THE STAIRCASE

By RED CHARCOAL

CHAPTER TWO: HOUSE CALL

Warnings: Non-consensual sex. This is dark. It's my first fic. So for themes and novice errors, you have been warned.

Dr Archie Hopper stood at the door of Mayor Mills' house. He twisted his hands nervously, wondering what to say. The moment he had received the call from Ruby that his services were needed … and why… he had jumped into action. But the mayor was a hard woman to help. And he didn't know how she would react at his arrival. He had a phone in his pocket ready to call for medical help if it came to that. He really hoped it wouldn't.

"Mayor Mills?" he called out, rapping. "Mayor?"

The door slid ajar at his knuckles' force and he peered inside. He saw a crumpled figure by the stairs and his eyes flew wide.

"Oh God," he whispered, forgetting all semblance of politeness as he rushed forward. "Do you need medical attention?"

Regina Mills sat up and glowered at the rushing figure. "What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded, hands flying to the front of her ruined blouse to cover herself.

"I-I…" Dr Hopper skidded to a halt and tried to work out a nice way to phrase the unthinkable. His brain failed him. For good reason. He dropped to his knees and sat within arm's reach of the mayor, trying not to startle her. "I had a phone call from Ruby."

"Ruby?! Why her? How… does everyone know?" the mayor's brow furrowed in anger and the doctor had to force himself not to recoil.

"The sheriff told her."

At the sound of the blonde woman's name Regina flinched and she hissed: "Was she bragging? How she brought me to my knees - literally?"

"No!" Dr Hopper exclaimed in horror. "She turned herself in - she asked Ruby to arrest her for … assault. Sexual assault." His eyes flickered over the brunette's body sympathetically, drawing a narrowed-eyed glare from the woman on the floor beside him.

"Spare me your pity," she said. She lifted a trembling hand to her hair and reflexively tried to pat it straight. "Listen to me - you will tell no one. You will tell Ruby to tell no one. And you will get that woman to let herself out of jail. I will not have people asking questions as to why she is in there. And then you will leave me alone. Have you got that?"

"B-but Regina, I mean Madame Mayor - are you hurt? I could send Doctor Whale and …"

"You will do no such thing. I don't want that sleazy creature's hands anywhere near me right now." She shuddered. "But you can help. Can you take Henry? For a few days. Pick him up from school today? I don't think I would like him here right now…"

"Of course. But wouldn't he prefer to stay with… Oh. Never mind."

"Yes," she snapped. "Never mind. That woman shall go nowhere near my son. Is that clear?"

"Yes Madame Mayor. May I ask whether… you want to talk?"

Regina rose shakily to her feet. Her bruised knees were now at his eye level. "I do not," she said in a frozen tone. "Do not ask me again."

The doctor rose to his own feet and nodded. "What about Emm… the sheriff? If you don't want to press charges, what do you want to do?"

For the first time since his arrival a dark, bleak expression crossed her face. "I can't think about that now." It was a hoarse twisted whisper.

"It's really very out-of-character behavior," Dr Hopper whispered half to himself. "Did she say anything to indicate why…"

He did not finish the sentence before Regina was right up inside his personal space and gripping his jacket lapels with both hands. "There is NO excuse for rape, doctor. I wouldn't try looking for one. What she did was despicable. And I will make sure she knows it. Later." Her lips thinned into a line. "Now. Leave."

Dr Hopper did not need to be told twice. As he reached the door he turned to offer his assistance at any time, but she had already left the room. He heard the clink of glass. Apple cider tumbler most likely, he thought. He closed the mansion's door and left.