A little violence against Whale. Nothing too serious.
Enjoy.
Regina walked into Granny's making no eye contact with the stares that swamped her. There was no need to wonder why they were staring. The rumors spread fast. Even though the Sheriff made it clear she wasn't behind this, she was the easiest person to blame for everything.
Emma watched them stare and although she didn't owe her any favors, she eased the tension.
"Hey, Regina," she called reverting the woman's attention away from the gawking. She didn't receive a better look. Still a glare. Emma snapped her head to the whispers at the counter. "If you guys have a problem I'll be happy to help with a solution."
"That's quite alright," Regina said sitting down across from her. She glared at them again. "Once the Evil Queen, always the Evil Queen."
"Don't say that. You're not the Evil Queen."
"As kind as the sentiment is, not everyone can be as forgiving as a Charming."
Emma rolled her eyes and looked back to the other people still staring, "Even if I didn't forgive you it is still kind of rude," Emma said going back to the newspaper between her arms on the table.
Regina leaned in slightly and frowned at it, "What is that?"
"The paper," Emma said sliding it in front of Regina. She picked up her coffee and took a sip of the hot liquid cringing at the burning in the back of her throat. "Perks of a small town, isn't it?"
"Indeed," Regina replied with a downturn in her voice. Although she caught the sarcasm. Emma watched the frown only tighten as Regina stared into the picture not even looking at the words. Or even the headline. In watching her she saw the dark circles under the brunette's eyes. Obvious sign of lack of sleep. Emma couldn't imagine that the put together mayor would ever miss a wink of sleep, but she knew that the woman did have a soft spot for children.
"No offense but you look terrible. Did you go to sleep last night?" Emma asked. Regina glared at her. It couldn't have been that bad could it? She resisted the urge to spring for a mirror. "You don't have to answer." Emma went back to her coffee and mumbled to herself, "It's not like you ever want to talk about something as trivial as feelings anyway." Regina heard it but she didn't react. No stooping to her level.
Ruby came over with pencil and pad in her hand and a smile on her face hoping to distract them from the unwanted publicity, "What can I get you Regina?"
"Coffee is fine," she answered turning over the paper.
Ruby scribbled it on the pad and then was about to turn around and leave but just couldn't go without asking. "Emma?" She turned to the blonde.
"At your service, Rubes," Emma said pleasantly as she locked her fingers together on the table.
"So…?" She asked nodding to the paper. Emma opened her mouth to respond, looking briefly at the brunette across from her.
Regina looked up automatically knowing what she was asking about. She slammed her hand against the table, "No, I did not hurt that girl!" Regina snapped forcefully making Emma flinch.
"Regina, calm down," Emma begged. "She meant the paper. Did you even read it?" Ruby nodded hysterically as she looked down at Regina's white knuckles. No one had anytime to speak again before Ruby rushed off for Regina's coffee. Emma released the breath she had been holding and pulled a strand of hair from her face behind her ear. She watched Regina rub her knuckles like they hurt. She was bothered. Regina looked at Emma and expected she was going to say something she didn't want to hear, "Miss Swan I'm in no mood for a speech."
"Once again, mistaking me for my mother," Emma replied with a small smirk, "Nine times out of ten when you do something, smacking you in the back of the head is what I want to do. Not give you a pep talk."
Regina rolled her eyes. She did have a tendency to do that a lot more now than before, "Fine. Let's just get on with this, shall we?" Ruby swiftly brought over Regina's coffee without making eye contact with either of them and walked away just as quickly.
"Okay, so..."
"Miss Swan please let's not waste valuable work time."
"I-I just I don't know what exactly we're supposed to be doing, Regina. We need Henry."
"No we don't. Our goal is simple. We just find whatever fairy tale she's in," she said sounding very annoyed, though she was just trying to ignore how cute the sheriff looked with her face scrunched up in concentration, just a crush, she reminded herself.
"Don't we have everyone by now?"
"From the Enchanted Forest sure, but your pirate boyfriend wasn't here when you first arrived in Storybrooke, now was he?"
"Regina, he's not my boyfriend and that's not funny-" Regina was about to interrupt her, but Emma beat her to the punch, "I do not yearn," she ground out.
Regina just held back a small laugh, and secretly a huge grin at the sheriff's admission. "My point is that he's from another realm. He, unfortunately, got here through my mother," Regina said swiping the hair from her face and finally drinking her coffee.
Emma tapped her finger against the table thinking about it, "Yeah, sounds simple enough except for the fact that neither one of us saw her face."
"She has green eyes."
"I know that much. Doesn't really help us, though."
"You sure she isn't a Swan or Charming," Regina started and continued-by accident-not realizing what she was saying or who she was saying it to, "Another child of yours..."
Emma grinned at the first part but the last part punched her in the gut and her composure crumbled instantly. A threatening, angry look appeared on her face just as Regina realized what she had said, "Emma...I'm sorry. I didn't-"
"You didn't mean it?" Emma grumbled. "Of course not. Like you never do."
"Emma I am sorry. I wasn't thinking. It was terrible banter."
"You know, I really thought you understood why had to do it. I didn't think you'd keep throwing it at me every chance you get."
"I said I was sorry. A part of my mind saw it as a joke, I never thought about voicing it-"
"Giving up a kid was hardest thing I ever had to do. You still don't believe that, do you?" Emma questioned beginning to stand up from the booth. An unexplained panic arose in Regina and she tried her best to stop her, "Emma, wait. Please."
"What Regina?"
"I'm sorry. I am. Despite what I have done in the past, I do sympathize with you for that. I don't know that pain but...I'm sorry."
Emma sighed at the admission. It was hard to be entirely mad when the woman was genuinely sorry about the comment. It did seem like a slip of the tongue and not meant to cause harm. The blonde turned to sit back down in the booth but eyed Regina pensively, "I don't know why I put up with your shit."
"You're the one that wanted to be friends." Emma just sighed. Thinking about walking out on her was as far as she was going to go. Even if they were at each other's throats constantly, trying to get the upper hand, Emma still wasn't going to let it get to her. In a way she could see sometimes Regina was trying to be slightly nicer to her but it was a sliver of effort honestly.
She sighed and let it go with a relieving breath, "Regina, I try hard to be your friend, so that you have at least one." She took back the paper and sat it next to herself, "Despite what you may think, I've defended you more than anybody here," she leaned close to her, "Even Henry. I've always given you the benefit of the doubt. Apparently that's not what you want."
"I apologize, an activity I do not partake in for the most people that I insult."
"I get that," Emma said glancing over at the whisperers who still didn't think to hide their glares, "I rather you not say stuff like that again."
"Of course Sheriff." Regina claimed some sincerity. Emma rolled her eyes again accompanied by a shake of the head. She stood up from the booth and addressed the gossipers and the rest of the diner, "Alright. I've had enough. I've gotten zero sleep for the past few days and I'm very...extremely irritable..." Regina looked up at Emma. What is she doing? she thought. No. What the hell was she doing?
"...As sheriff I will officially confirm Mayor Mills did not in any way harm the Jane Doe currently in the hospital," Emma said to Regina's defense...again. "And no there also isn't blood covering the front of her house either." Regina became shocked and looked to where Emma hid the paper. She didn't even read the article and now she was curious as to what it said. "Do I make myself clear?" The entire diner nodded even Ruby. "Now go spread that around."
"Miss Swan, you didn't need to-" Regina started. She slid out of the booth and dropped payment for their coffee on the table.
"That's what friends do, right?" Emma said beginning to walk out with Regina keeping up with her. "And we're partners now for Operation Barracuda. I can't have a mob after you while in the middle of a mission. And call me Emma. I thought we were at least on a first name basis on both sides, y'know?"
Don't say it Regina she thought to herself as they walked. This was Emma Swan, she could do without and be fine, or at least that was what she told herself. But this feeling she had been having since last night was lingering and making her feel guilty about things that were clearly not her fault. Damn that girl, I'm going soft. "Thank you, Miss Swan-Emma. Thank you, Emma." Regina so badly wanted slap herself. She could normally hold strong against the blonde.
Emma's eyebrows raised to her hairline, "You really need some sleep, Regina. You're thanking me and using my first name. It's scary."
Regina rolled her shoulders in frustration and brushed it away, "Where are we going?"
"I'm headed to the Author's library or whatever you call that place."
"Why?" Regina furrowed her brow intensely and stopped. Emma stopped soon after, only taking a few steps ahead. She remembered how much Regina disliked going there now after spending only a few days not being able to find a clue as to where to get her happy ending. Emma looked into the blankness in the brunette's eyes. It was almost exactly like the distant look she had when Emma walked into her yard late that night. "Hey, Regina I can go by myself. We can meet back up when there's something else to do. Maybe you can check your vault for something."
"That's not necessary, Miss Swan," Regina said walking ahead of her. "We're going now." She sort of demanded and Emma started walking.
"Emma!" She stopped in her tracks and Regina turned around first. She studied the look on Regina's face and for once she wasn't terribly irked by David's presence. Emma turned around to her father in a sweat and red faced. Like he just took a long run for the first time in years or something like that.
"David? What's up?" He looked at her and then glanced at Regina. Emma leaned into his line of sight, "Are you really out of shape or what?"
"No. It's...it's your-" He tried to say gulping down air.
"Is it Snow?" Emma questioned in concerned. He shook his head still trying to catch his breath.
Regina was finally irked, "Oh, spit it out Charming."
"Your Jane Doe-" Regina froze and Emma wanted to jerk Charming up by his jacket and shake the news out of him. "What about her, David?" Emma urged impatiently.
"Whale."
"What happened?" Regina scowled ready to also snatch the story out of his useless body.
"Is she okay? What did he do to her?" Emma pushed.
"Whale is going to need a doctor." David said bluntly. That's all Emma needed before she started her rush towards the hospital. David called after her, "Emma..."
Regina rushed off behind her as quickly as she could in her heels. It completely skipped her mind to just use her magic to save her the aching feet later. So, she and the Sheriff ran straight into danger head first again, now completely destroying the peace that had reigned over Storybrooke for only a few short weeks.
Emma and Regina stormed through the doors of the hospital. The whole place was in complete and utter chaos as they had expected. Nurses were scrambling around frantically and they were beginning to realize that the situation was just as dire as the prince had made it out to be. Emma started searching for Whale immediately with Regina right at her heels.
"I knew she was dangerous," Regina said in her I told you so voice though she didn't sound so sure.
"Yeah, maybe," Emma said searching through the room, "Though, it's not like we like Whale all that much anyway."
"He is still our only doctor."
Emma shrugged, "Good point. Now where is he?"
"Here," Whale said sitting in a chair overlooked by the two women. They looked to him seeing the mess he was in. The collar of his white coat was stained with blood, he was holding an ice pack to his temple, and nervousness was imprinted in his eyes. Emma and Regina glanced at each other both wondering what had they gotten themselves into. Emma stepped forward, casting a shadow over him, "Whale, what did you do?"
"Me?! You see what she to me?" Whale exclaimed looking up at her. "That girl stabbed me."
"Frankly, I quite like her already," Regina admitted folding her arms. Whale shot her a glare and Regina returned the gesture. Emma pinched the bridge of her nose and took a breath.
"Whale what happened?" Emma asked grimly.
"She woke up is what happened and then grabbed the first sharp object in her reach."
"Whale." Emma was dry and emotionless about it. She could honestly not care less about him. He had to know being such a prick wasn't fitting for him, since even the Sheriff would be more concerned about someone she didn't even know.
"I don't have anything to say about it. She's disoriented and unaware of her surroundings," Whale started. He took in an annoyed breath and closed his eyes. A sharp pain was shooting through his head and the Sheriff's questions weren't calming it down. He threw his hand out, gesturing towards the hallway in which the Jane Doe's room presided. Emma followed his pointing with the turn of her head and frowned.
"Isn't she supposed to be-" Emma started before being quickly and rudely interrupted.
"I'm keeping her as far away from civilians as humanly possible," Whale shouted. "She stabbed me!"
"No one is complaining except you," Regina quipped. Whale waved her off and pressed the ice pack closer onto his head.
"Last room on the left," he said quick and short before he looked away from them and disregarded them entirely. He was tired of them both. Especially the brunette grimacing at him just for existing.
"Look is there anything we need to know before we go back there?"
"She may or may not be sedated...I don't know," he looked at Regina as he spoke, "Maybe do us all a favor and knock her out with magic or something."
"What does that mean?" Regina looked at him in confusion.
"It means after giving her enough sedative to kill an elephant she was still awake. If she's not dead or asleep, at least she's got to be mellowed out."
"So she's as high as a kite..." Emma said more than questioned. Her astonishment was hidden beneath a steel mask. By now she was used to magic but even this was unusual. She was already too caught up in her thoughts to catch the yawn that slipped her lips.
"Come on along, sheriff," Regina called already walking down the hallway as Emma opened her eyes again.
"Alright, what's the game plan?" Emma asked just as Regina placed her hand on the door handle.
"I beg your pardon?" Regina questioned. "Game plan?"
"Yes. We can't just go in there..." Emma pushed her way in front of the door. And now was seriously invading Regina's personal space.
"Why not?" Regina asked stepping back a few steps.
"Because she's dangerous. You said so."
"If the most she's done is stab Whale, she's not much of a threat," Regina snapped and then pushed Emma out of the way. Emma couldn't stop her before she opened the door. For some reason Emma was expecting something bad to happen. Something bad always happened. When was something ever great, Emma thought.
Regina stormed inside expecting a fight or at least some chaos. She was disappointed. No scalpels. No syringes. No fight. Her shoulders slacked. Emma brushed passed her and walked up to the bed. Regina suddenly remembered what Henry had asked of her and decided she had no choice but to protect the careless blonde, she was going to do as she was asked, "Be careful, I'm supposed to be watching over you."
"Don't say it like that. Sounds like you're babysitting me."
"Let's not pretend you don't need it most of the time," Regina said half-jokingly walking forward with her hands in her coat pockets.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't just call me a child." Emma turned to the girl who was unmoving. Both Emma and Regina would have given thought to Whale's comment on being dead but her chest was weakly rising and falling. She also didn't look in the least bit like someone who would stab Whale even if he is a bit of an ass. Her innocence was still intact even while they were aware of what she had done. Emma stood on one side of the bed and Regina stood on the other, both looking down at what was left of a child. She was no doubt broken. There was no way either of them thought this would be over quick. Emma held strong against the tears that threatened to arise in her eyes. She wasn't having it today. She already went home after the situation last night and was deprived of peaceful shut eye. Emma just saw herself sitting at the bar all night, all over again. This was where her world and Storybrooke clashed. The orphan and the magic all in one, just like herself. At the sight she couldn't keep the pained look etched into her expression and the darkness in her eyes.
Regina watched in silence but beneath her mask was fury. Regina's blood was boiling and in the moment it didn't seem to matter how dangerous she thought the child was before. Or even how she got herself into such a predicament. It wasn't right even by her formal moral standards. Not with a child. She immediately snapped away from her thoughts before she blew a fuse-in the room- and took Emma out of hers, "I was not expecting this."
Emma looked up at her, "Me neither. She sounded more intimidating from Whale's story, huh?"
"Indeed she did." Regina met eyes with Emma as she answered and watched the blonde pull a small notepad and a pen out of her inside jacket pocket. "Playing Sheriff now, are you sure you know how?" Regina asked taking a step back and leisurely sitting down in the chair. Emma didn't answer just nodded not really paying her any attention. Regina sat back in the chair, one leg over the other with her hands clasped together against her stomach and watched the Sheriff work.
"Green eyes...brunette...17 years old..."
"How do you know that?" Regina asked furrowing her brow. "That's an interesting assumption."
"I told you I know one when I see one. Especially the age. They get angrier and angrier with every new year," Emma said biting the tip of her pen. She looked to Regina who seemed to be satisfied with the vague answer. The brunette looked quite uneasy despite how pleasantly she rested in the chair. Her shoulders were rigid and her posture was very stiff. "Is something wrong, Regina?"
"I'm fine," she replied abruptly.
Emma didn't pry and went about taking information again. She leaned down closing in on any distinct features that would help identify who she might be. Regina suddenly did become uneasy and she felt something wrong. Her eyes narrowed to the faint twitch of the girl's hand. She shot up from her chair, "Emma!"
Throwing her hand out to stop the blade from cutting into the blonde's face, Regina used her magic to freeze the unsteady hand. Emma slowly moved away with her eyes wide and heart pounding against her rib cage. Regina stepped up to the bed and took the blade away from the girl's hand. Before she could angrily latch onto her wrist the terror in the girl's expression forced her to be gentle. Her eyes melted it away. The child was scared and confused but there was something else. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but there was this pull. It was no typical pull at her heartstrings either and she didn't know why it was stronger and fiercer than she's ever felt. Regina wanted to protect the girl. She took the object away and laid the trembling hand back down on the bed, "It's alright, dear. You don't have to fight anymore. You're safe."