Emma could feel Regina tense in her arms with each step they took. Each step was a nightmare for herself, she could only imagine what Regina was going through. Left foot. Then right. Left foot. Then right. Breathe. It took a few seconds before she realised Regina was resisting her forward momentum. Had she passed out? There was no way she had the strength to carry on if the woman was unconscious.

"Regina?" Emma asked softly. She was rewarded with a grunt. She pushed back some of the other woman's hair so that she could see her eyes. They flashed such a pained look at her that it took her aback. Not that she was overly surprised that the woman was in her own private hell, but that she revealed it in her eyes. Revealed it to her. Regina rarely showed any hint of vulnerability. And here she was, exposed, in her arms, face lined with a whole range of hurt.

"Regina," she said. Her voice filled with tenderness.

"I can't." Regina's eyes grew moist with tears. She pulled away from Emma. "Tell Henry-"

Emma saw red.

"Oh no you don't," Emma interrupted. "You don't get to play that card. Not now."

Emma tried to pull Regina upright. Her hands bruised the other woman's arms. Her grip firmer than needed to be. But Regina still resisted.

"They wont stop, you know," Regina said, her body folded in pain. Emma bent down and caught Regina's gaze.

"We're doing this. We are doing this. Just another hour or so. A few more k's between us and them. And I don't think they're going anywhere in a hurry. Not in this weather, not in their condition."

"Only fools and demons brave the winter rain storms," Regina said in a hushed, taut tone.

Both women were cold to the core. Drenched. The heavy rain had not given them a moments peace. The trees of the forest only seemed to make their journey worse. With high branches and few leaves to give any cover. The lower brush were heavy with water. And the pools of mud and rain did nothing but slow their progress. The fog, at least, had dissipated a small amount. Enough to give Emma some hope they were moving out of the Sinciput brothers' range. Whatever their beef was with Regina, or her, she couldn't afford to let them stop their own imperative. Find Henry.

"If I have to drag your royal highness all the way to the mountains and back. I will. Broken foot or not. I'm not leaving you. Besides, Henry would never forgive me." She failed to add, 'and I'd never forgive myself'.

Regina pouted, glared at Emma with as much animosity as a glare could hold, and stood upright without assistance. Silently she indicated a large stick. Emma clicked on, picked it up, and passed it to Regina. It was easily a foot too short to be a walking stick, or any sort of aid to Regina. She held back a laugh as Regina almost fell over in an attempt to use it.

"Maybe we'll find one more suited to your height oh royalness." She cocked an eyebrow. "But hey, you're almost as short as it."

Regina scowled. She attempted a spell on the stick. There was a puff of smoke and the stick shrunk to about three feet long.

"That's more like it. Perfect," Emma said. "Always knew you were Grumpy from the Seven Little Dwarfs."

Regina flashed her a 'shut the fuck up' look. That made Emma smile. On the inside at least.

"Magic not back up to par your highness?" Even though her words were laced with her own usual sarcasm, she was worried about the other woman. She, well, both of them really, had been through a lot. Emma needed Regina's magic strong. But she had no idea how long that part of Regina would heal and stabilise.

Regina tried yet another spell, only to have the stick shrink to little more than toothpick size. The anger and frustration on her face was enough to get Emma to stop her riding her. Instead Emma reached out with some compassion. A smirk faded on her face.

"Come on. You're going to have to lean on me a bit longer." Without further objection Emma wrapped one arm around Regina's waist and pulled her close. Regina, in turn, wrapped her own arm along Emma's back and rested her hand on Emma's shoulder. A hug of sorts.

"Small steps, Miss Swan," Regina said tersely. More tersely than intended. Every part of her on fire. She was in agony.

"Small steps Regina." Emma wanted to say something else. Wanted to reassure the other woman. Comfort her in some way. But she knew it would be brushed away like an irritant.

They walked slow. In the dark. In the rain. Through forest and bush and muddy ground. Regina could feel the strength in Emma wane. Her own strength long since gone. She unwillingly, but necessary, leaned heavily on Emma. Each step in shooting pain. Each step a nightmare. Each breath, short and sharp. But she didn't complain. She didn't reveal her distress.

Regina's head was down. She looked at each step. Half step, half hop. She no longer looked or cared where Emma directed them. She just hoped Emma would stop the agonising trek. Let her rest. Lie down and sleep. Sleep. Forever if need be. To put an end to her torment - mental and physical. The thought of Henry was the only thing keeping her from surrendering.

It was Emma who saw the shelter first. The other woman had grown too heavy to carry. And Emma knew she was nearing her own limits of endurance.

She kicked the door open and entered with Regina. She had slumped in her arms. Still conscious but only just. Regina didn't even acknowledge the change. But Emma did. Relief swelled in her heart and mind. The rain had stopped pounding them. A chance for respite.

The shelter was barely more than an animal pen with mud brick walls, thatch roof, a crumbling timber door, and a window that was too dirty to see through. To Emma it was a palace. Thankful for the pile of timber next to a large fireplace. Straw strewn across the floor. A haven for travellers, for them.