First, thanks so so much to all who read, reviewed, and/or favorited the first chapter. It makes me so unbelievably happy.
A few things I forgot to mention in my note on Chapter 1: This takes place at imaginary Storybrooke University in Maine. Also, I am basing the rugby portions on my own experiences playing rugby in America at the college and club level so I apologize in advance for anything that doesn't line up with your own rugby experiences, especially those outside of the US. Finally, since most of the cast of OUAT is roughly the same body type I am assuming SOME changes to fit certain rugby positions. Not that someone Ariel's size hasn't knocked me on my ass before cuz that's definitely happened. :)
Okay enough babbling on here is chapter 2!
Regina's knuckles are beginning to turn white as her fingers wrap tightly around the handles of her crutches while she watches her team run drills without her. She's dressed in her rugby practice gear out of sheer habit but she's far away from her team and feeling damn useless. It's only been three days since her injury and to say she's unhappy about it would be an understatement.
Rugby practice is about half over and the team has been split in half with the forward pack practicing on one half of the field and the backs on the other. The forwards coach, Coach Lucas (or affectionately referred to as "Granny" by the upperclassmen) is resetting a rucking drill for what Regina feels like the hundredth time. Her anger over her injury seems to be growing by the minute as she watches.
As if sensing Regina's frustration, Granny turns and calls Regina over to the group. As gracefully as she can manage, Regina makes her way over to her teammates.
"Regina, I know you can't get in here but can you watch this drill from the other side and help me determine where it is falling apart?" Granny asks her when she is closer, having utilized the knowledge of Regina, who has been the forwards captain since the beginning of last season, on many occasions in the past. "I think you'd agree that this is where we were weakest in our game on Saturday," she adds.
"Absolutely," Regina answers, letting out a breath, grateful that while the situation is not ideal she can be of use to her team even when injured.
"You joining us for dinner?" Marian asks Regina as practice draws to a close and the team starts gathering up their belongings.
"No," Regina responds, leaning and rocking slightly on her crutches. "I have to head over to the gym and meet with the trainer."
Marian's face contorts into a cringe.
"You want me to come with you? No one wants to meet with Mr. Gold after dark."
"No, it's okay," Regina answers, laughing lightly and shaking her head. "It's with his assistant."
"Hopefully less creepy than his boss." Marian says, look of concern still on her face.
"She, actually." Regina responds, her face neutral. "And not creepy, just cocky."
"Ah ha." Marian says, eyeing her friend. "Well, meet you afterward to study?"
"Yes, sounds good," Regina responds with a nod.
"Good luck," Marian adds before grabbing her sports bag and hoisting it onto her shoulder.
The sky is starting to grow dark by the time Regina hobbles her way over to the main athletic building. Not being used to the crutches, and the distance from the field to the gym being quite a hike, the brunette's mood has worsened dramatically since parting ways with her team.
Pulling the large glass door open, she awkwardly maneuvers her way through it and into the main gym area. Several people look her way from their work-out equipment before quickly averting their eyes having been greeted by the glare currently fixed on the rugby player's face.
Looking around she quickly spots Emma, sporting a white SU polo today with her shorts, and chatting with a student behind the sign-in desk that she recognizes from her frequent visits to the gym. As she makes her way over to the desk, crutches clunking with each advancement forward, Emma breaks her concentration on her conversation and looks up at Regina. Spotting the brunette a half smile breaks out on her face.
"Let's get this over with, Miss Swan," Regina says grumpily as she stops in front of the blonde before adding, "I have studying to do."
"Woah, whoa, 'Miss Swan?'" Emma responds, raising her eyebrows dramatically high before returning them to normal and laughing lightly, folding her arms. "Sure thing, your majesty, let's move to the mats in that far corner."
Regina rolls her eyes and starts making her way in the direction indicated by the trainer.
"Do not call me that," Regina says, not turning back around.
Emma chuckles again as she gives her friend a look and moves to follow the brunette.
"Talk to you later, Ruby."
"Good luck." Her friend teases with a smile.
"Okay, move over by the wall," Emma starts before adding, "please, so you have something to lean on without the crutches."
Regina places her hand on the wall, leaning the crutches next to her, refraining from putting any weight on her injured leg. As she steadies herself she lets out a sigh and looks back up at Emma for further instruction.
"Alright, have you been doing as I advised on Saturday?" Emma asks, folding her arms in front of her and rocking slightly on her heels.
"R-I-C-E." Regina confirms.
"Have you walked on it at all since Saturday?"
"No."
"Excellent," Emma says taking a step forward closer to the brunette. "Now, I want you to carefully try putting weight on your left leg and let me know how that feels as you put more and more weight on it; stop if it starts to hurt, okay?"
Regina nods and, eyes on her leg, places her foot onto the ground to test it out.
Emma takes a few small steps forward and Regina looks up to see her putting her hands out tentatively as if afraid Regina might fall.
Regina frowns at her and moves her eyes back to her leg as she starts to slowly put weight on it.
"Good, good," Emma says quietly, "how does it feel?"
"Ridiculous." Regina answers flatly.
She looks up to see Emma's eyes are still on her and are unamused.
"It feels tight but no pain yet." Regina revises her answer with another sigh but finds she's fighting a small smile at the small annoyance she caused.
Regina continues to add more and more weight slowly as Emma watches her carefully until she's standing completely on both feet.
"Okay," Regina says, looking back up at Emma while taking her hand off the wall. "It still feels tight but I'm standing fully on both feet."
"Perfect," the blonde says, taking another step forward, "Next, I want you to try a couple of steps, if you feel any pain at all I want you to stop immediately, okay?"
Despite the continued feeling of being treated like a small child, Regina bites her tongue and nods again. Missing the 2nd half of the first game of the season and even one practice had firmly planted in Regina's mind that healing is highest on her priority list. Higher than the almost overwhelming need to chew out the person in front of her. This injury is giving Regina a quick temper and Emma can count herself lucky to be the one who is helping her heal.
This one fact is keeping Emma out of the firing range...
For now.
Regina first places her injured leg forward in a step and once it is planted follows it with her right. Everything feels tight but nothing is painful. This gives Regina some much needed hope.
Pausing a moment she repeats the motion, eyes on the ground. After several more steps she looks up.
Facing her and slowly walking backwards with her hands out is a very proud looking Emma. Her eyes are fixed on Regina and a small smile graces her features. The expression startles Regina a moment and she crinkles her brow and pauses. She has a fleeting moment of feeling sorry for her anger at the blonde earlier before she squashes that down and schools her features.
"Everything okay?" Emma asks, smile immediately dropping as Regina stops her steps. She steps forward placing her hands on the brunette's shoulders and looks down at her injured leg.
"Yes, yes." Regina answers, annoyance back in her voice. "You know, you don't have to speak to me like a child."
Emma chuckles a little at this and removes her hands from the brunette's shoulders and takes a step back.
"Alright Regina," She starts, folding her arms over her chest, "I think that's enough for today anyway. I w…"
"That's it?!" Regina interrupts, standing shakily a few feet from the wall, her glare deepening. "How is that all we are doing? Tired of doing your job and figured you'd put 10 minutes in before returning to hanging out with your friend? What kind of trainer are you? At this rate I'll be well enough in time to play in the alumni game."
Regina is furious, almost immediately forgetting her injury and her earlier decision to not overreact, she moves forward in an attempt to get into Emma's personal space.
She has a few more choice words for her.
She only takes one angry step, however, before a bolt of pain shoots through her upper leg. She winces, sucking in a quick breath of air and Emma moves forward instantly to grab just under her upper arm to hold her up.
"Jesus, Regina," Emma says, her own voice rising slightly and looking directly at Regina. "Hamstrings take a little while to rehabilitate when injured. You're going to have to reach the ability to walk normally without pain before you try any stretching or strength exercises, okay?"
Regina takes a deep breath and allows herself to put some weight onto Emma whose hand is still under her bicep. The blonde's face is determined but not angry despite the insults Regina had thrown at her only moments ago.
That somehow makes Regina feel worse for what she had said than if Emma had appeared insulted or even fought back.
"Fine," is all Regina says as she reluctantly allows Emma to help her hop back to the wall, before turning to look at her.
"Okay," Emma starts as she releases Regina's arm and watches her take her crutches from the wall. "I want you to still use your crutches for a few days. However, I want you to start doing some walking as well. If you feel any pain, switch back to the crutches. Still make sure to rest it often and ice and compress several times a day."
Taking another deep breath, Regina leans on her crutches, looking down at the ground to steady herself before looking up at Emma again and nodding.
"Okay."
"Same place and time in two days?" Emma asks, taking a few steps backwards and out of the way to allow Regina to start to head towards the door.
"That's fine."
"See you Thursday."
"See you Thursday," Regina responds as she finally makes it to the door.
Reaching out for the handle, the door swings open instead and she looks up to spot Marian holding it for her. Marian holds the door open fully, allowing Regina to pass through as she looks past her and into the gym.
Marian lets the door close fully before she hurries in front of Regina, forcing her to stop.
"What the hell, Marian?" Regina asks, brow furrowing in confusion.
"THAT is the trainer's assistant?" Marian says, eyes wide.
"Yes…" Regina answers still confused, looking quickly back into the gym at Emma walking back towards the hall that leads to the trainer's office.
"Damn!" Marian says, smile spreading across her face and moving back next to Regina so they can keep moving forward down the path. "You didn't mention that she's hot!"
Regina scoffs and rolls her eyes.
"Not my type."
"Since when is blonde, athletic, and gay not your type?" Marian responds, moving so she is walking backwards allowing her to send an accusatory expression at her friend.
"Marian…" Regina warns.
"Do we need to take a walk down memory lane?" Marian says, pointing a finger at Regina.
"Marian. Shut. Up." Regina responds sternly, though without much bite.
Marian lets out a huge laugh as she turns back around to walk next to her friend and Regina just shakes her head as they make their way home.