needs to get a grip and forget what had happened to her in the past before he makes a fool of himself.
"I cannot promise anything right now," she admits, "The chances are low, Mr. Locksley, very low, but I may be able to help at least a bit." She states, her lips pressed into a thin line. "No promises, but I will do everything I can."
He's heard these words before for so many times, he's lost count already. But something about this woman makes him trust her, makes him believe that maybe, just maybe Roland will be able to walk.
"Thank you, Dr. Mills."
She smiles and nods her head before handing the case to her intern, muttering something about meeting in an OR in fifteen minutes and then she's gone, leaving Mary Margaret to explain the details.
For the first time in a really long time Robin Locksley feels hopeful.
(...)
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Should it be continued? Please, let me know what you think!