„How's he doing?" Emma asked. She was desperate to hear some good news. She was hanging on every word doctor Mills said.

„He is stable now. We put him in the IC unit to monitor his vitals," Regina answered hoping this would satisfy Emma's hunger for answers.

„Thank you. Can I see him?" the blonde asked already looking at the door to the ICU. Every time Henry got sick she was there, by his side, by his bed so now she felt like she was failing him by not being there to hold his hand. Her heart was racing and her whole world was turning around her son. „Yes, you can see him, but let him sleep. He needs as much rest as he can get," Regina warned Emma turning on her heals slowly walking towards the door to open them for the impatient mother.

„One last question. What are you going to do next?" Emma needed to know what the doctor planned so she could get Henry ready and also prepare herself mentally for what was coming.

„I will go through Henry's file again to make sure there was no stone left unturned. I also want to run more tests and double check the old ones in case there has been some change. We can't do much now unless you have the money for the treatment," Regina looked at Emma who seemed to be disappointed and sad. She somehow believed that in this hospital they would have the means to proceed with the treatment but she was wrong. Again. The voice in the back of her head kept telling her that until she gets the money no hospital would start the treatment but she didn't want to believe it. She had faith which was now slowly disappearing.

„Unfortunately I don't have the money. I will have to ask for a loan," Emma admitted lowering her gaze to the ground. Regina could feel Emma's sadness. Every other person would feel sorry for her but Regina was different. She wasn't exactly the warmest person on this earth. She smiled and when Emma looked up she turned around and opened the door for Emma to enter. The blonde went inside and Regina closed the door so they could have some privacy. She was wicked but she had some boundaries which she would never cross as a doctor. Instead of listening to them she went to the other side of the room. There was a big window through which she could see Emma worrying for her child and Henry calmly breathing in and out. Everyone in this hospital knew that Regina was one of a kind. Not only that she was the best doctor in the area but she was also the Evil Queen of this place. She always made sure that the patient was well taken care of while she could get something for her own use out of the situation. While checking the results of Henry's blood tests she was thinking about what could come out of this for her. She raised her eyes from the charts to look at Emma. She had to admit that the woman was very pretty. Long blond hair, firm figure, clean face, beautiful blue eyes. Her mind has already started coming up with possible scenarios. It has never taken her long to think of something. She will figure it out soon. Her lips formed a wicked smile and her eyes went back to the file. She will get what she wants in the end. She always does.

„Mom?" Henry asked if his mom was there with him. He was so weak that he couldn't even open his eyes so he relied only on his ears.

„I am here, kid," Emma said to calm him down. Regina's words were still echoing in her mind. She wasn't supposed to wake him up. Was she in trouble now? She sat down next to him and stroke his hair. Tears filled her eyes.

„You need to rest. I will be here when you wake up," Emma kissed Henry on his forehead while adjusting his blanket. As much as she tried to think positively her mind sometimes filled sad and morbid thoughts. What would she do if he died? How could she live without him? Emma was the only person he had and Henry was the only family she had left. Emma shook her head to outcast these thoughts and when Henry fell asleep, she left the room to search for doctor Mills. She silently closed the door to Henry's room and went to the room next to the ICU.

„Doctor Mills?" Emma called for the doctor. Regina appeared in the doorway. Both women met in the hallway. Regina's eyes met Emma's. Regina could feel how desperate the blonde was and that she completely surrendered. Regina was now the saviour in Emma's eyes and Regina knew what a great first impression she has made. All of this played in her cards. Emma was some kind of a trophy for Regina. Henry was still her patient number one but there was nothing bad about getting Emma where she wanted her to be.

„His condition is serious. How could you let it come so far?" Regina asked Emma quite a private question. She felt Emma's anger rising and it was exactly what she wanted. Regina wanted to see how fiery Emma could be.

„What do you mean by that?" Emma asked preparing to defend herself.

„Why haven't you let Henry get the treatment sooner?" Regina added some wood into the fire. Emma took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down before she would start screaming at the doctor. Regina Mills was Henry's best chance now so she didn't want to throw it out the window just because of her ego.

„You could have saved him and you so much trouble and pain," Regina added waiting for Emma to say something. As much as Emma didn't want to argue .. what was enough was enough.

„What do you think, hm? I didn't have the money even thought I did what I could to save enough!" Emma defended herself still staying calm. Her emotions were all over the place and she had no idea for how long she was gonna stay calm. Regina Mills might have been one of the best doctors but she didn't have any social feelings apparently. Where was her empathy? Shouldn't doctors have empathy for their patients and their families? Emma was confused.

„I am sure you could have done more. It's your kid for god's sake!" Regina exploded not even realizing that her own emotions got in the way. Her own family issues came to the surface.

„You know nothing, doctor Mills! Nothing!" Emma couldn't stay calm any more. Her pride was hurt by someone who had no idea what she and her son have been through already. Regina just met them few hours ago and nobody gave her the right to tell Emma what she should have or haven't done.

This is not going to be a nice hospital stay Emma thought turning away from Regina.

„You have no heart, doctor Mills!" Emma said and went back to the IC unit to be with her son.

TBC