CHAPTER 2

Ruby had curled up and stared at the body. She leaned against the cabinet door with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her wolf ears could pick up a heartbeat but it was so erratic she knew there was no way she'd survive. Still, she reached for Regina's hand in case she was aware of anything. She didn't want her to think that she was alone.

She was just about to reach for her cellphone and dial for an ambulance when Regina began to sputter. "Regina?" Ruby jumped up closer to her. "I'm going to get an ambulance here right now." Her fingers flew over the numbers.

Her phone was knocked out of her hands. "No."

"Regina? Oh my god, Regina. You need help. I'm getting you help." Ruby reached for her phone. Regina's hand in hers stilled her.

"No. No ambulance. No Whale. No one."

"Regina you don't understand, I thought you were dead. You need help right this second or – "

"No." Regina coughed and sputtered. She tried sitting up but only raised her head and groaned loudly. Ruby tried supporting her. "No. Promise me," she gasped out in between her fight for air. "Promise me."

The look in her eyes implored Ruby. Ruby gave her a slight nod and then Regina fell back into unconsciousness.

Ruby reached for her phone again. This time she dialed Dr. Hopper. He was technically a therapist but she knew that he and Regina had a relationship of some sort. And therapists had to have medical training.

The next person she dialed was her Granny. Granny had often talked of Regina in terms glowing terms. She knew that she would want to be updated about something like this affecting her.

Her final call was to Tink. The fallen fairy and Regina were best friends. Ruby knew they spent tons of time together.

Her hand hovered over Emma's name on her contact list. Emma and Regina had dated for quite a while. But, then out of nowhere Emma and Henry moved into her parent's apartment. Ruby had no specifics but something told her she should wait and ask before calling her.

She didn't want to give voice to anything right now. She was terrified of what it meant. But, when she watched Henry run out of the home, the look on his face had twisted something down in her gut. She shook her head and tried to erase the image. She just couldn't face it. She had watched Regina raise that boy and no matter what anyone said about the former Evil Queen, Regina loved that boy with all that she had in her. And it showed. He was a sweet, loving child.

Archie was the first to arrive. Ruby had left the door open when she came in. The house had been dark when she entered and she hadn't turned on any light. He walked over the threshold and called out, "Hello?"

Ruby let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "In here. The kitchen," she called out.

"What's going on?" Granny asked from behind Archie who jumped when she appeared out of nowhere behind him. He turned and saw Tink sprinting up the driveway. He waited until she was close enough to hear.

"I just got called here by Ruby. I have no idea. They're in the kitchen. Come on," Archie had been in the house many times and knew his way around the main floors anyway. He led the way.

When they got to the kitchen, they all collectively gasped. Ruby was still next to Regina holding her hand. Regina was still passed out but – the condition of her body. They all looked at one another in shock. Regina was covered in what looked like burns from all the skin they could see showing. There was also blood splattered on the floor, walls, nearby cabinets. The Queen had not gone down quickly or easily.

Granny stepped forward, "Is she - ?" Everyone was slightly appalled. It didn't seem possible for the Evil Queen to be dead.

Regina groaned in response and turned her head slightly. Everyone jumped and moved back.

"We have to get an ambulance," Archie pulled out his phone and began dialing.

"No!" Tink and Ruby both shouted in unison. They looked at one another questioningly.

Ruby went first, "She didn't want anyone. No doctors. No ambulance. I called you because I know you're friends."

"A doctor can't help. There's something more at play here," Tink added.

"Well, she looks like she's almost dead. I have zero medical knowledge. And I know none of you do either. She needs help," No one had ever seen the therapist so frazzled. He face was pale and drawn and he seemed to be on the verge of losing it. He kept ripping his fingers through his hair that was now standing on end.

"She has help. She has us," Tink said. "There's magic here. A hospital can't help her anyway. And – " Tink bit the right corner of her bottom lip.

"And?"

Ruby looked at her knowingly. "You know don't you?"

Tink merely nodded.

"Know what?" Yep. Archie was losing it. "We don't know anything but someone attacked and may have killed Regina. This is a crime scene and we're trampling all over it. This is above us. We need to get her help."

A glow shot out around the room. Everyone looked down at its source. Regina was lit up from the inside out.

"She'll be fine now," Tink said.